cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An oxygen and carbon isotopic study of multiple episodes of fluid flow in the Dalradian and Highland Border Complex, Stonehaven, Scotland

The carbon and oxygen systematics of rocks north of Stonehaven, Scotland were studied to provide new constraints on the nature and timing of metamorphic and post‐metamorphic fluid infiltration. Carbon and oxygen isotopic data were collected from carbonated spilites and carbonate‐bearing veins in the Highland Boundary Fault, from Dalradian metacarbonate layers and pervasively carbonated schists, and from three generations of carbonate‐bearing veins, and a quartz porphyry dyke within the Dalradian. Isotopic evidence for syn‐metamorphic fluid infiltration in the Dalradian is preserved in quartz–calcite veins in the upper chlorite zone and in staurolite zone metacarbonates. δ 18 O values for coexisting quartz (δ 18 O quartz = 13.6‰) and calcite (δ 18 O calcite = 11.6‰) in a vein from the upper chlorite zone are consistent with precipitation of both minerals from a single fluid at c. 375°C. Oxygen isotopic data from staurolite zone metacarbonate layers (δ 18 O calcite = 10.4 to 12.9‰) suggest major isotopic exchange with an external fluid equilibrated with a quartzo‐feldspathic reservoir, such as the Dalradian metasediments, at metamorphic temperatures. Low, negative carbon isotope data from these metacarbonate layers (δ 13 C calcite = −12.4 to −17.7‰) may indicate a component of oxidized organic material in the infiltrating fluid. Post‐metamorphic fluids derived from or equilibrated with a high‐temperature silicate reservoir such as felsic igneous rocks were responsible for precipitation of post‐metamorphic vein carbonate, carbonation of pelitic schists, and alteration of metamorphic feldspar porphyroblasts from Barrow’s famous spotted chloritoid schists in an area geographically associated with several carbonated quartz porphyry dykes. Some veins in the biotite and garnet zones have been conduits for multiple generations of fluid flow. Quartz from this generation of veins preserves a metamorphic isotopic signature (δ 18 O quartz = 11.2 to 13.2‰) whereas dolomite and calcite are considered to be post‐metamorphic based on textural evidence and isotopic data indicating extreme oxygen isotopic disequilibrium between vein quartz and carbonate minerals (δ 18 O dolomite = 23.7 to 24.2‰, δ 18 O calcite = 25.3‰, δ 18 O quartz = 11.2 to 13.2‰). Variably depleted carbon isotopes from carbonate minerals in these veins (δ 13 C dolomite = −8.1 to −13.4‰, δ 13 C calcite = −12.2‰) may reflect input of oxidized organic material in the mineralizing fluid. Isotopic data from carbonate veins and variably carbonated spilites from the Highland Boundary Fault are consistent with hydrothermal alteration of basalts by seawater, which had its carbon isotope systematics modified by addition of magmatic CO 2 and/or oxidation of organic carbon. Such alteration may have occurred on the seafloor or during emplacement in the Highland Boundary Fault.
Combination OX40 agonism/CTLA-4 blockade with vaccination reverses anergy and primes tumor-specific CD8 T cells in mice with spontaneous prostate cancer

Targeted immunotherapy, such as anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1, has proven effective in treating cancer patients. However, despite these advances, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in the US. More effective strategies designed to maximize anti-tumor CD8 T cell responses are necessary to sustain long-term immunity. Agonist anti-OX40 and antagonist anti-CTLA-4 mAb augment the CD8 T cell response through different mechanisms. Therefore, we investigated the additive effects of these modalities on CD8 T cell responses. Combination anti-OX40/anti-CTLA-4 therapy more effectively primed antigen-specific CD8 T cells through enhanced expansion (82% of circulating CD8 T cells) compared to anti-OX40 (61%; P<0.05) or anti-CTLA-4 (41%; P<0.01) alone. Dual therapy also drove expansion of the polyclonal CD8 population. Moreover, combination therapy induced more proliferation (Ki-67) and differentiation (granzyme B, CD127, KLRG-1) following priming, suggesting potent additive effects of these modalities. However, it is known that tumors can induce T cell anergy, thereby limiting an effective anti-tumor response. We tested whether combination therapy could overcome anergy using a mouse model in which mice are tolerant to membrane-bound OVA. Combination anti-OX40/anti-CTLA-4 therapy was uniquely capable of driving robust expansion (12% of total CD8 in the spleen, vs. 2.5% anti-OX40, P<0.05, or 1% anti-CTLA-4, P<0.01) of anergic CD8 T cells, along with enhanced Ki-67 and granzyme B. To further drive expansion of antigen-specific CD8 T cells following therapy, we examined several methods of vaccination using nanoparticles, a Listeria monocytogenes vector, or anti-DEC-205 mAb (all conjugated to OVA) in the presence of anti-CD40. In anergic mice given combination therapy, vaccination with anti-DEC-205-OVA/anti-CD40 produced a 9-fold expansion of OT-I CD8 T cells compared to soluble OVA alone, greater than all other vectors combined. We next tested the efficacy of combination therapy with vaccination on anergy in a spontaneous model of prostate cancer. Combination therapy with vaccination drove expansion (2-fold over monotherapy, P<0.05) and differentiation (granzyme B, KLRG-1, CD25) of both anergic tumor-specific and polyclonal CD8 T cells. Importantly, dual therapy with vaccination enhanced the frequency and number of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 producing CD8 T cells. These data indicate that anti-OX40/anti-CTLA-4 combination therapy with vaccination can uniquely augment and drive a robust CD8 T cell response capable of overcoming anergy.
IBM POWER6 partition mobility: moving virtual servers seamlessly between physical systems

