cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulating Bodies Across Borders: Medical Tourism for Services Legal in the Home and Destination Country: Legal and Ethical Issues

‘Medical tourism’ (to use the most common term, though ‘cross-border health care’ or ‘medical travel’ could also be used), is the travel of patients from their home country to a foreign country for the primary purpose of receiving health care services. There is no doubt that the existing market is significant, even though there are considerable disputes about its exact size.This chapter concerns legal and ethical issues related only to medical tourism for services that are legal in the patient’s home and destination country and will cover issues faced by all three populations of medical tourists engaged in it: patients paying out of pocket, private insurer prompted and government prompted medical tourists. I put to one side medical tourism for services illegal in the home or destination country, which I have dealt with elsewhere. First, I will discuss the question of how tourist patients can determine the quality of foreign facilities, the possibility of state interventions and the ability and the provision of patient safety information and the challenges in securing that information are discussed, including comparisons to domestic initiatives. Second, and especially as to medical tourists coming from the US, I discuss the question of whether medical tourists can recover for medical malpractice committed abroad and possible regulatory salves. Third, I turn to private insurer prompted medical tourism, focusing on its existing (and potential) regulation in the US health care system. Finally, I discuss government-prompted medical tourism in the form of the EU rules regarding reimbursement of cross-border health care. Because of the large numbers of topics covered here, my treatment of each will be brief, but I have written on each in-depth in other work.
Disturbance Accommodating Adaptive Control with Application to Wind Turbines

Adaptive control techniques are well suited to applications that have unknown modeling parameters and poorly known operating conditions. Many physical systems experience external disturbances that are persistent or continually recurring. Flexible structures and systems with compliance between components often form a class of systems that fail to meet standard requirements for adaptive control. For these classes of systems, a residual mode filter can restore the ability of the adaptive controller to perform in a stable manner. New theory will be presented that enables adaptive control with accommodation of persistent disturbances using residual mode filters. After a short introduction to some of the control challenges of large utility-scale wind turbines, this theory will be applied to a high-fidelity simulation of a wind turbine.
Antenatal chronic hypoxia and L-type Ca2+-dependent contractility of pulmonary arteries from fetal sheep (1089.6)

Recently we and others have shown that K+-depolarization induced pulmonary arterial (PA) contraction is due to the combined activation of L-type Ca2+ channels (CaL) and Rho kinase (ROK). In fetal sheep we demonstrated that CaL inhibition with nifedipine (NIF) reduced 125 mM K+-mediated contraction up to about one-half, with ROK contributing the remainder, and that the relationship between these two pathways was preserved following antenatal chronic hypoxia (CH). To better define the relationship between these pathways and the impact of antenatal CH, we tested the hypothesis that direct activation of CaL would elicit a NIF sensitive contraction and this contraction would be preserved following antenatal CH. This was examined using wire-myography approaches on small diameter PA isolated from normoxic (~700 m) and antenatal CH (3,801 m, for >100 days) late gestation fetal sheep. Our results show that direct activation of CaL with 10 μM FPL 64176 (FPL) elicited a contraction that was approximately 80-125% of ...
Results of Liver Function Tests

Excerpt During the past three years much has been said and written about liver function tests. While everyone who has worked with the various tests feels that these laboratory examinations add some...
High Performance Computing for the Masses

Recent advances in software and hardware for clustered computing have allowed scientists and computing specialists to take advantage of commodity processors in solving challenging computational problems. The setup, management and coding involved in parallel programming along with the challenges of heterogeneous computing machinery prevent most non-technical users from taking advantage of compute resources that may be available to them. This research demonstrates a Java based system that allows a naive user to make effective use of local resources for parallel computing. The DOGMA system provides a “point-and-click” interface that manages idle workstations, dedicated clusters and remote computational resources so that they can be used for parallel computing. Just as the “web browser” enabled use of the Internet by the “Masses”, we see simplified user interfaces to parallel processing as being critical to widespread use. This paper describes many of the barriers to widespread use and shows how they are addressed in this research.
Integrated ceramic temperature sensors for harsh environments [turbine measurements]

In this paper, ceramic thermocouples prepared with ITO (indium-tin-oxide) thermoelements having very different charge carrier concentrations were demonstrated in both open flame burner rig tests and furnace tests at temperatures approaching 1250/spl deg/C. Ceramic RTDs (resistance temperature detectors) based on ITO were also thermally cycled in various oxygen partial pressures and the resulting temperature coefficients of resistance were stable and nearly independent of oxygen partial pressure at temperatures above 700/spl deg/C. Based on these results, a multifunctional sensor has been developed which incorporates a ceramic RTD, a ceramic strain sensor and a ceramic thermocouple on a common substrate.
The universal transformation matrix: Revealing the relationships among different graphical projection methods

