cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Successful long-term outcome using existing native cutaneous ureterostomy for renal transplant drainage.

Purpose: We report our long-term experience with a preexisting native cutaneous ureterostomy via an ipsilateral transplant ureteral native ureterostomy for transplant drainage without native nephrectomy.Materials and Methods: Between 1993 and 1998, 5 patients without a usable bladder had undergone previously urinary diversion via cutaneous ureterostomy. All patients had a well functioning cutaneous ureterostomy for a mean plus or minus standard deviation of 18 ± 12 years before renal transplantation. No patient had a history of stomal stenosis, recent urinary tract infection or pyelonephritis.Results: All 5 patients continued to have a functioning renal transplant at last mean followup of 36 ± 6.6 months. Complications included stomal retraction due to postoperative weight gain requiring revision in 2 cases and ureteroureteral anastomotic stenosis treated with endopyelotomy in 1. Mean serum creatinine at last followup was 1.5 ± 0.6 mg./dl.Conclusions: Of the complications that we present only 1 may be att...
Cytotoxic suppression of acquired factor VIII:C inhibitors

Autoantibodies directed against factor VIII:C (FVIII:C) are associated with serious and often fatal bleeding. Efforts to suppress or abolish these antibodies with cytotoxic agents are frequently successful if antibody titer is not too high or there is an associated disease that undergoes remission. Corticosteroids alone may hasten antibody disappearance in almost half of patients, and cyclophosphamide is useful in-those who are resistant to steroids administered alone or in combination. Patients refractory to these regimens may respond to a more aggressive approach using combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, prednisone, and vincristine. Unfortunately, because of the rarity of this disorder, randomized, controlled trials have not been conducted either to compare treatments directly or to examine the factors presaging favorable outcomes. Recently, however, a multicenter trial comparing prednisone, cyclophosphamide, and the combination has been initiated, and some preliminary data from this investigation are presented. Approaches to the recognition and clinical management of this disorder also are described.
Decaying turbulence in an active-grid-generated flow and comparisons with large-eddy simulation

Measurements of nearly isotropic turbulence downstream of an active grid are performed as a high-Reynolds-number (Re λ ≃720) update of the Comte-Bellot & Corrsin data set. Energy spectra at four downstream distances from the grid, ranging from x/M = 20 to x/M = 48, are measured and documented for subsequent initialization of, and comparison with, large-eddy simulations (LES). Data are recorded using an array of four X-wire probes which enables measurement of filtered velocities, filtered in the streamwise (using Taylor's hypothesis) and cross-stream directions. Different filter sizes are considered by varying the separation between the four probes. Higher-order statistics of filtered velocity are quantified by measuring probability density functions, and hyper-flatness and skewness coefficients of two-point velocity increments. The data can be used to study the ability of LES to reproduce both spectral and higher-order statistics of the resolved velocity field. In this study, the Smagorinsky, dynamic Smagorinsky, and dynamic mixed nonlinear models are considered. They are implemented in simulations of decaying isotropic turbulence using a pseudospectral code with initial conditions that match the measured energy spectra at x/ M = 20
ESTROGEN RECEPTOR EXPRESSION IN THE FACIAL NUCLEUS OF ADULT HAMSTERS : DOES AXOTOMY RECAPITULATE DEVELOPMENT?

Testosterone propionate (TP) augments hamster facial motoneuron regeneration following axonal injury by an androgen-mediated mechanism. Although many of the trophic properties of TP are androgenic, TP can be metabolized to estradiol (E). We have recently shown that E administered in supraphysiological doses can also enhance facial nerve regeneration. The mechanism by which E alters nerve regeneration is unknown. The recent discovery of transient estrogen receptor (ER) expression in the developing rat facial motor nucleus (FMN), coupled with the concept that regeneration may recapitulate development, has led to the hypothesis that facial nerve injury may transiently induce expression of ER in the adult hamster FMN or one of its chief afferents, the principal nucleus of the trigeminal nerve (Nu5). In the present study, this hypothesis was tested using steroid hormone autoradiographic procedures. The right facial nerve was injured in castrated or castrated plus TP adult hamsters. A gonadally intact, nonaxtomized group of hamsters was also included to examine constitutive expression of ER in the FMN or Nu5. The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN; positive control), FMN, and Nu5, were qualitatively and quantitatively examined for the presence of ER. As expected, ER were present in the PVN-positive control in all groups. ER were neither present nor induced with facial nerve injury or TP administration in either the FMN or Nu5. Alternate mechanisms by which E enhancement of facial nerve regeneration without ER might be explained are discussed.
Increased queen-like behaviour of workers in large colonies of the sweat bee Lasioglossum zephyrum

