cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bilateral lateral sinus thrombosis secondary to acute mastoiditis

Abstract Objective To report a rare case of masked mastoiditis and bilateral lateral sinus thrombosis in a pediatric patient. Case report A previously healthy 4-year-old male presented to the emergency department with fever in the setting of bilateral acute otitis media (AOM) and exam findings consistent with right sided mastoiditis. He underwent bilateral tympanostomy tube placement and was started on intravenous ampicillin-sulbactam and ciprofloxacin-dexamethasone drops. Despite this, symptoms and fevers persisted, prompting a computed tomography (CT) scan, which demonstrated bilateral mastoiditis with bilateral lateral sinus thrombosis (LST). Lumbar puncture and bilateral cortical mastoidectomy were performed. Subsequent magnetic resonance venography (MRV), obtained to assess the extent of thrombosis, demonstrated complete occlusion of the right sigmoid sinus and portions of the right transverse sinus with right inferior cerebellar hemisphere venous infarction. There was also a nonocclusive thrombus within the left transverse and sigmoid sinus. Antibiotics were switched to cefepime following culture sensitivities. Therapeutic enoxaparin was initiated. The patient had no long-term complications. Conclusion Lateral sinus thrombosis is a rare but serious complication of acute mastoiditis and can present in the setting of masked mastoiditis. The development of LST following AM may have an insidious course. Worsening symptoms or lack of improvement in patients with AM should necessitate imaging, as prompt recognition and treatment may prevent thrombus evolution and neurological sequelae. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for LST in children with AM and a low tolerance for symptoms when considering acquiring imaging studies. While no LST treatment algorithms exist, this case supports the role of aggressive intervention with antibiotics, tympanostomy tube placement, mastoidectomy, and anticoagulation.
Periprocedural Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Structural Heart Disease Undergoing Catheter Ablation of VT.

Abstract Objectives This study sought to examine the impact of periprocedural acute kidney injury (AKI) in scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT) patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) on short- and long-term outcomes. Background The clinical significance of periprocedural AKI in patients with scar-related VT undergoing RFCA has not been previously investigated. Methods This study included 317 consecutive patients with scar-related VT undergoing RFCA (age: 64 ± 13 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction: 33 ± 13%, 55% ischemic cardiomyopathy). Periprocedural AKI was defined as an absolute increase in creatinine of ≥0.3 mg/dl over 48 h or an increase of >1.5× the baseline values within 1 week post-procedure. Results Periprocedural AKI occurred in 31 patients (10%). Independent predictors of AKI included chronic kidney disease (odds ratio [OR]: 3.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48 to 7.96; p = 0.004), atrial fibrillation (OR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.01 to 5.78; p = 0.047), and peri-procedural acute hemodynamic decompensation (OR: 3.98; 95% CI: 1.17 to 13.52; p = 0.003). After a median follow-up of 39 months (interquartile range: 6 to 65 months), 95 patients (30%) died. Periprocedural AKI was associated with increased risk of early mortality (within 30 days; hazard ratio [HR]: 9.91; 95% CI: 2.87 to 34.22; p Conclusions Periprocedural AKI occurs in 10% of patients undergoing RFCA of scar-related VT and is strongly associated with increased risk of early and late post-procedural mortality.
Impact of surgical preparatory rinses with isopropyl alcohol or water on perioperative body temperature in pediatric female dogs and cats

Abstract Objective To describe the effects of presurgical preparation with an isopropyl alcohol or water rinse on the perioperative rectal temperature (RT) of puppies and kittens. Study design Randomized clinical trial. Animals A total of 48 intact female mixed breed puppies and 43 intact female Domestic Short Hair kittens aged 8–18 weeks. Methods All animals were premedicated with intramuscular buprenorphine (0.02 mg kg–1) and acepromazine (0.05 mg kg–1). Anesthesia was induced with intravenous propofol (4 mg kg–1 to effect) for puppies or ketamine (5 mg kg–1) and midazolam (0.25 mg kg–1) for kittens. RT was measured every minute for the first 15 minutes at the beginning of hair/fur removal, then every 5 minutes for 45 minutes (dogs) and 35 minutes (cats). All animals were prepared for surgery using a 1.6% chlorhexidine solution, then rinsed with either isopropyl alcohol (group CA) or water (group CW). Results Mean RT difference between the groups was not significant at any time point. The mean RT at 45 minutes for dogs was 35.9 °C and 36.0 °C in groups CA and CW, respectively (p = 0.74). The mean RT at 35 minutes for cats was 35.1 °C in both groups (p = 0.84). Conclusions and clinical relevance The use of either water or alcohol as a rinsing agent results in the same degree of perioperative temperature change. Other factors that contribute to perioperative hypothermia should be considered when choosing between these rinsing agents in surgical preparation of pediatric and small animals.
An investigation of domain adaptation in speaker embedding space for speaker recognition

