cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probiotics for the Primary and Secondary Prevention of C. difficile Infections: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

Clostridium difficile infections are a global clinical concern and are one of the leading causes of nosocomial outbreaks. Preventing these infections has benefited from multidisciplinary infection control strategies and new antibiotics, but the problem persists. Probiotics are effective in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea and may also be a beneficial strategy for C. difficile infections, but randomized controlled trials are scarce. This meta-analysis pools 21 randomized, controlled trials for primary prevention of C. difficile infections (CDI) and four trials for secondary prevention of C. difficile recurrences and assesses the efficacy of specific probiotic strains. Four probiotics significantly improved primary CDI prevention: (Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillus casei DN114001, a mixture of L. acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, and a mixture of L. acidophilus, L. casei and L. rhamnosus). None of the tested probiotics significantly improved secondary prevention of CDI. More confirmatory randomized trials are needed to establish if probiotics are useful for preventing C. difficile infections. v
Water content of hearts perfused with crystalloid and nutrient solutions.

Abstract One hundred and twenty excised rabbits hearts were subjected to 1 h of continuous pulsatile coronary perfusion with acellular fluids in a Lindbergh-Rockefeller Institution organ perfusion apparatus. Perfusions were carried out at 26°C and 15°C. At the end of 1 h of perfusion, samples of the left ventricular myocardium were packed into nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tubes and the water peak area and linewidth of the water signal were determined by the steady-state NMR spectroscopy. Seventeen different perfusates were employed. Four hearts were perfused and one control heart was processed in an identical way, with each set of experiments. Results were expressed as the mean percentage increase in total myocardial water in perfused hearts, as compared to unperfused hearts. At 26°C these ranged from 9.31 ( s.e. 0.66) to 35.89 ( s.e. 4.09). At 15°C the range was from 13.26 ( s.e. 1.03) to 39.14 ( s.e. 2.06). At 26°C, the mean linewidth (Hz) in control myocardiums was 11.60 ( s.e. 0.40), in perfused hearts 7.34 ( s.e. 0.33); at 15°C it was 12.15 ( s.e. 0.29) in control hearts, and 7.84 ( s.e. 0.37) in perfused ones. Hearts perfused with lactated Ringer's solution showed the greatest interstitial water accumulation. Linewidth narrowing indicated an accumulation of “unstructured” presumably extracellular water. In edematous hearts, interstitial spaces were widely dilated. The described technique can serve as a rapid screening method for assessing myocardial edema produced by perfusion.
Magnitude estimation of breath deprivation

Twenty-two Ss estimated the magnitude of their urgency to breathe following restriction of breath for various percentages of individual breath-holding capacities. The conditions of breath holding were voluntary restriction and relaxed inhalation. No attempt was made to extend the degree of urgency into the aversive range. Under these conditions, the judgments obtained a power function having an exponent of 1.05. Sexual differences were not found, and the slopes of smokers and nonsmokers did not differ significantly. However, breath-holding capacity of smokers and nonsmokers differed significantly. On the basis of extrapolated thresholds, smokers appear to have lower urgency thresholds than nonsmokers. The ability of Ss to estimate lawfully the magnitude of such experiences suggests that the power function may apply to interoceptive intensive continua.
Postprandial remodeling of the gut microbiota in Burmese pythons

The vertebrate gut microbiota evolved in an environment typified by periodic fluctuations in nutrient availability, yet little is known about its responses to host feeding and fasting. As many model species (for example, mice) are adapted to lifestyles of frequent small meals, we turned to the Burmese python, a sit-and-wait foraging snake that consumes large prey at long intervals (>1 month), to examine the effects of a dynamic nutrient milieu on the gut microbiota. We used multiplexed 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing to characterize bacterial communities harvested from the intestines of fasted and digesting snakes, and from their rodent meal. In this unprecedented survey of a reptilian host, we found that Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes numerically dominated the python gut. In the large intestine, fasting was associated with increased abundances of the genera Bacteroides, Rikenella, Synergistes and Akkermansia, and with reduced overall diversity. A marked postprandial shift in bacterial community configuration occurred. Between 12 h and 3 days after feeding, Firmicutes, including the taxa Clostridium, Lactobacillus and Peptostreptococcaceae, gradually outnumbered the fasting-dominant Bacteroidetes, and overall ‘species’-level diversity increased significantly. Most lineages seemed to be indigenous to the python rather than ingested with the meal, but a dietary source of Lactobacillus could not be ruled out. Thus, the observed large-scale alterations of the gut microbiota that accompany the Burmese python's own dramatic physiological and morphological changes during feeding and fasting emphasize the need to consider both microbial and host cellular responses to nutrient flux. The Burmese python may provide a unique model for dissecting these interrelationships.
Computational analysis of biological functions and pathways collectively targeted by co-expressed microRNAs in cancer

