cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thyroid Hormone Transport from Blood into Brain Cells

The phenomenon of thyroid hormone transport encompasses a number of sequential steps beginning with their secretion by the thyroid follicles and ending with their distribution to multiple sites of metabolism and action within virtually all the body’s organs. These steps include equilibration with multiple carrier proteins in the plasma, transcapillary passage of both the hormones and the carrier proteins into extravascular spaces, entry into cells through their external membranes, and translocation to subcellular compartments and organelles. Some that are the subject of current inquiry or controversy, include the interaction of the hormones with “minor” transport protein in plasma, the kinetics of transcapillary movement, the presence of specific receptors for the carrier proteins and the hormones on endothelial and epithelial cell membranes, and specific transport mechanisms within cell organelles.
LASER COOLING DUE TO ATOMIC DIPOLE ORIENTATION

The temperature of a gas of sodium atoms confined in "optical molasses” was originally measured to be -2M0 μK 1, In agreement with the theoretical prediction kBT - Kr/2 2, where r = 2π × 10 MHz is the natural linewidth of the atomic transition used in cooling. More recently, Phillips, et al, 3 have measured temperatures well below the accepted Doppler cooling limit. These results have been confirmed by groups at Stanford and Paris 4
Two-dimensional grain growth in rapidly solidified succinonitrile films

The kinetics and topological mechanisms of normal grain growth have been examined throughin situ dynamic studies on rapidly solidified succinonitrile (SCN). Thein situ studies allowed for continuous monitoring of the evolution of individual grains during growth. We have assessed the Mullins—Von Neumann topological grain growth law and the Burke—Turnbull parabolic rate law and have determined rate constants that describe grain growth. This work demonstrates that both laws are both obeyed globally and consistently. Thesein situ studies permit one to follow the unit operations associated with grain growth kinetics. This article demonstrates the usefulness of succinonitrile as a model analog system for studying grain growth.
Vasoespasmo cerebral y déficit isquémico tardío en la hemorragia subaracnoídea aneurismática guías para su manejo clínico

The objective of the present review on cerebral vasospasm and cerebral delayed isquemic deficit due to subarachnoid haemorrhagesecondary to ruptured cerebral aneurysm, is to update their management, based on the most accepted pathophysiological hypotesis explaining their pathogenetic mechanisms. An introduction is performed presenting general concepts, review of the most recent research works explaining their pathogenesis, and the management is stated touching diagnosis, monitoring, prophylaxis, and advanced management according with the last clinical guidelines for his management using medicine based on evidences.
Postoperative Horner Syndrome After Lung Transplantation.

Background Horner syndrome arises from a disruption along the oculosympathetic efferent chain and can be caused by a variety of pathological and iatrogenic etiologies. We present 3 cases of postoperative Horner syndrome after bilateral lung transplantation. Methods The electronic health records of 3 patients with iatrogenic Horner syndrome after lung transplantation were examined, including notes from each patient's medical history, operative and postoperative records, and ophthalmology consultation results. A literature review was performed. Results All 3 of our patients displayed anisocoria and ptosis, symptoms consistent with Horner syndrome, and the patients from Cases 1 and 2 showed reversal of anisocoria after an application of topical apraclonidine. Conclusions Ophthalmologists should be aware of the risk of Horner syndrome after lung transplantation.
Computational screening of two-dimensional coatings for semiconducting photocathodes

Alkali-based semiconducting photocathodes, due to their high quantum efficiency (QE) in the visible light spectrum, are promising candidates to replace traditional metal photocathodes for high-brightness beam applications such as x-ray free electron lasers (XFELs). However, they suffer from rapid degradation which significantly limits their operational lifetimes. Coating them with two-dimensional (2D) materials has been proposed as a possible avenue to prevent the degradation. Ideally, the 2D coating layer should not increase the work function of semiconducting photocathodes, thus maintaining the high QE of semiconducting photocathodes in visible light. Herein, we report a computational screening of over 4000 2D materials in the Computational 2D Materials Database (C2DB). The assessment of their potential to be good coating layers is based on their effects to the surface electronic properties. We discover several candidate materials that are even capable of decreasing the work function of semiconducting photocathodes. Some of the experimentally synthesized 2D materials, such as hydrogenated graphene (graphane) and several hydroxylated transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes), are particularly appealing for this application.
An In-situ Study of Information Needs in Design-related Creative Projects

