cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Error Reduction in HF Loop DF Systems

Techniques for reducing bearing errors in vertical loop HF direction finders for ionospherically propagated signals were evaluated in a dual-channel system. A main channel provides a bearing display from the output of a rotating loop; an auxiliary channel unblanks the bearing ng display when propagation conditions are favorable for minimum bearing error. Circuitry to provide optimum unblanking for a wide variety of signal and fade conditions is described. The results of an operational evaluation are presented and show that a large majority of the unblanked bearings can be restricted to ±15° of the great-circle bearing with average bearing errors of 10° or less. Operational comparison with a contemporary system shows that the dual-channel system performance is superior with a 2 to 1 reduction ion in bearing spreads, standard deviations, and RMS error.
Assessment of dry deposition and foliar leaching of mercury and selected trace elements based on washed foliar and surrogate surfaces

Throughfall and litterfall are the primary deposition pathways of Hg to forested ecosystems, yet the source of this Hg (soil or atmospheric) remains unclear. Leaf samples were harvested from live trees and used in leaf washing experiments to assess whether the recovered Hg originated from surface deposits (wash-off of dry deposition) or internal sources (foliar leaching). The behavior of Hg was compared to eight other elements also found in leaf wash with known external (Cd, La, Ce, Pb) or internal (Mn, Rb, Sr, Ba) sources. These experiments indicated that wash-off of dry deposition occurred rapidly, while foliar leaching occurred continuously during the entire wash period (up to 12 h). To isolate dry deposition, surrogate Teflon surfaces exposed for a 98 h dry period were washed and compared to washed foliar surfaces. Computed dry deposition velocities for both surfaces were within a factor of 2 for Hg, Cd, La, Ce, and Pb, suggesting that dry deposition was the primary source of these elements from the w...
Catalytic reaction kinetics near a first-order poisoning transition

Abstract Various simple models of CO oxidation on surfaces, incorporating irreversible adsorption and reaction steps, exhibit first-order CO-poisoning and second-order O-poisoning kinetic phase transitions. Mean-field theories (MFT) can often accurately determine such quantities as the steady-state reaction rate near the first-order transition. However, we reveal the limitations of MFT predictions for the location of the spinodal point above this transition via a scaling analysis of the CO-poisoning kinetics. Furthermore, we note that MFT sometimes erroneously predicts evolution to a metastable or poisoned state rather than to the stable steady state. For example, just below the first-order transition, MFT predicts that a near CO-poisoned state will evolve to a completely CO-poisoned state, in contrast to the actual evolution towards the reactive steady-state. The latter behavior is elucidated here through an “oxidation epidemic” analysis wherein we consider the spreading of reaction from an initially empty patch embedded in a CO-poisoned sea. Spreading characteristics are quite distinct from analogous epidemic processes describing behavior near second-order (e.g., O-poisoning) transitions.
Peripheral response to cervical or thoracic spinal manual therapy: an evidence-based review with meta analysis

Objectives: Spinal manual therapy (SMT) is commonly used for treatment of musculoskeletal pain in the neck, upper back, or upper extremity. Some authors report a multi-system effect of SMT, including peripheral alterations in skin conductance and skin temperature, suggesting that SMT may initiate a sympathetic nervous system (SNS) response. The focus of this evidence-based review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the evidence of SNS responses and clinically relevant outcomes following SMT to the cervical or thoracic spine. Methods: A systematic search used the terms: ‘manual therapy’, ‘SMT’, ‘spinal manipulation’, ‘mobilization’, ‘SNS’, ‘autonomic nervous system’, ‘neurophysiology’, ‘hypoalgesia’, ‘pain pathophysiology’, ‘cervical vertebrae’, ‘thoracic vertebrae’, ‘upper extremity’, and ‘neurodynamic test’. Data were extracted and within-group and between-group effect sizes were calculated for outcomes of skin conductance, skin temperature, pain, and upper extremity range of motion (ROM) during upper limb ...
Weighted polynomial approximation of entire functions, I

Abstract Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for a function ƒ defined almost everywhere on the whole real line to have an extension to the complex plane as an entire function of order 1 and finite type. These conditions are in terms of the degree of approximation of ƒ by polynomials in weighted L p norms. In the case of the Hermite weight, an explicit formula for the type of the extension is given.
What is the best treatment of drug-resistant trigeminal neuralgia in patients affected by multiple sclerosis? A literature analysis of surgical procedures.