Abstract Observations were made on Lasioglossum zephyrum colonies containing from one to 17 workers. In experiment I, the most dominant workers in larger colonies exhibited more queen-like characteristics in their interactions with nestmates than did those in smaller colonies. In experiment II, a higher proportion of workers in large than in small colonies were willing to mate with males. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the queen's ability to suppress queen-like behaviour in workers declines with increasing colony size.
Comparison of the sequences of macro- and micronuclear DNA of Tetrahymena pyriformis

Macro- and micronuclei were isolated from Tetrahymena pyriformis (Syngen 1, strain WH-6) and their DNAs compared by isopycnic centrifugation in neutral and alkaline CsCl, by analysis of thermal denaturation properties and by molecular hybridization. Unlike the situation observed in Stylonychia the buoyant densities and thermal denaturation patterns of Tetrahymena macro- and micronuclear DNAs were virtually identical—the only observable differences bordering on the limits of resolution of these techniques. DNA was isolated from the two nuclei which had been labelled with different radioactive isotopes (i.e. 14C-thymidine and 3H-thymidine), and the renaturation kinetics of mixtures of macro- and micronuclear DNA were examined using a single-strand specific deoxyribonuclease (S1). Renaturation kinetics obtained using varying ratios of macro- and micronuclear DNA suggested that 80–90% of the sequences present in micronuclei were present in similar amounts in macronuclei. However, careful analyses of the renaturation kinetics indicate that approximately 10–20% of the sequences found in micronuclei are probably absent in macronuclei, and that most of these sequences are probably moderately repetitive (100 copies per genome or less). These findings place severe constraint on possible models concerning the structure of the Tetrahymena macronucleus, and are very different from the situation observed in Stylonychia where it has been suggested that only a small percentage of the sequences in micronuclei are present in significant amounts in macronuclei. Nonetheless, these results along with those in Stylonychia can be taken as an indication that the loss or under-replication of some DNA sequences accompanies macronuclear differentiation in ciliates.
Influence of alpha tocopherol on implantation in old rats.

Summary1. The implantation rate in female rats on a purified diet containing about .1-.4 mg of tocopherols per 100 g diet was compared with the implantation rates in animals on the same diet receiving single and continuous supplements of synthetic dl alpha tocopherol acetate.2. Failure of implantation was observed after the eighth month in females without tocopherol supplements. With continuous tocopherol administration, the implantation rate was normal after one year. Single post-mating tocopherol supplements increased the implantation rate in older rats significantly. The requirements necessary for successful implantation in older rats vary widely and increase steeply with age.3. Infections of the uterus and the tubes were frequently observed in the deficient rats, but not in those on the complete diet. Presence of infection does not explain the higher implantation rate after single post-mating tocopherol doses.4. The changes leading to the failure of implantation are prevented, but once present, only p...
Percolation and Gibbs states multiplicity for ferromagnetic Ashkin-Teller models on

For a region of the nearest-neighbour ferromagnetic Ashkin-Teller spin systems on , we characterize the existence of multiple Gibbs states via percolation. In particular, there are multiple Gibbs states if and only if there exists percolation of any of the spin types (i.e. the magnetized states are characterized by percolation of the dominant species). This result was previously known only for the Potts models on .
Three-dimensional Finite-difference Borehole Wave Propagation Anisotropic Medium

In this paper we developed 3-D finite difference method to simulate using a scaled borehole model in phenolite solid. It also used to wave propagations in an anisotropic medium. The finite difference results agree excellently with the analytic solutions of a point force interprete the field data, which shear wave velocity discrepancy occures. source in the transversely isotropic medium. The finite difference synthetics are also compared with ultrasonic lab measurements in Finite Difference Method in an Anisotrogic Medium a scaled borehole drilled along X axis in an orthorhombic phenolite solid. Both monopole and dipole logs agree well. Wave propagation in an anisotropic elastic medium can be deThe disagreement between the shear wave velocity from the scribed by the equation of motion: Stoneley wave inversion and the direct shear wave log velocity from field data is beyond the errors in the measurements. It is proven that the formation permeability is not the cause of the discrepancy. (1)
Tracking of Probiotic Bifidobacteria in the Intestine

It is almost a century since it was first proposed that maintaining a high population of bifidobacteria in the large intestine is associated with good intestinal health and longevity. In the ensuing time, numerous studies have substantiated this link between good intestinal health and high bifidobacteria numbers. However, there is still no really convincing data available to support a specific health claim for ingesting any particular strain of bifidobacteria. In clinical feed studies carried out to date with bifidobacteria, very little knowledge was available on the ecological suitability of probiotic strains to the intestinal conditions within a particular group of test individuals. This lack of knowledge is a significant factor hindering proper scientific analysis of the data generated, and also the rational selection of suitable probiotic strains. This review will address advances made in the methodologies for detecting, differentiating and phylogenetically characterizing bifidobacteria. These methodologies will provide the necessary tracking and characterization tools to investigate the relationship between different bifidobacteria and different intestinal ecological conditions. These studies are necessary to direct selection of bifidobacteria with the desired efficacy for probiotic uses.
No-load sirolimus with tacrolimus and steroids is safe and effective in renal transplantation

