cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Following Emergency Coronary Artery Bypass for Failed Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty

Acute myocardial ischemia during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) often necessitates emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and can result in myocardial infarction (MI). This study was undertaken to determine what factors might predispose to MI following emergency CABG for failed PTCA. Since 1980, 24 patients at Boston University Medical Center have undergone emergency CABG following failed PTCA. In 15 patients (63%), there was postoperative evidence of an MI shown by either ECG or enzyme criteria. Variables that predisposed to a perioperative MI (p less than 0.05) included multivessel PTCA, the presence of multiple vessels with 50% stenosis or more, multivessel CABG, and the presence of new ECG changes immediately following failed PTCA. Variables that did not discriminate between the two groups included age, sex, the specific vessel involved during PTCA, or a previous history of MI. The presence of coronary collaterals did not decrease the incidence of MI. This study suggests that patients with multiple major coronary stenoses in whom acute ECG changes develop following failed PTCA are more likely to sustain a perioperative MI following emergency CABG.
A hospital quit-smoking consult service: clinical report and intervention guidelines.

Abstract A minimal-contact quit-smoking consult service was estabished to treat hospital inpatients and outpatients referred for behavioral smoking cessation treatment. Sixty-two consecutively referred patients were evaluated and triaged to one of three standardized quitting protocols: motivational counseling; standard behavioral abstinence counseling; or abstinence counseling plus nicotine fading. Consultations included personalized self-quit materials and planned telephone follow-up to enhance compliance. Triage differentiated patients with different levels of quitting readiness and nicotine dependence. Six months after treatment, 27% of patients had quit smoking (informant-verified). Predictors of quit attempts were shorter smoking history and lower nicotine dependence. Variables predicting cessation or substantial reductions in estimated daily nicotine intake included higher educational level, stronger beliefs in smoking health harms, higher trait anxiety, a greater desire to quit and quitting self-efficacy, and the recall of direct quitting advice from the referring physician. Results compare favorably with those of more intensive treatments with similar patient groups. Recommendations are presented for controlled follow-up research to explore promising findings in this clinical report.
Possible Facilitated Transport of Oxygen across the Placenta

THE function of the placenta requires that some substances pass easily while others do not. There are specific transport mechanisms for essential sugars whereas permeability to most ions and unionized solutes is small1–3.
Sodium Channel Expression and Localization at Demyelinated Sites in Painful Human Dental Pulp

Abstract The expression of sodium channels (NaCh(s)) change after inflammatory and nerve lesions, and this change has been implicated in the generation of pain states. Here we examine NaCh expression within nerve fibers from normal and painful extracted human teeth with special emphasis on their localization within large accumulations, like those seen at nodes of Ranvier. Pulpal tissue sections from normal wisdom teeth and from teeth with large carious lesions associated with severe and spontaneous pain were double-stained with pan-specific NaCh antibody and caspr (paranodal protein used to visualize nodes of Ranvier) antibody, while additional sections were triple-stained with NaCh, caspr and myelin basic protein (MBP) antibodies. Z-series of images were obtained with the confocal microscope and evaluated with NIH ImageJ software to quantify the density and size of NaCh accumulations, and to characterize NaCh localization at caspr-identified typical and atypical nodal sites. Although the results showed variability in the overall density and size of NaCh accumulations in painful samples, a common finding included the remodeling of NaChs at atypical nodal sites. This remodeling of NaChs included prominent NaCh expression within nerve regions that showed a selective loss of MBP staining in a pattern consistent with a demyelinating process. Perspective This study identifies the remodeling of NaChs at demyelinated sites within the painful human dental pulp and suggests that the contribution of NaChs to spontaneous pulpal pain generation may be dependant not only on total NaCh density but may also be related to NaCh expression at atypical nodal sites.
The effects of Do', Don't' and Wait' requests training on compliance behavior and stimulus generalization

Abstract Previous implementation of compliance training has involved the use of aversive behaviors, as consequents, which bear neither a topographical nor a functional relationship to the behaviors under training. The present study explores compliance training in which training behaviors, used as consequents, are both topographically and functionally identical to the target behaviors. This study extends the compliance literature through:(1) an analysis of the effects of compliance training in long-term institutionalized mentally retarted adults, (2) the investigation of a third response class “Wait” requests, and (3) anassessment of stimulus generalization. Findings discussed include (a) the treatment effects of compliance training, across response classes, within treatment sessions; (b) the spontaneous generalization of treatment effects outside the treatment conditions; (c) the collateral effects of training upon aggressive outbursts; (d) the heightened potential for the utilization of these techniques in long-term care institutions.
Personalized Electronic Health Record System for Monitoring Patients with Chronic Disease