Abstract Objective Drug-resistant trigeminal neuralgia (TN) can complicate the clinical course of patients affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Various surgical procedures have been reported for the treatment of this condition, but there is no agreement on the best management of these patients. To our knowledge, there is no critical literature analysis focusing on this particular topic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of different surgical procedures utilized for drug-resistant TN in MS patients. Methods We reviewed the literature about the studies reporting on surgical treatment of drug-resistant TN in MS patients. Case reports and case series less than 4 patients were excluded from the analysis. Nineteen studies were selected for the statistical analysis. To reduce the variability of the data, the selected studies were evaluated for the following outcome parameters: acute pain relief rate (APR), rate of recurrence (RR), pain free at follow-up rate (PF at FU) and complication rate (CR). For the statistical analysis, chi-square statistic, using the Fisher's exact test was utilized. Results There was no procedure statistically superior in terms of APR rate in MS patients following the surgical treatment of TN. The highest RR was observed for percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) (60.2±14.4%). This result was statistically significant when compared to gamma knife surgery (GKS) ( p =0.0129) and microvascular decompression (MVD) ( p =0.0281). MVD together with percutaneous radiofrequency rhizothomy (PRR) was associated with a statistically better PF at FU rate (56.5±16.8% and 73.5±14.2%, respectively). However PBC and MVD showed statistical significant minor CR compared to other techniques (no complications and 18.7±17.4%, respectively). Conclusion Our study shows no differences in the short term results among different procedures for TN in MS patients. Each technique demonstrate advantages and limits in terms of long term pain, recurrence rate and complication rate. Each patient should be accurately informed on pros and cons of each procedure in order to be involved in the most appropriate choice.
Locus coeruleus involvement in Huntington's disease.

• Numbers and areas of neuronal profiles from sections of brain stem at specific anatomic levels of the locus coeruleus and the dorsal raphe nucleus were measured in 33 patients with Huntington's disease and in 23 age-matched control subjects. Results from the Huntington's disease cases were correlated with severity of neostriatal atrophy and with systematically collected quantitative clinical data. Among the patients with Huntington's disease, lower locus coeruleus neuronal counts, reduced neuronal areas, and reduced locus coeruleus length (distance between rostral and caudal levels) were associated with features of advanced disease, including severity of neostriatal atrophy, severity of dementia, duration of illness, and severity of motor impairment and activities of daily living impairment. By contrast, there was no evidence of neuronal pathology within the dorsal raphe nucleus in Huntington's disease. Pathologic changes in the locus coeruleus may relate to some of the clinical manifestations of Huntington's disease.
Contact dermatitis from polyfunctional acrylic monomers

Five out of 26 men employed formulating radiation drying printing ink developed eczematous dermatitis. Positive patch tests were obtained with two polyfunctional acrylic monomers, pentaerythritol triacrylate and trimethylol propane triacrylate and with formulations containing these in four affected employees. Cross sensitization was observed to dipentaerythritol monohydroxy pentaacrylate in each case. A fifth employee appeared to have developed irritant dermatitis from contact with these materials.
Transvaginal laparoscopic cholecystectomy: laparoscopically assisted

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is considered the new frontier for minimally invasive surgery. NOTES procedures such as peritoneoscopy, splenectomy, and cholecystectomy in animal models have been described. The aim of our experiment was to determine the feasibility and technical aspects of a new endoluminal surgical procedure. After approval from Columbia’s IACUC, a transvaginal laparoscopically assisted endoscopic cholecystectomy was performed on four 30 kg Yorkshire pigs. The first step was to insert a 1.5 cm endoscope into the vagina under direct laparoscopic vision. Then the gallbladder was reached and, with the help of a laparoscopic grasper to hold up the gallbladder, the operation was performed. At the end of the procedure the gallbladder was snared out through the vagina attached to the endoscope. There were no intraoperative complications such as bleeding, common bile duct or endo-abdominal organ damage. Total operative time ranged between 110 and 155 min. Based on our experience in the porcine model, we believe that a transvaginal endoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible in humans.
The pathogenesis and characterization of oral mucositis associated with cancer therapy.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe the current knowledge about the pathogenesis of oral mucositis associated with cancer therapy and oral mucositis. DATA SOURCES Published research and literature review articles, books, and posters of findings that have been selected for presentation at research conferences. DATA SYNTHESIS Aggressive cancer treatment yields gains in cure or sustained control but also in oral complications, including oral mucositis. Recent work suggests that oral mucositis involves a series of biologically and physiologically complex cellular and tissue interactions that vary in accordance with treatment type and characteristics. CONCLUSIONS The impact of treatment-related oral mucositis in patients is multifaceted and can significantly affect patients' experiences in terms of morbidity and treatment course. The creation of effective, targeted management strategies ultimately relies on a better understanding of the biologic processes underlying oral mucositis development coupled with systematic use of assessment tools. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Incorporating current knowledge about the pathogenesis of oral mucositis with regular use of available assessment instruments can help to ensure prompt recognition of oral manifestations and facilitate better treatment strategies.
An Educator's Criterion-Referenced Evaluation System (Computer Supported).

