cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drug library screening against metronidazole-sensitive and metronidazole-resistant Trichomonas vaginalis isolates

Objectives Metronidazole and tinidazole are effective treatments for most patients with trichomoniasis but not for individuals who are infected with very resistant strains of Trichomonas vaginalis or persons with hypersensitivity to the 5-nitroimidazole drugs. Thus, there is a need for additional oral therapies to treat trichomoniasis. Methods We screened the US Drug Collection Library against metronidazole-susceptible and resistant strains of T vaginalis. Activity was measured by incubating parasites and drugs for 48 h in the presence of tritiated thymidine. Growth inhibition was determined by the reduction of incorporated radioactivity by compounds at 20 μM in comparison to media control. Drugs that showed good initial activity were further tested to calculate IC 50 values. Drugs with the most promise were tested together with metronidazole to see if there was any combinatorial effect. Results Of the 1040 drugs in the library, 83 (8%) reduced growth of a metronidazole-susceptible T vaginalis strain by at least 20%. Of these, IC 50 values were calculated for 27 compounds and 8 drugs were evaluated in combination with metronidazole. Disulfiram and nithiamide were non-5-nitroimidazole drugs that showed the best activity against parasites when used alone. Albendazole and coenzyme B12 were the most promising compounds to boost the efficacy of metronidazole. Conclusions No one drug was as effective as any of the 5-nitroimidazole compounds. However, disulfiram and nithiamide may be useful to treat individuals with hypersensitivity to 5-nitroimidazole drugs and albendazole and coenzyme B12 may be helpful in combination with metronidazole or tinidazole for treatment of persons with highly resistant T vaginalis infections.
MO‐G‐BRB‐02: Rosalyn S. Yalow, PhD: A Personal and Scientific Memoir

In 1950, Rosalyn S. Yalow, PhD, a medical physicist, was hired to develop The Radioisotope Service at the Bronx VA. She was joined by Sol Berson who had completed his residency in internal medicine. Their initial investigations together were in the application of radionuclides in blood volume determination and the kinetics of iodine metabolism in health and thyroid disease. They were quickly recognized as outstanding clinical investigators. They turned their attention to understanding insulin physiology by labeling insulin and studying the plasma kinetics in a variety of subjects. Radiolabeled insulin was cleared from the blood more slowly in subjects who had received insulin injections. They concluded that the slower clearance was due to insulin antibodies and they quantified the binding phenomenon. They recognized that the quantitative competition of a radiolabeled antigen and an unlabeled antigen molecule for a limited number of binding sites on an antibody provided a basis for the quantitation of an unknown amount of a similar molecule in a sample of plasma or other biological fluid. In 1960, a manuscript entitled “Immunoassay of Endogenous Plasma Insulin in Man” appeared. Using the same principal but identifying unique characteristics of other peptidehormones, the Yalow‐Berson team went on to develop assays for Human Growth Hormone, ACTH, Parathyroid Hormone, Gastrin, Glucagon and other materials of biologic interest. Radioimmunoassay could quantify these substances in less than a drop of plasma. In recognition of these contributions, the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology was awarded in 1977 to Rosalyn S. Yalow, PhD. It is not possible in the limited space and time available to review the impact that the development of radioimmunoassay has had on virtually every field of medical science but the reader is encouraged to review some of the early publications on this subject and to share the excitement and awe that they created at the time of publication and continue to do so for this observer whenever there is an opportunity to review this material. This lecture will provide an overview of the life and principal scientific contributions of a Medical Physicist, Rosalyn S. Yalow, PhD who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1977 in recognition of the development of radioimmunoassay. Learning Objectives: 1. Knowledge of key events in the scientific development of Rosalyn S. Yalow, MD. 2. Understand the principles of radioimmunoassay. 3. Understand the impact of radioimmunoassay methodology on medical science.
Composite vortices of displaced Laguerre-Gauss beams

We report on the parametric study of composite-vortex patterns formed by displaced singly-ringed Laguerre- Gauss beams. We find that rich structures of vortices appear and disappear as the phase, topological charge and displacement of the component beams is varied. The net topological charge depends on various factors. When the beams are collinear or nearly collinear the net charge is the largest topological charge of the two component beams. When they are displaced by about one or more beam widths the net charge is the sum of the topological charges of the component beams plus the charge of vortices created by the shear phases in the region in between the two beams. The shear charges depend on the parameters of the problem. The experimental measurements are consistent with the expectations, although the measured location of the vortices is not necessarily in agreement with the predictions.
Could ectoparasites act as vectors for prion diseases

