cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flavonoid effects on normal and leukemic cells

Quercetin and flavopiridol, both flavonoids which influence oxidative milieu, proliferation, and apoptosis of various cell types, were examined for their effects on acute myelogenous leukemic cells and normal progenitors. Both quercetin and flavopiridol inhibited the growth and viability of various acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cell lines and AML blasts isolated afresh from patients with AML of various subtypes. The effects on inhibition of proliferation and decreased viability were also significant in normal CD34+ cells isolated from normal marrow donors. In certain AML cases, the effects of flavopiridol appeared to be mediated through activation of caspase 3, offering one possible mechanism for the apoptosis evident after exposure to flavopiridol as measured by annexin V expression. These flavonoid compounds might find use in various therapeutic settings in AML.
Promoting Earth Stewardship through urban design experiments

Earth Stewardship requires a repositioning of ecological science in society to promote social–ecological change. This may place ecologists in situations that are largely unfamiliar to them, such as playing a role in the process of urban design. “Designed Experiments” – defined as projects that embed ecological research into urban design to study and shape buildings, landscapes, and the infrastructure of human settlements – are intended to enhance the impact of ecologists working in these new situations. Designed Experiments provide a framework for organizing relationships among ecologists, urban designers, decision makers, and citizens; an opportunity for testing ecological hypotheses; and a platform for experiential learning among multiple participants – all of which have the potential to aid in overcoming barriers to the goals of Earth Stewardship. Here we explore the capacity of Designed Experiments to facilitate progress toward Earth Stewardship through real-world case studies.
Dihydroaromatic structure of Illinois No. 6 Monterey coal

Abstract Coal from the Monterey mine (Illinois No. 6 seam) has been oxidatively fragmented by trifluoroperoxyacetic acid. The major products were acetic, malonic, and succinic acids; benzene di, tri, tetra; and penta-carboxylic acids; and two compounds provisionally identified as the epoxides of ethylene tri- and tetra-carboxylic acids. These products are in best accord with a structure for Monterey coal in which dihydrobenzene units are frequently interspersed in a polymer composed of condensed aromatic chains and clusters. The methyl and hydroxyl substituents complete the dominant pattern.
Transcapillary Transport of Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) in Isolated Rat Heart

Abstract A better understanding of transcapillary transport for tracer metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is desirable for development of tracer kinetic models that yield meaningful estimates of neuronal uptake function from tissue radioactivity time courses. This study utilized a multiple-indicator approach in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts to define transport mechanisms and determine the capillary permeability-surface area (PSc) over a broad range of flow (F). Multiple injections within the same heart at different flows allowed characterization of the PSc/F relationship within the same heart. The coefficient of variation of E for multiple injections within the same hearts at constant flow was 6 ± 2% (3 to 6 injections in 9 hearts). In 10 hearts (4 to 6 injections per heart), flow was varied between 2.0–16.5 mL/min. PSc was found to be nearly proportional to flow in each heart (r = 0.88 ± 0.14; slope = 0.23 ± 0.10; intercept = 11 ± 7 mL/min/g dry). Tissue hypoxia at low flows, as evidenced by enhanced lactate production, did not appear to influence the PSc/F relationship. Pharmacologic blockade of uptake-1 and uptake-2 had negligible affect on E or PSc as compared with flow-matched controls, although tissue retention was markedly reduced. The results show PSc of MIBG to be nearly proportional to flow but independent of specific neuronal and extraneuronal transport mechanisms and tissue hypoxia. The results are consistent with a passive diffusion process across the capillary endothelial barrier. The increase in PSc with increasing flow could reflect capillary recruitment and/or enhanced capillary permeability.
Depot-Specific Differences and Insufficient Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Angiogenesis in Human Obesity

Background—Adipose tissue expands in response to excess caloric intake, but individuals prone to deposit visceral instead of subcutaneous adipose tissue have higher risk of metabolic disease. The role of angiogenesis in the expandability of human adipose tissue depots is unknown. The objective of this study was to measure angiogenesis in visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue and to establish whether there is a relationship between obesity, metabolic status, and the angiogenic properties of these depots. Methods and Results—Angiogenic capacity was determined by quantifying capillary branch formation from human adipose tissue explants embedded in Matrigel, and capillary density was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Subcutaneous adipose tissue had a greater angiogenic capacity than visceral tissue, even after normalization to its higher initial capillary density. Gene array analyses revealed significant differences in expression of angiogenic genes between depots, including an increased subcutaneous expre...
Solid State Coordination Chemistry in the Design of Molybdenum Oxides: The Hydrothermal Synthesis and Structure of a Layered Copper–Molybdenum Oxide, [Cu(tpytrz)2Mo4O13] (tpytrz=tripyridyltriazine)

