cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Failure of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor to reduce febrile neutropenia in children with recurrent solid tumors treated with ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide chemotherapy.

Ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) chemotherapy has promising activity against various solid tumors but produces significant myelotoxicity that might be ameliorated by hematopoietic growth factors. Twelve patients with relapsed solid tumors were treated with ICE chemotherapy. Carboplatin was given on day 1 at a targeted area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of 8 mg/mL × min (adjusted for each patient's glomerular filtration rate), followed by ifosfamide 2 g/m2 and etoposide 100 mg/m2 on days 2 through 4. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), 1,000 μg/m2/day, was started 24 hours after each course and given for 17 days or until the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) reached 10 × 109/L. Myelotoxicity and responses in these patients were compared to those of eight patients who received the same therapy without GM-CSF. Patients received a median of three courses (range, 1–8). All 20 patients developed grade 4 neutropenia and grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia. The median duration of neutropenia was significantly shorter in patients who received GM-CSF (16.75 vs. 10 days, P = 0.005). However, the two groups did not differ in the proportion of courses associated with hospitalization for febrile neutropenia, the duration of hospitalization, or the median duration of thrombocytopenia. There were two complete, four partial, and three objective responses in the 12 patients treated with ICE plus GM-CSF, and two partial and three objective responses in the 8 patients treated with ICE only. GM-CSF did not reduce the occurrence of febrile neutropenia or the duration of thrombocytopenia associated with ICE chemotherapy. Studies of other hematopoietic growth factors in conjunction with this promising combination are merited. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery and preservation of hearing in patients with vestibular schwannoma: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: Microsurgery and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for vestibular schwannomas are associated with a relatively high incidence of sensorineural hearing loss. A prospective trial of fractionated SRS was undertaken in an attempt to preserve hearing and minimize incidental cranial nerve injury. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with vestibular schwannomas were treated with 2100 cGy in three fractions during a 24-hour period using conventional frame-based linear accelerator radiosurgery. The median tumor diameter was 20 mm (range, 7‐42 mm). Baseline and follow-up evaluations included audiometry and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. End points were tumor progression, preservation of serviceable hearing, and treatment-related complications. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (32 tumors) were assessable for tumor progression and treatment-related complications and 21 patients for preservation of serviceable hearing, with a median follow-up interval of 2 years (range, 0.5‐4.0 yr). Tumor regression or stabilization was documented in 30 patients (97%) and tumor progression in 1 (3%). The patient with tumor progression remains asymptomatic and has not required surgical intervention. Five patients (16%) developed trigeminal nerve injury at a median of 6 months (range, 4‐12 mo) after SRS; two of these patients had preexisting trigeminal neuropathy. One patient (3%) developed facial nerve injury (HouseBrackmann Class 3) 7 months after SRS. Preservation of useful hearing (Gardner-Robertson Class 1‐2) was 77% at 2 years. All patients with pretreatment Gardner-Robertson Class 1 to 2 hearing maintained serviceable (Class 1‐3) hearing as of their last follow-up examination. CONCLUSION: Three-fraction SRS with a conventional stereotactic frame is feasible and well tolerated in the treatment of acoustic neuroma. This study demonstrates a high rate of hearing preservation and few treatmentrelated complications among a relatively high-risk patient cohort (tumors >15 mm or neurofibromatosis Type 2). Longer follow-up will be required to assess the durability of tumor control. (Neurosurgery 45:1299‐1307, 1999)
Implementation of 24/7 intensivist presence in the SICU: effect on processes of care.

Background Staffing of attending intensivists 24 hours per day, 7 days per week (24/7) in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) has unknown benefits. We hypothesized that 24/7 attending intensivist staffing in the SICU would improve outcomes and processes of care. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 26 months of admissions to our 20-bed SICU, comparing 13 months before and 13 months after addition of an in-house night intensivist to the existing day intensivist with a nighttime on-demand model. Primary outcomes were mortality, complications, SICU length of stay, and ventilator days. Secondary outcomes were use of intensivist-directed ancillary testing and therapies, as well as physician billing (relative value units per full-time equivalent [RVU/FTE]). Results A total of 2,829 patients were included: 1,408 before and 1,421 after 24/7 staffing. Baseline characteristics, mortality, complications, ventilation days, ICU and hospital length of stay, and readmission rate were similar between groups (all p > 0.05). Use of blood products and imaging tests (computed tomographic scans) were significantly reduced. Total RVU increased, as did the RVU/FTE ratio. Conclusion Implementation of 24/7 staffing did not improve SICU morbidity or mortality but was associated with decreased blood product use and fewer axial imaging studies. The RVU/FTE ratio was improved. Overall health care value may be decreased under this model. Level of evidence Care management study, level IV.
Detecting Chemically Modified DNA Bases Using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Post-translational modifications of DNA (changes in the chemical structure of individual bases that occur without changes in the DNA sequence) are known to alter gene expression. They are believed to result in frequently deleterious phenotypic changes, such as cancer. Methylation of adenine, methylation and hydroxymethylation of cytosine, and guanine oxidation are the primary DNA base modifications identified to date. Here we show it is possible to use surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect these primary DNA base modifications. SERS detection of modified DNA bases is label-free and requires minimal additional sample preparation, reducing the possibility of additional chemical modifications induced prior to measurement. This approach shows the feasibility of DNA base modification assessment as a potentially routine analysis that may be further developed for clinical diagnostics.
Studies on the mechanism of ZSM-5 formation

