cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hemolytic Characteristics of a Pivot Bearing Supported Gyro Centrifugal Pump (C1E3) Simulating Various Clinical Applications

Centrifugal blood pumps are playing a key role in circulatory mechanical assist systems including cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), right and left ventricular assist devices (RVAD and LVAD), percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Each of these circulatory assist systems requires specific flow and pressure conditions. In vitro hemolysis tests were performed using five compact mock loops with flow and pressure set equivalent to clinical conditions. These studies determined the hemolytic characteristics and clinical applicability of the pivot bearing-supported Gyro centrifugal pump with an eccentric port (C1E3) compared with the Bio-Medicus pump (BP-80). Normalized index of hemolysis (NIH) values of the C1E3 were less than those of the BP-80 under all conditions; in particular, they were significantly less in the CPB, LVAD, and RVAD conditions. In addition, linear correlation was observed between NIH values, rotational pump speed (RPM), total pressure head (delta P), and flow rate (Q) with both the C1E3 and BP-80: NIH = a(RPM/Q) + b, NIH = c(delta P/Q) + d. However, the slopes (a and c) of these equations were smaller with the C1E3 than those with the BP-80, which suggests that the C1E3 has decreased hemolytic characteristics when increasing the RPM and delta P. In other words, the increase of RPM and delta P results in less shear stress with the C1E3 than with the BP-80. One cause of these decreased hemolytic characteristics of the C1E3 is thought to be less pump power loss against an increase of RPM and delta P than with the BP-80. Furthermore, the average exposure time is shorter with the C1E3 than with the BP-80 because the priming volume of the C1E3 (30 ml) is smaller than that of the BP-80 (80 ml). From the point of both shear stress and exposure time, the C1E3 has less hemolytic features than the BP-80.
Earthquakes and art preservation: A view from the San Andreas fault

Abstract Earthquakes are among the most destructive of natural hazards and occur periodically in many parts of the world. If we confine ourselves to major ones — those which have truly devastated large urban areas — we find in the last century 41 in China, 22 in Japan, 21 in the Philippines, 19 in Greece, 18 in Italy, 12 in Chile, 8 in Peru and 7 in California. Though earthquakes are mentioned in the writing of Aristotle, Seneca and Pliny, the real science of Seismology and concern with seismic safety developed only in the middle of the last century. Scientific data point to the probability of a great earthquake in Southern California. Routine research assembled by the United States Geological Survey showed that the Palmdale Bulge centered on the San Andreas fault and stretching all the way to the Salton Sea 25 miles north of Los Angeles has risen ten inches in the last sixteen years. Geologist William T. Pecora told a United States Senate subcommittee that a great California earthquake would “certainly occur in the next thirty years and probably within the next decade.” History demonstrates that buildings constructed of unreinforced masonry are likely to collapse in a great quake. Los Angeles alone has 8,000 of these structures. These buildings, constructed before earthquake safety standards were required in 1933, house about 100,000 inhabitants. Included are public buildings, schools, theatres, restaurants and museums where thousands of people gather. The general plan of the City of Los Angeles includes a Seismic Safety Plan which seeks to minimize the impact of earthquakes. Additional local organizations and citizens groups have prepared studies and recommendations aimed at minimizing damage and loss of life. The J. Paul Getty Museum of Malibu, located in a region of known seismic activity has sponsored two seismic safety studies (1982, 1984) relating to the preservation of art and architecture from earthquake damage. This paper on the protection of art and monuments will review the conceptual frame-work of the Los Angeles Seismic Safety Plan and the seismic safety studies of the J. Paul Getty Museum. Seismic-safe components for museum interior environments such as pedestals and display cases developed by the author will be illustrated by slide projections. Successful laboratory seismic tests of these elements recorded on video-tape will end the presentation.
The General Environment Fit Scale: A Factor Analysis and Test of Convergent Construct Validity

Person-environment fit (P-E fit) was initially espoused as an important construct in the field of community psychology; however, most of the theoretical and empirical development of the construct has been conducted by the industrial/organizational (I/O) psychologists and business management fields. In the current study, the GEFS—a P-E fit measure that was developed from organizational perspectives on fit—was administered to 246 attendees of an annual convention for residents and alumni of Oxford House, a network of over 1,400 mutual-help addiction recovery homes. The authors conducted confirmatory factor and convergent construct validity analyses with the GEFS. The results suggested that the theoretical factor structure of the measure adequately fit the data and provided limited support for the measure’s validity. Sufficient supply of resident needs by the Oxford House and similarity between residents and their housemates predicted satisfaction with the recovery home, but only perceived similarity to housemates predicted how long residents intended to stay in the Oxford Houses.
A User-friendly Interface for a Lightweight Verification System

