cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of preoperative monocyte-to-lymphocyte and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with recurrence-free and overall survival after resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (US-NETSG).

BACKGROUND Preoperative systemic inflammatory response plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis, progression, and prognosis; and neutrophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts serve as important biomarkers. An altered monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to be associated with a favorable prognosis for certain hematologic malignancies and breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of MLR, NLR in patients with resectable PNETs. METHODS Patients undergoing surgery for PNETs between 2000 and 2016 were identified using a large, multi-center database. NLR and MLR were calculated and Contal and O'Quigley analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff value. RESULTS A total of 620 patients were included in the analytic cohort. The prognostic implications of blood count parameters were evaluated in both univariate and multivariate analysis. The univariate analysis revealed that low MLR and NLR is associated with significantly improved overall survival (OS; P < .01) and recurrence-free survival (RFS; P < .01). On multivariate analysis, in addition to tumor size and grade, NLR was an independent predictor of improved OS and RFS. CONCLUSION In addition to established tumor-specific factors, preoperative NLR levels can serve as a valuable biomarker that can be used as a predictor of OS and RFS after resection of PNETs.
Gilding the Waves: Gold Smuggling and Monetary Policies Around the Arabian Sea, 1939–1967

This chapter examines colonial and post-colonial monetary policies in the Arabian Sea in the middle decades of the twentieth century and their circumvention through gold smuggling. Mathew delineates the diasporic financial networks that connected populations around the coasts of the Arabian Sea and the British banks and imperial monetary systems that tried to govern their transactions. Then the chapter moves through the Second World War and the period of decolonization to show how these merchant networks continued to subvert monetary policies, forced post-colonial governments to reform their policies and ultimately helped to hasten the end of the Sterling Area in the 1960s.
Trends in medication adherence in HIV patients in the US, 2001 to 2012: an observational cohort study.

Introduction Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is essential to reduce HIV-related morbidity and mortality as well as the risk of virological failure and HIV transmission. We determined the trends in ART adherence during the periods of therapeutic advances, wider use of ART and greater attention to ART adherence. To understand the general trends in medication adherence, we compared ART adherence with medications for other common chronic conditions. Methods A retrospective cohort study using Medicaid claims between 2001 and 2012 from 14 US states with the highest HIV prevalence. Medicaid is the largest source of care for HIV patients in the US. We identified Medicaid beneficiaries with HIV who initiated ART between 2001 and 2010 (n=23,343). Comparison groups included (1) HIV- persons who initiated a statin, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEI/ARB), or metformin and (2) HIV+ persons who initiated these control medications while on and not on ART. We estimated adjusted odds of >90% medication implementation during the two years following initiation. Results The proportion of HIV+ persons with >90% ART implementation increased from 33.5% in those who initiated in 2001 to 46.4% in 2005 and 52.4% in 2010. ART initiators in 2007 to 2010 had 53% increased odds of >90% implementation compared to those in 2001 to 2003 (adjusted OR 1.53, 99% CI: 1.34 to 1.75). Older age, male, White race, newer ART regimens and absence of substance use indicators were also associated with increased odds of >90% ART implementation. No or minimal improvements were found in the implementation of control medications in HIV- persons. For HIV- persons, the adjusted ORs comparing 2007-2010 to 2001-2003 were 1.06, 1.01 and 1.19 for statins, ACEI/ARB, metformin respectively. HIV+ persons who were on ART had, on average, 15.0 (SD: 4.2) and 16.1 (SD: 3.4) percentage points higher >90% implementation rates of concurrent statins, ACEI/ARB or metformin compared to HIV- persons and HIV+ persons who were not on ART respectively. Conclusions Adherence to ART substantially improved between 2001 and 2012. Nevertheless, the absolute rates of >90% implementation were low for all groups examined. Substantial disparities by age, sex and race were present, drawing attention to the need to continue to enhance medication adherence. Further studies are required to examine whether these trends and disparities persist in the most recent period.
Prevalence of Screening for Food Insecurity, Housing Instability, Utility Needs, Transportation Needs, and Interpersonal Violence by US Physician Practices and Hospitals

