cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autoimmune and gastrointestinal dysfunctions: does a subset of children with autism reveal a broader connection?

A large number of autoimmune disorders have a gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction component that may interplay with genetic, hormonal, environmental and/or stress factors. This narrarive review investigates possible links between autism, immune system abnormalities and GI symptoms in a subgroup of children with autism. A literature search on Medline (1950 to September 2010) was conducted to identify relevant articles by using the keywords ‘autism and gastrointestinal’ (71 publications) and ‘autism and immune’ (237 publications), cross-referencing and general searching to evaluate the available literature on the immunological and GI aspects of autism. Sufficient evidence exists to support that a subgroup of children with autism may suffer from concomitant immune-related GI symptoms.
Social welfare reform in the context of economic-political liberalization: Latin American cases

Abstract In the 1980s most of Latin America suffered a fiscal crisis resulting from the heavy debt burden and the halting of external credit, and a deep recession induced by the implementation of structural adjustment policies. Both phenomena provoked social costs with divergent degrees of severity. The existing social welfare system (in particular social security) was incapable of coping with the ensuing social costs due to structural and conjunctural causes. The crisis of social security has worsened and most countries in the region have either reformed their systems (mainly pensions but also health case) or are considering laws or engaged in studies of reform. This paper is divided into three sections: 1. (a)a brief assessment of the social costs of economic reform, and the inability of social security to cope with them; 2. (b)an analysis of the divergent models of social security reform in pensions and health care, and their relationship with underlying political and economic models in eight countries (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay); and 3. (c) a discussion on future viable types of reform in the region.
Frequency of Non-ST-segment Elevation Injury Patterns on Prehospital Electrocardiograms

AbstractIntroduction. Prehospital electrocardiograms (ECGs) have been recommended to facilitate early diagnosis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, prehospital ECGs can also be used to triage patients with non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes, who comprise a majority of patients with ischemic events presenting by ambulance to overcrowded emergency departments. Objective. We assessed the frequency of non–ST-segment elevation injury patterns on prehospital ECGs in patients with a chief complaint of chest pain evaluated by the emergency medical services (EMS) system. Methods. We analyzed prehospital ECGs of patients with the chief complaint of chest pain during a nine-month period. The ECGs were divided into three categories: injury pattern; no injury pattern; and technically uninterpretable. Injury pattern criteria were as follows: 1) regional ST depression ≥1.0 mm; 2) regional T-wave inversion (TWI) ≥3 mm; 3) left bundle branch block (LBBB); and 4) regional ST-segme...
Hairy cell lymphoma: a unique presentation of hairy cell leukaemia.

A 39-year-old man with a history of type 1 diabetes, presented with right hip pain on rotation, of approximately 5 years duration. No significant findings were observed on physical examination. A full blood count and peripheral blood film were unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an ovoid, 4 9 3 9 2 cm, hyperintense lesion in the right sacral ala on fluid-sensitive sequences (left). The lesion was confined to the bone on MRI, and there was no apparent cortical destruction on MRI or a subsequent computerized tomography (CT) scan. A CT-guided core biopsy demonstrated sheets of small to intermediate atypical lymphoid cells with irregular nuclei, indistinct nucleoli, distinct cell borders and ample cytoplasm varying from clear to granular (right). Only rare mitotic and apoptotic figures were seen. These atypical cells were positive for CD20, PAX5, BCL2, TRAP, CD72 (DBA44), CD25, CCND1 and kappa light chain, and negative for CD10, CD5, CD117, CD138, CD56, CD43, myeloperoxidase and lambda light chain. No evidence of CCND1/IGH fusion was detected by FISH, essentially ruling out the possibility of mantle cell lymphoma. A BRAF V600E mutation was detected by polymerase chain reaction. Based on the overall morphological, immunophenotypic and molecular features, a diagnosis of hairy cell leukaemia was made. A subsequent staging bone marrow biopsy was performed and showed no evidence of involvement by a lymphoproliferative disorder. The spleen was not visualized on imaging of the pelvis but was not palpable. Treatment was initiated in the form of systemic chemotherapy and the patient commenced a 7-d course of continuous cladribine 0 1 mg daily without adverse effects. He achieved and maintained radiographic remission throughout a 6-month followup period. Very rarely, hairy cell leukaemia presents as an isolated mass (lymphomatous form) without apparent bone marrow, blood or spleen involvement. This unusual form of hairy cell leukaemia expresses the distinctive immunohistochemical and genetic hallmarks of classical hairy cell leukaemia, and is a plausible consideration in the differential diagnosis of B-cell neoplasms presenting as a mass. The effectiveness of cladribine therapy in these cases suggests that this variant is comparable to hairy cell leukaemia presenting classically.
Fatigue Behavior of Epoxy and Polyester Resins