The nucleation of (Al-free) zeolite precursor gels was studied using X-ray diffraction,29Si FT-NMR, and ion exchange. Results suggest that in ZSM-5 nucleation, the channel intersections are first formed. These clathrate-like units, each containing essentially one TPA+ cation, are initially randomly connected, but progressively “anneal” with rearrangement under the influence of OH− ions to form the ZSM-5 framework.
Carbon−Carbon Bond Activation in Adsorbed Cyclopropane by Gas-Phase Atomic Hydrogen on the Ni(111) Surface

Gas-phase atomic hydrogen induces C−C bond activation in adsorbed cyclopropane on the Ni(111) surface, while coadsorbed hydrogen does not. Propane is the only desorbing product observed during subsequent temperature-programmed desorption experiments. Three propane formation pathways are observed. Gas-phase atomic hydrogen reacts with adsorbed cyclopropane to form intermediates at 105 K, which are hydrogenated by coadsorbed hydrogen to form propane at 116 and 210 K. The 116 K pathway is similar to previous results obtained on the Ni(100) surface where propyl was determined to be the primary intermediate. The 210 K pathway has no analogue on the Ni(100) surface and is thought to involve a more stable form of propyl on the Ni(111) surface. The reaction of subsurface hydrogen with adsorbed cyclopropane leads to propane formation at 170 K on the Ni(111) surface. The absence of methane and ethane formation indicates that no multiple C−C bond activation processes occur. In contrast, cyclopropane desorption occur...
Photochemotherapy: identification of a metabolite of 4, 5', 8-trimethylpsoralen

A compound, 4, 8-dimethyl, 5'-carboxypsoralen (DMeCP), has been identified in mouse urine as a major metabolite of the photoactive drug, 4, 5', 8-trimethylpsoralen (TMeP). This drug is widely used in the treatment of vitiligo and psoriasis. DMeCP is fluorescent, and nonphotosensitizing when tested on guinea pig skin. DMeCP also occurs in the urine of human patients receiving TMeP orally.
Buckling of open-section bead-stiffened composite panels

Abstract Stiffened panels are structures that can be designed to efficiently support in-plane compression, bending, and shear loads. Although the stiffeners are usually discrete elements which are fastened or bonded to a flat or continuously curved plate, manufacturing methods such as thermoforming allow integral formation of the stiffeners in a panel. Such a configuration offers potential advantages in terms of a reduced number of parts and manufacturing operations. For thermoplastic composite panels stiffened by integrally formed open-section beads, the effects of bead spacing and bend cross-section geometry on the initiation of buckling under uniaxial compression and uniform shear loading were investigated. Finite elements results for a range of stiffened panel sizes and bead geometries are presented and compared with approximate closed-form solutions based on an effective flat plate size. Experimental verification of analytical predictions for one of the shear panels and one of the compression panels is described. Compensation of the forming tool to reduce the degree of initial curvature of the panels was found to be necessary.
An analysis of tensile decohesion along an interface

Abstract A COHESIVE zone type interface model, taking full account of finite geometry changes, is used to study the decohesion of a viscoplastic block from a rigid substrate. Dimensional considerations introduce a characteristic length into the formulation. The specific boundary value problem analysed is one of plane strain tension with a superposed hydrostatic stress. For a perfect interface, if the maximum traction that the viscoplastic block can support is greater than the interfacial strength, decohesion takes place in a primarily tensile mode. If this maximum traction is lower than the interfacial strength, a shear dominated decohesion initiates at the block edge. Imperfections in the form of a non-bonded portion of the interface are considered. The effects of imposed stress triaxiality, size scale, loading rate and interfacial properties on the course of defect dominated decohesion are illustrated. The characterization of decohesion initiation and propagation in terms of rice's (J. appl. Mech. 35, 379, 1968) J-integral is investigated for a variety of interface descriptions and values of the superposed hydrostatic stress.
The ASGT and Ethical Codes for Clinical Research

Professional organizations such as the American Society of Gene Therapy (ASGT) have the responsibility of defining the standards of scientific and, to a lesser extent, personal conduct expected of its members. On rare occasions, additional position statements must be developed in response to new challenges and issues, as exemplified by the strong and influential ASGT position statement (April 2000) on principles of financial conflict of interest in clinical research (http://www.asgt.org/position_statements/conflict_of_interest.php). Because the methods and codes that define scientifically and ethically acceptable approaches to clinical human research are a cornerstone of the ASGT's activities, it is vital for the Society to respond to events and issues that may pose important new challenges to those tenets.
Do we now know what inappropriate laboratory utilization is? An expanded systematic review of laboratory clinical audits.

