cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AB1211 A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF LABORATORY ABNORMALITIES FOUND DURING METHOTREXATE MONITORING AND THE COST IMPLICATIONS

Background Methotrexate (MTX) remains the first line treatment in majority of cases of inflammatory arthritis. The current British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) Guidelines suggest checking Full blood Count (FBC), ALT/AST, Albumin, Creatinine at 0,2,4,6,10,14, 18 weeks and then 12 weekly. Despite this close monitoring recommendation, MTX is generally considered a safe drug by Rheumatologists and its use has grown significantly over last two decades. Objectives To evaluate the incidence of liver, renal and haematological toxicities during Methotrexate treatment and calculate the cost implications. Methods 101 patients (30 males 71 females) (Age 40-89 year Mean 66.5 year) prescribed MTX were randomly selected and retrospective analysis was performed. 91 Rheumatoid arthritis, 8 Psoriatic arthritis and 2 patients had Undifferentiated Inflammatory Arthritis. 20 patients had Early Inflammatory Arthritis ( 100 U/l; unexplained reduction in albumin 105 fL, Neut 0.5 × 109/l and mild haematological toxicity (HM) was between normal and HS. Severe renal toxicity (RS) was defined as Creatinine increase >30% over 12 months and/or calculated GFR Results Over 1 year, 101 patients had total of 609 blood tests for MTX monitoring (Min 1 Max 17). FBC, Liver Function Test, Urea & Electrolytes, CRP and ESR each cost £8.54. LS was found in 4 patients, LM in 15, HM in 3 and RM in 2 patients. MTX was stopped in all 4 patients with LS. Mild toxicities (LM, HM and RM) recovered after close monitoring or reduction in dose. 5 patients with mild toxicities were on MTX for 1 year. All patients with severe and mild toxicities did not have any significant comorbidities compared to rest of the patients. It was calculated that detecting one LS cost (609x8.54)/4 = £1300.2. Similarly one LM cost £346.7, one HM £1733.6 and one RM £2600.43. These costs does not include travel expenses, parking charges and time off work for appointments in phlebotomy. Conclusion Our cohort shows that mild liver toxicity is the most commonly found abnormality during MTX monitoring and patients on stable doses still need monitoring for liver toxicity. Haematological and renal toxicities are much less common and a more relaxed monitoring schedule may be acceptable for these parameters. Regular monitoring for inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR) causes an extra cost burden. The direct cost for identifying each abnormality is considerable. References [1] Ledingham J, Gullick N, Irving K, Gorodkin R, Aris M, Burke J, et al. BSR and BHPR guideline for the prescription and monitoring of non-biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Rheumatology. 2017 Feb 27;56(6):865-868. kew479. Disclosure of Interests None declared
Family Business Groups and Economic Development in Southeast Asia

Large private enterprises in the ASEAN-5 economies have been, and remain, dominated by firms that share four common characteristics: (1) their ownership and control are concentrated among a handful of prominent business families; (2) most of these families have Chinese origins; (3) each family owns a collection of legally distinct firms that collectively form a business group; and (4) the owning families have formed extensive connections with politicians and bureaucrats. These characteristics reflect how family businesses have responded to the changing political and economic situations in the region over the past century — the process that shapes the landscape of the modern corporate sector in the ASEAN-5 economies that we observe today.
Chapter 3 – Pharmacodynamics

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews neuroanatomy and neurophysiology in order to help understand the relationship between the brain changes associated with various psychological disorders and the specific changes in mood, cognition, and behaviors that may be expected when psychoactive compounds act on the brain and alter brain function. Since psychopharmacology is the study of the mechanisms, effects, and use of substances that act on the brain, it is necessary to be familiar with the structure of the brain, as well as principles of brain function, in order to understand the action of psychoactive compounds. As the knowledge of the brain increases, one is becoming more aware of the complex nature of brain changes that underlie many psychological disorders. In some cases (for example, depression), the structure of the brain may change, and some parts of the brain may be larger or smaller.
Prevention and treatment of the complications of auricle reconstruction

Objective To investigate the treatment and prevention of auricle reconstruction complications by Medpor framework and autoallergic rib cartilage framework implantation.Methods A total of 158 microtia were performed ear reconstructive operation,in which postoperative complications happened in 18 cases during January 2003 to June 2011,and studied retrospectively.Results There were three cases of dilator haematoma (incidence rate was 1.90 ％),and they were cured after treatment.There were two dilator infection cases (incidence rate was 1.27 ％).One case was cured after treatment,and another one revealed no effect after treatment and dilator implantation operation was done half a year later.There were thirteen cases of framework plantation exposure and infection after Ⅱ stage operation,in which there were seven rib cartilage framework cases (incidence rate was 5.79 ％),and they were cured after change dressings and operation; there were six Medpor framework cases (incidence rate was 16.22 ％),and the three cases were cured after change dressings and operation,and other three cases revealed no effects after change dressings and so the operation failed.Conclusions Preoperative percise plan and fine manipulation can decrease the incidence of haematoma.The main reasons of framework exposure include the skin tension,thin skin flap or the effect of external force.On account of the high incidence of framework exposure and difficult treatemnt,it is better to use rib cartilage framework for uricle reconstruction. Key words: Auricle reconstruction; Rib cartilage; Autolgous; Medpor; Framework
Attenuation of hypermetabolism in the remnant kidney by dietary phosphate restriction in the rat.