This article discusses the relationships among the different graphical projection techniques used by engineers and architects. These relationships are examined in the context of the transformation matrices that are employed to generate such projections on the computer. The report shows that the transformations that produce parallel isometric and orthographic and perspective projections can be derived as special cases of a transformation matrix that produces a three-point perspective view. For this reason, the latter transformation matrix is referred to here as the "universal transformation matrix." A better understanding of the different projection techniques, and the relationships among them, emerges from the recognition that all parallel and perspective transformations may be written as special cases of a single, general transformation matrix.
Hepatic microsomal activities of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase in the prairie dog. An animal model for cholesterol gallstone disease

Abstract The prairie dog is a useful experimental animal model for studies of cholesterol gallstone pathogenesis. The unique susceptibility to rapid induction of gallstones solely by feeding of a 1.2% cholesterol diet in this species could result from low levels of hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase. With optimal assay conditions in hepatic microsomes, a basal specific activity of about 25 pmol/min per g protein was found. Administration of diets containing 1.2% cholesterol or 5% cholestyramine caused hydroxylase levels to increase 60 and 250%, respectively. This response pattern is similar to that observed in other species under the same conditions, indicating that abnormally low basal or inappropriately unresponsive hydroxylase levels are not susceptibility factors unique to this model. With optimal assay conditions for hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, a K m of 32.5 μM ( S -HMG-CoA) and basal specific activities of between 60 and 175 pmol/min per mg protein were found. Following feeding of either sodium chenodeoxycholate or sodium cholate, in reasonable pharmacologic doses, no suppression of hydroxylase and reductase levels was found. These findings undermine the widely held view that the therapeutic effect of oral chenodeoxycholate in man for cholesterol gallstone dissolution is directly mediated by suppression of the activities of these enzymes.
Influence of Tones upon Vowel Duration in Cantonese

This paper reports the results of an acoustical study of the relation between vowel duration and the six tones of Cantonese. It is found that of the six tones, the longest is the high rising tone. of the four level tones, the mid level tone is the longest, the mid-low level tone is intermediate, and the high level tone and low level tone are the shortest. When the fundamental frequencies are analysed and related to the vowel length, it is found that there is a mid point in the F0 range from the high level tone to the low level tone, in which the vowel of that tone is the longest, from which the higher the F0, the shorter is the vowel, and from which the lower the F0, the shorter is the vowel of that tone.
Ab Initio Vibrational Calculations for H2SO4 and H2SO4·H2O: Spectroscopy and the Nature of the Anharmonic Couplings

Vibrational frequencies for fundamental, overtone, and combination excitations of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and of sulfuric acid monohydrate cluster (H2SO4·H2O) are computed directly from ab initio MP2/TZP potential surface points using the correlation-corrected vibrational self-consistent field (CC-VSCF) method, which includes anharmonic effects. The results are compared with experiment. The computed transitions show in nearly all cases good agreement with experimental data and consistent improvement over the harmonic approximation. The CC-VSCF improvements over the harmonic approximation are largest for the overtone and combination excitations and for the OH stretching fundamental. The agreement between the calculations and experiment also supports the validity of the MP2/TZP potential surfaces. Anharmonic coupling between different vibrational modes is found to significantly affect the vibrational frequencies. Analysis of the mean magnitude of the anharmonic coupling interactions between different pairs of...
One-Pot Sequential Azide–Alkyne [3+2] Cycloaddition and Atom Transfer Radical Addition (ATRA): Expanding the Scope of In Situ Copper(I) Regeneration in the Presence of Environmentally Benign Reducing Agent

One-pot sequential reactions involving azide–alkyne [3+2] cycloaddition and atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) catalyzed by [CuII(TPMA)X][X] {X = Br– or Cl–, TPMA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine} in the presence of ascorbic acid as a reducing agent are reported. Reactions with azidopropyl methacrylate and 1-(azidomethyl)-4-vinylbenzene in the presence of a variety of alkynes [phenylacetylene, (3,4-difluorophenyl)acetylene, propargyl alcohol, 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol, methyl propiolate and ethyl propiolate] and alkyl halides (carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetrabromide, ethyl trichloroacetate, methyl trichloroacetate, ethyl dichloroacetate, methyl dichloroacetate, dichloroacetonitrile and 2-bromopropionitrile) proceeded efficiently to yield highly functionalized (poly)halogenated esters and aryl compounds containing a triazolyl group in the presence of as low as 0.5 mol-% of the catalyst. It is envisioned that the presented methodology could have further implications in the organic synthesis of functionalized triazoles, which have recently been identified as the lead targets for the screening of potential pharmaceutical drugs.
Chronic administration of the Ca2+ channel blocker amlodipine facilitates learning and memory in mice

