cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anesthetic management of patients undergoing resection of carcinoid metastasis to the brain.

Abstract Background Carcinoid tumors are derived from enterochromaffin cells and may release physiologically active compounds into the systemic circulation, leading to the development of carcinoid syndrome. Occasionally, these tumors metastasize to the brain, warranting biopsy or resection. In these surgical patients, the perioperative implications for anesthetic management are not heretofore defined in the indexed literature. Methods Patients who had craniotomy for biopsy or resection of intracranial carcinoid tumors were retrospectively identified at a single medical center. Patient demographics, perioperative anesthetic management, adverse events, and outcome were summarized in this case series. Results Eleven patients were identified; median age was 60 years (range = 42-78 years), and 45% were male. Immediately before surgery, 4 patients (36%) were receiving a somatostatin analog drug, and no patient had unchecked carcinoid syndrome. All patients received general anesthesia that included inhaled isoflurane and nitrous oxide, and all had invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring. One patient developed sustained hypotension after induction of anesthesia, likely related to hypovolemia and anesthetic drugs, but the possibility of carcinoid mediator release cannot be excluded. There were no other signs or symptoms of carcinoid syndrome in this or any other patient. Of all 11 patients, 10 (91%) experienced either significant disease progression (n = 2; 18%) or death (n = 8; 73%) from carcinoid disease, its sequelae, or an undetermined cause within 3 years after surgery. Of note, 3 of the deaths occurred shortly after surgery, on postoperative days 3, 7, and 8. Conclusions In our experience, carcinoid tumor metastasis to the brain—whether because of tumor makeup or prior treatment—is unlikely to produce symptoms of new-onset carcinoid syndrome intraoperatively; however, the risk cannot be completely excluded. Postsurgical prognosis was poor, both within the hospital and after hospital discharge.
Fermentation products and plant cell wall-degrading enzymes produced by monocentric and polycentric anaerobic ruminal fungi

Five anaerobic fungal isolates from the bovine rumen were grown on Coastal Bermuda grass (CBG) leaf blades and monitored over a 9-day period for substrate utilization, fermentation products, cellulase, and xylanase activities. Two of the fungal isolates showed monocentric growth patterns; one (isolate MC-1) had monoflagellated zoospores and morphologically resembled members of the genus Piromyces; the other (isolate MC-2) had multiflagellated zoospores and resembled members of the genus Neocallimastix. Three other isolates (PC-1, PC-2, and PC-3) exhibited polycentric growth and have not yet been described in the literature; these isolates were characterized by differences in morphology. All of the isolates degraded CBG to approximately the same extent (70% [dry weight]) in 9 days. Fermentation product accumulation was concurrent with substrate utilization. The major fermentation products for all isolates were formate, acetate, D-(-)-lactate, L-(+)-lactate, ethanol, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. Succinate was produced by all cultures, with the exception of MC-1. Fermentation balances revealed different profiles for each isolate. As a group, monocentric isolates produced a greater ratio of oxidized to reduced products when grown on glucose or CBG than did the polycentric isolates, which produced a nearly equal ratio of these products. All isolates exhibited cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities, including endoglucanase, exoglucanase, beta-glucosidase, xylanase, and beta-xylosidase activities. Increasing enzyme activity correlated with the accumulation of fermentation products and substrate utilization. The optimum pH for the enzymatic activity of polycentric isolates was within a more narrow range (pH 6.4 to 7.0) than that of the monocentric isolates (pH 5.5 to 7.5). Activity toward cellulosic substrates was not detected until after the disappearance of reducing sugars. Xylanase activity was found to be five to seven times that of carboxymethyl cellulase activity for all cultures grown on CBG.
New Insight into the Nature of Cu(TCNQ): Solution Routes to Two Distinct Polymorphs and Their Relationship to Crystalline Films That Display Bistable Switching Behavior

Syntheses and characterization of two polymorphs of Cu(TCNQ) have been carried out and the results correlated to films of the materials. Reactions of CuI with TCNQ or [Cu(CH3CN)4][BF4] with TCNQ- lead to blue-purple needles of Cu(TCNQ) phase I (1). A slurry of this kinetic product in CH3CN yields a second crystalline phase of Cu(TCNQ), phase II (2), which exhibits a platelet morphology. Powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy data revealed that both phases are present in films of Cu(TCNQ) formed by oxidation of Cu foil by TCNQ in CH3CN. X-ray photoelectron spectra of the two phases are indistinguishable from each other and are indicative of the presence of Cu(I). Single-crystal X-ray studies were undertaken on very small crystals of the two samples, the results of which reveal that subtle geometrical changes for the nitrile arrangements around the four-coordinate Cu(I) centers lead to major changes in the architectural framework of the polymers. Phase I was indexed in the tetragonal crys...
Research opportunities focused on electric power systems