Abstract The hydrothermal reaction of CuSO4·5H2O, tripyridyltriazine (tpytrz), MoO3, and H2O in the mole ratio 2.1:1.0:1.9:3470 for 84 h at 160°C yields green needles of [Cu(tpytrz)2Mo4O13] (MOXI-37). The structure of MOXI-37 consists of bimetallic {CuMo4O13} layers buttressed by tpytrz ligands occupying the interlamellar region. The overall structure adopts the motif of alternating inorganic and organic subunits characteristic of many organic–inorganic composite materials. The inorganic network is constructed from {Mo4O13} chains of corner-sharing octahedra and tetrahedra, linked by octahedral {CuN2O} units into a two-dimensional structure. The structure of MOXI-37 may be compared to other examples of copper–molybdate networks sandwiching bridging organonitrogen ligands, namely, [Cu(dpe)MoO4] (MOXI-1) and [Cu(bpa)0.5MoO4] (MOXI-24). In contrast to the network connectivity of MOXI-37, the layer structure of [Cu(dpe)MoO4] consists of corner-sharing {MoO4} tetrahedra and {CuN2O5} trigonal bipyramids, while the two-dimensional oxide substructure [Cu(bpa)0.5MoO4] is constructed from tetranuclear copper clusters linked through corner-sharing {MoO4} tetrahedra.
Improved Heat Dissipation Capability on Electronic Motor Control Devices

Heat sinks have been widely used in electronic industry to maintain the operation temperatures of electronic devices lower than their allowable values and thus are often critical to the device performance and life. However, it is difficult to design heat sinks to satisfy all design specifications optimally under complex heat transfer phenomena. The present work discloses a new design of heat sinks to improve heat dissipation capability for electric motor control devices. The heat sink contains a plurality of raindrop-shaped pin fins, acting as vortex generators to increase the rate of heat transfer and in turn, to increase the cooling efficiency of the heat sinks. Numerical results have shown that with the new designed heat sinks, the maximum temperature can reduce about 30% over the conventional heat sinks.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Emergency medicine practitioner knowledge and use of decision rules for the evaluation of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism: variations by practice setting and training level.

Background Several clinical decision rules (CDRs) have been validated for pretest probability assessment of pulmonary embolism (PE), but the authors are unaware of any data quantifying and characterizing their use in emergency departments. Objectives To characterize clinicians' knowledge of and attitudes toward two commonly used CDRs for PE. Methods By using a modified Delphi approach, the authors developed a two-page paper survey including 15 multiple-choice questions. The questions were designed to determine the respondents' familiarity, frequency of use, and comprehension of the Canadian and Charlotte rules. The survey also queried the frequency of use of unstructured (gestalt) pretest probability assessment and reasons why physicians choose not to use decision rules. The surveys were sent to physicians, physician assistants, and medical students at 32 academic and community hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom. Results Respondents included 555 clinicians; 443 (80%) work in academic practice, and 112 (20%) are community based. Significantly more academic practitioners (73%) than community practitioners (49%) indicated familiarity with at least one of the two decision rules. Among all respondents familiar with a rule, 50% reported using it in more than half of applicable cases. A significant number of these respondents could not correctly identify a key component of the rule (23% for the Charlotte rule and 43% for the Canadian rule). Fifty-seven percent of all respondents indicated use of gestalt rather than a decision rule in more than half of cases. Conclusions Academic clinicians were more likely to report familiarity with either of these two specific decision rules. Only one half of all clinicians reporting familiarity with the rules use them in more than 50% of applicable cases. Spontaneous recall of the specific elements of the rules was low to moderate. Future work should consider clinical gestalt in the evaluation of patients with possible PE.
Bearing Surface Choice: A South American Experience

The overall utilization of total hip arthroplasty in South America is expected to increase substantially during the next decades due to the absolute increase in population, longer life expectancy, expansion of indications to younger patients, the increasing number of surgeons, and greater willingness of the patient to undergo a joint replacement. For the young and more active patient ceramic-on-ceramic and ceramic-on-polyethylene are the most widely used bearing surfaces in South America. The associated higher costs and revision rates should be taken into account by the health policy systems, so that disparities are decreased and access is not threatened.
The role of endometrial biopsy in diagnosis

Abstract Since the cytologie pattern of the endometrium is specifically affected by the follicular hormones, examination of the endometnum will discover the condition of the follicular system in so far as it has hormonological activity. The effect of estrogen and progestin is most characteristic in the superficial layers of the endometrium and in that portion of the mucosa which lines the deeper half of the fundal cavity. Biopsy is made with an appropriate cannula by scratch with suction. The criteria for identification of estrogen and progestin effects are given in detail. The signs of their single or joint quantitative effect, and to some extent of its duration, are expressed in the common diagnoses, hypoplasia, hyperplasia, proliferation, secretion true menstruation and anovulatory menstruation. Biopsy is shown to be of great assistance in the diagnosis of menstrual disturbances, in the recognition of ovulation, and for the rational use of pharmaceutic hormones and for the evaluation of their effect. It is, incidentally, of help in the detection of unsuspected tuberculous endometritis.
Role of dose concentration in biocide efficacy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.

