cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tympanostomy tube placement in children with autism.

OBJECTIVE To understand rate of tympanostomy tube placement (TTP) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and, if different from rate of TTP in the general population, consider reasons underlying the difference. METHODS Questions pertaining to TTP were asked during caregiver interview. Totally, 2080 children with ASD were characterized through collection of demographic information; medical history; and cognitive, adaptive, and behavioral assessments. Frequencies of TTP in the ASD sample were compared with general population rates according to the most recent literature. Relationships between TTP and factors that may impact the rate of TTP were investigated. RESULTS Totally, 15.5% of children with ASD received TTP. The older the age, the higher the rate of TTP, with 17.0% of children aged 13 to 17 years having received TTP. Chi-square results comparing general population TTP rates to the sample indicated significantly higher rates among the ASD population. Logistic regression indicated 2 significant predictors for TTP: otitis media frequency and race. Furthermore, irritability rates in children approached predictive significance (β = 0.015, p < .10). CONCLUSIONS The authors found that approximately 1 in 6 children with ASD underwent TTP, more than double the rate in the general population. The rate may simply be higher because physicians are swift to perform TTP in children at risk for speech delay. At this time, there exists a lack of data on the outcomes of TTP in children with ASD. More evidence is needed to understand the usefulness of TTP in children with ASD given the high rate of procedures being performed.
Screening for drought tolerance in Sorghum using cell culture

Callus growth from 10 cultivars ofSorghum bicolor (L.) Moench was measured with increasing levels of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as an osmoticum in the medium to determine whether differences among these cultivars at the cellular level in response to osmotic stress existed. These cellular ratings were compared to field ratings from the 10 tolerant-to-susceptible cultivars when grown under drought conditions to determine whether cellular ratings corresponded to differences in drought tolerance at the plant level. Callus cultures were grown on Murashige and Skoog inorganic salt formulation plus vitamins, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), kinetin and sucrose, supplemented with 0 to 25% (wt/vol) PEG corresponding to −0.2 to −1.62 MPa osmotic potential. Results suggest that PEG-induced osmotic stress on callus cultures can be used to screen sorghum cultivars for potential early field (preflowering) drought tolerance. This implies that at least a component of the early field drought tolerance in sorghum may have a cellular basis.
Depressive symptoms and quality of life in patients with interstitial cystitis.

Purpose: Previous research suggests that patients with interstitial cystitis have poorer quality of life and higher levels of depressive symptoms. However, most studies to date have been limited by the lack of standard measures to describe the experience of living with interstitial cystitis. In addition, to our knowledge no study has used a structured interview to assess depressive symptomatology. We investigated the extent of depressive symptoms and impaired quality of life in a sample of female patients with interstitial cystitis compared with healthy controls. Relationships among physician rated symptom severity, quality of life and depressive symptoms were also examined.Materials and Methods: At a clinic visit 65 female patients previously diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and 40 age matched, healthy controls completed questionnaires on depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) and quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form), and a structured interview on depressive symptoms (...
Dielectric and structural properties of pulsed laser deposited and sputtered barium strontium titanate thin films

Abstract Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 TiO 3 thin films have been deposited on Pt/TiO 2 /SiO 2 /Si substrates by pulsed laser deposition and sputtering. The deposition conditions to achieve high tunability and low dielectric loss were optimized for both the techniques. The structural characterization of the barium strontium titanate (BST) thin films was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The diffraction patterns from XRD analysis are attributed to cubic (perovskite) crystal system. Parallel plate capacitors were fabricated and measured in the frequency range of 1–300 MHz. The deposition conditions to achieve high tunability and low dielectric loss were optimized. A tunability of 2.4:1 and a loss tangent of 0.025 were achieved at 20 MHz for pulsed laser deposited BST thin films. A tunability of 2.8:1 and a loss tangent of 0.01 were achieved in frequency range from 10 to 200 MHz for sputtered BST thin films.
A novel interation of nucleolin with Rad51

Nucleolin associates with various DNA repair, recombination, and replication proteins, and possesses DNA helicase, strand annealing, and strand pairing activities. Examination of nuclear protein extracts from human somatic cells revealed that nucleolin and Rad51 co-immunoprecipitate. Furthermore, purified recombinant Rad51 associates with in vitro transcribed and translated nucleolin. Electroporation-mediated introduction of anti-nucleolin antibody resulted in a 10- to 20-fold reduction in intra-plasmid homologous recombination activity in human fibrosarcoma cells. Additionally, introduction of anti-nucleolin antibody sensitized cells to death induced by the topoisomerase II inhibitor, amsacrine. Introduction of anti-Rad51 antibody also reduced intra-plasmid homologous recombination activity and induced hypersensitivity to amsacrine-induced cell death. Co-introduction of anti-nucleolin and anti-Rad51 antibodies did not produce additive effects on homologous recombination or on cellular sensitivity to amsacrine. The association of the two proteins raises the intriguing possibility that nucleolin binding to Rad51 may function to regulate homologous recombinational repair of chromosomal DNA.
Effects of dietary supplements on coagulation and platelet function.

Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, The Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States Committee on Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, The Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States Departments of Anesthesia and Critical Care, The Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
Relative effects of physical and small-scale nutrient factors on the distribution of tropical seagrasses in the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Lower Florida Keys

Abstract We tested the relative effects of physical factors such as exposure time and water depth as well as nutrient availability on Thalassia testudinum, Halodule wrightii and Syringodium filiforme distribution within the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Florida Keys. We quantified the percent cover of each seagrass species in 1-m2 plots (n = 325) along intertidal and shallow subtidal flats adjacent to Upper Harbor Key Water Keys and Howe Key. We used model selection to evaluate the effects of physical parameters and water column nutrients on the percent cover and composition of seagrass species within plots. Best models were selected based on lowest Akaike’s information criteria (AIC) values and maximum model weights (ωi). We found that the presence of the other species, distance to nearest island and time of exposure during diurnal low tides best explained the distribution of T. testudinum (ωi = 0.44). Model averaged parameter estimates (β) showed that H. wrightii and S. filiforme had the greatest negative influence on T. testudinum (β = −0.396, −0.278, respectively). H. wrightii distribution was affected strongly by the presence of the other species, distance to Pine Channel, exposure time and mean lower low water (MLLW) (ωi = 0.56) with T. testudinum and S. filiforme exerting the greatest negative influences (β = −0.450, −0.184, respectively). The best model indicated that S. filiforme was strongly influenced by the other species, distance to Pine Channel and MLLW (ωi = 0.5). Model averaging indicated that S. filiforme was associated with deep water (βMLLW = −28.0.018). Our study showcased that small scale (
The flavin mononucleotide content of oral bacteria related to the dry weight of dental plaque obtained from monkeys

The analysis of the protein and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) content of dental plaque obtained from monkeys proved to be, an effective method of estimating the dry weight of dental plaque samples. The FMN content of various bacterial cultures was also comparable with the FMN content of dental plaque. FMN could be measured in a suspending medium containing amines or protein; however, both of these saspending media interfered with the estimate of dry weight by protein determination.
Numerical solution of Salpeter's equation

A method for solving Salpeter's relativistic bound-state equation is presented. The interaction can be given in either momentum space or configuration space and may have various Lorentz-Dirac properties. The operators of the equation are represented as matrices in a basis of nonrelativistic harmonic-oscillator states. The resulting non-Hermitian matrix is diagonalized for various values of the oscillator frequency, a variational parameter. To reduce the size of the matrices a two-particle Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation is applied. As an example, the charmonium and b-quarkonium mass spectra are calculated using a linear confining potential plus one-gluon exchange. The effects of the coupling between the positive- and negative-energy components are examined and found to be important for the light mesons.
Quantum-cascade laser measurements of stratospheric methane and nitrous oxide

A tunable quantum-cascade (QC) laser has been flown on NASA’s ER-2 high-altitude aircraft to produce the first atmospheric gas measurements with this newly invented device, an important milestone in the QC laser’s future planetary, industrial, and commercial applications. Using a cryogenically cooled QC laser during a series of 20 aircraft flights beginning in September 1999 and extending through March 2000, we took measurements of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) gas up to ∼20 km in the stratosphere over North America, Scandinavia, and Russia. The QC laser operating near an 8-µm wavelength was produced by the groups of Capasso and Cho of Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, where QC lasers were invented in 1994. Compared with its companion lead salt diode lasers that were also flown on these flights, the single-mode QC laser cooled to 82 K and produced higher output power (10 mW), narrower laser linewidth (17 MHz), increased measurement precision (a factor of 3), and better spectral stability (∼0.1 cm-1 K). The sensitivity of the QC laser channel was estimated to correspond to a minimum-detectable mixing ratio for methane of approximately 2 parts per billion by volume.
Very-high-frequency CMOS analogue buffer

A simple CMOS on-chip differential buffer is presented. From simulations based on a 2 μm n-well CMOS process, this buffer can give a 260 MHz cutoff frequency with a load of 50 kΩ paralleled by 1 pF. THD at 1 MHz for 1 V peak to peak is as low as 0.003%. Offset voltage is only a few millivolts even if considering mismatch among the transistors. The circuit is very useful as a high-speed internal node buffer or test/pin drive buffer. The power supply can be as low as ±2.5 V.
Permanently Damaged: Long-Term Follow-Up of Shaken Babies

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a term denoting a particularly harmful form of child abuse. By definition, 1 these infants have intracranial and retinal hemorrhages in the absence of signs of head trauma or skull fracture. Most SBS victims appear to have significant neurologic damage at the time of diagnosis.2,3 The medical literature, however, does not describe these children as they grow older. A 1986 article4 called for follow-up studies on these children, but a computerized literature search turned up only one paper on long-term follow-up in SBS. Sinal and Ball5 described cranial computerized tomog-raphic (CT) and clinical follow-up in 24 brain-injured children, 17 of whom had SBS. They followed the 15 surviving shaken infants for about 4 years: seven had severe handicaps, and only one was normal.
Whole Body X-Irradiation, Nitrogen Excretion and the Adrenal Gland

