cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Internal thoracic artery for coronary artery grafting in octogenarians

Background. Use of the left internal thoracic artery as a bypass graft has been shown to result in better long-term patency and improved survival. In elderly patients, the internal thoracic artery has been used less often for coronary artery bypass grafts because of the belief that greater morbidity and mortality are associated with this procedure. This study was undertaken to test this premise in the octogenarian population. Methods. Over an 8-year period, 474 consecutive patients 80 years of age and greater had coronary artery bypass grafting. The left internal thoracic artery was used in 188 patients (39.7%) (group 1) and saphenous vein grafts only (group 2), in 286 (60.3%). The mean age was 82.6 years (range, 80 to 95 years). There were 312 men (65.8%) and 162 women (34.2%). Results. Use of the internal thoracic artery as a graft has risen steadily each year, as has the number of patients who are octogenarians. The hospital mortality rate was 7.8%. Patients in group 1 had a mortality rate of 9.0% and patients in group 2, a mortality rate of 7.0%. The mortality rate among survivors at 1 year was 6.7%. Long-term survival was significantly greater in group 1. Conclusions. On the basis of this study, we conclude that the internal thoracic artery is the bypass graft of choice, especially in regard to long-term mortality, and should not be denied to this high-risk group.
Robust feedback control of combustion instability with modeling uncertainty

This paper presents the design of a robust feedback controller for suppressing combustion instabilities in propulsion systems with distributed actuators. The control synthesis procedure is based on the H∞-optimization, which guarantees robust stability and performance within specified uncertainty bounds by taking into account the effects of unmodeled dynamics, sensor noise, and parametric errors. It makes use of an observer structure for robust estimation of combustion dynamics, and an H∞ loop-shaping for performance requirements. Results of simulation experiments are presented to show how longitudinal pressure oscillations can be suppressed in a generic combustion chamber. The closed-loop control system exhibits robust stability and performance in the presence of exogenous disturbances and parametric errors.
Ambient pressure ionization detectors for gas chromatography Part I: flame and photoionization detectors

Abstract Ambient pressure ionization detectors provide an accurate, reliable means to detect and quantify compounds separated by gas chromatography (GC). This review provides the non-GC specialist with an introduction to the principles and operation of flame and photon ionization detectors and their applications in trace organic analysis.
Gracilacus Capit Atus N. Sp. From Scarlet Oak in West Virginia 1)

A new nematode, Gracilacus capitatus n. sp., from soil and roots of dead and dying scarlet oak, (Quercus coccinea Muench) is described. It is placed in the genus Gracilacus, Raski 1962, because of the long stylet, the fine cuticular annulation, the paratylenchoid esophagus, and the long well-developed stylet in the larvae. This nematode differs from all described members of the Paratylenchinae by the flattened lip region sharply offset from the body contour in the larvae and females.
Family Privacy Orientation, Relational Maintenance, and Family Satisfaction in Young Adults' Family Relationships

In this study, 264 college students reported on their family's orientation toward privacy rules, their own maintenance behaviors with family members, and their satisfaction with their family. Results indicated that relational maintenance behaviors mediate the relationship between family privacy orientation and family satisfaction. Interior family privacy orientation was positively related to both relational maintenance and family satisfaction. Within the mediated model, positivity and network maintenance were also positive predictors of family satisfaction. Privacy orientation and maintenance variables accounted for 48% of the variance in family satisfaction.
Survey Instrument Performance and Reliability of Measurements

Abstract The reliability of measurements made by any instrument depend on susceptibility to interference from environmental conditions and to degradation of performance with age or through damage. A consensus standard was developed to delineate acceptable performance of radiation survey instruments over a wide range of conditions. To assure that the standard was reasonable, tests were performed on a large variety of portable radiation survey instruments and air monitors over the ranges dictated in the standard. Results showed that instruments can be designed to perform reliable measurements; however, not every instrument can be expected to meet requirements for reliable measurements over the full range of conditions. The performance observed with radiation survey instruments is briefly described, and the implications of such testing for the reliability of measurements with other types of health-protection instruments are noted.
Evaporative mass losses from particle samples

On montre que la pression de vapeur de certains composes utilises dans la generation d'aerosols peut etre assez elevee pour entrainer une forte diminution de la masse des particules collectees. Cas d'anthracene, carbonate de lithium, etc.
Vortices Formed on the Mitral Valve Tips Aid Normal Left Ventricular Filling

For the left ventricle (LV) to function as an effective pump it must be able to fill from a low left atrial pressure. However, this ability is lost in patients with heart failure. We investigated LV filling by measuring the cardiac blood flow using 2D phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging and quantified the intraventricular pressure gradients and the strength and location of vortices. In normal subjects, blood flows towards the apex prior to the mitral valve opening, and the mitral annulus moves rapidly away after the valve opens, with both effects enhancing the vortex ring at the mitral valve tips. Instead of being a passive by-product of the process as was previously believed, this ring facilitates filling by reducing convective losses and enhancing the function of the LV as a suction pump. The virtual channel thus created by the vortices may help insure efficient mass transfer for the left atrium to the LV apex. Impairment of this mechanism contributes to diastolic dysfunction, with LV filling becoming dependent on left atrial pressure, which can lead to eventual heart failure. Better understanding of the mechanics of this progression may lead to more accurate diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
The evolution of new agents for ovulation induction.

