cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemotherapeutic management of the hormone-secreting endocrine malignancies.

The medical management of metastatic endocrine tumors, such as malignant insulinoma, adrenal carcinoma, and malignant carcinoid, involves the use of both anticancer and antihormonal chemotherapy. The former is directed against the primary tumor and its metastases, while the latter offers palliation through the inhibition of synthesis, release, or direct cellular action of the specific secretory product. The current clinical results with the use of streptozotocin in malignant insulinoma, and o,p′DDD in the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma are reviewed.
Throughput of random arbitration for approximate matchings

Modern switches and switching fabrics typically employ virtual output queues (VOQs) at network adapters, in order to mitigate head-of-line blocking. The core of the switch, often a crossbar, can either be bufferless or buffered. Previous research on random arbitration for bufferless crossbars found that the throughput for large switch sizes is bounded at 63% [1]. Although crossbars containing crosspoint buffers are shown to reach 100% throughput under uniform traffic, their scalability is restricted by the quadratic growth of the number of crosspoint buffers, and the size of each, which depends on the intra-switch (VOQ-crossbar) round trip time (RTT). In this paper, we study an alternative architecture [2], which can reduce buffer requirements, by (a) having a linear growth of the number of buffers, and (b) making the size of each independent of the RTT. As the scheduler in such an architecture may match multiple inputs to the same output at the same time, we refer to such matchings as approximate, as opposed to the exact matchings required in bufferless crossbars.
Glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI) of the teleostFundulus heteroclitus (linnaeus): Isozymes, allozymes and their physiological roles

In order to evaluate the role of glucose-phosphate isomerase (GPI) inFundulus heteroclitus, the isozymes and allozymes were purified and some of their physical and kinetic properties determined.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Response to Pall

* Why does MCS have multiple overlaps with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia? * How might neurogenic inflammation be generated as part of the MCS mechanism? * How can lowering of several steps in porphyrin synthesis occur as a consequence of the MCS mechanism? (Classical porphyria is caused by lowering a single step in the pathway, whereas in MCS, several steps in the pathway are low.) We look to articles such as Twombly's to connect the most important dots and produce for the reader the essence of the resultant pattern. I hope that Twombly's failure to do so for MCS will be a temporary lapse. The author declares he has no competing financial interests.
DERIVATION AND VALIDATION OF A SHORT FORM ORAL HEALTH IMPACT PROFILE

Growing recognition that quality of life is an important outcome of dental care has created a need for a range of instruments to measure oral health-related quality of life. This study aimed to derive a subset of items from the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49)-a 49-item questionnaire that measures people's perceptions of the impact of oral conditions on their well-being. Secondary analysis was conducted using data from an epidemiologic study of 1217 people aged 60+ years in South Australia. Internal reliability analysis, factor analysis and regression analysis were undertaken to derive a subset (OHIP-14) questionnaire and its validity was evaluated by assessing associations with sociodemographic and clinical oral status variables. Internal reliability of the OHIP-14 was evaluated using Cronbach's coefficient alpha. Regression analysis yielded an optimal set of 14 questions. The OHIP-14 accounted for 94% of variance in the OHIP-49; had high reliability (alpha = 0.88); contained questions from each of the seven conceptual dimensions of the OHIP-49; and had a good distribution of prevalence for individual questions. OHIP-14 scores and OHIP-49 scores displayed the same pattern of variation among sociodemographic groups of older adults. In a multivariate analysis of dentate people, eight oral status and sociodemographic variables were associated (P < 0.05) with both the OHIP-49 and the OHIP-14. While it will be important to replicate these findings in other populations, the findings suggest that the OHIP-14 has good reliability, validity and precision.
Transient response of an inhomogeneous MOS transmission line

Abstract Analytical solutions for charge transport in inhomogeneous MOS transmission lines are obtained. The line is assumed to have an initial exponential doping profile. An exact solution is obtained for the case of a constant charge being injected into the structure. An approximate solution is obtained for the case of a fixed voltage being applied at one end of the structure.
Comparison of limited surgery and three-dimensional conformal radiation in high-risk patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction Anatomic resection is currently the standard of care for patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Some stage I patients are unable to tolerate lobectomy because of limited lung function or prohibitive comorbidities. In this study, we retrospectively compared the outcome of patients treated with wedge resection or three-dimensional (3-D) conformal radiation therapy, the most common treatment modalities used for such high-risk patients. Methods All patients with stage I NSCLC from 1988 to 2005 who were not considered candidates for anatomic surgical resection were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the influence of 3-D conformal radiation and surgery on overall survival and recurrence-free survival. Propensity score–matched analysis and cost assessments were performed to compare outcomes with both modalities. Propensity matching was performed for gender, histology, tumor size, performance status, and age. Results Of 160 patients studied, 68 patients received limited resection and 92 patients received 3-D conformal radiation. Univariate and multivariate analyses suggested a trend toward improved outcome in limited resection. Propensity matching was performed with 34 matched pairs and demonstrated no statistically significant difference in overall survival or recurrence-free survival. The mean cost of radiation therapy ($32,735) was not statistically significantly different from surgery ($30,411). Conclusion In high-risk patients with NSCLC, limited resection has a tendency towards improved outcome. A propensity matched analysis did not show a clear benefit for limited resection, which may be due in part to an inadequate number of patients for analysis and/or increased comorbidities of patients treated with 3-D conformal radiation.
Progress in High Performance Fiber Optic Gyroscopes

