cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A molar pregnancy in an embryo donor cow

A 6-year-old Hereford embryo donor cow was referred to Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine for a mass in the tip of her left uterine horn. The cow had recently undergone an embryo collection which yielded unfertilized, degenerated ova. Transrectal palpation and ultrasound revealed a multi-locular mass enveloped by two separate compartments that resembled an amniotic and allantoic cavity within the uterus. Tissue was collected via a uterine flush and submitted for histopathology. The tissue was determined to be placenta, confirming the diagnosis of a molar pregnancy. Following treatment, the cow was able to produce numerous viable embryos. Molar pregnancies are rare and characterized by abnormal growth of trophoblastic cells leading to formation of intrauterine cystic masses. It is important to routinely perform an ultrasonographic examination of the cow's reproductive tract approximately 30 days following non-surgical in vivo embryo collections to detect and treat unwanted conditions such as pregnancy and cystic conditions.
Irrational Inequality: The Role of Fact-Based Review in Equality Change

Fact-based strategies – aimed at undermining the reasons why discrimination against a subordinated group is perceived as justified – play a key role in effectuating equality change, both before and after formal equality. Such fact-based strategies are a necessary precursor to formal equality (both statutory and constitutional), since groups are unlikely to be afforded equality rights if discrimination against them is viewed as justified. They are also an important component of post-formal equality efforts, since adjudicators – and the public – are unlikely to view actions disadvantaging even protected groups as discriminatory when they perceive governmental or societal actions as justified on other grounds. This Essay, a response to Joseph Landau's "Broken Records," argues that today, most fact-based work of this kind takes place through the application by the courts of meaningful fact-based rational basis review – even though canonical accounts of rational basis review deny this reality. It suggests moreover that although such meaningful rational basis review is not consistently afforded by the courts, where it is, it has often been a critical site of equality change. The Essay concludes by arguing that trying to institute a systematically available form of fact-based review under the Equal Protection clause is likely to confront opposition from both the left and the right – and thus is likely to entail tradeoffs – that could significantly undermine the efficacy of currently available fact-based constitutional strategies.
Re-referrals to a Psychosocial oncology department: A data-informed approach to Practice.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Needs outlines a standard of care that includes the provision of psychosocial care across the cancer care continuum. 1 Additionally, evidence supports the efficacy of psychological interventions for cancer patients. 2,3 The IOM report emphasizes the need to address psychological distress and makes recommendations regarding psychosocial oncology (PSO) services. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Rotational atherectomy for the management of undilatable in-stent restenosis with single or multiple stent layers

Abstract Background There is no consensus on the best treatment of undilatable coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR) regardless of the number of stent layers. We aimed to evaluate the procedural and clinical outcomes of rotational atherectomy (RA) to treat undilatable coronary ISR with single or multiple stent layers. Methods We retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients treated with RA for undilatable ISR with single or multiple stent layers in the Mount Sinai catheterization laboratory between January 2016 and September 2018. Procedural success was defined as angiographic success without in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE): a composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target lesion revascularization (TLR). Clinical outcomes were assessed at one-year post-procedure. Results A total of 26 patients were included in the study, in which 18 (69.2%) patients were with multiple stent layers. After RA, 9 (34.6%) were received a new drug-eluting stent, and 6 (23.1%) were treated with intravascular brachytherapy. Angiographic success was achieved in 24 (92.3%) patients, and procedural success was achieved in 22 (84.6%) patients. In-hospital MACE occurred in 4 (15.4%) patients, all due to periprocedural non-Q wave MI. Within one year, MACE occurred in 9 (34.6%) patients with 5 (19.2%) TLR. Conclusions RA for undilatable ISR with single or multiple stent layers was performed with favorable procedural outcomes and a relatively high MACE rate driven by TLR within one year.
Optimized etching of porcelain and polycrystalline alumina with a glass phase

Abstract Chemical and thermal etching techniques are commonly used in ceramography to enhance microstructural features. While thermal etching works well for high purity ceramic systems, this technique may not be appropriate where glass is present. Porcelain and industrial alumina both contain a glass phase, typically 40−60 vol% and 4−30 vol%, respectively, and these glass chemistries are proposed to be similar. Chemical etching of porcelain is common, but the images published in the literature are frequently over-etched. When glass is present in the grain boundaries of alumina, thermal etching can cause the glass to disappear or to recrystallize, obscuring the microstructure. Because of this, it is proposed that both chemical and thermal etching are necessary to prepare an industrial alumina microstructure for grain size measurements. In addition, it was observed that chemical etching is sensitive to the residual stress in the glass phase, becoming more aggressive when there is residual tension in the glass.
HIV Prevention for Adults With Criminal Justice Involvement: A Systematic Review of HIV Risk-Reduction Interventions in Incarceration and Community Settings