Importance Social needs, including food, housing, utilities, transportation, and experience with interpersonal violence, are linked to health outcomes. Identifying patients with unmet social needs is a necessary first step to addressing these needs, yet little is known about the prevalence of screening. Objective To characterize screening for social needs by physician practices and hospitals. Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional survey analyses of responses by physician practices and hospitals to the 2017-2018 National Survey of Healthcare Organizations and Systems. Responses were collected from survey participants from June 16, 2017, to August 17, 2018. Exposures Organizational characteristics, including participation in delivery and payment reform. Main Outcomes and Measures Self-report of screening patients for food insecurity, housing instability, utility needs, transportation needs, and experience with interpersonal violence. Results Among 4976 physician practices, 2333 responded, a response rate of 46.9%. Among hospitals, 757 of 1628 (46.5%) responded. After eliminating responses because of ineligibility, 2190 physician practices and 739 hospitals remained. Screening for all 5 social needs was reported by 24.4% (95% CI, 20.0%-28.7%) of hospitals and 15.6% (95% CI, 13.4%-17.9%) of practices, whereas 33.3% (95% CI, 30.5%-36.2%) of practices and 8.0% (95% CI, 5.8%-11.0%) of hospitals reported no screening. Screening for interpersonal violence was most common (practices: 56.4%; 95% CI, 53.3%-2 59.4%; hospitals: 75.0%; 95% CI, 70.1%-79.3%), and screening for utility needs was least common (practices: 23.1%; 95% CI, 20.6%-26.0%; hospitals: 35.5%; 95% CI, 30.0%-41.0%) among both hospitals and practices. Among practices, federally qualified health centers (yes: 29.7%; 95% CI, 21.5%-37.8% vs no: 9.4%; 95% CI, 7.2%-11.6%;P Conclusions and Relevance This study’s findings suggest that few US physician practices and hospitals screen patients for all 5 key social needs associated with health outcomes. Practices that serve disadvantaged patients report higher screening rates. The role of physicians and hospitals in meeting patients’ social needs is likely to increase as more take on accountability for cost under payment reform. Physicians and hospitals may need additional resources to screen for or address patients’ social needs.
Therapy Response Imaging in Central Nervous System (CNS) Malignancy

The wide spectrum of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms and treatment-related changes makes imaging evaluation of treatment response challenging. In this chapter, we provide an overview of disease-specific approaches for therapy-response imaging. First, we review relevant background, such as classic MRI characteristics of pre- and posttreatment changes in CNS malignancy, the WHO brain tumor classification, and novel therapeutic approaches for CNS malignancy. Next, we discuss CNS therapy-response imaging strategies and pitfalls, including a discussion of RANO, pseudoprogression, pseudoresponse, and radiation necrosis. Lastly, we review emerging approaches for CNS therapy-response imaging, such as iRANO and radiomics. Understanding posttreatment imaging changes of CNS malignancies is crucial to help direct clinical management.
Culture Squared: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Values Espoused by National Arts Councils and Cultural Agencies

This study compared the values of national cultural agencies of 92 countries around the world. Through analysis of agency names, mission statements, and other information on the websites of cultura...
Wittgenstein on Rationalism

If “rationalism” refers to the thesis that there is a right way to do whatever it is that we do—a way that we, with our reason, can discover—then Ludwig Wittgenstein is a critic of rationalism. For our words and deeds are justified only by the rules of particular language-games—but these language-games are themselves justified only insofar as they meet our needs; certainly none of them need be justified by reference to any of the others. Together, our language-games constitute our form of life; though this form of life is not entirely arbitrary—some of its features can be explained by reference to our nature—nonetheless, it could be different in many ways. Indeed, it has been—and therefore probably will be—different in many ways; on some level, we all know this. Philosophy at its worst is the attempt to forget it; philosophy at its best is, therefore, the attempt to remember it.
Automatic Identification of CAPTCHA Schemes

Text based CAPTCHAs are ubiquitous on the Internet since they are easily generated by machines, easily solvable by humans and yet not easily defeated by state-of-the-art computer algorithms. Over the years, several attacks have been designed by researchers to solve different types of CAPTCHAs. These attacks always assume that the type of CAPTCHA is known. However, in order to devise a common frame work, comprising of different attacks that can be launched automatically, the first prime step is to recognize the CAPTCHA scheme. In this paper we present a method based on geometric features to automatically identify text based CAPTCHA schemes. The proposed method is verified on a data set comprising of 25 different types of CAPTCHA (1,000 samples per type). We achieve an identification / classification accuracy of up to approximately 99%.
Verniered Optical Phased Arrays for Grating Lobe Suppression and Extended FOV

Optical phased arrays (OPAs) which beam-steer in 2D have so far been unable to pack emitting elements at $\lambda/2$ spacing, leading to grating lobes which limit the field-of-view, introduce signal ambiguity, and reduce optical efficiency. Vernier schemes, which use paired transmitter and receiver phased arrays with different periodicity, deliberately misalign the transmission and receive patterns so that only a single pairing of transmit/receive lobes permit a signal to be detected. A pair of OPAs designed to exploit this effect thereby effectively suppress the effects of grating lobes and recover the system's field-of-view, avoid potential ambiguities, and reduce excess noise. Here we analytically evaluate Vernier schemes with arbitrary phase control to find optimal configurations, as well as elucidate the manner in which a Vernier scheme can recover the full field-of-view. We present the first experimental implementation of a Vernier scheme and demonstrate grating lobe suppression using a pair of 2D wavelength-steered OPAs. These results present a route forward for addressing the pervasive issue of grating lobes, significantly alleviating the need for dense emitter pitches.
Infectious disorders of the vulva.