Objectives: Many nonpathologists and some pathologists consider utilization review essential to laboratory quality improvement, but (1) confusion surrounding the definition of “appropriate” laboratory utilization, (2) the reliance on manual chart review, and (3) a lack of leadership have contributed to its unstandardized implementation. How the solutions to these barriers have evolved since the 1950s is described. Methods: A systematic literature review is used. Results: Current literature largely defines inappropriate laboratory utilization as any test order in violation of a guideline produced by a government or professional society. Audits performed without manual chart review (ie, database query) have dramatically increased since the mid-1990s. Most utilization audits do not involve any author with a pathology or laboratory medicine affiliation. Conclusions: Literature consensus defining “inappropriate” utilization combined with the adoption of database technology has removed key obstacles to utilization reviews. Leadership is needed to unify and benchmark laboratory utilization.
On a generalization of some formulas of the theory of “moderately thick” elastic plates

Abstract We first restate formulas for stresses and stress couples of a theory of isotropic modcrately thick plates in the classical texts of Love and of Timoshcnko in simplified form. We then use recent results for a two-dimensional twelfth-order plate theory, to derive a generalization of the classical formulas such that the results for the isotropic case appear as special cases of the corresponding results for transversely isotropic plates. In addition we transform the general equations of our twodimensional twelfth-order theory so as to be left with one fourth-order equation for an interior solution contribution, and one fourth-order equation for transverse normal stress edge zone effects, in addition to the previously known two simultaneous second-order equations for transverse shear stress edge zone effects.
Application of a permethrin immunosorbent assay method to residential soil and dust samples

A low-cost, high throughput bioanalytical screening method was developed for monitoring cis/trans-permethrin in dust and soil samples. The method consisted of a simple sample preparation procedure [sonication with dichloromethane followed by a solvent exchange into methanol:water (1:1)] with bioanalytical detection using a magnetic particle enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Quantitative recoveries (83-126%) of cis/trans-permethrin were obtained for spiked soil and dust samples. The percent difference of duplicate ELISA analyses was within +/- 20% for standards and +/- 35% for samples. Similar sample preparation procedures were used for the conventional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis except that additional cleanup steps were required. Recoveries of cis/trans-permethrin ranged from 81 to 108% for spiked soil and dust samples by GC/MS. The ELISA-derived permethrin concentrations were highly correlated with the GC/MS-derived sum of cis/trans-permethrin concentrations with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.986. The ELISA method provided a rapid qualitative screen for cis/trans-permethrin in soil and dust while providing a higher sample throughput with a lower cost as compared to the GC/MS method. The ELISA can be applied as a complementary, low-cost screening tool to prioritize and rank samples prior to instrumental analysis for exposure studies.
Molten carbonate-induced hot corrosion of nickel

The accelerated oxidation of pure nickel in the presence of a molten carbonate mixture has been studied in O2 and CO2-containing atmospheres. The oxidation rate of nickel with carbonate coatings was at least four orders of magnitude faster than that without salt coatings. The extent of oxidation, in terms of unit area weight gain, depended on both the amount of carbonate mixture coatings and the gas atmosphere. The unit area weight gain due to oxidation increased with increasing amounts of salt coatings up to a certain value. These observations suggest that the termination of nickel oxidation results from the exhaustion of either the salt coatings or metallic nickel. Porous and particulate oxide products were observed from scanning electron microscopic (SEM) examinations. The energy-dispersive analysis of x-rays (EDAX) shows that no salt remains on the specimen surface after the oxidation experiment.
Solidification kinetics and metastable phase formation in binary Ti-Al

Electromagnetic levitation was used to solidify near-equiatomic alloys of Ti-Al at various bulk undercoolings. Detailed thermal histories were acquired during experiments using optical pyrometry with sampling rates as fast as 500 KHz. Solidification and other high-temperature transformation pathways were deduced from the thermal data and microstructural analysis. Recalescence rise times were employed to determine semiquantitative primary solidification kinetics for the different phases. Primary beta solidification was observed at compositions well into the equilibrium alpha regime; this is presented as part of a near-equiatomic nucleation domain diagram that shows the primary solidification phase that results for each combination of nucleation temperature and composition. Solidification kinetics are faster for primary beta than they are for primary alpha. For undercoolings less than about 150 K, the primary solidification kinetics are about an order of magnitude slower for gamma than for alpha.
Nanomagnetic circuits with spin torque majority gates

Nanomagnetic or spintronic circuits hold the promise of non-volatile and reconfigurable logic with small switching energy. The concept of circuits based on spin transfer torque switching in magnetic tunnel junctions is presented. Majority gates are concatenated without conversion to electric signals. A full adder circuit is simulated with a micromagnetic solver, dynamics of magnetization is explained via motion of domain walls. The switching speed and energy of the adder bit is comparable to single gates or nanomagnetic memories. A nonlinear transfer characteristic ensures noise margin.
Sub 90nm DRAM patterning by using modified chromeless PSM at KrF lithography era