Fiber Optic Gyroscopes (FOGS) are under development as the next generation inertial sensor and are showing considerable promise toward meeting the most stringent applications. We report progress of efforts aimed at low-cost navigation usage (0.01°/hr) and precision applications (0.001°/hr), as well as update the status of the medium grade AHRs product.
Quantitative measures of textural anisotropy resulting from magmatic compaction illustrated by a sample from the Palisades sill, New Jersey

Abstract Early in the crystallization of many tholeiitic basaltic magmas, plagioclase crystals cluster together into a 3-D cellular network, which forms a passive marker capable of recording the deformation that accompanies compaction of crystal mush. Although irregular in detail, the overall network is initially isotropic and only becomes anisotropic as a result of compaction. We have developed four independent methods to quantify the 3-D textural anisotropy of a basalt sample using at least three non-parallel thin sections. Three of the methods are based on the geometrical properties of digitized maps of the feldspar chain networks. One approach focuses on the angular variation of the mean intercept along parallel traverses through the network, another examines the orientation and size distribution of individual links, and the third considers the average shape of interstitial regions outlined by the plagioclase network. The fourth technique approximates the textural anisotropy by the variogram anisotropy of a scanned thin section image. We illustrate the methods using five oriented non-parallel thin sections from a sample of diabase 146 m above the base of the 300-m-thick Palisades sill of New Jersey. Compaction of crystal mush in this sill has previously been postulated on the basis of chemical evidence. The 3-D feldspar network anisotropy based on the first three approaches suggests nearly uniaxial compaction on the order of 8.6% in a direction within 3° of the intersection of the columnar joints at the sample site. A rigorous statistical test based on the statistics of elliptically contoured non-normal multivariate distributions documents that the link-vector distribution in vertical sections are statistically anisotropic at a 95% confidence level and that the overall compaction is 7.9±2.6%. The orientation and magnitude of the 3-D textural anisotropy determined by the image variogram of the non-opaque minerals is almost identical to the mean feldspar network anisotropy; 8.5% compaction in a direction 10° from the columnar joint intersections. The major silicate textural and feldspar network anisotropy axes both plunge almost directly down dip of the sill. On the other hand, the major axis of the variogram anisotropy of the opaque minerals is approximately parallel to the strike of the sill and to the major axis of the anisotropic magnetic susceptibility. The anisotropy of the silicate mineral fabric may reflect down-dip flow of a deformable melt-rich crystal mush, whereas the AMS and opaque textural anisotropy reflects the influence of gravitational stresses during the growth of magnetite in the final stages of melt crystallization. Evidently the Palisades sill was not originally horizontal but was intruded in an orientation close to its present attitude.
An exploration of the utility of mathematical modeling predicting fatigue from sleep/wake history and circadian phase applied in accident analysis and prevention: the crash of Comair Flight 5191.

On 27 August 2006 at 0606 eastern daylight time (EDT) at Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, KY (LEX), the flight crew of Comair Flight 5191 inadvertently attempted to take off from a general aviation runway too short for their aircraft. The aircraft crashed killing 49 of the 50 people on board. To better understand this accident and to aid in preventing similar accidents, we applied mathematical modeling predicting fatigue-related degradation in performance for the Air Traffic Controller on-duty at the time of the crash. To provide the necessary input to the model, we attempted to estimate circadian phase and sleep/wake histories for the Captain, First Officer, and Air Traffic Controller. We were able to estimate with confidence the circadian phase for each. We were able to estimate with confidence the sleep/wake history for the Air Traffic Controller, but unable to do this for the Captain and First Officer. Using the sleep/wake history estimates for the Air Traffic Controller as input, the mathematical modeling predicted moderate fatigue-related performance degradation at the time of the crash. This prediction was supported by the presence of what appeared to be fatigue-related behaviors in the Air Traffic Controller during the 30min prior to and in the minutes after the crash. Our modeling results do not definitively establish fatigue in the Air Traffic Controller as a cause of the accident, rather they suggest that had he been less fatigued he might have detected Comair Flight 5191's lining up on the wrong runway. We were not able to perform a similar analysis for the Captain and First Officer because we were not able to estimate with confidence their sleep/wake histories. Our estimates of sleep/wake history and circadian rhythm phase for the Air Traffic Controller might generalize to other air traffic controllers and to flight crew operating in the early morning hours at LEX. Relative to other times of day, the modeling results suggest an elevated risk of fatigue-related error, incident, or accident in the early morning due to truncated sleep from the early start and adverse circadian phase from the time of day. This in turn suggests that fatigue mitigation targeted to early morning starts might reduce fatigue risk. In summary, this study suggests that mathematical models predicting performance from sleep/wake history and circadian phase are (1) useful in retrospective accident analysis provided reliable sleep/wake histories are available for the accident personnel and, (2) useful in prospective fatigue-risk identification, mitigation, and accident prevention. Language: en
Studies of organic anion and cation transport in isolated segments of proximal tubules

