cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Case report: an unusal cause of stridor in a post-liver transplant 6-year old.

Polymorphic lymphoproliferative disorder is a recognised cause of upper airway obstruction in children [N. Sculerati, M. Arriga, Ann. Otol. Rhinol. Laryngol 99 (1990) 445-450]. It is associated with long-term immunosuppression therapy and frequently with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection [D.W. Hanto, Annu. Rev. Med. 46 (1995) 381-394; B.D. Fletcher, H.E. Heslop, H.C. Kaste, S. Bodner, Upper airway obstruction and pulmonary abnormalities due to lymphoproliferative disease following bone marrow transplantation in children, Pediatr. Radiol. 28 (1998) 492-496]. The prevalence in reported series ranges from 4 to 13% among post-transplant children [M. Ho, R. Jaffe, G. Miller, Transplantation 45 (1988) 719-727; G.B. Hammer, S. Cao, M.G. Boltz, A. Messner, Anesthesiology 89 (1998) 263-265; B.V. Lattyak, P. Rosenthal, Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder presenting in the head and neck, Laryngoscope 108 (1998) 1195-1198]. This condition may present in the transplanted allograft, the gastrointestinal tract, the head and neck, and in particular in the upper airway. Previously reported cases of upper airway obstruction have been in the supraglottis, Waldeyer's ring, the glottis, and one case of an intra tracheal mass [M. Ho, R. Jaffe, G. Miller, Transplantation 45 (1988) 719-727; G.B. Hammer, S. Cao, M.G. Boltz, A. Messner, Anesthesiology 89 (1998) 263-265]. We report a case of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in the sub-glottis causing acute upper airway obstruction with negative (EBV) serology.
Locus of central depressant action of flunitrazepam.

Abstract Flunitrazepam has been reported to be a very potent muscle relaxant (12). The dose-response relationship for depressant action of this drug on contralateral extensor reflexes was studied in midcollicular decerebrate and acute spinal cats. The reflex response was more sensitive to the depression of the drug in midcollicular than in acute spinal preparations. The dose required to reduce the reflex response by 50% was about 3 μg/kg in midcollicular preparations, whereas a dose of 15 μg/kg was required to depress the response to the same degree in spinal cats. The stimulation experiments showed that this drug also depressed the facilitation and inhibition of the knee jerk produced by activating the brain stem reticular system. The dose-response curve of the effects of this drug on mesencephalic reticular and spinal internuncial neuronal activity revealed that depression occurred at both levels. These findings suggest that the higher potency of flunitrazepam is attribulable not only to its highly potent depressant action on the mesencephalic reticular system but also to its substantial depressant action on the spinal interneurons.
Super Mann-Whitney simulation of system reliability

Simulation of system reliability requires an enormous amount of computer time if system reliability is high. If the simulation generates values of component loads and strengths, the values from different runs may be combined to increase the number of runs without generating any more values. The reliability estimator is the proportion of runs without system failure. It is unbiased regardless of the run combining methods. The variance of the reliability estimator can be derived from the variance of Mann-Whitney test statistic or by a jackknife estimator.Run combining methods mix simulated loads and strengths from different runs. If only loads are combined, the method is called Mann-Whitney simulation. This is because, if the system has one component, the reliability estimator is related to Mann-Whitney test statistic. If all of loads and strengths are combined, the method is superior to the Mann-Whitney simulation because far more samples are generated. This method is called Super Mann-Whitney simulation.Mann-Whitney and Super Mann-Whitney simulations are practical only if random variable generation is hard.
A comparison of theoretical and experimental results for the internal dissolution of soluble cylinders by water in Laminar flow

A boundary layer solution applicable to a certain general type of mass transfer operations was developed by Baasel and Smith (1). When the solution was adapted to the systems of condensation of a vapor from noncondensing gases and absorption of a gas into a wetted wall column, the temperature and interfacial area could not be completely controlled. To overcome these difficulties, the rate of internal dissolution of a hollow cylinder of benzoic acid was experimentally measured and compared to the theoretically predicted values. The ratios of the predicted rates to the observed rates fell, with the exception of two runs out of twenty nine, between 0.622 and 1.303. It was therefore concluded that the finite difference techniques used to obtain a mathematical solution were valid. However, it was observed that the assumption of unidirectional diffusion was possibly not valid. It was concluded that for systems in which the ratio of the total molar density of the fluid to the saturation concentration of the material being transferred was large, in the approximate range of 700 to 2,700, the boundary layer approach corresponded to the Leveque approximation of the classical Graetz solution for heat transfer for fluids with a parabolic velocity distribution.
Design of Highly CO2-Soluble Chelating Agents. 2. Effect of Chelate Structure and Process Parameters on Extraction Efficiency