Long-term high-risk investigations into topics related to future planning and operation functions of large-scale electric utilities by university researchers encompasses a wide range of issues. Many of these issues are captured by the topics contained in the following list: ? Computer Applications ? Modeling ? Security Assessment ? Control Under Uncertainty ? Distribution Systems ? Protection ? Reliability ? Economics/Pricing ? Knowledge-Based Systems These topics and others were discussed at a recent NSF workshop on university research for electric power systems engineering held in Tempe, Arizona and attended by seventy researchers. This paper discusses the origin of the topics, their relation to future large-scale nonlinear systems problems, and conclusions reached based on the discussions held at the workshop.
Development of clinical decision support alerts for pharmacogenomic incidental findings from exome sequencing

Electronic health records (EHRs) and their associated decision support tools are potentially important means of disseminating a patient’s pharmacogenomic profile to his or her health-care providers. We sought to create a proof-of-concept decision support alert system generated from pharmacogenomic incidental findings from exome sequencing. A pipeline for alerts from exome sequencing tests was created for patients in the New EXome Technology in (NEXT) Medicine study at the University of Washington. Decision support rules using discrete, machine-readable incidental finding results were programmed into a commercial EHR rules engine. An evaluation plan to monitor the alerts in real medical interactions was established. Alerts were created for 48 actionable pharmacogenomic variants in 11 genes and were launched on 24 September 2014 for University of Washington inpatient care. Of the 94 participants enrolled in the NEXT Medicine study, 49 had one or more pharmacogenomic variants identified for return. Reflections on the process reveal that while incidental findings can be used to generate decision support alerts, substantial resources are required to ensure that each alert is consistent with rapidly evolving pharmacogenomic literature and is customized to fit in the clinical workflow unique to each incidental finding. Genet Med 17 11, 939–942.
Backbone and side-chain assignments of an effector membrane localization domain from Vibrio vulnificus MARTX toxin

1H, 13C, and 15N chemical shift assignments are presented for the isolated four-helical bundle membrane localization domain from the domain of unknown function 5 (DUF5) effector (MLDVvDUF5) of the MARTX toxin from Vibrio vulnificus in its solution state. We have assigned 97 % of all backbone and side-chain carbon atoms, including 96 % of all backbone residues. Secondary chemical shift analysis using TALOS+ demonstrates four helices that align with those predicted by structure homology modeling using the MLDs of Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMT) and the clostridial TcdB and TcsL toxins as templates. Future studies will be towards solving the structure and determining the dynamics in the solution state.
Heat Transfer From Radiatively Heated Material in a Low Reynolds Number Microgravity Environment

A mathematical model of the transient three-dimensional heat transfer between a slowly moving ambient gas stream and a thermally thick or thin flat surface heated by external radiation in a microgravity environment is presented. The problem is motivated in part by fire safety issues in spacecraft. The gas phase is represented by variable property convection-diffusion energy and mass conservation equations valid at low Reynolds numbers. The absence of gravity and low Reynolds number together permit the flow to be represented by a self-consistent velocity potential determined by the ambient velocity and the thermal expansion in the gas. The solid exchanges energy with the gas by conduction/convection and with the surroundings by surface absorption and re-emission of radiation. Heat conduction in the solid is assumed to be one dimensional at each point on the surface as a consequence of the limited times (of order of 10 seconds) of interest in these simulations. Despite the apparent simplicity of the model, the results show a complex thermally induced flow near the heated surface. The thermal exchange between the gas and solid produces an outward sourcelike flow upstream of the center of the irradiated area and a sinklike flow downstream. The responses of the temperature fields and the associated flows to changes in the intensity of the external radiation and the ambient velocity are discussed.
Expected Utility and Sequential Elimination Models of Career Decision Making.

Abstract Participants selected careers following three decision-making models: (a) an Expected Utility model in which participants rated the importance of work values and the subjective probabilities associated with each of these values being satisfied within various occupations, (b) a Sequential Elimination model in which participants selected a career following an individually tailored tree-like process based on the successive elimination of career options, and (c) an unspecified model in which participants′ selections were unguided by an explicit model. Comparisons of the quality of the career decisions made under each of the three models were evaluated in terms of: (a) the quality of choices relative to the "ideal" career selected in the Expected Utility model, (b) the types of career selected, and (c) postdecisional satisfaction. The results suggested that the Expected Utility model yielded the highest payoff (expected utility) of the three approaches, but that the Sequential Elimination and unspecified models did not differ from each other in the expected utilities of their top careers. Additionally, the Expected Utility model differed significantly from the Sequential Elimination model and the unspecified model in terms of the frequencies with which different types of careers were selected, but no such differences were identified between the other two models. No difference was found between the Sequential Elimination and the unspecified model in terms of postdecisional satisfaction.
Monitoring oxidation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes by Raman spectroscopy

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were oxidized in air and acids while varying the treatment time and/or temperature. The goal of this approach was to create the highest density of carboxyl groups with moderate sample loss, which is necessary for nanocomposite applications. In situ Raman experiments allowed real-time observation of the structural changes in MWCNTs upon oxidation. The ratio of the Raman intensities of the D and G bands was used to estimate the concentration of defects. It was found that while an oxidation for 6 h in H2SO4/HNO3 provided the strongest effect, a ‘flash oxidation’ in air (15 min at 550 °C) also leads to an efficient functionalization in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way. Transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and electrophoretic mobility analysis were used to study the oxidized nanotubes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Response of river metabolism to restoration of flow in the Kissimmee River, Florida, U.S.A.