Abstract Speaker recognition continues to grow as a research challenge in the field with expanded application in commercial, forensic, educational and general speech technology interfaces. However, challenges remain, especially for naturalistic audio streams including recordings with mismatch between train and test data (i.e., when train or system development data and enrollment/test data or application data are collected from different sources). Mismatch conditions (Hansen and Hasan, 2015) can be divided into two categories, extrinsic (channel, noise, etc.) and intrinsic (duration, language, and speaker traits including stress, emotion, Lombard effect, vocal effort, accent). Here, we investigate speaker recognition for the domain mismatch problem (intrinsic mismatch) especially for those challenges introduced by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) SRE (speaker recognition evaluation) in 2016 and 2018. The challenges introduced in NIST SRE-16 and SRE-18 include language mismatch between train (used for the development of the system) and enrollment/test (used at the application phase). Here, we develop three alternative speaker embedding systems; i-vector, t-vector (an improved triplet loss solution), and x-vector. In addition, a number of unsupervised and supervised (using pseudo labels) methods are also studied for domain mismatch compensation, especially applied at the back-end level. These include adapted PLDA, adapted discriminant analysis, as well as score normalization and calibration methods using unlabeled in-domain data. We propose new variations to discriminant analysis with support vectors (SVDA) as well. These results confirm that SVDA can measurably improve speaker recognition performance for SRE-16 and SRE-18 tasks respectively by +15% and +8% in terms of min-Cprimary; and for EER the gains are +14% and +16% respectively, using i-vector speaker embeddings as the baseline. These advancements offer promising steps toward addressing speaker recognition in naturalistic audio streams.
Making Universal Health Care Work

Far and away the biggest problem with the American health care system has to do with coverage. In 2004, for example, while 245.3 million Americans (84.2%) had some type of health care coverage, 45.8 million (15.7%) were without coverage. Clusters of individuals that tend to lack coverage include employees of small business, workers who lose their jobs, workers who decline employer coverage, low-income parents, low-income childless adults, the near elderly, young adults, children, and immigrants. While incremental approaches could help particular groups, ultimately, the government needs to redesign the health care system to achieve nearly universal coverage. First, the exclusion for employer-paid health insurance premiums should be capped at a fixed-dollar amount and gradually replaced with a refundable tax credit. Second, employers should be required to offer, but not necessarily pay for, at least one state-approved health insurance plan for employees (an employer mandate). Finally, individuals should be required to get health insurance or lose tax benefits such as personal exemption and standard deduction (an individual mandate). With universal coverage, we should finally be able to reduce our health care system's burdensome administrative costs and get medical treatment costs under control, and we should be able to do so in a way that minimizes work disincentives. In short, we can make universal health care work.
Evolution of Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strains and Their Adaptation to the Human Lung Environment

In the last two decades, multi (MDR), extensively (XDR), extremely (XXDR) and total (TDR) drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) strains have emerged as a threat to public health worldwide, stressing the need to develop new tuberculosis (TB) prevention and treatment strategies. It is estimated that in the next 35 years, drug-resistant TB will kill around 75 million people and cost the global economy $16.7 trillion. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic alone may contribute with the development of 6.3 million new TB cases due to lack of resources and enforced confinement in TB endemic areas. Evolution of drug-resistant M.tb depends on numerous factors, such as bacterial fitness, strain's genetic background and its capacity to adapt to the surrounding environment, as well as host-specific and environmental factors. Whole-genome transcriptomics and genome-wide association studies in recent years have shed some insights into the complexity of M.tb drug resistance and have provided a better understanding of its underlying molecular mechanisms. In this review, we will discuss M.tb phenotypic and genotypic changes driving resistance, including changes in cell envelope components, as well as recently described intrinsic and extrinsic factors promoting resistance emergence and transmission. We will further explore how drug-resistant M.tb adapts differently than drug-susceptible strains to the lung environment at the cellular level, modulating M.tb-host interactions and disease outcome, and novel next generation sequencing (NGS) strategies to study drug-resistant TB.
Abstract P262: Early Withdrawal of Life Sustaining Treatment After Mechanical Thrombectomy: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is now standard of care for patients with acute large vessel occlusion (LVO) ischemic stroke, after several trials showed significant functional improvement...
Assessing quality of life in pediatric fibrous dysplasia and McCune Albright syndrome: PEDS-QL and HADS data from the Fibrous Dysplasia Foundation Patient Registry.