We describe the design and operation of a computerized objective-based instructional support system. Single-point-in-time criterion mastery testing and periodic trend test sampling combine to form a dynamic evaluation system. Student and group learning curves are readily assembled from timely computer reports. Performance feedback, interpretation, and instructional decision-making become a continuous quantitatively supported process.
A simplified ecological footprint at a regional scale

We calculated an Ecological Footprint Analysis (EFA) at a regional scale. EFA captures the human impact on the environmental system by identifying the amount of biologically productive land necessary to support a person’s level of consumption and waste generation. EFA is a commonly used metric of sustainability because it is easy to conceptualize and the calculation is relatively straightforward. Utilizing free, readily available data, we calculated an EFA for a region in southern Colorado. Gathering existing data at a regional scale is difficult because data are often collected at national or state levels. The lack of data is further confounded by the fact that data are often collected at intervals greater than one year. Variables that were missing data for certain years were estimated using linear interpolation. Data not available by county were scaled to the region from state or national level data. Thirty-five variables from 1980 to 2005 (26 years) were collected and used to calculate a time-dependent EFA and the resulting trend was visually examined. The available biocapacity in the region did not decrease during the period, but per capita biocapacity decreased due to population growth. Per capita biocapacity was at a period high of nearly 41 ha per person (ha/ca) in 1980 and steadily decreased to a low around 31 ha/ca in 2005. Ecological footprint remained constant over the 26-year period, varying from a low of 5.1 ha/ca in 1997 to a high of 5.5 ha/ca in 1985. A steady ecological footprint combined with a decreasing per capita biocapacity, implies the ecological reserve is decreasing and, thus, the region is moving away from sustainability. Although per capita consumption did not increase substantially during the 26 years, more people are drawing on a fixed quantity of resources. Our methodology is a simplified approach to EFA and does not follow standards that are currently being established. Adhering to the suggested standards would require obtaining data sets that consist entirely of national data. The national level data are replaced with data specific to the geographic area under examination when they are available. Although national data may represent the sub-national region under study, that substitution requires further investigation, especially in large, geographically and culturally varied nations such as the US. Nevertheless, this simplified methodology provides enough detail that stakeholders can identify areas of the system on which to focus attention to improve sustainability of the system.
VARIATION OF SHOOT MORPHOLOGY AND BIFURCATION RATIO IN SUGAR MAPLE (ACER SACCHARUM) SAPLINGS

Open-grown sugar maple saplings differ qualitatively in their gross morphology when compared with saplings growing in shaded forest understories. Forest-grown saplings have their leaves distributed in a few planar layers, while open-grown saplings exhibit fuller crowns and more profuse branching. In order to quantify these observed differences in branching patterns, ordering methods were applied to twenty saplings each from forest and open sites. Bifurcation ratio, an index of branching previously assumed to be species constant, differed significantly between forest-grown and opengrown saplings. Bifurcation ratios for forest-grown saplings were low, with a mean of 3.19. Values for open-grown saplings were generally higher, with a mean of 7.05. This variation of bifurcation ratio between forest-grown and open-grown sugar maple saplings is the first such variation within any species to be reported. In addition, open-grown saplings were characterized by more extension growth of terminal shoots than forest-grown saplings. These results suggest that sugar maple has a range of branching and light interception characteristics that suit it well in different microenvironments. A METHOD for analyzing branch systems was developed by Horton (1945) and subsequently modified by Strahler (1953, 1957). This method involves ordering the segments of the branch system, and calculating a branching ratio or bifurcation ratio, which serves as an index of the degree of branching. Developed by geomorphologists, this method was originally applied to stream systems. More recently, it was used to characterize the branch networks of biological systems, such as plants (Holland, 1969; Leopold, 1971; Oohata and Shidei, 1971; Barker, Cumming and Horsfield, 1973; McMahon and Kron
Electrical and optical emission measurements of a capillary dielectric barrier discharge

We report a capillary dielectric barrier discharge (Cap-DBD) plasma operated in atmospheric pressure air. The plasma reactor consists of metal wire electrodes inside quartz capillary tubes powered with a low kilohertz frequency AC high voltage power supply. Various reactor geometries (planar, 3-D multilayer, and circular) with wall-to-wall separation ranging from zero up to 500 micron were investigated. For the electrical and spectral measurements, three reactors, each with six tubes, six inches in length, were assembled with gap widths of 500 micron, 225 micron, and 0 micron (i.e. tubes touching). The discharges appear homogenous across the whole device at separations below 225 micron and turned into filamentary discharges at larger gap spaces. The operating voltage was generally around 3–4 kV (rms). The power consumption by the Cap-DBD was calculated using voltage/charge Lissajous figures with observed powers of a few watts to a maximum of about 14 W for the reactor with no gap spacing. Further studies of optical emission spectroscopy (OES) were employed to evaluate the reactive species generated in the microplasma source. The observed emission spectrum was predominantly within the second positive system of $\mbox{N}_2$ ( $\mbox{C}^3$ $\Pi_u$ – $\mbox{B}^3$ $\Pi_g$ ) and the first negative system of $\mbox{N}^+_2$ ( $\mbox{B}^2$ $\Sigma^+_u$ – $\mbox{X}^2$ $\Sigma^+_g$ ).
Effects of four density levels on tule fall chinook salmon during hatchery rearing and after release

