cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OpenMSI: A High-Performance Web-Based Platform for Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) enables researchers to directly probe endogenous molecules directly within the architecture of the biological matrix. Unfortunately, efficient access, management, and analysis of the data generated by MSI approaches remain major challenges to this rapidly developing field. Despite the availability of numerous dedicated file formats and software packages, it is a widely held viewpoint that the biggest challenge is simply opening, sharing, and analyzing a file without loss of information. Here we present OpenMSI, a software framework and platform that addresses these challenges via an advanced, high-performance, extensible file format and Web API for remote data access (http://openmsi.nersc.gov). The OpenMSI file format supports storage of raw MSI data, metadata, and derived analyses in a single, self-describing format based on HDF5 and is supported by a large range of analysis software (e.g., Matlab and R) and programming languages (e.g., C++, Fortran, and Python). Careful optimization of the storage layout of MSI data sets using chunking, compression, and data replication accelerates common, selective data access operations while minimizing data storage requirements and are critical enablers of rapid data I/O. The OpenMSI file format has shown to provide >2000-fold improvement for image access operations, enabling spectrum and image retrieval in less than 0.3 s across the Internet even for 50 GB MSI data sets. To make remote high-performance compute resources accessible for analysis and to facilitate data sharing and collaboration, we describe an easy-to-use yet powerful Web API, enabling fast and convenient access to MSI data, metadata, and derived analysis results stored remotely to facilitate high-performance data analysis and enable implementation of Web based data sharing, visualization, and analysis.
Doing What's Best for Patients: 1957 and 1997-Reply

In Reply. —Mr Kelly correctly notes the imperative to put health needs before professionals' self-interest. There is always the danger that this priority order is reversed; every professional and every professional organization must always be vigilant. This need for vigilance is what motivated the Sesquicentennial Conference, its theme, and its strong attendance. While Kelly is correct in noting that the Principles of Medical Ethics omit 2 important 1957 statements, he may have missed the Fundamental Elements of the Patient-Physician Relationship, reproduced below, which address the issues and without which the current Principles of Medical Ethics are not complete or properly read. Both are to be found in the volume that compiles the many ethics positions that together make up the current AMA Code of Medical Ethics . 1 The Fundamental Elements of the Patient-Physician Relationship: 1. The patient has the right to receive information from physicians and to discuss the benefits, risks, and
FACTORS INVOLVED IN PRODUCTION OF CLOSTRIDIUM WELCHII ALPHA TOXIN

Maximum production of the alpha toxin by Cl. welchii is dependent on the inclusion in the medium of several substances in addition to those required for growth. These factors include: 1. Some substance present in enzymatic digests of certain proteins such as casein and gelatine. 2. Glycerylphosphorylcholine and other substances that are present in extracts of pancreas. 3. The use of starch or dextrin as a carbohydrate source in the absence of other fermentable carbohydrates. The omission of any one of these factors from the medium results in a very low yield of alpha toxin.
Cell-free Synthesis of Putative Type V Procollagen Chains Programmed by Chinese Hamster Lung Cell mRNA

Abstract A messenger RNA fraction isolated from cultured Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells programs in a cell-free system prepared from wheat germ the efficient incorporation of [ 14 C] proline into newly synthesized protein with a significant fraction of the incorporated substrate being digestible with bacterial collagenase. This reaction requires both subcellular fractions, an energy source, and is inhibited by the antibiotic puromycin. The relative amount of collagenase-digestible to non-digestible cell-free product depends upon the ratio of CHL mRNA to wheat germ lysate, is not affected by either the Mg 2+ or K + concentrations employed, and under optimal condition, approximately 38% of the total incorporated substrate is collagenase-sensitive. Electrophoresis on SDS-polyacrylamide gels of the products programmed by CHL mRNA indicates that the collagenase-digestible material corresponds in size to a procollagen chain with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 170,000 daltons. These studies suggest that the collagen α1 (V) chain is initially synthesized as a precursor procollagen chain and demonstrate that a significant amount of the mRNA in Chinese hamster lung cells codes for this protein.
XPS and reactivity study of bimetallic nanoparticles containing Ru and Pt supported on a gold disk

We report a new method of immobilization of catalytic metal/alloy nanoparticles on a gold disk for transfer from an electrochemical cell to UHV (without sample exposure to air) for XPS analyses. Using this immobilization approach, several samples were examined: a core-shell Pt-on-Ru catalyst prepared from Ru black onto which Pt was spontaneously deposited, commercial Pt/Ru 50:50 nanoparticle alloy, as well as single metal Ru and Pt nanoparticle samples. The catalysts were characterized for the Ru oxidation state and for the methanol electrooxidation activity (as Pt was always metallic). For all bimetallic samples, we found that the reduced nanoparticles were more active towards methanol oxidation than the fully or partially oxidized samples. Regardless the Ru oxidation state however, the activity was lower than that previously reported for Ru decorated Pt nanoparticle catalysts (Ru-on-Pt). Possible reasons for the reactivity differences are discussed.
A group sequential approach to crossover trials for average bioequivalence