In our previous papers, we described a strategy for design, synthesis, and evaluation of a group of highly CO2-soluble chelating agents that can be used to effectively extract a variety of metals from various matrices into pure CO2 at room temperature and pressures below 13.8 MPa. Conventional chelating agents are functionalized with so-called “CO2-philic” tails, namely, fluoroalkyl, fluoroether, or silicone-containing materials, which allows solubilities greater than 100 mM at pressures less than 13.8 MPa. Here we have studied the effect of several process variables, including pressure, nature of the extraction matrix, presence of interfering ions, multiple-stage reactions, molar ratio of chelating agent to metal, and also time of extraction on the extraction efficiency of these chelating agents. Results show that once the minimum pressure for solubilizing the chelating agent is reached, increasing the pressure has little or no effect on the efficiency of extraction. Further, the low pH of a mixture of w...
A Toolkit and Robust Pipeline for the Generation of Fosmid-Based Reporter Genes in C. elegans

Engineering fluorescent proteins into large genomic clones, contained within BACs or fosmid vectors, is a tool to visualize and study spatiotemporal gene expression patterns in transgenic animals. Because these reporters cover large genomic regions, they most likely capture all cis-regulatory information and can therefore be expected to recapitulate all aspects of endogenous gene expression. Inserting tags at the target gene locus contained within genomic clones by homologous recombination (“recombineering”) represents the most straightforward method to generate these reporters. In this methodology paper, we describe a simple and robust pipeline for recombineering of fosmids, which we apply to generate reporter constructs in the nematode C. elegans, whose genome is almost entirely covered in an available fosmid library. We have generated a toolkit that allows for insertion of fluorescent proteins (GFP, YFP, CFP, VENUS, mCherry) and affinity tags at specific target sites within fosmid clones in a virtually seamless manner. Our new pipeline is less complex and, in our hands, works more robustly than previously described recombineering strategies to generate reporter fusions for C. elegans expression studies. Furthermore, our toolkit provides a novel recombineering cassette which inserts a SL2-spliced intercistronic region between the gene of interest and the fluorescent protein, thus creating a reporter controlled by all 5′ and 3′ cis-acting regulatory elements of the examined gene without the direct translational fusion between the two. With this configuration, the onset of expression and tissue specificity of secreted, sub-cellular compartmentalized or short-lived gene products can be easily detected. We describe other applications of fosmid recombineering as well. The simplicity, speed and robustness of the recombineering pipeline described here should prompt the routine use of this strategy for expression studies in C. elegans.
Pulmonary function following positive pressure ventilation initiated immediately after birth in infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

Cardiopulmonary function following positive pressure ventilation, initiated immediately after birth, was evaluated in 10 very low birthweight infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS; RDS infants). Multiple gas rebreathing methodology was used to measure functional residual capacity (FRC), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and effective pulmonary capillary blood flow (Qeff) at 2, 24, and 72 hr of age. Cardiopulmonary function variables were also measured at 2 hr of age in 10 infants of similar birthweight who did not have RDS (non-RDS infants). In RDS infants, mean FRC at both 2 hr of age (15 mL/kg or 0.42 mL/cm) and 24 hours of age (20 mL/kg or 0.54 mL/cm) was less than published predicted values for healthy infants and significantly less than values in non-RDS infants at 2 hours of age (29 mL/kg or 0.8 mL/cm). By 72 hr of age, mean FRC in RDS infants rose to predicted. At 2 and 24 hours of age, mean Qeff in RDS infants (41 and 38 mL/min/kg, respectively) was below predicted, as well as below the value observed in non-RDS infants at 2 hr of age (62 mL/min kg). In RDS infants, DLCO remained well below published predicted values throughout the first three days of life. We conclude that early aggressive respiratory therapy does not result in the establishment of normal lung volumes during the first day of life, but it does so by 3 days of age. However, in spite of intubation immediately after birth and the application of continuous positive pressure ventilation during the first 3 days of life, very low birthweight infants with RDS continue to have significant alteration in lung function, evidenced by impaired diffusing capacity of the lung and low arterial-alveolar oxygen tension ratios. Pediatr Pulmonal 1990; 9:244–250.
Fossa ovalis tear causing right to left shunting in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Left atrial tear is an infrequent sequela of severe mitral regurgitation due to myxomatous mitral valve degeneration. Interatrial septal tear due to mitral regurgitation causing a left-to-right shunt is uncommon. Right to left shunting secondary to acute interatrial septal tear is very rarely reported in the human literature, and has not been reported in the veterinary literature in a dog. This case describes the clinical, radiographic, echocardiographic, gross pathologic, and histopathologic features of a dog presented in acute respiratory distress secondary to acute onset right to left shunting through the interatrial septum. This was later documented to be due to a tear in the septum secondary to tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension. The presence of an acquired right to left shunting atrial septal defect is of clinical and prognostic significance, and should be considered in cases of acute respiratory distress.
Temporary Threshold Shift Produced by Exposure to High-Frequency Noise

