cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of new electrical contacts for high voltage applications

In this study, the development of new electrical contacts technology for high voltage (HV) applications, especially circuit breakers, is described. A new type of arcing contact material, based on carbon/copper composite (C-Cu), has been compared with a more common one, based on tungsten/copper W-Cu material. It could be seen that carbon/copper composite materials could behave reasonably well. In particular, their erosion during switching tests was not too high compared to those of W-Cu contacts. In addition, it could be seen that, in some case, the erosion of the nozzle regarding the arc was lower than the one obtained with copper/tungsten composites. In parallel, the plasma composition calculations showed that, depending on the conditions, graphite formation within the arcing chamber could be avoided. Hence, such carbon/copper composite could represent a promising technology.
The expanded clinical spectrum of deferoxamine retinopathy.

Abstract Objective To describe early and unusual features in 16 patients with deferoxamine-induced retinal toxicity and to assess the role of diagnostic tests in the diagnosis and management of patients with the disorder. Design Retrospective, observational case series. Participants Sixteen patients with deferoxamine retinopathy identified from members of the Vitreous, Retina, and Macula societies of the United States. Intervention/testing The patients underwent complete ophthalmologic examination. Most patients were also evaluated by fluorescein angiography and electrophysiologic testing. The diagnosis was based on the medical history, systemic and ocular findings, and the results of electrophysiologic tests. Main outcome measures Ocular symptoms, ophthalmoscopic, fluoroangiographic, and electrophysiologic findings. Results We confirmed previously reported findings in patients with established disease, including macular and/or peripheral pigmentary changes, reduced electroretinographic (ERG) amplitudes, and reduced electrooculographic (EOG) light-peak to dark-trough ratios. Peripapillary, papillomacular, and paramacular patterns of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) degeneration were each observed in one patient. Diffuse RPE or outer retinal fluorescence by fluorescein angiography was a marker for active retinopathy both at the onset of disease and during recurrence and preceded the development of RPE pigment mottling. Conclusions Unusual patterns of deferoxamine retinopathy may occur in addition to the foveomacular and/or peripheral patterns previously described. Fluorescein angiography is particularly useful for determining whether there is ongoing retinal/RPE injury. ERG and EOG testing may indicate earlier or more widespread injury than is suggested by fundus examination alone. Patients who do not discontinue deferoxamine after the development of retinopathy risk further retinal/RPE injury and visual deterioration.
Evidence for a Centrally Located Gate in the Pore of a Serotonin-Gated Ion Channel

Serotonin-gated ion channels (5-HT3) are members of the ligand-gated channel family, which includes channels that are opened directly by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, GABA, glycine, or glutamate. Although there is general agreement that the second transmembrane domain (M2) lines the pore, the position of the gate in the M2 is less certain. Here, we used substituted cysteine accessibility method (SCAM) to provide new evidence for a centrally located gate that moves during channel activation. In the closed state, three cysteine substitutions, located on the extracellular side of M2, were modified by methanethiosulfonate (MTS) reagents. In contrast, 13 cysteine substitutions were modified in the open state with MTS reagents. The pattern of inhibition (every three to four substitutions) was consistent with an α helical structure for the middle and cytoplasmic segments of the M2 transmembrane domain. Unexpectedly, open-state modification of two amino acids in the center of M2 with three different MTS reagents prevented channels from fully closing in the absence of neurotransmitter. Our results are consistent with a model in which the central region of the M2 transmembrane domain is inaccessible in the closed state and moves during channel activation.
Surgery, palliative care, and the American College of Surgeons.

Since the late 1990s, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has increasingly recognized and advocated palliative care for patients and their families with serious, critical, and terminal illness under surgical care. The college has been the primary catalyst for the recognition of palliative care in the field of surgery in the U.S. and abroad, primarily through educational efforts directed at practicing surgeons and surgeons in training. Roughly 15 years ago a group of surgeons from the fellowship of the college coalesced and then spearheaded these initiatives with invaluable support and advice from leading non-surgeon pioneers of palliative care. This group is now titled, the Committee on Surgical Palliative Care (CSPC). The CSPC’s mission is to incorporate the precepts and techniques of palliative care into surgical clinical practice, education, research, and advocacy. This report chronicles the contributions the ACS has made to the evolution of surgical palliative care and details the formation of its CSPC and its role in shaping surgical palliative care today.
Taking charge of systemic sclerosis: a pilot study to assess the effectiveness of an internet self-management program.

