cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complications of Acute Bacterial Sinusitis in Children

Complications of acute bacterial sinusitis are rare, occurring in <1% of cases. These complications relate directly to the proximity of the paranasal sinuses to the orbit and the brain. Complications may be categorized as orbital, intracranial, and those involving the bone of the frontal sinus. Orbital manifestations may be divided into preseptal or post-septal infections. Outcomes depend on prompt recognition of orbital and intracranial involvement, early intervention with antimicrobials and, when needed, surgical drainage. This chapter reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, microbiology, and therapy of complications of acute bacterial sinusitis in children.
Increased membrane transport of 2‐deoxyglucose and 3‐0‐methylglucose is an early event in the transformation of chick embryo fibroblasts by rous sarcoma virus

Transformation of chicken embryo fibroblasts with Rous sarcoma virus results in cells with an enhanced rate of hexose uptake. We have examined transport of the glucose analogs 2-deoxyglucose and 3-0-methylglucose in cells infected with a temperature sensitive variant of the virus. In cells shifted from restrictive to permissive conditions for transformation, increased transport of the non-phosphorylatable analog 3-0-methylglucose occurs at the same time as that of 2-deoxyglucose, a phosphorylatable analog. This enhanced rate of transport can be observed within three hours of the temperature shift. There is a corresponding decrease in the transport rate of both analogs following shift to the restrictive temperature. These results suggest that increased transport is likely to be the primary event in causing transformation-specific changes in sugar metabolism. We have also examined uptake into the internal pools of both the phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of 2-deoxyglucose in normal cells and in cells transformed by the wild-type virus. These data indicate a corresponding increase in the rate of accumulation of the free sugar in transformed cells and point to transport as the rate limiting step in the accumulation of 2-deoxyglucose in both normal and transformed chicken embryo cells.
Intelligent sticky notes that can be searched, located and can send reminders and messages

We present 'Quickies: Intelligent Sticky Notes', an attempt to bring one of the most useful inventions of the 20th century into the digital age: the ubiquitous sticky notes. Sticky notes help us manage our-to-do lists, tag our objects and documents and capture short reminders or information that we may need in the near future. 'Quickies' enrich the experience of using sticky notes by allowing them to be tracked and managed more effectively. Quickies are stickies that have intelligence and the ability to remind us about the task we ought to perform or to provide us at the right time with the information we captured in the past. The project explores how the use of Artificial Intelligence, RFID, and ink recognition technologies can make it possible to create intelligent sticky notes that can be searched, located, can send reminders and messages, and more broadly, can help us to seamlessly connect our physical and digital experiences.
A photo‐ionization study of organosulfur ring compounds: Thiirane, thietane and tetrahydrothiophene

The gas phase heats of formation of several organosulfur cations were determined from thiirane, thietane and tetrahydrothiophene precursor molecules by photoionization mass spectrometry. Heats of formation at 0 K and 298 K are reported for the following ions: [H2CS]+˙, [H3CS]+, [C2H3S]+, [C2H4S]+˙, [C3H5S]+, [C3H6S]+˙, [C4H7S]+ and [C4H8S]+˙. The [C4H7S]+ (m/z 87), [C2H4S]+˙ (m/z 60), [C2H3S]+ (m/z 59), [C4H7]+ (m/z 55), [C4H6]+˙ (m/z 54) and [CH2S]+˙ (m/z 46) ions are produced from metastable tetrahydrothiophene ions at photon energies between 10.2 and 10.7 eV. Decay rates of internal energy selected parent ions to the m/z 60, 59, 55 and 54 fragments were measured by threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence, the results of which are compared to statistical theory (RRKM/QET) calculations. The [C2H4S]+˙ ion from tetrahydrothiophene is found to have the thioacetaldehyde structure. From the measured [C2H4S]+˙ onset a ΔH = 50±8 kJ mol−1 was calculated for the thioacetaldehyde molecule.
Effects of alpha-amylase reaction mechanisms on analysis of resistant-starch contents.

Abstract This study aimed to understand differences in the resistant starch (RS) contents of native and modified starches obtained using two standard methods of RS content analysis: AOAC Method 991.43 and 2002.02. The largest differences were observed in native potato starch, cross-linked wheat distarch phosphate, and high-amylose corn starch stearic-acid complex (RS5) between using AOAC Method 991.43 with Bacillus licheniformis α-amylase (BL) and AOAC Method 2002.02 with porcine pancreatic α-amylase (PPA). To determine possible reasons for these differences, we hydrolyzed raw-starch granules with BL and PPA with equal activity at pH 6.9 and 37 °C for up to 84 h and observed the starch granules displayed distinct morphological differences after the hydrolysis. Starches hydrolyzed by BL showed erosion on the surface of the granules; those hydrolyzed by PPA showed pitting on granule surfaces. These results suggested that enzyme reaction mechanisms, including the sizes of the binding sites and the reaction patterns of the two enzymes, contributed to the differences in the RS contents obtained using different methods of RS analysis.
Hybrid Organic-Inorganic for Low-Cost Photonics Integration