Abstract The vulva can be affected by a variety of sexually transmitted infections as well as other common infections that are not typically related to sexual transmission. Vulvar infections may adversely affect the quality of life of the patients by causing discomfort and pain. Some of these infections, especially the ulcerative ones, may also increase the risk of transmission of other infectious diseases, including HIV. Due to the recently increasing number of sexually transmitted infections and atypical presentations of these infections in immunocompromised patients, it is important for pathologists to be familiar with histopathologic features of the infectious diseases of the vulva, so that accurate diagnoses can be rendered as promptly as possible. This review discusses the clinicopathologic presentations of the non-HPV related infections of the vulva.
Low Bone Mineral Density and Recurrent Fractures During and After Pregnancy: Dilemma of an Overlooked Diagnosis

Background: Decreased bone mineral density (BMD) during pregnancy and lactation are rarely described in literature. We present this case of multiple compression fractures during and after pregnancy, highlighting the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma of an overlooked diagnosis. Clinical Case: A 23-year-old female without significant past medical history, suffers from an acute onset lower back pain in the third trimester of her first pregnancy. On initial evaluation, this back pain was thought to be musculoskeletal and was dismissed by her medical team. No imaging was ordered throughout the duration of pregnancy, despite the pain remaining unrelenting. On her second day post-partum, she heard a “pop” in her back and fell while holding her newborn. Imaging revealed multiple vertebral compression fractures, in different stages of acuity. Due to debilitating pain, the patient quit breastfeeding and ultimately would never hold her baby again. Her simple activities of daily living were stymied, both as a mother and secretary. It wasn’t long before she couldn’t even fax forms in her office and had to leave work with debility. Traumatized by these life events and continuing to be afflicted by this chronic pain, the patient decided against having any future children. Her compression fractures were managed with different types of analgesics in addition to vitamin D and calcium supplements. At age 53 and 57, BMD scans showed a T-score >1 at both the lumbar spine and total hip. Forearm BMD was not evaluated at these times. At age 58, a CT spine demonstrated new compression fractures at T5-T12 & L1-L5. She subsequently underwent kyphoplasty of T5, T7 and T8. Fortunately, a bone core biopsy of these 3 vertebrae showed no malignant pathology. A follow up CT scan 6 months later showed stable compression fractures, along with multilevel degenerative changes and neural foraminal stenosis. At age 60, the patient would receive L4-L5 trans-foraminal epidural corticosteroid injection and referral to the bone clinic at a tertiary health center. Initial lab work on referral was significant for normal calcium, albumin, parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, kidney function, liver function, serum and urine protein electrophoresis and cross link N-telopeptide. Osteocalcin was low at 3.9 ng/mL (NL 8.8–37.6 ng/mL). Repeat BMD scan showed T-scores of 0.6, 1.1 and -2.6 at her lumbar spine, total hip and distal forearm respectively. Her osteoporosis is currently managed with teriparatide without active issues. Conclusion: This case highlights the rare development of low BMD in pregnant and breastfeeding women, without prior risk factors, jeopardizing future quality of life. The evidence behind the incidence and pathophysiology underlying these changes remains deficient. There remains a dearth of guidelines for definition and treatment of osteoporosis and low BMD in young peripartum women.
Research With Young Multilingual Children Through Child-Centered Interview Activities

Despite the increasing body of scholarship on multilingual children, little insight has been provided about what researchers need to consider when documenting and exploring young children’s multili...
The Future of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

The physiology of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is complex and changes over time. Becker and Weisfeldt defined three time-sensitive phases of resuscitation: electrical, circulatory, and metabolic (1). Each of these phases is characterized by multiple physiological abnormalities to become more profound and difficult to reverse over time. Beyond the first phase, which can often be corrected by a single intervention (e.g., prompt defibrillation for ventricular fibrillation [VF] or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, and increasing host of challenges develop (e.g., maintaining coronary and cerebral blood flow and pressure, counteracting vasodilatation, cerebral protection, minimize and postresuscitation left ventricular dysfunction).
What Happens if you Catch Whypox? Children’s Learning Experiences of Infectious Disease in a Multi-user Virtual Environment

ABSTRACT This study investigated students’ understanding of a virtual infectious disease in relation to their understanding of natural infectious diseases. Two sixth grade classrooms of students between the ages 10 to 12 (46 students) participated in a participatory simulation of a virtual infectious disease as part of their science curriculum that took place in a university-laboratory school in Los Angeles, California. The results from our analyses revealed that the immersive components of the simulation afforded students the opportunity to discuss their understandings of natural disease and to compare them to their experiences with the virtual disease. We found that while the virtual disease capitalized on students’ knowledge of natural infectious disease through virtual symptoms, these symptoms and a missing curricular piece of computational viruses may have led students to think of its transfer more as an observable or mechanical event rather than as a biological process. These findings provide helpful indicators to science educators and educational designers interested in creating and implementing such online simulations to further students’ conceptual understanding.
The role of real-time scanning in antenatal fetal surveillance