In vivo energy metabolism in remnant and normal kidney nephrons and the effect of dietary phosphate restriction on energy metabolism were studied. Tissue concentrations of ATP did not differ between remnant and normal kidneys; however, the tissue concentration of inorganic phosphate (Pi) was higher in remnant kidneys (1.17 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.82 +/- 0.09 mumol/g, P less than 0.05) as assessed by 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Intracellular pH was also higher in remnant kidneys (7.48 +/- 0.04 vs. 7.20 +/- 0.05, P less than 0.01), as was oxygen consumption (QO2) when normalized for rate of net tubular sodium reabsorption (Tna; 0.032 +/- 0.005 vs. 0.018 +/- 0.002 mumol.min-1.g-1, P less than 0.01). Compared with glycine supplemented controls, dietary phosphate restriction induced by the phosphate binder diaminodihydroacetoacetate, a maneuver which independently of protein restriction has been shown to ameliorate the progression of chronic renal failure, resulted in no major change in tissue levels of ATP, intracellular pH, or TNa+ but decreased Pi (0.62 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.40 +/- 0.11 mumol/g, P less than 0.01) and QO2 (4.0 +/- 0.4 vs. 7.7 +/- 1.0 mumol.min-1.g-1, P less than 0.01) in remnant kidneys. For the amount of sodium reabsorption performed, remnant kidneys are hypermetabolic, and this hypermetabolism is attenuated by dietary phosphate restriction. These data suggest that hypermetabolism may be involved in the tubulointerstitial mechanisms operant in the progression of chronic renal failure that occurs in the rat remnant kidney, and that attenuation of this abnormality may be the mechanism by which dietary phosphate restriction ameliorates this process.
High-spin states in /sup 207/At

The properties of high-spin states in $^{207}\mathrm{At}$ have been studied with the $^{204}\mathrm{Pb}(^{6}\mathrm{Li},3n)^{207}\mathrm{At}$ reaction. In-beam measurements with Ge(Li) and intrinsic Ge detectors of $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidences, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray angular distributions, pulsed-beam $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ timing, and perturbed angular distributions with an applied magnetic field were made to determine a decay scheme, level energies, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray multipolarities, spin-parity assignments, an isomeric lifetime, and a $g$ factor. High-spin states up to $\frac{25}{2\ensuremath{\hbar}}$ were identified as either proton excitations of the ($N=126$) $^{207}\mathrm{At}$ nucleus coupled to the $^{204}\mathrm{Pb}$ $Z=82$ ground state or neutron excitations of $^{204}\mathrm{Pb}$ coupled to the ${(\ensuremath{\pi}{h}_{\frac{9}{2}})}^{3}{\frac{9}{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ground state of $^{211}\mathrm{At}$. Lifetime and $g$-factor measurements of the ${25/2}^{+}$ 2117-keV isomer, which yielded values of $\ensuremath{\tau}=156(3)$ nsec and $g=0.30(1)$, respectively, strongly support a $|{(\ensuremath{\pi}{h}_{\frac{9}{2}})}^{3}{\frac{9}{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}},{(\ensuremath{\nu}{f}_{\frac{5}{2}})}^{\ensuremath{-}1}{(\ensuremath{\nu}{i}_{\frac{13}{2}})}^{\ensuremath{-}1}{9}^{\ensuremath{-}};{\frac{25}{2}}^{+}〉$ configuration for this level.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{204}\mathrm{Pb}(^{6}\mathrm{Li},3n\ensuremath{\gamma})$, ${E}_{\mathrm{Li}}=34$ MeV; measured $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coin, $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}W(\ensuremath{\theta})$, pulsed-beam $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ timing, perturbed angular distributions; deduced levels, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ multipolarities, ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$, ${T}_{\frac{1}{2}}$, $B(E1)$, $g$.
Endoscopic Approach for Pineal Region Lesions

Many approaches for tumors in the pineal region have been described and used throughout the time, each of them with its own set of advantages and limitations. This chapter will describe the use of the paramedian supracerebellar infratentorial (SCIT) keyhole approach for pineal region tumors, using an endoscope for the entire length of the procedure. The presentation is based on the pending-publishing case series of 11 patients with pineal region tumors, operated using a fully endoscopic technique.
PRIME: A Personalized Recommender System for Information Visualization Methods via Extended Matrix Completion

