cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ureteral catheters for colorectal surgery: Influence on operative times and complication outcomes: An observational study

Purpose Placement of pre-operative ureteral catheters for colorectal surgery can aid in the identification of ureteral injuries. This study investigates whether simultaneous ureteral catheterization with surgery skin preparation can minimize operating room times without increasing post-operative complications. Materials and methods Patients undergoing simultaneous colorectal surgery skin preparation and placement of pre-operative ureteral catheters (n=21) were compared to those who underwent these events sequentially (n=28). Operative time-points of anesthesia ready (AR), surgery procedure start (PS), dorsal lithotomy and catheter insertion (CI) times were compared to assess for differences between groups. Complications were compared between groups. Results There were no differences in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), comorbidities, current procedure terminology (CPT) or International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD-9) codes between groups. Simultaneous catheterization saved 11.82 minutes of operative time between CI to PS (p=0.005, t-test). There was a significant difference in mean time between CI to PS (11.82 minutes, p=0.008) between simultaneous and sequential ureteral catheterization groups in a linear regression multivariate analysis controlling for age, BMI, CPT and ICD-9 codes. There were 4 complications in the simultaneous (19%) and 3 in the sequential group (11%) (p=0.68). Conclusions Ureteral catheterization and colorectal surgery skin preparation in a simultaneous fashion decreases the time between CI and PS without significant increase in complications. Mean time saved with simultaneous ureteral catheterization was 11.82 minutes per case. Simultaneous ureteral catheterization may be an option in colorectal surgery and may result in cost savings without additional complications.
“The Symbol of Our Nation”: The Slouch Hat, the First World War, and Australian Identity

Australian scholars are now familiar with the tropes of the Anzac legend. This narrative describes the realisation of an Australian masculine identity, whose characteristics were forged on the Aust...
Women and Islam in Early Modern English Literature: The imaginary geographies of Mary Wroth's Urania

The imperialist investments in Lady Mary Wroth's prose romance, The Countess of Montgomery's Urania (1621), have been examined primarily in terms of the triangular traffic in slaves linking Africa and the Americas as sites of western European expansion. Yet, as I have emphasized from the beginning of this study, seventeenth-century England was only emerging as a global imperial power, whereas the Ottomans had established a centuries-old empire in Eurasia, the Arabian peninsula, and North Africa. This chapter therefore departs from the customary transatlantic focus by turning to the overlooked struggle between Islamic and Christian powers for the heartland of Europe extending from Vienna to Rome. Although this region traditionally delineated the Holy Roman empire, its status as the bulwark of universal Christendom remained largely imaginary throughout the early modern period, pressured externally by the expanding Ottoman empire and riven internally by the rise of modern nation states. This shift of perspective, which necessarily stresses the Ottoman empire's control over much of Europe (generally dismissed as “eastern” rather than “western”), thus challenges the frequent, and historically unfounded, conflation of the terms “Christian,” “European,” and “imperialist.” The Ottomans were also, though not the only, early modern imperialists. This chapter assesses how Wroth's Urania figures women's agency vis-a-vis these competing empires. As Gerald MacLean argues, the emerging anglocentric discourse of empire was enabled by lessons the English learned from their ties with the Ottomans, forged during the Elizabethan rapprochement of the late sixteenth century (see Chapter 1).
Tax Effects on the Value of Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) and the Decision to Go Public

The incentive stock options (ISOs) are similar to the regular stock call options. However, when one considers various taxing laws regarding the ISO stocks, the ISOs have unique features differentiated from the regular stock call options. In general, no income from ISOs is realized, for tax purposes, either upon the grant or exercise of the ISOs, until the ISO stock is actually sold. This poses an interesting question to executives with ISOs about when the firm should go public. In fact, a significant wealth can accrue to executives with the ISO stocks, when the firm’s stock becomes publicly traded. Therefore, any changes in the tax law may affect the financial value of ISOs and also the firm’s decision to go public. The present paper examines the valuation process of the ISOs and investigates the economic effects of tax law changes on “going public.” The result suggests that the 1986 TRA may have delayed the firm’s decision to go public, while the U.S. Administration’s recent individual income tax hike to finance the government deficit may somewhat encourage the firm’s activity to go public.
A Preliminary Study of Vocal Health Among Collegiate A Cappella Singers.