We summarized and appraised evidence regarding HIV prevention interventions for adults with criminal justice involvement. We included randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials that evaluated an HIV prevention intervention, enrolled participants with histories of criminal justice involvement, and reported biological or behavioral outcomes. We used Cochrane methods to screen 32,271 citations from 16 databases and gray literature. We included 37 trials enrolling n = 12,629 participants. Interventions were 27 psychosocial, 7 opioid substitution therapy, and 3 HIV-testing programs. Eleven programs significantly reduced sexual risk taking, 4 reduced injection drug risks, and 4 increased testing. Numerous interventions may reduce HIV-related risks among adults with criminal justice involvement. Future research should consider process evaluations, programs involving partners or families, and interventions integrating biomedical, psychosocial, and structural approaches.
Dosimetric comparison of multiple vs single isocenter technique for linear accelerator-based stereotactic radiosurgery: The Importance of the six degree couch.

PURPOSE Single isocenter technique (SIT) for linear accelerator-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is feasible. However, SIT introduces the potential for rotational error which can lead to geographical miss. Additional planning treatment volume (PTV) margin is required when using SIT. With the six degrees of freedom (6DoF) couch, rotational error can be minimized. We sought to evaluate the effect of the 6DoF couch on the dosimetry of patients with multiple brain metastases treated with SIT. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten consecutive patients treated with SRS to ≥3 metastases were identified. Original treatments had MIT plans (MITP). The lesions were replanned using SIT. Lesions 5-10 cm from isocenter had an additional 1mm of margin. Patients were replanned with these additional margins to account for inability to correct rotational error (SITPM). Multiple dosimetric variables and time metrics were evaluated. Dosimetry planning time (DPT) and patient treatment time (PTT) were evaluated. Statistics were calculated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS A total of 73 brain metastases receiving SRS, to a median of 6 lesions per patient, were identified. MITPs treated 73 lesions with 63 isocenters. On average, MITPs had a 19.2% higher brain V12 than SITPs (P = 0.017). For creation of SITPM, 30 lesions required 1 mm of additional margin, while none required 2 mm of margin. This increased V12 by 47.8% on average per patient (P = 0.008) from SITP to SITPM. DPT was 5.5 hours for SITP, while median for MITP was 12.5 hours (P = 0.005) PTT was 30 minutes for SITP, while median for MITP was 144 minutes (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS SITPs are comparable to MITPs if rotational error can be corrected with the use of a 6DoF couch. Increasing margin to account for rotational error leads to a nearly 50% increase in V12, which could result in higher rates of radiation necrosis. Time savings are significant using SIT.
Use of impressed current for accelerated corrosion testing of aluminium alloy panels

Previous studies have shown how galvanic coupling between stainless steel 316 fasteners and a coated aluminium alloy 7075-T6 test panel could accelerate the coating degradation during exposure to c...
Still Another Look at Cause

The traditional set of ideas known as the theory of cause has had a most eventful existence. It has been praised as the quintessence of wisdom, ,deprecated as a truism, and blamed as a nebulous abstraction. It has also been made to reflect all kind of changing philosophies ranging from the natural law ideas of the canonists, through the liberalism that inspired the redaction of the Code Napoleon, the first Civil Code, .and to the socio-economic approach of some contemporary doctrine. The outcome could be neither too clear nor too consistent after so many historical accidents. Nevertheless, if no great satisfaction can be derived from the notion of cause in its theoretical aspects, a different conclusion can be reached if the focus is made on the functions performed by cause in the practical life of the laws2 Besides consent free of vice given by parties with legal capacity the law requires that, in order to be valid, a contract must give rise to obligations with a lawful cause. That is so because an obligation cannot exist without a lawful cause.3 On the other hand, the cause of an obligation is unlawful when the enforcement of the obligation would produce a result prohibited by law or against public p01icy.~ In primitive law, agreements gave rise to an action only exceptionally because a rule prevailed according to which no agreement was enforceable unless good reasons were given to justify enforceability.' The opposite view prevails in modern law where the basic principle is that agreements shall produce binding legal effects unless good reasons are given to exclude those effect^.^ At common law, lack of consideration is a good reason to deny enforceability of a promise. In civilian systems derived from the French, such as the Louisiana system of private law, absence of cause, or unlawfulness or immorality of the cause, is a good reason to deprive an obligation of its legal effect.
Graphing Age Trajectories: Vector Graphs, Synthetic and Virtual Cohort Projections, and Virtual Cohort Projections, and Cross-Sectional Profiles of Depression

Surveys often sample adults across a broad range of ages, measuring the same outcomes in several interviews spaced during a period of years and comparing the changes observed across segments of the...
A Method for Assessing Deposits of Aerially Applied Aqueous Pest Control Agents

In field evaluations of a promising bird repellent (mesurol) on target crops, we needed a method to measure the chemical deposits resulting from aerial spray applications. Oil-sensitive "spray" cards were unsuitable because water, not oil, was the carrier. For spray cards, we used thin-layer chromatographic plates and determined particle size and density of the spray droplets and the resulting deposits of the chemical.
Design of Dual Band Sleeve Dipole Antenna for Mobile Jammer Applications

