cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enterococcus hirae Bacteremia in an Infant: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Enterococcus hirae is a gram-positive coccus that is rarely implicated in human disease and has not been reported in pediatric patients. We report a case of catheter-associated bloodstream infection and prolonged bacteremia in a 7-month-old infant dependent on total parenteral nutrition. The species was identified by the VITEK2 system and confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The organisms was susceptible to ampicillin, vancomycin, and high-level gentamicin. The patient was treated with vancomycin and gentamicin with adjunctive vancomycin lock therapy but had persistent bacteremia. Therapy was changed to dual β-lactam therapy of ampicillin and ceftriaxone with synergistic gentamicin, which led to clearance of the enterococcal bacteremia. E hirae is an unusual species that may be difficult for the microbiology laboratory to identify. This is the first pediatric case and the second case of invasive E hirae in the United States.
Sleak: automating address space layout derandomization

We present a novel approach to automatically recover information about the address space layout of remote processes in the presence of Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). Our system, dubbed Sleak, performs static analysis and symbolic execution of binary executable programs, and identifies program paths and input parameters leading to partial (i.e., only a few bits) or complete (i.e., the whole address) information disclosure vulnerabilities, revealing addresses of known objects of the target service or application. Sleak takes, as input, the binary executable program, and generates a symbolic expression for each program output that leaks information about the addresses of objects, such as stack variables, heap structures, or function pointers. By comparing these expressions with the concrete output of a remote process executing the same binary program image, our system is able to recover from a few bits to whole addresses of objects of the target application or service. Discovering the address of a single object in the target application is often enough to guess the layout of entire sections of the address space, which can be leveraged by attackers to bypass ASLR.
Radiographic Evidence of an Epidural and Paraspinal Abscess after Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare suppurative infection of the spinal cord. SEAs are formed in the true spinal epidural space between the dura and vertebral wall.
Using Deep Image Colorization to Predict Microstructure-Dependent Strain Fields

Abstract The microstructure of a material governs mechanical properties such as strength and toughness. Various finite element analysis (FEA) software packages are used to perform structural analyses such as predicting the flow of strain or strain fields in a microstructure. Engineers frequently operate these software packages to evaluate mechanical behavior and predict failure. Even though these FEA software packages provide highly accurate analyses, they are computationally intensive, taking a significant amount of time to produce a solution. The time required by the FEA software packages to achieve accurate results largely depends on microstructure details and mesh resolution, thus providing a trade-off between fidelity and computation time. This research proposes the use of Deep Learning algorithms to achieve a significant reduction in the time required to predict high-accuracy strain fields in a two-dimensional microstructure with defects. This work presents a foundation for developing deep neural networks to conduct structural analyses, thus reducing the exclusive use of computationally demanding FEA software and augmenting the analytical capabilities of scientists and engineers.
Finding new addictive QTL for yield traits based on a high-density genetic map in hybrid rice

Rice is one of the most important food crops in the world. To discover the genetic basis of yield components in super hybrid rice Nei2You No.6, 386 recombinant inbred sister lines (RISLs) were obtained for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) responsible for grain yield per plant, number of panicles per plant, grain number per panicle and 1000-grain weight. Using whole genome re-sequencing, a high-density linkage map consisting of 3203 Bin markers was constructed with total genetic coverage of 1951.1 cM and average density of 0.61 cM. A total of 43 yield-related QTL were mapped to all 12 chromosomes, and each explained 2.40–10.17% phenotypic variance, indicating that the medium and minor effect QTL are genetic basis for high yield of Nei2You No.6. With positive effect, 28 out of the 43 QTL are inherited from the maintainer line (Nei2B). Nine loci, qGYP-6b, qGNP-6c, qNP-7, qTGW-1a, qTGW-5, qTGW-7, qTGW-10b, qTGW-10c and qTGW-12 showed stable effects across multiple environments. Five of these nine QTL were co-located with previously reported QTL, and four novel locus, qNP-7, qGNP-6c, qTGW-7 and qTGW-12, were firstly identified in the present study. Subsequently, qNP-7, qTGW-7 and qTGW-12 were validated using corresponding paired sister lines which differed only in the target genome region. The recombinant inbred sister lines is an effective tool for mapping and confirming QTL of yield-associated traits. Newly detected QTL provide new resource for investigating genetics of yield components and will accelerate molecular breeding in rice.
Long-Term Low-Dose Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) Administration to Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) Infected Rhesus Macaques Stimulates the Release of Bioactive Blood Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) that Induce Divergent Structural Adaptations and Signaling Cues

