cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Uterine Fibroid Embolization for Symptomatic Leiomyomas: Perioperative Care

Uterine fibroids, also known as uterine myomas or leiomyomas, are benign tumors of the myometrium that are found in 70% to 80% of all women of reproductive age. Although these statistics seem daunting, most women with uterine fibroids remain asymptomatic. According to Spies and Czeyda-Pommersheim, only 20% to 30% of uterine fibroids cause morbidity. The symptoms most commonly caused by leiomyomas include menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding) and anemia as well as bulk-related symptoms such as pain (pelvic, low back, flank, legs), pelvic pressure, abdominal bloating and increased girth, urinary symptoms (frequency, urgency, nocturia, incontinence, ureteral compression leading to hydronephrosis), and constipation. The bleeding pattern most typical of leiomyomas includes severe menorrhagia with prolonged cycles, generally as a result of submucosal and intramural fibroids, which distort the endometrial lining of the uterus (Fig. 1). The actual mechanism by which fibroids cause menorrhagia remains unknown but many theorize that they compress veins within the uterus, thereby resulting in dilation of the veins within the endometrium. Along with this heavy, lengthy cycle, many women experience iron-deficiency anemia and frequently require iron supplementation via oral medications as well as iron infusions and even blood transfusions. Severe menorrhagia is not only a source of medical concern but is routinely a source of stress and embarrassment for the patient as passage of a large vaginal clot and flooding of blood make it nearly impossible to maintain a normal way of life during menstruation (some women need to
Prospective Evaluation of a Dacron Cuffed Hemodialysis Catheter for Prolonged Use

Double lumen subclavian venous hemodialysis catheters are in wide use in the United States to provide temporary vascular access. The disadvantage of these catheters include a high infection rate and short use-life (2 to 3 weeks). We evaluated a felt cuffed tunnelled jugular venous hemodialysis catheter (PermCath) to determine its ability to overcome these shortcomings and compared it with standard noncuffed double lumen dialysis catheters. Eighty PermCaths were inserted during this prospective study in patients needing temporary vascular access in excess of 1 month. Median use-life of these catheters was 8 weeks with a use range of 3 weeks to 5.4 months. Only four functioning catheters failed before elective removal. Despite the prolonged use-life there was only one episode of catheter mediated bacteremia. Seven catheters (9%) failed to function immediately after insertion. These failures were caused by catheter kinking in the region of the felt cuff. Thrombosis of the catheter lumen was the most frequent complication (137 episodes) but resolved in over 95% of the instances with urokinase instillation. Exit site infections (23 instances) were successfully treated conservatively. We conclude that the PermCath (Ouinton Instrument Co, Seattle) is a safe and reliable new device with a low complication rate and a longer use-life than standard subclavian dialysis catheters. This longer use-life allows more time for maturation of primary arteriovenous (AV) fistulas and Tenckhoff peritoneal dialysis catheters, and provides time for the healing of infected vascular access grafts. Its primary disadvantage is the need for surgical insertion.
Syntactic formatting of science information

It has been increasingly recognized that science information systems have need of natural language processing. F. W. Lancaster, author of the National Library of Medicine Study of the performance of the MEDLARS system, spoke of this at the 1971 annual conference of the ACM, in the panel "Can Present Methods for Library and Information Retrieval Service Survive?" He noted that "there is a definite trend away from large carefully controlled vocabularies and toward natural language processing, or at least machine-aided indexing," and quoted Klingbiel's remarks to the effect that "highly structured controlled vocabularies are obsolete for indexing and retrieval" and that "the natural language of scientific prose is fully adequate for these purposes."
Complications of colonic and rectal surgery: results of a study of early presumptive antimicrobial therapy of serious infections in surgical patients with intestinal diseases.

During a 201/2-month period, 115 surgical patients with intestinal diseases were evaluated for possible systemic infection. In 101 patients infection was suspected; antimicrobial therapy was administered promptly on the basis of a presumptive diagnosis after appropriate smears and cultures were obtained, but before the causal organisms were definitively identified or theirin-vitro susceptibility was determined. Of the 101 patients, serious infection was proved in 79; septicemia occurred in 25 per cent. Septic shock developed in 15 patients; only five died. The low mortality was attributed to prompt diagnosis and treatment. Further reduction in the incidence and mortality of septic shock may result from utilization of appropriate preventive measures.
Factor structure of a clients' satisfaction scale with psychiatric inpatients.

