cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 269: Look Ma, No Hands! Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Background: CPR saves lives. Community-based, bystander CPR increases survivability by reducing time to compressions. Inadequate chest compressions have been associated with poor patient outcome. There is substantial inter-operator variability in quality and duration. While training laypersons in CPR, we observed that individuals lacking upper body strength had difficulty sustaining effective compressions. An improvised compression technique, transferring the force to the operator’s forearm, immediately resolved this issue. Objective/hypothesis: We hypothesized that a modified technique would be associated with increased duration of adequate compressions relative to standard CPR. Methods: Using a convenience sample of 18 paramedic students, we standardized this forearm technique and compared duration of adequate compressions with Standard CPR using Laerdal PC SkillReporting software. Trials were terminated upon 5 consecutive inadequate compressions. Evaluators were blinded to which sequence-randomized technique was being used. Our case-crossover study was approved by the university IRB. Results: Limitations: The small, convenience sample of young, fit providers trained in CPR was not representative of the group for whom the improvisation was originally devised. Larger scale testing with greater diversity is indicated. Conclusions: Our pilot study supported our hypothesis that the forearm CPR method was not inferior to the standard method with respect to time to fatigue. Having the mannequin at hospital bed height likely influenced the effectiveness of both techniques, so ensuing studies will use a mannequin on the ground.
The influence of impact interface on human knee injury: Implications for instrument panel design and the lower extremity injury criterion

A single impact at 27 J of energy with a rigid interface was delivered to one knee of isolated joint preparations of six cadavers resulting in an average peak load of 5 kN. Contralateral knee were impacted with a padded interface at an additional level of energy at approximately the same load. Math modeling of the patellae showed reduced tensile and shear stresses in the bone with padding. Increasing contact area over the knee reduces stresses in the bone and prevents both gross bone fracture and bone and cartilage microdamage. Language: en
The case for power management in web servers

Power management has traditionally focused on portable and handheld devices. This paper breaks with tradition and presents a case for managing power consumption in web servers. Web servers experience large periods of low utilization, presenting an opportunity for using power management to reduce energy consumption with minimal performance impact. We measured the energy consumption of a "typical" web server under a variety of workloads derived from access logs of real websites, including the 1998 Winter Olympics web site. Our measurements show that the CPU is the largest consumer of power for typical web servers today.We have also created a power simulator for web serving workloads that estimates CPU energy consumption with less than 5.7% error for our workloads. The simulator is fast, processing over 75,000 requests/second on a 866MHz uniprocessor machine. Using the simulator, we quantify the potential benefits of dynamically scaling the processor voltage and frequency, a power management technique that is traditionally found only in handheld devices. We find that dynamic voltage and frequency scaling is highly effective for saving energy with moderately intense web workloads, saving from 23% to 36% of the CPU energy while keeping server responsiveness within reasonable limits.
An ultrastructural and cytochemical study of developing small intestine in man.

The observations and results of this study suggest that intestinal absorptive cells possess structural and enzymic potential for function in utero. As early as the tenth postfertilization week, microvilli are differentiated, a surface coat is elaborated, alkaline phosphatase activity is localized on microvillar borders, and colloidal particles when introduced into the gut lumen in vitro are transported in vesicles from the apical cell surface to the lamina propria via extracellular spaces. In addition, cytoplasmic lipid droplets appear after administration of corn oil by injection into the gut lumen. However, the term ‘potential’ is stressed in that one can only speculate at present on what materials are absorbed from swallowed amniotic fluid in man.
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) for Intrahepatic and Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Background: Unresectable intrahepatic and hilar cholangiocarcinomas carry a dismal prognosis. Systemic chemotherapy and conventional external beam radiation and brachytherapy have been used with limited success. We explored the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for these patients. Methods: Patients with unresectable intrahepatic or hilar cholangiocarcinoma or those with positive margins were included in this study. Systemic therapy was used at the discretion of the medical oncologist. The Cyberknife TM stereotactic body radiotherapy system used to treat these patients. Patients were treated with three daily fractions. Clinical and radiological follow-up were performed every three months. Results: 34 patients (16 male and 18 female) with 42 lesions were included in this study. There were 32 unresectable tumors and two patients with resected tumors with positive margins. The median SBRT dose was 30Gy in three fractions. The median follow-up was 38 months (range 8-71 months). The actuarial local control rate was 79%. The median overall survival was 17 months and the median progression free survival was ten months. There were four Grade III toxicities (12%), including duodenal ulceration, cholangitis and liver abscess. Conclusions: SBRT is an effective and reasonably safe local therapy option for unresectable intrahepatic or hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Estimation of relative regional neuroreceptor concentration by PET or SPECT: a single late image compared with a late plus early image

