cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute Neuromuscular Weakness in the Intensive Care Unit

Acute neuromuscular weakness in the intensive care unit is increasingly recognized. This is often caused by one the following disorders: critical illness myopathy, critical illness polyneuropathy, and prolonged neuromuscular junction blockade. These three disorders are the focal points of this chapter which will relate their clinical, electrodiagnostic, and pathologic features as well as discuss pathogenesis and controversies. However, potential subgroups of the three major disorders and the differential diagnosis of weakness in the ICU patient are also discussed.
Interface Chemistry Dependent Mechanical Properties in Energetic Materials Using Nano-Scale Impact Experiment

Energetic materials are sensitive to mechanical shock and defects caused by a high velocity impact, which may result in unwanted detonation due to hot-spot formation. In order to understand the underlying mechanism, characterization of high strain rate mechanical properties needs to be studied. One of the key factors that can contribute to this type of defect is the failure initiated at the interfaces such as those between Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)-HMX (or HTPB-Ammonium Perchlorate (AP)). In this work, interface mechanical properties of HTPB-HMX (and HTPB-AP) interfaces are characterized using nano-scale impact experiments at strain rates up to 100 s−1. The experiments were conducted with impactor of radius 1 μm on the interfaces with varying amount of binding agent. For HTPB-AP samples, Tepanol is used as the binding agent. The impact response is determined in the bulk HTPB, HMX, and AP as well as at the HTPB-HMX and HTPB-AP interfaces. A power law viscoplastic constitutive model is fitted to experimental stress-strain-strain rate data which can be used in Finite Element Model simulation to predict the shock behavior of energetic materials. An in-situ mechanical Raman spectroscopy (MRS) setup was used to analyze the effect of interface chemistry on interface level stress variation. The stress distribution near the interface captures the effect of interface chemistry variation.
Pharmacology of chenodeoxycholic acid. I. Pharmaceutical properties.

Chemical and physical properties of eight different commercial preparations of chenodeoxycholic (chenic) acid were defined to provide background information for subsequent bioavailability studies. All samples had high chemical purity by gas-liquid chromatography and by enzymatic analysis, but samples differed considerably in crystal morphology when examined by scanning electron and light microscopy. Only two samples were crystalline by X-ray diffraction, and these two samples had unequivocal endotherms by differential thermal analysis. In buffer, chenic acid showed low equilibrium solubility (less than 0.1 mM) at pH 6, but solubility increased strikingly above pH 6.8. In a micellar solution simulating intestinal content during digestion, solubility was higher than in buffer below pH 6 and then increased markedly above pH 6.2. The rate of dissolution of chenic acid in simulated intestinal content was characterized. All samples dissolved very rapidly with the exception of a single preparation which was composed of large crystals by microscopy. After milling, this preparation also dissolved rapidly. Attempts to measure dissolution kinetics using a pH-stat were unsuccessful, since base consumption occurred in the absence of dissolution. Concomitant with base exchange, the suspension became viscous, consistent with liquid crystal formation, involving the formation of polymolecular helices, as has been previously documented for deoxycholic acid. The formation of a liquid crystalline phase by a mixture of ionized and nonionized chenic acid was also confirmed by phase equilibria studies. The major conclusion was that pure chenic acid, irrespective of its crystal habit, should dissolve rapidly in intestinal content, provided its particle size is small.
Mesoscale Convective Systems

Abstract Chapter 9 discusses the dynamics of precipitating mesoscale systems, including tropical and mid-latitude squall lines, tropical and mid-latitude cloud clusters including mesoscale convective complexes, mesoscale convective vortices, and genesis of tropical cyclones.
Incorporating Intra-Spectral Dependencies with a Recurrent Output Layer for Improved Speech Enhancement

Deep-learning based speech enhancement systems have offered tremendous gains, where the best performing approaches use long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to model temporal speech correlations. These models, however, do not consider the frequency-level correlations within a single time frame, as spectral dependencies along the frequency axis are often ignored. This results in inaccurate frequency responses that negatively affect perceptual quality and intelligibility. We propose a deep-learning approach that considers temporal and frequency-level dependencies. More specifically, we enforce spectral-level dependencies within each spectral time frame through the introduction of a recurrent output layer that models the Markovian assumption along the frequency axis. We evaluate our approach in a variety of speech and noise environments, and objectively show that this recurrent spectral layer offers performance gains over traditional approaches. We also show that our approach outperforms recent approaches that consider frequency-level dependencies.
Freeway vehicle fuel efficiency improvement via cooperative adaptive cruise control

Quantifying the effect of Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) on traffic mobility and vehicle fuel consumption has been a challenge because it requires a modeling framework that depicts the ...
Configurational entropic study of the enhanced longevity in resonant oscillons

Abstract We use an information-theoretic measure of shape complexity known as configurational entropy (CE) to investigate numerically the remarkably long lifetimes of spherically-symmetric “resonant oscillons” in three-dimensional and of azimuthally-symmetric oscillons in two-dimensional relativistic scalar field theories, which have been conjectured to be infinite. In 3d, we obtain a power law relating a stability measure derived from CE to the oscillons' lifetimes that, upon extrapolation to large times, offers support to this conjecture. In 2d, we obtain a three-way relation between the oscillons' energies, a CE-derived measure of their stability, and their radiation rates to support the conjecture that they asymptotically tend toward a classically-stable attractor solution.
Integrating a Novel Global Surgery and Health Inequity Course to the Surgical Clerkship.