Acute administration of the Ca(2+) channel antagonist amlodipine has been shown to facilitate memory for several types of learning in adult animals and to improve retention in aging mice. This study reports three experiments investigating the effect of chronic amlodipine treatment on retention in mice. In the first experiment, groups of mice were treated with either amlodipine or vehicle once a day for 14 days prior to training on a spatial discrimination task. Immediately after training, animals were given a single dose of amlodipine or the vehicle and tested for retention 24 h later. Both groups showed facilitated retention, thereby demonstrating that chronic amlodipine treatment did not produce desensitization to the facilitating effects of a post training treatment. In the second experiment, chronic treatments were administered once daily for 14 days beginning 24 h after training on one-way active avoidance and retention was tested on day 15. Results showed that chronic amlodipine attenuated spontaneous forgetting, but surprisingly, a similar enhancement could be achieved by a single treatment administered 1 day after training. In the third experiment, amlodipine was given either before or immediately after 10 daily training sessions in the one-way active avoidance task. Results showed that chronic treatment accelerated rate of learning. These findings confirm the memory facilitating properties of amlodipine under conditions of chronic drug administration.
Proteolipids. VI. The dual role of phospholipid in cytochrome oxidase reaction.

After being deprived of solubilizing agent, the lipid-free cytochrome oxidase requires Triton X100 and additional phospholipid to obtain maximal activity. High levels of Triton X100 affect the interaction of phospholipid and cytochrome oxidase, thus decreasing the activity. In the terminal segment of the electron transport system, phospholipid serves not only to enhance the interaction between cytochromec and cytochromea, but also to maintain favorable molecular arrangements of reacting groups in both hemoproteins. The relationship between the enzyme activity and phospholipid content as well as the ultrastructure of the enzyme is discussed.
The ambivalent hegemon: Explaining the ‘lost decade’ in multilateral trade talks, 1948–1958

Abstract Hegemonic stability theory and its variants point to the dominance of the United States and its commitment to multilateralism and liberalism in the early post‐Second World War period as the key ingredients to the establishment of a liberal world trading order as embodied in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The present study challenges this image on several fronts by focusing on the GATT multilateral trade negotiations between 1948 and 1958. The historical review shows that US attachment to liberal principles was susceptible to reversal under moderate congressional pressure and its influence in GATT negotiations constrained by European assertiveness and linkage of trade talks to security priorities, although not from any deep commitment to multilateralism as such. The account reinforces the notion that international cooperation is less the product of hegemonic unilateralism and more the outcome of bargaining and exchange between multiple parties both in and out of the institution...
Strain Rate Imaging for Assessment of Regional Myocardial Function Results From a Clinical Model of Septal Ablation

Background— Regional myocardial function assessment is essential in the management of coronary artery disease (CAD). Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) by depicting local myocardial motion can potentially quantify regional myocardial function. Strain rate imaging (SRI) that depicts regional deformation is less susceptible to cardiac translation and tethering and may be superior to TDI for regional function analysis. We examined regional myocardial function using TDI and SRI in a unique clinical model of a small, discrete myocardial infarction. Method and Results— Ten patients with severely symptomatic septal hypertrophy underwent basal septal ablation via intracoronary alcohol injection and had TDI and SRI pre- and postablation. Invasive hemodynamics showed no appreciable change in global function. Peak systolic strain rate was significantly lower postablation versus preablation (−0.5 versus −1.2 s−1, P<0.001) and when comparing infarct and noninfarct areas (−0.5 versus −1.5 s−1, P<0.001). In contrast, peak sys...
Caudate atrophy and impaired frontostriatal connections are linked to executive dysfunction in temporal lobe epilepsy

This study tested the hypothesis that executive dysfunction, common in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), is associated with an abnormal frontostriatal network. Structural and diffusion tensor MR scans, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) targeting cognitive flexibility, and the Trail Making Test B examining parallel sequencing were obtained from 9 patients with left TLE and 17 healthy controls. The five major findings were: (1) Caudate volume is reduced on the left side in TLE. (2) The atrophy involves the dorsal and ventral head of the caudate. (3) These atrophic caudate regions have a corresponding high probability of connections to dorsal prefrontal, anterior cingulate, and orbitofrontal cortex. (4) Smaller caudate volumes are linked to greater numbers of WCST perseverative errors. (5) Reduced connections between caudate and dorsal prefrontal cortex correlated with poorer scores on the Trail Making Test B. The results suggest that atrophy in the dorsal head of the caudate might disrupt frontostriatal networks that are critical for executive functioning in TLE.
Situational segmentation in the international marketplace: the Japanese snack market

The study demonstrates the viability of situational segmentation in a market outside the USA. A number of situational segmentation studies in the USA have examined the snacking market. This study examines situational segmentation opportunities in the context of the Japanese snacking market. The study attempts to delineate a situationally‐defined market structure for a broadly defined array of snack products. This is done by characterizing 18 snacks in terms of pertinent situational factors via dummy variable regression analysis; and grouping the snacks in terms of the similarity of their situational characterizations via cluster analysis. The study reveals four multi‐product snack segments, including solitary snacking cluster, socializing ensemble cluster, high gravity socialization cluster, and morning home snack. The results show that situational segmentation is as effective in complementing more traditional segmentation approaches in Japan as it is in the USA.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy mutations demonstrate functions of the C-terminal end-segment of troponin I