The potential for using a single SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) or PET (positron emission tomography) image to estimate quantitatively the relative regional neuroreceptor concentration was previously analyzed theoretically. The success of this approach depends on acquiring the image at a time when changes in the regional radioactivity localization are much more sensitive to changes in receptor concentration than to changes in delivery. In the present work, the authors have applied a computer simulation approach to determine the joint and marginal probability distributions for the ipsilateral/contralateral ratio of receptor concentrations and delivery. They have studied the effect on the probability distributions, of the values of the sensitivities to receptor and delivery, and the inclusion of radioactivity localizations at an early time point in addition to those at the later time point. The probability distributions depend on the sensitivities to both delivery and receptor. Incorporation of data an early time point results in a significant sharpening of the probability distributions. >
Serous cysts of the aging guinea pig ovary. II. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy

Ovarian cysts which developed spontaneously from the rete ovarii in the ovaries of guinea pigs have been examined in 1- and 2-year-old animals by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Two cell types have been described, a tufted cell with numerous motile cilia and a non-tufted cell with a solitary cilium. While the non-tufted cell exhibited numerous smooth coated vesicles in its lateral and basal regions, no signs of secretion to the lumen of the cyst have been seen and occluding junctions have not been observed.
Evaluation of the effect of systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure on cognitive function: the Women's Health and Aging Study II.

Background Evidence suggests that elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse pressure (PP) in midlife is associated with increased risk for cognitive impairment later in life. There is mixed evidence regarding the effects of late life elevated SBP or PP on cognitive function, and limited information on the role of female gender. Methods/Principal Findings Effects of SBPand PPon cognitive abilities at baseline and over a 9-year period were evaluated in 337 non-demented community-dwelling female participants over age 70 in the Women's Health and Aging Study II using logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Participants aged 76–80 years with SBP≥160 mmHg or PP≥84 mmHg showed increased incidence of impairment on Trail Making Test-Part B (TMT, Part B), a measure of executive function, over time when compared to the control group that included participants with normal and pre-hypertensive SBP (<120 and 120–139 mmHg) or participants with low PP (<68 mmHg) (HR = 5.05 [95%CI = 1.42, 18.04], [HR = 5.12 [95%CI = 1.11; 23.62], respectively). Participants aged 70–75 years with PP≥71 mmHg had at least a two-fold higher incidence of impairment on HVLT-I, a measure of verbal learning, over time when compared to participants with low PP (<68 mmHg) (HR = 2.44 [95%CI = 1.11, 5.39]). Conclusions/Significance Our data suggest that elevated SBP or PP in older non-demented women increases risk for late-life cognitive impairment and that PP could be used when assessing the risk for impairment in cognitive abilities. These results warrant further, larger studies to evaluate possible effects of elevated blood pressure in normal cognitive aging.
Analysis of Biomphalaria glabrata (Gastopoda) hemolymph by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography, and immunoblotting.

Abstract Cell-free hemolymph (serum) of the gastropod mollusc Biomphalaria glabrata was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoreis (SDS-PAGE), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and immunoblotting. In SDS-PAGE gels, hemoglobin (Hb; apparent molecular weight (aMW) = 160 kDa) was found to be the dominant protein. There were also many subtending polypeptides in the 31,000 to 116,000 aMW range. In order to deplete B. glabrata serum of Hb it was ultracentrifuged by a standard procedure. The supernatant (Hb depleted) and pellet (Hb enriched) were then subjected to SDS-PAGE and HPLC. The polypeptide profile of the Hb-enriched fraction was virtually indistinguishable from whole serum whereas few major proteins were observed in the Hb-depleted fraction. Only by subjecting a large sample to SDS-PAGE followed by the very sensitive silver-staining procedure were several, faintly staining polypeptides observed in the Hb-depleted fraction in the aMW range of 10 to 116 kDa. Similarly, when the Hb-depleted fraction was subjected to HPLC, virtually no peaks were observed. In comparison, several peaks were discriminated from 9 to 12.5 min during chromatography with Hb producing a sharp spike at 13 min. When serum was separated by HPLC and the various fractions were subjected to SDS-PAGE, nearly all samples gave a polypeptide profile similar to whole serum. Rabbits were next used to raise antibodies to whole B. glabrata serum (anti-serum) and the 160-kDa polypeptide (anti-Hb). Rabbit antisera was then tested against whole snail serum and the Hb-depleted and enriched fractions in immunoblot assays. Both antisera gave similar results with reactivity against whole blood and the Hb-enriched fraction being virtually identical. In comparison, both anti-Hb and anti-serum reacted only with the 160-kDa polypeptide as well as two bands at approximately 55 kDa when tested against the Hb-depleted fraction. When the blots were counterstained, no other protein bands were visualized, indicating that each antisera was recognizing all of the proteins present. When the antibodies were tested against serum fractions separated by HPLC, nearly all fractions reacted in a manner similar to whole serum. No other polypeptides were observed when these blots were counterstained. From these experiments, it appears that Hb and Hb subunits comprise the majority of the serum proteins in B. glabrata.
Blockade of avidity and focal clustering of β2-integrin by cysteinyl leukotriene antagonism attenuates eosinophil adhesion