The International FD/MAS Consortium recently encouraged using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PEDS-QL) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scales (HADS) in clinical care. This study examines scores on these measures among pediatric fibrous dysplasia and McCune Albright (FD/MAS) patients to initiate consideration of their use in clinical treatment. This is a retrospective analysis of pediatric data from 39 minors, ages 2–17, entered in the Fibrous Dysplasia Foundation Patient Registry from July 2016 to December 2018. Sample means and score distributions are compared to general population and chronic disease benchmarks. Associations with medical and demographic variables are also explored. Mean PEDS-QL scores for children 2–7 were inconclusive in determining at risk status for impaired quality of life (QOL). Individual score distributions suggested up to half experienced extensive physical or social impairment. Means and individual score distributions for the physical and psychosocial components of the PEDS-QL for children 8–17 suggested many were at risk of impaired QOL. Over half of 13–17 year-olds met the clinical benchmark for anxiety. Older males scored better than females on the PEDS-QL and HADS. Pain frequency was associated with physical function for older children. Older children with FD/MAS may be more compromised in terms of psychosocial QOL than previously reported. Clinicians should be attentive to the influence of gender on QOL in older children. Online patient registries associated with rare diseases have the potential to serve as efficient and cost-effective mechanisms to jumpstart examination of new measures in consideration for clinical use.
Impact of diabetes and chronic dialysis on post-transplant survival in combined heart-kidney transplant recipients.

Growing research supports an increased survival benefit of combined heart and kidney transplantation in patients with both heart and renal failure. As a result, the frequency of these combined transplants continues to increase. Despite this trend, little has been done to quantify the impact of chronic illness in this population. We identified adult recipients of combined heart-kidney transplant from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) database between 2005 and 2018. We focused on renal disease secondary to diabetes and duration of dialysis as markers of chronic illness. The primary outcome was post-transplant mortality. Our final multivariable Cox proportional hazard model found that diabetes-associated renal disease (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.14-2.15, p = .01) and dialysis duration (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.15, p = .02) were significant predictors of post-transplant mortality. Given the significant impact of dialysis duration and renal disease secondary to diabetes mellitus, these chronically ill patients should be closely examined for conditions such as peripheral vascular disease and frailty, which have been shown to affect mortality in heart transplant recipients and are prevalent in the chronic dialysis population.
Behavioural strategies associated with using an ephemeral roosting resource in Spix's disc-winged bat

The limited availability of refuges may represent an important factor promoting the evolution of sociality, particularly in bats. Spix's disc-winged bats (Thyroptera tricolor) show highly specialized morphological adaptations that enable individuals to roost inside furled musoid leaves. This roosting ecology presents major challenges, as leaves rapidly unfurl, forcing bats to locate new roosts on a daily basis. Despite the reliance of T. tricolor on such ephemeral roosting resources, bats form stable group associations. This social stability has been attributed to the potential benefits that group members gain from searching for new roosts together versus alone. The purpose of our study was to characterize the behavioural patterns associated with assessing roosts and any accompanying communication strategies of Spix's disc-winged bat. We determined that bats regularly monitor furled leaves within their roosting range, during which they emit a number of distinct social calls. Roost assessment involved close inspection of leaf dimensions and surroundings, and was mostly performed by single individuals. Thyroptera tricolor's call repertoire during flight indicates that group contact involves a combination of acoustic signals. Our approach in a natural setting provides valuable insight into the role of shelter stability in the evolution of the T. tricolor social system.
Enhancing undergraduate education: An imperative for student affairs

Charles Schroeder calls on all student affairs professionals to leave the comfort of their departments, overcome the tyranny of custom, and engage actively in the challenge of improving how students learn.
Combustion by Pulsed Jet Plumes - Key to Controlled Combustion Engines

Abstract : Pulsed Jet Combustion (PJC) is introduced here as a key element for engines where the progress of combustion is interactively controlled by a microprocessor system. Practical realization of PJC presented here involves the use of an 18 mm plug containing a cavity, where a rich mixture is ignited by a conventional spark discharge, closed by a tip with a suitable orifice to form the effluent stream. Its performance is determined by tests carried out in a constant volume vessel, simulating the enclosure of a CFR engine at 60 CAD with compression ratio of 7:1, using propane/air mixtures at equivalence ratios of an order of 0.6, in comparison to that of a flame traversing the charge, a so- called FTC mode, upon Ignition by standard spark discharge under identical geometrical and initial thermochemical conditions. The results demonstrate the superiority of PJC for executing the exothermic process of combustion in a lean burn engine.
A Triarchic Model for Teaching “Introduction to Special Education”: Case Studies, Content Acquisition Podcasts, and Effective Feedback

those who teach introductory level courses in special educa-tion to pre-service teacher candidates often face a paradox in terms of whether to use limited instructional time to fo-cus on characteristics of students with disabilities or empha-size evidence-based practices (eBPs). the issue of limited instructional time is also an issue in other teacher prepara-tion coursework. the purpose of this paper is to introduce the content acquisition podcast (caP) method for delivering course content in order to maximize limited face-to-face in-
Pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral L-arginine in normal volunteers.