The Most chip makers want KrF lithography is extended below sub 90nm lithography due to cost and process stability, even though ArF lithography has been growing and its performance is enough to apply to 90nm node. But process control of KrF lithography will become difficult at sub 90nm node because of patterning limitation of KrF lithography. Specially, mask error factor (MEF) is growing to be important for patterning. Generally, chromeless phase shifting mask (PSM) has known widely as a good solution for better patterning than any other PSM, but there are a few companies to apply this mask to their process due to some fatal weakness which are design complexity, difficulties of mask making, control of mask defect, and so on. This paper shows the new modified chromeless HTPSM has solution for some special pattern by using KrF lithography and compares with strong aperture result at 90nm node. The most of island pattern has different MEF with width and length. And patterning control of length axis has been very difficult from mask making to wafer printing. In addition, its control is seriously depended on width axis in the low k1 level. Patterning of storage node contact which is 1:2 duty with width and length axis is very difficult in general DRAM pattern, its MEF is over 5 at width axis and over 15 at length axis in 90nm node. Both axis controls are too hard to achieve good patterning simultaneously. Generally, chromeless PSM has a good MEF performance so we apply and create new modified chromeless HTPSM to overcome our storage node contact pattern. This PSM consist of three layers which are 0° Qz, 180° Qz, and 360° half-tone pattern. 180° Qz pattern play important role in this PSM as a assist pattern to achieve good patterning. First of all, we should make a choice of optimum layout and then we decide on how to make a mask because it is very important factor to control overlay accuracy between 0° Qz and 180° Qz pattern. This overlay accuracy affect to patterning result seriously. Modified chromeless HTPSM has strong patterning performance but overlay accuracy between major and assist pattern will be controlled tightly. This reason is what we hesitate to apply modified chromeless HTPSM to real device development.
Modification of cysteine residues by alkylation. A tool in peptide mapping and protein identification.

Although mass spectrometric peptide mapping has become an established technique for the rapid identification of proteins isolated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), the results of the identification procedure can sometimes be ambiguous. Such ambiguities become increasingly prevalent for proteins isolated as mixtures or when only very small amounts of the proteins are isolated. The quality of the identification procedure can be improved by increasing the number of peptides that are extracted from the gel. Here we show that cysteine alkylation is required to ensure maximal coverage in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) peptide mapping of proteins isolated by PAGE. In the described procedure, alkylation was performed prior to electrophoresis to avoid the adventitious formation of acrylamide adducts during electrophoresis. In this way, homogeneous alkylation was obtained with three different alkylating reagents (4-vinylpyridine, iodoacetamide...
Antibody formation in humans against their own stored red cells.

IN the course of a study on factors that may be involved in the in vivo destruction of stored red cells, an experiment was performed which suggests that the antigenicity of red cells is altered when blood is kept for a long period of time under standard storage conditions, and individuals may be sensitized with such stored red cells.
Smoking, getting drunk, and engaging in bulimic behaviors: in which order are the behaviors adopted?

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the relation between beginning to binge-eat or purge, beginning to smoke, and getting drunk for the first time. Method Prospective study of 11,358 girls and boys, 10 to 15 years of age, in an ongoing cohort study who completed questionnaires in 1997 and 1998. The outcome measures were beginning to engage in bulimic behaviors, beginning to smoke, and getting drunk for the first time between 1997 and 1998. Results During 1 year, 4.3% of girls and 3.6% of boys started smoking, 5.3% of girls and 4.8% of boys started getting drunk, and 2.4% of girls and 0.6% of boys started engaging in bulimic behaviors. Among the girls, weight concerns in 1997 were predictive of beginning to smoke (odds ratio [OR] = 2.2), get drunk (OR = 1.7), purge (OR = 3.8), and binge-eat (OR = 2.6). Adolescents who reported smoking in 1997 were more likely than nonsmokers to get drunk for the first time (girls: OR = 5.7; boys: OR = 7.1). The reverse association, getting drunk as a predictor of starting to smoke, was of lesser magnitude (OR = 2.3–2.6). Conclusions The three unhealthy behaviors were associated prospectively with each other. The results suggest that prevention efforts should target weight concerns and multiple risk behaviors.
On the theory of second harmonic generation

It is shown how the theory of non-linear interaction between the modes of the open resonator, developed previously [1] and used to study resonant second harmonic generation [2], can be applied to second harmonic generation in the absence of a resonator. The conditions under which the second harmonic output, in the small conversion approximation, can be approximated by a Gaussian beam are derived.
Comparison of soluble and particulate amine oxidases from bovine aorta

