cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BASIC THERMOELASTIC PROBLEMS IN FIBER-REINFORCED MATERIALS

This paper presents some basic considerations on the thermoelastic behavior of fiber-reinforced materials, with applications to two fundamental problems. In the first, bounds are constructed for the stress at any point in a beam and for the maximum stress in every phase of the composite. These apply for an arbitrary thermal load on a beam of arbitrary cross-section with fibers which are nearly axial. A simple algorithm is given to calculate the bounds on the maximum stress under certain conditions. The second problem considers the buckling of reinforcing fibers under thermal loading. Numerical results and explicit approximate solutions are given.
Measuring Medical Practice Patterns: Sources of Evidence from Health Services Research

The prevailing approach for establishing the legal standard of care in medical malpractice litigation is for competing expert witnesses to testify based on their impressions and experience. Health services research is a field that includes the objective and scientific documentation of physician behavior. The data sources and research techniques of health services research thus offer litigants a more empirical approach to establishing the standard of care. To facilitate this endeavor, this Article provides lawyers an overview of health services research and its pertinent methods and data sources. Several examples are used to illustrate and analyze the efficacy of determining the legal standard of care with empirical evidence about how physicians actually behave when faced with particular clinical issues. The Authors ultimately propose not to displace expert witnesses, but rather to supplement subjective clinical testimony with more objective and scientifically sound evidence.
Recurring victimization: What role does head injury play?

Abstract Purpose There is little understanding of why some victims experience multiple victimization events while others are victimized once or not at all. One possible distinguishing characteristic is having a prior head injury, given the strong linkage between prior head injuries and aggression/violence and their connection to victimization. It is plausible that prior head injuries may also lead to recurring victimization. Methods To examine the possibility that head injury and serious head injury may distinguish between people who are non-victims, single-wave victims, or recurring-victims, we use data from multiple waves of the Pathways to Desistance study. Multinomial regression analyses were utilized to examine prior head injury's (and serious head injury's) effects on being a recurring victim compared to a single-wave victim or non-victim, holding constant demographic controls and other related correlates that may be related to head injury and victimization status. Results We find that having a prior head injury and serious head injury are able to distinguish between non-victims, single-wave victims, and recurring-victims. Conclusions Head injury increases the odds of being a recurring victim compared to a non-victim, and serious head injury increases the odds of being a recurring victim compared to a non-victim and a single-wave victim. Future research, theoretical implications, and policy implications are discussed.
Enhanced Sampling for Biomolecular Simulations

The use of computer simulations as “virtual microscopes” is limited by sampling difficulties that arise fromthe large dimensionality and the complex energy landscapes of biological systems leading to poor convergences already in folding simulations of single proteins. In this chapter, we discuss a few strategies to enhance sampling in bimolecular simulations, and present some recent applications.
Widely tunable cavity-enhanced ultrafast spectroscopy

Generation of widely tunable frequency combs in the UV, visible, and infrared is discussed for use in cavity-enhanced transient absorption spectroscopy on gas-phase clusters. Progress towards cavity-enhanced two-dimensional spectroscopy is also presented.
Landmark and semilandmark data collection using 3D virtual model and data processing

Abstract This chapter goes into the practical considerations and functional practice of taking digital 3D landmark coordinate data using Stratovan Checkpoint software on mesh models of a 3D sample. Selection of landmarks is discussed with a focus on the type of craniometric data as used in the chapter examples. Following the collection of landmark coordinate data, this chapter outlines some of the considerations for preparing the data sample for statistical analyses.
Don't Miss This! Red Flags in the Pediatric Eye Examination: Subnormal Acuity.

ABSTRACTSubnormal vision can be a harbinger of threating disease. Recognizing certain “red flags” on history or examination can facilitate early diagnosis in the pediatric patient. These objective ...
Respiratory compensated PET with DOTA-TOC PET/MRI using motion registered and gated reconstruction