Abstract Objective Collegiate a cappella groups have grown significantly in popularity and prominence; however, there have been few studies that evaluate the vocal health of this subgroup of young singers. The objective of this preliminary study was to conduct a multiparametric evaluation of the vocal health characteristics of a sample of collegiate a cappella singers. We further tested whether differences in vocal health assessments exist between a cappella singers with and without vocal training and trained collegiate singers who do not participate in a cappella groups. Study design Point prevalence study. Methods Forty-one collegiate singers participated in this study. Participants were divided into the following three groups: trained singers (TS), trained a cappella singers (ATS), and untrained a cappella singers (AUS). Participants were administered a set of surveys to assess self-perception of singing voice health and perceived access and attitudes toward voice-related health care. Acoustic and laryngoscopic assessments of participant's speaking and singing voice was performed and validated vocal health questionnaires administered as a means to objectively evaluate for the presence of voice problems. Results Overall, 87.5% of the ATS and 60% of the AUS groups reported experiencing problems with their singing voice. However, no vocal abnormalities were detected during laryngoscopic and acoustic assessments. Furthermore, minimal differences between any of the measured vocal health parameters were observed between the TS, ATS, and AUS groups. Conclusion Collectively, a high percentage of collegiate a cappella singers with and without vocal training report singing voice problems. However, our sample of a cappella singers did not have increased singing voice problems as compared to vocally trained collegiate singers not in a cappella groups. We did find that a cappella singers may be more inclined to seek information about maintaining a healthy singing voice from their fellow musicians as opposed to singing teachers or other voice health professionals. Singing teachers, otolaryngologists, and speech-language pathologists may need to play a more active role in educating a cappella singers regarding maintaining good vocal health.
Signal Coding and Perfect Reconstruction using Spike Trains.

In many animal sensory pathways, the transformation from external stimuli to spike trains is essentially deterministic. In this context, a new mathematical framework for coding and reconstruction, based on a biologically plausible model of the spiking neuron, is presented. The framework considers encoding of a signal through spike trains generated by an ensemble of neurons via a standard convolve-then-threshold mechanism. Neurons are distinguished by their convolution kernels and threshold values. Reconstruction is posited as a convex optimization minimizing energy. Formal conditions under which perfect reconstruction of the signal from the spike trains is possible are then identified in this setup. Finally, a stochastic gradient descent mechanism is proposed to achieve these conditions. Simulation experiments are presented to demonstrate the strength and efficacy of the framework
A convergent synthesis of poststatin: Application of the acyl cyanophosphorane coupling procedure in the formation of a peptidic α-keto amide

Abstract A convergent synthesis of the pentapeptide poststatin has been developed. The key step involves oxidative cleavage of an acyl cyanophosphorane. The resulting α,β-diketo nitrile is then coupled to the free amine of a C-terminal-dipeptidyl component to generate the protected natural product. Deprotection by hydrogenolysis furnishes poststatin.
Destination institutions, firm heterogeneity and exporter dynamics: empirical evidence from China

In this paper we study the effects of destination institutions and firm productivity on exporter dynamics in a heterogeneous firm setting. The empirical results, using a panel of Chinese firms, show that the quality of destination institutions has a significant and positive effect on the probability of entry and survival and that these effects are increasing in firm productivity. In contrast, firms have higher initial sales and faster growth in destinations with weaker institutions and this effect is decreasing in firm productivity. We also find that exporter performances are increasing in firm experience and in the level of foreign ownership whereas the importance of destination institutions is decreasing in firm experience and in the level of foreign ownership. We show that while firms from regions with better institutions enjoy higher probability of entry, initial sales, survival and growth in markets with better institutions; the importance of productivity for exporter performance diminishes as the quality of local institutions improves. Lastly, firms that are more dependent on contract enforcement perform better in entry probability, initial sales, survival and growth in destinations with better institutions.
Transdermal delivery of potassium chloride with solid microneedles

Abstract Hypokalemia is one of the most common types of electrolyte imbalance. It presents as a serum potassium level of ≤3.5 mEq/L. Potassium is essential for proper nerve and muscle functioning. If left untreated, hypokalemia can lead to arrhythmias, muscle twitching, vomiting and even neuropathies. To prevent or manage these adverse reactions, it is important to develop a drug delivery system that can restore and possibly maintain potassium levels in the body. Currently, there are several potassium supplements, but they are marked by several shortcomings e.g. oral potassium tablets take a longer time to achieve peak plasma concentration and parenteral administration can cause pain, swelling, trypanophobia with the additional risk of hyperkalemia. Knowing these problems, it is crucial to develop a suitable alternative for potassium supplementation. Transdermal drug delivery is a promising approach. The transdermal route has a large surface area which supports drug administration and has the ability to impart sustained-release properties that can help maintain potassium levels. In conjunction with microneedles, drug permeation can be greatly increased. The objective of this research project was to investigate the influence of microneedle rollers on the permeation of potassium chloride across porcine skin. Permeation studies were carried out in vitro using the Franz diffusion apparatus. The transdermal flux of potassium chloride was investigated using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Microchannel characterization was carried out using digital microscopy, brightfield stereomicroscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The mean transdermal flux of potassium chloride obtained via passive diffusion was 0.637 ± 0.02 mg/cm2/h while the mean transdermal flux of potassium chloride obtained via microneedle-enhanced permeation was 6.33 ± 18.70 mg/cm2/h. This increase in transdermal flux was found to be statistically significant with p
Value of risk information in negotiations with evolving preferences

Guidance on negotiation stresses thorough and careful preparation during the pre-negotiation phase leading up to the actual negotiation discussion. One vital aspect of preparation is to evaluate th...
Accounting for urinary dilution in peri-implantation samples: implications for creatinine adjustment and specimen pooling.