Objective Medical students report growing interest in health inequity and global surgery, subjects not currently integrated to their core curriculum. Currently, fundamental tenets of global surgical inequity are only available to students on an elective basis or in special interest groups. Therefore, an hour-long course with emphasis on global surgery was developed for third-year medical students. The aim of this study was to examine student response to this pilot course and to establish whether course content was applicable to clinical rotations. Design A 1-hour structured curriculum was delivered to third-year medical students (MS3s) during the 2-day orientation phase of each rotation of an 8-week surgery clerkship from August 2018 to May 2019. The course targeted approximately 30 students per session in the preclinical orientation at Rutgers—New Jersey Medical School. Upon completion of the 8-week clerkship rotation, a paper survey was administered to evaluate student's exposure to previous content, attitudes toward global health, interest and engagement in course materials, and applicability of learned course content to local environments. Setting Rutgers—New Jersey Medical School, an urban medical school located in Newark, New Jersey. Participants A total of 191 students attended the global surgery and health equity course; 146 participants participated in the postcourse survey. Results When asked about baseline interest in global or public health, the majority (51%) were extremely interested or very interested. Nearly all participants found the course to be valuable (94%). When asked which educational modality was preferred, 23% of participants favored the traditional lecture component and 29% favored case-based discussions. Nearly half (48%) the respondents found both modalities to be valuable. Fifty students (34% of respondents) reported encounters with patients affected by barriers in access to surgical care during their clerkships. Conclusions Medical students responded favorably to this health inequity and global surgery pilot course and requested supplemental lectures. Additionally, course content was applicable to local clinical experiences. Therefore, 1 modality of integrating global surgery to the established curriculum is under the framework of health inequity and social determinants of health during surgical clerkships. This study demonstrates that meaningful inclusion of global surgery and health inequity can be implemented within the existing curricular structure.
A Robust Preconditioner for High-Contrast Problems (Research)

This paper concerns robust numerical treatment of an elliptic PDE with high contrast coefficients. A finite-element discretization of such an equation yields a linear system whose conditioning worsens as the variations in the values of PDE coefficients becomes large. This paper introduces a procedure by which the discrete system obtained from a linear finite element discretization of the given continuum problem is converted into an equivalent linear system of the saddle point type. Then a robust preconditioner for the Lanczos method of minimized iterations for solving the derived saddle point problem is proposed. Robustness with respect to the contrast parameter and the mesh size is justified. Numerical examples support theoretical results and demonstrate independence of the number of iterations on the contrast, the mesh size and also on the different contrasts on the inclusions.
Associations Between Parole, Probation, Arrest, and Self-reported Suicide Attempts.

This study estimated the associations between three categories of recent community criminal justice (CJ) involvement (arrest, parole, and probation) and suicide attempts, while accounting for how the categories overlap. Participants included adults aged ≥ 18 who completed the 2008–2014 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. The outcome was self-reported suicide attempt(s) in the past 12 months (in the community or while incarcerated). Community CJ involvement included parole, probation, and/or arrest(s) during the past 12 months. Controls with no recent CJ involvement were matched to those with any recent involvement on demographics and education. We calculated the 12-month prevalence of suicide attempts for those reporting recent parole, probation, and arrest, including their overlaps. Logistic regression models estimated the associations between each category of recent CJ involvement and suicide attempts, controlling for their overlapping and covariates. There were 15,462 participants with recent community CJ involvement and 248,520 matched controls. The 12-month prevalence of suicide attempts was 3.2% for those with recent parole, 2.7% for probation, and 3.3% for arrest, which were all greater than the matched controls (1.0%, p < 0.001 for each). After controlling for overlapping and covariates, arrest was associated with suicide attempts (RR = 1.80, 99% CI 1.47–2.19), but neither parole (RR = 1.00, 99% CI 0.64–1.56) nor probation (RR = 0.81, 99% CI 0.61–1.08) were. Adults with recent arrest had higher risk of suicide attempts than those with parole, probation, or matched controls with no CJ involvement. Recent arrest may signify elevated risk and warrant increased screening and intervention.
Transforming Acquisitions and Collection Services: Perspectives on Collaboration Within and Across Libraries . Michelle Flinchbaugh, Chuck Thomas, Rob Tench, Vicki Sipe, Robin Barnard Moskal, Lynda L. Aldana, and Erica A. Owusu, eds. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press, 2019. 442p. $49.99 (ISBN 978-1-55753-845-1).