1987 Objectives Previous approaches to respiratory compensation using PET/MRI have gated data acquired during simultaneous acquisition and limited data to that acquired during end expiration. Although this results in removal of respiratory blurring and ghosting, there is an increase in image noise due to the decreased amount of included PET data in the reconstruction. In this work we have evaluated the utility of registering gated PET data to a single phase, allowing for more PET data to be included in the final reconstruction. Methods : 6 patients were imaged after Ga-68 DOTA-TOC injection using a 3.0T time-of-flight PET/MRI (GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI). Data was acquired during three minute bed positions during the whole body acquisition and during a 15 minute bed position simultaneous with dedicated liver imaging. Both PET data sets were reconstructed in three ways. The first used all PET data without any respiratory compensation (ungated). The second used respiratory compensation whereby only breath holds between 2 and 10 seconds were included and only the last 40% of the respiration was included corresponding to end expiration (gated). The third reconstruction used data from breath holds between 2 and 10 seconds, but was reconstructed into six bins for the duration of the respiratory cycle. Subsequently images from each of the six bins were registered to the end expiratory phase, which was manually selected, using a 3D motion correction algorithm (registered). This results in a single PET data set that includes PET data from throughout the respiratory cycle, but registered to one phase in the respiratory cycle. VOIs were placed over lesions in the liver and SUVmax were measured. Additionally noise was calculated using an ROI placed within the liver (SDliver / SUVavg-liver). Results SUVmax was lowest for the ungated data, and highest for the gated data, with registered data noise levels between gated and ungated (WB-ungated: 46.1, WB-gated: 43.9 WB-registered: 48.0; liver-ungated: 34.7, liver-gated: 49.5, liver-registered: 32.4). Noise levels were lowest for the ungated data, and highest for the gated data, with registered data noise levels between gated and ungated (WB-ungated: 0.19, WB-gated: 0.32, WB-registered: 0.29; liver-ungated: 0.08, liver-gated: 0.13, liver-registered: 0.10). Conclusions By registering respiratory gated PET data it is possible to recover noise typically created with respiratory compensation techniques that discard data at different points in the respiratory cycle. Further complete evaluation of this technique needs to be performed in order to understand its reproducibility Figure 1: Top row reconstructions are using the three minute data sets from the whole body acquisition and the bottom row are from 15 minute dedicated liver acquisition. Gated reconstruction (middle) results in removal of the majority of motion, although noise levels increase. Registered reconstruction have improvement in noise characteristics although have some respiratory motion. $$graphic_01DED769-C733-4736-B7C0-51AE37AB172B$$
A 65-Year-Old Woman with Acute Limb Weakness and Worsening of Paresthesia

Perineuritis is a rare and unique pathological entity that can clinically manifest sensory neuropathy, sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy, chronic polyneuropathy with mixed demyelinating and axonal features, or mononeuropathy multiplex. Painful paresthesia is often a prominent symptom. Nerve biopsy is crucial in making the diagnosis. Perineuritis can be idiopathic or more often secondary to sarcoidosis, leprosy, and cryoglobulinemia, among others. Here we present a case of perineuritis that manifests a rapidly progressive, motor > sensory, axonal polyneuropathy, mimicking the axonal variant of Guillian Barre syndrome. The patient responded well to immunosuppression.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in the Unstable Trauma Patient

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides mechanical support for either (1) the heart and lungs, termed venoarterial (VA) ECMO or (2) the lungs alone, termed venovenous (VV) ECMO. This chapter will focus primarily on the application of VV ECMO in the trauma patient, but will also briefly touch upon the relatively new use of VA ECMO in this population. Basic tenets of circuitry, cannulation strategies, and management will be reviewed.
Design of bimetallic catalysts and electrocatalysts through the control of reactive environments

Abstract Bimetallic nanocatalysts often exhibit enhanced performances, which are directly related to the specific atomic arrangements of the two metal elements on and near surface. It is thus important to control not only the overall but also, perhaps more critically, near surface compositions and structures. While many approaches have been developed for making bimetallic nanostructures with predetermined overall compositions, the control of surface structures with a high degree of accuracy is still a challenge. With the recent development of in situ tools such as environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM), dynamic structures under variable temperatures and reactive atmospheres can be studied quantitatively, laying the foundation for improved precision design of specific surface structures for catalysis. Herewith, we provide an overview of factors governing the dynamic processes of bimetallic restructuring. We first discuss the surface energetics of shaped bimetallic nanoparticles under gaseous environments, followed by examining the transformation of alloy nanoparticles into intermetallics and the key aspects in the preparation of intermetallic surfaces. Diffusion-controlled restructuring process is then presented, including the major recent developments in controlling the surface composition and formation of hollow structure from the Kirkendall process. Finally, we present selected bimetallic nanocatalysts to highlight their niche applications for electrochemical and heterogeneous reactions, especially those structurally sensitive ones, such as intermetallics, core-shell nanoparticles, and nanoframes. In situ ETEM, in this regard, can often be used to facilitate the understanding of dynamic structures under reactive conditions, thus a brief introduction is presented, focusing on the utilization of this technique in studying the bimetallic catalysts.
NT5c1A Antibodies in Motor Neuron Disease (2017)