Blood extracellular vesicles (BEVs) carry bioactive cargo (proteins, genetic materials, lipids, licit, and illicit drugs) that regulate diverse functions in target cells. The cannabinoid drug delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is FDA approved for the treatment of anorexia and weight loss in people living with HIV. However, the effect of THC on BEV characteristics in the setting of HIV/SIV infection needs to be determined. Here, we used the SIV-infected rhesus macaque model of AIDS to evaluate the longitudinal effects of THC (THC/SIV) or vehicle (VEH/SIV) treatment in HIV/SIV infection on the properties of BEVs. While BEV concentrations increased longitudinally (pre-SIV (0), 30, and 150 days post-SIV infection (DPI)) in VEH/SIV macaques, the opposite trend was observed with THC/SIV macaques. SIV infection altered BEV membrane properties and cargo composition late in infection, since i) the electrostatic surface properties (zeta potential, ζ potential) showed that RM BEVs carried negative surface charge, but at 150 DPI, SIV infection significantly changed BEV ζ potential; ii) BEVs from the VEH/SIV group altered tetraspanin CD9 and CD81 levels compared to the THC/SIV group. Furthermore, VEH/SIV and THC/SIV BEVs mediated divergent changes in monocyte gene expression, morphometrics, signaling, and function. These include altered tetraspanin and integrin β1 expression; altered levels and distribution of polymerized actin, FAK/pY397 FAK, pERK1/2, cleaved caspase 3, proapoptotic Bid and truncated tBid; and altered adhesion of monocytes to collagen I. These data indicate that HIV/SIV infection and THC treatment result in the release of bioactive BEVs with potential to induce distinct structural adaptations and signaling cues to instruct divergent cellular responses to infection.
Transitory States: Ghosts in the Shadows

This chapter focuses on the lives of migrants who are living and working as the ‘invisible’ service providers in the tourist and backpacker-driven sectors of urban Malaysia. The subsections contain narratives of women and transgendered persons who struggle with navigating the complicated, uneasy, and often threatening world of the sex-economy in Malaysia and abroad. They are part of the transnational ‘survival circuits’ Sassen refers to, forced to leave their homes and countries to seek out opportunities in cities where opportunities are more abundant, albeit not without risks. These narratives include those of transgendered Filipina women struggling to cope with frightening misogyny and harassment while they are working and traveling, to Eastern European women trying to raise children on their own (both abroad and in the country) while working 15+ hour workdays. These are stories of some of the most precarious and vulnerable persons who find themselves in Malaysia for one reason or another. The chapter starts with stories about ‘Masha,’ a Russian expatriate who lives in Georgetown with her young daughter, struggling to make ends meet while working multiple jobs as a hostess and escort, followed by narratives of other migrant women—Eastern European and Southeast Asian—who rely upon the informal sex-work economy for their livelihoods, often living estranged and distant from their families and homelands. The second half of the chapter delves into the stories of two transgendered women from Philippines, who left home due to the need to find better sources of income and to escape harassment and discrimination due to their identities. What proceeds are accounts of constantly having to travel, worry about one’s safety, and navigating harrowingly uncertain and treacherous spaces, where one may at any given time be attacked and harassed. These narratives also provide a glimpse into the hopes and dreams of the women, far apart from their current situations and conditions, which act as powerful sources of resilience.
Artificial Intelligence and Nudging

The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our contemporary society imposes historically unique challenges for humankind. The emerging autonomy of AI holds unique potentials of eternal life of robots, AI and algorithms alongside unprecedented economic superiority, data storage and computational advantages. This chapter provides information on what impact AI taking over the workforce will have on economic growth. A theoretical background on standard neoclassical and heterodox economics growth theories will be given to be then empirically validated. The empirical results find that Internet connectivity is associated with economic growth decline whereas GDP per capita has no significant relation with GDP growth. The discussion closes with a future outlook on the law and economics of AI entrance into our contemporary economies and society in order to aid a successful and humane introduction of AI into our world.
Respiratory Dynamics: Function and Breath Management

Oral communication and activities of daily living require efficient respiratory function to couple with downstream subsystems of phonation and resonance/articulation. Respiratory function also helps maintain a clear airway. Deficits in respiration may arise from disease states, posture changes, or deconditioning following a medical event. Optimum management is essential to provide the patient with healthy oxygen exchange necessary for other body organs (circulation, renal, hepatic, and hematological systems) and to set up necessary aerodynamics to protect the airway and permit phonation.
Dynamic FDG-PET in localization of focal epilepsy: A pilot study.

