cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computational Conformal Mapping for Surface Grid Generation

The paper describes the development and application of a new approach for formulating an elliptic generation system on parametrically defined surfaces. The present derivation of the surface equations proceeds in two steps: First, conformal mapping of smooth surfaces onto rectangular regions is utilized to derive a first-order system of partial differential equations analogous to Beltrami's system for quasi-conformal mapping of planar regions. Second, a general elliptic generation system for three-dimensional surfaces, including forcing functions, is formulated based on Beltrami's system and quasi-conformal mapping. The resulting elliptic system is solved using an iterative method on arbitrary surfaces represented analytically by rational B-splines. The overall effect of this approach is a reliable and versatile elliptic method for generating and improving surface grids. Examples will be presented to demonstrate the application of the method in constructing practical grids.
Neural responses in multiple basal ganglia regions during spontaneous and treadmill locomotion tasks in rats

To investigate the role of basal ganglia in locomotion, a multiple-channel, single-unit recording technique was used to record neural activity simultaneously in the dorsal lateral striatum (STR), globus pallidus (GP), subthalamic nucleus (STN) and substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) during spontaneous and treadmill locomotion tasks in freely moving rats. Active and quiescent phases appeared alternately in a spontaneous movement session that lasted 60 min. Principal component analysis of the ensemble neural activity from each region revealed a close correlation with spontaneous motor activity. Most of the neurons in these four basal ganglia areas increased their firing rates during the active phase. In the treadmill locomotion task, the firing rates of neurons in all recording areas, especially in the STN, increased significantly during locomotion. In addition, neural responses related to tone cue, initiation and termination of treadmill were observed in a subset of neurons in each basal ganglia region. Detailed video analysis revealed a limb movement related neural firing, predominantly in the STR and the GP, during treadmill walking. However, the proportion of neurons exhibiting limb movement related firing was significantly greater only in the STR. A few neurons in the STR (4.8%) and the GP (3.4%) discharged in an oscillatory pattern during treadmill walking, and the oscillatory frequency was similar to the frequency of the step cycle. This study demonstrates a variety of neural responses in the major basal ganglia regions during spontaneous and forced locomotion. General activation of all major basal ganglia regions during locomotion is more likely to provide a dynamic background for cortical signal processing rather than to directly control precise movements. Implications of these findings in the model of basal ganglia organization are discussed.
Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of oral phytonadione for excessive anticoagulation.

Study Objective. To compare the efficacy of managing excessive anticoagulation in the absence of bleeding by either omitting warfarin therapy alone or administering oral phytonadione in addition to omitting warfarin therapy. Design. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Setting. Clinical pharmacy anticoagulation service in a group model health maintenance organization. Subjects. Thirty nonbleeding patients with international normalized ratios (INRs) ranging from 6.0-10.0. Interventions. Patients were randomized to receive either a single oral dose of phytonadione 2.5 mg or placebo. Both groups omitted warfarin doses until the INR became less than or equal to 4.0. Measurements and Results. The mean calculated time to reach an INR of 4.0 was significantly greater in the placebo than the phytonadione group (2.6 vs 1.4 days, p=0.006). Overcorrection of anticoagulation was significantly more common in patients receiving phytonadione. Overt warfarin resistance was not observed in either group after reinitiating warfarin therapy. No major bleeding or thromboembolic complications occurred, and minor bleeding episodes were similar in both groups. Conclusion. The addition of oral phytonadione 2.5 mg reduced the time to achieve an INR of 4.0 by approximately 1 day compared with omitting warfarin therapy alone. Adverse events did not differ between the two groups. Both strategies were effective in managing asymptomatic patients with INRs of 6.0-10.0. Oral phytonadione may be most appropriate for patients at high risk for bleeding in whom the benefit of prompt INR reduction would outweigh the thromboembolic risk associated with INR overcorrection.
Graphene nanoelectromechanical systems

Graphene possesses a combination of properties that make it extremely well suited for use in nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). Its exceptional mechanical properties include high stiffness and low mass, which lead to high resonant frequencies; and ultrahigh strength, which allows for strain tuning of frequency over a wide range. Its optical properties and high electronic mobility enable robust optical and electrical transduction, while its chemical inertness enables atomically thin devices. This paper reviews the basic properties of graphene NEMS, and recent work toward exploring device properties, readout techniques, and applications.
On the form of the internal model for reaching

We investigated, by using simulations, possible mechanisms responsible for the errors in the direction of arm movements exhibited by deafferented patients. Two aspects of altered feedforward control were evaluated: the inability to sense initial conditions and the degradation of an internal model. A simulation which assumed no compensation for variations in initial arm configuration failed to reproduce the characteristic pattern of errors. In contrast, a simulation that assumed random variability in the generation of joint torque resulted in a distribution of handpaths which resembled some aspects of the pattern of errors exhibited by deafferented patients.
A fast algorithm for the energy space boson Boltzmann collision operator