Objective To assess the effects of an internet self-management program for systemic sclerosis on self-efficacy, health efficacy, and management of care, pain, fatigue, functional ability, and depression. Methods Participants logged on to a password-protected web site and completed modules and learning activities at their own pace over 10 weeks. Participants were encouraged to log on to the discussion board, participate in an interactive component of the web site, and respond to questions posted for each module. Participants completed pre- and postintervention questionnaires on perceived self-efficacy, health efficacy, ability to manage care, functional disability, depression, pain, and fatigue. They also completed an 8-question evaluation form regarding satisfaction with the web site, program content, discussion boards, and learning activities. Results Sixteen participants completed the study and postintervention measures. There were significant improvements in mean scores for ability to manage care (effect size [ES] 0.62, P = 0.025) and health efficacy (ES 0.72, P = 0.012), and significant decreases in fatigue (ES −0.55, P = 0.045) and depression (ES −0.71, P = 0.013). Self-efficacy improved, but not significantly. The evaluation of the program revealed mean scores ranging from 4.2 (web site was visually appealing) to 4.9 (information presented clearly) on a 5-point scale, where 5 is most satisfied. Conclusion These findings from this pilot study suggest that a self-management program delivered using an internet format can lead to statistically significant changes in health efficacy and management of care, fatigue, and depression. These results need to be confirmed with a larger randomized controlled trial with a longer followup period.
Invited Editorial on “A finite-element model of oxygen diffusion in the pulmonary capillaries”

the total amount of oxygen transferred in the lung from the gas phase in the alveoli to the blood is of critical importance to the function of the organism as a whole as well as to its every organ and cell. This amount is proportional to the difference in the oxygen tension in the alveoli and the
Self-Assembly and Magnetic Alignment in Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide/Sodium Perfluorooctanoate Surfactant Mixtures Investigated Using 2H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance (2H NMR) spectroscopy has been used to investigate the phase behavior for mixtures of the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the anionic surfactant sodium perfluorooctanoate (FC7) for total surfactant concentrations ranging from 1 to 25 wt %. The deuterated methyl of the quaternary methyl-ammonia group in CTAB-γ-d3 gives rise to a superposition of spectral components in the 2H NMR spectra allowing for the identification and quantification of the different phases present. The CTAB/FC7 mixture exhibits a coexisting two-phase region composed of an isotropic (Iso) micelle/vesicle phase along with a lamellar (Lα) phase for all of the composition ranges investigated. The variation of the phase composition as a function of sample temperature, total wt % surfactant, and surfactant molar ratio are presented. In addition, the 2H NMR reveals that the Lα phase spontaneously aligns in the magnetic field, with the extent and distribution of magnetic alignm...
Bayard Horton's clinicopathological description of giant cell (temporal) arteritis.

The author set out to review the thought processes of Bayard Horton as he was clinicopathologically describing the first cases of temporal arteritis. The Mayo Clinic records of the original temporal arteritis patients were examined. Horton obtained the first biopsies of the temporal arteries in temporal arteritis and was the first to describe the histopathology. Horton initially thought his first two patients had actinomycosis of the temporal arteries, but later abandoned this diagnosis. He reported these two patients in 1932 as ‘an undescribed form of arteritis of the temporal vessels’. He was the first to describe jaw claudication. He saw a patient with blindness and symptoms suggestive of temporal arteritis before this complication was described in the literature, but initially felt the patient had some other disease. The sedimentation rate was elevated in his first patient. He cared for the first temporal arteritis patient ever treated with cortisone.
Effect of Breaking Waves and External Current on Longshore Sediment Transport

AbstractThe effects of external currents on the longshore current and sediment transport in the surf zone are examined using the cross-shore numerical model CSHORE, which is extended to include the alongshore pressure gradient term in the longshore momentum equation and to allow oblique waves in the swash zone on a beach. The extended CSHORE is compared with five tests conducted in a wave basin with a recirculation system. The cross-shore variations of the longshore current and sediment-transport rate are predicted fairly well for the cases of no and favorable pressure gradients. The cases of adverse and time-varying pressure gradients are computed to extrapolate the experimental results for wider applications.
Uncovering putative neural markers of risk avoidance.

Abstract Risk avoidance is a hallmark of psychopathological conditions such as anxiety disorders. Yet few studies have examined its neural basis. The present work sought to identify the neural correlates of risk avoidance. While functional MRI scans were acquired, healthy adults ( N = 23) played a Wheel of Fortune game during which they chose to bet or pass on each of 104 proposed gamble trials. Participants also completed the Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Events (CARE, Fromme et al., 1997 ), a self-report measure of “real world” risky behavior. As expected, decision-making was associated with activation, as measured by increased BOLD responses, of the striatum, insula, anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and parietal lobe. Risk avoidance during probabilistic trials (percent of trials passed) was significantly correlated with precuneus and striatal responses to trials with a certain outcome (No-Risk). Similarly, “real world” risk avoidance, as measured by the CARE, was significantly correlated with precuneus activity during No-Risk trials. Collectively, these data suggest that precuneus and striatal responses to decision-making under certainty represent putative neural markers of risk avoidance in the laboratory and in the “real world.” Further, they underline the need to extend neuroimaging research on risk avoidance, and associated anxiety disorders, to posterior cortical regions.
Evoked auditory activity within the telencephalon of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana).

