cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Successful control of MRSA spread in the Netherlands

Due to intensive use of antibiotics, strains of S. aureus have acquired resistance against several antibiotics. Methicillin resistant strains of S. aureus are becoming increasingly frequent worldwide and are associated with higher mortality, longer admissions and larger hospital expenses. In response to this worldwide trend, Dutch hospitals have adopted the search-and-destroy policy. In accordance to this policy, patients with MRSA are rapidly isolated and treated until the infection or colonization has been eradicated. These measures, together with the culturally determined low use of antibiotics in the Netherlands, have lead to one of the lowest prevalences worldwide. This article discusses the most important measures in the Dutch protocol.
Study of the Electroless Deposition Process of Ni-P-Based Ternary Alloys

The effect of plating solution constituents on the deposition rate and deposit composition of electroless Ni-based alloys (Ni-P, Ni-W-P, and Ni-Mo-P) was examined. Na 2 WO 4 additions increase the deposition rate of Ni-P, whereas the addition of Na 2 MoO 4 inhibits deposition. The addition of sodium gluconate to complex molybdate anions can reduce this inhibiting effect. The reactions involved in the electroless deposition of these alloys were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Strong interactions between the cathodic and anodic processes occur. For Ni-Mo-P, introduction of Na 2 MoO 4 into the Ni-P plating solution suppresses both the anodic and cathodic reactions, whereas addition of the Mo-gluconate complex facilitates the electrochemical processes. The different behavior of MoO 2 - 4 and WO 2 - 4 additions to Ni-P plating solutions can be explained in terms of the chemical species present at equilibrium in the two systems.
The Economic Thought of Dr. Janez Evangelist Krek

Dr. Janez Evangelist Krek (1865-1917) was probably one of the most influential national leaders in Slovene history, with a large number of very committed followers. His leadership lay not in the realm of theory but in social action. He felt in himself that his lifetime mission was in his commitment to the reform movement, his quest for social justice and the economic emancipation of the Slovenes. He was a theology professor, an organizer, a politician, and a Representative in the Viennese parliament. His expertise was not in economics; yet his interest in finding an appropriate way to help the peasants and workers forced him to investigate economic factors related to the production and distribution of economic goods and services. This short paper is intended to present some aspects of Krek's criticism of the capitalist system and his personal proposals on how to correct the injustices, as well as how to shape a new social and economic order, at least in his own native land.
Some Consequences of Symmetries of the Strong Interactions

The consequences for the electromagnetic interactions of strange particles of some proposed symmetries of the strong interactions are discussed. A minimal electromagnetic coupling is assumed. It is shown that if the interactions with both $\ensuremath{\pi}$ and $K$ mesons of the nucleon and cascade particle are identical, if one neglects the $n\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\Xi}$ mass difference, and if charge independence is satisfied, then the electromagnetic from factors of the ${\ensuremath{\Lambda}}^{0}$ and ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{0}$, and in particular their magnetic moments, vanish. This is independent of any assumed relation between the $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ and $\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ interactions, such as global symmetry. It is also shown that the same conditions, together with charge conjugation invariance, imply a generalized form of the Pais-Jost-Pugh theorem about processes involving only meson or photon external lines. If there is still more symmetry for the strong interactions, as in the case where the $\ensuremath{\pi}$ interactions are globally symmetric and the $K$ interactions also have this doublet structure, it is shown that the ${K}^{0}$ acts as a completely neutral particle insofar as electromagnetic interactions are concerned.
Preparation and structure of 3D ordered macroporous alloys by PMMA colloidal crystal templating

Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) metal alloys of NixCo1−x (a solid solution) and Mn3Co7 (an intermetallic compound) have been prepared by templated precipitation of mixed metal salts within colloidal crystals of poly(methyl methacrylate) spheres and subsequent chemical conversion of the inorganic precursors.
A least exception logic shell for intelligent systems

In this article, we define an approach that is a significant step towards meeting the requirements for reasoning with incomplete and uncertain information. Least Exception Logic (LEL) handles both parametric and symbolic information and goes far toward satisfying the requirements for default conclusions, nonmonotonicity, truth maintenance, ordering the extensions, and practicability. No other single approach known to the authors addresses all these factors, and some of the more prominent approaches, such as default logic, Dempster-Shafer, assumption-based truth maintenance, and neural networks can be closely emulated through LEL. the heart of the approach is the decomposition of resolution into unification and solution, and performance of solution as an integer linear program (ILP). We describe a full-scale expert system shell for LEL. We indicate how knowledge is entered into the shell, how special predicates and operators can be used, how the inferencing process proceeds by including control, pattern matching, and ILP algorithms, and the software architecture. Several experiments are performed on the LEL shell in the final section of the article.
Laboratory Screening in the Evaluation and Placement of Geriatric Patients

: Two hundred geriatric patients were seen in a clinic for evaluation and placement. Laboratory screening consisted of an SMA-12 series of blood chemical tests, a hemogram, urinalysis, electrocardiogram, and chest roentgenogram. A striking number of abnormalities were uncovered, including several that might be of great significance in therapy.
Impact of exposure to parental attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder on clinical features and dysfunction in the offspring