The additional value of real-time ultrasound scanning (RTBS) in antepartum assessment of fetal well-being was studied in 158 high-risk patients after a nonstress test (NST). Fetal breathing movements (FBM), fetal movements (FM), tonus (TON), and normal amniotic fluid volume (AFV) when present on RTBS were reliable signs of fetal well-being. These ultrasound markers of fetal well-being appeared to be as reliable indicators of good outcome as the reactive NST. Multiple indicators did not improve the accuracy of the prediction of normal outcome. All test results were normal in only about 50% of patients. In general, abnormal test results were poor indicators of poor outcome. Only when all parameters were abnormal were babies invariably affected. Five of six babies with major anomalies showed increased AFV, and seven of 13 growth-retarded or postmature babies demonstrated decreased AFV. The parameters obtained on RTBS appeared to be far more reliable than the contraction stress test (CST) in discriminating the truly abnormal fetus. Three babies with positive CST in this study had normal outcomes. These results, if confirmed in larger studies, suggest that RTBS after a nonreactive NST is an effective and potentially economical method of fetal assessment.
PLAGUES, PANDEMICS, AND PATENTS: LEGALITY AND MORALITY

This article provides a brief historical review of the devastation inflicted by plagues and pandemics and then considers the only recent availability of medicines to prevent, cure, or at least ameliorate the effects of these underlying diseases. It is extremely costly to develop these medicines and to obtain government approval for their distribution. The patent system accordingly plays a key role in providing the incentive to make such investments in developing pharmaceutical inventions. The patent system has become internationalized under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights ("TRIPS"), which requires member states to provide patent protection "in all fields of technology," including pharmaceutical inventions. The tension is clear between the need for access to life-saving medicines on a world-wide basis and the need to provide a strong incentive via the patent system to insure that such medicines are developed. The tension is particularly acute with respect to the least-developed countries that do not have the ability to pay for such patented medicines and do not even have the technical infrastructure to replicate such medicines. To alleviate this tension somewhat, it has been proposed to amend the compulsory licensing provisions of the TRIPS Agreement to enable these least-developed countries to import patented medications from suppliers in other countries working under compulsory licenses. It is questionable whether this amendment will be a viable solution, particularly if there is a severe pandemic. The primary purpose of the present article is to address the moral issue of whether a developing country unable to pay for patented medicine may be morally justified in securing that medication from whatever source to prevent the significant loss of life of its nationals. This argument follows the general moral proposition that taking another's property may be justified to save one’s own or another’s life, but that the property owner is entitled to compensation for the loss. The legal proposition is the same: requiring compensation of the owner where the taking may be necessary to save life or property and may be quite reasonable under the circumstances. The further proposition is also accepted that a violation of law is a prima facie moral violation. These propositions are conceded in the article and are then extended to the situation where the developing country is incapable of paying for the patented drug and is faced with the significant loss of life of its nationals. The conclusion drawn from the analysis is that even though the law may have been violated, there is no moral violation by the developing country in securing the patented drug while not being able to compensate the patent owner at the TRIPS mandated level of "adequate remuneration."
Single-cell mass spectrometry reveals small molecules that affect cell fates in the 16-cell embryo

Spatial and temporal changes in molecular expression are essential to embryonic development, and their characterization is critical to understand mechanisms by which cells acquire different phenotypes. Although technological advances have made it possible to quantify expression of large molecules during embryogenesis, little information is available on metabolites, the ultimate indicator of physiological activity of the cell. Here, we demonstrate that single-cell capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is able to test whether differential expression of the genome translates to the domain of metabolites between single embryonic cells. Dissection of three different cell types with distinct tissue fates from 16-cell embryos of the South African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) and microextraction of their metabolomes enabled the identification of 40 metabolites that anchored interconnected central metabolic networks. Relative quantitation revealed that several metabolites were differentially active between the cell types in the wild-type, unperturbed embryos. Altering postfertilization cytoplasmic movements that perturb dorsal development confirmed that these three cells have characteristic small-molecular activity already at cleavage stages as a result of cell type and not differences in pigmentation, yolk content, cell size, or position in the embryo. Changing the metabolite concentration caused changes in cell movements at gastrulation that also altered the tissue fates of these cells, demonstrating that the metabolome affects cell phenotypes in the embryo.
THE MEASUREMENT OF MOLECULAR DIVERSITY BY RECEPTOR SITE INTERACTION SIMULATION