Hybrid organic-inorganic sol-gel materials are attractive for their process simplicity, optical properties. In this talk the recent developments in hybrid sol-gel integrated optics and electro-optical components including, splitters, tunable filters and modulators will be presented.
Abstraction database concept for engineering modeling

Engineering modeling and design generally involve a large set of independent but interrelated data items. One way to organize and store these data items in a systematic and consistent manner is through the use of a database management system. The abstraction concepts of aggregation and generalization provide a powerful mechanism for organizing and structuring engineering data. The invariants required to maintain the abstract data model are examined in this paper. Integrity issues involved in the data representation of hierarchically structured engineering models, such as constructive solid geometry models, are discussed. Object-oriented programming concepts are used to implement a prototype integrity subsystem for enforcement of integrity constraints in the aggregation/generalization framework for modeling data.
A Rationalized Haar Functions Method for Nonlinear Fredholm-hammerstein Integral Equations

In this paper rationalized Haar functions are developed to approximate the solutions of the nonlinear Fredholm-Hammerstein integral equations. Properties of rationalized Haar functions are first presented, and the operational matrix of the product of two rationalized Haar functions vector is utilized to reduce the computation of integral equations to some algebraic equations. The method is computationally attractive, and applications are demonstrated through an illustrative example.
Thermal isomerizations of cis,anti,cis-tricyclo[6.4.0.02,7]dodec-3-ene to trans- and cis,endo-tricyclo[6.2.2.02,7]dodec-9-ene: diradical conformations and stereochemical outcomes in [1,3] carbon shifts

Abstract The gas-phase thermal isomerizations at 315 °C of cis,anti,cis-tricyclo[6.4.0.02,7]dodec-3-ene to trans-tricyclo[6.2.2.02,7]dodec-9-ene and to cis,endo-tricyclo[6.2.2.02,7]dodec-9-ene favor the former, the more geometrically strained product, by a ratio of 2.4:1. These products correspond to suprafacial inversion (si) and suprafacial retention (sr) stereochemical outcomes. The reaction stereochemistry shown by the 11-carbon homolog, cis,anti,cis-tricyclo[6.3.0.02,7]undec-3-ene, is strikingly different: the [1,3] carbon shift takes place to give only the ‘forbidden’ sr product. Two related bicyclic vinylcyclobutanes, 8-deuterio- and 8-exo-methylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes, evidence contrasting reaction stereochemical predilections in [1,3] shifts, but the 12-carbon tricyclic system and the 8-exo-methyl bicyclic analog isomerize with the same si:sr ratio! These observations prompt fresh considerations of structural influences on conformational preferences available to the alkyl, allyl diradical reactive intermediates involved.
Contemporary views on female pelvic anatomy.

he durable surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse and its related disorders remains a significant challenge. The pelvic reconstructive surgeon needs an intimate knowledge of relevant surgical landmarks as well as a fundamental understanding of the biomechanics of pelvic organ support in order to successfully restore normal visceral anatomy and function. Rather than presenting a detailed description of female pelvic anatomy, this review provides a discussion of the contemporary understanding of female pelvic organ support, with emphasis on the functional and surgical anatomy of the vagina, urethra, and pelvic floor, as well as a discussion of obturator anatomy, as several new innovative procedures now use the transobturator approach. ■ ORIENTATION OF THE BONY PELVIS The pelvic bones are the ilium, ischium, pubic rami, sacrum, and coccyx. The bony pelvis is the rigid foundation to which all of the pelvic structures are ultimately anchored. Although pelvic surgeons often visualize the orientation of the pelvis in the supine or lithotomy position, it is important to understand and discuss the bony pelvis from the perspective of a standing woman. In the standing woman, the pelvis is oriented such that the anterior superior iliac spine and the front edge of the pubic symphysis are in the same vertical plane, perpendicular to the floor (Figure 1). As a consequence, the pelvic inlet is tilted anteriorly and the ischiopubic rami and genital hiatus are parallel to the ground. In the upright position, the bony arches of the pelvic inlet are oriented in an almost vertical plane. This directs the pressure of the intra-abdominal and pelvic contents toward the bones of the pelvis instead of the muscles and endopelvic fascia attachments of the pelvic floor. Thus, in the standing position, the bony pelvis is oriented such that forces are dispersed to minimize the pressures on the pelvic viscera and musculature and will transmit the forces to the bones that are better suited to the long-term, cumulative stress of daily life. Where the pubic rami articulate in the midline, they are nearly horizontal. Much of the weight of the abdominal and pelvic viscera is supported by the bony articulation inferiorly. Varied shape, orientation associated with prolapse Variations in the orientation and shape of the bony pelvis have been associated with the development of pelvic organ prolapse. Specifically, a loss of lumbar lordosis and a pelvic inlet that is less vertically oriented is more common in women who develop genital prolapse than in those who do not.
The epidemiology of mesothelioma