The Charleston Library Conference is one of the most venerable annual gatherings in librarianship, and one of just a handful whose focus is primarily on issues revolving around collection development. This specific monograph, which is also available electronically in an open access format, is one of at least nine titles that comprise the series Charleston Insights in Library, Archival, and Information Sciences . This volume, as indicated by the title, focuses broadly on change within two areas—Acquisitions and Collection Services—about whose inner workings many public services librarians know little. Not surprisingly, the introduction to the text states explicitly that the primary audience of the text as “library directors, technical services managers, and managers handling acquisitions and collections” (xiii). While it is true that this work relies to some extent upon the reader’s a posteriori knowledge of the world often referred to collectively as Technical Services, and that it is also true that there are variations in quality from chapter to chapter, these case studies offer useful insights to both their intended audience and all those impacted by the critical work done there.
Hormonal regulation of renal inorganic phosphate transport in the winter flounder, Pleuronectes americanus

Intestinal uptake and renal excretion are the primary determinants of inorganic phosphate (Pi) balance in teleosts. In general, teleost kidneys may either reabsorb filtered Pi or secrete excess Pi into the urine. Primary monolayer cultures of flounder (Pleuronectes americanus) renal proximal tubule epithelium (PTCs) have helped identify several hormones that may participate in conservation or excretion of Pi. Mounted in Ussing chambers, the monolayer cultures can be used to assay transepithelial Pi transport. Several factors, including metabolic acidosis, elevation of plasma [Pi], salmon stanniocalcin, salmon somatolactin and mammalian prolactin, have now been shown to alter transepithelial Pi transport in winter flounder PTCs. Salmon stanniocalcin (STC) stimulated Pi luminal-to-peritubular transport (reabsorption) at a dosage of 12.5–50 ng/ml (0.25–1.0 nM). Net Pi transport changed within 30 min and progressively increased from slight net secretion in untreated controls to net reabsorption after 3 h. The target and function of somatolactin have been uncertain. In our hands salmon somatolactin (sSL) also stimulated Pi reabsorption by flounder PTCs in a dose-dependent manner at physiological levels of the hormone (12.5 ng/ml). Net Pi transport was significantly altered by sSL within 2 h after the initial exposure. Neither sSL nor STC had any effect on transepithelial Ca2+ transport. The effects of both sSL and STC were mimicked by forskolin, whereas H-89, a highly specific protein kinase A inhibitor, significantly decreased the effects of the hormones as well as forskolin-induced Pi reabsorption. Furthermore, the production and release of cAMP were increased more than two-fold following exposure to STC or sSL. The data indicate that STC and sSL directly stimulate net renal Pi reabsorption by a cAMP-dependent pathway. In addition, mammalian prolactin greatly, and salmon growth hormone slightly, increased net Pi reabsorptive flux, whereas salmon prolactin had no effect. These results appear to be related to the location of the cysteine disulfide bonds within the molecular structure. Although somatolactin and stanniocalcin may both stimulate renal Pi conservation, their actions may be related to different physiological conditions.
Gallstone pancreatitis: general clinical approach and the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Gallstones account for majority of acute pancreatitis in the Western world. In crease in number and smaller size of the stones increases the risk for biliary pancreatitis. In addition to features of acute pancreatitis, these patients also have cholestatic clinical picture. Fluid therapy and enteral nutrition are vital compo nents in management of any case of acute pancreatitis. During initial evaluation, a right upper quadrant ultrasonogram is particularly important. On a case-by-case basis, further advanced imaging studies such as magnetic resonance chol angiopancreatography or endoscopic ultrasound may be warranted. Acute man agement also involves monitoring for local and systemic complications. Patients are triaged based on predictors of ongoing biliary obstruction in order to identify who would need endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Index cho lecystectomy is safe and recommended, with exception of cases with significant local and systemic complications where delayed cholecystectomy may be safer.
Impact of Face Masks on 6-Minute Walk Test in Healthy Volunteers

Our objective was to establish the impact of wearing a face mask on the outcome of six-minute walk test in healthy volunteers. In a study of 20 healthy volunteers who each completed two 6MWTs, one with a mask and one without, there was no difference in distance walked. However, there was a significant difference in perception of dyspnea between the two groups.
Dietary Blueberry and Soluble Fiber Supplementation Reduces Risk of Gestational Diabetes in Women with Obesity in a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a growing public health concern and maternal obesity and poor dietary intakes could be implicated. Dietary polyphenols and fiber mitigate the risk of diabetes and its complications, but little is known about their efficacy in preventing GDM. OBJECTIVES We examined the effects of whole blueberry and soluble fiber supplementation on primary outcomes of cardiometabolic profiles in women at high risk of developing GDM. METHODS Women (n = 34; mean ± SD age: 27 ± 5 y; BMI: 35.5 ± 4.0 kg/m2; previous history of GDM ∼56%; Hispanic ∼79%) were recruited in early pregnancy (<20 weeks of gestation) and randomly assigned to 1 of the following 2 groups for 18 wk: intervention (280 g whole blueberries and 12 g soluble fiber per day) and standard prenatal care (control). Both groups received nutrition education and maintained 24-h food recalls throughout the study. Data on anthropometrics, blood pressure, and blood samples for biochemical analyses were collected at baseline (<20 weeks), midpoint (24-28 weeks), and end (32-36 weeks) of gestation. Diagnosis of GDM was based on a 2-step glucose challenge test (GCT). Data were analyzed using a mixed-model ANOVA. RESULTS Maternal weight gain was significantly lower in the dietary intervention than in the control group at the end of the trial (mean ± SD: 6.8 ± 3.2 kg compared with 12.0 ± 4.1 kg, P = 0.001). C-reactive protein was also lower in the intervention than in the control group (baseline: 6.1 ± 4.0 compared with 6.8 ± 7.2 mg/L; midpoint: 6.1 ± 3.7 compared with 7.5 ± 7.3 mg/L; end: 5.5 ± 2.2 compared with 9.5 ± 6.6 mg/L, respectively, P = 0.002). Blood glucose based on GCT was lower in the intervention than in the control (100 ± 33 mg/dL compared with 131 ± 40 mg/dL, P < 0.05). Conventional lipids (total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides) did not differ between groups over time. No differences were noted in infant birth weight. CONCLUSIONS Whole blueberry and soluble fiber supplementation may prevent excess gestational weight gain and improve glycemic control and inflammation in women with obesity.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03467503.
The Future of Chondrosarcoma Research and Treatment