entrapped in alginate gel beads to form artificial biofilms resisted killing by chlorine, glutaraldehyde, 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA), and an alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium compound (ADBAC). The degree of resistance was quantified by a resistance factor that compared killing times for biofilm and planktonic cells in response to the same concentration of antimicrobial agent. Resistance factors averaged 120 for chlorine, 34 for glutaraldehyde, 29 for DBNPA, and 1900 for ADBAC. In every case, resistance factors decreased with increasing concentration of the antimicrobial agent. An independent analysis of the concentration dependence of the apparent rates of killing of planktonic and biofilm bacteria showed that elevating the treatment concentration increased bacterial killing more in the biofilm than it did in a suspension culture. Calculation of a transport modulus comparing the rates of biocide reaction and diffusion suggested that at least part of the biofilm resistance to chlorine, glutaraldehdye, and DBNPA could be attributed to incomplete or slow penetration of these agents into the biofilm. Time-kill curves were nonlinear for biofilm bacteria in some cases. The shapes of these curves implicated retarded antimicrobial penetration for chlorine and glutaraldehyde and the presence of a tolerant subpopulation for DBNPA and ADBAC. The results indicate that treating biofilms with a concentrated dose of biocide is more effective than using prolonged doses of a lower concentration. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2002) 29, 10–15 doi:10.1038/sj.jim.7000256
Prevention of metastases with a Mage-b DNA vaccine in a mouse breast tumor model: potential for breast cancer therapy

Anti-tumor vaccines are a relatively non-toxic alternative to conventional chemotherapeutic strategies to control breast cancer. Immunization with tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) triggers anti-tumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), which can limit tumor progression. Here we report on the development and effectiveness of a TAA-based DNA vaccine encoding Mage-b1/2, the mouse homologue of the human MAGE-B1/2. As model system, we used immune competent Balb/c mice with syngeneic non-metastatic (64pT) or metastatic (4TO7cg) breast tumors. First, the presence of Mage-btranscripts in the 64pT and 4TO7cg breast tumors and metastases was demonstrated by RT-PCR, Southern blotting, and DNA sequencing. A DNA-based vaccine was developed from transcripts of one of the 64pT tumors, encoding the complete Mage-b1/2 protein, and subsequently tested for its preventive efficacy in both breast tumor models. Mice were immunized two times intramuscularly with the vaccine (pcDNA3.1-Mage-b1/2-V5), the control vector (pcDNA3.1-V5), or saline. Two weeks after the last immunization, the syngeneic 4TO7cg or 64pT tumor cell lines were injected in a mammary fat pad. Mice were monitored during the next 4 weeks for tumor formation, latency and size, and subsequently sacrificed for analysis. While the Mage-b1/2 vaccine had only a minor effect on the latency and growth of primary tumors, a significant and reproducible reduction in the number of 4TO7cg metastases was observed (vaccine versus control vector, p=0.0329; vaccine versus saline, p=0.0128). The observed protective efficacy of the Mage-b DNA vaccine correlated with high levels of vaccine-induced IFNγ in spleen and lymph nodes upon re-stimulation in vitro. These results demonstrate the potential of TAA-based DNA vaccines in controlling metastatic disease in breast cancer patients.
Unforgetting a tradition: Kenneth Burke, Karl Marx and Aristotelian naturalism

Kenneth Burke was profoundly influenced by Marx but more philosophically than politically or economically. Additionally rather than contrasting Soviet communism and American capitalism, Burke critiques their shared scientism—his adaptation of Marx ironically proving crucial to his critique. Burke assimilates Marx and Spinoza into Aristotelian naturalism (or realism), a tradition that dominated American philosophy 1900-60, one with which Marx was identified in practice if not name in Soviet philosophy. Burke accepts Marx' materialistic-idealistic dialectic as descriptive of the dynamic underlying change but rejects his eschatology, one system's being overthrown by another more adequate to the demands of a particular time and place before its being overthrown in turn but without progressing toward an ultimate state. Likewise, nature's material recalcitrance may resist science's ideal explanations (giving rise to anomalies violating paradigmatic predictions), sometimes leading to scientific revolution (parad...
Endoscopic retrieval of a large, nasopharyngeal foreign body

A 1.5-year-old golden retriever was presented for stertorous respiration, reverse sneezing, halitosis, and a bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge. A bone-density, nasopharyngeal foreign body was visualized on lateral radiographs of the skull. The foreign body was removed using a videoendoscope and a basket retrieval forcep. The dog's clinical signs resolved following foreign body removal.
Disruption of the UL41 Gene in the Herpes Simplex Virus 2 dl5-29 Mutant Increases its Immunogenicity and Protective Capacity in a Murine Model of Genital Herpes