This paper presents the IBM Power Architecture™ extension for enhanced virtualization that is first implemented in the POWER6™ processor. Virtual partition memory enables all of the memory of a virtual server running in a logical partition to be made virtual by the POWER Hypervisor™ firmware. The Processor Compatibility register allows backward compatibility by providing a mode in which a POWER6 processor behaves like a POWER5™ processor. Enhancements to the timebase facility enable updates to the virtual timebase of a logical partition while maintaining consistency with other partitions in the system. These fundamental enhancements are explained and their role in implementing the new partition mobility junction is described. Partition mobility allows the seamless migration of virtual servers from one physical POWER6 microprocessor-based system to another.
Cytogenetic and ultrastructural features of de novo acute promyelocytic leukemia; The university of Chicago experience (1973–1978)☆

Abstract Of seven patients with de novo acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) seen at the University of Chicago in a 6-year period, six had sufficient karyotypes to analyze. All six patients had the 15;17 translocation chromosome present in their leukemic cells. Four patients had typical hypergranular APL, but two patients required confirmation by transmission electron microscopy. In these two cases, the distribution of the granules was similar to the hypergranular type, but the granules were smaller than 250 nm, therefore below the limits of light microscopy resolution. Four of the six patients had clinical evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation. It is important to make the diagnosis of APL initially as specific therapeutic choices exist.
Carbachol and naloxone synergistically elevate dopamine release in rat striatum: an in vivo microdialysis study.

Abstract Striatal dopamine (DA) release increased to 184% of baseline after 10–20 min of continuous intrastriatal perfusion with 10 mM carbachol, dropping to 124% after 30–40 min. The addition of 100 μM naloxone amplified (to 236% of baseline) and prolonged the increase in DA release, but naloxone alone (up to 1 mM) had no effect. These data suggest that activation of opiate-releasing neurons suppresses cholinergic stimulation of DA release.
A pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of glargine and multiple injections of lispro in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving tube feedings in a cardiovascular intensive care unit.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of insulin lispro and insulin glargine at controlling blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a cardiovascular intensive care unit (CICU) and receiving enteral tube feedings. Methods: This was a pilot study with a retrospective control designed to evaluate an insulin protocol in patients admitted to the CICU in a level 3 teaching institution. Patients were 18–99 years of age with type 2 diabetes mellitus, receiving bolus tube feeding. The control group included 24 patients who were retrospectively studied to determine mean blood glucose level. A glycemic management protocol was developed that included glargine and lispro insulins to maintain blood glucose levels between 80 and 140 mg/dL. The study group consisted of 28 patients who were treated according to the glycemic management protocol. Results: The mean blood glucose level of the retrospective control group was 225 mg/dL. The mean blood glucose level of the int...
Three-dimensional kinematic angle measurement system for non-jointed rigid axes

Community Concerted Action on Electrical Impedance Tomography, Copenhagen, Denmark 14-16 July, pp. 29-35 GADD, R., RECORD, P. M., and ROLFE, P. (1990): 'Three dimensional finite element modelling for electrical impedance tomography.' Proc. Meeting on Electrical Impedance Tomography. European Community Concerted Action on Electrical Impedance Tomography, Copenhagen, Denmark, 14-16 July. pp. 71-75 GADD, R., RECORD, P. M., and ROLFE, P. (1992): "A sensitivity region reconstruction algorithm using adjacent drive current injection strategy,' Clin. Phys. Physiol. Meas., 13, ,4, pp. 101-103 GREENOUGH, A., and MORLEY, C. J. (1986): 'Is the measurement of compliance useful for clinical management in preterm infants?' in ROLFE, P. (Ed.) Neonatal physiological measurements' (Butterworths, London) pp. 261-267 HARRIS, N. D. (1991): 'Applications of electrical impedance tomography in respiratory medicine.' PhD Thesis, Sheffield University, UK MCADAMS, E. A., and JOSSINET, J. (1990): 'Electrode-skin impedance in impedance tomography.' Proc. Meeting on Electrical Impedance Tomography, European Community Concerted Action on Electrical Impedance Tomography, Copenhagen, Denmark, 14--16 July. pp. 14-19 RECORD, P., GADO, R., and ROLFE, P. (1990): "A signal conditioning electrode for use in electrical impedance tomography.' Proc. Meeting on Electrical Impedance Tomography, European Community Concerted Action on Electrical Impedance Tomography, Copenhagen, Denmark, 14-16 July, pp. 168-174 RECORD, P. (1991): 'Electrical impedance tomography: methods of improving image quality." SERC Final ReporL Grant GR/E27201 Rzt:, P. J., LOZANO, A., FERNANDEZ, M., and PALLAS, R. (1991): 'Electrode requirements for electrical impedance tomography.' IV Int. Syrup. on Biomedical Engineering, Pefiiscola, Spain, pp. 141-142 ROSELL, J., COLOMINAS, J.) Rio, P., PALLAS, R., and WEBSTER, J. G. (1988): 'Skin impedance from I Hz to 1 MHz,' IEEE Trans., BMF_,-35, pp. 649-651 ROSELL, J., RIu, P., LOZANO, A., and PALLAS, R. (1989): "Errors and sensitivity in multielectrode systems for electrical impedance imaging." Proc. Mediterranean Conf. on Biomedical Engineering, Patras, Greece
LATERALIZATION OF LEARNING OF COLOUR AND BRIGHTNESS DISCRIMINATIONS FOLLOWING BRAIN BISECTION.