Abstract Two auditory responsive regions in the telencephalon of the bullfrog were localized by combining systematic evoked potential depth recordings with subsequent histological studies. Large negative potentials (n1) from the ventral striatum and large positive potentials (p1) from the medial pallium were recorded in response to complex sounds with parameters similar to those found in the species-specific vocalizations. Simple acoustic stimuli, such as clicks and single tones, failed to excite these regions. Although the source of the auditory afferents to the medial pallium is presently uncertain, based on our electrophysiological recordings and previous anatomical studies it seems likely that the ventral striatum is the nest ascending area above the auditory thalamus in the anuran auditory pathway.
Particle mixing and charge asymmetric nuclear forces

Abstract The charge asymmetric effect of ϱω and πη electromagnetic mixing on the 1 S 0 NN potential is reviewed. It is found that the ϱω contribution dominates and leads to an n-n potential which is more attractive than the p-p potential. The shift in the scattering lengths is then calculated to be | a nn |−| a pp | ≈ 0.9 fm and the shift in effective ranges is r nn − r pp ≈ −0.02 fm.
Transpersonal psychology: Its several virtues

Abstract A history of humanistic and transpersonal psychology is presented as a backdrop to examining both the weak and the strong points of transpersonal psychology proper. On the negative side, transpersonal psychology can be faulted for being philosophically naive, poorly financed, at times almost anti‐intellectual, and frequently overrated as far as its influences. On the plus side, it presents an integrated approach to understanding 1)the phenomenology of scientific method, 2) the centrality of qualitative research for the future of the discipline, and 3) the importance of interdisciplinary communication. In the final analysis, its virtues outweigh its defects, and they prophecize new trends beyond the current revolution in the neurosciences.
The effects of nicotine on ethanol-induced conditioned taste aversions in Long-Evans rats.

Overall drug acceptability is thought to be a function of the balance between its rewarding and aversive effects, the latter of which is reportedly affected by polydrug use. Given that nicotine and alcohol are commonly co-used, the present experiments sought to assess nicotine’s impact on ethanol’s aversive effects within a conditioned taste aversion design. Experiment 1 examined various doses of nicotine (0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2 mg/kg) to determine a behaviorally active dose, and experiment 2 examined various doses of ethanol (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 g/kg) to determine a dose that produced intermediate aversions. Experiment 3 then examined the aversive effects of nicotine (0.8 mg/kg) and ethanol (1.0 g/kg) alone and in combination. Additionally, nicotine’s effects on blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) and ethanol-induced hypothermia were examined. Nicotine and ethanol combined produced aversions significantly greater than those produced by either drug alone or the summed aversive effects of the individual compounds. These effects were unrelated to changes in BAC, but nicotine and ethanol combined produced a prolonged hypothermic effect which may contribute to the increased aversions induced by the combination. These data demonstrate that nicotine may interact with ethanol, increasing ethanol’s aversive effects. Although the rewarding effects of concurrently administered nicotine and ethanol were not assessed, these data do indicate that the reported high incidence of nicotine and ethanol co-use is unlikely due to reductions in the aversiveness of ethanol with concurrently administered nicotine. It is more likely attributable to nicotine-related changes in ethanol’s rewarding effects.
The relationship between work group size and occupational accidents

Abstract Guastello, D.D. and Guastello, S.J., 1987. The relationship between work group size and occupational accidents. Journal of Occupational Accidents , 9: 1–9. Work group size and its effect on industrial accidents was investigated. Previous studies on the topic have been inconclusive. This study also investigated whether group size is correlated with other psychosocial variables that have been shown in the past to relate to accident rate. Subjects were 435 employees in 79 work groups drawn from 9 Midwestern metal foundries and mills. Results revealed both a linear and curvilinear component of the relationship between group size and group accident rates. A scattergram revealed a breakpoint at a group size of about 15 people above which only large accident rates occurred, but below which disparately high and low rates were observed. Size was not correlated with any of the other psychosocial variables related to accidents. Implications of the findings for accident control are discussed.
Long term renal toxicity of ifosfamide in adult patients--5 year data.