Adapting user interface designs for specific tasks performed by different users is a challenging yet important problem. Automatically adapting visualization designs to users and contexts (e.g., tasks, display devices, environments, etc.) can theoretically improve human–computer interaction to acquire insights from complex datasets. However, effectiveness of any specific visualization is moderated by individual differences in knowledge, skills, and abilities for different contexts. A modeling framework called Personalized Recommender System for Information visualization Methods via Extended matrix completion (PRIME) is proposed for recommending the optimal visualization designs for individual users in different contexts. PRIME quantitatively models covariates (e.g., psychological and behavioral measurements) to predict recommendation scores (e.g., perceived complexity, mental workload, etc.) for users to adapt the visualization specific to the context. An evaluation study was conducted and showed that PRIME can achieve satisfactory recommendation accuracy for adapting visualization, even when there are limited historical data. PRIME can make accurate recommendations even for new users or new tasks based on historical wearable sensor signals and recommendation scores. This capability contributes to designing a new generation of visualization systems that will adapt to users’ states. PRIME can support researchers in reducing the sample size requirements to quantify individual differences, and practitioners in adapting visualizations according to user states and contexts.
Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: A Case of Solitary Brain Lesion

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an uncommon variant of extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that involves the brain, leptomeninges, eyes, or spinal cord without evidence of systemic disease. This article presents a case of a 63-year-old Caucasian female with high-grade B-cell lymphoma who was found to have a solitary brain lesion and no distant metastasis upon diagnosis. The patient had left-sided weakness and difficulty standing on presentation and was found to have a right frontal lobe mass with surrounding mild vasogenic edema and a small focal area of hemorrhage concerning for high-grade glioma versus lymphoma on MRI. However, pathology results revealed high-grade B-cell lymphoma. The case reinforces the importance of working up any lesion suspicious for lymphoma/glioma. Diagnosis of high-grade B-cell lymphoma can be difficult based on morphological and cytological appearance due to varying gene expression and presentation at diagnosis. It can closely mimic diffuse B-cell lymphoma. Extensive workup including HIV serology, MRI imaging, evaluation for spinal cord involvement, and lumbar puncture (LP), to rule out cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) involvement, prior to initiating treatment needs to be done. The case also addresses high-grade methotrexate (MTX)-based chemotherapy as a treatment that improves mortality in patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma.
The impact of COVID-19 on clinical practice and well-being of global mental health professionals

Some of the most direct and brutal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are experienced by health care professionals who are working in demanding environments while having to deal with their own fears of infection and mortality. To assess the impact of COVID-19 on the practice and well-being of global mental health professionals, we designed a three-part, longitudinal, internet-based study. Here we present data from part 1, implemented in June-July 2020 in six languages to members of WHO’s Global Clinical Practice Network composed of 15,500 mental health practitioners. The study assessed COVID-19’s impact on: work circumstances; occupational well-being; use and transition to telehealth; and expectations, needs and recommendations. 2,505 mental health professionals from 126 countries responded to the study (47% psychiatrists). 93.7% of respondents were currently practicing and 70.9% continued to see patients in person. The impact on clinical workload varied in terms of direction and extent depending on type of service provided and country of practice. Most participants had started or increased their use of telehealth services, and we identified a need for training to support telehealth use. Overall, clinicians scored high on well-being indices. However, a subset scored above the cutoff for low well-being and reported a significant number of post-traumatic symptoms. Five factors affected work-related stress: fear of infection, severe COVID-related events, life disruption, lack of adequate protection and role disruption. Data from this study will provide information relevant for the design, development, and integration of mental health services in the continuing pandemic, and in similar future scenarios. Disclosure No significant relationships.
A Once and Future Politics: Heidegger's Recovery of the Political in Parmenides

Can it be that the modern perspective on politics, policy-making, and administration is so inbred that we are disabled from envisioning alternatives? Martin Heidegger thought so. The present author attempts to give an initial insight into what may be the controversial German philosopher's hidden opus on “Politics” as it revives the relationship between the polis and truth.
Effect of ducting on radio occultation measurements: An assessment based on high‐resolution radiosonde soundings

Recent studies have shown that the presence of elevated ducts in the lower atmosphere has an adverse effect on the inversion of GPS radio occultation data. The problem arises because the microwave refractivity within and below an elevated duct is no longer uniquely determined by the bending angle profile. Applying Abel inversion without a priori knowledge of the duct will introduce a negative bias in the retrieved refractivity profile within and below the duct. In this work, high vertical resolution radiosonde data are used to give a quantitative assessment of the characteristics and effects of ducts, including their frequency of occurrences, heights, and thicknesses at different latitudes and seasons. The negative bias from the Abel-retrieved refractivity profiles resulting from these ducts is also computed. The results give a strong indication that ducting in the lower troposphere is a frequent phenomenon over the tropics and midlatitudes. The ducts are shown to be predominantly caused by sharp changes in the vertical structure of water vapor. The majority of the ducts are found to be below 2 km, with a median duct layer thickness of about 100 m. The negative refractivity bias is shown to be largest below 2 km, with a median value of about 0.5-1% in the tropics and 0.2-0.5% in midlatitudes. The bias is about a factor of 2-3 smaller between 2 to 3 km and is negligible above 4 km.
TrustBuilder2: A Reconfigurable Framework for Trust Negotiation