Abstract The temporary threshold shift at two minutes (TTS2) produced by exposure to high-frequency noise has been measured in a group having normal hearing. The noise source was filtered white noise. Peak frequencies used were at 16, 19, and 28 kilohertz (kilocycles per second). Sound pressure levels ranged from 85 to 100 dB. Eleven different combinations of spectra and sound pressure levels were tested. The results indicate that significant TTS2 can be produced at 6000 hertz by high-frequency noise at 100-dB over-all sound pressure level if the noise source contains lower-frequency components in the 10- to 12-kilohertz range which are below 80-dB sound pressure level. Noise at this same level without the lower-frequency components appears to improve hearing temporarily. The need for more definitive studies is indicated.
A Numerical Approach for Computing Standard Errors of Linear Equating

A numerical approach for computing standard errors (SES) of a linear equating is described. In the proposed approach, the first partial derivatives of the equating function needed to compute the SES are derived numerically. Thus, the difficulty of deriving the analytical formulas of the partial derivatives for a complicated equating method is avoided. The numerical and analytical approaches were compared using the Tucker equating method. The SES derived numerically were found to be indistinguishable from the SES derived analytically. In a computer simulation of the numerical approach using the Levine equating method, the SES based on the normality assumption were found to be less accurate than those derived without the normality assumption when the score distributions were skewed.
ANALYZING POLITICAL FEASIBILITY: POLITICAL SCIENTISTS1 UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO POLICY ANALYSIS

Political feasibility analysis examines the actors and events involved in each stage of a political policy-making process and anticipates the likely resolution of a policy problem as it works its way through the policy process. Despite the prominence of policy analysis in the social sciences over the past decade or so, there has been virtually no scholarly work concerning the analysis of the political feasibility of policy proposals. Political scientists, because of their central concern with the design and effect of the policy-making process, have a unique responsibility to contribute a way to evaluate systematically political feasibility. While all policy analysts, regardless of their disciplinary backgrounds, need to be concerned with assessing political feasibility, political scientists should be particularly mindful of its importance in improving public policy. While anticipating the likely outcome of a dynamic policy process is necessarily a difficult task, an analysis of the political feasibility of a proposed alternative can provide insight into the nature of the policy process as well as identify the criteria that must be met for an alternative to be successful. This article discusses a variety of factors that need to be considered in assessing political feasibility. After arguing the need to design political feasibility analysis frameworks, this essay reviews political scientists' current treatment of political feasibility analysis and outlines a general way to undertake such efforts.
Numerical and Experimental Studies of Substrate Melting During Thermal Spraying

Melting and re-solidification of the substrate plays an important role in thermal spray coating. A good understanding of this phenomenon will help us to achieve better bonding. A numerical model is developed to investigate the solidification of the droplet, and melting and re-solidification of the substrate. The solidification interface movement is obtained by applying a rapid solidification model on the solid/melt interface. Numerical simulations have been used to study the influence of materials and temperatures of the splat and substrate on substrate melting and re-solidification. In the corresponding experiments, the molybdenum powder is sprayed onto a stainless steel, brass (70%Cu) or aluminum substrate by atmospheric plasma spraying system. The crater depth of the substrates has been measured. Experimental results show that the material properties of the splat and substrate and melting temperature of the substrate play important roles on substrate melting and maximum melting depth. A dimensionless parameter, temperature factor, has been proposed from analysis and can be used as an indicator whether a substrate melting will occur for a certain combination of the droplet and substrate, and this parameter can be correlated with the maximum melting depth of the substrate.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Results of isoproterenol tilt table testing in monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome

Background The pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is unknown. Neurally mediated hypotension (NMH) has been suggested as a common comorbid condition or a potential underlying cause. Methods We conducted a cotwin control study of 21 monozygotic twins who were discordant for CFS. One twin met the 1994 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for CFS, and the other twin was healthy and denied chronic fatigue. The twins were selected from a volunteer twin registry in which at least 1 member reported persistent fatigue. As part of a 7-day clinical evaluation, all 21 twin pairs were evaluated with a 3-stage tilt table test with isoproterenol hydrochloride for the assessment of NMH. The presence of NMH was defined as syncope or presyncope associated with a decrease of 25 mm Hg in blood pressure and no associated increase in heart rate. Results A positive tilt table test result was observed in 4 twins with CFS (19%) and in 4 healthy twins (19%). This difference was not statistically significant (matched pair odds ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-5.4;P>.90). Compared with the healthy twins, the twins with CFS reported more severe symptoms of CFS and NMH both in the week before and during the tilt table test. Conclusions These results do not support a major role for NMH in CFS. They highlight the importance of selecting well-matched control subjects, as well as the unique value of the monozygotic cotwin control design in the study of this illness.
Neutrino oscillations: The 2007 Benjamin Franklin medal in physics presented to Arthur McDonald and Yoji Totsuka