Summary 1. The single station diel oxygen curve method was used to determine the response of system metabolism to backfilling of a flood control canal and restoration of flow through the historic river channel of the Kissimmee River, a sub-tropical, low gradient, blackwater river in central Florida, U.S.A. Gross primary productivity (GPP), community respiration (CR), the ratio of GPP/CR (P/R) and net daily metabolism (NDM) were estimated before and after canal backfilling and restoration of continuous flow through the river channel. 2. Restoration of flow through the river channel significantly increased reaeration rates and mean dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations from <2 mg L−1 before restoration of flow to 4.70 mg L−1 after flow was restored. 3. Annual GPP and CR rates were 0.43 g O2 m−2 day−1 and 1.61 g O2 m−2 day−1 respectively, before restoration of flow. After restoration of flow, annual GPP and CR rates increased to 3.95 O2 m−2 day−1 and 9.44 g O2 m−2 day−1 respectively. 4. The ratio of P/R (mean of monthly values) increased from 0.29 during the prerestoration period to 0.51 after flow was restored, indicating an increase in autotrophic processes in the restored river channel. NDM values became more negative after flow was restored. 5. After flow was restored, metabolism parameters were generally similar to those reported for other blackwater river systems in the southeast U.S.A. Postrestoration DO concentrations met target values derived from free flowing, minimally impacted reference streams.
Full length article: Weak convergence of CD kernels: A new approach on the circle and real line

Given a probability measure @m supported on some compact set [email protected]?C and with orthonormal polynomials {p"n(z)}"n"@?"N, define the measures [email protected]"n(z)[email protected]?j=0n|p"j(z)|^[email protected](z) and let @n"n be the normalized zero counting measure for the polynomial p"n. If @m is supported on a compact subset of the real line or on the unit circle, we provide a new proof of a 2009 theorem due to Simon that for any fixed [email protected]?N the kth moment of @n"n"+"1 and @m"n differ by at most O(n^-^1) as n->~.
Unusual Gas-Transport Selectivity in a Partially Oxidized Form of the Conductive Polymer Polypyrrole

Prior investigations have shown that polypyrrole has low gas-transport selectivity. This has been attributed to the microporous morphology obtained when thin films of this polymer are prepared by conventional synthetic methods. In this paper we show that polypyrrole with a dense (as opposed to microporous) morphology can be prepared by slowing down the rate of the polymerization reaction. We further demonstrate that a partially oxidized form of this material shows extraordinary gas-transport properties. When the volume percent of O2 in the feed-gas stream was 100% (i.e., pure O2), this partially oxidized form of polypyrrole showed an O2 vs N2 gas-transport selectivity coefficient of 18. This is one of the highest gas-transport selectivity coefficients to be reported to date for a polymeric material. The O2 vs N2 selectivity coefficient was found to increase with decreasing partial pressure of O2 in the feed-gas stream. When the partial pressure of O2 was 0.1% (99.9% N2), the O2 vs N2 selectivity coefficie...
Synoviocytes protect cartilage from the effects of injury in vitro

It is well documented that osteoarthritis (OA) can develop following traumatic joint injury and is the leading cause of lameness and subsequent wastage of equine athletes. Although much research of injury induced OA has focused on cartilage, OA is a disease that affects the whole joint organ. In this study, we investigated the impact of synovial cells on the progression of an OA phenotype in injured articular cartilage. Injured and control cartilage were cultured in the presence of synoviocytes extracted from normal equine synovium. Synoviocytes and cartilage were evaluated for catabolic and anabolic gene expression. The cartilage was also evaluated histologically for loss of extracellular matrix molecules, chondrocyte cell death and chondrocyte cluster formation. The results indicate synoviocytes exert both positive and negative effects on injured cartilage, but ultimately protect injured cartilage from progressing toward an OA phenotype. Synoviocytes cultured in the presence of injured cartilage had significantly reduced expression of aggrecanase 1 and 2 (ADAMTS4 and 5), but also had increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -1 and reduced expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1). Injured cartilage cultured with synoviocytes had increased expression of both collagen type 2 and aggrecanase 2. Histologic examination of cartilage indicated that there was a protective effect of synoviocytes on injured cartilage by reducing the incidence of both focal cell loss and chondrocyte cluster formation, two major hallmarks of OA. These results support the importance of evaluating more than one synovial joint tissue when investigating injury induced OA.
Neogene Drape Folding Over Pre-Neogene Flexural-Slip Movements in Western Transverse Ranges, California: ABSTRACT