A principal-components factor analysis of the responses of 119 psychiatric inpatients to a 28-item clients satisfaction questionnaire yielded two interpretable factors that accounted for 52% of the total variance. The first factor concerned general satisfaction with the treatment and staff and the second factor focused on satisfaction with the activities and environment. The results of other factor studies were reported, and the methodological influences on the dimensionality of satisfaction were discussed.
Spatial and temporal expression of CD44 isoforms in the developing and growing joints of the rat limb

Hyaluronan is an integral component of proteoglycan-rich extracellular matrices such as hyaline cartilage. Hyaluronan is commonly found in embryonic tissue and is important in the formation of hydrated matrices that allow cellular expansion and migration. Cell surface hyaluronan-binding proteins such as CD44 are presumed to be important in the cellular interactions with hyaluronan in both of these processes. The primary aim of this study was to document the spatial and temporal expressions of CD44 isoforms during the development and growth of the diarthrodial joints of rat limbs. With use of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, the CD44s isoform is selectively identified as localized to a single cell layer on opposing sides of the joint at the first appearance of joint cavitation (on the 18th day of gestation). After joint formation in the neonate, the expression of the CD44s isoform in the cells at the joint surface is lost. These findings suggest that the CD44s isoform has a role in the development of the diarthrodial joint, presumably through interaction with hyaluronan.
An efficient algorithm for on-line determination of collision-free configuration-time points directly from sensor data

On-line, efficient perception based on sensing is essential for an autonomous robot to operate in an unknown and unpredictable environment. An efficient on-line algorithm is introduced to determine whether a robot at a future time t and a configuration q will be guaranteed collision-free, directly from real-world sensor data of the robot's environment at the current time τ, using stereo vision sensor. Such a problem can be formulated [1] as checking the intersection between the so-called dynamic envelope, which relates to the robot at a configuration-time (CT) point (q; t) and the current sensing time τ, and the atomic obstacles, which are obtained directly from low-level sensory data at τ. The algorithm achieves real-time efficiency, as confirmed by the experimental results, by classifying the atomic obstacles possibly intersecting the dynamic envelope and by grouping relevant atomic obstacles on the fly. It is suitable to be used on-line by sensing-based motion planners.
The centric diatom genus Cyclotella, (Stephanodiscaceae: Bacillariophyta) from Florida Bay, USA, with special reference to Cyclotella choctawhatcheeana and Cyclotella desikacharyi, a new marine species related to the Cyclotella striata complex†

Abstract A new marine species of the centric diatoms of the genus Cyclotella, Cyclotella desikacharyi A.K.S.K. Prasad collected from several localities in Florida Bay, USA, where it is a dominant part of the planktonic assemblage, is described by means of light and scanning electron microscopy. Cyclotella desikacharyi is characterized by the presence of dense striae (14–19 in 10 µm) in the marginal zone and small granules all through the surface of the valve, including the central area, fultoportulae on the valve mantle located on every second or third interstria, each surrounded by three satellite pores, a pronounced tangential undulation, 3–17 valve-face fultoportulae in an arc on the uplift of the undulation and numerous discoid plastids. The new species is compared with Cyclotella striata complex; C. desikacharyi closely resembles C. striata in valve dimensions and in the structure and arrangement of alveolate striae, and in the presence of three satellite pores surrounding each fultoportula on the va...
Measles encephalitis produced in suckling rats.

Abstract A hamster-adapted, neurotropic strain of measles virus was used to infect newborn rats intracerebrally. Clinical neurological signs developed in 4–5 days followed by death between 7–10 days. Viral replication occurred early in the infection but decreased with increasing levels of interferon. Severe necrotizing inflammatory lesions were observed in the cerebral cortex, olfactory tracts and hippocampus. The virus did not adapt to the newborn rat's central nervous system on serial passage. An age related resistance to clinical disease was observed.
Metamaterials: a stamp of quality.

Transfer printing of negative-index metamaterials with areas of tens of square centimetres onto flexible substrates paves the way for practical, low-cost, large-area exotic optics.
The Visibility of Stars and Planets During Twilight

From known values of twilight sky brightness, atmospheric transmission, and eye sensitivity, the visibility of planets and stars of magnitudes −2.5 to +4.5 is calculated for the twilight period. The results of the calculations are given in charts which can be applied to various altitudes of the observer and various conditions of observation. The twilight belt is about 1100 sea miles in width, from the sunset or sunrise meridian to full night. The charts show that under good conditions in the first 200 miles of the belt the brighter planets and Sirius become visible, in the next 200 miles first magnitude stars appear, and beyond 500 miles practically all navigational stars can be seen.
The problem with “battered husbands”

The issue of husband battering is among the most controversial topics in the sociological study of family violence. In the years since the first article about battered husbands was published, claims and counterclaims have made for a lively debate. So far, however, battered husbands have not been successfully constructed as a social problem. This article compares the issue of battered husbands and that of battered wives, and shows why the former has not become a social problem. Three major factors account for different outcomes of the two issues: social movement influences, the type and extent of professional and mass media attention to the issues, and gender images of women and men.
An ab initio study of amide proton shift tensor dependence on local protein structure.