Background. Although genes are known to influence the aetiology of ADHD, the impact of exposure to parental ADHD has received limited scientific scrutiny. This study investigated the impact of exposure to parental ADHD on clinical features and dysfunction in offspring.Methods. We studied 1099 offspring (53% male, mean age 12·4 years) of non-ADHD, remitted ADHD, and persistent ADHD parents, using structured diagnostic interviews and a battery of cognitive and psychosocial measures. Offspring across these three groups were compared on clinical, cognitive and psychosocial outcomes, adjusting for exposure to other parental psychopathology, offspring ADHD status and social class.Results. Parental ADHD was associated with an increased risk for ADHD in offspring relative to no parental ADHD, but no significant differences were found between children of remitted versus persistent ADHD parents. Exposure to parental ADHD predicted higher levels of family conflict and lesser levels of family cohesion relative to families without parental ADHD, independent of other psychopathological conditions in parents or ADHD status. Significant interactions were detected in which parental ADHD had a deleterious impact on measures of school performance in offspring without ADHD but not in those with the disorder.Conclusions. These results find no support for the hypothesis that exposure to parental ADHD increases the risk for ADHD in children beyond that conveyed by the liability associated with the diagnosis in the parent. However, since exposure to parental ADHD was associated with a disruptive family environment, the identification and treatment of adults with ADHD may be an important component of the treatment plan of youth with ADHD.
Detecting Ultraviolet Damage in Single DNA Molecules by Atomic Force Microscopy

We report detection and quantification of ultraviolet (UV) damage in DNA at a single molecule level by atomic force microscopy (AFM). By combining the supercoiled plasmid relaxation assay with AFM imaging, we find that high doses of medium wave ultraviolet (UVB) and short wave ultraviolet (UVC) light not only produce cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) as reported but also cause significant DNA degradation. Specifically, 12.5 kJ/m 2 of UVC and 165 kJ/m 2 of UVB directly relax 95% and 78% of pUC18 supercoiled plasmids, respectively. We also use a novel combination of the supercoiled plasmid assay with T4 Endo- nuclease V treatment of irradiated plasmids and AFM imaging of their relaxation to detect damage caused by low UVB doses, which on average produced ;0.5 CPD per single plasmid. We find that at very low UVB doses, the relationship between the number of CPDs and UVB dose is almost linear, with 4.4 CPDs produced per Mbp per J/m 2 of UVB radiation. We verified these AFM results by agarose gel electrophoresis separation of UV-irradiated and T4 Endonuclease V treated plasmids. Our AFM and gel elec- trophoresis results are consistent with the previous result obtained using other traditional DNA damage detection methods. We also show that damage detection assay sensitivity increases with plasmid size. In addition, we used photolyase to mark the sites of UV lesions in supercoiled plasmids for detection and quantification by AFM, and these results were found to be consistent with the results obtained by the plasmid relaxation assay. Our results suggest that AFM can supplement traditional methods for high res- olution measurements of UV damage to DNA.
Frontal asymmetry index in Williams syndrome:Evidence for altered emotional brain circuitry?

Asymmetrical frontal electroencephalography (EEG) activity is associated with motivational neural systems of approach/withdrawal behaviors. Greater left frontal EEG has been linked to increased appetitive tendencies whereas increased right frontal activity is related to the activation of avoidance mechanisms. Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic condition characterized by a highly sociable personality manifested by a propensity to approach strangers and decreased social fear. Consequently, the current study was designed to investigate the frontal cortical activity during resting state, indexed by relative alpha power, in adults with WS as compared to typically developing (TD) controls, and a subgroup of TD extraverts. Results indicated that participants with WS produced attenuated left frontal activity relative to TD peers, or TD extraverts in particular; yet, no groups differed in their degree of right frontal activity. Finally, while both TD group and the extravert subset showed trends of greater left over right frontal activity, the WS participants demonstrated opposing effect of increased right over left frontal EEG. Importantly, individuals with WS produced deviating frontal activity patterns compared to TD extraverts despite exhibiting common social-affiliative tendencies, underscoring that neural mechanisms that give rise to extraversion in WS may not function similarly to those subserving this personality trait expressed in TD.
The television of abundance arrives: cable choices and interest maximization

Abstract Utility theory offers some suggestions for how people react as the so-called “television of abundance” reaches the point where audiences can maximize their interests. Contrasting the interest maximization outlook with the media substitution hypothesis, this study explores cable channel repertoire patterns. A random survey of 319 cable subscribers in a major metropolitan area measured exposure to several dozen channel categories. Utilizing factor analysis, pattern repertoires were developed, comparing social category groupings. Overall, the findings support an interest maximization perspective, with individual category pattern repertoires providing insight into the use of abundant cable offerings to serve specialized needs.
Third-Party Information in Retrospective Assessment of NGRI: Impact of Source and Supportive Versus Contradictory Content

