cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A HOMOHEMOLYTIC SYSTEM FOR THE SERUM DIAGNOSIS OF SYPHILIS

The elimination of the foreign complement and corpuscles from the test for the serodiagnosis of syphilis has been attempted, and the results so far obtained are very satisfactory. Instead of using guinea pig complement, fresh human serum was utilized for the source of complement for the production of hemolysis upon the human corpuscles in the presence of an adequate amount of the specific anti-human amboceptor (prepared in rabbits). Usually 0.1 cc. of fresh human serum contains enough complement to hemolyze 1 cc. of a 1 per cent suspension of human corpuscles, but the amount of anti-human amboceptor required in this combination is about five to seven times that necessary when guinea pig complement (0.04 cc.) is used. It has also been shown that when a given human serum contains insufficient complement, an adequate quantity (0.1 cc. is usually enough) of another fresh negative serum may be added to supplement it. However, one rarely encounters this group of sera. Inactivated human sera can also be examined by utilizing human complement from another source (the serum must be fresh, active, and negative). The only drawback to the present method is the comparatively large amount of anti-human hemolytic amboceptor required. It is estimated that 30 to 40 cc. of the anti-human hemolytic immune serum, from one rabbit, of high potency—say 0.005 cc.—would be enough to examine about 3,000 to 4,000 cases (0.01 cc. for each case), whereas if guinea pig complement were used the same amount would cover about 15,000 tests (0.002 cc. for each case). In a large hospital or in the Army there should be no difficulty in preparing any amount of the anti-human hemolytic amboceptor. For example, material for 100,000 tests could be prepared within 1 month in less than 100 rabbits. The amboceptor serum can be used in the fluid state, or, if the titer is high, impregnated into filter papers. Special attention should be called to the fact that to obtain a powerful anti-human hemolytic amboceptor five to six intraperitoneal injections of corpuscles, thoroughly washed (until there is no trace of serum in the supernatant fluid), in doses of 5, 7, 10, 10, 10, and possibly another 10 cc. of the concentrated suspension (restored to the. original volume of the blood) are required. The bleeding may be done by the 9th or 10th day. The animals may be kept after bleeding for the production of more amboceptor by subsequent injections of the washed corpuscles. Finally, it should be emphasized that only the acetone-insoluble fraction of tissue lipoids of required standards (Noguchi) should be used when utilizing the human complement in the fixation test.
The do-not-resuscitate decision: the context, process, and consequences of DNR orders.

This study examines the process and consequences of an increasingly important element of the dying experience in American hospitals: the writing of a Do-Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. The focus of the study is on the decision-making process and timing of the DNR decision, the impact of the DNR order on the dying experience, and the consequences of the DNR order for length of hospital stay and accrued medical charges. Patients with a DNR order are compared to those who were unsuccessfully coded. Data are obtained from a review and analysis of the medical charts and death monitor sheets of a sample of 249 persons who died in 1994 in a single teaching hospital. The study found that physicians routinely discuss the DNR decision with patients and/or their surrogates (though patients are involved in the decision in only about one-third of cases) and that the decision is often made relatively early in the hospital stay. The dying experience of patients with a written DNR was different in significant ways from the ...
Development of internal cavities in platinum-aluminide coatings during cyclic oxidation

The microstructural evolution of platinum-modified nickel-aluminide coatings, which takes place in the course of high temperature cyclic oxidation, results in two major types of coating degradation. One type, extensively studied and reported in the literature, is the development of surface undulations, also known as rumpling. The other type of degradation is the formation of internal cavities in the coating, which occurs concurrently with rumpling. Unlike the pores or voids that are commonly observed at the oxide-metal interface in many alumina-forming alloys, the cavities in NiPtAl coatings nucleate and grow entirely within the coating. Examination of the coating microstructure after various exposures shows that both the size and the number of cavities increase with the oxidation time and eventually lead to complete disintegration of the coating after prolonged cyclic oxidation at 1150 °C. In this work, various aspects of this phenomenon are examined, and the effect of temperature regime on the propensity of this type of coating degradation is discussed.
Further observations of flame spread over laboratory-scale alcohol pools

Results are presented for flame spread rate and behavior for alcohol pools in normal and microgravity. The normal gravity experiments concentrated on depth effects in the uniform and pulsating regimes for pool depths of 2, 5, and 10 mm. Extra care was taken in achieving a very uniform initial fuel temperature, and a new video/PC-based flame tracking program was introduced that allowed very detailed graphs of flame position vs. time to be generated. A linear dependence of the average spread rate with pool depth was found in the pulsating regime, with a less-than-linear dependence in the uniform regime. Furthermore, the results show the pulsation wavelength is strongly affected by the pool depth, but not by the temperature. Possible mechanisms for this are discussed. In microgravity we extended earlier experiments to deep pools and examined the extinction limits of flame spread with and without an opposed, forced air flow. The previously reported correspondence between pulsating spread in normal gravity and extinction in a quiescent, microgravity environment for shallow, axisymmetric pools was upheld for deep, linear pools. However, with the imposition of a forced, opposed flow, the flame is sustained, thus opposed flow lowers the limiting oxygen index for pools in microgravity.
Gravity-induced swirl of nanoparticles in microfluidics

