cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gordonia sternal wound infection treated with ceftaroline: case report and literature review

Introduction. Case reports have emerged with identification of Gordonia bronchialis infections including sternal wound infections and foreign bodies such as central lines and shunts. Case presentation. We present a case that demonstrates the need to consider Gordonia infection as a cause of sternal wound infection and highlights the utility of novel diagnostics to aid in the identification of unusual pathogens that can cause post-operative infections. We report here the first successful use of ceftaroline for treatment of a G. bronchialis sternal wound infection. Conclusion. There are only case reports and in vitro assays to date to guide treatment of this infection, and we now add ceftaroline as a new drug to consider, though adequate surgical debridement is paramount.
Probing DNA Topology Using Tethered Particle Motion

Transcription factors mediate the formation of nucleoprotein complexes that are critical for efficient regulation of epigenetic switches. In these complexes, DNA is frequently bent or looped by the protein; other times, strong interactions lead the DNA to fully wrap the regulatory protein(s). The equilibrium between the bending, looping, full and partial wrapping of DNA governs the level of transcriptional regulation and is tuned by biophysical parameters. Characterization of the structure, kinetics, and thermodynamics of formation of such nucleoprotein complexes is fundamental to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the operation of the genetic switches controlled by them. Here, we describe in detail how to perform tethered particle motion experiments aimed at understanding how protein-DNA interactions influence the formation and breakdown of these regulatory complexes.
Service Learning Initiatives in Rural Populations: Fostering Cultural Awareness

This article focuses on the implementation of service learning initiatives with rural populations to foster cultural awareness within undergraduate nursing students. The results of student reflections and how they relate to increased awareness of global rural health, cultural awareness, and health disparities is presented. Objectives: (1) To describe an international service learning project conducted through a short-term medical mission to the United Republic of Tanzania for Baccalaureate nursing students; and (2) explore student observations and perceptions regarding culture and health in a rural community. Overall, we hope to gain information about the impact of student experiences regarding international service learning, rural health, and cultural perspectives and awareness. Methods: The study used the qualitative method of reflective journaling to investigate student observations and perceptions during a medical mission trip regarding culture and health in an international rural community. Journals were analyzed using content analysis and thematic identification. Results: Student reflections revealed themes of increased awareness in global cultural differences, interprofessional relationships, compassionate care, and health disparities in a variety of rural settings. Students who participated in service learning initiatives within these international medical trips stated they were more globally aware and were now more likely to provide services to rural communities in their future nursing careers. Conclusions: This SL project effectively evaluated the benefits of a short-term international mission trip. Study results showed student benefits of increased awareness of community needs, decreased stereotyping, increased confidence in working with culturally diverse populations, and increased personal and professional growth for cultural competence. We identified a need to include and develop core interprofessional education competencies in future trips. Keywords: Rural, Rural health, Service-learning, Medical mission, Cultural competence DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v18i1.506
Cognitive and Emotional Problems Arising from a Head Injury

As noted in the previous paper by Katz, three men were injured in the accident suffered by that patient. Each of these patients is interesting because each reacted quite uniquely to a very similar experience. A presentation of each of these cases is instructive in examining the forensic consequences of head injuries.
A Methodology for Evaluating Component-Level Loss Predictions of the FEMA P-58 Seismic Performance Assessment Procedure

As performance-based earthquake engineering (FEMA P-58) becomes more widely adopted in design and risk analysis practice, it is important to understand the degree to which the calculations reflect ...
Management of Malrotation

Malrotation classically presents as a full-term infant with bilious emesis. Any patient who presents with bilious emesis should be assumed to have malrotation with a midgut volvulus until proven otherwise. Initial workup should include a physical examination to rule out peritonitis or hemodynamic instability, followed by an abdominal X-ray to evaluate for proximal or distal bowel obstruction or a surgical emergency, such as pneumatosis or free air. Any patient with a worrisome physical exam or abdominal X-ray findings should be taken to the operating room (OR) emergently to rule out malrotation with midgut volvulus. The current gold standard in diagnosing malrotation is an upper gastrointestinal contrast study, and the key feature to look for is the location of the duodenal-jejunal junction (DJJ). In patients with an abnormal DJJ position, the treatment is a Ladd’s procedure. This chapter presents an algorithm that discusses the work-up and management of a patient with malrotation.
Crisis and Restoration of Neoliberal Policy in the USA: 2008–2018

Throughout the twentieth century, American capitalism has proved strategically flexible and successful at periodically restructuring itself to take advantage of global opportunities that arose due ...
403 DISCRIMINATION SOLUTIONS FROM PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV.