Multiple recent studies have found aberrant expression profiles of microRNAome in human cancers. While several target genes have been experimentally identified for some microRNAs in various tumors, the global pattern of cellular functions and pathways affected by co-expressed microRNAs in cancer remains elusive. The goal of this study was to develop a computational approach to global analysis of the major biological processes and signaling pathways that are most likely to be affected collectively by co-expressed microRNAs in cancer cells. We report results of computational analysis of five datasets of aberrantly expressed microRNAs in five human cancers published by the authors (pancreatic cancer) and others (breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and lymphoma). Using the combinatorial target prediction algorithm miRgate and a two-step data reduction procedure we have determined Gene Ontology categories as well as biological functions, disease categories, toxicological categories and signaling pathways that are: targeted by multiple microRNAs; statistically significantly enriched with target genes; and known to be affected in specific cancers. Our global analysis of predicted miRNA targets suggests that co-expressed miRNAs collectively provide systemic compensatory response to the abnormal phenotypic changes in cancer cells by targeting a broad range of functional categories and signaling pathways known to be affected in a particular cancer. Such systems biology based approach provides new avenues for biological interpretation of miRNA profiling data and generation of experimentally testable hypotheses regarding collective regulatory functions of miRNA in cancer.
Upper Respiratory Infections

It is estimated that >24 million cases of acute bacterial sinusitis occur annually in the United States. Recently, a number of medical societies have issued guidelines to aid in the management of upper respiratory tract infections (URIs). Although these guidelines serve to aid practitioners in the proper use of antibiotics, confusion remains regarding the disparity of guideline recommendations as well as some recommendations being outdated. This review presents 3 illustrative case studies designed to provide some clarity with regard to these guidelines. Case 1 is a typical presentation of a patient with worsening sinus conditions over the previous 2 weeks. Case 2 is a more challenging case of a patient with a sinus condition accompanied by a penicillin allergy that ultimately requires referral to an otolaryngologist. Case 3 is an atypical case with symptoms of a sinus infection accompanied by a normal sinus computed tomography scan. It is hoped that the presentation and discussion surrounding these cases will provide some helpful insights into the management of patients with URIs.
ENDOGENOUS LEVELS OF INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID IN SYNCHRONOUS CULTURES OF CHLORELLA PYRENOIDOSA12

SUMMARY Endogenous levels of indole-3-acetic acid were mesaured in synchronous cultures of Chlorella pyrenoidosa (TX-7-11-05). The cultures were synchronized by alternating light:dark periods of 15:9 hr at a temperature of 40 ± 1 C. After 2 synchronous cycles the cultures were exposed to a low light treatment of 350 ± 100 ft-c. The time to incipient cell division under these conditions was 6 hr and 15 min. Samples were taken at 3 sampling periods during the low light treatment period:low light 0 hr (LL0); low light 3 hr (LL3); and low light 6:15 hr (LL6:15). The algal extracts were analyzed by a fluorometric procedure which measured the indole-α-pyrone product formed by the action of the trifluoracetic acid-acetic anhydride reagent with IAA. The IAA levels increased gradually from the autospore stage (5.19 μg × 10−4/mg dry wt) to the adolescent stage (7.13 μg × 10−4/mg dry wt) and more rapidly when approaching the ripened adult stage (14.55 μg × 10−4/mg dry wt). The mean percentage increase from autospore to adolescent was 36.9%, and from adolescent to ripened adult 104.6%. The total percentage increase from autospore to adult was 180.3%. Levels of IAA were 2 times higher just prior to division than in the autospore stage.
Thermal faceting of the rutile TiO2(001) surface

Abstract Temperature dependent faceting of rutile TiO2 surfaces cut to the (001) plane has been reported [Tait and Kasowski, Phys. Rev. B20 (1979) 5178]. By comparing LEED data to beam positions calculated for various sets of facet planes, the facet planes have been identified. The first ordered structure observed on annealing ion bombarded surfaces is composed of {011} facets with the facet planes in a (2 × 1) reconstruction. The high temperature structure produced on annealing above 1300K is best described as {114} facets; however, there are deviations of the observed LEED pattern from that calculated for {114} facets, possibly because of the presence of related planes. LEED data have now been obtained on the behavior of (110), (100), (011), (114), and (001) surfaces in UHV. The observed stability of TiO2 surfaces can be related to the Ti ion coordination numbers in the surface plane as derived from stoichiometric terminations of the rutile lattice.
Identifying Youth at Risk for Treatment Failure in Outpatient Community Mental Health Services