Abstract This award recognizes two specific discoveries that constitute the experimental discovery of neutrino oscillations. In 1998 the Super-Kamiokande group under the leadership of Yoji Totsuka published their paper, “Evidence for Oscillation of Atmospheric Neutrinos” in Physical Review Letters [1] . The paper describes a deficit of muon-type neutrinos from below the detector relative to those from above. It explains this “atmospheric neutrino anomaly” as a result of transformation of some of the muon neutrinos into another type of neutrino. Four years later, the group led by Arthur McDonald described “Direct Evidence for Neutrino Flavor Transformation from Neutral-Current Interactions in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory” [2] in the same journal. This experiment detected lower energy neutrinos from deep inside the Sun. By measuring all flavors of neutrinos with large rates, the SNO collaboration showed definitively that the long-standing “solar neutrino puzzle” was another manifestation of neutrino oscillations. As a result of these two experiments, we now understand that neutrinos can change identities during propagation and that both the solar and atmospheric neutrino “problems” result from the same underlying phenomenon of oscillations. A consequence of neutrino oscillations is that neutrinos, previously thought to be massless, must have a non-zero rest mass.
Optimum tolerance allocation in mechanical assemblies using an interval method

Tolerance allocation methods serve as effective tools for design engineers to reduce the overall manufacturing cost of products. In every mechanical design, it is the design engineer’s task to assign tolerances to all dimensions and clearances to all joints in an assembly. This paper presents an optimum allocation method, based on interval analysis, for finding the optimum values of tolerances and clearances in mechanical assemblies that will not only minimize a stated objective function, but also satisfy the required functional and design constraints. The design constraints include dimensional requirements that the related parts must match relative to each other with a specified precision. Given a set of trial values of component tolerances and joint clearances, the present method utilizes the sequential quadratic programming method, Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno quasi-Newton method and line search approaches to find the optimum values of tolerances and clearances. The effects of different cost functi...
ANALYSIS OF INFANTS PRESENTING WITH FEEDING RELATED PROBLEMS AND APPARENT LIFE THREATENING EVENTS: A CLOSER LOOK AT “PSEUDOREFLUX SYNDROME.” 648

A “Pseudoreflux Syndrome” has been described in healthy term neonates who presented with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) with and without apnea but were found to have increased periodic breathing (PB). This initial study was limited by a small study population (n=16) and focused on the term neonate. Differentiating GER from PB is important in determining treatment. Object of this study is to analyze 5-channel pneumograms (PCGs) of infants presenting with feeding related problems and/or apparent life threatening events in order to further define and describe the phenomenon of pseudoreflux in infants. The impact of post-conceptional age (PCA) was also examined. 5-channel PCGs of all infants presenting with symptoms of GER and/or apnea to an infant apnea program between 1992 and 1995 were reviewed for sex, race, gestational age (GA), PCA at time of presentation and diagnosis. 166 5-channel PCGs of 161 infants ranging from ages 0.6 to 55 weeks were reviewed[12.1 weeks ±0.9 (SEM)]. Of the infants evaluated, 60% were male, 40% female. 52% were white, 40% African American, 6% Latino and 2% other. 5-channel PCGs of 161 infants studied revealed a diagnosis of GER in 42%, PB in 13%, GER and PB in 25% and absence of either GER and PB in 21%. Average GA was 35 weeks ± 0.4 (SEM). Using analysis of variance (Anova), mean GA was 35 weeks regardless of diagnosis (F-Ratio 0.99, P value 0.40). Average PCA was 47.3 weeks ± 0.8 (SEM). Using Anova, mean PCA was 40 weeks for PB group, 43 weeks for GER/PB group, 51 weeks for GER group and 50 weeks for other group (F-Ratio 8.8, P value 0.00). PB alone was not observed in infants over 48 weeks PCA (0/51). Majority of infants with PB were under 45 weeks PCA(48/60). In conclusion, these results confirm the importance of considering PB in infants presenting with symptoms of GER and/or apnea. Pseudoreflux Syndrome must be distinguished from true GER to institute appropriate therapy. Infants under 45 weeks PCA are at particular risk for PB and should undergo 5-channel PCGs. Pseudoreflux Syndrome is an unlikely consideration in management of infants over 48 weeks PCA.
Dosimetric characteristics of wedges mounted beyond the blocking tray.

In a beam accessory configuration for a linear accelerator using a prototype multileaf collimator, newly designed wedges were mounted beyond the blocking tray. The isodose curves, depth of maximum dose, surface dose, and wedge transmission factors were measured for the wedges designed for this unique configuration. The same set of wedges was used for both 6‐ and 18‐MV x rays. The shape of the wedged isodose curves was essentially unchanged from those produced by the conventional wedges located above the blocking tray. The isodose curves exhibited the desired wedge angles over the range of field sizes from 5×5 to 15×40 cm. In the 10×10‐cm field, the average difference between the observed wedge angle and the desired wedge angle was 3.8°. The surface doses ranged from 18% to 35% for the wedged 10×10‐cm fields as compared with about 15% for the same open field. Dosimetrically the wedges were acceptable for clinical use.
Estimating the density of thornyheads, Sebastolobus spp., using a towed video camera sled