Abstract The behavior of an epoxy (Epon 828) and polyester resin (Paraplex P43) have been studied when subjected to cyclic fatigue stresses. A rotating beam fatigue machine was used to apply the stresses which varied from compression to tension (mean stress = 0). The surface temperature of the specimens was recorded by using an infrared temperature detector and the temperature rise was studied as a function of cyclic frequency and stress level. Fatigue life of the materials was studied as a function of cyclic frequency and the influence of moisture on fatigue life was also studied. It has been determined that the temperature rise during fatigue is critical in determining the life of the material. Fractography studies are also discussed and characteristic fracture surface features will be indicated.
Susceptibility of zygomycetes to human serum

Seven members of the class Zygomycetes were tested for serum susceptibility. Five of the isolates were inhibited to different degrees by pooled fresh human serum. Heating the serum at 56°C for 30min to inactivate complement did not abolish the inhibitory activity in the serum. Members of the genera Cunninghamella and Absidia appeared most susceptable to the inhibitory effects of serum while members of the genus Rhizopus were most resistant. One isolate of R. arrhizus appeared to have enhanced growth in the presence of human serum. Our findings suggest certain species of the class Zygomycetes are strongly inhibited by serum, and this may account for the rarity of human infections by these species.
Effects of some clinically encountered drugs on steroid synthesis and degradation

TEROID HORMONES and their synthetic analogues are extensively used as antiinflammatory agents, immunosuppressants, and contraceptives, and often used in combination with other drugs. The interaction between steroids and other drugs is complex and may involve alterations in steroid hormone secretion, excretion, metabolic degradation, and steroidogenesis. Knowledge of drug-steroid interactions, therefore, becomes a matter of practical concern to the physician caring for patients who receive steroids along with a variety of other medications. This review will focus on the interactions between steroids and some commonly used and interesting drugs. Drugs influence steroid metabolism by altering the peripheral degradation of the steroid, inhibiting steroidogenesis, or affecting the hypothalamus or pituitary with resultant alterations in steroid production. This article will review the first two mechanisms.
Evaluation of Risk Assessment Guideline Levels for the Chemical Warfare Agents Mustard, GB, and VX

The U.S. Army has estimated acute lethality guideline levels for inhalation of the chemical warfare agents mustard, GB, and VX. These levels are expressed as dosages measured in milligram-minutes per cubic meter (mg-min/m3). The National Advisory Council has also proposed acute emergency guideline levels (AEGLs) for the agents. The AEGLs are threshold exposure limits for the general public for mild effects, serious adverse effects, and lethality. They are expressed as air concentrations (in units of mg/m3) and are applicable to emergency exposure periods ranging from 10 min to 8 h. The report discusses strengths and deficiencies in the levels, important parameters (i.e., exposure time, breathing rate) that need to be explicitly addressed in deriving the guideline levels, and possible impacts that could result from using AEGLs instead of guideline dosages in future assessments.
EVOLUTION OF ARTHROPOD SILKS

▪ Abstract Silks belong to the class of molecules called structural proteins. The ability to produce silk proteins has evolved multiple times in the arthropods, and silk secreting glands have evolved via two different pathways. The comparative data and phylogenetic analyses in this review suggest that the silk-secreting systems of spiders and insects are homologous and linked to the crural gland (origin of systemic pathway to silk production) and cuticular secretions (origin of surficial pathway to silk production) of an onychophoran-like ancestor. The evolution of silk secreting organs via a surficial pathway is possible in adult and larval hexapods, regardless of their developmental mode. Silk secretion via a systemic pathway is possible in either adult or larval hexapods, but only larval insects have dedicated silk producing glands. Spiders, however, have evolved silk producing systems via both systemic pathway and surficial pathways, and a single individual retains both throughout its lifespan. Early ...
Can Experiences Near Death Furnish Evidence of Life after Death

Most people who have a near-death experience (NDE) say that the experience convinced them that they will survive death. People who have not had such an experience, however, may not share this convi...
Facilitating learning: believe in your students [engineering education]

This paper shares some of the author's beliefs, ideas and experiences with regards to engineering education. Her underlying philosophy is that graduating engineers must be prepared for the quickly changing technical environment they will be entering. Students need an experiential learning environment that provides them with a more intuitive approach to engineering problems, which in turn encourages them to study theory. It is also possible with such an approach to encourage and teach team interaction, which is important in today's industry. There are discussions and changes going on in many engineering schools that are similar to her beliefs. It appears that most of the effort is being spent on teaching and how to teach better. Although it is a subtle difference, she thinks the focus should be on learning, and how to help students learn better. The instructors should focus on teaching students to learn (coincidentally they learn the "material") rather than focusing on "covering" specific material. The instructor thereby cultivates an effective learning process that enhances lifelong learning.
Nickel L-edge and K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy of non-innocent Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2n series (n = −2, −1, 0): direct probe of nickel fractional oxidation state changes