Ab initio shielding tensor calculations were carried out on residues in human ubiquitin. Reported experimental data on isotropic and anisotropic components of the amide proton chemical shifts were ...
Rotational excitation in molecular collisions. A many-state test of the strong coupling approximation

Abstract A previously discussed strong coupling approximation for rotationally inelastic molecular collisions is tested on a 16-state model problem and found to give surprisingly accurate results.
The Correlation of Acute Toxicity and Late Rectal Injury in Radiotherapy for Cervical Carcinoma: Evidence Suggestive of Consequential Late Effect (CQLE)

Purpose: To correlate the acute toxicity during pelvic irradiation and the development of late rectal injury following radiation therapy for cervical carcinoma. Methods and Materials: Two hundred and twenty patients treated with curative-intent radiation therapy between November 1987 and January 1992 were analyzed. Patients were treated initially with external beam irradiation, 40–44 Gy/20–22 fractions to whole pelvis, followed by high dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy, 7.2 Gy to point A for 3 fractions. Severity of diarrhea during radiation therapy was scored according to six criteria: fecal characteristics, frequency, onset, prescription of antidiarrheal agents, body weight loss during irradiation, and extramedical care needed. Patients were categorized as group ND (no obvious diarrhea), group MD (moderate diarrhea), and group SD (severe diarrhea) for sum score 0–1, 2–5, and ≥6, respectively. The rate of radiation proctitis was expressed, analyzed, and compared with actuarial proctitis-free rate and prevalence. Results: 1) According to the score, 76 (35%), 89 (40%), and 55 (25%) patients were categorized as group ND, group MD, and group SD, respectively. Distribution of patients and treatment characteristics among the three groups appeared similar. Patients treated with a larger field size, ≥16.5 cm2, tended to have increased severity of diarrhea. 2) Overall, 103 patients (47%, 103 of 220) developed radiation proctitis. Twenty-one patients were in group ND (28%, 21 of 76), 43 in group MD (48%, 43 of 89), and 39 in group SD (71%, 39 of 55). 3) The five-year actuarial proctitis-free rate was 72, 52, and 29% for group ND, MD, and SD, respectively (p < 0.005). 4) Taking time evolution and recoverability into account, the effect of diarrhea on the prevalence of radiation proctitis remained statistically significant at the first through the fourth year after irradiation. 5) Severity of radiation proctitis and severity of diarrhea were not correlated (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient rs = 0.229, p = 0.098). 6) Cox’s multivariate analysis revealed that severity of diarrhea was the only factor that significantly correlated with the development of radiation proctitis. Conclusion: Patients with increased acute toxicity and diarrhea during radiation therapy of cervical carcinoma significantly increased the risk of late rectal injury. This result suggested that early excessive damage of acute-responding component of rectal wall may play an important role in the initiation of late rectal injury. Radiation proctitis can be accounted, in part, as a consequential late effect.
Candidate choice before the convention: The democrats in 1984

This paper analyzes prenomination presidential candidate preferences, using data from the Center for Political Studies' 1984 Continuous Monitoring Survey. Among Democratic identifiers, affective evaluations of the candidates were the strongest influence on candidate preference, but judgments concerning the candidates' nomination prospects and electability also influenced candidate preference, as did strength of party identification. The outcomes of particular primaries strongly influenced voters' opinions regarding the candidates' nomination prospects and, indirectly, their electability. Walter Mondale's decisive victory in the New York primary on April 3 apparently led to a “bandwagon effect” among Democratic voters across the nation; that is, the perception that Mondale was very likely to win the nomination produced a dramatic shift in candidate preference toward Mondale and away from Gary Hart.
Sphagnum production in forested bogs of northern Minnesota.

Annual production of Sphagnum on three perched and three raised forested bogs was determined and compared. Perched bogs occupy small depressions in glacial moraines and raised bogs occur on broad, flat plains. Data from both cranked rods and threads were used with regression techniques to determine rates of growth on hummocks and hollows of bog microrelief. Hummocks and hollows were operationally defined by the characteristic moss species that dominated each position. Over a 3-year sampling period, average rate of moss growth in perched bogs was 3.9 (± 4%) on hummocks and 13.1 cm year−1 (± 13%) in hollows. In raised bogs, the growth was 3.6 (± 4%) and 9.1 cm year−1 (± 14%), respectively. About half the lineal growth occurred early in the growing season, and slightly more of the remaining growth occurred in midseason compared with late season. Conversion to ovendry mass per unit surface area of bog indicates production of 320 on hummocks and 520 in hollows on perched bogs; 300 on hummocks and 370 g m−2 yea...
Evidence for a low-molecular-weight plasma peptide which stimulates chick chondrocyte metabolism

Plasma contains a number of insulin-like activities (ILA) of molecular weights 7,000 to 90,000 (somatomedins and insulin-like proteins) which stimulate cellular metabolism and may function as growth factors. We have found evidence for the presence of an 800 Dalton peptide in human plasma which markedly stimulates the metabolism of chick chondrocytes. This peptide was extracted from human Cohn fraction IV-1 by procedures similar to those used for somatomedin isolations. At the Sephadex G-50 column separation step, the fraction with molecular weights of 300-1,000 was found to markedly stimulate chick chondrocyte metabolism. Rechromatography on Sephadex G-25 concentrated activity in peptides of molecular weight of about 800. An HPLC separation on a silica C-18 reverse phase column gave elution of the active peptide at 18% acetonitrile in water. This bioactivity appears to be a peptide which is free of lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, metal ions, and immunoreactive insulin. This factor markedly increased the metabolism of cultured chick chondrocytes, but had only marginal activity on rat chondrocytes. When added at 1 microgram/ml to chick chondrocytes cultured in F-12 medium plus 1.5% fetal calf serum, the HPLC-purified activity increased DNA synthesis 7.3-fold, lipid synthesis 10.2-fold, and lactate production 2.9-fold after 48 h incubation. However, unlike somatomedins A and C, this factor did not displace insulin from placental membranes. These results suggest that low-molecular-weight peptides, which are smaller than the somatomedins, may contribute to the total ILA of human plasma.
Depyrogenation of Digestive Enzymes Reduces Lipopolysaccharide Tolerance in Isolated Cardiac Myocytes