Abstract. This paper introduces a fast algorithm for the energy space boson Boltzmann collision operator. Compared to the direct O(N3) calculation and the previous O(N2 logN) method [Markowich and Pareschi, 2005], the new algorithm runs in complexity O(N log N), which is optimal up to a logarithmic factor (N is the number of grid points in energy space). The basic idea is to partition the 3-D summation domain recursively into elementary shapes so that the summation within each shape becomes a special double convolution that can be computed efficiently by the fast Fourier transform. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed algorithm.
Flow/Damage Surfaces for Fiber-Reinforced Metals Having Different Periodic Microstructures

Flow/damage surfaces can be defined in terms of stress, inelastic strain rate, and internal variables using a thermodynamics framework. A macroscale definition relevant to thermodynamics and usable in an experimental program is employed to map out surfaces of constant inelastic power in various stress planes. The inelastic flow of a model silicon carbide/ titanium composite system having rectangular, hexagonal, and square diagonal fiber packing arrays subjected to biaxial stresses is quantified by flow/damage surfaces that are determined numerically from micromechanics, using both finite element analysis and the generalized method of cells. Residual stresses from processing are explicitly included and damage in the form of fiber-matrix debonding under transverse tensile and/or shear loading is represented by a simple interface model. The influence of microstructural architecture is largest whenever fiber-matrix debonding is not an issue; for example in the presence of transverse compressive stresses. Additionally, as the fiber volume fraction increases, so does the effect of microstructural architecture. With regard to the micromechanics analysis, the overall inelastic flow predicted by the generalized method of cells is in excellent agreement with that predicted using a large number of displacement-based finite elements.
Influence of three chemicals on soil biological activity

Abstract The efficacy of 10 ppm phenylmercuric acetate (PMA), 2N KCl and 0.02N CuSO4 in suppressing ammonification, denitrification and CO2 accumulation was studied during short‐term anaerobic incubations of three soils at 25 C. KCl and CuSO4 almost completely suppressed ammonification in two of the soils and decreased it markedly in the third. Ammonification was suppressed to a lesser extent by the addition of PMA. The KCl treatment was much more effective than either PMA or CuSO4 in preventing NO3 ‐ disappearance and denitrification. Appreciable amounts of NO3 ‐ disappeared from the soils treated with PMA and CuSO4. N2 and not N2O was the major denitrification product; the suppressors had only a small effect on N2O accumulation. The influence of the chemicals on CO2 accumulation differed according to the soil. CuSO4 was least effective at depressing the accumulation of CO2, and, in fact, stimulated it in one soil. Neither 0.02N CuSO4 nor PMA (10 ppm) is recommended in the absence of a concentrated salt ...
A Potentiometric Study of Lithium Complexation with Catecholamines

A potentiometric study of lithium complexation with tyramine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine was undertaken using monovalent cationic selective and pH glass electrodes. The conditional stability constants for the lithium catecholamine complexes were calculated for a range of pH values from direct potentiometric measurement of the free lithium ion concentration. The ionic strength was maintained at 0.5 with tetramethylammonium chloride and glycine buffers. Temperature was maintained at 25μC. Titration data for the catecholamines and lithium-catecholamine complexes at the same temperature and ionic strength were also obtained using tetramethylammonium hydroxide as titrant. All solutions were maintained essentially oxygen free during the analytical procedure. Alkali metals are generally recognized as being weakly complexed in aqueous solution. The magnitude of the stability constants determined in this study indicates there is a weak interaction of lithium with catecholamines.
Sports-related injuries of the shoulder: instability.

With current technology a properly conceived imaging strategy can demonstrate instability lesions in the athlete. Plain radiographs can diagnose acute dislocations and assess successful reductions. In addition, plain radiographs can demonstrate Hill-Sachs and, more importantly for instability, osseous Bankart lesions. In the acute setting, conventional MRI nicely demonstrates labral Bankart, ligamentous. and tendonous injuries that result from dislocations and can lead to instability. In the setting of chronic instability, MR arthrography best evaluates these lesions. In the postoperative shoulder, muitislice CT arthrography may be the modality of choice, but further investigation is needed. If large series validate multislice CT arthrography for the evaluation of postoperative instability lesions, this technique may become widely used in athletes and in other populations where recurrent instability is a problem. Other imaging strategies may also find an increasing central role in evaluating shoulder instability lesions. Indirect MR arthrography, for example, may have a role in assessing these lesions in athletes . Another intriguing technology for this application is the development of high field (0.5 Tesla or greater) open magnets. In such a setting, physiological relationships in the shoulder with motion and stress may be evaluated. Such imaging may farther illuminate our understanding of the stable and unstable shoulder. Unfortunately, with all imaging modalities, whether widely used or experimental, outcomes data is Lacking. How do the various imaging modalities and strategies affect patient outcome? The answer is unknown and needs to be answered before a definitive patient work-up for shoulder instability can be established.
The Pathway Program: How a Collaborative, Distributed Learning Program Showed Us the Future of Social Work Education.