Parallel flows of two fluids in microfluidic devices are used for miniaturized chemistry, physics, biology and bioengineering studies, and the streams are often considered to remain parallel. However, as the two fluids do not always have the same density, interface reorientation induced by density stratification is unavoidable. In this paper, flow characteristics of an aqueous polystyrene nanofluid and a sucrose-densified aqueous solution flowing parallel in microchannels are examined. Nanoparticles 100 nm in diameter are used in the study. The motion of the nanoparticles is simulated using the Lagrangian description and directly observed by a confocal microscope. Matched results are obtained from computational and empirical analysis. Although solution density homogenizes rapidly resulting from a fast diffusion of sucrose in water, the nanofluid is observed to rotate for an extended period. Angular displacement of the nanofluid depends on the ratio of gravitational force to viscous force, Re/Fr2, where Re is the Reynolds number and Fr is the Froude number. In the developing region at the steady state, the angular displacement is related to y/Dh, the ratio between distance from the inlet and the hydraulic diameter of the microfluidic channel. The development of nanofluid flow feature also depends on h/w, the ratio of microfluidic channel’s height to width. The quantitative description of the angular displacement of nanofluid will aid rational designs of microfluidic devices utilizing multistream, multiphase flows.
Fault scaling laws and the temporal evolution of fault systems

Abstract Through an analysis of the temporal evolution of duplex fault systems, this contribution shows that it is unlikely that all faults in a deformed area will conform to a single frequency-size scaling relationship. The development of a duplex leads to different size—frequency relationships for the faults that compose the duplex and those confined to individual horses. The faults that compose the duplex define segments with relatively steep stopes on a log N (number of faults, i.e. frequency) vs log D (displacement magnitude, i.e. size) plot; faults within individual horses define segments with relatively shallow slopes on a log N vs log D plot. The distinction between these two types of faults in a duplex is akin to the distinction between large active faults, which cut the entire seismogenic layer, and small active faults, which do not extend across the seismogenic layer. If, as is often the case, the faults that compose a duplex do not extend across the seismogenic layer, the stepped nature of the resulting log N vs log D plot may make it particularly difficult to assess the contribution of these ‘small’ faults to regional deformation. Since duplex geometries result in part from anisotropies present in deforming rocks, the anisotropy present in nearly all crustal rocks will affect the size-frequency relationship observed for systems of faults. Different parts of a deforming rock mass are likely to have different initial anisotropies. Combining data on fault systems from markedly different portions of a deforming region may, then, obscure the unique characteristics of the size-frequency relationship in either area and may lead to inaccurate assessments of the relative contributions of ‘small’ and ‘large’ faults to regional fault-accommodated strains.
A Survey of Proposed Architectures for the Execution of Functional Languages

Functional and imperative programming languages are characterized and compared with regard to programming style and efficiency. Machine design issues, are characterized by interconnection topology, evaluation strategy, program and data representation, process management, and dynamic optimization techniques; short descriptions of a number of "functional" machines are given in terms of these issues. Multiprocessor issues and systems are particularly emphasized. Outstanding problems in the area are reviewed and an overall evaluation of proposed machines is given.
Note-On a Modified One-Center Model

The objective of the one-center model single facility minimax location in the plane is changed to be the maximum weighted number of demand points within a given weighted distance from the facility. The paper presents an On2 log n algorithm for the model along with some computational experience.
Respiration rates of dominant hydromedusae in the North Inlet tidal estuary during winter and summer

The objective of this study was to quantify the respiratory requirements and oxygen consumption rates for seasonal hydromedusae populations in the North Inlet estuary, Georgetown, SC, USA. Respiration rates were determined for hydromedusae collected in January 2006, 2007 and July 2006 using microrespirometry. The numerically dominant gelatinous predators were Nemopsis bachei january 2006 and 2007) and Bougainvillia muscus (July 2006). Seasonal oxygen consumption rates were low (0.80-1.27 μmol O 2 g -1 h -1 ). Q 10 values were high during January 2006 and July 2006 (4.7), but low during January 2007 (0.5), suggesting hydromedusae were sensitive to the exposure temperatures (7-34°C) in this study and well adapted to the temperature range encountered in this estuary. Moreover, the oxygen consumption rates during July 2006 showed significant differences between the two species. The allometric relationship between respiration rate and hydromedusae weight differed seasonally. Our findings suggest hydromedusae can persist in hypoxic conditions and may partially explain the frequently observed increase in these cnidarians under conditions of low dissolved oxygen concentrations.
Giving "Credit When It's Due": A Case Study of Reverse Transfer Policy Implementation.