Chondrosarcomas are the most common cartilaginous malignancies and predominantly affect adults. These tumors display subtype-specific clinical behaviors, with conventional chondrosarcomas having a notably bleak prognosis due to their resistance to available therapies. Recent technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) have captured the genomic complexity of chondrosarcoma biology, including their variations in DNA mutational profiles, epigenetics, and gene expression. While this has dramatically increased the number of candidate therapeutic targets, the precise genetic and epigenetic changes responsible for chondrosarcoma progression and drug resistance remain unknown as their testing has been limited. Systemic chemotherapeutics and recently tested targeted therapies and immunotherapies have failed to show consistent benefit across CS subtypes. Novel therapeutic targets are desperately needed, and future clinical management will likely be informed by an improved understanding of subtype-specific pathways to aid in combination therapy selection. In this chapter, we discuss the future of chondrosarcoma research and summarize ongoing clinical trials evaluating novel approaches to chondrosarcoma treatment.
Accurate prediction of mutation-induced frequency shifts in chlorophyll proteins with a simple electrostatic model

Photosynthetic pigment–protein complexes control local chlorophyll (Chl) transition frequencies through a variety of electrostatic and steric forces. Site-directed mutations can modify this local spectroscopic tuning, providing critical insight into native photosynthetic functions and offering the tantalizing prospect of creating rationally designed Chl proteins with customized optical properties. Unfortunately, at present, no proven methods exist for reliably predicting mutation-induced frequency shifts in advance, limiting the method’s utility for quantitative applications. Here, we address this challenge by constructing a series of point mutants in the water-soluble chlorophyll protein of Lepidium virginicum and using them to test the reliability of a simple computational protocol for mutation-induced site energy shifts. The protocol uses molecular dynamics to prepare mutant protein structures and the charge density coupling model of Adolphs et al. [Photosynth. Res. 95, 197–209 (2008)] for site energy prediction; a graphical interface that implements the protocol automatically is published online at http://nanohub.org/tools/pigmenthunter. With the exception of a single outlier (presumably due to unexpected structural changes), we find that the calculated frequency shifts match the experiment remarkably well, with an average error of 1.6 nm over a 9 nm spread in wavelengths. We anticipate that the accuracy of the method can be improved in the future with more advanced sampling of mutant protein structures.
Evaluation of bedding plant varieties for resistance to Phytophthora.

Abstract Seedlings of several annual and perennial bedding plant species were inoculated with an isolate of Phytophthora nicotianae (synonym = P. parasitica) and planted into field beds in a simula...
Protein-protein interaction among hemoglobin subunits. A comparison of adult, fetal, and bovine carboxyhemoglobin.

Abstract Alkali resistance, sedimentation velocity, and molecular weights of human adult, fetal and of bovine carboxyhemoglobin were compared. Sedimentation coefficients and molecular weights were determined at a number of pH values between pH 5.7 and 11.9. Bovine hemoglobin, the subunits of which do not recombine, was considerably more alkali resistant than fetal hemoglobin. Hemoglobin A was least resistant. It appears that there are no appreciable differences in the mode of dissociation of these three species of hemoglobin, except at pH 11.9. The differences seen at this pH presumably result from the alkali stability of the symmetric dimer subunit. Monomer formation is a necessary step for the occurrence of recombination after symmetric dissociation. From the close similarities in sedimentation and molecular weight data obtained with the three species of hemoglobin studied, it was concluded that appreciable amounts of monomer are not present in the equilibrium when dissociation is produced by an elevation of pH. The number of titratable groups essential for the integrity of the hemoglobin tetramer between pH 9 and 11.6 ( n ), together with dissociation constants for the three hemoglobins, were calculated. The average value for n obtained was 1.33. The biochemical and crystallographic data available indicate that either of the two tyrosine residues at position α42 or β (γ) 35 were the groups titrated.
Personality Traits of Athletes as Measured by the MMPI

