cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A prognostic rule for elderly patients admitted with community-acquired pneumonia.

Abstract PURPOSE: We sought to identify admission characteristics predicting mortality in elderly patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia and to develop a prognostic staging system and discriminant rule. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from 2,356 patients aged ≥65 years admitted with community-acquired pneumonia. Multivariable analyses of a derivation cohort (n = 1,000) identified characteristics associated with hospital mortality. A staging system and discriminant rule based on these characteristics were tested in a validation cohort (n = 1,356). Our discriminant rule was compared with a rule formulated from a heterogeneous adult population with community-acquired pneumonia. RESULTS: Hospital mortality rates were 9% (derivation cohort) and 12% (validation cohort). We identified five independent predictors of mortality: age ≥85 years [odds ratio 1.8 (95% confidence interval 1.1–3.1)], comorbid disease [odds ratio 4.1 (2.1–8.1)], impaired motor response [odds ratio 2.3 (1.4–3.7)], vital sign abnormality [odds ratio 3.4 (2.1–5.4)], and creatinine level ≥1.5 mg/dL [odds ratio 2.5 (1.5–4.2)]. These variables stratified patients into four distinct stages with increasing mortality in the derivation cohort (Stage 1, 2%; Stage 2, 7%; Stage 3, 22%; Stage 4, 45%; P = 0.001) as well as in the validation cohort (Stage 1, 4%; Stage 2, 11%; Stage 3, 23%; Stage 4, 41%; P = 0.001). The discriminant rule developed from the derivation cohort had greater overall accuracy (77.1%) in the validation cohort than a rule formulated from a heterogeneous adult population (68.0%, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia have characteristics at admission that can predict mortality. Our staging system and discriminant rule improve prognostic stratification of these patients.
Nr2e3 and Nrl can reprogram retinal precursors to the rod fate in Xenopus retina.

Transformation of undifferentiated progenitors into specific cell types is largely dependent on temporal and spatial expression of a complex network of transcription factors. Here, we examined whether neural retina leucine zipper (Nrl) and photoreceptor-specific nuclear receptor Nr2e3 transcription factors contribute to cell fate determination. We cloned the Xenopus Nr2e3 gene and showed that its temporal and spatial expression is similar to its mammalian ortholog. We tested its in vivo function by misexpressing these transcription factors in Xenopus eye primordia, demonstrating that either human Nr2e3 or Nrl directed photoreceptor precursors to become rods at the expense of cones. Furthermore, overexpression of Xenopus Nrl dramatically increased the number of lens fibers, whereas human Nrl did not, suggesting evolutionary divergence of function of the Nrl gene family. Misexpression of Nrl and Nr2e3 together were more effective than either transcription factor alone in directing precursors to the rod fate. Developmental Dynamics 236:1970–1979, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Diffusion-perfusion MR evaluation and spectroscopy before and after surgical therapy for intracerebral hemorrhage.

Introduction: Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques provide metabolic/hemodynamic information that is useful in the diagnosis of ischemic stroke. To date, however, their application in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been limited. We postulate that these MRI techniques may help define mechanisms of secondary damage and assess effects of therapeutic interventions in perihematoma tissue after ICH. Methods: A 44-year-old woman presented with severe headache resulting from a right temporal ICH. After developing neurological deterioration 5 days after the bleed, the patient underwent evacuation of the hematoma. Specimen pathology suggested the presence of a small vascular malformation. Diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging as well as proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) investigations to assess perihematoma brain tissue metabolic and circulatory profiles were performed before and after hematoma evacuation. Results: Pre-operative results showed mild oligemia posterior to the hematoma, increased average diffusion coefficient (DAV), and normal perihematoma N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) concentration on 1H-MRSI. This profile was interpreted as inconsistent with ischemia (as defined by reduced DAV and NAA) but compatible with perihematoma inflammation (as defined by elevated DAV and lactate signal). Postsurgical MRI investigations showed near normalization of the perfusion deficit. Conclusion: We postulate that mass effect produced by the hematoma, and perhaps inflammation, can induce perilesional reduced cerebral perfusion in a reversible manner.
The diffraction matrix for a discontinuity in curvature

To enlarge the scope of the geometrical theory of diffraction, the diffraction matrix for a surface singularity where the curvature but not the slope is discontinuous is rigorously derived. The model that is employed consists of two parabolic cylinders of different latus recta joined together at the front, thereby creating a line discontinuity of the required form. For each of the two principal polarizations, asymptotic developments of the surface fields in the vicinity of the join are calculated, from which the diffraction coefficients are then obtained by integration. The results differ significantly from the physical optics estimates and are analogous to those for a wedge-like singularity. This analogy permits a trivial deduction of the complete diffraction matrix.
Histochemistry of the mucins of vitamin A produced mucous metaplasia in hamsters.

