cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Swan-Ganz Catheters: Past, Present, and Future A Viewpoint

The Swan-Ganz balloon flotation catheter was introduced in 1970. It can be placed at the bedside within a few minutes even in critically ill patients. Although placement of these catheters is not difficult, some training and experience are required to avoid complications and for proper interpretation of the hemodynamic data that can be obtained by pulmonary artery catheterization. Because of the many advantages of balloon flotation catheters compared with conventional catheters, they have been used without a proper indication and frequently overused in critical care units, resulting in many complications, including mortality. The prospective randomized trials have reported that in the majority of clinical circumstances, the routine use of balloon flotation catheters is not indicated. These results are not surprising because balloon flotation catheters are diagnostic and not therapeutic tools. That we have learned a great deal about hemodynamics in critically ill patients with the use of balloon flotation catheters should not be ignored or forgotten. Furthermore, our clinical knowledge of hemodynamics has been made possible because of extensive experience gained from directly determined hemodynamics with the use of balloon flotation catheters. It should also be realized that despite the introduction and refinement of newer noninvasive imaging modalities, a number of clinical circumstances exist in which determination of hemodynamics with the use of a balloon flotation catheter is necessary and should be considered, but only by experienced physicians. With the proper use of Swan-Ganz catheters, our knowledge of hemodynamics has been enhanced considerably. Its abuse, particularly by relatively inexperienced operators, has resulted in serious complications, including death. Prospective randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that the routine use of Swan-Ganz catheters does not provide any benefit. However, use of the Swan-Ganz catheter is still indicated in many situations.
Dynamic inference control

An inference problem exists in a multilevel database if knowledge of some objects in the database allows information with a higher security level to be inferred. Many such inferences may be prevented prior to any query processing by raising the security level of some of the objects, however this inevitably impedes information access, as a user with low authorization who queries just one of the objects with raised security must seek clearance even when not in danger of making the inference. More flexible access control is possible when inferences are prevented during query processing, however this practice can result in slow query response times. We demonstrate that access control can be made sufficiently dynamic to ensure easy access to the information users are entitled to, while retaining fast query processing. Our inference control schemes provide collusion resistance and have a query processing time that depends only on the length of the inference channels (not on the length of user query histories). In addition, our schemes provide a property we call crowd control that goes beyond collusion resistance to ensure that if a large number of users have queried all but one of the objects in an inference channel, then no one will be able to query the remaining object regardless of the level of collusion resistance provided by the scheme.
PORE SIZE EFFECT IN THE FIREEZE DRYING PROCESS

SUMMARY— Experiment were conducted to determine the influence and/or effect of the structure of the dried material itself on transport rates. Drying rates were measured in the 0.2–3.0 mm Hg pressure range, the usual operating range of commercial freeze driers. Thermal conductivities of dried beef and heat and mass transfer were calculated from drying rate data and the structure of the freeze-dried material was studied by optical means. A simplified relationship between thermal conductivity and pore structure was derived. Results show drying rates were related to basic transport properties, thermal conductivity and pore structure.
Linewidth enhancement factor of the electroabsorption modulator

In this paper, we present a calculation of the linewidth enhancement factor for the electro absorption modulator. A model of the quantum confined stark effect (QCSE) is described. The absorption coefficient at different field is calculated. Through the well known Kramers-Kronig relationship, the induced refractive index change has been determined. The calculated linewidth enhancement factor ((alpha) -factor) varies with the applied electric field. This variation is in the 0.1 to 0.3 range.
Fecal incontinence in an inpatient population: a not uncommon finding.

The prevalence of fecal incontinence (FI) in hospitalized patients was determined, as well as the frequency with which physicians query about FI. Using a standardized questionnaire, subjects admitted to general medicine services at three university hospitals were questioned about FI. Investigators also reviewed the subjects’ charts to determine if presence or absence of FI was documented. One hundred ninety-nine patients were enrolled, and 46% (92/199) reported ongoing FI. Advanced age, looser stools, symptoms of fecal urgency, urinary incontinence, and history of forceps delivery were found to be potential predictors of FI. Only 6% (6/92) with FI had documentation of FI in the medical chart and only 3% (6/199) of the entire sample were queried about FI. Fecal incontinence is an extremely common condition in hospitalized patients. Physician history-taking is severely deficient in this area. Methods to improve FI detection in the hospitalized patient population need to be developed.
Infrared Absorptions near Three Microns Recorded over the Polar Cap of Mars.