Urinary nitrogen excretion by the rat increases after whole body x-irradiation. This response to irradiation is suppressed by adrenalectomy and can be restored by treatment of the x-irradiated adrenalectomized rats with adrenal cortical extract. The weights of the thymus and the spleen are decreased and the weight of the liver is increased in the rat following whole body x-irradiation; adrenalectomy produces only quantitative changes in these responses without affecting the direction of the changes. Blood amino acid levels are not affected appreciably by x-irradiation. From these facts it appears that nitrogenous materials other than amino acids or simple polypeptides are transferred from certain body tissues to the liver after irradiation. In the normal irradiated animal these nitrogenous materials are converted in the liver to glycogen, and the excess nitrogen appears in the urine. In the adrenalectomized irradiated animal the liver is unable to carry out this conversion. Treatment of the adrenalectomiz...
Inelastic Effects in High-Energy Pion-Deuteron Scattering in a Composite Model

Inelastic effects in high-energy pion-deuteron scattering are investigated using a model in which the pion is a two-particle composite system. The inelastic pion form factors required in calculating inelastic pion-nucleon scattering are related to the elastic form factor by assuming that the low-lying states of the pion system are identical with the corresponding states of a nonrelativistic isotropic harmonic oscillator. In the model, pion-deuteron scattering can be viewed in two ways which are shown to be completely equivalent: as the scattering of two two-particle composites, or as pion-deuteron scattering in which excited pions can occur in intermediate states. Inelastic contributions are found to be negligible near the forward direction, but important at large angles. Including corrections from the lowest-lying excited states of the pion considerably improves the accuracy of the calculations at intermediate angles.
Patterning of hydrogen-passivated Si(100) using Ar(3P0,2) metastable atoms

We describe the patterning of silicon by exposing a hydrogen-passivated Si(100) surface to Ar(3P0,2) metastable atoms through a fine Ni grid in the presence of a small background pressure of oxygen. Metastable atom impact leads to the formation of a uniform oxide layer that is sufficiently resistant to chemical etching to allow feature depths ≳20 nm to be realized. With optical manipulation of the incident metastable atoms, this technique could provide the basis for massively parallel nanoscale fabrication on silicon without the use of organic resists.
Liver and fecal bishydroxycoumarin following repeated toxic oral bishydroxycoumarin administration in ground squirrels.

Abstract Toxic levels of bishydroxycoumarin (20 mg/kg body wt) were administered po every 24 hr for 96 hr to ground squirrels (Citellus beechyi) maintained on Purina Laboratory Chow, 23% protein, or oat groats, 12% protein. All feces were collected every 24 hr and freeze-dried. Every 24 hr, 6 squirrels were sacrificed and the livers freeze-dried. Maximum liver bishydroxycoumarin levels (210 μg/g dried liver) were reached in the chow-fed squirrels within 30 hr; there was no significant change after this time. Liver bishydroxycoumarin concentration in the oat-fed squirrels increased linearly to a maximum of 290 μg/g dried liver at 102 hr. Single po doses of bishydroxycoumarin (20, 40, 60 mg/kg body wt) caused a linear increase in liver bishydroxycoumarin concentration. Fecal bishydroxycoumarin increased at a rate of 5.05 and 2.98 μg/g dried feces/hr in the chow- and oat-fed squirrels, respectively. The oat-fed squirrels absorbed 97% of the bishydroxycoumarin administered; and those fed chow, 87%. Presumably, the difference in the dietary protein was responsible for the experimental observations.
The impact of ETOH intoxication on the development of admission coagulopathy after traumatic brain injury: a prospective evaluation

Coagulopathy after severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) results in a ten-fold increased risk of death. Our aim was to investigate the effect of ETOH intoxication on admission coagulopathy after sTBI. Patients with sTBI [Glasgow Coma Scale <9 or evidence of intracranial pathology on computed tomography (CT)] from 1/2010 to 12/2011 were prospectively enrolled. Demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory values, head CT scan findings, physical examination, injury severity indices, and interventions were recorded. ETOH blood levels were obtained. The incidence of admission coagulopathy was compared between patients who were ETOH-positive (ETOH+) and those who were ETOH-negative (ETOH−). Logistic regression was performed to identify independent risk factors. A total of 216 patients were enrolled. 20.4 % were ETOH+. Admission coagulopathy was significantly lower for ETOH+ patients (15.9 vs. 39.0 %, adjusted p = 0.020). Prothrombin time (PT) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) on admission were significantly lower for ETOH+ patients (16.7 vs. 14.3, adjusted p = 0.016 and 1.35 vs. 1.13, adjusted p = 0.040, respectively). Injury Severity Score ≥25, hypotension, and loss of gray/white differential were identified as independent risk factors for the development of admission coagulopathy. ETOH intoxication was the only protective predictor [AOR (95 % CI): 0.32 (0.12, 0.84), adjusted p = 0.021]. ETOH intoxication is associated with a lower incidence of admission coagulopathy in patients with sTBI. Further research is warranted.
Chaos in a simple spring-block system

Abstract We investigate the nonlinear properties of a system of two blocks connected to each other by a linear spring and driven with constant velocity on a surface with friction. We find a complex behavior characterized by the presence of periodic, quasiperiodic and chaotic orbits. We observe routes to chaos via two types of intermittencies and period doubling bifurcations. The sensitivity of the evolution to different initial conditions is quantified by calculating the largest Lyapunov exponent. The dynamics of the model is governed by nondifferentiable flows.
Directive and nondirective spousal support: differential effects?