This study examines critical issues in accounting for urinary dilution in peri-implantation samples used to assess environmental exposures. Early pregnancy could impact creatinine excretion, which could bias biomarker measurement and interpretation when creatinine adjustment is used. We compared creatinine levels pre-implantation with levels soon after implantation at 3–6 weeks gestation. Using data and urine specimens from 145 women who conceived, we used linear mixed models to estimate the effect of pregnancy on creatinine concentrations. We also studied whether creatinine adjustment is biased when using pooled, within-person samples rather than averaging individually-adjusted results. For this, we grouped 2655 daily urinary estrogen metabolite and associated creatinine measures into 762 mathematically-constructed sample pools, and compared averaged individual measures with pooled measures using weighted kappa coefficients and t-tests. Urinary creatinine concentration declined an average of 14% (95% CI: −19, −11%) from pre- to post-implantation. While there was strong correlation between results based on the two creatinine adjustment methods, adjustment based on pooled specimens introduced a small 3% (95% CI: 2, 4%) underestimation of the analyte compared with averaging individually-adjusted samples. Postimplantation creatinine declines could introduce errors in biomonitoring results when comparing exposure measures from pre- and post-implantation. Though pooled creatinine adjustment underestimated adjusted analyte concentrations, the bias was small and agreement excellent between pooled and averaged individually-adjusted assessments.
Farmer Participation and Institutional Capture in Common-Pool Resource Governance Reforms. The Case of Groundwater Management in California

Farmers are often critically important to the success of common-pool resource governance reforms. Nevertheless, their participation in these off-farm reform processes has received limited research ...
Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction After Posterior Spinal Fusion: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) or Ogilvie's syndrome occurs in 0.22%–7% of patients undergoing surgery, with a mortality of up to 46%. ACPO increased median hospital days versus control in spinal surgery (14 vs. 6 days; P Case Description The patient was a 31-year-old woman with untreated advanced scoliosis with no history of neurologic issues. T2-L3 spinal instrumentation and fusion was completed. Plain abdominal radiography showed of dilated cecum 11 cm and the department of general surgery was consulted. Neostigmine administration was planned after conservative treatment failure after transfer to the intensive care unit. The patient was discharged home with no recurrence >60 days. Thirty cases were found in our literature review using PubMed and Embase databases and summarized. Conclusions Of 30 cases reviewed, only 3 cases of ACPO were specific to patients undergoing spinal fusion for scoliosis. According to the literature, 20% of patients had resolution with conservative treatment, 40% with neostigmine, and 30% with surgical intervention. Other noninvasive treatments may have similar efficacy in preventing complications leading to surgical invention. Sixty clinical trials and 9 systematic reviews were summarized with an updated management algorithm.
Abstract P031: Reduced Augmentation Of The Intrarenal Renin-angiotensin System (ras), Lower Systolic Blood Pressure, And Preserved Renal Function In Female Compared To Male Rats With Unilateral Renal Artery Stenosis

Despite growing evidence of sex differences in the progression of hypertension, there are no guidelines that differentiate treatment between men and women. Intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (RAS)...
MESURES DE LA COMPOSITION DES SURFACES PLANETAIRES PAR SPECTROMETRIE GAMMA ET NEUTRONIQUE -- Etudes préparatoires pour Mars et pour la Lune par simulations numériques --

La spectrometrie gamma et neutronique forme un puissant outil de caracterisation geologique et geochimique des surfaces planetaires. Cette methode permet d'aborder des questions capitales en planetologie: composition de la croute, du manteau; glaces; volcanisme; processus d'alteration... La majorite des neutrons et des photons gamma resultent de l'interaction du rayonnement cosmique avec la matiere. Le premier chapitre presente la physique de ces interactions nucleaires dans les sols planetaires et dans les detecteurs. Nos travaux visent a optimiser les observations en precisant les performances instrumentales, et en isolant les relations entre la composition du sol et les flux de neutrons. Des simulations numeriques utilisant le code GEANT du CERN supportent notre analyse. Le deuxieme chapitre evalue les performances du spectrometre gamma a base de germanium pour MARS SURVEYOR 2001. Le resultat des simulations est confronte aux mesures de calibration; puis les performances sont calculees en configuration de vol. Le bruit de fond pres de Mars est evalue a ~160 c/s. L'instrument offre une bonne sensibilite a: Fe, Mg, K, Si, Th, Cl et O. Il sera possible aussi de mesurer U, Ti, H, C, S, Ca et Al. Les lobes d'emission a la surface sont aussi calcules. Ces mesures permettront une meilleure comprehension de la surface martienne. Le dernier chapitre traite de l'emission des neutrons rapides lunaires [500 keV; 10 MeV]. La forte influence de l'oxygene est mise en evidence. Comme l'a observe LUNAR PROSPECTOR, le flux integre montre une dependance marquee avec la teneur du regolite en fer et en titane, permettant la cartographie. L'influence des autres elements chimiques est quantifiee. Une formule mathematique simple est proposee pour estimer le flux integre de neutrons suivant la composition du sol. Enfin, une etude des effets de l'hydrogene sur le flux de neutrons rapides est menee; nous examinons les possibilites de quantifier son abondance dans le sol par cette methode.
Identification of Hsp90 inhibitors as potential drugs for the treatment of TSC1/TSC2 deficient cancer