Abstract Mucous metaplasia was produced experimentally in the normally keratinizing epithelium of the Golden Syrian hamster cheek pouch using 50,000 i.u. of vitamin A alcohol applied topically by way of paraffin rods. This mucus production was studied histochemically in order to determine the nature of the metaplastic mucin. The results of this study indicate that this mucin has staining characteristics which are compatible with the known chemical constituents of normal epithelial mucins and contains sulphate radicals closely associated with basic protein, sialic acid residues, and 1, 2 glycol groups not belonging to glycogen or lipid. The mechanism of action of vitamin A in producing this alteration is not well understood at the present but it appears that this metaplastic effect needs further investigation in order to understand better the site of action of vitamin A in altering the differentiative pathway of keratinizing epithelia.
Preventing renal failure in patients with rhabdomyolysis: do bicarbonate and mannitol make a difference?

Background:The combination of bicarbonate and mannitol (BIC/MAN) is commonly used to prevent renal failure (RF) in patients with rhabdomyolysis despite the absence of sufficient evidence validating its use. The purpose of this study was to determine whether BIC/ MAN is effective in preventing RF in
Obstacles to utopia

Stanley R. Ingman and Anthony E. Thomas, eds. Topias and Utopias in Health: Policy Studies. The Hague and Paris: Mouton Publishers, 1975. Distributed in North America by Aldine Publishing Company, ix + 548 pp. Tables, biographical notes, and indices. $24.50.
LYSOSOMAL‐TYPE ENZYMES IN BEEF LONGISSIMUS DORSI MUSCLE

SUMMARY Biochemical evidence for the presence of lysosomes in bovine longissimus dorsi muscle has been presented. Comparisons of enzymatic activities among lysosomal fractions from rat liver, bovine liver and bovine I. dorsi muscle indicate that there are specific as well as organic differences with respect to the activities of some of the enzymes.
Nurse practitioners and the growth of palliative medicine

As Americans live longer they are likely to suffer from chronic, life-limiting illness. Because there are not enough hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) trained physicians to care for these people, there have been recent calls to increase the number of HPM trained physicians. We, however, believe that greater involvement of nurse practitioners (NPs) is a step in remedying this deficit. The philosophy and culture in which nurse practitioners are trained make them ideal clinicians to provide excellent palliative care. In addition, NPs are not only numerous, they can provide care that is on par with that provided by physicians. Removal of barriers to NP practice and increasing the quality of their palliative care education/training needs to occur in order to make this suggestion a reality.
An examination of how therapist directiveness interacts with patient anger and reactance to predict alcohol use.

Objective: This study examined the interactions of therapist directiveness with patient anger and patient reactance among an alcohol-treatment-seeking sample. Method: Participants in the study consisted of 139 individuals with alcohol abuse or dependence who received treatment at a single clinical research unit of Project MATCH (Matching Alcoholism Treatments to Client Heterogeneity). Analyses tested for the independence of the two interactions, identified components within the directiveness construct and examined the relationship between those components and the patient attributes. Results: Results showed that the interactions between directiveness and anger and between directiveness and reactance each accounted for unique variance in predicting posttreatment alcohol use as measured by percentage of days abstinent (PDA) and percentage of heavy drinking days (PHDD). Principal components analysis of the directiveness construct generated two underlying components that were interpreted to be confrontation an...
Magnetic properties of Gd1−xThxFe2 and Gd1−xCexFe2

Abstract Saturation magnetization, magnetization vs temperature, Curie temperatures, and lattice parameters are presented for the ternary alloys Gd 1− x Th x Fe 2 and Gd 1− x Ce x Fe 2 . Quadrivalent Th and Ce were introduced into the lattice in an effort to induce ferromagnetic GdFe coupling. Experiment showed that the antiferromagnetic GdFe coupling in GdFe 2 is preserved in the ternaries. The Fe moment and Curie temperature decrease as the Gd content of the sample is decreased. This is ascribed to electron transfer from Th or Ce to the Fe d shell. Failure to achieve ferromagnetic coupling is ascribed to electron capture by iron, which prevents a rise in electron concentration as Gd is replaced by Ce or Th.
The response of polycrystalline tungsten to 30 keV helium ion implantation at normal incidence and high temperatures

Abstract Polycrystalline tungsten samples were irradiated with 30 keV helium ions in the Materials Irradiation Experiment (MITE-E). Samples were held at temperatures of 500–900 °C while irradiated to fluences of ∼6 × 10 16 to ∼4 × 10 19 He/cm 2 . Drastic changes to the surface morphology were observed at implant doses exceeding ∼1 × 10 18 He/cm 2 and classified as blisters, pitting, or a highly directional surface structure dubbed “grass.” Morphological details of the grass structure depended on the crystal orientation of the grains at the sample surface. A sub-surface semi-porous layer was formed during irradiation. Post-implantation analysis revealed that this layer extended up to ∼1000 nm below the surface in the highest fluence cases. Specimens irradiated to fluences in excess of ∼1 × 10 18 He/cm 2 experienced statistically significant mass loss which increased with higher implant dose. Implications of this mass loss are discussed for the plasma facing components of both magnetic and inertial fusion reactors.
Family Counseling in the Schools: A Graduate Course.