More states are considering what kinds of policies or processes can be put in place to successfully improve the degree attainment of their postsecondary students, and one popular option is a reverse transfer policy. Reverse transfer policies usually involve authorizing community colleges to award a degree or certificate to students that have transferred away from the institution to a university/baccalaureate granting institution if they have since met the requirements for the degree. In this study, the researcher interviewed staff members within the Hawaiian higher education system to determine what elements contributed to or influenced the successful implementation of a reverse transfer policy. Five individuals who participated in the implementation committee were interviewed and the implementation process was presented as a case study with implications for other states introducing similar policies discussed. Findings included the presence of strong leadership; the consideration of implications for polic...
Structural Analysis of a Completely Amorphous 238Pu-Doped Zircon by Neutron Diffraction

The structure of a completely amorphous zircon was determined by time-of-flight neutron diffraction at Argonne's Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS). The sample of metamict zircon (ZrSiO{sub 4}), initially doped to 8.85 weight percent {sup 238}Pu, had been completely amorphized by alpha-recoil damage since its synthesis in 1981 at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The measured diffraction structure factor, S(Q), indicated a completely amorphous sample, with no signs of residual zircon microcrystallinity. The pair distribution function obtained indicated that the structure was that of an oxide glass, retaining the Si-0, Zr-0, and O-O bond lengths of crystalline zircon.
Making decisions based on group designs and meta-analysis.

The need to apply formal decision-making theories in clinical practice is becoming more apparent. One of the major decisions with which clinicians are faced constantly is when to modify their practice on the basis of findings reported in the research literature. Ideally, such decisions should be based on both the credibility of the research and its applicability to the clinician's situation. This article briefly summarizes four types of research design and provides guidelines for assessing the credibility of studies based on them. In addition, this article provides a brief introduction to meta-analysis, a technique for assessing the collective results of multiple studies. Sources of Information Before we can decide what information to include in our decision-making processes, we must identify our sources of information. Two obvious sources are our own past experience and that of our colleagues.…
Avuncular Listening: The Unsuspected

This essay approaches the topic of translation through the motif of “transmutation”, Roman Jakobson’s term for a modality of translation understood to be inter-semiotic as opposed to either intra or inter-linguistic. Instead of developing transmutation as a re-wording of “adaptation” (for example, the elaboration of a novel as the screenplay for a film), this text brings transmutation into contact with “remediation”, a concept used within media studies to describe how, as McLuhan famously put it, media are always comprised of other media. More specifically, and with an eye toward the particular tension between radio and film, this text shows how remediation repeats with a difference what Raymond Williams meant by “residualism”, the survival within the cultural dominant of politically charged cultural technologies and practices from an earlier moment. Key here is the rivalrous character of this tension, that is, the fact that media that include other media typically do so by subjecting them to their own formal and narrative logics. Here is explored this dynamic through a reading of Michael Curtiz’s The Unsuspected from 1947, a film that narrativizes the rivalry between radio and film.
Transcriptional response of soybean to thiamethoxam seed treatment in the presence and absence of drought stress

Neonicotinoid insecticides are widely known for their broad-spectrum control of arthropod pests. Recently, their effects on plant physiological mechanisms have been characterized as producing a stress shield, which is predicted to enhance tolerance to adverse conditions. Here we investigate the molecular underpinnings of the stress shield concept using the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam in two separate experiments that compare gene expression. We hypothesized that the application of a thiamethoxam seed treatment to soybean would alter the expression of genes involved in plant defensive pathways and general stress response in later vegetative growth. First, we used next-generation sequencing to examine the broad scale transcriptional effects of the thiamethoxam seed treatment at three vegetative stages in soybean. Second, we selected ten target genes associated with plant defense pathways in soybean and examined the interactive effects of thiamethoxam seed treatment and drought stress on expression using qRT-PCR. Direct comparison of thiamethoxam-treated and untreated soybeans revealed minor transcriptional differences. However, when examined across vegetative stages, the thiamethoxam seed treatment induced substantial transcriptional changes that were not observed in untreated plants. Genes associated with photosynthesis, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, development of the cell wall and membrane organization were uniquely upregulated between vegetative stages in thiamethoxam-treated plants. In addition, several genes associated with phytohormone and oxidative stress responses were downregulated between vegetative stages. When we examined the expression of a subset of ten genes associated with plant defense and stress response, the application of thiamethoxam was found to interact with drought stress by enhancing or repressing expression. In drought stressed plants, thiamethoxam induced (upregulated) expression of a thiamine biosynthetic enzyme (THIZ2) and gibberellin regulated protein (GRP), but repressed (downregulated) the expression of an apetala 2 (GmDREB2A;2), lipoxygenase (LIP), and SAM dependent carboxyl methyltransferase (SAM). We found evidence that a thiamethoxam seed treatment alters the expression soybean genes related to plant defense and stress response both in the presence and absence of drought stress. Consistent with the thiamethoxam stress shield concept, several genes associated with phytohormones showed enhanced expression in drought stressed plants.
Molecular Determinants of Hair Cell Phenotypic Heterogeneity—Differential Expression of K Channel Genes