The herpes simplex virus 2 dl5-29 replication-defective mutant virus has been shown to induce protective immunity in mice and both prophylactic and therapeutic immunity in guinea pigs. In an attempt to improve the efficacy of dl5-29 we disrupted its U(L)41 gene, producing the triple mutant virus dl5-29-41L. dl5-29-41L has a decreased ability to inhibit host cell protein synthesis and a reduced cytopathic effect on cultured cells. When used to immunize mice, dl5-29-41L elicited significantly stronger neutralizing antibody responses and significantly stronger CD4(+) and CD8(+) cellular immune responses than dl5-29. The enhanced immune responses corresponded with increased protective capacity in a murine model of genital herpes. The protective immunity elicited by either virus was very durable, protecting mice for at least 7 months. Furthermore, we show that cell lysate preparations of both viruses were significantly more efficacious than the corresponding extracellular virus preparations.
The vertical flux of biogenic and lithogenic material in the Ross Sea : moored sediment trap observations 1996-1998

Abstract As part of the USJGOFS-AESOPS program, we deployed an array of moored sediment traps and determined the composition and vertical flux of particulate matter through the water column of the continental shelf environment of the Ross Sea. We deployed two moorings, with two traps each. One mooring was located in the southcentral Ross Sea along the line of AESOPS process studies; the other mooring was located in the northcentral Ross Sea. The flux in the southern Ross Sea was generally double that in the north, and there was a significant increase in flux into the deep traps indicating horizontal transport and possible focusing of particulate matter. The particles are primarily biogenic although lithogenic contributions can increase to over 30% of the flux in the near-bottom trap nearer to the ice shelf. The fluxes collected by the traps were generally low but within the range of previous observations. Several unique observations stand out from these data: (1) The export of organic matter to 200 m during the spring and summer was extremely low, consistent with observations that the ongoing phytoplankton bloom was being stored or recycled in the upper-water column; (2) A major pulse of biogenic silica export occurred in the fall, just as ice was reforming. The correlation of this event with lithogenous particles, excess Fe, and with the early breakout of katabatic winds suggests that this event might be related to Fe fertilization of diatom production and export; (3) The largest flux of organic matter during 1996–1997 was carried by the pteropod Limacina helicina and was observed at both moorings under the ice in the late fall, just after the diatom pulse. Although it is difficult to estimate the proportion of these organisms that were swimmers contaminating the flux, we believe that a significant fraction settled into the traps and may represent the die-out of this herbivore population after the suspended POM concentration had dropped to very low levels. Fluxes to the upper traps were much lower than estimates of export flux made by other methods during synoptic ship studies. These differences are discussed and the fluxes are compared with preliminary data from the ROAVERRS trap program, which was simultaneously deployed in the Ross Sea.
Development without Institutions: Ersatz Medicine and the Politics of Everyday Life in Rural North India

In north India, unregulated medical practice is considered by many to be a sign of the failure of institutional rationality and “backward” quality of rural life. However, the work of self-made doctors can also be seen to engage key elements of institutional rationality as it is interwoven with the structure and ethos of development. This article explores what these practitioners and their work suggest about the imagination of institutions in rural India and the kinds of power this invokes. Through mimesis of key practices (namely, forms of talk and use of injections), self-made doctors tap into the authority of legitimate institutions to occupy lacunae in state health structures and redress (even as they reproduce) effects of privatization and repeated temporary health measures. At the same time, everyday elements of these practices demonstrate that institutional legitimacy can only be borrowed by those already in positions of authority (on the basis of caste status and political leadership), challenging ideals of equality that underlie health-related development efforts.
The conceptual integration of planning and sustainability: an investigation of planners in the United States

The author reports the results of a survey of more than five hundred local planners in the United States. The purpose of the survey was to measure the extent to which an ecological definition of sustainable development is reflected in planners' views and opinions. Through statistical and other quantitative analyses of the results of the survey, it was found that the conceptual integration of sustainability is most related to the planners' academic background, the state public policy context in which they work, and their general level of support for the concept. Although there is much consistency between planners' views and sustainability there remain several areas of conceptual conflict, primarily in relation to nonurban issues (that is, agriculture and natural open space) and private market forces that affect the use of land.
Predicting anxiety during dental treatment using patients'self-reports: Less is more

ABSTRACT Background Self-reported dental fear measures seldom are used in clinical practice to assess patients' fears. This study examined how well dental fear measures predicted anxious behaviors displayed during dental treatment. Methods One hundred eight adult patients (54 percent female) in a periodontology clinic completed several paper-and-pencil demographic, dental fear and general anxiety measures before treatment. Dental practitioners, blinded to their patients' responses, rated their patients' anxiety during treatment on a series of 100-millimeter visual analog scales. Results Higher Dental Fear Survey scores, younger age, more invasive treatment type and previous avoidance of dental care because of a bad experience all were predictive of greater observed anxiety. Neither self-reported nor observed anxiety was affected by previous experience with a particular practitioner or treatment. Conclusions Dentists may assess patients' anxiety quickly and accurately with the Dental Fear Survey or a similar measure, as well as by asking patients about their current dental attendance and previous dental experiences.
Static facial suspension with Surgisis ES (Enhanced Strength) sling.