Abstract Ifosfamide is indicated as first line treatment in a variety of solid tumours in adults. It is known to be nephrotoxic and is often used following therapy with, or as concomitant therapy with other potent nephrotoxins. To date, there are sparse case reports on the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) or chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adults exposed to ifosfamide. The available data on the long term renal complications for patients exposed to ifosfamide are thus based entirely on the paediatric population. The aim of this study was to assess the long term effects of ifosfamide exposure on renal function in an adult population and to determine if there are any treatment or patient specific factors that contribute to long term nephrotoxicity. The mean decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) following the first cycle of ifosfamide was 15 ml/min/1.73 m 2 . Thereafter, there was a slower but steady decline in eGFR. No patient progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD). Patient age and concomitant exposure to carboplatin were the only two factors which significantly affected eGFR. This represents the only long term study on the nephrotoxicity of ifosfamide in adults.
The Impact of Climate Change on the Chemical Composition of Deep Vadose Zone Waters

Chloride mass balance, and stable (deuterium and 18 O) and radiogenic ( 3 H, 36 Cl) isotope studies of deep vadose zone pore waters have generally concluded that variations in moisture flux can account for the observed variations in abundance of these approximately conservative tracers. It can be inferred, on the basis of these observations and interpretations, that a climate change record is preserved in these vadose zone waters. In arid regions where thick (>100 m) vadose zones persist, it has been concluded that this record may extend back more than 100 000 yr. Consideration of the mechanisms that control reactive transport led to the conclusion that such climate-driven effects will also be evident as chemical reactions involving dissolution and/or precipitation of mineral phases along the flow pathway. As a result, there should also be variations in the concentrations of nonconservative chemical species that correspond to changes in the concentrations of the conservative tracers. Simulations of this reactive transport, in a regime typical of the arid U.S. Southwest, demonstrate that these changes can modify pore water chemistry by factors of up to 200%, but the changes take place slowly, requiring thousands of years to achieve steady-state conditions. This suggests that a very rich archive of climate change history is preserved in this type of setting. However, extracting that history is currently hampered by limitations in data and models (e.g., effective mineral reactive surface areas, fluid flow pathways, and quantified models of wetted fracture surface in unsaturated, fractured systems). This challenge may be overcome if coordinated efforts are undertaken that exploit the power of detailed studies of isotope systematics, microscale rock characterization, and high performance computing.
Effects of white noise masking and low pass filtering on speech kinematics.

The effects of reduced auditory information on spatial and temporal parameters of speech production were investigated using cinefluorographic techniques. While subjects read a series of test words ...
Higher-order modulation effects on solitary wave envelopes in deep water Part 2. Multi-soliton envelopes

Previous experimental and numerical work indicates that an initially symmetric deep-water wave pulse of uniform frequency and moderately small steepness evolves in an asymmetric manner and eventually separates into distinct wave groups, owing to higher-order modulation effects, not accounted for by the nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLS). Here perturbation methods are used to provide analytical confirmation of this group splitting on the basis of the more accurate envelope equation of Dysthe (1979). It is demonstrated that an initially symmetric multisoliton wave envelope, consisting of N bound NLS solitons, ultimately breaks up into N separate groups; a procedure is devised for determining the relative speed changes of the individual groups. The case of a bi-soliton (N = 2) is discussed in detail, and the analytical predictions are compared to numerical results.
Electrochemical Investigation of Electronically Conductive Polymers

Electronically conductive polymers are a fascinating new class of materials with unique electronic, electrochemical, and optical properties (1). One of the most interesting aspects of these polymers is that they can be reversibly “switched” between electronically insulating and electronically conductive states. Numerous researchers in a variety of conductor transition (1). In addition to being an interesting scientific phenomenon, this switching process plays an integral role in nearly all of the proposed chemical applications of electronically conductive polymers (2–13)
Systematic review of percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiac arrest or cardiogenic shock states

Summary Background Cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest are common, lethal, debilitating and costly. Percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass is an innovative strategy for treating these disorders that consists of rapid initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass and extracorporeal maintenance of circulation until restoration of an effective cardiac output. Multiple case reports suggest that percutaneous bypass is efficacious in patients with these disorders but these experiences have not been collated. Therefore, we have reviewed systematically the published experience with percutaneous bypass in patients with cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. Objectives The objectives were to describe the proportion of patients with cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest who achieved restoration of spontaneous circulation or survival to discharge with percutaneous bypass. A secondary objective was to describe adverse effects associated with percutaneous bypass, if feasible. Design Articles were identified by using a comprehensive search of English-language MEDLINE from 1966 to September 2005. Patients Individuals in cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. Interventions Percutaneous cardiopulmonary bypass. Analysis Effects were summarized as inverse-variance weighted means, standard errors, median and interquartile range. Results Included were 85 studies of 1494 patients with cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest or both. Studies were case reports, case-series or case-control studies of heterogeneous interventions in heterogeneous patients. The proportion of patients weaned was mean, 76.8±4.2%, and median, 66.0% (IQR 50%, 100%). The proportion of patients who survived to discharge was mean, 47.4±4.5%, and median 40.0% (IQR 20%, 75%). Fifty-two studies included 533 patients in cardiogenic shock. The proportion of patients who survived to discharge was mean, 51.6±6.5%, and median 38.5% (IQR 23.4%, 76.3%). Fifty-four studies included 675 patients in cardiac arrest. The proportion of patients who survived to discharge was mean, 44.9±6.7%, and median, 42.3% (IQR 15.4%, 75%). Five studies with 286 subjects had both patients with cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. Conclusions Percutaneous bypass is an efficacious intervention in patients with cardiac arrest or cardiogenic shock. Adequately-powered experimental studies of current percutaneous bypass technologies are required to demonstrate whether it is safe, effective and cost-effective.
Leaves in turbidite sands: The main source of oil and gas in the deep-water Kutei Basin, Indonesia: Discussion