User-friendly interfaces can play an important role in bringing the benefits of a machine-readable representation of formal arguments to a wider audience. The aartifact system is an easy-to-use lightweight verifier for formal arguments that involve logical and algebraic manipulations of common mathematical concepts. The system provides validation capabilities by utilizing a database of propositions governing common mathematical concepts. The aartifact systemźs multi-faceted interactive user interface combines several approaches to user-friendly interface design: (1) a familiar and natural syntax based on existing conventions in mathematical practice, (2) a real-time keyword-based lookup mechanism for interactive, context-sensitive discovery of the syntactic idioms and semantic concepts found in the systemźs database of propositions, and (3) immediate validation feedback in the form of reformatted raw input. The systemźs natural syntax and database of propositions allow it to meet a userźs expectations in the formal reasoning scenarios for which it is intended. The real-time keyword-based lookup mechanism and validation feedback allow the system to teach the user about its capabilities and limitations in an immediate, interactive, and context-aware manner.
Functional Brain Connectivity using fMRI in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease

Normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cause profound changes in the brain’s structure and function. AD in particular is accompanied by widespread cortical neuronal loss, and loss of connections between brain systems. This degeneration of neural pathways disrupts the functional coherence of brain activation. Recent innovations in brain imaging have detected characteristic disruptions in functional networks. Here we review studies examining changes in functional connectivity, measured through fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), starting with healthy aging and then Alzheimer’s disease. We cover studies that employ the three primary methods to analyze functional connectivity—seed-based, ICA (independent components analysis), and graph theory. At the end we include a brief discussion of other methodologies, such as EEG (electroencephalography), MEG (magnetoencephalography), and PET (positron emission tomography). We also describe multi-modal studies that combine rsfMRI (resting state fMRI) with PET imaging, as well as studies examining the effects of medications. Overall, connectivity and network integrity appear to decrease in healthy aging, but this decrease is accelerated in AD, with specific systems hit hardest, such as the default mode network (DMN). Functional connectivity is a relatively new topic of research, but it holds great promise in revealing how brain network dynamics change across the lifespan and in disease.
Rapid kinetic studies link tetrahydrobiopterin radical formation to heme-dioxy reduction and arginine hydroxylation in inducible nitric-oxide synthase.

Abstract To understand how heme and (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-l-biopterin (H4B) participate in nitric-oxide synthesis, we followed ferrous-dioxy heme (FeIIO2) formation and disappearance, H4B radical formation, and Arg hydroxylation during a single catalytic turnover by the inducible nitric-oxide synthase oxygenase domain (iNOSoxy). In all cases, prereduced (ferrous) enzyme was rapidly mixed with an O2-containing buffer to start the reaction. A ferrous-dioxy intermediate formed quickly (53 s−1) and then decayed with concurrent buildup of ferric iNOSoxy. The buildup of the ferrous-dioxy intermediate preceded both H4B radical formation and Arg hydroxylation. However, the rate of ferrous-dioxy decay (12 s−1) was equivalent to the rate of H4B radical formation (11 s−1) and the rate of Arg hydroxylation (9 s−1). Practically all bound H4B was oxidized to a radical during the reaction and was associated with hydroxylation of 0.6 mol of Arg/mol of heme. In dihydrobiopterin-containing iNOSoxy, ferrous-dioxy decay was much slower and was not associated with Arg hydroxylation. These results establish kinetic and quantitative links among ferrous-dioxy disappearance, H4B oxidation, and Arg hydroxylation and suggest a mechanism whereby H4B transfers an electron to the ferrous-dioxy intermediate to enable the formation of a heme-based oxidant that rapidly hydroxylates Arg.
Some optimal codes from algebraic geometry and their covering radii

We show that many Goppa codes from algebraic geometry are optimal. Many of these codes attain the Griesmer bound and provide first examples of Griesmer codes which have relatively large dimension compared with the minimum distance. We give a lower bound on the covering radius of algebraic geometric codes in terms of the number of rational points and the genus of the underlying curve. We use this lower bound and some upper bounds on the covering radius proved elsewhere to determine the covering radii of many optimal codes mentioned above exactly. We use our results to give for the first time many non-trivial examples of non-binary normal codes. We also point out connections between our results and many geometric structures such as saturation configurations, t-independent sets, min-hyper (max-hyper) etc. Finally, we show that Goppa codes have at least the potential of being among the best covering and packing codes discovered so far.
High-resolution ion cyclotron mobility spectrometry

A novel ion mobility spectrometry instrument incorporating a cyclotron geometry drift tube is presented. The drift tube consists of eight regions, four curved drift tubes and four ion funnels. Packets of ions are propagated around the drift tube by changing the drift field at a frequency that is resonant with the ion’s drift time through each region. The approach trims each packet of ions as it leaves and enters each new region. An electrostatic gate allows ions to be kept in the drift tube for numerous cycles, increasing the ability to resolve specified ions. We demonstrate the approach by isolating the [M + 2H]2+ or [M + 3H]3+ charge state of substance P as well as individual trisaccharide isomers from a mixture of melezitose and raffinose. Resolving powers in excess of 300 are obtainable with this approach.
3-Draw: a tool for designing 3D shapes

