cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound and Pregnancy

An evidence-based algorithm to the evaluation for ectopic pregnancy with quick hits ultrasound images as a quick reminder of what is normal.
7. Single-Site Access Surgery

Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery has emerged as a method to employ existing laparoscopic techniques via a single incision. The technique has gained tremendous momentum, and its feasibility has been demonstrated throughout multiple surgical disciplines. LESS may offer improved cosmesis and may have other potential advantages over conventional multiport laparoscopy. Clinical trials, some already underway, will determine if these advantages indeed accrue and how significant they are. This chapter describes basic principles and gives technical tips for success and the means by which the problems inherent in the modality may be minimized.
Clinical and metabolic aspects of sulfohydrolases in man.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a cumulative overview of the properties and role of sulfohydrolases and stimulates further studies on the enzymology and treatment of human genetic disorders caused by deficiencies of the sulfohydrolases. Mammals produce and excrete arylsulfates as a part of their detoxification mechanisms against phenolic compounds. Aryl-sulfate sulfohydrolases have been classified on the basis of their cellular location, substrate specificities, physicochemical properties, and the effect of certain reagents on the enzymatic reaction constants. Arylsulfohydrolase A forms an enzymatically active insoluble complex with a plant lectin, concanavalin A, at a high salt concentration, where electrostatic interactions are minimal. This insoluble complex is isolated by centrifugation. The chapter discusses the enzymatic aspects of diseases associated with the abnormal activities of sulfohydrolases. Metachromatic leukodystrophy is a human sphingolipidosis characterized by marked disintegration of the myelin sheath of the nerve cell and the accumulation of cerebroside 3-sulfate in brain, kidney, and other visceral organs.
A constant duty cycle control, single-phase inverter design for distributed static series compensators

Distributed static series compensators (DSSC) are power electronics devices that can inject positive or negative reactance in series with a transmission line by connecting through a transformer suspended from the line. This paper presents a method of controlling the DSSC inverter for improved functionality. It is shown that using three-level, constant duty cycle switching compared to traditional, sinusoidally modulated three-level switching increases the energy available in the inverter dc-side capacitor and thus the magnitude of injected reactance. Furthermore, losses in the inverter are reduced. These results are validated on a 5kVA, single-phase inverter implemented in hardware.
Delayed systolic blood pressure recovery after graded exercise: An independent correlate of angiographic coronary disease

Abstract OBJECTIVE This study was performed to determine whether a delayed decline in systolic blood pressure (SBP) after graded exercise is an independent correlate of angiographic coronary disease. BACKGROUND The predictive importance of the rate of SBP decline after exercise relative to blood pressure changes during exercise has not been well explored. METHODS Among adults who underwent symptom-limited exercise treadmill testing and who underwent coronary angiography within 90 days, a delayed decline in SBP during recovery was defined as a ratio of SBPs at 3 min of recovery to SBP at 1 min of recovery >1.0. Severe angiographic coronary artery disease was defined as left main disease, three-vessel disease or two-vessel disease with involvement of the proximal left anterior descending artery. RESULTS There were 493 subjects eligible for analyses (age 59 ± 11 years, 78% male). Severe angiographic coronary disease was noted in 102 (21%). There were associations noted between a delayed decline in SBP during recovery and severe angiographic coronary disease (34% vs. 17%, odds ratio [OR] 2.59, confidence interval [CI] 1.58 to 4.25, p = 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusting for SBP changes during exercise and other potential confounders, a delayed decline in SBP during recovery remained predictive of severe angiographic coronary disease (adjusted OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.27 to 3.87, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS A delayed decline in SBP during recovery is associated with a greater likelihood of severe angiographic coronary disease even after accounting for the change in SBP during exercise.
A suggestion that two‐dimensional turbulence contributes to polar cap convection for Bz north

[1] Recently, a linear dependence has been found between the polar cap potential and the log of ULF power in the solar wind for Bz north. We argue here that this is very strong evidence that Alfven waves propagating from the solar wind to the polar cap drive two-dimensional turbulence in agreement with other work along these lines. In brief, two-dimensional (2-D) turbulence is characterized by an inverse cascade of energy from intermediate to large scales, eventually leading to two large counter-rotating vortices filling the available volume and, we think, creating two of the four vortices in the Bz north polar cap. In this model, the Alfven waves create velocity shear at the 500 or so kilometer scale associated with polar cap arcs. This energy/vorticity then inverse cascades to fill the polar cap.
Relationship of ethnicity and body mass index with the development of hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