Prion diseases are rare neurodegenerative diseases of humans and animals with a lethal evolution. Several cell types found on the human skin, including keratinocytes, fibroblasts and lymphocytes, are susceptible to the abnormal infective isoform of the prion protein, which transforms the skin to produce a potential target for prion infection. Iatrogenic transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was also recognized after corneal transplants in humans, and scrapie was successfully transmitted to mice after ocular instillation of infected brain tissue, confirming that these new routes, as well as cerebral inoculation and oral ingestion, could be important in prion infections. Animal prion infections, such as scrapie (sheep) and "mad cow disease" (cattle), have shown a pattern of horizontal transmission in farm conditions and several ectoparasites have been shown to harbor prion rods in laboratory experiments. Fly larvae and mites were exposed to brain-infected material and were readily able to transmit scrapie to hamsters. New lines of evidence have confirmed that adult flies are also able to express prion proteins. Because ocular and cerebral myiases and mite infestation are not rare worldwide, and most cases are caused by fly larvae or hay mites that usually affect sheep and cattle, it is important to discuss the possibility that these ectoparasites could eventually act as reservoirs and/or vectors for prion diseases.
A simplified regimen of weekly high dose 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin as a 24-hour infusion in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Reports of in vitro experiments in colorectal carcinoma cells suggest that prolonged cellular exposure to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) combined with relatively low concentrations of leucovorin (LV) provides optimal enhancement of 5-FU efficacy. In this study, a simplified regimen of weekly 24-hour infusion of high dose 5-FU combined with a relatively low dose of LV was used to treat patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. METHODS Thirty-six patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma received 5-FU, 2600 mg/m2, admixed with LV, 100 mg/m2, in a portable infusion pump administered intravenously over a 24-hour period. High dose 5-FU/LV was delivered once a week for 5 consecutive weeks followed by a 1-week recovery period. All patients were assessable for toxicity and response. RESULTS Two complete responses and 15 partial responses were observed (response rate of 47.2%; 95% confidence interval, 30.1-64.4%). The median response duration was 9.6 months. The median survival and time to progression were 11.9 months and 7.1 months, respectively. The toxicity was mild and acceptable. The major dose-limiting factors were hand-foot syndrome and fatigue. CONCLUSIONS This simplified regimen of weekly 24-hour continuous infusion of high dose 5-FU/LV is an effective regimen in the treatment of patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. Further study of the pharmacokinetics of combination therapy with 5-FU and LV as used in this regimen and its correlation with response and toxicity is warranted. Cancer 1999;85:1925–30. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
It’s a Two-Way Street: The Bidirectional Relationship Between Parenting and Delinquency

As the primary socializing institution of youth, the family has long been recognized as important for predicting delinquency. Social control theory focuses on the effects of parental behavior on adolescent delinquency but fails to take into account the effect of adolescent delinquency on parental behaviors. This study addresses this problem by estimating eighteen models examining bidirectional relationships between general, property, and violent delinquency and parental attachment, monitoring, and involvement. The magnitude of both parent and child effects were examined using data from 12,505 youth ages twelve to seventeen who participated in the Add Health study. These youth were an average age of 14 and were predominantly white (65%); just over half (50.42%) were female. Cross-lag regressions showed that while parental attachment has an effect on delinquency, an adolescent’s delinquency also impacts parental attachment, regardless of the type of delinquency. Findings also revealed no significant parental effects of monitoring or involvement on any type of delinquency, and the only child effects revealed for monitoring or involvement were for involvement, which decreases when overall or property delinquency increases. The findings regarding parental attachment provide strong evidence for the existence of a reciprocal relationship between parenting and delinquency, consistent with the transactional and interactional models of reciprocal parent–child relationships.
Mometasone implant for chronic rhinosinusitis

The Propel mometasone-eluting stent (Intersect ENT, Palo Alto, CA) is the first Food and Drug Administration-approved device for delivering steroid medication into the ethmoid cavity following surgery. The implant is composed of a biodegradable polymer in a lattice pattern that expands in a spring-like fashion to conform to the walls of a dissected ethmoid cavity and contains a total of 370 μg of mometasone furoate designed for gradual release over 30 days. The purpose of this article is to review the mode of action and the evidence supporting the efficacy of this novel technology. Three recently published clinical trials have demonstrated that the mometasone-eluting stent produced statistically significant reductions in inflammation, polyp formation, and postoperative adhesions. In addition, the implant has been found to significantly reduce the need for postoperative administration of oral steroids and to decrease the frequency of postoperative lysis of adhesions. Minimal adverse effects were reported in these trials and included infection, crusting, and granulation tissue formation. Although the placement of steroid-impregnated packing, stents, sponges, and gels has previously been used in the postoperative sinus cavities, the Propel mometasone-eluting stent introduces a new mechanism for localized and controlled delivery of topical therapy directly to the nasal mucosa for chronic rhinosinusitis.
New Theoretical Value for the Lamb Shift