The Personalized Electronic Health Record System for Monitoring Patients with Chronic Disease (PEHRS-MPCD) is designed to permit tracking and monitoring of the symptoms of patients with chronic disease and provide healthcare professionals with data on patients' lifestyle changes, medication (drug) changes, diet changes and symptom changes. The current method of assessing the symptoms of patients with chronic disease uses an episodic approach that includes phone calls to the patient, paper surveys of health status and on-site examinations. A preventative approach that can actively involve the patient, monitor multiple conditions and provide real time information about a patient's health condition is proven to be effective in chronic disease care. PEHRS-MPCD is designed to continually monitor patients. The goal of the application is to continuously gain and provide patients' information to themselves and healthcare professionals in-order to improve the efficiency of the diagnosis and timely intervention which would yield better quality of care and quality of life for the patient. This personalized electronic health record system (PEHRS-MPCD) will be objective in providing feedback about patient lifestyle changes and choices, and in channeling this information to healthcare providers. PEHRS-MPCD would (a) allow for relevant data to be entered by the patient, (b) make relevant data available to patient's care provider, at real-time and at doctor's visit, (c) generate reports and graphs for the data and (d) provide secure storage of the data. PEHRS-MPCD is a work in progress as a lot of its functionalities and user interface design are still being amended. This paper describes the purpose, need and design of the application.
Three-terminal superconducting devices

The transistor has a number of properties that make it so useful. We discuss these and the additional properties a transistor would need to have for high performance applications at temperatures where superconductivity could contribute advantages to system-level performance. These properties then serve as criteria by which to evaluate three-terminal devices that have been proposed for applications at superconducting temperatures. FETs can retain their transistor properties at low temperatures, but their power consumption is too large for high-speed, high-density cryogenic applications. We discuss in detail why demonstrated superconducting devices with three terminals - Josephson effect based devices, injection controlled weak links, and stacked tunnel junction devices such as the superconducting transistor proposed by K. Gray and the quiteron - each fail to have true transistor-like properties. We conclude that the potentially very rewarding search for a transistor compatible with superconductivity in high performance applications must be in new directions.
CXVI.—New neotropical Cossidæ (Lepidoptera)

(1956). CXVI.—New neotropical Cossidae (Lepidoptera) Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Vol. 9, No. 108, pp. 897-906.
Intravascular lymphoma presenting as a longitudinally-extensive myelitis: Diagnostic challenges and etiologic clues

Intravascular lymphoma is a rare disorder that commonly involves the central nervous system. Neurologic involvement may be the presenting and only manifestation. Identifying intravascular lymphoma as the cause of neurologic disease is diagnostically challenging. We report an elderly woman presenting with subacute onset paraparesis due to spinal cord involvement by an intravascular lymphoma. Progressive worsening was associated with extension of a longitudinally-extensive thoracic intramedullary spinal cord lesion. Extensive investigations failed to provide a diagnosis in life and repeated empiric therapeutic trials were unsuccessful. Diagnostic confirmation was postmortem. A longitudinally-extensive spinal cord lesion has a broad differential diagnosis. Intravascular lymphoma should be considered particularly in older individuals. The presence of coexisting hematologic abnormalities should prompt consideration of a bone marrow biopsy. Early diagnosis may direct therapy and lead to a more favorable prognosis.
Effects of climate and snow depth on Bromus tectorum population dynamics at high elevation

Invasive plants are thought to be especially capable of range shifts or expansion in response to climate change due to high dispersal and colonization abilities. Although highly invasive throughout the Intermountain West, the presence and impact of the grass Bromus tectorum has been limited at higher elevations in the eastern Sierra Nevada, potentially due to extreme wintertime conditions. However, climate models project an upward elevational shift of climate regimes in the Sierra Nevada that could favor B. tectorum expansion. This research specifically examined the effects of experimental snow depth manipulations and interannual climate variability over 5 years on B. tectorum populations at high elevation (2,175 m). Experimentally-increased snow depth had an effect on phenology and biomass, but no effect on individual fecundity. Instead an experimentally-increased snowpack inhibited population growth in 1 year by reducing seedling emergence and early survival. A similar negative effect of increased snow was observed 2 years later. However, a strong negative effect on B. tectorum was also associated with a naturally low-snow winter, when seedling emergence was reduced by 86%. Across 5 years, winters with greater snow cover and a slower accumulation of degree-days coincided with higher B. tectorum seedling density and population growth. Thus, we observed negative effects associated with both experimentally-increased and naturally-decreased snowpacks. It is likely that the effect of snow at high elevation is nonlinear and differs from lower elevations where wintertime germination can be favorable. Additionally, we observed a doubling of population size in 1 year, which is alarming at this elevation.
Chemokine gene modification of human dendritic cell-based tumor vaccines using a recombinant adenoviral vector