A fundamentally new type of CAD system for designing shape that is intuitive, easy to use, and powerful is presented. It is based on a paradigm that can be described as designing directly in 3-D. By virtue of two hand-held sensors, designers using 3-Draw to sketch their ideas in the air feel as if they're actually holding and working on objects. Current design practice and related work are reviewed, and current work on 3-Draw is summarized. To capture the flavor of 3-Draw, construction of a sample model of a 12-m yacht is described. 3-Draw's features and data structures are discussed. >
Thermionic Emission From Potassium-Intercalated Carbon Nanotube Arrays

Vacuum and solid-state thermionic emission have long been proposed as a means of converting heat or solar energy directly into electrical power. However, low work function materials must be developed before a reasonably efficient power generation device can be realized. In this work, thermionic emission energy distributions were measured for four samples including a single-crystal tungsten (100) sample, a pristine CNT mat, and two potassium-intercalated CNT mats. One of the potassium-intercalated CNT mats was composed largely of randomly oriented CNTs while the other CNT sample was grown in templated anodized alumina to align the growth pattern. Thermionic emission data obtained from the tungsten sample validated the experimental apparatus and method. The pristine CNT mat exhibited an emission distribution with a work function of 4.7 eV, while the potassium-intercalated samples exhibited work functions of approximately 3.1 and 3.4 eV for the randomly oriented and the templated meshes, respectively. The differences in the measured work function values for intercalated samples may be due to emitter tip differences. Both intercalated CNT samples showed some degradation after cooling from 510°C and reheating to the same temperature.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Sense and nonsense in thinking about anomaly and metaphor

In an attempt to determine how subjects dealt with four types of logical sentence relationships when a figurative possibility was present, two different experiments were run using a procedure originally developed by Steinberg (1970a). Results indicated that a great many anomalous sentences are readily classified as metaphoric and that individual differences play an important role in the use of these categories. Further analyses revealed that sentences having the order “The ‘human’ is an ‘animal’ ” were more easily classified as metaphorical than sentences having any other order in the present set of sentences. The findings were discussed in terms of their implications for semantic theory, where it was noted that metaphoric diction makes a purely logical analysis of language exceedingly suspect and that any attempt to define sentence universais must include not only figurative language, but individual differences as well.
Dimethacrylates Derived from Hydroxybenzoic Acids

Since the color stabilities and durabilities of current composite and pit and fissure sealant resins need improvement, it is worthwhile to evaluate innovations that might accomplish this goal. Accordingly, three crystalline dimethacrylate monomers with low melting points were prepared from the isomeric hydroxybenzoic acids and 2-bromo-ethyl methacrylate. These monomers can be purified by crystallization and liquified by admixture in various proportions to obtain a polymerizable liquid of suitable viscosity at room temperature. In contrast to the analogous dimethacrylate monomers that were derived from the phthalic acid isomers, these aromatic ether-ester dimethacrylates do not form colored charge-transfer complexes with tertiary aromatic amine accelerators. These monomers and their polymers should be elevated for use in composites and pit and fissure sealant formulations.
All-electron first-principles supercell total-energy calculation of the vacancy formation energy in aluminium

Abstract We use the first-principles all-electron linearized augumented plane-wave (LAPW) method to perform self-consistent total-energy electronic structure calculations for the vacancy formation energy in aluminum in the supercell approximation. The method makes no uncontrolled approximations for the shape of the potential. Supercells with 4, 8, 16 and 27 sites are used. When no relaxation is allowed, the formation energy is 0.87, 0.88, 0.89 and 0.86 eV for the 4-, 8-, 16-, and 27-site supercells, respectively. When some of the atoms are allowed to relax about the vacancy the formation energy is lowered by 0.05 eV in the 16-site cell and 0.03 eV in the 27-site cell. These results are in semiquantitative agreement with the experimental formation energy of 0.66 eV. The dependence of the formation energy on cell size is discussed.
The effects of feedback sensory modality, feedback information content, and sex on short-term biofeedback training of three responses.

In three factorial experiments, auditory vs visual vs tactile feedback, analog feedback vs analog feedback which was anchored, and sex, were varied to assess the effects of these variables on performance in short-term biofeedback training of heart rate reduction, hand temperature increase, and forehead muscle tension reduction. A total of 108 subjects served in the study. Moderate but reliable changes were found during the course of the training session for all three physiological responses. The ability to reduce heart rate in a single training session did not appear to be a function of any of the variables manipulated in this study, but rather could be attributed to adaptation. In both muscle tension and temperature training, however, there were significant interactions between sex and sensory modality of the feedback stimulus and, in the case of muscle tension training, between information content of the feedback signal and sex. The overall pattern of results indicated that performance during biofeedback training is a complicated function of sex and the type of signal used to provide feedback, and that this function is not constant across physiological response systems.
Detection of brain metastasis with indium-111-capromab pendetide (ProstaScint) due to prostatic carcinoma

Abstract A case of brain metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the prostate detected with indium-111 ( 111 In) capromab pendetide (ProstaScint) is presented. This type of metastasis is per se a rare event. The presentation, investigation, and histopathologic correlation are described, and the role of 111 In-ProstaScint in the management of prostate cancer is discussed briefly. To our knowledge, this is the first case presented in the literature that was detected with this imaging modality and biopsy confirmed.
asgB, a gene required early for developmental signalling, aggregation, and sporulation of Myxococcus xanthus.