Abstract The field of clinical ovulation-induction therapy has remained relatively static for over 30 years. This field promises to benefit from advances in our understanding of the biology of ovulation, and from exciting new work in the areas of molecular and cellular biology and in the biochemistry of steroids, gonadotropins, and their receptors. New therapies with recombinant gonadotropins and their analogues show promise for the near future. Advances in our ability to stimulate and suppress the reproductive axis through central mechanisms also show some promise. In the long term, our understanding of the mechanisms involved in folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation may be combined with an enhanced ability to dissect these processes that lead to disordered ovulation. Our improved understanding of the implantation process may well lead to an ability to create nearly universal nidation in women who are undergoing ART or who have implantation disorders. This article discusses some of the many new opportunities in the clinical and basic science of ovulation induction. New technologies, such as those available through the Human Genome Project, and the use of genetic manipulation of animal models will stimulate additional new avenues of research.
Complement fixation reactions between adenovirus antigens and sera from infectious hepatitis cases.

SummaryComplement fixation tests were performed on paired sera from infectious hepatitis cases and on single sera from persons not clinically ill with hepatitis. Antigens for the tests were prepare...
Innate and adaptive immune responses to dead and dying cells

Under steady state conditions, billions of dead and dying cells are removed by extrusion from epithelial surfaces as well as by phagocytosis. Cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells have specialized receptors that directly recognize altered protein or lipids on apoptotic cells or opsonins that bind to the dying cell. Once engulfed, phagosomes containing apoptotic cells are rapidly acidified and the contents degraded by proteases and nucleases in lysozymes. During necrosis, cellular material is released prior to engulfment and extracellular nucleases as well as intracellular sensors dictate the inflammatory potential of the cellular debris. The outcome may be release of TNF-a, IL-1-b or interferon (IFN)-a depending upon the type of phagocyte, molecular nature of the cellular particle and the intracellular sensor engaged. In addition to responses by cells of the innate immune system, we have recently defined a link between processing of apoptotic cells and their debris to T cell activation [1]. MFG-E8 is an opsonin (bridging protein) that binds to phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cells and facilitates their removal through interaction with integrins on phagocytes. Mice deficient in MFG-E8 develop lupus like autoimmunity associated with accumulation of apoptotic cells in vivo. We observed that older MFG-8-/- mice spontaneously developed a dermatitis associated with CD8 T cell infiltration and striking activation of effector memory CD8 T cells. T cell responses to both exogenous and endogenous apoptotic cell associated antigens were enhanced in MFG-E8 deficient mice and transfer of ovalbumin (OVA) reactive OT-I CD8 T cells caused accelerated diabetes in MFG-E8-/- RIP-mOVA mice and skin disease in kmOVA transgenic mice. The enhanced CD8 T cell response was attributed to increased cross-presentation by dendritic cells (DCs) associated with increased detection of antigen peptide MHCI complexes. Investigation of intracellular trafficking revealed that, whereas intact apoptotic cells ingested by wild type DC rapidly fused with lysosomes, in the absence of MFG-E8, smaller apoptotic cell fragments persisted in endosomal compartments and failed to fuse with lysosomes. These observations suggest that in addition to altering the rate of clearance of apoptotic cells, MFG-E8 deficiency promotes immune responses to self antigens by altered intracellular processing leading to enhanced antigen presentation. Thus, handling of dead and dying cells impacts both innate and adaptive immune responses to self antigens.
Formation of uniform colloidal mixed cobalt—nickel ferrite particles

