cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improvement of PMMA electron-beam lithography performance in metal liftoff through a poly-imide bi-layer system

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a commonly used resist for electron-beam lithography. Some primary reasons for the widespread popularity of PMMA include high resolution and low cost. Single layer PMMA has notably poor characteristics in metal liftoff and sub-15nm resolution as well as poor line edge roughness. Standard problems with liftoff such as tags, feature removal and lack of solvent penetration were alleviated with a poly-imide lift-off layer which increased resolution and allowed better liftoff. The effect of dense feature proximity over-dose was also reduced with this method. Single lines in metal as small as 23nm were achieved and denser patterns were resolved with a pitch of 50nm. These results increase the utility of PMMA as a nanolithographic material for fabricating small metallic features by the use of a liftoff technique.
Dirofilaria immitis: Effect on hemolymph polypeptide synthesis in Aedes aegypti during melanotic encapsulation reactions against microfilariae

Abstract [ 35 S]Methionine-labeled hemolymph polypeptides from adult, female Aedes aegypti Liverpool strain mosquitoes inoculated with the microfilariae of the filarial nematode Dirofilaria immitis were compared with those from saline-inoculated and uninoculated controls by sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by fluorography. SDS-PAGE analysis of cell-free hemolymph collected via perfusion at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr postinoculation (PI) detected the enhanced expression of an 84-kDa polypeptide. This polypeptide, expressed constitutively in the hemolymph of all three groups of mosquitoes, increased considerably in inoculated mosquitoes as time progressed as compared with uninoculated controls. Moreover, the 84-kDa polypeptide was expressed at higher levels in D. immitis -inoculated mosquitoes than in saline-inoculated controls. This stimulation of de novo biosynthesis of the 84-kDa polypeptide in inoculated mosquitoes may play a role in the immune response of mosquitoes. Since it is likely that the wound healing response in insects involves many of the same chemical processes as occur in melanotic encapsulation reactions of mosquitoes against filarial worms, the preferential expression of the 84-kDa polypeptide in saline-inoculated mosquitoes seen in this study may reflect a wound healing response. The greater increase in synthesis of this protein in D. immitis -inoculated mosquitoes may reflect production of melanotic material required for parasite destruction as well as for wound healing.
The social psychophysiology of cardiovascular response: An introduction to the special issue

INTRODUCTION The construct of cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) occupies a central place in both the history and current state of behavioral medicine research. Early theories identified transitory, stressinduced increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and other parameters as pathophysiologic mechanisms through which negative emotions, stressful life circumstances, and maladaptive social relations caused cardiovascular disease (1,2). Since that time, well-developed models of the potential role of CVR in the development of essential hypertension (EH) and coronary heart disease (CHD) have been proposed (e.g. 3,4). A large body of research has accumulated (5,6), and the methodology for examining the issue continues to be refined (7,8). Although some studies have not supported the hypothesized role of CVR (9,10), a variety of recent studies are consistent with this general model (1 I). For example, CVR to laboratory stressors has been found to predict later EH (12). Also, in both crosssectional and prospective designs, CVR in response to laboratory stressors has been found to predict more severe atherosclerosis (13,14). Similarly, exaggerated CVR to mental stress has been found to be associated with coronary artery disease among asymptomatic persons at high familial risk of CHD (15). Among patients with CHD, those who display the most pronounced CVR in response to laboratory mental stressors also display the greatest amount of myocardial ischemia during daily activities (16). Finally, some evidence suggests that heightened CVR predicts recurrent cardiovascular morbidity among survivors of myocardial infarction (17). Thus, CVR has been found to have predicted associations with the development, manifestations, and course of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Social processes have long been recognized as potentially important influences on CVR (18,19). Yet, until recently, social factors have not been a major focus of research on the construct. A largely non-social psychophysiology of CVR has been accumulated during much of the recent history of research on the topic (20). Although this work produced important advances in our understanding of the nature and consequences of CVR (21), the construct was, for the most part, studied without explicit attention to the social determinants of cardiovascular response. The collection of papers in this special issue reflect the range of work currently underway on the social psychophysiology of CVR. They illustrate the promise, unique challenges, and products of recent
Base Excision Repair Intermediates as Topoisomerase II Poisons