A recent study found that search engines play an important role in supporting creative tasks that people encounter in everyday life. However, little research has been conducted to understand how people use search engines and other information resources to support creative endeavors in their day-to-day work and life. To gain a deeper understanding, we conducted a diary study by asking eleven participants to record diary entries about their own design-related creative projects over a two-week period. In this paper, we report the findings of our qualitative analysis of participants' diary entries and post-diary in-depth interviews. Specifically, we identified six types of information that were essential to design-related creative projects: procedural information, domain information, finished examples, tips/opinions/recommendations, information about specific topics, and inspiring/motivating information. For each type of information, we discuss participants' intents to use the information in their projects. We also describe challenges reported by our participants when they used search engines to address their information needs. Finally, we discuss implications of our findings for future research and the future design of search systems.
Stay woke: a people’s guide to making all black lives matter: by Tehama Lopez Bunyasi and Candis Watts Smith, New York, New York University Press, 2019, viii+270 pp., $18.95 (paperback), ISBN 9781479836482

Stay Woke presents a cohesive, historically contextualized picture of structural and ideological racism in contemporary America, using the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement as a teaching tool towar...
Intraoperative Focused Cardiac Ultrasound for Assessment of Hypotension: A Systematic Review.

Focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) has become a valuable tool to assess unexplained hypotension in critically ill patients. Due to increasing availability of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) equipment in the operating room, there is a widespread interest in its usefulness for intraoperative diagnosis of hypotension as an alternative to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the utility of intraoperative FoCUS to assess patients experiencing unexplained hypotension while undergoing noncardiac surgery. We performed a systematic literature search of multiple publication databases for studies that evaluated the utility of intraoperative FoCUS for assessment and management of unexplained hypotension in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, including retro- and prospective clinical studies. A summary of the study findings, study quality, and assessment of level of evidence is presented. We identified 2227 unique articles from the literature search, of which 27 were potentially relevant, and 9 were included in this review. The number of patients pooled from these studies was 255, of whom 228 had intraoperative diagnoses with the aid of intraoperative FoCUS. The level of evidence of all studies included was very low according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines. This systematic review has demonstrated that FoCUS may be a useful, noninvasive method to differentiate causes of intraoperative hypotension and guide correcting interventions, although the quality of evidence is very low. Further prospective high-quality studies are needed to investigate whether intraoperative FoCUS has a diagnostic utility that is associated with improved outcomes.
Species and sex differences in vocalizations between sex-role reversed shorebirds, Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) and Wattled Jacana (J. jacana)

Species-specific vocalizations can act as a reproductive isolating mechanism between closely related populations. We analyzed vocal differences between 2 hybridizing species of sex-role reversed polyandrous shorebirds, the Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) and Wattled Jacana (J. jacana). We found that Northern Jacana calls have higher fundamental frequency and peak frequency than Wattled Jacana calls. We also compared calls between females and males, as both jacana species are sex-role reversed and females compete for male mates. Males produce calls with a higher fundamental and peak frequency and shorter notes than females. These results suggest that vocal differences between Northern and Wattled jacanas have the potential to act as a behavioral mediator of interspecific interactions, and that sex differences in vocalizations may relate to sex-role reversal in territorial defense and mate attraction.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Type 1 versus Type 2 Perioperative Myocardial Infarction After Noncardiac Surgery.

Abstract Background Perioperative myocardial infarction is frequently attributed to type 2 myocardial infarction, a mismatch in myocardial oxygen supply-demand without unstable coronary artery disease. Our aim was to identify characteristics, management, and outcomes of perioperative type 1 versus type 2 myocardial infarction among surgical inpatients. Methods Adults age ≥45 years hospitalized for noncardiac surgery were identified in the United States. Perioperative myocardial infarction were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) codes. Clinical characteristics, invasive myocardial infarction management, mortality, and readmissions were assessed by myocardial infarction subtype. Results Among 4,755,382 surgical hospitalizations, we identified 38,975 perioperative myocardial infarctions (0.82%), with type 2 infarction in 42%. Patients with type 2 myocardial infarction were older, more likely to be women, and less likely to have cardiovascular comorbidities compared with type 1 myocardial infarction. Fewer patients with type 2 myocardial infarction underwent invasive management than type 1 myocardial infarction (6.7% vs 28.8%, P Conclusions Type 2 myocardial infarctions account for approximately 40% of perioperative myocardial infarctions. Patients with type 2 perioperative myocardial infarction are less likely to undergo invasive management and have lower mortality compared with those with type 1 perioperative myocardial infarction.
"Talk to me": Parent-teacher background similarity, communication quality, and barriers to school-based engagement among ethnoculturally diverse Head Start families.