A multi band sleeve dipole antenna for jammer application is proposed. The antenna can cover band in which mobile and other wireless devices operate. The design antenna shows very good omni-directional characteristics and scattering parameter S11 value less than -10db. The dipole is made of two concentric hallow cylinder with different radius and different lengths. The antenna is fed at the center with coaxial cable pass through the bottom cylinder and thus avoids the use of complicated balun network. The impedance bandwidth and the radiation pattern are measured and analyzed both at 900 MHz and 1.8 GHz. The antenna can also be used GSM/DCS/WCDMA/CDMA2000/ TD-SCDMA /WLAN applications at both indoor and outdoor platform.
A real-time face tracking system based on a single PTZ camera

Conventional online education platforms implement a combination of static and PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras which are not only costly but also require operators and high computational power. In this paper, we establish a real-time face tracking system based on a single PTZ camera with automatic operation as a cost effective solution. The proposed system takes into account the camera movement and network delays in the tracking algorithm design while maintaining cost and flexibility in practical implementation.
Abstract W MP90: Suppression of Endothelial Cell Alpha5Beta1 Integrin Prevents Ischemic Stroke Injury in Mice

Although breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) leads to significant injury after ischemic stroke, therapies that target this breakdown have been unsuccessful in improving patient outcomes. We hypothesize that the α5β1 integrin, a receptor that is conditionally upregulated in brain endothelial cells following ischemic stroke, could play a critical role in worsening ischemic injury and functional outcome by contributing to BBB breakdown. To investigate this hypothesis, we performed transient CCA/MCA occlusion in endothelial cell specific α5 integrin knockout (α5 KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice treated with a α5β1 small peptide inhibitor ATN-161. Following experimental stroke, while WT control mice showed significant TTC-visualized infarcts by post-stroke day (PSD) 3, α5 KO mice and WT mice treated with ATN-161 had minimal to no discernible infarcts. Cresyl violet neuronal stain further demonstrated little to no tissue disruption and neuronal injury on PSD 1-3 in the α5 KO stroked brains. Furthermore, the BBB remained intact in the stroked α5 KO mice as evidenced by absent IgG staining in the brain parenchyma which was otherwise abundant in stroked WTs. Likewise, several markers of BBB stability such as the tight junction proteins Claudin-5 and ZO-1 were found to be upregulated in the α5 KO mice after stroke. Importantly, α5 KO mice did not have any difference in cerebrovascular anatomy or collateral brain blood flow that could otherwise account for these results. Finally, in vitro assays of brain endothelial cells exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) demonstrated that ATN-161 could prevent OGD-mediated increased endothelial cell permeability as measured by TEER and FITC-dextran, and enhanced beneficial Claudin-5 rearrangement at the cell surface. Taken together, these results suggest that suppression of α5 integrin in brain endothelial cells conveys significant resistance to experimental ischemic stroke injury due, at least in part, to enhanced BBB stability, and suggest that α5β1 integrin represents a novel and very promising therapeutic target for stroke.
Understanding i/o performance using i/o skeletal applications

We address the difficulty involved in obtaining meaningful measurements of I/O performance in HPC applications, as well as the further challenge of understanding the causes of I/O bottlenecks in these applications. The need for I/O optimization is critical given the difficulty in scaling I/O to ever increasing numbers of processing cores. To address this need, we have pioneered a new approach to the analysis of I/O performance using automatic generation of I/O benchmark codes given a high-level description of an application's I/O pattern. By combining this with low-level characterization of the performance of the various components of the underlying I/O method we are able to produce a complete picture of the I/O behavior of an application. We compare the performance measurements obtained using Skel, the tool that implements our approach, with those of an instrumented version of the original application to show that our approach is accurate. We demonstrate the use of Skel to compare the performance of several I/O methods. Finally we show that the detailed breakdown of timing information produced by Skel provides better understanding of the reasons for the performance differences between the examined I/O methods. We conclude that our approach facilitates faster, more accurate and more meaningful I/O performance testing, allowing application I/O performance to be predicted, and new systems and I/O methods to be evaluated.
Selective Binding of Blood Group-Reactive Salivary Mucins by Streptococcus mutans and Other Oral Organisms