Three potassium channel genes have been cloned from the chick basilar papilla. The channels encoded by these genes are likely to be those which carry several of the currents previously shown to be distributed differentially along the tonotopic or frequency axis of this model auditory receptor epithelium. The expression patterns of these genes indicate that a primary mechanism employed by the receptor epithelium to generate phenotypic heterogeneity among its receptor hair cells is to control differentially the expression of these channel genes. For two of the genes, that control appears to occur at the level of transcription, while for the third the control is effected at the level of RNA processing. For this third channel, of the calcium-activated BK type, a complex pattern of alternative splicing of premRNAs from a single gene gives rise to a large family of transcripts that encode a family of channel isoforms. This population of BK channel variants, some members of which have already been confirmed to exhibit functional properties distinct from each other, represents a major mechanism by which the epithelium is able to generate the array of hair cells with varying membrane properties required for intrinsic hair cell electrical tuning. The other two channels, and additional gene products, may also play a role in tuning, particularly in hair cells tuned to lower frequencies. How are these complex patterns of gene expression specified and are they stable? The pursuit of answers to these and related questions promises to inform both thoseinterested in peripheral auditory system function and those who study mechanisms fo gene expression.
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the genome-sequenced poplar clone, nisqually-1 (Populus trichocarpa)

The US Department of Energy recently released a 6.8X draft of the genome sequence for Nisqually-1, a genotype of black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa). To improve its utility for functional genomics research, having an efficient means for transformation and regeneration is necessary. To examine several parameters known to affect the transformation rate, we cocultivated leaf disc and stem explants with a strain ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens harboring a binary plasmid vector containing genes for both neomycin phosphotransferase (NPTII) and β-glucuronidase (GUS). Shoot regeneration from stem explants was observed in the presence of kanamycin when thidiazuron was incorporated in the selection medium. Transformation efficiency was influenced by the level of thidiazuron to which explants were exposed during the early stages of shoot induction. Histochemical assays revealed expression of theGUS gene in leaf, stem, and root tissues of transgenic plants. Polymerase chain reaction confirmed the presence of both selectable marker and reporter genes in all lines that stained positive for β-glucuronidase activity. By use of our modified protocol, transgenic plants were recovered within 6 mo at an efficiency of 6%, adequate to produce a large number of transgenic events with modest effort.
Community enforcement when players observe partners' past play

I investigate whether a community can sustain cooperation in the repeated prisoner’s dilemma by having cheaters sanctioned not by their victims but by third parties. Motivated by systems of credit history recording, online feedback systems, and some experimental settings, I assume that players can access information about their partners’ past play for free, but that acquiring information about their partners’ past partners’ past play is prohibitively costly. In this setting, even though players cannot distinguish cheaters from those who punish cheaters, I show that any level of cooperation can be sustained by an equilibrium. The equilibrium I construct has the following two properties: every player chooses his actions independently of his own record of play, and he is indifferent between cooperation and defection at all histories. This equilibrium carries over to the finite-population setting and is robust to noise in the process of choosing actions or of recording past play. I also analyze the possibility of cooperation either when players are required to have strict incentives to follow equilibrium strategies or when only summary statistics of records are stored in the community.
Learned Resourcefulness and Situation-Specific Coping with Stress

ABSTRACT This study examined whether individuals who report a broad repertoire of coping skills vary their coping efforts as a function of situational factors. Three weeks prior to their midterm exam, 80 graduate students completed Rosenbaum's (1980b) Self-Control Schedule, which assessed subjects' learned resourcefulness. High (HR) and low (LR) resourcefulness groups were created by using the upper and lower thirds of the distribution. On the day of the exam and a week later, prior to receiving results, subjects completed the Strain Questionnaire (Lefebvre & Sandford, 1985), Ways of Coping Checklist (Folkman & Lazarus, 1985), and other self-report measures. Results showed that HR subjects significantly reduced their problem-focused coping efforts from preparation week to waiting week, whereas LR subjects did not. In contrast, LR individuals reported significantly more wishful thinking, distancing, tension reduction, keeping to self, and self-blame during waiting week. For both measurement weeks, HR indiv...
Mycobacterium paraffinicum causing symptomatic pulmonary infection

Mycobacterium paraffinicum has been newly recognized as a species. A case of symptomatic pulmonary infection caused by M. paraffinicum is described, and as far as we know, this is the first case of the organism as a human pathogen.
Phospholemman phosphorylation mediates the protein kinase C-dependent effects on Na+/K+ pump function in cardiac myocytes.