In this study we investigated whether the following factors influenced married partners' reactions to spousal support: type of support (directive vs. nondirective); individual differences (gender, depressive symptoms); and dimension along which support was evaluated (level of helpfulness vs. valence of emotional impact) . Nondirective support was consistently rated more favorably on the dimension of partner's impact than on the dimension of partner's helpfulness, and this effect was exaggerated for those self-reporting a high level of depressive symptoms. Nonetheless, directive support was provided more frequently than was nondirective support in this sample. Gender differences and complications introduced by partner dysphoria suggest some situations in which directive support may be particularly difficult to provide effectively. Implications for couple therapy are discussed.
P‐188: Molecular Engineering of Host Materials for Blue Phosphorescent OLEDs: Past, Present and Future

We report molecular design considerations for blue phosphorescent host materials, as well as propose design rules necessary to build ambipolar hosts and thus reach charge balance in a device. Our beginning developments are presented followed by the evolution of the original design to our state-of-the-art, with the help of computational modeling.
Electrode configuration influences action potential initiation site and ensemble stochastic response properties

The configuration of intracochlear electrodes used to electrically stimulate the auditory nerve influences the ensemble fiber response. For example, monopolar stimulation produces lower thresholds and greater spread of excitation than does bipolar stimulation. We used two approaches to investigate how the ensemble of auditory-nerve fibers responds to stimulation delivered by different electrode configurations. As the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) reflects the ensemble response of the nerve, we used its morphology and changes with stimulus level to assess issues related to site-of-excitation and fiber recruitment. In our first approach, feline ECAPs were obtained using a nucleus-style banded electrode array. ECAP latency functions indicated that bipolar stimulation can initiate action potentials at more peripheral sites than does monopolar stimulation. We observed double-peaked ECAPs with bipolar and tripolar stimulation, suggesting excitation of both peripheral and central neural processes. Finally, we observed in some cases a tendency for monopolar stimulation to produce wider ECAP potentials, consistent with the notion that monopolar stimulation excites a broader spatial extent of the fiber population. In our second approach, we applied a simple model to published surveys of single-fiber responses to provide insight into the stochastic properties of the ensemble response. Our results suggest that broader recruitment of fiber activity produced by monopolar stimulation results in a population response with more probabilistic response characteristics and ensemble spike jitter. These observations and our ECAP results are consistent with reports of perceptual advantages attributed to monopolar or other less-focused modes of stimulation.
Cell density-dependent changes in the insulin action pathway: Evidence for involvement of protein-tyrosine phosphatases

In order to examine alterations in the phosphorylation state of proteins involved in insulin action that might accompany the reduced growth state of density-arrested cells, we measured the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the receptor and high M(r) cellular substrates of the receptor kinase in rat hepatoma cells at different cell densities. As cell density increased from 2 x 10(5) to 3.2 x 10(6) per 35-mm well, the rate of DNA synthesis fell to 22% of control, while insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of high M(r) receptor substrates ("pp185") was enhanced to 198% of control, without a change in the abundance of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 protein. In anti-IRS-1 immunoprecipitates, tyrosine phosphorylation was increased by only 30%, suggesting that increased tyrosine phosphorylation of additional high M(r) proteins (e.g., IRS-2) accounted for much of the observed increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of the receptor substrates. In spite of increased tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and total pp185-related proteins, however, cells studied at high growth density exhibited a 25% decrease in IRS-1-associated phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase activity and only a 39% increase in phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase activity in antiphosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates. To explore the potential role of hepatic protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) in the hyperphosphorylation of pp185 proteins, we found by immunoblotting that at high cell density the intracellular PTPase PTP1B and the transmembrane PTPase LAR were reduced in abundance by 49% and 55%, respectively, while the abundance of the SH2-domain containing PTPase SH-PTP2 was increased by 48%. These data demonstrate that the attenuation of post-receptor signaling by insulin in hepatoma cells at increasing growth density involves changes in endogenous substrate phosphorylation which may result from alterations in specific PTPases implicated in the regulation of the insulin action pathway.
Thin porous metal sheet-supported NaA zeolite membrane for water/ethanol separation