Calculations have been made for the leading orders of alpha ( alpha Z)/ sup 6//n/sup 2/( alpha Z) and alpha ( alpha Z)/sup 6//n( alpha Z). Theoretical and ex perimental values of the Lamb shift in Mc/sec for H, D, and He/sup +/ are tabulated. The method used in the calculation is the free-propagator expansion, the algebraic expansion of the bound electron propagator or Green's functions in "powers" of the Coulomb potential. A presenthtion is given of the calculated results for arbitrary bound states and in particular for the 1S, 2S, 2P/sub 1/2/, and 2P/sub 3/2/. Details of the calculations of the two new orders are to be published, with more general results of a mathematical nature concerning properties of the free-propagator expansion connected with an expansion of self- energy in orders of ( alpha Z). (B.O.G.)
Identification of a second pyridoxine (pyridoxamine) 5′-phosphate oxidase in Arabidopsis thaliana

Pyridoxine (pyridoxamine) 5′-phosphate oxidase (PPOX) is involved in the biosynthetic pathway of vitamin B6, converting pyridoxine 5′-phosphate (PNP) or pyridoxamine 5′-phosphate (PMP) into pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP). PLP is a well-known cofactor of numerous enzymes including transamination and decarboxylation reactions. We have previously identified a PPOX (AtPPOX-1) protein encoded by At5g49970 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we report a second PPOX in Arabidopsis, which was named as AtPPOX-2 encoded by At2g46580. The RT-PCR amplified cDNA of AtPPOX-2 was cloned into an Escherichia coli expression vector and a yeast shuttle vector. Both PPOX enzyme assay and complementation of the oxidative stress sensitivity phenotype of a yeast PDX3 deletion mutant demonstrated that At2g46580 encodes a PPOX protein (AtPPOX-2). The catalytic efficiency of AtPPOX-1 is approximately 300-fold higher than that of AtPPOX-2 for PNP. Based on bioinformatic analysis, AtPPOX-2 has a putative mitochondrial transit peptide at the N-terminus. The truncated AtPPOX-2 without 18 amino acids at the N-terminal end lost PPOX activity, suggesting that the N-terminal 18 amino acids are necessary for the enzyme activity of AtPPOX-2. Phylogenetic analysis of AtPPOX-2 homologs from all domains of life suggests that AtPPOX-2 homologs in plants are the product of lateral gene transfer from the cyanobacterial endosymbionts from which plastids are derived.
Sporothrix schenckii endophthalmitis in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

• A 30-year-old homosexual man with a positive serologic test for human immunodeficiency virus and a history of successfully treated disseminated cutaneous sporotrichosis developed a granulomatous uveitis that worsened with topical and subconjunctival steroid therapy. Culture of the aqueous aspirate yielded Sporothrix schenckii . The patient was treated with intravenous amphotericin B and intravitreal amphotericin B, kanamycin sulfate, and amikacin sulfate. Subsequent aqueous and vitreous cultures were negative, but the intraocular inflammatory process progressed and ultimately led to enucleation of the eye. Histopathologic examination revealed granulomatous inflammation of the anterior uvea and scattered S schenckii in the anterior and posterior chambers. Electron microscopy demonstrated that most of the organisms had disorganized protoplasm. Although treatment failed to ameliorate the progressive intraocular inflammatory process, the negative cultures and the electron microscopic observations suggest that the treatment was reasonably effective in killing S schenckii within the eye. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of S schenckii endophthalmitis in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
Potentiation by naloxone of the anti-oxotremorine effect of L-DOPA.

Abstract Pretreatment with the catecholamine precursor L-DOPA but not the narcotic antagonist naloxone suppresed the tremorigenic effect of oxotremorine in mice. However, when animals were pretreated with both L-DOPA and several different doses of naloxone, there was a dose-related potentiation of the antitremor effect of L-DOPA. Naloxone also produced dose-dependent protentiation of the antitremor activity of lower doses of L-DOPA in the presence of the peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor carbidopa. These findings suggest a possible therapeutic application ofr naloxone in treatmen of dopamine dysfunction disorders.
Collective transport in bilayer quantum Hall systems

Filling factor � = 1 incompressible states in ideal bilayer quantum Hall systems have spontaneous interlayer phase coherence and can be regarded either as easy-plane pseudospin ferromagnets or as condensates of excitons formed from electrons in one layer and holes in the other layer. In this paper we discuss efforts to achieve an understanding of the two different types of transport measurements (which we refer to as drag and tunneling experiments respectively) that have been carried out in bilayer quantum Hall systems by the group of Jim Eisenstein at the California Institute of Technology. In a drag experiment, current is sent through one of the two-layers and the voltage drop is measured in the other layer. We will argue that the finding of these experiments that the voltage drop in the drag layer is different from that in the the drive layer, is an experimental proof that these bilayers do not have quasi-long-range excitonic order. The property that at � = 1 the longitudinal drag voltage increases from near zero when spontaneous coherence is initially established, then falls back toward zero as it becomes well established, can be explained as a competition between the broken symmetry and the gap to which it gives rise. In the tunneling experiment, current is injected in one layer and removed from the other layer. The absence of quasi-long-range order likely explains the relatively small tunneling conductance per area found in the these measurements.
Scaling the rate of wind-blown sand transport by parameterization of the turbulent energy equation