Abstract A video camera sled was used to obtain an independent estimate of the density of Sebastolobus spp. (thornyheads) at three different depths (450, 750, and 1150 m) within a given space and time. Camera sled video footage was processed using an oblique grid plane and line transect methods. Thornyheads were randomly distributed across the seafloor within the sampling area, and variation in the dispersion over increasing spatial scales (10–1280 m) and depths was not significant. Thornyhead density estimates were derived using the program Distance. Densities ranged from 344 to 1005 thornyheads km−2 and CVs from 10 to 18%. Underlying assumptions necessary for obtaining unbiased density estimates using a camera sled and line transect sampling are discussed, including a methodology to account for fish movement in response to the camera sled.
New functional roles for non-collagenous domains of basement membrane collagens

Collagens IV, XV and XVIII are major components of various basement membranes. In addition to the collagen-specific triple helix, these collagens are characterized by the presence of several non-collagenous domains. It is clear now that these ubiquitous collagen molecules are involved in more subtle and sophisticated functions than just the molecular architecture of basement membranes, particularly in the context of extracellular matrix degradation. Degradation of the basement membrane collagens occurs during numerous physiological and pathological processes such as embryonic development or tumorigenesis and generates collagen fragments. These fragments are involved in the regulation of functions differing from those of their original intact molecules. The non-collagenous C-terminal fragment NC1 of collagen IV, XV and XVIII have been recently highlighted in the literature because of their potential in reducing angiogenesis and tumorigenesis, but it is clear that their biological functions are not limited to these processes. Proteolytic release of soluble NC1 fragments stimulates migration, proliferation, apoptosis or survival of different cell types and suppresses various morphogenetic events.
What OBM needs is more Jewish mothers

Abstract Do not make these erroneous, simplistic assumptions: (1) Psychological phenomena need non-Skinner-box concepts for their understanding; (2) All natural and performance-management contingencies are the direct-acting contingencies of the Skinner box; (3) The delayed delivery of a reinforcer is reinforcement; and (4) A contingency will be ineffective, if it involves a delayed outcome. Delayed-outcome performance-management contingencies can be effective, if their outcomes are sufficiently sizeable and probable, if they involve deadlines (in the case of performance maintenance contingencies), and if the performer knows the rule describing the contingency. The main function of rules describing delayed-outcome performance-management contingencies is their creation of noncompliance as an aversive condition. The performer then escapes or attenuates the aversive condition by complying with the rule. However, the aversiveness of noncompliance is a function of our preschool behavioral history. For example, ...
Public perspectives of fire, fuels and the Forest Service in the Great Lakes Region: a survey of citizen–agency communication and trust

Relative to the western United States, where fire and fuel management programs have received greater emphasis, few community-based studies have focused on the Great Lakes region. The present paper describes public opinion research from counties surrounding National Forests in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. Survey data address citizen perspectives on (1) fuel reduction practices and related risks, (2) confidence in the US Forest Service to effectively implement treatments, and (3) interactions between the agency and forest communities. Substantial support for prescribed fire and thinning treatments is evident, with few participants believing these practices should not be considered or are unnecessary. However, ratings of agency actions were weak at all three study sites; in particular, there is some skepticism that managers can safely implement prescribed fire programs. Overall, Minnesota residents had fewer concerns whereas Michigan respondents were more cautious. These results are discussed and compared with findings from the western US.
Disability and health status: ethnic differences among women in the United States

STUDY OBJECTIVES There are few data describing disability and health status for ethnic groups. The disablement process involves social influences, which may include minority status. Cross sectional data were examined to investigate the relation of ethnicity to disability. DESIGN A stratified random digit dialled sample of women aged 40 and older. Disability and health status were measured as functional and activity limitations, work disability, and days of poor physical and mental health. SETTING United States. PARTICIPANTS Women interviewed by telephone included 774 white, 749 African-American, 660 Hispanic, and 739 Native American women. MAIN RESULTS The prevalence of disability was higher among minority women when classified by general health status, and the need for personal care assistance. There was a striking excess of work disability: 3.5% of white women compared with 7.1% to 10.3% for minority women. The differences were reduced when adjusted for other risk factors and socioeconomic status. White and minority women reported more similar disability when it was defined by poor mental and physical health days. CONCLUSIONS Disability is correlated with social and demographic characteristics as well as medical diagnoses. Ethnicity also is associated with disability and may be part of a social context for disablement. Future research should concentrate on the temporal sequence of disability. Consistent definitions of disability will facilitate this research.
Reappearance of Sporothrix schenckii lesions after administration of Solu-MedrolR to infected cats

In 10 of 34 adult cats infected with Sporothrix schenckii, demonstrable lesions healed spontaneously in 31 to 88 days after inoculation of the organism. None of 5 untreated cats developed additional visible lesions during the period of observation, nor were they positive for S. schenckii by culture at necropsy. Five animals were treated with Solu-Medrol R to determine if the apparent clinical cure was also accompanied by a mycological cure. Lesions reappeared at, or near, the site of the original lesions in 3 of the 5 treated cats from 4 to 6 months after the initial lesions healed. Fungi were cultured both from the regional lymph node and from exudate of the skin lesions. Thus, it appears that viable S. schenckii may be sequestered in tissues for at least 6 months without showing clinical evidence of their presence. Moreover, apparently "healed" lesions may be reactivated and progress to typical demonstrable skin lesions following immuno-suppression.
Towards IP geolocation using delay and topology measurements