Abstract This paper reports the preparation and separation testing of a NaA (or 4A-type) water-selective zeolite membrane, which is supported on a robust, porous metal sheet 50 μm thick. This thin sheet support has great potential for the development of a low-cost, inorganic membrane module of high membrane surface area packing density (m 2 /m 3 ). The porous Ni alloy sheet of micrometer or sub-micrometer mean pore size was prepared in-house to evaluate different zeolite membrane deposition methods and conditions. The membranes were characterized by SEM, XRD and water/ethanol separation tests. High quality NaA zeolite membranes of thickness 10,000 and water permeation flux of about 4 kg/(m 2 h) at 75 °C with a feed of 10% (w/w) water in ethanol. Stability of the membranes has also been demonstrated in 66-h continuous testing at 75 °C and 90 °C. The separation performance is discussed with different model equations.
Hypoxia-responsive signaling regulates the apoptosis-dependent remodeling of the embryonic avian cardiac outflow tract

We proposed a model in which myocardial hypoxia triggers the apoptosis-dependent remodeling of the avian outflow tract (OFT) in the transition of the embryo to a dual circulation. In this study, we examined hypoxia-dependent signaling in cardiomyocyte apoptosis and outflow tract remodeling. The hypoxia-inducible transcription factor HIF-1alpha was specifically present in the nuclei of OFT cardiomyocytes from stages 25-32, the period of hypoxia-dependent OFT remodeling. HIF-1alpha expression was sensitive to changes in ambient oxygen concentrations, while its dimerization partner HIF-1beta was constitutively expressed. There was not a simple relationship between HIF-1alpha expression and apoptosis. Apoptotic cardiomyocytes were detected in HIF-1alpha-positive and -negative regions, and a hypoxic stimulus sufficient to induce nuclear accumulation of HIF-1alpha did not induce cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The hypoxia-dependent expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR2) in the distal OFT myocardium may be protective as cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the early stages (25-30) of OFT remodeling was absent from this region. Furthermore, recombinant adenoviral-mediated expression of dominant negative Akt, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase receptor signaling, augmented cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the OFT and constitutively active Akt suppressed it. Adenovirus-mediated forced expression of VEGF165 induced conotruncal malformation such as double outlet right ventricle (DORV) and ventricular septal defect (VSD), similar to defects observed when apoptosis-dependent remodeling of the OFT was specifically targeted. We conclude that normal developmental remodeling of the embryonic avian cardiac OFT involves hypoxia/HIF-1-dependent signaling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Autocrine signaling through VEGF/VEGFR2 and Akt provides survival signals for the hypoxic OFT cardiomyocytes, and regulated VEGF signaling is required for the normal development of the OFT.
The pain ward follow-up analyses

Two-year and 3-year follow-up analyses show that those who did not receive surgery for pain relief did as well as those who did receive such surgery during their stay, both groups showing consistently lower pain levels and analgesic intake than on admission, while activity levels progressively increased. The surgical patients were more likely to be readmitted for their pain problem than were the others, whereas the others were more likely to be readmitted for other medical problems.
118 NON-INVASIVE EVALUATION OF SUPERIOR VENA CAVA (SVC) AND RIGHT ARTERIAL (RA) THROMBOSIS COMPLICATING CENTRAL HYPERALIMENTATION (CHA) IN PREMATURE INFANTS

Within the last 6 mos., we have encountered 3 infants who presented with signs of SVC obstruction complicating CHA. Signs occurred a mean of 30 days after placement of the central line (range 21-42 days) and included deterioration of pulmonary status with pleural effusions and edema of the upper trunk. In each case 2-D echocardiography (2DE) at a frequency of 5 mHz revealed a large, mobile echodense mass in the RA, with extension through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricular outflow tract. Two infants had the diagnosis confirmed by angiography and were treated with intravenous heparin for 10 days. The other infant did not receive heparin. Serial 2DE in the treated infants showed a decrease in size of the RA thrombosis in one and complete resolution in the other. Contrast echocardiography in one of the treated infants demonstrated patency of the inferior vena cava while the SVC appeared totally occluded. These findings were confirmed at autopsy. In the untreated patient the RA thrombosis remained stable in size and was operatively removed at age 6 mos. This series indicates that 2DE is a helpful non-invasive means of diagnosing SVC and RA thrombosis complicating CHA when the clinical signs suggest its presence. Further, serial 2DE is helpful in evaluating the status of the RA thrombosis during heparin therapy and in aiding the decision concerning operative removal.
Household water in rural asia: a case study of the construction of a piped water system in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

In early 1980 an extension agent was assigned to the rural municipality of Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines to work on development projects – in particular the improvement of the supply of safe water for drinking and sanitation. After many months of visiting spring sites and meeting with community leaders, a small part of the municipality was selected to build a gravity fed piped water system. Although the system took many months to plan, identify funding and construct, the 600 community members were ultimately rewarded with house to house connections that enabled them to achieve per capita water consumption levels above the minimum levels recommended by the World Health Organization. Of course, money was critical to ensure the project’s success, but many other factors played an equally critical role. For instance, without the active participation of the community and the unwavering support of the community leadership the project would not have survived the initial planning stage. Also, the extension agent played a critical role by acting as a conduit between funding agencies, the Bureau of Public Works and the community. The primary lesson to be learned from this experience is that the success of rural development projects is largely driven by the synergy between the community, technical support, financial support, and agents of change such as extension agents. If any of these ingredients had been lacking, the project result would likely have been far different.
Studies of the blastogenic response of murine lymphocyte. Iii. Specific viral transformation.