Objective: To describe the clinical features and electrodiagnostic findings of three patients with motor neuron disease and serum positive NT5c1A antibodies. Background: NT5c1A antibodies are common in inclusion body myositis and are associated with prominent bulbar, facial and respiratory involvement. NT5c1a antibodies been reported to have a sensitivity up to 70% and a specificity up to 92% in the diagnosis of inclusion body myositis. NT5c1A antibodies have also been associated with Sjogren’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. Design/Methods: A retrospective chart review of three patients with serum positive NT5C1A antibodies and an eventual diagnosis of motor neuron disease in the Neuromuscular Clinic at University of California Irvine. Results: Patient 1 was a 69 year old woman with a two year history of progressive weakness with initial symptoms of left foot drop, progressing to dysphagia and wheelchair dependence. Exam was notable for bilateral lower extremity atrophy, asymmetric lower extremity weakness, lower extremity fasciculations, and hyperreflexia. Patient 2 was an 80 year old man with a two year history of progressive painless weakness in his hands. Exam was notable for marked bilateral atrophy in the thenar eminence, rare fasciculations in the proximal upper extremities, asymmetric proximal and distal weakness, and hyperreflexia. Patient 3 was a 70 year old man with an 18 month history of asymmetric weakness with initial symptoms of left foot drop progressing to wheelchair dependence. Exam was notable for diffuse atrophy, fasciculations, proximal and distal extremity weakness, and absent reflexes. Electrodiagnostic testing in all three patients showed evidence of ongoing chronic motor neuron changes in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions. Conclusions: NT5c1A antibodies can be seen in individuals with motor neuron disease in addition to systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s syndrome, and inclusion body myositis. Further studies may be beneficial to determine the frequency of NT5c1A antibodies in a motor neuron disease population. Disclosure: Dr. Hunter has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kak Korb has nothing to disclose. Dr. Habib has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Alexion and Argenx. Dr. Habib has received research support from Ra, Alexion, Acceleron, Catalyst, Immunovant, and UCB.
Abstract TP179: No Need to 'Card' Here; Cocaine/Opioid Use in Middle Age and Stroke

Background: Drug overdose from 1999 to 2017 in the US has continued to increase. Rural America has seen an increase in methamphetamine (Meth) users. Meth usage in Arkansas and its effects on stroke...
Arthritic progression secondary to meniscus root tear treated with knee arthroplasty demonstrates similar outcomes to primary osteoarthritis: a matched case-control comparison.

There is limited data comparing the outcomes of knee arthroplasty for arthritis secondary to meniscus root tear versus primary osteoarthritis. The aim of this 2:1 matched case control series was to compare outcomes in patients who underwent arthroplasty for arthritis following a meniscus root tear (root tear cohort—“RTC”) with a control group of patients with primary osteoarthritis (primary osteoarthritis—“controls”). The authors hypothesized that the meniscus root tear patients would have similar clinical outcomes, return to activity, complication and reoperation rates as their matched controls. A consecutive series of patients who had a clinically and radiographically confirmed meniscus root tear between 2002 and 2017 at a mean 4.8 year follow-up that developed secondary arthritis were matched 2:1 by laterality, surgery, age at surgery, date of surgery, sex, and surgeon to a control group of patients with primary osteoarthritis, without a root tear, who underwent arthroplasty. No patients were lost to follow-up. Patient demographics, Kellgren–Lawrence grades at the time of surgery, pre- and post-operative Knee Society Score pain and function scores, Tegner score, complications, and survival free of reoperation were analyzed between groups. A total of 225 subjects were identified, including 75 root tear cohort patients (13 UKA, 62 TKA) and 150 control patients. The root tear cohort had significantly lower Kellgren–Lawrence grades than the control group at the time of arthroplasty (p ≤ 0.001), but similar baseline pre-operative Knee Society Score pain, Knee Society Score function, and Tegner activity scale score. Post-operatively, Knee Society Score pain scores were comparable, and root tear cohort Knee Society Score function scores statistically significantly improved (p ≤ 0.007). Complication rates and survival free of reoperation at final follow-up were not statistically significantly different between groups. Patients treated with arthroplasty for secondary arthritis after a meniscus root tear demonstrated less severe radiographic arthritis, but similar pre-operative pain levels compared to matched controls with primary osteoarthritis. The root tear cohort patients demonstrated improved outcomes with respect to function, and similar outcomes with respect to pain, activity level, complication rates, and reoperation rates. The authors conclude that arthroplasty can be a reliable option for selected patients with an irreparable root tear and ongoing pain and dysfunction refractory to non-operative management, even in the setting of less advanced osteoarthritis on X-ray. III.
3D Scans—A New Teaching Tool in Construction Education

Use of technological gadgets became an integral part of Construction Management (CM) students’ life. Students have different learning styles and they want their academic learning experience to be engaging and interactive. Engaging these technology savvy students in the learning process with their preferred learning style is a challenging task. The differences in teaching and learning styles result in problems such as disengagement of students and loss of learning aptitude. This active student engagement challenge can be addressed by using 3D scan model learning environment. This learning environment has the potential to make a paradigm shift in teaching and learning process. This learning environment provides a new teaching style and helps the instructor to address some of the needs of the students’ learning styles. This learning environment engages students in active learning processes and helps them to focus on their learning. It also encourages students to take more responsibility for their own learning process. This paper discusses about the frame work of the 3D scan model learning environment. This paper also discusses how this frame work was used for development of a 3D scan model learning environment for a residential house construction process.
A New Taxonomy of Rewards in Public Administration for Management Implications

