cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incidence of premature birth and neonatal respiratory disease in infants of HIV-positive mothers

Abstract Objective: We sought to determine the prematurity rate in infants of HIV-positive mothers and to characterize the incidence and severity of neonatal respiratory disease in this population. Study design: From 1990 to 1994, 600 live-born infants of HIV-infected mothers were enrolled prenatally (73%) or postnatally (27%) from five U.S. centers. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of HIV status in the infant with prematurity (≤37 weeks), low birth weight (≤2.5 kg), and very low birth weight (≤1.5 kg) rates. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia, meconium aspiration syndrome, and neonatal pneumonia was compared with anticipated rates for gestational age and birth weight. Results: Very high rates of prematurity (19%), low birth weight (18.3%), and very low birth weight (3.3%) were found in the infants of HIV-positive mothers; and HIV infection in the infant was associated with younger gestational age. The overall incidence of RDS was 3% (17/600), which coincided with the anticipated rate, after adjusting for prematurity and birth weight. Only five infants (all ≤ 1.5 kg) had bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and none required assisted ventilation beyond 14 days. Three term infants had mild meconium aspiration syndrome, and there were no cases of documented neonatal pneumonia. Conclusion: Infants born to HIV-positive mothers exhibited high prematurity and low birth weight rates, and the odds of prematurity were higher in infants who were infected with HIV. Despite the high incidence of prematurity and perinatal risk of this population, incidence and severity of neonatal respiratory disease were not higher than would be expected from available neonatal data in populations not exposed to HIV. (J Pediatr 1997;131:851-6)
An atomic simulation of the influence of hydrogen on the fracture behavior of nickel

A model exploring the effect of the presence of a single hydrogen interstitial on the crack tip configuration of nickel is described. The model is based on a EAM-type potential developed by Daw, Baskes, Bisson, and Wolfer for describing the Ni–Ni, Ni–H, and H–H interactions, and involves the crack tip region of a semi-infinite crack in an infinite solid. Several types of interactions are observed to occur. In a model oriented such that dislocation emission is difficult, hydrogen is observed to increase the crack tip opening displacement (CTOD), exert a force on the crack tip due to interaction between the dilatancy of the defect and the hydrostatic component of the field of the crack, and increase the local tensile stresses. However, the largest contribution to extending the crack derives from the energy released when a hydrogen interstitial escapes to the crack surface. A hydrogen interstitial is also observed to assist dislocation emission in models with an easy emission orientation.
Effect of dead space on gain and noise in Si and GaAs avalanche photodiodes

The effect of dead space on the mean gain, the excess noise factor, and the avalanche breakdown voltage for Si and GaAs avalanche photodiodes (APDs) with nonuniform carrier ionization coefficients are examined. The dead space, which is a function of the electric field and position within the multiplication region of the APD, is the minimum distance that a newly generated carrier must travel in order to acquire sufficient energy to become capable of causing impact ionization. Recurrence relations in the form of coupled linear integral equations are derived to characterize the underlying avalanche multiplication process. Numerical solutions to the integral equations are obtained and the mean gain and the excess noise factor are computed. >
Once-daily insulin glargine versus 6-hour sliding scale regular insulin for control of hyperglycemia after a bariatric surgical procedure: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether once-daily insulin glargine could provide better glycemic control after an abdominal surgical procedure than the traditional use of sliding scale regular insulin (SSRI). METHODS Because 20% to 30% of patients undergoing gastric bypass have a history of overt diabetes and another 5% to 10% are estimated to have impaired glucose tolerance, we chose to study these patients. We treated 81 patients with postoperative blood glucose levels of more than 144 mg/dL after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgical procedure. They were randomized to receive either SSRI or insulin glargine either directly or after initial intravenous insulin infusion in the intensive care unit (ICU). RESULTS Overall, the mean blood glucose level after SSRI therapy was 154 +/- 33 mg/dL, and the mean blood glucose value after insulin glargine treatment was 134 +/- 30 mg/dL (P<0.01). The mean blood glucose level for patients first treated with intravenous insulin infusion in the ICU was 125 mg/dL, in comparison with 145 mg/dL in the non-ICU patients whose treatment began directly with 0.3 U/kg of insulin glargine. Of 926 blood glucose measurements, only 3 were less than 60 mg/dL. CONCLUSION In this study, control of postoperative hyperglycemia was significantly better with use of insulin glargine in comparison with SSRI therapy, and hypoglycemia was very infrequent.
Alcohol-related aggression in men and women: The influence of dispositional aggressivity