Abstract In coastal regions, sand transport by wind action is a common occurrence. The rate of eolian sand transport depends predominantly on the cubic power of the shear velocity. Two types of transport rate equations are in operational use: one employs the dimensional rate at which work is done by fluid in moving the particles, and the other uses a special nondimensional Froude number scaling. It is shown that both methods can be explained by utilizing the turbulent energy equation applicable in the atmospheric surface boundary layer under near neutral stability conditions and thus both have theoretical foundations. Examples of computing the rate of eolian sand transport in the coastal zone by using the latter method are given. Comparisons between the computed and observed values are in good agreement.
Measures of Intelligence and Creativity

(1955). Measures of Intelligence and Creativity. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 117-126.
Author's Response to RE: Testosterone Treatment is a Potent Tumor Promoter for the Rat Prostate

I am very concerned by the final statement in the comments by Dr Traish, Dr Morgentaler, and Dr Khera about my report on the carcinogenic and tumor promoting effects of testosterone treatment in male rats that “comments on T therapy based on results from rodents do not belong in this report” (1). Results from studies in rodents are used by the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, as well as by their European counterparts and international organizations, such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (World Health Organization), to evaluate the carcinogenic risk to humans of exposures to drugs and other chemicals. A statistically significant increase in the occurrence of malignant tumors in such studies is considered an indication that the drug or chemical tested may be carcinogenic to humans. Typically, drugs in development for medical use that test positive in such studies are not pursued further, and other chemicals that cause malignancies in rodent experiments are regulated on the basis of the study results. Testosterone treatment significantly increased the number of animals with malignant tumors and caused prostate carcinomas in my study and others, quoted in my article, have also found such a prostate tumor response. Prostate tumors are extremely rare in untreated aged Wistar rats, including the Cpb:WU strain used in my study, and finding rare malignancies in rodents exposed to chemicals is commonly considered a strong indication that the compound tested is a rodent carcinogen. After a single carcinogen exposure to cause DNA damage and mutations in the prostate, long-term testosterone treatment caused a massive prostate cancer response in my study, even at a dose that did not significantly elevate circulating testosterone. This tumor response of WU rats to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea plus testosterone treatment has been remarkably stable for over 25 years, indicating that “genetic drift” is not a problem. These findings, taken together, are thus clear reason to be concerned about the risk of prostate cancer in testosterone-treated men, and they form the basis for the last sentence in my report, which disturbed Dr Traish, Dr Morgentaler, and Dr Khera, who left out the beginning of that sentence: “Until adequate human studies are available.”
Synthesis of high performance LiNi 1/3 Mn 1/3 Co 1/3 O 2 from lithium ion battery recovery stream

Abstract Spent lithium ion batteries that contain valuable metal elements such as Co, Ni, Mn, Cu are being landfilled in many countries and raising resources depletion and human toxicity potentials. Low cost and high efficiency recovery process is highly desired. In this work we confirmed that high performance Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3(OH)2 precursor and LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cathode material can be synthesized from leaching solution of a lithium ion battery recovery stream. The precursor was synthesized from a typical co-precipitation process with carefully controlling the reaction parameters. Electrochemical properties including rate capacity and cycle life were tested to evaluate the final product. The results show that the cathode material synthesized from spent lithium ion battery recovery stream is performing a discharge capacity of 158 mAh/g at first cycle of 0.1C and 139 mAh/g at first cycle of 0.5C cycle life test. After 100 and 200 cycles, still over 80% and 65% of capacity is remained, respectively. The materials are also evaluated independently at Argonne National Laboratory.
Mineralogy and chemistry of altered Icelandic basalts: Application to clay mineral detection and understanding aqueous environments on Mars

We used a suite of techniques, including those emulating compositional data sets obtained from Mars orbit and obtainable at the Mars surface, to examine aqueous alteration of basaltic rocks from Iceland as a mineralogic and geochemical analog for Noachian environments on Mars. A sample suite was collected for laboratory measurement of (1) whole-rock visible/near-infrared (VNIR) reflectance and thermal infrared (TIR) emission spectra; (2) VNIR and TIR reflectance spectra of particle-size separates derived from the bulk rock and from materials extracted from fractures/vesicles; (3) X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns for determination of quantitative modal mineralogy; (4) major element chemistry using flux fusion of whole-rock powders; and (5) electron microprobe analyses of minerals in thin sections. Conclusions about aqueous alteration can be influenced by technique. For these basalts, whole-rock chemical data showed scant evidence for chemical fractionation, but TIR, VNIR, and XRD measurements identified distinctive assemblages of hydrous silicate minerals, differing by sample. XRD provided the most complete and accurate quantitative determination of sample mineralogy. However, VNIR spectroscopy was the technique most useful for determining composition of low-abundance smectite clays, and TIR spectroscopy was the most useful for recognizing hydrated silicates in thin surface coatings. High spatial resolution mineralogical and chemical data sets were useful for understanding the texture and distribution of alteration products and variations in fluid chemistry. No single approach provides a complete assessment of the environment of alteration, demonstrating the importance of employing multiple, synergistic mineralogical and geochemical techniques and instruments in exploration of rock strata from aqueous paleoenvironments on Mars.
Possible adaptive values of the resonant slave in biological clocks.