The asgB genetic locus of Myxococcus xanthus specifies a function which is required early in the developmental pathway leading to aggregation and sporulation in fruiting bodies. The developmental defect of asgB mutants can be compensated by extracellular complementation using either intact wild-type cells or cell-free supernatants conditioned by developing wild-type cells. A Tn5 insertion was isolated closely linked to asgB480 and facilitated the cloning of both the wild-type (asgB+) and the mutant (asgB480) alleles in Escherichia coli plasmid. Tandem duplications of the asgB locus were constructed in M. xanthus; the completely wild-type phenotype of asgB+asgB480 partial diploids implies that the asgB480 allele is recessive. This finding, along with extracellular complementation by wild-type cells, is consistent with the hypothesis that the asgB+ locus is required to produce a substance with an intercellular signalling function. At least part of the asgB gene was found to lie within a 1.2 kb SmaI DNA fragment. This 1.2 kb fragment, as well as smaller fragments derived from it, were used as DNA probes in RNA/DNA hybrid analyses of transcription in the asgB region. Two small mRNA species were detected, one about 650 bp long, and the other about 500 bp; the two species of mRNAs apparently overlap. Both mRNAs are present in low, but approximately equal amounts, in vegetatively growing cells. This is consistent with the observation that asg mutants display a mutant vegetative phenotype (a change in colony color and spreading behavior) as well as defective development.
Chemical oceanography and primary productivity in upwelling regions

Abstract Features of the circulation, uptake, and regeneration of particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and silica in upwelling regions are discussed in the light of recent contributions to nutrient uptake and regeneration theory. Emphasis is placed on the critical role of silica in the productivity of coastal upwelling areas and the resulting usefulness of this element as an indication of the recent history of circulation and production processes in an upwelling area. The significant contribution of herbivore regeneration to the nutrient regime of an upwelling area is described. Data from the Peru coastal upwelling system are discussed and interpreted in view of the physical and biological processes considered in the paper.
URIC ACID AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK RECLASSIFICATION

The association between serum uric acid and cardiovascular (CVD) events has been controversial. However usefulness of a new biomarker is measured in its ability to reclassify CVD events beyond traditional risk factors beyond the mere association. We sought evaluate the association between serum uric
Three aortic arch anomalies: A review of the literature and proposal of a new classification

Four patients with three rare aortic arch anomalies, all of which can be classified as variants of Edwards' hypothetical double aortic arch system, were studied. The diagnosis was based on angiographic findings in all cases and in addition, on operative findings in three and operative and autopsy findings in one case.
Mean dynamic topography and eddy kinetic energy in the Mediterranean Sea: Comparison between altimetry and a 1/16 degree ocean circulation model

Abstract A high-resolution (1/16 degree) ocean general circulation model is used to estimate the mean dynamic topography (MDT) and surface eddy kinetic energy (EKE) in the Mediterranean Sea. Model outputs based on a 12-year run with a perpetual annual atmospheric forcing are compared with the MDT and EKE derived from satellite altimetry. The model MDT is consistent with previous estimates and reproduces most of the major Mediterranean currents and eddies. In contrast, the model MDT derived from temperature/salinity climatology misses many circulation features in the Central and Levantine basins. The model EKE reproduces well the magnitudes and spatial distributions of the altimeter derived EKE, and is a significant improvement over the previous 1/8 degree model studies. However, the use of perpetual atmospheric forcing may cause some eddy features to appear more stable than characterized with high interannual variability in the altimeter EKE. The study highlights the importance of large mesoscale variability in transport processes, especially along the southern areas of the Mediterranean. The generally good agreement suggests that model simulations can be used in combination with in situ and altimeter observations to better understand the dynamics and make forecasts of the mesoscale eddies in the Mediterranean Sea.
An Electronic Flicker Apparatus for Monocular and Binocular Stimulation

(1950). An Electronic Flicker Apparatus for Monocular and Binocular Stimulation. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 183-193.
Reusable, polyethylene glycol-structured microfluidic channel for particle immunoassays

A microfluidic channel made entirely out of polyethylene glycol (PEG), not PEG coating to silicon or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface, was fabricated and tested for its reusability in particle immunoassays and passive protein fouling, at relatively high target concentrations (1 mg ml-1). The PEG devices were reusable up to ten times while the oxygen-plasma-treated polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) device could be reused up to four times and plain PDMS were not reusable. Liquid was delivered spontaneously via capillary action and complicated bonding procedure was not necessary. The contact angle analysis revealed that the water contact angle on microchannel surface should be lower than ~60°, which are comparable to those on dried protein films, to be reusable for particle immunoassays and passive protein fouling.
Complex coacervates as a foundation for synthetic underwater adhesives