Saller et al. (2006) have concluded that leaves in the upper Miocene turbidite sands were the main source of oil and gas in the deep-water Kutei Basin, East Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia. They have reported that oils from the Kutei Basin have high (4–7) pristane/phytane ratios, suggesting a coaly organic source. This is consistent with other observations made on oils from the Gippsland Basin in Australia, showing high pristane/phytane ratios (5–6) that were attributed to coniferous rain forests and related land-plant organic matter (Shanmugam, 1985). Saller et al. (2006) have also concluded that leaf fragments were carried into deep water along with sand by turbidity currents during lowstands of sea level. This conclusion deserves close scientific scrutiny. Although Saller et al. (2006) have discussed both geochemical and sedimentological aspects, I confine this discussion to sedimentological details. I also take this opportunity to introduce more clarity into our understanding of deep-water deposition through discussing conceptual, observational, and interpretational problems. First, Saller et al. (2006, p. 1588) stated that “Specific well names and depths are not included in this manuscript for confidentiality reasons.” The strength of any scientific article is its transparency of data, which provides other researchers an opportunity to verify the conclusions of an article without constraints. Saller et al. used cuttings samples from 50 wells and conventional core samples from 16 wells, but because they did not provide a map showing well locations, it is impossible to evaluate the relative position of a sample with respect to the paleoshelf edge. This is critical to the central theme of this article, which is the source of land-plant organic matter (i.e., highstand delta versus lowstand shelf-edge delta). Saller et al. could have included a location map of wells, but could have changed the original well names. Second, the basic tenet of …
Communist insurgency in the Philippines

Abstract This paper traces the activities of the Philippine Communist Party and its guerrilla arm, the New People's Army. The party grew to its present strength of some 30,000 members during the later years of the Marcos administration by capitalizing on his unpopularity and emphasizing traditional protracted revolutionary warfare. During the 1970s, the guerrillas established fronts throughout the country, and the party exploited local socioeconomic and political issues to build a base of support. During the 1980s they expanded their activities to include urban violence, strikes, and assassinations to foment revolutionary unrest, while portraying themselves as nationalists and creating structures to insinuate themselves into national politics. Their power was well consolidated by the end of the Marcos regime, although they made a major tactical error by boycotting Marcos's snap presidential election in 1986. During the present administration, the party has emphasized political action, but a switch back to...
Cardiopulmonary bypass support for emergency cesarean delivery in a patient with severe pulmonary hypertension

Cesarean delivery in a patient with pulmonary hypertension poses significant risks, particularly if the maternal status is decompensating. We present the first report of emergency use of cardiopulmonary bypass for cesarean delivery in a patient whose status was deteriorating.
Amino acid sequence homology between bovine and human platelet proteins

The complete amino acid sequence of bovine platelet factor 4 (PF-4) was determined. Comparison of the 88 residue bovine protein with its 70 residue human counterpart indicated 73% homology. There is 53% homology between this bovine protein and another human platelet protein, beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG). These heparin binding proteins share greatest homology around a lysine-rich octa-peptide near the carboxy-terminus which is the putative heparin binding domain. Graphic comparison of these proteins suggests that a point mutation at position 55 (human PF-4 numbering) could cause a significant difference among the folding properties of these 3 proteins and might be critical for their different heparin binding properties.
Host Guest Interactions in Ti-Implanted Silica, Borosilicate and Aluminosilicate Glasses

Titanium oxide glasses exhibit a significant nonlinear optical response which is attributed to the large polarizability of the Ti ion. Ion implantation is a unique method for incorporating polarizable ions in glass hosts and allows for tailoring the nonlinear optical properties of the material for potential device applications in all optical switching and planar waveguide technology. However, at the molecular level, the linear and nonlinear properties of ion implanted glasses are governed by interactions between the glass host and the implanted ion, radiation damage, and ion-glass chemistry. In order to probe the host-guest interactions, we have measured the infrared and optical spectra for Ti implanted in silica, borosilicate, and aluminosilicate glasses. The infrared and optical spectra indicate that the host-guest interactions and defect concentration differ significantly for the three glasses investigated.
Lynx maritime radar in USN experiment Trident Warrior 2011