Abstract The isolated myocyte is useful for examining the direct cardiac effects of substances such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokines. However, the digestive enzymes used for standard cell isolation procedures are contaminated by several hundred ng/ml LPS. We depyrogenated the digestive enzymes with a series of Triton X-114 and Polymyxin B washes to remove 99.7–99.9% of the LPS. This lowered LPS contamination levels from 100–300 ng/ml to 0.15–0.70 ng/ml, while maintaining good quality cell isolations from the left ventricle of New Zealand white rabbits. We evaluated whether brief exposure to LPS contaminant levels, as occur during standard cell isolations, induces LPS tolerance. Cardiac myocytes (isolated with depyrogenated enzymes) were pre-exposed to 100 ng/ml LPS for 1 h, washed, then exposed to a challenge dose with 100 ng/ml LPS. The LPS challenge dose induced a time-dependent decrease in cell shortening over 6 h in myocytes without pre-exposure, but not in myocytes pre-exposed to an earlier dose of LPS. We examined whether LPS tolerance develops in myocytes isolated with untreated enzymes, compared with depyrogenated enzymes. In myocytes isolated with untreated enzymes, there was a significant decrease in cell shortening after 6 h exposure to 1000–10 000 ng/ml LPS. In myocytes isolated with depyrogenated enzymes, it required only 5–50 ng/ml LPS to induce a comparable cardiac depression. We conclude that brief exposure to LPS contaminant levels, which occur with standard cell isolation procedures, induces a hyporesponsiveness or tolerance to subsequent doses of LPS in isolated cardiac myocytes.
EFFECT OF I.V. ANAESTHESIA WITH PROPOFOL ON DRUG DISTRIBUTION AND METABOLISM IN THE DOG

We have studied the effect of i.v. anaesthesia with propofol in the emulsion (Intralipid) formulation on drug distribution and metabolism in six dogs using dual-route administration of propranolol as a model compound. Each dog was studied on two consecutive days: day 1 awake and day 2 during propofol anaesthesia (6 mg kg−1 followed by an infusion of 0.8 mg kg−1 min−1). Propofol anaesthesia was associated with reduced intrinsic clearance by 40% (P
Adrenal corticosteroids, their receptors and hypertension

Mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids are primarily synthesized in the adrenal cortex, and play key roles in mediating physiological responses under stressful conditions, such as lack of water or nutrients. Both types of corticosteroid elevate blood pressure and elevated levels of these steroids are found in hypertensive patients. The major mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid in humans are aldosterone and cortisol, respectively. Aldosterone activates the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and cortisol the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). In this overview, the clinical and genetic evidence that both MR and GR are involved in blood pressure regulation is reviewed as are the mechanisms by which MR and GR regulate blood pressure in response to agonists. MR antagonists have been used to treat hypertension. However, GR antagonists have not been fully explored in the clinic. Based on the prevalence of abnormal mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid signaling in hypertension patients, it is proposed that antagonizing these adrenal corticosteroid receptors will provide benefit in treating hypertension. Drug Dev. Res. 67:871–883, 2006. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Synthesis and thermal properties of a novel lactose-containing poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamidolactamine) hydrogel

An improved, simple, and efficient method for the synthesis of lactose-containing monomer acrylamidolactamine (LAM) has been reported. Free radical copolymerization of this monomer with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) in the presence of the crosslinking reagent N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (BisA) (1.2 mol %) proceeded smoothly in an aqueous solution using potassium persulfate (KPS) and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) as the initiating system and gave transparent hydrogels. Reactivity ratios were estimated from copolymerization reactions carried out in solution without BisA crosslinker and at low conversion, by using both linearization and nonlinearization methods. They were found to be rLAM = 0.75 and rNIPAM = 1.22. The swelling behavior of the hydrogels was studied by immersion of the hydrogels in deionized water at different temperatures. Equilibrium water uptake was increased when the LAM content was higher than 47 mol %, and reached ≈ 44-fold with 100 mol % LAM at room temperature. Depending on the composition, the gels showed sharp swelling transitions with small changes in temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to characterize the swelling transition and the organization of water in the copolymer hydrogels. The amounts of freezable water in these hydrogels ranged from 81 to 89%, and was not correlated to the content of the sugar monomer. These gels have potential applications as biocompatible materials. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1393–1402, 1999
Nucleus accumbens acetylcholine and food intake: decreased muscarinic tone reduces feeding but not food-seeking.