SEVERAL investigations dealing with interocular transfer of learning of visual discriminations in split-brain cats and monkeys support the general conclusion that brain bisection including the optic chiasm and posterior corpus callosum restricts the learning and memory of the discriminations to the trained hemisphere. These tasks cannot be correctly performed through the other eye until it has received comparable training, in contrast to the immediate interocular transfer usually shown by normal or chiasm-sectioned controls1–3. This generalization has been qualified by more recent studies indicating that transfer of learning of brightness4,5 and pattern6 discriminations in split-brain cats, and of brightness and colour discriminations in split-brain monkeys7, does occur under certain conditions. Transfer of colour and brightness learning in split-brain monkeys would, therefore, seem to be dependent on the conditions used. It appeared advisable, in reference to future studies on vision, to see if transfer of these tasks takes place under the conditions at present being used in this laboratory.
Regional changes in calcium underlying contraction of single smooth muscle cells

The role of calcium in regulating the contractile state of smooth muscle has been investigated by measuring calcium and contraction in single smooth muscle cells with the calcium-sensitive dye fura-2 and the digital imaging microscope. The concentration of free calcium in the cytoplasm increased after stimulation of the cells by depolarization with high potassium or by application of carbachol. Changes in calcium always preceded contraction. The increase in calcium induced by these stimuli was limited to less than 1 microM. Calcium within the nucleus was also subject to a limitation of its rise during contraction. Intranuclear calcium rose from 200 nM at rest to no more than 300 nM while cytoplasmic calcium rose to over 700 nM. These apparent ceilings for both cytoplasmic and intranuclear calcium may result either from negative feedback of calcium on cytoplasmic and nuclear calcium channel gating mechanisms, respectively, or from the presence of calcium pumps that are strongly activated at the calcium ceilings.
A study of the Schiff base mode in bovine rhodopsin and bathorhodopsin

The authors have obtained the resonance Raman spectra of bovine rhodopsin, bathorhodopsin, and isorhodopsin for a series of isotopically labeled retinal chromophores. The specific substitutions are at retinal's protonated Schiff base moiety and include -HC=NH/sup +/-, -HC=ND/sup +/-. -H/sup 13/C=NH/sup +/-, and -H/sup 13/C=ND/sup +/-. Apart from the doubly labeled retinal, they find that the protonated Schiff base frequency is the same, within experimental error, for both rhodopsin and bathorhodopsin for all the substitutions measured here and elsewhere. They develop a force field that accurately fits the observed ethylenic (C=C) and protonated Schiff base stretching frequencies of rhodopsin and labeled derivatives. Using MINDO/3 quantum mechanical procedures, they investigate the response of this force field, and the ethylenic and Schiff base stretching frequencies, to the placement of charges close to retinal's Schiff base moiety. Specifically, they find that the Schiff base frequency should be measurably affected by a 3.0-4.5-A movement of a negatively charged counterion from the positively charged protonated Schiff base moiety. That there is no experimentally discernible difference in the Schiff base frequency between rhodopsin and bathorhodopsin suggests that models for the efficient conversion of light to chemical energy in the rhodopsin to bathorhodopsin photoconversion based solely on saltmore » bridge separation of the protonated Schiff base and its counterion are probably incorrect. They discuss various alternative models and the role of electrostatics in the rhodopsin to bathorhodopsin primary process.« less
Purification and characterization of vicilin peptidohydrolase, the major endopeptidase in the cotyledons of mung-bean seedlings.

1. Vicilin peptidohydrolase, the major endopeptidase present in the cotyledons of bean seedlings, has been purified to homogeneity, as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectrofocusing, from the cotyledons of mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] seedlings. 2. The protease has an apparent molecular weight of 23 000 as estimated by gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, an isoelectric point of 3.75 and belongs to the class of the sulfhydryl proteases as judged by the effect of various protease inhibitors on the activity of the enzyme. 3. The purified enzyme readily hydrolyzes synthetic esters between amino acids and p-nitrophenol coupled to N-carbobenzoxy and N-tert-butoxycarbonyl residues. Esters with asparagine and glutamine residues are hydrolyzed most readily. 4. The purified enzyme readily degrades vicilin, the principal reserve protein present in mung bean seeds. Degradation is optimal at pH 5.1. The various polypeptides of vicilin are gradually digested to smaller polypeptides and oligopeptides. Vicilin peptidohydrolase and carboxypeptidase cooperate in the complete digestion of vicilin with the resulting release of amino acids.
Effect of Recording Site on Postpacing Interval Measurement During Catheter Mapping and Entrainment of Postinfarction Ventricular Tachycardia