The literature describes a wide array of projects and approaches for applying family systems theory and practice in school settings. However, to date, no articles describe coursework to prepare students for this work. This article describes a one semester-unit course, entitled “Family Counseling in the Schools” to complement other training in family systems counseling for students interested in family-school intervention. The article links literature on changes in the cultures of the social institutions of schools, families, and family counseling with the systemic conceptual framework that underpins the course. The description of the course focuses on (a) objectives, (b) content and learning process activities, (c) homework assignments, and (d) student responses to the course.
Failure analysis of an elbow tube fitting

Abstract Safe operation of machinery depends strongly on the design of the system and the employment of proper components and materials. Unique to fluid powered systems are the proper selection of hydraulic lines, fittings, and control valves. This paper describes the cause of fracture in an elbow tube fittings due to deficiencies in the dimensional design and materials selection. The investigation included metallography, fractography, hardness testing and metrology. The results showed that the material was low carbon steel subjected to cold forming and normalized annealing processes during tube production. There were dimensional variations in the tube and the material strenght was low.
Screening of Protein Crystallization Conditions on a Microfluidic Chip Using Nanoliter-Size Droplets

Protein crystallization is a major bottleneck in determining tertiary protein structures from genomic sequence data. This paper describes a microfluidic system for screening hundreds of protein crystallization conditions using less than 4 nL of protein solution for each crystallization droplet. The droplets are formed by mixing protein, precipitant, and additive stock solutions in variable ratios in a flow of water-immiscible fluids inside microchannels. Each droplet represents a discrete trial testing different conditions. The system has been validated by crystallization of several water-soluble proteins.
Spatial estimation of soil moisture using synthetic aperture radar in Alaska

Abstract A spatially distributed Model of Arctic Thermal and Hydrologic processes (MATH) has been developed. One of the attributes of this model is the spatial and temporal prediction of soil moisture in the active layer. The spatially distributed output from this model required verification data obtained through remote sensing to assess performance at the watershed scale independently. Therefore, a neural network was trained to predict soil moisture contents near the ground surface. The input to train the neural network is synthetic aperture radar (SAR) pixel value, and field measurements of soil moisture, and vegetation, which were used as a surrogate for surface roughness. Once the network was trained, soil moisture predictions were made based on SAR pixel value and vegetation. These results were then used for comparison with results from the hydrologic model. The quality of neural network input was less than anticipated. Our digital elevation model (DEM) was not of high enough resolution to allow exact coregistration with soil moisture measurements; therefore, the statistical correlations were not as good as hoped. However, the spatial pattern of the SAR derived soil moisture contents compares favorably with the hydrologic MATH model results. Primary surface parameters that effect SAR include topography, surface roughness, vegetation cover and soil texture. Single parameters that are considered to influence SAR include incident angle of the radar, polarization of the radiation, signal strength and returning signal integration, to name a few. These factors influence the reflectance, but if one adequately quantifies the influences of terrain and roughness, it is considered possible to extract information on soil moisture from SAR imagery analysis and in turn use SAR imagery to validate hydrologic models.
DMDs for smart headlights

The primary goal of a vehicular headlight is to improve safety in low-light and poor weather conditions. The typical headlight however has very limited flexibility - switching between high and low beams, turning off beams toward the opposing lane or rotating the beam as the vehicle turns - and is not designed for all driving environments. Thus, despite decades of innovation in light source technology, more than half of the vehicular accidents still happen at night even with much less traffic on the road. We will describe a new DMD-based design for a headlight that can be programmed to perform several tasks simultaneously and that can sense, react and adapt quickly to any environment with the goal of increasing safety for all drivers on the road. For example, we will be able to drive with high-beams without glaring any other driver and we will be able to see better during rain and snowstorms when the road is most treacherous to drive. The headlight can also increase contrast of lanes, markings and sidewalks and can alert drivers to sudden obstacles. In this talk, we will lay out the engineering challenges in building this headlight and share our experiences with the prototypes developed over the past two years.
The partitioning of elements during physical cleaning of coals

Abstract The fate of 75 different elements was determined in coal samples before and after physical cleaning; in coarse coal wastes removed during cleaning; in process waters before and after the cleaning of coal; and in leachates of coal wastes. The results showed that the concentration of most elements simply followed the ash content of coal before and after cleaning. Germanium was significantly enriched and beryllium, molybdenum, uranium, iodine, cobalt and antimony were slightly enriched in cleaned coals. Sodium, sulfur, chlorine, calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium were observed in the process waters at concentrations above 100 mg/l with sodium at 860 mg/l being the highest concentration observed.
Assessment of Relative Improvement Due to Weights Within Generalized Estimating Equations Framework for Incomplete Clinical Trials Data

The generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach has been popular for analyzing longitudinal clinical trials data with missing values. The GEE methodology allows one to obtain unbiased estimates only when the data are missing completely at random. The use of weights into the estimating equations has been proposed as an adjustment for differential probabilities of nonresponse to accomodate more realistic missingness mechanisms. This article addresses the problem of assessing the relative improvement due to weights using simulated data generated around an alcoholic hepatitis trial. We argue that weights yield improved results in terms of bias, coverage rate, and efficiency only when the underlying missingness mechanism is correctly specified.
The number of self‐complementary achiral necklaces

Necklaces with beads of two colors which are left unchanged both by a reflection as well as by the interchange of the two colors are characterized in terms of their axes of symmetry. This characterization is then used to enumerate them. For n = 2rm with r ≥ 1 and m odd, the number of self-complementary achiral necklaces is for large even n, this sum is asymptotic to 2{n/4}-1.
Conjunctival flap-cosmetic shell-ptosis procedure. Treatment of blepharoptosis in severe keratopathy.