A fundamental question in the field of management is how rewards support the motivation and performance of individuals and the efficiency of organizations. Literature of public administration categorizes rewards with some dimensions, such as formality, tangibility, measurability, etc. However, these interpretative models seem to be incomplete because they don’t classify all the elements of rewards system within the domain of public administration. The purpose of this paper is to systematize the categories of rewards in a new taxonomy that also considers the dimension of legality in order to detect good and bad practices in public sector. This theoretical framework here may be a comprehensive model to analyze many elements of rewards system in public administration to support fruitful management implications. Moreover, this study begins the process of clarifying and generalizing, as far as possible, the comprehensive elements of rewards system in public organizations to lay a foundation for the development of more sophisticated taxonomies and theories.
Engineering strategies to capture the biological and biophysical tumor microenvironment in vitro

Despite decades of research and advancements in diagnostic and treatment modalities, cancer remains a major global healthcare challenge. This is due in part to a lack of model systems that allow investigating the mechanisms underlying tumor development, progression, and therapy resistance under relevant conditions in vitro. Tumor cell interactions with their surroundings influence all stages of tumorigenesis and are shaped by both biological and biophysical cues including cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, tissue architecture and mechanics, and mass transport. Engineered tumor models provide promising platforms to elucidate the individual and combined contributions of these cues to tumor malignancy under controlled and physiologically relevant conditions. This review will summarize current knowledge of the biological and biophysical microenvironmental cues that influence tumor development and progression, present examples of in vitro model systems that are presently used to study these interactions and highlight advancements in tumor engineering approaches to further improve these technologies.
Cognitive and Behaviorally Oriented Psychotherapies for Fibromyalgia

Evidence-based psychotherapies for fibromyalgia (FM) are often grounded in the BioPsychoSocial perspective. The three therapies to be reviewed here are Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET). Each of these therapies is based upon known principles of cognitive and behavioral change and can be applied either to influence factors known to affect pain perception (e.g., sensory, emotional, cognitive) or to facilitate engagement in salient functional activities. This chapter provides a description of each form of therapy including its orientation, rationale, approaches for using the therapy, and an overview of the evidence supporting the use of each form of therapy in the treatment of FM.
Identity in Narrative: A study of immigrant discourse

This volume presents both an analysis of how identities are built, represented and negotiated in narrative, as well as a theoretical reflection on the links between narrative discourse and identity construction. The data for the book are Mexican immigrants' personal experience narratives and chronicles of their border crossings into the United States. Embracing a view of identity as a construct firmly grounded in discourse and interaction, the author examines and illustrates the multiple threads that connect the local expression and negotiation of identity to the wider social contexts that frame the experience of migration, from material conditions of life in the United States to mainstream discourses about race and color. The analysis reveals how identities emerge in discourse through the interplay of different levels of expression, from implicit adherence to narrative styles and ways of telling, to explicit negotiation of membership categories.
A message ferrying scheme with differentiated services

Routing in partitioned ad-hoc networks is a challenging problem since end-to-end connectivity may not exist. A message ferrying (MF) (W. Zhao and M.H. Ammar, 2003) scheme has been proposed recently for non-real-time applications where certain mobile nodes referred to as message ferries are designated to collect and deliver packets. In R. Viswanathan et al. (2005), we have investigated a message ferrying scheme that allows urgent messages with more stringent delay requirement to be delivered earlier than regular messages. In this paper, we analyze a system where these two types of messages arrive according to an arrival distribution and that the buffer sizes at the ferry and the nodes are limited. We also assume that the nodes move and that the urgent/regular messages have different delivery deadlines. We design an elliptical zone forwarding (EZF) scheme for the ferry route. Then, we study how three buffer allocation schemes affect the fraction of delivered urgent messages that meet the deadlines as well as the dropping rates of urgent and regular messages due to buffer contention when used together with the EZF scheme. Our results indicate that the soft-partitioning scheme allows more urgent messages to be delivered while keeping the drop rate of regular messages low. Next, we compared the system performance achieved by the EZF scheme with the ferry initiated message ferry with nearest neighbor scheme presented in W. Zhao et al. (2004) assuming the FIFO scheme is used for the buffer allocation. Our simulation studies show that the EZF scheme we design achieves better performance than the FFM-NN scheme. The EZF routing scheme combined with the buffer allocation scheme can be used to intelligently disseminate information in military networks
Microstructural Evolution of Sol‐Gel Mullite

This paper describes a study of reactions and microstructures during the transition of a precursor colloidal gel to mullite in the region of 1100-1400 C. A simultaneous thermal analyzer is used to identify reaction temperatures. Microstructural evolution is studied by X-ray analysis. Results include the identification of intermediate phases produced during the sintering phenomenon.
Sequence analysis and expression of the Salmonella typhimurium asr operon encoding production of hydrogen sulfide from sulfite.