IR spectrometer on Mariner 7 Mars flyby recording sharp absorption near 3 microns at Martian southern polar cap
Hypotonic-induced stretch counteracts the efficacy of the class III antiarrhythmic agent E-4031 in guinea pig myocytes

Objectives: The aim was to determine the effect and mechanisms by which myocyte stretch interacts with the prolongation of action potential duration (APD) by the class III antiarrhythmic agent E-4031. Methods: Action potentials and whole-cell currents were measured in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes with a patch clamp procedure during perfusion of normotonic, normotonic with addition of E-4031, and hypotonic plus E-4031 solutions. Results: Cell swelling leading to membrane stretch of myocytes in the whole-cell recording configuration occurred with hypotonic solution perfusion. APD, prolonged by E-4031, was reduced to less than control value with hypotonic-induced stretch. Evaluation of whole-cell currents after hypotonic-induced stretch revealed no significant changes in the L-type Ca2+ current, inward rectifier K+ current or the rapid component of the delayed rectifier K+ current. The slow component of the delayed rectifier K+ current ( I Ks) was upregulated and a stretch-induced CI− current was activated in hypotonic solutions. The hypotonic-induced modulation of these currents was not effected by protein kinase A or C inhibition. Conclusions: Hypotonic-induced stretch shortens APD and counteracts the effects of E-4031. This APD shortening is secondary to upregulation of I Ks and activation of a stretch-induced Cl− current.
Nanomaterial resistive sensors: noise, power, and circuit interfaces

Nanoscale materials such as carbon nanotubes and silicon nanowires offer the exciting prospect of enabling low cost, low power, highly sensitive detectors for a wide variety of chemical and biological materials. The potential of these materials in sensing applications has been demonstrated by researchers around the world. However, several challenges remain to transition this technology from laboratory demonstration to real-world application in portable, battery-operated sensor devices or environmentally-powered wireless sensor network nodes. We describe some of the inherent challenges and limitations of exploiting nanomaterial resistive sensors for gas detection due to noise and process variation. In the context of energy-harvesting wireless sensor networks, the opportunities and limits of circuit techniques to compensate for some sensor non-idealities are discussed.
Adult Cerebellar Glioblastoma: Understanding Survival and Prognostic Factors Using a Population-Based Database from 1973 to 2009

Objective Glioblastoma (GB) is rarely found in the cerebellum. Because of its rarity, it is poorly understood if cerebellar GB (CGB) behaves similarly to supratentorial GB. Studies have been limited to case reports and small case series. A better understanding of CGB may help guide treatment strategies. Methods Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database was analyzed from 1973 to 2009 for all adult patients with GB located in the cerebellum. Stepwise multivariate proportional hazards regression analyses were used to identify factors independently associated with survival. Results Two hundred eight (0.9%) patients with CGB were identified from 23,329 GB patients with known locality. The mean age was 58 years. Median survival was 8 months, with 1-, 2- and 5-year survival rates of 21%, 13%, and 2%. When compared to supratentorial GB, CGB occurred in younger patients (58 ± 16 vs. 61 ± 13 years, P = 0.001), less commonly in Whites (85.6% vs. 91.3%, P = 0.005), and were smaller (3.7 ± 1.1 vs. 4.5 ± 1.7 cm, P = 0.001). A cerebellar location independently predicted poorer survival when compared to other GB locations ( P = 0.048). In multivariate analysis for patients with CGB, younger age ( P P = 0.046), and radiation therapy ( P Conclusion CGBs are difficult to analyze using institutional series because of their rarity. This study shows they are clinically different from supratentorial GB. Among patients with CGB, radiation therapy may prolong survival. This may help guide treatment strategies aimed at prolonging survival for patients with these extremely rare lesions.
Finite element simulation of magnesium alloy sheet forming at elevated temperatures

Abstract The use of lightweight magnesium (Mg) alloy offers significant potential to improve automotive fuel efficiency. However, the application of formed magnesium alloy components in auto-body structures is restricted due to this material’s low formability at room temperature and lack of knowledge for processing magnesium alloys at elevated temperature. In this study, non-isothermal finite element (FE) simulation has been conducted for forming round cups and rectangular pans from Mg alloy AZ31B sheet at elevated temperatures. The results were compared with experiments, conducted at the Technical University, Hanover. Simulation and experiments predicted increase in limiting draw ratio (LDR) with increase in temperature. Maximum LDR was obtained at the forming temperature of 200 °C. FE simulation results agreed well with experimental observations.
Three-Dimensional Thermography-Based Method for Cost-Benefit Analysis of Energy Efficiency Building Envelope Retrofits

AbstractRecent research efforts to improve energy modeling and diagnostics for existing buildings have focused on devising methods based on digital photogrammetry or three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning and thermal imagery. Prior research has shown that fusing actual and expected 3D spatiothermal models provide valuable information for analyzing performance gaps. Until now, these methods have primarily focused on detecting and localizing potential performance problems without analyzing their associated cost. A reliable assessment of the cost provides an opportunity to conduct cost-benefit analysis for various retrofit alternatives. It also improves current thermographic inspection which relies on visual detection and qualitative interpretation of thermal irregularities. To this end, this paper presents a new 3D thermography-based method for cost-benefit analysis of energy efficiency building envelope retrofits. The method builds on energy performance augmented reality (EPAR) modeling which generates and ...
Under a Redescription