Postpacing Interval and VTCL. Introduction: During entrainment of reentrant ventricular tachycardia (VT), the difference between the postpacing interval (PPI) and the VT cycle length (VTCL) measured at the pacing site is an indication of the conduction time from the pacing site to the reentry circuit. The difference is usually ≤ 30 msec at successful ablation sites. However, electrical noise during pacing sometimes obscures the electrograms recorded directly from the pacing site. The objective of this study is to determine if the PPI-VTCL difference measured at the mapping catheter electrodes proximal to the stimulating electrode accurately predicts the PPI-VTCL difference at the stimulating electrode. Methods and Results: Endocardial catheter mapping was performed in 26 patients with in-farct-related VT. At 191 sites during 56 VTs, unipolar pacing from the distal electrode entrained VT and electrograms recorded from the mapping catheter were discernable following pacing in both the bipolar recordings from the distal electrode pair (BI 1–2) and the electrode pair 6 mm proximal to the distal electrode (BI 3–4). The PPI-VTCL difference at BI 1–2 correlated well with that measured at BI 3–4 (r = 0.88, P = 0.001). A PPI-VTCL difference at BI 3–4 ≤ 30 msec predicted a PPI-VTCL difference at BI 1–2 ≤ 30 msec with a sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 87%, and predictive accuracy of 91 %. Conclusions: Measurement of the PPI from electrodes proximal to the stimulating electrode is a reasonable alternative when the PPI cannot be assessed from the pacing electrode.
Characterization of non-methane volatile organic compounds at swine facilities in eastern North Carolina

Abstract Samples were collected and analyzed in a field study to characterize C 2 –C 12 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted at five swine facilities in Eastern North Carolina between April 2002 and February 2003. Two sites employed conventional lagoon and field spray technologies, while three sites utilized various alternative waste treatment technologies in an effort to substantially reduce gaseous compound emissions, odor, and pathogens from these swine facilities. More than 100 compounds, including various paraffins, olefins, aromatics, ethers, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, halogenated hydrocarbons, phenols, and sulfides were positively identified and quantified by Gas Chromatographic/Flame Ionization Detection (GC/FID) analysis and confirmed by Gas Chromatographic/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). GC/MS analysis of one particularly complex sample collected assisted in providing identification and retention times for 17 sulfur-type VOCs including dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, and dimethyl trisulfide as well as many other VOCs. Highest VOC concentration levels measured at each of the facilities were near the hog barn ventilation fans. Total measured VOCs at the hog barns were typically dominated by oxygenated hydrocarbons (HCs), i.e., ethanol, methanol, acetaldehyde, and acetone. These compounds, in addition to other oxygenated VOCs measured at the various sites, generally represented ∼37–73% of net total measured VOCs that were emitted from the hog barns at the various sites. Dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide, both recognized as malodorous compounds, were determined to have higher concentration levels at the barns than the background at every farm sampled with the exception of one farm during the warm sampling season.
Solution structure of a zinc finger domain of yeast ADR1

The "zinc finger" is a 30-residue repeating motif that has been identified in a variety of eukaryotic transcription factors. Each domain is capable of binding a Zn2+ ion through invariant Cys and His residues. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of a synthetic peptide that corresponds to one of the two zinc finger domains in the yeast transcription factor ADR1, using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The Zn2(+)-bound structure of the peptide consists of a loop containing the two Cys residues, a "fingertip," a 12- to 13-residue alpha-helix containing the two His residues, and a C-terminal tail. A majority of the interresidue contacts observed involve the seven conserved residues of the prototypic zinc finger (i.e., the four zinc ligands and the three hydrophobic residues), indicating that these residues are largely responsible for the three-dimensional structure of the domain and that all the zinc finger domains of the TFIIIA class will have similar structures. Potential DNA-binding residues are found throughout the structure, with the highest concentration of such residues on the external face of the alpha-helix.
Intrinsic Selectivity of Notch 1 for Delta-like 4 Over Delta-like 1

Notch signaling makes critical contributions to cell fate determination in all metazoan organisms, yet remarkably little is known about the binding affinity of the four mammalian Notch receptors for their three Delta-like and two Jagged family ligands. Here, we utilized signaling assays and biochemical studies of purified recombinant ligand and receptor molecules to investigate the differences in signaling behavior and intrinsic affinity between Notch1-Dll1 and Notch1-Dll4 complexes. Systematic deletion mutagenesis of the human Notch1 ectodomain revealed that epidermal growth factor (EGF) repeats 6–15 are sufficient to maintain signaling in a reporter assay at levels comparable with the full-length receptor, and identified important contributions from EGF repeats 8–10 in conveying an activating signal in response to either Dll1 or Dll4. Truncation studies of the Dll1 and Dll4 ectodomains showed that the MNNL-EGF3 region was both necessary and sufficient for full activation. Plate-based and cell binding assays revealed a specific, calcium-dependent interaction between cell-surface and recombinant Notch receptors and ligand molecules. Finally, direct measurement of the binding affinity of Notch1 EGF repeats 6–15 for Dll1 and Dll4 revealed that Dll4 binds with at least an order of magnitude higher affinity than Dll1. Together, these studies give new insights into the features of ligand recognition by Notch1, and highlight how intrinsic differences in the biochemical behavior of receptor-ligand complexes can influence receptor-mediated responses of developmental signaling pathways.
Transitions of Care in Heart Failure: The Case for Comparative Effectiveness Research