Abstract Tule fall chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha were reared in a hatchery with a semiclosed water recycle and reconditioning system at a customary density of 364,000 fish per pond and at reduced densities of 273,000, 182,000, and 91,000 fish per pond. Fingerlings from four brood years were used to evaluate rearing density effects on growth and mortality during rearing and on smolt survival and adult contribution after release. During the rearing of each brood, about one-third of the original population in each pond was released by random removal in March and a second third was released in April. All remaining fish were released in May. An inverse relationship was apparent between rearing density and fingerling growth (R =−0.868). Rearing losses were low (<1.4%) in all test groups and were not affected by density. Decreased levels of rearing density produced only limited and inconsistent increases in smolt survival rate (from 0.18% to 0.27%) after release. This weakness in treatment effects was ...
Process optimization of buried Ag + –Na + ion-exchanged waveguides: theory and experiment

We report optimization of the processing conditions for fabrication of single-mode Ag+–Na+ ion-exchanged waveguides in a soda-lime glass. The surface-index change, the mobility and diffusion coefficient of Ag+ have been measured at low melt concentrations and the results used for calculation of the index profile using a new simple numerical method for solving the diffusion equation in a two-step process where the index profile is buried by applying an electric field in the second step. The calculated profile is in agreement with that measured. This correlation allows solution of the Helmholtz equation for given process parameters. Single-mode waveguides with desired mode-field distribution have been designed and fabricated with optimized performance and fiber compatibility at 1.3 μm.
A contemporary review of voice and airway after laryngeal trauma in children

Objectives/Hypothesis: To discuss three cases of pediatric laryngeal trauma that highlight current techniques in diagnosis and treatment of the voice following laryngeal trauma. To examine the diagnostic utility of "chip tip" video laryngoscopy and to explore the current uses for open, endoscopic, or combined approaches within the context of these cases. Study Design: Case series with review of contemporary techniques. Methods: A case series of three children who sustained laryngeal trauma is presented. Ages range from 6 weeks to 17 years. The diagnostic evaluation and treatment strategies are reviewed with a focus on contemporary techniques. Results: A 15-year-old boy who sustained blunt neck trauma was diagnosed with a vocal fold avulsion on video laryngoscopy with digital image processing and a significant mucosal tear with exposure of the paraglottic space on direct laryngoscopy. Anatomical reapproximation required a combined open and endoscopic repair. A 17-year-old football player developed a glottic hematoma after blunt cervical trauma. This was managed conservatively with serial chip tip video laryngoscopy that provided high fidelity images and facilitated proper and timely diagnosis and treatment. A 6-week-old male suffered vocal fold avulsion from a traumatic intubation. Laryngofissure with reattachment of the vocal fold resolved his aspiration and reconstructed the laryngeal anatomy. Conclusions: Enhanced imaging via chip tip video laryngoscopy, compared to conventional fiberoptic endoscopy, might provide additional diagnostic information in pediatric patients with laryngeal trauma. Additionally, there could be a role for video strobolaryngoscopy in selected laryngeal trauma patients. Open, endoscopic, and combined approaches could be used to optimize voice and swallowing outcomes in pediatric laryngeal trauma.
Minimization of the input power for a long railgun

Most analyses of electromagnetic (EM) railguns for military applications assume that the current will be supplied to the gun breech and that it will be constant, or as nearly so as the power supply can provide. A constant current provides a constant EM accelerating force and produces the minimum barrel length for a given muzzle energy. However, there are other potential applications, such as launch to very high velocities, where very long barrels may be needed. In such barrels, the rail resistive losses become large and a distributed power feed arrangement becomes necessary. Since the back electromotive force (EMF) of the barrel increases as the projectile velocity increases, high velocity guns that could accelerate large masses may require a back EMF of tens of kilovolts. When combined with a current of MA, the power systems feeding each stage may have to provide power levels of tens to hundreds of gigawatts. One way to mitigate these requirements is to design a system that operates with constant power instead of constant force. A simple description of such a system is provided here and compared with the constant force system for an example where high masses are launched to high velocities. In this way, the power requirements can be substantially reduced compared with the constant force case but this benefit necessitates an increase in launcher length. A simple numerical method of estimating the barrel length increase is provided.
NIR Raman spectra of whole human blood: effects of laser-induced and in vitro hemoglobin denaturation.