The transport of organic anions and cations has interested physiologists for many years despite the generally held view that these transport mechanisms are involved principally in the elimination of foreign substances and metabolites from the body. The clearance and excretion of para-aminohippurate (PAH) has been used an an index of renal plasma flow, and the maximal rate of PAH secretion has been assumed to reflect the mass of functioning renal tissue in patients [1]. Clinicians also utilize the fractional excretion of urate as a guide to volume sufficiency of the extracellular fluid compartment and quantify the excretion rate of this organic solute in the evaluation of gout and urolithiasis [2]. The renal excretion of organic cations has been of principal interest to renal pharmacologists, although there is increased awareness among clinicians that this system is important in the regulation of endogenous levels of organic bases [1].
Natural products as tools for neuroscience: discovery and development of novel agents to treat drug abuse.

Much of what we know about the neurosciences is the direct result of studying psychoactive natural products. Unfortunately, there are many gaps in our understanding of the basic biological processes that contribute to the etiology of many CNS disorders. The investigation of psychoactive natural products offers an excellent approach to identify novel agents to treat CNS disorders and to find new chemical tools to better elucidate their biological mechanisms. This review will detail recent progress in a program directed toward investigating psychoactive natural products with the goal of treating drug abuse by targeting κ opioid receptors.
Funeral Price Disclosure in an Urban Market

During telephone interviews in which funeral directors were asked to provide the least expensive option for a fixed list of services, substantial price dispersion among providers was found. Prospective customers were quoted higher prices than were quoted to consumer researchers. The cost of cremation was one-fifth that of earth burial, and cemetery charges amounted to more than one-half of earth burial costs. A memorial society member was quoted lower prices than were available to private customers of the same firm, and lower prices in relation to other funeral providers. These surveys were supported in an examination of actual funeral bills for memorial society members.
Evaluating Hematuria: Impact of Guideline Adherence on Urologic Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess physician adherence to 2001 American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines for evaluating patients with asymptomatic hematuria and its impact on the diagnosis of urologic cancer. Methods In this institutional review board-approved retrospective study of patients with asymptomatic hematuria evaluated in a large academic health center in 2004 (allowing for long-term follow-up), we randomly selected 100 of 1771 patients with asymptomatic hematuria (52 men; mean age 54 years; 58 microscopic, 39 macroscopic, three unknown-type hematuria; median follow-up 89 months, interquartile range 33-97 months). Multivariate logistic regression assessed effects of age, sex, hematuria type, and physician specialty on guideline adherence, the primary outcome. Secondary outcome measures were variability in evaluation among physician specialists, and the proportion of patients developing urologic cancer. Results Only 36 of 100 patients had a guideline-adherent evaluation, of which 5 were diagnosed with urologic cancer (median 1 month, range 0-11). No urologic cancers were diagnosed in 64 patients with nonadherent evaluations. Only evaluation by a urologist significantly predicted guideline adherence ( P P = .009); urologist evaluation more often led to intravenous or computed tomography urography ( P P P = .009), and guideline-adherent evaluation ( P Conclusions Although most physicians did not adhere to 2001 AUA guidelines when evaluating patients with asymptomatic hematuria, no urologic cancers were diagnosed in patients without guideline-adherent evaluation, barring the possibility of occult cancers. Evaluation by a urologist was the only predictor of a guideline-adherent evaluation. Future studies are needed to determine the optimal evaluation of patients with asymptomatic hematuria.
The aftereffects of prolonged perception of shape

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between temporally separated sets of geometric figures and various interstimulus intervals (ISIs). Circles and triangles were inspected at two stimulus durations: 500 msec and 8 sec. There were four ISIs: 0, 250, 500, and 750 msec. It was hypothesized that the stimulus trace of the triangles would persist over longer ISIs than would that of the circles. The results indicated that females perceived both figures as larger than did the males. Larger fixation effects were obtained at a shorter stimulus inspection duration. For triangles, there was perceived expansion at both inspection durations. In most cases, the fixation effect of circle shrinkage was apparent. Generally, triangles were perceived as larger than circles, especially at the longest ISI (p <.05). The data reaffirm the idea that whether or not a figure has parallel or intersecting contours determines the direction of the fixation effect.
Frequency Domain Estimation of the Parameters of Human Brain Electrical Dipoles

Abstract Human brain evoked potentials are elicited by a stimulus and can be recorded by scalp electrodes. Many researchers have proposed models in which evoked potentials are generated by equivalent electrical dipoles in the brain. Each dipole is defined by a set of parameters that specify its location, orientation, and magnitude. Existing approaches to estimation of dipole parameters do not realistically account for errors resulting from background brain electrical activity (“noise”) and thus lead to inefficient estimators and incorrect confidence sets. As an alternative, we derive frequency domain maximum likelihood estimators of the dipole parameters. The frequency domain approach simplifies the representation of the noise process and leads to substantial data reduction. The Fourier coefficients of the noise are approximately complex normal and independent across frequencies. This leads to a multivariate complex normal likelihood with a mean vector that is a nonlinear function of the dipole parameters...
Results of graft patency by immediate angiography in minimally invasive coronary artery surgery.