“Health care for chronic conditions is very different from care for acute episodic illnesses. Care for the chronically ill needs to be a collaborative, multidisciplinary process. Effective methods of communication, both among caregivers and between caregivers and patients, are critical to providing high-quality care. Personal health information must accompany patients as they transition from home to clinical office setting to hospital to nursing home and back.” -Committee on Quality of Health Care in America, 2001 [1] Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century: 2001 The National Academies Press
The Warsaw Stock Exchange: A Test of Market Efficiency

This paper analyzes the behavior of the Warsaw Stock Exchange in light of the efficient market hypothesis (EMH) and alternative models of market inefficiency. Following a brief history of the Warsaw Stock Exchange and a discussion of EMH and the Shiller (1991) critique, the Polish stock market is examined in terms of the extent to which the assumptions of EMH are met and in terms of the actual behavior of stock prices for the period of 1 June 1993 to 27 July 1994. The analysis suggests that EMH provides an inadequate explanation of investor behavior and its effect on stock price volatility in this emerging market.
The National Cancer Data Base report on colon cancer

Background Commission on Cancer data from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) report time trends in stage of disease, treatment patterns, and survival for patients with selected cancers. The most current data (1993) for patients with colon cancer are described. Methods Five calls for data yielded 3,700,000 cases of cancer for the years 1985 through 1993 from hospital cancer registeries across the U.S., including 36,937 cases of colon cancer from 1988 and 44,812 from 1993. Results Interesting trends are as follows: (1) the elderly ( > 80 years) present with earlier stage disease than younger patients; (2) the National Cancer Institute recognized cancer centers have more patients with advanced disease than other types of hospitals; (3) all ethnic groups have generally similar stages of disease at presentation, except for African-Americans who have a slightly higher incidence of Stage IV disease; (4) the proximal migration of the primary cancer continues with 54.7% of primary colon cancer arising in the right colon in 1993 compared with 50.9% in 1988; (5) an interaction between grade and stage of cancer seems present; and (6) patients with Stage III colon cancer who received adjuvant chemotherapy had a 5% improvement in 5-year relative survival. Conclusions The NCDB data are useful for reporting what cancer treatments are being administered and what outcomes are occurring in the U.S. The data suggest an important biologic role for grade of cancer. They also suggest that African-Americans and other ethnic groups have the same outcome as non-Hispanic whites but that access to medical care may still be less. Finally, the utility of adjuvant therapy for Stage III colon cancer may just be beginning to be appreciated.
The impact-echo response of concrete plates containing delaminations: numerical, experimental and field studies

This paper describes the use of the impact-echo technique— a non-destructive testing technique based on the use of transient stress waves— for detecting delaminations in concrete plate-like structures such as bridge decks, slabs, and walls. Results obtained from numerical (finite element) analysis and controlled-flaw laboratory studies are presented and used to explain the elastic impact response of delaminated plates. Current impact-echo instrumentation is described, and results obtained from concrete bridge decks containing delaminations caused by corrosion of reinforcing steel are presented. These results provide a better understanding of the impact response of delaminated plates.
Transvaginal salpingocentesis: A new technique for treating ectopic pregnancy

Transvaginal sonography is an important tool for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy. In this report the transvaginal passage of a needle, with sonographic guidance, into a tubal gestational sac with a live fetus is demonstrated. We injected potassium chloride solution to arrest cardiac activity, terminating the ectopic pregnancy without surgical intervention. The new therapeutic use of transvaginal sonography is an important addition to the treatment of this prevalent disease.
Pediatric poisoning from over-the-counter imidazoline-containing products

We present two instructive cases of imidazoline poisoning in young children. Imidazoline decongestants, readily available in numerous nonprescription preparations, can rapidly produce toxicity from oral ingestion and topical application. Signs and symptoms depend on whether peripheral or central α 2 -adrenergic receptor stimulation predominates. Timely diagnosis depends on a high index of suspicion and careful questioning about the availability of these over-the-counter products. Standard toxicologic management will prevent significant morbidity. No specific antidote exists.
Organization Complexity and Primary Care Providers’ Perceptions of Quality Improvement Culture Within the Veterans Health Administration:

This study examined how aspects of quality improvement (QI) culture changed during the introduction of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patient-centered medical home initiative and how they...
Self-awareness affects vision