Abstract Epilepsy surgery remains underutilized, in part because non-invasive methods of potential seizure foci localization are inadequate. We used high-resolution, parametric quantification from dynamic 2-[18F] fluoro-2-deoxy- d -glucose positron emission tomography (dFDG-PET) imaging to locate hypometabolic foci in patients whose standard clinical static PET images were normal. We obtained dFDG-PET brain images with simultaneous EEG in a one-hour acquisition on seven patients with no MRI evidence of focal epilepsy to record uptake and focal radiation decay. Images were attenuation- and motion-corrected and co-registered with high-resolution T1-weighted patient MRI and segmented into 18 regions of interest (ROI) per hemisphere. Tracer uptake was calibrated with a model corrected blood input function with partial volume (PV) corrections to generate tracer parametric maps compared between mean radiation values between hemispheres with z-scores. We identified ROI with the lowest negative z scores ( d -glucose positron emission tomography ( found focal regions of altered metabolism in all cases in which standard clinical FDG-PET found no abnormalities. This pilot study of dynamic FDG-PET suggests that further research is merited to evaluate whether glucose dynamics offer improved clinical utility for localization of epileptic foci over standard static techniques.
Abdominal compartment syndrome complicating necrotizing enterocolitis: A case report.

Abstract Introduction There are several disease entities subsumed under the heading Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC): 1 The infectious enterocolitis that causes bowel necrosis. 2 Spontaneous Intestinal Perforation which is linked to the use of Indocin to hasten closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA); the perforation occurs in bowel that is well perfused and viable. 3 Perforations that occur in bowel that is obstructed by thick or inspissated meconium (Awolaran and Sheth, Sept 2021) [ 1 ]. 4 The uncommon variant that is associated with the abdominal compartment syndrome. Case report A case is presented in which a preemie suddenly developed massive abdominal distension. The neonatologist embarked upon the usual work-up and therapeutic interventions but was stymied by the inability to pass an orogastric tube to relieve the abdominal distension. Discussion The purpose of this report is not to criticize the neonatologist, but to emphasize the difference between this case, complicated by the abdominal compartment syndrome, and the usual case of NEC. Conclusion This is an unusual manifestation of NEC; and in my experience, it is uniformly fatal. Like many diseases with a fulminant course, our therapeutic efforts seem always too little, too late. Perhaps, by calling attention to this unusual association, its dismal outcome may be altered.
Increasing weight of evidence that thinning and burning treatments help restore understory plant communities in ponderosa pine forests

For more than a century ecosystems around the world have experienced an increase in the dominance of woody species. While the drivers of woody plant proliferation are complex, interactions between climate and land-use change are commonly invoked as primary contributing factors. In ponderosa pine forests of western North America, substantial increases in tree densities are impacting overall forest health and increasing the risk for severe wildfires and insect and disease outbreaks. Addressing this problem through the use of ecological restoration projects is widely advocated. Our objective was to quantify understory vegetation response five years after thinning and burning treatments in a southwestern ponderosa pine forest. We remeasured plant species richness and cover on thinned + burned, burned only, and untreated controls replicated four time in a BACI design. An untreated control (Untreated) was used for comparison of two alternative restoration treatments (1) thinning followed by prescribed fire (Thin + Burn) and (2) prescribed fire only (Burn-only). Understory species richness and total plant cover increased significantly in Thin + Burn compared to the Untreated and Burn-only treatments. Analysis of functional group composition revealed increases in species richness and cover was driven primarily by changes in annual–biennial forbs and graminoids. We then compared our results with those of three Long-term Ecological Restoration and Assessment Network (LEARN) sites. We found total and native plant cover showed evidence of a consistent response to Thin + Burn treatments across all sites. However, results suggest that understory response to restoration treatments is under strong environmental control. As a consequence the range of variability associated with understory responses should be expected to expand or contract depending on where treatments are implemented. Overall our findings add to a growing body of literature that restoration treatments combining mechanical thinning and prescribed fire are useful for increasing native understory abundance and diversity. 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.
The Structure and Function of Xylem in Seed-Free Vascular Plants: An Evolutionary Perspective