Strains of Streptococcus mutans of four genetic groups and five serotypes, and strains of S. sanguis, S. mitis, S. salivarius, Actinomyces naeslundii, and A. viscosus, were found to bind blood group-reactive (BGR) mucin isolated from whole human saliva. The bacteria studied bound mucins with blood type A or B reactivity to a similar extent, suggesting that the carbohydrate moieties responsible for the A and B antigenic determinants were not involved. The organisms studied appeared to bind different fractions of BGR mucin molecules because preparations absorbed with cells of a given oral species no longer contained BGR molecules which bound to homologous organisms but still possessed BGR components which bound to varying degrees to other bacteria. Differences were even noted among S. mutans strains belonging to different genetic groups and serological types. Immunoglobulins could not be detected in the mucin preparations, and addition of anti-human immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, or IgM serum to reaction mixtures did not affect binding. Mucin pretreated with periodate or iodoacetate no longer bound to S. mutans H12 cells, suggesting that carbohydrate moieties and sulfhydryl groups played an essential role. Active cell metabolism was not required for BGR mucin binding; however, pretreatment of H12 cells with periodate or heat (100 degrees C for 15 min) reduced binding. Mucin labeled with [(14)C]phenyl isothiocyanate appeared to bind to S. mutans H12 cells comparably to untreated mucin; the binding also appeared to be specific because less than 15% of the labeled material became bound when incubated with an excess of streptococci. Binding of [(14)C]phenyl isothiocyanate-labeled mucin was not affected by neutral sugars tested or by preparations of c antigen, glycerol teichoic acid, dextran, or crude glucosyltransferase. However, binding was inhibited by several amines. BGR salivary mucins are present in the acquired pellicle covering teeth; the ability of bacteria to selectively bind such components suggest that they may serve as receptor molecules involved in the attachment of bacteria to teeth.
Sulfated Polysaccharides and a Synthetic Sulfated Polymer Are Potent Inhibitors of Chlamydia trachomatis Infectivity In Vitro but Lack Protective Efficacy in an In Vivo Murine Model of Chlamydial Genital Tract Infection

Heparin, dextran sulfate, pentosan polysulfate, and a sulfated synthetic copolymer of acrylic acid and vinyl alcohol were shown to be potent inhibitors of Chlamydia trachomatis infectivity for cultured human epithelial cells. Despite their potent antichlamydial activity in vitro, neither heparin nor dextran sulfate was effective in inhibiting the infectivity of C. trachomatis in a murine model of chlamydial infection of the female genital tract.
Analysis of synchrony demonstrates ‘pain networks’ defined by rapidly switching, task-specific, functional connectivity between pain-related cortical structures

Abstract Imaging studies indicate that experimental pain is processed in multiple cortical areas which are often characterized as a network. However, the functional connectivity within the network and the other properties of the network is poorly understood. Substantial evidence demonstrates that synchronous oscillations between two cortical areas may indicate functional connectivity between those areas. We test the hypothesis that cortical areas with pain-related activity are functionally connected during attention to a painful stimulus. We stimulated with a painful, cutaneous, laser stimulus and recorded the response directly from the cortical surface (electrocorticography – ECoG) over primary somatosensory (SI), parasylvian (PS), and medial frontal (MF) cortex through subdural electrodes implanted for treatment of epilepsy. The results demonstrate synchrony of ECoGs between cortical structures receiving input from nociceptors, as indicated by the occurrence of laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) and/or event-related desynchronization (ERD). Prior to the stimulus, directed attention to the painful stimulus consistently increased the degree of synchrony between SI and PS regions, as the subject anticipated the stimulus. After the laser stimulus, directed attention to the painful stimulus consistently increased the degree of synchrony between SI and MF cortex, as the subject responded by counting the stimulus. Therefore, attention to painful stimuli always enhanced synchrony between cortical pain-related structures. The pattern of this synchrony changed as the patient switched tasks from anticipation of the stimulus to counting the stimulus. These results are the first compelling evidence of pain networks characterized by rapidly switching, task-specific functional connectivity.
Pattern and polarization measurements of integrated-circuit spiral antennas at 10-μm wavelength

Radiation patterns are presented for planar equiangular spiral antennas at wavelengths of approximately 10 micrometers . These antennas are fabricated using integrated-circuit processes on silicon substrates and are coupled through dielectric lenses. Patterns are presented over a full 2D scan for orthogonal linear polarizations, and for left- circular (LCP) and right-circular (RCP) polarizations. The antennas respond preferentially to left-circularly polarized radiation, as expected for the left-handed sense of the spiral arms. Cross-polarization ratios as large as 10 dB in circular polarization are obtained, corresponding to an axial ratio of 1.2. No difference in response between horizontally and vertically polarized radiation is observed, as expected for circularly polarized antennas. Directivities as large as 14 dB in left-circular polarization have been obtained. The cross-polarized directivity is considerably lower than the co-polarized directivity. All patterns are approximately circularly symmetric about the (theta) equals 0 axis. The cross-polarization ratio and pattern symmetry strongly depend on the alignment of the antenna and detector response is antenna coupled, even at radiation wavelength of the same order of magnitude as the resolution limit of the optical lithography used to define the antenna geometry.
Selection of scale for Everglades landscape models

This article addresses the problem of determining the optimal “Model Grain” or spatial resolution (scale) for landscape modeling in the Everglades. Selecting an appropriate scale for landscape modeling is a critical task that is necessary before using spatial data for model development. How the landscape is viewed in a simulation model is dependent on the scale (cell size) in which it is created. Given that different processes usually have different rates of fluctuations (frequencies), the question of selection of an appropriate modeling scale is a difficult one and most relevant to developing spatial ecosystem models.
Statistical properties of the interplanetary microscale fluctuations