Previous animal studies conducted in our laboratory have shown that tumor antigen-pulsed dendritic cells (TP-DC) can mediate antitumor effects in vivo. However, durable and complete regression of established tumors has been difficult to achieve through the administration of TP-DC alone. To better augment immune priming to tumors in vivo, we have hypothesized that it is necessary to achieve an increased number of host-derived, naive T cells at the site of TP-DC vaccine injections. To accomplish this goal, we have embarked on a series of studies that utilize defined chemokines. One of these molecules, secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC), has been shown to be uniquely chemoattractant for naive T cells and dendritic cells. We propose that gene modification of DC-based tumor vaccines to produce human SLC will enhance T-cell recruitment and immune priming to tumor-associated antigens, and thereby translate into improved antitumor vaccine efficacy in vivo. Utilizing an E1-, E3-deleted adenoviral vector containing the gene for human SLC, we have been able to transduce human DC to produce biologically active human SLC that chemoattracts human T cells in vitro. SLC production by transduced DC was markedly enhanced upon DC maturation. Additionally, these SLC-secreting DC were found to be viable to a large extent despite the cytopathic effect inherent in adenoviral gene transfer and, most importantly, functional as determined by their ability to prime autologous T cells to a known melanoma-associated antigen, MART-1. Based on these encouraging results, we plan to initiate Phase I clinical studies utilizing DC-SLC to treat patients with advanced solid tumors.
Electrostatically enhanced performance of a yeast-based microbial fuel cell

An electrically insulated electrode was connected via a voltage source to the anode of a compact two-compartment microbial fuel cell, which employed yeast as the anode catalyst. Applying a dc voltage of 0.5 V between the anode and the insulated electrode caused the open-circuit voltage of the cell to increase from 0.3 V to 0.47 V. The dc voltage also extended the operation current and increased the power output of the fuel cell. Since no current was induced in the insulated electrode–anode circuit, no power was delivered by the voltage source to the fuel cell system. The electrostatic method appears as an additional parameter in the design of biofuel cells.
SPECTROSCOPIC ABUNDANCES OF SOLAR-TYPE DWARFS IN THE OPEN CLUSTER M34 (NGC 1039)

Parameters and relative abundances of Fe, Ni, Ti, Cr, Ca, Si, Al, and Mg have been derived for nine M34 G and K dwarfs from high-resolution, modest signal-to-noise ratio Keck HIRES spectra. Effective temperatures have been derived spectroscopically and fall in the range 4750 KTeff � 6130 K. Despite modest scatter in Fe, Ti, Cr, Ca, Al, and Mg (none of which is found to be correlated with Li scatter in M34), our two coolest stars are slightly though consistently underabundant in these elements relative to the warmer stars. The two cool stars are slightly overabundant in Si, whose abundances are derived from higher excitation lines. This and our finding that Fe ii-based abundances are significantly higher than Fe i-based values in the cool stars seem to point toward the action of non-LTE effects (overionization, overexcitation, or both), though additional analysis is required to exclude inadequacies in the model atmospheres. Final mean cluster abundances are based on five warm stars, which indicate (Fe/H) = +0.07 � 0.04, and are void of any statistically significant scatter. The other elements scale well with Fe except for Ni, which appears to be slightly underabundant with respect to Fe. Potassium abundances are derived and show a surprising marked trend with temperature, which further supports our suspicion of the presence of non-LTE effects. Moreover, similar trends with temperature suggest that the Li and K underabundances in cool M34 dwarfs are partially related; thus, some portion of the well-known Li-Teff trend in cool M34 dwarfs may be illusory.
Effects of amrinone on myocardial energetics in severe congestive heart failure

Animal and human studies suggest that amrinone can cause significant improvement in the systemic hemodynamics of patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF), and do so without increasing myocardial oxygen consumption. Because patients with CHF appear to be vulnerable to any further worsening of the myocardial oxygen supply-and-demand balance, amrinone may have a distinct advantage over catecholamine agents that tend to increase myocardial oxygen demand.
Conversion of Nanomaterial Waste Soot to Recycled Sc2O3 Feedstock for the Synthesis of Metallic Nitride Fullerenes

Herein, we address a need in the industrial and academic communities to reduce costs and environmental impact associated with the synthesis of select carbonaceous nanomaterials. In this effort, we ...
Laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernia repair.