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of dispositional aggressivity on the alcohol-aggression relation in men and women. Method: Subjects were 204 healthy social drinkers (111 men) between 21 and 35 years of age. Dispositional aggressivity was measured using the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Following the consumption of either an alcohol or placebo beverage, subjects were tested on a modified version of the Taylor Aggression Paradigm, in which electric shocks are received from and administered to a fictitious opponent during a competitive task. Aggression was operationalized as the shock intensities administered to the fictitious opponent under conditions of low and high provocation. Results: Of all the variables, provocation was the strongest elicitor of aggression. Overall, persons with high dispositional aggressivity exhibited more aggression than did those with low dispositional aggressivity. Alcohol increased aggression for persons with high, but not for those w...
Interprofessional education: an essential strategy to accomplish the future of nursing goals

The Institute of Medicine's Future of Nursing report has called for broad changes in the nursing profession for the benefit of society. Interprofessional education is one strategy to improve nursing education and enhance the role of nurses as collaborative leaders in the health care system. These are important lessons that have been learned from recent interprofessional educational initiatives and some encouraging examples of successful initiatives that are breaking down barriers across professional schools. The ultimate beneficiary of these changes will be our patients, who will receive better care.
ACTION OF INHIBITORS ON HYDROGENASE IN AZOTOBACTER

The inhibitors usually associated with the activity of the cytochrome oxidase system—cyanide and carbon monoxide—are also effective in reducing the oxidation of H2 by intact cells of Azotobacter vinelandii. The hydrogenase system is more sensitive to CO than is the respiratory system. Oxidation of a carbon source and of hydrogen by Azotobacter cells is inhibited in a quantitatively different manner by the following compounds: sodium azide, hydroxylamine, sodium iodoacetate, and sodium fluoride. In every case, a concentration range which is definitely inhibitory for respiration has little or no effect on the hydrogenase activity. The differential inhibition by hydroxylamine explains certain observations in the literature which have been erroneously interpreted as demonstrating a specific inhibition by NH2OH of biological nitrogen fixation. This supposed demonstration has been offered as support for the hypothesis that NH2OH is an intermediate in the fixation reaction. The differential inhibitors can be used for detection of hydrogenase in cultures possessing a high endogenous respiration. The method is illustrated by an experiment with root nodule bacteria from pea and cowpea nodules. No hydrogenase was found in either.
Combined Trabeculectomy and Cataract Extraction

We performed combined trabeculectomy-cataract extraction in 37 eyes of 29 patients. Average follow-up was 23.7 months. Thirty-three (89.2%) of the 37 eyes were controlled with much improvement postoperatively. A total of 35 eyes (94.6%) were controlled postoperatively; 22 eyes (59.5%) required no medications postoperatively. No greater incidence of complications with the combined procedure from that expected with cataract extraction alone was evident, except for four flat or shallow chambers and four hyphemas, none of which appeared to have an adverse effect on the final outcome of the surgery. We believe that the combined trabeculectomy-cataract extraction is a valid and safe procedure, if not the procedure of choice, in our hands, for the patient with coexisting cataract and glaucoma, and the advantages of the greater pressure control with the single procedure outweight the small increase in the risks of the surgery.
Bacteriophage Surface Display of an Immunoglobulin–binding Domain of Staphylococcus aureus Protein A

Bacteriophage Surface Display of an Immunoglobulin–binding Domain of Staphylococcus aureus Protein A
Contribution of gaseous sulphur from salt marshes to the global sulphur cycle

Salt marshes have high rates of sulphide production due to dissimilatory sulphate reduction1,2; and because their anaerobic sediments are exposed to the atmosphere, they are thought to be important sites of biogenic sulphur emission3,4. We report here a synthesis of the results of an annual set of monthly flux measurements of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), dimethyl sulphide (DMS), carbonyl sulphide (COS), carbon disulphide (CS2) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) from a Spartina marsh and an adjacent tidal creek. Dimethyl sulphide and H2S were the predominant gases released from the Spartina marsh (49% and 35% of the total, respectively) while H2S was the major gas (71%) emitted from the creek site. We suggest that the short-lived sulphur gases released from marshes may have an important role in local atmospheric sulphur budgets. Globally, saline marshes may release a total of 1.7 Tg S yr−1 (1 Tg = 1012 g) into the atmosphere, which includes more than double the quantity of two important long-lived sulphur gases, COS and CS2, needed to sustain the stratospheric sulphate layer.
Topological influences on the carcinogenicity of aromatic hydrocarbons. II. Substituent effects

Graph-theoretical analysis reveals that topological considerations provide a helpful guide to understanding substituent effects on the carcinogenic activities of aromatic hydrocarbons. If the aromatic system is considered as a network, the influence of methyl and hydroxyl groups at positions remote from the bay region depends on whether they are at strongly or weakly connected positions. Strongly connected methyl substituents tend to enhance carcinogenic potency, whereas strongly connected phenolic groups tend to decrease it.
Heritage Tourism in the Caribbean: The Politics of Culture after Neoliberalism