Results are reported for a statistical study of short-period fluctuations in the interplanetary plasma velocity and magnetic field. The data base used consists of measurements of the interplanetary plasma and magnetic field by Pioneer 6 with a time resolution of 72 sec and by Mariner 5 with a resolution of 5 min. The analysis is conducted to characterize the parent population from which all individual microscale events on these time scales are drawn. The microscale changes are grouped according to their energy densities relative to the energy density of the background magnetic field, and it is found that each grouping exhibits certain statistical properties within the limits of observational uncertainty. It is noted that these statistical properties are purely observational and independent of any physical model which may be used to interpret them. The results are discussed in the context of MHD discontinuity theory for a thermally anisotropic plasma.
DISSECTION OF FUNCTIONAL SITES ON THE RECEPTOR FOR EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR

The epidermal growth factor receptor is a protein of 1186 amino acyl residues, which appears to be disposed as a 621-residue extracytoplasmic domain, a 23-residue transmembrane segment, and a 542-residue cytoplasmic domain. The binding of EGF to the extracytoplasmic domain of the receptor causes the dimerization of the receptor and the activation of a tyrosyl residue-specific protein kinase that forms part of the cytoplasmic domain of the receptor. We have applied a variety of techniques to identify individual residues within the receptor with specific receptor functions. Within the extracytoplasmic domain, residues adjacent to bound EGF are being identified by a strategy involving affinity cross-linking and protein microsequencing. Murine EGF (mEGF), which contains no Lys and therefore has the α-amino group as its only primary amine, and site-directed mutants of mEGF, which contain a single Lys and an Asn1 → Gln substitution in which the resulting Gln1 is chemically cyclized to pyroglutamate, are each modified on their single amino group with sulfo-N-succinimidyl 4-(fluorosulfonyl) benzoate. The resulting p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl derivative of the EGF species is allowed to bind to the receptor, whereupon it reacts covalently with it. Limit proteolysis and sequencing are used to identify the modified residue of the receptor, e.g., mEGF modified on the α-amino terminus cross-links with Tyr101. Within the cytoplasmic domain, two residues essential for kinase activity have been identified. Lys721, identified by affinity labeling with 5′-(p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl) adenosine and protein sequencing, appears to position the α- and β-phosphates of ATP within the active site and is essential for phosphoryl transfer. Asp813 appears to function as the catalytic base for phosphoryl transfer, as site-directed mutagenesis of Asp813 → Ala abolishes kinase activity.
A Calculation of the Electron Affinity of Sodium

A wave function of the form $\ensuremath{\Phi}=\ensuremath{\phi}({r}_{1},{r}_{2})(1+c{r}_{12})$ is assumed for the ($3s$) electrons of ${\mathrm{Na}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, to take into account the polarization effect of the added electron, an effect neglected by the Hartree method. On this basis the electron affinity of sodium is calculated to be +1.2 ev and therefore the negative ion is stable. The decrease in energy relative to the Hartree result is mainly due to the increased separation and consequent lowered interaction potential energy of the ($3s$) electrons. Since the ($4s$) electrons of ${\mathrm{K}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ should be strongly polarized, the electron affinity of potassium can be estimated to be about +0.7 ev.
The long-term outcome of patients who suffered and survived an acute myocardial infarction in the midst of recurrent attacks of variant angina

Twenty-one patients, ranging in age between 28 and 59 years, who survived hospitalization for an acute myocardial infarction in association with repetitive attacks of variant angina, were followed prospectively for 59.1 +/- 5.1 (SEM) (range 17-120) months. Four patients died, one of sudden death 17 months after admission, one of congestive heart failure at 33 months, and two of cancer at 43 and 45 months of follow-up. Three patients had four new myocardial infarctions at 22, 32, 33, and 61 months of follow-up. Six patients were readmitted for angina or other cardiac reasons. Twelve patients remained asymptomatic throughout the follow-up and one more patient was asymptomatic before and after his recurrent myocardial infarction. No relapse of variant angina was documented. Thus, the long-term course of patients with variant angina culminating in acute myocardial infarction is relatively benign, despite the highly unstable features of their initial presentation.
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide causes relaxation of the pyloric sphincter in the rabbit

Abstract Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), which causes relaxation of gastrointestinal smooth muscle, has been found in high concentrations in the pylorus in many animal species, suggesting a prominent role for VIP in the control of pyloric sphincter function. We infused VIP into the gastric artery of 6 rabbits at rates from 12 to 1,200 ng/min and measured the intensity, duration, and frequency of spontaneous pyloric contractions with an intraluminal balloon and electromyography. VIP produced a dose-dependent reduction in the intensity (55% ± 15% of baseline, P P P
Transtracheal oxygen catheters