The C-terminal end-segment of Troponin I (TnI) corresponding to the last 27-33 amino acids is the most conserved structure of TnI and interacts with tropomyosin in a Ca(2+)-regulated manner, suggesting a role in muscle relaxation. Mutations in the C-terminal end-segment of cardiac TnI cause restrictive cardiomyopathy. Here we demonstrate that mouse cardiac TnI containing R193H or R205H mutation have significantly conformational changes in the region interfacing with troponin T (TnT) and increased binding affinity for TnT. These restrictive cardiomyopathy mutations also exhibit increased binding affinity for troponin C at pCa 4. The effects of R193H mutation were more profound than that of R205H. Tertiary troponin complex was reconstituted using the TnI mutants and a mini TnT lacking tropomyosin-binding sites to examine the interaction between the C-terminal end-segment of TnI and tropomyosin. The results showed that, R193H, but not R205H, caused a moderate but statistically significant increase in the binding affinity for tropomyosin at pCa 9. Similar trend was observed at pCa 5.5 but not pCa 4. These results provide novel evidence for the function of the C-terminal end-segment of TnI, where mutations with conformational effects alter TnI's interaction with other troponin subunits and tropomyosin to cause diastolic dysfunction.
Methylene radical reaction with cis-butene-2†

A study of the pressure dependence of the C5 products from the reaction of cis-butene-2 and methylene is reported. Methylene was produced by the photolysis of diazomethane with 4358 A light at 23° or 56°, and by photolysis of ketene with 3200 A radiation at 23° or 100°. The change with increasing pressure of the relative amounts of the characteristically “triplet products” (trans-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane, trans-pentene-2 (TP2), and 3-methylbutene-1 (3MB1)) and “singlet products” (cis-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane (CDMC) and cis-pentene-2 (CP2)) are discussed. The behavior is reminiscent of that found in 3CH2-cis-butene-2 systems and can be interpreted in terms of the rapid rate of rearrangement of an initial triplet diradical product component, due to 3CH2, relative to the slower rate and readier collisional stabilization of an initial vibrationally-excited dimethyl cyclopropane product component, due to 1CH2. Relative rates of reactions of 1CH2 with allylic CH:vinyl CH:CC in the neat liquid were, for diazomethane, 1:1.1:7.2 and, for ketene, 1:1.2:6.7.
Angle-resolved photoemission study of NiO and CoO

Abstract We report an angle-resolved photoemission investigation of the electronic structures of NiO and CoO. The lattice effects on the photoemission spectra of these highly correlated materials are important. The magnitudes of dispersions of the oxygen bands agree with band calculations, but the experimental data of the localized 3d bands do not agree with the band calculations.
Similarity and Nurturance: Two Possible Sources of Empathy for Strangers

What accounts for variation in empathy felt for strangers in need? Currently, one of the most popular explanations among personality and social psychologists is perceived similarity: We feel sympathy and compassion for others to the degree that we perceive them to be like us. Two experiments designed to test the perceived similarity explanation more directly than previous research failed to find support. Results of the second experiment instead supported a classical, but currently less popular, explanation of empathy felt for strangers: nurturant tendencies based on the impulse to care for and protect offspring. We noted distinct theoretical and practical implications of the similarity and nurturance explanations. In addition, we encourage increased attention to nurturance as a possible source of empathy.
Asynchronous segmental early relaxation of the left ventricle

Asynchronous left ventricular segmental early relaxation (SER) is an angiographic finding with unclear pathophysiological mechanism. We analyzed 158 consecutive, technically adequate left ventricular cineangiograms of patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Patients with valvular disease, cardiomyopathy, or borderline coronary artery disease (50-74% lumen diameter reduction) were excluded. The patients were divided according to the presence or absence of coronary artery disease, segmental early relaxation, and left ventricular asynergy. Significant coronary artery disease was detected in 127 patients (80%), segmental early relaxation in 63 (40%), and asynergy in 85 (54%). Forty-five percent of patients with unobstructed arteries and 38% with significant coronary artery disease exhibited segmental early relaxation. Twenty-nine percent of patients with coronary artery disease and no asynergy, had segmental early relaxation, while this phenomenon was present in patients with coronary artery disease and asynergy. Since coronary artery disease subgroups are difficult to compare in terms of left ventricular mechanics, two groups of normal patients, 15 with and 14 without segmental early relaxation, were further evaluated: Left ventricular pressure, heart rate, dPdT, left ventricular diastolic volume and wall thickness were not significantly different. Left ventricular end-systolic volume index was 30.3 ± 4.6 ml/m2 in patients with segmental early relaxation and 22.5 ± 5.1 ml/m2 in those without segmental early relaxation (p < 0.01), while peak wall stress was 332.4 ± 66.6 dynes/cm2 × 103 and 272.2 ± 47.1 dynes/cm2 × 103, respectively (p < 0.02). A third group of patients with segmental early relaxation and coronary artery disease had a repeat left ventricular angiogram after nitroglycerin: Segmental early relaxation disappeared in 12 (group A) and persisted in 4 (group B). After nitroglycerin, end-systolic volume index decreased by 22% ± 8% in group A and by 1% ± 8% in group B (p < 0.005), while wall stress decreased by 24% ± 12% in group A and did not change in group B (p < 0.01). We conclude that segmental early relaxation, is (1) a very common finding (40% of the entire group); (2) frequent among normals (48%); (3) not a reliable predictor of coronary artery disease; (4) appears to be directly related to end-systolic volume index and wall stress; (5) disappears following nitroglycerin when this drug decreases end-systolic volume index and wall stress.
The idea of a momentary self and Hume's theory of personal identity