A series of nickel dithiolene complexes Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2n (n = −2, −1, 0) has been investigated using Ni L- and K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The L3 centroid shifts about 0.3 eV for a change of one unit in the formal oxidation state (or 0.3 eV per oxi), corresponding to ∼33% of the shift for Ni oxides or fluorides (about 0.9 eV per oxi). The K-edge XAS edge position shifts about 0.7 eV per oxi, corresponding to ∼38% of that for Ni oxides (1.85 eV per oxi). In addition, Ni L sum rule analysis found the Ni(3d) ionicity in the frontier orbitals being 50.5%, 44.0% and 38.5% respectively (for n = −2, −1, 0), in comparison with their formal oxidation states (of Ni(II), Ni(III), and Ni(IV)). For the first time, direct and quantitative measurement of the Ni fractional oxidation state changes becomes possible for Ni dithiolene complexes, illustrating the power of L-edge XAS and L sum rule analysis in such a study. The Ni L-edge and K-edge XAS can be used in a complementary manner to better assess the oxidation states for Ni.
An Analysis of the Effects of Low-Energy Electron Irradiation of AlGaN/GaN HFETs

The effects of low energy (0.45 MeV) electron radiation on the gate and drain currents of Al0.27Ga0.73N/GaN HFETs are investigated using IV and CV measurements. Following irradiation, the gate and drain currents increase at low temperatures and reach a saturation level. The gate leakage currents do not fully account for the drain current increase. Following a room temperature anneal, the gate and drain currents return to pre-irradiation levels. These results are explained by the buildup of positive charge in the AlGaN layer at low temperature and traps formed via a complexing precursor in the AlGaN layer near the interface. The positive charge increases the carrier concentration in the 2DEG and hence the drain current. The traps act as trap-assisted-tunneling centers that increase the gate leakage current.
Community mining from multi-relational networks

Social network analysis has attracted much attention in recent years. Community mining is one of the major directions in social network analysis. Most of the existing methods on community mining assume that there is only one kind of relation in the network, and moreover, the mining results are independent of the users' needs or preferences. However, in reality, there exist multiple, heterogeneous social networks, each representing a particular kind of relationship, and each kind of relationship may play a distinct role in a particular task. In this paper, we systematically analyze the problem of mining hidden communities on heterogeneous social networks. Based on the observation that different relations have different importance with respect to a certain query, we propose a new method for learning an optimal linear combination of these relations which can best meet the user's expectation. With the obtained relation, better performance can be achieved for community mining.
Pointwise Convergence and Uniform Convergence of Wavelet Frame Series

Pointwise convergence and uniform convergence for wavelet frame series is a new topic. With the help of band–limited dual wavelet frames, this topic is first researched.
Equivalent Reactance of Synchronous Machines

Steady state characteristics of synchronous machines of normal design are affected appreciably by changes in magnetic saturation. In this paper the efect of saturation is included in the derivation of the equations for determining steady state performance. It is shown that a saturated machine under steady state conditions, and for small changes from the original operating point, can be replaced for purposes of calculation by an unsaturated machine.
Pleasure Rather Than Salience Activates Human Nucleus Accumbens and Medial Prefrontal Cortex

Recent human functional imaging studies have linked the processing of pleasant visual stimuli to activity in mesolimbic reward structures. However, whether the activation is driven specifically by the pleasantness of the stimulus, or by its salience, is unresolved. Here we find in two studies that free viewing of pleasant images of erotic and romantic couples prompts clear, reliable increases in nucleus accumbens (NAc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity, whereas equally arousing (salient) unpleasant images, and neutral pictures, do not. These data suggest that in visual perception, the human NAc and mPFC are specifically reactive to pleasant, rewarding stimuli and are not engaged by unpleasant stimuli, despite high stimulus salience.
Methoprene Effects on Survival and Reproductive Performance of Adult Female and Male Aedes aegypti

Methoprene is a juvenile hormone analog commonly used for the control of mosquito larvae. It acts through interference with normal metamorphosis, resulting in mortality prior to and during adult emergence. Methoprene is not commonly used for the control of adult mosquitoes, due to an absence of acute effects. Here, we have evaluated for chronic effects caused by the exposure of adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to methoprene. We applied methoprene to adults, both through 1) topical application to the abdomen and 2) as an aerosol, examining for treatment effects on ovary development, adult longevity, and fecundity. The results demonstrate that relatively high doses are required to affect adult survivorship. In contrast, significant impacts on both fecundity and egg hatch were observed in females treated at the lower dosages. We discuss the results in relation to autocidal strategies for mosquito control in which the release of fecund females is to be avoided.
A VLSI array CORDIC architecture

Use of the CORDIC (COordinate Rotation DIgital Computer) algorithm has been proposed for signal processing applications, since it has been shown that many DSP algorithms are fundamentally described by generalized rotations. However, the iterative nature of CORDIC has diminished its utility in high-speed real-time signal processing applications. The authors propose an array architecture for VLSI implementation of the CORDIC algorithm that aims to circumvent this shortcoming. The size and speed of the structure is compared with those of array multiplier and array divider structures. It is shown that the array CORDIC, while consuming a larger absolute real estate than these other structures, provides a better speed/area tradeoff as well as a rich set of elementary functions. >
Best Practices for Effective Clinical Partnerships with Indigenous Populations of North America (American Indian, Alaska Native, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit).