Extensive experience has been gained with the laparoscopic approach to the diaphragm in recent years. However, this experience is almost exclusively with the various types of hiatal hernia repair. Traumatic and congenital diaphragmatic defects are much less common, and each present unique obstacles to a minimally invasive approach. However, with the proper training, equipment and circumstance most of the unusual diaphragmatic hernias are amenable to laparoscopic repair. Furthermore, patients can expect the same well-known benefits of minimal access surgery, with a recurrence rate similar to the open approach.
Physical properties of trabecular bone

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relation between compressive strength and density of human vertebral bone, the relation between trabecular orientation and compressive strength, and the effects of the strain rate on compressive strength. A total of 71 samples obtained at 23 post mortem examinations were investigated. Density determinations were made and two different densities were calculated: (1) the apparent density as wet weight divided by the total sample volume; and (2) real density as wet weight divided by the volume of bone matrix determined by water displacement. Compression test measurements were made on the fresh samples using an Instron materials testing machine at controlled deformation rates. The results indicated a highly significant relation between apparent density and compressive strength. Similar relations were found between dry weight per total sample volume and ash weight per total sample volume and compressive strength. As the apparent density increased, the compressive strength of the sample decreased. A negative regression between real density and compressive strength was found in one of the experimental series of this investigation where, as the density of the bone matrix increased the compressive strength of the sample decreased. This relation was not significant in the other two experimental series. The strength of vertebral bone was significantly higher along the superior-inferior axis or vertical axis than along the two other directions. Samples showed a significantly greater ability to withstand compression when the deformation rate was 1 cm per minute than they did when the rate was 0.01 cm per minute.
Fenfluramine depletes serotonin from the developing cortex and alters thalamocortical organization

A previous experiment from our laboratory showed that neonatal destruction of cortical serotoninergic (5-HT) axons with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) reduced the size of the clusters of vibrissae-related thalamocortical axons. This result suggested an important role for 5-HT in thalamocortical development, but could be questioned because of potentially direct toxic effects of 5,7-DHT on thalamocortical axons. In the present study, 5-HT was depleted from the cortex using a different method, neonatal administration of +fenfluramine, and vibrissae-related patches of thalamocortical afferents were measured when animals reached 6 days of age. Fenfluramine reduced cortical 5-HT levels to 93.9 ± 6.0% of normal (P < 0.01) and decreased the average area of vibrissae-related lamina IV patches by 23.8 ± 4.4% (P < 0.05). Depletion of 5-HT with +fenfluramine did not significantly reduce body, brain, or cortical weight, or the overall dimensions of the somatosensory cortex. Thus, these results extend our previous studies by showing that thalamocortical organization can be altered when 5-HT is depleted without the potential for direct toxic effects on thalamic axons.
Deposition of sidestream cigarette smoke in the human respiratory tract. II. Deposition of ultrafine smoke particles.

Abstract Sidestream cigarette smoke was generated into an inhalation chamber from which five normal male volunteers inhaled the smoke. Size distribution of the smoke aerosol was: count median diameter, 0.11 μm, mass median diameter 0.43 μm. Deposition fraction measured as concentration difference for each size fraction between inhaled and exhaled aerosol for each size interval was: 0.075 μm, 0.24 ± 0.04; 0.13 μm, 0.15 ± 0.04; 0.24 μm, 0.10 ± 0.04; and 0.42 μm, 0.07 ± 0.02. The declining deposition fraction as size approaches 0.5 μm is consistent with previous theoretical and experimental data.
In vivo limb tissue development in the absence of nerves: A quantitative study

Abstract The entire presumptive nervous system was excised from early tailbud (Harrison's stage 24) Amblystoma maculatum embryos. For controls, embryos of the same age were operated in an identical manner except that about a 1-mm segment of neural tube dorsal to the presumptive limb buds was left intact. Plastic-embedded, midstylopodium regions of limbs were sampled and the tissues histometrically measured with a TTMC particle counter. The data were statistically analyzed. The results indicated aneurogenic and control limbs to be of equal cross-sectional size at 13 days after the operation. From 21 days to 54 days aneurogenic limbs were from 62 to 75% the size of controls. The development and maintenance of humeri were unaffected by the absence of nerves. Muscle was found to be most sensitive to nerve absence; starting with an equal cross-sectional amount at Day 13 (mostly myoblasts), control muscle increased two- to fivefold, whereas aneurogenic muscle grew feebly from 13 to 21 days and gradually disappeared thereafter. Control muscle was seen with the electron microscope to be normally innervated whereas axons were never found in the aneurogenic animals.
Enhanced killing effect of nanosecond pulse electric fields on PANC1 and Jurkat cell lines in the presence of Tween 80.