Experimental conditions utilizing three types of third-party information (TPI) that supported or countered a psychologist's opinion regarding insanity were compared for differential effects in a mock jury decision-making case. Collapsed conditions of TPI that provided evidence appearing to support a psychologist's opinion that a defendant met criteria for not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) did result in higher levels of agreement with that opinion than collapsed conditions appearing to contradict the psychologist's opinion of insanity in the defendant. However, the influence of TPI was significant depending on whether participants had initially agreed or disagreed with the psychologist's opinion. Although hypothesized to be the case, mental health records did not influence mock jurors' decisions to a greater extent than evidence from an eyewitness to the killing or the defendant's brother's opinion of the defendant's mental condition preceding the killing. These findings need to be replicated, but fu...
Actions of tetraphenylboron on the electron flow in photosystem II of isolated chloroplasts.

Abstract Isolated chloroplasts from pokeweed ( Phytolacca americana ) were used in studies of the actions of tetraphenylboron on photosynthetic electron transport. Any effects on sites which couple electron transport to photophosphorylation, could be eliminated by the use of uncoupled chloroplasts. Very low concentrations of tetraphenylboron were found to strongly inhibit the reoxidation in the dark of the reduced primary acceptor Q in chloroplasts poisoned with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. Apparently, the tetraphenylboron anion has a high affinity to the oxygen evolving reaction complex where it is readily photoxidized. Slightly higher concentrations of tetraphenylboron inhibited steady-state rates of oxygen evolution measurably, and induced rapid and irreversible photodestructions of Photosystem II. System I mediated electron transport was not affected by these photoinhibitory processes. In many respects, the effects were similar to those observed in the presence of desaspidin or carbonylcyanide m -chlorophenylhydrazone. However, much lower concentrations of tetraphenylboron were required, and its actions were more restricted to Photosystem II. These properties may make tetraphenylboron a valuable tool in studies on the reaction mechanism of the oxygen-evolving apparatus.
Clavulanic Acid, a Novel Inhibitor of β-Lactamases

Clavulanic acid, Z-(2R,5R)-3-(β-hydroxyethylidene)-7-oxo-4-oxa-1-azabicyclo-[3,2,0] heptane-2-carboxylic acid, has been shown to be an effective inhibitor of the β-lactamases of the Richmond types II, III, IV, and V. Inhibition is a time-dependent reaction and is irreversible. Clavulanic acid had poor antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with minimal inhibitory levels greater than 25 μg/ml. It did inhibit the majority of Neisseria gonorrhoeae at 0.1 μg/ml and Haemophilus influenzae at 6.3 μg/ml. Clavulanic acid acted synergistically with penicillins and cephalosporins to inhibit β-lactamase-producing S. aureus and Enterobacteriaceae. Clavulanic acid combined with ampicillin inhibited β-lactamase-producing N. gonorrhoeae, H. influenzae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Shigella sonnei.
Role of the Gut in Multiple Organ Failure: Bacterial Translocation and Permeability Changes

It is clear that increased gut permeability and bacterial translocation play a role in multiple organ failure (MOF). Failure of the gut barrier remains central to the hypothesis that toxins escaping from the gut lumen contribute to activation of the host's immune inflammatory defense mechanisms, subsequently leading to the autointoxication and tissue destruction seen in the septic response characteristic of MOF. However, the role of the gut is more than that of a sieve, which simply allows passage of bacteria and endotoxin from the gut lumen to the portal or systemic circulation. It appears, in addition, that the translocation of bacteria and endotoxin may lead to local activation of the immune inflammatory system and the local production of cytokines and other immune inflammatory mediators. These intestinally derived mediators may then exacerbate the systemic inflammatory response and potentially lead to a further increase in gut permeability. A vicious cycle of increased intestinal permeability, leading to toxic mediator release, resulting in a further increase in gut permeability is generated. Additionally, the systemic and local inflammatory cells that become activated in the gut contribute to the systemic response characteristic of the sepsis syndrome and MOF. Thus even if the immune inflammatory system, rather than the gut, is the "motor of" MOF, the gut remains one of the major pistons that turns the motor.
Hemodynamic Etiology of Elevated Flow Velocity and Stroke in Sickle-Cell Disease

Elevation of blood flow velocity in the large cerebral vessels is known to be of substantial pathophysiologic and prognostic significance in sickle-cell disease (SCD). Its precise cause is not established, but the two obvious proximal mechanisms are obstructive vascular stenosis and hemodynamic dilatation. Here we revisit this distinction by analyzing cerebrovascular reserve capacity. Forty-two patients with SCD underwent measurements of global cerebral blood flow in grey matter by the 133 Xe inhalation method during normocapnia and hypercapnia to quantify cerebrovascular reactivity. Cerebral blood flow was significantly higher in SCD patients (120±31 ml/ 100 g/min) than in controls (76±20 ml/100 g/min). Reactivity was significantly lower in SCD patients (1.06±1.92 versus 2.16±1.15%/mm Hg). Stepwise multiple regressions within the SCD sample determined that normocapnic cerebral blood flow was largely predicted by hematocrit (r =0.59; P < 0.0001), whereas hypercapnic reactivity was only predicted by normocapnic flow across all subjects (r =0.52; P < 0.0001). None of the controls, but 24% of the SCD patients showed ‘steal’ (negative reactivity, v 2 = 6.05; P < 0.02). This impairment of vasodilatory capacity, occurring at perfusion levels above 150 ml/100 g/min, may reflect intrinsic limitations of the human cerebrovascular system and can explain both the elevated blood flow velocities and the high risk of stroke observed in such patients.
The impact of culture and gender on web sites: an empirical study