Etude du probleme de l'identite personnelle dans le temps chez D. Hume. Mettant en evidence la position implicite a la theorie de Hume selon laquelle l'identite est une fiction, l'A. distingue la question de la croyance en l'identite personnelle et l'idee d'un moi etendu dans le temps. Soulevant le probleme de la confusion des modeles de perception dans l'esprit, et soulevant le probleme de l'analogie avec l'attribution de l'identite des objets exterieurs, l'A. montre que l'idee d'un moi momentane, fonde sur la continuite des experiences conscientes, permet de franchir l'abime entre la perception ordinaire et l'idee d'un moi, mais que Hume lui-meme n'est pas convaincu de sa demonstration et lui preferera la theorie des relations causales
Recent Developments in Behavioral Finance

Setting this article against a background of recent academic work, the author reviews the highlights of these studies, emphasizing issues that are particularly relevant for portfolio construction. First, he discusses recent evidence of the ‘disposition effect,’ meaning ‘the disposition to sell winners too early and to hold on to losers too long.’ The helps him present recent evidence on the disposition effect and introduce some of the basic concepts from behavioral finance for those new to the subject. Next, the author addresses the issue of overconfidence, one of the most prevalent behavioral phenomena. He reviews these findings which are based on recent studies about the forecasts, trades, and performances of participants in investment clubs. Finally, he examines two issues that are specifically relevant for retirement portfolios, although they also have more general implications. The first involves naive diversification and the second pertains to the rules investors use to determine how quickly retirement nest eggs are spent.
New, compensated Carr-Purcell sequences

Abstract New, compensated Carr-Purcell pulse sequences are reported, all based on x and y phase alternation of the π pulses. The sequences compensate cumulative pulse errors for all three components of magnetization. Applications include the measurement of homonuclear dipole coupling in the presence of chemical shifts and the measurement of heteronuclear dipole coupling in magic-angle spinning experiments (REDOR). The performance of the new pulse sequences is compared experimentally to previously reported schemes.
An integrated two-stage model for intelligent information routing

A recent surge of subscriptions to online news services exemplifies the fact that people and organizations constantly need up-to-date information to stay competitive and make better informed decisions. However, many of these news services often require users to either manually input their profiles or subscribe to existing news channels. This results in lack of intelligence and personalization, and thus make these services less attractive to users. In this paper, an integrated model that combines query expansion with ranking function adaptation for online information routing is proposed and tested using two different large scale corpora. The experimental results show that this new model can deliver much better quality information than existing models.
Distance-preserving dimensionality reduction

This paper presents an overview of basic concepts and principles that deal with the problem of mapping high-dimensional data to low-dimensional space such that distances between all or some pairs of data points are preserved. It introduces related techniques and systematizes today's methods into linear methods, methods using iterative optimization, methods preserving exact distances, methods using geodesic distances, and methods using alignments of local models. It discusses these methods by focusing on their basic ideas, by summarizing their common features and differences, and by comparing their strengths and weaknesses. This paper assumes no familiarity with dimensionality reduction. The main text should be readable by people with little technical background. Technical information of important algorithms is briefly presented in sidebars, the reading of which assumes basics in statistics and matrix computation. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2011 1 369-380 DOI: 10.1002/widm.39
Adaptive skeletal muscle action requires anticipation and "conscious broadcasting"

Historically, the conscious and anticipatory processes involved in voluntary action have been associated with the loftiest heights of nervous function. Concepts like mental time travel, ‘theory of mind,’ and the formation of the ‘self’ have been at the center of many attempts to determine the purpose of consciousness. Eventually, more reductionistic accounts of consciousness emerged, proposing rather that conscious states play a much more basic role in nervous function. Though the widely held ‘integration consensus’ proposes that conscious states integrate information-processing structures and events that would otherwise be independent, Supramodular Interaction Theory (SIT) argues that conscious states are necessary for the integration of only certain kinds of information. As revealed in this selective review, this integration is related to what is casually referred to as ‘voluntary’ action, which is intimately related to the skeletal muscle output system. Through a peculiar form of broadcasting, conscious integration often controls and guides action via ‘ideomotor’ mechanisms, where anticipatory processes play a central role. Our selective review covers evidence (including findings from anesthesia research) for the integration consensus, SIT, and ideomotor theory.
Pulmonary sequestration with bronchoesophageal fistula.