OBJECTIVE Primary caregivers (e.g., parents, grandparents, other family members) from low-income and ethnically minoritized families tend to face a host of barriers when participating in their children's school activities. Research suggests that demographic match and quality communication between caregivers and teachers could support minoritized families' school-based engagement. This study examined the associations among caregiver-teacher demographic match, caregivers' perceived communication quality with the teacher and caregivers' perceived barriers to school-based engagement. METHOD Caregivers (n = 565) from 49 Head Start classrooms completed the parent-report versions of the surveys: Barriers to FamilyEngagement, reporting resource, cultural/relational, and program/context barriers to school-based engagement; and Family-Teacher Communication, reporting communication quality with their children's lead and assistant teachers (n = 102). Caregivers and teachers also completed demographic surveys to provide information about their family background, such as race/ethnicity, primary language, and education level. RESULTS Multilevel modeling results showed that among the three demographic match variables (i.e., race/ethnicity, primary language, formal education), only language match was associated with caregivers' perception of fewer cultural/relational barriers. Latine and Black non-Latine caregivers reported more cultural/relational and program/context carriers than White, non-Latine caregivers. Finally, caregivers who perceived better communication with their children's teachers reported fewer cultural/relational and program/context barriers. CONCLUSIONS Primary language match and high-quality communication between families and teachers appear essential in creating a welcoming preschool environment that could alleviate some of the barriers to engagement typically faced by ethnically minoritized and low-income families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Highly Sensitive Phase-Front-Modulation Fiber Acoustic Sensor

We report a new low-noise compact fiber acoustic sensor that implements a microfabricated silicon diaphragm with a π/2 phase step combined to a single-mode fiber to form a simple interferometric sensor head. Compared to high-sensitivity diaphragm-based fiber Fabry–Perot sensors, this sensor has a similar strain resolution, it operates over a much broad range of wavelengths (∼±150 nm), its response depends very weakly on temperature and on the distance between the fiber and the diaphragm, and both microfabrication and assembly are simpler. A prototype sensor is reported with an average minimum detectable pressure as low as 5.4 μPa/√Hz between 1 and 30 kHz, in agreement with a theoretical model.
Resolving a persistent offshore surface temperature maximum in Lake Superior using an autonomous underwater glider

In November 2009, an autonomous underwater glider (AUG) was deployed for a period of 12 days on the Wisconsin Shelf of Lake Superior. During this period, the AUG made repeated cross-shelf transects from 3 km to 13 km offshore, making 26 cross-shelf transects in all, during which time temperature was measured. Each of these transects displayed a mid-shelf temperature maximum roughly 8 km offshore, with cooler waters both inshore and offshore of this. This is hypothesized to be due to a balance of persistent cooling at the surface and vertical mixing of cooler sub-thermocline waters offshore.
Dielectric permittivity measurements of thin films at microwave and terahertz frequencies

The measurement of complex dielectric permittivity of thin films are very difficult at microwave, millimeter and THz frequencies because the phase shift is not large enough to evaluate the real part of dielectric permittivity. It is now necessary to determine the dielectric permittivity values of such films directly because of the growing use of thin films in integrated circuitry. Two different types of instrumentation were utilized and new techniques were developed so that the dielectric permittivity values can be determined accurately at microwave as well as at millimeter wave and terahertz frequencies. The Agilent 8510C vector network analyzer was employed together with a specially designed slotted cavity for the X-band microwave measurements of thin films. A step size of 500 nano meter for the mirror movement was implemented for the dispersive Fourier transform spectroscopy (DFTS) technique to provide higher resolution phase reproduction leading to the determination of the real part of dielectric permittivity values for thin films as a continuous function of frequency from about 60 GHz to 1,000 GHz. Data for one mil (25 um) thin Teflon, Mylar and black polyester are shown.
FLOODING AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED METALS IN FLOODPLAIN SEDIMENTS IN ST. MARIES, IDAHO

The link between sediment contamination and flooding is not well established, since flooding may exacerbate problems by spreading pollutants throughout the floodplain, or alternatively may dilute contaminants in source areas. To determine the substance of such relationships, the pattern of sediment contamination was examined in a small Idaho town following flooding in 1996. Four heavy metals were tested, nickel, chromium, zinc and copper, in 97 soil samples obtained from sites across the floodplain of the St. Joe River. Flood history and land-uses at each sample site were noted. Results showed that contamination levels generally were not high, with flood areas having lower concentrations than non-flood areas. A stronger relationship could be argued for land-use, with higher concentrations of contamination associated with some industrial sites. High levels of contamination were also found in several samples taken from recreational areas. Further research looking at the potential sources of contamination in relation to characteristics of the flood hydrology would seem pertinent.
Protease nexin-1, a thrombin inhibitor, is regulated by interleukin-1 and dexamethasone in normal human fibroblasts