Group sequential methods to allow the possibility of early termination of a trial due to sufficiently convincing results are a standard in therapeutic clinical trials but have been little considered in bioequivalence trials. We investigate the statistical properties of one group sequential approach to bioequivalence trials. In particular, we are interested in maintenance of level (5%), quantification of any loss of power, and the probability of early stopping. These properties are assessed via data simulated according to a pharmacokinetic model. We find that there are cases where a group sequential approach has a substantial probability of early stopping, with essentially no loss of power.
Enhanced surface hydrophobicity by coupling of surface polarity and topography

We use atomistic computer simulation to explore the relationship between mesoscopic (liquid drop contact angle) and microscopic (surface atomic polarity) characteristics for water in contact with a model solid surface based on the structure of silica. We vary both the magnitude and direction of the solid surface polarity at the atomic scale and characterize the response of an aqueous interface in terms of the solvent molecular organization and contact angle. We show that when the topography and polarity of the surface act in concert with the asymmetric charge distribution of water, the hydrophobicity varies substantially and, further, can be maximal for a surface with significant polarity. The results suggest that patterning of a surface on several length scales, from atomic to μm lengths, can make important independent contributions to macroscopic hydrophobicity.
Reification without evaluation

Constructing self-referential systems, e.g. Brian Smith''s 3-Lisp language, is actually more straightforward than you think. Anyone can build an infinite tower of processors (where each processor implements the processor at the next level below) by employing some common sense and one simple trick. This paper presents a simple programming language interpreter that illustrates how this can be done. Given this basically straightforward technique, processor towers might be easily constructed for a wide variety of systems to enable them to manipulate and reason about themselves.
Corpuscular Radiation and the Acceleration of Artificial Satellites

IN a previous connnunication1 I showed that the secular accelerations of Satellites 1958 β 2 and 1958 δ 1 varied nearly in unison with the 10.7-cm. radiation from the Sun. This correlation sheds no light on the nature of the radiation responsible for the variations of density of the upper atmosphere, since the 10.7-cm. radiation—the variations of which are remarkably similar to those of the sunspot numbers—can obviously be considered only as a general index of solar activity. To obtain further clues on this subject I reduced anew all the available observations of these two Satellites (about 2,500 for 1958 β 2 and 9,000 for 1958 δ 1) with the best elements at hand and obtained more accurate accelerations at twice the original resolution. The results are plotted in Fig. 1, together with the 10.7-cm. solar radiation curve2. As can be seen, the correlation with the solar radiation is remarkably good, even in details, for the high-flying, spherical Vanguard Satellite 1958 β 2, for which accurate, well-distributed Minitrack observations were available throughout. For 1958 δ 1 the observations are mostly optical, less accurate and more irregularly distributed, with occasional periods of near-invisibility; this fact, together with the elongated shape, may have contributed somewhat to the poorer correlation in its case.
On African literature

Welcoming the English translation of Bernard Dadie's Climbie -- some fifteen years after its publication in French--Ezekiel Mphahlele commented: It has became a habit for us to complain that intellectuals--including writers, artists, politicians, and scholars--from French-speaking Africa do not work smoothly with those from countries of British influence in Africa. Somehow, when we are in conferences, we find ourselves talking along parallel lines, or we find argument entangled in fluent, passionate rhetoric, or else served up in a highly prosaic manner, lacking any kind of romance. In small groups, we say of one another, “Oh, those Francophones, they're the end!” and “Les anglophones, c'est veritablement la mentalite anglo-saxonne, ca.!” Yet, we keep coming to a meeting point somewhere: the times demand it, the ideals of pan-Africanism, however depressingly distant they often look, make it desperately necessary for us to understand one another, if only at the basic colour level (Dadie 1971, p. vii). It is a fact that the artificial barriers erected throughout Africa by the colonial structure in the course of the nineteenth century are still in existence and the many works dealing with African literature published in the last ten years or so--ever since the emergence to independence--still reflect a situation which, one hopefully assumed, was to end with colonialism. The French, English, Portuguese, and Spanish “cultural” empires carved in Africa seem to have maintained their autonomy, and there does not seem to be much interpenetration between the various components of the African continent.
Trauma-Related Thoracic Outlet Syndrome:

181 patients treated for thoracic outlet syndrome by first rib resection were reviewed. 88 (49%) indicated a single traumatic event which precipitated the thoracic outlet syndrome. 79% of patients with a history of a single traumatic episode had good to excellent results after first rib resection. A separate group of 18 patients developed work-related thoracic outlet syndrome due to repetitive activities. Ratings of good to excellent results were lower (66%) among workmen's compensation cases.
Adolescent and adult mothers' perceptions of hazardous situations for their children