As neoliberalism has taken root in the Caribbean, heritage tourism has grown enormously. Using examples drawn from the Trinidad Carnival, this article shows how culture becomes a marketing force in the wake of increasingly difficult economic times in the Caribbean. As selling culture increases in importance for the overall economic health of Caribbean economies, it becomes, more and more, the focus of Caribbean states and state agencies and a basis for state sovereignty. Drawing on Foucault's notion of biopower, the article draws a connection between the increasing importance of cultural performances for state revenue and government intervention into those performances.
Performance of a phase-transformed input joint transform correlator

Conventionally a detected image is represented by an intensity array owing to the square-law nature of most detectors. However, this does not mean that we have to restrict ourselves to using intensity images for the correlation process. Transforming intensity images into phase images before correlation, which can be easily realized by a phase-modulation spatial light modulator, offers an alternative approach for high-performance pattern recognition. A phase-transformed input joint transform correlator is investigated in detail in terms of pattern discriminability, detection efficiency, and noise robustness. We show that the phase-transformed joint transform correlator has higher pattern discriminability and detection efficiency than the conventional joint transform correlator, and it also offers a better trade-off between the pattern discriminability and noise tolerance. A proof-of-concept experiment is also provided.
Tyrosine mediated tryptophan ATP sensitivity in skeletal myosin.

Myosin is the molecular motor in muscle that generates torque and transiently reacts with actin. The mechanical work performed by the motor occurs by successive decrements in the free energy of the myosin−nucleotide system. The seat of these transitions is the globular “head” domain of the myosin molecule (subfragment 1 or S1). A very useful (hitherto empirical) signal of these transitions has been optical, namely, detection of state-dependent changes in absorbance or fluorescence of S1. This effect has now been found to arise in a particular myosin residue (Trp510 in rabbit skeletal muscle), enabling the study of its intimate mechanism. In this work, based on measuring time-dependent signals, we find that the signal change upon nucleotide binding is adequately explained by assuming that nucleotide binding to a remote site causes a transition from a situation in which Trp510 is strongly statically quenched to a situation in which it is weakly statically quenched. The Trp510−static quencher interaction is ...
The measurement and structure of psychosocial maturity

The educational community lacks tools for assessing the nonacademic growth of students - their growth as persons and as social beings. This paper describes the development of an attitude inventory based on an interdisciplinary model of psychosocial maturity. The Psychosocial Maturity Inventory, a self-report instrument, is comprised of nine subscales and is suited for the assessment of youngsters in the approximate age range 11-18. Among the studies reviewed are ones which (1) specify at various age levels the internal consistency of the subscales, (2) report the association between the subscales and various measures of academic achievement, and (3) describe the relationship of the subscales to other measures of personality such as "faking good," anxiety, and self-esteem. Factor analyses of the Inventory provide an empirical base for testing the proposed theoretical structure of psychosocial maturity.
Corneal Iron Lines Associated With the Intrastromal Corneal Ring

Corneal epithelial iron lines commonly occur, and their shape is characteristically influenced by the underlying corneal surface topography. We studied a pattern of iron deposition, observed after implantation of the Intrastromal Corneal Ring (KeraVision, Inc., Santa Clara, California). In five of ten patients undergoing placement of the Intrastromal Corneal Ring, an arcuate pattern of epithelial iron deposition was observed eight to 12 months postoperatively. There was no significant clinical or topographic difference over time among the corneas of patients who developed an iron line vs those who did not. Of the five patients with an arcuate epithelial iron line, three underwent explantation of their Intrastromal Corneal Ring at 12 months according to the study protocol. Iron deposition either reverted to a Hudson-Stahli pattern or disappeared in each of these three patients.
A diagnostic method that uses causal knowledge and linear programming in the application of Bayes' formula

Bayes' formula has been applied extensively in computer-based medical diagnostic systems. One assumption that is often made in the application of the formula is that the findings in a case are conditionally independent. This assumption is often invalid and leads to inaccurate posterior probability assignments to the diagnostic hypotheses. This paper discusses a method for using causal knowledge to structure findings according to their probabilistic dependencies. An inference procedure is discussed which propagates probabilities within a network of causally related findings in order to calculate posterior probabilities of diagnostic hypotheses. A linear programming technique is described that bounds the values of the propagated probabilities subject to known probabilistic constraints.
Changes in the incidence and spectrum of neonatal septicemia during a fifteen-year period.