Background Despite improved biological understanding and lay education about HIV disease, persons living with HIV (PLWH) continue to perceive discrimination. Fears of contamination, assumptions of promiscuity, insurance concerns, and even condemnation by the medical profession are likely contributors. Nondisclosure is one coping mechanism but is not always practical and itself might be maladaptive. Nevertheless, efforts to decrease discrimination are appropriate, and strategies to do so might best be known by those discriminated against. Methods A voluntary, IRB-approved questionnaire was offered to patients presenting to the University of Kentucky HIV clinic. In addition to demographic information, participants were asked, “Do you ever feel discriminated against? If so, how?” Then they were asked, “What do you recommend to help decrease discrimination?” The anonymous responses were then analyzed with regard to offered demographic variables and classified into themes using grounded response theory. Two independent reviewers (T.N.W., R.K.S.) initially classified responses, with disparities resolved by a third reviewer (A.R.H.). Results Of the 100 surveys delivered, 73 were returned. Demographic information finds: mean age 39.3 ± 8.5 (23-69), 84% men, 76% homosexual or bisexual, 89% Caucasian, and 60% contracted HIV from male-to-male sex, but 23% do not know their HIV risk factor. Sixty-one completed the discrimination item, with 46% answering affirmatively. Nearly all of the respondants to the item regarding recommendations mentioned “education” (31/44). Other themes to emerge included increasing experience with or exposure to PLWH, discovery of a cure or a “miracle,” and several expressed avoidant strategies or otherwise little hope of decreasing discrimination (eg, “stay away from people” and “infect everyone”). Again, many of the negative respondants (11/33) indicated nondisclosure as the reason for escaping discrimination. There were no significant correlations between demographic variables and feelings of discrimination or proposed solutions. Conclusions The data reaffirm that feelings of discrimination are indeed prevalent and that PLWH may not diclose their HIV status as a result. In this sample, the majority believe that widespread education about the disease may help attenuate the stigma. Possible explanations and areas for further research should be directed toward educating a possibly misinformed public about HIV and AIDS.
The experiences of midwives in integrated maternity care: A qualitative metasynthesis

Abstract Objectives To conduct a metasynthesis of eight qualitative studies of the experiences of midwives in integrated maternity practice; to identify common motifs among the eight studies through a thematic interpretive integration known as reciprocal translation; and to explore the effects on midwifery processes of care in the setting of integrated maternity practice. Design A qualitative metasynthesis to analyze, synthesize, and interpret eight qualitative studies on the experiences of midwives and the effect on the midwifery processes of care in the setting of integrated maternity practice. Sample and Setting Participants from the primary studies included a total of 160 midwives providing hospital-based intrapartum care. All primary studies were conducted in settings with midwives and obstetricians working together in an integrated or collaborative manner. Findings Three overarching themes emerged from the data: professional dissonance, functioning from a position of risk, and practicing down. Key conclusions The findings indicated that integrated maternity practice affects the professional experience of midwives. Through a qualitative exploration, a clear process of deprofessionalization and deviation from the midwifery model of care is detailed. Midwives experienced decreasing opportunity to provide the quality woman-centered physiologic care that evidence shows benefits childbearing women. Implications for practice Integrated maternity practice, where low-risk and high-risk pregnancies are managed by midwife/physician teams, have proliferated as a solution to the need for quality, safe, and efficient health care. Insufficient evidence exists detailing the success or failure of this model of care. Qualitative studies suggest that the increasing medicalization occurring in integrated maternity practices minimizes the profession of midwifery and the ability to provide evidence-based quality midwifery care.
Transmission-based near-surface deconvolution

ABSTRACTWe have developed a new framework for performing surface-consistent amplitude balancing and deconvolution of the near-surface attenuation response. Both approaches rely on the early arrival...
Safety of skeletal traction through the distal femur, proximal tibia, and calcaneus

Introduction: Skeletal traction provides pain relief and temporary stability in patients anticipating surgery for a variety of lower-extremity fractures. Recent literature suggests that distal femoral traction provides pain relief and is safe; however, data regarding proximal tibial and calcaneal pins are primarily historical and limited. The purpose of this study is to document complications associated with distal femur, proximal tibia, and calcaneal traction pin placement. Materials and Methods: We identified patients with the distal femur, proximal tibia, and calcaneal traction pin placement from January 2013 to June 2016. Chart review was utilized to identify any complications, including nerve or vascular injuries, need for revision, or infection. Results: Five hundred and nineteen traction pins were eligible for review, consisting of 120 calcaneal traction pins, 129 distal femoral pins, and 270 proximal tibia traction pins. Primary diagnosis was defined as 305 femur fractures (58.8%), 60 tibial shaft fractures (11.6%), 60 acetabular fractures (11.6%), 38 pilon fractures (7.3%), 30 pelvic ring injuries (5.8%), 21 tibial plateau fractures (4.0%), and 5 hip dislocations (1.0%). We identified 17 (3.3%) adverse events potentially attributable to traction pin insertion. Pins that became infected were found to have been in place for a significantly longer duration (18.3 days compared to 5.8 days, P = 0.0001). Conclusions: Traction pin placement for skeletal traction is generally an uncomplicated procedure. Duration of pin placement is significantly related to the likelihood of pin site infection.
Energy-Efficient Fault Tolerance for Real-Time Tasks with Precedence Constraints on Heterogeneous Multicore Systems