Care must be exercised in the use of Raman spectroscopy for the identification of blood in forensic applications. The Raman spectra of dried whole human blood excited at 785 nm are shown to be exclusively due to oxyhemoglobin or related hemoglobin denaturation products. Raman spectra of whole blood are reported as a function of the incident 785-nm-laser power, and features attributable to heme aggregates are observed for fluences on the order of 104 W/cm2 and signal collection times of 20 s. In particular, the formation of this local-heating-induced heme aggregate product is indicated by a redshifting of several heme porphyrin ring vibrational bands, the appearance of a large broad band at 1,248 cm-1, the disappearance of the Fe–O2 stretching and bending bands, and the observation of a large overlapping fluorescence band. This denaturation product is also observed in the low-power-excitation Raman spectrum of older ambient-air-exposed bloodstains (2 weeks or more). The Raman spectrum of methemoglobin whole blood excited at 785 nm is reported, and increasing amounts of this natural denaturation product can also be identified in Raman spectra of dried whole blood particularly when the blood has been stored prior to drying. These results indicate that to use 785-nm-excitation Raman spectra as an identification method for forensic applications to maximum effect, incident laser powers need to be kept low to eliminate variable amounts of heme aggregate spectral components contributing to the signal and the natural aging process of hemoglobin denaturation needs to be accounted for. This also suggests that there is a potential opportunity for 785-nm-excitation Raman spectra to be a sensitive indicator of the age of dried bloodstains at crime scenes.
Activation of guanylate cyclase during the oxidation of arylamine carcinogens

Abstract When added alone, the arylamine procarcinogens N-acetyl-aminofluorene, 4-acetyl-aminobiphenyl or their N-hydroxy derivatives failed to alter partially purified soluble guanylate cyclase from rat liver or particulate guanylate cyclase activity from colonic mucosa. However, addition of linoleic acid hydroperoxide to the enzyme preparation in the presence N-OH-acetyl-aminofluorene or N-OH-acetyl-aminobiphenyl significantly increased guanylate cyclase activity. With linoleic acid hydroperoxide plus N-OH-acetyl-aminofluorene, both the activation of hepatic guanylate cyclase and the formation of the carcinogen oxidation product 2-nitrosofluorene required hematin but not molecular O 2 . Both processes were inhibited by ascorbic acid. These data strongly imply that guanylate cyclase activation was dependent upon hematin catalyzed oxidation of N-OH-acetyl-aminofluorene by the lipid peroxide. The results provide the first evidence that guanylate cyclase activation can occur during the conversion of a procarcinogen to a more reactive chemical species, and thereby emphasize the importance of examining carcinogen interaction with the GC system under conditions which permit such chemical conversion.
Effects of Recumbent Stepper Exercise on Blood Pressure, Strength and Mobility in Residents of Assisted Living Communities: A Pilot Study

Objective: To examine the effects of a total body recumbent stepper exercise program on blood pressure, strength and walking speed in elderly, assisted-living residents.Design: A non-experimental (longitudinal) pre-post-test descriptive design was used to determine changes in physical performance measures after 13 weeks of recumbent stepper exercising.Setting: Morningside Assisted-Living Communities in Middle Tennessee.Participants: Thirty-nine volunteer, assisted-living residents with mean age of 85.5 ± 6.6 years, height of 1.6 ± .1 m, and weight of 63.6 ± 9.6 kg.Interventions: Recumbent Stepper exercise program. The residents were classified into two groups based on the total time of exercise logged over the test period. One group exercised less than an average of nine minutes per week while the other group averaged nine or more minutes of exercise per week.Main Outcomes Measures: The residents were tested on physical characteristics, sitting and standing blood pressure, mobility (15.2 meter timed walk)...
Structures having o-minimal open core

The open core of an expansion of a dense linear order is its reduct, in the sense of definability, generated by the collection of all of its open definable sets. In this paper, expansions of dense linear orders that have o-minimal open core are investigated, with emphasis on expansions of densely ordered groups. The first main result establishes conditions under which an expansion of a densely ordered group has an o-minimal open core. Specifically, the following is proved: Let R be an expansion of a densely ordered group (R, <, *) that is definably complete and satisfies the uniform finiteness property. Then the open core of R is o-minimal. Two examples of classes of structures that are not o-minimal yet have o-minimal open core are discussed: dense pairs of o-minimal expansions of ordered groups, and expansions of o-minimal structures by generic predicates. In particular, such structures have open core interdefinable with the original o-minimal structure. These examples are differentiated by the existence of definable unary functions whose graphs are dense in the plane, a phenomenon that can occur in dense pairs but not in expansions by generic predicates. The property of having no dense graphs is examined and related to uniform finiteness, definable completeness, and having o-minimal open core.
PH Domains: Diverse Sequences with a Common Fold Recruit Signaling Molecules to the Cell Surface

With the identification of two distinct classes of high affinity, physiologically relevant, ligands for PH domains, it appears reasonable to assume that additional specific high affinity ligands for other PH domains will be identified in the future. It is not clear, however, whether each of the 90 proposed PH domains will have its own specific ligand. Possible candidates for specific PH domain ligands include various inositol polyphosphates, phosphorylated membrane components, as well as specific protein sequences containing phosphorylated tyrosine, serine, threonine, or histidine residues. It appears unlikely that the low affinity interactions of phosphoinositides described for several PH domains are physiologically relevant. It is difficult to imagine why such a large and diverse family of PH domains (with just 10-15% sequence identity) would exist in order to bind with a similar low affinity to PtdInsP2-containing membranes. Rather, we suggest that these interactions represent limited binding to noncognate ligands - the physiologically relevant ligands have yet to be identified. It is likely that many, if not all, PH domains have their own high affinity, cell membrane-associated, ligands and operate according to the paradigms described for the PH domains of PLCδ1 and Shc (Figure 2Figure 2A and Figure 2Figure 2B). The structural homology between PH domains might reflect a particularly stable protein scaffold of β sheets that can present variable ligand-binding loops in a manner analogous to that seen in the immunoglobulin superfamily.
The Merci Retrieval System for acute stroke: the Southeast Regional Stroke Center experience.