It has been more than 40 years since occupational crocidolite exposure in South African miners was found to be associated with development of malignant mesothelial tumors 30 to 40 years later. Similar cases were not seen in the amosite and chrysotile miners. Since then, epidemiological and toxicological knowledge have increased enormously, but mortality continues to rise steeply (5% to 10% per year) in most industrialized countries. Even with widespread asbestos abatement efforts, this increase is likely to continue in Western Europe and the United State well into the next century, at least until 2020. Unregulated use of asbestos in less industrialized countries may cause the epidemic to continue throughout the next century in those regions. Asbestos abatement seems to be successful as evidenced by a decline in the proportion of patients with peritoneal tumors, which are the most common malignancies in heavily exposed individuals. Whereas in the 1960s peritoneal tumors comprised up to 30% of the total, in recent years the proportion has fallen to about 10%, This changing ratio could also be due to the steady increase in pleural tumors. The difficulty in formulating the connection as to the etiology of mesothelioma resulted from an unforeseeable difference in the carcinogenicity of various asbestos and mineral fiber types and was compounded by the very long latency of the disease. Unfortunately, the use of a single term, "asbestos," to describe at least five fibrous silicate minerals, each with unique physical, chemical, and biological properties and not infrequently and naturally admixed, severely hampered scientific investigation into the occupational health risks. The field became confused and filled with debate. At the heart of the fiber type controversy lies a fundamentally differing view of the importance of biopersistence of various asbestos fibers in carcinogenesis. This review will deal with the epidemiology of mesothelioma with particular attention to the studies that elucidate the impact of various asbestos fiber types on the etiology of the disease.
Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Tertiary Structure Ensembles of Amyloid-β Peptides

The interplay of modern molecular simulation and high-quality nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments has reached a fruitful stage for quantitative characterization of structural ensembles of disordered peptides. Amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ42), the primary peptide associated with Alzheimer's disease, and fragments such as Aβ21-30 are both classified as intrinsically disordered peptides (IDPs). We use a variety of NMR observables to validate de novo molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water to characterize the tertiary structure ensemble of Aβ42 and Aβ21-30 from the perspective of their classification as IDPs. Unlike the Aβ21-30 fragment that conforms to expectations of an IDP that is primarily extended, we find that Aβ42 samples conformations reflecting all possible secondary structure categories and spans the range of IDP classifications from collapsed structured states to highly extended conformations, making it an IDP with a far more heterogeneous tertiary ensemble.
On Ascertaining Inductively the Dimension of the Joint Kernel of Certain Commuting Linear Operators, II

Abstract Given an index setX, a collection B of subsets ofX, and a collection (lx : x∈X) of commuting linear maps on some linear space, the family of linear operators whose joint kernelK=K( B ) is sought consists of all lA:=∏a∈A lawithAany subset ofXwhich intersects everyB∈ B . It is shown that certain conditions on B and l, used in a previous paper to obtain the inequality[formula]or the corresponding equality, can be weakened. For example, the additional assumption of equicardinality of the elements of B can be dropped. However, the notion of “placeability” continues to play an essential role. The results are then described in the rather different language employed by W. Dahmen, A. Dress, and C. A. Micchelli (Adv. in Appl. Math.17(1996), 251–307) to facilitate comparisons.
Long-term health consequences of premature or early menopause and considerations for management.

AbstractAim To review the current evidence concerning the long-term harmful effects of premature or early menopause, and to discuss some of the clinical implications.Material and methods Narrative review of the literature.Results Women undergoing premature or early menopause, either following bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or because of primary ovarian insufficiency, experience the early loss of estrogen and other ovarian hormones. The long-term consequences of premature or early menopause include adverse effects on cognition, mood, cardiovascular, bone, and sexual health, as well as an increased risk of early mortality. The use of hormone therapy has been shown to lessen some, although not all of these risks. Therefore, multiple medical societies recommend providing hormone therapy at least until the natural age of menopause. It is important to individualize hormone therapy for women with early estrogen deficiency, and higher dosages may be needed to approximate physiological concentrations found in pre...
A solvent partition method for microscale ganglioside purification

A simple and rapid method for the purification of gangliosides from the total lipid extract of plasma, cells, or tissue is described. The novel component of the method is the partition of the dried total lipid extract in the three-component solvent system consisting of diisopropyl ether, 1-butanol, and 50 mM aqueous NaCl (6/4/5, v/v/v). Gangliosides partition nearly quantitatively into the lower aqueous phase, and other lipids into the upper organic phase, resulting from the mixture of these three solvents. The ganglioside-containing aqueous phase is then freed of salts and other low-molecular-weight impurities by gel filtration. The thin-layer chromatographic patterns of total gangliosides thus obtained are clear and distinct, even when small samples with very low ganglioside concentrations (e.g., 1-ml samples of plasma) are processed by this method. Thus, this new ganglioside purification method is especially applicable to comparative qualitative studies of gangliosides requiring the analysis of multiple small samples.
High molecular weight polyarginine as a capillary coating for separation of cationic proteins by capillary electrophoresis