Heterogeneous multicore systems have been recently received much attention due to their power efficiency and ability to handle different workloads. In this paper, we consider real-time tasks with precedence constraints and fault tolerance requirements, and investigate how they can be implemented on heterogeneous dual-core systems in energy-aware fashion. Our framework is able to tolerate one transient fault per task, and one permanent processing core fault simultaneously. We develop a number of task partitioning, ordering, and frequency assignment techniques for energy efficiency. Our experimental results indicate that the proposed techniques significantly reduce energy consumption while satisfying the fault tolerance requirements.
Personalized Nutrition for Management of Micronutrient Deficiency—Literature Review in Non-bariatric Populations and Possible Utility in Bariatric Cohort

Background Bariatric surgery can effectively treat morbid obesity; however, micronutrient deficiencies are common despite recommendations for high-dose supplements. Genetic predisposition to deficiencies underscores necessary identification of high-risk candidates. Personalized nutrition (PN) can be a tool to manage these deficiencies. Methods Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched. Articles involving genetic testing, micronutrient metabolism, and bariatric surgery were included. Results Studies show associations between genetic variants and micronutrient metabolism. Research demonstrates genetic testing to be a predictor for outcomes among obesity and bariatric surgery populations. There is limited research in bariatric surgery and micronutrient genetic variants. Conclusion Genotype-based PN is becoming feasible to provide an effective treatment of micronutrient deficiencies associated with bariatric surgery. The role of genomic technology in micronutrient recommendations needs further investigation.
An In Silico Exploration of the Factors That Affect the Precision of the Bethesda Assay

Objectives Despite more than 40 years of experience performing the Bethesda assay (BA), poor intra- and interlaboratory precision remains the biggest laboratory challenge to date. Methods The BA procedure was modeled using stochastic simulation techniques to determine the precision of the BA up to dilutions of 1:4,096, to estimate the minimum significant relative change at various inhibitor titers, and to understand the laboratory procedural variables that could significantly affect the performance of the BA at high dilutions. Results Selecting the lowest dilution tube with a residual activity closest to 25% for calculating the reported Bethesda titer (BT), using a factor activity assay with a coefficient of variation less than or equal to 7.5% in the range of 15% to 50% factor activity level, performing the factor activity measurement in replicates, and minimizing pipette volumetric error resulted in the lowest imprecision in the reported BT. The factor neutralization kinetics of the inhibitor appear to have little impact on the precision of the assay if the incubation time is greater than 90 minutes. Conclusions This in silico model will assist future laboratory efforts in standardizing the quantification of specific coagulation factor inhibitors and improving the precision of the reported results.
Inkjet-Printed Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor With Sensitivity Enhanced by Plasma Activated Inorganic Metal Salt Inks

Printed sensors that rely on low-cost substrate materials and additive fabrication processes are needed for wearable and disposable device applications. A critical challenge associated with currently available printed sensors is their inferior performance compared with sensors fabricated by thin-film deposition or nanoscale assembly. In this paper, we report on an inkjet-printed hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) sensor possessing a sensitivity >30X higher than those made by conventional sputtering. The key enabling step in our printing approach is low-temperature plasma conversion of an inorganic salt precursor to produce silver (Ag). The resistivity of the printed Ag measured by four-point probe is found to be only 6X higher than that of bulk Ag and 5X higher than that of sputtered Ag. Additionally, the surface roughness of the printed Ag characterized by optical profilometry and atomic force microscopy is much higher than that of the sputter-deposited Ag. The resulting large surface area of the printed Ag leads to a significantly improved reaction rate with H2O2, and is responsible for the increased sensitivity of the sensor.
Is the Black-White mental health paradox consistent across age, gender, and psychiatric disorders?

Objectives The Black-White mental health epidemiological paradox (i.e. Black Americans' lower or similar rates of mental disorder relative to Whites) characterizes the literature on race and mental health. Yet, research has generally paid less attention to how such findings may vary across other social statuses that shape mental health. This study assessed whether the Black-White paradox is consistent across gender, age groups, and psychiatric disorders, including lifetime mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Method We used data from the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (NCS-R) and National Survey of American Life (NSAL), 2001-2003 (N = 4,591 African Americans; 6,668 non-Hispanic Whites). Psychiatric disorders were measured with the World Mental Health Survey Initiative version of the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI). Binary logistic regression models were conducted to assess racial patterns of lifetime mental disorders across age and gender. Wald tests were performed to assess age and gender group differences in Black-White patterns of mental disorder. Results The Black-White mental health paradox generally extends across lifetime mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders and is consistent across age and gender groups. One exception is middle-aged (45-64 years) Black men, who had higher odds of lifetime substance use disorder relative to their White male middle-aged peers. This difference is no longer statistically significant after accounting for education and employment. We also found more similarity in mental disorders between older Blacks and Whites relative to their younger counterparts, suggesting that Black-White mental health differences are most pronounced among younger age groups. Conclusion Our findings contribute to the broader literature on the Black-White mental health paradox by demonstrating that this epidemiological pattern persists across various mental disorder types and, at times, depends on age group and gender. Given that Black-Whte differences are less pronounced among older adults, future research should consider the ways life course theory might inform our understanding of the paradox. Findings also suggest that substance use services are critical to address the needs of middle-aged Black men of lower socioeconomic status who are disproportionately affected by substance use disorder, yet have relatively lower mental health care utilization rates.
Prometheus as Racial Allegory: The Sociological Poetics of W. E. B. Du Bois