This article presents a review of the literature to identify best practices for clinical partnerships with indigenous populations of North America, specifically American Indian/Alaska Native, First Nations, Metis, and Inuit of Canada. The authors have identified best practices and lessons learned from collaborating with indigenous populations, presented in 2 categories: conceptual guidelines and health care delivery guidelines. Major themes include the importance of trust and communication, the delivery of culturally congruent health care, and the necessity of working in partnership with tribal entities for successful delivery of health care. Best practices in health care delivery with indigenous populations are presented.
ANALYSIS OF RANDOM AND SYSTEMATIC ERROR EFFECTS ON UNCERTAINTY PROPAGATION IN PROCESS DESIGN AND SIMULATION USING DISTRIBUTION TAIL CHARACTERIZATION

An exponential and heavy tail analysis method is presented to study the effect of systematic and random errors present in thermodynamic data on chemical process design and simulation. The true distribution tail characteristics (important for high levels of quality assurance) can be far from the estimates obtained with typical Gaussian distribution analysis. Pareto (heavy) or exponential distributions may represent the tail behavior better under many circumstances. Heavy tails diminish at an algebraic rate rather than at an exponential rate. Different error types such as random and systematic error can potentially cause different effects in the behavior of probability distributions, particularly in the tails. In this work, we use the tail behavior of cumulative frequency distributions produced from uncertainty analyses to characterize the error propagation in process design and simulation. The diminishing rate of the tail of a given distribution can be related to the error types involved in the process and...
Flavor Preferences Conditioned by Intragastric Monosodium Glutamate in Mice

The consumption of monosodium glutamate (MSG) solutions has been shown to reinforce preferences for MSG and for MSG–paired flavors in mice. These effects appear to have a strong postoral component, such that MSG detected in the gut is associated with concurrently consumed flavors. Two experiments investigated postoral MSG reward by infusing 400 mM MSG intragastrically (IG) to C57BL/6 mice as they consumed a conditioned stimulus (CS+) flavor. An alternate CS− flavor was paired with IG water. In Experiment 1, the grape and cherry CS flavors were unsweetened, and intakes and preferences for the CS+ flavor were modest. Experiment 2 attempted to generate stronger preferences by adding 0.05% saccharin to the CS flavors. Sweet taste did enhance intakes during training and testing but did not significantly increase percent CS+ intake or persistence of the preference. However, only conditioning with the sweet CS+ resulted in the mice expressing a preference for oral MSG in an initial choice test with water. These findings extend recent studies demonstrating postoral MSG conditioning in rats.
Physiology of the “Stick” in the Dry Picking of Poultry

ABSTRACT (Continued from April issue.) To summarize the above results there are eight instances where the cerebellum was severely cut with no effect upon the feathers and only two instances where injury to the cerebellum loosened the feathers. On the other hand, there are seven instances where injury to the medulla alone loosened the feathers and no instance through the entire course of the experiments where even the slightest injury to the medulla failed to loosen the feathers. Thus it is practically certain that there is a brain center controlling the feather muscles and that this center is in the medulla. This fact was further corroborated by means of electric stimuli on five pigeons. The cerebellum and medulla of No. 10 were exposed and the cerebellum electrically stimulated with no effect upon the feathers; the medulla was then stimulated, causing a marked loosening of the feathers lasting some time after the . . .
Using Genomics To Standardize Population Analysis Profile-Area under the Curve Ratio for Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus

Detection of Staphylococcus aureus isolates with intermediate vancomycin susceptibility (VISA) and heteroresistance (hVISA) remains problematic. Population analysis profile-area under the curve ratio (PAP-AUC) is the gold standard, with the level of resistance of an isolate expressed as a ratio of
Phosphoinositides alter lipid bilayer properties.

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), which constitutes ∼1% of the plasma membrane phospholipid, plays a key role in membrane-delimited signaling. PIP2 regulates structurally and functionally diverse membrane proteins, including voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, inwardly rectifying ion channels, transporters, and receptors. In some cases, the regulation is known to involve specific lipid–protein interactions, but the mechanisms by which PIP2 regulates many of its various targets remain to be fully elucidated. Because many PIP2 targets are membrane-spanning proteins, we explored whether the phosphoinositides might alter bilayer physical properties such as curvature and elasticity, which would alter the equilibrium between membrane protein conformational states—and thereby protein function. Taking advantage of the gramicidin A (gA) channels’ sensitivity to changes in lipid bilayer properties, we used gA-based fluorescence quenching and single-channel assays to examine the effects of long-chain PIP2s (brain PIP2, which is predominantly 1-stearyl-2-arachidonyl-PIP2, and dioleoyl-PIP2) on bilayer properties. When premixed with dioleoyl-phosphocholine at 2 mol %, both long-chain PIP2s produced similar changes in gA channel function (bilayer properties); when applied through the aqueous solution, however, brain PIP2 was a more potent modifier than dioleoyl-PIP2. Given the widespread use of short-chain dioctanoyl-phosphoinositides, we also examined the effects of diC8-phosphoinositol (PI), PI(4,5)P2, PI(3,5)P2, PI(3,4)P2, and PI(3,4,5)P3. The diC8 phosphoinositides, except for PI(3,5)P2, altered bilayer properties with potencies that decreased with increasing head group charge. Nonphosphoinositide diC8 phospholipids generally were more potent bilayer modifiers than the polyphosphoinositides. These results show that physiological increases or decreases in plasma membrane PIP2 levels, as a result of activation of PI kinases or phosphatases, are likely to alter lipid bilayer properties, in addition to any other effects they may have. The results further show that exogenous PIP2, as well as structural analogues that differ in acyl chain length or phosphorylation state, alters lipid bilayer properties at the concentrations used in many cell physiological experiments.
Functionalized high performance polymer membranes for separation of carbon dioxide and methane