We present Topology-based Geolocation (TBG), a novel approach to estimating the geographic location of arbitrary Internet hosts. We motivate our work by showing that 1) existing approaches, based on end-to-end delay measurements from a set of landmarks, fail to outperform much simpler techniques, and 2) the error of these approaches is strongly determined by the distance to the nearest landmark, even when triangulation is used to combine estimates from different landmarks. Our approach improves on these earlier techniques by leveraging network topology, along with measurements of network delay, to constrain host position. We convert topology and delay data into a set of constraints, then solve for router and host locations simultaneously. This approach improves the consistency of location estimates, reducing the error substantially for structured networks in our experiments on Abilene and Sprint. For networks with insufficient structural constraints, our techniques integrate external hints that are validated using measurements before being trusted. Together, these techniques lower the median estimation error for our university-based dataset to 67 km vs. 228 km for the best previous approach.
PRODUCTION OF OVULATION IN THE HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED RHESUS MONKEY1

The experimental inuction of ovulation in the hypophysectomized rhesus monkey is reported. This was produced by appropriate treatment with desiccated thyroid, porcine FSH and HCG during a time interval roughly equivalent to the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.
Traveler Behavior and Values Analysis in the Context of Vacation Destination and Travel Mode Choices: European Union Case Study

The tourism industry has a dramatic impact on the world's economy and development. For this reason, it is important to study vacation traveler behavior, including where individuals travel on vacation and what travel mode they use to get there. This study uses the unique Eurobarometer vacation travel survey to model jointly travelers' choice of holiday destination and travel mode while also considering an extensive array of stated motivation-based preference and value factors. The study further builds on the existing literature by applying the model to a large-scale travel market characterized by multiple origins and destinations within the European Union. The empirical results indicate the important effects of nationality, traveler demographics, travel companionship arrangement, traveler preferences and values, and trip and destination characteristics on holiday destination and travel mode choice. These results have important policy implications not only for each country within the European Union but also...
Cyclopolymerization of Nonconjugated Dienes with a Tridentate Phenoxyamine Hafnium Complex Supported by an sp3‐C Donor: Isotactic Enchainment and Diastereoselective cis‐Ring Closure

Cyclopolymerization of nonconjugated dienes produces poly(methylene-1,3-cycloalkanes) and provides a pathway to a number of stereochemically complex polymers. Activation of a diastereomeric mixture of a six-membered metallacycle complex (rac-1) in the presence of 1,5-hexadiene produced poly(methylene-1,3-cyclopentane) (PMCP) with >98% cyclization of the diene monomer. The catalyst was found to cyclopolymerize 1,5-hexadiene with relatively high activity. The microstructure of the PMCP furnished by rac-1 was found to contain a high proportion of cis-cyclopentane rings (σ = 0.70-0.74) and a relatively high isotactic content (α = 0.93-0.96). These are the first cis-enriched isotactic cyclopolymers of 1,5-hexadiene. Cyclopolymerization of 1,6-heptadiene with rac-1/B(C(6) F(5) )(3) produced poly(methylene-1,3-cyclohexane) containing 97% cis-isotactic rings. This is the first report of this highly isotactic and diastereomerically-pure microstructure.
Frequency-dependent regulation of afferent transmission in the feeding circuitry of Aplysia.

During rhythmic behaviors, sensori-motor transmission is often regulated so that there are phasic changes in afferent input to follower neurons. We study this type of regulation in the feeding circuit of Aplysia. We characterize effects of the B4/5 interneurons on transmission from the mechanoafferent B21 to the radula closer motor neuron B8. In quiescent preparations, B4/5-induced postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) can block spike propagation in the lateral process of B21 and inhibit afferent transmission. B4/5 are, however, active during the retraction phase of motor programs, i.e., when mechanoafferent transmission to B8 presumably occurs. To determine whether mechanoafferent transmission is necessarily inhibited when B4/5 are active, we characterize the B4/5 firing frequency during retraction and show that, for the most part, it is low (below 15 Hz). There is, therefore, a low probability that spike propagation will be inhibited. The relative ineffectiveness of low frequency activity is not simply a consequence of insufficient PSP magnitude, because a single PSP can block spike propagation. Instead, it is related to the fact that PSPs have a short duration. When B4/5 fire at a low frequency, there is therefore a low probability that afferent transmission in the lateral process of B21 can be inhibited. In conclusion, we demonstrate that afferent transmission will not always be affected when a neuron that exerts inhibitory effects is active. Although a cell may be ineffective when it fires at a low frequency, ineffectiveness is not necessarily a consequence of spike frequency per se. Instead it may be due to spike timing.
Mechanism of d-Cycloserine Action: Alanine Racemase from Escherichia coli W