W. E. B. Du Bois often appropriated and deployed the metaphor of “Prometheus,” drawing from Hesiod’s Theogony, Aeschylus’s Prometheus Bound, Goethe’s poem “Prometheus,” and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Throughout Du Bois’s career, he employed this figure in order for the reader to better understand the racialized social order in general and White supremacy in specific. In what follows, I cover the eighteenth and nineteenth century use of the Prometheus metaphor in regard to critiques of racism and slavery. I then establish how Du Bois stepped into this tradition to advance a multifaceted critique of global White supremacy that continues to resonate today. Precisely, Du Bois rendered this character in six patterned forms: (1) as an embodiment of de jure and de facto segregation; (2) as newly conscious Black people that would soon revolt against White supremacy; (3) as the paradoxical capture and harm of White people by their own design; (4) as the prejudice, discrimination, and racism born of White supremacist politics; (5) as the struggle of Black folks against White supremacy; and (6) a Black-centered spiritual worldview of eventual liberation. Together, these six deployments signal the early manifestations of both critical race theory and Afrofuturism—two modes of inquiry that help us to reconsider not only the material repercussions of racial inequality but the pathways and roadblocks toward racial utopia.
Quantifying the Efficacy of Logic Locking Methods.

The outsourced manufacturing of integrated circuits has increased the risk of intellectual property theft. In response, logic locking techniques have been developed for protecting designs by adding programmable elements to the circuit. These techniques differ significantly in both overhead and resistance to various attacks, leaving designers unable to discern their efficacy. To overcome this critical impediment for the adoption of logic locking, we propose two metrics, key corruption and minimum corruption, that capture the goals of locking under different attack scenarios. We develop a flow for approximating these metrics on generic locked circuits and evaluate several locking techniques.
Successful Treatment of AL Amyloidosis Patients over Age 65 with High-Dose Melphalan and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (HDM/SCT).

Abstract Over the past 10 years, HDM/SCT has been employed for treatment of patients with AL amyloidosis. Although peri-transplant mortality is greater than for other hematologic diseases, HDM/SCT leads to durable hematologic complete responses (CR), improvements in organ function, and extended survival in a substantial proportion of patients (Skinner et al., Ann. Int. Med. 2004). In that study, the proportion of patients eligible for HDM/SCT was lower for patients >65 years of age than for younger patients (34.3% vs. 68.4%), but the hematologic complete response (CR) rate and survival appeared to be no different. Here, we update these results and present a detailed analysis of outcomes in patients >65 vs. those 65. The median age of the 66 patients was 68, range 65–80; 73% male; 18% ? and 82% ?, while for the 283 patients 65 versus 10.3% of patients 65 received an IV dose of melphalan of 200 mg/m2 (the remainder being treated with 140 mg/m2 or less), vs. 64% of those 65 vs. 13.4% in patients 65 vs. 20.9% for those 65 vs. 4.6 years for those 65 meet eligibility requirements for HDM/SCT, for those who do, treatment-related mortality, hematologic CR rate, and survival are no different than for younger patients. These data strongly support the use of HDM/SCT for suitable patients with AL amyloidosis who are >65 years old. Download : Download high-res image (83KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure.
Spectroscopic and Theoretical Studies of Hg(II) Complexation with Some Dicysteinyl Tetrapeptides.