Background Cysteinyl leukotriene (cysLT) antagonism attenuates migration of eosinophils into airways during immune challenge in human subjects and animal models. The intracellular signaling mechanism by which this occurs has not been elucidated. Objective We sought to determine the relative efficacy and mechanism by which 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibition and cysLT 1 receptor (cysLT 1 R) antagonism block β 2 -integrin adhesion in isolated human eosinophils in vitro . Methods Human blood eosinophils were isolated by means of immunomagnetic separation. Upregulation of CD11b expression, active conformation of CD11b, and focal clustering of β 2 -integrin caused by IL-5, eotaxin-1 or leukotriene (LT) B 4 was assessed by means of flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The effect and mechanism of cysLT 1 R or 5-LO blockade on these components of β 2 -integrin adhesion were determined. Results Montelukast, a cysLT 1 R antagonist, and AA861, a 5-LO enzyme inhibitor, blocked (1) avidity of β 2 -integrin, (2) β 2 -integrin–mediated adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and (3) focal clustering of CD11b elicited by LTB 4 . However, adhesion caused by either IL-5 or eotaxin-1 was not attenuated for eosinophils pretreated with either montelukast or AA861. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that (1) LTB 4 causes autocrine upregulation of adhesion through secretion of cysLTs, and (2) blockade of cysLT 1 R blocks the avidity and focal clustering of CD11b/CD18 for eosinophils activated by LTB 4 but not by IL-5 or eotaxin-1. Clinical implications Unlike cysLT-induced adhesion, adhesion caused by IL-5 or eotaxin-1 is not regulated through the cysLT 1 R, suggesting that cysLTs have specific but limited potential to upregulate eosinophil adhesion.
Effects of screen materials on droplet size frequency distribution of aerosols entering sentinel mosquito exposure tubes.

. Aerosol filtration effects of three types of mesh screen used for mosquito cages were evaluated with aerosolized water, mineral oil and chlorpyrifos. The screen materials were two nylon tulles (3times4 and 8times11 repeats per cm2) and corrosion-resistant steel (7times7 repeats per cm2). Open areas of these three mesh materials were, respectively, 94%, 79% and 88%. Aerosol droplet size frequency distributions were altered when passed through test screens of these materials fitted to standard tubes from World Health Organization test-kits for exposure of adult mosquitoes. The alterations included reductions in total droplets and volume median diameter (VmD). Nylon screen with fewer repeats of the mesh altered droplet VmD and frequency distribution the least, allowing the greatest number of droplets to enter sentinel mosquito cages for bioassays of mortality-rates. The greater filtration effect of screens with less open area, giving rise to selective deposition of particular droplet sizes on the screen material, could result in anomalous exposures of test mosquitoes to contact with insecticide filtrate on the screen substrate. This might help to explain the poor correlation often observed between insecticide aerosol impact on wild target mosquito populations as compared with sentinel caged mosquitoes. In addition to other standard test procedures, the need for standardization of materials used for construction of sentinel cages employed for aerosol bioassays is emphasized.
Angiographically occult, progressively expanding, giant vertebral artery aneurysm: Case report

Hunterian ligation is a well-known treatment for complex aneurysms not amenable to direct microsurgical clip application. After proximal parent vessel occlusion, cerebral angiography is typically used to confirm aneurysm thrombosis. The authors report on a vertebral artery (VA) aneurysm that had progressively expanded and caused brainstem compression after hunterian ligation, despite nondiagnostic findings on both conventional and computed tomography (CT) angiography at multiple time points. This 64-year-old woman underwent hunterian ligation of a 1.8-cm VA aneurysm at the origin of the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery. An immediately postoperative conventional angiogram and follow-up CT angiograms obtained 5 and 6 years postligation confirmed complete obliteration of the lesion. Nine years after the initial surgery, however, the patient experienced neurological deterioration. Although CTs showed substantial aneurysm enlargement together with pontine compression, angiograms once again demonstrated complete right VA occlusion with no retrograde filling of the aneurysm. On reexploration, the aneurysm was effectively debulked, clipped, and obliterated. Arterial bleeding was found in the lesion neck, as was evidence of microrecanalization. Hunterian ligation for complex aneurysms carries the risk of microrecanalization and lesion expansion despite nondiagnostic angiography. Although this ligation procedure remains a viable treatment option in carefully selected patients, an extended follow-up evaluation period may be required even when imaging suggests aneurysm obliteration.
Self-reported sleep durations of college students: normative data for 1978-79, 1988-89, and 2000-01.