Thrombin participates in several regulatory events following injury as a result of its effects on blood coagulation and cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) is a potent thrombin inhibitor in the extracellular environment. Since injury-related factors are known to regulate the synthesis and secretion of PN-1, the inhibitor may serve to modulate the actions of thrombin during injury. Here we report the molecular mechanisms that underlie this regulation. In normal human fibroblasts, interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta stimulated the synthesis and secretion of PN-1. The stimulation correlated with an increase in steady-state levels of PN-1 mRNA. Treatment of cells with both cycloheximide and IL-1 reduced the levels of PN-1 mRNA. Nuclear run-on assays indicated that IL-1 modestly increased the rate of PN-1 transcription. However, experiments with actinomycin D demonstrated that IL-1 significantly increased the half-life of the PN-1 mRNA. In contrast, dexamethasone (DXM) repressed the synthesis and secretion of PN-1 from fibroblasts. This effect correlated with a decrease in PN-1 mRNA. A sustained decrease in PN-1 mRNA was also seen when cells were treated with cycloheximide and DXM. In nuclear run-on assays, DXM functioned as a transcriptional repressor of PN-1 synthesis. Treatment of cells with actinomycin D showed that DXM did not affect mRNA stability. Thus, our experiments demonstrate that IL-1 and DXM, which function biologically in different fashions, regulate the synthesis of PN-1 by separate molecular mechanisms. While DXM directly regulates PN-1 at the level of transcription, IL-1 in the presence of ongoing protein synthesis regulates PN-1 production predominantly in a post-transcriptional fashion by increasing the half-life of the PN-1 mRNA.
Numerical Quantum Field Theory Using the Source Galerkin Method

This talk describes a program, still in its early stages, to develop a new numerical approach that we call the Source Galerkin method [1]. This method has little in common with the Monte Carlo methods which have been successful in demonstrating that numerical techniques can be an important tool for obtaining results from quantum field theories. Source Galerkin appears to have strengths which will allow its use for problems (such as scattering predictions) that are not readily accessible to conventional methods with the currently available computers. It is, unlike Monte Carlo, equally suited for studying fermionic or bosonic problems. Further, at least in lower dimensions, a continuum formulation of Source Galerkin is straightforward. While we have made considerable progress in understanding the issues in defining and applying these ideas, we can not yet been able to complete enough calculations to evaluate the chances that Source Galerkin could actually replace Monte Carlo techniques in any of their traditional applications.
Allele specific synthetic lethality between priC and dnaAts alleles at the permissive temperature of 30°C in E. coli K-12

Background DnaA is an essential protein in the regulation and initiation of DNA replication in many bacteria. It forms a protein-DNA complex at oriC to which DnaC loads DnaB. DNA replication forks initiated at oriC by DnaA can collapse on route to the terminus for a variety of reasons. PriA, PriB, PriC, DnaT, Rep and DnaC form multiple pathways to restart repaired replication forks. DnaC809 and dnaC809,820 are suppressors of priA2::kan mutant phenotypes. The former requires PriC and Rep while the latter is independent of them. RnhA339::cat mutations allow DnaA-independent initiation of DNA replication.
Age-related disparities in the use of radiotherapy for treatment of localized soft tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Many elderly patients with cancer experience increased cancer-related morbidity and mortality compared with younger patients. In soft tissue sarcoma, adjuvant radiotherapy is an integral part of definitive therapy for limb preservation. The authors of this report hypothesized that age-related disparities exist in the use of radiation. METHODS: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data were used to conduct a retrospective cohort study among patients aged ≥25 years who were diagnosed from 1998 to 2004 with nonmetastatic, biopsy-proven, high-grade soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and underwent a limb-sparing procedure. Patients were stratified according to age (ages 70 years). Logistic regression was used to determine the association between age and the receipt of radiotherapy adjusting for histology, tumor location, tumor size, surgery, sex, race, and marital status. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare disease-specific and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Among 1354 eligible patients; 37.1% were aged >70 years, 44.3% were women, and 84.4% were Caucasian. Although 73.8% of the cohort received radiotherapy, receipt decreased from 78.2% among patients aged 70 years (test for trend; P = .006). After adjusting for demographic and tumor factors, older patients remained less likely to receive radiotherapy (odds ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.92) and more likely to experience disease-specific death (hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-4.1) compared with the youngest group. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults appeared to be less likely to receive definitive therapy for soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities. In the absence of clinical trials and treatment guidelines tailored to this population, under treatment may disadvantage elderly patients, who have increased cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
SU‐E‐T‐80: Comparison of Fluence‐Based RapidArc QAs Using EPID and MapCHECK 2