We developed predicted change trajectories and a warning system designed to identify psychotherapy cases at risk for treatment failure as observed in archival Youth Outcome Questionnaire data (parent/guardian-report) from 363 children and adolescents (ages 4–17) served in an outpatient community mental health system. We used multilevel modeling procedures to develop models of predicted change based on demographic information. Controlling for the effects of age on intercept, no other variables were significant in the model. The warning system we created from half of the sample (n = 181) correctly identified 71% of treatment failures in the other half of the sample (n = 182), defined as cases whose symptoms were significantly higher at the end of treatment compared to symptoms at intake. As over half of youth cases in this usual care setting did not demonstrate reliable improvement in symptoms, these results further emphasize the value of patient-focused research in monitoring patient progress and prompting changes in the treatment approach if suitable progress is not observed.
Low-Temperature-Processible, Transparent, and Air-Operable n-Channel Fluorinated Phenylethylated Naphthalenetetracarboxylic Diimide Semiconductors Applied to Flexible Transistors

New N,N′-disubstituted-1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic acid diimides (NTCDI) with fluorinated phenylethyl groups were synthesized. In particular, N,N′-bis(2-(pentafluorophenyl)ethyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic acid diimide (5FPE-NTCDI) showed high electron mobility, more than 0.1 cm2/(V s) in air, even though the film was deposited at room temperature. The correlation of the crystallinity, morphology, and mobility with the substrate temperature during deposition (Tsub) was studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The films of 5FPE-NTCDI exhibited a “thin film phase”, mixed phase, and crystal bulk phase as Tsub was increased. The mixed phase on an octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTS)-treated substrate also has high electron mobility due to well connected long fiber-shaped grains. The high mobility at low Tsub has enabled fabrication of flexible transistors on the clear plastic substrate poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). The highest mobility for a flexible, transpar...
Cold ischemia in microvascular breast reconstruction.

Introduction: A major drawback to microvascular free flap breast reconstruction is the length of operation—up to 9 hours or more for bilateral reconstruction. This takes a significant mental and physical toll on the surgical team, producing fatigue that may compromise surgical outcome. To facilitate the operation we have incorporated a period of cold ischemia of the flaps such that members of the surgical team can alternate a brief respite during the operation. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our series of microvascular free flap breast reconstructions performed over a four-year period in which cold ischemia of the flaps were induced. Results: Seventy patients underwent free flap breast reconstruction with 104 flaps. Mean cold ischemia time for all flaps was 2 hours 36 min. Average rest time per surgeon per case was 35 min. Complications included two total flap losses (1.9%), one partial flap loss (1.0%), one anastomotic thrombosis (1.0%), two hematomas (1.9%), three fat necrosis (2.9%), and two delayed healing (1.9%). Statistical analysis revealed that the probability of complications is inversely related to cold ischemia time (P = 0.0163). Conclusion: Cold ischemia facilitates breast reconstruction by allowing the surgical team to alternate breaks during the operation. This helps reduce surgeon fatigue and is well tolerated by the flap. Thus, we believe that the use of cold ischemia is safe and advantageous in microvascular breast reconstruction. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 30:361–367, 2010.
Task-relevant and task-irrelevant dimensions are modulated independently at a task-irrelevant location

Single-cell and fMRI experiments indicate that task-relevant features are enhanced globally across the visual field (VF). Moreover, this global feature-based attention can spread to task-irrelevant features of the attended object. Here we ask whether a task-irrelevant feature, by virtue of being bound to a task-relevant feature, can also be enhanced at a task-irrelevant location. Specifically, we asked whether attending to the color of moving dots in one VF would influence the motion signal to colored moving dots in the other VF. Participants attended to either red or cyan dots, superimposed and moving in opposite directions. Critically, the color and motion of dots present in the opposite VF varied as a function of the attended dots such that they were either the same color/same direction, same color/opposite direction, opposite color/same direction, or opposite color/opposite direction as the attended dots. We found greater activity in ventral visual cortex when either the color or direction of motion matched the color or direction of motion at the attended location. Similar effects were found for direction of motion in human medial temporal/medial superior temporal cortex. Moreover, the color and motion effects did not interact in any region. Together, these results suggest that the coselection of an object's features modulates those features independently beyond the selected object.
Dry Holes in Economic Research

Summary Between 1974 and 1996, there was a substantial increase in the emphasis on academic research in universities located in the United States and elsewhere throughout the world. This increased emphasis was, and continues to be, reflected in a variety of increased incentives for faculty to produce research, including higher salaries, reduced teaching loads, increased money for travel, on so on. Yet, as we report in this paper, during this time period the rate of uncitedness of economics papers remained constant (at 26 percent). Clearly, universities and taxpayers/supporters of universities are obtaining no enhancement of research output (in terms of citations) from the increased subsidy to faculty research. We discuss the implications of this result for the publication and organization of economic research. In particular, we discuss the fact that resources devoted to up-front screening of papers by authors and journals have risen substantially over this period, but to no avail with respect to reducing the incidence of dry holes.
Determination of Sex of the Douglas-fir Beetle Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

A comparison of four sex determination methods shows that microscopic observation of the elytral declivity is the most accurate and rapid method for sexing large quantities of Douglas-fir beetles.
A Hybrid Method to Determine Individual Stresses in Orthotropic Composites Using Only Measured Isochromatic Data