• The correction of marked blepharoptosis in patients with severe or potential keratopathy will worsen the keratopathy and possibly lead to the complications of corneal ulceration and endophthalmitis. The conjunctival flap-cosmetic shell-ptosis procedure is well suited to this difficult management problem. Patients are initially treated with a conjunctival flap to protect their cornea. Subsequently they are fit with a cosmetic shell, and finally they undergo surgery to correct their ptosis. This three-stage procedure has produced excellent cosmetic and functional results in two patients, one of whom had ptosis and severe radiation-induced keratopathy following the treatment of a rhabdomyosarcoma; the other patient had severe ptosis associated with lack of corneal sensation and orbicularis function following removal of a cerebral meningioma.
Enhanced hormonal responsiveness in mammary glands from parous mice: molecular mechanisms.

Abstract Mammary glands from parous mice required lower concentrations of hormones in vitro than those from virgins to effect differentiation, as measured by lactose synthetase activity. This phenomenon could not be explained by changes in receptor levels, since both mammary gland insulin and prolactin binding, although elevated at midpregnancy, returned to baseline in tissue from parous mice. Ethidium bromide, an intercalating dye, was a potent inhibitor of lactose synthetase induction in expiants from virgins but much less potent in tissue from pregnant mice; expiants from parous animals displayed intermediate sensitivity, suggesting that DNA structure was permanently altered. However, casein synthesis in glands from parous mice required hormone concentrations as high as in virgins and are just as susceptible to ethidium bromide as in virgins. Similarly, the vulnerability of the casein gene to DNAase I digestion is low in mammary epithelial cells from virgins, high in cells from pregnant mice, and low again in cells from parous animals. These data suggest that during the first pregnancy of mice, there are changes in the chromatin configuration that may facilitate the transcription of milk-related mRNA. Furthermore, after mammary gland involution these changes in the casein gene undergo reversion, while those involved with lactose synthetase activity persist; this may explain the disparate hormonal responsiveness seen in these animals with respect to casein and lactose synthesis.
On-Line Stability Margin and Attitude Estimation for Dynamic Articulating Mobile Robots

Stability is an important concern for vehicles which move heavy loads, accelerate or brake aggressively, turn at speed, or operate on sloped terrain. In many cases, vehicles face more than one of these challenges simultaneously. Some are obliged to execute these maneuvers when their high centers of gravity leave them particularly vulnerable to tipover or rollover. A methodology is presented to estimate proximity to tipover for autonomous field robots that must be productive, effective, and self-reliant under such challenging circumstances. While the physical principles governing the computation of stability margin have been known for some time, the realization of these principles in practice raises issues which are at once similar to those of attitude estimation while contrasting heavily with inertial guidance. The problem of stability margin estimation is posed in the fairly general case of accelerated articulating motion over rough terrain. Compatibility with and distinctions from attitude estimation lead to a proposed integrated solution to both problems based on the fusion of inertial, articulation, and terrain relative velocity sensing in an optimal estimation framework. An implementation of a device targeted to an industrial lift truck is presented.
Photoemission study of Au overlayers on Pd(111) and the formation of a Pd-Au(111) alloy surface

The techniques of photoemission spectroscopy (PES), Auger spectroscopy, and low-energy electron diffraction were used to examine the interaction of Au and Pd for the following: (1) overlayers of Au on Pd(111), ranging from 0.1 to 10 monolayers, (2) Au diffused into the Pd matrix, and (3) a stabilized Pd-Au alloy surface, formed by diffusing a thick Au layer into the Pd until the composition stabilized. An ordered Au(111) layer formed on the Pd. For the Au overlayers, three effects were seen by PES: (1) structures appeared which merged smoothly into the metallic Au structure, (2) structures at the energies of the clean Pd peaks were sharpened when submonolayers of Au were evaporated, and (3) a new structure appeared which could not be definitely attributed to Pd or Au. Au diffused into the Pd evidenced a more atomiclike structure than the overlayers. The stabilized alloy, which was determined to have 30 at.% Au in the surface region, evidenced PES structure strikingly similar to the 0.3 monolayer overlayer. Direct transition effects were seen for the alloy. The Au-derived structure was found to narrow and shift to slightly lower binding energy for the alloy as compared to the 0.3 monolayer overlayer. Comparison is made between the thin layers of Au on Pd and thin layers of Cu on Zn. Comparison is also made between the stabilized Pd-Au alloy and the Cu-Ni alloy system. Theoretical support for direct transitions in alloys is cited.
Remission of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I with the use of tacrolimus