Purpose: To determine if young and inexperienced parents perceive potentially dangerous situations as less hazardous for children than do adult parents. Methods: Sixty expectant adolescent mothers and 45 adult mothers viewed photographs of infants and children in a variety of potentially hazardous situations. Using a 10-point scale, participants estimated the likelihood of injury, the anticipated level of harm, and their own likelihood of intervention in each situation. Results: Expectant adolescent mothers were significantly less likely than adult mothers to report intervention in potentially dangerous situations. Previous child care training and experience increased their likelihood of intervention in such hazardous situations. Expectant adolescent mothers perceived greater likelihood of injury for the target child than did adult mothers. Conclusions: Adolescent parents with little child care experience should be alerted to the importance of intervening in potentially hazardous situations for infants and young children.
Unified Approach for the Flexural Stability Design of Steel I-Section Members

The AASHTO (2004) and AISC (2005) provisions for flexural stability design of steel I-section members have been revised in their entirety relative to previous Specifications to simplify their logic, organization and application, while also improving their accuracy and generality. This paper provides a brief overview of these provisions and summarizes the background to the corresponding flexural resistance equations. The base flexural resistance equations of these Specifications are, with minor exceptions, fundamentally the same. However, the organization and format in AASHTO (2004) emphasizes the streamlined design of various I-section member types common for typical bridge spans of about 30 m (100 ft) or larger, while AISC (2005) emphasizes the streamlined design of compact doubly-symmetric I-section members.
Excess Rare Gases in a Subaerial Basalt from Nigeria

A Nigerian alkaline basalt containing large phenocrysts of plagioclase feldspars1,2 and comprising one of the numerous Tertiary-Quaternary plugs of the Benue Trough province is a fine grained, subaerial rock which seems to be suitable for whole rock K-Ar dating. The age obtained, however, 95 m.y. (Table 1), is geologically unrealistic, for absence of sediment cover, the freshness of the rock and the ages of associated rocks all point to a late Tertiary origin2.
Nouveau concept de grappe de commande

Les etudes et la mise au point de nouvelles grappes de commande destinees a parer aux phenomenes d'usure, de gonflement et de fissuration
Human aromatase in high yield and purity by perfusion chromatography and its characterization by difference spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

Expression of human cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19A1, aromatase) was accomplished at a high level using a baculovirus expression system in an insect cell suspension culture. Using the relatively new chromatographic technique of perfusion chromatography, a very rapid procedure for purification of the protein from solubilized cells was developed. At extraordinary flow rates of between 3 and 9 column volumes per minute, all chromatographic procedures could be performed, including setup, equilibration, and column regeneration steps, in less than 2 h, not including brief dialysis periods. Total yields were 40-52% and resulted in preparations with specific content values of 17.1 nmol aromatase/mg protein. Final purified preparations showed virtually no typical P450 spectra under standard conditions, but displayed full activity with typical enzyme kinetic parameters. These unusual results suggest that standard methods of P450 measurement are inappropriate when applied to aromatase. The findings are fully consistent with those encountered previously for purified preparations from a human placental source and led us to a new aromatase quantification method based on ligand-induced difference spectroscopy. A new HPLC assay is described which rapidly separates heme and apoprotein while measuring total heme content. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was employed with both glycosylated and deglycosylated forms of the final purified product to confirm its identity as a glycosylated cytochrome P450.
Emergency department overcrowding: analysis of the factors of renege rate.

Background Reneging (i.e., leaving without being seen) is an important outcome of emergency department (ED) overcrowding. The input-throughput-output conceptualization of ED patient flow is helpful in understanding and measuring the impact of various factors on this outcome. Objectives To quantify the impact of input and output factors on ED renege rate. Methods The authors used patient-level and system-level data from multiple sources in their institution to build logistic regression models, with reneging as the dependent variable. This approach provides the impact of each input and output factor on renege rate expressed as an odds ratio (OR). Results The OR for reneging attributable to the difference between the 80th and 20th percentile values for inpatient bed utilization is 1.05. Comparing 80th and 20th percentile values for boarded ED admits as of 7 am, the OR is 1.73; for daily ED arrivals, the OR is 2.00; and for admission percentage, the OR is 1.12. The OR for evening versus morning patient arrival time is 3.9 and for patient arrival on a Monday versus a Sunday is 2.7. The OR for reneging for a patient presenting on Monday evening versus Sunday morning is 10.5. Conclusions The effects of ED input and output factors on renege rate are significant and quantifiable. At least some of the variation in these factors and subsequently their effects are predictable, suggesting that further refinement in the management of ED and inpatient resources could affect improvement in ED renege rate. Continued efforts at quantifying the effects are warranted.
Specific nuclear uptake of intracellularly-produced estrogen by rat granulosa cells