Ability to determine the individual stresses photoelastically in orthotropic composites from isochromatic data, but without employing isoclinics or isopachics, is developed and demonstrated. This new capability is achieved by combining isochromatic information, complex stress functions and numerical nonlinear least-squares concepts into a new and effective hybrid method for stress analyzing composite materials. Unlike previous methods of photo-orthotropic-elasticity, the present technique simultaneously smoothes the recorded isochromatic data, provides reliable boundary information, and separates the isochromatics into individual stress components throughout the area of interest. The method is illustrated by evaluating the three individual stresses throughout a region adjacent to a hole in a uniaxially loaded orthotropic composite plate from the measured isochromatics.
Hemodynamic changes during complete heart block in the unanesthetized monkey.

Abstract After surgically produced complete heart block, the hearts of six monkeys were paced electrically for five to eight days at their preoperative heart rates. Simultaneous measurements of regional blood flow and other hemodynamic variables were then obtained before and 15 minutes, two hours, and six hours after stopping electrical pacing and 30 minutes after restarting pacing. Fifteen minutes after stopping pacing heart rate, cardiac output, and systemic mean and diastolic pressures decreased and stroke volume increased. This pattern persisted throughout the six-hour period of idioventricular rhythm except that left ventricular end-diastolic and central venous pressures were increased only at 15 minutes and cardiac output was not significantly decreased at the six-hour period. During heart block the fraction of cardiac output received by the heart (except at six hours), brain, liver (hepatic artery), skull, spine, and adrenals was increased at the expense of skin, kidneys (initially), skeletal muscle, spleen, and pancreas. This pattern of regional redistribution of blood flow is similar to that found during hemorrhage and other conditions in which the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated. After pacing was restarted all the systemic variables measured returned to base-line levels, and the regional blood flows measured did not differ from those observed before the heart block.
Pressure-induced maturation of endothelial cells on newborn mouse carotid arteries

Experiments investigated maturation of endothelial function in the postnatal period. Carotid arteries isolated from newborn (postnatal day 1, P1) to P21 mice were assessed in myographs at transmura...
Rural Health Service Programs Evaluating with Pooled Cross-Section and Time Series Data

The impact of community development efforts on rural health services is evaluated by an analytical procedure which pools cross-sectional and time series data, thus taking advantage of both inter-community and inter-temporal variation. Scales of institutional complexity were developed at six time points. To assess the impact of community development efforts, parameters relating health sector growth or decline to existence and type of community development program were obtained using estimation procedures for pooled cross-sectional and time series data. The results indicate that thefull programs did have the predicted positive impact on rural health services. Conversely, the special programs demonstrated no impact.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Thermal Resistance of Carbon Nanotube – Substrate Interfaces

The interfacial thermal resistance (ITR) between a carbon nanotube (CNT) and adjoining carbon, silicon, or copper substrate is investigated through non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation (NEMD). The theoretical phonon transmission also is calculated using a simplified form of the diffuse mismatch model (DMM) with direct simulation of the phonon density of states (DOS) under quasi-harmonic approximation. The results of theory and simulation are reported as a function of temperature in order to estimate the importance of anharmonicity and inelastic scattering. At 300K, the thermal conductance of CNT-substrate interfaces is ∼1500 W/mm2 K for diamond carbon, ∼500 W/mm2 K for silicon, and ∼250 W/mm2 K for copper.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Oligotrophic bacteria in ultra-pure water systems: Media selection and process component evaluations

Presently, tryptic soy agar (TSA) medium is used in the semiconductor industry to determine the concentration of viable oligotrophic bacteria in ultra-pure water systems. Deionized water from an ultra-pure water pilot plant was evaluated for bacterial growth at specific locations, using a non-selective medium (R2A) designed to detect injured heterotrophic as well as oligotrophic bacteria. Results were compared to those obtained using Tryptic Soy Agar. Statistically greater numbers of bacteria were observed when R2A was used as the growth medium. Total viable bacterial numbers were compared both before and after each treatment step of the recirculating loop to determine their effectiveness in removing bacteria. The reduction in bacterial numbers for the reverse osmosis unit, the ion exchange bed, and the ultraviolet sterilizer were 97.4%, 31.3%, and 72.8%, respectively, using TSA medium, and 98.4%, 78.4%, and 35.8% using R2A medium. The number of viable bacteria increased by 60.7% based on TSA medium and 15.7% based on R2A medium after passage of the water through an in-line 0.2-μm pore size nylon filter, probably because of the growth of bacteria on the filter. Our results suggest that R2A medium may give a better representation of the microbial water quality in ultra-pure water systems and therefore a better idea of the effectiveness of the various treatment processes in the control of bacteria.
Void Swelling in Metals and Alloys Under Irradiation: An Assessment of the Theory