Water transport in seed-free vascular plants such as ferns and lycopods occurs through strands of primary xylem. In roots, rhizomes and fronds, the xylem and phloem are packaged in steles comprising either a single vascular bundle (protostele) or many such bundles (dictyosteles) that are variously arranged throughout the segment. Seed-free vascular plants, ferns in particular, are ecologically and morphologically diverse yet very little is known about the structure and function of their xylem. With few exceptions, the xylem of seed-free vascular plants consists of tracheids that are longer and wider than those of conifers, with abundant scalariform pitting present on conduit walls. Recent work indicates that the xylem of seed-free vascular plants may be at least as efficient as that of conifers and angiosperms due to large tracheids, tight conduit packing and permeable pit membranes. Hydraulic benefits may be amplified in some polyploids which exhibit significantly longer tracheids. However, the presence of adaptive xylem does not fully compensate for the absence of a cambial layer, secondary xylem and vessels. Indeed, developmental and in part vascular limits constrain the diversity of seed-free plant morphospace, especially as compared to angiosperms. The fossil record indicates that extinct lineages of seed-free vascular plants had more diverse xylem structures as well as secondary xylem. Few studies have addressed the resistance of seed-free vascular plants to drought-induced cavitation but given the recent evolution of fern epiphytes, ferns may be well adapted to episodic water deficit. Available data indicate that in ferns and lycophytes, narrow tracheids are less vulnerable to air entry than large ones; by extension, species with smaller conduits, such as epiphytes, may be less susceptible to cavitation. The functional significance of stelar arrangements of fern petioles is largely unexplored but mapping stelar patterns onto the fern phylogeny reveals that in the more derived eupolypod lineages, selection has favoured the evolution of simpler, less divided vascular networks.
Soft and Very Soft Fluorescence Analysis: Spectrographic and Electronic Modifications for Optimum, Automated Results

The use of soft X-ray sources (designed by B. L. Henke, Pomona College) in a commercial vacuum spectrograph requires modifications in the optic path dependent upon the wavelength region being considered. Changes of targets, tube and counter windows, primary and secondary collimators, and analyzing crystals in a Philips spectrograph will be described; these changes yield optimum results for quantitative analyses for elements oxygen through iron. Additional instrumental and electronic modifications will be discussed which increase analytical efficiency and provide automated output in the form of punch tape. With this equipment it is possible to use computer programs which perform the following functions: detect and correct for instrumental drift, compute and statistically evaluate calibrations, test standards for contamination, and test replicates of unknowns for precision. In these programs flexibility is emphasized so that details of analytical conditions and statistical tests can be altered to fit particular requirements. Plans of instrumental changes and Fortran II program listings are available from the authors.
Computerized Detection and Classification of Malignant and Benign Microcalcifications on Full Field Digital Mammograms

The purpose of the study is to develop an automated system for detecting microcalcifications within a predefined region of interest (ROI), and classifying the clusters as malignant and benign on full-filled digital mammograms (FFDM). Our system consists of two stages. In the first stage, a detection program is used to detect cluster candidates within the ROI. A rule-based identification method is designed to differentiate the true and false clusters. In the second stage, morphological and texture features are extracted from the selected clusters and a classifier is trained to classify malignant and benign clusters. In this study, a data set of 247 ROIs (63 malignant and 184 benign) containing biopsy-pro-ven calcification clusters were used. An MQSA radiologist identified 117 corresponding clusters on the CC and MLO pairs of mammograms. Leave-one-case-out resampling was used for feature selection and classification. Two MQSA radiologists evaluated the two view pairs. The detection program correctly detected 100% (247/247) of the clusters of interest with 0.14 (35/247) FPs/ROI. The identification program correctly selected 99.2% (245/247) of the index clusters. In the classification stage an average of 4 features was selected from the training subsets. The most frequently selected features included 3 morphological and 1 texture features. The classifier achieved a test Az of 0.73 for classifying the 247 clusters as malignant or benign. For the 117 pairs of matched CC and MLO views the test Az was 0.77. The partial area index above a sensitivity of 0.9, Az(0.9), was 0.21. In comparison, the two experienced MQSA radiologists achieved Az of 0.76 and 0.73, respectively, for the 117 CC and MLO view pairs. The partial area index Az(0.9)was 0.27 and 0.12, respectively. Our classification system can detect the microcalcifications within the specified ROI on mammogram with high sensitivity and satisfactory specificity, and classify them with an accuracy comparable to that of an experienced radiologist.
Incidence and outcomes of ductal carcinoma of the prostate in the USA: analysis of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program.

Study Type – Prognosis (individual cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Ductal prostate cancer is a rare histological variant of prostate cancer. The incidence, natural history and outcomes of patients with ductal have not been described. We demonstrate that ductal prostate cancers often present with advanced stage and a high percentage of men die from their disease. OBJECTIVE • To use the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry to describe the natural history, national incidence and treatment patterns for ductal prostate cancer (PCa) over the last 20 years, as the available literature on ductal PCa is limited to small case series because of few patient numbers. PATIENTS AND METHODS • From the SEER registry, 693 men with ductal PCa were identified from 1970. • The demographics, clinical features and cause of death data were collected from men with ductal and acinar histological types. RESULTS • The incidence of ductal PCa has increased over each decade, but the overall percentage of ductal relative to acinar PCa has remained stable. • Men with ductal PCa were more likely to present with advanced disease (30% T3 with ductal PCa, compared with 7% with acinar PCa). • Men with ductal PCa underwent similar rates of radical surgery, lower rates of radiotherapy but a higher frequency of outlet (transurethral resection) procedures. • Men with ductal PCa had a significantly greater rate of death from PCa (12% vs 4%) than men with acinar PCa. • Comparing PCa-specific mortality, men with ductal PCa had similar rates of death to men with Gleason 4 + 4 grade acinar PCa. CONCLUSIONS • Despite a stable incidence, ductal PCa remains an aggressive PCa usually presenting with advanced clinical stage and resulting in a high rate of PCa-specific mortality similar to Gleason 4 + 4 acinar PCa. • Patients would probably benefit from combined modalities including radical surgery, radiotherapy and palliative outlet procedures.
Necessary conditions for stabilization agreements