In several locations in the western Transverse Ranges of California are folded Neogene sedimentary sequences that unconformably overlie homoclinal sequences of pre-Neogene rocks. To accomplish the folding of the rocks above the unconformity without apparent deformation of those below the unconformity, a mechanism other than simple crustal shortening is required. It is proposed that differential flexural slip along bedding planes in the limbs of large-amplitude pre-Neogene folds produced drape folds of small amplitude in the unconformably overlying Neogene rocks. This drape mechanism implies that the Neogene rocks were folded while they were still in the soft-sediment stage and that they were lengthened parallel to bedding during the process. Procedures that use the length of folded beds to determine the amount of crustal shortening, therefore, may indicate a greater amount of crustal shortening than actually occurred. End_of_Article - Last_Page 665------------
String Instrument Intonation in Upper and Lower Registers: The Effects of Accompaniment:

The effects of different accompaniment and register conditions on string instrumentalists' intonation performance of scalar passages were investigated. Forty-eight college-aged instrumentalists (12 each of violinists, violists, cellists, and double bassists) performed ascending and descending whole-tone tetrachords in the instruments' upper and lower registers. All performances were accompanied by prerecorded computer generated tones that formed four harmonic interval types with performance tones. Results indicated that upper register performances with accompaniment below were significantly sharper (p < .05), relative to equal temperament, than lower register performances with accompaniment above, which were also sharp. Descending tetrachords were performed significantly sharper (p < .01) than ascending tetrachords. Violinists evidenced the least overall deviation followed in order by violists, cellists, and bassists. The sharpness propensity observed in this study was consistent with previous research. I...
A computational approach to the optimal structure of bank input prices

Abstract Most bank deposits contain an embedded option which permits the depositor to withdraw funds at will. Demand deposits generally allow costless withdrawal, while time deposits often require payment of an early withdrawal penalty. Managing the risk that depositors will exercise their withdrawal option is an important aspect of input pricing. This paper acknowledges the threat of deposit withdrawal and then solves for the optimal structure of bank deposit rates.
AAA RUPTURE RISK ASSESSMENT IN THE CLINIC: WALL STRESS OR GEOMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION?

The current clinical management of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease is based to a great extent on measuring the aneurysm maximum diameter to decide when timely intervention is required. Decades of clinical evidence show that aneurysm diameter is positively associated with the risk of rupture, but other parameters may also play a role in causing or predisposing the AAA to rupture. Geometric factors such as vessel tortuosity, intraluminal thrombus volume, and wall surface area are implicated in the differentiation of ruptured and unruptured AAAs. Biomechanical factors identified by means of computational modeling techniques, such as peak wall stress, have been positively correlated with rupture risk with a higher accuracy and sensitivity than maximum diameter alone. In the present work, we performed a controlled study targeted at evaluating the effect of uncertainty of the constitutive material model used for the vascular wall in the ensuing peak wall stress. Based on the outcome of this study, a second analysis was conducted based on the geometric characterization of surface curvature in two groups of aneurysm geometries, to discern which curvature metric can adequately discriminate ruptured from electively repaired AAA. The outcome of this work provides preliminary evidence on the importance of quantitative geometry characterization for AAA rupture risk assessment in the clinic.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Spectral response of an upconversion detector and spectrometer.

We investigate the spectral response of an upconversion detector theoretically and experimentally, and discuss implications for its use as an infrared spectrometer. Upconversion detection is based on high-conversion-efficiency, sum-frequency generation (SFG). The spectral selectivity of an upconversion spectrometer is determined by the SFG spectral response function. This function changes with varying pump power. Working at maximum internal conversion efficiency is desirable for high sensitivity of the system, but the spectral response function is different at this pump power compared to the response function at low power. We calculate the theoretical spectral response of the upconversion detector as a function of pump power and obtain excellent agreement with upconversion spectra measured in a periodically poled LiNbO3 waveguide.
Review: Neurological Complications of Central Venous Cannulation