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, albeit uncommon, is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality in children. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy for severe disease, although data supporting their use are limited. We report our experience in treating two children with nephrotic–nephritic syndrome from idiopathic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Both children experienced a suboptimal response to prolonged courses of steroids and were started on tacrolimus as a steroid-sparing agent. Rapid and complete remission was achieved in both children after initiation of tacrolimus. The purpose of our report is to increase awareness of health care professionals to the potential benefits of this agent in inducing remission in children with severe membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.
The multiple isotope material basis set (MIMBS) method for isotope identification with low-and medium-resolution gamma-ray detectors

In this report we describe the multiple isotope material basis set (MIMBS) method for isotope identification and show that it can overcome limitations of ordinary response function fitting and the single isotope material basis set method (SIMBS) when applied to ideal simulated NaI spectra, for an example attenuator and isotope library. Our simulations demonstrate that ordinary response function fitting has difficult identifying isotopes when attenuation is a factor, and that the SIMBS method can fail when multiple isotopes are present, so the more computationally intensive MIMBS method may be required for these situations. Its effectiveness in analyzing more realistic spectra remains to be demonstrated.
Properties of 1-convex n-person games

The subclass of 1-convexn-person games is central in this paper. It turns out that an 1-convexn-person game can be characterized by the structure of the core and that its nucleolus lies in the center of gravity of the core. Using the formula for the nucleolus, it is shown that for 1-convex games the intersection of the (pre-) kernel with the core consists of a unique point. Nevertheless, the (pre-)kernel may contain points outside the core. Hence, the bargaining set of an 1-convexn-person game not necessarily coincides with the core and the part of the bargaining set outside the core may even be disconnected with the core. Furthermore, the class of 1-convex games which possess a "large" core, is classified. Im Mittelpunkt dieser Arbeit steht die Unterklasse der 1-konvexenn-Personen-Spiele. Es stellt sich heraus, daβ ein 1-konvexesn-Personen-Spiel durch die Struktur des Kerns charakterisiert werden kann und sein Nucleolus im Gravitatszentrum des Kerns liegt. Unter Benutzung der Formel fur den Nucleolus wird gezeigt, daβ fur 1-konvexe Spiele der Durchschnitt von (Pre-)Kernel und Kern aus einem eindeutigen Punkt besteht. Allerdings kann der (Pre-)Kernel auch Punkte auβerhalb des Kerns enthalten. Deshalb fallt die Verhandlungsmenge des 1-konvexenn-Personen-Spiels nicht notwendigerweise mit dem Kern zusammen, und der Teil der Verhandlungsmenge, der auβerhalb des Kerns liegt, braucht sogar nicht mit dem Kern zusammenzuhangen. Zudem wird eine Einteilung der Klasse der 1-konvexen Spiele gegeben, die einen "groβen" Kern besitzen.
The effect of Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, and moniliformin from contaminated moldy grains on aquaculture fish.

Fusarium spp. are types of fungi that invade agriculturally important grains, such as corn and wheat, where they may produce mycotoxins that are harmful to the productivity and health of food animals, such as swine, poultry, and aquacultural fish. Because corn and wheat are used for other industrial purposes, such as ethanol and flour production, by-products of these processes are available to supplement or replace expensive grains in fish feed formulations. Consequently, grain by-products have come under scrutiny as possible sources of feed-borne Fusarium mycotoxins. Evaluation of the effects of Fusarium mycotoxins on productivity of fish used in aquaculture has been the subject of recent research.
Pupillometry in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS): quantitative evidence of autonomic nervous system dysregulation

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is characterized by alveolar hypoventilation, autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation (ANSD), and mutations in the paired-like homeobox 2B (PHOX2B) gene. ANSD in CCHS affects multiple systems and includes ophthalmologic abnormalities. We hypothesized that quantitative pupil measures, obtained using pupillometry, would vary between cases with CCHS and controls and within those with CCHS by PHOX2B genotype. Measures known to be illustrative of sympathetic and parasympathetic response (prestimulus, maximum pupil diameter, percentage of pupil constriction after light stimulus, and average constriction and dilation velocities) were significantly reduced in those with CCHS as compared with controls (all P < 0.05). These reductions are indicative of both sympathetic and parasympathetic deficits in CCHS, which is in keeping with the role of PHOX2B in ANS development. An inverse linear relationship was apparent in pupil diameter and velocity measurements among the cases with CCHS with the most common heterozygous PHOX2B polyalanine expansion repeat mutations, suggesting a graded phenotype/genotype dose response based on polyalanine repeat length. These results confirm our central hypotheses while offering the first objective measures of pupillary dysfunction and ophthalmologic-specific ANSD in CCHS. A total of 316 monocular measurements were taken under dark-adapted conditions with a fixed light stimulus from 22 PHOX2B mutation-confirmed cases with CCHS and 68 healthy controls.
Catalytic kinetics of single gold nanoparticles observed via optical microwell arrays

Catalytic activities and kinetics are measured at the single-particle level for gold nanoparticles catalyzing a fluorogenic oxidation reaction. This measurement is accomplished by confining the reactions in optically addressable microwell arrays. Citrate-capped gold nanoparticles are isolated in sealed ∼70 fL microwells along with a substrate, and the accumulation of a fluorescent product over time is observed. Thousands of reactions are measured in parallel. Catalytic activities are calculated for each nanoparticle and the activity distribution is analyzed.
Determinants of quality of life in patients following pulmonary resection for lung cancer.