Abasic sites are the most commonly formed DNA lesions in the cell and are produced by numerous endogenous and environmental insults. In addition, they are generated by the initial step of base excision repair (BER). When located within a topoisomerase II DNA cleavage site, "intact" abasic sites act as topoisomerase II poisons and dramatically stimulate enzyme-mediated DNA scission. However, most abasic sites in cells are not intact. They exist as processed BER intermediates that contain DNA strand breaks proximal to the damaged residue. When strand breaks are located within a topoisomerase II DNA cleavage site, they create suicide substrates that are not religated readily by the enzyme and can generate permanent double-stranded DNA breaks. Consequently, the effects of processed abasic sites on DNA cleavage by human topoisomerase IIalpha were examined. Unlike substrates with intact abasic sites, model BER intermediates containing 5'- or 3'-nicked abasic sites or deoxyribosephosphate flaps were suicide substrates. Furthermore, abasic sites flanked by 5'- or 3'-nicks were potent topoisomerase II poisons, enhancing DNA scission approximately 10-fold compared with corresponding nicked oligonucleotides that lacked abasic sites. These findings suggest that topoisomerase II is able to convert processed BER intermediates to permanent double-stranded DNA breaks.
Dealing with rough times: a capabilities development approach to surviving and thriving

Leaders during a deep and prolonged downturn should introduce organizational practices that build capability in the organization, not only to withstand the uncertainties of rough times better, but also to emerge stronger for the future. We present a set of organization design changes that can create closer connections to the marketplace and better use knowledge in the organization to introduce new ways to deliver value while consuming fewer resources. During rapid change and extreme threats, steering the ship is not sufficient. Leaders must introduce approaches that tap employees' energies throughout the organization. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Amino Acid Residues at Protein-Protein Interfaces: Why Is Propensity so Different from Relative Abundance?

It is known that nonpolar residues on the surface of proteins are likely to be at interfaces in protein-protein association. However, as one normalizes the relative abundance at the interface to the overall abundance, onefinds that the residues with the highest propensity to be at interfaces are as follows (in decreasing order): Asn, Thr, Gly, Ser, Asp, Ala, and Cys. None of these residues is distinctly nonpolar. We show here that these residues also have the highest propensity to be engaged in hydrated backbone hydrogen bonds of the monomeric structure, acting as either proton donors or acceptors. Such preformed hydrogen bonds, in turn, are known to be determinants of protein-protein association as they are stabilized by water removal, upon formation of a complex. A linear correlation is reported between the two independently determined propensities. In addition, the seven residues with the highest propensity for being engaged in hydrated hydrogen bonds all have at most one torsional degree of freedom in their side chain. Thus, upon protein association, the thermodynamically advantageous intermolecular dehydration of preformed hydrogen bonds operates synergistically with a minimization of the entropic loss resulting from the conformational hindrance of the side chains and of contact with nearby nonpolar side chains.
Hippocampal lesions, superior cervical ganglia removal, and behavior in rats

Abstract Rats were subjected to either bilateral removal of the superior cervical ganglia (SCG) or to a sham operation of the neck. Subsequently, these rats received either bilateral neopallial lesions, bilateral dorsal hippocampal lesions or no further operation. The SCG removal prevented the anomalous noradrenergic innervation of remaining hippocampal tissue. This anomalous innervation, as reported by Loy and Moore [19], originates from neurons in the SCG. All animals were then evaluated on behaviors previously shown to be sensitive to hippocampal destruction: open field activity, spontaneous alternation and spatial maze learning, in order to determine if any behavioral consequences could be related to the anomalous hippocampal innervation. No statistically significant differences appeared which could be unambiguously related to the anomalous innervation.
Introduction of the Chloroplast Redox Regulatory Region in the Yeast ATP Synthase Impairs Cytochrome c Oxidase

The ATP synthase is under a number of mechanisms of regulation. The chloroplast ATPase has a unique mode of regulation in which activity is controlled by the redox state in the organelle. This mode of regulation is determined by a small unique region within the γ-subunit and this region contains two cysteine residues. Introduction of this region within the yeast γ-subunit causes a defect in oxidative phosphorylation. Oxidative phosphorylation is restored if the cysteine residues are replaced with serine. Biochemical analysis of the chimeric mitochondrial ATPase indicates that the ATP synthase is not largely altered with the cysteine residues in either the oxidized or reduced states. However, the level and activity of cytochrome c oxidase are decreased by about 90%, whereas that of NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome c reductase are unchanged as compared with the wild-type enzymes. The level and activity of cytochrome c oxidase are restored with replacement of the cysteine residues with serine in the regulatory region. These results indicate that the chimeric ATP synthase containing cysteine, but not serine, decreases the expression or assembly of cytochrome c oxidase with little effect on the activity of the ATP synthase.
Approaches to lowering emittance in existing light sources

Abstract Emittance reduction remains a singular goal for the synchrotron light community. The many tools available to achieve better phase space performance are described, and their successful application to existing facilities is highlighted. The demonstration of a factor of three emittance reduction with good lifetime for the Aladdin storage is discussed as a detailed example of the interplay of a variety of beam performance issues.
Photophysical characterization of benzylidene malononitriles as probes of solvent friction.