Summary What we see can be influenced by attention [1,2] and concurrent sensory inputs from other modalities, such as accompanying sounds [3,4], but can high-level mental factors such as states of self-awareness systematically affect vision? Because associative learning is a fundamental property of the nervous system, we hypothesized that different states of self-awareness might selectively enhance perception of specific visual patterns based on experiential associations. Perception of self-faces provided an ideal test case because of the common experiential associations between perception of mirrored and un-mirrored self-faces and unique states of self-awareness. We found, consistent with the typical experience of looking at a mirrored self-face in privacy and an un-mirrored (for example, photographed) self-face in the company of others, that recognition of mirrored self-faces was superior when self-awareness was internally directed, whereas recognition of un-mirrored self-faces was superior when self-awareness was socially directed. As mirrored and un-mirrored faces are highly similar (as in Figure 1B), our results indicate that states of self-awareness affect visual perception with considerable pattern resolution. This has the intriguing general implication that, when a specific state of self-awareness frequently coincides with visual perception of specific patterns, the mental state and visual processing may become associated so that evoking that state of self-awareness selectively enhances visual perception of associated patterns.
Late Wisconsinan deglaciation of Alberta: Processes and paleogeography

Abstract The scarcity of lake basins in Alberta dating earlier than 11,000 BP has been interpreted as indicating the continued presence of active glacial ice. Because of the related implication that the presence of ice precludes the existence of an ice-free corridor, it is useful to examine this issue more closely. Due to the effects of deglaciation, many areas of Alberta were dominated by chaotic ice-stagnation conditions, with continual reversal of topography and rapid transformation of the surface. The dynamic nature of the environment affects arguments regarding the existence of an ice-free corridor as well as having implications for archeological site formation, preservation and discovery. Deglaciation models utilizing paradigms of active ice retreat may result in dichotomous depictions of the land surface as either ice covered or deglaciated. Due to the insulating properties of supraglacial debris, stagnant ice results in a situation that is simultaneously neither and both of the above conditions. While the landscape is ice covered and thus not ‘ice-free’, an accessible landscape characterized by glacial karst topography exists on top of the stagnating ice surface. General reconstructions of the impact of stagnant ice and glacial karst topography on the paleogeography of Alberta are presented for discussion.
Dehydrochlorination of 1,1,1-trichloroethane and pentachloroethane by microbially reduced ferruginous smectite.

Reduction of structural Fe(III) in smectite clay minerals has been identified as a means to promote dechlorination of polychlorinated ethanes, but its environmental significance has yet to be fully assessed because Fe reduction has normally been achieved by agents uncommon in the environment (e.g., dithionite). This study reports the dehydrochlorination of pentachloroethane and 1,1,1-trichloroethane in the presence of ferruginous smectite reduced by two cultures of microorganisms, Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1 (MR-R) and an enrichment culture from rice paddy soils (PS-R), in aqueous suspension under anoxic conditions. Microbially reduced ferruginous smectite facilitated dehydrochlorination of 1,1,1-trichloroethane to 1,1-dichloroethene with up to 60% conversion within 3 h of incubation time. In contrast, no formation of 1,1-dichloroethene was observed after incubation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane with chemically reduced ferruginous smectite for 24 h. Microbially reduced ferruginous smectite by MR-R and PS-R promoted the dehydrochlorination of pentachloroethane to tetrachloroethene by 80 and 15%, respectively, after 3 h of incubation time. The conversion of pentachloroethane to tetrachloroethene in the presence of chemically reduced ferruginous smectite after 24 h was 65%. These results indicate that structural Fe(II) in clay minerals has the potential to be an important reductant controlling the fate of organic chemicals in contaminated sediments.
Calcium-Activated Phosphate Uptake in Contracting Corn Mitochondria

The phosphate inhibition of succinate-powered contraction in corn mitochondria can be reversed with calcium. Associated with this reversal is an accumulation of phosphate and calcium. Both ions are essential for accumulation, although strontium will partially substitute for calcium. Arsenate does not substitute for phosphate except in producing the inhibition of contraction.The antibiotics oligomycin and aurovertin do not block the phosphate inhibition of contraction or the calcium-activated phosphate uptake associated with the release of the inhibition. Dinitrophenol uncouples the phosphate uptake but permits full contraction.Calcium promotes inorganic phosphate accumulation in root tissue as well as in mitochondria.The results are discussed from the viewpoint of theories of calcium reaction with high energy intermediates of oxidative phosphorylation. It is concluded that calcium probably reacts with X approximately P in corn mitochondria, rather than with X approximately I as with animal mitochondria.
Evaluation of an electronic esophageal detector device in patients with morbid obesity and pulmonary failure.

Objective. Undetected esophageal intubation can result in permanent injury or death. Clinical confirmation of tube location may be misleading. Adjunctive methods should be used to supplement clinical judgment. Unfortunately, end-tidal carbon dioxide may misidentify properly placed tracheal tubes in low perfusion situations, while esophageal detector devices (EDDs) may misidentify properly placed tracheal tubes in situations where little airway dead space exists (morbid obesity, pulmonary failure). This study evaluated a modified EDD (the electronic esophageal detector device, or EEDD) designed to eliminate the problem of misidentified tracheal intubations. Methods. Intubated morbidly obese or pulmonary failure patients were eligible for study entry. All endotracheal tubes (ETTs) were confirmed to be tracheal by waveform capnography and clinical judgment prior to study entry. Following consent, all patients were attached to the EEDD and a “measurement” was made to determine the “location” of their ETTs. Pr...
Characterization of rat model of acute anterior uveitis using optical coherence tomography angiography