Complex coacervation was proposed to play a role in the formation of the underwater bioadhesive of the Sandcastle worm (Phragmatopoma californica) based on the polyacidic and polybasic nature of the glue proteins and the balance of opposite charges at physiological pH. Morphological studies of the secretory system suggested that the natural process does not involve complex coacervation as commonly defined. The distinction may not be important because electrostatic interactions likely play an important role in the formation of the sandcastle glue. Complex coacervation has also been invoked in the formation of adhesive underwater silk fibers of caddisfly larvae and the adhesive plaques of mussels. A process similar to complex coacervation, that is, condensation and dehydration of biopolyelectrolytes through electrostatic associations, seems plausible for the caddisfly silk. This much is clear, the sandcastle glue complex coacervation model provided a valuable blueprint for the synthesis of a biomimetic, water-borne, underwater adhesive with demonstrated potential for repair of wet tissue.
Acute reactogenicity after intramuscular immunization with recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus is linked to production of IL-1β.

Vaccines based on live viruses are attractive because they are immunogenic, cost-effective, and can be delivered by multiple routes. However, live virus vaccines also cause reactogenic side effects such as fever, myalgia, and injection site pain that have reduced their acceptance in the clinic. Several recent studies have linked vaccine-induced reactogenic side effects to production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in humans. Our objective was therefore to determine whether IL-1β contributed to pathology after immunization with recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vaccine vectors, and if so, to identify strategies by which IL-1β mediated pathology might be reduced without compromising immunogenicity. We found that an rVSV vaccine induced local and systemic production of IL-1β in vivo, and that accumulation of IL-1β correlated with acute pathology after rVSV immunization. rVSV-induced pathology was reduced in mice deficient in the IL-1 receptor Type I, but the IL-1R−/− mice were fully protected from lethal rechallenge with a high dose of VSV. This result demonstrated that IL-1 contributed to reactogenicity of the rVSV, but was dispensable for induction of protective immunity. The amount of IL-1β detected in mice deficient in either caspase-1 or the inflammasome adaptor molecule ASC after rVSV immunization was not significantly different than that produced by wild type animals, and caspase-1−/− and ASC−/− mice were only partially protected from rVSV-induced pathology. Those data support the idea that some of the IL-1β expressed in vivo in response to VSV may be activated by a caspase-1 and ASC-independent mechanism. Together these results suggest that rVSV vectors engineered to suppress the induction of IL-1β, or signaling through the IL-1R would be less reactogenic in vivo, but would retain their immunogenicity and protective capacity. Such rVSV would be highly desirable as either vaccine vectors or oncolytic therapies, and would likely be better tolerated in human vaccinees.
Synthetic Mooring Rope Jackets Submitted to Abrasive Actions: A Methodology Proposed to Determine Superficial Wearing Behavior

Nowadays, the use of synthetic ropes in the anchorage of offshore platforms is becoming common. In spite of having a good knowledge of the mechanical behavior of this kind of rope, a study of abrasion wearing is presented here in this paper. Regarding the life of a synthetic rope during its use, in quantitative terms, little is known about wearing by abrasive contact with other materials and equipments. The main objective of this work is to establish procedures and criteria in order to determine the abrasion wearing of the jackets. It is intended to analyze behavior using abrasion tests in jackets of scale ropes made of different synthetic materials and to verify which would provide the best conditions of use. In order to do this, procedures were established for the preparation and testing of specimens as well as the criteria to analyze the results. The fundamental criterion adopted for determining abrasion wearing takes into consideration the mass loss of the specimen associated with the mechanical resistance loss of the yarns that constitute the jacket. Two materials were analyzed using these procedures thereby obtaining wearing curves according to time in different test conditions.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Clinical Antecedents to In-Hospital Cardiopulmonary Arrest

While the outcome of in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest has been studied extensively, the clinical antecedents of arrest are less well defined. We studied a group of consecutive general hospital ward patients developing cardiopulmonary arrest. Prospectively determined definitions of underlying pathophysiology, severity of underlying disease, patient complaints, and clinical observations were used to determine common clinical features. Sixty-four patients arrested 161 +/- 26 hours following hospital admission. Pathophysiologic alterations preceding arrest were classified as respiratory in 24 patients (38 percent), metabolic in 7 (11 percent), cardiac in 6 (9 percent), neurologic in 4 (6 percent), multiple in 17 (27 percent), and unclassified in 6 (9 percent). Patients with multiple disturbances had mainly respiratory (39 percent) and metabolic (44 percent) disorders. Fifty-four patients (84 percent) had documented observations of clinical deterioration or new complaints within eight hours of arrest. Seventy percent of all patients had either deterioration of respiratory or mental function observed during this time. Routine laboratory tests obtained before arrest showed no consistent abnormalities, but vital signs showed a mean respiratory rate of 29 +/- 1 breaths per minute. The prognoses of patients' underlying diseases were classified as ultimately fatal in 26 (41 percent), nonfatal in 23 (36 percent), and rapidly fatal in 15 (23 percent). Five patients (8 percent) survived to hospital discharge. Patients developing arrest on the general hospital ward services have predominantly respiratory and metabolic derangements immediately preceding their arrests. Their underlying diseases are generally not rapidly fatal. Arrest is frequently preceded by a clinical deterioration involving either respiratory or mental function. These features and the high mortality associated with arrest suggest that efforts to predict and prevent arrest might prove beneficial.
Relative strengths of benthic algal nutrient and grazer limitation along a lake productivity gradient.