To date, research in trust negotiation has focused mainly on the theoretical aspects of the trust negotiation process, and the development of proof of concept implementations. These theoretical works and proofs of concept have been quite successful from a research perspective, and thus researchers must now begin to address the systems constraints that act as barriers to the deployment of these systems. To this end, we present TrustBuilder2, a fully-configurable and extensible framework for prototyping and evaluating trust negotiation systems. TrustBuilder2 leverages a plug-in based architecture, extensible data type hierarchy, and flexible communication protocol to provide a framework within which numerous trust negotiation protocols and system configurations can be quantitatively analyzed. In this paper, we discuss the design and implementation of TrustBuilder2, study its performance, examine the costs associated with flexible authorization systems, and leverage this knowledge to identify potential topics for future research, as well as a novel method for attacking trust negotiation systems.
Bioethics of Genetic Testing

Appropriate consideration of the ethical issues surrounding genetic testing is essential to ensure that the knowledge gained from diagnostic techniques is used appropriately. Keywords: clinical utility; prediction; reproduction; psychosocial
Growing the Profession: Mentoring Undergraduates for Librarianship

Since 2007, Brigham Young University Library has provided a paid internship program for undergraduates that allows them to work with a librarian in an academic setting to help them decide if they wish to pursue a master's degree in Library Science. This article describes the internship program and provides results of surveys given to both interns and library mentors regarding their expectations and outcomes. In a new addition to the program, interns now meet with multiple librarians to gain a broad understanding of library work and how different library areas function together.
Determination of Shapes, Sizes and Material Compositions of Large Inclusions in Elastic Media from Scattered Waves

The problem of determining the shapes, sizes and material compositions of large inclusions embedded in elastic media from scattered elastic waves leads to the inverse scattering problems of the anisotropic linear elastic wave equations. Generalized Pulse-Spectrum Technique (GPST), a class of versatile and efficient Newton-like iterative algorithms with Tikhonov regularization, is used to solve this extremely difficult multi-parameter inverse problem. The summary of past and present applications of GPST to elastic inverse scattering problems are presented; in particular, the determination of shapes and sizes of large rigid near-spherical inclusions in an elastic medium from the scattered time-harmonic waves is described in detail. The future development of GPST and its tremendous potential for applications are discussed.
Analysis of self-force error in relativistic PIC simulations

Summary form only given, as follows. A mathematically and physically rigorous error analysis of Maxwell's equations coupled with Newton-Lorentz equation of motion for relativistic PIC simulations will be given. The goal of this work is an improved PIC algorithm for simulating relativistic plasmas; for example, accelerators and high power microwave tubes. The an analysis shows the error of the method in term of /spl Delta/t and /spl Delta/x, with computational verification. First, a brief review is presented of the error in the Maxwell and Newton-Lorentz equations analyzed separately. Next, the coupled equations will be analyzed for a single particle. The coupling is accomplished through the use of weighting functions to weight the particle contribution to the source terms of the Maxwell equations, /spl rho/ and J, to the grid. The converse operation, weighting the fields back to the particle location, is also considered. Finally, the Klimontovich equation, together with Maxwell's equations, which constitutes an exact description of a plasma, is analyzed. The difference between this and the PIC algorithm defines the error. Refinements and extensions to reduce the error of the classical PIC method are described. The accuracy and stability of these new algorithms, as well as their impact on performance, are examined.
Oncotic pressures opposing filtration across non‐fenestrated rat microvessels

We hypothesized that ultrafiltrate crossing the luminal endothelial glycocalyx through infrequent discontinuities (gaps) in the tight junction (TJ) strand of endothelial clefts reduces albumin diffusive flux from tissue into the 'protected region' of the cleft on the luminal side of the TJ. Thus, the effective oncotic pressure difference (sigma black triangle down pi) opposing filtration is greater than that measured between lumen and interstitial fluid. To test this we measured sigma black triangle down pi across rat mesenteric microvessels perfused with albumin (50 mg ml(-1)) with and without interstitial albumin at the same concentration within a few micrometres of the endothelium as demonstrated by confocal microscopy. We found sigma black triangle down pi was near 70% of luminal oncotic pressure when the tissue concentration equalled that in the lumen. We determined size and frequency of TJ strand gaps in endothelial clefts using serial section electron microscopy. We found nine gaps in the reconstructed clefts having mean spacing of 3.59 microm and mean length of 315 nm. The mean depth of the TJ strand near gaps was 67 nm and the mean cleft path length from lumen to interstitium was 411 nm. With these parameters our three-dimensional hydrodynamic model confirmed that fluid velocity was high at gaps in the TJ strand so that even at relatively low hydraulic pressures the albumin concentration on the tissue side of the glycocalyx was significantly lower than in the interstitium. The results conform to the hypothesis that colloid osmotic forces opposing filtration across non-fenestrated continuous capillaries are developed across the endothelial glycocalyx and that the oncotic pressure of interstitial fluid does not directly determine fluid balance across microvascular endothelium.
Immigrants, Medicaid, and the Deficit Reduction Act