Abstract Background The purpose of the present study was to prospectively measure quality of life (QOL) before and after pulmonary resection for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to determine which clinical perioperative variables predicted QOL. Methods Thirty-seven patients undergoing a curative resection for early-stage NSCLC were administered the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Lung (FACT-L) questionnaire serially. This was used to calculate a Trial Outcome Index (TOI), a measure of QOL. Results Perioperative variables associated with worse postoperative TOI included the presence of preoperative dyspnea (coefficient −7.89, 95% confidence interval −12.4 to −3.31, P = .01) and exposure to adjuvant chemotherapy (−14.7, −20.0 to −9.46, P = .001). Conclusions Preoperative dyspnea and postoperative chemotherapy are associated with worse postoperative QOL among patients with resected, early-stage NSCLC. As adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy protocols become more prevalent for these patients, QOL issues may assume greater importance.
Geographic influences on sexual and reproductive health service utilization in rural Mozambique

The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains a major public health issue across the globe, and it is of particular concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Utilization of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services can significantly impact HIV prevention, transmission, and treatment. SRH service utilization may be determined by individual characteristics, such as education and economic status, but also by the location and accessibility of health care facilities. Using population-based survey data, this study applies exploratory spatial analysis techniques to examine spatial patterns of SRH service utilization among rural married women in southern Mozambique. Clustering among those using services is found as are spatial associations, indicating significant spatial variability in the utilization of health services. The findings provide valuable insights for current and future health care program planning and configuration.
Intra–nasal tumours in the dog: an evaluation of prognosis

The case records and owners of twenty–nine dogs with intra–nasal neoplasms seen at the University of Pennsylvania were investigated. Fifteen dogs were treated surgically of which thirteen were euthanized within 4 months of treatment and two were lost to follow–up. Earlier surgical treatment based on present diagnostic methods appeared not to improve the prognosis. Four dogs were treated with radiation and survived for 6, 12, 26 and 52 months from the initial treatment. At present, radiation therapy, whilst only palliative, offers the best results. Resume. On a etudie les protocoles d'observation chez vingt-neuf chiens avec des neoplasmes intranasaux examines a l'Universite de Pennysylvanie et on a interroge leurs proprietaires. Quinze chiens ont ete traites par chirurgie, treize d'entre eux ont du ětre detruits en quatre mois de traitement et tout contact a ete perdu avec les deux autres pour les soins post-operatoires. Un traitement chirurgical anterieur, base sur des methodes actuelles de diagnostic ne semble pas avoir perfectionne le prognostic. Quatre chiens ont ete traites par radiations et ils ont survecu pendant 6, 12, 26, et 52, mois a partir du traitement initial. Pour le moment, la therapeutique par radiations, bien que palliative, offre les meilleurs resultats. Resume. Die Krankenbefunde und die Besitzer von neunundzwanzig Hunden mit intra-nasalen Neoplasmen die man an der Universitat von Pennsylvanien behandelte, wurden erforscht. Funfzehn Hunde wurden chirurgisch behandelt, von denen man dreizehn innerhalb von vier Monaten der Behandlung mit Euthanasie aus dem Leben half, von den ubrigen zweien verlor man jede Spur zur Nachforschung. Friihere chirurgische Behandlung auf gegenwartige diagnostische Methoden beruhend, schien die Prognose nicht zu verbessern. Vier Hunde wurden durch Bestrahlung behandelt und uberlebten 6, 12, 26 und 52 Monate vom Beginn der anfang-lichen Behandlung. Zur Zeit beitet Bestrahlungstherapie obwohl nur palliativ, die besten Ergebnisse.
Socioeconomic reverberations of earthquake prediction: snapshot in time, Peru 1979-1981

Although the scientific capability to predict earthquakes has proven more elusive than was hoped for several decades ago, the concern over the social and economic response to prediction of an earthquake remains high. This paper examines the social and economic response to a scientific prediction for a strong earthquake to occur off Lima, Peru in mid-1981. The principal findings are that (1) public knowledge and anxiety over the prediction was widespread in Peru, but the behavioral response was relatively modest; and (2) corporations reviewed emergency plans and contingencies, especially insurance coverage, which saw a significant but temporary rise at the national level.
Iterated Möbius transformations

A method for the construction of an iterated function system that depends on several parameters is described. Varying the parameters in the system allows a wide variety of aesthetically pleasing designs to be produced.
Treatment of the cbl B form of methylmalonic acidaemia with adenosylcobalamin