The growth of electronic commerce, in particular business-to-consumer, has been explosive during the last few years. Until recently, the Web community has been a male dominated western-oriented society, with the design of Web sites reflecting that homogenous audience. Using an adapted version of Hofstede's dimensions as a means of differentiation, this study explores the perception and satisfaction levels of one hundred and sixty subjects on four web sites. Analysis indicates that perception and satisfaction differences exist between the cultural clusters and gender groups within those cultures --- Asia, Europe, Latin & South America, and North America. In particular, the perceptions of the Asian and Latin/South American were found to be similar, as were the perceptions of the Europeans and North Americans. Qualitative analysis indicates that females within certain cultures have widely different preferences from their male counterparts regarding web site attributes.
Structure of chromatin containing extensively acetylated H3 and H4

Abstract I have grown HeLa cells in 5 mM sodium n-butyrate leading to extensive in vivo histone acetylation, and have characterized the structure of chromatin containing the modified histones. Nuclear DNA in butyrate-treated cells is digested 5–10 fold more rapidly by DNAase I than the DNA of control cells. Staphylococcal nuclease degrades the two nuclear samples to acid-soluble material with identical rates; this nuclease, however, does excise nucleosomes with extensively acetylated histones from the nucleoprotein chain preferentially. The physical properties of unsheared chromatin and isolated core particles from control and butyrate-treated cells are closely similar, as are the rates of digestion of core particles from the two cell preparations by DNAase I. Determination of the relative susceptibilities of cleavage sites for DNAase I demonstrates that the site 60 bases from the ends of the DNA, resistant in control cells, becomes susceptible to the nuclease in core particles containing acetylated histones. Similarly, the 5′ terminal phosphate at the end of DNA in core particles is removed by staphylococcal nuclease 2–3 fold faster in particles containing acetylated histones than in particles from control cells.
Crystallographic Analysis of a Novel Complex of Actinomycin D Bound to the DNA Decamer Cgatcgatcg.

The potent anticancer drug actinomycin D (ActD) acts by binding to DNA, thereby interfering with replication and transcription. ActD inhibits RNA polymerase far more specifically than DNA polymerase. Such discrimination is not easily understood by the conventional DNA binding mode of ActD. We have solved and refined at 1.7 {angstrom} resolution the crystal structure of ActD complexed to CGATCGATCG, which contains no canonical GpC binding sequence. The crystal data are space group P4{sub 3}2{sub 1}2, a = b = 47.01 {angstrom}, and c = 160.37 {angstrom}. The structure was solved by the multiple wavelength anomalous diffraction method using a 5-bromo-U DNA. The asymmetric unit of the unit cell contains two independent dimers of a novel slipped duplex complex consisting of two decamer DNA strands bound with two ActD drug molecules. (The DNA in one dimer is numbered C1 to G10 in one strand and C11 to G20 in the complementary strand and in the second dimer, C101 to G110 and C111 to G120, respectively.) The structure reveals a highly unusual ActD binding mode in which the DNA adopts a slipped duplex with the A3-T4/A13-T14 dinucleotides looped out. ActD intercalates between G2-C11* (C11* being from a symmetry-related molecule) and C5-G20 basemore » pairs. Two such slipped duplex?ActD complexes bound to each other by mutually intercalating their T4/T14 bases into the helix cavities (located between C5-G20 and G6-C19 base pairs) of neighboring complexes, forming a dimer of drug?DNA complexes. The binding site mimics the drug binding at the elongation point during transcription. Modeling studies show that the ActD?DNA complex fits snugly in the active site cavity in RNA polymerase but not in DNA polymerase. This may explain the strong preference of ActD inhibition toward transcription.« less
Etoposide in prostatic cancer: experimental studies and phase II trial in patients with bidimensionally measurable disease.