Background: Static suspension procedures stabilize and support paralyzed facial muscles and enhance facial symmetry, appearance, mastication, and speech production in patients with facial palsy. A variety of autografts and allografts have been used for static facial suspension, but each has its limitations, and few studies document the efficacy or benefit of one substance over another. Xenograft tissue scaffoldings potentially offer both the compatibility of autografts and the convenience of allografts. Objective: Pilot study to evaluate efficacy of Surgisis ES (Enhanced Strength) static facial suspension in a series of six patients with facial paralysis. Methods: Retrospective chart review, illustrative case series, and review of the literature. Results: Six patients with facial paralysis were treated with the Surgisis ES facial sling procedure. Four patients achieved satisfactory results after the initial procedure. One patient was displeased with the esthetic outcome and required a revision procedure to increase the tautness of the implant. In the initial four cases, the sling was tunneled subcutaneously and sutured to the muscle. In two cases, the sling was tunneled subcutaneously and subperiosteally, thereby suspending all the soft tissue in the midface. Conclusion: Static facial suspension with Surgisis ES improved cosmesis and function in this limited pilot study. In particular, a two-plane dissection technique provided excellent results. Further studies need to be conducted to evaluate the ongoing benefit over time.
Real-time 3-D face tracking and modeling from awebcam

We first infer a 3-D face model from a single frontal image using automatically extracted 2-D landmarks and deforming a generic 3-D model. Then, for any input image, we extract feature points and track them in 2-D. Given these correspondences, sometimes noisy and incorrect, we robustly estimate the 3-D head pose using PnP and a RANSAC process. As the head moves, we dynamically add new feature points to handle a large range of poses. When the tracker gets lost, due to motion blur or occlusions, the system re-initializes by matching feature points to the reference frontal image feature points. Our system runs in real-time (>15Hz) on a standard CPU with a GPU card. We present results on stored video and will present a live demo, showing excellent tracking under large motion, fast movement, occlusion and facial expression variations. We also show comparative results with the ground truth BU head tracking dataset.
Is Depressed Myocyte Contractility Centrally Involved in Heart Failure

This review examines the evidence for and against the hypothesis that abnormalities in cardiac contractility initiate the heart failure syndrome and drive its progression. There is substantial evidence that the contractility of failing human hearts is depressed and that abnormalities of basal Ca 2+ regulation and adrenergic regulation of Ca 2+ signaling are responsible. The cellular and molecular defects that cause depressed myocyte contractility are not well established but seem to culminate in abnormal sarcoplasmic reticulum uptake, storage, and release. There are also strong links between Ca 2+ regulation, Ca 2+ signaling pathways, hypertrophy, and heart failure that need to be more clearly delineated. There is not substantial direct evidence for a causative role for depressed contractility in the initiation and progression of human heart failure, and some studies show that heart failure can occur without depressed myocyte contractility. Stronger support for a causal role for depressed contractility in the initiation of heart failure comes from animal studies where maintaining or improving contractility can prevent heart failure. Recent clinical studies in humans also support the idea that beneficial heart failure treatments, such as β-adrenergic antagonists, involve improved contractility. Current or previously used heart failure treatments that increase contractility, primarily by increasing cAMP, have generally increased mortality. Novel heart failure therapies that increase or maintain contractility or adrenergic signaling by selectively modulating specific molecules have produced promising results in animal experiments. How to reliably implement these potentially beneficial inotropic therapies in humans without introducing negative side effects is the major unanswered question in this field.
The maintenance of the energized membrane state and its relation to active transport in Escherichia coli.

Abstract 1. 1. An ATPase mutant of Escherichia coli and two partial revertants of that mutant were examined for the ability to generate a high energy membrane state with d -lactate or ATP, as measured by the quenching of the fluorescent dye quinacrine. 2. 2. All three strains showed reductions in the aerobically-driven quenching of fluorescence compared to the wild type, but the reduction could be reversed by the addition of either N , N ′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide or the crude soluble ATPase of the wild type. 3. 3. The mutant exhibited a decreased ability to accumulate sugars and amino acids and showed an increased permeability to protons. 4. 4. One partial revertant showed a slight increase in active transport and a slight decrease in proton permeability. 5. 5. The other partial revertant showed a large increase in transport ability and a large decrease in proton permeability. 6. 6. A model is proposed in which the conformation of the Mg 2+ -ATPase is important in the utilization of energy derived from the electron transport chain and this function is independent of the catalytic activity of the Mg 2+ -ATPase.
Laser surgery of port wine stains using local vaccum pressure: Changes in calculated energy deposition (Part II)