This study examines the effects of the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) on immigrant Medicaid participation using data from the 2005 and 2007 March supplements of the Current Population Survey. The DRA made changes to Medicaid coverage laws by requiring proof of citizenship for eligibility rather than a sworn statement, as was the case prior to the DRA, thus reducing the non-citizen/non-legal permanent resident use of Medicaid. A difference-in-difference methodology is used, and the research finds that the laws were effective in decreasing non-citizen use of Medicaid relative to citizens, though there is a possibility of “chilling effects” on eligible non-citizens.
De novo erectile dysfunction after anterior urethroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Erectile dysfunction has been associated with urethroplasty operations, but the incidence of erectile dysfunction after anterior urethroplasty operations is largely unknown. A 1% incidence of de novo erectile dysfunction after anterior urethropathy was found with systematic review and meta analysis of 36 studies with 2323 patients. In most cases the erectile dysfunction was transient and resolved within six to twelve months. Objective To evaluate the likelihood of developing de novo erectile dysfunction (ED) after anterior urethroplasty and to determine if this likelihood is influenced by age, stricture length, number of previous procedures or timing of evaluation. Materials and Methods PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases were searched for the terms ‘urethroplasty’, ‘urethral obstruction’, ‘urethral stricture’, ‘sexual function’, ‘erection’, ‘erectile function’, ‘erectile dysfunction’, ‘impotence’ and ‘sexual dysfunction’. Two reviewers evaluated articles for inclusion based on predetermined criteria. Results In a meta-analysis of 36 studies with a total of 2323 patients, de novo ED was rare, with an incidence of 1%. In studies that assessed postoperative erectile function at more than one time point, ED was transient and resolved at between 6 and 12 months in 86% of cases. Conclusions Men should be counselled regarding the possibility of transient or permanent de novo ED after anterior urethroplasty procedures. Increasing mean age was associated with an increased likelihood of de novo ED, but this was not statistically significant.
Blocking Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibits Olfactory Generator Currents Induced by “IP3-Odors”

Vertebrate olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) transduce odor stimuli into electrical signals by means of an adenylyl cyclase/cAMP second messenger cascade, but it remains widely debated whether this...
Integrative Literature Review: Organizational Commitment and Workplace Outcomes: A Conceptual Model for Truckload Transportation Carriers:

A selective literature review resulted in the conceptualization of a model illustrating the expected relationships of antecedents, processes, practices, and consequences of truckload carriers in the transportation industry. Thus, collection of data and analysis is recommended if the model and applicable theory are to be developed to the fullest extent possible. Accordingly, the authors provide a working model that illustrates the basis for investigating the conceptualized relationship among work climate relationships, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intentions and/or retention, crash rates, and residual costs. Limited empirical evidence exists that correlates a combination of these factors. In addition, a diminished level of organizational commitment may affect truckload drivers’ attitude and/or focus while operating these very large trucks and as a result lead to an increase in crashes. Injuries, fatalities, and accident costs are reviewed as evidence of the magnitude and consequenc...
Pole assignability in polynomial rings, power series rings, and Prüfer domains

The topics treated in this paper have their origins in the area of algebraic systems theory. However, the paper itself should be classified as pure commutative algebra and we shall present it as such in the body of the text. Still, it is appropriate to give a brief paragraph of motivation. If a physical system is governed by a pair (F, G) of matrices, then the stability of the system can be determined by examining the eigenvalues of the matrix F. If the system is unstable, a “feedback” matrix K can sometimes be employed in such a way that the eigenvalues of the matrix F+ GK measure the stability of the (modified) system (F+ GK, G). In this manner, an unstable system can be rendered stable. The pole assignability problem over commutative rings is one method of attacking the problem of finding such matrices K. The paper is divided into four sections. Section 1 is given over almost entirely to defining the properties in which we shall be interested. It concludes with a theorem about residuating and lifting the properties. Section 2 is concerned with the preservation of the properties under polynomial ring and power series ring formation. Section 3 is concerned with “feedback cyclization,” a strong form of pole assignability. Section 4 is concerned with pole assignability over Priifer domains. A complete elaboration of our results must await the introduction of the necessary terminology. For now, we mention the following results in somewhat vague language. If R is a zero-dimensional ring, then the pole assignability problem is solvable in R[X] and in R[ [Xl]. From a ringtheoretic standpoint, almost any class of commutative rings contains members for which the feedback cyclization problem is solvable. On the other hand, if R is a ring with 1 in its stable range, then the feedback cyclization problem is solvable in R if and only if a certain nice matricial property
Height and weight growth patterns of school age deaf children

Distance and velocity curves for height and weight were analyzed in a mixed longitudinal sample of American White, American Negro and Mexican-American deaf children 6 through 17 years of age. The heights of deaf boys and girls are, on the average, consistently below an accepted pediatric standard from six through ten years of age. Between 11 and 17 years, deaf White and Negro boys approximate the standard, while White and Negro girls are at or slightly below the standard. Deaf Mexican-American children are consistently below the height standard. For body weight, deaf boys are at or slightly below the standard from 6 to 11 years, and are at or slightly above the weight standard from 12 to 17 years of age. White and Negro deaf girls generally approximate the weight standard from eight years of age on. Mexican-American deaf girls are consistently below the standard until 13 years of age, while between 14 and 17 years they are at or above the standard. Height and weight velocity curves for deaf children parallel closely the incremental standards of Falkner ('62). The height velocity curve, however, appears to peak, on the average, about one year earlier in deaf children.
Dynamic response of frameworks by fast fourier transform