This article takes up issues raised in the debate over what Ian Hacking has labelled `an indeterminacy in the past'. It addresses certain criticisms of Wes Sharrock and Ivan Leudar, and attempts to develop further the idea that difficulties with retroactive redescription reflect a deep indeterminacy about certain past actions. It suggests that there are in fact two distinct but related indeterminacies at issue, and that these may best be understood in the context of Hacking's theses about the historical constitution of social phenomena and the looping effect of human kinds.
Binding Properties and Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation by a Monoclonal Antibody to CD31 (PECAM-1)

Abstract CD31/platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1) is expressed on platelets, endothelial cells, myeloid cells, monocytes, and certain lymphocyte subsets. It has been shown that CD31 is involved in the homophilic and heterophilic cellular adhesion and leukocyte transendothelial migration, but little is known about the role of CD31 in platelet functions. Previously we have shown that monoclonal antibody (MAb) AAP2 produced in our laboratory bound to a 110-kD platelet antigen and gave an enhanced binding to activated platelet membrane. In this study we demonstrated that platelet lysate depleted of the antigen through adsorption by an AAP2-solidified affinity column was bound by MAbs against CD62 and CD42 but not by MAb 5.6E against CD31 or AAP2 on the immunoblot. Rabbit antibodies against CD31 completely inhibited the binding of AAP2 to platelets in the flow cytometry analysis. This indicates that AAP2 is specifically against CD31. 125I-labeled AAP2 bound to resting platelets with 5587±1765 sites/platelet and a K d of 1 nmol/L and to thrombin-activated platelets with 17 625±4865 sites/platelet and a K d of 0.24 nmol/L. Addition of 10 μg/mL AAP2 inhibited the aggregation induced by 4 μmol/L ADP by 78.6%, 6 μmol/L epinephrine by 79.4%, 1 μg/mL collagen by 78.7%, and 0.25 U/mL thrombin by 29%. The platelet aggregation was completely restored when higher concentration of agonists were used. MAb 5.6E did not have any effect on platelet aggregation. These results suggest that AAP2 binds to a special epitope of CD31 on platelets and that CD31 is involved in platelet aggregation.
Workforce Demographics among Project Engineering Professionals—Crisis Ahead?

The age and experience profile of project engineering professionals employed by both owners and contractors has recently become a concern due to downsizing, retirements, and lack of hiring during the 1990s. Data were gathered from U.S. Census panels and from 27 owner firms and 23 contractor firms within the Construction Industry Institute to investigate the extent of this issue. In particular, the study examined changes in industry staffing levels, projected industry staffing levels, the current age and experience profile of project engineering staffs, current and projected hiring practices, and retention levels. The results of the data analyses indicate that, while substantial downsizing occurred among project engineering professionals during the early 1990s, the era of downsizing appears to be at an end. However, the high proportion of engineering professionals nearing retirement suggests that the transfer of knowledge from more to less experienced employees is an area of critical importance for both owners and contractors. Data showing demographic breakdowns using these analyses will be given, conclusions drawn, and policy implications outlined.
Chapter 5: Arrhythmias

Ventricular fibrillation was the most common major arrhythmia reported, having occurred in 59 of 12,367 studies (0.48%). The age-related incidence of the complication is shown in figure 1 and the relative incidence was as follows: [see table in the PDF file] The relative incidence may reflect the severity of the heart disease since most of the infants studied were critically ill. Twelve of the 13 patients less than 60 days old in whom ventricular fibrillation developed had coarctation tion of the aorta, aortic stenosis, hypoplasia of the left heart, or mitral atresia. Patients with these diagnoses represented approximately 10% of all patients under the age of 60 days who were studied.
The Role of Microtubule-Dependent Motility During Intracellular Traffickingof Vector Genome to the Nucleus

The Role of Microtubule-Dependent Motility During Intracellular Trafficking of Vector Genome to the Nucleus
A comparison of nonparametric analysis of covariance techniques

A small sample Monte Carlo simulation provides the means of comparison for several nonparametric alternatives to the standard analysis of covariance. A completely ran-domized design with samples from K populations and one co-variate is used for this study. The simulation evaluates the robustness of the techniques as well as the power to detect differences among the populations. The study indi-cates that a modification of existing nonparametric proce-dures yields a test that performs well in many situations
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia with central nervous system involvement: report of two cases with a comprehensive literature review

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is a rare complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with varied outcomes. We contribute two additional cases of CLL with CNS involvement. The clinical course and response to treatment are described. All 78 previously reported cases of CLL with CNS involvement are presented in this comprehensive review of the literature. CNS involvement of CLL is a rare complication that does not seem to correlate with any evident risk factors. Resolution of CNS symptoms can often be accomplished with intrathecal chemotherapy or irradiation. Early detection and treatment may result in better outcomes in this rare complication.
Effects of lesions of cerebellar nuclei on conditioned behavioral and hippocampal neuronal responses