Aims Recent studies in patients with cardiovascular diseases suggest potential for the use of orally administered L-arginine, the precursor of nitric oxide, as a therapeutic agent. This crossover study was designed to examine the pharmacokinetics of single i.v. and oral doses of L-arginine in healthy volunteers (n = 10). Methods A preliminary control study (n = 12) was performed to assess the variation in plasma L-arginine concentrations when ingesting a normal diet. The observed variation was taken into account when interpreting the pharmacokinetic data obtained after exogenous administration. Results The mean baseline plasma concentration of L-arginine in the control study was 15.1+/-2.6 microg ml(-1). After intravenous administration (30 g over 30 min), the plasma concentration reached 1390+/-596 microg ml(-1). The disappearance of l-arginine appeared biphasic, with an initial rapid disappearance due to concentration-dependent renal clearance followed by a slower fall in plasma concentrations due to nonrenal elimination. The peak concentration after oral administration (10 g) was 50.0+/-13.4 microg ml(-1), occurring 1 h after administration. Renal elimination was not observed after oral administration of this dose. The absolute bioavailability of a single oral 10 g dose of L-arginine is approximately 20%. Conclusions This study provides basic knowledge of L-arginine pharmacokinetics in healthy humans. Intravenous and oral administrations show at minimum a biphasic pattern. Further studies will assess whether a similar profile is observed when the drug is administered to patients.
Risk of Acute Kidney Injury, Dialysis, and Mortality in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease after Intravenous Contrast Material Exposure

Abstract Objective To examine the effect of intravenous iodinated contrast material administration on the subsequent development of acute kidney injury (AKI), emergent dialysis, and short-term mortality using a propensity score–adjusted analysis of computed tomographic scan recipients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients and Methods In this institutional review board–approved retrospective study, all patients with CKD who received a contrast-enhanced (contrast group) or unenhanced (noncontrast group) computed tomographic scan from January 1, 2000, to August 1, 2013 were identified. Patients were subdivided into CKD stage III (baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, 30-59 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 ) and CKD stage IV-V (baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, 2 ) subgroups and separately underwent propensity score generation, stratification, and 1:1 matching. Rates of AKI, 30-day emergent dialysis, and mortality were compared between contrast and noncontrast groups. Sensitivity analyses examining only patients with stable prescan serum creatinine levels and incorporating intravenous fluid administration at the time of the CT scan into the model were also performed. Results A total of 6902 patients (4496 CKD stage III, matched: 1220 contrast and 1220 noncontrast; 2086 CKD stage IV-V, matched: 491 contrast and 491 noncontrast) were included in the study. After propensity score adjustment, rates of AKI, emergent dialysis, and mortality were not significantly higher in the contrast group than in the noncontrast group in either CKD subgroup (CKD stage III: OR, 0.65-1.00; P P =.22-.99). Both sensitivity analyses revealed similar results. Conclusion Intravenous contrast material administration was not associated with an increased risk of AKI, emergent dialysis, and short-term mortality in a cohort of patients with diminished renal function.
Microbial metabolism studies of the antimalarial drug arteether.

Microbial metabolism studies of the antimalarial drug arteether (1) have shown that arteether is metabolized by a number of microorganisms. Large-scale fermentation with Aspergillus niger (ATCC 10549) and Nocardia corallina (ATCC 19070) have resulted in the isolation of four microbial metabolites which have been characterized using two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR) techniques. These metabolites have been identified as “AEM1” (2), 3α-hydroxydeoxyarteether (3), 3α-hydroxydeoxydihydroartemisinin (4), and deoxydihydroartemisinin (5).
Regulation of Metabolism in Working Muscle in Vivo I. CONCENTRATIONS OF SOME GLYCOLYTIC, TRICARBOXYLIC ACID CYCLE, AND AMINO ACID INTERMEDIATES IN INSECT FLIGHT MUSCLE DURING FLIGHT

The concentrations of 28 metabolites, including glycogen, trehalose, components of the glycolytic pathway and the Krebs cycle, and amino acids in flight muscle of the blowfly, Phormia regina, were measured concurrently after periods of flight ranging from 5 sec to 1 hour. At the onset of contraction, there was a rapid utilization of trehalose followed by catabolism of thoracic glycogen and then of the polysaccharide stored in the abdomen. Coincident with the decrease in the concentration of trehalose within the muscle was a rapid and transient increase in that of glucose. The concentrations of the hexose monophosphates were constant or declined. The concentration of fructose-1,6-diphosphate rose with the initiation of flight and then fell. The concentrations of triose phosphates, including α-glycerophosphate, increased slightly, but transiently, or were steady during continuous flight. The concentration of pyruvate increased strikingly at the start of exercise. Initially, pyruvate was largely converted to alanine. There were no accumulations of lactate or citrate. The amino group made available for the enormous increase in the concentration of alanine within the muscle after commencement of flight seems to have been derived largely from proline. The concentration of glutamate was lowered slightly during flight; no significant changes in the concentrations of ammonia, aspartate, glutamine, and asparagine within the muscle were found after initiation of flight. The concentration of malate increased sharply at the onset of active contraction, declined slightly for 2 min, and then remained high throughout the entire flight. The concentrations of α-ketoglutarate and oxaloacetate were apparently not altered. Measurements of coincident changes in metabolites concomitant with the 100-fold increase in glycolytic flux attained on initiation of flight provided an unique system to determine the steps that control glycolysis in vivo, in the transition from a tissue at rest to one performing strenuous work. Three sites of regulation—the phosphorylation of fructose 6-phosphate, the cleavage of trehalose, and the phosphorolysis of glycogen—were established in this system in vivo. Possible additional controls at the oxidations of α-glycerophosphate and of proline are suggested.
Potassium-Assisted Chromium Transport in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Chromium transport from stainless steel current collectors to the cathode can be a route for rapid performance degradation in solid oxide fuel cells. Typical volatile chromium species, such as CrC 2 (OH) 2 , are manageable; however, volatile species with higher vapor pressures may play a significant role in chromium transport and deposition. One such species, K 2 CrO 4 , is readily formed by the chemical reaction between KOH or K 2 O and Cr 2 O 3 and electrochemically reduced along triple-phase boundaries. The vapor pressure and expected chromium deposition rate of potassium chromate and chromium oxyhydroxide phases are compared to the long-term electrical performance of anode-supported SOFCs. Experimental evidence supports the findings that potassium and chromium, in the presence of an applied electric field, greatly enhances the degradation of cell performance (-85% in 500 h).
Vacuum Splintage of the Hand