Fused silica capillaries treated with dilute solutions of high molecular weight polyarginine (PA) provide capillary electrophoresis separation efficiencies of more than 2 million theoretical plates per meter and improved migration time reproducibility for the analysis of protein mixtures. The non-covalently bound PA coating was stable for several days and could be easily regenerated by exposing the capillary to a dilute solution of PA for several minutes. A comparison of PA and polybrene (PB) treated capillaries indicates that the PA capillary is capable of providing higher separation efficiencies, but that PB provides a more stable coating when used under acidic conditions and with high ionic strength buffers.
Motion vector estimation using spatiotemporal prediction and its application to video coding

Block based motion estimation is an efficient interframe predictor, making it an important component in video coding schemes. A significant portion of a video codec's computational budget however, is allocated to the task of computing motion vectors. For low bit-rate video coding applications such as teleconferencing, motion vector information occupies a substantial percentage of the available channel bandwidth. In this paper we present a method that accelerates motion vector computation by using spatio-temporal prediction to bias the search (in a statistical sense) towards the most probable direction of the motion using object trajectories from previously computed frames. Furthermore, since the motion vectors are linearly predicted, they can be coded efficiently. Linear predictive motion vector coding compares favorably to other motion estimation methods and can be incorporated within existing video compression standards.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Algorithms for regular and irregular coulomb and bessel functions

Abstract Algorithms for computing Coulomb-Bessel functions are considered, with emphasis on obtaining accurate values when the argument x is inside the classical turning point x λ . Algorithms of Barnett et al. for the generalized Coulomb functions and their derivatives are discussed in the context of the phase integral formalism. Modified or alternative algorithms are considered that are designed to be valid for all values of argument x and index λ for the functions F λ ( x ), G λ ( x ). An algorithm for a ccelerating convergence of a power series by conversion to a continued fraction is presented, and is applied to the evaluation of spherical Bessel functions. An explicit formula for the integrand of the phase integral is presented for spherical Bessel functions. The methods considered need to be augmented by an efficient algorithm for computing the logarithmic derivative of G 0 + i F 0 for Coulomb functions when x is smaller than the charge parameter η.
Amperometric determination of formaldehyde via the hexacyanoferrate(III) -coupled dehydrogenase reaction

Abstract An enzymatic method with amperometric detection was developed for the determination of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is first oxidized by reaction with NAD + in the presence of formaldehyde dehydrogenase. The resulting NADH is then oxidized by hexacyanoferrate(III) in the presence of diaphorase to produce hexacyanoferrate(II). The anodic current generated by oxidation of the hexacyanoferrate(II) at the surface of a glassy carbon working electrode, held at a potential of 0.40 V vs. an Ag/AgCl reference electrode, is measured. The effects of solution conditions are examined and a linear relationship between rate of current change and formaldehyde concentration is obtained from 0.01 to 0.5 μg ml −1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998. The relative standard deviation for the proposed method is 6.4% at 0.01 μg ml −1 formaldehyde and 0.88% at 0.5 μg ml −1 .
The effect of fiber-matrix adhesion on the fatigue fracture of glass-fiber-reinforced poly(vinyl chloride)

Fatigue crack propagation (FCP) of injection-molded glass-fiber-reinforced poly(vinyl chloride) was examined as a function of fiber-matrix adhesion (coupling) and fiber content at different load levels. Considering the entire FCP history, from crack initiation to critical propagation, it is shown that fatigue lifetime and fracture toughness of coupled composites increase with fiber weight fraction. Uncoupled material exhibits the highest fracture toughness at 10 wt% fiber, yet its fatigue life is considerably shorter. Damage analysis indicates that fiber debonding, pullout, and particularly fiber fracture seem to contribute to the higher fatigue lifetime noted in coupled composites. The Crack Layer Theory is employed to describe the observed FCP behavior. The effective enthalpy of damage parameterizes the resistance of the composite to FCP in terms of the observed mechanisms.
Accommodation of the eye during sleep and anesthesia.

Abstract Monkeys that are emmetropic and have a full range of accommodation exhibit three resting levels of accommodation: (1) Functional position of rest: an alert monkey in the absence of visual stimulation is accommodated about 1½ diopters; (2) Tonic position of rest: during light sleep and in planes I–III of surgical anesthesia there is 2½–3 diopters of accommodation; (3) Anatomical position of rest: after cycloplegia or death the eye is not accommodated. The possible neural substrate of these accommodation levels is discussed and examples are given of discharge patterns of a single neurone in the brainstem whose characteristics may be related to them.
Crystallographic structures of the M and N intermediates of bacteriorhodopsin: assembly of a hydrogen-bonded chain of water molecules between Asp-96 and the retinal Schiff base.