Abstract Rabbits were overtrained using classical conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane (NM)/eyelid response. Unilateral electrolytic lesions were then made through electrodes previously implanted in dentate and interpositus cerebellar nuclei ipsilateral to the trained (left) eye. Lesions caused a complete or near-complete abolition of conditioned behavioral responses on the ipsilateral side, but had no effect on unconditioned responses to corneal airpuff. When training was switched to the contralateral (right) side, animals learned within the first few trials, but did not relearn when training was returned to the left (lesioned) side. Control animals in which lesions spared the deep nuclei showed no such learning deficits. Lesions of cerebellar nuclei also abolished conditioned increases in hippocampal CA1 neural activity evoked by the tone conditioned stimulus in this paradigm. As with the behavior, training on the right (non-lesioned) side reinstated the conditioned neuronal response within the first few trials of training, even though behavioral responding on the lesioned side showed little or no improvement. These results indicate that the cerebellum is an essential structure for the behavioral expression of learning, and plays an important role in the generation of conditioned hippocampal responses observed in this paradigm.
W-band power performance of AlGaN/GaN DHFETs with regrown n+ GaN ohmic contacts by MBE

We report our second-generation mm-wave GaN double-heterostructure FET (DHFET) device technology which uses MBE regrowth of n+ ohmic regions to reduce parasitic resistance, and an improved T-gate process which demonstrated reduced current-collapse. These devices were utilized in a MMIC with a 600 µm wide output stage which achieved 1024 mW of output power (1.7 W/mm) and PAE of 19.1% at 95 GHz at a bias of 14V. This combination of power and PAE represents a substantial improvement over competing technologies, such as InP HEMTs, as well as our own previous reports of GaN MMIC amplifiers in this frequency range.
Mapping Key Elements of a Protein Motif

In this issue of Chemistry & Biology, Weiss and colleagues use phage display to map residues in the engrailed homeodomain that influence DNA recognition. Their shotgun scanning data provides surprising new insights into the importance of regions outside the recognition helix and N-terminal arm for DNA binding.
Shame and Its Sons: Black Men, Fatherhood, and Filicide

Few passages of Scripture are more revered than the parable of the prodigal son. Whether through quotidian biblical readings or fiery Sunday morning sermons, the evocative images that it conjures up—the most prominent of which is that of a forlorn son returning home to a beneficent father—often causes those who encounter this story of redemption, believer and non-believer alike, to be enraptured in the ardor of spiritual ecstasy. It is a quintessential feel-good story. And yet, one must ask, how many prodigal sons are able to return to their fathers’ houses in like manner? Is it not troubling to consider the lack of such a welcome home for the countless prodigal sons among us? This interdisciplinary study examines such questions by underscoring not only the failed “return,” but, even more so, the lack of a “home” (a veritable place of return, so to speak) for black men who suffer from the inherent prodigality, the desire to spend all, of patriarchal manhood. It is for this reason that anatomizing the parable itself, which is done by utilizing the works of such scholars as Henri Nouwen, is not sufficient to address our concerns. Other interlocutors are needed, scholars of a different but not better perspicacity, who can speak to the deleterious intergenerational effects that a lack of home can have on a black man’s development, be it psychosocially, spiritually, or otherwise. The chosen participants for this somewhat uncommon dialogue are psychoanalyst John Bowlby and African American author Ernest Gaines. Both of these authors enunciate the ways in which the inability to return or, in some instances, retreat to what Bowlby calls a “secure base” traps a man within a deadly web of negative affect, such as shame, within which he entangles his sons as well. This is an unfortunate act of filicide.
Representation of the Molecular Structure of Petroleum Resid through Characterization and Monte Carlo Modeling

This paper presents a statistical approach to predict petroleum resid structure composition using Monte Carlo method. A comparison between experimental and analytical data give very good results
Observations of the “salt fountain”

Abstract Data collected with the submarine USS Dolphin off San Diego in April 1982 show temperature and salinity decreasing monotonically from the surface downward, with temperature dominating density by a factor of 10. The ocean is turbulent to 0.5‐m depth with descending cells of water (0.04 to 0.08 m in diameter) emanating from that region and extending to 3‐m depth in quiescent water. The return, upward, flow is more dispersed and hence the flow pattern, and the small‐scale temperature gradient signal is not symmetrical. These features are the salt fountain of Stommel et al. (1956). The phenomenon was observed on two separate days, always during calm weather, but only between 1000 and 1200 local time. Although the cells are often found in groups, one also finds individuals well separated from the others. These features are reminiscent of the solutions for buoyant convection from a thin layer into an infinite region. Perhaps these cells are more appropriately understood in terms of the time‐dependent i...
Interest Rate Policy in Continuous Time with Discrete Delays