Abstract Background . Although minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) is being employed for revascularization of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) with the left internal mammary artery (LIMA), little objective data exist regarding graft patency. Because the procedure is performed on a beating heart through a limited access approach, concerns have been raised regarding the ability to perform as accurate an anastomosis compared with conventional coronary artery bypass (CAB). Methods . A prospective study of consecutive patients undergoing MIDCAB LIMA to LAD was undertaken. All procedures were performed through a limited anterior thoracotomy incision with a stabilization device. Selective angiography of the LIMA graft was performed intraoperatively or in the immediate postoperative period. Results . One hundred and three patients underwent the MICAB procedure. Angiographic evaluation of the anastomosis was obtained in 100 patients (97%). Angiographic graft patency was 99%, with perfect graft patency (no stenosis greater than 50%) being 91%. Three grafts were revised in the operating room. One patient underwent reoperation and 3 more underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. There were two noncardiac mortalities (1.9%), both with patent grafts. Conclusions . Immediate graft patency after MIDCAB is acceptable, and comparable with conventional CAB data, although meaningful comparison is difficult. The significance of early angiographic findings and the role for early angiography remain to be defined.
Formation of synapses between basal forebrain afferents and cerebral cortex neurons: an electron microscopic study in organotypic slice cultures.

Co-cultures of rat basal forebrain and cerebral cortex were maintained from 1 to 5 weeksin vitro with serum-free defined medium. The formation of synaptic connections between basal forebrain afferent fibres and cortical neurons was studied by specific labelling with three staining techniques, including (i) neuronal tract tracing with the fluorescent dye 1,1′-dioctodecyl-3,3,3′3’-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate, (ii) acetylcholinesterase histochemistry, and (iii) choline acetyltransferase immunocytochemistry. Both basal forebrain and cerebral cortex tissue displayed organotypic characteristics in culture. Cerebral cortex revealed a dense innervation by axonal projections from the basal forebrain. All three labelling techniques produced similar results at the light microscopic level, with densest innervation located in the marginal zone. At the fine structural level, the 1,1′-dioctodecyl-3,3,3′3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate-, acetylcholinesterase- and choline acetyltransferasestained basal forebrain afferents all revealed a number of synaptic contacts with cortical neurons. The contacts displayed consistent synaptic features, including presynaptic accumulation of small round vesicles, cleft widening, and postsynaptic densities forming symmetric synapses. These morphological characteristics of connections formedin vitro are similar to basal forebrain cholinergic projections to cerebral cortex in normal brain. Based on these results, this tissue culture model appears to be an useful tool for investigations of the development of cholinergic innervation of cerebral cortex.
Digital photo kiosk evaluation

Self-service modules have become an integral part of the economy throughout the world, replacing expensive human operators in many settings. However, usability issues continue to diminish the economic value of these modules. This experiment demonstrates how the application of sound usability principles can be applied to self-service settings to increase the usability of self-service modules. The study compared the usability of two versions of a self-service digital photo kiosk. In one version we replicated a kiosk presently in use and broadly available. The other version of the software incorporated several design principles, such as the use of a metaphor, intended to increase usability and learnability, more specifically to allow for easier navigation. Participant's performance in completing tasks was measured as a function of speed, accuracy, and the need for human assistance. The results demonstrate that incorporating usability principles can improve usability of self-service modules.
Ankle force and rate of force production increase following high intensity strength training in frail older adults

Background and aims: The most common cause of accidental injury and death in people over age 65 results from impacts associated with falling. Balance impaired older adults have poorer balance control than healthy young adults or healthy older adults. Lack of sufficient lower extremity strength and inability to rapidly produce muscle force may contribute to diminished balance control in the elderly. This study evaluated the effect of a 10-week high intensity strength- training program targeting key lower extremity muscles for the purpose of improving postural control in frail older adults. Methods: Thirteen experimental and fourteen control subjects, all balance impaired older adults were evaluated in response to unexpected platform perturbations that simulated slips. Results: Following strength training the experimental group was significantly stronger than the control group. Mean ankle moments improved in the experimental group following strength training during forward sway (Right: p=0.067, Left: p=0.009) and backward sway (Right: p=0.031, Left: p=0.058). For the backward sway condition the ankle rate of torque production increased significantly in the experimental group (Right: p=0.016, Left: p=0.031). Conclusions: Enhancement of lower extremity strength contributed to improvements in balance stability demonstrated by greater ankle force production, in response to balance threats.
Magmatism and deformation, southern Revillagigedo Island, southeastern Alaska