Abstract An M intermediate of wild-type bacteriorhodopsin and an N intermediate of the V49A mutant were accumulated in photostationary states at pH 5.6 and 295 K, and their crystal structures determined to 1.52 A and 1.62 A resolution, respectively. They appear to be M1 and N′ in the sequence, M1↔M2↔M′2↔N↔N′→O→BR, where M1, M2, and M′2 contain an unprotonated retinal Schiff base before and after a reorientation switch and after proton release to the extracellular surface, while N and N′ contain a reprotonated Schiff base, before and after reprotonation of Asp96 from the cytoplasmic surface. In M1, we detect a cluster of three hydrogen-bonded water molecules at Asp96, not present in the BR state. In M2, whose structure we reported earlier, one of these water molecules intercalates between Asp96 and Thr46. In N′, the cluster is transformed into a single-file hydrogen-bonded chain of four water molecules that connects Asp96 to the Schiff base. We find a network of three water molecules near residue 219 in the crystal structure of the non-illuminated F219L mutant, where the residue replacement creates a cavity. This suggests that the hydration of the cytoplasmic region we observe in N′ might have occurred spontaneously, beginning at an existing water molecule as nucleus, in the cavities from residue rearrangements in the photocycle.
Solving Anagrams: Category Priming and the Differential Availability of Category Solutions:

An experiment was performed to test the hypothesis that the effect of category name priming on anagram solving varies with the strength of the relationship between the solution word and the priming category. Subjects solved anagrams of taxonomic category instances under primed or unprimed conditions. In the primed condition, the name of the taxonomic category from which the solution word was chosen was provided on each trial. Priming was shown to facilitate anagram solution and the extent of this facilitation was directly related to the instance dominance of the solution word in the priming category. The results were discussed in terms of current models of semantic memory.
Effects of prostacyclin and 6-keto PGF1α on electrically induced convulsions in mice

Intracerebroventricular administration of prostacyclin (PGI2) was shown to block the incidence of tonic convulsions in mice. Prostacyclin was administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) to conscious mice prior to a transcorneal maximal electroshock (MES) or supra-maximal electroshock (SMES) as previously described (1). PGI2 i.c.v. blocked the tonic hindlimb extension (THE) and protected the animals from death induced by MES with an ED50 of 6.27 (2.53–11.10) μg/mouse i.c.v. The i.c.v. administration of its degradation product 6-keto PGF1α had no effect on the incidence of tonic convulsions but did reduce the duration of THE significantly. When PGI2 was administered intraperitoneally in doses as high as 2 mg/kg it did not block the THE. However, the duration of the THE as well as mortality were reduced by doses ranging from 0.25–2.0 mg/kg i.p. Prostacyclin caused a significant dose-related (p<.001) decrease in the duration of the THE with SMES in doses of 20–140 μg/mouse i.c.v. No concomitant decrease in the incidence of tonic convulsions was found against SMES.
Exact evaluation of diagnostic test resolution

The authors introduce a new measure of the diagnostic resolution of a test set: the sizes of all equivalence classes in the circuit under the test set. This measure is a better indicator of the diagnostic capabilities of a test set than single-value metrics based on undistinguished pairs of faults or completely distinguished faults. A symbolic algorithm for computing equivalence class sizes has been used to evaluate the diagnostic resolution of deterministic single-stuck-at fault test sets for ISCAS combinational and sequential benchmark circuits. >
Sesquicentennial of the Ophthalmoscope

The year 2000 coincides with the 150th anniversary of the invention of the ophthalmoscope. In 1850, Hermann von Helmholtz (1821-1894) inaugurated the modern era in ophthalmology with his magnificent instrument, which has done more to revolutionize the development of ophthalmology than any other invention or discovery. Before Helmholtz's invention, it was not possible to visualize the posterior pole of the eye in a living subject. The ophthalmoscope permitted the clinical correlation of signs and symptoms with findings in the retina, vitreous, and optic nerve. The ophthalmoscope became the model for all forms of endoscopy that followed. It is often compared in importance with 2 earlier inventions, the telescope (17th century) and the stethoscope (early 19th century). All of these instruments made dramatic new information available to the human mind.
Exploring the relationship between usefulness and policy effectiveness: the case of the child care portal in Korea

This poster shows the plan and progress of the study, which will analyze the link between usefulness of the i-sarang Child Care portal and child abuse policy in Korea. To collect the empirical data, this study will survey 1,400 directors of the daycare centers and parents in Changwon City of Gyeongsangnamdo, Korea during July 2015. Additionally, this study will find out the moderating effect of the respondents' role against this portal on the relationship between two variables. Interviewing several stakeholders such as directors of the daycare centers and public officers will be conducted. This study will contribute in finding the invisible effect of open data initiative in the real public administration.
The unusual K-band characteristics of the gravitational lens system MG 1131 + 0456