Steady-state absorption and emission and femtosecond time-resolved emission spectroscopy of two benzylidene malononitriles, 2-[4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene])malononitrile (DMN) and julolidinemalononitrile (JDMN), are reported in a variety of room-temperature solvents. Solvatochromic shifts of these molecules are consistent with dielectric continuum descriptions and an S1−S0 dipole moment change of 8.5 D. Time-resolved spectra show modest dynamic Stokes shifts of ∼1000 cm−1 occurring independently of fluorescence decay, which takes place in 0.5−5 ps in most room-temperature solvents. Absorption transition moments and fluorescence decay times are used to determine radiative rate constants: krad = 0.32 ± 0.02 ns−1 in DMN and 0.28 ± 0.02 ns−1 in JDMN, assumed to be independent of solvent. Quantum yield data together with these radiative rates provide the reaction rate constants krxn associated with the internal conversion process of these molecules in 33 representative solvents at 298 K and in several solvent...
Electronic structure engineering of mid-infrared lasers

Mid-infrared semiconductor lasers have a variety of potential applications, including as spectroscopic probes for pollution monitoring and non-invasive medical sensing and high-power sources for military infrared countermeasures.
Captopril or prostaglandin E1 ameliorate adverse renal hemodynamic effects of indomethacin in uninephrectomized rats

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like indomethacin and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors like captopril have contrasting effects on compensatory changes in glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow following partial nephrectomy. Conjoint treatment has been little studied. Effects of 7 days of treatment with captopril, indomethacin, or captopril + indomethacin in drinking water were studied in 50% nephrectomized Sprague-Dawley rats. Urinary protein excretion, glomerular filtration rate, effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), mean arterial pressure, renal vascular resistance, and remnant kidney weight were measured. Renal clearance studies were performed using a double-isotope, single-injection method, in conscious rats infused with either saline or saline + prostaglandin E1. Indomethacin induced significant (p less than 0.05) increases in renal vascular resistance (RVR) which were attenuated by either concurrent treatment with captopril or infusion of PGE1 at the time of study. Compensatory growth of the remnant kidney appeared not to be dependent on increments in renal blood flow; captopril decreased RVR and increased ERPF but had no effect on kidney weight, while indomethacin had no effect on ERPF and augmented remnant kidney weight. It appears effects of captopril and indomethacin on intrarenal hemodynamics in the residual kidney were counteractive, and that conjoint therapy in renal disease should be approached with caution.
Single nucleotide polymorphism study of IDDM 17 in a Bedouin Arab family.

: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. On the basis of a genomic search for linkage in a Bedouin Arab family with 19 members with type 1 diabetes, we previously mapped the IDDM 17 locus to the chromosome 10q25.1 region. The result from a recent genome scan showed suggestive evidence of linkage of IDDM 17 in a subset of Caucasian families in which all affected individuals have DR3, indicating that the IDDM 17 locus might have a measurable effect in Caucasian populations from the United Kingdom and the United States. High-resolution SNP typing provides strong evidence of linkage disequilibrium to the IDDM 17 locus.
Personalized Approach to Revascularization of Critical Limb Ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a complex disease process that often occurs alongside numerous comorbidities, and as such requires a personalized, multidisciplinary treatment approach in every patient. Patient outcomes are generally poor and there remains a lack of consensus on the optimal revascularization strategy in individuals with CLI. In recent years, the angiosome (or direct) revascularization concept has gained wider acceptance because it guides reperfusion to the artery supplying the vascular territory containing the ischemic lesion on the foot (Figure).1,2 However, it stands in contrast to the one straight-line inflow (or indirect) approach classically advocated, in which the largest vessel available for revascularization is targeted regardless of the vascular territory it supplies.3 Comparisons between both strategies have emerged, with few studies demonstrating equivalent outcomes and many others demonstrating improved wound healing and reduced amputation rates with the angiosome approach.4,5 Figure. Angiosomes of the lower extremity. The foot and ankle can be divided into 6 territories called angiosomes, based on the artery supplying the given territories. This concept can aid in localizing the obstruction in a specific artery in patients with critical limb ischemia and lower-extremity ischemic ulcers and in planning revascularization. Reprinted from Shishehbor et al1 with permission of the publisher. Copyright ©2014, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved. Article see p 684 The current study by Kawarada et al6 in this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions is important, as it is one of the first analyses to address the impact of the angiosome concept on microcirculation in patients with CLI. However, there are a few limitations of the current study that should be considered and discussed. The authors concluded that both direct and indirect single tibial artery revascularization of either the anterior tibial artery or posterior tibial artery …
Child day care risks of common infectious diseases revisited