Abstract Inactivating mutations in either TSC1 or TSC2 cause Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, an autosomal dominant disorder, characterized by multi-system tumor and hamartoma development. Mutation and loss of function of TSC1 and/or TSC2 also occur in a variety of sporadic cancers, and rapamycin and related drugs show highly variable treatment benefit in patients with such cancers. The TSC1 and TSC2 proteins function in a complex that inhibits mTORC1, a key regulator of cell growth, which acts to enhance anabolic biosynthetic pathways. In this study, we identified and validated five cancer cell lines with TSC1 or TSC2 mutations and performed a kinase inhibitor drug screen with 197 compounds. The five cell lines were sensitive to several mTOR inhibitors, and cell cycle kinase and HSP90 kinase inhibitors. The IC50 for Torin1 and INK128, both mTOR kinase inhibitors, was significantly increased in three TSC2 null cell lines in which TSC2 expression was restored. Rapamycin was significantly more effective than either INK128 or ganetespib (an HSP90 inhibitor) in reducing the growth of TSC2 null SNU-398 cells in a xenograft model. Combination ganetespib-rapamycin showed no significant enhancement of growth suppression over rapamycin. Hence, although HSP90 inhibitors show strong inhibition of TSC1/TSC2 null cell line growth in vitro, ganetespib showed little benefit at standard dosage in vivo. In contrast, rapamycin which showed very modest growth inhibition in vitro was the best agent for in vivo treatment, but did not cause tumor regression, only growth delay.
Acute upper extremity ischemia and symptomatic popliteal artery aneurysm secondary to coronavirus disease 2019

Abstract We report the cases of two patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). One patient had presented with acute right upper extremity ischemia (axillary artery thrombosis) and one patient with a symptomatic popliteal artery aneurysm (7.5 × 7.2 cm). Both patients had tested positive for COVID-19 but had no systemic symptoms. The patients were successfully treated using percutaneous techniques and subsequently discharged with oral anticoagulation therapy. A review of the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2)–related arterial thrombosis and aneurysmal disease was performed and discussed.
Aptamer-Targeted Calcium Phosphosilicate Nanoparticles for Effective Imaging of Pancreatic and Prostate Cancer

Purpose Accurate tumor identification and staging can be difficult. Aptamer-targeted indocyanine green (ICG)-nanoparticles can enhance near-infrared fluorescent imaging of pancreatic and prostate tumors and could improve early cancer detection. This project explored whether calcium-phosphosilicate nanoparticles, also known as NanoJackets (NJs), that were bioconjugated with a tumor-specific targeting DNA aptamer could improve the non-invasive detection of pancreatic and prostate tumors. Methods Using in vivo near-infrared optical imaging and ex vivo fluorescence analysis, DNA aptamer-targeted ICG-loaded NJs were compared to untargeted NJs for detection of tumors. Results Nanoparticles were bioconjugated with the DNA aptamer AP1153, which binds to the CCK-B receptor (CCKBR). Aptamer bioconjugated NJs were not significantly increased in size compared with unconjugated nanoparticles. AP1153-ICG-NJ accumulation in orthotopic pancreatic tumors peaked at 18 h post-injection and the ICG signal was cleared by 36 h with no evidence on uptake by non-tumor tissues. Ex vivo tumor imaging confirmed the aptamer-targeted NJs accumulated to higher levels than untargeted NJs, were not taken up by normal pancreas, exited from the tumor vasculature, and were well-dispersed throughout pancreatic and prostate tumors despite extensive fibrosis. Specificity for AP1153-NJ binding to the CCK-B receptor on pancreatic tumor cells was confirmed by pre-treating tumor-bearing mice with the CCK receptor antagonist proglumide. Proglumide pre-treatment reduced the in vivo tumoral accumulation of AP1153-NJs to levels comparable to that of untargeted NJs. Conclusion Through specific interactions with CCK-B receptors, tumor-targeted nanoparticles containing either ICG or rhodamine WT were well distributed throughout the matrix of both pancreatic and prostate tumors. Tumor-targeted NJs carrying various imaging agents can enhance tumor detection.
Cleavage in the chick embryo

Chick embryos ranging from the stage of first cleavage to that of about 700 cells were removed from the oviduct and examined by transmission electron microscopy. Beneath the cell membrane is a yolk-free cortical region containing microfilaments. Beneath this lies cytoplasm which contains yolk spheres which are graded in size, the dorsal ones being smaller than the ventral ones. The subgerminal periblast possesses a greater proportion of yolk to cytoplasm than do the cells proper, but it merges with the cytoplasm at the incomplete borders of the ‘open’ cells. Specialized accumulations of membranes lie in the marginal periblast, and it is suggested that they play a role in cell membrane formation.
Citizenship Wanted, but Denied: The Racial Prerequisite Cases and Their Role in Institutionalizing Racism Against Asians

This article explores the racial prerequisite cases, which were dubious court decisions that attempted to rationalize pseudo-scientific evidence and common knowledge as reasons for who could and could not be considered for, and who was ultimately denied, U S citizenship These cases are historical antecedents of the current anti-Asian racism that has become even more pronounced as a result of COVID-19 Social studies educators can leverage these court cases to teach about controversial and relevant issues that connect to current immigration and citizenship policies, as well as provide historical context for contemporary discussions about race and racism [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Social Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )
Toxicities of Na2B12H11SH and Na4B24H22S2 in mice.