We study the design of monetary policy in a continuous-time framework with delays. More explicitly, we consider a linear, flexible-price model where inflation and nominal interest rates change continuously, but where nominal rates are set by the Central Bank in response to a lagged inflation measure, and where the measure of inflation can be constructed as a flexible distributed delay. Therefore, the Central Bank has, in addition to the choice of an "active" or "passive" response to inflation, two additional parameters to select: the lag of the inflation measure, and the coefficient for the distributed delay to construct the inflation measure. The pure continuoustime and discrete-time frameworks emerge as special cases of our differential- delay system. This richer framework also allows us to reconcile results on the local uniqueness and multiplicity of equilibria that are obtained in the two pure cases, to uncover special assumptions embedded in the pure cases, and to prescribe effective policy options to avoid the problem of local indeterminacy and its unintended consequences.
Platelet α2β1 integrin activation: contribution of ligand internalization and the α2-cytoplasmic domain

The alpha2beta1 integrin is a major collagen receptor on platelets. Although it has been proposed that alpha2beta1, like alphaIIbbeta3, undergoes agonist-induced activation, neither the potential contributions of alpha2beta1 receptor/ligand internalization to the increase in ligand binding nor the roles of the alpha2 and beta1 cytoplasmic domains in activation of this integrin have been previously explored. Activation of alpha2beta1 was assessed with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled soluble type I collagen binding to platelets by flow cytometry. Although collagen internalization in response to agonist activation of platelets was significant, agonist-induced collagen binding still occurred under conditions that block internalization, with minimal changes in cell surface alpha2beta1 expression. Introduction of cell-permeable peptides containing the alpha2 cytoplasmic tail, and especially the membrane proximal KLGFFKR domain, induced alpha2beta1 activation in resting platelets, whereas a cell-permeable peptide containing the beta1 cytoplasmic tail was without effect. Thus, collagen binding to stimulated platelets is increased due to alpha2beta1 activation, in addition to internalization, and the GFFKR motif appears to play an important role in the activation process.
Prospective Teachers' Images of Management

Abstract Prospective teachers' images of lesson management were examined in relation to pupil engagement in lessons taught. In more engaging lessons, teachers' images of management emphasized pupil contributions to lesson progress. In less engaging lessons, teachers' images of management emphasized teacher control of lesson progress combined with teacher uncertainty about lesson direction. Possible implications for teacher education are discussed.
Fear of Deportation in High School: Implications for Breaking the Circle of Silence Surrounding Migration Status

Long-term ethnographic data on the daily lives of undocumented students, their teachers, and administrators reveal the effects of fear of deportation (De Genova, 2002) on the routine of a high school. Thirty years after Plyler v. Doe guaranteed the educational rights of undocumented students, this study finds many factors contributing to the creation of a Circle of Silence around these students’ rights and access to schooling that threatens the educational opportunities of a significant population of immigrant students. The implications of this study reveal how schools can become a space to interrupt this vicious cycle through awareness, counseling, and advocacy.
Image analysis with partially ordered Markov models

Statistical approaches to image analysis, such as image restoration, segmentation, object classification, and reconstruction often require specification of a distributional model for the variability of the pixel intensities around the true image and a prior distributional model for the true image itself. Spatial dependence (i.e., nearby values tend to be more - or less - alike than those far apart) is often modeled by assuming a Markov random field (MRF) for the prior model and sometimes for the pixel-intensity model. When dealing with MRFs, there is typically an unwieldy normalizing constant that can cause inference to be either inefficient or computationally intensive. In this article, we propose a class of models that are a subset of the class of MRFs but whose members have probability distributions that can be written in closed form. This class, called the partially ordered Markov models (POMMs), contains as a special case the Markov mesh models (MMMs) and is seen to be an important subclass of graphical models used in the analysis of (Bayesian) networks. POMMs are used in experiments for both the forward problem of texture synthesis and the inverse problem of parameter estimation. Various images of textures are generated using POMMs and are seen not to exhibit any obvious directional patterns. Also, parameter estimates from maximum likelihood estimators are found using a real texture image, and the estimates are then used to generate a texture that is similar to the real data.
The effect of donor specific transfusions and dietary fatty acids on rat cardiac allograft survival

A rat heterotopic cardiac transplant model was used to study the effect of dietary lipids on the immune response. Animals receiving linoleic acid (LA), oleic acid (OA), and fish oil (FO) enriched diets showed significant prolongation of allograft survival when compared to the control diet fed animals. When LA was given to animals who had received a single donor specific transfusion (DST) augmentation of the beneficial DST effect was observed, while the OA and FO fed groups showed no differences from control DST animals. Dietary regulation of the immune response, possibly through manipulation of arachidonic acid metabolism, is implied.
HYBRID REAL-TIME DYNAMIC TRAFFIC ASSIGNMENT APPROACH FOR ROBUST NETWORK PERFORMANCE

A hybrid dynamic traffic assignment (HDTA) approach is presented that results in robust performance of the traffic network under various scenarios. The HDTA approach envisions a hierarchical routing decision process achieved through the careful interplay between a centralized DTA (CDTA) model and a decentralized DTA (DDTA) capability. The CDTA model supplies anticipatory a priori routing decisions, whereas the DDTA model generates locally optimized solutions online. Analytical and experimental analyses are conducted to illustrate the satisfactory performance of such an HDTA approach.
Effects of normal alcohols and isoflurane on lipid headgroup dynamics in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-rich lipid vesicles.