Purpose: To compare the Varian aS-1000 EPID imager to the isocentrically mounted MapCHECK 2 diode array for RapidArc QAs as a function of photon beam energy. Methods: A Varian TrueBeam STx with an aS-1000 digital imaging panel was used to acquire RapidArc QA images for 13 patient plans; each plan QA was performed at 6, 8, 10 and 15MV energies. The Portal Dose Image Prediction algorithm in the Varian Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS) was used to create the comparison image for the EPID acquisition. A Sun Nuclear MapCHECK 2 diode array on an isocentric mounting fixture with 5 cm water-equivalent buildup was also used for the RapidArc QAs. A composite dose plane was taken from the Eclipse TPS for comparison to the MapCHECK 2 measurements. A gamma test was implemented in the Sun Nuclear Patient software with 10% threshold and absolute comparison for both QA methods. The two-tailed paired t-test was employed to analyze the statistical significance between two methods at the 95% confidence level. Results: The average gamma passing rates were greater than 95% at 3%/3mm using both methods for all four energies. The average passing rates were within 2.5% and 1.1% of each other when analyzed at 2%/2mm and 3%/3mm conditions, respectively. The EPID passing rates were somewhat better than the MapCHECK 2 when analyzed at 1%/1mm condition; this difference decreased with increasing energy (9.1% at 6MV to 2.7% at 15MV). The differences were not statistically significant for all criteria and energies (p-value a 0.05). Conclusion: EPID-based RapidArc QA results are comparable to MapCHECK 2 when using 3%/3mm criteria at all four energies. EPID-based QA shows potential for being the superior device under strict gamma criteria.
Operating Degradations of Air Turbine Scoops of Turbo-Engines

The paper presents various types of turbine scoops damages that are being found in the operating process of air turbine engines (TSO). When dividing them, having in mind a genesis of their origin, a special attention has been paid to corrosion and high-temperature erosion, often being a reason for destruction of the entire unit. The damages hereto described have been illustrated with examples collected during endoscope surveys of TSO internal spaces or their post-failure disassembly. The summary points out to the ways and directions of works aiming at early detection of TSO turbines units damages, and thus at improvement of their operating safety.
Effect of high calcium diet on the development of high blood pressure in intact spontaneously hypertensive rats and in adrenalectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats treated with aldosterone

The current investigation was designed to study the effect(s) of high calcium diet on the development of high blood pressure (BP) in both young intact spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and in young adrenalectomized (ADX) male SHRs treated with aldosterone (ALDO). Weaned SHRs were fed either a control calcium diet (0.5% Ca as PO4) (CCaDiet), a high calcium diet (2.5% Ca, 0.5% as PO4 and 2% as CO3) (HCaDiet), or Agway ProLab rat food containing 2.5% Ca (HCaPLDiet). The HCaDiet significantly blunted the development of high BP in young intact SHRs (P < 0.001; n = 8 to 10. At 6 weeks of age, BP was 117 ± 2 mm Hg (HCaDiet) compared with 135 ± 3 mm Hg (CCaDiet); by 12.7 weeks of age, BP was 192 ± 4 mm Hg (HCaDiet) compared with 233 ± 3 mm Hg (CCaDiet). Similar results were observed in age-matched SHRs fed the HCaPLDiet. The results show that subcutaneous infusion of ALDO (1.0 μg/d, osmotic pumps) for 2 weeks to young ADX male SHRs raised on the CCaDiet caused a significant increase in systolic BP when compared with SHRs implanted with Sham pumps (P < 0.001). High BP associated with ALDO infusion was attenuated by the HCaDiet (BP after 2 weeks was 138 ± 8 mm Hg for the HCaDiet group compared with 200 ± 5 mm H g for the CCaDiet group, P < 0.001; n = 4 to 6. The results show that the HCaDiet blunts the development of high BP in intact SHRs and may protect against the development of ALDO hypertension in ADX young SHRs.
Electrospinning of a micro-air vehicle wing skin

Electrospinning was utilized to create lightweight, electrically responsive wing skins for micro-air vehicle (MAV) wing frame designs. Various compositions of an electroactive polymer were investigated to determine the appropriate electrospinning conditions for these materials. Electrospun mats of these materials were characterized via optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Tensile properties of the electrospun fibers were also measured. An optimal polymer composition was electrospun onto MAV wing frames to create a bird wing-like texture. Preliminary testing of electroactivity of these prototype MAV wings is reported here.
A medium depth controllable towed instrument platform

An instrument-carrying vehicle capable of being towed at depths of a kilometer at speeds of 5-6 knots is described. The vehicle system can be operated from medium-sized vessels without special handling equipment, cumbersome and expensive cable fairings generally considered necessary for deep and/or fast tows are unnecessary. A stream-driven propellor coupled to a hydraulic pump provides power for actuation of control surfaces. Control is by electrical command from the surface. Instruments including conventional STDs, velocimeters and a current meter have been fitted to the vehicle system. A smaller body is towed below the vehicle to provide a second platform for gradient measurements at fixed vertical separations. Depth is surface controllable over plus or minus 30 meters of nominal without the necessity for hauling-in or paying-out wire. Stability at any depth has been shown to be excellent. It has been possible to follow isodensity (isopycnic) surfaces continuously and track them in depth.
Infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus in a Veterans' Affairs nursing home care unit: a 5-year experience.