Abstract Spherical and cubic CoNi-ferrite particles of reasonably narrow size distribution were synthesized by aging at 90°C for different periods of time coprecipitated ferrous, nickel, and cobalt hydroxide gels in the presence of the nitrate ion. The morphology, size, and stoichiometry of the so prepared oxides were found to be strongly dependent on the initial composition of the systems. The formation of mixed CoNi-ferrites by incorporation of Co 2+ into nickel ferrite crystallizing from a coprecipitated ferrous and nickel hydroxide gel at 90°C in the presence of KNO ? was also studied. The experimental evidence presented in this work suggests possible mechanisms by which the formation of mixed ferrites as corrosion products in water-cooled nuclear reactor plants may occur.
Pregnancies following use of metformin for ovulation induction in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective To assess pregnancy outcome in anovulatory infertility patients diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who were treated with metformin. Design Case series. Setting Outpatient. Patient(s) Anovulatory patients (n = 48) with a diagnosis of PCOS based on clinical, diagnostic, and laboratory evaluations were enrolled in the study over a 15-month period. Intervention(s) Metformin was started at 500 mg b.i.d. for 6 weeks and then increased to 500 mg t.i.d. if no ovulation occurred. Clomiphene citrate (CC; 50 mg) was added if no ovulatory response occurred after 6 weeks. Main outcome measure(s) Resumption of menses, presumptive ovulation, and pregnancy. Result(s) Nineteen of 48 (40%) patients resumed spontaneous menses following treatment and showed presumptive evidence of ovulation with metformin alone; 15/48 (31%) required CC (50 mg) in conjunction with metformin therapy, and 10 of these 15 (67%) had evidence of ovulation; 20/48 (42%) conceived with a median time to conception of 3 months, and 7 of these 20 (35%) had spontaneous abortions (SAB); 19/48 (40%) had gastrointestinal-related side effects, and 5 of 48 patients (10%) had to decrease the dosage of metformin. Only 1 patient discontinued therapy. Conclusion(s) Metformin alone in patients with PCOS results in a substantial number of pregnancies, with 69% (20/29) of those who ovulated conceiving in less than 6 months.
Summer Food Habits of the Black Sculpin, Cottus baileyi, in the Upper South Fork Holston River Drainage

Abstract A summer food habit study was conducted on 300 specimens of the black sculpin, Cottus baileyi Robins, collected from the upper South Fork Holston River and four tributaries in southwestern Virginia from July to October 1966. Frequency of occurrence, average number, and percent of total were determined for all organisms occurring in the stomachs. Analysis of stomach contents revealed a diet consisting almost exclusively of immature aquatic insects encompassing a wide range of morphological and behavioral differences. Cottus baileyi fed throughout the daylight hours taking whatever was available. Forage ratios ranging from 0.1 to 10.3 were determined for a selected group of insects that represented a wide diversity of habits. Baetis, Pseudocloeon, Antocha, and chironomids had forage ratios greater than 1.0. Baetids and chironomids were the most important food items in the diets of all sizes of fish. Habits of insects largely determined the extent they were preyed upon by C. baileyi.
Olanzapine and risperidone effects on appetite and ghrelin in chronic schizophrenic patients

Olanzapine and other second generation antipsychotics have been associated with weight gain, which may be related to changes in appetite and food intake. However, it is unclear whether changes in appetite in response to treatment with second generation antipsychotics are persistent in patients treated chronically with these medications and the extent to which changes in appetite are related to any continuing weight gain associated with long-term treatment with these drugs. In a randomized 5-month study of the effects of olanzapine and risperidone on metabolic changes in chronic schizophrenic patients, we assessed appetite changes using two scales and correlated appetite changes with weight gain and metabolic changes. There is evidence that the hormone ghrelin is related to appetite stimulation and falls during satiation after meals, and therefore, may be a physiological concomitant indicating appetite changes. We therefore, also measured ghrelin before and after a fatty meal at baseline and after 2 months of drug treatment. Neither olanzapine nor risperidone increased appetite during the 5 months of study drug treatment, and there was a trend for a decrease in appetite over time. Weight only increased slightly during treatment and changes in appetite scores were not correlated with changes in weight or changes in glucose or lipids. Fasting ghrelin did not increase in olanzapine- or risperidone-treated patients, and there were no significant changes in ghrelin responses to a fatty meal between baseline and 2 months of drug treatment, and no differences in response in olanzapine- vs. risperidone-treated patients. Our findings suggest that in chronic schizophrenic patients treated with multiple antipsychotics in the past, olanzapine or risperidone do not induce increases in appetite and appetite changes are not related to any further small drug-induced weight gain in these chronically treated patients. However, it is possible that different relationships may exist between appetite and weight changes induced by the medications in drug naive patients newly started on olanzapine or risperidone.
Hydrogen from methane in a single-step process

Addition of a calcium-based CO2 acceptor to commercial steam methane reforming catalyst permits the production of 95+% H2 in a single-step process. The combined reforming, shift, and CO2 separation reactions have been studied using a laboratory-scale fixed-bed reactor as a function of temperature, steam-to-methane ratio, acceptor-to-catalyst ratio, feed gas flow rate, and methane content of the feed gas. The combined reactions were sufficiently rapid above 550°C that equilibrium was closely approached at all reaction conditions studied. The H2 content of the product gas was relatively independent of temperature with the primary impurity at lower temperatures being CH4. Higher temperatures resulted in increased CH4 conversion but decreased carbon oxide removal leaving CO and CO2 as the primary impurities. Potential advantages of the single-step process, in addition to reducing the number of processing steps, include improved energy efficiency, elimination of the need for shift catalysts, and reduction in the temperature of the primary reactor by 150–200°C. Key unanswered problems involving the single-step process include continuous separation of catalyst and acceptor and the durability of the acceptor for multiple cycle operation.
Fairness, Resources, and Separation