Article 2 of the Climate Convention calls for stabilization of atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases at a level that will avoid ‘danger’ to economies and ecosystems (United Nations, 1992). The parties to the Convention are now debating how this part of the agreement should be interpreted, and what numerical limit should be set. Building on earlier work by Jacoby et al. (1997b), we experiment here with the concept of ‘necessary conditions’ that would have to be met for an international agreement to have hope of achieving such a goal. The resulting analysis can serve as a guide to discussion of the policies and institutions needed to carry out this complex task, and add reality to the setting of the goal itself.
Use of nonparametric local regression to estimate surface ozone patterns over space and time

Abstract In this chapter we demonstrate the use of modern regression techniques to estimate ozone (O3) exposure maps and study the effects of auxiliary weather and topographic variables on O3 levels. The regression technique provided a flexible framework for estimating temporally explicit O3 exposure maps and uncertainty levels. The data used were from 79 passive monitor sites distributed across the Sierra Nevada, California, and recorded bi-weekly during the 1999 summer season. The modeling framework was also useful for performing formal comparison of O3 values at sites with similar environmental and topographic conditions. Results of the analyses indicated the presence of a significant, mostly west to east, spatial trend in addition to an increasing elevation trend. The results are for elevations less than 2400 m (the elevation of the highest monitoring site).
Experimental analysis of high-resolution soft x-ray microscopy

The soft x-ray, full-field microscope XM-1 at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's (LBNL) Advanced Light Source has already demonstrated its capability to resolve 25-nm features. This was accomplished using a micro zone plate (MZP) with an outer zone width of 25 nm. Limited by the aspect ratio of the resist used in the fabrication, the gold-plating thickness of that zone plate is around 40 nm. However, some applications, in particular, biological imaging, prefer improved efficiency, which can be achieved by high-aspect-ratio zone plates. We accomplish this by using a bilayer-resist process in the zone plate fabrication. As our first attempt, a 40-nm-outer-zone-width MZP with a nickel-plating thickness of 150 nm (aspect ratio of 4:1) was successfully fabricated. Relative to the 25-nm MZP, this zone plate is ten times more efficient. Using this high-efficiency MZP, a line test pattern with half period of 30 nm is resolved by the microscope at photon energy of 500 eV. Furthermore, with a new multilayer mirror, the XM-1 can now perform imaging up to 1.8 keV. An image of a line test pattern with half period of 40 nm has a measured modulation of 90%. The image was taken at 1.77 keV with the high-efficiency MZP with an outer zone width of 35 nm and a nickel-plating thickness of 180 nm (aspect ratio of 5:1). XM-1 provides a gateway to high-resolution imaging at high energy. To measure frequency response of the XM-1, a partially annealed gold ''island'' pattern was chosen as a test object. After comparison with the SEM image of the pattern, the microscope has the measured cutoff of 19 nm, close to the theoretical one of 17 nm. The normalized frequency response, which is the ratio of the power density of the soft x-ray image to that of the SEM image, is shown in this paper.
Head Start Collaboration Program

The Dental Hygiene Department at Farmingdale State University of New York, in collaboration with the Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, developed an innovative oral health education, screening, and service program. The purposes of this program were to increase oral health awareness through education, to identify the need for dental treatment, and to provide access to dental hygiene preventive services for the children in Head Start Programs through out Nassau County. This unique program utilized existing facilities, faculty, and dental hygiene students to provide a point-of-entry into the oral health care delievery system. The children arrived at the Dental Hygiene Care Center by bus and were chaperoned by Head Start Staff. A completed health history form and consent form were presented to the faculty. Each child was paired with a dental hygiene student who reviewed the health history, completed an intra oral and extra oral exam, provided oral health education, and performed an oral prophylaxis. Dental hygiene faculty reviewed student findings and the supervising dentist cosigned the screening form. The completed screening forms were returned to the Head Start project coordinator. This program resulted in the provision of preventive services to 127 Head Start children. The results of the dental screening identified 42 children in need of nonurgent dental treatment and 28 children in need of immediate dental care. Referrals for treatment and follow-up of actual treatment was the responsiblitity of the Head Start Program. This collaborative program was initiated in an effort to assess the need and meet the oral health challenge of Nassau County Head Start Children. The services provided helped reduce health disparities and improve oral health outcomes.
Silica Colloidal Nanoporous Membranes