The relative effects of nutrients and herbivores on primary producers are rarely compared across ecosystems that vary in potential primary productivity. Furthermore, proposed mechanisms to explain such patterns remain understudied. Here, I examine the strength of nutrient and grazer (herbivore) limitation (i.e., the extent to which producers’ growth is limited by insufficient nutrient supply or herbivory) of benthic algae across 13 southwest Michigan lakes that vary widely in productivity (i.e., resource supply). I compare the observed patterns of algal limitation and species composition to those predicted by two simple models: one that includes multiple species and species’ traits (the food-web model) and one that includes no variation in species or traits (the food-chain model). Species in the food-web model are assumed to display a tradeoff between resource competitive ability and resistance to herbivory (the “keystone predator” tradeoff). Among these lakes, benthic algal nutrient limitation was positive $$ {\left( {\ifmmode\expandafter\bar\else\expandafter\=\fi{x} = 0.083\,{\text{day}}^{{ - 1}} } \right)} $$ and declined significantly along a lake N:P gradient. In contrast, grazer limitation was negative $$ {\left( {\ifmmode\expandafter\bar\else\expandafter\=\fi{x} = - 0.019\,{\text{day}}^{{ - 1}} } \right)} $$ and was not significantly related to any of the measured lake productivity variables. Negative grazer limitation indicated that the removal of grazers caused unexpected declines in algal biomass, which were potentially due to indirect, positive effects (e.g., nutrient recycling) of grazers. Nutrient limitation was significantly stronger than grazer limitation across lakes, which was more consistent with the food-web versus food-chain model. Changes in algal composition were also broadly consistent with predictions of the food-web model in that vulnerable, superior nutrient competitors dominated in low productivity lakes and more grazer-resistant species were observed in high productivity lakes. In general, these results point to the importance of examining limiting factors across systems and the consideration of key species’ traits when predicting and interpreting patterns.
Fusobacterium chorioamnionitis: report of two cases in preterm labor with intact amniotic membranes.

Background: Preterm labor (PTL) in women with intact membranes may be caused by developing chorioamnionitis. Fusobacterium displays the ability to cause chorioamnionitis in the presence of intact amniotic membrane. Case: We report 2 patients with severe Fusobacterium chorioamnionitis which resulted in premature termination of pregnancy. Both patients presented with PTL and intact membranes. Neither initially appeared acutely ill. Despite the benign appearance, one woman rapidly deteriorated, requiring ventilation, pressor support, and surgical evacuation of the uterus. Conclusion: We feel that a Gram's Stain and proper collection of anaerobic cultures at the time of amniocentesis should be part of the evaluation of every patient with suspected chorioamnionitis.
Cholesterol metabolism in cancer cells in monolayer culture--IV. regulation of cholesteryl ester synthesis.

Abstract 1. 1. Regulation of cholesteryl ester synthesis has been studied in various cancer cell lines in monolayer culture. 2. 2. The rate of incorporation of [1- 14 C]-oleoy1 CoA into cholesteryl esters, a reaction which is catalyzed by acyl CoA:cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) was measured in the presence or absence of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and in the presence or absence of progesterone. 3. 3. The maximal rate of cholesteryl ester synthesis was different for each cell line and ranged from 1.5 up to 20 nmoles × mg −1 cell protein × 6 hr −1 . 4. 4. Cholesteryl ester synthesis was found to be stimulated by LDL and inhibited by progesterone in all the cancer cell lines employed in this study.
Two forms of mitochondrial DNA ligase III are produced in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Abstract Full-length cDNAs for DNA ligase IV and the α and β isoforms of DNA ligase III were cloned from Xenopus laevis to permit study of the genes encoding mitochondrial DNA ligase. DNA ligase IIIα and IIIβ share a common NH2terminus that encodes a mitochondrial localization signal capable of targeting green fluorescent protein to mitochondria while the NH2 terminus of DNA ligase IV does not. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses with adult frog tissues demonstrate that while DNA ligase IIIα and DNA ligase IV are ubiquitously expressed, DNA ligase IIIβ expression is restricted to testis and ovary. Mitochondrial lysates from X. laevisoocytes contain both DNA ligase IIIα and IIIβ but no detectable DNA ligase IV. Gel filtration, sedimentation, native gel electrophoresis, and in vitro cross-linking experiments demonstrate that mtDNA ligase IIIα exists as a high molecular weight complex. We discuss the possibility that DNA ligase IIIα exists in mitochondria in association with novel mitochondrial protein partners or as a homodimer.
Basolateral Amygdala Neurons Facilitate Reward-Seeking Behavior by Exciting Nucleus Accumbens Neurons