Fair interleaving plays a fundamental role in denotational semantic models for shared-memory parallel programs, beginning with Park's trace semantics, based on a fairmerge relation designed so that (@a,@b,@c)@?fairmerge if and only if @c can be obtained by interleaving @a and @b. Park's formulation of fairmerge used nested greatest and least fixed points of monotone functions over traces, but he remarked that fixed point induction principles seem unsuitable for proving natural algebraic properties such as associativity. Such properties are needed to validate intuitive laws of program equivalence and to support hierarchical analysis of programs. Recent models and logics for shared-memory programs with mutable state and pointers build on and extend Park's foundations, with emphasis on resources and logical rules that embody separation principles. For example, concurrent separation logic is based on a race-detecting, resource-sensitive variant of fairmerge. For the kinds of interleaving employed in these models, and other more sophisticated variants of fairmerge, the algebraic difficulties are exacerbated. Rather than search for ad hoc techniques, we develop here a general framework for defining k-ary fairmerge operators, parameterized first by a choice of a resource model and then refined by a choice of a conflict or interference relation. Our formulation avoids nested fixed points, and supports inductive reasoning based on the length of finite prefixes of a trace. We prove a generalized associativity property, and obtain associativity proofs for prior models as a by-product.
Electrogenerated chemiluminescence. XVI. ECL of palladium and platinum α,β,γ,δ-tetraphenylporphyrin complexes

The electrochemistry of the Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes with α,β,γ,δ-tetraphenylporphin (TPP) in dichloromethane solutions containing 0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate is characterized by one-electron transfers to form both oxidized and reduced species. The electron transfer reactions between these electrogenerated species lead to the emission of light. The radiating species has been identified as the lowest triplet state of the Pt(TPP) or Pd(TPP) by comparison with results of previous spectroscopic studies.
The changing face of childhood nephrotic syndrome

A 7-year-old Mexican girl with a 2-year history of intermittent periorbital edema was seen several times by her local physician in Tennessee for this complaint but never received a diagnosis. While visiting Mexico with her parents, she was diagnosed with the nephrotic syndrome. Urinalysis at presentation revealed 2+ protein and 3+ blood, with 4 to 16 white blood cells and 8 to 10 red blood cells/high-power field but no casts in the urinary sediment. Total protein was 4.6 g/dL; albumin, 1.6 g/ dL; cholesterol, 471 mg/dL; blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 25 mg/dL; and serum creatinine, 0.5 mg/dL. She was given prednisone, 40 mg daily (50 mg/m2/day); after 1 month the dose was tapered to 20 mg daily. She also received methotrexate, 25 mg three times per week; spironolactone, 12.5 mg daily; simvastatin, 20 mg daily; and a multivitamin. The child’s past medical history was essentially unremarkable, with no prior illnesses or hospitalizations. A review of systems was positive only for muscle cramps in her legs. The girl’s 40-year-old mother has lupus nephritis
Functional anatomy of the lateral collateral ligament complex of the elbow: morphology and strain.

The anatomy of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL) of the elbow was investigated in 26 fresh frozen cadavers. Two types of insertion of the LUCL were originally described but we found another type which is characterized by a broad single expansion along with a thin membranous fibre. Strain on the LUCL was measured in situ during extension and flexion with the forearm in supination, pronation and neutral. Strain in the proximal fibres started to occur at around 32° flexion and peaked at between 50° and 60° flexion. Strains measured in the distal fibres were smaller in magnitude. Forearm rotation had little effect on strain during extension to flexion. Based on these results, we conclude that the LUCL functions in unison with the annular ligament.
Editorial: Ethical Practices

This PDF file contains the editorial “Editorial: Ethical Practices” for OE Vol. 31 Issue 12
THE ROPER CENTER: AN INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVE OF SAMPLE SURVEY DATA

When President Herbert Hoover's Committee on Recent Social Changes made its comprehensive survey of life in the United States a third of a century ago, it found very little that we would recognize today as a modern sample survey of social attitudes and human behavior. Since then a wide variety of economic and social surveys have been conducted by sampling methods, and the public opinion polls have been developed as a means of exploring the information, attitudes, and opinion of large populations. One of the problems the researcher faces today is not the scarcity of such studies but rather the problem of finding out where they are and what results they produced that could be utilized further in secondary analyses. A great center of information about opinion polls and similar surveys has been established at Williams College and developed into an important repository of data and associated information. Here is a report by the Director of the Roper Center that he presented at the Annual Conference of the American Association for Public Opinion Research at Lake George, New York, in May of 1963. Philip K. Hastings is Professor of Psychology and Political Science and Director of the Roper Public Opinion Research Center at Williams College.
The neuro-evolutionary cusp between emotions and cognitions : Implications for understanding consciousness and the emergence of a unified mind science