Background and Objectives: Application of local vacuum pressure to human skin during laser irradiation results in less absorption in the epidermis and more light delivered to targeted vessels with an increased blood volume. The objective of the present numerical study is to assess the effect of applying local vacuum pressure on the temperatures of the epidermis and small vessels during port wine stain (PWS) laser treatment. Study Design/ Materials and Methods: Mathematical models of light deposition and heat diffusion are used to compute absorbed energy and temperature distributions of skin and blood vessels with different diameters (10–60 mm) at various depths (200–800 mm) exposed to laser irradiation under atmospheric and vacuum pressures. Results: Under 50 kPa (15 in Hg) vacuum pressure, peak temperatures at the inner walls of small diameter vessels (10–30 mm) located 200–300 mm below the skin surface are � 108C higher than those under atmospheric pressure, and peak temperatures in the epidermis of patients with skin phototype II are � 58C lower. In patients with darker skin phototype (IV), the peak temperature at the inner wall of a 10 mm diameter vessel located 200 mm below the skin surface is � 58C higher than that under atmospheric pressure, and the peak temperature in the epidermis is � 108C lower. Conclusions: Additional energy deposition in a larger blood volume permits higher temperatures to be achieved at vessel walls in response to laser irradiation. While more energy is deposited in every vessel, temperature gains in small diameter vessels (10–30 mm) are greater, increasing the likelihood of irreversible thermal damage to such vessels. In addition, temperatures in the epidermis decrease because less energy is absorbed therein due to reduced epidermal thickness and concentration of melanin per unit area. Lasers Surg. Med. 39:118–127, 2007. 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Sucralfate for radiation mucositis: Results of a double-blind randomized trial☆

Abstract Purpose: To determine if addition of the ulcer-coating polysaccharide sucralfate could improve symptomatic relief of radiation mucositis over a popular combination of antacid, diphenhydramine, and viscous lidocaine alone. Methods and Materials: A double-blind study was conducted in which nurses and pharmacists coded patient groups and distributed medication in a manner blinded to both the patients and physicians. Eligible patients receiving radiation to the head and neck and/or chest sites that included the esophagus were randomized to a standard combination of antacid, diphenhydramine, and viscous lidocaine vs. the same solution plus sucralfate. Eligible patients were those receiving >40 Gy at 1.8 Gy/fraction, one fraction/day, five fractions/week. Participating patients were stratified between chest, small field head and neck, and large field head and neck. The patients subjective evaluation of throat soreness and relief with medication was elicited as well as physician observations and smears for Candidiasis screening. Medication was prescribed when the patient became symptomatic and concomitant use of other locally effective nonstudy agents was not allowed. The ability to eat various consistency of foods was graded 0–5, with 5 indicating no compromise of ability to ingest a food compared to baseline. Statistical analysis included mean + SD for food and soreness scores, paired t -test, and two-way analyses of variance to evaluate effects of site and treatment group on the changes in scores. Results: Over 2 years, 111 patients were entered. Because some withdrew and others did not require medication, results are presented for evaluable patients in each category. Mild adverse effects from the medication solution (usually mouth discomfort) were reported by Conclusions: A trend (that was not statistically significant) of less severe radiation mucositis was noted for patients receiving sucralfate in addition to the combination of viscous lidocaine, diphenhydramine, and antacid for non-ulcerative radiation mucositis.
Detailed concussion symptom analysis in a paediatric ED population

Primary objective: To examine the frequency of acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) symptoms in children using a concussion symptom inventory and to identify which symptoms are most useful in identifying mTBI. It was hypothesized that symptoms associated with mTBI are more common in children with head injury than orthopaedic injury and certain symptoms are more useful than others in identifying mTBI.Research design: Prospective case-control study conducted in a paediatric trauma centre emergency department.Methods and procedures: Children of 6–18 years old with head injury or a minor extremity injury were enrolled. Symptoms were assessed using a graded symptom checklist. Symptom frequency was compared using a chi-square test. The association between individual symptoms with AMS was evaluated with logistic regression analysis.Main outcomes and results: Children with head injury displayed more frequent symptoms than controls. Head-injured cases with altered mental status (AMS) demonstrated the most freq...
The reflex and mechanical response of the inspiratory muscles to an increased airflow resistance.