Tetrapeptides containing a Cys-Gly-Cys motif and a propensity to adopt a reverse-turn structure were synthesized to evaluate how O-, N-, H-, and aromatic π donor groups might contribute to mercury(II) complex formation. Tetrapeptides Xaa-Cys-Gly-Cys, where Xaa is glycine, glutamate, histidine, or tryptophan, were prepared and reacted with mercury(II) chloride. Their complexation with mercury(II) was studied by spectroscopic methods and computational modeling. UV-vis studies confirmed that mercury(II) binds to the cysteinyl thiolates as indicated by characteristic ligand-to-metal-charge-transfer transitions for bisthiolated S-Hg-S complexes, which correspond to 1 : 1 mercury-peptide complex formation. ESI-MS data also showed dominant 1 : 1 mercury-peptide adducts that are consistent with double deprotonations from the cysteinyl thiols to form thiolates. These complexes exhibited a strong positive circular dichroism band at 210 nm and a negative band at 193 nm, indicating that these peptides adopted a β-turn structure after binding mercury(II). Theoretical studies confirmed that optimized 1 : 1 mercury-peptide complexes adopt β-turns stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. These optimized structures also illustrate how specific N-terminal side-chain donor groups can assume intramolecular interactions and contribute to complex stability. Fluorescence quenching results provided supporting data that the indole donor group could interact with the coordinated mercury. The results from this study indicate that N-terminal side-chain residues containing carboxylate, imidazole, or indole groups can participate in stabilizing dithiolated mercury(II) complexes. These structural insights on peripheral mercury-peptide interactions provide additional understanding of the chemistry of mercury(II) with side-chain donor groups in peptides.
Decentralized Role Assignment in Multi-Agent Teams via Empirical Game-Theoretic Analysis

We propose a method, based on empirical game theory, for a robot operating as part of a team to choose its role within the team without explicitly communicating with team members, by leveraging its knowledge about the team structure. To do this, we formulate the role assignment problem as a dynamic game, and borrow tools from empirical game-theoretic analysis to analyze such games. Based on this game-theoretic formulation, we propose a distributed controller for each robot to dynamically decide on the best role to take. We demonstrate our method in simulations of a collaborative planar manipulation scenario in which each agent chooses from a set of feedback control policies at each instant. The agents can effectively collaborate without communication to manipulate the object while also avoiding collisions using our method.
Yeast (YAC) and Human (HAC) Artificial Chromosome Clones

Artificial chromosome vector systems in yeast and bacteria have facilitated the increasingly rapid pace of mapping and sequencing of complex genomes. Traditional bacterial cloning systems have remained important for the study of relatively short clones, but for the cloning of very large deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) segments yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) have completely replaced earlier bacterial systems, including lambda phage-based cosmids. YACs comprise cloned DNA fragments ranging from 50 kb to more than 1 million base pairs, along with sequences that render them capable of growth in yeast or bacteria. YACs provide the additional advantage of permitting direct isolation of a targeted genomic region as a circular molecule from complex genomes by transformation-associated recombination. Moreover, YAC cloning has allowed the propagation of large tandem repeat arrays and entire bacterial genomes. By taking advantage of the efficient yeast recombination system, YAC clones can be further modified and used for functional studies of full-length genes and for the study of huge centromeric DNA repeat regions that are not yet analysed or included in the genome assemblies of human and other organisms. Key Concepts: Basic structure of vectors used in the construction of artificial chromosomes that can replicate in yeast, bacteria and human cells. Utilities of artificial chromosomes. Isolation of complete genes and large DNA segments, including repetitive chromosomal regions. Targeted recombination-based cloning of genes and highly repetitive regions. Reconstruction of large DNA regions by recombination among multiple YAC clones. Keywords: YACs; BACs; PACs; artificial chromosomes; cloning vectors; HAC-based vectors
Synapses Plastic plasticity

The connections between neurons (synapses) can adapt to changing circumstances of nervous transmissions, a phenomenon known as activity-dependent plasticity. Moreover, such plasticity is itself regulated, but little is known about the mechanisms or behavioural consequences of this metaplasticity. New work on the mollusc Aplysia, involving study of the neural circuits that respond to stimulation of the siphon and tail, unveils connections and feedback systems that provide a handle on the regulation of metaplasticity.
Explicit Matrices with the Restricted Isometry Property: Breaking the Square-Root Bottleneck

Matrices with the restricted isometry property (RIP) are of particular interest in compressed sensing. To date, the best known RIP matrices are constructed using random processes, while explicit constructions are notorious for performing at the “square-root bottleneck,” i.e., they only accept sparsity levels on the order of the square root of the number of measurements. The only known explicit matrix which surpasses this bottleneck was constructed by Bourgain, Dilworth, Ford, Konyagin, and Kutzarova in Bourgain et al. (Duke Math. J. 159:145–185, 2011). This chapter provides three contributions to advance the groundbreaking work of Bourgain et al.: (i) we develop an intuition for their matrix construction and underlying proof techniques; (ii) we prove a generalized version of their main result; and (iii) we apply this more general result to maximize the extent to which their matrix construction surpasses the square-root bottleneck.
Patient-controlled intrathecal analgesia for the management of breakthrough cancer pain: a retrospective review and commentary.