This article describes the preparation and surface modification of nanoporous membranes based on silica colloidal crystals. Silica spheres form close-packed face-centered cubic (fcc) lattices with ordered arrays of interconnected nanopores upon vertical deposition from colloidal solutions. Silica colloidal membranes can be prepared on various solid supports and suspended in glass or silicon support. Freestanding silica colloidal membranes can be obtained by sintering above 1000 °C. Silica colloidal membranes have a highly ordered geometry; they are capable of size-selective transport and can be surface-modified in a well-defined and controlled manner with small molecules and polymers. The surface modification can be achieved using silanol chemistry, and polymer brushes with narrow mass distribution and controlled length can be formed on the nanopore surface using atom transfer radical polymerization and ring-opening polymerization. The transport in the resulting nanoporous membranes can be controlled by pH and ionic strength, temperature, light, and small molecule binding. Proton-conducting silica colloidal membranes can be prepared by surface modification with sulfonated polymer brushes. Keywords: silica; colloidal crystal; membrane; surface; responsive; separations; proton conductivity
Pre-enhancement of chirp signal for inverse filtering in medical ultrasound

In medical ultrasound imaging, the axial resolution is limited by the bandwidth of the transducer. The frequency response of the transducer usually peaks at its center frequency f/sub 0/ but falls off at higher and lower frequencies. In a linear frequency modulation (FM) pulse coding technique for imaging, the frequency can be swept across the entire bandwidth of the transducer. In this technique it is possible to apply at the input an amplitude boost function [1] that is the inverse of the transducer frequency response. Thus the output from the transducer is an equalized FM pulse, with a wider effective bandwidth. Subsequent auto correlation or pulse compression processing preserves this bandwidth and consequently improves the resolution. This concept has been evaluated experimentally in this paper. >
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: A Film About Aging and Adventure

The film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) was directed by John Madden and was based on the novel These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach. It follows the stories of seven intrepid British ex-pa...
The Equation of State of Helium

A brief review of the statistical theory of the equation of state is presented. Upon the basis of a recent quantum mechanical calculation of the interatomic energy, the second virial coefficient of helium has been calculated. With the use of the theoretically determined virial coefficient some properties of helium have been computed. A detailed comparison with experimental data is given.
JIT purchasing and setup reduction in an integrated inventory model

We study the effects of JIT order quantities on the purchase of raw materials and of the investments to reduce setup time. We examine the total relevant cost for an integrated inventory model, which unifies the finished product and the raw materials used for manufacturing it. A comparison of the total costs between our JIT model and the conventional ‘economic production quantity’ model suggests that JIT order splitting and investment in setup reduction could be cost-effective.
Changes in whole blood lactate levels during cardiopulmonary bypass for surgery for congenital cardiac disease: An early indicator of morbidity and mortality ☆ ☆☆ ★

Abstract Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the change in lactate level during cardiopulmonary bypass and the possible predictive value in identifying patients at high risk of morbidity and mortality after surgery for congenital cardiac disease. Methods: We prospectively studied lactate levels in 174 nonconsecutive patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass during operations for congenital cardiac disease. Arterial blood samples were taken before cardiopulmonary bypass, during cardiopulmonary bypass (cooling and rewarming), after cardiopulmonary bypass, and during admission to the cardiac intensive care unit. Complicated outcomes were defined as open sternum as a response to cardiopulmonary instability, renal failure, cardiac arrest and resuscitation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and death. Results: The largest increment in lactate level occurred during cardiopulmonary bypass. Lactate levels decreased between the postbypass period and on admission to the intensive care unit. Patients who had circulatory arrest exhibited higher lactate levels at all time points. Nonsurvivors had higher lactate levels at all time points. A change in lactate level of more than 3 mmol/L during cardiopulmonary bypass had the optimal sensitivity (82%) and specificity (80%) for mortality, although the positive predictive value was low. Conclusions: Hyperlactatemia occurs during cardiopulmonary bypass in patients undergoing operations for congenital cardiac disease and may be an early indicator for postoperative morbidity and mortality. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000;119:155-62)
Hereditary angioedema: The use of fresh frozen plasma for prophylaxis in patients undergoing oral surgery