The mid-Cretaceous, cale-alkaline, LREE-enriched plutons on southern Revillagigedo Island, southeastern Alaska, form two distinct groups: (1) biotite-epidote-hornblende tonalite of the Moth Bay pluton and (2) biotite-bearing, hornblende-absent leucotonalite. Higher total REE and lower Na 2 O, Al 2 O 3 , and Sr distinguish the Moth Bay tonalite from the leucotonalite. The plutons are surrounded by narrow contact metamorphic aureoles containing kyanite and staurolite. Pressure estimates for emplacement based on metamorphic conditions of contact rocks and from igneous amphibole compositions are ∼8-9 kbar. Detailed analyses of pluton/host rock relationships indicate that pluton emplacement was synchronous with orogen deformation. Pre-emplacement thrusting placed the metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the Taku terrane structurally above the younger metasedimentary rocks of the Gravina belt. The contact between these units was subsequently cut by the Moth Bay pluton. The southern margin of the Moth Bay pluton has been transformed to blastomylonite. Contact metamorphic textures and undeformed dikes which cut the blastomylonite indicate that shearing did not outlast crystallization of the pluton. A still later phase of deformation transposed the pluton-related structures and generated a northeast-dipping, ductile thrust fault (Southern Revillagigedo shear zone) along the southern shore of Revillagigedo Island. The shear zone and earlier structures all trend approximately northwest. Fission-track age determinations and track-length measurements in apatite were used to determine the cooling histories of the plutonic units. Fission track ages from the western part of the study area are 51.3 ± 4.0 Ma (apatite), 57.8 ± 4.4 Ma (zircon), and 69.8 ± 4.2 Ma (sphene); eastward, toward the Coast batholith, fission track ages are ∼10 m.y. younger. These younger ages may result from a tectonic/thermal event associated with batholith emplacement. This same event may have generated north-trending structures that overprint older northwest-trending structures on the east side of the study area.
Ostwald ripening during solidification of nondendritic spherical structures

A theoretical model was introduced for the study of Ostwald ripening during solidification of the nondendritic spherical structure observed in Mg-Zn alloys grain-refined with Zr. This model assumed that: (1) particles are spherical; (2) each particle receives during solidification a mass increment proportional to its volume fraction with respect to the total volume of the particles in the system; (3) the Scheil equation applies. Experimental results agreed with analytical predictions on the time variation of the total solid-liquid interface area per unit volume and of the relative number of particles per unit volume.
The role of virtual reality in surgical training in otorhinolaryngology

Purpose of review This article reviews the rationale, current status and future directions for the development and implementation of virtual reality surgical simulators as training tools. Recent findings The complexity of modern surgical techniques, which utilize advanced technology, presents a dilemma for surgical training. Hands-on patient experience - the traditional apprenticeship method for teaching operations - may not apply because of the learning curve for skill acquisition and patient safety expectation. The paranasal sinuses and temporal bone have intricate anatomy with a significant amount of vital structures either within the surgical field or in close proximity. The current standard of surgical care in these areas involves the use of endoscopes, cameras and microscopes, requiring additional hand-eye coordination, an accurate command of fine motor skills, and a thorough knowledge of the anatomy under magnified vision. A surgeon's disorientation or loss of perspective can lead to complications, often catastrophic and occasionally lethal. These considerations define the ideal environment for surgical simulation; not surprisingly, significant research and validation of simulators in these areas have occurred. Summary Virtual reality simulators are demonstrating validity as training and skills assessment tools. Future prototypes will find application for routine use in teaching, surgical planning and the development of new instruments and computer-assisted devices.
Right Lower Quadrant Pain and Suspected Appendicitis: Nonfocused Appendiceal CT—Review of 100 Cases

PURPOSE: To determine the value of standard, nonfocused computed tomography (CT) in examining patients with right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain and suspected appendicitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT scans and medical records of 100 consecutive patients who presented to the emergency department with RLQ pain and were clinically suspected of having appendicitis were retrospectively reviewed. Helical CT of both the abdomen and pelvis was performed at 7-mm increments after oral and intravenous contrast material administration. CT scans were evaluated for the presence of appendiceal or other disease. Results were correlated with surgical and pathologic findings in 34 patients or with 3-month clinical follow-up in 66 patients. RESULTS: CT depicted abnormalities in 66 patients (66%). In 59 (59%) patients, the abnormality was located in the pelvis; 23 (39%) of these patients had appendicitis. Seven (7%) patients had abnormalities outside of the pelvis, a region not typically scanned during focused appendiceal imag...
Cyp1a2 protects against reactive oxygen production in mouse liver microsomes.