Etoposide, a semisynthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin, was evaluated concurrently in vitro against a human derived hormone-resistant cell line, PC-3, and in vivo in bidimensionally measurable hormone-resistant human prostatic cancer. In vitro, a dose-response relationship was observed, with 74% inhibition at 10 μg/ml (1 h incubation) and >99% inhibition at 90 μg/ml, both in the range of clinically achievable concentrations. In vivo, 1 PR (5%, 95% confidence limits 0–12%) of 18+ months was observed in 20 adequately treated patients. The results confirm the limited role of etoposide in hormone-refractory disease and the need for new model systems for evaluation of potential chemotherapeutic compounds in this disease.
Constrained Sensor System Resolves Closely Spaced Obscured Low-SNR Sources Using Virtual Beamforming

We present a high-resolution capability for systems constrained in the number of elements (measurements) due to size, weight, and power that operate in harsh signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environments through virtual beamforming. The high resolution is created by applying a conventional beamformer to a virtual measurement data set. The virtual measurement data is made up of original measurements extended with vector extrapolated measurements. We derive the SNR of this new virtual system and show that, in the case of perfect extrapolation, we are within a constant of the true SNR (if we had that many sensor measurements). Simulations show the super-resolution capability of resolving the two closely spaced, equal-powered low-SNR sources, in the presence of a third closely spaced dominant source (15 dB larger signal power) with a limited number of measurements. In a second case, the virtual beamforming technique again resolves two low-SNR sources that are even closer while high-resolution techniques fall short due to the harsh environments. In both cases, the algorithm is shown to be robust in noise through Monte Carlo simulations. We provide the computational cost to achieve this high-resolution capability.
Clofibrate-Induced Changes in the Activity of Human Intestinal Enzymes

The administration of clofibrate (ethyl-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate, 2.0 g per day) to normal males led to decreases in the activity of jejunal glucokinase, glucose-6-P dehydrogenase, fructokinase, and fructose-1-P and fructose-1-6-P aldolases. This effect of clofibrate was specific since 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and hexokinase activities were not altered by the drug. These data suggest a possible mechanism for the triglyceride-lowering effect of clofibrate, and also indicate a new approach to the study of drug action in man.
Secure message delivery in publish/subscribe networks using overlay multicast

This paper examines an approach to guarantee service integrity in insecure publish/subscribe systems using overlay multicast. The proposed mechanism constructs a delivery tree laid over both the underlying network and the predicate (subscription) graph. It uses message replication and voting to simulate a secure delivery tree in an insecure environment. We provide an algorithm to construct a minimum-cost delivery tree, analyse its performance, develop a formal model to estimate the cost of delivery of a single message and propose heuristics to lower the computational complexity of our basic algorithm.
Regulation of blood pressure, natriuresis and renal thiazide/amiloride sensitivity in PPARα null mice

This study evaluated the role of PPARalpha in renal function and whether PPARalpha knockout (KO) mice are hypertensive or salt-sensitive. We hypothesize that PPARalpha modulation of ion transport defines the capacity for sodium excretion (U(Na)V). PPARalpha KO and wild-type (WT) mice were placed on a normal salt (NS, 0.5% NaCl) or high salt (8% NaCl, HS) diet for 28 days and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and heart rate (HR) determined. In a group of anesthetized animals on NS diet, pressure natriuresis (P/N) was determined and in another group, acute sodium load (0.9% NaCl) was administered and U(Na)V compared in mice pretreated with amiloride (200 microg/kg) or hydrochlorothiazide (3 mg/kg), in vivo measurements of sodium hydrogen exchanger or Na-Cl-cotransporter activity, respectively. MABP and HR were similar in PPARalpha KO and WT mice placed on a NS diet (116+/-6 mmHg, 587+/-40 beats/min, KO; 116+/-4 mmHg, 551+/-20 beats/min, WT). HS diet increased MABP to a greater extent in KO mice (Delta = 29+/-3 vs 14+/-3 mmHg, p<0.05) as did proteinuria (8- vs 2.5-fold, p<0.05). P/N was blunted in untreated KO mice. In response to an acute NaCl-load, U(Na)V was faster in PPARalpha KO mice (4.31+/-1.11 vs 0.77+/-0.31 micromol, p<0.05). However, U(Na)V was unchanged in hydrochlorothiazide-treated KO mice but increased 6.9-fold in WT mice. Similarly, U(Na)V was less in amiloride-treated KO mice (3.4- vs 15.5-fold). These data suggest that PPARalpha participates in pressure natriuresis and affects Na transport via amiloride- and thiazide-sensitive mechanisms. Thus, despite defective fatty acid oxidation, PPARalpha null mice are not hypertensive but develop salt-sensitive hypertension.
Modeling of neuronal networks through experimental decomposition

The studies reviewed experimental procedures which attempted to eliminate anatomical connections between dentate granule cells and progressively increasing numbers of other populations of cells belonging to the hippocampus. The objectives were to identify response dynamics intrinsic to dentate granule cells and to determine, at least qualitatively, the extent to which those intrinsic dynamics are modified by other populations of hippocampal neurons normally interconnected with granule cells. Nonlinear response characteristics of granule cells, when examined in relative isolation, were qualitatively different from nonlinearities expressed by the same population of neurons when interacting with other elements of the hippocampal system. This indicates that the influence of the network on functional characteristics of one of its elements can be substantial. It is also found that the use of relatively standard procedures for preparing in vitro slices of central nervous system tissue may allow a close approximation of open-loop conditions for major cell populations of mammalian neural systems. >
Platelet Clumping Produced by Connective Tissue Suspensions and by Collagen.