In 2000–2001 academic year the frequency distribution of hours slept per night was not significantly different from distributions of 1978–79 and 1988–89.
IFRS and the FASB: a marriage not made in heaven

A great deal of disinformation has been proffered concerning the prospects for the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The elephant in the room is the USA. The USA is the last but most important hold-out. Without a US adoption of IFRS, IFRS will be relegated to a second-rate set of standards, used by countries that cannot afford (or meet) the ‘gold standard’ set by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). We will show that in the USA, IFRS is dead-in-the-water. Yet many commentators, officials and observers are in-denial. Their motivations range from simple ignorance to downright malfeasance.
Characterization of metastable intermediates of enzymatic peroxidation of NAD+ by on-line capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The unstable intermediate products formed from the degradation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + ) catalyzed by the reaction of equine liver alcohol dehydrogenase with hydrogen peroxide were studied. Reversed anionic capillary electrophoresis (CE)/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to separate the reaction mixture and to monitor the reaction process, and to provide both molecular weight and structural information for the interaction intermediates. The mass spectra of the reaction intermediates provide support for the reaction mechanism previously proposed by Favilla et al. The present results also indicate that a different reaction intermediate may also be involved in the interaction, and contributes to the reaction. The results illustrate the utility of combined CE and ESI-MS for the on-line study of biochemical processes.
Experimental investigations of the influence of pressure on critical extinction conditions of laminar nonpremixed flames burning condensed hydrocarbon fuels, jet fuels, and surrogates

Abstract Critical conditions of extinction are measured for high molecular weight hydrocarbon fuels, jet fuels and surrogates at pressures up to 0.4 MPa. The hydrocarbon fuels tested are n-heptane, cyclohexane, n-octane, iso-octane, and n-decane. Jet fuels tested include JP-8 and Jet-A. The surrogates tested are the Aachen surrogate, consisting of 80% n-decane and 20% 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene by mass, and the 2nd generation POSF 4658 Princeton surrogate consisting of 49.6% n-dodecane, 24.3% iso-octane, 19.8% n-propylbenzene, and 6.3% 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene by mass. The counterflow, condensed-fuel configuration is employed. Air diluted with nitrogen at 298 K is injected onto the surface of a pool of heptane. The mass fraction of oxygen in the oxidizer stream is represented by Y O 2 , 2 . A flame is stabilized in the stagnation point boundary layer that is established above the liquid–gas interface. At a selected value of pressure p, and at a selected value of Y O 2 , 2 , the flow velocity of the oxidizer stream is increased until extinction takes place. The strain rate at extinction is calculated. The experiment is repeated for a range of pressures. The general ordering of extinction strain rates of hydrocarbon fuels was observed and found to be in general agreement with the predictions of kinetic models and experiments conducted at atmospheric pressure in earlier experiments and computations. An initial linear increase of extinction strain rate with pressure is observed at pressures up to 0.175 MPa, followed by a general flattening of the curves up to 0.35 MPa. At pressures above 0.35 MPa, extinction strain rates of some fuels begin to decrease with increased pressures. These general trends are consistent with results previously measured for n-heptane, n-hexane, and n-decane flames in a similar configuration.
Transfer of a learning set between drug states in monkeys.

Four adult male rhesus monkeys, while in either a pentobarbital-induced drug state or a saline control state, were trained on a series of 12 oddity problems. Tests in the opposite drug or saline state were administered after acquisition of each problem in order to determine the amount of transfer between the disparate states. All tests included presentation of problems not previously seen (novel problems). Tests 2–11 also included presentation of problems trained beyond criterion level (overtrained problems). During early tests only the overtrained problems exhibited transfer to the opposite drug or saline state. However, during the later tests, as the monkeys acquired the learning set in the training state, both the novel and overtrained problems were correctly solved in the test state. This indicates that the concept of oddity, rather than solution of specific problems, transferred between drug states. Interestingly, the overtrained problems exhibited greater transfer on the later tests than on early tests. This may suggest that the transfer due to overtraining is not the same as the transfer due to acquisition of the oddity learning set.
I.R. spectra of several lanthanide oxyhalides

Abstract The i.r. spectra of several lanthanide oxychlorides and oxybromides have been measured. On the basis of a tetragonal D4h7 space group (Z=2), 15 total optical mode fundamentals can be predicted from the selection rules and consist of the following species: 2A 1g +2A 2u +3E g +2E u +1B 1g where the gerade (g) vibrations are Raman active and the ungerade (u) vibrations are i.r. active. Comparison of the infrared spectra with the Raman spectra of some of these compounds illustrates a lack of coincidences as predicted from the above space group. The spectroscopic results appear to be consistent with the above selection rules.
Human Simulated Studies of Aztreonam and Aztreonam-Avibactam To Evaluate Activity against Challenging Gram-Negative Organisms, Including Metallo-β-Lactamase Producers