Abstract Aim Basiliximab (BX) induction, tacrolimus (TAC), and steroids have sharply reduced acute cellular rejection at our institution. However, late graft loss has continued, for which sirolimus (SL) was introduced into the protocol. Methods From July 1, 2001 to December 31, 2003, 152 live donor (LD) renal transplant recipients received TAC (level 15 to 20 ng/mL) and steroids, with BX induction. One hundred twenty-two patients (Group 1) received SL (3 mg/d African-americans; 2 mg/d for others) starting on days 2 and 3. The SL level was adjusted to 8 to 10 ng/d, usually by weeks 3 to 4 posttransplant. The TAC doses were then progressively reduced. Records were reviewed for demographics, immunosuppressive drug levels, serum cholesterol and blood pressure, and complications. Graft and patient survival rates were calculated. Comparison was made to 53 LD recipients transplanted from July 1, 1998, to June 30, 2001 (Group 2) receiving BX, steroids and TAC, without SL. Recipients of deceased donor kidneys were excluded because of variability in kidney quality, ischemic time, and patient management. Results Demographics were similar between groups: African Americans, 25% to 35%; mean age 36 years; mean HLA mismatch 3.7. Wound problems and infection were minimal in both groups. Mean serum creatinine and cholesterol and systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured periodically up to 1 year were similar, as was the incidence of rejection. In 25% of patients, SL was discontinued. Conclusions Gradual introduction of SL appears to be associated with minimal wound problems. With more aggressive reduction in TAC, better renal function, and better long-term graft survival may be attainable. We currently lower TAC levels to 5 ng/mL by 3 months.
Determining the influence of wind-wave breaking on the dissipation of the turbulent kinetic energy in the upper ocean and on the dependence of the turbulent kinetic energy on the stage of wind-wave development

New experimental data that make it possible to explain and predict the observed variability of turbulent-energy dissipation in the upper ocean are discussed. For this purpose, the dependence of the energy dissipation rate of breaking wind waves on their propagation velocity (see [1]) is used. The turbulent-energy dissipation values obtained earlier in [2, 3] by a direct method are compared to the results of radar measurements of individual breaking events presented in [1]. On the basis of this comparison, a strong dependence of the turbulent-energy dissipation value on the stage of wind-wave development, which is characterized by the ratio U a /c p (U a is the wind speed and c p is the phase speed of the peak of the wind-wave spectrum) is confirmed. This dependence was found earlier purely empirically. Moreover, it is shown that the theoretically obtained dependence (c p /U a )4, does not contradict the available empirical data. The results of this study opens possibilities for scientifically substantiated calculations of greenhouse-gas exchange (specifically, CO2 exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere).
Providing voice service continuity in evolved packet systems

The evolved packet system is being standardized and developed to provide IP-based mobile data services as well as traditional voice service. As voice service is still deemed one of the key EPS services, mobile operators have to make sure subscribers enjoy the same quality of user experience for voice service while new IP-based data services become available. In this article we review the three solutions, single radio voice call continuity, circuit switched fallback, and voice over Long Term Evolution via generic access, for providing voice service continuity in EPS. The impacts of these solutions on the user experience are analyzed and compared in terms of call interruption, call setup delay, impact on data services, and device battery consumption.
Factors Related to The Occurrence of Hyperglycemia in Patients Receiving Total Parenteral Nutrition

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To identify the relative contribution of potential risk factors commonly thought to cause hyperglycemia in total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The purpose of this study was to identify the relative contribution of potential risk factors commonly thought to cause hyperglycemia in patients fed by TPN. Potential risk factors for hyperglycemia were recorded and evaluated on 98 adult subjects receiving TPN. Forty-nine subjects were hyperglycemic, defined as the occurrence of blood glucose greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL for two consecutive days. Data from each of the 49 hyperglycemic subjects was compared with data from 49 subjects who did not become hyperglycemic. Occurrence of (or presence of) potential risk factors were recorded for hyperglycemic and normoglycemic subjects over the two day period when hyperglycemia occurred. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the predictive value and relative risk of excess glucose infusion rate, the presence of infection, diabetes (type I or II), excess calories provided by TPN and steroid medication in predicting occurrence of hyperglycemia. Scatterplots and correlation coefficients were used to test for independent associations. Among the potential risk factors, presence of diabetes (type I or II) and steroids were most predictive of hyperglycemia. A patient with diabetes (type I or II) receiving steroids had a 98% predicted probability to develop hyperglycemia. Diabetic patients receiving TPN and steroids should be closely monitored for hyperglycemia.
Specificity of Charge Fluctuation Forces. I