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) participated in the joint naval experiment Trident Warrior 2011 at Combat Direction Systems Activity (CDSA), Dam Neck, Va., in July 2011. The goal was to introduce the Lynx&#174; Multi-Mode Radar's new Maritime Wide Area Search (MWAS) mode and display a viable Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) full kill chain solution for the naval environment. GA-ASI presented a manned platform, a Beechcraft Super King Air 200 modified with an operators console, Lynx Multi-mode Radar, FLIR Star SAFIRE 380-HD EO/IR camera system, and an L-3 TCDL (aircraft data link system) as a surrogate for the Predator&#174; B/ MQ-9 UAS.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Noninfectious colitis associated with short gut syndrome in infants

We describe noninfectious bloody diarrhea in 13 of 16 infants referred for managementof short bowel syndrome and parenteral nutrition during a 33-month period. The condition was characterized by bloody, watery stools associated with carbohydrate malabsorption. Colitis occurred at a mean age of 4.2 months during periods of advancing enteral feedings of a hydrolyzed protein-or amino acid-containing formula. Sigmoidoscopy performed in nine patients revealed edema, patchy erythema, loss of normal vascular pattern, and mucosal friability without ulcerations or pseudomembranes. Colonic biopsy specimens demonstrated edema and mixed hypercellularity of the lamina propria, with prominent eosinophilia. Rectal bleeding ceased if formula feedings were decreased or withheld. Of multiple medications administered, sulfasalazine seemed to improve rectal bleeding most effectively in our patients and allowed for more rapid reintroduction of enteral feedings.
Thermal and autoxidation reactions of poly‐3‐methylenecyclobutene and poly‐1‐methyl‐3‐methylenecyclobutene

The thermal ring-opening reactions, autoxidation and hydrogenation of polymethy-lenecyclobutene (PMCB) and poly-1-methyl-3-methylenecyclobutene (PMMCB), were investigated. Both polymers were prepared by cationic polymerization and consisted almost entirely of 1,5-repeating units containing cyclobutene rings in the polymer backbone. Both polymers showed well behaved exothermic processes at elevated temperatures which apparently resulted in crosslinking. These processes were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and interpreted to involve thermal ring-opening reactions. Autoxidation occurred very rapidly in PMCB but much more slowly in PMMCB as predicted by Bolland's rules. Attempts to hydrogenate the cyclobutene rings in both polymers resulted in the occurrence of hydrogenolysis in PMCB and little or no reaction with PMMCB for a Pd-catalyzed reaction and partial hydrogenation of the latter for a diimide reaction.
The probability distribution of S+ gyrospeeds in the Io torus

The first detailed thermal speed probability distribution for a Jovian plasma ion is presented. The distribution of heavy ion thermal speeds appears to be highly significant for an evaluation of the processes by which the particle and energy budgets of the Io plasma torus are maintained. Attention is given to the measurement, reduction, and analysis procedures which yield the reported probability distribution. A kinetic energy inventory of the Jovian plasma heavy ion component can be obtained from high-resolution, high-precision spectrophotometry of emission lines. The current S(+) study finds that detection of the line wings results in a mean energy (approximately 60 eV) which is higher by a factor of approximately 10 than is implied by the line core. This illustrates that a dispersive measurement may provide only a lower limit to the kinetic energy content.
Corrosion behavior of vanadium alloys in flowing lithium

Abstract Corrosion data are presented for several vanadium alloys exposed to flowing lithium at 427, 482 and 538°C. The corrosion behavior was evaluated by measuring weight change. Metallographic results and data on the nonmetallic element transfer in lithium-exposed specimens are also presented. The influence of alloy composition and exposure conditions on the corrosion behavior of vanadium alloys is discussed.
To anticoagulate or not to anticoagulate patients with cardiomyopathy

The current published literature does not indicate whether the long-term effect of anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy contributes to mortality reduction in patients with LV dysfunction. Evaluating patients for personal risk for emboli or for ischemic coronary artery events may influence the choice of therapies. As more is learned about the mechanisms of drug effects in different populations, physicians may be better able to direct appropriate therapies. Until that time, one must weigh the risks and benefits of each drug alone and in combination. In NYHA class IV patients, the risk for thrombosis owing to spontaneous clotting increases as does the adverse potential of warfarin and the adverse effects of inhibiting prostaglandin mediated vasodilation by aspirin. In NYHA class I and II patients, the quality of life and convenience of multidrug therapy is weighed against the devastating effect of a major stroke. In less symptomatic patients, the long-term risk for acute coronary events may be higher than previously identified. This would suggest that all patients with depressed LV function should be on some type of antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy. The current WATCH study will provide much needed information about the outcome differences between these agents. Conclusions based on available data include the following: Heart failure is increasing in incidence and prevalence. Atherosclerotic disease is an important causative factor for the development of heart failure or may be a comorbid condition in these patients. There is a measurable rate of stroke in patients with heart failure, although the cause of death in large studies is more often owing to sudden death or progressive heart failure. Sudden death may be from new ischemic events, asystole, or from ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In patients with heart failure, not all strokes are cardioembolic in origin. The benefits and risks of warfarin may be increased as the EF worsens or heart failure functional class declines. The interactions of aspirin and ACE inhibitors have been best evaluated for the hemodynamic effects. There may be additional factors hitherto not studied. The hemodynamic effect of ACE inhibitors may be more important in NYHA classes III and IV than in less symptomatic patients. Warfarin use has clear indications for patients in atrial fibrillation with mechanical prosthetic valves, in hypercoagulable states, and with a previous history of embolization. Aspirin is inexpensive and commonly available, but its use must be evaluated and articulated by the prescribing physician. The current multicenter prospective trials will provide much needed guidance on this subject. The ongoing trials do not have a placebo arm, however, indicating a consensus among clinicians that patients with cardiomyopathy should be on an antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug until further data emerge.
Minimally invasive paediatric cardiac surgery