Secondary to the stability of aztreonam against metallo-β-lactamases, coupled with avibatam's neutralizing activity against often coproduced extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) or AmpC enzymes, the combination of aztreonam and avibactam has been proposed as a principal candidate for the treatment of infections with metallo-β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative organisms. Using the neutropenic-mouse thigh infection model, we evaluated the efficacy of human simulated doses of aztreonam-avibactam and aztreonam against 14 Enterobacteriaceae and 13 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, of which 25 produced metallo-β-lactamases. Additionally, six P. aeruginosa isolates were also evaluated in immunocompetent animals. A humanized aztreonam dose of 2 g every 6 h (1-h infusion) was evaluated alone and in combination with avibactam at 375 or 600 mg every 6 h (1-h infusion), targeting the percentage of the dosing interval in which free-drug concentrations remained above the MIC (fT>MIC). Efficacy was evaluated as the change in bacterial density after 24 h compared with the bacterial density at the initiation of dosing. Aztreonam monotherapy resulted in reductions of two of the Enterobacteriaceae bacterial isolates (aztreonam MIC, ≤ 32 μg/ml; fT>MIC, ≥ 38%) and minimal activity against the remaining isolates (aztreonam MIC, ≥ 128 μg/ml; fT>MIC, 0%). Alternatively, aztreonam-avibactam therapy resulted in the reduction of all 14 Enterobacteriaceae isolates (aztreonam-avibactam MICs, ≤16 μg/ml; fT>MIC, ≥ 65%) and no difference between the 375- and 600-mg doses of avibactam was noted. Similar pharmacodynamically predictable activity against P. aeruginosa was noted in studies with neutropenic and immunocompetent mice, with activity occurring when the MICs were ≤ 16 μg/ml and variable efficacy noted when the MICs were ≥ 32 μg/ml. Again, no difference in efficacy between the 375- and 600-mg doses of avibactam was observed. Aztreonam-avibactam represents an attractive treatment option for infections with metallo-β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative pathogens that coproduce ESBLs or AmpC.
Chromosomal position mediates spinal cord expression of a dbx1a enhancer.

Dbx homeodomain proteins are important for the production of multiple spinal cord cell types. To examine the regulation of Dbx genes in more detail, we have generated transgenic zebrafish in which fluorescent protein expression is driven by predicted dbx1a enhancers. We identified three areas of sequence conservation upstream of the dbx1a coding sequence and generated fluorescent reporter constructs driven by these predicted enhancer elements and the endogenous dbx1a promoter. In multiple stable insertions of a 3.5-kb enhancer fragment, we observed that there was additional reporter expression in the dorsal spinal cord not normally observed by dbx1a in situ hybridization. In addition, these lines exhibited only transient reporter expression, unlike the endogenous gene. Surprisingly, a single insertion line expressed the reporter in the endogenous pattern, indicating that other local regulatory elements modulate gene expression through the 3.5-kb enhancer. Developmental Dynamics 238:2929–2935, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Putative Fe2+-Bound Persulfenate Intermediate in Cysteine Dioxygenase†‡

The common reactions of dioxygen, superoxide, and hydroperoxides with thiolates are thought to proceed via persulfenate intermediates, yet these have never been visualized. Here we report a 1.4 A resolution crystal structure of the Fe2+-dependent enzyme cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) containing this putative intermediate trapped in its active site pocket. The complex raises the possibility that, distinct from known dioxygenases and proposed CDO mechanisms, the Fe-proximal oxygen atom may be involved in the primary oxidation event yielding a unique three-membered Fe−S−O cyclic intermediate. A nonpolar environment of the distal oxygen would facilitate isomerization of the persulfenate to the sulfinate product.
Theoretical line shapes for rotational spectra of HCl in Ar

An interaction potential for HCl-Ar recently derived from spectra of van der Waals complexes (Hutson,1988) has been used to obtain converged close-coupling scattering S matrices from which pressure broadening (linewidth, line shift, and line coupling) cross sections have been computed within the Fano-Ben-Reuven formalism. Linewidths agree well with experimental data with the exception of the 0-1 line at low temperatures (an error of about 15 percent at 125 K). Line shifts, especially the largest, for the 0-1 line, are also in reasonable accord with experimental data. Line coupling is predicted to be quite small. The coupled-states molecular scattering approximation is found to be accurate except at very low collision energies. The infinite-order sudden approximations, on the other hand, is not reliable for this system. Inelastic scattering out of the spectroscopic levels accounts for only a fraction of the linewidth at thermal energies, especially in the lower rotational levels.
Transient response of facilitated transport membranes

Abstract The transient flux of permeate is determined for one-dimensional facilitated transport in flat plate, cylindrical, and spherical geometries. The results are presented graphically. The flux is a function of four parameters. The graphical results allow one to determine the permeate flux as a function of time for given set of operating conditions, determine the steady-state value of the permeate flux and the time to reach steady-state.
Cord Serum Bromide Concentration: Variation and Lack of Association with Pregnancy Outcome