Uveitis, or ocular inflammation, is a cause of severe visual impairment. Rodent models of uveitis are powerful tools used to investigate the pathological mechanisms of ocular inflammation and to study the efficacy of new therapies prior to human testing. In this paper, we report the utility of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) angiography in characterizing the inflammatory changes induced in the anterior segment of a rat model of uveitis. Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) was induced in two rats by intravitreal injection of a killed mycobacterial extract. One of them received a concurrent periocular injection of steroids to model a treatment effect. OCT imaging was performed prior to inflammation induction on day 0 (baseline), and 2 days post-injection (peak inflammation). Baseline and inflamed images were compared. OCT angiography identified swelling of the cornea, inflammatory cells in the anterior and posterior chambers, a fibrinous papillary membrane, and dilation of iris vessels in the inflamed eyes when compared to baseline images. Steroid treatment was shown to prevent the changes associated with inflammation. This is a novel application of anterior OCT imaging in animal models of uveitis, and provides a high resolution, in vivo assay for detecting and quantifying ocular inflammation and the response to new therapies.
Spatial distribution of organochlorine contaminants in soil, sediment, and fish in Bikini and Enewetak Atolls of the Marshall Islands, Pacific Ocean.

Abstract Several nuclear tests were performed at Enewetak and Bikini Atolls in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958. The events at Bikini Atoll involved several ships that were tested for durability during nuclear explosions, and 24 vessels now rest on the bottom of the Bikini lagoon. Nine soil samples were collected from different areas on the two islands of the atoll, and eighteen sediment, nine fish, and one lobster were collected in the vicinity of the sunken ships. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs) in these samples were analyzed using gas chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry (GC/ITMS). The average recoveries ranged from 78% to 104% for the different PCB congeners. The limits of detection (LOD) for PCBs, PCTs, DDE, DDT, and dieldrin ranged 10–50 pg g −1 . Some fish from Enewetak contained PCBs at a concentration range of 37–137 ng g −1 , dry weight (dw), and most of the soils from Enewetak showed evidence of PCBs (22–392 ng g −1 dw). Most of the Bikini lagoon sediment samples contained PCBs, and the highest was the one collected from around the Saratoga , an aircraft carrier (1555 ng g −1 dw). Some of the fish samples, most of the soil samples, and only one of the sediment samples contained 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (DDE) and PCBs. In addition to PCBs, the soils from Enewetak Atoll contained PCTs. PCTs were not detected in the sediment samples from Bikini Atoll. The results suggest local pollution sources of PCBs, PCTs, and OCPs.
Laboratory R&D on integrated energy systems (IES)

Abstract Integrated energy systems (IES) offer the potential for a significant increase in the nation’s fuel use efficiency by generating electricity onsite near the load and recycling the exhaust gas for heating, drying, cooling, or dehumidifying. A key challenge for IES is the efficient and cost-effective integration of distributed generation (DG) equipment with thermally-activated (TA) technologies. The US Department of Energy (DOE) launched the IES program in 2001 to focus on laboratory and field research to address these critical issues, advance the technology and accelerate application of combined Cooling, Heating and Power (CHP). An example of IES is the combination of an onsite microturbine with heat recovery, HVAC, desiccant and absorption chiller units. IES, in conjunction with other new energy efficient building technologies, will maximize the efficiency of energy use, reduce harmful emissions to the environment, improve power quality and reliability and provide flexibility for meeting electric power peak load demands as compared with large central power plants. The RD developing and verifying mathematical models of the individual devices and IES; and supporting the development of test protocols and standards for assessing IES technologies. The IES Test Laboratory is a flexible test-bed for the configuration of DG (presently a 30-kW natural gas-fired microturbine-generator) with various heat recovery units (an air-to-water heat recovery unit or HRU, direct- and indirect-fired desiccant dehumidification systems, and an indirect-fired single-effect absorption chiller). The exhaust gas from the microturbine-generator (MTG) is used to drive the HRU and/or used directly in the direct-fired desiccant dehumidification unit. The hot air and hot water flows from the HRU can be controlled and directed via automated damper controls in order to test various IES configurations and operating modes. The hot air can be conditioned with an air-mixing chamber. The IES testing results produced so far show that the operating parameters and efficiencies of the overall system and individual devices depend on loading (electric and thermal), as well as on ambient weather conditions (temperature and humidity levels). Outdoor temperature is a major factor since the MTG is located outside and its power and heat output are functions of the outside temperature and humidity and no attempt is currently being made to adjust its inlet air temperature, i.e., air cooling from the TA units. Under certain operating conditions and combinations of IES, the efficiency (including all parasitics) of the overall system can be as high as 55% (based on higher heating value of the natural gas).
Relative efficacy of atorvastatin 80 mg and pravastatin 40 mg in achieving the dual goals of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <70 mg/dl and C-reactive protein <2 mg/l: an analysis of the PROVE-IT TIMI-22 trial.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this research was to compare relative efficacy of different statin regimens in achieving the dual goals of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and C-reactive protein (CRP) reduction. BACKGROUND While secondary prevention guidelines for statin therapy suggest lowering LDL-C levels <70 mg/dl, we have recently shown that clinical outcomes are improved when CRP levels are also lowered <2 mg/l. METHODS We addressed the relative efficacy of pravastatin 40 mg and atorvastatin 80 mg daily to reduce LDL-C and CRP among 3,745 acute coronary syndrome patients. RESULTS A total of 1,018 participants (27.1%) achieved the dual goals of LDL-C <70 mg/dl and CRP <2 mg/l. After adjustment for age, gender, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and HDL-C, these individuals had a 28% lower risk of recurrent myocardial infarction or vascular death (relative risk = 0.72; 95% confidence interval 0.52 to 0.99). Of those who achieved dual goals, 80.6% received atorvastatin 80 mg, while 19.4% received pravastatin 40 mg (p < 0.001). Only 11% allocated pravastatin and 44% allocated atorvastatin achieved the goals of LDL-C <70 mg/dl and CRP <2 mg/l, and only 5.8% allocated pravastatin 40 mg and 26.1% allocated atorvastatin 80 mg reached the even lower goals of LDL-C <70 mg/dl and CRP <1 mg/l. The correlation coefficient for CRP measured at 30 days and at end of study was 0.61 (p < 0.001), a value almost identical to that for LDL-C over the same follow-up period (r = 0.62, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS While atorvastatin 80 mg was superior to pravastatin 40 mg in terms of achieving the dual goals of aggressive LDL-C and CRP reduction, neither agent brought the majority of patients below thresholds needed to maximize patient benefit.
Gastrooesophageal reflux disease.