SummaryData presented suggests that either specific lymphocytes or specific sites on such cells are committed to both specific and nonspecific lymphocyte transformation responses. Though the animal may be immunologically depressed by leukemia virus infection (RLV), its lymphocytes are still capable of a limited but significant cellular immune response to specific viral and PHA stimulation.
Alterations of catecholamine enzymes in several brain regions of victims of sudden infant death syndrome

Abstract Dopamine- β -Hydroxylase (DBH) activity is decreased and tyrosine hydroxylase activity is increased in three brain regions (hypothalamus, putamen, and caudate nucleus) from victims of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) when compared to values in the same regions from infants dying of known causes. No stasticially significant difference was detected in tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the thalamus and brain stem although DBH was 20% lower in the former region of the SIDS victims. Two other enzymes of biogenic amine metabolism, catechol-o-methyl transferase and Dopa-decarboxylase, were essentially the same in both groups. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that an alteration in the central nervous system may be a factor in the pathophysiology of SIDS.
Ultracentrifugal studies of the process of thyroglobulin hydrolysis

Abstract 1. 1. A saline extract of thyroid glands from radioiodide-injected rats was purified by a single phosphate precipitation and incubated at 37 °C. and pH 5.2 for 35 hr. in the presence of cysteine. Following dialysis and tenfold concentration, the digest was studied in the ultracentrifuge, in the analytical and partition cells. Radioactivity data from the latter were compared with data from dialysis, salting out, chromatography, and electrophoresis. An unincubated control was similarly studied. 2. 2. This method of hydrolyzing thyroglobulin produces nondialyzable intermediates that sediment slowly in the ultracentrifuge, as well as other fragments with faster rates. At a time when amino acids accounted for a third of the radioactivity, the intermediates constituted a third to a half. 3. 3. In the ultracentrifugal pattern of crude rat thyroid extracts, thyroglobulin constitutes 51% of the total sedimenting material. A faster boundary contains 9%, and three slower boundaries comprise 6, 7, and 27%, respectively. The sedimentation coefficient of rat thyroglobulin is 18.0 S , for a 0.59% solution.
Limited English proficiency and psychological distress among Latinos and Asian Americans.

English proficiency is increasingly recognized as an important factor that is related to the mental health of immigrants and ethnic minorities. However, few studies have examined how the association between English proficiency and mental health operates and whether the pattern of association is similar or different among various ethnic minority groups. This paper investigates how limited English proficiency directly and indirectly affects psychological distress through pathways of discrimination for both Latinos and Asian Americans in the United States. Findings suggest that, for Asian Americans, limited English proficiency has an independent relationship with psychological distress over and above demographic variables, socioeconomic and immigration-related factors and discrimination. For Latinos, however, socio-demographic variables and discrimination show a stronger association than limited English proficiency in affecting psychological distress. Different forms of discrimination – everyday discrimination and racial/ethnic discrimination – are equally important for both ethnic groups. Findings underscore the differential role of limited English proficiency for the mental health of Asian Americans and Latinos and suggest the distinctive racial experiences and backgrounds of these two ethnic groups.
Higher Aromatase Expression In Female Heart May Underline Its High Estrogen Content Resulting In Cardioprotection

Estrogen (E2) is a well-known cardioprotective steroid hormone. Although heart has all the machinery to biosynthesize estrogen from testosterone by cytochrome P450 aromatase, little is known about the role of local heart E2 concentration [E2] in cardioprotection. We hypothesized that high heart [E2] in females could be one mechanism for the higher cardioprotection in females. We optimized the radioimmunoassay technique to measure heart [E2] in whole homogenate by diethyl ether extraction. Male mouse hearts have significantly higher E2 levels (35±3 pg/ml, n=6) than plasma (12±0.9 pg/ml, n=5). Heart [E2] in female mice at estrus and diestrus (diestrus 20.2±1.5 pg/ml n=4; estrus 17.2±0.9 pg/ml, n=4) were very similar to plasma [E2]. Interestingly, in the proestrus stage, heart [E2] was extremely high ∼ 170±4 pg/ml, almost 3 times higher than plasma [E2]. The final heart [E2] will depend on the testosterone level as well as the efficiency of the aromatase to convert testosterone to E2. As females have much lower levels of testosterone (∼40pg/ml at estrus and diestrus and ∼240 pg/ml in proestrus) compared to males (2 ng/ml), much higher heart [E2] in females at proestrus compared to male lead us to hypothesize that the aromatase expression/activity is much higher in females than males. We performed real time PCR and western blot analysis to quantify transcript and protein levels of aromatase in male and in female mice at estrus stage, as this stage is under the control of the preceding estrogen peak at proestrus. Aromatase transcript levels were similar in males and females at estrus, but aromatase protein levels were two fold higher in estrus compared to male. We speculate higher aromatase expression in females may underline its high estrogen content, thus resulting in cardioprotection.
Glycemia (or, in women, estimated glucose disposal rate) predict lower extremity arterial disease events in type 1 Diabetes