The antibiotic d-cycloserine is an effective inhibitor of alanine racemase. The lack of inhibition by l-cycloserine of alanine racemase from Staphylococcus aureus led Roze and Strominger to formulate the cycloserine hypothesis. This hypothesis states that d-cycloserine has the conformation required of the substrates on the enzyme surface and that l-cycloserine cannot have this conformation. Alanine racemase from Escherichia coli W has been examined to establish whether these observations are a general feature of all alanine racemases. The enzyme (molecular weight = 95,000) has Michaelis-Menten constants of 4.6 × 10−4m and 9.7 × 10−4m for d- and l-alanine, respectively. The ratio of Vmax in the d- to l-direction is 2.3. The equilibrium constant calculated from the Haldane relationship is 1.11 ± 0.15. Both d- and l-cycloserine are competitive inhibitors with constants (Ki) of 6.5 × 10−4m and 2.1 × 10−3m, respectively. The ratio of Kmd-alanine to Kid-cycloserine is 0.71, and the ratio of Kml-alanine to Kil-cycloserine is 0.46. Since l-cycloserine is an effective inhibitor, it is concluded that the cycloserine hypothesis does not apply to the enzyme from E. coli W.
Benefits of a learner-centred abortion curriculum for family medicine residents.

Background and methodology Despite the high prevalence of unplanned pregnancy and abortion in the USA, abortion education in medical schools and residencies is extremely limited. Regardless of their personal views, family physicians will care for many women who have abortions. This article describes the implementation and evaluation of a learner-centred abortion curriculum in a family medicine residency. Residents were surveyed at baseline to assess openness to abortion education. An abortion curriculum was developed and implemented as a routine component of training. Three to four half-day training sessions were tailored to individual residents, with varying levels of participation in providing abortion depending on learners9 personal beliefs. Residents completed written surveys before and after participation in the curriculum. Results The pre-implementation survey had a 90% response rate and showed that routine participation in an abortion curriculum was acceptable to 69% of respondents. The curriculum was implemented and evaluated from 2003 to 2006. All 39 residents participated and 28 (72%) completed both pre- and post-rotation surveys. Comparisons between pre- and post-rotation surveys demonstrated statistically significant improvements in abortion-related knowledge and self-reported comfort with abortion-related skills and significantly more favourable attitudes about abortion training. Discussion and conclusions Residents were better prepared to care for women with unwanted pregnancies after routine participation in an abortion curriculum. For controversial topics such as abortion, a learner-centred curriculum ensures adequate education for all residents. Future research should assess how routine abortion education affects patient care and whether it results in an increased number of family physicians who provide abortion.
The relationship between high resting heart rate and ventricular arrhythmogenesis in patients referred to ambulatory 24 h electrocardiographic recording.

Aims High resting heart rate (HR) has been associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). This association is not fully explained by the reported association between HR with coronary heart disease (CHD) or left ventricular systolic dysfunction, the major pathological substrates for SCD. Ventricular arrhythmia is the most common antecedent event before SCD. Examining associations between resting HR and ventricular arrhythmogenesis may enhance our understanding of the association between high resting HR and SCD. Methods and results This study included 867 patients (age 54 ± 5, 57% females) who underwent 24 h ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) recording (Holter) in the period from 1998 to 2000. We examined the unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted associations between resting HR with factors involved in ventricular arrhythmogenesis [ventricular late potentials (LPs) detected by signal-averaged ECG, heart rate variability (HRV), and premature ventricular complexes (PVCs)]. Linear regression models were used for continuous outcomes and logistic regression analysis was used for categorical outcomes. The multivariable models included first age and sex, then history of hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, CHD, heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), smoking, body mass index, the use of anti-arrhythmic drugs, and ST-depression in the 24 h ambulatory ECG recording (Holter) were included in the final models. In the unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted analysis, high resting HR was significantly associated with positive ventricular LPs, depressed HRV indices, and increased prevalence of PVCs/24 h independently from demographic and clinical variables including LVEF, history of CHD, and the presence of ST-depression in Holter ( P -value <0.05 in all comparisons and models). Conclusion High resting HR is independently associated with ventricular arrhythmogenesis, the major cause of SCD. These findings could partially explain the reported association between increased HR and SCD.
Skin friction measurements by laser interferometry in swept shock/boundary-layer interactions

Measurements have been made of wall shear stresses in swept interactions of planar shock waves generated by a sharp fin and the two-dimensional turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate. Test conditions were Mach number 3.03, Reynolds number Ree - 1.5 X 104, wall temperature near adiabatic, and fin angles of 10 and 16 deg. Measurements were made using the Laser Interferometer Skin Friction (LISF) meter, which optically detects the thickness of an oil film on the test surface. The results show that such measurements are practical in high-speed interacting flows with a repeatability of ± 12% or better. Further, with proper data handling, LISF measurements appear feasible at very high shear levels, which were previously considered unobtainable. Dramatic increases in wall shear were observed in both swept interactions tested. These data are compared with computational Navier-Stokes solutions by Horstman and Knight wherein k-e and algebraic turbulence models were used. Both computations predict the overall measured c/ levels at a = 10 deg but fail to predict some features of the Cf distributions properly.
Prevention of vascular access hand ischemia using the axillary artery as inflow