Abstract Six patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) undergoing 7 episodes of dental surgery received transfusions with fresh frozen plasma one day before surgery. Although the morbidity observed in these patients following similar procedures had been high, no significant complications of surgery were noted with this therapy. Thus, fresh frozen plasma infusion appears to provide a safe and effective method of prophylaxis in patients with HAE. Following infusion of fresh frozen plasma, serum levels of C4 and C1 esterase inhibitor (C1EI) rose transiently, and then fell to preinfusion levels within 1 to 12 days. In all but one patient the rise in C4 was greater than could be accounted for by the amount of C4 infused. In no patient did the level of C1EI or C4 rise to within the normal range. The data raise the question of the role of C1EI in the pathogenesis of angioedema in these patients.
Well differentiated thyroid carcinoma: epidemiology, etiology and treatment

The well differentiated thyroid carcinomas are uncommon but are increasing in frequency. This increase may be related to the recognition that even low doses of irradiation to the thyroid may be carcinogenic with a latency period of 10, 20 or more years to clinical tumor expression. Although unproven for human cancers, elevated TSH levels will enhance irradiation-associated tumor development in animal models. Currently, a large portion of the population is at an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer because of head and neck irradiation received from 1920 to 1950 for various benign conditions or more recently for the treatment of lymphoma or carcinoma. Whether these individuals should receive thyroid hormone suppression of TSH is not known but careful yearly evaluation is essential followed by open surgical biopsy should a nodule develop. Treatment of the well differentiated thyroid carcinoma is controversial due to a lack of adequate long-term, controlled trials. Based on current data, it is the author's opinion that surgery should in most cases be followed with radioactive iodine ablation of all remaining tissue which can concentrate iodine followed by lifelong thyroid hormone replacement sufficient to correct hypothyroidism and suppress thyroid stimulating hormone. All patients require close follow-up with examinationmore » and, possibly, imaging for 20 or more years.« less
Induction of anti-tumor immunity by intrasplenic administration of a carcinoembryonic antigen DNA vaccine.

Background We have previously reported that intramuscular, intradermal or epidermal gene gun administration of a plasmid encoding carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) under transcriptional regulatory control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) early promoter/enhancer elicits CEA-specific humoral and cellular immune responses in mice with resultant immunoprotection against challenge with syngeneic, CEA-expressing colon adenocarcinoma cells. Methods In the present work, we examine the ability of this DNA vaccine construct (pCEA) to elicit CEA-specific immunity following intrasplenic administration. Groups of mice were immunized with pCEA by intrasplenic or intramuscular injection. Six weeks later, mice were evaluated for the presence of anti-CEA humoral responses and were challenged with syngeneic, CEA-expressing colon carcinoma cells. Results Intrasplenic administration of pCEA produced a frequency of CEA-specific antibody responses comparable to that elicited by intramuscular pCEA inoculation. Both intrasplenic and intramuscular administration of pCEA generated IgG2a antibody responses to CEA, consistent with the induction of T helper-1-biased immune responses. In addition, partial immunoprotection against tumor challenge was observed after a single plasmid DNA dose by either route of administration. Subsequent studies revealed that antibody responses to intrasplenic DNA vaccination are dose and schedule dependent. Conclusion These findings support future investigations of DNA vaccination strategies that specifically promote the uptake of plasmid by splenocytes. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oxidation of jet fuels and the formation of deposit

Abstract Jet fuels and jet fuel surrogate were thermally stressed to simulate the time-temperature history of aircraft fuel-handling systems. The resulting fuels and soluble and insoluble products were analysed. The results are shown to be incompatible with previous mechanisms concerning the source of deposit precursors. In general, two important dependences on oxygen have been found: 1. (1) in agreement with previous research, the amount of deposit formed decreases significantly if oxygen is removed from the fuel before thermal stressing; 2. (2) fuels that oxidize easily are likely to be more stable (as measured by deposits). New evidence is presented to support the free-radical mechanisms of oxidation and deposit formation, in contrast to proposed ionic mechanisms of oxidation. A general theory of oxidation of hydrocarbons has been incorporated to account for the observed oxygen-dependences, involving a free-radical, autoxidation, chain mechanism. It is proposed that the presence of naturally occurring antioxidant molecules plays an important role in both inhibiting the oxidation of the fuel and forming deposit precursors. Some properties (concentration, reactivity) of these antioxidant molecules and the implications of the theory are discussed.
Vascular Rings: Management and a Proposed Nomenclature