The sodium salt of the anionic icosahedral borane (B12H11SH2−)1,2 is used clinically in Japan3,4 as a 10B transport agent for boron neutron capture therapy [BNCT] of brain tumors. Although the dimer of that borane has greater affinity to a transplanted murine melanoma and to a transplanted rat glioma than does the parent monomer, the toxicity of the dimer has been cited5 as a factor that might limit its usefulness for BNCT clinically. Thus, it was considered appropriate to assess the relative severity of the toxic effects of the monomer and the dimer in mice.
Computer Modeling of Poly(Acrylic Acid) and its Salts

Poly(acrylic acid), PAA, and its salts were modeled using PCMODEL and MNDO. The results agree with research results. The modeling results are consistent site of cation “attack” is the hydroxylic oxygens. These hydroxylic oxygens radiate away-from the hydrocarbon central core making them particularly accessible for substitution reactions. PAA and salts containing sodium and magnesium atoms approximate helical structures.
Laparoscopic Renal Cyst Decortication

Renal cysts are the most common renal masses and occur in up to 50% of individuals over the age of 50 years (1,2). Although renal cysts may be either congenital or acquired, most are simple, asymptomatic, and of unknown etiology. Intervention is needed when cysts are determined to be complex by radiographic criteria or when they are associated with pain, infection, hemorrhage, or urinary obstruction. Some congenital diseases such as autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), the most common form of renal cystic disease in the United States, are commonly associated with symptomatic cysts (3). Other cystic diseases such as von-Hippel-Lindau (VHL), tuberous sclerosis, multilocular cystic nephroma, and acquired cystic disease have a predisposition toward malignant degeneration. The need for intervention in some cases of symptomatic or suspicious cysts has led to the development of less invasive strategies for renal cyst management (4). This chapter will discuss the role of laparoscopy in evaluation and management of renal cysts.
DIFFERENTIAL CUTICLE ARCHITECTURE AND ITS PRESERVATION IN FOSSIL AND EXTANT CALLINECTES AND SCYLLA CLAWS

Abstract The microstructure of denticles in paired extant and fossil specimens of Callinectes Stimpson, 1860, and Scylla de Haan, 1833, is examined and compared to the cuticle from the remainder of the claw. Denticles of Scylla serrata and Callinectes sapidus are differentiated from the surrounding cuticle by differences in the number of pore canals, tegumental canals, density, microhardness, and phosphorous content. Differentiated denticles can be observed in fossil Scylla and Callinectes on the basis of structure and phosphorus content. Increased hardness of denticle-type cuticle functions to resist abrasion encountered during durophagy and to resist the high forces generated by the denticles as a result of their geometry. Infolds along the lateral margins of the denticles are hypothesized to allow denticles to develop beneath the old cuticle before the molt, and then to emerge and expand after the molt. Future chemical and mineralogical work involving crustaceans should take into account the presence o...
13C‐ and 1H‐nmr studies of cis‐trans conformers of oligoprolines

In aqueous solutions, 13C- and 1H-nmr studies show that the percentage of trans conformation of proline oligomers +H2H Pro-(Pro)n-CO increases substantially from n = 1 (65% trans) to n = 2 (90% trans). The relatively low percentage of trans structure for the dimer (n = 1) very likely is caused by the extra stability acquired by the end-to-end intramolecular H-bonding of the cis dimer. As n increase from 2 to 3 (or 5) in +H2N-Pro-(Pro)n-CO, the percentage of trans conformation stays more or less constant (∼0.9). A high salt concentration (4M CaCl2) causes a conformation randomization, so that the short-chain oligomer (n = 1, 3, 5) and the long-chain poly (L-proline) all show about the same frantion of trans conformation (0.7-0.8).
Conductivity of materials containing insulated cross-ply strips