Objective. Intrathecal therapy (ITT) via an implanted pump has become an accepted practice for the treatment of refractory cancer pain by infusing opioids and adjuncts directly to the neuraxis. Until recently, only a programmed basal rate of infusion could be delivered, and therefore, breakthrough pain required ongoing use of oral or transmucosal opioids. Recently, an implanted pump manufacturer has introduced a handheld device to bolus additional medication for breakthrough pain. We hypothesize that patient-controlled intrathecal analgesia (PCIA) for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain reduces the need for breakthrough opioids and improves the patient perception of pain. Methods. A retrospective chart review was done on all patients who underwent ITT for cancer pain between January 2009 and February 2011. Clinical outcomes of interest were reduction in nonintrathecal opioid use and reduction in numerical rating score (NRS) for pain. The data was collected prior to ITT and at a 4–6 week postimplant visit. Results. After initiation of ITT with PCIA, 50% of patients had discontinued all nonintrathecal opioids at follow-up, and 46% of the patients on breakthrough medications no longer required their use. At follow-up, there was a significant reduction in total nonintrathecal opioid use, with an average of 796 mg pre-ITT vs 64 mg post-ITT of daily oral morphine equivalent dosing (P = <0.001). There was a significant difference between mean NRS pain score at follow-up—6.5 vs 3.1 pre-ITT (P < 0.001). 65% of patients reported their pain as severe (NRS of 7 or greater) prior to ITT; this decreased to 3% at follow-up. Conclusions. In patients with refractory cancer pain, intrathecal drug therapy with PCIA is associated with improved pain reporting, reduced nonintrathecal around-the-clock, and breakthrough opioid requirements.
Digitizing pediatric chest radiographs: comparison of low-cost, commercial off-the-shelf technologies.

Objective: To compare low-cost, off-the-shelf technology for digitizing pediatric chest radiographs.
Accurate conservative remapping (rezoning) for arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian computations

The Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) method in computational fluid dynamics requires the periodic remapping of conserved quantities such as mass, momentum, and energy from a Lagrangian mesh to some other arbitrarily defined mesh. This procedure is a type of interpolation which is usually constrained to be conservative and monotone. It is typically carried out by solving a partial differential equation analogous to the continuity equation. Alternatively, the remapping may be carried out using an integral formulation which is (for the remapping of mass) \[ m_k = \iiint_{V_k } {\rho ({\bf r}) dV,} \] where $m_k $ is the mass of a cell k of the new mesh whose volume is $V_k $, and $\rho (\bf {r})$ is the known density distribution on the old (Lagrangian) mesh. Remapping using this integral method avoids many drawbacks of the continuous method but the evaluation of such integrals is costly and difficult for arbitrary meshes. Recently, very efficient methods [6], [7] have been demonstrated for the case of constant cell density in two dimensions. We now extend these methods to the much more accurate case in which the density distribution in linear within each cell. This results in second order accuracy. However, to preserve monotonicity the gradients are limited using the option of two simple local limiters. To the extent that the limiting is applied the method locally reverts to first order accuracy.
ISDN applications at Tenneco Gas

The evolution from analog to integrated services digital network (ISDN) telecommunication services at Tenneco Gas and the features of its telephone system are described. The results of implementing ISDN in data operations are examined. The benefits of ISDN for Tenneco are briefly summarized. >
Social movement unionism in practice: organizational dimensions of union mobilization in the Los Angeles immigrant rights marches

To revitalize union movements globally, labour scholars frequently prescribe social movement unionism. This union strategy adopts social change goals beyond member representation and contract negot...
Single DNA Molecule Detection Using Nanopipettes and Nanoparticles

Single DNA molecules labeled with nanoparticles can be detected by blockades of ionic current as they are translocated through a nanopipette tip formed by a pulled glass capillary. The nanopipette detection technique can provide not only tools for detection and identification of single DNA and protein molecules but also deeper insight and understanding of stochastic interactions of various biomolecules with their environment.
Noninvasive laser Raman detection of carotenoid antioxidants in living human skin

We have used resonance Raman scattering as a novel non- invasive optical technology to measure carotenoid antioxidants in human skin of healthy volunteers. Using blue-green laser excitation, clearly distinguishable carotenoid Raman spectra are obtained which are superimposed on a large skin autofluorescence background. The Raman spectra are obtained rapidly, i.e. within about 30 seconds, and the required laser light exposure levels are well within safety standards. Our technique can be used for rapid screening of carotenoid antioxidant levels in large populations and may have applications for assessing the risk for cutaneous diseases.
The determination of source parameters for small earthquakes from a single, very broadband seismic station

The installation of very broadband seismic stations makes it possible to recover the source parameters of small earthquakes (2.5 < ML < 5.0) which occur at local and regional distances. If the gross crustal structure along the travel path is known, it is possible to use the P, SV and SH displacement waveforms from a single station to determine the seismic moment tensor. Although the details of the crustal structure strongly affect the body waveforms at regional distances, the signature of the seismic source orientation on the waveform is robust at frequencies less than 1–3 Hz. We explore the trade-offs between crustal model, hypocentral depth and filtering for a linear moment tensor inversion procedure. The procedure is tested on two small earthquakes which occurred in the Rio Grande Rift and were recorded at the IRIS/USGS station ANMO. The agreement between the single station moment tensor inversion fault plane parameters and those determined from local first motions is excellent.
Myocardial Oxygen Supply and Demand