The assembly of large compound libraries for the purpose of screening against various receptor targets to identify chemical leads for drug discovery programs has created a need for methods to measure the molecular diversity of such libraries. The method described here, for which we propose the acronym RESIS (for Receptor Site Interaction Simulation), relates directly to this use. A database is built of three-dimensional representations of the compounds in the library and a set of three-point three-dimensional theoretical receptor sites is generated based on putative hydrophobic and polar interactions. A series of flexible, three-dimensional searches is then performed over the database, using each of the theoretical sites as the basis for one such search. The resulting pattern of hits across the grid of theoretical receptor sites provides a measure of the molecular diversity of the compound library. This can be conveniently displayed as a density map which provides a readily comprehensible visual impression of the library diversity characteristics. A library of 7500 drug compounds derived from the CIPSLINEPC databases was characterized with respect to molecular diversity using the RESIS method. Some specific uses for the information obtained from application of the method are discussed. A comparison was made of the results from the RESIS method with those from a recently published two-dimensional approach for assessing molecular diversity using sets of compounds from the Maybridge database (MAY).
A Distributed Greedy Heuristic for Computing Voronoi Tessellations with Applications Towards Peer-to-Peer Networks

Computing Voronoi tessellations in an arbitrary number of dimensions is a computationally difficult task. This problem becomes exacerbated in distributed environments, such as Peer-to-Peer networks and Wireless networks, where Voronoi tessellations have useful applications. We present our Distributed Greedy Voronoi Heuristic, which approximates Voronoi tessellations in distributed environments. Our heuristic is fast, scalable, works in any geometric space with a distance and midpoint function, and has interesting applications in embedding metrics such as latency in the links of a distributed network.
Characterizing crown fuel distribution for conifers in the interior western United States

Canopy fire hazard evaluation is essential for prioritizing fuel treatments and for assessing potential risk to firefight- ers during suppression activities. Fire hazard is usually expressed as predicted potential fire behavior, which is sensitive to the methodology used to quantitatively describe fuel profiles: methodologies that assume that fuel is distributed uniformly through- out crowns have been shown to predict less severe fire behavior than those that assume more realistic nonuniform fuel distributions. We used crown fuel data from seven interior western United States conifer species to characterize within-crown fuel distributions. Fuel was shifted upward and concentrated in crowns in crowded stands compared with crowns in open stands, which suggests that the vertical distribution of fuel is shaped by foliage concentration in favorable light environments near the top of crowns and echoes the predictable relationship between crown ratio and stand density. However, unlike crown ratio, the relationship between within-crown foliage distribution and stand density was independent of the shade tolerance of a species. This implies that there is a general relationship between stand density and within-crown fuel distribution for conifers and that species differences in fuel profiles related to shade tolerance are expressed primarily in the relationship between stand density and crown ratio.
Cultural Constellations and Childhood Identities: On Greek Gods, Cartoon Heroes, and the Social Lives of Schoolchildren

In this article, Anne Haas Dyson examines the social and ideological processes undergirding children's use of media symbols, especially the superhero, as material for story construction and social affiliation. Dyson draws upon an ethnographic project in an urban school serving children from different racial and socioeconomic groups. The project focused on children's participation in composing and in dramatic play activities within the official (teacher-governed) and unofficial (peer-governed) school worlds. Dyson uses project data to illustrate children's use of cultural symbols as material for story construction and social affiliation. She then shows, using children's diverse responses to an unofficial performance of a superhero story, how children negotiate with text and each other. Finally, she argues for a literacy curriculum in which cultural symbols are open to playful appropriation and critical examination.
Ictal kissing: a release phenomenon in non-dominant temporal lobe epilepsy

Background. A variety of ictal automatisms with strong emotional elements have been described. Ictal kissing has not been well characterized and may provide useful clinical information and insight into the mechanisms of stereotyped ictal behaviour. Methods. Three of 220 patients (1.4%) admitted for video EEG monitoring between 7/2006 and 6/2009 with ictal kissing were identified. Clinical, neurophysiological and imaging data were reviewed and correlated. Results. All patients were right-handed women with a longstanding history and findings consistent with right temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Multiple habitual events were recorded for each patient, characterized by staring, oral automatisms and amnesia. In addition, partial preservation of responsiveness and speech were seen during seizures in all three patients. The first two patients showed kissing behaviour triggered by interactions during seizure testing. The last patient had six seizures overnight and developed spontaneous kissing behaviour in the ictal and post-ictal period of her later events, associated with hyperorality and sexual disinhibition. Conclusion. Our series supports the findings of two prior cases, of one male and one female, which reported IK behaviour associated with TLE and lateralizing to the non-dominant hemisphere. This behaviour has not been described in simple partial seizures or seen with electrical cortical stimulation suggesting that it represents a release phenomenon rather than activation of distinct symptomatogenic cortex. This is also supported by the fact that ictal kissing can occur within the spectrum of seizure-induced Kluver-Bucy syndrome and may extend into the post-ictal period. [Published with video sequences] * These authors contributed equally to this work.
Review of "Reclaiming Enchantment: Humanity In A Creative Universe" by Stuart Kauffman