The theory of swelling is reviewed in terms of basic concepts and simulation and impurity effects. The basic theory employs the formalism of chemical reaction rates. Efficiencies of voids, dislocat...
Attenuation characteristics of coplanar waveguides

Some preliminary Q measurement results obtained on coplanar waveguides are reported. The novel surface strip transmission lines have loss characteristics similar to those of microstrip lines of the same width and characteristic impedance.
Some exact results in supersymmetric theories based on exceptional groups

We begin an investigation of supersymmetric theories based on exceptional groups. The flat directions are most easily parametrized using their correspondence with gauge-invariant polynomials. Symmetries and holomorphy tightly constrain the superpotentials, but due to multiple gauge invariants other techniques are needed for their full determination. We give an explicit treatment of ${\mathit{G}}_{2}$ and find gaugino condensation for ${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{f}}$\ensuremath{\le}2, and an instanton generated superpotential for ${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{f}}$=3. The analogy with SU(${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{c}}$) gauge theories continues with modified and unmodified quantum moduli spaces for ${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{f}}$=4 and ${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{f}}$=5, respectively, and a non-Abelian Coulomb phase for ${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{f}}$\ensuremath{\ge}6. Electric variables suffice to describe this phase over the full range of ${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{f}}$. The Appendix gives a self-contained introduction to ${\mathit{G}}_{2}$ and its invariant tensors.
The caudal neurosecretory system of the isospondylous teleost, Albula vulpes, from different habitats

The caudal neurosecretory system of the isospondylous teleost, Albula vulpes , was studied by light and electron microscopy. The fish were taken in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, from two habitats: oceanic ponds with wide variations in salinity, and the open sea. The caudal system of Albula shows some primitive characteristics, including extensive extraurophysial neurohemal regions resembling those in elasmobranchs, and some advanced characteristics including a well-developed lobate urophysis. Two types of caudal neurosecretory cells were distinguished, based on staining reactions and on the presence of elementary neurosecretory granules of two different sizes in axon terminals. The elementary granules seem to be formed not only in the perikaryon by the Golgi complex but also by transformation of Golgi vesicles into granules. In the neurosecretory terminals, vesicles and granules may originate locally from a tubular system. Depletion of neurosecretory material from the urophysis appears to involve the loss of electron-dense material from the granules and their transformation into vesicles. Some neurosecretory neurons send a process into the central canal of the spinal cord, as well as to the urophysis. Fish from the two habitats could be distinguished on the following bases: (1) The amount of secretory material in the neurohemal areas is much greater in the pond fish, as indicated by the opalescence of the freshly-dissected urophysis, the elaborately-developed stainable areas in the urophysis, and the presence in terminals of many more electron-dense granules. (2) A much larger proportion of caudal neurosecretory cells in the pond fish show prominent intranuclear cytoplasmic invaginations, which appear to be active centers for elementary granule production. In general, the observations are interpreted in support of an osmo(iono)-regulatory role for the urophysial system.
The generalized assignment problem: valid inequalities and facets

Three classes of valid inequalities based upon multiple knapsack constraints are derived for the generalized assignment problem. General properties of the facet defining inequalities are discussed and, for a special case, the convex hull is completely characterized. In addition, we prove that a basic fractional solution to the linear programming relaxation can be eliminated by a facet defining inequality associated with an individual knapsack constraint.
Modeling cesium ion exchange on fixed-bed columns of crystalline silicotitanate granules

A mathematical model is presented to simulate Cs exchange in fixed-bed columns of a novel crystalline silicotitanate (CST) material, UOP IONSIV IE-911. A local equilibrium is assumed between the macropores and the solid crystals for the particle material balance. Axial dispersed flow and film mass-transfer resistance are incorporated into the column model. Cs equilibrium isotherms and diffusion coefficients were measured experimentally, and dispersion and film mass-transfer coefficients were estimated from correlations. Cs exchange column experiments were conducted in 5−5.7 M Na solutions and simulated using the proposed model. Best-fit diffusion coefficients from column simulations were compared with previously reported batch values of Gu et al. and Huckman. Cs diffusion coefficients for the column were between 2.5 and 5.0 × 10-11 m2/s for 5−5.7 M Na solutions. The effect of the isotherm shape on the Cs diffusion coefficient was investigated. The proposed model provides good fits to experimental data and...
The use of postoperative irradiation for the prevention of heterotopic bone formation after total hip replacement.