Over a period of 15 years the incidence of neonatal septicemia seen at St Goran's Children's Hospital has increased both per 1000 births and per 100 admitted neonates. The spectrum of causative organisms has changed towards more Gram-positive organisms and fewer Gram-negative organisms. In the initial antibiotic treatment an aminoglycoside and ampicillin derivate will still be needed to give full coverage.
The Black Bear Hunt in New Jersey: A Constructionist Analysis of an Intractable Conflict

The black bear hunt in New Jersey represents a symbolic clash of understandings about how human beings should live with nonhuman animals who typify intractable conflicts involving potentially dangerous mammals. Manifest and latent content analysis of newspaper editorial materials—written over a 10-year period, ending in 2005—document 2 findings. First, hunt supporters and opponents promote specific constructions of bears, hunters, and other actors in their letters and editorials. Second, these constructions are not only different but contradictory. Opponents and supporters portray bears as either menacing threats or benevolent and peaceful animals. The two groups see hunters as either bloodthirsty killers or defenders of wildlife. Contradictory constructions serve to de-legitimate other constructions and other actors. This finding highlights how public discourse has fed intractability over the conflict rather than provided common grounds for consensus about how New Jersey's residents should interact with their ursine neighbors.
Cathodic stripping voltammetry of selenocystine, cystine, and cysteine in dilute aqueous acid

Selenocystine, cystine, and cysteine can be determined by cathodic stripping voltammetry (c.s.v.) in 0.1 M HClO4 or 0.1 M H2SO4. The amino acids are accumulated at potentials more positive than —0.35 V, —0.20 V, and —0.10 V vs. s.c.e., respectively, and the stripping peak potentials are —0.45 V, —0.38 V and —0.15 V, respectively. Limiting coverage of the mercury electrode surface is observed for cysteine and selenocystine, but not for cystine. The detection limit for selenocystine is 5 × 10-10 M in the presence of 100-fold amounts of cystine and cysteine. The detection limits for cystine and cysteine are 1 × 10-5 M and 1 × 10-9 M, respectively.
A morphological classification of ganglion cells in the zebrafish retina

We examined the distribution and morphological types of ganglion cells in the retina of the zebrafish, a model vertebrate genetic organism. Using cresyl violet and methylene blue staining, a prominent central area was observed in the ventral temporal retina. The density of ganglion cell layer neurons averaged from approximately 12,000/mm2 in the dorsal-nasal retina to a peak of approximately 37,000/mm2 in the ventral-temporal retina. Individual zebrafish ganglion cells were labeled by backfilling with DiI through the optic nerve followed by reconstruction using confocal microscopy. The dendritic stratification and branching pattern of each labeled ganglion cell was examined in relation to the borders of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). We identified 11 different morphological types of ganglion cell. The most commonly labeled ganglion cells were two types termed Type III or IV, which displayed highly stratified dendritic arborizations in their respective ON-, OFF-sublaminae of the IPL. Their dendritic branching patterns were highly asymmetric with many thorn-like varicosities that profusely filled the area of arborization. In contrast, Type V cells formed a small simply branching dendritic field in the innermost portion of the ON-sublamina of the IPL. Two large ganglion cell types (Types I and II) with wide monostratified dendritic fields were found in both the ON- and OFF-sublamina of the IPL. Three different types of multistratified/bistratified ganglion cells were found (Types, IX, X, and XI.) whose dendrites occupied different regions of the IPL. The multistratified dendrites of IX cells occupied the whole width of the IPL, while the dendrites of Type XI cells formed vertical claw-like endings in only the ON-sublamina of the IPL. We conclude that zebrafish ganglion cells display a rich variety of types and branching patterns. This study establishes a series of baseline measurements of zebrafish ganglion cells to facilitate examination of genes playing a role in the specification and stratification of ganglion cell types.
Malabsorption in systemic lupus erythematosus

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with intestinal malabsorption is reported. The malabsorptive state was manifested by steatorrhea, low blood levels, diminished urinary excretion ofd-xylose and reduced absorption-excretion of radioactive vitamin B12. The small-bowel mucosa showed blunted villi. Barium studies of the colon suggested infarction of the bowel. This is the fourth reported case in which SLE has been found to be associated with intestinal malabsorption.
Clinical criteria to screen for inpatient diagnostic errors: a scoping review

Diagnostic errors are common and costly, but difficult to detect. “Trigger” tools have promise to facilitate detection, but have not been applied specifically for inpatient diagnostic error. We performed a scoping review to collate all individual “trigger” criteria that have been developed or validated that may indicate that an inpatient diagnostic error has occurred. We searched three databases and screened 8568 titles and abstracts to ultimately include 33 articles. We also developed a conceptual framework of diagnostic error outcomes using real clinical scenarios, and used it to categorize the extracted criteria. Of the multiple criteria we found related to inpatient diagnostic error and amenable to automated detection, the most common were death, transfer to a higher level of care, arrest or “code”, and prolonged length of hospital stay. Several others, such as abrupt stoppage of multiple medications or change in procedure, may also be useful. Validation for general adverse event detection was done in 15 studies, but only one performed validation for diagnostic error specifically. Automated detection was used in only two studies. These criteria may be useful for developing diagnostic error detection tools.
Comment on “A statistical study of the central plasma sheet: Implications for substorm models”