We investigated the effects of nanosecond pulse electric fields (nsPEFs) on Jurkat and PANC1 cells, which are human carcinoma cell lines, in the presence of Tween 80 (T80) at a concentration of 0.18 % and demonstarted an enhanced killing effect. We used two biological assays to determine cell viability after exposing cells to nsPEFs in the presence of T80 and observed a significant increase in the killing effect of nsPEFs. We did not see a toxic effect of T80 when cells were exposed to surfactant alone. However, we saw a synergistic effect when cells exposed to T80 were combined with the nsPEFs. Increasing the time of exposure for up to 8 h in T80 led to a significant decrease in cell viability when nsPEFs were applied to cells compared to control cells. We also observed cell type–specific swelling in the presence of T80. We suggest that T80 acts as an adjuvant in facilitating the effects of nsPEFs on the cell membrane; however, the limitations of the viability assays were addressed. We conclude that T80 may increase the fragility of the cell membrane, which makes it more susceptible to nsPEF-mediated killing.
Critical current calculations for long 0-π Josephson junctions

A zigzag boundary between a $d_{x^2 - y^2}$ and an s-wave superconductor is believed to behave like a long Josephson junction with alternating sections of 0 and π symmetry. We calculate the field-dependent critical current of such a junction, using a simple model. The calculation involves discretizing the partial differential equation for the phase difference across a long 0-π junction. In this form, the equations describe a hybrid ladder of inductively coupled small 0 and π resistively and capacitively shunted Josephson junctions (RCSJ's). The calculated critical critical current density Jc(Ha) is maximum at non-zero applied magnetic field Ha, and depends strongly on the ratio of Josephson penetration depth λJ to facet length Lf. If λJ/Lf ≫1 and the number of facets is large, there is a broad range of Ha where Jc(Ha) is less than 2% of the maximum critical current density of a long 0 junction. All of these features are in qualitative agreement with recent experiments. In the limit λJ/Lf →∞, our model reduces to a previously-obtained analytical superposition result for Jc(Ha). In the same limit, we also obtain an analytical expression for the effective field-dependent quality factor QJ(Ha), finding that \(Q_J(H_a) \propto \sqrt{J_c(H_a)}\). We suggest that measuring the field-dependence of QJ(Ha) would provide further evidence that this RCSJ model applies to a long 0-π junction between a d-wave and an s-wave superconductor.
Increased Neural Response to Trauma Scripts in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Paroxetine Treatment: A Pilot Study

Neuroimaging studies of individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have revealed altered patterns of activity in medial prefrontal brain regions, including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), an area implicated in affect regulation. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been shown to effectively treat PTSD symptoms, but there remains a lack of functional neuroimaging research examining the effects of psychopharmacological treatment on brain function in PTSD. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the effects of the SSRI paroxetine on neural responses to traumatic memories in a small sample of patients with PTSD, as measured with PET imaging; we hypothesized that paroxetine treatment would be associated with increased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the medial prefrontal cortex. Thirteen participants with PTSD were given controlled-release paroxetine (paroxetine CR) or placebo in a randomized, double-blind fashion for 12 weeks. Participants underwent brain imaging using positron emission tomography (PET) before and at the end of treatment in conjunction with exposure to neutral scripts and personalized trauma scripts. Participants treated with paroxetine CR and placebo both exhibited significantly increased rCBF in the ACC during trauma versus neutral script presentations; however, we noted an increase in function in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in paroxetine-treated (but not placebo-treated) participants. Participants in both groups showed decreases in overall PTSD symptomatology following treatment; paroxetine-treated participants showed a slightly greater percentage decrease in symptoms. These preliminary findings indicate that increased ACC function represents a nonspecific response to treatment, whereas increased OFC function is specifically associated with paroxetine treatment in PTSD. These pilot data reveal putative mechanisms for SSRI treatment in PTSD and substantiate the need for large-scale placebo-controlled studies investigating these effects.
Dynamic characterization of vertically loaded foundations on granular soils

By means of scaled modeling on a geotechnical centrifuge, a systematic experimental investigation was conducted to examine the vertical dynamic response of surface foundations on granular soils. From the results of more than 100 tests, it was found that the dynamic characteristics of such foundations can be well represented in the frequency domain by the homogeneous half-space analytical solution despite the gravity- and load-induced spaital variations of the soil’s modulus. However, it was also revealed that the foundation response has a significant nonlinear dependence on the soil bearing pressure and footing dimension. To capture such aspects, a set of equivalent-homogeneous elastic parameters was determined from the physical measurements for a wide range of soil-foundation configurations. Through an analytical synthesis, it was found that the equivalent-homogeneous Poisson’s ratio of the soil can be taken as 0.25 while the equivalent-homogeneous shear modulus of the soil can be related through a power law to the soil’s void ratio, footing radius, and average foundation bearing pressure. The practical relevance and potential applications of the resulting semi-empirical formula for the dynamic foundation compliance are discussed.
U.S. Space Surveillance Network capabilities

The U.S. Space Command maintains a positional catalog of over 8000 man-made space objects. The basis of this catalog is the observational data collected by a worldwide network of radars and optical sites known collectively as the U.S. Space Surveillance Network which is operated by the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy. This network was developed following the launch of the first SPUTNIK in 1957 at which time the Air Force was given the task by the U.S. Congress of maintaining a catalog of all the detectable objects in space-active and inactive satellites, spent boosters and other miscellaneous jetsam that constitute the dangerous portion of the space debris population. The fundamental mission of the space surveillance network is to keep reliable, up-to-date information on all detectable resident space objects (RSOs) in space. The sensors in the network are primarily ground-based except for a recent sensor that was deployed in space. The capabilities of the network are described in this paper. Specific examples will be used to demonstrate that the space surveillance network constitutes a capable and extensive remote sensing system for resident space objects and debris.
The transcendentals in the middle ages: An introduction