Abstract Formation of heterotopic bone (HTB) following total hip replacement may partially or completely ankylose the joint space, causing pain and/or limiting the range of motion. Patients at high risk for formation of HTB postoperatively include those with previous HTB formation, heterotopic osteoarthritis, and active rheumatoid spondylitis. Patients in these high risk groups have a 63–69% incidence of post-operative HTB formation, usually seen radiographically by 2 months post-operation. From 1980–1986 twenty-nine hips in 28 consecutively treated patients were irradiated post-operatively at the UCLA Center for the Health Sciences. The indication for irradiation was documented HTB formation previously in 26 of the 27 hips presented below. From 1980–1982 patients received 20 Gray (Gy) in 2 Gy fractions; from 1982–1986 the dose was reduced to 10 Gy in 2 Gy fractions. Twenty-seven hips in 26 patients completed therapy and were available for evaluation, with a minimum of 2 month follow-up, and a median follow-up of 12 months. Three of 27 hips developed significant HTB (Brooker grade III or IV) post-operatively, whereas 5 of 27 hips developed minor, nonsymptomatic HTB (Brooker grade I). When irradiation was begun by postoperative day 4, 0 of 17 hips formed significant HTB. If irradiation began after postoperative day 4, 3 of 10 hips formed significant HTB (Brooker grade III or IV). These 3 hips received doses of 10 Gy in: one hip and 20 Gy in the other 2 hips. There were no differences in the incidence or severity of side effects in the 10 Gy vs. the 20 Gy treatment groups. Eighteen hips received 10 Gy, 8 hips 20 Gy and, 1 hip 12 Gy. In conclusion, 10 Gy in 5 fractions appears as effective as 20 Gy in 10 fractions at preventing post-operative formation of HTB. For optimal results, treatment should begin as early as possible prior to post-operative day 4.
Hepatitis C virus: strategies to evade antiviral responses

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic liver disease and poses a major clinical and economic burden worldwide. HCV is an RNA virus that is sensed as non-self in the infected liver by host pattern recognition receptors, triggering downstream signaling to interferons (IFNs). The type III IFNs play an important role in immunity to HCV, and human genetic variation in their gene loci is associated with differential HCV infection outcomes. HCV evades host antiviral innate immune responses to mediate a persistent infection in the liver. This review focuses on anti-HCV innate immune sensing, innate signaling and effectors, and the processes and proteins used by HCV to evade and regulate host innate immunity.
The use of cost–benefit analysis in road assessments: a methodological inquiry

Background Cost–benefit analysis is a useful tool for priority setting in road safety. The value of statistical life (VOSL) is a metric used to estimate the benefits of road interventions in cost–benefit analyses. The International Road Assessment Program (iRAP), for example, created a rule-of-thumb to calculate VOSL benefits of road infrastructure when performing cost–benefit assessments in countries where data on VOSL are sparse. Aim To evaluate the rapid assessment metric developed by iRAP and provide suggestions for improvement in these methods. Methods We replicated iRAP calculations in order to make a critical assessment of the sources, results and conclusions. Conclusions We found the iRAP metric a good example for highlighting some relevant aspects that should be considered in any VOSL estimation in order to enhance its use as a guiding principle for assessing road interventions. Specifically, we recommend the explicit disclosure of the assumptions, the use of sensitivity analysis and the avoidance of omitted variables bias.
Bradykinin B1 Receptor Up-Regulation by Interleukin-1β and B1 Agonist Occurs through Independent and Synergistic Intracellular Signaling Mechanisms in Human Lung Fibroblasts

Bradykinin B1 receptors (B1R) are rapidly induced after tissue trauma and are thought to be involved in maintaining the inflammatory response. Little is known about the intracellular signaling pathways mediating B1R induction in response to stress and inflammation. Here, we show that up-regulation of B1R by B1R agonist and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) occur through distinct but synergistic pathways in IMR-90 human lung fibroblasts. Incubation of cells with the B1R agonist desArg10kallidin (desArg10KD; 100 nM) and IL-1β (500 pg/ml) resulted in a 3- and 4-fold increase, respectively, in B1R by 6 h, whereas coincubation of these factors produced up to a 20-fold increase. Furthermore, coincubation increased the potency of IL-1β by 2-fold. Both the individual and the synergistic responses were sensitive to genistein, a general tyrosine kinase inhibitor. On the other hand, only the desArg10KD response and the synergistic response were sensitive to the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor SB 203580. Furthermore, only the synergistic response was sensitive to the nuclear factor-κB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate. Despite B1R up-regulation in A549 human lung epithelial cells by desArg10KD or IL-1β individually, these factors did not act synergistically in this cell line. In conclusion, our results reinforce the view that kinins act in concert with proinflammatory cytokines to enhance selectively the inflammatory response of certain lung cells to kinins through distinct but synergistic intracellular signaling mechanisms. Thus, kinins may exert a pivotal role in maintaining and modulating feed-forward inflammatory processes in the lung.
Speed Estimation from a Moving Automobile