Over the past 20 years a variety of transtracheal catheters have been developed for long-term oxygen therapy. A modified Seldinger technique has been the standard in the past, but a more recent procedure for surgical creation of the tracheocutaneous tract presents a number of potential advantages. TTO should be administered as a program of care, and recent advances with a streamlined and shortened program have simplified and improved the delivery of a technology that has a number of potential benefits and established safety. TTO may further increase the oxygen conservation efficiency of demand oxygen controller devices, and studies have shown TTO to be a potential alternative to nasal oxygen, continuous positive airway pressure, and tracheotomy for severe obstructive sleep apnea. Very high flows (> 10 L/minute) of a humidified air/oxygen blend, termed transtracheal augmented ventilation, extend the physiologic benefits of TTO and have promise in both the outpatient nocturnal ventilatory support of patients with severe respiratory disease and in liberation of patients from prolonged mechanical ventilation.
Motion of a DNA sliding clamp observed by single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy.

DNA sliding clamps attach to polymerases and slide along DNA to allow rapid, processive replication of DNA. These clamps contain many positively charged residues that could curtail the sliding due to attractive interactions with the negatively charged DNA. By single-molecule spectroscopy we have observed a fluorescently labeled sliding clamp (polymerase III β subunit or β clamp) loaded onto freely diffusing, single-stranded M13 circular DNA annealed with fluorescently labeled DNA oligomers of up to 90 bases. We find that the diffusion constant for the β clamp diffusing along DNA is on the order of 10–14 m2/s, at least 3 orders of magnitude less than that for diffusion through water alone. We also find evidence that the β clamp remains at the 3′ end in the presence of Escherichia coli single-stranded-binding protein. These results may imply that the clamp not only acts to hold the polymerase on the DNA but also prevents excessive drifting along the DNA.
Study of Branched Turboprop Inlet Ducts Using a Multiple Block Grid Calculation Procedure

An important requirement in the design of an inlet duct of a turboprop engine is the ability to provide foreign object damage protection. A possible method for providing this protection is to include a bypass branch duct as an integral part of the main inlet duct. This arrangement would divert ingested debris away from the engine through the bypass. However, such an arrangement could raise the possibility of separated flow in the inlet, which in turn can increase pressure losses if not properly accounted for during the design. A fully elliptic three-dimensional body-fitted computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code based on pressure correction techniques has been developed that has the capability of performing multiple block grid calculations compatible with present day turboshaft and turboprop branched inlet ducts. Calculations are iteratively performed between sets of overlapping grids with one grid representing the main duct and a second grid representing the branch duct. Both the grid generator and the flow solver have been suitably developed to achieve this capability. The code can handle multiple branches in the flow. Using the converged flow field from this code, another program was written to perform a particle trajectory analysis. Numerical solutions were obtained on a supercomputer for a typical branched duct for which experimental flow and pressure measurements were also made. The flow separation zones predicted by the calculations were found to be in good agreement with those observed in the experimental tests. The total pressure recovery factors measured in the experiments were also compared with those obtained numerically. Within the limits of the grid resolution and the turbulence model, the agreement was found to be fairly good. In order to simulate the path of debris entering the duct, the trajectories of spherical particles of different sizes introduced at the inlet were determined.
Overview of Radiation-induced Skin Cancer in Humans

There are about a dozen studies of the incidence of skin cancer among irradiated populations with known skin doses that are available for estimating the risk of radiation-induced skin cancer. It is of note that they provide no evidence for a dose threshold and are compatible with a linear dose-response relationship, at least for ultraviolet radiation exposed skin. The studies also provide varying amounts of evidence concerning a number of other important issues in assessing skin cancer risk: types of skin cancer induced by ionizing radiation, the appropriateness of relative risk vs absolute risk models, combined effects of ionizing and UV radiations, and variations in sensitivity to skin cancer induction among demographic and genetic subgroups. Little epidemiological information is available on several factors, such as the RBE for high-LET radiation, the effects of dose protraction or fractionation, or variations in risk by age at irradiation. A reasonable estimate of skin cancer lethality was 0.2 per cent when weighted for the relative proportions of squamous cell and basal cell skin cancers. Average risk estimates of radiation-induced skin cancer incidence were: absolute risk (AR) of 8.5 X 10(-4) person-year-Sv and excess relative risk (RR) of 52 per cent/Sv. Lifetime skin cancer risk was calculated by life-table methods for males from exposures spread out over ages 20-60 years. The estimates for excess skin cancer incidence were 2 per cent and 11 per cent per Sv under the AR and RR models, respectively, while the corresponding mortality risks were 4 X 10(-5) and 2 X 10(-4) per Sv.
Risk Factors for Optic Disc Hemorrhage in the Low-Pressure Glaucoma Treatment Study