Abstract Extracts of bovine aorta contain two amine oxidases which can be distinguished by solubility and substrate specificity. The major portion of the benzylamine oxidase activity is bound to a fraction that sediments at 68,000 × g ; 15% of the activity is soluble. In contrast to the soluble enzyme, the bound amine oxidase oxidizes N-methylbenzylamine but not spermine and is inhibited less by semicarbazide and hydroxylamine.
Gβγ Binding to GIRK4 Subunit Is Critical for G Protein-gated K+ Channel Activation

The cardiac G protein-gated K+ channel, IKACh, is directly activated by G protein beta gamma subunits (Gbeta gamma). IKAChis composed of two inward rectifier K+ channel subunits, GIRK1 and GIRK4. Gbeta gamma binds to both GIRK1 and GIRK4 subunits of the heteromultimeric IKACh. Here we delineate the Gbeta gamma binding regions of IKACh by studying direct Gbeta gamma interaction with native purified IKACh, competition of this interaction with peptides derived from GIRK1 or GIRK4 amino acid sequences, mutational analysis of regions implicated in Gbeta gamma binding, and functional expression of mutated subunits in mammalian cells. Only two GIRK4 peptides, containing amino acids 209-225 or 226-245, effectively competed for Gbeta gamma binding. A single point mutation introduced into GIRK4 at position 216 (C216T) dramatically reduced the potency of the peptide in inhibiting Gbeta gamma binding and Gbeta gamma activation of expressed GIRK1/GIRK4(C216T) channels. Conversion of 5 amino acids in GIRK4 (226-245) to the corresponding amino acids found in the G protein-insensitive IRK1 channel, completely abolished peptide inhibition of Gbeta gamma binding to IKACh and Gbeta gamma activation of GIRK1/mutant GIRK4 channels. We conclude from this data that Gbeta gamma binding to GIRK4 is critical for IKACh activation.
Participation of central descending nociceptive facilitatory systems in secondary hyperalgesia produced by mustard oil

The present series of experiments were designed to examine a potential role for central descending pain facilitatory systems in mediating secondary hyperalgesia produced by topical application of mustard oil and measuring the nociceptive tail-flick reflex in awake rats. Topical application of mustard oil (100%) to the lateral surface of the hind leg produced a facilitation of the tail-flick reflex that was significantly reduced in spinal transected animals. Mustard oil hyperalgesia was also inhibited in animals that had received electrolytic lesions in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). Intrathecal (i.t.) administration of the non-selective cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist proglumide (10 micrograms) prior to mustard oil application completely blocked both the lesser and greater hyperalgesic responses observed in spinal transected and normal animals, respectively, and produced an inhibition of the tail-flick reflex in normal animals. Administration of the selective CCKB receptor antagonist L-365260 i.t. dose-dependently inhibited mustard oil hyperalgesia (ID50 = 364 ng) at doses approximately 5-fold less than the CCKA receptor antagonist devazepide (ID50 = 1760 ng). Similar to spinal proglumide, microinjection of the neurotensin antagonist SR48692 (3.5 micrograms) into the RVM blocked mustard oil hyperalgesia and inhibited the tail-flick reflex. These data suggest that secondary hyperalgesia produced by mustard oil is mediated largely by a central, centrifugal descending pain facilitatory system which involves neurotensin in the RVM and spinal CCK (via CCKB receptors). The inhibition of the tail-flick reflex produced by mustard oil following spinal or supraspinal administration of receptor antagonists suggests concurrent activation of central descending facilitatory and inhibitory systems.
Conditioning a diffusion at first-passage and last-exit times, and a mirage arising in drug therapy for HIV

Abstract Let X ( t ), t ⩾0, be a real-valued diffusion process, not necessarily time-homogeneous. For a fixed z , let T z be the first-passage time to z ; and, under the assumption that z is a transient state, let V z be the last-exit time from z . The main results of this work are a description of the structure of X ( t ), t ⩾0, upon conditioning by the values of T z and V z , and some of the characteristics of the conditioned process. The results are illustrated by application to Brownian motion with constant drift and also to the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process augmented by a linear term representing a constant drift (a nonhomogeneous diffusion). The problem was motivated by the need to explain a possible mathematical mirage in the testing of antiviral drugs for HIV infection.
Peripheral blood lymphocytes from thermal injury patients are defective in their ability to generate lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity

We have previously shown that natural killer (NK) cell activity against K562 tumor cells is severely depressed in thermal injury patients. In this study we have investigated whether the low NK cell activity present in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from thermal injury patients could be enhanced by in vitro culture with interleukin 2 (IL2) and whether PBL obtained from these patients could generate lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity against NK insensitive tumor targets. NK cell activity in PBL obtained from 12 different patients was greatly enhanced against K562 tumor cells after in vitro culture with IL2 for 3 days. In contrast, PBL obtained from these patients and incubated with IL2 had little to no cytotoxic activity when measured against a number of NK-insensitive tumor targets. The failure of PBL obtained from thermal injury patients to generate LAK cell activity was observed regardless of the culture time or the amount of IL2 added to the cultures. PBL from thermal injury patients demonstrated reduced proliferative responses to IL2 and, more importantly, contained suppressor cells which could inhibit the generation of LAK cell activity of normal PBL obtained from control individuals. These results clearly show that in some thermal injury patients NK cell activity can be enhanced by IL2 but these patients are defective in their ability to generate LAK cell activity.
Race/ethnicity, residential segregation, and exposure to ambient air pollution: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Objectives. We described the associations of ambient air pollution exposure with race/ethnicity and racial residential segregation.Methods. We studied 5921 White, Black, Hispanic, and Chinese adults across 6 US cities between 2000 and 2002. Household-level fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) were estimated for 2000. Neighborhood racial composition and residential segregation were estimated using US census tract data for 2000.Results. Participants in neighborhoods with more than 60% Hispanic populations were exposed to 8% higher PM2.5 and 31% higher NOX concentrations compared with those in neighborhoods with less than 25% Hispanic populations. Participants in neighborhoods with more than 60% White populations were exposed to 5% lower PM2.5 and 18% lower NOX concentrations compared with those in neighborhoods with less than 25% of the population identifying as White. Neighborhoods with Whites underrepresented or with Hispanics overrepresented were exposed to higher PM2.5 and NOX conce...
Lipopolysaccharide induction of THP-1 cells activates binding of c-Jun, Ets, and Egr-1 to the tissue factor promoter.

These studies examine the molecular basis for increased transcription of tissue factor (TF) in THP-1 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). DNase I footprinting identified six sites of protein-DNA interaction between −383 and the cap site that varied between control and induced extracts. Four footprints show qualitative differences in nuclease sensitivity. Footprints I (−85 to −52) and V (−197 to −175) are induction-specific and localize to regions of the promoter that mediate serum, phorbol ester, partial LPS response (−111 to +14), and the major LPS-inducible element (−231 to −172). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with the −231 to −172 probe demonstrate JunD and Fos binding in both control and induced nuclear extracts; however, binding of c-Jun is only detected following LPS stimulation. Antibody inhibition studies implicate binding of Ets-1 or Ets-2 to the consensus site between −192 and −177, a region that contains an induction-specific footprint. The proximal region (−85 to −52), containing the second inducible footprint, binds Egr-1 following induction. These data suggest that LPS stimulation of THP-1 cells activates binding of c-Jun, Ets, and Egr-1 to the TF promoter and implicates these factors in the transcriptional activation of TF mRNA synthesis.
GreenLite Dartmouth: unplug or the polar bear gets it

With glaciers melting, sea levels rising and natural disasters---such as hurricanes and cyclones---intensifying, climate change is a growing concern. While innovations in renewable energy are critical, research shows that changing energy use behavior has become increasingly important in the fight against global warming. GreenLite Dartmouth focuses on changing behavior by making energy conservation a priority for students by creating both an intellectual and emotional connection between daily actions and their adverse effects on the environment. We combine computer graphics, art, engineering, sociology, environmental science, systems-thinking and behavioral psychology to turn real-time energy use data into a meaningful interactive display. GreenLite employs innovative methods for displaying complex data using interactivity, storytelling, animation, competition and goal-setting. Appealing animated information-display and "mood" algorithms put data into context to make it meaningful. We incorporate a system of digital energy meters, a custom database, computational analysis, 2D and 3D animations, interactive design and a game-engine to spur behavior change and, hopefully, reverse the course of climate change.
Design and Validation of Fuzzy Logic Control for a Smart Projectile Fin

This paper deals with the design and validation of the fuzzy logic control for a smart fin of a projectile. The fin is actuated by a cantilevered piezoelectric bimorph that is completely enclosed within the fin. A linear model of the actuator and fin is identified experimentally by exciting the system using a chirp signal. A procedure for designing a GA-based fuzzy logic controller for the fin is presented. The controller is verified using simulation and experimental testing that is conducted in the subsonic wind tunnel at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Results illustrate that the proposed controller can track the desired fin angle control under various operating conditions.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Parallels in art and play therapy with a disturbed retarded child