Because phospholemman (PLM) regulates the Na + /K + pump (NKA) and is a major cardiac phosphorylation target for both protein kinase A (at Ser68) and protein kinase C (PKC) (at both Ser63 and Ser68), we evaluated whether PLM mediates the PKC-dependent regulation of NKA function and protein kinase A/PKC crosstalk in ventricular myocytes. PKC was activated by PDBu (300 nmol/L), and we measured NKA-mediated [Na + ] i decline (fluorescence measurements) and current ( I pump ) (voltage clamp). In wild-type mouse myocytes, PDBu increased PLM phosphorylation at Ser63 and Ser68, I pump (both at 10 and 100 mmol/L Na + in the pipette solution) and maximal NKA-mediated Na + extrusion rate (V max ) from 7.9±1.1 to 12.7±1.9 mmol·L −1 per minute without altering NKA affinity for internal Na + ( K 0.5 ). In PLM knockout mice, PDBu had no effect on either V max or K 0.5 . After pretreatment with isoproterenol (ISO) (1 μmol/L), PDBu still increased the NKA V max and PLM phosphorylation at Ser63 and Ser68. Conversely, after pretreatment with PDBu, ISO further increased the Na + affinity of NKA and phosphorylation at Ser68, as it did alone without PDBu. The final NKA activity was independent of the application sequence. The NKA activity in PLM knockout myocytes, after normalizing the protein level, was similar to that after PDBu and ISO treatment. We conclude that (1) PLM mediates the PKC-dependent activation of NKA function in cardiac myocytes, (2) PDBu and ISO effects are additive in the mouse (affecting mainly V max and K 0.5 , respectively), and (3) PDBu and ISO combine to activate NKA in wild-type to the level found in the PLM knockout mouse.
Adverse outcomes in clear cell renal cell carcinoma with mutations of 3p21 epigenetic regulators BAP1 and SETD2: a report by MSKCC and the KIRC TCGA research network.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of newly identified chromosome 3p21 epigenetic tumor suppressors PBRM1 , SETD2 , and BAP1 on cancer-specific survival (CSS) of 609 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) from 2 distinct cohorts. Experimental Design: Select sequencing on 3p tumor suppressors of 188 patients who underwent resection of primary ccRCC at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) was conducted to interrogate the genotype–phenotype associations. These findings were compared with analyses of the genomic and clinical dataset from our nonoverlapping The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort of 421 patients with primary ccRCC. Results: 3p21 tumor suppressors are frequently mutated in both the MSKCC ( PBRM1 , 30.3%; SETD2 , 7.4%; BAP1 , 6.4%) and the TCGA ( PBRM1 , 33.5%; SETD2 , 11.6%; BAP1 , 9.7%) cohorts. BAP1 mutations are associated with worse CSS in both cohorts [MSKCC, P = 0.002; HR 7.71; 95% confidence interval (CI)2.08–28.6; TCGA, P = 0.002; HR 2.21; 95% CI 1.35–3.63]. SETD2 are associated with worse CSS in the TCGA cohort ( P = 0.036; HR 1.68; 95% CI 1.04–2.73). On the contrary, PBRM1 mutations, the second most common gene mutations of ccRCC, have no impact on CSS. Conclusion: The chromosome 3p21 locus harbors 3 frequently mutated ccRCC tumor suppressor genes. BAP1 and SETD2 mutations (6%–12%) are associated with worse CSS, suggesting their roles in disease progression. PBRM1 mutations (30%–34%) do not impact CSS, implicating its principal role in the tumor initiation. Future efforts should focus on therapeutic interventions and further clinical, pathologic, and molecular interrogation of this novel class of tumor suppressors. Clin Cancer Res; 19(12); 3259–67. ©2013 AACR .
Hypertension and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors: target: the renal medulla.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-inhibiting NSAIDs are widely prescribed to treat arthritis, exerting analgesic and antiinflammatory effects via their capacity to block endogenous prostaglandin synthesis.1,2 Unfortunately, their widespread use has been associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension,3,4 and clinical experience with COX-2 selective inhibitors suggests they similarly predispose hypertension.5 The physiological mechanisms through which COX-2 inhibitors increase blood pressure are gradually being elucidated. Experimental evidence from animal models suggests an important vasodilator role for endogenous COX-2–derived prostaglandins, reducing the systemic pressor effects of angiotensin II.6 These findings underscore the importance of COX-2 activity in regulating the tone of peripheral resistance vessels. COX-2, but not COX-1, inhibition also reduces renal medullary blood flow and urine salt excretion,6 which is in agreement with clinical …
Handling Data Quality Information of Survey Data in GIS: A Case of Using the American Community Survey Data