The reports of neurological damage after central venous cannulation over the past 20 yrs have been gathered, summarized, and analyzed. We found 59 cases of nerve lesions: 32 serious or even fatal, and 27 light or transient ones. They included: Lesions of the cervical sympathetic chain: needle trauma, compression by hematoma, anesthetic blockade; brachial plexopathies: needle trauma or compression by hematoma; phrenic or recurrent nerve palsies: anesthetic blockade, needle trauma, or compression by hematoma; cerebral damage following venous air embolism, carotid artery embolism or obstruction (thrombosis, compression), or internal jugular vein obstruction (thrombosis or catheter tip); lesions of the IX, X, XI, and XII cranial nerves by hematoma compression or spilling of histotoxic solutions; and, massive lesions of the anterior rami of the cervical nerves by spillage of histotoxic solutions. We believe that the following simple and well-known measures can substantially reduce the incidence of those serious complications. 1. Avoiding the subclavian or jugular central routes in patients with marked anatomical changes, coagulopathies, and carotid artery or lung diseases. 2. Using only small amounts of dilute concentrations of short-acting local anesthetics before the puncture. 3. Using a small gauge "seeking" needle and placing a finger on the carotid artery during a jugular venipuncture to avoid accidental arterial puncture. 4. Using radiopaque catheters long enough to have their tip in midsuperior vena cava. The position of the catheter must be checked radiographically immediately after insertion and even at later periods. The catheter must be meticulously fixed to the skin to avoid its movement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Transplantation of Congenitally Opaque Corneas

Nine transparent grafts in fifteen eyes with congenitally opaque corneas with a one- to ten-year follow-up are described. Patients ranged in age at the time of surgery from two to thirty months. Vision in all but two of the eyes with transparent grafts improved. The operative complications included an exaggerated anterior displacement of the lens-iris diaphragm and difficulty obtaining a water-tight wound closure because of the flaccidity of the infant host tissue. The postoperative complications included a peculiar late-developing glaucoma, graft rejection, infection, and early suture loosening.
Symposium on Harrison's “Lean and Mean”: A finance perspective

Bennett Harrison is to be congratulated for raising a series of tough and thought-provoking questions regarding the changing industrial structure in the United States and the world. By compiling earlier research by authors in a variety of disciplines with his own work, he argues powerfully that the case for small firms as the engine of economic growth is overstated. He presents considerable evidence suggesting that the focus of economic development officials on encouraging small enterprises, as well as industrial districts comprised of small firms, is misguided. In his eagerness to make his case, however, Harrison exerts a great deal of selectivity in the studies that he discusses, and in the nature of their presentation. As a consequence, the volume lacks balance in its presentation of several critical issues. This "stacking the deck" leads to an unfortunate weakening of the effectiveness of the book's overall argument, at least in the eyes of this reader. Nowhere is this limitation clearer than in his
Techniques for obtaining high performance in Java programs

This survey describes research directions in techniques to improve the performance of programs written in the Java programming language. The standard technique for Java execution is interpretation, which provides for extensive portability of programs. A Java interpreter dynamically executes Java bytecodes, which comprise the instruction set of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Execution time performance of Java programs can be improved through compilation, possibly at the expense of portability. Various types of Java compilers have been proposed, including Just-In-Time (JIT) compilers that compile bytecode into native processor instructions on the fly; direct compilers that directly translate the Java source code into the target processor's native language; and bytecode-to-source translators that generate either native code or an intermediate language, such as C, from the bytecodes. Additional techniques, including bytecode optimization, dynamic compilation, and executing Java programs in parallel, attempt to improve Java run-time performance while maintaining Java's portability. Another alternative for executing Java programs is a Java processor that implements the JVM directly in hardware. In this survey, we discuss the basis features, and the advantages and disadvantages, of the various Java execution techniques. We also discuss the various Java benchmarks that are being used by the Java community for performance evaluation of the different techniques. Finally, we conclude with a comparison of the performance of the alternative Java execution techniques based on reported results.
Anti-inflammatory effects of montelukast in mild cystic fibrosis.

Background Immune-mediated inflammation contributes to progressive pulmonary damage in cystic fibrosis (CF). Sputum cysteinyl leukotriene levels, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) are significantly related to disease severity. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and clinical effects of the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast in children with CF. Methods A double-blind, randomized, crossover design was used. Patients received montelukast (6 to ≤14 years, 5 mg; >14 years, 10 mg) or placebo as a once-daily tablet for 21 days and then, after a washout period of at least 4 weeks, crossed over to receive the alternative treatment. Blood and native nasal fluid were taken on days 1 and 21 of each treatment block, and WBC count, ECP, and IL-8 were analyzed using a chemiluminescent immunometric assay. Results Sixteen CF patients (10 boys, 6 girls; age, 5 to 18 years, median 9.5 years) completed the trial. There was a significant ( P ≤ 0.02) reduction of serum ECP (median reduction: montelukast 7.7 μg/L vs placebo 0.15 μg/L) and eosinophils ( P ≤ 0.027; median reduction: montelukast 85/μL vs placebo 0/μL). There was no significant change in nasal ECP, IL-8, or serum IL-8 after a 21-day course of montelukast. Clinical symptom scores did not change significantly. Conclusions Montelukast reduces eosinophilic inflammation in CF patients. Multicenter trials providing more patients to create more data to prove the hypothesis that montelukast is an effective tool to cut down disease severity in CF patients are needed.
Does technique or material used affect bladder tissue reactions when injecting teflon or silicon paste