Abstract A 4-month-old white female with total right pulmonary sequestration communicating with the esophagus was successfully treated surgically. The esophogeal communication was suggested by aeration of the opacified lung when the infant cried.
Fast accurate surface acquisition using a laser range scanner for image-guided liver surgery

Many image guided surgical (IGS) procedures use surface representations of anatomical features to provide a registration between physical space and image space. While anatomical fiducial registration techniques can often be compromised by soft tissue deformation, laser-scanning systems offer a non-contact method for accurately resolving geometric surfaces. This digitization approach is particularly well suited for liver resection surgery, where registration is accomplished by aligning the segmented preoperative liver image volume with the intraoperative presentation of the organ. Further, this three-dimensional technology affords a method of rapid surface data acquisition that can be used for the measurement and compensation of tissue deformation. A phantom was constructed to assess the laser scanner's capability of acquiring accurate shape information and robust surface registration. The phantom contained a wealth of point and surface geometry that could be identified in both a CT image volume and a range scan image. Point based registrations were calculated and served as a reference transformation for comparison of the results from surface registration using the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm. The laser range scanner used the optical principle of triangulation to obtain a dense point set of surface data with a grid spacing of 0.6 mm. The scanner was able to localize and track fiducials on the order of 0.1mm. Phantom experiments demonstrated the ability to perform point-based registrations to CT with a Fiducial Registration Error of 0.5 mm. The scanner accurately resolves geometric surface information and achieved surface-based registrations within a mean distance residual of 0.4 mm. The principal sources of error were systemic misrepresentations of the position by the range scanner, which can be accounted for through calibration or other procedures. The laser scanner system was successfully used to register images to sub-millimetric accuracy. Future work involves acquisition of liver surfaces during surgical procedures for use in registration and deformation measurements.
Evaluation of carrot and onion cultivars for commercial production in Guyana

Abstract Experiments were conducted at two locations (Central Agricultural Station, CAS, Mon Repos, and Black Bush Polder) in Guyana, to evaluate carrot and onion cultivars for adaptability to the climatic conditions. Onion cultivars were tested for the production of dry bulbs as well as for the green tops. ‘Chantenay Red Core’, ‘Improved Danvers-126’, ‘Nantes Strong Top’, ‘Nantesa Superior’, and ‘New Kuroda’ carrot produced average yields between 14 and 25 t/ha. Dry bulb yields of ‘Bermuda-986’, ‘Granex’, ‘Red Creole’, ‘San Felipe’, and ‘White Creole’ onion were lowest of all cultivars included in these trials. At the CAS, ‘Texas Grano-502’ and ‘White Alamo’ produced larger onion bulbs with average weights of 82 and 77 g, respectively. At Black Bush Polder ‘El Toro’ produced the largest onion bulbs with an average weight of 77 g. In storage, bulb losses for red onion cultivars, ‘Red Creole’, ‘Red Granex’, ‘Tropicana’, were lowest at all samplings during the 82 days storage period. White onions were most susceptible to loss in storage. Average losses of white onions were 33.3, 63.7, 74.6 and 86.2% at 21, 44, 55, and 82 days in storage, respectively. Storage losses for ‘White Creole’, which was an exception, were 11.1, 35.9, 46.4, and 57.0% for the above-mentioned storage durations respectively. Among four cultivars evaluated for green onion production, ‘Evergreen Bunching’ produced the highest yield (28.6 t/ha).
Self-generated feelings of control and adjustment to physical illness.

Patients with chronic or advancing disease often generate perceptions that they or others can control aspects of their illness such as its symptoms, course, and treatment. This article considers self-generated feelings of control, and provides evidence from patients with cardiac disease, cancer, and AIDS concerning the adaptiveness of these feelings. The research suggests that beliefs in personal control generally appear to be adaptive. Perceptions of control do not appear to be explained by the absence of negative affectivity, and instead, appear to reduce anxiety and depression. Cognitions concerning control by others yield more mixed results. Whereas women and patients with good prognoses appear to profit psychologically from feelings of vicarious control, men and patients with poor prognoses do not. Implications for the literatures on psychological control, the illusion of control, and adjustment to chronic illness are discussed.
The State of Digital Preservation: An International Perspective

The first in a series of international symposia “to address key issues in information science relating to digital libraries, economics of information, or resources for scholarship,” this volume con...
Transient neuritogenesis in NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma cells induced by glial-derived protease inhibitors.