This paper describes a three-campus collaborative, distributed learning program that delivers social work education to remote rural and desert communities in California via distance learning modalities. This “Pathway Program” provides accredited social work education for a career ladder beginning with advising and developing an academic plan and leading to BSW and MSW degrees. The paper offers assessment data on the Pathway Program and also suggests the potential for major changes in social work education. Questions about the nature of the university, the role of the faculty member, and the future of social work students in the twenty-first century are discussed.
Advances in mercuric iodide X-ray detectors and low noise preamplification systems

Abstract This paper describes progress achieved at the Institute of Physics in the development of miniature, low power mercuric iodide (HgI 2 ) X-ray spectrometers operating at, or near, room temperature with high energy resolution. The development of single detector spectrometers and, lately, of multidetector array systems has been driven by the specific needs of space exploration and synchrotron radiation applications. Progress has been made in various areas. Advances in the detector fabrication technology, including improved resolution, vacuum operation, improved reliability and longevity, high count rate capability, and the development of soft X-ray transparent encapsulants, are discussed.
The inverse wave propagator

Abstract As is well known the field distribution in the plane z = 0 in a monochromatic wave field may be expressed in terms of the field distribution in the far zone ( z → ∞) by means of the Fourier transform. A generalization of this result is presented, which expresses the field in the plane z = 0 in terms of the field in any plane z = z 1 > 0. The solution is given in the form of a linear transform that may be regarded to be the inverse of one of Rayleigh's diffraction formulae.
The cost-effectiveness of voluntary intrapartum rapid human immunodeficiency virus testing for women without adequate prenatal care.

Abstract Objectives: We sought to determine the health and economic consequences of voluntary rapid human immunodeficiency testing during labor for women who have not received adequate prenatal care. Study Design: A decision-tree model was used to assess the number of pediatric human immunodeficiency virus cases that would be averted if women who were unable to determine their human immunodeficiency virus serostatus antenatally were offered an intrapartum rapid human immunodeficiency virus test. Medical costs associated with the introduction of this policy were also determined. Probability and cost estimates entered into the model are based on data in the published literature. Results: Under the base-case assumptions, a policy of intrapartum voluntary rapid human immunodeficiency virus testing decreases the number of cases of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus from 407 to 339 per 100,000 women without adequate prenatal care per year, with a corresponding cost savings of $6 million. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that these cost savings are maintained across a wide range of assumptions and that even conservative scenarios still result in a cost-effective policy. Conclusions: In the absence of adequate prenatal care, a voluntary rapid human immunodeficiency virus test not only allows patients to fully explore their options with regard to testing and treatment but also has the potential to provide significant health benefits to women and children and economic benefits to the medical system. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:1062-71.)
The value of perioperative clinical indexes and dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy for the prediction of myocardial infarction and cardiac death in patients undergoing vascular surgery

Background Dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy has previously been shown to have predictive value for both perioperative and late cardiac events in patients undergoing vascular surgery. However, despite the prognostic utility of this technique, the relative importance of clinical factors and scintigraphic information is not well known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of commonly used clinical risk indexes, composed of historic variables, and dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy for predicting perioperative cardiac event-free survival rates.
The Psychologist as Mythologist

This article discusses three ways that psychologists are mythologists. First, psychologists are mythmakers when taking the role of psychotherapists. The revised life-story narrative or personal myt...
Sulfur uptake and nutrient composition of prune trees as affected by sulfur application

Abstract One year‐old trees of Marianna 2624 (Prunus cerasifera X P. munsoniana), grafted with French prunes (P. domestica) were grown in the greenhouse in pots containing vermiculite and supplied with graded amounts of sulfate‐sulfur (SO4‐S) to study the sulfur (S) distribution in the trees and elemental composition as affected by S additions. Leaf, stem, bark, wood, and root samples were analyzed for different S fractions. Tissue nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and boron (B) concentrations decreased with S application, and that of potassium (K) and iron (Fe) were increased. Roots and leaves contained higher concentrations of S than the other tissues. Sulfur concentrations increased with the shoot height.
Government Participation or Acquiescence in Trade-Affecting Consumer Information: Does Culpability Arise under the GATT?