The radio morphology of the gravitational lens system MG 1131 + 0456 is that of an 'Einstein ring'. Newly obtained K-prime-band images of the system reveal the presence of an infrared bright object that has a morphology reminiscent of that seen in the radio. There are two bright objects embedded in an elliptical halo; these seem to be the infrared counterparts to the radio morphology. Two nearby objects have no radio counterparts. All four objects have extremely red optical-infrared colors: R - K greater than 6. Few extragalactic objects are this red. A plausible candidate for the source object is an unusually red radio galaxy.
Blowing Away the Pain: A Technique for Pediatric Pain Management

Painful medical procedures in childhood may have long-term negative effects on development and future tolerance of pain. We describe a distraction technique for pediatric pain management that involves "blowing away the pain." This technique may be used for acute pediatric procedures as well as for patients with chronic pain.
Dengue fever: Mosquitoes attacked from within

Infection with a harmless bacterium makes the mosquitoes that transmit dengue virus resistant to viral infection. The resistant population can rapidly replace the natural, susceptible population. See Letters p.450 & p.454 The mosquito-borne viral disease dengue fever is an increasing problem in tropical and subtropical regions. Traditional control measures aimed at reducing populations of the main transmission vector, Aedes aegypti, have had little success. Two papers in this issue report an alternative approach to mosquito population control using the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis, natural insect symbionts that facilitate their own transmission through a process called cytoplasmic incompatibility. In the first paper, Scott O'Neill and colleagues describe a Wolbachia strain derived from fruitflies that significantly reduces dengue virus carriage in mosquitoes without imposing a fitness cost. In the second paper, they demonstrate in a controlled field trial that the release of colonized mosquitoes leads to successful invasion of natural mosquito populations. These results suggest a viable strategy to control dengue fever.
The maturing kidney

In 1951 Smith wrote: “It is not inappropriate to point to the history of renal physiology as typical of the history of science, and particularly of the history of medicine. It has been a history of rival theories, each based upon inconclusive evidence. Its errors have been compounded by oversimplification in the matter of theory and underexamination in the matter of critical investigation. Renal physiology has now passed into a quantitative phase where unsupported speculation and empirical description are no longer warranted.”
Large Eddy Simulation of Compressible Turbulent Channel Flow with Spectral Difierence method

This paper presents the development of a three-dimensional high-order solver with unstructured spectral difierence method. The solver employs the formulations of Sun et al. 22 It is implemented on unstructured hexahedral grid elements. It is flrstly validated using test problems of 2D and 3D subsonic inviscid ∞ows past a circular cylinder. The spectral difierence method constructs element-wise continuous flelds. Five difierent types of Riemann solvers are employed to deal with the discontinuity across elements. We demonstrate the spatial accuracy up to fourth-order using the viscous compressible Couette ∞ow with analytic solution. The 3D SD method is flnally applied to a compressible turbulent channel ∞ow at Re? = 400. The predicted mean and r.m.s velocity proflles are in good agreement with DNS results of Moser et al. 15
Torsional Splittings in the Band ν9+ ν4− ν4of Ethane

Abstract Torsional splittings of the C 2 H 6 hot band ν 9 + ν 4 − ν 4 have been determined based on measurements taken with the Kitt Peak National Observatory Fourier transform spectrometer with .0025 cm −1 resolution. The measured splittings range from −.2347 cm −1 (the sign is relative to that of the observed splitting in the ν 9 band of C 2 H 6 ) to .0682 cm −1 , with a standard deviation of the observed splittings of .0251 cm −1 . The splittings can be explained as a result of xy Coriolis interaction of ν 9 + ν 4 with the excited torsional states τν 4 , with the major effect arising from the “forbidden” interaction with the nearly degenerate state 5ν 4 ς = 2. The rms error of the predicted splittings is .00422 cm −1 , if parameters determined from theory and previous work are used, and is .00217 cm −1 , if small refinements to the parameters are made based on the measured splittings themselves.
THE EFFECT OF CASTRATION ON THE PROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY AND STRUCTURE OF THE THYROID GLAND IN GUINEA PIGS

The object of this investigation is to determine if extirpation of the ovaries has any definite effect on the structure and especially on the proliferative activity of the thyroid gland. For this purpose the thyroid gland of the guinea pig was used, for it has been studied previously in a series of investigations by Loeb (1) and his associates, Gray (2), Rabinovitch (3), and McCordock (4). These authors used two methods for determining the effect of various factors on the thyroid gland. In the first place, Loeb (5), in experiments begun in 1919, used the intensity of compensatory hypertrophy which follows extirpation of three-fourths or more of this organ, as a convenient indicator of the activity of the gland. In the second place, Loeb, Gray, McCordock and Rabinovitch made use of the normal gland and here attempted a quantitative measurement of the effect of various factors on the thyroid gland by studying in a quantitative manner the number of mitoses in the acini together with the changes in the size o...
Early Statin Use is Associated with Increased Risk of Infection after Stroke