Background The increased risk of common infectious diseases associated with child day care attendance may vary by age, health plan and parent educational level. This study determined quantitatively the risk of diarrhoeal illness and upper respiratory infection (URI) among day-care children in comparison with home-care children. It examined the extent of risks in day-care children under different conditions of three age groups, enrolled in two health plans, and from families of two levels of education. Methods The study subjects were recruited through two health plans: a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and the Medicaid program in Columbia, South Carolina of the USA. The sample was collected using a household survey of children, aged 5 years or younger. The participants were contacted bimonthly for 18 months with 435 attending out-of-home day care facilities and 753 being cared for at home. The potential confounding factors of family characteristics were controlled in examining the odds ratios for day care effect on common infections in children under different conditions. Results In general, risks of diarrhoeal illness and URI in day-care children are greater than in home-care children. Children younger than 1.5 years of age attending day care and covered by the Medicaid program are at the greatest risk. The difference in risks between day-care and home-care children, however, is reduced to an insignificant level for children older than 1.5 years of age and for children covered by the HMO health plan. Among day-care children, those who are covered by the Medicaid program are at a significantly higher risk than those who are covered by the HMO health plan. Conclusions Although day-care children in general suffer a greater risk of common infectious diseases, the extent of day care effect on risks of diarrhoeal illness and URI varies significantly by age and type of health insurance plan.
Sex-Based Cardiac Physiology

Biological sex plays an important role in normal cardiac physiology as well as in the heart's response to cardiac disease. Women generally have better cardiac function and survival than do men in the face of cardiac disease; however, this sex difference is lost when comparing postmenopausal women with age-matched men. Animal models of cardiac disease mirror what is seen in humans. Sex steroid hormones contribute significantly to sex-based differences in cardiac disease outcomes. Estrogen is generally considered to be cardioprotective, whereas testosterone is thought to be detrimental to heart function. Environmental estrogen-like molecules, such as phytoestrogens, can also affect cardiac physiology in both a positive and a negative manner.
Detection and estimation for multiple targets with two omnidirectional sensors in the presence of false measurements

A track-before-detect methodology for target detection and estimation in the presence of false measurements is presented that uses two omnidirectional passive sensors. The estimation technique is based on maximum-likelihood estimation. The measurement model is nonlinear and includes false alarms. The algorithm is first developed for a single target and then extended to multiple targets. For multiple targets, unresolved measurements are also considered to provide a realistic analysis of targets crossing in the measurement space. The Cramer-Rao lower bound is derived for the target parameter estimation in the presence of false measurement. A detection mechanism that can validate the existence of a target corresponding to the estimated track is formulated. For a single target, it is shown that only the global maximum leads to the acceptance of the target hypothesis. The test for multiple targets is obtained by formulating a multiple-hypotheses problem. The theoretical performance predictions are validated via Monte Carlo simulations. The effect on the performance of the density of false measurements is illustrated in examples. The highest false-measurement density for which this technique works corresponds to SNR=2 dB. >
Quantitative Assessment of Alterations in Regional Left Ventricular Contractility With Color-Coded Tissue Doppler Echocardiography Comparison With Sonomicrometry and Pressure-Volume Relations

Background Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is a novel method of color-coding myocardial velocity on-line. The objective of the present study was to evaluate endocardial velocity with TDI as a method of objectively quantifying alterations in regional contractility over a wide range induced by inotropic modulation. Methods and Results Myocardial length crystals were used to simultaneously assess regional left ventricular (LV) function, and high-fidelity pressure and conductance catheters were used to assess global LV contractility by pressure-volume relations in nine open-chest dogs. Mid-LV M-mode and two-dimensional color TDI images were recorded during control and inotropic modulation stages with dobutamine and esmolol. Predicted significant increases in TDI indices occurred with dobutamine: peak systolic velocity of 4.41±1.07 to 6.67±1.07 cm/s*, systolic time-velocity integral (TVI) of 0.43±0.12 to 0.62±0.10 cm*, and diastolic TVI of 0.49±0.11 to 0.71±0.17 cm*. Opposing significant decreases occurred with e...
Understanding cultural context when collecting field data: lessons learned from field research in a slum area in the Philippines

Textbooks on research methods generally emphasize the need to collect data with high validity, reliability, and in the case of qualitative research, authenticity. Yet, field research often poses un...
Failure Analysis of Wire Bonds

Failure analysis of wire bonds has an important part to play in determining the causes of microelectronic device failure and ways for making and using devices to achieve greater reliability. Several tests and procedures used in the failure analysis of wire bonds are reviewed. Some of the inferences. about possible causes of permanent or intermittent failure that can be drawn from such tests, particularly those involving inspection with an optical microscope and with a scanning electron microscope, are discussed. Some attention is paid to the effects on the reliability of the wire bond of the growth of gold-aluminum intermetallic compounds, of Kirkendall voids, and of the use of poor materials, poor processes in making the wire bond, and poor control over the processes used. Also reviewed are some metallurgical sectioning techniques and a variety of methods used in opening the commonly used packages and in exposing wire bonds that are encapsulated in epoxy, phenolic resin, or silicone materials.
Phenol red interacts with the protofibril-like oligomers of an amyloidogenic hexapeptide NFGAIL through both hydrophobic and aromatic contacts.