Abstract The micromechanics of diffusion through a composite with periodic cross-ply thin strips is studied. The 3D problem is solved exactly by using multiple eigenfunction expansions. The macroscopic effective conductivity depends nonlinearly on the size and spacing of the strips. Approximate formulas for some extreme cases are also derived.
Consecutive 1127 therapeutic echocardiographically guided pericardiocenteses: clinical profile, practice patterns, and outcomes spanning 21 years.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate consecutive therapeutic echocardiographically (echo)-guided pericardiocenteses performed at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn, from 1979 to 2000 and to determine whether patient profiles, practice patterns, and outcomes have changed over time. Patients and Methods Consecutive echo-guided pericardiocenteses performed between February 1, 1979, and January 31, 2000, for treatment of clinically significant pericardial effusions were identified in the Mayo Clinic Echocardiographic-guided Pericardiocentesis Registry. The medical records of these patients were examined, and a follow-up survey was conducted. Clinical profiles, echocardiographic findings, procedural details, and outcomes were determined for 3 periods: February 1, 1979, through January 31, 1986; February 1, 1986, through January 31, 1993; and February 1, 1993, through January 31, 2000. Results During the 21-year study period, 1127 therapeutic echo-guided pericardiocenteses were performed in 977 patients. The mean ± SD age at pericardiocentesis increased from 49±14 years in period 1 to 57±14 years in period 3. in recent years, cardiothoracic surgery replaced malignancy as the leading cause of an effusion requiring pericardiocentesis and together with malignancy and perforation from catheter-based procedures accounted for nearly 70% of all pericardiocenteses performed. The procedural success rate was 97% overall, with a total complication rate of 4.7% (major, 1.2%; minor, 3.5%). These rates did not change significantly over time. The use of a pericardial catheter for extended drainage increased from 23% in period 1 to 75% in period 3 (P (P Conclusions The profile of patients presenting with clinically significant pericardial effusion has changed over time. Increasing numbers of older patients and those who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery or catheter-based procedures develop effusions that can be rapidly, safely, and effectively managed with echo-guided pericardiocentesis. Extended drainage with use of a pericardial catheter has become standard practice, and concomitantly, recurrence rates and need for surgical management have decreased considerably.
An effect-size comparison of the Beck, Zung, and Hamilton rating scales for depression: a three-week and twelve-week analysis.

Three widely used measures of depression, the Beck Depression Inventory, Zung Self-rating Depression Scale, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, were used in an analysis of treatment effects over time. Results were not consistent with those of an earlier meta-analysis of Lambert, Hatch, Kingston, and Edwards in 1986. Present findings indicate that the Zung's self-rating is more likely to show early treatment gains while Beck's inventory shows larger gains over a longer time. Scores on the Hamilton Rating fall between the other two. These results indicate that research should be focused on the differences among these scales.
A Randomized Trial of Methadone Initiation Prior to Release from Incarceration

Individuals who use heroin and illicit opioids are at high risk for infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other blood-borne pathogens, as well as incarceration. The purpose of the randomized trial reported here is to compare outcomes between participants who initiated methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) prior to release from incarceration, with those who were referred to treatment at the time of release. Participants who initiated MMT prior to release were significantly more likely to enter treatment postrelease (P < .001) and for participants who did enter treatment, those who received MMT prerelease did so within fewer days (P = .03). They also reported less heroin use (P = .008), other opiate use (P = .09), and injection drug use (P = .06) at 6 months. Initiating MMT in the weeks prior to release from incarceration is a feasible and effective way to improve MMT access postrelease and to decrease relapse to opioid use.
The regulations of glycolate metabolism in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Abstract When Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was grown on air supplemented with 1% CO2, the cells excreted glycolate during photosynthesis. When grown on air (0.03% CO2), the cells would not excrete glycolate. Isonicotinyl hydrazide, an inhibitor of the glycolate pathway, when added to air-grown cells, forced excretion of glycolate. This result suggests that air-grown cells were synthesizing glycolate even though they did not excrete it. After cells that had been grown on 1% CO2 were grown on air, an enzyme, glycolate: 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol oxidoreductase, increased in activity with concomitant loss of the ability to excrete glycolate. This reductase, unlike glycolate oxidase (glycolate: O2 oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.3.1) of higher plants, did not link to O2. Formation of the reductase, during adaptation to the low levels of CO2 in air, was inhibited by cycloheximide. No difference in the level of phosphogylcolate phosphatase (phosphoglycolate phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.18) was observed between cells grown on air or 1% CO2. It is proposed that glycolate metabolism and excretion is regulated in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by the availability of CO2 during growth. When CO2 is available in excess, the level of glycolate: 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol oxidoreductase is repressed; removal of excess CO2 by transfer of the cells to air derepresses the level of this enzyme.
Ethnicity, age, and trends in alcohol-related driver fatalities in the United States.

Objective: To evaluate the 8-year ethnic-specific declining trend in the proportion of alcohol-impaired driver deaths in the United States. Methods: We used the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), which is a census of all fatal motor vehicle collisions occurring in public properties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico since 1975. For this study we only focused on driver fatalities. Data on ethnicity were not included in the FARS database until 1999, limiting the analysis to the years 1999–2006. Results: The proportion of alcohol-impaired driver deaths was higher among males compared to females, with Hispanics constituting the highest proportion in all age groups. During the past 8 years, only the decline in the proportion of alcohol-impaired driver deaths among male Hispanics 16–20 years old and male Whites 21–64 years old were significant. We were not able to identify any significant declining trend in the corresponding proportions among other age groups, or among female dr...
Prevalence of and risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization and infection among infants at a level III neonatal intensive care unit.

Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a well-known nosocomial pathogen of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients and can cause both serious infections in preterm neonates and prolonged MRSA outbreaks in NICUs. Objectives Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of and identify risk factors for MRSA colonization and infection in the NICU and the impact of an active surveillance program on MRSA in the NICU. Methods We collected weekly nasal MRSA surveillance cultures on 2,048 infants admitted to NICU over 3 years. Data on these infants were collected retrospectively. Characteristics of MRSA colonized and infected infants were analyzed and compared. Results MRSA colonization was detected in 6.74% of infants, and MRSA infection occurred in 22% of those colonized. Using clinical cultures alone, only 41 (27.5%) of 149 MRSA affected infants were identified. The majority (75%) developed MRSA infection within 17 days of colonization. For every 10-day increment in NICU stay, the odds ratio of being infected and colonized with MRSA increased by 1.32 and 1.29, respectively. Colonization was significantly associated with longer NICU stay, low birth weight, low gestational age, and multiple gestation status. Conclusion Colonization is a risk factor for infection with MRSA in NICUs. Clinical cultures underestimate MRSA affected infants in NICUs, whereas active surveillance cultures could detect MRSA affected infants earlier and limit nosocomial spread.
Molecular Mechanisms of Environmental Enrichment: Impairments in Akt/GSK3β, Neurotrophin-3 and CREB Signaling

Experience of mice in a complex environment enhances neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of wild type and transgenic mice harboring familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD)-linked APPswe/PS1ΔE9. In FAD mice, this experience also reduces levels of tau hyperphosphorylation and oligomeric β-amyloid. Although environmental enrichment has significant effects on brain plasticity and neuropathology, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are unknown. Here we show that environmental enrichment upregulates the Akt pathway, leading to the downregulation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), in wild type but not FAD mice. Several neurotrophic signaling pathways are activated in the hippocampus of both wild type and FAD mice, including brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF), and this increase is accompanied by the upregulation of the BDNF receptor, tyrosine kinase B (TrkB). Interestingly, neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is upregulated in the brains of wild type mice but not FAD mice, while insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is upregulated exclusively in the brains of FAD mice. Upregulation of neurotrophins is accompanied by the increase of N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors in the hippocampus following environmental enrichment. Most importantly, we observed a significant increase in levels of cAMP response element- binding (CREB) transcripts in the hippocampus of wild type and FAD mice following environmental enrichment. However, CREB phosphorylation, a critical step for the initiation of learning and memory-required gene transcription, takes place in the hippocampus of wild type but not of FAD mice. These results suggest that experience of wild type mice in a complex environmental upregulates critical signaling that play a major role in learning and memory in the hippocampus. However, in FAD mice, some of these pathways are impaired and cannot be rescued by environmental enrichment.
A Dual-Doppler Radar Study of an OK PRE-STORM Heat Burst Event

Abstract Doppler and conventional radar, surface mesonetwork, and sounding data are used to investigate heat bursts that accompanied a mesoscale convective system (MCS) that traversed the OK PRE-STORM (Oklahoma–Kansas Preliminary Regional Experiment for STORM-Central) mesonetwork on 23–24 June 1985. The MCS formed along a dryline in western Kansas. As the system matured, an area of stratiform precipitation developed behind a line of convective towers that moved toward the southeast. Southwesterly flow at upper levels caused the stratiform precipitation to extend northeastward, allowing it to become isolated from the convective line. A broad surface mesohigh was observed beneath the core of the stratiform region. This feature was flanked by sharp pressure gradients and mesoscale low pressure areas to the northwest, north, and northeast. It was within these mesolows that the heat bursts occurred. Time series of surface mesonetwork data show that heat bursts were characterized by sudden dramatic rises in tem...
Barrier to migration of the silicon self-interstitial

The first total-energy calculations of barriers to interstitial migration have been used to study silicon self-interstitial migration. Migration occurs through the low-electron-density path. Relaxation was found to be important in determining the barrier for both ${\mathrm{Si}}^{(0)}$ and ${\mathrm{Si}}^{(++)}$. Electron-assisted migration has been demonstrated. ${\mathrm{Si}}^{(++)}$ was found to have lower energy at the tetrahedral site while ${\mathrm{Si}}^{(0)}$ has lower energy at the hexagonal site.
Fundamental vibration frequencies of the main isotopic PO43− ions in aqueous solutions

Abstract The Raman and i.r. absorption spectra of aqueous solutions of normal and 89 atom per cent potassium phosphate, respectively, were compared. The labeled phosphate solution showed the in-phase PO stretching fundamentalsof the P 18 O 4 3− and P 16 O 18 O 3 3− ions at 947±2 and 1035±cm − , respectively, as compared with the 937±2 cm − frequency observed for the corresponding P P 16 O 4 3− vibration. The out-of-phase PO stretching band of the aqueous P 18 O 4 3− ion appears also at a higher frequency (∼ 1050 cm −1 ) than the corresponding P 16 O 4 3− band ( ca. 1012 cm −1 ). The observed increase in the PO stretching frequencies of the 18 O-labeled ions seems to be the result of an appreciable decrease in the hydrogen bonding of the PO 4 3− ions to the aqueous solvent molecules in the case of the 18 O-species.
Stabilization of Co (III) in aluminophosphate molecular sieve frameworks