Abstract In this study, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was used to compare the personality ratings of the following groups of college students: 1. Freshman and upper-class athletes and non-athletes; 2. Freshman and varsity athletes who participated in only team, individual, or team and individual sports; and 3. Athletes who were rated as poor or good competitors. On the interest (Mf) variable, the non-athletes scored significantly higher than the athletes. Freshman athletes, freshman non-athletes, and upper-class non-athletes scored significantly higher than the varsity athletes on the anxiety (A) variable. Varsity athletes and the upper-class non-athletes scored significantly higher than the freshman athletes and non-athletes on the dominance (Do) variable. On the social responsibility (Re) variable, the upper-class non-athletes scored significantly higher than the freshman athletes and non-athletes and the varsity athletes. Varsity athletes who participated in only individual spo...
Expression of mRNA coding for kidney and red cell water channels in Xenopus oocytes.

The existence and identity of protein water transporters in biological membranes has been uncertain. Osmotic water permeability (Pf) was measured in defolliculated Xenopus oocytes microinjected with water or mRNA from kidney cortex, kidney papilla, reticulocyte, brain, and muscle. Pf was measured by quantitative image analysis from the time course of oocyte swelling in response to an osmotic gradient. When assayed at 10 degrees C, Pf in water-injected oocytes increased from (3.6 +/- 0.9) x 10(-4) cm/s (S.D., n = 16) to 74 x 10(-4) cm/s with addition of amphotericin B, showing absence of unstirred layers. At 48-72 h after injection of 50 ng of unfractionated mRNA, Pf (in cm/s x 10(-4] was: 4.0 +/- 1.5 (rabbit brain, n = 15), 4.2 +/- 1.8 (rabbit muscle, n = 10), 18.4 +/- 6.3 (rabbit reticulocyte, n = 20), 16.1 +/- 5.6 (rat renal papilla, n = 24), 12.9 +/- 6.3 (rat renal cortex, n = 20), 14.4 +/- 6.1 (rabbit renal papilla, n = 15), and 11.8 +/- 3.4 (rabbit renal cortex, n = 8). In oocytes injected with mRNA from rat renal papilla, Pf was inhibited reversibly by 0.3 mM HgCl2 (4.1 +/- 1.6, n = 10); expressed water channels from kidney and red cell had activation energies of less than 4 kcal/mol. These results show functional oocyte expression of water channels from red cell, kidney proximal tubule (cortex), and the vasopressin-sensitive kidney collecting tubule (papilla), indicating that water channels are proteins, and providing an approach for the expression cloning of water channels.
Cloning and analysis of mono-specific scFv fragments from chicken to allergenic proteins of Periplaneta americana (American cockroach)

Abstract Rationale Although many cockroach proteins bind IgE, only 5 allergenic proteins of Blattella germanica and 3 of Periplaneta americana have been identified and characterized. Phage display of scFvs (single chain fragment variable antibodies) panned against a lysate of cockroach allergens allows us to quickly identify novel cockroach allergenic proteins, and will facilitate the standardization of cockroach allergen extracts. Methods A 6 month old female white leghorn chicken was immunized with American cockroach extract and antibody production was verified through analysis of IgY. RNA was isolated from the spleen and bone marrow and a cDNA library was created. PCR and overlap PCR were then performed on the library to create scFvs. Phage bearing the scFvs were panned against American cockroach extract to isolate those scFvs that recognize cockroach allergens. ScFvs were used for Western blot analysis of cockroach extracts that had been separated by 1D and 2D gel electrophoresis. Results The scFvs recognize proteins in American cockroach extract by Western blot analysis. Nine major proteins bands migrate at 75 kD, 60 kD, 50 kD, 45 kD, 42kD, 37 kD, 31 kD, 20 kD, and 12 kD. These scFvs also recognize several proteins in German cockroach extracts, with the primary bands migrating at 300 kD, 75kD, and 12kD. Conclusions We have generated an scFv library that recognizes a large number of American cockroach proteins as well as several German cockroach proteins. Using this library we will identify and characterize novel German and American cockroach allergens that have similar antibody binding epitopes.
Studies on the interchangeability of one of the mammalian and bacterial supernatant factors in protein biosynthesis.

Abstract The binding of phenylalanyl transfer RNA to polyuridylic acid-charged Novikoff tumor and rabbit reticulocyte ribosomes is stimulated similarly by Escherichia coli transfer factor T and tumor supernatant fraction. When supplemented with mammalian transfer factor T2, bacterial factor T substituted on reticulocyte ribosomes for the corresponding mammalian transfer factor T1 in polymerization of phenylalanyl-tRNA into polyphenylalanine, but E. coli factor G did not replace mammalian T2. In reverse, with E. coli ribosomes, reticulocyte factor T1 did not substitute for bacterial factor T.
Quinidine therapy for atrial fibrillation; indications and toxic effects.