We show that the conclusions of the above paper are seriously compromised by flaws in the methodology of the statistical study. In addition, the authors' definition of a physically significant flow is not consistent with the physics of the magnetotail.
Comparison of Diagnosis of Early Retinal Lesions of Diabetic Retinopathy Between a Computer System and Human Experts

Objective To investigate whether a computer vision system is comparable with humans in detecting early retinal lesions of diabetic retinopathy using color fundus photographs. Methods A computer system has been developed using image processing and pattern recognition techniques to detect early lesions of diabetic retinopathy (hemorrhages and microaneurysms, hard exudates, and cotton-wool spots). Color fundus photographs obtained from American Indians in Oklahoma were used in developing and testing the system. A set of 369 color fundus slides were used to train the computer system using 3 diagnostic categories: lesions present, questionable, or absent(Y/Q/N). A different set of 428 slides were used to test and evaluate the system, and its diagnostic results were compared with those of 2 human experts—the grader at the University of Wisconsin Fundus Photograph Reading Center (Madison) and a general ophthalmologist. The experiments included comparisons using 3 (Y/Q/N) and 2 diagnostic categories (Y/N) (questionable cases excluded in the latter). Results In the training phase, the agreement rates, sensitivity, and specificity in detecting the 3 lesions between the retinal specialist and the computer system were all above 90%. The κ statistics were high (0.75-0.97), indicating excellent agreement between the specialist and the computer system. In the testing phase, the results obtained between the computer system and human experts were consistent with those of the training phase, and they were comparable with those between the human experts. Conclusions The performance of the computer vision system in diagnosing early retinal lesions was comparable with that of human experts. Therefore, this mobile, electronically easily accessible, and noninvasive computer system, could become a mass screening tool and a clinical aid in diagnosing early lesions of diabetic retinopathy.
Choroidal white lesions as an early manifestation of sarcoidosis.

Purpose:To describe the natural history of a series of patients with fine white choroidal lesions and uveitis of previously unknown cause.Methods:A retrospective chart review of 11 patients with chronic uveitis and multiple, small (50-100μm), peripheral while lesions of the choroid was performed usi
Δ5-Androstenediol is a natural hormone with androgenic activity in human prostate cancer cells

It is known that androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol (Adiol), a precursor of testosterone (T), can activate estrogen target genes. The androgenic activity of Adiol itself, however, is poorly understood. Using a transient transfection assay, we here demonstrate in human prostate cancer cells that Adiol can activate androgen receptor (AR) target genes in the presence of AR, and that AR coactivator ARA70 can further enhance this Adiol-induced AR transcriptional activity. In contrast to this finding, an active metabolite of dehydroepiandrosterone, 7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone, does not activate AR target gene in the absence or presence of ARA70. Thin layer chromatography analysis reveals that T, dihydrotestosterone, and 17β-estradiol are undetectable in human prostate cancer DU145 cells after treatment with Adiol. Additionally, a proteolysis assay shows that a distinct ligand-receptor conformational difference exists between T-AR and Adiol-AR. Together, the above findings and the fact that T, but not Adiol, can induce transcriptional activity in a mutant AR (mtAR708), suggest that, without being metabolized into T, Adiol itself may represent a natural hormone with androgenic activity in human prostate cancer cells. Because two potent antiandrogens, hydroxyflutamide (Eulexin), and bicalutamide (casodex), that are widely used for the treatment of prostate cancer, fail to block Adiol-mediated induction of AR transcriptional activity in prostate cancer cells, the effectiveness of so-called “total androgen blockage,” a standard treatment for prostate cancer, may need to be reevaluated.
Estimation of future outflows and infrastructure needed to recycle personal computer systems in California.

Abstract The objectives of the present study are to estimate future quantities of electronic waste (e-waste) for which appropriate infrastructure needs to be established, and to the estimate the total cost for e-waste recycling in California. Estimation of the future amounts of e-waste as a function of time is critical to effective e-waste management. To generate estimates, we use a time-series materials flow analysis model (MFAM). The model estimates future e-waste quantities by modeling the stages of production, usage, and disposal. We consider four scenarios for the estimation of future e-waste generation in order to consider the effects of exportation outside the State of California and of user preferences to store or to recycle the e-waste. These efforts were further investigated through the use of sensitivity analysis. The results of the present research indicate that the outflow (recycling) amount of central processing units (CPUs) will increase and will reach approximately 8.5 million units per year in 2013, but the outflow (recycling) of cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors will decrease from 2004 in California because of the replacement of CRT monitors by liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors. In 2013, the cost for CPU recycling will be 1.7 times higher than that in 2005. But for CRT monitors, the cost for recycling in 2013 will be negligible. After the State of California enacted the ban on landfill disposal of e-waste, recycling became the most common end-of-life (EOL) option in California. Also, after 2005, the State of California will need more than 60 average-capacity materials recovery facilities (MRFs), to recycle the number of personal computer systems generated, which represents an investment in capital of over $16 million.
Efficient computation of branched nerve equations