The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) events in a type 1 diabetes population. Data are from the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study of childhood onset type 1 diabetes. At baseline, the study population had a mean age 28 (range, 8 to 47) years and duration 19 (range, 7 to 37) years. LEAD events, assessed by questionnaire or clinical examination, were defined as claudication (Rose questionnaire), foot ulceration, or lower extremity amputation. Estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), a measure of insulin resistance, was calculated from glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1)), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and hypertension using an equation previously validated with hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp studies. There were incident LEAD events in 70 of 586 subjects during 10 years follow-up, giving an incidence density of 1.3 events/100 person-years. Incidence did not differ by gender. Major predictors of LEAD events were diabetes duration, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), heart rate, eGDR, log albumin excretion rate (AER), systolic blood pressure (SBP), hypertension, proliferative retinopathy, distal symmetric polyneuropathy, and overt nephropathy (each P or = 75 mm Hg) also predicted LEAD events. Cox modeling suggested that duration (P <.001), HbA(1) (P <.001), hypertension (P =.006), log albumin excretion rate (P =.011), and heart rate (P =.028) predicted events independently. The overall model with HbA(1) and hypertension was significantly better than with eGDR, while the alternate models in men were similar. In women, the model with eGDR showed a significantly better fit. Glycemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and renal disease are powerful predictors of symptomatic lower extremity arterial disease in type 1 diabetes.
Divergent effects of H-2K and H-2D genes on sensitivity of BL6 melanoma cells to NK cells or TNF-mediated cytotoxicity

Transfection of BL6-8 (H-2Kb-,H-2Db+) and BL6-2 (H-2Kb-,H-2Db-) melanoma clones with H-2Kb or H-2Kd gene resulted in a stable augmentation of their sensitivity to lysis by NK cells or TNF-alpha that was associated with alterations of various phenotypic properties such as loss of endogenous A- and C-type retrovirus production and expression of melanoma-associated antigen and appearance of cell surface carbohydrates reacting with soybean agglutinin (SBA) and Grifonia simplicifolia 1-B4 (GS1B4) lectins. In contrast, transfection of the same clones with H-2Dd or H-2Ld gene did not reverse their resistance to NK cell- and TNF-mediated cytotoxicity and did not affect the phenotype of melanoma cells. These data suggest that the effect of H-2K gene on NK/TNF sensitivity of BL6 cells is indirect and it is closely associated with H-2K-induced phenotypic changes in these cells. To examine the possible role of the observed alterations of cell surface carbohydrates in augmentation of sensitivity of BL6 melanoma cells to lysis by NK cells or TNF, BL6-8 melanoma cells were transfected with cDNA encoding alpha 1,3-galactosyltransferase (alpha 1,3GT). Although the alpha 1,3GT gene-transfected cells expressed alpha-galactosyl epitopes reacting with GS1B4 lectin and reduced sialylation of cell membrane with unmasking SBA lectin-binding carbohydrates, they did not show an increase in tumor cell sensitivity to lysis by NK cells or TNF, indicating that H-2K gene-induced alterations in cell surface carbohydrate expression are not accountable for the observed increase in NK/TNF sensitivity of BL6 melanoma cells. It is possible that the H-2K gene-induced elimination of the endogenous retroviruses might be responsible for the observed increased sensitivity of BL6 melanoma cells to NK cell- and TNF-mediated cytotoxicity.
Structural morphology and associated strain in the central Cordillera (British Columbia and Washington): Evidence of oblique tectonics

The central Cordillera developed during Early Jurassic to Late Cretaceous time as the continental edge was subducted under the exotic terranes of Quesnellia and Stikinia. The earliest Jurassic structures formed during prograde metamorphism and include cylindrical and double-verging folds that trend subparallel to the orogen. These structures are associated with mineral lineations and stretch values between 120% and 400% parallel to the fold axes. Later, disharmonic structures formed during the emergence of the crust, after the metamorphic peak and in response to decreasing P/T conditions. Present tectonic models do not incorporate the kinematics capable of forming the early structures, and thereby only address the emergent phase. A scenario is offered which involves oblique subduction of the craton edge and which is kinematically compatible with the early structural morphology and associated strains.
Characterization of a RNA virus from the parasite Leishmania

Abstract We were interested in screening a series of isolates of the protozoan Leishmania for the presence of viruses. The experimental procedure we used was based on an enzymatic assay originally developed for viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases. Simultaneously, total promastigote nucleic acid preparations were analyzed for the presence of viral genome and/or transcripts. Two isolates, both classified as L. braziliensis guyanensis, were found to be positive for RNA polymerase activity and to carry a large (6 kilobases) RNA species. The polymerase reaction products hybridized to the 6-kilobase RNA, believed to be the viral genome. In conjunction with electron microscopical observations these results indicate the presence of an RNA virus in these Leishmania isolates.
Does regulation stimulate productivity? The effect of air quality policies on the efficiency of US power plants