Excessive maternal bromide exposure during pregnancy from drugs and occupation have been reported to have adverse effects on the fetus and newborn, including central nervous system depression at birth and possible teratogenicity. To define further the fetal bromide exposure during pregnancy, we determined the cord serum bromide concentration in 1267 newborn babies born in Rochester, New York, during the 6-month period from January 1, 1984 to June 30, 1984. There was a normal distribution of the cord serum bromide concentration values ( X ¯ range 3.1 to 28.5 mg/L). The highest concentration was still significantly below the minimal bromide concentration associated with toxic effects (720 mg/L). There was no association between the cord serum bromide concentration and indices of fetal health including Apgar scores, presence of congenital malformations, and neonatal disposition. No mothers were taking significant amounts of bromide-containing drugs during pregnancy. The second highest cord serum bromide concentration (21.4 mg/L) was in a woman who was an amateur photographer and developed her own film, which required her to use chemicals containing bromide. Our results indicate that excessive fetal bromide exposure is rare and probably occurs only in the setting of maternal use of bromide-containing drugs or occupational exposure during pregnancy.
Interfacing Electronic Structure Theory with Dynamics

This paper illustrates the utility of combining high-quality electronic structure calculations, methods for determining reaction paths, and direct dynamics methods for studying ab initio trajectories on the fly to develop an understanding of complex chemical reactions. The combined methods are applied to the pseudorotation in SiH5-, competing dissociation paths for N2O2, the dissociation of FN3 into NF + N2, and the potential energy surfaces for AlH2. These DRP results may be thought of as samples of what dynamical processes can be encountered on each potential energy surface.
Estimating the role of casual contact from the community in transmission of Bordetella pertussis to young infants

The proportion of infant pertussis cases due to transmission from casual contact in the community has not been estimated since before the introduction of pertussis vaccines in the 1950s. This study aimed to estimate the proportion of pertussis transmission due to casual contact using demographic and clinical data from a study of 95 infant pertussis cases and their close contacts enrolled at 14 hospitals in France, Germany, Canada, and the U.S. between February 2003 and September 2004. A complete case analysis was conducted as well as multiple imputation (MI) to account for missing data for participants and close contacts who did not participate. By considering all possible close contacts, the MI analysis estimated 66% of source cases were close contacts, implying the minimum attributable proportion of infant cases due to transmission from casual contact with community members was 34% (95% CI = 24%, 44%). Estimates from the complete case analysis were comparable but less precise. Results were sensitive to changes in the operational definition of a source case, which broadened the range of MI point estimates of transmission from casual community contact to 20%–47%. We conclude that casual contact appears to be responsible for a substantial proportion of pertussis transmission to young infants. Medical subject headings (MeSH): multiple imputation, pertussis, transmission, casual contact, sensitivity analysis, missing data, community.
Mycotic aneurysms of the intracavernous carotid artery: A case report and review of the literature

A case of mycotic aneurysm of the intracavernous carotid artery is reported and the literature is reviewed on this uncommon entity. Nineteen cases have been reported, most often occurring in the clinical setting of meningitis. Management recommendations include angiographic confirmation of aneurysm and follow-up with magnetic resonance imaging during antibiotic therapy. Evidence of aneurysm enlargement is an indication for endovascular trapping of the aneurysm or carotid occlusion.
Studies of vanadium toxicity in the rat. Lack of correlation with molybdenum utilization.

Summary The toxic effects of vanadium in the rat are related to the extent of accumulation of the metal in the liver. The toxicity is not correlated with molybdenum utilization, since xanthine oxidase and sulfite oxidase activities as well as total liver molybdenum are unaffected by vanadium accumulation. The vanadium in liver and kidney displays an EPR signal which indicates that the metal has been reduced to vanadium (IV) from the pentavalent state and that it may exist in liver and kidney in a protein-bound form.
Flat Connections and Integrable Systems

The theory of completely integrable systems based on n × n first order isospectral problems is reviewed. The topics discussed are the inverse scattering theory for n × n systems; hierarchies of completely integrable Hamiltonian systems based on semi-simple Lie algebras; flat connections and gauge transformations; and the gauge theory of Backlund transformations.
Effects of Pre-Injection on Combustion Characteristics of a Single-Cylinder Diesel Engine

Multiple injections used for diesel engines, especially pre- and post-injections, have the potential to reduce combustion noise and emissions with improved engine performance. This paper outlines the combustion characteristics of a single-cylinder diesel engine with multiple injections. The effects of pre-injection (multi-injection) on combustion characteristics are presented in a single-cylinder diesel engine at different engine speeds and load conditions. A common rail fuel system with a solenoid injector, driven by a peak and hold circuit, is used in this work. This enables us to control the number of injections, fuel injection timing and duration, and the fuel rail pressure that can be used to optimize the engine combustion process (e.g., eliminate engine knock). Mass fraction burned and burn durations are determined by analyzing the measured in-cylinder pressure data. Results are compared with the cases when no pre-injection was used, i.e. only main injection, at the same engine speeds and load conditions. In each study, different cases are considered with the variation in main injection timing. It is found that at full-load condition and lower engine speeds pre-injection is an effective method to alter the engine burn rate and hence to eliminate knock.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
In Celebration of the Case Study