The Merci Retrieval System® was cleared for use in patients with stroke in August 2004. However, there are few published results of “real world experience” with the device. We captured single-center data on 25 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with the Merci Retrieval System according to the MERCI trial except that we treated some patients with tandem proximal carotid and intracranial lesions with carotid angioplasty and stenting and some patients were treated within the 3-hour window. Median patient age was 63 years and median initial National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 18. Isolated M1 or M2 middle cerebral artery lesions occurred in 52% “carotid T” lesions in 8%, and vertebrobasilar lesions in 8% Tandem lesions involving proximal carotid and proximal intracranial vessel occurred in 32%, necessitating emergent multilevel treatment including carotid stenting. Median duration from symptom onset to Merci device utilization was 5.2 hours. Successful reperfusion (≥thrombolysis in myocardial infarction [TIMI] 2 flow) in the target vessel was obtained in 56% of cases. Statistical analysis revealed a strong correlation between ability to achieve greater than or equal to TIMI 2 flow a good clinical outcome as measured by 3-month NIHSS score, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and mortality (nine out of the 12 without successful reperfusion died compared to none of the 13 with ≥TIMI 2 flow, p<0.001). Younger age and lower NIHSS score on presentation were also predictors of good clinical outcome at 3 months. These “real world data” demonstrate that the results of the previous MERCI trial can be “independently replicated” at a regional stroke center. Although the results of placebo-controlled trials are still pending, mechanical revascularization has become a critical component of our acute stroke protocol, particularly for severe strokes. Issues still remain regarding recalcitrant lesions and operator experience, which necessitate further clinical testing and device optimization.
Preparing Newly Licensed Associate Degree Nurses to Work in Home Health Care

This article describes an innovative learning program, designed for associate degree nurse (ADN) graduates, developed at the visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) to expand its hiring pool of potential applicants to home health care nursing positions. The program, “Transitions to Home Health Care,” provides a strong emphasis on independent judgment, assessment skills, and collaboration with other professions and resources outside the home health care agency. In view of the expanding number of ADN graduates and the increasing competition for a limited number of new bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), VNSNY developed and is testing a model that combines a specially designed one-year didactic educational course and a clinical practice internship program to prepare new ADN graduates to work in the home health care field at a level more comparable to that of BSN graduates. To date, VNSNY has had preliminary success with this new approach.
Has the Case for Direct Organic Adaptation been Fully Stated

THE heading of this letter is in the form of a question for the following reasons: (1) It is impossible to keep pace with the literature on the subject of Evolution while engaged on any other absorbing work; and (2) so many giants have been engaged in the discussion, that it requires courage even to suggest that a point has been overlooked. It seems to me that nothing could be added to Herbert Spencer's convincing arguments that acquired characters must somehow be transmitted. I wish merely to suggest a method of describing this transmission which I have, never yet seen in print, and which, I must think, is not generally recognised, inasmuch as it modifies Weismann's “contradictory facts” into not insuperable difficulties.
Development of a wireless angle sensor based on the directional radiation pattern of antennas

The directional radiation pattern of antennas is exploited to develop a high-speed wireless absolute angle measurement device. The system involves deployment of one antenna on a rotating body as the angle measurement sensor. This sensor antenna receives signals from two interrogation antennas positioned with an angular offset on a static frame of reference. The directional radiation pattern of the antennas is used to analyze the received signal strength and estimate the angle between the static and rotating frames. The signals received by the sensor antenna are analyzed using standard inexpensive hardware capable of miniaturization on a printed circuit board/chip. The key advantages of this sensor are absolute angle detection, wireless operation, high sampling rate and inexpensive fabrication. Detailed experimental results are presented that evaluate the feasibility of this new sensing concept. Experiments show that the sensor achieves better than 0.5° accuracy for static angle measurements and an accuracy of the order of 1.6° for dynamic motion measurements. An estimator that combines a gyroscope together with the developed angle sensor is then presented. The estimator is able to achieve drift-free estimates with accuracy better than 0.2° for static and 0.8° for dynamic measurements.
In vitro andin vivo availability of some commercial prednisolone tablets

The in vitrodissolution rates of prednisolone from five commercially available 5- mg prednisolone tablets were determined in distilled water. The dissolution studies were repeated on the fastest- and slowest-dissolving brands using 0.01% polysorbate 80 in 0.1 NHCl as the dissolution medium. A two-way crossover bioavailability study was performed in 12 human male adult volunteers comparing the fastest- and slowest-dissolving brands. The plasma samples were assayed for prednisolone by a radioimmunoassay method. Statistical analysis of the data for the two brands showed no significant differences between average plasma levels of prednisolone at any sampling time. The results suggest that on the average the in vivorates of dissolution of the two brands were essentially the same, and in vitrodissolution in 0.01% polysorbate 80–0.1 NHCl medium was better correlated with these in vivoresults than dissolution in water.
An interview with David H Farb, Section Editor for Basic Pharmacology.