Both the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and basolateral amygdala (BLA) contribute to learned behavioral choice. Neurons in both structures that encode reward-predictive cues may underlie the decision to respond to such cues, but the neural circuits by which the BLA influences reward-seeking behavior have not been established. Here, we test the hypothesis that the BLA drives NAc neuronal responses to reward-predictive cues. First, using a disconnection experiment, we show that the BLA and dopamine projections to the NAc interact to promote the reward-seeking behavioral response. Next, we demonstrate that BLA neuronal responses to cues precede those of NAc neurons and that cue-evoked excitation of NAc neurons depends on BLA input. These results indicate that BLA input is required for dopamine to enhance the cue-evoked firing of NAc neurons and that this enhanced firing promotes reward-seeking behavior.
Patient autonomy and "death with dignity": some clinical caveats.

THE rapid advance in medical technology over the past two decades has raised serious questions about patient autonomy and the right to die with dignity. This article will attempt to examine psychol...
Thermal residual stresses in spray atomized and deposited Ni3Al

Over the past decade, spray atomization and deposition has generated considerable interest in materials field as a viable processing alternative for the synthesis of structural materials, and has been successfully applied to numerous alloy systems. It is well known that most manufacturing and fabrication processes induce some level of residual stresses in materials. The distribution and magnitude of these residual stresses vary drastically from one manufacturing process to another. It is also well established that residual stresses have a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the materials. The undesirable effects caused by the residual stresses typically include diminished fatigue resistance, shape distortion, and accelerated stress corrosion. In addition, the presence, the sign, and the magnitude of the residual stresses affect the yield strength and the fracture toughness of the materials.
Long-term parenteral nutritional support and intestinal adaptation in children with short bowel syndrome: A 25-year experience

Abstract Objective To analyze the outcome of children with short bowel syndrome (SBS) who required long-term parenteral nutrition (PN). Study design Retrospective analysis of children (n=78) with SBS who required PN >3 months from 1975 to 2000. Statistics: univariate analysis, Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional regression model were used. Results We identified 78 patients. Survival was better with small bowel length (SBL) >38 cm, intact ileocecal valve (ICV), intact colon, takedown surgery after ostomy (all P P P P P P 50% of colon was resected ( P P Conclusions SBL, intact ICV, intestinal continuity, and preservation of the colon are important factors for survival and adaptation. Adaptation usually occurred within the first 3 years. Need for long-term PN does not preclude achieving productive adulthood. Patients with ICV even with 15 cm without ICV have a chance of intestinal adaptation.
Why patients know more about cars than peripheral artery disease.

Americans who are interested in purchasing a motor vehicle often investigate automobile manufacturers, car models, and even competitive pricing using the World Wide Web. When one uses an Internet search engine to investigate Toyota, the largest automobile manufacturer in the world, there are >93 000 000 results. Virtually every possible question one would have about a Toyota vehicle is discoverable before ever visiting a local Toyota dealership. Article see p 1812 One would anticipate that physicians have a similar luxury. A patient presents with exertional discomfort in the calf that promptly resolves with rest. The patient struggles with her diet, is 30 pounds overweight, is on several medications for her high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and has been told that she has “prediabetes.” With the continued comparisons between Toyota LEAN (a practice which adds value to any process by limiting waste) mechanics and healthcare, patients likely anticipate that a physician would enter this history in a search engine and uncover the diagnosis. In fact, it is anticipated that many healthcare systems will use this type of E-diagnostic strategy for many disorders in the not too distant future. Unfortunately, despite IBM Watson’s1 correct diagnosis of intermittent claudication attributable to peripheral artery disease (PAD), the information …
Naproxen pharmacokinetics in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during active polyarticular inflammation

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often have hypoalbuminaemia as a sign of disease activity. In view of the extensive binding of naproxen to albumin, the pharmacokinetics of total and unbound drug were studied in eight patients and eight healthy male volunteers during chronic intake of 500 mg twice daily. The area under the serum concentration-time curve of total naproxen during a dose interval, AUC (0,12), smaller in patients (641 +/- 101 mg l-1 h) than in volunteers (896 +/- 85 mg l-1 h; P less than 0.0001). The unbound naproxen AUCu (0,12) was larger in patients (1.9 +/- 0.9 mg l-1 h) than in volunteers (0.7 +/- 0.2 mg l-1 h; P less than 0.01). The higher unbound naproxen concentrations in patients were accompanied by an approximately 40% increase in apparent clearance/bioavailability (CL/F) and a 60% increase in volume of distribution (V/F). Both CL/F and V/F were inversely correlated with the individual serum albumin concentration (r = 0.76, P less than 0.001; r = -0.85, P less than 0.001, respectively). The high unbound naproxen concentration in the serum of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis and concomitant hypoalbuminaemia is not known to be accompanied by an increase in side effects and may be beneficial if anti-inflammatory effects correlate with unbound drug concentration.
Phase behavior in model homopolymer/CO2 and surfactant/CO2 systems: discontinuous molecular dynamics simulations.