As a result of a previous trial in which factors influencing swelling of the hand after fasciectomy were studied it was found that unacceptable oedema occurred in hands elevated in a roller towel by night and a high sling by day. An alternative system of elevation in a vacuum splint was investigated and found to reduce post-operative oedema. The advantages and disadvantages of the vacuum splint in the management of the hand after surgery or injury are discussed.
Managerial Behavior and the Social Responsibility Debate: Goals Versus Constraints

This paper examines the “popular” view of the social responsibility of business as advanced by George Steiner, Keith Davis and others and the “traditional” position so frequently associated with ec...
USING FRACTIONAL FACTORIAL DESIGNS FOR ROBUST PROCESS DEVELOPMENT

Abstract @Key Words: Fractional factorial; Orthogonal array; Location effects; Dispersion effects; Design projection; Sequential experimentation.
Soil Micro‐organisms in Relation to Corrosion and Cathodic Protection

The complex nature of soil bacteria makes it imperative that they be considered in any problem related to soil. This paper gives data obtained by Kansas State University from a research project credited in the U.S. as a new approach to corrosion. Most conclusions hitherto have been drawn from soil samples taken in undisturbed soil such as might be found along a pipeline right‐of‐way; this paper considers largely soil found in the pipeline ditch.
The Isolation of an Actinomycetes-Like Organism from Root Canals

The actinomycetes are a group of fungi, usually classified as hypomycetes, probably bearing a relationship to the acid fast and diphtheroid groups of bacteria. The organisms are commonly found in the soil, and certain types may produce lesions in animals and man. In man the type most often isolated from lesions is Actinomycetes bovis with primary lesions about the head and neck in approximately half the cases studied. The infection in man is commonly called "lumpy jaw," characterized by a purulent discharge containing "sulfur granules" and the formation of sinuses and granulation tissue. At the periphery of the lobulated granules are radiating clubs, composed of mycelia slightly thicker at the tip, surrounded by sheaths which take the acid rather than basic dyes. The name "ray fungus" has been given to the actinomycetes because of the appearance of the granules, when examined under the microscope. The club forms are usually seen in tissues, although a few workers have reported formation of clubs in artificial media (1, 2). The granules when crushed and stained are seen to be made up of extremely fine, branching gram positive filaments. When first isolated, the organisms grow best under anaerobic or partially anaerobic conditions: but upon further cultivation most strains will grow aerobically on suitable media. The mode of infection of the disease is not exactly clear. It is more common among farmers and those who handle grains, straw, etc. For this reason it is thought that the organisms are carried on grains and other vegetable matter to the mouth. The infection in cattle and in man is believed to be caused by the same organism. Wright (3) suggested that Actinomycetes bovis was a normal inhabitant of the secretions of the buccal cavity and intestinal tract, both
Investigation of the Effectiveness of Boulevard Roadways

The state of Michigan has been constructing directional crossovers in the medians of boulevard roadways since the 1960s to alleviate the congestion and interlocking that were occurring at bidirectional crossover locations. The objective of this research is to investigate the safety benefits of divided roadway and directional crossover median designs. An investigation of the mean accident rates of roadways with boulevards compared to the mean accident rates of roadways with continuous center left-turn lanes revealed that there is a significant difference, with boulevard roadways having a lower mean accident rate for those Michigan roadways investigated. Investigation into the difference of the mean accident rates for boulevard roadways with medians of different widths indicated that roadways with medians greater than 9.15 m (30 ft) but less than 18.30 m (60 ft) had the lowest mean accident rate of the three median categories investigated. The difference was significant for most accident types when compared...
Intestinal transplantation for the treatment of neoplastic disease.