Review of "Reclaiming Enchantment: Humanity In A Creative Universe" by Stuart Kauffman NY: OUP, 2016.
An optical scattering experiment to measure the timing of x-ray converter target debris in the DARHT II accelerator

The DARHT II accelerator utilizes a fast closing vacuum valve to block x-ray converter target debris from entering the accelerator. An optical scattering diagnostic was developed to measure the arrival time of the debris at the fast valve to verify that the valve closure time is adequate to block the debris.
Analysis of magnetic recording fields

THE PROBLEM of magnetic recording has been approached in several ways in the published literature.1?7 However, none of these works has considered in detail the nonlinearity of the magnetic properties of the coating and the implications of this nonlinearity in recording. Thus, some of the work has been based on oversimplifications of the actual problem, making precise and accurate conclusions unlikely. For instance, under the common simplifying assumption that the medium has a relative permeability of unity (or any other constant value) it is easy to lose sight of the following facts:
Non-grey radiative heat transfer in the picket-fence approximation

Abstract The radiative heat transfer between parallel plates separated by an absorbing gas with a “picket-fence” absorption coefficient is treated by a variational technique. For the heat transfer, a simple rational algebraic expression is obtained and the variational results are found in excellent agreement with the numerically “exact” results reported recently by Reith et al .( 8 ) An expression for the extrapolation distance is also deduced and the results are compared with the values reported earlier by Bond and Siewert .( 5 )
Effect of bis(β-chloroethyl)sulfide (BCES) on base mismatch repair of DNA in monkey kidney cells

Abstract Sulfur mustard, bis(β-chloroethyl)sulfide (BCES), a bifunctional alkylating agent, is a vesicant whose mode of action involves interference with the integrity of cellular DNA. Alkylation of DNA is responsible for some of the biological effects of BCES in tissue. Another possible mechanism by which BCES could exert its toxic effect is interference with high fidelity repair of damaged DNA. This study evaluated the possible effects of BCES on the repair of specific errors, i.e., mismatched bases, in the DNA. Heteroduplex (ht) DNA, formed between two temperature-sensitive mutants of SV40 virus, tsA239 and tsA255, each having a different point mutation in the gene for large T antigen, was used to study the effect of BCES on mismatched base repair in African green monkey kidney (AGMK) cells. AGMK cells were exposed to dilute solutions of BCES in methylene chloride (MC) prior to cationic lipofection with ht DNA. In order for the cells to produce wild type (wt) SV40 DNA at a nonpermissive temperature (41°C), repair of at least one of the two mismatches in the DNA had to occur. It was observed that (a) as the concentration of BCES was increased, a proportionally longer delay in the appearance of wt DNA at 41°C was observed in treated cells transfected with ht DNA as compared with cultures exposed to MC alone and then transfected with ht DNA, (b) there was no such effect in exposed AGMK cells transfected with wt DNA, (c) wt and ht DNA were transfected at similar rates in unexposed cells, and (d) BCES did not affect the rate of transfection of wt cells. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that BCES affects mismatched base repair.
The immunophenotype of reed-sternberg cells. A study of 50 cases of Hodgkin' disease using fixed frozen tissues

The authors analyzed 50 cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD) with a panel of antibodies which detect B-cell and T-cell specific markers and activation antigens using a sensitive immunocytochemical technique and paraformaldehyde-lysine-periodate (PLP) fixed-frozen tissues. In 60% of cases either T-cell or B-cell specific antigens were detected on Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells. Most T-cell cases were of nodular sclerosing (NS) and mixed cellularity (MC) type (65% and 30%, respectively) and most B-cell cases were either of NS or lymphocyte predominant (LP) type (55% and 45%, respectively). Leukocyte common antigen (LCA) was usually negative on RS cells in NS, but was present in approximately 50% of the cases of MC and LP types. Almost all cases were positive for the CD30 antigen (Ki-1). Most cases were also positive for CD15 (LeuM1) with the exception of the LP type. Activation antigens (Ia, CD25, T9) were expressed in a high proportion of cases regardless of subtype. The results suggest that most cases of HD are histogenetically derived from activated T-cells or B-cells.
Longitudinal high-fidelity gait analysis with wireless inertial body sensors

Gait analysis has long been used for various medical and healthcare assessments [1]. In orthopedics and prosthetics, gait analysis is essential for identifying the pathology and assessing the efficacy of the orthopedic assistants or prosthetics prescribed. For example, the efficacy of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), usually prescribed to patients with muscle disorders, (e.g., cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, etc.) to prevent contractures [2], remains unclear. Studies on recovery and rehabilitation from knee surgery have shown that gait analysis focusing on knee joint angles is the key to evaluating the efficacy of treatment. In elderly healthcare, gait analysis has also played an important role in studies of fall risks and fall prevention [3]. Even in cognitive and neuropsychology studies, gait analysis becomes an important parameter because of the close relationship between human cognitive skills and motor function. For example, [4] and [5] have shown the research value of gait analysis in Parkinson's disease and early childhood autism diagnosis, respectively.
Stretching lineations in transpressional shear zones: an example from the Sierra Nevada Batholith, California