Abstract A chromosomal locus of Salmonella typhimurium which complements S. typhimurium asr (anaerobic sulfite reduction) mutants and confers on Escherichia coli the ability to produce hydrogen sulfide from sulfite was recently cloned (C. J. Huang and E. L. Barrett, J. Bacteriol. 172:4100-4102, 1990). The DNA sequence and the transcription start site have been determined. Analysis of the sequence and gene products revealed a functional operon containing three genes which have been designated asrA, asrB, and asrC, encoding peptides of 40, 31, and 37 kDa, respectively. The predicted amino acid sequences of both asrA and asrC contained arrangements of cysteines characteristic of [4Fe-4S] ferredoxins. The sequence of asrB contained a typical nucleotide-binding region. The sequence of asrC contained, in addition to the ferredoxinlike cysteine clusters, two other cysteine clusters closely resembling the proposed siroheme-binding site in biosynthetic sulfite reductase. Expression of lacZ fused to the asr promoter was repressed by oxygen and induced by sulfite. Analysis of promoter deletions revealed a region specific for sulfite regulation and a second region required for anaerobic expression. Computer-assisted DNA sequence analysis revealed a site just upstream of the first open reading frame which had significant homology to the FNR protein-binding site of E. coli NADH-linked nitrite reductase. However, asr expression by the fusion plasmid was not affected by site-specific mutations within the apparent FNR-binding site.
Repair of H2O2-induced DNA damage in bovine lens epithelial cell cultures

H 2 O 2 concentrations only slightly higher than normal physiological levels found in the lens andaqueous fluid produce a significant number of DNA single-strand breaks in lens epithelial cell cultures. In this investigation, the repair of DNA damaged by short-term, H 2 O 2 -induced oxidation was examined in bovine lens epithelial cell cultures. Repair was rapidly initiated and was almost completed in 30 min. A drop in NAD concentration was associated with the DNA damage. 3-Aminobenzamide inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, an enzyme believed to be stimulated by DNA oxidation and involved in DNA repair, prevented the loss of NAD. In contrast, a similar drop in ATP concentration was only slightly lessened by the presence of this inhibitor. Inhibition of the polymerase by 3-aminobenzamide primarily affected only the early recovery period. Overall, recovery occurred almost as effectively in the presence of the inhibitor as in its absence. Preincubation of lens cultures with o -phenanthroline, an iron chelator, prevented the drop inNAD levels associated with DNA damage. Since a hydroxyl radical is produced from H 2 O 2 by a Fenton type reaction, this result supports the concept that the H 2 O 2 -induced oxidation of DNA is caused by hydroxyl radical. In contrast, peroxide-induced loss of activity of a cytosolic enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, was unaffected by the presence of o -phenanthroline, suggesting direct H 2 O 2 oxidation of this enzyme. The results of these experiments suggest that lens epithelium contains enzymes that rapidlyrepair single-strand DNA breaks induced by H 2 O 2 insult.
Growth curve analysis of complete and incomplete longitudinal data

Growth curve analysis is reviewed for both complete and incomplete data structures. Specific attention is paid to the incomplete data model of Kleinbaum and its applicability to the mixed longitudinal study. Design considerations and efficiency for various incomplete longitudinal studies are also discussed.
Children's "like-dislike" ratings of familiarized and nonfamiliarized visual stimuli.

Fifty-two fifth- and sixth-grade children viewed seven 4-second projections of each of ten visual stimuli (black and white, low-meaningful figures) and then rated these figures and also ten others (not previously seen) on a “like-dislike” continuum. The set of ten figures serving as familiarization stimuli was counterbalanced. The over-all mean rating given the nonfamiliarized stimuli was significantly more favorable than that given the familiarized stimuli. A difference in this direction was present in the mean ratings of 42 of the 52 Ss. The relation of these findings to those of earlier familiarization studies and to current theory regarding stimulus familiarization was noted.
Effects of adrenal medulla grafts on plasma catecholamines and rotational behavior.

The mechanisms by which adrenal medulla grafts influence the function of host brains in animal models of Parkinson’s disease are unclear. To explore this issue, fragments of adrenal medulla or sciatic nerve were transplanted into the lateral ventricle of bilaterally adrenalectomized (ADX) or sham-ADX rats with unilateral Cl-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra. Additional control group received sham-transplantation surgery. Behavioral effects of these procedures were tested following administration of apomorphine, amphetamine, or nicotine. Plasma catecholamines were measured before and after transplantation surgery. In both ADX and sham-ADX rats, adrenal medulla grafts produced greater decreases in apomorphine-induced rotational behavior than did sciatic nerve grafts or sham-transplanted groups. Decreases in rotation were smaller in ADX than in sham-ADX animals, regardless of graft treatment. Plasma catecholamines increased after transplantation surgery in each of the sham-ADX groups, regardless of graft type. Increases in plasma dopamine concentrations were associated with decreases in rotational behavior. Five months after transplantation, grafted chromaffin cells demonstrated catecholamine fluorescence, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and chromogranin A immunoreactivities, and expression of TH mRNA. It is concluded that adrenal medulla grafts produce decreases in apomorphine-induced rotation through a combination of two independent effects. One is a specific effect of adrenal medulla grafts. The second is a nonspecific effect that requires an intact adrenal gland and may be related to
Failure to induce oral tolerance to a soluble protein in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Background & Aims: Defective suppressor/regulatory T-cell activation has been proposed as a mechanism to explain the uncontrolled inflammatory process seen in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Previous studies have suggested that inappropriate activation of CD4+ T cells may occur in the gastrointestinal tract in these patients. Because suppressor/regulatory T cells are thought to be one mechanism for the promotion of oral tolerance, we attempted to induce tolerance in normal controls (n = 21) and patients with either Crohn's disease (CD, n=12) or ulcerative colitis (UC, n=13). Methods: Subjects were fed keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) before subcutaneous immunization and booster immunization. Blood for KLH-induced T-cell proliferation and serum for anti-KLH antibody was obtained at baseline and after feeding, immunization, and booster. Results: In the control group, KLH feeding (50 and 250 mg) before immunization and booster resulted in reduced KLH-specific T-cell proliferation compared with the group that was not fed KLH ( P P
The Dimension of Cycle-Free Orders