The 1988 GATT panel decision in Canada-Import, Distribution and Sale of Alcoholic Drinks by Provincial Marketing Authorities (hereinafter: Canada Liquor) involved Canadian subcentral government regulatory objectives aimed at, among other things, discouraging over consumption of alcoholic beverages, with the particular regulatory limitations chosen falling upon foreign suppliers who regarded their GATT rights as having been violated. The 1987 decision in Japan-Customs Duties, Taxes and Labelling Practices on Imported Wines and Alcoholic Beverages (hereinafter: Japan Liquor), though not concerning measures adopted with an eye towards steering people away from drinking, nonetheless had occasion to comment on the irrelevancy of consumer traditions in ascertaining whether domestic products are to be seen as ‘like’ or different from certain imported products in the context of evaluating a claim of GATT national treatment violation. The case of Thailand-Restrictions on Importation of and Internal Taxes on Cigarettes (hereinafter: Thai Cigarette) saw a GATT panel in 1990 examine efforts by the government of Thailand to specifically address health matters relating to smoking by implementing measures affecting imports of cigarettes.
Fate of pocket epithelium in an apically positioned flap

The fate of periodontal pocket epithelium when sulcular incisions are used in apically positioned flap surgery was investigated by serial histology. Human subjects received apically positioned flap segments on the facial aspect of anterior teeth timed to give 1, 3, 5, 7, 21 and 35 days of healing on the day of extraction. Companion surgeries for comparison consisted of similar flaps, but utilized an inverse bevel primary incision. Assessment of the sulcular incision specimens revealed that epithelial degeneration and dissolution occurred within 7 days and resulted in a collagen-to-collagen attachment of the periodontal flap to the alveolar bone. The inverse bevel incision was consistently effective in removing the pocket epithelium and resulted in healing by a connective tissue union of the flap to the alveolar bone. By 21 days of healing, the 2 surgical methods were indistinguishable histologically. On the basis of this investigation, it is suggested that the inverse bevel primary incision traditionally advocated for apically positioned flap surgeries may be replaced by the more rapid and simple sulcular incision as the preferred technique.
How to Approximate a Histogram by a Normal Density

Abstract Which normal density curve best approximates the sample histogram? The answer suggested here is the normal curve that minimizes the integrated squared deviation between the histogram and the normal curve. A simple computational procedure is described to produce this best-fitting normal density. A few examples are presented to illustrate that this normal curve does indeed provide a visually satisfying fit, one that is better than the traditional , s answer. Some further aspects of this procedure are investigated. In particular it is shown that there is a satisfactory answer that is independent of the bar width of the histogram. It is also noted that this graphical procedure provides highly robust estimates of the sample mean and standard deviation. We demonstrate our technique by using data including Newcomb's data of passage time of light and Fisher's iris data.
Isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase. Site-directed mutagenesis of Cys139 using “counter” PCR amplification of an expression plasmid

Abstract Site-directed mutagenesis of Cys139 in yeast isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase was accomplished by “counter” polymerase chain reaction amplification of the gene in expression plasmid plPS241 using only two DNA primers. One primer complemented a region of the sense strand and contained the mutations. The second primer was an exact complement of the antisense strand. When hybridized to the plasmid template, the 5′-ends of the primers butted against one another, and PCR amplification resulted in synthesis of double strand linear mutant expression plasmid. The linear DNA was circularized by blunt end ligation to yield an expression plasmid that overproduced mutant yeast enzyme in transformed E. coli hosts. Two site-directed mutants, C139A and C139V, were both inactive, suggesting that Cys139 is an essential part of the enzyme's catalytic machinery.
On structural effects and energy conversion efficiency of power harvesting

The concept of power harvesting works towards developing self-powered devices that do not require replaceable power supplies. One important parameter defining the performance of a piezoelectric power harvesting system is the efficiency of the system. However, an accepted definition of the energy harvesting efficiency does not currently exist. This article will develop a new definition for the efficiency of an energy harvesting system which rather than being defined through energy conservation as the ratio of the energy fed into the system to maintain the steady state to the output power, we consider the ratio of the strain energy over each cycle to the power output. This new definition is analogous to the material loss factor. Simulations will be performed to demonstrate the validity of the efficiency and will show that the maximum efficiency occurs at the matched impedance; however, for materials with high electromechanical coupling the maximum power is generated at the near open and closed-circuit resonances with a lower efficiency.
Performance measurement: a look at some possible dysfunctions

Performance measurement can promote both accountability and improved performance but schemes that are geared for one purpose may not be ideal for promoting the other. This paper suggests that performance measurement can involve the siphoning of resources from “production” to overhead (under noble pretenses) and that this may not foster greater value for money.
Hippocampal Drebrin Loss in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Alterations in the relative abundance of synaptic proteins may contribute to hippocampal synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The extent to which perturbations in synaptic protein expression occur during the earliest stages of cognitive decline remains unclear. We examined protein levels of presynaptic synaptophysin (SYP) and synaptotagmin (SYT), and postsynaptic drebrin (DRB), a marker for dendritic spine plasticity, in the hippocampus of people with an antemortem clinical diagnosis of no cognitive impairment (NCI), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild/moderate AD. Although normalized SYP and SYT levels were preserved, DRB was reduced by approximately 40% in the hippocampus of MCI and AD compared to NCI subjects. This differential alteration of synaptic markers in MCI suggests a selective impairment in hippocampal postsynaptic dendritic plasticity in prodromal AD that likely heralds the onset of memory impairment in symptomatic disease.
A distributed-parameter model for liquid extraction