Abstract The trend of evidence suggests that general anesthetics act directly on proteins in the neural membrane. However, the fact that the functions of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (sodium permeability, desensitization rate) are modulated by the composition of the membrane in which it is reconstituted has been thought to be a result of the variation of interactions between acetylcholine receptor and membrane. In this study, protein–lipid interaction at the level of the lipid headgroup was investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and headgroup spin label. Lipid headgroup mobility was evaluated with rotational correlation time from the EPR spectrum. Protein–lipid interaction at headgroup depth was demonstrated from the motionally restricted component of the spectrum. Rotational correlation time increased to 13 ns from 7 ns due to protein–lipid interaction. The effect of anesthetic (ethanol, 1-hexanol, and isoflurane) on protein–lipid interaction was investigated, and the correlation time was 13 ns. It is concluded that the anesthetics used in this study did not alter protein–lipid interaction at the level of the lipid headgroup, so far as observed by rotational correlation time, without excluding the possibility that anesthetics that perturb protein–lipid interactions modulate receptor functions via this mechanism.
Radiofrequency ablation: Effect of pharmacologic modulation of hepatic and renal blood flow on coagulation diameter in a VX2 tumor model

PURPOSE To determine whether pharmacologic agents can be used to modulate blood flow in hepatic and renal tumors sufficiently to alter the extent of radiofrequency (RF)-induced coagulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS VX2 tumors (8–15 mm) were implanted in the liver ( n = 25) or kidney ( n = 8) of 33 New Zealand White rabbits. RF was applied to tumors for 6 minutes with use of conventional electrodes (125 mA ± 35; 90°C ± 2°C tip temperature). In the hepatic model, blood flow was modulated with use of halothane, epinephrine, or arsenic trioxide (2–6 mg/kg). Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to quantify changes in hepatic blood flow. Correlation of blood flow with induced coagulation diameter was performed. RF ablation was then performed in a renal model with and without arsenic trioxide. RESULTS For liver tumors, halothane and arsenic trioxide reduced blood flow to 40.3% ± 17.8% and 29% ± 15% of normal, respectively, whereas epinephrine increased blood flow to 207.8%± 97.9%. Correlation of blood flow to coagulation diameter was demonstrated (R 2 = 0.40). Coagulation measured 7 mm ± 1 with epinephrine, 10 mm ± 1 with normal blood flow, 12 mm ± 3 with halothane, and 13 mm ± 3 with arsenic trioxide ( P P CONCLUSION RF-induced coagulation necrosis in rabbit hepatic and renal tumors is affected by tumor blood flow. Pharmacologic modulation of tumor blood flow may provide a noninvasive way to decrease blood flow during thermally mediated ablation therapy, potentially enabling the creation of larger zones of coagulation necrosis.
Science Mass Communication: Its Conceptual History

This article provides a conceptual history of science mass communication, which is seen as divided into the scientific literacy and interactive science traditions. The origins of the ideas that und...
New Accounting Scholars's Publications in Accounting and Nonaccounting Journals

Publications in nonaccounting journals are commonly omitted in accounting faculty productivity studies, and we examine whether that omission matters. We use samples consisting of two groups of new scholars who received an accounting Ph.D. (1987/88 and 1977/78 graduates) and took tenure‐track positions at U.S. universities. We combine data from multiple databases to obtain an extensive list of research publications pertaining to these individuals. During the first seven employment years, the 87/88 (77/78) Ph.D. sample published, on average, 1.95 (1.55) total research articles per scholar, including 1.38 (1.15) articles appearing in accounting journals. These findings suggest that new scholars commonly use nonaccounting journals as publication outlets, and that publication counts increase substantially when publications in both nonaccounting and accounting journals are considered. In addition, the 87/88 scholars published in nonaccounting journals more often than did the 77/78 scholars. Finally, publication...
First trimester uterine artery Doppler abnormalities predict subsequent intrauterine growth restriction