The existence of a four-dimensional cycle-free order is proved. This answers a question of Ma and Spinrad. Two similar problems are also discussed.
On Arbitrarily Perfect Imagery with a Finite Aperture

In theory, an optical system with a finite aperture can be coated to produce arbitrarily perfect imagery over a limited field. When the object is of limited extent, this field can be made the optical conjugate to the object, so that the whole object is imaged with arbitrary precision. The required pupil coating approximates low-contrast cosine fringes over its central region, with a frequency and amplitude that rapidly accelerate as the aperture edge is approached. Here the maximum occurs as a narrow spike. The frequency near the central region varies directly with the total extent of the conjugate field, and inversely with the required central core width Δ in the point amplitude response. As Δ is made arbitrarily narrow, the point amplitude response approaches the form of a sinc function over the field of view. This function is precisely the point amplitude for a diffraction-limited pupil with a magnified aperture of 1/Δ times the given pupil aperture ! The only image property that is not in compliance w...
Multimodality image display station

The Multi-modality Image Display Station (MIDS) is designed for the use of physicians outside of the radiology department. Connected to a local area network or a host computer, it provides speedy access to digitized radiology images and written diagnostics needed by attending and consulting physicians near the patient bedside. Emphasis has been placed on low cost, high performance and ease of use. The work is being done as a joint study with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and as part of a joint development effort with the Mayo Clinic. MIDS is a prototype, and should not be assumed to be an IBM product.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Distribution of pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, and bioavailable metals in depositional sediments of the lower Missouri River, USA.

The lower Missouri River was studied to determine the distribution of selected persistent organic pollutants and bioavailable metals in depositional sediments. Nineteen sites between Omaha, Nebraska and Jefferson City, Missouri were sampled. This stretch of the river receives point-source and non-point-source inputs from industrial, urban, and agricultural activities. As part of an ecological assessment of the river, concentrations of 29 legacy organochlorine pesticides (OC pesticides), including chlordanes, DDTs, and hexachlorocyclohexanes; a select list of current-use pesticides, including trifluralin, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, and permethrin, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), divalent metals (copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, and lead), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined. Concentrations (dry weight basis) of OC pesticides in the sediments were less than 1 ng/g, with the exception of the backwater sediment collected from the mouth of the Blue River in the Kansas City metropolitan area, which contained up to 20 ng/g total chlordane, 8.1 ng/g p,p′-DDE, 1.5 ng/g lindane, 4.8 ng/g dieldrin, and 3 ng/g endrin. Concentrations of chlorpyrifos and permethrin ranged from less than 1 ng/g to 5.5 ng/g and 44 ng/g, respectively. Concentrations of PCBs ranged from less than 11 ng/g to 250 ng/g, with the Blue River and Sibley sediments containing 100 and 250 ng/g total PCBs, respectively. Concentrations of total PAHs at 17 of the 19 sites ranged from 250 to 700 ng/g, whereas the Riverfront and Blue River sites in Kansas City contained 1100 ng/g and nearly 4000 ng/g, respectively. Concentrations of the metals did not vary significantly among most sites; however, the Blue River site contained elevated concentrations of zinc (104 μg/g), cadmium (0.7 μg/g), and lead (34 μg/g) compared to the other sites. The moderately high concentrations of acid-volatile sulfide in the sediments suggest a low potential for metal toxicity to benthic organisms along this reach of the Missouri River. The depositional area sediments contained concentrations of the targeted persistent organic chemicals and metals that were below published probable effect level concentrations.
Color- and edge-sensitive channels in the human visual system: tuning for orientation.