SummarySaline suspensions of a variety of connective tissues and of collagen clump platelets in citrated platelet-rich plasma even in dilutions of 1:100. The effect is unrelated to blood clotting. The active material in human subcutaneous tissue is sedimented at 25,000 g in one hour, stable at 56°C, but not at 70°C, and destroyed by collagenase, form-amide and 25% alcohol but not by proteolytic enzymes. An inhibitor is present in liver. Similarities and differences between the effects of purified collagen, tissue suspensions and thrombin on platelets are described and the probable role of the connective tissue factor in hemostasis is discussed.
A Randomized Effectiveness Trial of Stepped Collaborative Care for Acutely Injured Trauma Survivors

Context Although posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol abuse frequently occur among acutely injured trauma survivors, few real-world interventions have targeted these disorders. Objective We tested the effectiveness of a multifaceted collaborative care (CC) intervention for PTSD and alcohol abuse. Design Randomized effectiveness trial. Participants We recruited a population-based sample of 120 male and female injured surgical inpatients 18 or older at a level I trauma center. Intervention Patients were randomly assigned to the CC intervention (n = 59) or the usual care (UC) control condition (n = 61). The CC patients received stepped care that consisted of (1) continuous postinjury case management, (2) motivational interviews targeting alcohol abuse/dependence, and (3) evidence-based pharmacotherapy and/or cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with persistent PTSD at 3 months after injury. Main Outcome Measures We used the PTSD symptomatic criteria (PTSD Checklist) at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after injury, and alcohol abuse/dependence (Composite International Diagnostic Interview) at baseline and 6 and 12 months after injury. Results Random-coefficient regression analyses demonstrated that over time, CC patients were significantly less symptomatic compared with UC patients with regard to PTSD ( P = .01) and alcohol abuse/dependence ( P = .048). The CC group demonstrated no difference (−0.07%; 95% confidence interval [CI], −4.2% to 4.3%) in the adjusted rates of change in PTSD from baseline to 12 months, whereas the UC group had a 6% increase (95% CI, 3.1%-9.3%) during the year. The CC group showed on average a decrease in the rate of alcohol abuse/dependence of −24.2% (95% CI, −19.9% to −28.6%), whereas the UC group had on average a 12.9% increase (95% CI, 8.2%-17.7%) during the year. Conclusions Early mental health care interventions can be feasibly and effectively delivered from trauma centers. Future investigations that refine routine acute care treatment procedures may improve the quality of mental health care for Americans injured in the wake of individual and mass trauma.
Development and initial validation of the Localized Scleroderma Skin Damage Index and Physician Global Assessment of disease Damage: a proof-of-concept study

Objective. To develop and assess the psychometric properties of the Localized Scleroderma (LS) Skin Damage Index (LoSDI) and Physician Global Assessment of disease Damage (PGA-D). Methods. Damage was defined as irreversible/persistent changes (>6 months) due to previous active disease/complications of therapy. Eight rheumatologists assessed the importance of 17 variables in formulating the PGA-D/LoSDI. LS patients were evaluated by two rheumatologists using both tools to assess their psychometric properties. LoSDI was calculated by summing three scores for cutaneous features of damage [dermal atrophy (DAT), subcutaneous atrophy (SAT) and dyspigmentation (DP)] measured at 18 anatomic sites. Patient GA of disease severity (PtGA-S), Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) and PGA-D were recorded at the time of each examination. Results. Thirty LS patients (112 lesions) and nine patient-visit pairs (18 lesions) were included for inter- and intra-rater reliability study. LoSDI and its domains DAT, SAT, DP and PGA-D demonstrated excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability (reliability coefficients 0.86–0.99 and 0.74–0.96, respectively). LoSDI correlated moderately with PGA-D and poorly with PtGA-S and CDLQI. PGA-D correlated moderately with PtGA-S, but poorly with CDLQI. Conclusions. To complete the LS Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT), we developed and evaluated the psychometric properties of the LoSDI and PGA-D in addition to the LS Skin Severity Index (LoSSI). These instruments will facilitate evaluation of LS patients for individual patient management and clinical trials. LoSDI and PGA-D demonstrated excellent reliability and high validity. LoSCAT provides an improved understanding of LS natural history. Further study in a larger group of patients is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
On the motion of a small viscous droplet that wets a surface

A model for the movement of a small viscous droplet on a surface is constructed that is based on the lubrication equations and uses the dynamic contact angle to describe the forces acting on the fluid at the contact line. The problems analysed are: the spreading or retraction of a circular droplet; the advance of a thin two-dimensional layer; the creeping of a droplet or cell on a coated surface to a region of greater adhesion; the distortion of droplet shape owing to surface contamination. Relevant biological problems concerning cell movement and adhesion are described.
Integrated marketing communications and the evolution of marketing thought

Abstract Integrated marketing communications (IMC) is, to a large extent, a false issue, given that few scholars or practitioners would argue for nonintegrated marketing communications. The value of IMC lies in: (1) its potential to serve as a catalyst in shaking the advertising industry from a decades-old case of marketing myopia, and (2) its potential to highlight the important underlying issue-the appropriate relationship between public relations and marketing.
Lasing from Escherichia coli bacteria genetically programmed to express green fluorescent protein.