The formation of van der Waals crystals, the formation of polymers, the properties of solubility, and several biological phenomena have raised the question what detailed role the van der Waals forces play in these cases. Given a mixture of several types of molecules or macromolecules contained in a liquid medium, the question at issue is whether van der Waals forces, more precisely and generally, forces due to the interaction of fluctuating charge distributions in one molecule with those in an adjacent molecule, will cause preferential association of identical molecules or macromolecules from among that mixture. The fluctuating charge distributions in question may be due to quantum-mechanical fluctuations of charge distribution of electronic oscillators, as considered by London, Eisenschitz, and Wang, and they may also be due to fluctuations of distributions of mobile protons as investigated by Kirkwood and Shumaker.
Gelation of members of a family of branched anionic heteropolysaccharides produced by certain strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum

The structure of the anionic extracellular slime produced by Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli 8002 has been shown to be unaltered by variation of the Sym plasmid. The polysaccharide is a member of a family of branched-anionic polysaccharides. Rheological studies have demonstrated gelation of members of this family of polysaccharides produced by certain R. leguminosarum strains. Gelation was found to be dependent upon the ionic strength and salt composition of the sample. Aqueous preparations of the purified polysaccharides did not gel. Thermoversible gels were formed upon addition of salts to the aqueous preparations. Divalent cations were found to be more effective than monovalent cations in promoting gelation. Possible consequences of the gelation of the extracellular polysaccharides, relating to non-specific adhesion of the bacteria to plant roots, water retention in soils, and soil aggregation and stability, are discussed.
Tangent driven interpolative subdivision

This paper explores a new family of 2D interpolating subdivision schemes that calculate subdivision points from tangent specifications. In this approach each level of subdivision drives the curve toward its specified tangents. The paper describes the underlying algorithmic formulation, and outlines a number of variations, which differ in how subdivision points are computed from tangents or in how tangents are derived. The different characteristics of these variations are shown to provide an interesting range of shapes, giving a high degree of artistic control. Each variation is shown to guarantee C1 continuity except for special identifiable cases, and some of these variations can produce circles. A number of examples are explored that demonstrate the power of the approach as a modeling tool for constructing complex curves, and a comparison is made with curves produced by the Kobbelt subdivision scheme.
Devastating complications after brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To report a retrospective chart review of patients who developed recto-urethral fistula (RUF) or several bladder neck contracture (BNC) recurrences after brachytherapy for treating localized prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS In the past 3 years 18 patients with devastating complications after prostate brachytherapy were referred to our centre (RUF in 11, BNC in seven; mean age 63 years, range 60-81). All patients with RUF initially underwent diverting colostomy (six cystoprostatectomy with closure of the fistula, omental interposition and urinary diversion; one prostatectomy, bladder neck closure, fistula closure with omentum flap and continent vesicostomy). Three patients had the fistula closed with gracilis muscle flap using the York-Mason approach (one had a bladder neck closure and suprapubic tube; one elected to have no treatment). All patients with BNC had received three or more procedures to resect or incise their contracture. Four had diversion with a catheterizable segment, two used an indwelling Foley catheter and one uses intermittent catheterization. RESULTS All six patients who had cystoprostatectomy with urinary diversion have had no recurrence of their RUF. All three treated with the York-Mason procedure healed well. One developed recurrent prostate adenocarcinoma and two a secondary neoplasia in the prostate or rectum (leiomyosarcoma and neuroendocrine, respectively). The enterocystoplasty patient developed sepsis after colostomy reversal and subsequently died. In those patients with BNC, the four who underwent urinary diversion fared well; two tolerate the indwelling catheter poorly, and the seventh uses intermittent catheterization with occasional difficulty. CONCLUSIONS Brachytherapy with or without external irradiation can be associated with severe complications. RUF managed with aggressive anterior pelvic exenteration and urinary diversion can be associated with excellent results. The York-Mason procedure in patients with an adequate urinary continence mechanism and bladder dynamics may provide good functional results. The presence of a secondary malignancy in patients deserves further investigation. Many recurrences of a BNC tend be refractory to transurethral resection/incision; indwelling catheters are then poorly tolerated and patients may require a major reconstructive procedure.
Harvesting Auricular Cartilage

. Auricular cartilage has many uses in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. We present a simple method to harvest auricular cartilage with minimal complications, allowing the surgeon to avoid bulky pressure dressings and providing adequate examination of the wound in the immediate postoperative phase.
Effects of Organic Acids on Ion Uptake and Retention in Barley Roots