There is a great deal of literature on the therapeutic aspects of play with children (Ginott, 1961; Haworth, 1964; Schaefer, 1976) and a growing body of literature on art therapy with children (Kramer, 1971; Rubin, 1977). There is also interest in combining two expressive methods to form a third type of therapeutic experience. For example, Irwin, Rubin & Shapiro (1975) discuss the formation of an art-drama group where both therapies were used within the same therapy sessions. There is a dearth of meaningful literature, however, on art therapy and play therapy with retarded children (Roth, 1978; Roth, 1979; Stacey & DeMartino, 1957; Wilson, 1977). This paper illustrates how the retarded child can benefit from simultaneous participation in art therapy and play therapy. Each therapy is distinct and neither modality is subordinate to the other. The opportunity to observe the same child in both art therapy and play therapy has allowed the following observations: 1. Retarded children are capable of symbolic processes. 2. A similar therapeutic process is revealed in more than one setting and in more than one treatment modality. 3. A comparison of the child’s performance across settings may both confirm the nature of his problems and facilitate their resolution. Art therapy and play therapy within the context of this paper are briefly defined as follows: Art therapy is a treatment that offers children an opportunity to communicate through the use of art materials. Children represent through scribbling, drawing, painting, or interacting with clay, feelings and ideas that bother them but which they may not fully understand nor be able to talk about directly. It gives children an outlet for sharing thoughts that are disturbing while participating in the art-making process or by telling a story related to a finished art product. Play therapy is based on the idea that playing with toys and acting out stories in play is a natural and easy way for children to express thoughts and feelings that may be troubling. The therapeutic use of play whether it be representational, symbolic, or dramatic play provides the child with a non-threatening opportunity to reveal his fears, hopes, and fantasies. For the nonverbal child, both play therapy and art therapy offer a special form of self-expression that is meaningful.
Improvements to combinational equivalence checking

The paper explores several ways to improve the speed and capacity of combinational equivalence checking based on Boolean satisfiability (SAT). State-of-the-art methods use simulation and BDD/SAT sweeping on the input side (i.e. proving equivalence of some internal nodes in a topological order), interleaved with attempts to run SAT on the output (i.e. proving equivalence of the output to constant 0). This paper improves on this method by (a) using more intelligent simulation, (b) using CNF-based SAT with circuit-based decision heuristics, and (c) interleaving SAT with low-effort logic synthesis. Experimental results on public and industrial benchmarks demonstrate substantial reductions in runtime, compared to the current methods. In several cases, the new solver succeeded in solving previously unsolved problems.
Theories for Skilled Limb Movements .

Some of the theories that have been advanced to perform skilled limb movements are reviewed in this paper. The aspects discussed in brief include alpha-gamma control, choice of control variables in limb movements, equilibrium point hypotheses, experimental observations from simple movement studies and explanations proposed, in particular the dual strategy hypothesis. The single mechanical degree-of-freedom movements may be controlled by one of two strategies: a speed-insensitive strategy or a speed-sensitive strategy. The term strategy implies a set of rules which specify in terms of task variables and subject instructions how to choose the excitation signal, the controlling signal at the alpha motoneuron level. The two strategies differ in that speed-insensitive strategy is a result of duration modulation of the excitation pulse, whereas the speed-sensitive strategy is a result from amplitude modulation. Finally, the problem of multi-degrees of freedom movements and the role of higher motor control centres are discussed in brief.
Irradiation of protoporphyric mice induces down-regulation of epidermal eicosanoid metabolism

Abstract This study investigated the effect of radiation on clinical and histologic changes, and on cutaneous eicosanoid metabolism, in Skh:HR-1 hairless albino mice rendered protoporphyric by the administration of collidine. At 0.1–18 h after exposure to 12 kJ/m 2 of 396–406 nm irradiation, thicknesses of back skin and ears were measured, and histologic changes were evaluated by using hematoxylin and eosin (H-E) and Giemsa's stains. Activities of eicosanoid-metabolizing enzymes in epidermal and dermal homogenates were assessed by incubating the tissue homogenates with 3 H-AA, followed by quantitation of the eicosanoids generated by radio-TLC. In irradiated protoporphyric mice, an increase of back-skin thickness was noted at 0.1 h, reaching a peak at 18 h, whereas His maximal increase in ear thickness was observed at 12 h. Histologic changes included dermal edema, increased mast cell degranulation, and mononuclear cells in the dermis. In these irradiated protoporphyric animals, generations of 6 keto PGF 1 , PGF 2 , PGE 2 , PGD 2 , and HETE by epidermal eicosanoid-metabolizing enzymes were markedly suppressed at all the time points studied. Dermal eicosanoid-metabolizing enzymes of irradiated protoporphyric mice generated increased amounts of PGE 2 and HETE at 18 h, probably reflecting the presence of dermal cellular infiltrates. The suppression of the activities of epidermal eicosanoid-metabolizing enzymes was prevented by intraperitoneal injection of WR-2721, a sulfhydryl group generator, prior to irradiation, suggesting that the suppression was secondary to photo-oxidative damage of the enzymes during the in vivo phototoxic response. These results suggest that the effect of protoporphyrin and radiation on cutaneous eicosanoid metabolism in this animal model in vivo is that of a down regulation of the activities of epidermal eicosanoid-metabolizing enzymes.
Development of sedimentary basins on the lower trench slope