Abstract A general numerical method for determining the dynamic response of linear elastic plane frameworks to dynamic shocks, wind forces or earthquake excitations is presented. The method consists of formulating and solving the dynamic problem in the frequency domain by the finite element method and of obtaining the response by a numerical inversion of the transformed solution with the aid of the fast Fourier transform algorithm. The formulation is based on the exact solution of the transformed governing equation of motion of a beam element and it consequently leads to the exact solution of the problem. Flexural, and axial motion of the framework members are considered. The effects of damping (external viscous or internal viscoelastic), axial forces on bending, rotatory inertia and shear deformation on the dynamic response are also taken into account. Numerical examples to illustrate the method and demonstrate its advantages over other methods are presented.
Contrast-enhanced endoscopic ultrasonography with galactose microparticles: SHU508 A (Levovist).

Background and Study Aims: To evaluate the utility of a suspension of galactose microparticles available as SHU508 A (Levovist) as a contrast agent during endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). Materials and Methods: Three sets of experiments were performed on three 20-25 kg swine (Sus scrofa) under general anesthesia. Upper EUS was performed with an echo endoscope with color Doppler capability (Pentax FG-32 UA). The celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, aorta, portal vein, pancreas, and gastrointestinal wall were imaged by EUS. Multiple intravenous bolus injections of 400mg/ml of SHU508A were made, and their effect on color Doppler and gray-scale imaging during EUS was studied. Results: After contrast injection there was a significant, visually noticeable enhancement of the color Doppler signals from the celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, and portal vein. Vessels with weak to no color Doppler signals before injection of SHU508 A - for example, the celiac artery and superior mesenteric artery - were observed to have strong color signals after injection. The effect of SHU508 A on color Doppler imaging was easily appreciated subjectively without the need for complex quantitative measurements. No visually noticeable color Doppler enhancement was seen in vessels such as the aorta that had a very pronounced color Doppler signal even prior to the injection of contrast. Movement of particulate matter was seen in the portal vein on the gray scale. Conclusion: Intravenous SHU508 A as a contrast agent significantly enhances color Doppler signals during EUS. Vascular contrast of this sort could potentially have a significant role in improving the accuracy of EUS in diagnosing malignant vascular invasion, the detection of occult pancreatic neoplasms, and the diagnosis of vascular thrombosis.
The effect of age on calcium absorption and accumulation of 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in intestinal mucosa of rats

Abstract Calcium transport in the proximal duodenum was measured in male rats of various ages by the everted intestinal sac method. Calcium transport markedly and progressively diminished from 54 days to 384 days of age despite adequate intakes of vitamin D3 (10 IU/day). Additionally, feeding low phosphorus and/or low calcium diets for 24 days did not result in an enhanced calcium transport in old (1 year) rats while showing the expected enhancement in young rats (24 days). The administration of 325 pmoles of either 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 daily increased intestinal calcium transport in both young and old rats. This response was accompanied by increased serum calcium in young rats and increased serum phosphorus in old rats. Administration of vitamin [1,23H]D3 daily (10 IU) for 6 days orally and chromatography of the extracts of serum and intestine permitted the demonstration that the diminished calcium transport with age is positively correlated with diminished levels of 1,25-dihydroxy-[1,23H] D3 in serum and intestinal mucosa. It appears that the decreased intestinal absorption with age is a result of a diminished formation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. The inability of aged rates to alter this condition under dietary depletion of calcium and/or phosphorus may play a significant role in the development of bone disease in the aged.
Differential targeting of IL-2 and T cell receptor signaling pathways selectively expands regulatory T cells while inhibiting conventional T cells

Strategies to expand regulatory T cells hold therapeutic potential for ameliorating T cell-mediated autoimmunity. Recently, we reported that the requirements for T cell receptor signaling in conventional T cell and regulatory T cell proliferation are different. Using mutant mice that display defective T cell receptor-mediated phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ) activation, we hereby demonstrate that PLCγ activation is required for antigen-specific conventional T cell proliferation but not for IL-2-induced regulatory T cell proliferation. This led us to hypothesize that in conjunction with IL-2, pharmacological inhibition of T cell receptor-mediated PLCγ activation might offer a novel therapeutic strategy to expand regulatory T cells while simultaneously inhibiting conventional T cell proliferation. Indeed, using the calcineurin inhibitor Cyclosporine A to inhibit signaling downstream of PLCγ, we found that Cyclosporine A attenuated antigen-specific Tconv proliferation but permitted IL-2-induced regulatory T cell expansion in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the combination of Cyclosporine A and IL-2 was superior over either Cyclosporine A or IL-2 monotherapy in protection against the T cell-mediated demyelinating autoimmune disease mouse model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Thus, a combination of TCR signaling inhibition and IL-2 might be a beneficial strategy in expanding regulatory T cells and inhibiting conventional T cell proliferation in autoimmune settings.
Physical oceanographic conditions during GasEx‐2001