The clinical case study, although in disfavor among many clinical researchers, can be extremely useful to practicing clinicians, most of whom do not consume nor utilize experimental clinical research. It is argued that the case study method is important as the "discovery" step in the empirical-scientific chain of inquiry, as a means of training clinicians, and as a forum for professional communication. Ways of improving the clinical case study include peer review; the provision of sufficient material to allow for adequate evaluation; the inclusion of transcripts; the use of single case research methods when appropriate; speculation about competing explanations for any change noted; and the encouragement of publishing case failures as well as successes.
Equilibria and Speciation in the Solvent Extraction of Lithium Chloride by Nonamethyl-14-Crown-4 Ether in 1-Octanol

The equilibria and speciation in the solvent extraction of LiCl by nonamethyl-14-crown-4 ether in 1-octanol have been determined by use of ion chromatography (IC) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyses, equilibrium modeling with the program SXLSQI, and 7Li NMR measurements. SXLSQI modeling of the extraction data indicates the formation of a 1:1 metal:crown complex in the organic phase. The complex apparently exists as an ion-pair , which partially dissociates to the complex cation and free chloride anion . Extraction of LiCl by 1-octanol to give the organic-phase ion-pair and its dissociated ions and must be included in the data analysis. 7Li NMR measurements verify the existence of free and crown-complexed lithium species in 1-octanol, and the measurements quantitatively agree with results from the SXLSQI model.
Low Loss Optical Waveguides By Direct Ti Ion Implantation In LiNbO 3

ABSTRACTThe maximum Ti concentration and corresponding An as well as the minimum waveguide size is limited indiffused waveguides by the diffusion coefficient. Ion implantation offers an interesting alternative with aclear advantage at larger wavelengths for smaller waveguide cross -sections. Both planar and channel waveguideshave been fabricated by ion implantation of Ti into a LiNb03 substrate. A solid phase epitaxial regrowth ofthe implant induced crystal damage resulted in excellent waveguides with propagation losses of< 1 db /cm. Guide depth of <1 micron and An of 0.04 have been achieved. Fabrication techniques and optical properties of thewaveguides are presented. 1. INTRODUCTIONOptical waveguides have for many years been produced in LiNb03 by diffusing Ti metal from a thin depositedfilm at high temperature.1 Such waveguides have been the subject of much research and refinement.2'3 For manyapplications, particularly those using long wavelengths, the large cross sectional size and low index change,An, of the diffused waveguide limits the efficiency of devices. This is especially true for devices dependenton the field driven electro -optic effect. Reported here is a new technique for making optical waveguides inLiNb03 using direct ion implantation of Ti. Guides formed in this way have been fabricated with depths of lessthan a micron and index changes of greater than 0.037. Low loss guides
Subspaces of Maximal Operator Spaces

We explore subspaces of maximal operator spaces ( submaximal spaces) and give a new characterization of such spaces. We show that the set of n-dimensional submaximal spaces is closed in the topology of c.b. distance, but not compact. We also investigate subspaces of MAX(L ∞) and prove that any homogeneous Hilbertian subspace of MAX(L 1) is completely isomorphic to R + C.
Effects of Nicotine on Ethanol-Induced Locomotor Sensitization: A Model of Neuroadaptation

Abstract Co-morbid use of nicotine-containing tobacco products and alcohol (ethanol) is prevalent in young adults initiating use and in alcohol dependent adults, suggesting that these drugs in combination may increase risk to develop dependence on one or both drugs. Neuroadaptations caused by repeated drug exposure are related to the development of drug dependence and vulnerability to relapse. Locomotor sensitization has been used as a behavioral measure used to detect changes in neural drug sensitivity that are thought to contribute to drug dependence and relapse. Locomotor sensitization was measured in the current studies to examine potential differences in the effects of nicotine and ethanol given alone and in combination. Baseline activity levels of DBA/2J mice were assessed on 2 days, then mice were treated for 10 days with saline, nicotine (1 or 2 mg/kg of nicotine tartrate), ethanol (1 or 2 g/kg), or nicotine plus ethanol and locomotor activity was assessed every third day. On the following day, all mice were challenged with ethanol to measure the expression of sensitization. Mice treated with both nicotine and ethanol exhibited greater stimulation than predicted from the combined independent effects of these drugs, consistent with our previously published results. The combined effects of nicotine and ethanol on locomotor sensitization were dependent on the dose of ethanol and whether testing was performed after the drugs were given together, or after challenge with ethanol alone. These results suggest that nicotine and ethanol in combination can have neuroadaptive effects that differ from the independent effects of these drugs.
Drug-specific antibodies as antidotes for tricyclic antidepressant overdose