Abstract Diaphragm and external intercostal motor units were monitored in anesthetized-intact, vagotomized (V x ), rhizotomized (R x , T 1 -T 12 & C 4 -C 7 ), and V x -R x cats to determine the role of information from the lungs, chest wall, and diaphragm in the reflex response to an increased inspiratory airflow resistance. v t , /.V i , Pes and inspiratory work were simultaneously monitored. The motor responses of the external intercostals to the loading were (1) an increase in the rate of unit activity, (2) earlier firing time, (3) extended firing time, and (4) recruitment of new units. Vagal information contributes to (1) and (4) and is responsible for (3). Thoracic dorsal root information contributes to (1) and (4) and is responsible for (2). All components of the loading response were eliminated after both the vagi and thoracic dorsal roots were sectioned. The motor responses of the diaphragm to loading were (1) and (3); both were eliminated by vagotomy. There was an increase in dPes dt during the loaded inspiration which was sufficient to maintain the inspiratory work rate, even though dV dt was decreased. With all afferent pathways sectioned (loading reflex absent), the inspiratory work rate was still maintained during the loaded inspiration. This suggests that the major portion of the increase in force developed during the loaded inspiration (intact animal) is related to intrinsic properties of the respiratory muscles. The primary function of the “load-compensating” reflex when inspiring against increased airflow resistance seems to be one of providing stability of the rib cage.
TEACHER CANDIDATES' ACCURACY OF BELIEFS REGARDING CHILDHOOD INTERVENTIONS

The authors examined the beliefs of 351 teacher candidates, from various levels of training, regarding the effectiveness of potential interventions for childhood disorders. They were primarily interested in participants' responses to three categories of interventions: (a) evidence-based, (b) controversial, and (c) primarily anecdotal. They found that the participants' endorsement levels across three types of disorders (autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], and dyslexia) varied but not in a consistent manner, with only a few noticeable trends across interventions. Furthermore, respondents tended to endorse interventions, whether evidence-based or not, without admitted prior exposure to information about them. The results suggest that more attention should be paid to teaching critical evaluation skills as a part of preliminary training of future educators. The potential for practicing teachers, who often serve as a readily available consultant for parents of children with disabilities, to...
An interactive 2-D power-line modeling and simulation tool

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory's Power-Line unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Modeling and Simulation (ARL-PLUMS) is a tool for estimating and analyzing quasi-static electric and magnetic fields due to power lines. This tool consists of an interactive 2-D graphical user interface (GUI) and a compute engine that can be used to calculate and visualize the E-Field and H-Field due to as many as seven conductors (two 3-phase circuits and a ground wire). ARL-PLUMS allows the user to set the geometry of the lines and the load conditions on those lines, and then calculate Ey, Ez, Hy, or Hz along a linear path or cutting plane, or in the form of a movie. The path can be along the ground or in the air to simulate the fields that might be observed, for example, by a robotic vehicle or a UAV. ARL-PLUMS makes several simplifying assumptions in order to allow simulations to be completed on a laptop PC interactively. In most cases, the results are excellent, providing a "90% solution" in just a few minutes of total modeling and simulation time. This paper describes the physics used by ARL-PLUMS, including the simplifying assumptions and the 2-D Method of Moments solver. Examples of electric and magnetic fields for different wire configurations, including typical 3-phase distribution and transmissions lines, are provided. Comparisons to similar results using a full 3-D model are also shown, and a discussion of errors that may be expected from the 2-D simulations is provided.
Colonic perforation following polypectomy of a gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma masquerading as a colon polyp.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the predominant site for primary extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), accounting for 5–10% of all extranodal disease. A 74-year-old man underwent colonoscopy for a positive fecal occult blood test. Colonoscopy revealed a 3.5-cm polyp in the descending colon and was removed by snare cautery polypectomy. Post-polypectomy site showed a 0.3–0.5-cm mucosal defect. Five endoclips were applied to close the mucosal defect. The patient remained stable during subsequent intensive monitoring and never required surgical intervention. Pathology of the polyp revealed follicular lymphoma (FL) involving the lamina propria of the mucosa with extension into the submucosa. The patient had no systemic symptoms, and staging for NHL with contrast computerized tomography of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis revealed no evidence suggestive of lymphoma. Approximately 6–20% of all primary GI-NHL are in the colon. The frequency of GI-FL accounts for 1–3.6% of all GI-NHL. After a search of the current literature, there have been no cases of a follicular lymphoma presenting solely as an isolated colon polyp. Likewise, bowel perforation due to polypectomy of such polyps has never been cited. Retrospectively, the diagnosis and extent of the polyp could have been established using endoscopic end-to-end forceps biopsy and/or endoscopic ultrasound with a radial scanning catheter probe and fine-needle aspiration of the lesion. Such a diagnosis could have changed the strategy for endoscopic removal of the polyp. Our case is interesting because it is the first report of a follicular lymphoma presenting as a single isolated colon polyp involving all layers of the colonic mucosa.
Effect of fall ethephon application on flower development in ‘Italian’ prune