David H. Farb is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Farb is Principal Investigator and Director of the Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology and Director of the university-wide NIGMS training program in Biomolecular Pharmacology. A renowned neuropharmacologist, his research integrates existing electrophysiological, behavioral, pharmacological, and molecular genetics technologies in a novel systems-level platform to establish a molecular dissection of spatial memory. In this interview we find out a little more about the key issues in this field of research.
Ageing of Neurospora crassa. IV. Induction of senescence in wild type by dietary amino acid analogs and reversal by antioxidants and membrane stabilizers

Abstract The extensional growth rate of wild-type 74 A 8 N. crassa in the presence of various concentrations of 19 amino acid analogs was measured. Seven analogs were not inhibitory at concentrations in the range of one to 10mM. Of the remaining 12 analogs, nine inhibited growth in a novel way. The kinetics of growth in the presence of these analogs at 30° were characterized by seven sequential phases: (1) lag; (2) acceleration of growth rate; (3) steady-state growth rate; (4) exponential rate of decline of growthrate; (5) no growth or growth rate ⩽ 0.1 mm h −1 ; (6) acceleration of growth rate; and (7) steady state. At 33°, phases 6 and 7 did not occur and irreparable death of the clones occurred. The mechanism by which the clones acquired resistance at 30° appeared to involve a combination of physiological adaptation and cellular selection. Dietary application of either free radical scavengers or surface-active membrane ‘stabilizers’ alleviated or prevented the inhibition and deterioration of growth rate which occurred in the presence of the nine amino acid analogs. Culture with either 4-fluorophenylalanine or ethionine led to an increase of the activities of antioxygenic enzymes glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase. The amino acid analogs that cause senescence and death of growing cells are known to be incorporated into proteins and such proteins are generally abnormal. Because a substantial fraction of cellular protein occurs in membranes and the proteins synthesized by mitochondria are exclusively intrinsic membrane proteins, we suggest that a primary consequence of errors in protein synthesis is the production of faulty membranes. The deterioration of such membranes with associated lipid autoxidation and free radical production proceeding as a chain reaction at an exponential rate may in itself contribute to the exponential rate of cellular deterioration which is characteristic of the ageing process. According to this hypothesis, dietary membrane stabilizers, free radical scavengers and antioxygenic enzymes protect cells from error catastrophy arising from the chain of events leading from membrane deterioration.
First Estimates of Nonuniform Electrolyte on Seawater Corrosion Parameters

All metals corrode with exposure to electrolytes. This is a fact of life experienced by owners of marine platforms and structures throughout the world. Computational modeling methodologies have been applied to evaluate and design corrosion prevention systems. All computational work to date makes similar assumptions of a uniform electrolyte. This is a valid assumption for structures in large volumes of constantly refreshing electrolyte in which the constitutive characteristics of the electrolyte can be approximated by a uniform mixture. There is experimental evidence that this assumption is not valid for smaller volumes. The need for a more general solution which is valid in these smaller enclosed spaces is being driven by future designs that place corrosion prevention systems in these areas. The sensitivity of solutions on variations in electrolyte conductivity is unknown. In this work preliminary results are presented that demonstrate the need to take into account the spatial variation in electrolyte characteristics for small enclosed volumes of electrolyte. Two geometries (a gap between plates and a two material concentric cylinder corrosion cell) are used to demonstrate the differences between uniform and spatial varying electrolyte. Future work is outlined which will take into account more physical parameters related to electrochemical corrosion.
Pharmacotherapy plus endoscopic intervention is more effective than pharmacotherapy or endoscopy alone in the secondary prevention of esophageal variceal bleeding: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials

Results: Pharmacotherapy was as effective as endoscopic procedures in preventing rebleeding (RR 1.067; 95% CI, 0.865-1.316; P Z .546), variceal rebleeding (RR 1.143; 95% CI, 0.791-1.651; P Z .476), all-cause mortality (RR 0.997; 95% CI, 0.827-1.202, P Z .978), and mortality from rebleeding (RR 1.171; 95% CI, 0.816-1.679; P Z .39). Pharmacotherapy combined with endoscopic procedures did not reduce all-cause mortality (RR 0.787; 95% CI, 0.587-1.054; P Z .108) or mortality caused by rebleeding (RR 0.786; 95% CI, 0.445-1.387; P Z .405) compared with endoscopic procedures. However, combination therapy (endoscopic procedure plus pharmacotherapy) significantly reduced the incidence of all rebleeding (RR 0.623; 95% CI, 0.523-0.741; P ! .001) and variceal rebleeding (RR 0.601; 95% CI, 0.440-0.820; P! .001). Limitations: Heterogeneity of patient population and different treatment protocols may have affected our meta-analysis. Conclusion: Pharmacotherapy may be as effective as endoscopic therapy in reducing rebleeding rates and allcause mortality. Pharmacotherapy plus endoscopic intervention is more effective than endoscopic intervention alone. (Gastrointest Endosc 2009;70:658-64.)
In Silico Models of Alcohol Dependence Treatment: Stochastic Approach