Background Authors reviewed single center experience of intestinal transplantation for treatment of intra-abdominal neoplastic disease. Methods There were 25 auto- or allograft transplantations in 21 patients; desmoid tumor (14), neuroendocrine tumor (2), adenocarcinoma (2), hemangioma (1), lymphoma (1), and solid pseudopapillary tumor (1). Medical records were reviewed for cause of graft loss and mortality, recurrent neoplasm, and quality of life. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier method. Results There were 11 graft losses; mortality with functioning graft (6), ischemic necrosis (2), acute or chronic rejection (2), and arterial thrombosis (1) during 38 months of mean follow-up. Seven patients died because of recurrent neoplasm and transplant related complications. Six patients experienced recurrent disease; three desmoid tumor (3/14), two adenocarcinoma (2/2), and one neuroendocrine tumor (1/2). Recurrent desmoid tumors were successfully treated with simple excision. Patient and graft survival in the desmoid tumor are 69.2% and 50.0% at 5 years after transplant. Among 14 survivors, 2 need parenteral nutrition or intravenous hydration. Twelve patients are working full time. Conclusions Intestinal transplantation is a reasonable life-saving treatment for catastrophic intra-abdominal neoplastic diseases. J. Surg. Oncol. 2005;92:284–291. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
CC chemokine receptor 1 enhances susceptibility to Leishmania major during early phase of infection.

CC chemokine receptor 1 enhances susceptibility to Leishmania major during early phase of infection
A transdisciplinary approach to obesity and cancer: from cells to society

The increasing recognition of the complex, multidimensional relationship between excess adiposity and cancer risk, coupled with the high prevalence of obesity in the US, has motivated the scientific community to seek new research models and paradigms. Compared to traditional unidisciplinary research, transdisciplinary research is seen as having the potential to accelerate both discovery and its translation to practice, and eventually policy. In response, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) developed a centers grant mechanism in nutrition, energetics, and physical activity; referred to as the Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC) Initiative (http://www.trecscience.org). These Centers foster collaboration among transdisciplinary teams of scientists with the goal of accelerating progress towards reducing cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality associated with obesity, low levels of physical activity and poor diet. This presentation will review key opportunities in transdisciplinary research, highlight lessons learned and note future challenges.
Conversion of Nuclear Waste into Nuclear Waste Glass: Experimental Investigation and Mathematical Modeling☆

Abstract The melter feed, slurry, or calcine charged on the top of a pool of molten glass forms a floating layer of reacting material called the cold cap. Between the cold-cap top, which is covered with boiling slurry, and its bottom, where bubbles separate it from molten glass, the temperature changes by up to 1000 K. The processes that occur over this temperature interval within the cold cap include liberation of gases, conduction and consumption of heat, dissolution of quartz particles, formation and dissolution of intermediate crystalline phases, and generation of foam and gas cavities. These processes have been investigated using thermal analyses, optical and electronic microscopies, x-ray diffraction, as well as other techniques. Properties of the reacting feed, such as heat conductivity and density, were measured as functions of temperature. Investigating the structure of quenched cold caps produced in a laboratory-scale melter complemented the crucible studies. The cold cap consists of two main layers. The top layer contains solid particles dissolving in the glass-forming melt and open pores through which gases are escaping. The bottom layer contains bubbly melt or foam where bubbles coalesce into larger cavities that move sideways and release the gas to the atmosphere. The feed-to-glass conversion became sufficiently understood for representing the cold-cap processes via mathematical models. These models, which comprise heat transfer, mass transfer, and reaction kinetics models, have been developed with the final goal to relate feed parameters to the rate of glass melting.
Greenian bounds for Markov processes

In Section 1, a temporal bound is estimated by a spatial bound, for a Markov process whose transition density satisfies a simple condition. This includes the Brownian motion, for which comparison with a more special method is made. In Section 2, the result is related to the Green operator and examples are given. In Section 3, the result is applied to an old problem of eigenvalues of the Laplacian. In Section 4, recent extensions from the Laplacian to the Schrodinger circle-of-ideas are briefly described. In this case, time is measured by an exponential functional of the process, commonly known under the names Feynman-Kac. This article was written as script for two talks, one general and one technical, given in Taiwan in January 1991. In the spirit of the occasion, the style of exposition is deliberately paced and discursive.
Optimization and parametric modelling to support conceptual structural design

The paper describes software combining parametric geometric modeling with a version of the harmony search method, modified to support multimodal structural optimization. Researchers have recognized the potential of population-based optimization methods, such as genetic algorithms, to support multimodal optimization: that is, generating a diverse range of good alternative solutions, rather than a single best solution. Among these methods is the harmony search method, which has been demonstrated to be efficient in many unimodal structural optimization problems. The paper describes a new version of the harmony search method, implemented as an assembly within Bentley's Generative Components, enabling high-level control of geometry. The new method is demonstrated on an bridge supported by two inclined parabolic arches, a structure where GC controls a complex geometry with a single variable. Comparative studies of the example find that the new method is more effective than conventional harmony search in consist...
Opioid-Inhibited Adenylyl Cyclase in Rat Brain Membranes: Lack of Correlation with High-Affinity Opioid Receptor Binding Sites