Abstract We have presented a case of atrial fibrillation not due to acute rheumatic activity, thyrotoxicosis, multiple pulmonary emboli, or Wolff-Parkinson-White disease, in which digitalis failed to control the ventricular rate and in which conversion to normal sinus rhythm with quinidine proved to be lifesaving. However, this was accompanied by signs and symptoms of severe quinidine toxicity. The taking of frequent electrocardiograms as a guide to dosage during quinidinization was stressed. The fact that the increase in cardiac output obtained by conversion of atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm may be lifesaving in cases of intractable congestive heart failure is reemphasized.
Molecular Genetic Analysis of Drosophila Ash2, a Member of the Trithorax Group Required for Imaginal Disc Pattern Formation

The ash2 gene is a member of the trithorax group of genes whose products function to maintain active transcription of homeotic selector genes. Mutations in ash2 cause the homeotic transformations expected for a gene in this group but, in addition, cause a variety of pattern formation defects that are not necessarily expected. The ash2 gene is located in cytogenetic region 96A17-19 flanked by slowpoke and tolloid and is included in a cosmid that contains part of slowpoke. The ash2 transcript is 2.0 kb and is present throughout development. The ASH2 protein predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the open reading frame has a putative double zinc-finger domain, called a PHD finger, that is present not only in the products of other trithorax group genes such as TRX and ASH1, but also in the product of a Polycomb group gene, PCL. Polyclonal antibodies directed against ASH2 detect the protein in imaginal discs and in the nuclei of salivary gland and fat body cells. On immunoblots these affinity-purified antibodies detect a 70-kDa protein in larvae and a 53-kDa protein in pupae.
FREP: Energy proportionality for disk storage using replication

Energy saving has become a crucial concern in datacenters as several reports predict that the anticipated energy costs over a three year period will exceed hardware acquisition. In particular, saving energy for storage is of major importance as storage devices (and cooling them off) may contribute over 25 percent of the total energy consumed in a datacenter. Recent work introduced the concept of energy proportionality and argued that it is a more relevant metric than just energy saving as it takes into account the tradeoff between energy consumption and performance. In this paper, we present a novel approach, called FREP (Fractional Replication for Energy Proportionality), for energy management in large datacenters. FREP includes a replication strategy and basic functions to enable flexible energy management. Specifically, our method provides performance guarantees by adaptively controlling the power states of a group of disks based on observed and predicted workloads. Our experiments using a set of real and synthetic traces show that FREP dramatically reduces energy requirements with a minimal response time penalty.
Primary Malignant Cerebellopontine Angle Melanoma Presenting as a Presumed Meningioma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Primary intracranial melanomas are rare, especially in the primary cerebellopontine angle. We describe a patient with a presumed jugular foramen meningioma that was found to be of melanotic origin at surgery. We followed this 26-year-old woman with mild ataxia with serial imaging for 18 months after the initial discovery of a cerebellopontine angle extra-axial mass. She developed worsening symptoms of ataxia, dysphagia, and right-sided hearing loss. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an interval increase in size of the mass. The lesion was thought to be a meningioma with a dural tail that extended into the jugular foramen and hypoglossal canal. She underwent preoperative angiography and attempted tumor embolization, followed by resection via a transcochlear infratemporal approach. At surgery the lesion was found to be heavily pigmented. Pathological analysis was consistent with a low-grade melanoma. No primary extracranial site was identified. One year after surgery the patient remains free of systemic disease or recurrence.
Broadband waveform modelling of anomalous strong ground motion in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake using three-dimensional geologic structures

Strong motion recordings of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake show a large, coherent SH wave displacement pulse across much of the San Francisco Bay area. This distinctive ground motion has been modelled using approximate, broadband synthetics for a double-couple centroid source in a 3-D crustal model for the region. The synthetics indicate that (1) horizontal bending and focusing of SH waves by the lateral crustal velocity contrast across the San Andreas fault and (2) the source radiation pattern, contribute significantly to the observed azimuthal variation of the SH pulse and hence to the regional variations of strong ground shaking in the period range of 1 to 8 sec. In addition, the scattering of surface-reflected shear waves by deep basins under the Santa Clara Valley may contribute to increased coda amplitude and duration observed for sites around Oakland. The wave modelling also supports the earlier conclusion that an increase in intensity in portions of San Francisco and Oakland is in part the result of energy reflected from the base of the crust [Somerville and Yoshimura, 1990].
AZn2(BH4)5 (A = Li, Na) and NaZn(BH4)3: Structural Studies

A combination of in situ synchrotron powder diffraction, energy minimization (DFT), and Raman and infrared spectroscopy confirmed porous interpenetrated 3D-framework structures of recently discovered alkali-metal−zinc borohydrides, AZn2(BH4)5 (A = Li, Na). In the less zinc rich NaZn(BH4)3 the 3D-framework structural model has been confirmed but with a slightly modified description giving an isolated triangular anion, [Zn(BH4)3]−, rather than a 1D anionic chain, {[Zn(BH4)3]n}n−. Another polymorph of NaZn(BH4)3, isostructural to a new compound, LiZn(BH4)3, is proposed by energy minimization. Both compounds, the new NaZn(BH4)3 polymorph and LiZn(BH4)3, are, however, not observed experimentally at ambient pressure and in the temperature range of 100−400 K. The alkali-metal−zinc borohydride NaZn(BH4)3 containing the triangular anion [Zn(BH4)3]− is an equivalent of recently characterized alkali-metal−scandium borohydrides NaSc(BH4)4 and LiSc(BH4)4 based on the tetrahedral [Sc(BH4)4]− complex anion.
Dissociation of hypothalamic effects on ultrasound production and copulation.