Abstract Separate groups of food-deprived rats were given 2 h access to food after receiving bilateral nucleus accumbens infusions of the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine methyl bromide (at 0, 1.0, and 10.0 μg/side), the M2-preferring agonist oxotremorine sesquifumarate (Oxo-S; at 0, 1.0, or 10.0 μg/side) or the M2 antagonist AFDX-116 (at 0, 0.2, or 1.0 μg/side). Injections of scopolamine or Oxo-S, but not AFDX-116, reduced food consumption across the 2 h. These experiments confirm a critical role for Acb acetylcholine in promoting food ingestion, and suggest that decreased acetylcholine tone at post-synaptic muscarinic receptors disrupts normal consummatory behavior.
Prevention of severe cardiovascular and smooth muscle necrosis in the rat by thyro-parathyroidectomy.

IN THE course of studies on experimental arteriosclerosis in the albino rat (1, 2 and 3), it was noted that inhibition of thyroid hormone production by propyl thiouracil (4) had a protective effect against the development of cardiovascular and smooth muscle necrosis as well as against secondary calcification following standard renal injury. The parathyroid hormone likewise was believed involved in the production of these lesions since marked enlargement of the parathyroid glands was one of the alterations encountered most consistently (5 and 6), and since secondary hyperparathyroidism resulting from renal impairment has long been known to cause vascular damage and metastatic calcification (7).
Vitiligo following the resolution of psoriatic plaques during PUVA therapy.

Vitiligo Is an acquired idiopathic disorder, involving 1–4% of tiie world population and characterized by depigmented white patches of the skin that lack the dopa-positive melanocytes.It has been associated with physicai trauma and, systemic and cutaneous diseases. Among the many dermatoses, psoriasis has been reported to be associated with vitiiigo in the same individuals independently, or vitiligo may precede the formation of psoriasis at the same location. Currently, psoralen plus ultraviolet A iight (PUVA) is one of the efficacious treatments of psoriasis and vitiligo with side-effects of hypopigmentation and vitiligo-like lesions. We describe a patient with psoriasis vuigaris in whom vitiligo appeared in the same areas and configurations as his psoriatic plaques as they resolved while being treated with topicai PUVA. A 19-year-old Caucasian man was referred for treatment of his psoriatic flare. His medical history revealed a vitiiigo patch on his right calf at age five. At age 14, he developed initially psoriatic plaques on his knees and elbows which then gradually spread to the legs, arms, hands, trunk, scalp, and the genitai area. The only therapy used was a mid-potency topical steroid ointment with some reiief. Recently the condition had deteriorated enough to seek medical attention. Physical examination revealed sharply demarcated erythematous, silvery-white scaly papules, patches and plaques of various sizes on trunk, extremities, palms, buttocks, and penis. The patient received topical PUVA with 0.1% trimethoxalen cream for 3 months. Uitravioiet A light (UVA) was applied at 0.1 J/cm with an increment of 0.1 J/cm at each session as tolerated. At approximately the tenth session, depigmented lesions were noted around the margins of the regressing psoriatic plaques. This progressed continually until the vitiligous-like lesions completely replaced the resolved psoriatic piaques in exactiy the same configurations (Fig. 1). Skin biopsies of the depigmented areas revealed parakeratosis, hypogranulosis, acanthosis, and a sparse iymphocytic infiitrate around dilated tortuous capillaries in the upper corium (Fig. 2). Also a Fontana-Masson stain showed an absence of melanocytes as may be seen in vitiligo (Fig. 3).
Optic atrophy: A diagnostic sign but not a diagnosis

Optic atrophy is a common final pathway for many retinal and optic nerve pathologies. Unfortunately, the end point of the ophthalmoscopic sign of optic atrophy is uncommonly associated with sufficient diagnostic clues downstream to define an etiology, and the final diagnosis typically rests upon a combination of history, examination, and focused evaluation and testing. When the optic atrophy is associated with other topographically localizing clues (e.g., homonymous hemianopsia, retinochoroidal venous collaterals on the optic disc head or uveitis), the evaluation is simpler. If, however, the patient presents with an isolated optic atrophy, the differential diagnosis is more extensive and complex, and the evaluation can be difficult and expensive. In this review, I will summarize the key historical or examination findings that can lead to either an etiologic diagnosis, or provide guidance to the clinician for a focused laboratory and radiographic evaluation. In unexplained cases, my preferred neuroimaging ...
Treatment of neoplastic diseases with an improved oral preparation of vinblastine sulfate

An enteric-coated slowly disintegrating tablet of vinblastine sulfate was evaluated clinically in the treatment of 51 patients with neoplastic disease. Significant objective responses were obtained in 14 patients with malignant lymphomas, 6 patients with acute leukemia, 5 patients with malignant melanoma and 2 patients with metastatic carcinoma of the ovary. Side effects most frequently encountered were gastro-intestinal symptoms which were usually mild and temporary. Four patients developed leukopenia and 2 patients had panmarrow hypoplasia but in each case the bone-marrow depression was completely reversible. The enteric-coated oral tablets of vinblastine sulfate appear to be a therapeutically effective form of this drug.
Simultaneous and noninvasive imaging of cerebral oxygen metabolic rate, blood flow and oxygen extraction fraction in stroke mice.