Objectives To describe the frequency and patterns of infection caused by methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) infections in a single nursing home population and to determine the effect of MRSA's entry into the facility on subsequent experience with both MSSA and MRSA infections. Design Observational and descriptive. Surveillance data on nursing home-acquired infections were reviewed to identify all patients with MSSA and MRSA infections occurring during the 5-year period from 1987 to 1991. The medical records of these patients were reviewed retrospectively to collect additional information about the patients and their infections. Setting and patients A 120-bed Veterans' Affairs nursing home care unit (NHCU) whose residents predominantly were elderly men with severe underlying diseases and functional impairments. Results During the 5-year study period, 40 MSSA and 28 MRSA infections were acquired by NHCU residents. Twelve to 19 S aureus infections occurred each year. S aureus accounted for 13% to 17% of all NHCU-acquired infections during the years of study, occurring with a frequency of 0.29 to 0.47 infections per 1,000 resident-care days. MRSA infections, first detected in 1988, accounted for an increasing percentage of S aureus infections in subsequent years, but this increase had little effect on the facility's overall infection rates, the composite S aureus infection rates, or the types of infections observed. MSSA and MRSA infections acquired in the NHCU were comparable. Both affected patients with severe underlying diseases and functional impairments. Pneumonia, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and conjunctivitis were the types of infections observed most frequently, accounting for 28%, 25%, 22%, and 15% of all S aureus infections, respectively. Four bacteremic infections occurred in the MSSA group, and five in the MRSA group (P = .47). Four of the MSSA and three of the MRSA infections resulted in death (P = 1.0). Nine of the MSSA and 12 of the MRSA infections resulted in the patient's transfer to the associated acute care hospital for additional care (P = .13). Conclusions In the NHCU setting, MSSA and MRSA infections were similar in terms of the types of residents affected, the sites involved, and the frequency of adverse outcomes. The entry of MRSA into the facility appeared to have no effect on the subsequent experience with NHCU-acquired infections caused by S aureus.
Application of game tree searching techniques to sequential pattern recognition

A sequential pattern recognition (SPR) procedure does not test all the features of a pattern at once. Instead, it selects a feature to be tested. After receiving the result of that test, the procedure either classifies the unknown pattern or selects another feature to be tested, etc. Medical diagnosis is an example of SPR. In this paper the authors suggest that SPR be viewed as a one-person game played against nature (chance). Virtually all the powerful techniques developed for searching two-person, strictly competitive game trees can easily be incorporated either directly or by analogy into SPR procedures. In particular, one can incorporate the “miniaverage backing-up procedure” and the “gamma procedure,” which are the analogues of the “minimax backing-up procedure” and the “alpha-beta procedure,” respectively. Some computer simulated experiments in character recognition are presented. The results indicate that the approach is promising.
Distinct iron binding property of two putative iron donors for the iron-sulfur cluster assembly: IscA and the bacterial frataxin ortholog CyaY under physiological and oxidative stress conditions

Frataxin, a small mitochondrial protein linked to the neurodegenerative disease Friedreich ataxia, has recently been proposed as an iron donor for the iron-sulfur cluster assembly. An analogous function has also been attributed to IscA, a key member of the iron-sulfur cluster assembly machinery found in bacteria, yeast, and humans. Here we have compared the iron binding property of IscA and the frataxin ortholog CyaY from Escherichia coli under physiological and oxidative stress conditions. In the presence of the thioredoxin reductase system, which emulates the intracellular redox potential, CyaY fails to bind any iron even at a 10-fold excess of iron in the incubation solution. Under the same physiologically relevant conditions, IscA efficiently recruits iron and transfers the iron for the iron-sulfur cluster assembly in a proposed scaffold IscU. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, however, IscA completely loses its iron binding activity, whereas CyaY becomes a competent iron-binding protein and attenuates the iron-mediated production of hydroxyl free radicals. Hydrogen peroxide appears to oxidize the iron binding thiol groups in IscA, thus blocking the iron binding in the protein. Once the oxidized thiol groups in IscA are re-reduced with the thioredoxin reductase system, the iron binding activity of IscA is fully restored. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide has no effect on the iron binding carboxyl groups in CyaY, allowing the protein to bind iron under oxidative stress conditions. The results suggest that IscA is capable of recruiting intracellular iron for the iron-sulfur cluster assembly under normal physiological conditions, whereas CyaY may serve as an iron chaperon to sequester redox active free iron and alleviate cellular oxidative damage under oxidative stress conditions.
Absorption and chemopreventive targets of sulforaphane in humans following consumption of broccoli sprouts or a myrosinase-treated broccoli sprout extract

Scope—Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate derived from crucifers, has numerous health benefits. SFN bioavailability from dietary sources is a critical determinant of its efficacy in humans. A key factor in SFN absorption is the release of SFN from its glucosinolate precursor, glucoraphanin, by myrosinase. Dietary supplements are used in clinical trials to deliver consistent SFN doses, but myrosinase is often inactivated in available supplements. We evaluated SFN absorption from a myrosinase-treated broccoli sprout extract (BSE) and are the first to report effects of twice daily, oral dosing on SFN exposure in healthy adults.
Assessment of harmonic source correction for ultrasound medical imaging