Abstract Ductile shear zones and associated stretching lineations are generally considered to be the result of two-dimensional, simple shear deformations, with stretching lineations interpreted to rotate into parallelism with the direction of tectonic transport with increasing deformation. However, stretching lineations perpendicular to the inferred tectonic transport direction are displayed by some shear zones. Field studies in the Sierra Nevada batholith have revealed a single shear zone (the Rosy Finch-Gem Lake shear zone) that contains both steeply-plunging stretching lineations in older metamorphosed sedimentary and granitic rocks, and shallowly-plunging stretching lineations in syntectonic granitoids. Dextral sense-of-shear indicators are found in all these units and deformation occurred simultaneously along the length of the shear zone. Theoretical strain modeling indicates that stretching lineations can be either horizontal or vertical within transpressional shear zones. To investigate the kinematics of three-dimensional deformation, we examine the role of stretching lineations which form as a result of finite strain, including the possibility of partitioning a component of the strike-slip movement onto shear bands. Comparing the field data with the strain modeling, we interpret the along-strike variation in lineation behavior within the Rosy Finch-Gem Lake shear zone to be a result of the differences in finite strain recorded by different units. The older units, showing steeply-plunging lineation, have recorded more finite strain across a narrower shear zone than the syntectonic granites which record shallowly-plunging lineations. We conclude that the orientation of the lineation within transpressional shear zones does not necessarily correlate with the transport direction, but may reflect along-strike variations in finite strain and/or strain partitioning.
Rapid hydrolysis of bile acid conjugates using microwaves: Retention of absolute stereochemistry in the hydrolysis of (25R) 3α,7α,12α-trihydroxy-5β-cholestan-26-oyltaurine

In recent years, defects of bile acid synthesis caused by disorders of peroxisome biogenesis have led to increased interest in C27 bile acids. In humans, while the majority of bile acids are C24 carboxylic acids, the presence of increased concentrations of C27 bile acids and their metabolites in hereditary diseases associated with peroxisomal dysfunction can serve as a useful marker for the intensity of the metabolic disorder. Our present studies describe an efficient method for the rapid hydrolysis of C27 and C24 bile acid conjugates using a commercial microwave oven. The advantages of this method include freedom from racemization, minimal activation, mild reaction conditions, and the highly stereocontrolled nature of the reaction, thus allowing for free bile acid recovery in high yield. For example, when (25R) 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-26-oyl taurine, a major compound present in the bile of Alligator mississippiensis, was deconjugated with 4% NaOH/diethylene glycol or 1 M LiOH/propylene glycol in the microwave oven for 4-6 min, 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholestan-26-oic acid (THCA) was obtained in 81% yield with retention of configuration at C-25. It is suggested that present studies will be helpful in delineating the absolute stereochemistry of 3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-5 beta-cholestanoyl-CoA oxidase, the peroxisomal enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the oxidation of THCA.
Improved syntheses of meso-tetraarylbenziporphyrins and observations of substituent effects on the diatropic characteristics of these formally nonaromatic carbaporphyrinoids☆

Abstract Carbaporphyrinoid systems are widely investigated but improved routes to these systems are needed. A fairly direct route to tetraphenylbenziporphyrin has been reported previously starting from isophthalaldehyde and this approach has been adapted to make use of more easily accessible isophthalic acids. Isophthalic acid and 5- tert -butylisophthalic acid were converted into the related diacyl chlorides and reacted with excess benzene or chlorobenzene to give a series of diketones. These were reduced with sodium borohydride to give the corresponding dialcohols in virtually quantitative yields and this route allows the synthesis of >10 g quantities of these key intermediates. Reaction of these dicarbinols with pyrrole and benzaldehyde or 4-chlorobenzaldehyde in the presence of BF 3 ·Et 2 O in dichloromethane, followed by oxidation with DDQ, gave a series of eight-different tetraarylbenziporphyrins in up to 32% yield. Although benziporphyrins are generally considered to be nonaromatic, they may exhibit trace amounts of global diatropic character and this appears to be enhanced by the presence of a tert -butyl group on the benzene moiety or the introduction of 4-chlorophenyl substituents. Addition of TFA to the NMR solutions generated dications that exhibit an unambiguous ring current effect where the internal CH proton NMR resonances appear upfield in the range of 5.05–5.65 ppm, while the external pyrrolic resonances show concomitant downfield shifts to give values between 7.08 and 7.86 ppm. A tert -butyl substituent again increased the diatropic character of the macrocycle, although replacement of meso -phenyl groups with more electron-withdrawing 4-chlorophenyl units had the opposite effect in this case. These results are consistent with the aromatic characteristics deriving from canonical forms that have [18]annulene substructures. Two examples of palladium(II) benziporphyrin complexes were prepared and these results demonstrate that the presence of 4-chlorophenyl or tert -butyl groupings do not have a negative impact on the formation of organometallic derivatives. The improved yields for the reported synthetic methodology and the new information that can be obtained by systematically altering the substitution patterns around the macrocyclic periphery will facilitate further development of the chemistry of benziporphyrins.
Differentiating Low-Risk and No-Risk PE Patients: The PERC Score