Amyloid-associated diseases affect millions of people worldwide. Phenol red exhibits modest inhibition toward fibril formation of human Islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) and its toxicity, which is associated with type II diabetes mellitus. However, the molecular level mechanisms of interactions remain elusive. The binding of phenol red molecules to the protofibrils of an amyloidogenic fragment (NFGAIL) of hIAPP has been investigated by molecular dynamics simulations with explicit solvent. The phenol red molecules were observed to bind primarily along either β-sheet stacking or β-strand directions. Through its three aromatic rings, the phenol red molecule preferentially interacted with the hydrophobic side chains of Phe, Leu, and Ile; and the polar sulfone and hydroxyl groups were mainly exposed in solvent. Thus, phenol red improves the solubility of the early protofibrils and represses further growth. Interestingly, there was no obvious preference toward the aromatic Phe residue in comparison to the hydrophobic Leu or Ile residues. The lack of binding along the hydrogen bond direction indicates that phenol red does not directly block the β-sheet extension. Further free energy analysis suggested that a phenol red analog may potentially improve the binding affinity.
Active face tracking and pose estimation in an interactive room

We demonstrate real-time face tracking and pose estimation in an unconstrained office environment with an active foveated camera. Using vision routines previously implemented for an interactive environment, we determine the spatial location of a user's head and guide an active camera to obtain foveated images of the face. Faces are analyzed using a set of eigenspaces indexed over both pose and world location. Closed loop feedback from the estimated facial location is used to guide the camera when a face is present in the foveated view. Our system can detect the head pose of an unconstrained user in real-time as he or she moves about an open room.
Unsupervised feature selection applied to content-based retrieval of lung images

This paper describes a new hierarchical approach to content-based image retrieval called the "customized-queries" approach (CQA). Contrary to the single feature vector approach which tries to classify the query and retrieve similar images in one step, CQA uses multiple feature sets and a two-step approach to retrieval. The first step classifies the query according to the class labels of the images using the features that best discriminate the classes. The second step then retrieves the most similar images within the predicted class using the features customized to distinguish "subclasses" within that class. Needing to find the customized feature subset for each class led us to investigate feature selection for unsupervised learning. As a result, we developed a new algorithm called FSSEM (feature subset selection using expectation-maximization clustering). We applied our approach to a database of high resolution computed tomography lung images and show that CQA radically improves the retrieval precision over the single feature vector approach. To determine whether our CBIR system is helpful to physicians, we conducted an evaluation trial with eight radiologists. The results show that our system using CQA retrieval doubled the doctors' diagnostic accuracy.
Prenatal maternal immune disruption and sex-dependent risk for psychoses.

Background. Previous studies suggest that abnormalities in maternal immune activity during pregnancy alter the offspring's brain development and are associated with increased risk for schizophrenia (SCZ) dependent on sex. Method. Using a nested case–control design and prospectively collected prenatal maternal sera from which interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-10 were assayed, we investigated sex-dependent associations between these cytokines and 88 psychotic cases [SCZ = 44; affective psychoses (AP) = 44] and 100 healthy controls from a pregnancy cohort followed for > 40 years. Analyses included sex-stratified non-parametric tests adjusted for multiple comparisons to screen cytokines associated with SCZ risk, followed by deviant subgroup analyses using generalized estimating equation (GEE) models. Results. There were higher prenatal IL-6 levels among male SCZ than male controls, and lower TNF-α levels among female SCZ than female controls. The results were supported by deviant subgroup analyses with significantly more SCZ males with high IL-6 levels (>highest quartile) compared with controls [odd ratio (OR)75 = 3.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–9.82], and greater prevalence of low TNF-α levels (<lowest quartile) among SCZ females compared with their controls (OR25 = 6.30, 95% CI 1.20–33.04) and SCZ males. Higher levels of IL-6 were only found among SCZ compared with AP cases. Lower TNF-α levels (non-significant) also characterized female AP cases versus controls, although the prevalence of the lowest levels was higher in SCZ than AP females (70% v. 40%), with no effect in SCZ or AP males. Conclusions. The results underscore the importance of immunologic processes affecting fetal brain development and differential risk for psychoses depending on psychosis subtype and offspring sex.
Evaluating the Viability of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Nutritional Quality of Hibiscus Sabdariffa Stored Under Natural Condition