Tissue velocity and attenuation inhomogeneities reduce ultrasound image quality in many patients. Over the years a number of methods have been developed to estimate the corrective delays necessary for phase aberration correction. Past methods were based on assumptions of the target or required a separate transducer acting as a transponder point source. A method is proposed which creates a known acoustical source in the tissue suitable for wavefront correction without a priori assumptions of the target or requiring a point source transponder. This method was tested with multiple electronically produced aberrations with RMS focusing errors of 0.25π radians, 0.44π radians, and 0.87π radians at 4.17 MHz. These aberrators were corrected using excised pork kidneys and on the left kidney of human volunteers as targets. Waveform correction on pork kidney led to an improvement in imaging beam amplitude and side-lobe level. Waveform correction on human subjects for a 0.87π radians RMS error aberrator led to a 15.4 dB improvement in imaging beam amplitude and an 11.8 dB improvement in side-lobe level. This method shows promise of overcoming the limitations of previous phase correction methods.
Experience with pelvic washings in stage I and II endometrial carcinoma.

Pelvic washings for cytologic analysis have become an accepted diagnostic procedure in the management of endometrial carcinoma. A retrospective study was performed in 163 consecutive patients with FIGO Stage I and II endometrial carcinoma to assess the significance and value of the washings. Abnormal results were obtained in 5.5% of patients. Patients with FIGO grade 3 lesions were significantly most likely to have abnormal washings ( P P
Advanced composite turboprops - Modeling, structural, and dynamic analyses

This paper presents a structural and dynamic analysis of a scaled-down wind tunnel model propfan blade made from fiber composites. This blade is one of a series of propfan blades that have been tested at the NASA Lewis Research Center wind tunnel facilities. The blade is highly swept and twisted and of the spar/shell construction. Due to the complexity of the blade geometry and its high performance, it is subjected to much higher loads and tends to be much less stable than conventional blades. The structural and dynamic analyses of the blade were performed using the NASA-Lewis COBSTRAN computer code. COBSTRAN is designed to generate the mesh and calculate the anisotropic material properties for composite blade analysis. Comparison of analytical and experimental mode shapes and frequencies are shown, verifying the model development and analysis techniques used. The methodologies and programs developed for this analysis are directly applicable to other propfan blades.
Radiofrequency ablation of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient after liver transplantation: two-year follow-up.

Orthotopic liver transplantation is frequently performed for patients with end-stage liver disease complicated by the development of small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Since the adaptation of the Milan criteria, the rate of posttransplantation recurrence has significantly decreased to a rate of 10%–20%. In the setting of recurrence after transplantation, survival rates are poor, with a median of 9 months. Survival can be extended with use of definitive therapies, most often surgical. The present report describes a patient with recurrent intrahepatic HCC after liver transplantation who was treated with radiofrequency ablation and has survived 24 months with normalization of α-fetoprotein levels and no evidence of viable tumor on imaging.
Muscle blood flow and functional capillary density evaluated by isotope clearance

Blood flow in the microvasculature is assumed to be regulated by 2 independent mechanisms acting in series: arterioles, whose calibre controls the mean blood flow (b) through each perfused capillary, and precapillary sphincters, whose all-or-nothing behavior determines the number (n) or density of capillaries that are open and perfused. Neithern norb can be measured reliably, but the product can be estimated by the clearance rate of radioactive xenon injected into muscle. Radioiodide moves more slowly than Xe133 across capillary walls, and at high values ofb, its clearance rate is diffusion-limited, i.e., sensitive ton but not tob. Mixtures of Xe133 and I131-iodide were injected into the gastrocnemii of anesthetized cats, and the levels of both isotopes were monitored continously by an external scintillation probe. A theoretical equation relating these clearance rates ton andb adequately describes data derivated from experiments in whichb was altered by inducing changes in arterial blood pressure while attempts were made to paralyze vasomotor mechanisms in order to keepn constant. If the model is valid, the double clearance method makes it possible to partition any observed change in capillary blood flow into 2 parts, that due to Δb and that due to Δn. Because the method provides a measure of the product of capillary permeability and effective capillary surface area, it is also possible to ascribe any observed changes in this product to alterations in permeability.
Vascular Access in Children

Establishment of stable vascular access is one of the essential and most challenging procedures in a pediatric hospital. Many clinical specialties provide vascular service in a pediatric hospital. At the top of the “expert procedural pyramid” is the pediatric interventional radiologist, who is best suited and trained to deliver this service. Growing awareness regarding the safety and high success rate of vascular access using image guidance has led to increased demand from clinicians to provide around-the-clock vascular access service by pediatric interventional radiologists. Hence, the success of a vascular access program, with the pediatric interventional radiologist as the key provider, is challenging, and a coordinated multidisciplinary team effort is essential for success. However, there are few dedicated pediatric interventional radiologists across the globe, and also only a couple of training programs exist for pediatric interventions. This article gives an overview of the technical aspects of pediatric vascular access and provides useful tips for obtaining vascular access in children safely and successfully using image guidance.
Structure of a B-DNA decamer with a central T-A step: C-G-A-T-T-A-A-T-C-G.