Background Avoiding dialysis access-associated ischemic steal syndrome (DASS) in patients with upper extremity peripheral vascular occlusive disease while creating a functional hemodialysis vascular access may be challenging. We constructed an autogenous access with primary proximalization of the arterial inflow to prevent hand ischemia in patients at high risk for this complication. Methods Patients requiring hemodialysis access with physical findings suggesting a high risk of access-related hand ischemia (absent radial, ulnar, and brachial palpable pulses associated with small calcified vessels by ultrasound examination) underwent a primary arteriovenous fistula transposition procedure utilizing the axillary artery for inflow. The arteriovenous fistula was either a reversed flow basilic vein transposition supplemented by valvulotomy (n = 22); a translocated reversed basilic vein (n = 4); a cephalic vein harvested into the forearm and placed in a loop configuration for axillary artery inflow (n = 3); or a translocated reversed saphenous vein (n = 1). Results Thirty patients with a mean age of 60 years (range, 31-83 years) underwent successful primary axillary artery inflow procedures during a 3-year period. Of these, 23 (77%) were female and 25 (83%) were diabetic. Twenty-one (70%) had previous vascular access procedures and 10 (33%) were obese. No patient developed postoperative ischemia. Three individuals died 2, 14, and 19 months following surgery, none related to vascular access. Three accesses failed after 1, 5, and 7 months and could not be salvaged. Life-table primary, primary assisted, and cumulative patency rates were 57%, 78%, and 87% respectively at 1 year with a mean follow-up of 7 months (range, 1-25 months). Cephalic vein outflow was associated with fewer access failures, fewer interventions postoperatively, and lower rates of arm swelling ( P Conclusions Creating a basilic vein transposition for vascular access utilizing axillary artery inflow is a good option for patients with severe peripheral vascular disease. It offers a high patency rate and the prevention of DASS. Retrograde basilic vein outflow through the median cubital and cephalic vein is associated with the best outcome and is the recommended configuration.
Radiation-transport method to simulate noncontinuum gas flows for MEMS devices.

A Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) typically consists of micron-scale parts that move through a gas at atmospheric or reduced pressure. In this situation, the gas-molecule mean free path is comparable to the geometric features of the microsystem, so the gas flow is noncontinuum. When mean-free-path effects cannot be neglected, the Boltzmann equation must be used to describe the gas flow. Solution of the Boltzmann equation is difficult even for the simplest case because of its sevenfold dimensionality (one temporal dimension, three spatial dimensions, and three velocity dimensions) and because of the integral nature of the collision term. The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is the method of choice to simulate high-speed noncontinuum flows. However, since DSMC uses computational molecules to represent the gas, the inherent statistical noise must be minimized by sampling large numbers of molecules. Since typical microsystem velocities are low (< 1 m/s) compared to molecular velocities ({approx}400 m/s), the number of molecular samples required to achieve 1% precision can exceed 1010 per cell. The Discrete Velocity Gas (DVG) method, an approach motivated by radiation transport, provides another way to simulate noncontinuum gas flows. Unlike DSMC, the DVG method restricts molecular velocities to have only certainmore » discrete values. The transport of the number density of a velocity state is governed by a discrete Boltzmann equation that has one temporal dimension and three spatial dimensions and a polynomial collision term. Specification and implementation of DVG models are discussed, and DVG models are applied to Couette flow and to Fourier flow. While the DVG results for these benchmark problems are qualitatively correct, the errors in the shear stress and the heat flux can be order-unity even for DVG models with 88 velocity states. It is concluded that the DVG method, as described herein, is not sufficiently accurate to simulate the low-speed gas flows that occur in microsystems.« less
VISCOSITY OF AN INTERMEDIATE MOISTURE DOUGH

A simple model was used to correlate extrusion dough viscosities with moisture, temperature and shear rate. The parameters were fit to the model for a pregelatinized corn flour dough. The effect of two additives, sodium stearoyl-2-tactylate and a diacetyltartaric acid ester of monoglycerides, were also explored using the pregelatinized corn flour system. Moisture, extrusion temperature and sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate levels were correlated to the viscosity of the pregelatinized corn flour dough.
One-way data transfer for PLC to VME status reporting at the Advanced Photon Source

Abstract The Personnel Safety System for the experimental beamlines at the Advanced Photon Source will use a large number of Allen Bradley Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) to replace conventional relay logic. PLCs allow for the design of a very advanced safety system that can handle a large number of I/O points. Certain situations require monitoring of the safety system from various locations around the storage ring via the EPICS OPI (operator interface) consoles. This presentation covers the chosen method for transferring data from the Personnel Safety System into an EPICS database. Specifications on PLC ladder design, EPICS database design and hardware selection are also discussed.