A significant enhancement in separation performance of supported polyaniline and polypyrrole membranes after chemical modification via grafting and solvation with a non-volatile liquid, poly(ethylene glycol), has been demonstrated.
Chemical Etching of Si1 − x Ge x in HF : H 2 O 2 : CH 3 COOH

The properties of a highly selective chemical etchant composed of hydrofluoric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and acetic acid (HF:H 2 O 2 :CH 3 COOH) is investigated in etching SiGe/Si heterostructures. This solution has been found to etch Si 1-x Ge x much faster than Si over the entire range of Ge contents. The etch rate dependences are presented as functions of solution composition, Ge content, dopant type, diluent type, temperature, and stirring. Both n-type and p-type Si 1-x Ge x layers with Ge contents of 0≤x≤0.60 and 0≤x≤1.00, respectively, are investigated. It is found that the n-type samples etch at a faster rate than p-type for all Ge contents examined. When CH 3 COOH is used as the diluent instead of H 2 O a significant enhancement in the etch rate results for all concentrations of Ge studied. Also, the amount of H 2 O 2 in the presence of CH 3 COOH has a significant effect on the magnitude of the etch rate as well as its behavior over time
Directional Sensitivity of Echolocation System in Bats Producing Frequency-Modulated Signals

1. Radiation patterns of the 55, 75 and 95 kHz components in frequency-modulated sounds emitted by the grey bat (Myotis grisescens) were studied. FM sounds similar to species-specific orientation sounds were elicited by electrical stimuli applied to the midbrain while the head of the animal was immobilized by a nail cemented to its skull. The main beam was emitted 5-10° downward from the eye-nostril line. The radiation angle at one half of maximum amplitude was 38° lateral, 18° up and 50° down at 55 kHz, 34° lateral, 8° up and 32° down at 75 kHz, and 30° lateral, 5° up and 25° down at 95 kHz. At 95 kHz, two prominent side lobes were present. 2. The directional sensitivity of the auditory system (DSA) measured in terms of the potential evoked in the lateral lemniscus was studied with the grey bat (M. grisescens) and the little brown bat (M. lucifugus). The maximally sensitive direction moved toward the median plane with the increase in frequency from 35-95 kHz. The slope of the DSA curve increased from 0.3-0.6 dB/degree with frequency. 3. The directional sensitivity of the echolocation system (DSE) was calculated using both the DSA curve and the radiation pattern of the emitted sound. The maximally sensitive direction of the echolocation system was 15° lateral to the median plane at 55kHz and 2.5° lateral at 95 kHz. The slope of the DSE curve increased from o.6 to 1.0 dB/degree with frequency. Thus, the higher the frequency of sound, the sharper was the directional sensitivity of the echolocation system. 4. The interaural pressure difference (IPD), which appeared to be the essential cue for echolocation in Myotis, changed linearly with the azimuth angle from 0-30° lateral regardless of the frequency of sound, at respective rates of 0.4, 0.7, 0.3 and 0.4 dB/degree for 35, 55, 75 and 95 kHz sounds. Beyond 30°, the change in IPD was quite different depending on frequency. For 75 and 95 kHz sounds, the IPD stayed nearly the same between 30° and 90°. Thus, the 75-95 kHz components in FM orientation sounds were not superior to the 35 and 55 kHz components in terms of the IPD cue for echolocation. 5. Assuming the just-detectable IPD and ITD to be 0.5 dB and 5µsec respectively, as in man, the just-detectable azimuth difference of Myotis around the median plane would be 0.7-1.7° with the IPD cue and 11° with the ITD cue.
Adjunctive dexmedetomidine therapy in the intensive care unit: a retrospective assessment of impact on sedative and analgesic requirements, levels of sedation and analgesia, and ventilatory and hemodynamic parameters.