The neurobiological systems that mediate the basic emotions are beginning to be understood. They appear to be constituted of genetically coded, but experientially refined executive circuits situated in subcortical areas of the brain which can coordinate the behavioral, physiological and psychological processes that need to be recruited to cope with a variety of primal survival needs (i.e., they signal evolutionary fitness issues). These birthrights allow newborn organisms to begin navigating the complexities of the world and to learn about the values and contingencies of the environment. Some of these systems have been identified and characterized using modern neuroscientific and psychobiological tools. The fundamental emotional systems can now be defined by the functional psychobiological characteristics of the underlying circuitries — characteristics which help coordinate behavioral, physiological and psychological aspects of emotionality, including the valenced affective feeling states that provide fundamental values for the guidance of behavior. The various emotional circuits are coordinated by different neuropeptides, and the arousal of each system may generate distinct affective/neurodynamic states and imbalances may lead to various psychiatric disorders. The aim of this essay is to discuss the underlying conceptual issues that must be addressed for additional progress in understanding the nature of primary process affective consciousness.
Cell signaling pathways for the regulation of GATA4 transcription factor: Implications for cell growth and apoptosis

GATA4 is a member of the GATA family of zinc finger transcription factor, which regulates gene transcription by binding to GATA elements. GATA4 was originally discovered as a regulator of cardiac development and subsequently identified as a major regulator of adult cardiac hypertrophy. GATA4 regulates gene expression of various genes, which are involved in cardiac development and cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. In addition to the heart, GATA4 plays important roles in the reproductive system, gastrointestinal system, respiratory system and cancer. Positive and negative regulations of GATA4 therefore are important components of biologic functions. The activation of GATA4 occurs via various cell signaling events. Earlier studies have identified protein-protein interactions of GATA4 with other factors. The discovery of interactions of GATA4 with nuclear factor for activated T cells (NFAT) revealed the importance of calcium signaling in the activation of GATA4. GATA4 can also be phosphorylated by mitogen activated protein kinases and protein kinase A. Lysine modifications also occur on the GATA4 molecule including acetylation and sumoylation. Both reactive oxygen-dependent and -independent antioxidant-sensitive pathways for GATA4 activation have also been demonstrated. The GATA4 activity is also regulated by modulating the level of GATA4 expression via transcriptional as well as translational mechanisms. This work summarizes the current understanding of regulatory mechanisms for modulating GATA4 activity.
Effective High School Teachers: A Mixed Investigation.

Abstract The researchers conducted a sequential qualitative–quantitative mixed analysis of the characteristics of effective high school teachers as perceived by 615 college students, predominantly Hispanic, at two Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Qualitative analyses revealed the presence of 24 themes: Caring; Communication; Creative; Disciplinarian; Fairness; Flexible; Friendly; Fun; Knowledgeable; Listening; Manages Classroom; Uses Different Modalities; Involving; Motivating; Organized; Passion for Teaching; Patience; Builds Relationships; Shows others respect; Challenges; Service; Teaches Well; Good Personality; and Understanding. These themes were quantitized and statistically analyzed to determine whether differences were present as a function of gender, ethnicity, student status, and generational status. All possible subtests discriminant analyses revealed statistically significant differences in dominant themes in these areas. In addition to providing a model of mixed analysis, implications are discussed.
Interactions and Relationships in Long Term Care: Photography and Narratives by Direct Care Workers

The challenge of hiring and retaining well-trained caregivers for the growing numbers of elders in need of care is a global concern. This study was designed to understand the views of direct care workers and included 15 nurse aides and med techs working in an assisted living and special care assisted living community for people with dementia. Each participant was provided with a digital camera and asked to take photographs “to show what caregiving means to you.” Analysis is based on group discussions about the full set of photographs created by the direct care workers and individual written and oral narratives about four photographs chosen by each participant. The categories generated from these data represent the direct care workers’ perceptions of the approaches to quality caregiving and the relationships involved in doing their jobs well. By focusing on the essential relationships and interactions, rather than primarily on the required care, we can begin to imagine the caregiving experience in terms of a communal rather than an institutional experience. We can then productively turn our focus to the people involved rather than emphasize their roles as providers or recipients of care.
Simultaneous Discovery and Testing of Deletions for Disease Association in SNP Genotyping Studies