Three simple improvements are presented which, for a given accuracy, result in a 10-20-fold decrease in computation time for simulation of arbitrarily branched active cables with Hodgkin Huxley (HH) kinetics. The first improvement takes advantage of the essentially tridiagonal character of the matrix equation for each branch of a 'tree' network and solves the equations as efficiently as for an unbranched cable. The second improvement evaluates the HH membrane conductances at the midpoint of a time step, delta t, to maintain full second order accuracy, 0(delta t2), with no increase in the number of computational steps. The third improvement makes use of 'premultiplied' HH rate function tables for very efficient second order correct integration of HH membrane conductance.
Analyzing the Synergistic Effects of Retinoic Acid and TRAIL on the Induction of Apoptosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma-Derived Cell Lines

Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) develop in the mucosal linings of the upper aerodigestive tract and are the sixth leading cause of cancer worldwide. They are initiated by tobacco and alcohol consumption, and by infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV). The neoplastic process begins with the normal epithelium progressing through hyperplasia to dysplasia to carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. Retinoic acid (RA) and its derivatives (retinoids), metabolites of vitamin A, have been recognized as a group of cancer chemopreventive and therapeutic agents, because of their ability to induce differentiation of various types of stem cells and arrest of cellular proliferation. Recent studies show that RA sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to apoptosis by inducing the proapoptotic ligand, TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL). RA increases the expression of TRAIL receptors, Death Receptors 4 & 5 (DR4/5), while suppressing TRAIL nonfunctional receptors, Decoy R...
Nylon–selected topics

Elements of the technology of nylon fibers and nylon plastics are reviewed. These include the development of equations to quantify the effects of endgroup imbalance and chain-ending impurities, the kinetics of the polymerization of caprolactam, the solid-state polymerization of nylon-66, and the dependence of fiber tensile strength on molecular weight. This is followed by remarks that include comments on the significance of the amidation equilibrium for melt behavior and estimates of the activation energy of viscous flow, the pyrolysis of nylon, the use of the glass-transition temperature (T g ) to predict the effect of moisture on properties, and the prospect for new nylons.
Spontaneously ruptured multilocular cystic nephroma

Multilocular cystic nephroma is a relatively rare benign tumor of the kidney. An adult case of spontaneously ruptured multilocular cystic nephroma was reported. A 33-year-old woman who presented with a right flank colic attack. The preoperative diagnosis was spontaneously ruptured renal tumor. A right nephrectomy was performed. A multilocular cystic lesion, 10 cm in diameter, was found in the removed specimen, which had a hematoma inside and direct tumor extension into the renal pelvis. On microscopic examination, the surface of loculi was covered by a layer of hobnail epithelium, and septa were composed of fibrous tissue with dilated vessels, lacking in normal renal components. There were no signs of malignancy. The lesion extending into the renal pelvis showed the same microscopic findings. The final diagnosis was multilocular cystic nephroma. Two respects, spontaneous rupture and tumor extension into the renal pelvis, were unique to the present case. There has been no report of spontaneously ruptured mutilocular cystic nephroma. The tumor extension into the renal pelvis, however, has been found in several reports. This growth pattern might be one of the characteristics of this benign renal tumor.
Anatomic correction for corrected transposition after pulmonary unifocalization

A Senning plus Rastelli operation was performed in a patient who had a rare combination of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (S,L,L) with dextrocardia, major aortopulmonary collaterals, and diminutive central pulmonary arteries with arborization defects. The patient required four preparatory operations including bilateral unifocalizations of the aortopulmonary artery collaterals. Pulmonary artery to systemic pressure ratio after the double switch operation was 0.6. The patient demonstrates good biventricular function on echocardiogram at 3 months after the operation.
Theoretical and experimental studies on Cu metallization of Al2O3

Abstract The electronic structure and bonding of Cu to Al 2 O 3 has been studied both theoretically and experimentally. Ab initio total-energy pseudofunction calculations indicate that Cu initially bonds to surface O atoms instead of surface Al atoms. Ultraviolet photoemission spectra (UPS) for low coverage of Cu on Al 2 O 3 films support the theory in that good agreement between theory and experiment is only obtained for Cu bonded to surface O.
High-speed multi-frame laser Schlieren for visualization of explosive events