Abstract H 2 O 2 production was evaluated in liver microsomes prepared from Cyp1a1/1a2 (+/+) wild-type and Cyp1a1 (−/−) and Cyp1a2 (−/−) knockout mice pretreated with 5 μg dioxin (TCDD)/kg body wt or vehicle alone. NADPH-dependent H 2 O 2 production in TCDD-induced microsomes from wild-type mice was about one-third of that in noninduced microsomes. In Cyp1a2 (−/−) mice, H 2 O 2 production was the same for induced and noninduced microsomes, with levels significantly higher than those in wild-type mice. Cyp1a1 (−/−) microsomes displayed markedly lower levels of H 2 O 2 production in both induced and noninduced microsomes, compared with those in wild-type and Cyp1a2 (−/−) microsomes. The CYP1A2 inhibitor furafylline in vitro exacerbated microsomal H 2 O 2 production proportional to the degree of CYP1A2 inhibition, and the CYP2E1 inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate decreased H 2 O 2 production proportional to the degree of CYP2E1 inhibition. Microsomal H 2 O 2 production was strongly correlated to NADPH-stimulated production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, as well as to decreases in microsomal membrane polarization anisotropy, indicative of peroxidation of unsaturated membrane lipids. Our results suggest that possibly acting as an “electron sink,” CYP1A2 might decrease CYP2E1-and CYP1A1-mediated H 2 O 2 production and oxidative stress. In this regard, CYP1A2 may be considered an antioxidant enzyme.
Organizing pneumonia and pulmonary lymphatic architecture in diffuse alveolar damage

Diffuse alveolar damage represents the pathologic basis of most cases of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Diffuse alveolar damage reflects injury to the pulmonary alveolar wall and microvasculature, leading to the exudation of water and plasma proteins that can overwhelm the local lymphatic drainage. Organizing pneumonia is a prominent histopathologic feature in some cases of diffuse alveolar damage. We examined whether diffuse alveolar damage-organizing pneumonia and changes in lymphatic architecture might be indicators of clinical outcome in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Formalin-fixed lung sections (n = 26) from thoracoscopic lung biopsies of patients with diffuse alveolar damage in the fibroproliferative phase, with or without organizing pneumonia, were immunostained with anti-CD31 and anti-D240, markers of vascular and lymphatic endothelium, respectively, and examined by morphometric analysis. Positively staining vessels were enumerated and maximal luminal diameters recorded in randomly selected low-power fields. Patients with diffuse alveolar damage-organizing pneumonia showed greater survival than those with diffuse alveolar damage (67% versus 33%, P = .03). The maximal luminal diameter of D240+ lymphatic vessels was larger for diffuse alveolar damage-organizing pneumonia than diffuse alveolar damage (28 +/- 4 versus 59 +/- 16 microm, P = .02). In addition, larger lymphatic luminal diameters (28 +/- 4 versus 47 +/- 11 microm) were associated with increased survival (P = .12). We conclude that lung biopsy histopathology and pulmonary lymphatic morphology may predict survival in acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Microbiologic evaluation of microfiber mops for surface disinfection.

Background Recently, health care facilities have started to use a microfiber mopping technique rather than a conventional, cotton string mop to clean floors. Methods The effectiveness of microfiber mops to reduce microbial levels on floors was investigated. We compared the efficacy of microfiber mops with that of conventional, cotton string mops in 3 test conditions (cotton mop and standard wringer bucket, microfiber mop and standard wringer bucket, microfiber system). Twenty-four rooms were evaluated for each test condition. RODAC plates containing D/E Neutralizing Agar were used to assess “precleaning” and “postcleaning” microbial levels. Results The microfiber system demonstrated superior microbial removal compared with cotton string mops when used with a detergent cleaner (95% vs 68%, respectively). The use of a disinfectant did not improve the microbial elimination demonstrated by the microfiber system (95% vs 95%, respectively). However, use of disinfectant did significantly improve microbial removal when a cotton string mop was used (95% vs 68%, respectively). Conclusion The microfiber system demonstrated superior microbial removal compared with cotton string mops when used with a detergent cleaner. The use of a disinfectant did not improve the microbial elimination demonstrated by the microfiber system.
A New Generation of Leaders for Eastern Europe: Values and Attitudes for Active Citizenship

Higher education has a crucial role in developing active citizenship within students. Even though active citizenship skills and competencies have been identified as essential life skills for Europe there is very little progress to date in establishing measures or indicators as to how this might be accomplished. This study provides the first data regarding the readiness of Eastern European undergraduate students to engage in citizen behaviors. Grounded in the theoretical measures of the Social Change Model of Leadership Development (HERI, 1996), the study was conducted at a unique private Christian liberal arts university located in Lithuania. Data identifying aspects of the university experience that contribute to the development of active citizenship are provided. Results, limitations, and discussion regarding the implications for higher education are also explored.
Biomechanical comparison of the hand-based transplant used in bone-tissue-bone scapho-lunate ligament reconstruction