Copy-number variation (CNV), and deletions in particular, can play a crucial, causative role in rare disorders. The extent to which CNV contributes to common, complex disease etiology, however, is largely unknown. Current techniques to detect CNV are relatively expensive and time consuming, making it difficult to conduct the necessary large-scale genetic studies. SNP genotyping technologies, on the other hand, are relatively cheap, thereby facilitating large study designs. We have developed a computational tool capable of harnessing the information in SNP genotype data to detect deletions. Our approach not only detects deletions with high power but also returns accurate estimates of both the population frequency and the transmission frequency. This tool, therefore, lends itself to the discovery of deletions in large familial SNP genotype data sets and to simultaneous testing of the discovered deletion for association, with the use of both frequency-based and transmission/disequilibrium test–based designs. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our computer program (microdel), available for download at no cost, with both simulated and real data. Here, we report 693 deletions in the HapMap 16c collection, with each deletion assigned a population frequency.
Religion is the opiate of the masses (but science is the methadone)

In their target article, “The need to believe”, Inzlicht, Tullett, and Good (IT&G) outline a motivational account of religious belief as a sense-making system that provides believers with existenti...
Hemodialyzer clearances of gentamicin, kanamycin, tobramydn, amikacin, ethambutol. procainamide, and flucytosine, with a technique for planning therapy

Hemodialyzer clearance studies have been undertaken on the following drugs: gentamicin, kanamycin, tobramycin, amikacin, ethambutol, procainamide, and flucytosine. The following hemodialyzers were tested: Dow model 4, Kiil, Travenol UF II, and the Extracorporeal EX-03. The studies were predominantly undertaken in vitro,permitting direct comparison between drug clearances on the same dialyzer. Protein binding studies for gentamicin, kanamycin, procainamide, and ethambutol are also reported. Nomograms to facilitate the prediction of drug dosage regimens in dialysis patients are included.
Undergraduate coursework in anatomy as a predictor of performance: Comparison between students taking a medical gross anatomy course of average length and a course shortened by curriculum reform

The performance of students taking medical gross anatomy at the University of California at Davis during a 4-year period (1999-2002) was correlated with prior undergraduate anatomy coursework. Significant correlations were observed between class rank in medical anatomy and taking any undergraduate anatomy as well as the total number of undergraduate anatomy units (P<0.01). Taking human gross anatomy and an anatomy laboratory course were significantly correlated with medical anatomy class rank (P<0.01) as were grades in human anatomy, comparative vertebrate anatomy and anatomy laboratory courses (P<0.05). The medical anatomy course offered in 1999-2000 was 172 hr long, and the course offered in 2001-2002 was 135 hr long, with most of the difference made by decreasing lecture time while sparing the dissection laboratory. The reduction in course length was the consequence of a curriculum-wide cap in weekly contact hours. In the 172-hr medical anatomy course there were significant correlations between the students who took undergraduate anatomy and both class rank and the score on the final examination (P<0.01). These correlations did not exist for the 135-hr course. This may be explained by previous anatomy experiences helping students learn from lecture more than from dissection laboratory, as well as the extra study time available to students in the reformed medical curriculum. Pre-medical students and health science advisors need to consider that the benefits of taking anatomy as an undergraduate may be dependent on the configuration of a medical school's curriculum.
Is translation a mode

This essay argues that globalization and the politics of translation need to be thought through together as part of the same problematic. Globalization functions like a language and it is crucial that the world speak in many languages rather than adopt the voice of dominant or hegemonic monolingualism. The socio-political and cultural valences of Global English have to be understood as one of the many ingredients that constitute global communication and miscommunication. Working through the nuances of Walter Benjamin's and Jacques Derrida's theories of translation, this essay makes the point that the project of global understanding should not degenerate into the project of colonising the Many in the name of the One. The going global of English should be understood not as a universalization of its jurisdiction, but rather, as an acknowledgement of its vulnerability to the world and its many tongues, accents and registers. A critical translation theory locates meaning as simultaneously inter- and intra-ling...
X-ray lasing experiments on matched-line photon pumping in plasma ions☆

Enhancement of gain in the X-ray spectral region at increased population densities may be possible by photon pumping of specific levels through the absorption of intense line emission at the same energy from other ions. Experiments on a Na9+ pumping Ne8+ test case are described. The neon ions are shown to be produced from cryogenically frozen layers; and 25 MW of pump line emission at 11 A has been measured in early experiments. Plans are described for a combined gain experiment.
The ankle brachial index independently predicts walking velocity and walking endurance in peripheral arterial disease.