Opioid agonists bind to GTP-binding (G-protein)-coupled receptors to inhibit adenylyl cyclase. To explore the relationship between opioid receptor binding sites and opioid-inhibited adenylyl cyclase, membranes from rat striatum were incubated with agents that block opioid receptor binding. These agents included irreversible opioid agonists (oxymorphone-p-nitrophenylhydrazone), irreversible antagonists [naloxonazine, beta-funaltrexamine, and beta-chlornaltrexamine (beta-CNA)], and phospholipase A2. After preincubation with these agents, the same membranes were assayed for high-affinity opioid receptor binding [3H-labeled D-alanine-4-N-methylphenylalanine-5-glycine-ol-enkephalin (mu), 3H-labeled 2-D-serine-5-L-leucine-6-L-threonine enkephalin (delta), and [3H]ethylketocylazocine (EKC) sites] and opioid-inhibited adenylyl cyclase. Although most agents produced persistent blockade in binding of ligands to high-affinity mu, delta, and EKC sites, no change in opioid-inhibited adenylyl cyclase was detected. In most treated membranes, both the IC50 and the maximal inhibition of adenylyl cyclase by opioid agonists were identical to values in untreated membranes. Only beta-CNA blocked opioid-inhibited adenylyl cyclase by decreasing maximal inhibition and increasing the IC50 of opioid agonists. This effect of beta-CNA was not due to nonspecific interactions with G(i), Gs, or the catalytic unit of adenylyl cyclase, as neither guanylylimidodiphosphate-inhibited, NaF-stimulated, nor forskolin-stimulated activity was altered by beta-CNA pretreatment. Phospholipase A2 decreased opioid-inhibited adenylyl cyclase only when the enzyme was incubated with brain membranes in the presence of NaCl and GTP. These results confirm that the receptors that inhibit adenylyl cyclase in brain do not correspond to the high-affinity mu, delta, or EKC sites identified in brain by traditional binding studies.
Structural and functional properties of the evolutionarily ancient Y-box family of nucleic acid binding proteins

The Y-box proteins are the most evolutionarily conserved nucleic acid binding proteins yet defined in bacteria, plants and animals. The central nucleic acid binding domain of the vertebrate proteins is 43% identical to a 70-amino-acid-long protein (CS7.4) from E. coli. The structure of this domain consists of an antiparallel five-stranded beta-barrel that recognizes both DNA and RNA. The diverse biological roles of these Y-box proteins range from the control of the E. coli cold-shock stress response to the translational masking of messenger RNA in vertebrate gametes. This review discusses the organization of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic Y-box proteins, how they interact with nucleic acids, and their biological roles, both proven and potential.
Helicobacter pylori Vaccine Development and Use: A Cost‐Effectiveness Analysis Using the Institute of Medicine Methodology

Background. Prophylactic vaccination has been suggested as a better strategy than antibiotics to control Helicobacter pylori infection. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness (CE) of H. pylori vaccine development and use in the United States and developing countries, using a method developed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Methods. The IOM model includes costs of vaccine development, vaccination program, and averted medical treatments; morbidity and mortality prevented; expected efficacy and use; and proportion of disease that is vaccine-preventable. The model employs infant mortality equivalence (IME) to estimate disease burden; with IME, the societal cost of infection-related morbidity is expressed as equivalent to a specific rate of infant deaths. We tested model assumptions by univariate sensitivity analyses. Results. In the United States, H. pylori vaccine would save 1,176 IME and would cost $58.71 million (1997 dollars) annually, yielding a CE ratio of $49,932 per IME; the health benefits would exceed all IOM-studied vaccines, even when efficacy dropped to 55%. H. pylori vaccine could be cost-saving if priced at less than $60 per course. In developing countries, H. pylori vaccine would rank unfavorably both in terms of health benefits (33,518 IME) and costs ($5,254 million). None of the changes in assumptions improved significantly the H. pylori vaccine's ranking relative to other IOM-studied vaccines. Conclusions. Compared to other vaccines evaluated in the IOM study, H. pylori vaccine warrants public resource allocation for accelerated development and use in the United States but not for use in developing countries.
Phytochrome Mediated Regulation of Sucrose Phosphate Synthase Activity in Maize