Granulosa cells of the ovarian follicle are unique in that they both synthesize steroid hormones and respond to exogenously-administered steroids. Isolated granulosa cells from ovaries of gonadotropin-primed rats were incubated in the presence of [3H]testosterone, which the cells convert to [3H]estradiol. Nuclear extracts of these cells were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography in a system of 40% acetonitrile. When cells were incubated in the presence of [3H]testosterone alone, a significant portion of the radioactivity present in nuclei co-eluted with authentic estradiol. The nuclear binding was considered to be specific, since 50-75% of total binding was suppressed when the incubation medium contained excess unlabeled estrogen. Moreover, when an antibody to estradiol was included in the medium, specific nuclear uptake of [3H]estradiol was not abolished, but rather was increased. Granulosa cells may, therefore, directly utilize endogenously-produced estradiol, a mechanism which may play a role in the regulation of ovarian cells.
The fluorescence of scorpions and cataractogenesis

Background Protein cross-linking and fluorescence are widely recognized markers of oxidative aging in human proteins. Oxidative protein aging is a combinatorial process in which diversity arises from the heterogeneity of the targets and is amplified by the nonselective nature of the reactants. The cross-links themselves defy analysis because they are generally embedded in a covalent matrix. Arthropods rely upon oxidative cross-linking in the hardening of the cuticle — a process known as sclerotization. Among arthropods, scorpions are noteworthy in that the process of sclerotization is accompanied by the buildup of strong visible fluorescence. To date, the nature of the fluorescent species has remained a mystery. Results We have identified one of the soluble fluorescent components of the scorpions Centuroides vittatus and Pandinus Imperator as β-carboline — a tryptophan derivative that has previously been identified by hydrolysis and oxidation of lens protein. We have also shown that β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid is released from both scorpion exuvia (the shed cuticle) and human cataracts upon hydrolysis, suggesting that the protein-bound β-carboline and free β-carboline have common chemical origins. Conclusions Cataractogenesis and cuticular sclerotization are disparate oxidative processes — the former is collateral and the latter is constitutive. The common formation of β-carbolines shows that similar patterns of reactivity are operative. These fundamental mechanisms provide predictive insight into the consequences of human protein aging.
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in chicken meat and other food animal products: a market-basket pilot study.

Abstract Pharmaceutical drugs are extensively used in industrial food animal production. We examined whether residues of veterinary antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) were detectable in a small market-basket sample of retail chicken (n = 39), ground beef (n = 3) and milk (n = 3) samples. High-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry were used to assess the concentration of 59 PPCPs and their residues in animal products. All samples of ground beef, milk, and 14 chickens were analyzed individually, while an additional 25 chicken samples were pooled and analyzed in groups of five. The majority of PPCPs were not detected in meat and milk samples. Caffeine was detected in two of three milk samples (0.4 ng/mL, 2.0 ng/mL) and in 10 of 19 individual and pooled chicken samples (median: 18.6 ng/g, range: 6.1–28.8 ng/g). Acetaminophen was detected in three of three milk samples (median: 1.5 ng/mL, range: 1.4–2.1 ng/mL). Antibiotics in the tetracycline class were detected in two of three milk samples (median: 1.0 ng/mL, range: 0.1–2.0 ng/mL) and did not exceed regulatory residue tolerances of 300 ng/mL. There are no regulatory residue tolerances for caffeine or acetaminophen in animal products. The acetaminophen detections in milk, however, raise questions about extra-label and unapproved use of pharmaceutical drugs in food animal production, as this drug is not approved for use in lactating dairy cattle or any other type of food animal production. Additional studies are needed to confirm our finding of PPCPs in meat and dairy products.
Radiative lifetime of Li2 A 1Σ+u

Abstract Collision free lifetimes and total quenching cross sections have been measured for Li 2 A 1 Σ + u as a function of the degree of vibrational excitation. The lifetimes are independent of ν and average 18.0 ± 1.9 ns. The quenching cross sections range from 185 A 2 to 406 A 2 .
Autologous osteochondral transplantation for simple cyst in the patella.

Abstract Treatment options for chondral and osteochondral defects of the patella have been few and results have been inconsistent at best. Autologous osteochondral transplantation presents a new way to revisit these patellar defects. We report the case of a young female softball player with a simple cyst in the patella and an osteochondral defect that serves as the indication for autograft osteochondral transplantation.
External Fixator Kickstands for Free Soft Tissue Flap Protection Case Series and Description of Technique

Background:Protected elevation represents a critical component of postoperative care, particularly in posteriorly located flaps, to prevent pressure on the flap’s vascular pedicle and ensure a succ...
'Travel Strengthens America'? Tourism promotion in the United States during the Second World War

This article revisits common assumptions about domestic tourism in the United States during the Second World War by demonstrating that tourism's economic importance meant that government officials continued to pursue tourism promotion campaigns even after the United States entered the Second World War. Contemporary media coverage and historical analysis of Florida's wartime initiatives challenge the current consensus among historians which suggests that governments focused primarily on restricting travel opportunities in the United States. A detailed case study of Washington State offers a rare and perhaps unique opportunity to demonstrate the extent to which state and federal officials championed tourism's economic and psychological benefits while highlighting the degree to which regional competition continued to inform state officials’ response to wartime realities. In response to an awkward and unpredictable business climate, and ambiguous directives from the federal government, state officials embrace...
A review of stochastic algorithms with continuous value function approximation and some new approximate policy iteration algorithms for multidimensional continuous applications