Effects of several organic acids on ion uptake and retention and on respiration in barley roots having low and high KCl contents were assayed by measurements of K+, Na+, Ca2+, Cl−, and oxygen uptake. Organic acids with high pKa values increase the permeability of roots to ions and decrease respiration when present in sufficient concentrations at pH 5 but have no inhibitory effects at pH 7. Absence of respiratory inhibition in short times and at lower organic acid concentrations, under conditions that immediately produce a permeability increase, indicate that the permeability change is not a result of respiratory inhibition. Effects of formate, acetate, propionate, and glutarate are attributed to entry of undissociated acid molecules into the effective membranes. Lack of a permeability increase with succinate, which has lower distribution coefficients to lipid solvents than do the aliphatic acids, can be explained by failure of sufficient amounts of the hydrophilic succinic acid molecules to penetrate the membranes involved. These experiments suggest that undissociated acid in root membranes can increase permeability of the roots.
Spectrophotometric Observations of the Adsorption of Organosulfur Compounds on Colloidal Silver Nanoparticles

A silver colloid (mean particle size 6 nm) is prepared via photochemical reduction of Ag+ ions. After total silver ion reduction, the colloid exhibits an extraordinarily intense surface plasmon absorption band. The absorption band is strongly damped by small concentrations of carbon disulfide, thiophenol, and diethyl disulfide. Carbon disulfide is irreversibly adsorbed, and so is diethyl disulfide. The irreversible adsorption is attributed to the high reactivity of the nanoparticles due to their low Fermi level potential. It is proposed that this in turn leads to dissociative adsorption of the disulfides onto the silver particles. Weaker damping is observed for thiophene, thiourea, and diethyl sulfide. The damping of the plasmon absorption band is attributed to the electronic distortion of a thin layer within the particle by the adsorbate−particle interaction.
WALKING A THIN LINE : MANAGING CARE FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH ANOREXIA AND BULIMIA

Abstract Anorexia nervosa ranks third among common chronic disorders in adolescents, surpassed only by asthma and obesity. Unfortunately, recent changes in health care and insurance have resulted in fewer resources for these vulnerable clients. Anorexia and bulimia are best managed by a treatment team, but frequently it is the nurse who manages much of the eating-disordered client's care, especially when there is no available team, or when the nurse is the primary care provider or therapist. Nurses can and do care for adolescents with anorexia and bulimia. All it takes is commitment, knowledge, and networking.
Absence of Expression of c-sis and Transforming Growth Factor-β mRNA in Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma

Total RNA was extracted from five malignant fibrous histiocytomas and two benign fibrohistiocytic lesions and assayed for mRNA expressions for transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and c-sis by Northern blot analysis. Production of both of these has been associated with cells of monocyte-macrophage lineage, and these factors have been shown to be important in physiologic mesenchymal cell proliferation. No mRNA expression of either TGF-β or c-sis was identified in any of the fibrohistiocytic tumor samples. The lack of expression of TGF-β and c-sis may be consistent with a nonhistiocytic origin of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, or may reflect transformation- associated loss of the normal molecular mechanisms of mesenchymal proliferation. The absence of c-sis mRNA expression can be reconciled with the prior immunohisto chemical demonstration of platelet-derived growth factor in tumor cells of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Int J Surg Pathol(2):117-122, 1993
Getting the Order Right: Child Support Guidelines and the Cost of Raising Children

This article argues that the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) estimates of parental expenditures on children are an appropriate economic foundation for state child support guidelines. The USDA’s estimates are consistent with the public policy purposes of state guidelines and may improve the extent to which they accomplish federal intent. The article examines the role of valid and reliable child cost estimates in advancing the policy objectives for child support, summarizes the theoretical and empirical challenges of estimating those costs, suggests the limitations of the most widely used estimation methods in relation to the policy purposes described earlier, and evaluates the USDA’s method in relation to those same purposes. The evidence suggests that guidelines based on the USDA’s estimates are more likely than the most commonly used estimates to yield adequate child support orders and to allocate economic responsibility for children appropriately among the custodial parent, the noncustodial parent, and the state.
Should knowledge entail belief

The appropriateness of S5 as a logic of knowledge has been attacked at some length in the philosophical literature. Here one particular attack based on the interplay between knowledge and belief is considered: Suppose that knowledge satisfies S5, belief satisfies KD45, and both the entailment property (knowledge implies belief) and positive certainty (if the agent believes something, she believes she knows it) hold. Then it can be shown that belief reduces to knowledge: it is impossible to have false beliefs. While the entialment property has typically been viewed as perhaps the least controversial of these assumptions, an argument is presented that it can plausibly be viewed as the culprit. More precisely, it is shown that this attack fails if we weaken the entailment property so that it applies only to objective (nonmodal) formulas, rather than to arbitrary formulas. Since the standard arguments in favor of the entailment property are typically given only for objective formulas, this observation suggests that care must be taken in applying intuitions that seem reasonable in the case of objective formulas to arbitrary formulas.
Chemical Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Enzymatic Evaluation of a Dinucleotide Spore Photoproduct Analogue Containing a Formacetal Linker