The supply of oxygen to the myocardium is determined by coronary blood flow and oxygen carrying capacity. Coronary blood flow is a dynamic process modulated via multiple parameters. Cardiac metabolism is also affected by several factors. Under normal physiologic conditions, the demand is easily met by the supply of oxygen. In fact, there is a significant reserve on the supply side. Under certain pathologic states such as coronary artery disease, the supply of oxygen may be exhausted and an imbalance between supply and demand occurs which is translated into ischemia. The area of myocardium most susceptible to ischemia is the subendocardium due to mechanical and metabolic forces. In therapy of coronary artery disease, attention should be directed to directional changes in factors influencing supply and demand to improve blood flow to the most susceptible area.
An Experiment in Methodology

EVERY teacher of a modern foreign language, whose intellectual and pedagogical endowment has not completely ossified, has unquestionably asked himself at frequent intervals questions like the following: (1) What is the opinion of my students concerning the methods I employ? (2) Are they really learning something through these methods? (3) Could they learn more through other, better methods? Prodded into action by pedagogical cogitation along these lines, the author resolved to undertake an experiment in methodology. His purpose was to study student reaction to two phases of modern language teaching. The fifteen members of his class in intermediate German, all of whom had had one year of college German or its equivalent, had subscribed to the Jugendpost, a supplement of the Rochester Abendpost, which bears the subtitle: "A Periodical for Students of German." Throughout the semester, the class studied each issue of this Journal, which is published monthly from September to June. Every other month the main articles were translated into English. Grammatical points were discussed and explained. During the alternate months the method of procedure was entirely different. Questions were asked by the instructor in German on the content of the articles and were answered in German by the members of the class. No English was used.
Exoelectron-like emission in near threshold ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy of quenched molybdenum

Abstract Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS) scans of quenched molybdenum exhibiting anomalous behaviour have been measured. Similarity to exoelectron emission is suggested and an explanation based on trapped electron states is presented.
Introduction-Further Innovations in Segregation and Neighborhood Change Research

This special issue is the second in a two-part series emphasizing recent innovations in the measurement and modeling of segregation and neighborhood change. The segregation/neighborhood change literature has blossomed over the past century from empirical descriptions of the social ecology of Chicago neighborhoods to intermetropolitan comparisons of segregation dynamics over time. During the last two decades, scholars have also begun to incorporate innovations from the field of spatial statistics into segregation metrics, a development that has substantially improved our understanding of the different spatial “dimensions” of segregation (Massey and Denton, 1988). Another important development since 1990 has been the enhanced interdisciplinary and geographic scope of segregation studies. From its early beginnings in the Chicago School of sociology, segregation is now being studied by scholars from a variety of disciplines, including geography, economics, education, and urban planning. Recent international comparisons have provided new insights on the role of globalization and national policies in shaping patterns of segregation and neighborhood change at both the neighborhood and metropolitan level. The three articles in this special issue elaborate on these themes, examining the influence of metropolitan land-use patterns on segregation, the contribution of mixed-race households to estimated levels of segregation, and the influence of spatio-perceptual mental models on segregated patterns of urban space utilization. 1 We are grateful to Bill Clark of UCLA, who encouraged us to launch this special-issue project after we organized two special sessions on segregation measurement at the Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting in 2006. Several articles accepted in this and a previous special issue of Urban Geography were originally presented as papers in the two special sessions on methodology; these articles have addressed the theory of segregation, segregation as a cause or outcome of other social processes, and related issues. 2
FBI wavelet/scalar quantization standard for gray-scale fingerprint image compression

The FBI has recently adopted a standard for the compression of digitized 8-bit gray-scale fingerprint images. The standard is based on scalar quantization of a 64-subband discrete wavelet transform decomposition of the images, followed by Huffman coding. Novel features of the algorithm include the use of symmetric boundary conditions for transforming finite- length signals and a subband decomposition tailored for fingerprint images scanned at 500 dpi. The standard is intended for use in conjunction with ANSI/NBS-CLS 1-1993, American National Standard Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint Information, and the FBI's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The quest for the particulate methane monooxygenase active site

Particulate methane monooxygenase is a copper-containing, membrane-bound metalloenzyme that converts methane to methanol in Nature. How pMMO accomplishes this difficult reaction under ambient conditions is one of the major unsolved problems in bioinorganic chemistry. Despite considerable research efforts in the past 20 years, the active site of the enzyme remains unknown. We recently solved the first crystal structure of pMMO to 2.8 A resolution, revealing the overall structure, oligomerization state, subunit ratio, and composition and location of the metal centers. Almost none of the key structural features were predicted. In this Perspective, we review the state of knowledge before and after the structure determination, emphasizing elucidation of the pMMO active site.
Controlling Neuronal Growth on Au Surfaces by Directed Assembly of Extracellular Matrix Proteins