We review the literature on approximate dynamic programming, with the goal of better understanding the theory behind practical algorithms for solving dynamic programs with continuous and vector-valued states and actions and complex information processes. We build on the literature that has addressed the well-known problem of multidimensional (and possibly continuous) states, and the extensive literature on model-free dynamic programming, which also assumes that the expectation in Bellman’s equation cannot be computed. However, we point out complications that arise when the actions/controls are vector-valued and possibly continuous. We then describe some recent research by the authors on approximate policy iteration algorithms that offer convergence guarantees (with technical assumptions) for both parametric and nonparametric architectures for the value function.
Phase investigations of the Pu-Pt, Pu-Rh, and Pu-Pt-Rh systems

Phase and crystal structure studies performed on the Pu-Pt, Pu-Rh, and Pu-Pt-Rh systems are described. The techniques employed included metallography, X-ray diffraction, and an electron microprobe. Results of these studies are correlated with previous work to obtain phase diagrams for these three systems. Previously unreported PuPt3-K and PuPt3-k polymorphs and a new PuPt4 phase were identified. Eutectic points in the Pu-Pt and Pu-Rh systems were determined at 89.9 at% Pt and 84.5 at% Rh, respectively. No low melting eutectic alloys or ternary compounds were observed in the Pu- Pt-Rh system. Crystal structures determined by X-ray diffraction measurements were as follows: PuPt5 (hexagonal, P 6/mmm, CaCu5-type); PuPt4 (orthorhombic, Cmmm); and PuPt3-K (BC tetragonal, DOe, PNi3-type).
Hepatitis C virus screening and management of seroconversions in hemodialysis facilities

Over the past two decades, healthcare-associated exposure has increasingly been proved to be a means of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission, especially in hemodialysis facilities. The prevalence of HCV among hemodialysis patients is known to be several times greater than that of the general population of the United States, and chronic HCV infection is associated with significant morbidity and mortality among these patients. During 2008-2011, HCV infection outbreaks were identified in multiple US hemodialysis facilities, resulting in at least 46 new HCV infections among hemodialysis patients. These outbreaks, linked to infection control breaches, also highlight the failure of some facilities to follow established guidelines for routine HCV antibody (anti-HCV) screening and response to new HCV infection among hemodialysis patients. Current national guidelines recommend screening of hemodialysis patients for anti-HCV on facility admission and, for susceptible patients, on a semiannual basis. Here, we seek to underscore the importance of compliance with national recommendations for anti-HCV screening of hemodialysis patients and actions to be taken in the event of possible HCV transmission within a hemodialysis facility. These include general steps to ensure that: hemodialysis patients are routinely screened for anti-HCV to facilitate early detection of new infections; newly infected patients are informed of the change in their HCV status and undergo clinical evaluation; and public health officials are notified of new HCV infections in a timely manner. We then focus on the need to assess infection control practices at the facility, with particular attention given to safe handling of injectable medications, hand hygiene and disinfection practices. In the absence of a vaccine, routine screening and adherence to standard infection control practices will remain the key strategies for preventing HCV transmission in hemodialysis units.
Renewable-energy-aware data center placement in optical cloud networks

We solve the problem of datacenter placement in optical cloud networks with the aim of jointly minimizing the non-renewable datacenter energy consumption and the number of DCs. Lexicographic optimization is utilized to balance the two objectives.
Lexical discrimination and letter-string identification in the two visual fields.

Abstract Right-handed subjects were tachistoscopically presented three-letter words and nonword permutations in a single visual field for 20 msec. Although the subjects were unable to identify the stimuli at this exposure duration, their lexical decisions were better than chance, and were superior in the left visual field. When the exposure duration was increased, subjects demonstrated superior identification of the words in the right visual field. Results are discussed within an information processing framework.
On the Flow Behavior of Constrained Ductile Phases

Effects of the matrix/reinforcement interface and the mechanical properties and size of the ductile reinforcement on the flow behavior of the constrained ductile reinforcement have been evaluated using a tensile test on a single Nb lamina imbedded in MoSi2 matrix. It was found that work of rupture of the ductile reinforcement increased with size of the ductile reinforcement and with decreasing fracture energy of the matrix/reinforcement interface. It was also found that the work of rupture normalized by size and yield strength of the reinforcement was dependent on the interfacial properties and size of the reinforcement. Based on the observation, an analytical model is developed which gives insight into the influence on the stress-displacement curve of yield strength, work hardening, fracture energy of matrix/reinforcement interface, and size of the reinforcement. A characteristic decohesion length, which is a function of size of the reinforcement, has been identified by the model and related to the measured decohesion length. The results allow the extrapolation of the work of rupture measured from the large size of constrained ductile phases to the small size of the ductile phases. As the reinforcements used in composites are usually smaller in size than those tested in such tensile tests, the extrapolation of the work of rupture allows the contribution of ductile reinforcements to the toughness of a brittle matrix composite to be calculated.
A batch reactor to study concomitant adsorption and heterogeneous catalysis