The X-ray crystal structure analysis of the decamer C-G-A-T-T-A-A-T-C-G has been carried out to a resolution of 1.5 A. The crystals are space group P212121, cell dimensions a = 38.60 A, b = 39.10 A, c = 33.07 A. The structure was solved by molecular replacement and refined with X-PLOR and NUCLSQ. The final R factor for a model with 404 DNA atoms, 108 water molecules and one magnesium hexahydrate cation is 15.7%. The double helix is essentially isostructural with C-G-A-T-C-G-A-T-C-G, with closely similar local helix parameters. The structure of the T-T-A-A center differs from that found in C-G-C-G-T-T-A-A-C-G-C-G in that the minor groove in our decamer is wide at the central T-A step rather than narrow, and the twist angle of the T-A step is small (31.1 °) rather than large. Whereas the tetrad model provides a convenient framework for discussing local DNA helix structure, it cannot be the entire story. The articulated helix model of DNA structure proposes that certain sequence regions of DNA show preferential twisting or bending properties, whereas other regions are less capable of deformation, in a manner that may be useful in sequence recognition by drugs and protein. Further crystal structure analyses should help to delineate the precise nature of sequence-dependent articulation in the DNA double helix.
Investor protection and cross-border acquisitions of private and public targets

Abstract We examine the announcement-period acquirer returns and target values for a large sample of cross-border acquisitions by U.S. firms, differentiating between private and public targets and paying particular attention to the legal protection of minority shareholders in the target country. For high-protection target countries, acquirer announcement-period returns are significantly negative for public targets and significantly positive for private targets. For low-protection target countries, the acquirer returns are significantly positive for public targets and insignificantly different from zero for private targets. For public targets, acquirer returns are decreasing and target-firm values and acquisition premia are increasing with the level of investor protection. For private targets, investor protection does not affect acquirer returns or target-firm values. We find that bidder returns decrease with the level of creditor protection in the target country and increase with the quality of accounting standards. Our results also show that in low- protection countries, firm-level corporate governance mechanisms, such as higher insider ownership, may substitute for the lower level of investor protection.
Starburst polyarylamines and their semiconducting complexes as potentially electroactive materials

Highly branched “starburst” polyarylamines were synthesized by repetitive condensations of 2,4dinitrofluorobenzene with anilines, followed by reduction. These starburst arylamines were complexed with iodine to form semiconducting products. The reduced arylamines were examined by cyclic voltammetry.
A quasiclassical trajectory study of H+CO2: Angular and translational distributions, and OH angular momentum alignment

We present a quasiclassical trajectory study of the H+CO2 reaction dynamics, with emphasis on product angular and translational distributions, and OH angular momentum alignment. A new potential surface has been developed for this study, based on modifications of a previously developed full dimensional empirical HCO2 potential surface. The modifications include correcting errors that cause the HO⋅⋅⋅CO dissociation barrier to be too loose, and adjusting the depth of the HCO2 minimum and the heights of several barriers, in order to bring them into agreement with their best estimates determined from ab initio calculations. We compare cross sections, energy partitioning, and mechanistic information calculated using the unmodified and modified surfaces with experimental results. Results from the modified surface improve the comparison with experiment for the product OH energy partitioning, but the product CO internal excitation is still high. The translational distributions have the same shape as measured distr...
Recurrent ovarian cancer metastatic to the bone: Case report

In patients with gynecologic malignancies, bone metastases are unusual and generally occur in a more advanced stage of the disease with extended local invasion of the primary site and/or parenchymal metastasis. In ovarian cancer, the main route of spread is intraperitoneal implantation and loco-regional invasion, whereas extraperitoneal spread usually implies advanced disease. Bone metastasis from ovarian cancer is rare and occurs in approximately 1% of primary or recurrent disease. The prognosis of cases with bone metastasis is poor. We report a patient with metastases to the sternum and a rib after prolonged treatment and a patient with recurrent ovarian cancer metastatic to the sacrum 8 months after primary treatment.
Bis(tetraphenylphosphonium) di-μ-iodido-bis[diiodidopalladate(II)].

The title compound, (PPh4)2[Pd2I6], was obtained unintentionally as the product of an attempted synthesis of a tripalladium sandwich complex. The molecular dimensions are unexceptional and the Pd---Pd distance, at 3.8183 (12) A,is much too long for any Pd—Pd interaction. Pd has a typical square-planar coordination geometry and the centrosymmetric anion is essentially planar.