Although work has been published comparing the five most commonly used transplant techniques to the properties of the scapho-lunate interosseous ligament (SLIL), no study has been carried out which compares the biomechanical properties of the different bone-tissue-bone autografts to each other, using a standard methodology of testing. The hypothesis of this study was that mechanically significant differences in the material properties of commonly used bone-tissue-bone exist when compared to each other. We tested the dorsal part of the SLIL and the five most quoted transplants in the literature: capitate to trapezoid; trapezoid to second metacarpal; third metacarpal-carpal; dorsal capitate-hamate; 4–5 extensor retinaculum. For each transplant, we measured failure load, failure displacement, width, and thickness. Anova was used to compare the different results obtained and the level of significance attributed to P 0.05) difference in term of load to failure, all the others was significantly weaker (P < 0.05). Previous biomechanical studies have identified the dorsal region of the SLIL as the most structurally and functionally important area of the SLIL. As a result, attention has been more specifically brought to the replacement of the dorsal portion of the SLIL. An attempt to achieve a reconstruction that reproduces more closely the SLIL has generated research on the use of bone-tissue-bone composite graft, several donor sites have been used in order to find the most similar. Our results suggest that, using a normalized method to compare the previously described grafts harvested at the wrist level, that the dorsal capitate-hamate ligament has the closest properties to the native dorsal scapho-lunate ligament.
Apomorphine increases the activity of rat globus pallidus neurons

Abstract Systemic administration of apomorphine, 0.08–1.0 mg/kg, caused a haloperidol-reversible increase in the unit activity of spontaneously firing neurons in the rat globus pallidus. Low doses of apomorphine (50, 20 μg/kg), which are thought to produce a net decrease in the stimulation of postsynaptic dopamine receptors, did not cause effects opposite to those observed with larger doses in 96% of the cells monitored. Blockade of dopamine receptors by administration of haloperidol did cause a moderate reduction in neuronal activity but only after administration of fairly high doses.
Photoacoustic generation by multiple picosecond pulse excitation.

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to demonstrate that higher amplitude of ultrashort laser induced photoacoustic signal can be achieved by multiple-pulse excitation when the temporal duration of the pulse train is less than the minimum of the medium’s thermal relaxation time and stress relaxation time. Thus, improved signal-to-noise ratio can thus be attained through multiple-pulse excitation while minimizing the energy of each pulse. Methods: The authors used a Michelson interferometer together with a picoseconds laser system to introduce two 6 ps pulses separated by a controllable delay by introducing a path length difference between the two arms of the interferometer. The authors then employed a series of three interferometers to create a pulse train consisting of eight pulses. The average pulse energy was 11 nJ and the temporal span of the pulse train was less than 1 ns. Results: The detected peak-to-peak amplitude of the multiple-pulse induced photoacoustic waves were linearly dependent on the number of pulses in the pulse train and such a linearity held for different optical absorption coefficients. The signal-to-noise ratio improved when the number of pulses increased. Moreover, nonlinear effects were not detected and no photoacoustic saturation effect was observed. Conclusions: The authors have shown that multiple-pulse excitation improves the signal-to-noise ratio through an accumulated energy deposition effect. This method is invaluable for photoacoustic measurements that require ultrashort laser pulses with minimized pulse energy to avoid laser damage.
MCTS nucleus: philosophy and praxis

The goals of the total MCTS System are stated in terms of capabilities which the customer tasks should be allowed to exercise. Treating these as premises, several derivative goals were deduced for the MCTS System, and these dictated the structure of the operating system and the nucleus. The deductions are exhibited, and the structure of the nucleus is derived. The body of this paper does not reference the hardware description of the computer on which the nucleus was implemented, and indeed the structure of the MCTS nucleus is philosophically hardware independent, except that it assumes a large scale processor with virtual memory address translation hardware, as is explained in the paper.The nucleus consists of three separate modules which cooperate to provide the environment in which the MCTS system operates. In that environment the individual components of the system execute as separate subtasks within a single task, the MCTS system task. They are written in a PL/I-like language; they are interruptible, yet each is run to its completion, thereby eliminating the need to synchronize between subtasks; they are suspended during requested I/O operations thus making I/O appear to be instantaneous; and their creation, modification, and checkout proved to be easy and fast.
Comparative Evaluation of Some BOMEX Measurements of Sea Surface Evaporation, Energy Flux and Stress

Abstract The Sea-Air Interaction Program, or “Core Experiment,” of BOMEX ruled the layout of the ship array, scheduling of observations, and deployment of aircraft during the first three BOMEX observation periods: 3–15 May, 24 May–10 June and 19 June–2 July, 1969. It was designed to provide data on the sea-air flux of energy by three methods: 1) measuring atmospheric budget terms over a 500-km square; 2) direct measurement of surface-layer vertical eddy fluxes at various times and places within the square; and 3) measuring the major terms of the heat budget of the upper ocean at each of the ship stations. The momentum flux was also to be evaluated by the first two methods. After a long period of data reduction, some estimates of the evaporation rate, stress, sensible heat flux, and kinetic energy flux have now been obtained by each of the methods. Preliminary estimates of the evaporation rate are typically about 5–6 mm day−1. The Bowen ratio was about 0.1 for microscale measurements and less than 0.09 for...
Low-temperature specific heat of glassy carbon