In this chapter, we view alcohol dependence and the response to alcohol dependence treatment as a recurrent bio-behavioral process developing in time. We propose a formal model describing this process, which combines biology and behavior in silico, and use computer simulation to illustrate the approach and explain responses to placebo and ondansetron treatment observed in clinical studies. Specifically, the response to placebo treatment was explained by a reduction of the probability of environmental reinforcement, while the effect of ondansetron was explained by a gradual decline in the degree of ethanol-induced neuromodulation. The advantages of such a model-based investigation are that (1) the overall treatment effect can be decomposed into meaningful steps, which allows for individualized treatment tailoring, and (2) separate steps (i.e., physiology and behavior) can be quantified in different (animal or human) studies and then the results can be integrated in silico. Thus, the proposed concept is species invariant, capable of bridging results from human and animal studies.
A Transport Controlled Bioreactor for the Simultaneous Production and Concentration of Xanthan Gum

The microbial production of a biopolymer, xanthan gum, was used to demonstrate that transport resistances inherent in immobilized cell systems can be exploited to concentrate macromolecular products within the porous support matrix. Mathematical models were developed to predict the diffusional limitations responsible for concentrating the xanthan internally in the immobilization matrix. However, total xanthan accumulation is very sensitive to oxygen transport limitations. Therefore, immobilized cell fermentations were conducted with the external oxygen concentration controlled at different levels. In agreement with model simulations, xanthan accumulated to the greatest extent in the absence of oxygen transport limitations, reaching a final internal concentration of 55 kg/m3-pore volume. In comparable free-cell fermentations, the maximum achievable xanthan concentration was only 35 kg/m3.
Predictive Scheduling in Rate-Adaptive Multi-user Relay Channels with Reconfiguration Delays

Opportunistic scheduling and rate-adaptation mechanisms exploit the variations in the channel states experienced by different users through the allocation of resources to users with better channel quality. Opportunistic scheduling has been considered in various contexts, typically with the assumption that rate adaptation and channel reassignment can be implemented with no delay, based on the instantaneous channel state information. This paper considers opportunistic predictive resource allocation in a multi-user rate-adaptive relay system with reconfiguration delays. Specifically, we consider a deterministic predictive scheduling problem in which any change in the channel rate or assignment induces an arbitrary reconfiguration penalty, Delta. We show that the off-line version of this problem is NP-hard, and then present an off-line approximation algorithm, which is shown to be Delta-competitive. We then provide a polynomial-complexity optimal solution for throughput maximization for the offline single-user rate adaptation problem. Finally, we present a family of online algorithms to solve the online version of the multi-user problem. These algorithms, which are amenable to distributed implementation, involve solving a set of small mixed-integer linear programs (MILPs) in parallel. We also discuss the impact of the reconfiguration penalty Delta and the look-ahead on the performance, where look-ahead is defined as the time horizon over which the channel state estimates are available.
Multimodality language mapping in patients with left-hemispheric language dominance on Wada test.

Objective We determined the utility of electrocorticography (ECoG) and stimulation for detecting language-related sites in patients with left-hemispheric language-dominance on Wada test.
Eicosanoids mediate Manduca sexta cellular response to the fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana: a role for the lipoxygenase pathway.

Many studies have documented the involvement of eicosanoids in insect cellular immune responses to bacteria. The use of the fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana as a nodulation elicitor, with inhibition of phospholipase A2 by dexamethasone, extends the principle to fungi. This study also provides the first evidence of involvement of the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway rather than the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway in synthesis of the nodulation mediating eicosanoid(s). The LOX product, 5(S)- hydroperoxyeicosa-6E,8Z,11Z,14Z-tetraenoic acid (5-HPETE), substantially reversed nodulation inhibition caused by dexam- ethasone and the LOX inhibitors, caffeic acid and esculetin. The COX product, prostaglandin H2 (PGH2), did not reverse the nodulation inhibition by dexamethasone or the COX inhibitor, ibuprofen. None of the inhibitors tested had a significant effect on the phagocytosis of B. bassiana blastospores in vitro. Hemocyte phenoloxidase activity was reduced by dexamethasone, esculetin, and the COX inhibitor, indomethacin. The rescue candidates 5-HPETE and PGH2 did not reverse the inhibition. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 51:46-54, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. †