OBJECTIVES: Maintaining function among older men and women is an important public health goal as the population lives longer with chronic disease. We report the relationships between lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD), PAD severity, and PAD-related symptoms with walking velocity and endurance among men and women aged 55 and older. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design. SETTING: An academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Participants with PAD were men and women aged 55 and older identified from a blood flow laboratory or a general medicine practice (n = 158). Randomly selected controls without PAD were identified from the general medicine practice (n = 70). MEASUREMENTS: PAD was diagnosed and quantified using the ankle brachial index (ABI). Subjects were categorized according to whether they had severe PAD (ABI <0.40), mild to moderate PAD (ABI 0.40 to <0.90), or no PAD (ABI 0.90 to <1.50). Walking endurance was assessed with the 6-minute walk. Usual walking velocity and maximal walking velocity were assessed with “usual” and “maximal” paced 4-meter walks, respectively. RESULTS: Average distances achieved in the 6-minute walk were 1569 ± 390 feet for subjects with ABI 0.90–1.50, 1192 ± 368 feet for subjects with ABI 0.40 to <0.90, and 942 ± 334 feet for subjects with ABI < 0.40 (trend P value < .001). Walking velocities for both the usual and maximal paced 4-meter walks were slowest among subjects with ABI < 0.40 and fastest among subjects with ABI 0.90 to <1.50. Subjects with PAD who had pain at rest had slower walking velocity and poorer walking endurance than other subjects with PAD. In multiple linear regression analyses that included subjects with PAD only, ABI level was an independent predictor of 6-minute walk performance (regression coefficient = 159 ft/0.40 ABI units, P = .011), usual paced 4-meter walk (regression coefficient = .095 meters/sec/0.40 ABI units, P = .031), and maximal paced 4-meter walk (regression coefficient = .120 meters/sec/0.40 ABI units, P = .050) adjusting for age, sex, race, leg symptoms, and comorbid diseases known to affect functioning. Pain at rest was associated independently with the maximally paced 4-meter walk (−0.201 meters/sec, P = .024), but not with the other walks. CONCLUSION: ABI level has a measurable and independent association with walking endurance and both usual and maximal walking velocity. These data suggest that PAD may impair lower extremity function by diminishing function of both Type I (“slow twitch”) and Type II (“fast twitch”) muscle fibers. Because walking velocity has important prognostic implications for functioning, these data also suggest that ABI may be used to identify patients at increased risk of mobility loss.
Some ecological roots of pest control

Development of pest management systems rests on relatively few major ecological principles and these underly the tactics and strategies available. Many are so self-evident that we often ignore their underlying significance. They are (1) the principle of inherent variation in the genetic properties of organisms; (2) the principle that an organism must be adapted to its environment and becomes so through its evolution; (3) the principle that all organisms require adequate nutrition; (4) the principle that to perpetuate their kind organisms must reproduce; (5) the principle that as organisms are born immature they must grow and develop; (6) the principle that life presents various compensations tending to correct for adverse occurrences; (7) the principle that most organisms derive their sustenance from other living organisms (predation); (8) the principle that organisms commonly suffer from depletion of resources by other organisms (competition among the same or different kinds of organisms); (9) the principle that cooperation serves many species well; (10) the principle that organisms must move about and do things (possess mobility and other behavior); and (11) the principle of holism and interactions among factors in ecosystems. Examples are given showing that advances in our knowledge in each of these basic areas are significant in developing ecologically sound pest management systems.
Readmissions - a quality metric with financial penalties?

The healthcare landscape is changing. With the current hospital payment systems, hospitals all over the nation are reimbursed for delivering care efficiently and safely across the continuum, rather than simply for each service. Incentives are provided to hospitals for improving quality and offering value to patients, both in how well they are treated and the overall patient experience. How well hospitals do in meeting these goals and achieving financial incentives relies on reducing readmissions, preventing hospital-acquired conditions, and practicing evidence-based medicine, among other pay-for-performance initiatives. (Published: 17 April 2013) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2013, 3 : 20219 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v3i1.20219
Inhibition of sheep vesicular gland oxygenase by unsaturated fatty acids from skin of essential fatty acid deficient rats.

Abstract Unsaturated fatty acids present in the lipids of essential fatty acid (EFA)-deficient rats were found to inhibit the oxygenase activity of sheep vesicular gland in an instantaneous, reversible manner. However, competitive inhibition by high levels of these acids cannot account fully for the reported loss of prostaglandin synthetic capacity of these EFA-deficient animals. A similar competitive inhibition pattern was observed with several anti-inflammatory drugs tested, whereas others also exhibited a time-dependent destructive effect on the oxygenase of the sheep vesicular gland. The relative effectiveness of these drugs in treating inflammations of the skin paralleled their in vitro effects on the vesicular gland oxygenase.
h-IQ: Human Intelligence for Quality of Service Delivery Data

Service delivery centers are extremely dynamic environments in which large numbers of globally distributed system administrators (SAs) manage a vast number of IT systems on behalf of customers. SAs are under significant time pressure to efficiently resolve incoming customer requests, and may fall far short of accurately capturing the intricacies of technical problems, affecting the quality of ticket data. At the same time, various data stores and warehouses aggregating business insights about operations are only as reliable as their sources. Verifying such large data sets is a laborious and expensive task. In this paper we propose system h-IQ, which embeds a grading schema and an active learning mechanism, to identify most uncertain samples of data, and most suitable human expert(s) to validate them. Expert qualification is established based on server access logs and past tickets completed. We present the system and discuss the results of ticket data assessment process.
An experimental apparatus for translational energy spectroscopy for low energy Xq+ on atomic hydrogen