Many survey datasets have relatively high levels of error. The American Community Survey (ACS) data disseminated by the U.S. Census Bureau offer critical socio-demographic data of the U.S. and include a margin of error to indicate the reliability of an estimate for each census unit. Such feature-based reliability data should be incorporated when using ACS data in GIS such that users are informed of the data quality. This paper provides a brief review of the ACS data. Challenges to the use of ACS data quality information in GIS are discussed. The paper briefly reviews a set of mapping tools packaged as an ArcGIS extension to tackle some challenges in incorporating the data quality information in ACS data. These mapping functions can also be used to handle other survey spatial datasets with reliability information. The extension provides a foundation to build additional GIS tools to handle and analyze survey data.
Eckhard Pfeiffer and Compaq (Condensed)

In early 1997, Compaq, the world's largest supplier of personal computers (PCs), faced a growing challenge from direct-marketing rival Dell Computers. This challenge raised two important questions for Compaq CEO Eckhard Pfeiffer. First, should Compaq attack Dell directly by expanding sales through direct marketing channels: Second, should Pfeiffer attempt to improve channel support for Compaq products by launching a joint-manufacturing program with leading distributors?
Gastrointestinal bleeding after aortic surgery: The role of laparotomy to rule out aortoenteric fistula

Abstract The frequency and causes of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding occurring after aortic surgery were evaluated retrospectively to determine the incidence of aortoenteric fistula (AEF) in relation to other causes and to place in perspective the role of laparotomy for the diagnosis of AEF. Two hundred fifty-three patients in whom aortic prostheses have been inserted were observed for a mean of 46 months. Seventy-four bleeding episodes occurred in 21% of patients between 1 and 108 months after surgery (mean 29 months). Only one AEF appeared that was associated with GI bleeding, for an incidence of 1.4% of bleeding episodes and 0.4% of grafts inserted. No diagnostic workup for GI bleeding was performed for 20 of the 74 episodes and no AEFs were noted in this group during a mean follow-up of 28 months. Diagnostic evaluation was done for the remaining 54 episodes. No cause for bleeding was identified in 16 patients and no AEF developed in this group during a mean follow-up of 26 months. A potential bleeding site was identified in 38 patients, of whom 30 had intrinsic GI lesions and no subsequent evidence of AEF during a mean follow-up of 28 months. Laparotomy for a suspected AEF was recommended for the remaining eight episodes in eight patients and was performed in six patients. An AEF was seen in one patient with abnormality found on preoperative CT scanning; an intrinsic GI lesion was identified in three patients; and no pathologic condition was found in the remaining two (negative laparotomy rate, 33%). Two patients, who refused surgery, subsequently died and no AEFs or other lesions amenable to surgical intervention were found at autopsy. The projected total negative laparotomy rate would have been 50% (four of eight patients). We conclude that GI bleeding is common whereas AEFs are rare after aortic surgery. Laparotomy performed to exclude an AEF appears to be unwarranted when appropriate diagnostic efforts to demonstrate the lesion do not reveal any abnormality and there is no evidence of occult sepsis. (J VASC SURG 1988;8:280-5.)
In-situ infrared spectroscopic studies of hydroxyl in amphiboles at high pressure

Oceanic plates contain numerous hydrous phases including amphiboles, which are important carriers of water into subduction zones. The hydroxyl bound within the crystalline structure of hydrous minerals, as well as changes in hydrogen bond symmetry, can impact the bulk properties of these minerals. In this study, 12 natural amphibole samples spanning a range of 10 compositions were probed with synchrotron infrared spectroscopy at room temperature and pressures up to 60 GPa. Infrared spectra were collected at atmospheric pressure and at regular intervals during compression, allowing for the collection of spectra centered on the typical O-H stretching region at 3600–3700 cm −1 as they evolved with pressure for each composition. The number of O-H bands within each sample was found to vary with composition, but the pressure dependence of O-H frequency shifting more closely correlated with mode frequency at ambient pressure than with composition. Combined with earlier results, these data reveal a linear relationship between mode frequency at ambient pressure and the pressure dependence of O-H stretching modes in amphiboles and sheet silicates. Two sample preparation methods utilized in this study allowed for direct comparison between quasi-hydrostatic neon-loaded sample conditions and the conditions achieved with a KBr pressure medium. Samples loaded in neon preserved sharper peaks, allowing greater spectral resolution, especially at higher pressures when peaks are most likely to broaden or disappear due to crystalline disorder and pressure gradients across the sample. This new quasi-hydrostatic loading method proved valuable to tracing O-H stretching behavior in amphiboles to higher pressures than previously obtained and will lend itself to future study of O-H stretching pressure dependence in a wide range of hydrous minerals.
Chromosomal abnormalities identify high-risk and low-risk patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The importance of banded chromosome analyses in predicting long-term outcome in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was evaluated in this follow-up study of 329 patients from the Third International Workshop on Chromosomes in Leukemia. Patients were divided into ten groups according to pretreatment karyotype: no abnormalities, one of the following structural abnormalities [the Philadelphia chromosome, translocations involving 8q24,t(4;11), 14q+, 6q-] or, in the remaining cases, modal number [less than 46, 46, 47 to 50, greater than 50]. Achievement and duration of complete remission (CR) and survival differed among chromosome groups (P less than .0001). Karyotype was an independent prognostic factor for duration of first CR and survival, even when age, initial leukocyte count (WBC), French-American-British (FAB) type, and immunologic phenotype were considered. Among adults, prolonged remission and survival were uncommon in all chromosome groups. Only in the normal karyotype group was median survival even two years. Among children, striking differences in long-term remission and survival were seen depending upon karyotype. Children in the greater than 50 group did best, with 70% remaining in first CR for a median duration in excess of five years. Children in the 47-50, 6q-, and normal karyotype groups also had prolonged survivals. In contrast, certain translocations [t(9;22)(q34;q11), t(4;11)(q21;q14-23), t(8;14)(q24;q32)] identified children who had short survivals, even in the presence of favorable prognostic factors including a low WBC, L1 morphology, and non-T, non-B immunologic phenotype. We conclude that chromosome analysis is required at diagnosis in patients with ALL, and that children with these specific translocations should be managed as having high-risk ALL.
Financial Markets and Instruments