Discontinuous molecular dynamics simulations are performed on surfactant (HmTn)/solvent systems modeled as a mixture of single-sphere solvent molecules and freely jointed surfactant chains composed of m slightly solvent-philic head spheres (H) and n solvent-philic tail spheres (T), all of the same size. We use a square-well potential to account for the head−head, head−solvent, tail−tail, and tail−solvent interactions and a hard-sphere potential for the head−tail and solvent−solvent interactions. We first simulate homopolymer/supercritical CO2 (scCO2) systems to establish the appropriate interaction parameters for a surfactant/scCO2 system. Next, we simulate surfactant/scCO2 systems and explore the effect of the surfactant volume fraction, packing fraction, and temperature on the phase behavior. The transition from the two-phase region to the one-phase region is located by monitoring the contrast structure factor of the equilibrated surfactant/scCO2 system, and the micelle to unimer transition is located b...
Carbon Budget of the Southeastern U.S. Biota: Analysis of Historical Change in Trend from Source to Sink

Documentation of settlement patterns and deforestation in the southeastern United States allows evaluation of regional carbon dynamics since A.D. 1750. From 1750 to 1950, the Southeast was a net source for carbon at an average rate of 0.13 gigaton per year. Only in the past 20 to 30 years has increased productivity of commercial forests resulted in a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide of 0.07 gigaton per year.
Human sperm velocity and postinsemination cervical mucus test in the evaluation of the infertile couple

Homologous artificial insemination (AIH) followed by postinsemination cervical mucus test (PIT) was performed in 100 couples in a prospective study to evaluate suspected cervical or male factor infertility. A portion of the ejaculate was submitted for standard semen analysis as well as turbidimetric analysis of sperm velocity. In a review of 333 cases evaluated for infertility, the average sperm velocity in a normal semen analysis was 96.5 mu/sec, for those with normal postcoital test (PCT) 96.6 mu/sec, and in those that established a pregnancy 91.6 mu/sec. These are significantly higher than the values obtained for abnormal semen analysis and abnormal PCT (64.6 and 63.6 mu/sec, respectively; p less than 0.001). Patients with normal PIT (WHO criteria for normal PCT consisting of greater than or equal to 7 motile sperm/hpf) had sperm velocity of 87 mu/sec compared to velocities of 46 mu/sec for abnormal PIT (p less than 0.001). Four of the five patients with abnormal PIT (in spite of normal semen analysis and normal cervical mucus) had sperm velocities less than 75 mu/sec. Likewise, all 8 patients who had normal PIT in spite of abnormal semen analysis had sperm velocities greater than 75 mu/sec, even though the sperm motility was below normal in 5 of them. Sperm velocity is a more sensitive indicator of sperm function when compared to standard semen analysis results.
Axisymmetric Shearing Box Models of Magnetized Disks

The local model, or shearing box, has proven a useful model for studying the dynamics of astrophysical disks. Here we consider the evolution of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence in an axisymmetric local model in order to evaluate the limitations of global axisymmetric models. An exploration of the model parameter space shows the following: (1) The magnetic energy and α-decay approximately exponentially after an initial burst of turbulence. For our code, HAM, the decay time τ ∝ Res , where Res/2 is the number of zones per scale height. (2) In the initial burst of turbulence the magnetic energy is amplified by a factor proportional to Res3/4λR, where λR is the radial scale of the initial field. This scaling applies only if the most unstable wavelength of the magnetorotational instability is resolved and the final field is subthermal. (3) The shearing box is a resonant cavity and in linear theory exhibits a discrete set of compressive modes. These modes are excited by the MHD turbulence and are visible as quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in temporal power spectra of fluid variables at low spatial resolution. At high resolution the QPOs are hidden by a noise continuum. (4) In axisymmetry disk turbulence is local. The correlation function of the turbulence is limited in radial extent, and the peak magnetic energy density is independent of the radial extent of the box LR for LR > 2H. (5) Similar results are obtained for the HAM, ZEUS, and ATHENA codes; ATHENA has an effective resolution that is nearly double that of HAM and ZEUS. (6) Similar results are obtained for 2D and 3D runs at similar resolution, but only for particular choices of the initial field strength and radial scale of the initial magnetic field.
Application of second order BWEN perturbation theory to some simple reactions

The second order Brillouin-Wigner perturbation expansion with the Epstein-Nesbet partitioning is applied to some isomerization and insertion reactions, using the 6-31G* basis set. BWEN2 is found to be comparable in accuracy with RSMP2 for predictions of energy barriers and isomerization energies.