Abstract This research examines the effect of air quality regulations on the productivity of US power plants based on both economic and environmental outputs. Using data envelopment analysis (DEA) to estimate an efficiency measure incorporating both economic and environmental outcomes, we look at changes in efficiency in US power plants over an eleven-year time period (1994–2004) during which several different regulations were implemented for the control of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ). The paper then models how estimated efficiency behaves over time as a function of regulatory changes. Findings suggest mixed effects of regulations on power plant efficiency when pollution abatement and electricity generation are both included as outputs.
A MEMS-based guidance, navigation, and control unit

Honeywell Laboratories, in conjunction with Honeywell Sensor and Guidance Products (SGP) operation, has developed a next generation guidance, navigation, and control unit based on MEMS sensor technology occupying less than 25 in./sup 3/. This product, known as the micro Flight Management Unit (/spl mu/FMU), has applicability across a wide variety of military and commercial applications, including low cost military gun hardened projectiles, personal navigation systems, and commercial AHRS. When coupled with Honeywell's second generation C++-based Embedded Computer Toolbox and Operating System (ECTOS/sup TM/ IIc), the /spl mu/FMU can be utilized easily and effectively for rapid prototyping demonstrations (including customer generated guidance and control software), as well as full production systems. Utilizing a Motorola PPC745 (G3) processor, the /spl mu/FMU has been designed to accommodate next generation GPS/INS ultra-tightly coupled integration algorithms. The /spl mu/FMU electronics have been high G tested to 6,300 Gs (non-operating), successfully demonstrating that the hardware survives and operates after exposure to high G shock. This paper presents an overview of the /spl mu/FMU and ECTOS/sup TM/ IIc software. The hardware architecture and technical specifications of the /spl mu/FMU will be presented, along with the process used to validate the /spl mu/FMU's high G survivability. The software architecture, capabilities, and customer usability /programmability features of ECTOSTM IIc will also be described.
Did We Learn Evidence-Based Medicine in Medical School? Some Common Medical Mythology

Medical myths occur for many different reasons. A common thread is that they all make some pathophysiologic sense. A good example is the concern about using oral cobalamin when treating pernicious anemia. The difficulty in absorbing vitamin B12 when intrinsic factor is not available does not make oral replacement impossible; the dose just needs to be higher. Pathophysiologic concerns have also been a key reason why physicians have avoided using beta-blockers in patients with diabetes. They fear that beta-blockers will block adrenergic symptoms, and patients will not know when they are hypoglycemic. In studies addressing this issue, there appears to be no real problem with increased severe episodes of hypoglycemia in patients on beta-blockers or increased hypoglycemic unawareness. Several studies commented on the unanticipated symptom of increased sweating associated with hypoglycemia in diabetic patients who are taking beta-blockers. Another important concept behind some medical myths is the overreliance on case reports or authoritative text. The concern about depression associated with beta-blocker use grew out of one widely referenced case report. Subsequent studies have not shown convincing evidence for a strong association with beta-blocker use and depression. The strong position taken against narcotic use in Cope's Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen is probably the reason for the perpetuation of the myth of avoiding narcotics for pain relief in patients with undiagnosed acute abdominal conditions. The only two studies addressing this issue showed no problems with diagnosis caused by providing narcotic pain relief. Newer therapies usually undergo closer scrutiny before being accepted, often including placebo-controlled trials to show the efficacy of a medication. Such might not be the case with newer technologies. It is harder to evaluate the benefit of a new technology in the face of noncomparable previous technologies. Catheterization of the right side of the heart (Swan-Ganz catheter) was a technology that became widely used before any outcome studies became available. Multiple reports in the last decade have shown increased mortality and increased utilization of resources in patients who received catheterization of the right side of the heart. Most new drug therapies require randomized data to show effects before widespread use and acceptance occur. Older therapies that have been widely accepted for a long time might not have had controlled trial data behind recommendations for their use, and once practice patterns become widespread, it is hard to change. It is always good to ask the question, "Will this help my patient live better or longer?" when prescribing a therapy. These myths underscore the importance and utility of outcome-based research to help guide physicians in their practices.
Volterra filter equalization: a fixed point approach

One important application of Volterra filters is the equalization of nonlinear systems. Under certain conditions, this problem can be posed as a fixed point problem involving a contraction mapping. We generalize the previously studied local inverse problem to a very broad class of equalization problems. We also demonstrate that subspace information regarding the response behavior of the Volterra filters can be incorporated to improve the theoretical analysis of equalization algorithms. To this end, a new "windowed" signal norm is introduced. Using this norm, we show that the class of allowable inputs is increased and the upper bounds on the convergence rate are improved when subspace information is exploited.