Spore photoproduct (SP) is the exclusive DNA photodamage product found in bacterial endospores. Its photoformation and repair by a metalloenzyme spore photoproduct lyase (SPL) composes the unique SP biochemistry. Despite the fact that the SP was discovered almost 50 years ago, its crystal structure is still unknown and the lack of structural information greatly hinders the study of SP biochemistry. Employing a formacetal linker and organic synthesis, we successfully prepared a dinucleotide SP isostere 5R-CH(2) SP, which contains a neutral CH(2) moiety between the two thymine residues instead of a phosphate. The neutral linker dramatically facilitates the crystallization process, allowing us to obtain the crystal structure for this intriguing thymine dimer half a century after its discovery. Further ROESY spectroscopic, DFT computational, and enzymatic studies of this 5R-CH(2) SP compound prove that it possesses similar properties with the 5R-SP species, suggesting that the revealed structure truly reflects that of SP generated in Nature.
Torsade de pointes after inhaled pentamidine

The case of a 40-year-old HIV-positive man who had multiple episodes of torsade de pointes is presented. The patient's history was pertinent for the use of inhaled pentamidine the day before admission. His episodes of torsade de pointes were refractory to the usual therapy. His presentation, laboratory work, echocardiography, computed tomography scan, and treatment are reviewed. Physicians should be aware of the association of pentamidine with torsade de pointes.
Thoracic splenosis: Mimicry of a neurogenic tumor

Thoracic splenosis refers to a rare condition of ectopic splenic tissue in the left hemithorax. Patients with this condition are often asymptomatic, with a history of thoracoabdominal trauma to the spleen and left hemidiaphragm. Nodules are usually an incidental finding on chest radiography or computed tomography (CT). Most often, thoracic splenosis is diagnosed intraoperatively. When splenosis is suspected, nuclear scanning methods might aid in preoperative diagnoses, thus avoiding the resection of the benign mass and its operative risks. To date, only 26 cases of thoracic splenosis have been reported in the literature.1 The following is a case report of thoracic splenosis mimicking a neurogenic tumor.
High-performance Sagnac interferometer using cooled detectors for infrared LWIR hyperspectral imaging

An interferometric spectrometer is proposed for low resource LWIR hyperspectral imaging. Scaling from an uncooled LWIR HSI system, we find that signal to noise ratios of 1000 or higher can be achieved with cooled detectors and uncooled optics. Signal flux is high enough to collect high quality data at very high rates (500Hz and above). Sensitivity is limited by the full well of the detector and the spectral resolution for scenes at typical temperatures.
A general RNA motif for cellular transfection

We have developed a selection scheme to generate nucleic acid sequences that recognize and directly internalize into mammalian cells without the aid of conventional delivery methods. To demonstrate the generality of the technology, two independent selections with different starting pools were performed against distinct target cells. Each selection yielded a single highly functional sequence, both of which folded into a common core structure. This internalization signal can be adapted for use as a general purpose reagent for transfection into a wide variety of cell types including primary cells.
Endothelial cell adenylate cyclase: activation by catecholamines and prostaglandin I2+.

Abstract Following incubation of intact vascular endothelial cells with 1 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, and isoproterenol or PGI 2 , cyclic AMP levels increased 4- and 3-fold, respectively. Isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity of cell lysates was selectively inhibited by the β-adrenergic blocking agent propranolol. Catecholamines stimulated adenylate cyclase with the potency series: isoproterenol > epinephrine > norepinephrine. Prostaglandin did not stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in cell lysates, even in the presence of guanine nucleotides or following preincubation of the intact cells with prostaglandins prior to freeze-thaw lysis.
Tighter and Broader Complexity Results for Reconfigurable Models

A number of models allow processors to reconfigure their local connections to create and alter various bus configurations. This reconfiguration enables development of fast algorithms for fundamental problems, many in constant time. We investigate the ability of such models by relating time and processor bounded complexity classes defined for these models to each other and to those of more traditional models. In this work, (1) we tighten the relations for some of the models, placing them more precisely in relation to each other than was previously known (particularly, the Linear Reconfigurable Network and Directed Reconfigurable Network relative to circuit-defined classes), and (2) we include models (Fusing-Restricted Reconfigurable Mesh and Pipelined Reconfigurable Mesh) not previously considered.
Planting Date and Phosphorus Fertilizer Placement Effects on Winter Wheat