Purpose To investigate risk factors for disc hemorrhage detection in the Low-Pressure Glaucoma Treatment Study. Design Cohort of a randomized, double-masked, multicenter clinical trial. Methods Low-Pressure Glaucoma Treatment Study patients with at least 16 months of follow-up were included. Exclusion criteria included untreated intraocular pressure (IOP) of more than 21 mm Hg, visual field mean deviation worse than −16 dB, or contraindications to study medications. Patients were randomized to topical treatment with timolol 0.5% or brimonidine 0.2%. Stereophotographs were reviewed independently by 2 masked graders searching for disc hemorrhages. The main outcomes investigated were the detection of disc hemorrhage at any time during follow-up and their recurrence. Ocular and systemic risk factors for disc hemorrhage detection were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model and were tested further for independence in a multivariate model. Results Two hundred fifty-three eyes of 127 subjects (mean age, 64.7 ± 10.9 years; women, 58%; European ancestry, 71%) followed up for an average ± standard deviation of 40.6 ± 12 months were included. In the multivariate analysis, history of migraine (hazard ratio [HR], 5.737; P = .012), narrower neuroretinal rim width at baseline (HR, 2.91; P = .048), use of systemic β-blockers (HR, 5.585; P = .036), low mean systolic blood pressure (HR, 1.06; P = .02), and low mean arterial ocular perfusion pressure during follow-up (HR, 1.172; P = .007) were significant and independent risk factors for disc hemorrhage detection. Treatment randomization was not associated with either the occurrence or recurrence of disc hemorrhages. Conclusions In this cohort of Low-Pressure Glaucoma Treatment Study patients, migraine, baseline narrower neuroretinal rim width, low systolic blood pressure and mean arterial ocular perfusion pressure, and use of systemic β-blockers were risk factors for disc hemorrhage detection. Randomization assignment did not influence the frequency of disc hemorrhage detection.
Dating, marital, and hypothetical extradyadic involvements: How do they compare?

Patterns of extradyadic involvement (EDI) were assessed for three samples: an undergraduate dating sample and a community marital sample reporting on an actual experience of EDI, and an undergraduate sample which denied recent EDI and was asked to imagine a hypothetical experience of EDI. Good consistency of responses within and between measures was found for the hypothetical EDI sample. Persons reporting on a hypothetical EDI were generally less approving of EDI and imagined that they would experience higher levels of primary relationship satisfaction, overall remorse, and specific types of distress, particularly in comparison to the dating EDI group. Relative to the dating EDI group, the marital EDI group recalled greater dissonance with the EDI behavior, more concern about disapproval from others, and higher levels of intimacy, self-esteem, and love reasons for the EDI. No differences were found among the groups on the level of emotional closeness with the extradyadic partner.
Semi-infinite optimization formulation to obtain accurate phenomenological models for all phases of ferroelectric-ferroelastic crystals

A formulation based on semi-infinite optimization is proposed to obtain accurate thermodynamic phenomenological models over all phases of ferroelectric and ferroelastic materials. The formulation is illustrated with barium titanate (BaTiO/sub 3/) single crystals. Analogous to the Devonshire theory, the elastic Gibbs function is expressed as a truncated Taylor series in terms of the polarization vector components, whose coefficients are unknown functions of temperature. Employing a methodology based on semi-infinite optimization, the unknown coefficients are determined using experimental measurements. In contrast to all existing methods in the literature, the methodology proposed herein yields models that accurately predict the ferroelectric properties such as phase transitions, spontaneous polarization, and permittivity over a large temperature range. The objective function-which is a measure of the relative error in the phenomenological model-for the optimal model shows a difference of more than 500% over the models obtained using previously proposed methods.
The Kantorovich Theorem and interior point methods

The Kantorovich Theorem is a fundamental tool in nonlinear analysis which has been extensively used in classical numerical analysis. In this paper we show that it can also be used in analyzing interior point methods. We obtain optimal bounds for Newton’s method when relied upon in a path following algorithm for linear complementarity problems.
A simple quenching method for fluorescence background reduction and its application to the direct, quantitative detection of specific mRNA.

New genome sequence information is rapidly increasing the number of nucleic acid (NA) targets of use for characterizing and treating diseases. Detection of these targets by fluorescence-based assays is often limited by fluorescence background from unincorporated or unbound probes that are present in large excess over the target. To solve this problem, energy transfer-based probes have been developed and used to reduce the fluorescence from unbound probes. Although these probes have revolutionized NA target detection, their use requires scrupulous attention to design constraints, extensive probe quality control, and individually optimized experimental conditions. Here, we describe a simpler background reduction approach using singly labeled quencher oligomers to suppress excess unbound probe fluorescence following probe−target hybridization. A second limitation of most fluorescence-based NA target detection and quantification assays is the requirement for enzymatic amplification of target or signal for sen...
Correlation between pulmonary regurgitation and right ventricular myocardial performance index in TOF patients after surgical repair