Study Objective. To determine if adjunctive dexmedetomidine therapy in intensive care patients alters requirements for and levels of sedation and analgesia, and to describe hemodynamic and ventilatory parameters. Design. Retrospective, noncontrolled, descriptive study of clinical practice. Setting. Four intensive care units (ICUs; medical, surgical, neurosurgical, or burn) in a university-affiliated medical center. Patients. Forty patients who were already receiving sustained use of propofol, lorazepam, or fentanyl when dexmedetomidine was started. Measurements and Main Results. Medical records were identified by searching the pharmacy database for patients who had received continuous-infusion dexmedetomidine from January 2000-January 2003 while in one of the four ICUs. Primary end points were discontinuation or dosage reduction of other sedatives or fentanyl from the hour before to 6 hours after starting dexmedetomidine. Other outcomes included levels of sedation and analgesia before and after dexmedetomidine and description of ventilatory and hemodynamic parameters. The initial dexmedetomidine rate of 0.4 ± 0.25 μg/kg/hour changed minimally through 47.4 ±61.1 infusion hours. At 6 hours, 11 of 13 patients receiving propofol, 14 of 23 receiving lorazepam, and 4 of 30 receiving fentanyl had the respective agent discontinued. With dexmedetomidine, the hourly rates and cumulative daily doses were reduced only for propofol. Adequate sedation occurred at rates of 64.6% and 47.9% during the 24-hour periods before and after dexmedetomidine was started, respectively (p=0.001). Four and 12 patients had severe agitation before and after, respectively (p=0.05). One and 12 patients had severe pain before and after, respectively (p=0.02). Nine patients experienced hypotension or bradycardia. Twenty-two patients were successfully extubated within 24 hours of starting dexmedetomidine. Conclusions. Adjunctive dexmedetomidine reduces sedative requirements but does not alter analgesic requirements. However, dexmedetomidine was associated with enhanced agitation, severe pain, and hemodynamic compromise. Transitioning to dexmedetomidine from other sedatives and analgesics may not provide optimal sedation and analgesia. Future studies are needed to evaluate dexmedetomidine as a bridge to extubation.
Chronological equipment diagnosis using evidence integration

We have developed a diagnostic system that employs the Dempster-Shafer (D-S) evidential reasoning technique to conduct malfunction diagnosis on semiconductor manufacturing equipment. This is accomplished by combining evidence originating from equipment maintenance records, from real-time equipment data, and from measurements on the finished product. Using this information, equipment malfunctions are analyzed and their causes are inferred through the resolution of qualitative and quantitative constraints. The qualitative constraints describe the "normal" operation of the equipment. The quantitative constraints are numerical models that apply to the manufacturing step in question. These models are specifically created and characterized through experimentation and statistical analysis. The violation of these constraints is linked to the evaluation of continuous "belief functions" for the calculation of the "belief' associated with the various types of failure. The belief functions encapsulate the experience of many equipment maintenance specialists. Once created, the belief functions can be fine-tuned automatically, drawing from historical maintenance records. These records are stored in symbolic form to facilitate this task. A prototype of this diagnostic system was implemented in an object-oriented programming environment. This implementation enables knowledge and functionalities to be shared by different pieces of manufacturing equipment. The D-S diagnostic method was first applied to a reactor used for Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (LPCVD) of undoped polysilicon films. Early results indicate that this diagnostic system is sensitive, stable, and accurate.
Cellulolytic Streptomyces strains associated with herbivorous insects share a phylogenetically linked capacity to degrade lignocellulose.

ABSTRACT Actinobacteria in the genus Streptomyces are critical players in microbial communities that decompose complex carbohydrates in the soil, and these bacteria have recently been implicated in the deconstruction of plant polysaccharides for some herbivorous insects. Despite the importance of Streptomyces to carbon cycling, the extent of their plant biomass-degrading ability remains largely unknown. In this study, we compared four strains of Streptomyces isolated from insect herbivores that attack pine trees: DpondAA-B6 (SDPB6) from the mountain pine beetle, SPB74 from the southern pine beetle, and SirexAA-E (SACTE) and SirexAA-G from the woodwasp, Sirex noctilio. Biochemical analysis of secreted enzymes demonstrated that only two of these strains, SACTE and SDPB6, were efficient at degrading plant biomass. Genomic analyses indicated that SACTE and SDPB6 are closely related and that they share similar compositions of carbohydrate-active enzymes. Genome-wide proteomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that the major exocellulases (GH6 and GH48), lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (AA10), and mannanases (GH5) were conserved and secreted by both organisms, while the secreted endocellulases (GH5 and GH9 versus GH9 and GH12) were from diverged enzyme families. Together, these data identify two phylogenetically related insect-associated Streptomyces strains with high biomass-degrading activity and characterize key enzymatic similarities and differences used by these organisms to deconstruct plant biomass.
Performance of training-based OFDM systems in the presence of time varying frequency-selective channels

We consider a single user OFDM system that experiences time-varying and frequency selective channels. We study a training based scenario, where the channel is estimated based on pilots that proceed the transmission of the information bearing blocks, and then used to equalize the subsequent data blocks. In such a scheme, due to the time-varying channel, the BER increases as the index of the data block increases. Considering commonly used models for time-varying channels, we derive an analytical expression for the bit error rate as a function of the block index. The proposed analysis is important in optimizing the system performance, as it can be exploited at the transmitter to determine how often pilots need to be transmitted, or what kind of modulation should be used on each carrier in order to maintain a certain error level.
Not What It Seems: Deep Tissue Infection Presenting as Cellulitis.