We report on lasing action from colonies of Escherichia coli bacteria that are genetically programmed to synthesize the green fluorescent protein (GFP). When embedded in a Fabry–Perot type cavity and excited by ns-pulses of blue light (465 nm), the bacteria generate green laser emission (∼520 nm). Broad illumination of pump light yields simultaneous lasing over a large area in bacterial colonies.
Assessing Leukocyte-Endothelial Interactions Under Flow Conditions in an Ex vivo Autoperfused Microflow Chamber Assay

Leukocyte-endothelial interactions are early and critical events in acute and chronic inflammation and can, when dysregulated, mediate tissue injury leading to permanent pathological damage. Existing conventional assays allow the analysis of leukocyte adhesion molecules only after the extraction of leukocytes from the blood. This requires the blood to undergo several steps before peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) can be ready for analysis, which in turn can stimulate PBLs influencing the research findings. The autoperfused micro flow chamber assay, however, allows scientists to study early leukocytes functional dysregulation using the systemic flow of a live mouse while having the freedom of manipulating a coated chamber. Through a disease model, the functional expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules can be assessed and quantified in a micro-glass chamber coated with immobilized endothelial adhesion molecules ex vivo. In this model, the blood flows between the right common carotid artery and left external jugular vein of a live mouse under anesthesia, allowing the interaction of native PBLs in the chamber. Real-time experimental analysis is achieved with the assistance of an intravital microscope as well as a Harvard Apparatus pressure device. The application of a flow regulator at the input point of the glass chamber allows comparable physiological flow conditions amongst the experiments. Leukocyte rolling velocity is the main outcome and is measured using the National Institutes of Health open-access software ImageJ. In summary, the autoperfused micro flow chamber assay provides an optimal physiological environment to study leukocytes endothelial interaction and allows researchers to draw accurate conclusions when studying inflammation.
Half-space born approximation modeling and inversion for cross-well radar sensing of contaminants in soil

Detection of dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) is a practical interesting problem in geophysics. This problem involves forward modeling, subsurface sensing and object reconstruction. An analytical forward model - HSBA - in the frequency domain containing dyadic Green's function solution to describe the cross-well radar sensing in infinite soil media is developed. First order Born approximation is employed to linearize this inverse scattering problem. The forward model is validated by both frequency domain computational models and laboratory experiments that are collected using cross-well radar method that uses broadband antennas in subsurface to illuminate the inhomogeneous field and receive scattered electromagnetic (EM) waves. A shape-based inversion algorithm is proposed for contaminant pool localization and reconstruction, in which the shape of the object is assumed priori and represented by a low- order differentiable parametric function. The characteristics of the object - location, size and dielectric contrast to the background medium - are obtained by an iterative non-linear optimization. The inversion method using synthesized data by numerical experiments gives promising preliminary results.
Three-Dimensional Perception of Planar Line Segments

Two-dimensional line drawings can be perceived as three-dimensional images if they are viewed through a grating of parallel lines placed a short distance above the drawing. The position in space of the images is a function of the angle between the lines in the drawing and those in the viewer grating.
Deterministic nonperiodic flow

Finite systems of deterministic ordinary nonlinear differential equations may be designed to represent forced dissipative hydrodynamic flow. Solutions of these equations can be identified with trajectories in phase space For those systems with bounded solutions, it is found that nonperiodic solutions are ordinarily unstable with respect to small modifications, so that slightly differing initial states can evolve into consider­ably different states. Systems with bounded solutions are shown to possess bounded numerical solutions.
Role-Model Concepts Before and After the Formal Professional Socialization Period

Physical therapy students in baccalaureate-degree programs used a forced-choice Q sort of 49 characteristics of physical therapists to describe their concepts of a physical therapy role model at the beginning and again at the end of basic professional training. In ranking the items with the 10 highest mean values (most descriptive) for each sorting, two items represented technical and eight items represented personal characteristics. The same nine items remained highest for both Q sorts. In comparing the high-ranking items to those rankings of sortings performed by recent graduates and by physical therapists, six items were the same. The majority of the correlations between the students' pretraining and posttraining Q-sort scores were significant, with moderate degrees of correlation. The investigator concluded that physical therapy students' role-model concepts were fairly similar before and after professional training. Personal, rather than technical, characteristics best described the physical therapy role model.
Mobi-Sync: Configurable Time Synchronization for Mobile Multihop Networks