Abstract Objective and aim Residual PR after repair of tetralogy of Fallot is an important determinant of the outcome of patients. Patients and methods We aim to assess severity of PR by PR index and diastolic/systolic time velocity integrals (DSTVI) and to correlate both of them to RVMPI, to detect which is more likely to reflect RV global function. This is a cross sectional study in which 33 patients with repaired TOF, and 46 controls were enrolled. For each patient full medical history and examination were obtained, conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography were done, to measure pulmonary regurgitation by two indices: PR index and diastolic systolic time velocity integrals (DSTVI), to measure myocardial tissue velocities at the tricuspid annulus, to determine RVMPI, and to correlate it to the PR indices. Results our study included 33 patients with totally corrected TOF, and 46 controls, there were statistically significant differences in S′,E′,A′ velocities, and RVMPI between cases and controls, no statistically significant correlation between PR index, DSTVI and the RVMPI of the patients. Conclusion Tissue Doppler RVMPI in patients after surgical repair of Fallot tetralogy is not correlated to the degree of PR measured by two indices: PR index and DSTVI, a new index that can assess severity of PR and correlate to RV functions is required.
Early changes in optic disc compliance and surface position in experimental glaucoma

Abstract Purpose: To detect changes in the compliance and baseline position (position at the baseline time point of a compliance test) of the monkey optic disc after the onset of chronic experimental glaucoma. Methods: Sixty-six compliance tests were performed on 26 eyes of 13 monkeys. Longitudinal Study . In seven normal monkeys, compliance tests were performed three times in one eye (study eye) and once in the contralateral eye. In the study eye of five of these monkeys, chronic experimental glaucoma was then induced and compliance tests were performed at some or all of the following postglaucoma testing intervals: 1 to 2 weeks, 3 to 4 weeks, 5 to 8 weeks, 9 to 12 weeks, 13 to 18 weeks, and more than 18 weeks after the onset of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). In the study eye of the remaining two monkeys, the optic nerve was transected, and compliance was tested at 5, 9, and 13 weeks after transection. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to detect an increase (hypercompliance) or decrease (rigidity) in the compliance of the glaucomatous eyes at each testing interval. A second ANOVA was performed to detect the onset of chronic posterior deformation of the baseline position of each disc. Cross-Sectional Study . In six additional monkeys with pre-existing experimental glaucoma, the glaucomatous study eye was compliance tested at one of the postglaucoma testing intervals used in the longitudinal study. The contralateral normal eye was compliance tested once. These data were then added to the data from the five longitudinally studied monkeys at the appropriate preglaucoma and postglaucoma testing intervals. A third ANOVA was done to compare the compliance of the expanded group of glaucomatous eyes at each postintervention testing interval with the compliance of the 13 normal contralateral eyes. Results: Compliance. In the longitudinally (Pr > F=0.0005) and cross-sectionally (Pr > F=0.0001) studied glaucomatous eyes, optic disc compliance increased significantly by 1 to 2 weeks and then returned to a level statistically indistinguishable from normal within 13 to 18 weeks after the onset of glaucoma. In the transection eyes, the optic discs were significantly less compliant (more rigid) at 5 and 9 weeks after transection compared with the discs in either the normal or the glaucomatous eyes (Pr > F Baseline Optic Disc Position . Chronic posterior deformation of the disc was detected in one of three eyes tested 1 to 2 weeks and three of four eyes tested 3 to 4 weeks after the onset of glaucoma (Pr > F Conclusion: Changes in optic disc compliance and surface position were detected by digitized image analysis within 2 to 4 weeks of the onset of experimental glaucoma in the monkey eye. These findings are unlikely to be due to axon loss alone, because they did not occur in optic nerve transection eyes (which constitute a model of axon loss in which intraocular pressures remain normal). The results suggest that IOP-related damage to the load-bearing connective tissues of the optic nerve head may occur early in the course of experimental glaucoma.
A New (Old), Invasive Ant in the Hardwood Forests of Eastern North America and Its Potentially Widespread Impacts

Biological invasions represent a serious threat for the conservation of biodiversity in many ecosystems. While many social insect species and in particular ant species have been introduced outside their native ranges, few species have been successful at invading temperate forests. In this study, we document for the first time the relationship between the abundance of the introduced ant, Pachycondyla chinensis, in mature forests of North Carolina and the composition, abundance and diversity of native ant species using both a matched pair approach and generalized linear models. Where present, P. chinensis was more abundant than all native species combined. The diversity and abundance of native ants in general and many individual species were negatively associated with the presence and abundance of P. chinensis. These patterns held regardless of our statistical approach and across spatial scales. Interestingly, while the majority of ant species was strongly and negatively correlated with the abundance and presence of P. chinensis, a small subset of ant species larger than P. chinensis was either as abundant or even more abundant in invaded than in uninvaded sites. The large geographic range of this ant species combined with its apparent impact on native species make it likely to have cascading consequences on eastern forests in years to come, effects mediated by the specifics of its life history which is very different from those of other invasive ants. The apparent ecological impacts of P. chinensis are in addition to public health concerns associated with this species due to its sometimes, deadly sting.