[1] GasEx-2001 is a study of air-sea gas exchange in a region of CO2 outgassing. The bulk of the experiment followed a drifting array of near-surface instruments deployed during the second half of February 2001 just south of the equator in the central Pacific Ocean. Physical oceanographic conditions including local currents, the seasonal cycle, Kelvin waves, and tropical instability waves are described using shipboard data and a variety of other data sources to set the large-scale oceanographic context for GasEx-2001. Local physical oceanographic conditions during GasEx-2001 are then analyzed using shipboard data and a simple one-dimensional mixed layer model. The thermocline shoals about 13 m over the 15-day experiment, implying an upwelling rate of 1 × 10−5 m s−1. Zonal velocity is surface-intensified and westward, with vertical shear mostly through the thermocline. Meridional velocity is also strongly sheared with a maximum equatorward flow in the thermocline that is much reduced by 17-m depth. The mixed layer model exhibits more near-surface warming over the course of the experiment than is observed. Prescribing upwelling in the model closes the heat budget within error estimates. Entrainment at the base of the mixed layer plays a limited role in the mixed layer budgets of carbon and other water properties. Vertical shear of horizontal velocity within the mixed layer and slippage of the array through the surface water also have small (but uncertain) roles in these budgets.
A transmembrane pH gradient in Streptococcus faecalis: Origin, and dissipation by proton conductors and N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

The distribution of [14C]dimethyloxazolidinedione was employed to measure the internal pH of Streptococcus faecalis. Glycolyzing cells maintained an internal pH more alkaline than that of the medium by 0.5–1 unit. The pH difference disappeared upon exhaustion of glucose. Arginine metabolism did not establish a pH gradient. The pH gradient was abolished by metabolic inhibitors of two kinds: inhibitors of the membrane-bound ATPase including N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and chlorhexidine; and proton conductors including tetrachlorosalicylanilide, carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and the antibiotics nigericin and monensin. The antibiotics valinomycin and monactin which facilitate K+ diffusion did not affect the pH gradient so long as the external K+ concentration was relatively high; at low K+ concentrations they lowered the internal pH. To study the relationship of internal pH to K+ accumulation we employed cells in which K+ was completely replaced by Na+. Such Na+-loaded cells also maintained a pH gradient during glycolysis, albeit a small one (0.3 unit), which was again abolished by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and by proton conductors. Addition of K+ raised the internal pH to the level characteristic of K+-loaded cells. The results suggest that the pH gradient is formed by energy-dependent extrusion of protons from the cell; this renders the interion alkaline and generates a membrane potential (interior negative). K+ accumulation apparently results from movement of K+ down its electrochemical gradient.
Brainstem afferents to the omnipause region in the cat: A horseradish peroxidase study

“Omnipause” neurons (OPNs), located in the nucleus raphe pontis and the reticular formation, actively suppress saccadic eye movements during intersaccadic intervals. To determine the brainstem afferents that may inhibit the OPNs and thereby allow a saccade to occur, we injected horseradish peroxidase into the raphe pontis of four cats at the site of physiologically identified OPNs. Labeled neurons were found in a number of brainstem nuclei. The greatest concentrations, composed of small to medium-sized neurons, were located in a group of nuclei around the habenulopeduncular tract, in the rostral mesencephalic reticular formation, in the deep layers of the superior colliculus, and in parts of the subjacent cuneiform and subcuneiform reticular nuclei. Smaller numbers were found in the nucleus reticularis pontis oralis. Caudal to the injection site, labeled neurons were scattered in parts of the nuclei reticularis gigantocellularis, paragigantocellularis dorsalis, and paragigantocellularis lateralis. A few neurons were labeled in a restricted region of the caudal part of the nucleus prepositus hyppglossi and in the nucleus reticularis medullaris ventralis. Larger numbers of neurons were labeled in the dorsal column nuclei and in parts of the cochlear nuclei. Smaller numbers were found in the spinal trigeminal nucleus, the lateral nucleus of the superior olive, and the fastigial nucleus of the cerebellum. The nonreticular brainstem projections may contribute sensory information in a number of modalities since OPNs respond to visual, somesthetic, and auditory stimuli. Our findings indicate a number of regions that may contain neural elements impinging on the OPNs. The best prospects for a saccade initiation signal from one of the labeled populations appear to be the meso-diencephalic reticular formation and/or the superior colliculus.
ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR: A VECTOR OF SINGLE-VALUED TRANSFORMATIONS WITHIN A DETERMINATE MACHINE

The purpose of this paper is to apply W. Ross Ashby's cybernetic closed systems model to educational administration through examples of decision making, feedback form flows, and payroll structures as vectors of single-valued transformations. The application is through the creation of tools for problem solving.
Biology and recent brain imaging studies in affective psychoses