Objective This study was undertaken to evaluate the association between uterine artery Doppler velocimetry performed between 10 and 14 weeks gestation and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Study design Uterine artery Doppler velocimetry data were collected on 1067 women enrolled in the FASTER trial at the University of Colorado site. The data were analyzed by using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results The uterine artery mean resistance index (RI) for the entire cohort was equal on the right and left sides (0.59 ± 0.14). Of the 1067 women, 34.2% had unilateral or bilateral diastolic notches, 1 notch was observed in 23.8%, and bilateral notches in 10.4%. Women with a high uterine artery mean RI (≥75th percentile) were 5.5 times more likely to have IUGR (95% CI 1.6-18.7). There was no significant relationship between notching and IUGR. Conclusion Elevated first trimester uterine artery mean RI is significantly associated with IUGR.
Subtypes of nonmedical prescription drug misuse

This study used three characteristics (i.e., motive, route of administration, and co-ingestion with alcohol) of nonmedical prescription drug misuse across four separate classes (i.e., pain, sedative/anxiety, sleeping, and stimulant medications) to examine subtypes and drug related problems. A Web survey was self-administered by a randomly selected sample of 3639 undergraduate students attending a large midwestern 4-year U.S. university. Self-treatment subtypes were characterized by motives consistent with the prescription drug's pharmaceutical main indication, oral only routes of administration, and no co-ingestion with alcohol. Recreational subtypes were characterized by recreational motives, oral or non-oral routes, and co-ingestion. Mixed subtypes consisted of other combinations of motives, routes, and co-ingestion. Among those who reported nonmedical prescription drug misuse, approximately 13% were classified into the recreational subtype, while 39% were in the self-treatment subtype, and 48% were in the mixed subtype. There were significant differences in the subtypes in terms of gender, race and prescription drug class. Approximately 50% of those in subtypes other than self-treatment screened positive for drug abuse. The odds of substance use and abuse were generally lower among self-treatment subtypes than other subtypes. The findings indicate subtypes should be considered when examining nonmedical prescription drug misuse, especially for pain medication.
Risk of vancomycin-resistant enterococci bloodstream infection among patients colonized with vancomycin-resistant enterococci

Background:Vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization has been reported to increase the risk of developing infections, including bloodstream infections.Aim:In this study, we aimed to share our experience with the vancomycin-resistant enterococci bloodstream infections following gastrointestinal vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization in pediatric population during a period of 18 months.Method:A retrospective cohort of children admitted to a 400-bed tertiary teaching hospital in Izmir, Turkey whose vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization was newly detected during routine surveillances for gastrointestinal vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization during the period of January 2009 and December 2012 were included in this study. All vancomycin-resistant enterococci isolates found within 18 months after initial detection were evaluated for evidence of infection.Findings: Two hundred and sixteen patients with vancomycin-resistant enterococci were included in the study. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization was detected in 136 patients (62.3%) while they were hospitalized at intensive care units; while the remaining majority (33.0%) were hospitalized at hematology-oncology department. Vancomycinresistant enterococci bacteremia was present only in three (1.55%) patients. All these patients were immunosuppressed due to human immunodeﬁciency virus (one patient) and intensive chemotherapy (two patients).Conclusion:In conclusion, our study found that 1.55% of vancomycin-resistant enterococcicolonized children had developed vancomycin-resistant enterococci bloodstream infection among the pediatric intensive care unit and hematology/oncology patients; according to our ﬁndings, we suggest that immunosupression is the key point for developing vancomycinresistant enterococci bloodstream infections.
Public Choice and the Extent of the Market

SUMMARY In analyzing political processes, public choice scholars invoke a two-level choice, choices within rules and constitutional choices among sets of rules. This paper considers rules that set the limits for market choice through the political-collective action. Three familiar categories of institutional constraints are examined: prohibition, regulation, and taxation-public spending, that are significant in limiting the trading process. The motivation for institutional-constitutional construction may originate from sources other than economic objectives. We note that institutional parameters include political and legal constraints, as supplemented by traditions and conventions which may affect choice behavior. We relate the analysis to Adam Smith's vision of the achievement of natural liberty and economic progress through his theorem that economic productivity depends on market size.
Efficacy of acellular dermal matrices in revisionary aesthetic breast surgery: a 6-year experience

Background: Augmentation mammaplasty and augmentation mastopexy are associated with a substantial primary and secondary revision rate. Capsular contracture (CC), implant malposition, ptosis, asymmetry, and rippling are the main reasons for revisionary surgery in these patients. Traditional corrective techniques have not been completely reliable in preventing or treating these complications. Recently, acellular dermal matrices (ADM) have been used to assist with revisionary surgery with promising results. Objective: The authors review their 6-year experience using ADM for revisionary surgery in aesthetic patients and evaluate long-term outcomes with this approach. Methods: Patients who underwent revisionary breast augmentation or augmentation mastopexy with ADM in conjunction with standard techniques over a 6-year period between October 2005 and December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients with at least 1 year of follow-up were included in the analysis. Results: A total of 197 revisions were performed (197 patients). Reasons for revision included CC (61.8%), implant malposition (31.2%), rippling (4.8%), ptosis (4.8%), implant exposure (1.6%), and breast wound (0.5%). The mean ± SD follow-up period was 3.1 ± 1.1 years (range, 0.1–6.1 years). The complication rate was 4.8%, including Baker grade III/IV CC (1.6%), infection (1.6%), implant malposition (0.5%), hematoma (0.5%), and seroma (0.5%). Most (98%) revisions were successful, with no recurrence of the presenting complaint. Conclusions: The use of ADM in conjunction with standard techniques for the reinforcement of weak tissue in revision augmentation and augmentation mastopexy patients appears to be effective. Level of Evidence: 4 ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Evaluation of leaves as a litter material