The concept of minimally invasive surgery for congenital heart disease in paediatric patients is broad, and has the aim of reducing the trauma of the operation at each stage of management. Firstly, in the operating room using minimally invasive incisions, video-assisted thoracoscopic and robotically assisted surgery, hybrid procedures, image-guided intracardiac surgery, and minimally invasive cardiopulmonary bypass strategies. Secondly, in the intensive-care unit with neuroprotection and 'fast-tracking' strategies that involve early extubation, early hospital discharge, and less exposure to transfused blood products. Thirdly, during postoperative mid-term and long-term follow-up by providing the children and their families with adequate support after hospital discharge. Improvement of these strategies relies on the development of new devices, real-time multimodality imaging, aids to instrument navigation, miniaturized and specialized instrumentation, robotic technology, and computer-assisted modelling of flow dynamics and tissue mechanics. In addition, dedicated multidisciplinary co-ordinated teams involving congenital cardiac surgeons, perfusionists, intensivists, anaesthesiologists, cardiologists, nurses, psychologists, and counsellors are needed before, during, and after surgery to go beyond apparent technological and medical limitations with the goal to 'treat more while hurting less'.
EXPLORING THE BOUNDARY CONDITIONS FOR INTERVIEW VALIDITY: META‐ANALYTIC VALIDITY FINDINGS FOR A NEW INTERVIEW TYPE

This study uses meta-analysis of an extensive predictive validity data-base to explore the boundary conditions for the validity of. the structured interview as presented by McDaniel, Whetzel, Schmidt, and Maurer (1994). The interview examined here differs from traditional structured interviews in being empirically constructed, administered by telephone, and scored later based on a taped transcript. Despite these and other differences, this nontraditional employment interview was found to have essentially the same level of criterion-related validity for supervisory ratings of job performance reported by McDaniel for other structured employment interviews. These findings suggest that a variety of different approaches to the construction, administration, and scoring of structured employment interviews may lead to comparable levels of validity. We hypothesize that this result obtains because different types of structured interviews all measure to varying degrees constructs with known generalizable validity (e.g., conscientiousness and general mental ability). The interview examined here was also found to be a valid predictor of production records, sales volume, absenteeism, and job tenure.
Life in Constant Light Protects Cardiomyopathic Hamsters from Stress-Induced Heart Failure

We have shown that constant light (LL) extends life in hamsters with progressive congestive heart failure (CHF). Since stress impairs ventricular function, we hypothesized that life in LL would protect the hamster from the stress induced exacerbation of failure. Cardiomyopathic hamsters (CMHs) at the age of 2 mo were put into LL or Light:Dark 12h: 12h (LD). A second set of CMHs was received 4 mo later and also split into the 2 lighting conditions. When hamsters were either 6 or 10 mo of age, half were stressed with 2 hr supine cold immobilization for 5 consecutive days, and the other half served as nonstressed controls. In vitro evaluation of ventricular mechanics was done 5 days after stress and revealed that stress decreased ventricular systolic and diastolic function in LD groups but not in LL groups; the effect was most robust in the 6 mo hamsters. The cardiac ventricles of hamsters living in LD became heavier when the hamster aged from 6 mo to 10 mo; this is indicative of the progression of CHF. Life...
DyFe2-H2 system: Magnetism and pressure-composition isotherms to 1400 atm

Abstract Pressure-composition data obtained for 21 °C and pressures up to 1400 atm indicate four or perhaps five phases in the DyFe2-H2 system. These probably correspond to different ways of arranging the hydrogen atoms over the abundant tetrahedral interstices. The magnetic behavior of DyFe2H3.5 was established and was compared with that of other RFe2 hydrides (where R is a rare earth). Hydrogenation weakens the Dy-Fe exchange so that for T > 75 K the dysprosium sublattice is magnetically disordered. Between 100 and 300 K the magnetization originates with the ordered iron sublattice. The magnitude of the magnetization indicates an iron moment of approximately 2μB per atom. The field dependence of magnetization at 4.2 K suggests a non-collinear alignment of moments, perhaps a consequence of fanning of the dysprosium moments.
BLINK: pixel-domain encryption for secure document management