The viability of lactic acid bacteria and nutritional quality of Hibiscus sabdariffa were investigated under ambient temperature to evaluate the health implication associated with the consumption of the beverage obtained from the plant. This was carried out by employing the pour plate method and the gravimetric technique of estimating the indigestible fibre in a beverage. The result obtained from the study showed that the viable bacteria counts increase steadily for the first six days of storage and decreased afterwards. The study also showed that isolates of Bacillus spp. Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were identified at the initial phase of the storage while isolates of Aspergillus spp., Geotrichum spp and Lactobacillus were identified in the later phase of the storage period. The study further showed that the pH, carbohydrate, protein and vitamin C content increased gradually throughout the period of storage. The risk associated with the beverage could be reduced if at all stages from harvesting to selling, good hygienic conditions are imbibed. Hence the Hibiscus sabdariffa beverage could serve as a convenient substitute to carbonated drinks, which may not be affordable by a lot of people.
Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole—Induced Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

OBJECTIVE:To report a case of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) associated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX).CASE SUMMARY:A 34-year-old Asian woman developed a severe, desquamating mucocutaneous reaction (TEN) after six days of taking TMP/SMX to treat a presumed urinary tract infection (UTI).DISCUSSION:TMP/SMX is often recommended as first-line therapy for UTIs, sinusitis, bronchitis, and as prophylaxis and treatment for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. TEN is a rare, but severe condition associated with sulfonamide use. This article describes a typical case and offers an opportunity for review of this potentially serious reaction.CONCLUSIONS:Sulfonamides are often implicated in the majority of drug-induced cases of TEN. This case report illustrates the typical presentation of sulfonamide-induced TEN with a prodrome, characteristic rash, mucous membrane lesions, and systemic involvement. Practitioners should be aware of this rare adverse effect and closely observe patients for cutaneous manifesta...
Use of action spectra for identifying molecular targets and mechanisms of action of solar ultraviolet light

The use of action spectra in the elucidation of the mechanisms of biological action of solar ultraviolet radiation that reaches the surface of the earth is reviewed, and precautions in the preparation and interpretation of such action spectra are discussed. Original experiments are also described which show correlations between lethality and DNA breakage caused by monochromatic solar ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, which may constitute evidence for an important biological role of DNA breaks leading to lethality in these microorganisms.
A CMOS 0.25-/spl mu/m continuous-time FIR filter with 125 ps per tap delay as a fractionally spaced receiver equalizer for 1-gb/s data transmission

This paper presents a CMOS 0.25-/spl mu/m continuous-time 6-tap FIR filter that is used as a fractionally spaced receiver equalizer for 1-Gb/s data transmission. Each tap of the FIR filter delay line is realized with a second-order low-pass filter. Simulations show that the tap delay can be tuned from 100 ps to 300 ps while keeping a constant group delay within the bandwidth of 2.1 GHz and 800 MHz correspondingly. Experimental results show that the FIR filter can successfully recover a 1-Gb/s differential digital signal that has been transmitted over a 220-inch PCB trace which causes -31.48-dB attenuation at the symbol rate frequency of 1 GHz. The measured bit error rate after equalization is less than 10/sup -12/ over a 750-ps sampling range, compared to a 10/sup -2/ bit-error rate before equalization. Also presented are the measurement results comparing the horizontal and the vertical openings of the signals before and after equalization for PCB traces with different length. The chip dissipates 45 mW from a 2.5-V supply and occupies 0.33/spl times/0.27 mm/sup 2/ in a 0.25-/spl mu/m CMOS process.
What's a Mentor, Anyway?

The article presents a conceptual model of mentoring designed to distinguish mentoring from other kinds of supportive relationships. Built on the existing literature and a modification of Kram’s (1...
The Hausdorff Dimension of the Boundary of a Self-Similar Tile

An effective method is given for computing the Hausdorff dimension of the boundary of a self-similar digit tile T in n -dimensional Euclidean space: formula here where 1/c is the contraction factor and λ is the largest eigenvalue of a certain contact matrix first defined by Grochenig and Haas.
Growth and death in overagitated microcarrier cell cultures

The effects of hydrodynamic forces on cell growth are investigated for animal cells growing on microcarriers. A reduction in net growth was observed with high levels of agitation. DNA measurements indicated that the reduction in net growth was due entirely to cell death, from hydrodynamic forces. No inhibition or enhancement of cell replication appeared to occur with high levels of agitation.
Evaluating Construction Methods for Low Carbon Emissions Using System Dynamics Modeling

Construction projects are complex in nature, including multiple and conflicting project objectives and conditions. Although time and cost are traditional objectives that are considered in every project, environmental impact, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, has often been considered as another important objective recently. The complex construction environment makes it a challenge to determine construction methods that satisfy multiple objectives of a project. The complexity is further compounded by the need to consider the impact of changing project conditions on the time, cost and environmental impact (TCEI) to decide on the suitability of construction methods. In order to fulfill this need, this research discusses using system dynamics modeling to simulate and analyze various construction methods, as well as calculate their corresponding TCEI. The system dynamics model works with a decision-making system to select among construction methods and a project system to evaluate selected methods based on project objectives. The integration of the two systems has been applied to a case study of a highway construction project to determine a construction method that can best satisfy three potentially conflicting objectives as TCEI. The results have shown that the proposed model is effective in evaluating selected methods and suggesting resource utilization plans that can better fulfill the project objectives.
The preserving effect of alkali on the blood cells of Limulus.