Although most predicates may be truthfully predicated of only some beings, there are others that seem to apply to every being. The latter, including ‘being’ itself, were known as the transcendentals in the Middle Ages and gave rise to the much disputed “doctrine of the transcendentals”. This article explores the main tenets of the doctrine and the difficulties that they face, the reasons why scholastic authors were interested in these issues, and the origins of the doctrine.
Molecular simulations of cotranslational protein folding: fragment stabilities, folding cooperativity, and trapping in the ribosome

Although molecular simulation methods have yielded valuable insights into mechanistic aspects of protein refolding in vitro, they have up to now not been used to model the folding of proteins as they are actually synthesized by the ribosome. To address this issue, we report here simulation studies of three model proteins: chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 (CI2), barnase, and Semliki forest virus protein (SFVP), and directly compare their folding during ribosome-mediated synthesis with their refolding from random, denatured conformations. To calibrate the methodology, simulations are first compared with in vitro data on the folding stabilities of N-terminal fragments of CI2 and barnase; the simulations reproduce the fact that both the stability and thermal folding cooperativity increase as fragments increase in length. Coupled simulations of synthesis and folding for the same two proteins are then described, showing that both fold essentially post-translationally, with mechanisms effectively identical to those for refolding. In both cases, confinement of the nascent polypeptide chain within the ribosome tunnel does not appear to promote significant formation of native structure during synthesis; there are however clear indications that the formation of structure within the nascent chain is sensitive to location within the ribosome tunnel, being subject to both gain and loss as the chain lengthens. Interestingly, simulations in which CI2 is artificially stabilized show a pronounced tendency to become trapped within the tunnel in partially folded conformations: non-cooperative folding, therefore, appears in the simulations to exert a detrimental effect on the rate at which fully folded conformations are formed. Finally, simulations of the two-domain protease module of SFVP, which experimentally folds cotranslationally, indicate that for multi-domain proteins, ribosome-mediated folding may follow different pathways from those taken during refolding. Taken together, these studies provide a first step toward developing more realistic methods for simulating protein folding as it occurs in vivo.
Detection and Quantitation of Cell-Cell Electrofusion Products by Flow Cytometry

A cytometric method for detecting and quantitating hybrid cells that resulted from cell-cell electrofusion was developed. Cells from two different lines and two vital fluorescent dyes were used in conjunction with a flow cytometer to demonstrate the method. Each dye was used to stain one cell type prior to electrofusion. Hybrid cells exhibited dual fluorescence while unfused cells retained their single fluorescence. Flow cytometry was used to detect dual fluorescing hybrid cells that resulted from electrofusion. Fluorescent microscopy was used to confirm that 92% of the cytometrically detected cells were hybrids. Flow cytometry was also used to quantitatively show differences in hybrid yields for samples fused using different electrical conditions. These results demonstrate that the method can be used for detection and quantitation of electrofusion products. The methodologies presented are not specific to the cell types used; they can be adapted for use with other cell types.
Historical range of variability in eastern Cascades forests, Washington, USA

The historical range of variability (HRV) has been suggested as a coarse filter approach to maintain ecosystem sustainability and resiliency. The historical range of variability in forest age structure for the central eastern Cascade Range in Washington State, USA was developed from historical fire return intervals and the manner in which fire acted as both cyclic and stochastic processes. The proportions of seven forest structural stages calculated through these processes were applied to the area of each forest series within the central eastern Cascades landscape. Early successional forest stages were more common in high elevation forest than low elevation forest. The historical proportion of old growth and late successional forest varied from 38 to 63 percent of the forested landscape. These process-based estimates are consistent with those developed from forest structural information. HRV is a valuable planning tool for ecosystem conservation purposes, but must be applied to real landscapes with consideration of both temporal and spatial scale.
Effects of potassium-free media on ADH action in toad urinary bladder