Abstract A batch reactor has been devised in which adsorption phenomena important to a heterogeneous catalytic reaction can be followed simultaneously with the overall reaction process. The experimental technique is illustrated with the vapor phase dehydration of ethyl alcohol to diethyl ether as catalyzed by hydrogen ion exchange resin. Directly measured data are vapor phase composition, total adsorption, and total pressure as functions of time. Derived results are adsorbed phase composition data, fractional conversion, the thermodynamic equilibrium constant, and an independent check on internal consistency. The method inherently provides insights characteristic of dynamic experiments while retaining the simplicity of a set of first-order ordinary differential equations for any mathematical treatment desired. For this catalytic reaction the adsorption processes are shown, without recourse to theoretical analysis, to be much faster than the surface reaction.
Longer inspection time is associated with increased detection of high-grade dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus.

Background Current guidelines recommend that endoscopic surveillance of Barrett's esophagus (BE) be performed by using a strict biopsy protocol. However, novel methods to improve BE surveillance are still needed. Objective To evaluate the impact of Barrett's inspection time (BIT) on yield of surveillance. Design Post hoc analysis of data obtained from a clinical trial. Setting Five tertiary referral centers. Patients Patients undergoing BE surveillance. Interventions Coordinators prospectively recorded the time spent inspecting the BE mucosa with a stopwatch. Main Outcome Measurements Endoscopically suspicious lesions, high-grade dysplasia (HGD)/esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Results A total of 112 patients underwent endoscopic surveillance by 11 individual endoscopists. Patients with longer BITs were more likely to have an endoscopically suspicious lesion ( P P = .0001) and receive a diagnosis of HGD/EAC ( P = .001). There was a direct correlation between the endoscopist's mean BIT per centimeter of BE and the detection of patients with HGD/EAC (ρ = .63, P = .03). Endoscopists who had an average BIT longer than 1 minute per centimeter of BE detected more patients with endoscopically suspicious lesions (54.2% vs 13.3%, P = .04), and there was a trend toward a higher detection rate of HGD/EAC (40.2% vs 6.7%, P = .06). Limitations Post hoc analysis of an enriched study population and experienced endoscopists at tertiary referral centers. Conclusions Longer time spent inspecting the BE segment is associated with the increased detection of HGD/EAC. Taking additional time to perform a thorough examination of the BE mucosa may serve as an easy and widely available method to improve the yield of BE surveillance.
Ab initio relativistic pseudopotential study of the zero-temperature structural properties of SnTe and PbTe.

The equilibrium lattice parameters, bulk moduli, cohesive energies, k=0 TO-phonon frequencies and elastic constant ${C}_{44}$ of SnTe and PbTe are calculated completely from first principles with use of the local-density-functional pseudopotential total-energy method including relativistic effects. Good agreement with experiment is obtained. The approximation of neglecting spin-orbit coupling is found to be adequate for most purposes. Band structures and valence charge densities are presented. The latter are seen to differ significantly from previous empirical-pseudopotential-method calculations. The form of ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\mathrm{TO}(\mathrm{P})}$ in PbTe is found to be linear for small pressures P. Some possibilities for further applications of this method to these materials are discussed.
The crystal structures and hydrogen-bond properties of three 3-hydroxy-flavone derivatives

Abstract The room temperature crystal structures of three hydroxy-flavone derivatives have been solved. These compounds are important as molecular prototypes for picosecond laser studies of ultrafast excited-state proton transfer mechanism. They all have a cyclic intramolecular hydrogen-bond between the carbonyl group and the 3-hydroxy group, but their intermolecular hydrogen-bond patterns are distinctly different. In 3-hydroxy-flavone, I, an intermolecular hydrogen bond was found which links neighboring molecules into a polymer chain along a two-fold screw axis; in 2′-methyl-3-hydroxy-flavone, II, there are no intermolecular H-bonds; in 3′-methyl-3-hydroxyflavone, III, a centric hydrogen-bonded dimer is formed. The relationships between molecular conformation and solid-state aggregate patterns of 3-hydroxyflavones and related molecules are discussed in terms of possible ground state solute—solvent and solvent—solute solution structures. Crystal data: I, a = 11.427(3), b = 18.255(4) c = 5.457(2) A; S.G. = P 2 1 2 1 2 1 ; Z = 4; 803 observed reflections, Mo K α, R = 0.036, R W = ,0.057;II, a = 21.928(8), b = 16.914(5), c = 6.785(5) A; S.G. = Pbca , Z = 8, 1929 observed reflections, Cu K α, R = 0.043, R W = 0.057; III, a = 13.868(4), b = 17.494(3), c = 5.133(2) A, β = 95.40(2); S.G. = P 2 1 / n ; Z =4.2122 observed reflections; R = 0.054, R W = 0.054.
Eikonal representation of partially coherent fields in geometrical optical systems

We present a method to treat partially coherent fields in the context of geometrical optics. Propagation of statistically independent modes that obey an Eikonal equation can be analyzed via simple ray-tracing methods.
Development of a 0.014-in., anti-solenoid loop MR imaging guidewire for intravascular 3.0-T MR imaging.