1. According to Leo Loeb (1910) alkali may under certain conditions have a preserving effect on the blood cells of Limulus.1 If we add a drop of Limulus blood to an excess of an isotonic sodium chloride solution, those amebocytes which come into direct contact with the solution soon send out sharp pseudopodia and lose their granules and become hyaline. Similarly in a watery solution of very weak alkali the cells soon lose their granules and are dissolved; but if both substances are combined, a small amount of alkali being added to the isotonic sodium chloride solution, the cells are preserved much better and their granules may be protected against destruction for a considerable period of time. Alkali may have the same preserving effect even if added to isotonic solutions of anelectrolytes like glucose.2. This effect of alkali on ameboid cells observed by this method is apparently contrary to the effect of alkali which Loeb and the writer observed by means of the tissue culture method.2 If the latter proce...
The New Economy and the Machine

importance in showing the effects of spatial niches upon personality and personality disorganization, so studies of the inhabitants of given temporal niches may give the sociologist valuable insights into certain problems of group morale and solidarity. The problem facing the individual working on an atypical timing shift has been summarized in the list of specific hypotheses. Especially in the present war crisis, with increasing numbers of individuals working on odd-shifts, this effect upon morale becomes of national importance. The third reason for the further study of these temporal aspects is inherent in the first and second reasons. From such studies the possibility of temporal planning may grow. The human ecologist, while studying the effects of partial competition upon the spatial and temporal distribution of American culture, does not always condone the effects of this lack of planning. On the other hand, he may pool his knowledge with that of others, and with the aid of politically active groups, bring into effect the changes which his studies show to be necessary. If the aim of science is control, the first two reasons for the furtherance of study of these temporal aspects are probably important only insofar as the problems they present are considered in order to answer the question: what can be done about this? This short paper obviously can give but the barest outline of the prospects of this further study of temporal ecology. It is hoped that it may serve the purpose of stimulating thought concerning the nature and importance of these temporal aspects of human ecology and of leading to further analysis and research in this neglected field.
Susceptibility of mediterranean fruit fly, melon fly, and oriental fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) to the entomogenous nematode Steinernema feltiae in laboratory tests

Late third instars of Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann); melon fly, Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett; and oriental fruit fly, D. dorsalis Hendel, that had exited the media to pupate were exposed to five concentrations of Steinernema feltiae (=Neoaplectana carpocapsae) ranging from 500,000 to 5,000 per cup. Mean corrected percent mortalities 6 days after exposure ranged from 92 to 9% for Mediterranean fruit fly, 85 to 9% for the oriental fruit fly, and 86 to 0% for melon fly. Emerging Mediterranean fruit fly adults were marginally susceptible at 0.2% verified infection, and pupae in puparia were not susceptible to S. feltiae .
A 1966 Anesthetic Administered by Robert D. Dripps, M.D., Demonstrated His Experimental Style of Clinical Care.

Robert D. Dripps, M.D. (1911 to 1973), helped found academic anesthesiology. Newly reviewed teaching slides from the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) contain six anesthesia records from 1965 to 1967 that involved Dripps. They illustrate the clinical philosophy he taught—to con
Antibody-Mediated Autoimmune Encephalitis in Childhood

Abstract Background The differential diagnosis of encephalitis in childhood is vast, and evaluation for an etiology is often unrevealing. Encephalitis by way of autoimmunity has long been suspected, as in cases of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; however, researchers have only recently reported evidence of antibody-mediated immune dysregulation resulting in clinical encephalitis. Main Findings These pathologic autoantibodies, aimed at specific neuronal targets, can result in a broad spectrum of symptoms including psychosis, catatonia, behavioral changes, memory loss, autonomic dysregulation, seizures, and abnormal movements. Autoimmune encephalitis in childhood is often quite different from adult-onset autoimmune encephalitis in clinical presentation, frequency of tumor association, and ultimate prognosis. As many of the autoimmune encephalitides are sensitive to immunotherapy, prompt diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment are paramount. Conclusions Here we review the currently recognized antibody-mediated encephalitides of childhood and will provide a framework for diagnosis and treatment considerations.
Disney’s pedagogies of pleasure and the eternal recurrence of whiteness