Studying how individual neuronal cells grow and interact with each other is of fundamental importance for understanding the functions of the nervous system. However, the mechanism of axonal navigation to their target region and their specific interactions with guidance factors such as membrane-bound proteins, chemical and temperature gradients, mechanical guidance cues, etc. are not well understood. Here we describe a new approach for controlling the adhesion, growth and interconnectivity of cortical neurons on Au surfaces. Specifically, we use Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nanolithography to immobilize extracellular matrix proteins at well-defined locations on Au surfaces. These surface-immobilized proteins act as a) adhesion proteins for neuronal cells (i.e. well-defined locations where the cells “stick” to the surface), and b) promoters/inhibitors for the growth of neurites. Our results show that protein patterns can be used to confine neuronal cells and to control their growth and interconnectivity on Au surfaces. We also show that AFM nanolithography presents unique advantages for this type of work: 1) high degree of control over location and shape of the protein patterns, 2) the procedure is carried out in aqueous solutions (protein buffers), such that the proteins are very likely to retain their folding conformation/bioactivity, and 3) minimum protein feature size can be reduced down to several tens of nm (typically ∼50nm).
Children and violence: the role of children's regulation in the marital aggression-child adjustment link.

Exposure to marital psychological and physical abuse has been established as a risk factor for children’s socio-emotional, behavioral, and cognitive problems. Understanding the processes by which children develop symptoms of psychopathology and deficits in cognitive functioning in the context of marital aggression is imperative for developing efficient and effective treatment programs for children and families, and has far-reaching mental health implications. The present paper outlines our research program, Child Regulation and Exposure to Marital Aggression, which focuses on children’s emotional and physiological reactivity and regulation as pathways in the marital aggression–child development link. Findings from our research program, which highlight the importance of children’s regulatory processes for understanding children’s adjustment in contexts of intimate partner violence, are presented, and future directions in this line of inquiry are outlined.
Gonadotropin secretion in ovariectomized pony mares treated with dexamethasone or progesterone and subsequently with dihydrotestosterone.

Twelve long-term ovariectomized (OVX) pony mares were used to determine the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) or progesterone (PR) on concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in daily blood samples and after administration of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). All mares were subsequently administered dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to determine if DEX or PR treatment altered the FSH or LH response to this androgen. Daily blood sampling was started on day 1. After a pretreatment injection of GnRH on day 5, four mares were administered DEX at 125 μg/kg of body weight (BW), four mares were administered PR at 500 μg/kg of BW and four mares were administered vehicle. Injections were given subcutaneously in vegetable shortening daily through day 14. After a second injection of GnRH on day 15, all mares were administered DHT in shortening at 150 μg/kg of BW. Injections of DHT were given daily through day 24. A final injection of GnRH was given on day 25. Treatment of mares with DEX 1) reduced (P<.01) daily LH secretion and briefly increased (P<.05) daily FSH secretion and 2) increased (P<.01) the FSH response to exogenous GnRH. Treatment of mares with PR had no effect on daily LH secretion but increased (P<.05) daily FSH secretion and increased (P<.01) the FSH response to exogenous GnRH. Subsequent treatment of all mares with DHT (1) decreased (P<.01) daily LH and FSH secretion, 2) decreased (P<.01) the LH response to exogenous GnRH and 3) increased (P<.01) the FSH response to exogenous GnRH in all three groups. There was no interaction of previous DEX or PR treatment with DHT treatment. We conclude that DEX and PR have qualitatively similar effects on FSH secretion, whereas at the doses used, DEX was a potent inhibitor of daily LH secretion. Moreover, the effects of the nonaromatizable androgen, DHT, on LH and FSH secretion were similar to those reported previously for testosterone.
The Theory and Practice of Measuring Transport Coefficients and Sap Flow in the Xylem of Red Maple Stems (Acer rubrum)

In this paper we report measurements concerning the conductivity of water and ions and the interaction between the two in excised pieces of xylem of red maple stems under various conditions. We have also demonstrated that it is possible to detect the flow of solutions through the stems of maple by measuring the degree of interaction between the flow of water and ions. In this technique we apply voltage pulses of ± V volts across a length of stem and detect the unequal current pulses resulting from the greater frictional drag when current (which is carried primarily by cations) is flowing against the water stream than when flowing with the water stream. The hydraulic conductivity of recent maple sapwood ranges from 30 to 90 cm3 sr1 cm-2 (J cm"3)"1 cm; in 2 ml KCl the electrical conductivity is roughly 3 x 10"4 mho cm-1 and the electro-kinetic cross coefficient is roughly 4x 10~5 A cm-2 (J cm"3)"1 cm.