We have measured the specific heat of Allen-Bradley glassy carbon (heat-treated at 2500‡C) in the temperature range 1.2 ≤ T ≤ 20 K. The material was further characterized by x-ray, dc electrical conductivity, magneto-resistance, and Hall effect measurements. The specific heat results are compared to those for natural graphite and other disordered carbons. Below T = 2.2 K the glassy carbon data can be represented by the equation C p = (0.054 mJ/mole-K 2 )T + (0.101 mJ/mole-K 4 )T 3 .The lattice specific heat was found to be larger than that of natural graphite at all temperatures between 1 and 20 K. We attribute this enhancement primarily to a much reduced value of C 33 ,the elastic constant characterizing compressive displacements between graphite-like planes.
Performance of combinatorial peptide libraries in capturing the low-abundance proteome of red blood cells. 2. Behavior of resins containing individual amino acids.

Sixteen different amino acids (Arg, Asn, Asp, Gln, Glu, Gly, His, Ile, Lys, Phe, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, Tyr, Val) have been separately linked to chromatographic beads and used for studying the mechanism of binding of such baits to proteins, as represented by the cytoplasmic proteome of the human red blood cell (RBC). The 16 different amino acid columns were confronted with equal amounts of RBC lysate, washed to remove unbound material, and eluted with denaturing agents. All eluates were analyzed by nanoLC-MS/MS. The results: there appears to be a dichotomy between a class of “Grand Catchers” (Arg, His, Ile, Lys, Phe, Trp, Tyr, Val), all able to bind from 330 up to 441 unique gene products, and the “Petite Catchers” (Asn, Asp, Gln, Glu, Gly, Pro, Ser, Thr), that bind in general half as much, with the notable exception of Glu that under the described conditions seems to bind only traces of proteins. By comparing homogeneous classes of amino acids (e.g., the basic, the hydrophobic aromatic, the neutral hydrophi...
CWIC: continuous web image collector

The World Wide Web has emerged as one of the most widely available and diverse information sources of all time, yet the options for acessing this information are limited. This paper introduces CWIC, the Continuous Web Image Collector, a system that automatically traverses selected Web sites collecting and analyzing images, then presents them to the user using one of a variety of display mechanisms and layouts. The CWIC mechanisms were chosen because they present the images in a non-intrusive method. The goal is to allow users to stay abreast of information while continuing with more important tasks. The various display layouts allow the user to select one that will provide them with a presenation of information that will be informative and aesthetically pleasing.
NEAR-INFRARED FLUORESCENCE (NIRF) WHOLE BODY AND INTRA-ARTERIAL MOLECULAR IMAGING OF OXIDIZED LDL IN EXPERIMENTAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Specific imaging of oxidized LDL in atherosclerosis could provide new approaches to detect vulnerable plaques at risk of rupture. To image oxidized LDL we generated LO1, an IgG3 monoclonal antibody against MDA-LDL, and labelled it without loss of function with a NIR fluorochrome (excitation 750nm
Transplantation for polycystic kidney disease.

During the 4-year period from June 1977 to May 1981, a total of 108 patients with polycystic kidney disease and 2440 nonpolycystic patients received cadaver renal allografts in the Southeastern Organ Procurement Foundation (SEOPF) Prospective Study. There were no significant differences between the groups with and without polycystic disease in terms of recipient blood group, history of splenectomy, or preformed antibody status. As a group, transplanted polycystic patients underwent native nephrectomy more often, had a better HLA match, received less antilymphocyte serum (ALS), and were slightly older than nonpolycystic patients. Although proportionately fewer polycystic patients received pretransplant transfusions than nonpolycystic patients (P = .002), transfusion was associated with a significant increase in graft survival in the polycystic group (P less than .05), as well as in the nonpolycystic group (P less than .0001). Gene frequency analysis showed no HLA-A, or -B antigen linkage with polycystic disease. No significant differences existed between the polycystic and nonpolycystic groups in terms of overall graft and patient survival. However, transplanted polycystic patients died more frequently from bacterial sepsis (P less than .05), especially from gram-positive organisms (P = .01). Pretransplant bilateral nephrectomy did not affect the incidence of sepsis. However, following graft failure, patients with bilateral native nephrectomy had a greater incidence of severe anemia (50% versus 39%) and death (58% versus 25%; P less than .05) than those with unilateral nephrectomy or no nephrectomy. Treatment with ALS did not significantly improve graft survival in those with polycystic disease. A strong positive correlation was found between patient death and treatment with ALS only in the polycystic group (P less than .01). These findings indicate that the use of pretransplant bilateral native nephrectomy and posttransplant ALS should be judicious in the polycystic patient because they may be associated with increased morbidity and mortality.