Many brain diseases have been linked to abnormal oxygen metabolism and blood perfusion; nevertheless, there is still a lack of robust diagnostic tools for directly imaging cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) and cerebral blood flow (CBF), as well as the oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) that reflects the balance between CMRO2 and CBF. This study employed the recently developed in vivo 17O MR spectroscopic imaging to simultaneously assess CMRO2, CBF and OEF in the brain using a preclinical middle cerebral arterial occlusion mouse model with a brief inhalation of 17O-labeled oxygen gas. The results demonstrated high sensitivity and reliability of the noninvasive 17O-MR approach for rapidly imaging CMRO2, CBF and OEF abnormalities in the ischemic cortex of the MCAO mouse brain. It was found that in the ischemic brain regions both CMRO2 and CBF were substantially lower than that of intact brain regions, even for the mildly damaged brain regions that were unable to be clearly identified by the conventional MRI. In contrast, OEF was higher in the MCAO affected brain regions. This study demonstrates a promising 17O MRI technique for imaging abnormal oxygen metabolism and perfusion in the diseased brain regions. This 17O MRI technique is advantageous because of its robustness, simplicity, noninvasiveness and reliability: features that are essential to potentially translate it to human patients for early diagnosis and monitoring of treatment efficacy.
Relation of intramyocardial pressure to coronary pressure at zero flow.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which coronary pressure at zero coronary flow (Pf=0) may relate to extravascular compressive forces determined by direct measurements of left ventricular intramyocardial pressure. Studies were performed in nine open-chest anaesthetized dogs in which the anterior descending coronary artery was cannulated and perfused from the carotid artery. Coronary pressure was measured at the tip of the cannula. Intramyocardial pressure was measured with a 1 mm diameter micromanometer inserted directly into the subepicardium. The atrioventricular node was obliterated by cautery and the heart was electrically paced. Long diastolic pauses, sufficient to allow coronary flow to reach zero, were produced by the cessation of electrical pacing. In the autoregulated coronary bed, Pf=0, 47 mmHg (s.e.m. = 9), exceeded subepicardial pressure at zero flow, 23 mmHg (s.e.m. = 2; P less than 0.001). During maximal vasodilatation with adenosine, Pf=0, 16 mmHg (s.e.m. = 11), was not significantly different from subepicardial pressure at zero flow, 21 mmHg (s.e.m. = 4). These observations indicate that, in addition to coronary vasomotor tone, diastolic myocardial tissue pressure is important in the genesis of Pf=0.
Andersen implosion over Enron: an analysis of the contagion effect on Fortune 500 firms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how the Andersen implosion over Enron impacted Fortune 500 firms that were competitors of Enron and/or audited by Andersen. This event provides an opportunity to study various contagion effects.Design/methodology/approach – An event study methodology is used to analyze the immediate financial impact of the Andersen implosion on competitors of Enron and/or firms audited by Andersen. More specifically, how did the announcement of the implosion impact these firms?Findings – The results support a strong industry contagion effect where Enron's failure benefited the surviving energy/utility firms who could then increase their market shares. The authors find the energy/utility firms not audited by Andersen, on average, experienced an astounding 2.5 percent increase in market capitalization when the audit scandal was announced. In dollar terms, the mean and median market capitalization increases were $226 million and $101 million, respectively. In the aggregate, t...
Immunolocalization of a Gαq protein to the chemosensory organs of Dipolydora quadrilobata (Polychaeta: Spionidae)

Chemoreception in marine invertebrates mediates a variety of ecologically important behaviors including defense, reproduction, larval settlement and recruitment, and feeding. The sensory pathways that regulate deposit-feeding activity by polychaetes living in sedimentary habitats are of particular interest because such feeding has profound effects on the physical and chemical properties of the habitat. Nevertheless, little is known concerning the molecular mechanisms of chemical signal transduction associated with deposit feeding and other behaviors in polychaetes. Chemosensory-based feeding behaviors are typically regulated by G-protein-coupled signal transduction pathways. However, the presence and role of such pathways have not been demonstrated in marine polychaetes. Methodologies involving degenerate primer-based reverse transcription with the polymerase chain reaction and rapid amplification of cDNA ends were used to identify and characterize a Gαq subunit expressed in the feeding palps of the spionid polychaete Dipolydora quadrilobata. The D. quadrilobata Gαq protein had high sequence similarity with previously reported Gαq subunits from both invertebrate and vertebrate taxa. Immunhistochemistry and immunocytochemistry were used with confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to visualize the distribution of a Gαq antibody in whole worms and in cilia of the feeding palps. Gαq immunoreactivity was concentrated in the nuchal organs, food-groove cilia, and lateral/abfrontal cilia of the feeding palps. Because these structures are known to be involved in chemoreception, we propose that Gαq isolated from D. quadrilobata is a key component of chemosensory signal transduction pathways in this species.
In the search for universal features of electrical breakdown in solids, liquids and gases