After subjects scanned red stripes tilted clockwise off vertical and green stripes tilted equally but counterclockwise, vertical test stripes appeared tilted counterclockwise when red but clockwise when green. As the angle between scanned and test stripes was increased from 0° to 75°, the magnitude of the tilt aftereffect rapidly increased to a peak between 10° and 15° and then dropped close to zero at about 40°, a result consistent with narrowly tuned edge-sensitive channels.
Preclinical, Epidemiological/Public Health, and Clinical Research

The Eighth Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) was held in Savannah, Georgia, on 21-23 February 2002. This meeting was the largest to date, with more than 600 registered attendees, five outstanding plenary speakers, 10 symposia, six oral paper sessions, and four filled-to-capacity poster sessions. The meeting content represented three major areas of SRNT's emphasis: Preclinical, Epidemiology/Public Health and Clinical research; thus the meeting was an outstanding opportunity to share with, and learn from, colleagues engaged in the full spectrum of nicotine and tobacco research. Additional events included pre- and post-meeting symposia, a career development question-and-answer workshop, a global network interest meeting, and a variety of awards. SRNT also remembered and honored the lives and work of two outstanding colleagues who were lost to the society over the past year: Dr. Chris Silagy and Dr. John Slade. Highly significant and innovative research continues in the field of nicotine and tobacco, and this innovation and significance was readily apparent in the science presented at the eighth annual meeting.
On defining sets of vertices of the hypercube by linear inequalities

This paper shows that for any subset S of vertices of the n-dimensional hypercube, ind(S)@?2^n^-^1, where ind(S) is the minimum number of linear inequalities needed to define S. Furthermore, for any k in the range [email protected][email protected]?2^n^-^1, there is an S with ind(S) = k, with the defining inequalities taken as canonical cuts. Other related results are included, and all are proven by explicit constructions of the sets S or explicit definitions of such sets by linear inequalities. The paper is aimed at researchers in bivalent programming, since it provides upper bounds on the performance of algorithms which combine several linear constraints into one, even when the given constraints have a particularly simple form.
Decompression of epidural metastases from germ cell tumors with chemotherapy

Epidural cord compression from germ cell tumor metastases is not common. Treatment usually requires high dose corticosteroids with radiation therapy and/or surgical decompression. Three patients with epidural germ cell tumor metastases were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy and all three had complete neurologic recovery. Systemic chemotherapy should be considered as initial therapy with corticosteroids for epidural cord compression from metastatic germ cell tumor.
The quantitation of biotinidase activity in dried blood spots using microtiter transfer plates: Identification of biotinidase-deficient and heterozygous individuals

A simple and rapid method for the quantitation of biotinidase activity in blood-soaked filter paper spots was developed. The assay measures the release of p-aminobenzoate from N-biotinyl-p-aminobenzoate. A microtiter transfer plate is used to rapidly separate the reaction solution from the filter paper spots. Color is developed and the absorbance is determined using a microplate reader. The biotinidase activity in frozen filter spots correlates well with the activity in serum (r = 0.94). The enzyme activities of obligate heterozygotes for biotinidase deficiency were significantly different from those with normal activity (P = 0.03). This rapid screening procedure can be used to quantitate biotinidase activity in newborn screening samples, identify heterozygotes, and estimate the gene frequency and incidence of biotinidase deficiency in large populations. In addition, the use of microtiter transfer plates can be applied to other assays in which the separation of the incubation solution from a filter paper spot is required.
Characterization of the α-Sn/CdTe(110) interface by angle-resolved X-ray photoemission

Stoichiometric and atomically clean CdTe(110) surfaces have been prepared by suitable chemical etching, followed by argon sputtering, and sample annealing in ultrahigh vacuum. Cubic α-tin was grown on CdTe(110) by tin evaporation from a tungsten filament at a substrate temperature of 30°C. Angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) was used to determine the composition profile of this semiconductor heterostructure nondestructively. In this technique, the angular variations of photoemitted electrons from the substrate and the overlayer are related to the composition profile within the XPS sampling depth. The actual composition profile is obtained by applying the simplex optimization algorithm on the ARXPS data. From our analyses, we conclude that α-Sn grown at 30°C forms an abrupt junction with CdTe(110).
Studies on the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of high-solids clearcoats prepared from hydroxyl-terminated isophthalate-based oligoesters and a melamine resin

A series of high-solids (solvent-free) clearcoats was prepared from hydroxyl-terminated isophthalate-based oligoesters and the hexakis(methoxymethylol)melamine resin (HMMM). The oligoesters, which were used as binders, were prepared via a transesterification reaction of dimethyl isophthalate (DI) under various molar ratios R (=mol ratio diols/diester) with a mixture of 1,6-hexanediol (HD) and 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (MP). Mixtures of the two diols of different composition Rd (=mol ratio HD/MP), were used as well. An attempt was made to investigate and correlate the chemical, physical and mechanical properties of the formulated solvent-free clearcoats to: (a) the amount of the cross-linker (melamine resin); (b) the curing conditions (time and temperature); (c) the synthetic parameters applied in the preparation (via transesterification) of the oligoesters (e.g. excess of the diols in reaction with the DI and the molar ratio between the two diols, the species of the Lewis acid catalyst). The properties of all the new formulated high-solids clearcoats were compared to those of a reference clearcoat and their cross-linking was correlated to their chemical structure and composition as well as to their Tg values. It was found that the R and Rd values applied in the synthesis of the oligoesters (binders) significantly affected the performance of their corresponding clearcoats. More specifically, the clearcoats obtained from binders where 3<R<4, combined an enhanced processability, higher values of non-volatiles (∼80%) (lower VOC content) and better or comparable chemical, physical and mechanical properties (e.g. impact resistance, gasoline resistance, mar resistance, flexibility and pencil hardness) upon comparison to those of the reference clearcoat.
Experimental Study of a Pulse Detonation Engine Driven Ejector