Abstract The eclosion rhythm of Drosophila pseudoobscura under 24 h photo-periods is investigated. Pupae emerge within a few hours of dawn for all day to night (L/D) ratios. Well established properties of the endogenous, self-sustained master clock (A-oscillator) coupled to a hour-glass lead to predictions which would fail badly. On the other hand, it is shown that a coupled oscillator model, with a resonant slave oscillator (B-oscillator) predicts emergence near dawn. The adaptive value of B-oscillators is argued and the relevance for photoperiodism is conjectured.
PALEOECOLOGICAL AND GENETIC ANALYSES PROVIDE EVIDENCE FOR RECENT COLONIZATION OF NATIVE PHRAGMITES AUSTRALIS POPULATIONS IN A LAKE SUPERIOR WETLAND

Abstract Over the past several decades, populations of the common reed, Phragmites australis, have expanded rapidly in salt marshes of coastal North America, creating dramatic changes in community composition. Populations of Phragmites in coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes may similarly threaten the ecological integrity of these inland wetland communities. Strategies for the conservation of biodiversity in these wetlands should be informed by an understanding of both the recent trends and the historic role of Phragmites in these wetlands. A combination of paleoecological and genetic analyses was used to determine when Phragmites became established in a Lake Superior coastal wetland and whether the source of Phragmites was native or non-native populations. Radiocarbon-dated stratigraphic changes in the abundance of pollen and macroscopic plant remains were used to infer the timing of vegetation changes in the wetland. From about 1100–490 14C yr ago, low water levels were associated with a lowland conifer ...
The Role of the M3 Helix in AChR Gating and PAM Action

We are examining the M3 transmembrane helix of mouse muscle AChRs with regard to C↔O gating and the effects of positive allosteric modulators (PAMs). The relative ground and transition state gating energies were estimated from single-channel currents of AChRs having M3 mutations. Diliganded gating rate and equilibrium constants were measured for ∼100 mutations in 5 subunits (α, β, δ, e and γ; 20 mM choline or 500 μM ACh, −100 mV, HEK cells). In general: i) the effects of the mutations were small (≤1 kcal/mol), ii) the effects were similar among subunits, iii) the mutations in different subunits were independent, iv) the mutations have no effect on the energy from the agonist affinity change (≤∼0.3 kcal/mol) and v) most phi values were low (∼0.3). Crystal structures of AChR homologues in detergents suggest that the low phi positions in M3 are interaction sites for PAMs. We investigated the actions of PNU-120596 and IVM (1-1000nM). In WT AChRs (adult and fetal) these ligands increase substantially the frequency and lifetime of constitutive openings in a manner consistent with action at a low-phi position such as in M3. Such potentiation was also apparent at low [agonist] (<1μM ACh or choline), but at higher [agonist] gating kinetics became complex and the potentiation was less clear. The PAMs also increased substantially the frequency and lifetime of constitutive openings in some of the M3 mutants (to W).
Chemical Mediators of Inflammation and Resolution in Post-Operative Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Patients

Temporal–metabolomic studies of local mediators during inflammation and its resolution uncovered novel pathways and mediators, e.g., lipoxins, resolvins, and protectins that stimulate key resolution responses. Since these studies were carried out with isolated human cells and in animal models, it is important to determine in humans whether temporal profiles between pro-inflammatory mediators and pro-resolving mediators are demonstrable in vivo. To this end, we examined patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery. Profiles of mediators including eicosanoids were assessed in addition to pro-resolving mediators. The results demonstrate temporal relationships for local-acting peptides (e.g., VEGF, IL-10, TGFβ) and lipid mediators (leukotrienes and resolvins). In addition, profiles obtained for AAA patients divided into two groups based on their temporal profile: one group consistent with a pro-inflammatory and another with a resolving profile. Together, these translational metabolomic profiles demonstrate for the first time the temporal relationships between local mediators in humans relevant in inflammation resolution.
HOW TO USE FIDUCIAL-BASED PHOTOGRAMMETRY TO TRACK LARGE-SCALE OUTDOOR MOTION

The concept for the use of vision-based tracking is that precise knowledge of the motions of many material points on the surface of interest can be obtained and used to discriminate between different types of landslides and patterns of behavior. Fiducial-based photogrammetry is inexpensive and robust, requires onetime placement of markers, and allows the user to determine temporal and spatial acquisition of digital images of marked slopes over extended time. Motions determined from analyses of serial images of day (boards and spheres) and night (LEDs) visible markers can be expressed in terms of displacement per day or weekly variation in the daily rate or in terms of total, vertical, downslope, or across-slope velocity, all depending on the needs of the user. By quantifying motion, the underlying processes driving a landslide can be understood, allowing appropriate mitigation or management strategies to be designed. Using markers that can be seen by the naked eye day and night provides communities in landslide-prone areas with a simple method to detect change in a pattern of markers on a slope.
Immunohistochemical Detection of Coxiella Burnetii in Formalin-Fixed Placenta

Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotically transmitted agent in small ruminants that can cause placentitis and subsequent abortion. In humans, Zoonotic transmission results in an acute febrile and sometimes fatal illness. Because domestic animals are the most important agent reservoir, accurate diagnosis is essential for identification of infectious tissue and infected animals. Detection of Coxiella-specific antibodies in complement fixation (CF) or agglutination assays can confirm prior exposure in sheep and goats. However, this does not offer a rapid diagnosis and must be correlated with typical clinical history and microscopic changes to fulfill the criteria for definitive diagnosis. Isolation of Coxiella from milk or placental tissues offers direct detection of the agent but necessitates working with fresh tissue infected with a human pathogen. Historically, the time-consuming method of indirect detection of specific antibodies after 14 or 28 days has been given diagnostic preference to prevent laboratory infections. Although the placental lesions associated with Coxiella infection have been adequately described, the diagnostician would benefit from the ability to definitively identify the organisms in fixed tissue. Immunohistochemical techniques are routinely utilized to diagnose abortion caused by Chlamydia psittaci, another Zoonotic cause of placentitis in small ruminants. To expand capabilities for definitive diagnosis of Coxiella abortion, we developed an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex immunohistochemistry staining method to demonstrate Coxiella in formalin-fixed paraffin-processed placental tissues. This procedure provides the advantage of a rapid definitive diagnosis without the need to work with tissues containing viable organisms, thus eliminating the source of laboratory infections. Human Coxiella burnetii-negative (A. Louis, 190-91) and Coxiella burnetii-positive (JW261M1-2) antisera, the only known commercially available antisera, were negative for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and HIV-2 (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Titer against Campylobacter (Vibrio) by microtiter agglutination was < 25 and for Toxoplasma by indirect hemagglutination was < 64. The positive antisera had an indirect immunofluorescence titer against Coxiella burnetii of 1:60-320 for phase 1 and was negative for phase 11.
Serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae Isolated from Blood Cultures at Boston City Hospital Between 1979 and 1982

Serotypes of pneumococci causing bacteremia were examined from January 1979 through December 1982. Of the 271 isolates recorded, 52% were from adults and 48% were from children. The rate of pneumococcal bacteremia for adults was 2.67 cases per 1,000 admissions; rates were not calculated for pediatric patients. The six most common pediatric types or groups (14, 19, 18, 6, 4, and 9) accounted for 90% of the total pediatric isolates, and the six most common adult types or groups (12, 9, 8, 4, 3, and 6) made up 55.3% of the total adult isolates. More than 96% of the pneumococcal types isolated from the blood cultures of pediatric patients are present in the 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine, compared with 72.7% of the adult isolates. The results demonstrate that most cases of pneumococcal bacteremia are caused by capsular types or groups present in the current vaccine and that minor changes in the types of pneumococci causing bacteremia have occurred during the past decade.
Endometrioid stromal sarcoma: a clinicopathologic study of 63 cases.

Endometrioid stromal sarcoma (also known as extrauterine endometrial stromal sarcoma [EESS]) is an uncommon tumor that occurs in women over a wide age range. The extrauterine location, non-gynecologic symptoms and signs at presentation, and confounding histologic features can pose a diagnostic challenge. In this study, we present the clinicopathologic features of 63 cases of EESS seen during a period of 21 years at our institution. Clinical information and pathology material were reviewed. Ages ranged from 27 to 87 years (median: 50 years). The most common symptoms and signs were an abdominal or pelvic mass, pain, vaginal bleeding, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The tumor size ranged from 1.2 to 24.5 cm. The most common sites of involvement were the ovaries (25), bowel wall (28), abdomen/peritoneum (37), pelvis (20), and vagina (6). Multiple sites were involved in 40 cases. Forty-six of 49 tumors had a classic microscopic appearance, and 3 had dedifferentiation; in 20 cases, there was vascular invasion. Fibroma-like stroma was seen in 30, hyaline plaques in 23, sex cord elements in 11, smooth muscle differentiation in 4, and myxoid change in 4 cases. Endometriosis was noted in 30 cases. Immunohistochemical results included: CD10 positivity in 31, desmin positivity in 9 (focal), estrogen receptor positivity in 28, and progesterone receptor positivity in 33 cases. In 25% of cases, an initial diagnosis other than EESS was made: sex cord-stromal tumors (4), gastrointestinal stromal tumor (3), leiomyosarcoma (3), liposarcoma (1), mullerian adenosarcoma (1), synovial sarcoma (1), malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (1), small round blue cell tumor (1), and atypical stromal endometriosis (1). Primary treatment was cytoreductive surgery for 61 patients and hormonal therapy for 2 patients. Adjuvant treatment included hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Follow-up (5 to 336 months) information was available for 53 patients: alive with no evidence of disease, 29; alive with disease, 15; and dead of disease, 9 (median period of 70 months from diagnosis to death). Thirty-three patients had recurrent disease, and 10 patients were lost to follow-up. EESS is commonly associated with endometriosis and tends to be indolent with a propensity for recurrence. Seven of 9 patients who died of the disease had bowel involvement, and 3 had tumors with dedifferentiation. Besides the latter, no other histologic finding correlated with the clinical behavior of these tumors.
Analytical solutions for a vertically loaded pile in multilayered soil