Over 18 years, 33 patients with congenital vascular rings underwent surgical treatment. All patients had full recovery except 1 who died late. At the one-month follow-up, 66.7% had complete relief of the presenting symptoms. Important aspects of the clinical picture, diagnostic methods, and treatment are presented. A coded nomenclature is proposed; we believe it to be accurate, inclusive, easy to remember, and readily referable to the embryological origin.
An Efficient TCB for a Generic Content Distribution System

We consider the security requirements for a broad class of content distribution systems where the content distribution infrastructure is required to strictly abide by access control policies prescribed by owners of content. We propose a security solution that identifies a minimal trusted computing base (TCB) for a content distribution infrastructure, and leverages the TCB to provide all desired assurances regarding the operation of the infrastructure. It is assumed that the contents and access control policies associated with contents are dynamic.
A New Paradigm of Engineering Education for the 21st Century:Perspectives of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Strategic initiatives for engineering education in the next decade as planned by the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology are presented. The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a private college in the United States that specializes in undergraduate engineering, mathematics and science education. The initiatives are in response to broad changes in the practice of the engineering profession in its modern global context. The initiatives comprise five strategic thrust areas and five programmatic themes. The thrust areas are: Energy and Environment; Health and Safety; Transportation; Materials; and Information, Computation, and Communication. The programmatic themes are: Excellence in Education; International Awareness; Business Awareness;Service Learning; and Life-long Learning. The objective of these initiatives is to prepare students to meet the challenges of the 21st century and to serve as leaders in society.
A study of the gas-phase reaction of carbonyl fluoride with water

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations are carried out to determine the mechanism and energetics of the homogeneous reaction of carbonyl fluoride, CF2O, with water, H2O. The reaction is found to proceed through two chemically activated intermediates: CF2(OH)2 and FC(O)OH. These intermediates in the CF2O+H2O reaction are suggested to be transient. The CF2(OH)2 dissociates to form FC(O)OH and HF, and the FC(O)OH subsequently dissociates to form CO2 and HF. The net reaction is CF2O+H2O → 2HF+CO2
Third‐nerve palsy due to penetrating trauma

Penetrating trauma is an unusual etiology of third-nerve palsy. Of 815 hospitalized patients with third-nerve palsies, 20 had such an etiology, with gunshot wounds being the usual cause.
Fabrication of Nanoporous Nickel by Electrochemical Dealloying

The etching of the more active component from a homogeneous alloy is important in corrosion reactions and has been exploited in the synthesis of high surface area nanoporous materials. In this paper we show that nanoporous films can be obtained by selective electrochemical etching of the more noble component in a system where the more active component is passivated. We demonstrate that nanoporous nickel films can be obtained by a two-step process involving electrodeposition of a homogeneous NixCu1-x alloy followed by electrochemical etching of the copper from the alloy. The composition, lattice parameter, saturation magnetization, and Curie temperature of the electrodeposited NixCu1-x alloys can be precisely controlled by varying the deposition conditions. Nanoporous nickel can be formed by electrochemically etching the copper from the alloy. The nanoporous structures are characterized by a three-dimensional network of interconnected pores and exhibit enhanced coercivity and reduced magnetic anisotropy. T...
Body-Shape Perceptions and Body Mass Index of Older African American and European American Women

The prevalence of obesity is higher in African American compared to European American women. Ethnic differences in body-shape perceptions such as greater acceptance of overweight figures, higher levels of body shape satisfaction, or an underestimation of one's body-shape have been suggested as possible contributors. The purpose of this investigation was to compare body-shape perceptions and body mass index of older African American and European American women. Eighty-nine European American and 115 African American women (mean age, 72 years) completed a questionnaire, composed of three parts: general demographic and anthropometric information, and questions regarding body-shape perceptions. The results suggested an underestimation of body-shape in African American women as a possible contributor to obesity. The findings of the present study suggested that in order to enhance the effectiveness of dietary interventions in older African American women, measures to assess the accuracy of self-perceived body-shape should be included.
Dependence of high-temperature tensile strength on displacement rate for hot-pressed silicon nitride

Tensile tests of hot-pressed silicon nitride were conducted in a wide range of displacement rates from 0.0005 to 50.0 mm min−1 at 1260 and 1380 ° C, and the dependence of strength on displacement rate was discussed in conjunction with the change of fracture surface features. As displacement rate was lowered, strength was degraded and stress-displacement diagrams altered from linearity to non-linearity, accompanying appearances of yielding phenomena. Strength was largely dependent on displacement rate in the high-rate region and rather independent in the low-rate region. The fracture surface features were drastically changed from brittle fracture to subcritical crack-growth fracture with decreasing displacement rate. A further increase in stress following the lower yielding point in the low-rate region was attributed to increments of fracture resistance due to the pull-out contribution of elongated grains.