Ever since Edison developed the use of electric energy as a means to do work, man has looked for ways to isolate the two wires required to convey electricity to the place of usage. Materials capable of isolating these wires by preventing electron transport between them were referred to as dielectrics. They include solids, liquids and gases. Extensive studies have been carried out over the decades to find the best, the most effective and the cheapest insulation system. As the voltage level increased with time so did the need for more efficient insulation. Because of the apparent physical differences, researchers tended to specialize in one of the three areas of materials and there has been little exchange among the three branches. Several attempts to provide cross fertilization among them met with very limited success. The present paper represents one such attempt in the area of electrical breakdown, one of the most crucial aspects of electrical insulation. The problem of electrical breakdown in gases has been studied in great detail over a much longer. time span than that in either liquids or solids.(1) This is not surprising since breakdown in gases leads to formation of a plasma and plasma physics is a very popular research subject. In looking for common features of this phenomenon in the three states of matter it is, therefore, convenient to use the wealth of knowledge generated in the area of gases as a starting point. This is the approach taken in the present paper. First several breakdown features obviously common to the three forms of matter are reviewed. This is followed by an examination of the factors controlling the transformation of gases into liquids and solids. Finally a unifying mechanism leading to electrical breakdown will be proposed and its validity examined in the light of available experimental evidence.
Sub-barrier fusion of the oxygen isotopes: A more complete picture

We have measured the sub-barrier fusion cross sections for 16,17,18O on 16O and we present the data and the experimental method in detail. The data were analyzed with a one-dimensional potential barrier inversion model, a two-dimensional incoming wave boundary condition model, and a two-dimensional Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin model. We find that a multidimensional model is necessary to describe the enhanced fusion cross sections in oxygen and the two-dimensional incoming wave boundary condition model suggests that a complete description of the fusion, inelastic, and elastic cross sections is possible.
Raynaud's phenomenon in older adults: diagnostic considerations and management.

Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is characterised by sensitivity to cold temperatures associated with either biphasic or uniphasic change in colour of the digits. Since few studies are available which include older adults, the prevalence of RP in the older adult population is estimated from surveys or studies of the general population. The causes of RP in older adults may differ significantly from those in young adults and, therefore, so would the evaluation of RP. Because of comorbities that accompany advancing age, the managment of RP in older adult patients must take into consideration toxicity and adverse reactions that may develop, especially in the frail individual. Although nonpharmacological therapy is preferable, slow-release calcium antagonists provide a relatively well tolerated and effective treatment for moderate to severe RP in older adult patients. Aggressive treatment including hospitalisation is appropriate for older adult patients during periods of critical digital ischaemia associated with RP.
Lyapunov function proof of Poincaré's theorem

One of the most fundamental results in analysing the stability properties of periodic orbits and limit cycles of dynamical systems is Poincare's theorem. The proof of this result involves system analytic arguments along with the Hartman-Grobman theorem. Using the notions of stability of sets, lower semicontinuous Lyapunov functions are constructed to provide a Lyapunov function proof of Poincare's theorem.
Abstract A80: Role of myeloid SOCS3 in prostate cancer progression.

Suppressor Of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) proteins, negative regulators of the JAK/STAT pathway, have been implicated in having a key protective role in tumor initiation and progression. However, the role of SOCS3 in regulating the differentiation and functions of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) is poorly understood. Recent studies show the important role of MDSCs in promoting tumor progression as well as metastasis by regulating immune surveillance. To determine the role of myeloid SOCS3 in tumor progression, Conditional SOCS3 deletion in myeloid cells (LysMCre-SOCS3fl/fl) and SOCS3fl/fl C57BL/6 mice were used as recipients for subcutaneous transplantation of TRAMP-derived mouse prostate tumor cells. Our results indicate that tumor growth is significantly enhanced in myeloid-specific SOCS3-deficient mice, which correlates with elevated levels of Gr1+/CD11b+ cells in both spleen and tumor, and less CD8+ T-cell infiltration in tumors. Tumors from myeloid-specific SOCS3-deficient mice also express high levels of Arginase-1 and have elevated Akt signaling. In vitro, SOCS3-deficient bone-marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BDMC) exhibit heightened STAT3 activation and are subject to differentiation towards the MDSC phenotype. These findings suggest that myeloid cell SOCS3 provides protection from tumor progression by regulating MDSC differentiation. Citation Format: Hao Yu, Yudong Liu, Etty N. Benveniste, Hongwei Qin. Role of myeloid SOCS3 in prostate cancer progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology: Multidisciplinary Science Driving Basic and Clinical Advances; Dec 2-5, 2012; Miami, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(1 Suppl):Abstract nr A80.
How serious a fallacy is inconsistency

Consistency is often pictured as an indispensable requisite for rationality. The paper argues that this is overly rigoristic. Inconsistency can be treated as a matter of isolable singularities rather than an all-destructive disaster. The paper, supports and illustrates a perspective on which consistency can be seen as a desideratum rather than a totaly non-negotiable demand. The argumentation of the paper casts consistency in the role of a cognitive ideal rather than a sine qua non condition of rational process.
The prevalence of hypertension and abnormal kidney function in children with sickle cell disease –a cross sectional review

Renal disease is a known contributor to mortality in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) and renal abnormalities are evident in childhood. Hyperfiltration (evidenced by elevated glomerular filtration rate, GFR) occurs in children with SCD early in disease. However, the incidence of low GFR ( 120 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 9 patients (18.8%) had eGFRs in the normal range. Eight patients (16.7%) had evidence of elevated blood pressures (pre-hypertension or hypertension). There was no correlation between eGFR and age, and no association of eGFR with acute chest or stroke risk. In this SCD cohort, we identified abnormally low eGFR (suggestive of early CKD) in 8.3% of patients and elevated blood pressure in 16.7%. These findings are in contrast to other published studies that show primarily normal or elevated GFR and the absence of or minimal hypertension. These findings indicate that elevated blood pressure and decreased eGFR are not uncommon in children with SCD, and should be more rigorously studied.
A comparison of bimonthly and quarterly testing with monthly testing for estimating dairy cattle production.