The extractable activity of sucrose phosphate synthase was determined in etiolated seedlings of maize (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) following treatments of changing light quality. A 30-minute illumination of 30 microeinsteins per square meter per second white light produced a three-fold increase in sucrose phosphate synthase activity at 2 hours postillumination when compared to seedlings maintained in total darkness. Etiolated maize seedlings treated with 3.6 microeinsteins per square meter per second of red and far-red light showed a 50% increase and a 50% decrease in sucrose phosphate synthase activity, respectively, when compared to etiolated maize seedlings treated with white light. Maize seedlings exposed for 30 minutes to red followed by 30 minutes to far-red showed an initial increase in sucrose phosphate synthase activity followed by a rapid decrease to control level. Neither soybean or sugar beet sucrose phosphate synthase responded to the 30-minute illumination of white light. Phytochrome is involved in sucrose phosphate synthase regulation in maize, whereas it is not responsible for changes in sucrose phosphate synthase activity in soybean or sugar beet.
Unloaded heart in vivo replicates fetal gene expression of cardiac hypertrophy

The cardiac response to increased work includes a reactivation of fetal genes. The response to a decrease in cardiac work is not known. Such information is of clinical interest, because mechanical unloading can improve the functional capacity of the failing heart. We compared here the patterns of gene expression in unloaded rat heart with those in hypertrophied rat heart. Both conditions induced a re-expression of growth factors and proto-oncogenes, and a downregulation of the 'adult' isoforms, but not of the 'fetal' isoforms, of proteins regulating myocardial energetics. Therefore, opposite changes in cardiac workload in vivo induce similar patterns of gene response. Reactivation of fetal genes may underlie the functional improvement of an unloaded failing heart.
Identification and certification of africanized honey bees

We investigate via computer simulation the effectiveness of regulating the process of Africanization of commercial honey bee populations in North America following the establishment of an Africanized feral population. Our results show that regulatory programs designed with the specific objective of identification and certification of non-Africanized, commercial colonies within an Africanized environment are not effective except under a narrow set of unlikely conditions. Under the conditions of our model, even low levels of immigration of Africanized drones into non-Africanized areas results in a high percentage of Africanization and a high probability of error of classification. We discuss the limitations of such programs, the kinds of data necessary to assess the likelihood of their success, and recommend a more effective direction for future research.
The Palomo procedure in the treatment of boys with varicocele: a retrospective study of testicular growth and fertility

The Palomo procedure has often been criticized with regard to possible atrophy of the testis. Measuring the testicular volume is mainly used in pre- and postoperative assessment. Evidence concerning fertility remains unclear. The aim of this study was to learn whether now-adult former patients had any disturbance of their testicular growth and/or fertility. Out of 79 patients operated upon with Palomo's procedure between 1979 and 1990, 33 could be evaluated. They all had grade II or III left-sided varicoceles. Investigations consisted of: the patient's history, testicular-volume measurement by means of an orchidometer (OM) (Prader) and ultrasonography (US), and semen analysis (27/33) 6–17 years after surgery. No recurrence of grade II varicoceles was observed. Only 1 of the 33 patients might have had testicular atrophy, yet he had already fathered 3 children! Twenty-three had a normal sperm count and 24/27 showed normal sperm motility. Eight hydroceles were either present at the time of investigation or had been operated upon in the past. Estimations of testicular volume by OM and US showed significant differences between the two methods concerning volume and relation of right to left side. In general, the volume was overestimated by the OM. The study shows that in boys the simple surgical technique proposed by Palomo has – in the long run – no disadvantages for testicular development and sperm production. Fertility should therefore not be compromised.
Epidemiologic study of sound surface trends in a 10-year longitudinal study

– Longitudinal data of 589 men aged 30–65 yr, each followed for 10 yr, were analyzed to identify variables which may be associated with healthy tooth surface loss. A longitudinal linear growth curve model was used. As expected, older cohorts tended to have fewer sound surfaces (P < 0.02), but they also tended to have greater rates of sound surface loss (P < 0.01). Age, bone loss, number of teeth at baseline, gingivitis, pocket depth and calculus were individually correlated (P < 0.05) with the rate of sound surface loss. The number of filled or diseased surfaces at baseline was also marginally correlated (P < 0.06) with rate of sound surface loss.
High-temperature plastic deformation of Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 single crystals. II: Electron microscopy studies of dislocation substructures

Abstract Dislocation substructures in Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 single crystals, oriented for single slip on {001} and deformed at 1400[ddot]C, have been studied. The high linear work-hardening rate past microyielding is due to the accumulation of a large number of edge dipoles produced by dragging of jogs on screw dislocations, and their break-up by climb or cross-slip into prismatic loops. The apparent macroscopic yield drop is due to activation of secondary slip on {111}, which thereafter dominates deformation because interaction of primary and secondary dislocations produces jogs on primary dislocations, but kinks on secondary dislocations.
FROM ARTIFICIAL LIFE TO REAL LIFE: COMPUTER SIMULATION OF PLANT GROWTH∗

Abstract Artificial life is by itself an important area of scientific investigation. However, this scientific discipline will be more effective if it can also help one to understand how natural living systems really work. It is argued that plant growth is an area where the studies in artificial life lend themselves to computer modeling of what really happens in nature. An approach for such modeling is described, and the initial results of implementing this approach for a corn plant growth are presented.