Results of an experimental effort on pulse detonation driven ejectors are presented and discussed. The experiments were conducted using a pulse detonation engine (PDE)/ejector setup that was specifically designed for the study. The results of various experiments designed to probe different aspects of the PDE/ejector setup are reported. The baseline PDE was operated using ethylene (C2H4) as the fuel and an oxygen/nitrogen (O2 + N2) mixture at an equivalence ratio of one. The PDE only experiments included propellant mixture characterization using a laser absorption technique, high fidelity thrust measurements using an integrated spring-damper system, and shadowgraph imaging of the detonation/shock wave structure emanating from the tube. The baseline PDE thrust measurement results are in excellent agreement with experimental and modeling results reported in the literature. These PDE setup results were then used as a basis for quantifying thrust augmentation for various PDE/ejector setups with constant diameter ejector tubes and various detonation tube/ejector tube overlap distances. The results show that for the geometries studied here, a maximum thrust augmentation of 24% is achieved. Further increases are possible by tailoring the ejector geometry based on CFD predictions conducted elsewhere. The thrust augmentation results are complemented by shadowgraph imaging of the flowfield in the ejector tube inlet area and high frequency pressure transducer measurements along the length of the ejector tube.
Aerobic biodegradation of thiocyanate

Abstract The biotransformation of thiocyanate (SCN − ) and cyanate (OCN − ) in a predominantly heterotrophic, activated sludge-derived culture was investigated. Acclimation and enrichment of aerobic, thiocyanate-degrading microorganisms led to complete thiocyanate oxidation to ammonia, bicarbonate, and sulfate. Low levels of cyanate were detected, indicating that its hydrolysis is not the rate-limiting step in the complete aerobic oxidation of thiocyanate. Cyanate removal followed the hydrolytic route to ammonia and bicarbonate under aerobic conditions. Abiotic assays confirmed that the observed thiocyanate removal was biologically mediated while cyanate hydrolysis was enhanced enzymatically. Neither thiocyanate nor cyanate inhibited the aerobic removal and assimilation of organic compounds simulating typical municipal wastewaters. However, partial inhibition of nitrification, especially the conversion of nitrite to nitrate, was observed, and was attributed to thiocyanate and/or free ammonia.
Elucidation of the 1,4-Dioxane Decomposition Pathway at Discrete Ultrasonic Frequencies

The sonolytic decomposition chemistry of the refractory compound 1,4-dioxane in aqueous solution has been investigated at four ultrasonic frequencies (205, 358, 618, and 1071 kHz). To maintain fully saturated solutions, argon and oxygen were used as sparge gases. Using a frequency of 358 kHz, the observed first-order kinetic rate constants for 1,4-dioxane destruction were highest with a sparge gas ratio of 75% Ar/25% O2 (k = 4.32 ± 0.31 × 10-4 s-1) and lowest in the presence of pure argon (k = 8.67 ± 0.47 × 10-5 s-1). Ethylene glycol diformate, methoxyacetic acid, formaldehyde, glycolic acid, and formic acid were found to be the major intermediates of 1,4-dioxane degradation. A reaction mechanism involving these byproducts was proposed concerning primarily reactions with oxidizing species (•OH, •OOH, •O) in and near the interfacial region of the cavitation bubble. The highest observed first-order 1,4-dioxane decomposition rate occurred at 358 followed by 618, 1071, and 205 kHz. At each frequency, approxim...
Paget's disease of bone: diagnosis and treatment update.

Paget’s disease is a metabolic bone disease characterized by excessive bone resorption and formation due to activated osteoclasts. Although Paget’s disease is a high bone turnover state, the excess bone that is formed lacks the structural stability of normal bone. Complications from Paget’s disease include deformity, fracture, and pain. Although still unclear, both prevalence and severity of Paget’s disease seem to be declining. Recent progress has focused on the environmental as well as genetic etiologies for this disease. Many studies indicate a role for viral infectious agents, whereas others point to a recently identified candidate gene on chromosome 18q. Therapy with bisphosphonate drugs is the treatment of choice. With newer and more powerful agents from this family now available, the majority of patients affected by Paget’s disease can achieve sustained remission and avoid complications.