Summary Milk and butterfat records for 1,255 Holstein-Friesian cows in 42 herds were computed for the first 305 days of lactation. The centering day method and monthly, bimonthly and quarterly tests were used. The bimonthly and quarterly records were compared to the monthly records according to their variability, average difference in yield, average per cent error and frequency of errors larger than±10 per cent. The results were similar for both milk and butterfat yield. The differences in variability between the monthly, bimonthly and quarterly tests were small. The average differences in yield were significant but unimportant. The average per cent errors from milk yield were 3.0 for the bimonthly records and 5.0 for the quarterly records. The average per cent errors for fat yield were 4.0 and 6.0, respectively, for the two methods. The frequency of errors larger than 10 per cent was one in 46 regarding milk yield in bimonthly records and one in eight in quarterly records. Errors of this size occurred in the butterfat comparisons at the rate of one in 16 bimonthly records, and one in six quarterly records. The frequency of the large errors indicates that bimonthly and quarterly records should be satisfactory for sire provings and population studies, but they may be unsatisfactory when used as individual lactation records.
An Electronic Protocol for Translation of Research Results to Clinical Practice: A Preliminary Report

Introduction:We evaluated the feasibility of using an electronic protocol developed for research use (Research-eProtocol-insulin) for blood glucose management in usual intensive care unit clinical practice.Methods:We implemented the rules of Research-eProtocol-insulin in the electronic medical record of the Intermountain Healthcare hospital system (Clinical-eProtocol-insulin) for use in usual clinical practice. We evaluated the performance of Clinical-eProtocol-insulin rules in the intensive care units of seven Intermountain Healthcare hospitals and compared this performance with the performance of Research-eProtocol-insulin at the LDS Hospital Shock/Trauma/Respiratory Intensive Care Unit.Results:Clinician (nurse or physician) compliance with computerized protocol recommendations was 95% (of 21,325 recommendations) with Research-eProtocol-insulin and 92% (of 109,458 recommendations) with Clinical-eProtocol-insulin. The blood glucose distribution in clinical practice (Clinical-eProtocol-insulin) was simila...
Electron correlation and Hund's rule

It is suggested that simple electronic shielding effects induced by wave function antisymmetrization tend to govern the energy ordering of singlet and triplet terms within a two-electron atomic configuration. This approach gives rise to the following alternating rule: For the term of greatest orbital angular momentum within a configuration, the triplet lies below the singlet. The energy ordering reverses for the term of next highest angular momentum, and continues to alternate with each change of one unit in the orbital angular momentum until the term of lowest angular momentum is reached. In an examination of over 600 energy levels of the elements and their ions, the alternating rule reliably orders singlet–triplet energy levels in some 90% of the cases.
Heat Capacity of Absorbers for Transition-Edge Sensors Suitable for Space-Borne Far-IR/Submm Spectroscopy

Using a noise thermometry technique, we measured the temperature dependence of the heat capacity C(T) of suspended SixNy membranes for two different geometries from 30 mK to 300 mK. We determined a volumetric specific heat of the SixNy on the order of 10 aJ/(mum3K) at 0.1 K for both absorber geometries. This value for the specific heat is comparable to a typical metal and is more than a factor of 10 larger than typical glassy materials. This result affects the design of highly efficient optical absorbers for membrane-isolated transition-edge sensors (TESs) for the Background-Limited far-IR/Submillimeter Spectrograph (BLISS), a proposed grating spectrometer that could fly on the next generation of large, cryogenic space-borne telescopes. We show that it is possible to reduce the thermal mass of the absorber of TESs so the effective response time taue is less than 100 ms-a requirement for all the wavelength bands for BLISS.
EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE DURING POST‐MORTEM GLYCOLYSIS AND DEPHOSPHORYLATION OF HIGH ENERGY PHOSPHATES ON POULTRY MEAT TENDERNESS

SUMMARY– Tests made on pectoralis major muscles having post-slaughter pH values ranging between 6.1–7.0, indicated that holding poultry meat at 30 and 37°C during the onset of rigor mortis caused toughness. This toughening effect of high temperature appeared to occur when the pH level of the meat dropped from a value of about 6.3 to its ultimate low value and the adenosine triphosphate content dropped below 40% of its initial concentration. Holding temperatures at 10, 15 and 25°C during the onset of rigor mortis, or cooling to 15°C before the pH value dropped to about 6.3 produced more tender meat. After completion of post-mortem glycolysis and dephosphorylation of high energy phosphates, high temperature had no deleterious effect on tenderness. These results indicate that dephosphorylation of adenosine triphosphate at high temperature affects the mode or extent of stiffening of the muscular tissue and prevents tenderization.