Gastrooesophageal reflux disease, GERD, is a common problem which is expensive to diagnose and treat. The disease is increasing in prevalence in the Western world with important risk factors being obesity and the eradication of Helicobacter pylori . Increasing research points to transient LES relaxation and spatial separation of the diaphragm and LES (hiatal hernia in chest) being the critical mechanisms of acid reflux. Heartburn and acid regurgitation are classic symptoms of GERD, but their sensitivity is poor. Ambulatory oesophageal pH testing is the most sensitive test for GERD, while endoscopy is the most specific test. Medical treatment with PPIs has revolutionized the treatment of GERD and its complications, but long-term side effects do exist. Laparoscopic antireflux surgery and PPIs have similar efficacy in the few available long-term trials. Currently, endoscopic treatments for GERD should not be a clinical alternative outside of research trials. New drug therapies should be directed at modulating transient LES relaxation.
Painting As Performance: Charlotte Salomon's Life? or Theatre?

Charlotte Salomon's 1942 series of paintings, Life? or Theatre?, into which she incorporates elements of music and drama, wonders whether life and theatre are polar opposites or an engaged dialectic. Salomon anticipated the advent of performance theory by insisting on the performative qualities of her paintings. Her art exists in the unstable, ever-changing space between past and future, fact and fiction, life and death.
Stability Analysis of Complex-Valued Nonlinearities for Maximization of Nongaussianity

Complex maximization of nongaussianity (CMN) has been shown to provide reliable separation of both circular and noncircular sources. It is also shown that the algorithm converges to the principal component of the source distribution when studied in the estimation direction. In this paper, we study the local stability of the CMN algorithm and determine the conditions under which local stability is achieved by extending our previous work to all dimensions of the weight vector. We use these conditions of stability to quantify convergence performance for a number of complex nonlinear functions, and present simulation results to demonstrate the effectiveness of these functions.
Teaching Lexical Humor to Children with Autism

Comprehension and production of linguistic humor is an important social, linguistic, and cognitive skill for all children, but it often fails to develop in children with autism. One form of linguistic humor that is based on multiple meaning words and can take the form of riddles or jokes has been identified as “lexical humor.” This study investigated the effects of the Lexical Humor Treatment Program (Gill, White, & Reyes, 2010) on six high-functioning children with autism. All of the children increased their understanding of multiple-meaning words and their ability to answer related riddles on which they had been trained. More importantly, the children were able to transfer their skill in practiced riddles to novel riddles on which they had not been trained. These results suggest that the teaching of humor in the form of lexical riddles might be an important treatment consideration for children with autism. Key words : Lexical Humor; Linguistic Humor; Autism; Asperger Syndrome; Riddles; Multiple Meaning Words; Humor Instruction
An LMI approach to optimal consensus seeking in multi-agent systems

In this paper an optimal control design strategy to guarantee consensus achievement in a multi-agent network is developed. Minimization of a global cost function for the entire network guarantees a stable consensus with an optimal control effort. In solving the optimization problem it is shown that the solution of the Riccati equation cannot guarantee the consensus achievement. Therefore, the linear matrix inequality (LMI) formulation is used to solve the corresponding optimization problem and simultaneously to address the consensus achievement constraint. Moreover, using the LMI formulation a controller specific structure based on the neighboring sets can be imposed as an additional LMI constraint. Therefore, the only information each controller needs is the one it receives from its associated neighbors in its neighboring set. The global cost function formulation provides more insight into the optimal performance of the entire network and would result in a “global” optimal (or suboptimal) solution. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the performance of the multi-agent team in achieving consensus.