Explicit elastic solutions for a vertically loaded single pile embedded in multilayered soil are presented. Solutions are also provided for the case in which the pile base rests on a rigid material. Energy principles are used in the derivation of the governing differential equations. The solutions, which satisfy compatibility of displacement in the vertical and radial directions, were obtained by determining the unknown integration constants using the boundary conditions, Cramer's rule, and a recurrence formula. The solutions provide the pile vertical displacement as a function of depth, the load-transfer curves, and the vertical soil displacement as a function of the radial distance from the pile axis at any depth. The use of the analysis is illustrated for a pile that was load-tested under well-documented conditions by obtaining load–transfer and load–settlement curves that are then compared with those obtained from the load test.
Brief potentially ictal rhythmic discharges in critically ill adults.

Importance Brief potentially ictal rhythmic discharges, termed B(I)RDs , have been described mainly in neonates, and their significance in adults remains unclear. Objective To describe the incidence of B(I)RDs in critically ill patients and investigate their association with seizures and outcome. Design, Setting, and Participants We reviewed the records of prospectively identified patients with B(I)RDs and patients serving as controls matched for age (±5 years) and primary diagnosis. Main Outcomes and Measures The prevalence of seizures during continuous electroencephalography and functional outcome, as measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale, were determined. Results We identified B(I)RDs in 20 patients (2%). The pattern most often consisted of very brief (1-3 seconds) runs of sharply contoured theta activity without obvious evolution. All patients with B(I)RDs had cerebral injury, and in cases with a single focal lesion (11 [55%]), B(I)RDs were localized in the same region in all but 2 cases (18%). Patients with B(I)RDs were more likely to have seizures during continuous electroencephalography than were patients without B(I)RDs (15 of 20 [75%] vs 10 of 40 [25%]; P Conclusions and Relevance Brief potentially ictal rhythmic discharges in critically ill patients are associated with a high prevalence (75%) of electrographic seizures and might serve as an early predictor of seizures during subsequent monitoring. A larger prospective study is needed to better understand their clinical and prognostic significance.
Simulation of rollup and mixing in Rayleigh-Taylor flow using the transport-element method

Abstract The vortex method is extended to obtain solutions of the variable density vorticity transport equation in cases when vorticity is generated by the action of gravitational body forces as well as inertial baroclinic effects. The convection of a scalar, in this case density, is simulated using the transport-element method. Similar to the vortex method, this is a grid-free, Lagrangian field method in which scalar gradients are transported along particle trajectories while being modified according to the distortion of the flow map. Results are obtained for a Rayleigh-Taylor flow evolving by the action of gravity on a finite temperature gradient. The numerical solution is validated by comparing the growth rate of small perturbations to the results of the linear stability analysis of this flow. Numerical solutions within the nonlinear range are analyzed to study the effect of density ratio on the rollup of the voriticity layer and the mixing which follows this process.
Alkane and alkanoic acid variations with depth in modern sediments of Pyramid Lake

Abstract Pyramid Lake, a salt lake in Nevada, has undergone a 30% reduction in volume over the past 100 yr due to diversion of river inflow for irrigation of farmland. This has altered the depositional-benthic environment and possibly has changed the overall aquatic environment of Pyramid Lake as indicated by changes in the hydrocarbon and monocarboxylic acid content in a sediment core. In the top 30 cm, total organic carbon levels decrease from 2.5 to 1.8% dry weight but change little over the next 100 cm. A decrease in n-alkane concentrations also occurs in the top 30 cm, although no change in chain-length distributions is found. Most significantly, a 6-fold increase in n-alkanoic acid concentrations exists between the sediment surface and a core depth of 20–30 cm and is due primarily to high amounts of C28 and C30 acids. At all depths below 40 cm, as well as at the surface, C16 and C18 acids dominate the distributions, and overall concentrations are much lower than at 20–23 cm. These changes in concentration and in n-alkanoic acid chain-length distributions appear to coincide with the beginning of lake volume reduction and may demonstrate the effect of increased sedimentation rate upon organic matter preservation. In addition, changes in n-alkane distribution throughout this 135 cm sediment thickness indicate fluctuations in the relative contributions of lake-derived and land-derived organic materials.
Smoking cessation: why do smokers fail?