Two handing methods of applying P to winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), seed and knife (dual placement), have generally performed similarly when averaged over years and locations. However. performance can vary considerably from year to year, or even between locations. This study was conducted to determine the effect of optimal and delayed date of wheat planting on the performance of seed-applied and knifed P on grain yield. P uptake, and yield components. Four rates of P (0, 11.2, 22.4, and 33.6 kg P ha 1 ) were seed- and knife-applied on a Sharpsburg soil (fine, smectitic, mesic Typic Argiudoll) and Crete soil (fine, smectitic, mesic Pachic Argiustoll) in 1986 and two Crete soils and one Wymore soil (fine, smectitic, mesic Aquertic Argiudoll) in 1987. There were two planting dates in 1986 and three in 1987. All five soils had soil P test levels of low to very low (Bray and Kurtz P1 of 5 to 7mg kg 1 ). While seed and knife application performed similarly with an optimum planting date, seed application was a superior P application method in terms of grain yield and P uptake when planting was delayed. The primary reason for the superiority of seed P application was its ability to stimulate tillering and head formation at the later planting dates. The difference in performance between the two methods of P application was probably related to quicker root access to the fertilizer P in the fall soon after planting. Root access to fertilizer P in the fall influences the number of tillers developed, which determines head number at harvest and final grain yield. Results of this research suggest that, when wheat planting date is delayed, fertilizer P should he applied with the seed for maximum effectiveness.
Micropaleontological Evidence of Prehistoric Hurricane Strikes from Southeastern North Carolina

ABSTRACT Hippensteel, S.P. and Garcia, W.J., 2014. Micropaleontological evidence of prehistoric hurricane strikes from southeastern North Carolina. Nine back barrier marshes from Onslow Bay, North Carolina, were cored to a 3-m depth in search of paleohurricane deposits. Only two marshes, Alligator Bay and Tar Landing Bay, contained sand layers enriched with displaced marine foraminifers indicative of storm deposition. Ten discrete storm layers, representing four storms, were recovered at Tar Landing Bay, and 16 storm deposits, representing five storms, were recovered at Alligator Bay. Radiocarbon analysis indicates these storm layers were all deposited during the last 1500 years. Foraminiferal assemblages from the sediments directly below the coarser-grained storm layers indicate that the paleostorms were depositing marine and beach/dune sediment into a variety of marsh subenvironments and that preservation was not necessarily greater in the high marsh (lower bioturbation) subenvironment. Onslow Bay has s...
Effect of flaxseed supplementation on prostatic carcinoma in transgenic mice

Abstract Objectives To investigate the effects of flaxseed supplementation on prostatic neoplasia in the transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. Methods A total of 135 male TRAMP mice 5 to 6 weeks old were randomized to a control group (AIN-76A diet) or an experimental group (AIN-76A diet plus 5% flaxseed by weight). One half of the mice in each group were treated for 20 weeks and the remainder for 30 weeks. At autopsy, urogenital tissues (four prostatic lobes, seminal vesicles, and emptied bladder), lungs, lymph nodes, and grossly abnormal tissues were collected for histologic evaluation. Results Of the control mice, 100% developed prostate cancer versus 97% of the mice in the flaxseed group. The tumor/urogenital weight was 3.6 ± 0.4 g in the controls versus 1.9 ± 0.2 g in the flaxseed-treated mice (P = 0.0005). At 20 weeks, no significant difference in tumor grade was seen between the two groups; however, at 30 weeks, the flaxseed-treated mice had significantly less aggressive tumors than did the controls (P = 0.01). The prevalence of lung and lymph node metastases was 13% and 16%, respectively, in the control mice versus 5% and 12%, respectively, in the experimental group (difference not significant). After 20 weeks of treatment, cellular proliferation (Ki-67) differed significantly between the control and experimental groups (38.1 ± 2.03 versus 26.2 ± 2.03; P Conclusions A diet supplemented with 5% flaxseed inhibits the growth and development of prostate cancer in the TRAMP model.
How Much Does the Market Value an Improvement in a Product Attribute

A firm contemplating improvements to its product attributes would be interested in the dollar value the market attaches to any potential product modification. In this paper, we derive a measure of market value such that the comparison of the measure against the incremental unit cost of the attribute improvement is key in deciding whether or not the attribute improvement is profitable. Competition from other brands, the potential for market expansion, and heterogeneity in customer preference structures are explicitly modeled using the multinomial logit framework. The analysis yields a closed form expression for the market's value for an attribute improvement MVAI. A key result we obtain is that customers should be differentially weighted based on their probability of purchasing the firm's product. In particular, customers who exhibit a very high or very low probability of choosing the firm's product should receive less weight in detemining MVAI. Because the probability of choice varies across products, the answer to the question of how much the market values an improvement depends on which firm is asking the question. It is shown that customers whose utilities have a greater random component should be weighted less. Furthermore, the measure developed is robust to the influence of outliers in the sample. An empirical illustration of the MVAI measure in the context of a new product development study is provided. The study illustrates the advantages of the proposed measure over currently used approaches and explores the possibility of competitive price reactions.
TAXONOMIC DISTRIBUTION OF COPPER-ZINC SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE IN GREEN ALGAE AND ITS PHYLOGENETIC IMPORTANCE1