We studied the effects of potassium-free media on processes related to the hydro-osmotic response of toad bladder to ADH (20 mU/ml). Exposure of bladders to potassium-free media did not affect base-line osmotic water flow, but it promptly attenuated the level of osmotic water permeability induced by ADH. Both the frequency of homronallyinduced intra(luminal)membrane particle aggregates (presumed sites for transmembrane wate flow) and the number of luminal membrane fusion events., (associated with aggregate delivery from the cytoplasm) were also reduced. Potassium-free media had no measurable effect either on cytoplasmic microtubule integrity or on mean aggregate size. Potassium repletion reversed the inhibitory effect of potassium-free media on ADH-related osmotic water permeability. For bladders fully stimulated with ADH in the presence of potassium, subsequent bathing media depletion of potassium led to an inhibition of ADH-related water flow and to reductions in membrane fusion sites and aggregates. We confirmed that the inhibitory effect of potassium-free media on ADH-induced osmotic water permeability results from serosal bathing medium potassium depletion alone and occurs at a post-cyclic AMP site. In addition, we found that ADH-stimulated water permeability was attenuated in bathing media containing a low potassium concentration (0.5mm). The data are consistent with the view that potassium-free media or media containing low levels of potassium inhibit ADH-enhanced osmotic water permeability in load bladder by interfering with the process of or leading to membrane fusion required for the delivery of water-conducting structures to the luminal membrane. In addition, some of our results imply that aggregates may turn over during sustained ADH stimulation.
Pharmacokinetics and Safety Profile of Tigecycline in Children Aged 8 to 11 Years With Selected Serious Infections: A Multicenter, Open-Label, Ascending-Dose Study

Abstract Background Tigecycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used for treating serious bacterial infections in adults, may be suitable for pediatric use once an appropriate dosage is determined. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetic (PK) properties, safety profile, and descriptive efficacy of tigecycline. Methods In this Phase II, multicenter, open-label clinical trial, children aged 8 to 11 years with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), complicated intra-abdominal infection (cIAI), or complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) were administered tigecycline 0.75, 1, or 1.25 mg/kg. Results A total of 58 patients received ≥1 dose of tigecycline (31 boys; 44 white; mean age, 10 years; mean weight, 35 kg); 47 had data from samples available for PK analysis. The mean (SD) PK values were: C max , 1899 (2954) ng/mL; T max , 0.56 (0.18) hour; between-dose AUC, 2833 (1557) ng · h/mL; weight-normalized clearance, 0.503 (0.293) L/h/kg; and Vd ss , 4.88 (4.84) L/kg. Overall clinical cure rates at test-of-cure were 94% (16/17), 76% (16/21), and 75% (15/20) in the 0.75-, 1-, and 1.25-mg/kg cohorts, respectively. The rates of protocol violations were higher in the 1- and 1.25-mg/kg groups, resulting in higher proportions of indeterminate clinical cure assessments relative to the 0.75-mg/kg cohort (19% and 15% vs 0%). The most frequent adverse event was nausea, which occurred in 50% of patients overall (29/58) and the prevalence of which was significantly higher in the 1.25-mg/kg group versus the 0.75-mg/kg group (65% vs 18%; P = 0.007). Pharmacodynamic simulations using MIC data from an ongoing microbiological surveillance trial predicted that a dosage of 1.2 mg/kg q12h would lead to therapeutic target attainment levels of up to 82% for the target AUC 0–24 /MIC ratios. Conclusion A tigecycline dosage of ∼1.2 mg/kg q12h may represent the most appropriate dosage for subsequent evaluation in Phase III clinical trials in children aged 8 to 11 years with selected serious bacterial infections. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00488345.
COMPUTATIONAL GEOMETRY COLUMN 16

The papers presented at the Eighth ACM Symposium on Computational Geometry (June 1992) are summarized.
The Effect of Lupus Anticoagulant in the Second-Generation Assay for Activated Protein C Resistance

The activated protein C resistance (APCR) assay is the test of choice to screen for factor V Leiden. We evaluated the effect of lupus anticoagulant on the baseline clotting time of the second-generation APCR assay with plasma samples from 54 patients to determine whether a falsely low APCR ratio could be predicted. We also assessed whether a modification of the assay could make it more reliable in the presence of strong lupus anticoagulants. Of 54 plasma samples, 5 yielded a false-positive APCR ratio, and all 5 had a prolonged baseline clotting time. Further dilution (1:40) of the plasma samples in factor V-deficient plasma led to correction of the APCR ratio and did not affect the sensitivity of the test for factor V Leiden. Our data support that the baseline clotting time is a good predictor of a false-positive APCR test result and should be checked before calculating the ratio. The modified APCR assay reliably identified the false-positive ratios and could be used to screen for factor V Leiden in samples with strong lupus anticoagulant.
Bistatic lidar measurements in the boundary layer using a CCD camera