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to probe three explanations for the difficulty that cigarette smokers have in quitting: the addictive nature of the product; the failure to deliver messages with effective quit strategies; and the resistance to enacting smoking bans in bars and restaurants. It aims to argue that the latter two issues result in misplaced marketing.Design/methodology/approach – This article examines data from published research, interviews with smokers who have successfully quit, and government statistics to have a clearer picture of the issues.Findings – Smokers are exposed to anti‐smoking messages created to discourage youth from starting to smoke, but smokers seldom encounter smoking cessation messages that offer realistic quit strategies. Instead, too many messages offer overly simplistic solutions. Furthermore, smokers in many states continue to find smoking permitted in bars – a place that typically triggers the desire to smoke due to associations between drinking and smoking. ...
An Exploratory Study of Antenatal Preparation for Cesarean Birth

An exploratory study was designed to develop and test an antenatal education program of cesarean birth information. Eighty-one pregnant women and their husbands received the educational program. Eighteen couples experienced cesarean childbirth. Mailed questionnaires containing items dealing with reactions to the educational program and responses to cesarean birth were returned by 15 of these couples. Findings indicated that the educational program met most of the information needs of the study participants. Both mothers and fathers exhibited adaptive and ineffective responses to the cesarean, although the responses were more positive than previous studies have reported.
ConfChem Conference on Case-Based Studies in Chemical Education: Case Study Teaching in the Community College

Students attending community colleges are largely from local communities and of a wide range of age, experiences, and academic preparedness. Those taking chemistry courses are not usually intending careers in chemistry, and many do not have an innate passion or even interest for the subject. I have found that the majority of my students are not particularly receptive to seemingly abstract concepts taught via lectures with PowerPoint presentations that accompany textbooks. They do not often see the relevance of many of the core concepts covered in chemistry textbooks to their own lives and intended careers, and this often leads to perfunctory participation and poor performance. I have found that engaging case studies can be used to connect with these students and also teach core concepts in chemistry. My experiences developing and using case studies to connect with urban community college students and teach core concepts in organic chemistry and general, organic, and biological chemistry (GOB) are described. The cases include concepts pertaining to the mechanisms underlying liver toxicity of acetaminophen, the chemistry of curcumin, the chemistry of cocaine, the chemistry of commonly used painkillers, calorific values of foods, and the chemical principles underlying methemoglobinemia.
Use of sonography in the early detection of suppurative flexor tensosynovitis

Eighteen patients with swollen fingers suggesting acute suppurative tenosynovitis were studied by ultrasonography. All patients received intravenous antibiotics. Twelve patients required surgical drainage. Eleven of 12 patients had sonographic evidence of both a swollen tendon and fluid in the flexor sheath. Eleven of the 12 patients operated on had purulent fluid in the flexor sheath. Four of the operative cases were culture positive and four were culture negative. All six patients treated only with antibiotics had swollen tendons, but five of the six had no sonographic evidence of fluid in the flexor sheath. All patients had a full recovery. Sonographic evidence of fluid in the flexor sheath is a useful sign in the early diagnosis of acute suppurative flexor tenosynovitis.
Toxicology, Environmental Health, and the “One Health” Concept

The One Health concept promotes collaboration among veterinarians, physicians, scientists, and other professions to promote human, animal, and ecosystem health. One Health illustrates the interconnectedness and interdependence of human, animal, and ecosystem health. This concept has traditionally focused on zoonoses that are infectious diseases, not on chemical- or poison-related illnesses in animals and their relationship to the detection and prevention of human illness. The purpose of this article is to describe key experiences of scientists in the Health Studies Branch within the National Center for Environmental of Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in which the study of animal illness facilitated a public health investigation into an outbreak of chemicalassociated human disease. The experiences highlight how utilizing the One Health approach may improve chemical-associated outbreak investigations and facilitate appropriate intervention strategies. An appropriate One Health approach in toxicology and environmental health in outbreak settings should include consideration of the common environments and food sources shared by humans and animals and consideration of the potential for contaminated animal products as food sources in human exposures.
Adaptive nearest neighbor search for relevance feedback in large image databases

Relevance feedback is often used in refining similarity retrievals in image and video databases. Typically this involves modification to the similarity metrics based on the user feedback and recomputing a set of nearest neighbors using the modified similarity values. Such nearest neighbor computations are expensive given that typical image features, such as color and texture, are represented in high dimensional spaces. Search complexity is a ciritcal issue while dealing with large databases and this issue has not received much attention in relevance feedback research. Most of the current methods report results on very small data sets, of the order of few thousand items, where a sequential (and hence exhaustive search) is practical. The main contribution of this paper is a novel algorithm for adaptive nearest neigbor computations for high dimensional feature vectors and when the number of items in the databse is large. The proposed method exploits the correlations between two consecutive nearest neighbor searches when the underlying similarity metric is changing, and filters out a significant number of candidates ina two stage search and retrieval process, thus reducing the number of I/O accesses to the database. Detailed experimental results are provided using a set of about 700,000 images. Comparision to the existing method shows an order of magnitude overall imporovement.