Abstract Ethephon at 0 or 500 mg 1−1 was applied to cultivar ‘Italian’ prune trees at 50% defoliation. Growth of flower buds of cultivars ‘Italian’ and ‘Brooks’ prune trees was measured during winter and early spring. Developing buds were sectioned to observe the development of the reproductive organs and vascular tissues. Ovule longevity, using fluorescence microscopy, was determined over a 2-week period after anthesis. Flower bud growth began earlier for untreated ‘Italian’ buds when compared with ethephon-treated buds. Terminal buds of both untreated and treated trees began growth before the first and second laterals. The growth rate did not differ between ethephon-treated and untreated flower buds of ‘Italian’ trees. Ethephon-treated buds had retarded pistil and vascular tissue development, in contrast to untreated ‘Italian’ buds. Ovule longevity in ‘Brooks’ during 2 weeks after anthesis was similar at the terminal and second lateral positions on a spur. Ovule longevity in ‘Italian’ flowers at lateral positions on spurs decreased more rapidly than in the terminal flower. Within 1 week after anthesis, 40% of second lateral flowers sampled had no viable ovules. Ethephon-treated ‘Italian’ trees had viable ovules in buds at all positions for the duration studied. However, at anthesis, only 1.2–1.3 ovules were viable in the flowers. Poor fruit set in ‘Italian’ prune trees is now also thought to be a function of the short ovule longevity of certain flowers.
Effect of Ag addition on the structural and electrical properties of ITO powder compact

Abstract Nanocrystalline ITO-Ag powders were prepared using a coprecipitation method. Surface modified silver nanoparticles were mixed with the indium tin hydroxide precursor before the sintering process. The ITO-Ag nanocomposite powder was formed into pellets by uniaxial pressing process. The effect of addition of silver to the electrical and structural properties of ITO powder compact was studied. The relative density of the metal filled composite ITO-Ag powder compact is higher than the pure ITO powder compact. The result may be attributed to the melted silver eventually fills the void space between agglomerate pores and hence enhances the interconnection between nanocrystalline ITO powders. The crystal phase and particle size of ITO powder and ITO-Ag powder were measured by powder X-ray diffraction and the surface morphology of powder compact was investigated using a scanning electron microscope.
Paths of community integration

This article raises new questions about the process of migration integration into a new community. What are the paths of integration?And what makes a difference in the paths that are taken? The maj...
Ostertagiasis in the cow and weaned calf in the northeastern USA.

Abstract Most gastrointestinal nematode infections of cattle in the northeast USA are combinations of Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora. These infections are usually of little consequence in adult cattle because of immunity and consequent low levels of infection. Some work has been done on the effects of infection on milk production but the results are equivocal. Clinical ostertagiasis in calves can lead to mortality. Such outbreaks are often associated with situations where calves are pastured at an early age onto special calf pastures that are used consistently for this purpose. Subclinical ostertagiasis is more usual in this region where light infections become established in calves with no obvious clinical signs. Such infections exact a toll on productivity in the form of decreased weight gains, decreased carcass quality, reduced nitrogen balance and negative effects on post-absorptive protein metabolism. Subclinical infections can also cause transient suppression of cell-mediated immune responses in calves. Increases in fecal worm egg counts of cows have been shown to occur during the spring months and these may contribute to increased contamination of pastures. Ostertagia infective larvae overwinter successfully on pasture and can persist until midsummer. Typical egg production patterns in calves involve a prepatent period, after introduction to pasture in mid to late May, of approximately 3 weeks. Peak egg production occurs at about 6–8 weeks and is followed by a gradual decline in egg counts into the fall. Hypobiosis is very apparent in this region and is most pronounced in late fall (October–November). Most of the winter population of Ostertagia in cattle are hypobiotic fourth stage larvae and there appears to be a gradual resumption of development in the spring. Type II ostertagiasis is rare. Infective larvae build up on pasture over the summer and there can be significant numbers available to calves in the fall. These larvae can cause pathologic damage in the abomasum as reflected by marked increases in plasma pepsinogen levels in these calves.
71 W (19.7 W/mm) SiC BJTs for long-pulse UHF radar applications

In this paper, we present 71 W SiC bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) using state of the art technology. The devices were fabricated on a commercial n-type 4H–SiC substrate using a double-mesa etch and interdigitated emitter–base finger design. When operating under common-emitter configuration and long pulse RF conditions of 15 ms pulse width and 25% duty cycle, the packaged devices without internal matching exhibited 8.5 dB power gain and 71 W output power with a 50.7% power added efficiency (PAE) at 500 MHz. The power density is 19.7 W/mm normalized to total emitter finger length. The normally-off characteristic and superior long pulse RF performance makes these SiC transistors promising for use in compact power amplifiers in long-pulse UHF radar systems.
World droughts in the new millennium from AVHRR-based vegetation health indices

The new millennium has started with a series of large-area droughts which have had grim consequences for the affected countries and regions. The enormous impacts of the 2000 and 2001 droughts were experienced on both physical and psychological levels, in part because no large-scale drought occurred in 1999. In some regions, severe drought continued for two years in a row.
Effects of ammonia on bicarbonate transport in the cortical collecting duct.

Both acidosis and hypokalemia stimulate renal ammoniagenesis, and both regulate urinary proton and potassium excretion. We hypothesized that ammonia might play an important role in this processing ...