A 30-month-old girl was found to have thecbl B mutant form of methylmalonic aciduria by complementation analysis of fibroblasts. She was unresponsive to hydroxycobalamin and was treated with intramuscular adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl), the deficient coenzyme, at a dose of 1 mg/24 h during a period of clinical stability. Serum cobalamin increased from 770 to 54 200 pg/ml. Mean urinary methylmalonic acid excretion was 409 mg/24 h prior to therapy. There was a transient fall in methylmalonic acid excretion during the first 5 days of therapy (range 167–245 mg/24 h) followed by a rise in excretion toward pretreatment levels (range 317–485 mg/24 h) during the second week of AdoCbl treatment. There was no change in plasma ammonia, glycine or serum bicarbonate level. We interpret the failure of this child to have a sustained and clinically significant response to AdoCbl as indicating that AdoCbl did not reach or enter the mitochondria intact, or in some other way was unavailable as a coenzyme for the methylmalonyl CoA mutase apoenzyme.
Microwave spectroscopy of Li + ions in the KCl lattice

Abstract The zero-field Stark modulated microwave spectrum of the LiCl : KCl system has been observed. The 6 Li + and 7 Li + ion tunneling motion is discussed in light of the experimental results.
The liaison psychiatrist: Social role and status

Abstract This paper focuses on the differences between liaison and consultation psychiatry, emphasizing the social role. To carry out systematic liaison intervention, a psychiatrist must become a fully accepted high-status member of the ward culture. Examples of how a liaison psychiatrist can effect change in his/her social role are provided.
Antibacterial Activity of Lidocaine in Combination with a Bicarbonate Buffer

BACKGROUND. The antibacterial properties of lidocaine have been previously described. Recent reports indicated that the addition of NaHCO3 to lidocaine reduces the pain associated with the injection. This study was conducted to determine the antibacterial activity of lidocaine buffered with NaHCO3. METHODS. Rates of killing of six species of bacteria were determined in the presence of buffered and unbuffered lidocaine. When bacteria were incubated with lidocaine buffered with NaHCO3 at either 25, 50, or 100 mEq/L, there was a decrease of>99% of all bacteria tested over the 6 hours of the assay. This dramatic rate of killing was not observed in the unbuffered control preparations. RESULTS. The results of this study indicate that NaHCO3 enhances the killing effect that has been described for lidocaine alone. The inability to recover common pathogenic bacteria from biopsy specimens could be the result of exposure to local anesthetic agents such as lidocaine that are buffered with NaHCO3.
A comparison of the proteolytic susceptibility of several rat liver enzymes

Abstract The susceptibility of five enzymes to proteolytic attack has been compared in rat liver extracts. The results show that enzymes with short in vivo half-lives were especially vulnerable to proteolytic attack, as measured by loss of activity in vitro , in contrast to the long-lived enzymes which were resistant to attack. Furthermore, there was a good correlation between the relative rates of inactivation in vivo and in vitro only with specific proteases such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, not with non-specific proteases such as pronase and subtilisin. This suggests that proteolytic enzymes with some degree of specificity are involved in the degradation of intracellular enzymes.
Exposures to Benzene and Other Volatile Compounds from Active and Passive Smoking

Personal exposures and breath concentrations of approximately 20 volatile organics were measured for 200 smokers and 322 nonsmokers in New Jersey and California. Smokers displayed significantly elevated breath levels of benzene, styrene, ethylbenzene, m + p-xylene, o-xylene, and octane. Significant increases in breath concentration with number of cigarettes smoked were noted for the first four aromatic compounds. Based on direct measurements of benzene in mainstream cigarette smoke, it is calculated that a typical smoker inhales 2 mg benzene daily, compared to 0.2 mg/day for the nonsmoker. Thus, cigarette smoking may be the most important source of exposure to benzene for about 50 million citizens of the United States. Passive smokers exposed at work had significantly elevated levels of aromatics in their breath. Indoor air levels in homes with smokers were significantly greater than in nonsmoking homes during fall and winter but not during spring and summer. The average annual increase in homes with smokers was 3.6 microgram/m3 for benzene and 0.5 microgram/m3 for styrene--an approximate 50% relative increase in each case. Thus, exposure to benzene and styrene may be increased for the approximately 60% of children and other nonsmokers living in homes with smokers.
Familial Sinus Node Disease