Abstract Electronic absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance (e.p.r.), and infrared spectroscopic measurements have provided definitive evidence for the stabilization of Co(III) in framework positions of calcined, cobalt-substituted aluminophosphate molecular sieves. Calcining of the templated form of Co(II)APO-34, Co(II)APSO-34, and Co(II)APO-5 leads to significantly reduced intensity of the Co(II)-associated d-d electronic transitions and e.p.r. signal strength. Reduction of the Co(III) to Co(II) with H2 produces new protonated sites in the molecular sieve framework structure, whereas reduction with NO leads to the appearance of bands due to NO+ and coordinated NO in the infrared spectrum of the molecular sieve. The redox character of these cobalt-substituted aluminophosphates suggests that potential may exist for incorporation of an oxidative coupling step into the shape-selective catalysis properties exhibited by cobalt-substituted AlPO4's.
CELL MEDIATED IMMUNE RESPONSE TO LIVER SPECIFIC ANTIGENS FOLLOWING HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN MAN

CELL MEDIATED IMMUNE RESPONSE TO LIVER SPECIFIC ANTIGENS FOLLOWING HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN MAN
Holographic Behavior in Ultrashort Pulse-pair 2d-Velocimetry

Two-dimensional velocity interferograms of shocked silicon surface illuminated by a pair of 3ps pulses separated by 260 ps can be treated as holograms to numerically refocus narrow cracks otherwise blurred in ordinary image.
Recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) increased the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and decreased the incidence of infections in persistent preeclampsia-associated-neutropenia in VLBW neonates • 937

Recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) increased the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and decreased the incidence of infections in persistent preeclampsia-associated-neutropenia in VLBW neonates • 937
Mechanical model of an earthquake fault

The dynamic behavior of a simple mechanical model of an earthquake fault is studied. This model, introduced originally by Burridge and Knopoff (1967), consists of an elastically coupled chain of masses in contact with a moving rough surface. The present version of the model retains the full Newtonian dynamics with inertial effects and contains no externally imposed stochasticity or spatial inhomogeneity. The only nonlinear feature is a velocity-weakening stick-slip friction force between the masses and the moving surface. This system is being driven persistently toward a slipping instability and therefore exhibits noisy sequences of earthquakelike events. These events are observed in numerical simulations, and many of their features can be predicted analytically.
Current status of non-digitalis positive inotropic drugs

Abstract Considerable effort and resources have been directed at the development and study of positive inotropic drugs over the past 10–15 years. Much has been learned about the physiology and pharmacology of myocardial contraction, the application of agents to augment contractility, and, importantly, the general and specific limitations of positive inotropic therapy. Studies on acute inotropic intervention have now shown that a drug's ability to augment overall cardiac performance is heavily dependent on its effects on vasculature, vascular control, and ventricular-vascular coupling. The clinical research on new agents has served to remind us how difficult it is to formulate the “ideal” positive inotropic or cardiovascular support drug for the critical care setting. The vast effort to develop a chronically and orally administrate drug to replace or even supplement digitalis has generally been disappointing. The dopaminergic agents (e.g., ibopamine, levodopa) act primarily via vasodilation and their effectiveness and role in managing heart failure remain unresolved. The initial excitement about the phosphodiesterase III inhibitors (e.g., amrinone, milrinone, enoximone) has been tempered by the results of large well-designed trials indicating variable effectiveness and a prominent adverse effect profile. During long-term oral administration none of these agents has been shown to improve clinical status or exercise capacity beyond that achieved by digoxin, when administered either separately or in combination with digoxin. The Prospective Randomized Milrinone Survival Evaluation (PROMISE) trial, showing that repeated oral administration of milrinone can increase mortality in heart failure, is having a devastating effect on the further development of this class of drugs. Investigation is proceeding at basic levels to unravel the intricate mechanisms of myocardial contraction and we are beginning to see the results of this research. Agents have been developed to “sensitize” the contractile apparatus to calcium and to act in very precise locations. We are hopeful that some of these agents will have a favorable benefit to adverse effect ratio and earn a position in the clinical therapeutics of heart failure.
A new kinetic diagnostic for enzymatic mechanisms using alternative substrates.

Abstract When the concentration of substrate A is varied against fixed and saturating concentrations of alternative substrates B, B′, B″, etc., and B is similarly varied against alternatives of A, unique pairs of kinetic patterns are generated for each of the major classes of kinetic mechanism for enzymatic catalysis involving two substrates. Thus, a determination of mechanism may be obtained from just two kinetic patterns. The diagnostic has the following advantages over previous usages of alternative substrates and the traditional approach using initial velocity patterns: efficiency (fewer assays are needed), accuracy (large changes in slopes and intercepts are possible), and precision of assays (one substrate is always saturating).