A CCD based bistatic lidar (CLidar) system has been developed and constructed to measure scattering in the atmospheric boundary layer. The system used is based on a CCD camera, wide-angle optics and laser. Measuring near the ground with the standard monostatic lidar method is difficult due to the huge change in signal strength with altitude and the incomplete overlap between the laser and the telescope. High spatial (altitude) resolution is also desired near the ground for comparison with in-situ aerosol instruments. Imaging a vertical laser beam from the side with a CCD camera and wide-angle field of view optics overcomes both of these problems. While the molecular signal changes many orders of magnitude in the standard method, it only changes about one order with the CLidar method. In addition, the CLidar resolution near the ground is less than a meter. For perpendicular polarization, the molecular signal is nearly constant all the way to the ground. Other advantages of the CLidar method include low cost and simplicity. The signal is integrated on the CCD rather than with specialized electronics. With the bistatic CLidar method the scattering angle changes with altitude. The variation of scattering intensity with the scattering angle will be influenced by the aerosol size distribution and thus could help provide information on aerosol parameters of interest in the boundary layer.
The evolution of antihypertensive therapy

Beginning in the early 1950s, when a ganglioplegic agent and a vasodilator were used in combination to provide long-term control of severe hypertension, which neither drug alone could control, much has been learned about the management of hypertension from the use of new antihypertensive agents in man and from clinical trials of antihypertensive regimens. Some of this information includes: the unexpected yet very real hazards as well as benefits associated with the long-term use of powerful drugs, in particular the original description of hydralazine-induced lupus, its relation to genetic markers and its association with control of hypertension; the apparently decreasing need for antihypertensive drugs in subjects with well-controlled severe and moderate hypertension; the identification of risk factors for the complications of hypertension and the quantitation of their effects; the decrease in the incidence of hypertensive complications associated with the pharmacologic treatment of severe, moderate and, at least, the upper ranges of mild hypertension; the possibility of designing a chemical to block a specific reaction and the realization that it would have broader than expected effects; and the primary prevention of myocardial infarction in very high risk subjects.
A triphenyl Bismuth-based solution route to Bi:Sr:Ca:Cu:O superconductors

Abstract A new solution route to bulk Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductors using well-defined metallorganic precursors (triphenyl bismuth, strontium ethoxide, calcium ethoxide, and copper (II) 2-ethylhexanoate), all of which are either readily available or easily synthesized from common organic solvents, is described. The final synthetic procedure is straightforward and versatile, yielding a reproducible final product from several starting stoichiometries. The superconducting materials obtained from solution and solid-state materials are compared using four-probe (AC) resistance versus temperature, X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The triphenyl bismuth-based solution route produces a superconducting material that is multiphased, with Bi 2 Sr 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O x as the predominant phase.
Second-order solution for determining density and velocity fields of galaxies

In this Letter, I use second-order Lagrangian perturbation theory to calculate an analytical expression relating density to velocity in a gravitating system. This solution can be used to compare peculiar velocity field measurements with observations of large-scale structure. The predictions of both linear theory and second-order theory are compared with the results of N-body simulations. While linear theory systematically overestimates the velocity flows in high-density regions, the second-order corrections calculated herein remove this systematic error.
Dimensional stability of wood-plastic combinations to moisture changes

Anti-shrink efficiency (ASE) measurements were made on four wood-plastic combinations (WPC). The WPC test d were made from loblolly pine and yellow-poplar impregnated with polymethylmethacrylate, P (MMA), and a poly(styrene-acrylonitrile), P (ST+ACN). The ASE values were much higher with P (ST+ACN) than with P (MMA) for both species of wood and were higher for yellow-poplar than for loblolly pine for both polymer species The high ASE for the P(ST+ACN) WPC systems is explained by the fact that this comonomer solution swells the wood during treatment and thus creates a bulking action. The maximum ASE values were obtained at intermediate polymer loadings (∼50% full) rather than at very high polymer loadings. The reason for this was that the samples shrank during treatment when the polymer loading was high, therefore the sample was stressed. During the swelling these stresses were relieved causing greater than normal swelling.
Querying web data: an object-oriented approach

An object-oriented database methodology for querying Web sources of data, structured in XML, is presented in this paper. A querying system is developed based on this methodology using ObjectStore database system. XML data are converted into objects that can be stored as part of the ObjectStore database system. Several querying interfaces for querying, searching and browsing the database are developed. The methodology presented in this paper is easily adaptable to any source of Web data that is represented in XML.
What do physicians want from a psychiatric consultation service

Summary This study investigated two general questions. First, it attempted to determine what aspects of psychiatric consultation were most valued by different departments in a general hospital. The second question concerned the extent to which physicians with different levels of experience and responsibility differed in the value they placed on the services offered by the consultation psychiatrist. Results indicated that few differences existed between the medical, surgical, or OB/GYN services. Such functions as the evaluation of a patient's mental status and suggestions concerning the management of a patient on the ward were highly valued, while activities where staff members were the primary recipients of the consultants' services were least valued. Results also indicated that the importance attached to the various aspects of psychiatric consultation increased as a direct function of experience, with residents giving the lowest ratings and directors giving the highest ratings. These findings were discussed in terms of the question: Who should be the primary consultee? It was suggested that a variety of consultation-liaison models need to be available for various services and individual physicians.