Abstract The design and performance of a system for performing translational energy spectroscopy on atomic hydrogen targets is presented. Low energy highly-charged ions are produced in a recoil ion source through collisions between target gases and a heavy, fast pump beam from the EN tandem accelerator. These ions are directed through a double-focusing magnetic spectrometer which selects the desired projectile charge state. An atomic hydrogen target is produced in a thermal dissociation oven. The energy and final charge states of the product ions are determined by a double-focusing, hemispherical electrostatic analyzer. The current work concentrates on the change in energy of the projectile ions accompanying electron capture for 250 eV per charge argon projectiles.
Post-discharge prognosis of stress cardiomyopathy in women: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background/objectives There is limited information on the prognosis of stress cardiomyopathy (SCM) after hospital discharge. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to determine the post-discharge prognosis of women with SCM compared to female controls with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods SCM cases were identified through chart reviews of women hospitalized at a single tertiary care medical center between 2002 and 2012. Controls were randomly selected (2:1 ratio) among women admitted with a validated diagnosis of STEMI during the same period. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular readmissions and death from any cause. Risk of the composite outcome was estimated from multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results Over an average follow-up of 24months, incidence rates of the composite outcome were 140/1000person-years among cases (n=50) and 347/1000person-years among controls (n=100; P Conclusion Risk of death and cardiovascular readmissions post-discharge was lower among women with SCM than among women with STEMI. Incidence rates of cardiovascular readmissions, however, were similar, indicating that SCM may not be a benign condition.
Antigen-Induced Programmed T Cell Death as a New Approach to Immune Therapy

We describe recent advances in understanding a mechanism of peripheral tolerance that operates through antigen-induced programmed cell death of mature T lymphocytes. A three-phase model of this process, termed propriocidal regulation, involves: (i) activation of T cells to express growth lymphokines and their receptors, (ii) lymphokine-stimulated cell-cycle progression, and (iii) T cell receptor reengagement leading to programmed cell death. Based on this model, antigen was used to treat experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and caused profound deletion of autoreactive, encephalitogenic T cells as well as dramatic clinical and pathological improvement of the disease. The potential strengths and weaknesses of this approach to the clinical treatment of T-cell-mediated diseases are discussed.
PCR-Based Methods for the Enrichment of Minority Alleles and Mutations

Background: The ability to identify low-level somatic DNA mutations and minority alleles within an excess wild-type sample is becoming essential for characterizing early and posttreatment tumor status in cancer patients. Over the past 2 decades, much research has focused on improving the selectivity of PCR-based technologies for enhancing the detection of minority (mutant) alleles in clinical samples. Routine application in clinical and diagnostic settings requires that these techniques be accurate and cost-effective and require little effort to optimize, perform, and analyze. Content: Enrichment methods typically segregate by their ability to enrich for, and detect, either known or unknown mutations. Although there are several robust approaches for detecting known mutations within a high background of wild-type DNA, there are few techniques capable of enriching and detecting low-level unknown mutations. One promising development is COLD-PCR (coamplification at lower denaturation temperature), which enables enrichment of PCR amplicons containing unknown mutations at any position, such that they can be subsequently sequenced to identify the exact nucleotide change. Summary: This review summarizes technologies available for detecting minority DNA mutations, placing an emphasis on newer methods that facilitate the enrichment of unknown low-level DNA variants such that the mutation can subsequently be sequenced. The enrichment of minority alleles is imperative in clinical and diagnostic applications, especially in those related to cancer detection, and continued technology development is warranted.
Acquisition of radiation- and lithium chloride-induced conditioned taste aversions in anesthetized rats

The acquisition of a conditioned taste aversion was studied in rats exposed to ionizing radiation or given an injection of lithium chloride while anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. Taste aversions acquired by anesthetized rats given either the radiation or lithium chloride UCS were equivalent to those acquired by unanesthetized rats. The results are interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that similar mechanisms underlie the acquisition of both radiation- and lithium chloride-induced taste aversions and that the experience of a UCS-induced illness in the awake animal is not a significant factor in conditioned taste aversion learning.
Scanning Microscopy in Medicine and Biology

Scanning microscopy provides the means for extending the range of usefulness of the light microscope in several directions. In addition to the convenience of viewing a large bright image on the television type monitor, it can also enhance the contrast of faintly visible specimens and can extend the convenience of direct observation into the infrared and ultraviolet. By electrical processing of the video signal, a great deal of quantitative information can be extracted. This method has been used to determine the number, size, and size distribution of particles in a field and to quantitate absorption of biological materials for visible and ultraviolet light.