High-Speed Multi-Frame Laser Schlieren is used for visualization of a range of explosive and non-explosive events. Schlieren is a well-known technique for visualizing shock phenomena in transparent media. Laser backlighting and a framing camera allow for Schlieren images with very short (down to 5 ns) exposure times, band pass filtering to block out explosive self-light, and 14 frames of a single explosive event. This diagnostic has been applied to several explosive initiation events, such as exploding bridgewires (EBW), Exploding Foil Initiators (EFI) (or slappers), Direct Optical Initiation (DOI), and ElectroStatic Discharge (ESD). Additionally, a series of tests have been performed on "cut-back" detonators with varying initial pressing (IP) heights. We have also used this Diagnostic to visualize a range of EBW, EFI, and DOI full-up detonators. The setup has also been used to visualize a range of other explosive events, such as explosively driven metal shock experiments and explosively driven microjets. Future applications to other explosive events such as boosters and IHE booster evaluation will be discussed. Finite element codes (EPIC, CTH) have been used to analyze the schlieren images to determine likely boundary or initial conditions to determine the temporal-spatial pressure profile across the output face of the detonator. These experiments are part of a phased plan to understand the evolution of detonation in a detonator from initiation shock through run to detonation to full detonation to transition to booster and booster detonation.
Age distribution of IBD hospitalization.

Background and Aims: The ages of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are characterized by a bimodal distribution. The present study used hospital statistics to compare the age distribution of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among different countries. Methods: Hospital statistics from the period 1994 to 2007 were obtained through special requests to the national statistical offices of 9 European countries. Hospitalization was expressed as age- and sex-specific rates per 10,000 living people. Results: Hospitalization rates of different countries varied between 1.2 and 4.3 discharges per 10,000 for CD and between 0.7 and 4.7 discharges per 10,000 for UC. Countries with high CD rates were associated with similarly high UC rates (r = 0.955, P < 0.0001). In all countries alike, the age-distribution of CD hospitalization was characterized by a large peak in younger patients followed by a small peak in older patients. UC hospitalization was characterized by a small peak in younger patients followed by a large peak in older patients. Conclusions: The bimodal age distribution of IBD hospitalization can be explained in terms of varying exposure to 2 separate environmental risk factors that affected consecutive age groups differently over the course of the 20th century. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010)
Parallel Multithreaded Processing for Data Set Summarization on Multicore CPUs

Data mining algorithms should exploit new hardware technologies to accelerate computations. Such goal is difficult to achieve in database management system (DBMS) due to its complex internal subsystems and because data mining numeric computations of large data sets are difficult to optimize. This paper explores taking advantage of existing multithreaded capabilities of multicore CPUs as well as caching in RAM memory to efficiently compute summaries of a large data set, a fundamental data mining problem. We introduce parallel algorithms working on multiple threads, which overcome the row aggregation processing bottleneck of accessing secondary storage, while maintaining linear time complexity with respect to data set size. Our proposal is based on a combination of table scans and parallel multithreaded processing among multiple cores in the CPU. We introduce several database-style and hardware-level optimizations: caching row blocks of the input table, managing available RAM memory, interleaving I/O and CPU processing, as well as tuning the number of working threads. We experimentally benchmark our algorithms with large data sets on a DBMS running on a computer with a multicore CPU. We show that our algorithms outperform existing DBMS mechanisms in computing aggregations of multidimensional data summaries, especially as dimensionality grows. Furthermore, we show that local memory allocation (RAM block size) does not have a significant impact when the thread management algorithm distributes the workload among a fixed number of threads. Our proposal is unique in the sense that we do not modify or require access to the DBMS source code, but instead, we extend the DBMS with analytic functionality by developing User-Defined Functions.
FacetLens: exposing trends and relationships to support sensemaking within faceted datasets

Previous research has shown that faceted browsing is effective and enjoyable in searching and browsing large collections of data. In this work, we explore the efficacy of interactive visualization systems in supporting exploration and sensemaking within faceted datasets. To do this, we developed an interactive visualization system called FacetLens, which exposes trends and relationships within faceted datasets. FacetLens implements linear facets to enable users not only to identify trends but also to easily compare several trends simultaneously. Furthermore, it offers pivot operations to allow users to navigate the faceted dataset using relationships between items. We evaluate the utility of the system through a description of insights gained while experts used the system to explore the CHI publication repository as well as a database of funding grant data, and report a formative user study that identified usability issues.
Thinking about Choking? Attentional Processes and Paradoxical Performance

When pressure to perform is increased, individuals commonly perform worse than if there were no pressure ("choking under pressure'). Two mechanisms have been proposed to account for this effect-distraction (cognitive load), wherein pressure distracts attention from the task, and self focus, wherein attention shifts inward interfering with performance. To distinguish between these two competing explanations, the current experiment manipulated pressure by offering performance-contingent rewards. For half the participants, cognitive load was increased by requiring participants to count backward from 100. Additionally, adaptation to self awareness was manipulated by videotaping half the participants during practice trials. Results show that pressure caused choking when participants were not distracted and had not been adapted to self awareness. This effect was attenuated when cognitive load was increased or when self-awareness adaptation had occurred. These results support self focus mediated misregulation as...
Comparison of blood flow models and acquisitions for quantitative myocardial perfusion estimation from dynamic CT.