Abstract Objectives. Submucosal injections of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) paste continue to be used for the correction of vesicoureteral reflux and urinary incontinence. Potential distant particle migration and foreign body tissue reactions are thought to be significantly affected by the technique of injection and the paste material used. A study to determine if injection technique, paste material, or pretreatment of the injection site significantly affects local tissue reaction was performed on 44 New Zealand white rabbits. Methods. Animals were randomly assigned to undergo four distinct injection treatments into the submucosa or bladder muscularis. Prior to injecting 0.1 cc of the PTFE or PDMS paste, some sites were pretreated with 0.1 cc saline to separate tissue planes, epinephrine to cause vasoconstriction, or doxycycline to provide sclerosis. Pretreatment controls were also performed without injecting PTFE or PDMS paste. Animals were killed, and quadrant bladder biopsies were performed at 1 hour (9), 1 day (9), 7 days (10), 1 month (8), and 6 months (8). A single pathologist, blinded to the injection treatments, performed a histologic evaluation to determine bleb location and the degree of inflammation, fibrosis, and epithelial necrosis. Results. Seven of the 12 submucosal PTFE injection treatments were found on biopsy to be primarily within the muscularis, compared to 1 of 9 with PDMS paste. Three of the 24 PTFE injections could not be found at autopsy. Of these, two were injected into the muscularis, and all were discovered at least 1 month following injection. Particles were present in all 22 PDMS injection sites that were retrieved. Pretreatments, especially with doxycycline, resulted in significant epithelial necrosis at 1 and 7 days. At 1 and 6 months there were no differences in inflammation or fibrosis between PTFE and PDMS or any pretreatment combinations with saline or epinephrine. Conclusions. Correctly injected, silicone (PDMS) paste appears most likely to remain in the submucosal space. Pretreatment injections may cause early epithelial necrosis. PTFE and PDMS elicit similar foreign body reactions over time.
Single-fraction radiotherapy for palliation of myelofibrosis-related extremity pain syndrome.

Polycythemia vera is a type of myeloproliferative disorder known to progress tomyelofibrosis (MF), with a conversion rate of 10%e20% after a latency of 10e20 years. MF also can have a de novo presentation. Many symptoms that affect quality of life are associated with MF, including fatigue, fever, pruritus, night sweats, symptomatic splenomegaly, weight loss, and bone pain. Extramedullary hematopoiesis, blood cell formation, and clumping outside of the bone marrow and peripheral blood are hallmarks of MF. Extramedullary hematopoiesis involving the spleen, lung, liver, and bone is well described and a potential source of intractable pain resulting in a decreased quality of life for symptomatic MF patients. Approximately 50% of these patients will experience bone pain as either a presenting or late feature. Bone pain in these patients is poorly understood. Pain may be related to periostitis and the subsequent increased vascularity. Hematopoiesis and osteosclerosis also have been attributed as sources of this bone pain. Radiation use in MF has been shown to offer palliation for pain in spleen, liver, lung, and spine related to extramedullary hematopoiesis.
Cholestatic hepatitis following flutamide.

Previous reports have indicated that administration of flutamide—a nonsteroidal antiandrogen drug—may induce hepatic toxicity. However, cholestatic hepatitis following flutamide is a rare event. This case report describes a 72-year-old male with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate who underwent bilateral orchiectomy and treatment with flutamide. After seven weeks he developed jaundice and elevated AST and ALT levels. A liver biopsy showed cholestatic hepatitis without signs of biliary obstruction. The patient's clinical symptoms and elevated bilirubin resolved after the flutamide was discontinued. Monitoring of serum liver enzyme tests is advocated during flutamide administration to identify drug-induced liver injury.
T cell recognition of myoglobin. Localization of the sites stimulating T cell proliferative responses by synthetic overlapping peptides encompassing the entire molecule.

SUMMARY A comprehensive strategy for the systematic localization of all continuous antigenic sites within a protein has previously been introduced by this laboratory. The strategy consists of studying the immunochemical activity of a series of consecutive synthetic peptides that encompass the entire protein chain and the are uniform in size and in overlap at their N and C-terminals with neighbouring peptided. By application of this strategy to sperm whale myoglobin, we have been able to delineate the ontinuous sites of T cell recognition of myoglobin in three high responder mouse strains. Thirteen 17-residue peptides that encompass the entire myoglobin chain and overlap by five residues at both ends were synthesized, purified and characterized. The peptides were examined in vitro for their ability to stimulate lymph node cells from myoglobin-primed DBA/2 (H-2d), BALB/c (H-2d) and SJL (H-2s) mice as well as long-term cultures of myoglobin-specific T cells. Several regions of the moleculr (T sites) were founnd to stimulate myoglobin-primed lymph node cells and myoglobin-specific long-term T cell cultures. This strategy has enabled the localization of the full profile of dominant sites of T cell recognition in myoglobin for these mouse strains. Of these T sites, one region, residues 107-125, was clearly immunodominant in these strains and was found to coincide with the antigenic (i.e. antibody binding) site 4 of myoglobin. Also, other regions stimulated T cells and appeared to coincide with previously known antigenic sites. It is noteworthy that, in addition to sites recognized by both T and B cells, the protein has other sites which are recognized exclusively by T cells and to which no detectable antibody response is directed.
A simulation of a layered 6 Li foil multi-wire proportional counter