Abstract A dispersion model with mass transfer was solved to obtain the frequency response for a countercurrent liquid extraction column. A least-squares method in the frequency domain was used to test the model against data taken on a laboratory column. The model was found to describe the column's aqueous phase dynamic response extremely well, and to describe the organic phase response qualitatively. Use of the model is suggested for obtaining better estimates of mass transfer coefficient and active holdups than are obtainable by other methods.
A least squares regression framework on manifolds and its application to gesture recognition

Least squares regression is a basic approach for statistical analysis. However, its simplicity has often led to researchers overlooking it for complex recognition problems. In this paper, we present a nonlinear regression framework on manifolds for gesture recognition. Our method is developed based upon two key attributes: underlying geometry and least squares fitting. The former attribute is vital since geometry characterizes the space for classification while the latter exhibits a simple estimation model. Considering geometric properties, we formulate least squares regression as a composite function. This gives a natural extension from Euclidean space to manifolds. Our experiments show that the proposed framework achieves state-of-the-art results on the standard hand gesture and body gesture datasets. Our method also generalizes well on the one-shot-learning CHALEARN gesture challenge.
Socioecological variables predict telomere length in wild spotted hyenas.

Telomeres are regarded as important biomarkers of ageing and serve as useful tools in revealing how stress acts at the cellular level. However, the effects of social and ecological factors on telom...
CRYSTALLINE TRYPSIN : III. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND METHODS OF MEASURING ACTIVITY.

In Vol. 16, No. 2, November 20, 1932, page 320, 2nd paragraph, 4th line, for "0.02" molar read "0.002."
Network meta-analysis: introduction and an example that compares devices for PFO closure

This editorial refers to ‘ Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale in patients with crypotogenic embolism: a network meta-analysis’ by S. Stortecky et al. , on page doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehu292 Over the last 20 years, the number of published meta-analyses has exploded and, therefore, clinicians have become more familiar with this study design. The results of different trials are statistically combined to produce a more precise estimate [i.e. an estimate with a narrower confidence interval (CI)]. When a meta-analysis is performed after a credible systematic review, the results become more reliable because this precise estimate represents the totality of relevant evidence and can apply to a wider range of patients. Clinicians have become familiar with these traditional meta-analyses that compare two interventions. However, what if we have three or more potentially effective interventions? A newer type of meta-analysis called network meta-analysis (NMA; also called multiple treatment comparison meta-analysis) addresses such comparisons. We will explain the NMA approach and evaluate a recent example published in this issue of the European Heart Journal . When multiple experimental treatments have not been compared in head-to-head trials or only compared in just a few head-to-head trials—which is a very common scenario—one can infer the effect of intervention A on intervention B from comparing the effects of A and B on a common comparator C (usually placebo). Therefore, we can indirectly compare A and B even if they were not compared in a trial. If direct evidence and indirect evidence exist, they can both be combined to provide a final estimate; this is called NMA.1 This is demonstrated in Figure 1 . Figure 1 (A) Direct comparison. (B) Indirect comparison. (C) Combining both direct and …
Inference for negativist theory using numerically computed rejection regions

A negativist theory is a theory that asserts that an affect is absent. Negativist theories are common in statistics and require a test procedure to avoid biasing the conclusions in favor of accepting the theory. New critical value tables are provided and computational methods are introduced to ease practical difficulties with the resulting non-contiguous interval null. Simulations compare the power function of negativist testing to traditional hypothesis testing. A case study, using Canadian stock market data, does not always support efficient markets (an example of a negativist theory) and reverses previous studies using positivist hypothesis tests.
Knowledge-based design of LANs using system entity structure concepts

The paper illustrates an application of knowledge based system design concepts to design of local area networks. A system entity structure representation of a local area network (LAN) is developed. This representation unifies a variety of possibilities for LAN design architecture. In a design session, the LAN design domain is subsequently restricted by pruning the entity structure with respect to network design objectives. A LAN model is then synthesized using a production rule scheme. The benefit of the knowledge-based LAN design is briefly discussed.
Growth Factors and Their Receptors in the Middle Ear Mucosa During Otitis Media