Abstract The initial outgrowth of neuritogenesis in mouse NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma cells may be regulated by thrombin or a thrombin-like protease, present either in serum or adsorbed to the plasma membrane, since neuritogenesis is induced by serum deprivation and treatment with the specific thrombin inhibitor, hirudin (Shea et al., 1991 J. Neurochem., 56:842). Cultured astroglial cells secrete factors that promote neuritogenesis, including protease inhibitors active against thrombin, leading to suggestions that the inhibition of specific neuronal surface proteases by the surrounding glial environment may represent an initial step in axonal outgrowth in situ . To examine the relative importance of glial-derived proteae inhibitory activites on neurite outgrowth, we tested the neurite promoting effect of glial-conditioned medium (GCM) on NB2a/d1 cells. Like serum deprivation and hirudin treatment, GCM induced neurite outgrowth within 4hr. Exogenous thrombin inhibited the effect of GCM and cell-free enzyme assays confirmed the presence of thrombin-inhibitory activity in GCM, suggesting that GCM induces neuritogenesis by inhibition of a thrombin-like protease. Unlike neurites induced by serum removal or hirudin addition, which are rapidly resorbed following serum replenishment or hirudin depletion, however, GCM-induced neurites continued to elongate after GCM removal. Furthermore, cultures treated simultaneously with GCM and thrombin exhibited delayed outgrowth of neurites following GCM removal which were insensitive to further thrombin treatment. These findings indicate that the initial elaboration of neurites can be mediated by glial-derived protease inhibitor(s) active against a thrombin-like protease, but indicate the requirement of additional glial-derived factors for the maintenance and continued elaboration of these neurites.
Life-threatening flecainide overdose treated with intralipid and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation☆☆☆

Flecainide is a Class Ic antiarrythmic agent associated with adverse events due to its pro-arrythmic effects. We report the case of a 33-year-old female presenting in cardiac arrest after a flecainide overdose treated with intravenous fat emulsion (IFE), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This case reviews the pathophysiology and management of flecainide toxicity including novel strategies of IFE and ECMO.
An Examination of Emergency Department Pediatric Psychiatric Services

The purpose of this study was to explore the structure, process, and outcomes of emergency department (ED) psychiatric services that are available to children who present with behavioral health problems. The author designed and employed a 33-item survey for data collection. All nonfederal EDs in one southeastern state (N = 68) were solicited to participate. Descriptive analyses including ANOVAs, t tests, and chi-squares summarized sample characteristics and group differences by ED pediatric psychiatric service (EDPPS) arrangement. Thirty-four hospitals participated, sharing similar organizational characteristics with nonresponders except that participating hospitals were significantly more likely to have inpatient psychiatric services. The survey successfully captured data confirming that EDs use a range of strategies to manage children with behavioral health problems, raising concerns about the suitability of such service variation. These results highlight the need for further research that examines the association of EDPPS structure and process with patient and organizational outcomes to inform quality improvements in pediatric behavioral healthcare.
Preparation of N-acetyl, tert-butyl amide derivatives of the 20 natural amino acids

N-Acetyl-AA(amino acid)-NHtBu derivatives of all 20 naturally occurring amino acids have been synthesized. Syntheses were performed via solution-phase methodology with yields that allow for access to gram quantities of substrates, in most cases. Syntheses include the coupling of a hindered amine, tert-butylamine, with each amino acid, either directly or in two steps using an activated ester isolated as an intermediate. The introduction of protecting groups was necessary in some cases. The development of synthetic sequences to access challenging substrates, such as the one derived from asparagine, are discussed.
On the connection of viscously damped continuous vibratory systems

An analytical technique is presented to combine viscously damped multi-dimensinal continuous systems with discrete springs or viscous dampers. The known characteristics of the unconnected systems are used to generate a characteristic equation leading to the complete solution of the combined system. The method circumvents many of the numerical difficulties associated with problems involving eigenvalues with the same or nearly the same moduli. A variety of numerical examples of this type are included.
Calculation of third-sound velocities for superfluid 4 He films with 3 He impurities

The velocities of third sound in superfluid4He films containing submonolayer densities of3He are calculated from the variation of film height with the concentration of3He. The present model assumes that the population of the first-excited, transverse, surface state of the3He impurities directly increases the height of the film because these atoms are preferentially found within the film rather than on the surface. The relative populations of the ground-state and the first excited-state are calculated from a many-body, mean-field theory which takes account of the first two transverse branches of the spectra of the states. Intermolecular and one-ripplon exchange interactions are included. Graphs of the variation of third-sound velocity with3He density are given.
A method for delivering accurate and uniform radiation dosages to the head and neck with asymmetric collimators and a single isocenter