We start with the definitions and descriptions of different entities in the financial markets and how they interact with each other. We introduce exchanges, electronic communication networks (ECNs), broker-dealers, market-makers, regulators, traders, and funds to better understand the financial ecosystem given that the legal framework, regulatory and compliance issues are beyond the scope of this book. In a separate section, we delve into the details of various types of financial instruments, i.e., stocks, options, futures, exchange traded funds (ETFs), currency pairs, and fixed income securities. Our goal in this chapter is not to provide the exhaustive details of these entities, instruments, and their relationships with each other. We rather aim to equip engineers with a good understanding of these concepts to navigate further in the area they choose to focus on through the references provided. We note that our primary focus is the financial markets and products offered in the United States. However, with only slight nuances, the concepts and definitions are globally applicable to any local financial market of interest.
Special Relativistic Theory of Electromagnetism

One of the difficulties in the classical theory of electromagnetism is the condition that the Maxwell-Lorentz ether relations D = E, B = H for a vacuum are not invariant under a general Galilean transformation. As a result, the whole theory is formulated on the basis of a particular ether frame of reference, and some of its predictions are known to be inconsistent with experimental observations. This difficulty is removed in the theory of relativity. In this chapter we summarize first the mathematical model of the event world used in the special theory of relativity. Then we develop the theory of electromagnetism in the context of this mathematical model.
Treatment of pregnancy associated metastatic hormone and Her-2 receptor positive inflammatory breast cancer: A real challenge

Abstract Gestational breast cancer is uncommon but poses dilemmas for patients and oncologists. Pregnancy is not a reason to delay treatment but oncologists should be vigilant for potential treatment-related complications to both the fetus and mother. Herein, we report a 29 year old female with metastatic hormone and Her-2 receptor positive inflammatory breast cancer who was found to have trastuzumab induced oligohydramnios in the second trimester. She also developed an asymptomatic decrease in her left ventricular ejection fraction. Discontinuation of trastuzumab led to resolution of oligohydramnios and improvement in her ventricular function. Finally, patient also had durable complete response of her inflammatory breast cancer to sequential doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and docetaxel followed by trastuzumab, pertuzumab, goserelin and exemestane. We provide in-depth literature review in regards to trastuzumab induced oligohydramnios, trastuzumab associated cardiomyopathy and successful management of IBC during pregnancy.
Deep-Cavity Cavitands in Self-Assembly

This short review concerns the important strategies for bringing about the reversible self-assembly of deep-cavity cavitands (DCCs). DCCs are defined here as including all the main classes of resorcinarene-based cavitands with enforced pockets deepened with a second row of aromatic rings. The structure of the review is according to the principle noncovalent interaction used to drive and direct their respective assemblies, namely, metal coordination, hydrogen bonding, the hydrophobic effect, and halogen bonding. As suggested by this list, this review focuses only on strict (reversible) self-assemblies, using primarily illustrative examples from the literature that have appeared in the last decade.
Surgical Outcome in Sturge-Weber Syndrome

The presurgical epilepsy profile, criteria for surgery, and postoperative outcome of epilepsy were assessed in 20 patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) consecutively admitted to the Hopital des Enfants Malades in Paris and the Montreal Neurological Institute.
Managing concurrent access for shared memory active messages