Objective: The hyperplastic response of the middle ear mucosa during bacterial otitis media is thought to be mediated by the actions of growth factors and their respective receptors. The purpose of the study was to explore the expression of growth factors known to stimulate epithelial cells in other systems, as well as their receptors, in the middle ear mucosa during otitis media. Study Design: Expression of mRNA growth factors and receptors was measured over time after inoculation of the rat middle ear with bacteria. Methods: The middle ears of 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with 10 5 /mL Haemophilus influenzae strain 3655 (nontypeable, biotype II). Three rats were killed at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Three untreated rats were also killed to serve as negative controls. The middle ear mucosa samples were surgically removed and homogenized. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed on each sample with primers for rat epidermal growth factor, epidermal growth factor receptor (ErbB), heparin binding epidermal-like growth factor , hepatocyte growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor receptor, keratinocyte growth factor, betacellulin, amphiregulin, and neuregulin-a. Results: Hepatocyte growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor primers demonstrated polymerase chain reaction products of the expected size that were not displayed in the normal middle ear mucosa. Keratinocyte growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor receptor demonstrated polymerase chain reaction products at all time points tested. Betacellulin and neuregulin-a products were present at all time points except 72 hours after infection. Conclusions: The results of the study support a role for growth factors in the middle ear mucosa during otitis media. These bioactive ingredients contribute to mucosal hyperplasia.
Bedside ultrasound and the assessment of renal colic: a review

Renal colic is a common emergency department (ED) presentation. The use of CT in the diagnosis of renal colic has increased over the past two decades and is now the most common imaging modality used in many institutions. However, with growing concerns about cumulative radiation exposure, increasing healthcare costs and patient flow in EDs, alternative approaches may need to be considered. Point-of-care ultrasound may offer a radiation-free, rapid and cost-effective alternative. The authors reviewed the literature and synthesised some of the data comparing point-of-care ultrasound with CT scanning as well as some of the evidence for how it might be incorporated into a renal colic management strategy. It is concluded that there is enough evidence to define a rational algorithm for renal colic management. A prospectively validated algorithm would greatly assist primary care and emergency practitioners while reducing costs and radiation dose.
Two sporadic cases of adult-onset progressive mucinous histiocytosis.

: Progressive mucinous histiocytosis is a rare, benign, non-Langerhans' cell histiocytosis limited to the skin. Ten cases – all women – in four families and one sporadic case have been described in the literature. The disorder usually begins in childhood and progresses slowly. We report two sporadic cases of adult-onset progressive mucinous histiocytosis in unrelated African-American women, aged 48 and 55 years, respectively, who developed red-brown and flesh-coloured, asymptomatic papules on the face, the arms and the legs without truncal, mucosal or visceral involvement. The lesions showed no spontaneous regression. Both patients lacked associated systemic symptoms, including polyuria, polydipsia or seizures. There was no underlying hyperlipidaemia, paraproteinaemia or lymphoproliferative disease. No family history of similar lesions could be identified. Light microscopy revealed dermal proliferation of spindle-shaped histiocytes with abundant mucin deposition. Electron microscopy demonstrated a high number of myelin figures or zebra bodies in the cytoplasm of histiocytes. On immunohistochemistry, positive staining with macrophage markers – CD68, HAM56 and lysozyme – and factor XIIIa, a transglutaminase present in dermal dendrocytes, and negative staining with Langerhans' cell markers – CD1a and S100 – and CD34, a marker present in dermal dendritic cells derived from uncommitted mesenchymal cells, were observed.
The surgical management of metastatic melanoma

When deciding whether or not to perform a resection for metastatic melanoma, one should follow general principles that apply to the patient with melanoma as well as to the patient with metastases from other types of primary tumors. When the resection is palliative, the success of surgical treatment will be governed by the presence of identifiable symptoms, the morbidity of the procedure, the course of the disease, and the ability to communicate treatment goals among surgeon, patient, and family. When the resection is performed with curative intent, long-term survival depends on the ability of the surgeon to select patients with a pattern of recurrence suggestive of a less aggressive tumor biology. Regardless of the extent of the operative procedure, resection of metastases in patients whose disease recurs early after the treatment of the primary tumor, in those who present with multiple lesions, and in those who present with disease that cannot be completely resected will only rarely be associated with subsequent long-term survival.
Static cervical-ocular reflex and optokinetic reflex interaction in rabbits

The effect that tonic eye deviations, induced by angular deviation of the torso, have on the characteristics of optokinetic (OK) nystagmus was studied in rabbits. When the slow component of the OK nystagmus moved in the direction of the tonic eye deviation, the amplitude of the slow and fast components of the nystagmus was decreased and their frequency was increased, whereas when the slow component moved in the opposite direction, the amplitude and the frequency of the nystagmus were not different from those when the head and torso were aligned.
Gastrointestinal toxic side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cyclooxygenase-2–specific inhibitors

Conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to treat pain and inflammation but are frequently associated with gastrointestinal side effects, including life-threatening bleeding or perforation of gastroduodenal ulcers. Conventional NSAIDs are nonselective inhibitors of two isoforms of cyclooxygenase (COX): COX-1 and COX-2. The inhibition of COX-1 is believed to be responsible for inducing mucosal injury primarily by impairing prostaglandin-dependent mucosal protective mechanisms. The latest development in reducing the incidence of ulcers and ulcer complications associated with conventional NSAIDs is the use of recently approved COX-2-specific inhibitors (CSIs). This article critically reviews the data on gastrointestinal toxic side effects for conventional NSAIDs without as well as with prevention therapy. In addition, we compare these data with those for the CSIs, namely, celecoxib and rofecoxib. Finally, we offer recommendations on the clinical use of these drugs, emphasizing the need to balance clinical effectiveness with the avoidance of potential gastrointestinal side effects.
Liver failure and neurologic disease in a patient with homocystinuria

Abstract A homocystinuric patient with the typical clinical and metabolic features of the disorder started treatment at 22 years of age. A diet with controlled methionine intake resulted in good metabolic control for five years, but control could not be attained for the following 1 1 2 years. This was accompanied by the development of paraparesis and increasing liver failure. A liver transplantation was successful in achieving metabolic control without the need for any dietary restrictions.
The offense‐defense balance, interdependence, and war

(1999). The offense‐defense balance, interdependence, and war. Security Studies: Vol. 9, Power and the Purse: Economic Statecraft, Interdependence, and National Security, pp. 59-91.
Packaging and characterization of mechanically actuated microtweezers for biomedical applications

This paper presents the successful design, fabrication, and packaging of a mechanically actuated micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) microtweezer, and its use in a variety of biological environments. This complete and low cost MEMS system has minimal manufacturing complexity and it can be augmented to any standard micromanipulator or positioning system. Characterization of the system shows that precise and controlled tool actuation is achieved with maximal tip closing forces of 367 mN. The system's performance and ease of use can provide the means to create and enhance a multitude of experimental preparations previously not possible.
RGTO: a new technique for preparing SnO/sub 2/ sputtered thin film as gas sensors

A technique for the preparation of SnO/sub 2/ thin films by means of RF magnetron sputtering is presented. This technique, rheotaxial growth and thermal oxidation (RGTO), makes it possible to obtain thin films formed by polycrystalline grains, connected by necks and with high surface areas. SnO/sub 2/ thin films grown with this method and 300 nm thick show high sensitivity to such gases as H/sub 2/, C/sub 4/H/sub 10/, and C/sub 2/H/sub 5/OH. SEM (scanning electron microscope) analysis shows that these films are formed by grains with a diameter of 500-1500 mm which are randomly connected. XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis shows that the SnO/sub 2/ thin films are preferentially oriented in the
A new uniaxial perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary condition for chiral metamaterials

This paper presents a new implementation of the uniaxial perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary condition (UPML-ABC) to terminate the finite difference time domain formulation for electromagnetic wave interaction with a chiral medium. Magnetoelectric coupling in the medium is modeled via the bi-isotropic finite difference time domain (BI-FDTD) approach. The proposed perfectly matched layer uses the same wavefield decomposition approach as the BI-FDTD technique and implements the dispersion relations through finite difference equations. The new UPML formulation is illustrated with an example in which the permittivity and permeability are both represented as Lorentzian functions of frequency, and the magnetoelectric coupling, or chirality, follows the Condon model. The proposed dispersive ABC can be used to represent double-negative materials (/spl epsiv/<0 and /spl mu/<0) with magnetoelectric coupling.
Generation and phenotyping of mCd59a and mCd59b double-knockout mice.

CD59 is a membrane protein inhibitor of the membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement. Humans express only one, whereas mice express two CD59 genes. We previously reported the targeted deletion of the mCd59b gene in which absence of mCd59b together with an unintended down regulation of mCd59a caused hemolytic anemia with spontaneous platelet activation. To confirm the complement role in the hemolytic anemia caused by abrogation of mCd59 function, we have developed a mCd59a and mCd59b double knock out mice and analyzed its phenotype in complement sufficient and deficient (C3−/−). We report here that total abrogation of mCd59 function in mCd59ab−/− mice results in complement-mediated hemolytic anemia that is rescued by the deficiency of C3 in compound mCd59ab−/−/C3−/− mice. Am. J. Hematol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cardiogenic Shock Secondary to Tako-tsubo Syndrome After Debridement of Malignant Endobronchial Obstruction

Transient left ventricular (LV) dysfunction syndrome, or Tako-tsubo syndrome, occurs following intense emotional or physical stress and simulates the clinical presentation of an acute myocardial infarction. We report a case of a 77-year-old man with esophageal adenocarcinoma with local invasion of the central airways who underwent rigid bronchoscopy for tumor debridement followed by placement of a stent. Postoperatively, cardiogenic shock developed and echocardiography revealed akinesis of the LV apex with an ejection fraction (EF) of 15%. Emergent coronary angiography revealed no significant coronary artery disease. The patient required intraaortic balloon counterpulsation and pressors. Seventy-two hours later, repeat echocardiography showed an EF of 45% with improvement in apical function, and the patient was discharged home in stable condition shortly thereafter. A 5-month follow-up echocardiogram revealed an EF > 55%, and the patient enjoyed an excellent performance status.
CHARACTERISTICS OF AIRBORNE PARTICLES ASSOCIATED WITH ANIMAL ALLERGY IN LABORATORY WORKERS