The shortage of 3He gas for neutron detection has led to alternative technologies for large-area high-efficiency neutron detectors. Recently, MCNP6-beta has been released and has the ability to track the energy of low mass particles, which now allows neutron detector pulse-height spectra to be simulated. A Monte-Carlo code generated in MatLab was used to validate the MCNP6-beta neutron response pulse-height spectra of a 6Li foil multi-wire proportional counter. After validation, MCNP6 was used to optimize HDPE thicknesses in front and back of the detector against a 252Cf neutron source. Additionally, the pulse-height spectra was obtained using MCNP6 for detector pressures of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.8 atm. Lastly, the angular response was investigated and remained relatively constant over angles ranging from 0 to 45 degrees from normal incidence.
Cognitive style and recognition memory in young adults.

Abstract Differences between impulsive and reflective subjects may be related to the amount of information processed in a given task. This possibility was tested in a visual-verbal probe recognition task. Twenty-three impulsive and 23 reflective adults subjects were divided into experimental and control groups. Experimental subjects were briefly exposed to a complex stimulus, whereas control subjects were given a comparable exposure to a different stimulus. Subjects were asked to choose between equal number of positives (stimulus-relevant) and negative probe items. A comparison of areas under memory operating characteristic curves for experimental subjects indicated that the recognition threshold for positive probes for impulsive subjects was significantly lower than the threshold for reflective subjects. The difference between subjective likelihood criteria was not significant. Also, accuracy of experimental subjects was significantly greater than that of control subjects. Differences in information availability were thought to be indicative of differences in selective attention processes.
Genetic and evolutionary fitness.

The advantages and disadvantages of evolutionary fitness (probability that a single mutant line will not become extinct) and genetic fitness (mean fecundity) are compared. For deterministic processes the two are equivalent, but for stochastic branching processes they may be totally unrelated except that an absolute genetic fitness of unity or less implies an evolutionary fitness of zero. To know the variance as well as the mean family size does not in general uniquely determine the evolutionary fitness. Except where genetic fitness is close to unity, the impact of selection is shown to be rapid for the binomial, Poisson, negative binomial, and truncated negative binomial distributions. Evolutionary fitness, though somewhat cumbersome, has greater relevance to evolution, genetic counseling, and voluntary population control; but genetic fitness which is much easier to handle is the more appropriate measure where a large number of mutants is involved. Some empirical data on the transmission of various types of characters from parent to child are analyzed to allow comparison of genetic fitness, Crow's index, and a Malthusian parameter, with evolutionary fitness. There is a fair, but far from perfect, agreement among them. Multiple correlation of evolutionary fitness with mean and variance of family size taken jointly suggests a much more satisfactory approximation. It thus appears that, at the least, the population geneticist cannot afford to ignore the variance (which is not adequately represented in Crow's index). These relationsips, based on two sets of data only may be accidental and should be invoked with caution. It seems more than likely that other aspects of the distribution of family size (eg, even higher moments) may contain relevant information in certain cases.
Application of a Planetary Wave Breaking Parameterization to Stratospheric Circulation Statistics

Abstract The planetary wave parameterization scheme developed recently by Garcia is applied to stratospheric circulation statistics derived from 12 years of National Meteorological Center operational stratospheric analyses. From the data a planetary wave breaking criterion [based on the ratio of the eddy to zonal mean meridional potential vorticity (PV) gradients], a wave damping rate, and a meridional diffusion coefficient are calculated. The equatorward flank of the polar night jet during winter is identified as a wave breaking region from the observed PV gradients; the region moves poleward with season, covering all high latitudes in spring. Derived damping rates maximize in the subtropical upper stratosphere (the “surf zone”), with damping time scales of 3–4 days. Maximum diffusion coefficients follow the spatial patterns of the wave breaking criterion, with magnitudes comparable to prior published estimates. Overall, the observed results agree well with the parameterized calculations of Garcia.
Electric shock hazard

A long-standing expert on electric-shock hazards summarizes the studies that determined the effective body impedance under varying conditions. He describes perception currents, reaction currents, let-go currents, and fibrillating currents. Turning to means for reducing low-voltage (120-240-volt) hazards, double insulation, shock limitation, isolation transformers, and the use of either high frequency or direct current are discussed for various environments. Macroshock is always a hazard in the home, in industry, and in the hospital. But the extreme vulnerability to microshock of patients with cardiac catheters, for example, requires special precautions in intensive-care and coronary-care units. Equipment such as the ground-fault interrupter (GFI) and a special isolation transformer are cited.
Souvenir: flexible note-taking tool to pinpoint and share media highlights