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to develop a 0.014-in., anti-solenoid loop (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging guidewire (MRIG) for intravascular 3.0-T MR imaging. Materials and Methods We first designed the ASL MRIG, which was made of a coaxial cable with its extended inner conductor and outer conductor connected to two micro-anti-solenoids. We then evaluated in vitro the functionality of the ASL MRIG by imaging a “vessel” in a phantom and achieving signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and SNR contour map of the new 0.014-in. ASL MRIG. Subsequently, we validated in vivo the feasibility of using the ASL MRIG to generate intravenous 3.0-T MR images of parallel iliofemoral arteries of near-human-sized living pigs. Results In vitro evaluation showed that the 0.014-in. ASL MRIG functioned well as a receiver coil with the 3.0-T MR scanner, clearly displaying the vessel wall with even distribution of MR signals and SNR contours from the ASL MRIG. Of the in vivo studies, the new ASL MRIG enabled us to successfully generate intravenous 3.0-T MR imaging of the iliofemoral arteries. Conclusion This study confirms that it is possible to build such small-looped MRIG at 0.014 in. for intravascular 3.0-T MR imaging.
Compressive optic neuropathy in Graves’ eye disease

Compressive optic neuropathy (CON) was studied retrospectively in 16 eyes of nine patients. Seven patients had been thyrotoxic, one 22 years earlier, and one had had Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but all were euthyroid at the onset of CON. One patient never exhibited thyroid disease. All patients complained of visual disturbance, although two had 20/20 vision bilaterally. Progression of CON occurred rapidly in some cases, insidiously in others. Although oral corticosteroids, radiation, and decompression all had a degree of therapeutic efficacy, decompression was the most successful in this series. Some patients require more than one kind of treatment to control their disease.
Validation of a Quality of Life Scale for Women with Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis

To validate a disease-specific scale to measure the impact of symptoms of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC), a condition that affects up to 6.5% of US women. Participants were drawn from the RAND Interstitial Cystitis Epidemiology (RICE) Study, a telephone probability survey of 146,231 US households. Women who met RICE BPS/IC symptom criteria (n = 3,397) completed the 6-item RAND Bladder Symptom Impact scale (RICE BSI-6). The RICE BSI-6 was adapted from a scale used to assess the impact of diabetes on life and sexuality and modified based on expert input on face validity and focus group work; items specific to diabetic symptoms were eliminated. Validated scales of symptom severity, mental- and physical-health-related quality of life (QoL), depression, coping, and perceived control were used to assess convergent validity. The RICE BSI-6 (α = 0.92) was significantly related to greater symptom severity, worse general mental- and physical-health-related QoL, more severe depression symptoms, and lower perceived control over life in general and over BPS/IC symptoms (P values < .05). It was also associated with less use of distancing coping (P < .05). The RICE BSI-6 shows excellent internal consistency and strong convergent validity. It can be used to examine the effects of psychosocial and treatment interventions on QoL among women with BPS/IC.
Examination of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma for human herpesviruses by using the polymerase chain reaction

The etiology of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma remains unknown, although an association with viral infection, in particular certain retroviruses and human herpesviruses, has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to examine skin biopsies of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2, and human herpesvirus-6 by using the polymerase chain reaction. Lesional skin biopsies from 30 patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma were studied. Control specimens included biopsies from 9 patients with lymphomatoid papulosis and 10 patients with pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta. DNA extracted from each specimen, as well as from a known positive control for each virus, was examined by using the polymerase chain reaction with viral-specific primers. Each DNA specimen was also amplified with control primers for human beta globin. The specificity of the amplified products was confirmed by Southern analysis. Neither Epstein-Barr virus nor herpes simplex virus was detected in any of the patient specimens examined. Human herpesvirus-6 was detected in one specimen of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and one specimen of lymphomatoid papulosis. These results do not support a role for any of these herpesviruses in the pathogenesis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Effect of peripheral anosmia on ventral rubbing in the gerbil.