Infection is common following stroke and associated with increased morbidity and mortality.1–3 Stroke severity appears to be the most important predictor of infection risk.1, 4–6 Recent experimental data suggest that ischemic brain injury may lead to a “systemic immunodepression” that predisposes to infection.7 The degree of immunodepression appears to be related to stroke severity.8, 9 Current guidelines recommend the use of statins to prevent recurrent ischemic stroke.10 The studies that established the benefits of statins in stroke prevention, however, did not enroll patients with severe stroke or patients in the immediate post-stroke period.11, 12 Current practice, however, is often to start statins during the initial hospitalization, while some even advocate immediate institution of statin therapy.13, 14 Given the potent immunomodulatory properties of statins, we hypothesized that these medications might further contribute to the risk of post-stroke infection. This study was a prospectively defined analysis of patients enrolled within 3 days of stroke onset who were followed longitudinally to assess immunologic outcomes. The original description of this cohort has been published.6
Aminoguanidine ameliorates albuminuria in diabetic hypertensive rats

We studied the effect of aminoguanidine, an inhibitor of advanced glycation product formation, on albuminuria in chronically diabetic spontaneously hypertensive rats. At the time of killing, there was no statistically significant difference in blood glucose concentration between the treated and untreated diabetic animals (18.2±0.69 mmol/l), nor was there any difference among the non-diabetic, diabetic untreated, and diabetic treated rats with respect to blood pressure (169±6.9 mm Hg). However, non-diabetic hypertensive animals had a mean quantitative 24-h urinary albumin excretion of 28±2 mg albumin/24-h, while untreated diabetic hypertensive animals averaged nearly four times that amount (106 ±3 mg albumin/24 h). Without affecting blood pressure, aminoguanidine treatment of diabetic hypertensive animals decreased the diabetic-associated elevation in urinary albumin excretion by 75% (48±2 mg/24 h). These data suggest than inhibition of advanced glycation product formation ameliorates the glomerular dysfunction caused by chronic hyperglycaemia.
Quantitative trait loci for β-conglycinin (7S) and glycinin (11S) fractions of soybean storage protein

Glycinin (11S) and β-conglycinin (7S) are important seed storage proteins in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. A major limitation of soybean seed storage proteins is their low levels of the sulfur-containing amino acids, methionine and cysteine, which are important nutritional components of protein mea. Glycinin contains significantly more S-containing amino acids than does β-conglycinin. Thus, detection of quantitative trait loci (QTL) that govern 11S may provide marker-assisted selection (MAS) opportunities to improve soybean total S-containing amino acids. The objective of this study was to detect and map QTL governing 7S and 11S fractions of soybean seed storage proteins. To achieve this objective, 101 F6-derived recombinant inbred lines (RIL) developed from a cross of N87-984-16 ×TN93-99 were used. Storage proteins were extracted from all RIL and separated in 10–20% linear gradient polyacrylamide gels. Dried gels were scanned for individual subunits of storage protein with a densitometer equipped with a He−Ne laser light source. Data were converted to concentration for each subunit component and analyzed using SAS software. A significant (P<0.05) difference among genotypes was found for glycinin and β-conglycinin. A total of 94 polymorphic simple sequence repeat molecular genetic markers were used in screening all RIL. Three QTL for glycinin (Satt461, Satt292, and Satt156) were distributed on linkage group (LG) D2, I, and L, respectively, whereas two QTL for conglycinin (Satt461 and Satt249) were distributed on LG D2 and J. Phenotypic variation explained by individual QTL ranged from 9.5 to 22%. These QTL may provide useful MAS opportunities for improvement of nutritional quality in soybean.
Video Tool to Promote Knowledge of Syphilis Among Black and Hispanic Men Recruited From Clinical and Non-Clinical Settings

Recent syphilis outbreaks in metropolitan cities are attributed to men who have sex with men (MSM) with a significant proportion of Black or Hispanic identity. However, there are few syphilis interventions that are tailored to minority MSM. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess whether Black and Hispanic MSM recruited from various venues who viewed the “Syphilis and Men” video showed an increase in syphilis knowledge, regardless of self-reported characteristics associated with increased risk for syphilis infection. Results: Of the 168 participants, 91.1% were Black or Hispanic and 64.9% had a male partner in the past 6 months. The video intervention group had a significant increase of 19.5–20.9 percentage points on the post-test survey, depending on the venue. This difference was present irrespective of participant socio-demographic and health-related characteristics. Discussion: The “Syphilis and Men” video is a brief, cost-limited intervention to promote syphilis knowledge among Black and Hispanic MSM that can potentially be implemented in various venues.
Raising of Major Arguments in Korean (and Japanese)

The question of whether languages like Korean and Japanese possess genuine instances of Subject-to-Object Raising (SOR) has been a matter of debate since Kuno (1976), as a number of the properties of the putative SOR construction in the languages differ from those found in languages like English, while others are shared between the languages. I argue in this paper that the paradoxical properties begin to fall into place once we posit that what undergoes movement in SOR in these languages is not the embedded subject, but the embedded Major Subject. The Major Subject is the initial Nom-marked DP in a Multiple Nominative Construction. It is shown that if we posit that the Major Subject raises in SOR, the unexpected properties of SOR can be accounted for. Under this analysis, SOR in Korean and Japanese conform to known constraints on A-movement taking place from the highest A-specifier (Major Subject) position of the embedded clause. It is the coindexation of the Major Subject with the predicate-internal position that gives rise to the illusion of non-locality. I then compare the analysis with an alternative base-generation analysis. While the two are roughly equal in terms of coverage, only the Major Subject raising analysis is able to account for properties of the raised nominal that could only have been determined in the embedded clause.
Women's lives in transition: a qualitative analysis of the fertility decline in Bangladesh.