Area and personal samples were obtained in experimental animal facilities to determine concentrations of rat derived airborne allergens and the associated particle size distributions. Quantities of rat urinary and salivary antigens were assessed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Areas sampled included rat housing rooms, adjacent corridors, animal laboratories, and non-animal control locations. Ng/m 3 quantities of antigen were found to be associated with airborne particles in a weight-to-weight ratio of approximately 1/1000. The highest airborne antigen concentrations occurred in housing locations, with significant increases occurring during night hours. Personal samples in housing areas and animal laboratories yielded airborne antigen concentrations approximately one order of magnitude higher than corresponding results derived from area samples. Urinary and salivary antigens were associated with particles from μ m Aerodynamic Equivalent Diameter (AED) to > 24 μ m AED in size. Approximately 70% by weight was associated with respirable particles ( μ m AED).
Interpreting the temperature of water at cold springs and the importance of gravitational potential energy

[1] Circulating groundwater transports heat. If groundwater flow velocities are sufficiently high, most of the subsurface heat transport can occur by advection. This is the case, for example, in the Cascades volcanic arc where much of the background geothermal heat is transported advectively and then discharged when the groundwater emerges at springs. The temperature of spring water can thus be used to infer the geothermal heat flux. If spring water temperature is many degrees warmer than the ambient temperature, as it is at hot springs, determining the heat discharged at springs is straightforward. At large-volume cold springs, however, the geothermal warming of water is small because the added heat is diluted in a large volume of water. We show that in order to interpret the temperature of cold springs we must account for three processes: (1) conversion of gravitational potential energy to heat through viscous dissipation, (2) conduction of heat to or from the Earth's surface, and (3) geothermal warming. Using spring temperature data from the central Oregon Cascades and Mount Shasta, California, we show that the warming due to surface heat exchange and dissipation of gravitational potential energy can be comparable to that due to geothermal heating. Unless these confounding sources of heating are taken into account, estimates of geothermal heat flux derived from temperatures of cold springs can be incorrect by large factors.
Exploiting channel statistics to improve the average sum rate in OFDMA systems

The achievable average sum rates of both OFDMA uplink and downlink systems with statistical multiuser adaptation are investigated. We show that simultaneous utilization of channel mean and tap correlation information in allocating subcarriers and power to multilasers offers potentially large spectral efficiency gains compared to both uniform subcarrier and power allocation and multiuser adaptation exploiting channel mean information only. Such gains arise from the inherent multiuser diversity that the statistical adaptation can efficiently capture. The impacts of the Ricean K-factor, the magnitude of tap correlation, and the number of simultaneously scheduled users per OFDM symbol on the average sum rate are further investigated.
Strategies for simulation, measurement and suppression of digital noise in mixed-signal circuits

This paper applies a scalable macromodel for substrate noise coupling to simulate digital noise in mixed-signal circuits. The circuit simulations are verified by measured data from a digital noise generator and noise sensitive analog circuits fabricated in the TSMC 0.35 /spl mu/m heavily doped CMOS process. The simulations and measurements also substantiate the effectiveness of various noise suppression techniques.
Gram-scale purification of arginine, formylmethionione, glutamic acid and the nylalanine transfer ribonucleic acids from E. coli K-12MO7.

Gram-sized quantities of purified arginine, formylmethionine, glutamic acid, and phenylalanine-2 tRNAs have been prepared from pools of E. coli K–12 MO7 mixed tRNAs by reversed-phase chromatography after preliminary fractionation on DEAE-cellulose. Purified formylmethionine tRNA and partially purified arginine tRNA and glutamie acid tRNA were obtained from large-scale RPC–3 runs (4 × 36 in. column). The arginine tRNA was further purified by rechromatography on RPC–4 columns, and the gluatmic acid tRNA by rechromatography on an RPC–3 column. Two phenylalanine tRNAs were resolved on large-scale (2 × 96 in. column) RPC–3 runs; only the second phenylalanine tRNA reached a satisfactory degree of activity. About 0.88 g of arginine tRNA, 70% activity; 3.32 g of formylmethionine tRNA, 97% activity; 0.80 g of glutamic acid tRNA, 83% activity and O.92 g of phenylalanine-2 tRNA, 78% activity, were produced. The processing steps employed are reliable and reproducible and the procedure is amenable to routine production of these tRNAs.