BLINK, or brief-lifetime ink, is a technology for secure document delivery and management that employs pixel-domain scrambling of raster images by a hardware device connecting a computer to its display. A BLINK decoder monitors digital video signals, identifies the presence of scrambled images, and selectively decrypts regions of the video frame containing them. The primary application is delivery of confidential documents that can only be viewed by a specific machine or user, possibly within a fixed time limit or for a fixed number of views.Removing the decryption step from the computer to the display cable confers numerous advantages, including complete protection against document forwarding, copying, pasting, screen capture, and memory snooping; furthermore it requires no particular operating system, reader software or proprietary document format.In this paper we implement several core BLINK primitives on an Alteral FPGA development board. These primitives include encrypted image identification and location, key extraction, decryption by a key stream, and bit-plane extraction for encrypted images embedded in LSB planes of other images
Pulmonary platelet sequestration is increased following monocrotaline pyrrole treatment of rats

111In-labeled platelets were used to study the localization and survival of circulating platelets at various times after a single, intravenous administration of 3.5 mg/kg monocrotaline pyrrole (MCTP) to rats. Lung injury, assessed from elevated lung weight, lavage fluid total protein and albumin concentrations, and lactate dehydrogenase activity, was evident at Days 8 and 14. In addition, right ventricular hypertrophy was manifested by 14 days after MCTP administration. Pulmonary sequestration of 111In-labeled platelets was also elevated by Days 8 and 14, while circulating blood platelet number remained unchanged. Concomitantly, the hemoglobin concentration and total hemoglobin content of the lung homogenate supernatant in MCTP-treated rats on these days was decreased when compared to those in controls. A decrease in splenic platelet sequestration on Day 14 was accompanied by an increase in the combined radioactivity of the heart and kidneys. Platelet half-life and mean life span were increased only on Day 14. A higher dose of MCTP (35 mg/kg) caused moderate lung injury at 6 hr. However, this treatment did not result in increased platelet sequestration in the lungs, although a trend was observed. Data from this study support the hypothesis that platelets are involved in the development of the pulmonary hypertensive response following MCTP-induced lung injury.
Total Homocysteine Lowering Treatment Among Coronary Artery Disease Patients in the Era of Folic Acid-Fortified Cereal Grain Flour

The prevalence of deficient plasma folate status and elevated total plasma levels of homocysteine (tHcy), have been dramatically reduced after fortification of all enriched cereal grain flour products with folic acid at 140 microg/100 g flour. Against this new background fortification, we evaluated the tHcy-lowering efficacy of pharmacological dose, folic acid-based vitamin B supplementation among stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Using a 2x2 factorial design, 131 stable CAD patients (mean age 60.1 years; 29.8% women) were randomly assigned to receive a combination of folic acid 2.5 mg/d, riboflavin 5 mg/d, + B12 0.4 mg/d, or placebo, with or without vitamin B6 50 mg/d, for 12 weeks of treatment. ANCOVA adjusted for baseline fasting tHcy levels revealed only very modest (ie, approximately 1.0 micromol/L), albeit statistically significant (P<0.05), reductions in mean fasting tHcy levels afforded by the folic acid-containing treatments. Additional analyses indicated that none of the treatments provided a statistically significant reduction in the 2-hour post-methionine increase in tHcy levels, relative to placebo treatment. CAD patients exposed to cereal grain flour products fortified with folic acid who receive high-dose, folic acid-containing vitamin B regimens, experience only very modest reductions in their mean fasting plasma tHcy levels. These findings have important implications for the statistical power of clinical trials testing the hypothesis that tHcy-lowering treatment may reduce recurrent atherothrombotic event rates.
Palliative Excellence in Alzheimer Care Efforts (PEACE): a program description.

Hospice is the standard method for providing quality end-of-life care in the United States. However, studies reveal that persons with dementia are infrequently referred to hospice, that barriers exist to increasing hospice utilization in this population, and that patients with dementia would benefit from hospice or hospice-like services earlier in the disease course. The Palliative Excellence in Alzheimer Care Efforts (PEACE) program responds to these deficiencies, striving to improve end-of-life care of persons with dementia and to integrate palliative care into the primary care of patients with dementia throughout the course of the illness. The PEACE program is a disease management model for dementia that incorporates advance planning, patient-centered care, family support, and a palliative care focus from the diagnosis of dementia through its terminal stages. PEACE is coordinated through the primary care geriatrics practice of the University of Chicago. Patients and caregivers are interviewed every 6 m...