Purpose : To investigate the use of asymmetric collimators and a single isocenter for delivering a uniform, accurate dose of radiation to the head, neck, and supraclavicular lymph nodes. Methods and Materials : A linear accelerator with a pair of asymmetric collimators is required for this technique. An isocenter was placed at the junction of the lateral head and neck fields and the anterior supraclavicular field. The asymmetric collimators were set longitudinally, by collimator rotation if necessary. The collimators split the radiation beam to all portals. Dose uniformity was measured at the junction with films in solid-water phantoms. Results : Film dosimetry showed a uniform dose at the junction without hot or cold regions. A digital display tolerance of ± 1.0 mm for a field size maintained an acceptable uniform dose (± 5% dose variation) at the junction. The single isocenter and asymmetric collimators reduced field setup time by half. No table rotation was required to match fields. Conclusion : The asymmetric collimators lead to easy and accurate patient setup. The absence of the trapezoid effect resulted in the complete coverage of the submandibular and cervical nodes without any hot spots.
The standardization of three-dimensional graphics systems

Abstract This paper is intended to provide a status report on the development of standards for three-dimensional computer graphics. A model is developed for the general problem of extension of a computer system to a more general case than that for which it was originally designed. The model is then applied to the standardization of computer graphics.
New horizons in structural design.

Structural design of components for launch, space and reentry vehicles, noting materials, mirrors and antennas for high speed flight, deceleration and landing systems
Groups of automorphisms of trees and their limit sets

Let T be a locally finite simplicial tree and let ! ⊂ Aut(T ) be a finitely generated discrete subgroup. We obtain an explicit formula for the critical exponent of the Poincare series associated with !, which is also the Hausdorff dimension of the limit set of !; this uses a description due to Lubotzky of an appropriate fundamental domain for finite index torsion-free subgroups of !. Coornaert, generalizing work of Sullivan, showed that the limit set is of finite positive measure in its dimension; we give a new proof of this result. Finally, we show that the critical exponent is locally constant on the space of deformations of !.
Improving survival for patients with atrial fibrillation and advanced heart failure

Abstract Objectives . We attempted to determine whether changes in heart failure therapy since 1989 have altered the prognostic significance of atrial fibrillation. Background . Atrial fibrillation occurs in 15% to 30% of patients with heart failure. Despite the recognized potential for adverse effects, the impact of atrial fibrillation on prognosis is controversial. Methods . Two-year survival for 750 consecutive patients discharged from a single hospital after evaluation for heart transplantation from 1985 to 1989 (Group I, n = 359) and from 1990 to April 1993 (Group II, n = 391) was antiarrhythmic drugs and hydralazine vasodilator therapy were routinely allowed. In Group II, amiodarone and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were first-like antiarrhythmic and vasodilating drugs. Results . A history of atrial fibrillation was present in 20% of patients in Group I and 24% of those in Group II. Patients with atrial fibrillation in the two groups had similar clinical and hemodynamic profiles. Among patients with atrial fibrillation, those in Group II had a markedly better 2-year survival (0.66 vs. 0.39, p = 0.001) and sudden death-free survival (0.84 vs. 0.70. p = 0.01) than those in Group I. In each time period, survival was worse for patients with than without atrial fibrillation in Group I (0.39 vs. 0.55, p = 0.002) but not in Group II (0.66 vs. 0.75, p = 0.09). Conclusions . The prognosis of patients with advanced heart failure and atrial fibrillation is improving. These findings support the practice of avoiding class I antiarrhythmic drugs in this group and may reflect recent beneficial changes in heart failure therapy.
The kinetics of the hydrogen reduction of MoO2 powder

Abstract The kinetics for reducing a static bed of MoO2 powder to molybdenum in hydrogen were investigated as a function of the reaction temperature, the bed depth, the hydrogen flow rate and the powder size. The experimental results indicate that the bed of MoO2 powder will generally reduce to molybdenum in two stages characterized by different rate-limiting mechanisms. The reduction process in both stages occurs by the movement of an MoO2Mo interface down the powder bed with increasing reduction time at constant temperature. The initial stage occurs when the moving interface is within 1 cm of the top of the bed. During this stage the interface moves down the bed with a constant velocity, resulting in a normalized weight loss that is linearly related to the reduction time: Wt/W0 = −Kt + 1 The rate constant K obeys an Arrhenius temperature dependence with an associated activation energy of 1.78 × 104 cal mol−1. The reduction kinetics for the initial stage were found to be consistent with predictions based on the shrinking unreacted core model for the reduction of oxide particles with the chemical reaction at the core-product boundary as the rate-limitting step. The reduction kinetics change when the moving interface is more than 1 cm below the top of the bed. During this second stage the velocity of the moving interface becomes progressively slower, resulting in a non-linear relation between the normalized weight loss and the reduction time. A model was developed to describe the weight loss kinetics of this second reduction stage on the assumption that the diffusion of water vapor out of the bed is the rate-limiting step. The experimental results for this reduction stage were found to be in reasonable agreement with the proposed model.