Digital media audio/video can be difficult to search and share in a personal way. Souvenir is a software system that offers users a flexible and comprehensive way to use their handwritten or text notes to retrieve and share specific media moments. Users can take notes on a variety of devices, such as the paper-based CrossPad, the Palm Pilot and standard keyboard devices. Souvenir segments handwritten notes into an effective media index without the need for handwriting recognition. Users can use their notes to create hyperlinks to random-access media stored in a digital library. Souvenir also has web publishing and email capabilities to enable anyone to access or email media moments directly from a web page. Souvenir annotations capture information that can not be easily inferred by automatic media indexing tools.
Chronic Varicella-Zoster Virus Myelitis Without Cutaneous Eruption in a Patient with AIDS: Report of a Fatal Case

We describe a fatal case of varicella-zoster virus myelitis that was preceded by neurological symptoms for 10 months in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection and an extremely low CD4 cell count (20/microL). The patient was also receiving chronic acylovir therapy for suppression of herpes complex. Despite chronic unilateral periauricular and facial pain, which was later accompanied by upper- and lower-extremity weakness, a cutaneous eruption never developed. It is hypothesized that a blunted inflammatory response in the spinal cord--possibly related to a very low CD4 cell count--and long-term acylovir administration might have contributed to the atypical manifestation might have contributed to the atypical manifestation of varicella-zoster virus-related neurological disease in this immunocompromised patient.
Binding to the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Accelerates Futile Catalytic Cycling in PCSK9 and Raises the Equilibrium Level of Intramolecular Acylenzyme

Proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) binds to the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) on target cells and lowers the level of receptor by impeding its recycling. PCSK9 is self-processed to a complex of its prodomain and catalytic domain like a typical protein convertase, but it does not develop normal proteolytic activity. Instead, its propeptide remains complexed with the catalytic domain, and the C-terminal Gln152 of the prodomain occupies the active site like a substrate for peptide synthesis. To probe its latent catalytic activity, PCSK9 and its complex with the soluble LDLR extracellular domain were separately transferred into H218O, and time point samples were analyzed by peptide mapping with mass spectrometry to measure the rate and extent of incorporation of 18O into the Gln152 carboxylate. In free wild-type or D374Y mutant PCSK9, the t1/2 for exchange of 18O for both oxygens was near 5 min. This slow process progressed to completion, with the distribution of oxygen isotopes in the Gln152 carboxylate finally matching that in solvent. In contrast, exchange reached its final state in <30 s in LDLR-complexed D374Y mutant PCSK9, but approximately 40% of the molecules gave data indicating the presence of only one 18O atom in Gln152. With support from further experiments, this was attributed to hydrolysis of acylenzyme in H216O during preparations for digestion and indicated that PCSK9 complexed with LDLR contains approximately 40% intramolecular acylenzyme at equilibrium. The synthetic EGF-A domain of LDLR induced similar effects as the full-length receptor. The data suggest the existence of distinct conformational states in free and receptor-bound PCSK9.
Lung development and the pulmonary surfactant system: Hormonal influences

The effect of hormones on developmental events is not a new area of scientific investigation. However, in the last decade, the developing lung has been the focus of an increasing amount of basic and applied research. Inadequate development of the newborn's respiratory system precludes extra-uterine existence; indeed, such respiratory inadequacy has been a leading cause of death in premature infants. Tremendous strides have been made in understanding the basic cell biology of the developing lung. Much has been learned about the source, composition, and function of pulmonary surfactant, a surface-active material produced by the lung and essential to alveolar stability. Deficient stores of this material is a major etiologic factor in the respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn (RDS). This fact, coupled with observations that certain hormones can accelerate lung development and the consequent availability of adequate stores of pulmonary surfactant, has led to a large body of literaturae dealing with the effects of hormones (and other agents) on lung development. It is the purpose of this literature review (1) to discuss the various kinds of investigations which have linked surfactant synthesis to the type II pulmonary epithelial cell; and (2) to review the current status of research dealing with the effects of glucocorticoids and thyroid hormones on lung maturation.
A Note on Nonnegative DoIt Approximation

Recently, a new deterministic approximation method, known as design of experiments-based interpolation technique (DoIt), was proposed for Bayesian computation. A major weakness of this method is that the approximated posterior density can become negative. In this technical note, a modification to the approximation is proposed that guarantees nonnegativity of the approximated density. Surprisingly, the new approximation is much simpler and faster to compute than the original DoIt approximation. This article has supplementary materials online.
What young filmmakers learn from television: A study of structure in films made by children

An analysis of 43 films made by children, the study indicates that children rely most heavily upon models taken from commercial television when constructing their own film products. This implies television influence on the symbolic production of children. Studying the influence of television upon the ways children choose to organize their own films suggests that we need to look closer at television's impact upon the development of symbolic skills.