An experiment is described in which the role played by the senses of sight and hearing in the estimation of speed from a moving automobile was investigated. Subjects were driven in the front seat of a car whose speedometer was hidden from their view. The subjects' task was to estimate the speed of the car under the following four conditions of sensory awareness: (A) normal passenger; (B) unable to see— the subject wore a blindfold; (C) diminished hearing— the subject wore a sound excluder; (D) the subject wore both a blindfold and a sound excluder. Under all four conditions slow speeds (25 mph or less) were, on average, underestimated. For the two conditions which permitted hearing the mean estimates of normal driving speeds were without systematic error. However, for the two conditions involving diminished hearing the mean estimates were always lower than the set speeds, indicating that the sense of hearing is of great importance in the task of speed estimation. A subjective speed scale, which is not of ...
Resveratrol enhances airway surface liquid depth in sinonasal epithelium by increasing cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator open probability.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis engenders enormous morbidity in the general population, and is often refractory to medical intervention. Compounds that augment mucociliary clearance in airway epithelia represent a novel treatment strategy for diseases of mucus stasis. A dominant fluid and electrolyte secretory pathway in the nasal airways is governed by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The objectives of the present study were to test resveratrol, a strong potentiator of CFTR channel open probability, in preparation for a clinical trial of mucociliary activators in human sinus disease. Methods: Primary sinonasal epithelial cells, immortalized bronchoepithelial cells (wild type and F508del CFTR), and HEK293 cells expressing exogenous human CFTR were investigated by Ussing chamber as well as patch clamp technique under non-phosphorylating conditions. Effects on airway surface liquid depth were measured using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Impact on CFTR gene expression was measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results: Resveratrol is a robust CFTR channel potentiator in numerous mammalian species. The compound also activated temperature corrected F508del CFTR and enhanced CFTR-dependent chloride secretion in human sinus epithelium ex vivo to an extent comparable to the recently approved CFTR potentiator, ivacaftor. Using inside out patches from apical membranes of murine cells, resveratrol stimulated an ~8 picosiemens chloride channel consistent with CFTR. This observation was confirmed in HEK293 cells expressing exogenous CFTR. Treatment of sinonasal epithelium resulted in a significant increase in airway surface liquid depth (in µm: 8.08+/-1.68 vs. 6.11+/-0.47,control,p<0.05). There was no increase CFTR mRNA. Conclusion: Resveratrol is a potent chloride secretagogue from the mucosal surface of sinonasal epithelium, and hydrates airway surface liquid by increasing CFTR channel open probability. The foundation for a clinical trial utilizing resveratrol as a therapeutic intervention to increase mucociliary transport and airway surface liquid hydration in sinus disease is strongly supported by these findings.
Scope for the substitution of labor and equipment in civil construction A Progress Report

Widespread unemployment and underemployment in many developing countries has been a cause of increasing concern in recent years. It is generally acknowledged that productive employment opportunities must be created for large segments of population to foster economic development with distributional equity. In this regard, the present dominance of highly capitalintensive technologies in capital-scarce, labor-abundant economies has brought into question the appropriateness of the technology being transferred from the developed to the developing countries. It is argued that the pool of unemployed and underemployed labor is an important resource which could contribute to real capital formation and income if only “appropriate technologies” could be found which employ this resource productively
Real-time in vivo color Doppler optical coherence tomography

Color Doppler optical coherence tomography (CDOCT) is a functional extension of optical coherence tomography (OCT) that can image flow in turbid media. We have developed a CDOCT system capable of imaging flow in real time. Doppler processing of the ana- log signal is accomplished in hardware in the time domain using a novel autocorrelation technique. This Doppler processing method is compatible with a high speed OCT system capable of imaging in real time. Using this system, we demonstrate cross-sectional imaging of bidirectional flow with CDOCT at four frames per second in a tissue- simulating phantom consisting of intralipid solution flowing in glass capillaries. As a demonstration of real-time imaging of blood flow in vivo we imaged pulsatible blood flow in a rat femoral artery at eight frames per second. Issues of velocity sensitivity, imaging speed, and range of velocity measurement are discussed, as well as potential ap- plications of real-time CDOCT. © 2002 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation
Scheduling of unstructured communication on the Intel iPSC/860

In this paper we present several algorithms for decomposing all-to-many personalized communication into a set of disjoint partial permutations. These partial permutations avoid node contention as well as link contention. We discuss the theoretical complexity of these algorithms and study their effectiveness both from the view of static scheduling and from runtime scheduling. Experimental results for our algorithms are presented on the iPSC/860.
Retrodirective arrays for wireless communications

This article reports the recent progress in active and passive retrodirective arrays using phase-conjugation techniques. The arrays presented here are designed for wireless communications in microwave bands and have other features in addition to self-phasing aspects such that they can be applied to practical communication systems. The reliance on purely analog circuitry offers system simplicity and high-speed response. The self-beam-steering feature potentially offers the improvement of communication link gain between an interrogator and a retrodirective array, reducing the burden on transmitting and receiving amplifiers. By implementing a receiving function, it has been demonstrated that retrodirective arrays can also be used in bidirectional communications in either a full or semiduplex manner, initiating a new class of transceiver architecture.
Pyrogen Reactions from Cardiac Catheterization