In this article, we examine how Disney participates in an affective economy through an analysis of how it engages with pleasure, and ask questions about what Disney’s manufacturing and selling of pleasure does, pedagogically. We posit that Disney’s pedagogies of pleasure, which operate from the notion that escape is attainable via the pleasurable experiences offered at Disney parks, teach us how to be particular kinds of Disney subjects who escape into safe and controlled forms of pleasure – these escape fantasies offer a way for consumers to disavow the racism and white supremacy that characterize Western humanist and colonialist projects. Then, through a reading of Escape From Tomorrow, a recent surrealist horror film that explores the “dark side” of the “Happiest Place on Earth,” we analyze how pleasure and the false promise of escape from conflict are illustrated in the film. We take up Nietzsche’s concept of “eternal recurrence” to explore the inescapability of our own complicity in the perpetuation ...
Anne Lister's construction of lesbian identity.

An ne Listerwas a Yorkshire gentlewoman who resided in a manor house called Shibden Hall in the early nineteenth century. An heiress, she was able to educate herself in the classics, she expressed no interest in men, and she did not have to marry. In coded portions of her extensive diaries, Anne Lister wrote of her passionate relationships with women, noting every "kiss" (her term for orgasm) she experienced. Although she did not use the word lesbian, at age thirty, she wrote, "I love and only love the fairer sex and thus, beloved by them in turn my heart revolts from any other love but theirs."1 Anne Lister illuminates not only lesbian history but questions of representation and agency in the larger field of the history of sexuality as well. Until recently, historians of homosexuality have followed the social constructionist paradigm that our sexual identities are shaped, even determined, by discourses rather than by our own desires. For instance, women who loved women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were thought to have followed the model of "passionate friendship."2 Nineteenth-century women, it was thought, could not even conceive of
A survey of scholarly literature databases for clinical laboratory science.

1. Donna L O'Malley, MLS[⇑][1] 1. is library associate professor at the Dana Medical Library at the University of Vermont, Burlington VT 1. Address for correspondence: Donna L O'Malley MLS, library associate professor, Dana Medical Library, University of Vermont, Medical Education Center, Burlington VT 05405. (802) 656-4415, (802) 656-0762 (fax). donna.omalley{at}uvm.edu. 1. Describe what is meant by “primary literature” in the health sciences. 2. Discuss the characteristics of the major primary and summarizing databases used by health professionals. 3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of searching the Internet for professional health information. 4. Illustrate how popular Internet search engines can be used to find unique information in the health sciences. This article reviews the use of journal literature databases including CINAHL, EMBASE, and Web of Science; summarizing databases including Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, online textbooks, and clinical decision-support tools; and the Internet search engines Google and Google Scholar. The series closes with a practical example employing a cross-section of the knowledge and skills gained from all three articles. The primary literature in the health sciences consists of reports of original research generally published in the form of articles in scholarly/academic journals. The articles in these journals are indexed by searchable databases such as MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE, which function as an aid to finding articles on a desired topic. The primary literature has the advantage of being a direct communication from the researchers who performed the investigations. By studying the methodology used, the results of the research, and the investigators’ reasoning, readers are able to reach their own conclusions regarding the validity of the research findings. However, until they have stood the test of time, the findings of original research must be interpreted with caution. Since the primary literature is such an enormous body of work, much of which will later be disproved or substantially revised, many scientists and health professionals rely on secondary and tertiary forms of literature to summarize original research. These forms of literature provide the essential background knowledge required to understand and interpret the primary literature and for making professional and clinical decisions. Examples of such literature include review articles, yearbooks, print and online textbooks,… ABBREVIATIONS: CDSR = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; CINAHL = Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; GDM = gestational diabetes; SCI = Science Citation Index. 1. Describe what is meant by “primary literature” in the health sciences. 2. Discuss the characteristics of the major primary and summarizing databases used by health professionals. 3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of searching the Internet for professional health information. 4. Illustrate how popular Internet search engines can be used to find unique information in the health sciences. [1]: #corresp-1
Comparative Results of Urological Evaluation of Children with Initial and Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection

AbstractComplete urologic evaluation was done on male and female children having initial or recurrent urinary tract infection. Of 200 girls having recurrent urinary tract infection 43 per cent showed ureterovesical reflux on the cystogram. Of 39 boys with recurrent urinary tract infection 41 per cent had reflux. Thus, the incidence of reflux is comparable in male versus female patients.Of 47 girls studied after only 1 episode of urinary tract infection 36 per cent had reflux and of 20 boys studied after initial infection 45 per cent had reflux. The data indicate that initial or recurrent urinary tract infection in boys or girls is of equal significance. All other factors being equal, failure to evaluate a patient urologically after 1 or more episodes of urinary tract infection solely because of the sex of the child could mean that a potentially severe urinary tract abnormality can be undetected and untreated.