A family with evidence of severe malfunction of the sinus node in two senior members and with electrocardiographic evidence of sinus node malfunction in four junior members and an additional adult is presented. Acquired heart disease has been clinically excluded in the patients described. None of the patients demonstrates QT interval prolongation, and there is no family history of congenital deafness. Family histories relative to syncopal episodes, serious cardiac arrhythmia, breath holding spells, or palpitations should be obtained from all patients presenting with serious malfunction of the sinus node regardless of age, and family members so affected should be carefully observed for the development of serious cardiac arrhythmias.
Ultrabright and Bioorthogonal Labeling of Cellular Targets Using Semiconducting Polymer Dots and Click Chemistry

semiconducting polymer; nanoparticle; click chemistry; bioorthogonal labeling; fluorescenceimagingClick chemistry describes a powerful set of chemical reactions that are rapid, selective, andproduce high yields.[1] The most recognized of these reactions is the copper (I)-catalyzedazide-alkyne cycloaddition, which has been applied to diverse areas, ranging from materialsscience to chemical biology.[2–8] For biological applications, both azido and alkyne groupsare considered to be bioorthogonal chemical reporters because they do not interact with anynative biological functional groups. As a result, these bioorthogonal reporters can beincorporated into a target biomolecule using the cell’s biosynthetic machinery to providechemical handles that can be subsequently tagged with exogenous probes. Thebioorthogonal reporters are complementary to genetically encoded tags, such as greenfluorescent protein (GFP),[9] and provide a powerful approach to tag biomolecules withoutthe need of direct genetic encoding. Bioorthogonal labeling via click chemistry is highlysensitive with low background despite the complex cellular environment. In practice,however, the sensitivity is constrained by the abundance of the target molecules, the labelingefficiency of the chemical reporters, and the performance of the exogenous probes.[7] Inalmost all cases, bright and photostable probes are highly desirable, particularly for long-term tracking and sensitive detection of low-abundance biomolecules.Fluorescent nanoparticles such as quantum dots (Qdots) exhibit improved brightness andphotostability over traditional fluorescent dyes.[10–12] In the context of click chemistry,however, the copper catalyst irreversibly quenches Qdot fluorescence and prevents theirusage in the various applications based on copper-catalyzed click chemistry.[13] Because ofcopper’s cytotoxicity, copper-free bioorthogonal approaches, such as the Staudinger ligationand the strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition, have been developed for live cell and
Fabrication of spherical particles with mixed amorphous/crystalline nanostructured cores and insulating oxide shells

By spark-eroding Fe75Si15B10 in water/ethanol mixtures, spherical particles with nanostructured cores consisting of mixed amorphous and crystalline phases were produced. The relative volume fractions of the amorphous and crystalline phases were dependent on the water/ethanol ratio. In the same process, continuous oxide layers were formed on the particle surfaces. The basic mechanisms responsible for the formation of the surface oxide layers and the core nanostructures were modeled. At frequencies ranging from 1 to 100 MHz, the combination of the core nanostructures and the insulating oxide shells yielded exceptionally low-loss magnetic behavior.
Prediction and Modeling of Thin Gate Oxide Breakdown Subject to Arbitrary Transient Stresses

A reliable dielectric breakdown model under transient stresses via an extension of the power law is demonstrated. The model, which is based on the percolation model and the assumption of no significant detrapping, is successfully used in ramped voltage stress breakdown analysis. A demonstration of the model's validity consists of applying repetitive time-variant voltage waveforms-pulses, sine waves, ramps, and noise-until breakdown and, consequently, comparing prediction to reality. The breakdown distribution is initially derived from DC measurements, with the model predicting both the center and the shape of the distribution.
The Yankee Soldier's Might: The District of Maine and the Reputation of the Massachusetts Militia, 1800–1812

In post-Revolutionary Massachusetts, the militia was a well-respected institution. So when the commonwealth expanded into the far-flung District of Maine, Jeffersonians and Federalists battled one another for the plum. As external forces bred internal dissent, the militia fell into disarray just as the country drifted toward another war with England.
Taiwan and the Issue of National Identity

Asian Survey , Vol. 44, Issue 4, pp. 475–483, ISSN 0004-4687, electronic ISSN 1533-838X. © 2004 by The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. Please direct all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press’s Rights and Permissions website, at http://www.ucpress.edu/journals/rights.htm. Lowell Dittmer is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and Editor of Asian Survey.
Liquid chromatographic studies of the effect of phosphate on the binding properties of silica-immobilized bovine serum albumin.

High-performance liquid chromatography has been used to examine how phosphate ions affect the binding properties of bovine serum albumin (BSA) immobilized to porous silica. In doing this, the time dependence of the protein to reach conformational equilibrium is measured as a function of the concentration of phosphate in the eluent using the D- and L-isomers of tryptophan
Low-cost alternate EVM test for wireless receiver systems

In digital radio applications, error-vector-magnitude (EVM) is the primary specification which quantifies the performance of digital modulation implemented in silicon. Production testing of EVM incurs high cost of test instrumentation in automated test equipment (ATE). For EVM testing of wireless receivers, the ATE must include an RF transmitter having (1) the required digital modulation capability, (2) transmitter parameter configurability via test automation software and (3) higher performance and accuracy compared to the receiver-under-test. In this paper, an alternate test methodology for the EVM specification is proposed that eliminates the need for high cost RF sources with digital modulation capability. A sequence of multi-tones generated using low-cost RF sources is used as test stimuli. The EVM specification is computed (predicted) by analyzing the degradation of the test signal by the receiver modules (e.g. LNAs, mixers, filters) by means of the observed waveforms in the baseband. Simulation results are presented.