Most nonspecific febrile reactions resulting from intravenous injection of fluids, medications, or catheterization, have been determined to be due to bacterial endotoxins. These lipopolysaccharides are heat-stable, water-soluble and relatively resistant to many chemicals. An epidemic of pyrogen reactions in patients receiving cardiac catheterization at our institution appeared to be related to contamination of the catheters with endotoxin, presumably present in the tap water used for cleaning. Ethylene oxide at 50-60° C was found to be incapable of inactivating endotoxin. Endotoxin placed in the catheters, as well as the epidemic of pyrogen reactions, was eliminated when copious amounts of pyrogen-free water (1,000 ml) were used as a final step in cleaning each of the catheters before gas sterilization.
The establishment of Central American migratory corridors and the biogeographic origins of seasonally dry tropical forests in Mexico

Biogeography and community ecology can mutually illuminate the formation of a regional species pool or biome. Here, we apply phylogenetic methods to a large and diverse plant clade, Malpighiaceae, to characterize the formation of its species pool in Mexico, and its occupancy of the seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) biome that occurs there. We find that the ∼162 species of Mexican Malpighiaceae represent ∼33 dispersals from South America beginning in the Eocene and continuing until the Pliocene (∼46.4‐3.8 Myr). Furthermore, dispersal rates between South America and Mexico show a significant six-fold increase during the mid-Miocene (∼23.9 Myr). We hypothesize that this increase marked the availability of Central America as an important corridor for Neotropical plant migration. We additionally demonstrate that this high rate of dispersal contributed substantially more to the phylogenetic diversity of Malpighiaceae in Mexico than in situ diversification. Finally, we show that most lineages arrived in Mexico pre-adapted with regard to one key SDTF trait, total annual precipitation. In contrast, these lineages adapted to a second key trait, precipitation seasonality, in situ as mountain building in the region gave rise to the abiotic parameters of extant SDTF. The timing of this in situ adaptation to seasonal precipitation suggests that SDTF likely originated its modern characteristics by the late Oligocene, but was geographically more restricted until its expansion in the mid-Miocene. These results highlight the complex interplay of dispersal, adaptation, and in situ diversification in the formation of tropical biomes. Our results additionally demonstrate that these processes are not static, and their relevance can change markedly over evolutionary time. This has important implications for understanding the origin of SDTF in Mexico, but also for understanding the temporal and spatial origin of biomes and regional species pools more broadly.
Experimental and clinical assessment of mitral annular area and dynamics: what are we actually measuring?

The mitral annulus is an essential, dynamic, and tightly coupled component of the mitral valve/left atrial/left ventricular complex that aids in effective and efficient valve closure and unimpeded left ventricular filling. Although the dynamic nature of mitral annular motion has been studied carefully for more than 30 years, accurate measurement of mitral annular area and motion continues to be a challenge for physiologists and clinicians alike. Roentgenographic cine imaging of radiopaque markers, sonomicrometry, magnetic resonance imaging, and two-dimensional echocardiography have all been used to evaluate mitral annular area and dynamics, yet widely disparate measurements abound. Paradoxically, newer three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic findings may have added to this miasma. To explore the variability of these measurements, we reviewed our experimental data as well as clinical and experimental observations reported in the literature to clarify what we are actually measuring and perhaps explain the reported disagreement. The objective was to shed some light on the possible reasons for these discordant findings.
Paleoindian technological provisioning strategies in the northwestern Great Basin

Abstract Great Basin populations during the Pleistocene–Holocene Transition (PHT) are often characterized as being mobile and focused on wetlands; however, the factors that influenced where Paleoindians selected residential campsites are poorly understood. Using predictions derived from optimal foraging-based patch choice models and GIS reconstructions of the PHT landscape, some researchers have argued that occupations in smaller wetlands should have been shorter than occupations in larger wetlands but such arguments have rarely been evaluated using empirical data. The PHT lithic record provides an opportunity to evaluate the relationship between wetland size and occupation span by applying Kuhn's (1995) concept of technological provisioning. Kuhn expects more mobile populations to provision individuals and more sedentary populations to provision places and suggests that: (1) a strategy of provisioning individuals should be reflected by a high proportion of more extensively used artifacts made on non-local raw materials; and (2) a strategy of provisioning places should be reflected by a high proportion of less extensively used artifacts made on local raw materials. We apply the technological provisioning concept to lithic assemblages from two of the Parman localities, extensive PHT sites in the northwestern Great Basin, and compare local and nonlocal artifacts to determine if Paleoindians shifted from provisioning individuals while moving to/from the sites to provisioning the place while occupying them. There is no relationship between artifact transport distance and artifact use intensity. We interpret these findings as evidence that Paleoindians did not alter their provisioning strategies while occupying the Parman localities, likely because occupations were brief within a small wetland poorly-suited to support groups for long periods.