Drug-specific antibodies have been used clinically to treat digoxin or colchicine overdose. The lethal dose of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) is 100 times higher, and will require higher doses of antibodies (up to several g/kg) to reverse toxicity. Preliminary studies suggest that this is feasible. High affinity TCA-specific monoclonal Fab' or polyclonal Fab fragments rapidly reverse the cardiovascular toxicity of the TCA desipramine (DMI) in rats, and prolong survival. TCA-specific Fab' or Fab is generally well tolerated in rats, but doses several times higher than anticipated for human use may have adverse effects. Combining Fab with standard therapies for TCA overdose, such as NaHCO3, can reduce the required Fab dose. As an alternative, a recombinant single chain Fv fragment (sFv), one half the size of Fab, has been cloned which retains a high affinity for DMI and is able to alter DMI distribution in vivo. Because sFv has a shorter elimination half-life and more extensive renal excretion than Fab, it may have therapeutic advantages.
Correlation of Constant Flow Rate with Frequency Spectrum of Respiratory Sounds When Measured at the Trachea

Respiration is one of the critical physiological functions of concern when a patient is under examination or treatment. A clinical relationship between respiratory sounds and gross respiratory pathology was established early in the 19th century by auscultation. It is commonly believed that characteristics of respiratory sounds are related to respiratory flow rate. The objective of this study is to determine the correlation or relationship between spectral composition of respiratory sounds as measured at the trachea and flow rates as measured by pueumotachometer. Respiratory sounds at six contant flow rates were measured with an electronic stethoscope placed at the anterior cervical triangle, inferior to the circoid cartilage. Results indicated that the mean frequency of the power spectrum increases linearly with increase in flow but remains about the same when the flow rate is above 0.75 I/s. In addition, the expiratory spectra have higher mean frequencies than inspiratory spectra.
A sensitive assay for the IFN-regulated 2–5A synthetase enzyme

2-5A synthetase is the central enzyme of the 2-5A system, an important mediator of interferon action. An assay capable of detecting low, yet biologically important levels of 2-5A synthetase enzyme activity is described. The purification of enzyme reaction products on SepPak C-18 cartridges resulted in a significant reduction in background, when a high specific activity substrate was used to label the 2-5A. Quantitation of labeled 2-5A by chromatography and scintillation counting provided a means of detecting femptomolar amounts of 2-5A. The combination of these procedures accounts for a 3-4 log increase in sensitivity over existing assays. This degree of sensitivity should permit a more accurate determination of the 2-5A synthetase activity in vivo leading to a better understanding of the role of the 2-5A system in virus infection and other cellular processes.
Two Computer-Based School Scheduling Programs Analyzed

The authors present a discussion of Project PASS, an at tempt to study and compare two computer-based school scheduling methods as applied in two schools. They eval uate some of the advantages and disadvantages of the two systems and suggest applications for each.
Mechanisms for the Advanced Asian Summer Monsoon Onset since the Mid-to-Late 1990s*

AbstractUnderstanding the variability and change of monsoon onset is of utmost importance for agriculture planning and water management. In the last three decades, the Asian summer monsoon onset (ASMO) has remarkably advanced, but the physical mechanisms underlying the change remain elusive. Since the overall ASMO occurs in May, this paper focuses on the change of mean fields in May and considers enhanced mean precipitation and monsoon westerly winds as signs of advanced ASMO. The results reveal that the advanced ASMO mainly represents a robust decadal shift in the mid-to-late 1990s, which is attributed to the mean state change in the Pacific basin characterized by a grand La Nina–like pattern. The La Nina–like mean state change controls the ASMO through the westward propagation of Rossby waves and its interaction with the asymmetric background mean states in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific, which intensifies the Northern Hemispheric perturbations and westerly winds. Intriguingly, the abrupt decadal ...
Microwave conductivity of a confined superlattice

Abstract Microwave small-signal mobility of vertical conduction in the presence of a dc bias is investigated for cylindrically confined superlattices having various transverse diameters. At finite dc bias the differential mobility exhibits peculiar frequency-dependence, which stems from a decrease of the average inverse effective mass of carriers in conjunction with an increase of their average longitudinal energy, and is characterized approximately by a momentum and an energy relaxation time. It is found that the effective energy-relaxation time increases significantly as the transverse dimensions of the superlattice increase. PACS: 72.30.+q; 73.50.Mx
Urethane potting of acoustic transducers for acoustic travel-time current meters

Piezo-ceramic acoustic transducers are electrically excited to cause dimensional changes that can generate a pressure/displacement wave. This is the transmit function. Changes in strain in the piezo-ceramic transducer generate a voltage and such changes in strain are the result of acoustic pressure/displacement stress on the transducer making it a receiver. To work in transmit and receive the electrodes of the transducer need to be electrically insulated yet pressure exposed. Immersion in an insulating fluid such as oil (castor oil is often used) can insulate yet expose the transducer to pressure but a window between the oil and the water (assuming the transducer is to work submerged in water) is still needed. Immersion of the transducer in an insulating solid solves the window problem. And there are two common materials that provide this insulating solid: epoxy and polyurethane. This paper will enumerate the experiences these authors have had with these two plastics but especially urethane.