Male gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, were tested for rate of ventral rubbing before and after animals were rendered peripherally anosmic by bathing the nasal epithelium with a 5% solution of zinc sulfate. After induction of peripheral anosmia, animals showed marked reduction in the rate of ventral rubbing, indicating that similar findings previously obtained after bilateral removal of the olfactory bulbs were due to deprivation of olfactory input and not some more general concomitant of a CNS lesion.
Role of the amygdala and medial hypothalamus in spontaneous feline aggression and defense

Defensive response to prey and time spent biting prey in domestic cats were both transiently and lastingly changed by high-frequency electrical stimulation of the lateral part of the basomedial amygdala. The electrical stimulation did not produce seizure discharges, but it did transiently reduce potentials evoked in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) by single pulsed stimulation of the amygdala. At the same time, defensive response to rats decreased, and time spent biting rats increased. Size of the evoked potential covaried directly with the transient changes in defensive behavior but not with the changes in predatory attack. More lasting decreases in defensive behavior were not associated with a lasting decrease in amygdalohypothalamic transmission. Preliminary data suggest that lasting changes in defensiveness may be mediated by the ventral hippocampus. These findings, in combination with other studies, indicate that variation in transmission of excitatory activity between the amygdala and VMH is at least necessary for variation in defensive response to prey.
Process control for the low temperature deposition of niobium-nitride thin films

The authors investigated the process of DC and RF magnetron reactive sputtering of NbN with the purpose of clarifying the issues which are important for process control. Based on a simple physical model of the deposition process, parameters (plasma impedance and plasma concentration of reactive species) have been selected for study and their effects on the properties of the films (transition temperature, room temperature resistance, and RF surface impedance) have been evaluated experimentally. Based on these experiments, a simple feedback scheme using the plasma impedance as a control parameter was implemented, allowing for the consistent deposition of high-quality films. The same scheme can be used for the control of the stoichiometry of any reactive sputtering process, including the deposition of the high-transition-temperature oxide films. >
Breathlessness and blood: a combustible combination.

Pulmonary complications are increasingly recognized as serious hazards of transfusion. The evidence suggests that transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) and transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) are underrecognized. Both present with dyspnea but other signs and symptoms assist in determining the proper diagnosis. Males and females are equally affected. Morbidity is significant with both complications and in the case of TRALI, the mortality is in the range of 6-10%. Although the clinical descriptions of both entities are well established, the clinical profile of the at-risk population for both TRALI and TACO is not well understood. Because early intervention can reduce morbidity, it is important that clinicians recognize these disorders and apply appropriate treatment.
Quantification of first heart sound frequency dynamics across the human chest wall

Power spectral analysis has attracted attention because of its potential for non-invasive cardiac diagnosis. However, time-frequency analysis of first heart sound frequency dynamics from canine epicardium has demonstrated that cardiac vibrations are fundamentally multi-component and non-stationary, questioning the validity of power spectral techniques. In this study, we employed time-frequency transforms to characterise first heart sound frequency dynamics from 27 sites across the human thorax. In contrast to the dynamics observed epicardially, the first heart sound frequency law was dominated by quasi-stationary and impulse-like components implying that the instantaneous power and the power spectrum contain most of the diagnostic information in the first heart sound.
Risk, complexity, and deviations from expected-value maximization: Results of a lottery choice experiment ☆

Varying several parameters of single-stage lottery choice tasks we investigate the question which features of a decision task lead subjects to deviate from maximizing expected monetary value (EV). Despite small differences in EV between the two lotteries in the choice sets, the subjects on average chose the lottery with the higher EV in every task. Risk avoidance occurs, but not consistently over all tasks. Further results are that subjects prefer less complex lotteries over more complex ones, and that risk matters the more the less complex the decision task is.
On the Response of a Preloaded Mechanical Oscillator with a Clearance: Period-Doubling and Chaos

The dynamic behavior of a harmonically excited, preloaded mechanical oscillator with dead-zone nonlinearity is described quantiatively. The governing strongly nonlinear differential equation is solved numerically. Damping coefficient-force ratio maps for two different values of the excitation frequency have been formed and the boundaries of the regions of different motion types are determined. The results have been compared with the results of the forced Duffing's equation available in the literature in order to identify the differences between cubic and dead-zone nonlinearities. Period-doubling bifurcations, which take place with a change of any of the system parameters, have been found to be the most common route to chaos. Such bifurcations follow the scaling rule of Feigenbaum.
The effect of propofol on the electroencephalogram of patients with epilepsy

The effect of propofol on the electroencephalogram (EEG) in patients with epilepsy is still unclear. Case reports with electroencephalographic documentation highlight pro- and anticonvulsant effects and beta activation of the EEG. This prospective study sought to determine the effect of propofol in 17 patients undergoing cortical resection for intractable epilepsy. Each patient received 2 mg/kg of propofol intravenously and the EEG was recorded from chronically implanted subdural electrodes placed during a previous craniotomy. Frequency of interictal spikes, time to burst suppression, and appearance of beta activation were recorded. The median frequency of interictal spikes decreased significantly from 2 spikes/min before to 0 spikes/min after propofol (P = 0.001). Seizure activity did not increase after propofol. Profound burst suppression and an increase in beta activity were noted consistently. The use of propofol in patients with epilepsy seems to be safe but may interfere with the recording of EEG spikes.