Abstract Two studies were conducted to compare the brain mechanisms for copulation with those controlling other sexual behaviors, such as the ultrasonic calls that help hamsters and other rodents attact potential mates. Specifically, male and female golden hamsters were castrated and hormone-primed prior to being observed for rates of ultrasound production and levels of sex-typical copulatory behavior (mounts, intromissions and ejaculations in males; lordosis in females). Such tests were conducted before and after subjects received sham operations or bilateral lesions of the preoptic area (POA), anterior hypothalamus (AH) or ventromedial hypothalamus (VMN). The results confirmed previous work in showing the POA lesions decrease rates of intromission, ejaculation and ultrasound production, while VMH lesions decrease lordosis duration. More surprising was the tendency of VMN lesions to increase rates of ultrasonic calling by both males and females. For males, these effects identify differences between the neural circuits controlling copulatory and noncopulatory sexual behaviors. For females, they suggest a mechanism for the behavioral incompatibility of ultrasound production and lordosis. In particular, they raise the possibility that the suspension of ultrasonic calling that normally accompanies lordosis reflects an increase in VMN activity that simultaneously provokes lordosis and inhibits vocalization.
WEANING OF PREMATURES FROM A NEUTRAL THERMAL ENVIRONMENT TO AMBIENT THERMAL ENVIRONMENT

The ability of a newborn to maintain temperature within the normal range in ambient air is one of the criteria used for discharge. At present, there are no clear cut criteria as to when a growing premature can be safely moved into an open crib. This study was conducted prospectively in healthy growing prematures who had attained a weight of 1500 gms. and who were taking 120 to 150 cal/k/day of a 20-cal/oz formula. Infants were divided into two groups assigned alternately. Group I infants were weaned from the incubator at 1700 gms. and Group 2 were weaned at 1800 gms. Any infant whose axillary temperature was below 36c in the crib was considered a failure. Daily caloric and fluid intake were recorded. The length of hospitalization from the time of entry into the study (1500 gms.) to the time of discharge were compared. Thirty infants are included to date. Preliminary findings show that infants in Group I stayed an average of 5.4 days less than those in Group 2. None of the babies from either group lost weight after weaning. Weight gain ranged from 0 to 70 gms. Two babies from each group were considered failures. (Supported by March of Dimes, Birth Defects Foundation, Summer Sciences Research Programs for Medical Students).
Feedback stabilization of real analytic systems in the plane

Abstract We investigate the local feedback stabilization of single input control affine analytic systems x = tf(x) + ug(x) in the plane. New necessary and sufficient conditions for local stabilization with feedback laws of the form u = v(x1,x2), x2), (ϖv/ϖx1(0, 0))2 + (ϖv/ϖx1 (0, 0))2 0≠ 0, v(0, 0) = 0, are obtained by using Lyapunov's stability theorems on two-dimensional analytic systems. If the sufficient conditions are satisfied, we also provide explicit feedback laws.
'Atomic' X-ray absorption fine structure : a new tool for examining electrochemical interfaces

Abstract Systematic changes in the magnitude of the atomic X-ray absorption fine structure AXAFS have been observed for the in situ charging of a Pt/C electrode in 0.1 M H2SO4. Using cluster calculations with 0.0 and ±0.05 electrons per surface Pt atom it has been possible to quantitatively calculate the changes observed in the AXAFS and explain the source of these changes from an electrochemical point of view.
Oral oseltamivir reduces febrile illness in patients considered at high risk of influenza complications

Abstract Background: Influenza poses a serious burden to patients at high risk of influenza complications and vaccination against the disease may be inadequate due to poor uptake rates or impaired immune response. We investigated the efficacy and safety of oral oseltamivir treatment in two studies of elderly patients or those with underlying cardiac/pulmonary disease (at-risk). Methods: 1138 high-risk patients (13–97 years) presenting within 36 h of onset of influenza symptoms were randomized to oseltamivir 75 mg or placebo bid for 5 days. Endpoints included duration of febrile illness, fever and other symptoms, viral shedding and complications. Results: 727 (64%) patients were influenza-infected (ITTI) (at-risk: placebo 133, oseltamivir 118; elderly: placebo 254, oseltamivir 222). In the ITTI population, oseltamivir reduced median duration of fever by 37% in at-risk patients and by 25% in elderly patients compared with placebo. Acute febrile illness and respiratory complications were reduced with oseltamivir treatment by approximately 30% in both patient populations. Viral shedding was reduced by 70% in oseltamivir-treated at-risk patients. Oseltamivir was well tolerated, with similar incidence of gastrointestinal events reported in placebo and oseltamivir recipients. Conclusions: Oseltamivir reduces the duration of fever, febrile illness, individual influenza symptoms and complications in high-risk patients.
Aviation NOx-induced CH4 effect: Fixed mixing ratio boundary conditions versus flux boundary conditions