In order to examine the effect of the family planning (FP) program in Bangladesh on womens status (especially on the status of FP workers) a qualitative study was undertaken with data gathered during 1987-88 from 21 focus groups composed of women from villages covered by the Matlab FP project (two focus group discussions were held with women opposed to contraception). The hypothesis was that Bangladeshs fertility transition was caused by the increased cost of large families the growing influence of a commercial economy changes in schooling modernization and the influence of the FP program. The analysis consists of a thematic grouping of quotations covering: 1) perceptions of change in contraceptive use and fertility; 2) economic and social change (changes in the cost of living the cost of children interest in education family relations marriage transactions from the bride-price to the dowry system womens self-esteem and womens opportunities and exposure to the world); and 3) the influence of the FP program (perceptions of the FP worker as a trusted friend and social leader overcoming the fear of contraception overcoming family opposition providing access to contraception understanding that FP represents a new concept family-size perceptions and the influence of the media for FP promotion). Respondents understood that their lives were in transition and were active participants in that transition. While supply-side factors are important these data reveal that small socioeconomic changes on the demand side have coupled with substantial supply side inputs to spark the fertility transition in Bangladesh. The disagreements about fertility transition determinants in Bangladesh that have arisen over time may be understood by considering deconstructionist theory which holds that knowledge is always being constructed deconstructed through critical analysis and reconstructed into new intellectual frameworks. Appropriate reconstruction of the fertility transition evidence in Bangladesh points to the simultaneous influence of supply- and demand-side factors.
X-ray spectroscopy of the hot gas in the M31 bulge

We present an X-ray spectroscopic study of the nuclear region of the M31 bulge, based on observations of the XMM–Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometers. The obtained high-resolution grating spectra clearly show individual emission lines of highly ionized iron and oxygen, which unambiguously confirm the presence of diffuse hot gas in the bulge, as indicated from previous X-ray CCD imaging studies. We model the spectra with detailed Monte Carlo simulations, which provide a robust spectroscopic estimate of the hot gas temperature ∼0.29 keV and the O/Fe ratio ∼0.3 solar. The results indicate that iron ejecta of Type Ia supernovae are partly mixed with the hot gas. The observed spectra show an intensity excess at the O vii triplet, which most likely represents emission from charge exchanges at the interface between the hot gas and a known cool gas spiral in the same nuclear region.
Identification and Retuning of Optimum Delayed Feedback Vibration Absorber

A recursive system identification and retuning methodology is presented for a recently developed delayed feedback vibration absorber. The retuning is needed against the parametric variations in the system. It is performed to maintain optimal vibration suppression properties for wideband excitations. The optimized absorber offers minimum peak frequency response within the given wideband frequency range. A new scheme is introduced for the tuning of the absorber as the system experiences structural variations. The scheme suggests a nested procedure of two optimization steps, one for identification and the other for control. Feasibility of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through simulations. One of the examples deals with a single-degree-of-freedom system, and the second one is for a two-degree-of-freedom setting. Results show that with only three iterations used for the first example and five iterations used for the second example in the parameter identification part of the process, the frequency response peaks are reduced by 25%.
The Role of Peptides in Appetite Regulation Across Species

Synopsis. The regulation of food intake is a complex process involving both a central feeding drive and a peripheral satiety system. The endog? enous kappa opioid dynorphin, is an important central stimulator of feeding. Opiates are involved in feeding regulation of a variety of species including amoeba, molluscs, mammals and birds. Opioids appear to reg? ulate a variety of behaviors necessary to allow the animal to successfully obtain food. Some species lack an opioid feeding system. Cholecystokinin (CCK) is the prototypic satiety agent which decreases feeding in multiple species from molluscs to humans. CCK also enhances memory and thus may play a role in allowing the animal to remember the details of a successful hunt. Alterations in the photoperiod can alter the response to satiety peptides raising the possibility that these peptides may play a role in pre-hibernation anorexia. Other important neurotransmitters involved in generating the feeding drive are neuropeptide Y and nitric oxide. Studies across species suggest that the central feeding command system is the basic feeding system, which with the organism's development ofthe need for satiety periods is held in check by the introduction of a variety of peripheral satiety systems.
Detection of single nanoparticles using a nano fiber-taper

We present a sensitive single nanoparticle detection scheme using a nano tapered fiber. Experiments of detecting R = 120 nm and 175 nm polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles at 1550 nm wavelength band are demonstrated.