A 34-year-old male with diabetes presented to the emergency department with four days of progressively worsening redness, swelling and pain to his left buttock. The patient denied fevers, chills, rectal pain or purulent drainage from his rectum. His initial vital signs were heart rate of 82; blood pressure of 146/92; and temperature of 98.2°F. The left buttock had a poorly circumscribed area of induration; however, there was no fluctuance or crepitace. Rectal exam was unremarkable. Because the patient’s buttock pain was disproportionate to his exam findings, a point-of-care ultrasound was performed to determine if a more extensive process was present. The ultrasound demonstrated cobblestoning, fascial thickening with edema, and a large 4.5cm fluid collection extending and adjacent to the rectum (Figure 1). A computed tomography (CT) of the pelvis with IV contrast confirmed the presence of a perirectal abscess (Figure 2). Figure 1 Large fluid collection adjacent to the rectum (white arrow). Figure 2 Pelvic CT showing peri-rectal fluid collection (white arrow). Perirectal abscesses and fistulas are common in adults. Abscess formation begins as an infection of the anal glands. Over time, this infection can spread to surrounding tissues leading to fistula formation in roughly 40% of patients. The ratio of occurrence in males to females in the adult population is 2:1. Diagnosis of a peri-rectal abscess is clinical; however, ultrasound and CT can be used in indefinite cases. Treatment requires surgical incision and drainage with packing and follow up. Reoccurrence occurs in roughly 10% of patients. The patient was seen by a surgeon who performed a bedside incision and drainage, and the patient was started on IV antibiotics and discharged the next day.
Corporate Capacity for Crime and Politics: Defining Corporate Personhood at the Turn of the Twentieth Century

Traditional historical accounts of corporate personhood in the early twentieth century portray corporate law as the extension of a doctrinal conflict between the real entity and artificial entity theories of the corporation. Artificial entity theory posited that the corporation was a creature of the state, and could therefore be regulated with impunity. Real entity theory maintained that corporations existed independently of the state, and therefore possessed rights, duties, and morality, as would any natural person. In the traditional narrative, corporate power expanded because real entity theory triumphed over artificial entity theory. This Note rejects that either real entity or artificial entity theory were foundational doctrines in early twentieth century corporate law as applied by American courts, and uses corporate crime and politics as a platform for debunking that myth.After 1905, Congress and state legislatures passed laws banning corporate political expenditures. Around the same time, lawmakers enacted groundbreaking statutes subjecting entire corporations to criminal liability. The American judiciary reacted favorably to both legislative movements, contemporaneously citing elements of artificial entity theory to justify bans against political contributions, and real entity theory to rationalize corporate criminal liability. This suggests that the real entity and artificial entity theories were more instrumental than foundational concepts in the courts.The judiciary, however, was not without doctrinal ballast. It defined corporate personhood and constitutional rights through the property interests entangled in the corporation. Corporate personhood thus emerged in the decades preceding and following the turn of the twentieth century through the substantive due process analysis that characterized much of the Lochner Era jurisprudence. This concept of corporations as repositories of property interests ultimately explains why courts were willing to uphold bans on corporate political contributions and recognize corporate criminal liability.The Note concludes by examining the continued relevance of property interests with regard to corporate personhood in the recent and controversial Citizens United decision. In particular, without directly challenging the First Amendment policies of the present Court, this Note seeks to add historical depth to the debate in Citizens United and demonstrate that affording corporations the right to political expenditures was neither doctrinally mandated nor historically inevitable.
Transverse Single Spin Asymmetry of π0 and η Mesons at RHIC/PHENIX

We presented measurements of the transverse single spin asymmetries (AN) for neutral π and η meson at forward rapidities and central rapidity with the PHENIX detector at RHIC at 62.4 GeV and 200 GeV. At mid-rapidity, π0 and eta are reconstructed from di-photon decay. At forward rapidities, π0 and eta meson are measured using di-photons decays and electromagnetic clusters due to the photon merging effects are significant for energy E > 20GeV. The neutral-pion measurement of AN at mid-rapidity is consistent with zero with uncertainties a factor of 20 smaller than previous publications, which will lead to improved constraints on the gluon Sivers function. At higher rapidities, both neutral π and η AN exhibit sizable asymmetries. The origin of the forward AN is presently not understood quantitatively. We also measured η meson cross section for 0.5 < pT < 5.0 GeV/c and 3.0 < η < 3.8. It is well described by a NLO pQCD calculation.
Evaluating Models of Crisis Behavior: Some Evidence from the Middle East