Abstract Atmospheric chemistry-climate models are often used to calculate the effect of aviation NOx emissions on atmospheric ozone (O3) and methane (CH4). Due to the long (∼10 yr) atmospheric lifetime of methane, model simulations must be run for long time periods, typically for more than 40 simulation years, to reach steady-state if using CH4 emission fluxes. Because of the computational expense of such long runs, studies have traditionally used specified CH4 mixing ratio lower boundary conditions (BCs) and then applied a simple parameterization based on the change in CH4 lifetime between the control and NOx-perturbed simulations to estimate the change in CH4 concentration induced by NOx emissions. In this parameterization a feedback factor (typically a value of 1.4) is used to account for the feedback of CH4 concentrations on its lifetime. Modeling studies comparing simulations using CH4 surface fluxes and fixed mixing ratio BCs are used to examine the validity of this parameterization. The latest version of the Community Earth System Model (CESM), with the CAM5 atmospheric model, was used for this study. Aviation NOx emissions for 2006 were obtained from the AEDT (Aviation Environmental Design Tool) global commercial aircraft emissions. Results show a 31.4 ppb change in CH4 concentration when estimated using the parameterization and a 1.4 feedback factor, and a 28.9 ppb change when the concentration was directly calculated in the CH4 flux simulations. The model calculated value for CH4 feedback on its own lifetime agrees well with the 1.4 feedback factor. Systematic comparisons between the separate runs indicated that the parameterization technique overestimates the CH4 concentration by 8.6%. Therefore, it is concluded that the estimation technique is good to within ∼10% and decreases the computational requirements in our simulations by nearly a factor of 8.
Sugammadex: a novel approach to reversal of neuromuscular blockade

Sugammadex is the first in a new class of medications termed selective relaxant binding agents. This medication acts to encapsulate free circulating steroidal nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents. The encapsulation of neuromuscular agents effectively decreases the amount of neuromuscular blocker interacting at the neuromuscular receptor. This binding has a very high association rate, rendering the incidence of residual block extremely low, while avoiding the side effects associated with traditional reversal agents. Currently approved for clinical use in over 50 countries, sugammadex was not approved by the US FDA in 2008 due to concerns over potential hypersensitivity reactions. It is hoped that further study and clinical experience will help to better define the risk associated with sugammadex and eventually lead to the approval of this novel medication in the USA.
The patient lived experience for surgical treatment of colorectal liver metastases: a phenomenological study.

Objective: The treatment experience for patients undergoing surgical treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis is understudied. This study sought to identify common themes in this experience in order to identify factors of importance in treatment decision making. Methods: The study utilized the phenomenological qualitative research approach. In-depth patient interviews conducted by a nurse researcher were tape-recorded and analyzed using the Colaizzi procedural steps. Results: All participants were interviewed and included 7 men and 5 women, ages 43–75, each with treatment experience with both chemotherapy and major surgery. Participants did not recall their decision to undergo liver surgery as a single event, rather as another in a series of health care choices during the long continuum of their CRC cancer disease experience. Seven common themes that emerged from the analyses of interviews as having significant impact on their treatment experience were communication with the health care provider, support from others, the patient's own attitude, cure uncertainty, coping strategies, hospital care concerns, and Internet information. Significance of results: This study identified factors of importance to patients that may serve to enhance communication, education, treatment satisfaction, and access to surgery for patients with CRC liver metastases. Further validation of our findings with a broader patient population is necessary.
Compiling recursive Prolog programs with list structure into procedural languages

An algorithm is presented for transforming a mutual recursive program in Prolog, which contains the list data structure as a term of the predicate, into an iterative program using a while loop in a procedural language like PASCAL. The purpose of this study is a part of the long-range project to use general logic programming as a software specification tool. The PASCAL program generated by the algorithm obtains the same result as the Prolog program, but without unification and backtracking. In this algorithm the recursive programs are classified into two cases, the determined programs and the undetermined programs, according to the conditions of the variables in the program. The unification process is transformed into a set of assignment and conditional statements by analyzing the variables of the rules in the program. >
Does a correlation exist between the manometric and endoscopic localization of the lower esophageal sphincter

Purpose: Correct localization of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is essential for accurate pH monitoring. Manometry is performed for localizing LES, which adds to the time, expense and discomfort to the procedure. Majority of the patients undergo EGD prior to pH monitoring which may help in localizing LES, avoiding the need for manometry.The aim of the study was to determine a correlation between the manometric and endoscopic localization of the LES.
Real-time detection of the EEG using a two-component wave model

The EEG signal is modeled as consisting of faster, smaller waves superimposed on slower, larger waves. A program, written for the Data General Corporation NOVA series of minicomputers, is described. It performs the continuous detection, in real-time, of both wave types for a simple, quantified characterization of the EEG. The program was written as a special User Clock Routine which is part of a larger multitask package which also provides continuous real-time analysis of the EEG and provides simultaneous line printer, analog and graphical outputs.