Maintaining a common notion of time among communicating nodes in mobile multihop networks is crucial to the correctness of many distributed real-time applications such as target tracking, data fusion, and environmental monitoring. Achieving both synchronization accuracy and efficiency (in terms of communication and energy overheads) are important goals of a time synchronization mechanism. While these goals have been addressed by numerous approaches for stationary or homogeneous networks that rely on uniform clock drift models and synchronization accuracy requirements, these existing approaches are not optimal when applied in networks that are mobile or where synchronization accuracies and clock drift rates differ among nodes. This paper proposes a novel opportunistic and on-demand synchronization mechanism called Mobi-Sync, which has two important characteristics. First, it avoids network-wide flooding or frequent reconstructing of rigid structures that are often unavoidable in other approaches when applied to mobile networks. Second, it (re-)synchronizes nodes only when necessary, thereby customizing the synchronization interval to each node's specified accuracy requirement. Our results demonstrate that Mobi-Sync satisfies the nodes' synchronization requirements in mobile networks, while significantly reducing the synchronization overhead compared to existing solutions.
Gauge Theories of Kac-Moody Extensions of W ∞ Algebras as Effective Field Theories of Colored W ∞ Strings

A novel invariant gauge field theory realization of Kac-Moody extensions of w∞(w1+∞) algebras and based on a Lie group G is constructed. The most relevant physical feature of this theory is that it describes an effective field theory of ”colored” internal w∞(w1+∞) strings when G = SU(3). We conclude with a discussion of how these theories might provide infinite higher conformal-spins extensions of Grand Unified Models and the Standard Model in four dimensions.
Investigation of a Pseudo-Outbreak of Orthopedic Infections Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Objective To report a pseudoepidemic of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections discovered during an investigation of postoperative joint infections. Design A retrospective review of case patients' hospital charts, operative reports, and laboratory data, as well as environmental culturing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotyping of outbreak isolates, and in vitro analysis of P aeruginosa growth characteristics. Setting A 510-bed, university-affiliated adult tertiary care hospital. Results Between October 1 and December 1, 1992, seven postsurgical joint infections were diagnosed, including four caused by P aeruginosa. A bottle of "sterile" saline used to process tissue specimens was found to be contaminated with P aeruginosa. Further investigation revealed that P aeruginosa had grown from seven additional tissue cultures, all of which had been processed with the contaminated saline. PCR ribotypes of the contaminant matched those of the clinical isolates. In vitro, P aeruginosa strains were viable in commercial nonbacteriostatic saline, but never caused visible turbidity. Six patients received antibiotics for their presumed infections; four patients had peripherally inserted central catheters placed, and one experienced severe anaphylactic reactions to several antibiotics. Conclusions Pseudoepidemics due to common organisms are often difficult to detect, and delayed recognition can result in substantial morbidity. This outbreak investigation illustrates the potential for contamination of diluents in the microbiology laboratory and emphasizes the need for meticulous quality control.
The unbearable lightness of “Thinking”: Moving beyond simple concepts of thinking, rationality, and hypothesis testing

Three correctives can get researchers out of the trap of constructing unitary theories of “thinking”: (1) Strong inference methods largely avoid problems associated with universal prescriptive normativism; (2) theories must recognize that significant modularity of cognitive processes is antithetical to general accounts of thinking; and (3) consideration of the domain-specificity of rationality render many of the present article's issues moot.
Platelet-Activating Factor-Receptor and Tumor Immunity.

First described in 1972 by Benveniste and colleagues, platelet-activating factor (PAF) remains one of the potent phospholipid known to date. The role of PAF produced enzymatically in mediating diverse biological and pathophysiological processes including inflammatory and allergic diseases and cancers in response to various stimuli has been extensively studied. However, little is known about the role of non-enzymatically- generated PAF-like lipids produced in response to pro-oxidative stressors, particularly in modulating the host immune responses to tumor immunity, which is the focus of this review.
Feasibility of Interference Alignment for the MIMO Interference Channel

We study vector space interference alignment for the multiple-input multiple-output interference channel with no time or frequency diversity, and no symbol extensions. We prove both necessary and sufficient conditions for alignment. In particular, we characterize the feasibility of alignment for the symmetric three-user channel where all users transmit along d dimensions, all transmitters have M antennas and all receivers have N antennas, as well as feasibility of alignment for the fully symmetric (M = N) channel with an arbitrary number of users. An implication of our results is that the total degrees of freedom available in a K-user interference channel, using only spatial diversity from the multiple antennas, is at most 2. This is in sharp contrast to the K/2 degrees of freedom shown to be possible by Cadambe and Jafar with arbitrarily large time or frequency diversity. Moving beyond the question of feasibility, we additionally discuss computation of the number of solutions using Schubert calculus in cases where there are a finite number of solutions.
Dense Optical Flow Based Emotion Recognition Classifier

In recent years, enabling computer systems to recognize facial expressions and infer emotions from them in real time has become very important since such information can be used in emerging applications such as video games, educational software, computer-based tutoring for special need children for better human computer interactions. However, real time emotion recognition using video streams face challenges due to the varying illuminations. In this paper, we present a real time emotion recognition scheme using dense optical flow based approach and SVM classifier. Via extensive analysis using newly collected datasets of 370 videos, we demonstrate that our approach demonstrates high accuracy in recognizing 4 basic emotions: happy, angry, surprise and sad.