Passing messages through shared memory plays an important role in symmetric multiprocessors and on Clumps. The management of concurrent access to message queues is an important aspect of design for shared memory message passing systems. Using both microbenchmarks and applications, the paper compares the performance of concurrent access algorithms for passing active messages on a Sun Enterprise 5000 server. The paper presents a new lock free algorithm that provides many of the advantages of non blocking algorithms while avoiding the overhead of true non blocking behavior. The lock free algorithm couples synchronization tightly to the data structure and demonstrates application performance superior to all others studied. The success of this algorithm implies that other practical problems might also benefit from a reexamination of the non blocking literature.
"Womenomics" and gender-inclusive software: what software engineers need to know (invited talk)

This short paper is a summary of my keynote at FSE’16, with accompanying references for follow-up.
The Logics of Medicine: Discovery and Evaluation

All too often in recent years, medicine and health care have been a locus of debate, confrontation, and discussion in contemporary secular societies. Medical ethics and health policy, along with questions about allocation of resources, have been areas of debate that have touched on both medical practice and hospital and public policy. Issues in bioethics have raised important moral questions that have been, and remain, controversial and contentious in secular societies. A great deal of energy, effort, and attention has been given over to these issues and questions. Indeed, much of the literature in bioethics has focused on specific questions such as abortion, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, or reproductive medicine. Each of these issues, as well as many others in bioethics, reflects diverse assumptions about the nature of medicine and appropriate professional medical practice. However, in the midst of all these discussions, there has been a remarkable failure to grasp the conceptual and philosophical problems underlying these moral controversies in secular societies.
Assessing Testicular Reserve in the Male Oncology Patient

Fertility preservation is of utmost importance to males diagnosed with malignancies, but this care does not only occur in the pretreatment setting. Longitudinal follow-up is needed to determine the duration and extent of spermatogenesis impairment in men. When assessing testicular reserve in a male cancer survivor, clinicians should keep in mind that the minimum initial evaluation of the patient should include a full medical history, physical examination, and measurement of serum testosterone and FSH levels. Additionally, semen analysis is currently the gold standard for assessing fertility status in the male. This test is readily available at most tertiary care centers and can be performed at any age after puberty.
Structural and Dynamical Basis of Protein Kinase C Alpha Regulation by the C-Terminal Tail

Protein Kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes are dynamic multi-modular proteins that regulate signal transduction processes at the membrane surface. When activated by second messengers, such as Ca2+ and diacylglycerol, PKC undergoes a drastic conformational transition from the inactive cytosolic state to the activated membrane-bound state. The structure of either state of PKC is not known. Using NMR, we demonstrate that the isolated Ca2+-sensing lipid-binding C2 domain of PKCα interacts with the C-terminal tail of the kinase. We determined the structure of the complex between the C2 domain and the peptide corresponding to the phosphorylated hydrophobic motif of the C-terminal tail. The structure shows that the hydrophobic motif binds to the conserved lysine-rich cluster region of C2. The interface is stabilized by electrostatic interactions and stacking of the aromatic sidechains. We validated our structural model by mutating the interacting residues in full-length PKC, and characterizing these variants using in vitro FRET experiments and FRET-detected membrane translocation experiments in live cells. In addition, NMR-detected binding studies revealed that the hydrophobic motif and Ca2+ synergistically enhance each other's affinities to C2. We propose a model where the C-terminal tail plays a dual role in PKC regulation: auto-inhibitory, through its interaction with the lysine-rich cluster of the C2 domain; and activating, through sensitization of PKC to intracellular Ca2+ oscillations. Support: Welch Foundation grant A-1784 (TII), NSF CAREER award CHE-1151435 (TII), NIH GM108998 (TII), and NIH GM43154 (ACN).
Evaluation of ligand-based NMR screening methods to characterize small molecule binding to HIV-1 glycoprotein-41

Small molecule inhibitors of glycoprotein-41 (gp41) are able to prevent HIV infection by binding to a hydrophobic pocket (HP) contained within the gp41 ectodomain, and preventing progression of fusion. There is little structural information on gp41–ligand complexes, owing to hydrophobicity of the ligands, occlusion of the HP in folded gp41 ectodomain, and failure to form crystals of complexes. Here we used an engineered gp41 ectodomain protein containing an exposed HP and a small molecule designed to bind with weak affinity to the HP. We evaluated NMR methods, including WaterLOGSY, Saturation Transfer Difference spectroscopy (STD-NMR) and 1H relaxation rate difference spectroscopy with and without target irradiation (DIRECTION) for their ability to probe complex formation and structure. WaterLOGSY was the most sensitive technique for monitoring formation of the complex. STD-NMR and DIRECTION experiments gave similar pharmacophore mapping profiles, although the low dynamic range of the DIRECTION experiment limited its discrimination and sensitivity. A unique binding pose was identified from the STD data and provided clues for future optimization. Advantages and disadvantages of the techniques are discussed. This is the first example of the use of STD for structural analysis of a gp41-small molecule complex.