Abstract Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) remains one of the most challenging diagnoses in emergency medicine. The Pulmonary Embolism Rule-out Criteria (PERC) score, a decision aid to reliably distinguish low-risk from very low-risk PE patients, has been derived and validated. Clinical Question: Can a subset of patients with sufficiently low risk for PE be identified who require no diagnostic testing? Evidence Review: The PERC score derivation and validation trials were located using PubMed and Web of Science. A critical appraisal of this research is presented. Results: One single-center and another multi-center validation trial both confirmed that the eight-item PERC score identified a very low-risk subset of patients in whom PE was clinically contemplated with a negative likelihood ratio 0.17 (95% confidence interval 0.11–0.25) in the larger trial. If applied, the rule would have identified 20% of potential PE patients as very low risk. Conclusion: The PERC score provides clinicians with an easily remembered, validated clinical decision rule that allows physicians to forego diagnostic testing for pulmonary embolus in a very low-risk population.
Usefulness of color Doppler ultrasound in the management of a spinal arteriovenous fistula.

BACKGROUND While color Doppler ultrasonography and microvascular Doppler recordings have been used intraoperatively for spinal cord vascular malformations, they have not been employed for similar spinal cord lesions preoperatively. CASE DESCRIPTION We report the usefulness of color Doppler ultrasonography through a lumbar laminectomy defect in the management of a spinal arteriovenous fistula. CONCLUSION Color Doppler ultrasonography should be considered for spinal lesions in which a laminectomy defect is present.
Condorcet and communitarianism: Boghossian’s fallacious inference

This paper defends the communitarian account of meaning against Boghossian’s (Wittgensteinian) arguments. Boghossian argues that whilst such an account might be able to accommodate the infinitary characteristic of meaning, it cannot account for its normativity: he claims that, since the dispositions of a group must mirror those of its members, the former cannot be used to evaluate the latter. However, as this paper aims to make clear, this reasoning is fallacious. Modelling the issue with four (justifiable) assumptions, it shows that Condorcet’s ‘Jury Theorem’ can be used to prove that the dispositions of the majority of the members of a group can differ from those of any individual member in a way that makes it possible to use communal dispositions as a standard with which individual dispositions can be assessed. Moreover, the argument of the paper is also shown to have general implications for the use of formal methods in the explanation of the nature of certain fallacious inferences.
Education and Communication: Improving Patient Safety and Increasing Employee Knowledge in an Acute Hospital Setting

influenza from vaccine (5.3%), non-belief in vaccination in general (12%) and no reason (73%). Conclusions: Long-term care facilities have very high risk elderly patient population and hence mandatory influenza vaccination seems to be an effective measure to improve vaccination rates among health care workers in LTACs. Annual competencies done routinely at LTACs seem to be the right time for instituting a mandatory influenza policy to improve rates. However, lack of knowledge about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine continue to have effect on influenza vaccination rates.
A study on the effect of Prandtl number on the stability of the conduction regime of natural convection in an inclined slot

The effect of Prandtl number on the stability of the conduction regime of natural convection in an inclined slot has been studied for the case corresponding to heating from below. For Pr > 12.7 the instability occurs as waves travelling in the direction of the base flow if the angle of inclination from the vertical is small. For larger angles cells form which have their axes in the direction of the base flow. For 0.24 < Pr < 12.7 the situation is similar to the above except now instead of travelling waves the instability sets in as horizontal cells for the smaller angles. The angle at which the transition between the two types of cells occurs increases from 1° to 90° as the Prandtl number decreases from 12.7 to 0.24. For Pr < 0.24 only horizontal cells are possible and the stability of the flow is now mainly a function of Pr tan δ, where δ is the angle of inclination.
GLC Determination of Butylated Hydroxyanisole in Human Plasma and Urine

A highly sensitive and specific GLC method was developed for the analysis of butylated hydroxyanisole, a commonly used antioxidant. Concentrations below 100 ng/ml could be detected in human plasma and urine. Preliminary pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that, upon administration of 100 mg po, butylated hydroxyanisole was quickly absorbed and removed from the plasma with a high degree of intersubject variability.