Abstract The suitability of leaves for use as broiler litter was evaluated in four 49-d floor pen trials of 150 Avian x Avian female chickens each. In each trial, 25 broiler chicks were weighed and randomly assigned to one of six pens at a density of 1.2 m2 per bird. There were two replicates of each of the following three treatments: 1) pine wood shaving (control), 2) a mix of 50% pine wood shaving and 50% leaves, and 3) leaves. Litter materials had no significant (P > or = 0.05) influence on live weight, feed conversion, breast blisters, dressed carcass weight, carcass yield percentage, or mortality. Mortality of birds reared on leaves tended to be higher than the other treatments, but it was found to be nonsignificant at the P
Some tests for the constancy of regressions under heteroscedasticity

Abstract For testing the equality of coefficients of a linear regression model under heteroscedasticity, we suggest an F criterion conditioned on the posterior mean of the ratio of standard deviations of error terms in two subsamples. For pairable subsamples, and exact F test is derived. Sampling experiments show that the Chow test differs substantially from the nominal significance level when the two subsample sizes are unequal, and that the F test conditioned on the posterior mean is superior to other tests when sample sizes are small.
Antimicrobial resistance patterns in cases of obstructive pyelonephritis secondary to stones.

Objective To characterize the local antimicrobial resistance pattern in patients with obstructing ureteral stones and fever, compare this with our local antibiograms, and guide recommendations for empiric antibiotic regimens. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of patients who underwent ureteroscopic intervention for the management of ureteral stones at a neighboring private hospital and a public hospital to identify those patients who had undergone prior decompression for obstructing ureteral stones and fever between 2004 and 2011. Urine culture results were captured to identify uropathogens and sensitivity patterns to antibiotics. These were compared with respective hospital antibiograms. Results Sixty-five patients were identified, of which 35 had positive urine culture results. More than 25% of the voided urine and upper urinary tract urine cultures differed. Antimicrobial resistance patterns were higher for patients at the public hospital than the hospital antibiogram. The opposite was true at the private hospital. The public hospital demonstrated an overall higher resistance pattern than the private hospital. Conclusion Antimicrobial resistance makes the selection of empiric antibiotic treatment challenging in patients with obstructive pyelonephritis secondary to ureteral stones. Because of discordance between voided urine cultures and those captured at the time of decompression, it is imperative to obtain both voided urine and urine from the kidney to ensure adequate antibiotic coverage. Local population-specific antimicrobial guidelines that are frequently updated are essential to ensure adequate coverage and treatment of obstructive pyelonephritis, and condition-specific antibiograms would be recommended in the future.
Histoplasmosis-induced hemophagocytic syndrome: A case series and review of the literature

Background. Histoplasmosis-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a relatively rare disorder for which data are limited regarding optimal treatment and clinical outcomes in adults. We describe the clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of patients with histoplasmosis-associated HLH at our institution. Methods. We performed a retrospective chart review of all inpatients at Parkland Hospital diagnosed with HLH associated with Histoplasma capsulatum from 2003 to 2013. Results. Eleven cases of histoplasmosis-associated HLH over this time period were identified. Nine of eleven cases were males (82%). Nine of these patients had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), 1 was a renal transplant patient on immunosuppressants, and the other had no documented immunocompromise. The most common HLH criteria were splenomegaly (n = 10), fever (n = 10), and ferritin >500 ng/dL (n = 9). Urine Histoplasma antigen was positive in every patient tested (n = 9 of 9), and most antibodies for Histoplasma were positive if checked (n = 4 of 5). A majority of patients received liposomal amphotericin B (n = 9) with an average treatment duration of 11 days, and 5 patients also received prednisone, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), or both. Overall, 5 patients died within 30 days (45.5%), and 7 patients died within 90 days (63.6%). Of the 5 patients that received immunosuppression, 4 died (80%), whereas in the group not given additional immunosuppression (n = 5), 2 died (40%). Conclusions. Histoplasmosis-associated HLH among adults is a lethal disease of highly immunocompromised patients, especially patients with HIV/AIDS. Clinical features such as splenomegaly, elevated ferritin, and cytopenias should prompt evaluation for HLH in this population. Further data are needed to define the role of immunosuppression, IVIG, and highly active antiretroviral therapy in treating this condition.