In arc systems where an oceanic plate with a thick cover of sediments is subducted, the sediments are scraped off and accreted to the base of the inner trench slope. The accreted sediments form ridges, behind which younger sediments are often ponded in basins. The width of these basins progressively increases from 2 to 3 km at the base of the lower slope to 10 km near the trench slope break. Sediments within the basins increase in thickness from nearly zero in the basins now at greatest depths to several kilometres in the basins on the shallowest part of the slope. Slope basins begin to form at the base of the lower slope, where sediments accumulate between adjacent thrust faults. Addition of more accreted material at the trench causes uplift and rotation of the thrust slices and of overlying slope sediments. As deformation proceeds, motion along some of the thrusts dies out, and the inactive thrusts become buried by slope sediments, thus increasing the size of the slope basins. In orogenic belts, sedimentary rocks that were deposited on a “basement” of melange and are now tectonically enclosed by melange are hypothesized to be ancient slope-basin deposits.
Rapid tolerance development to the NREM sleep promoting effect of alcohol.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Alcohol tolerance is a major contributor towards the development of alcohol dependence. Does alcohol intake result in rapid tolerance development to alcohol induced NREM sleep promotion? This has never been examined. Our objective was to examine whether two bouts of alcohol consumption on consecutive days results in rapid tolerance development to alcohol-induced NREM sleep promotion. DESIGN N/A. SETTING N/A. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS C57BL/6J mice. INTERVENTIONS Mice (N = 5) were implanted with sleep electrodes using standard surgical conditions. Following postoperative recovery and habituation, the experiment was begun. On baseline day, water bottle changes were performed at 10:00 (3 h after dark onset) and 14:00 to mimic conditions during alcohol consumption days. On next 2 days, (Days 1 and 2) mice were allowed to self-administer alcohol (20% v/v) for 4 h beginning at 10:00 and ending at 14:00. Sleep-wakefulness was continuously recorded from 10:00 to 18:00 (8 h; 4 h during alcohol + 4 h post-alcohol) on all 3 days. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Although mice consumed comparable amounts of alcohol on Days 1 and 2, NREM sleep and wakefulness were significantly and differentially affected during 4 h post-alcohol period. A robust alcohol-induced NREM sleep promotion was observed on Day 1. However, no such sleep promotion was observed on Day 2, suggesting rapid tolerance development. CONCLUSIONS Our study is the first to demonstrate that alcohol consumption for two consecutive days results in development of rapid tolerance to alcohol-induced sleep promotion.
Advanced thinking: potable reuse strategies gain traction.

In 2011 city officials watched anxiously as the water supply for Wichita Falls, Texas, began to disappear. It was near the beginning of a historically severe drought that afflicts Texas and much of the Southwest to this day. For decades, Wichita Falls had drawn nearly all its drinking water from two reservoir lakes—Lake Arrowhead and Lake Kickapoo—but now water levels in those bodies had dropped from 88% of capacity to 55%.1 Advanced treatment capabilities enable cities to augment drinking water supplies with purified wastewater. This image shows treated water feeding into a microfiltration unit, part of the Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System. The Wichita Falls city leaders enacted the first of what would become five increasingly tough mandatory restrictions on residential water use. But as the lakes’ shorelines continued to recede, they realized the time had come to take bolder action. “We approached the TCEQ [Texas Commission on Environmental Quality], and we said, ‘If this continues, our projections indicate that we could be out of water by 2014,’” recalls Daniel Nix, operations manager for the Wichita Falls Public Works Department. They needed a new water source, and they had one in mind: municipal wastewater. Following an earlier drought, the city had begun supplementing its drinking water supply with poorer-quality, high-saline water from two other lakes, Kemp and Diversion, which was treated using advanced treatment technologies including microfiltration and reverse osmosis.2 Nix was confident the same technologies could be used to produce potable water from wastewater. There was just one problem: neither Texas nor the federal government had any regulations governing such direct conversion of wastewater into drinking water—a process known as direct potable reuse (DPR). However, given the situation in Wichita Falls—a serious emergency coupled with readily available technology with the potential to deal with it—TCEQ said yes to trying DPR.3 “We sat down and worked with TCEQ to develop guidelines … that set the levels of treatment to ensure this water was completely safe for human consumption,” Nix says. When that was done, Wichita Falls spent $13 million to build a 12-mile pipeline connecting the wastewater treatment plant to the drinking water treatment facility.4 The treated effluent would be further purified using advanced treatment, then blended with reservoir water at a 50/50 ratio and treated once again. Then it would be stored for approximately 24 hours in a ground storage tank before being distributed to the public. The system went into operation on 9 July 2014, pumping million of gallons of blended water per day.5 “The vast majority of the people I’ve heard from say the water tastes great, that it’s actually better than the one-hundred-percent lake water,” Nix says. “The quality’s good, nobody’s gotten sick, and we haven’t had any problem with the plants. I’m very pleased with how Wichita Falls has put this together, and I think we’re showing that this can be done in the United States.”
Two static maximum population‐density models for hunter‐gatherers: A first approximation

Abstract Recent work has focused attention upon the population density of hunter‐gatherers and the point at which these populations stabilize. Many of these hypotheses have been incorporated into further hypotheses concerning subsistence and the development of agriculture. Two models are presented to predict maximum expected population densities of hunter‐gatherer groups in given geographic areas and provide a basis of comparison for observed or hypothesized population densities.