The dynamics of crisis behavior have long been an important subject of inquiry for students of international politics. Only recently, however, has there been any effort to examine empirically theoretical propositions regarding this phenonenon (e.g., Hermann, 1969; Holsti, 1965; Zinnes, 1968). In this paper, we seek to add to our knowledge of the international crisis process by evaluation of three models with data from the Middle East subsystem. The models examined are Graham Allison's organizational process paradigm, Charles McClelland's event/interaction model, and a combined interaction/organizational model. The empirical referents are the principal nations involved in the Suez and Six Day War Crises. Little previous empirical work exists on these models. To my knowledge, only Tanter (1972: 7-39) has done any systematic evaluation of these models. Tanter analyzed alliance behavior (NATO and the WTO) in pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis periods of the Berlin conflict of 1961. While Tanter's results for alliance
Use of Point-of-Care Tests (POCTs) by US Primary Care Physicians

Objective: Point-of-care testing (POCT) has been used in the United States for several decades to diagnose and monitor acute and chronic medical conditions. The aim of this study is to assess the use of POCT and perceived benefits of and concerns regarding POCT among US family physicians. Methods: A total of 405 US family physicians responded to an electronic survey about their use of POCT for diagnosing and monitoring illnesses and for reducing referrals for specialty care. Respondents were also asked about the frequency of, benefits of, and concerns regarding the use of POCT. Results: The top 10 conditions for which physicians reported using POCT for diagnosis are diabetes mellitus, urinary tract infections, strep throat, influenza, pregnancy, anemia, infectious mononucleosis, anticoagulation, acute cardiac conditions, and lipid disorders. More than half of the respondents use or would use >15 kinds of POCTs at least weekly. The perceived benefits of POCT included immediately available results and physician/patient satisfaction; perceived concerns included the accuracy and cost of the tests. Conclusions: Findings show that a variety of point-of-care tests are used by US family physicians for immediate diagnosis and monitoring. With continuing technical improvements and decreasing costs, it is highly likely that POCT use will increase dramatically.
Experiences in reconstruction of the breast after mastectomy.

The recent increased popularity of breast reconstruction is due to several factors: a change in the epidemiology of breast cancer, the greater degree of competence of the surgeon, the development of better prostheses, and general acceptance by medical advisors that the patient’s desire for body image restoration is valid and not trivial.
The potential of gene therapy for treatment of kidney diseases

As knowledge of the genes and molecular events involved in specific kidney disorders expands, so do the potential applications for treating the disorders on fundamental levels. Progress in gene therapy for genetic diseases for which molecular events are simpler or better characterized has already been substantial. In addition, exciting first steps in targeting genes specifically to the kidney have emerged, although much work in defining kidney-specific genes and gene regulatory elements still needs to be done. To provide a framework for understanding the concepts and problems involved in gene therapy, we will discuss basic aspects of gene structure and regulation, gene delivery vectors, steps necessary to achieve tissue- and cell-specific expression of delivered genes, and some present and future applications of gene therapy in kidney diseases.
Accuracy of Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Measurement in Premature Infants

Background. In premature infants, maintaining blood partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) value within a narrow range is important to avoid cerebral lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of a noninvasive transcutaneous method (TcpCO2), compared to blood partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2). Methods. Retrospective observational study in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. We analyzed the correlation between blood pCO2 and transcutaneous values and the accuracy between the trends of blood pCO2 and TcpCO2 in all consecutive premature infants born at <33 weeks' gestational age. Results. 248 infants were included (median gestational age: 29 + 5 weeks and median birth weight: 1250 g), providing 1365 pairs of TcpCO2 and blood pCO2 values. Pearson's R correlation between these values was 0.58. The mean bias was -0.93 kPa with a 95% confidence limit of agreement of -4.05 to +2.16 kPa. Correlation between the trends of TcpCO2 and blood pCO2 values was good in only 39.6%. Conclusions. In premature infants, TcpCO2 was poorly correlated to blood pCO2, with a wide limit of agreement. Furthermore, concordance between trends was equally low. We warn about clinical decision-making on TcpCO2 alone when used as continuous monitoring.
Normal age-related changes in thyroid hormone economy.

Aging is associated with significant changes in the anatomy of the thyroid gland and in the physiology of hypothalmic-pituitaryhormone thyroid axis. In addition, tissue responsiveness to thyroid hormone may also be altered with age. However, age alone should not influence the interpretation of commonly obtained thyroid function tests. The reduced thyroid hormone clearance with age explains the reduced daily replacement doses of thryoxine in hypothyroid elderly subjects.
Mechanism of Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on 1T-MoS2 from First Principles

The 1T phase of transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) has been demonstrated in recent experiments to display excellent catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), but the catalytic mechanism has not been elucidated so far. Herein, using 1T MoS2 as the prototypical TMD material, we studied the HER activity on its basal plane from periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Compared to the nonreactive basal plane of 2H phase MoS2, the catalytic activity of the basal plane of 1T phase MoS2 mainly arises from its affinity for binding H at the surface S sites. Using the binding free energy (ΔGH) of H as the descriptor, we found that the optimum evolution of H2 will proceed at surface H coverage of 12.5% ∼ 25%. Within this coverage, we examined the reaction energy and barrier for the three elementary steps of the HER process. The Volmer step was found to be facile, whereas the subsequent Heyrovsky reaction is kinetically more favorable than the Tafel reaction. Our results suggest that...