Myocardial blood flow (MBF) can be estimated from dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) cardiac CT acquisitions, leading to quantitative assessment of regional perfusion. The need for low radiation dose and the lack of consensus on MBF estimation methods motivates this study to refine the selection of acquisition protocols and models for CT-derived MBF. DCE cardiac CT acquisitions were simulated for a range of flow states (MBF = 0.5, 1, 2, 3 ml (min g)−1, cardiac output = 3, 5, 8 L min−1). Patient kinetics were generated by a mathematical model of iodine exchange incorporating numerous physiological features including heterogenenous microvascular flow, permeability and capillary contrast gradients. CT acquisitions were simulated for multiple realizations of realistic x-ray flux levels. CT acquisitions that reduce radiation exposure were implemented by varying both temporal sampling (1, 2, and 3 s sampling intervals) and tube currents (140, 70, and 25 mAs). For all acquisitions, we compared three quantitative MBF estimation methods (two-compartment model, an axially-distributed model, and the adiabatic approximation to the tissue homogeneous model) and a qualitative slope-based method. In total, over 11 000 time attenuation curves were used to evaluate MBF estimation in multiple patient and imaging scenarios. After iodine-based beam hardening correction, the slope method consistently underestimated flow by on average 47.5% and the quantitative models provided estimates with less than 6.5% average bias and increasing variance with increasing dose reductions. The three quantitative models performed equally well, offering estimates with essentially identical root mean squared error (RMSE) for matched acquisitions. MBF estimates using the qualitative slope method were inferior in terms of bias and RMSE compared to the quantitative methods. MBF estimate error was equal at matched dose reductions for all quantitative methods and range of techniques evaluated. This suggests that there is no particular advantage between quantitative estimation methods nor to performing dose reduction via tube current reduction compared to temporal sampling reduction. These data are important for optimizing implementation of cardiac dynamic CT in clinical practice and in prospective CT MBF trials.
Predictions of the average surface separation and stiffness between contacting elastic and elastic–plastic sinusoidal surfaces:

The behavior of regular wavy surfaces in contact is important for the study of rough surface contact, and therefore has applications to the prediction of friction, wear, surface fatigue, and electr...
Turbulent shear spurs settlement in larval sea urchins

Marine invertebrates commonly produce larvae that disperse in ocean waters before settling into adult shoreline habitat. Chemical and other seafloor-associated cues often facilitate this latter transition. However, the range of effectiveness of such cues is limited to small spatial scales, creating challenges for larvae in finding suitable sites at which to settle, especially given that they may be carried many kilometers by currents during their planktonic phase. One possible solution is for larvae to use additional, broader-scale environmental signposts to first narrow their search to the general vicinity of a candidate settlement location. Here we demonstrate strong effects of just such a habitat-scale cue, one with the potential to signal larvae that they have arrived in appropriate coastal areas. Larvae of the purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) exhibit dramatic enhancement in settlement following stimulation by turbulent shear typical of wave-swept shores where adults of this species live. This response manifests in an unprecedented fashion relative to previously identified cues. Turbulent shear does not boost settlement by itself. Instead, it drives a marked developmental acceleration that causes “precompetent” larvae refractory to chemical settlement inducers to immediately become “competent” and thereby reactive to such inducers. These findings reveal an unrecognized ability of larval invertebrates to shift the trajectory of a major life history event in response to fluid-dynamic attributes of a target environment. Such an ability may improve performance and survival in marine organisms by encouraging completion of their life cycle in advantageous locations.
Cellular Regulation of the Inflammatory Response

In simple terms, inflammation can be defined as a beneficial, nonspecific response of tissues to injury that generally leads to restoration of normal structure and function. In this concept, resolution of the inflammatory response, once it has achieved its protective and pro-immunogenic functions, becomes a critical determinant of what might be considered the paradox of inflammation. On one hand, inflammation is essential to resolve tissue injury and maintain homeostasis. On the other, inflammation is a key participant in the great majority of human diseases. Accordingly, to achieve complete resolution of inflammation, it is necessary to both turn off inflammatory mediator production and inflammatory cell accumulation and to remove inflammatory cells and debris without initiating an autoimmune response. Much of this process involves key activities of the mononuclear phagocyte series of cells, including resident and recruited macrophages. Recognition of activated and dying acute inflammatory cells by mononuclear phagocytes has been shown to (a) enhance macropinocytic activity for removal of debris, (b) enhance uptake of the effete inflammatory cells themselves, (c) induce inflammosuppressive and immunosuppressive mediators such as TGFβ and IL-10 that can down-regulate and limit proinflammatory mediator production, and (d) induce production of growth factors for tissue cells that may play key roles in tissue repair. Defects in these highly regulated processes are associated with persistent inflammation and/or autoimmunity in overaggressive resolution mechanisms such as nonresolving fibrosis or persistent tissue destruction as in emphysema.