Twenty-nine species of green algae (from four classes: Charophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Pleurastrophyceae, and Ulvophyceae, but not the Micromonadophyceae), five species of bryophytes, and four species of vascular plants were tested for the presence of iron, manganese, and copper-zinc superoxide dismutase. Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase was found in members of the Charophyceae, Bryophyta, and Tracheophyta. Manganese and/or iron superoxide dismutase were found in all classes of green algae and most land plants. The presence of the copper-zinc form of superoxide dismutase only in the class of green algae hypothesized to be closest to the land plant progenitors strengthens the argument for that phylogenetic relationship. It also suggests that this form of superoxide dismutase was a vital attribute for the survival of the earliest land plants.
Test structures for characterization of electrooptic waveguide modulators in lithium niobate

A method of determining the critical parameters of waveguide modulators, using a set of test devices fabricated on a single chip, is presented. The five parameters are the depth and lateral Ti diffusion lengths, the peak index change in the waveguides, the electrooptic coefficient, and the buffer layer dielectric constant. The finite element method is used for calculation of optical modes in waveguides with graded refractive index profiles. The integral equation method is used for calculation of the static electric field due to electrodes in a three-layer structure of air, buffer layer, and LiNbO/sub 3/. The test set includes a planar waveguide, Mach-Zehnder modulators, symmetrically perturbed directional couplers, and widened X modulators. Several test chips have been fabricated using different fabrication conditions. The parameter values determined using this method are compared with those reported by other authors. >
Evolution of Student Perception in a Human Centered Interdisciplinary Design Project

Students from the first year Exploration of Engineering Design course in the College of Engineering and students from the second year Industrial Design Studio in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies teamed together to pursue design-build projects based on Assistive Technology Devices for Third World Countries. The teams were formed in such a way as to create a research study to assess the perceptions and outcomes of design teams consisting of only engineers as compared with those of interdisciplinary teams. Two engineering instructors and two industrial design instructors were involved. The paper describes the assistive technology design-build projects and their assessment. Results indicate that interdisciplinary teams produce higher quality designs. The evolution of the students' perceptions as members of the interdisciplinary teams compared with the students' perceptions as members of the engineering only teams is presented. Finally, the direction of future projects and assessment instruments are discussed.
In vitro comparison between Argon Beam Coagulator and Nd:YAG laser in lung contraction therapy.

Background. The Argon Beam Coagulator (ABC) and neodymium: yttrium-aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser are used for lung tissue contraction. Assessing the damage of treated lung tissue is helpful in choosing devices for pulmonary volume reduction by pneumoplastic procedures. Methods. We assessed the damage of in vitro lung lobes resected at operation for pulmonary carcinoma. Samples were irradiated with noncontact Nd: YAG laser and ABC. One hundred forty-four samples obtained from 24 lobes were examined by light microscopy. The lung tissue showing destructive degeneration at the pleura and slight coagulation at the residual parenchyma was defined as showing "air leak pattern" based on a previously reported experiment of the air inflation test. Results. At the power of clinical use (Nd: YAG, 15 W; ABC, 80 W), most of the visceral pleura treated with the Nd: YAG laser was classified as presenting amorphous degeneration, and that treated with ABC showed destructive degeneration. Air leak pattern occurred in all samples treated with ABC. At the power of 40 W, ten (42%) of 24 visceral pleuras irradiated with the Nd: YAG laser were classified as presenting destructive degeneration, and of those irradiated with the ABC, 18 (75%) showed destructive degeneration ( p p Conclusions. The ABC had more potential to damage the pleura and less potential to produce underlying parenchymal coagulation in the lung tissue than did the Nd: YAG laser. This information may be useful in the selection of devices for pulmonary volume reduction by pneumoplastic procedures.
Integration of georegistered information on a virtual globe

In collaborative augmented reality (AR) missions, much georegistered information is collected and sent to a command and control center. This paper describes the concept and prototypical implementation of a mixed reality (MR) based system that integrates georegistered information from AR systems and other sources on a virtual globe. The application can be used for a command and control center to monitor the field operation where multiple AR users are engaging in a collaborative mission. Google Earth is used to demonstrate the system, which integrates georegistered icons, live video streams from field operators or surveillance cameras, 3D models, and satellite or aerial photos into one MR environment.
The relation between pollen exine sculpturing and self-incompatibility mechanisms

In angiosperm pollen the reticulate-perforate exine sculpturing is associated with sporophytic self-incompatibility (S.S.I.) and imperforate and microperforate exine sculpturing is associated with gametophytic self-incompatibility. The earliest unequivocal angiosperm pollen conforms to exine morphology of pollen from plants with S.S.I. The orgin of S.S.I. is hypothesized to have coincided with the appearance of what is now the earliest recognizable angiosperm pollen. Other angiosperm characteristics correlated with S.I., functional stigmatic areas, large showy flowers (or aggregated inflorescences), and passive seed dispersal, provide some insight into the biological aspects of the earliest angiosperms.
The sensory physiology of host-seeking behavior in mosquitoes.

Presentation des aspects comportementaux de la recherche des hotes chez les moustiques. Evaluation des differents mecanismes d'attraction chez l'hote