Psychosis is a cardinal symptom of schizophrenia, but also occurs in other psychiatric conditions, including mood disorders. In many instances, brain abnormalities in psychotic and mood disorders appear to be on a spectrum, with the most marked changes in schizophrenia, followed by psychotic mood disorders, followed by nonpsychotic mood disorders. Such observations are consistent with the notion that mood disorders and schizophrenia represent a continuum of disease. However, in some instances, cerebral changes with psychosis may be qualitatively different, rather than merely more severe than those seen in mood disorders, more consistent with the theory that they are discrete entities. We review brain imaging studies that have advanced our knowledge of psychosis in mood disorders, with respect to the continuum versus discrete entity hypotheses.
138WS The US Institute Of Medicine (IOM) Criteria For Trustworthy Guidelines, The National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) And You: A Workshop On NGC’s Revised Inclusion Criteria

Background The National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC), funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, will adopt the 2011 IOM revised definition of an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) and change its criteria for inclusion; thereby raising the bar CPGs must meet in order to be included. Systematic evidence review and benefits and harms of care options are the key changes. Objectives/Goal At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to recognise the new aspects of the inclusion criteria; understand how the criteria will be applied; apply them to CPGs provided by instructors and estimate eligibility for inclusion; and apply this learning to their organisation’s readiness to submit new/updated guidelines to NGC. Target Group, Suggested Audience Current and future CPG developers; CPG implementers and disseminators; researchers and clinicians. Description of the Workshop and of the Methods used to Facilitate Interactions This workshop will discuss the revised NGC inclusion criteria and describe specific requirements around a systematic review underpinning the CPG as well as descriptions of benefits and harms. The workshop will include a didactic portion, an interactive exercise, and a take-away checklist. There will be ample question and answer opportunities. Instructors will distribute guidelines and materials and participants will determine eligibility for inclusion in NGC. A checklist will enable participants to understand the changes needed to ensure inclusion of their CPGs in NGC.
Diffusion coefficient of urate for human connective tissue membrane.

SummaryDeterminations were made at 374dGC by the method of Johnsen and Kirk of the diffusion coefficient of urate for a human connective tissue membrane (cerebellar tentorium). The urate analyses were performed by enzymatic differential spectrophotometry. The average coefficient value found in experiments on 10 samples was 0.000155.
Complex Molecules and the GBT: Is Isomerism the Key?

Interstellar aldehydes have been called the "sugars of space" ever since the discov- eries of formaldehyde (H2CO) in 1969 and acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) in 1973. At present, more than 135 interstellar molecular species have been identied. Excluding diatomic species, 30% of all interstellar molecules have isomeric counterparts. The newest instrument in the interstellar molecule search arsenal is the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) which is credited with the discov- ery of the large aldehydes propenal (CH2CHCHO) and propanal (CH3CH2CHO). In addition, the GBT has been used to observe interstellar glycolaldehyde (CH2OHCHO), which is the sim- plest possible aldehyde sugar, and interstellar ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH), which is the sugar alcohol of glycolaldehyde. These new GBT observations that suggest a universal prebiotic chemistry are presented and discussed. While there is no consensus regarding how large complex interstellar molecules are formed, it may be that the rst step in the polymerization of interstel- lar formaldehyde (H2CO) with its isomer trans hydroxy methylene (t-HCOH) is responsible for the formation of interstellar glycolaldehyde. We discuss this polymerization mechanism that can result in the generation of more complex sugars. We assess the likelihood of interstellar trans hydroxy methylene and suggest a search strategy for it using the GBT.
Geometric space‐time perturbation. I. Multiparameter perturbations

The standard definition of space‐time perturbation is reexamined. It is seen that the noninvariance of the metric under identification gauge transformations is a consequence of the adopted zero signature in the fifth dimension of the space of space‐times. An n‐parameter extension of that definition is proposed, with a (4+n)‐dimensional flat space of space‐times with a nonsingular metric. It is shown that in the vicinity of a point in the background space‐time there is a geometrically defined family of perturbations, which are solutions of the Einstein–Yang–Mills equations.
Mitigation of cross-contamination in an aircraft cabin via localized exhaust

Abstract Most aircraft cabin ventilation designs currently use a 50% mix of fresh and recirculated, filtered air and supply approximately 8–10 l/s per person. In order to make the most efficient use of the air supply at hand, the 50% of cabin air that is exhausted from the aircraft should remove with it as much contaminant from within the cabin as possible. This will thereby reduce cross-contamination among passengers and improve overall air quality. This study examines the use of localized suction orifices near and around the source occupant to unobtrusively ingest the individual’s thermal plume and exhaust it from the aircraft cabin before contaminants entrained in the plume can significantly mix with the bulk airflow. Through the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), various suction seat designs have been tested for their contaminant removal effectiveness and subsequent cross-contamination reduction. CFD results indicate significant improvements over conventional mixing air ventilation systems with a 40–50% decrease in passenger exposure predicted in a conventional coach-class seating arrangement.