OBJECTIVES: Studies primarily using prevalence data suggest the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and risk factors for cardiovascular disease may vary by ethnicity. The objective of this study was to examine longitudinally the associations of BMI and ethnicity with transitions from a baseline state without evidence of chronic disease to the onset of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or both. DESIGN: The study population comprised members of a large insurer in Hawaii. Individuals were eligible if continuously enrolled for at least one year without evidence of major chronic disease. Analyses used multi-state models to measure the relative rates of transitions from the baseline state to developing hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or both. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education, number of office visits, and island of residence. RESULTS: Native Hawaiians had the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity followed by Caucasians, Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans. Relative rates of transitions by ethnicity, however, did not parallel the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Japanese and Filipino ethnicities had significantly faster transition rates than Whites for all four study transitions, rates that ranged from 20% to more than two-fold faster. Chinese and Koreans also had significantly higher rates of many transitions compared to Whites. Native Hawaiians, by contrast, had a slower transition rate than Whites to developing hyperlipidemia without hypertension, and relatively faster transitions to the other outcome states. CONCLUSIONS: The study offers longitudinal evidence of different patterns of risk for developing hypertension and hyperlipidemia among Asians, Whites, and Native Hawaiians. Ethn Dis. 2013;23[1]:65–70
Definable Operation in General Algebras, and the Theory of Automata and Flowcharts

We study the class of operations definable from the given operations of an algebra of sets by union, composition, and fixed points; we obtain two theorems on definable operations that give us as special case the regular-equals-recognisable theorem of generalised finite automata theory. Definable operations arise also as the operations computable by charts; by translating into predicate logic, we obtain Manna's formulas for termination and correctness of flowcharts.
Meta-data Management System for High-Performance Large-Scale Scientific Data Access

Many scientific applications manipulate large amount of data and, therefore, are parallelized on high-performance computing systems to take advantage of their computational power and memory space. The size of data processed by these large-scale applications can easily overwhelm the disk capacity of most systems. Thus, tertiary storage devices are used to store the data. The parallelization of this type of applications requires understanding of not only the data partition pattern among multiple processors but also the underlying storage architectures and the data storage pattern. In this paper, we present a meta-data management system which uses a database to record the information of datasets and manage these meta data to provide suitable I/O interface. As a result, users specify dataset names instead of data physical location to access data using optimal I/O calls without knowing the underlying storage structure. We use an astrophysics application to demonstrate that the management system can provide convenient programming environment with negligible database access overhead.
Principles of Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy (or cryosurgery) is the technique of precise freezing and thawing of undesirable tissue resulting in cell death and regression. It is a highly effective technique available to the ophthalmologist for local control and eradication of various intra- and periocular tumors and can serve as an alternative or adjunct to other methods such as surgery or radiotherapy.
The Use of Fluorescence Anisotropy Decay in the Study of Biological Macromolecules

In recent years fluorescence measurements have evolved into one of the most widely used techniques in biochemistry. We shall be concerned here with one type of fluorescence measurement, fluorescence anisotropy decay, which has found extensive application in studies of the properties of biological macromolecules.
Antibiotic production as a function of spore formation in Bacillus licheniformis.

ELABORATION of antibiotics by postlog-phase cells of several different micro-organisms has been emphasized recently. Conditions required for optimum production of penicillin,1 synnematin,2 chlortetracycline,3 erythromycin,4 streptomycin,5 and neomycin6 all provide for a fast growth period followed by a period of fermentation involving slow growth or no growth at all.
Macular Cherry-Red Spot, Corneal Clouding, and ß-Galactosidase Deficiency: Clinical, Biochemical, and Electron Microscopic Study of a New Autosomal Recessive Storage Disease

A new syndrome which combines clinical features of several storage diseases (mucopolysaccharidoses, sphingolipidoses, and mucolipidoses), but which is nonetheless unique, is characterized by autosomal recessive inheritance and thepresenceof dwarfism, gargoyle facies, mental retardation, seizures, corneal clouding, macular cherry-red spot, β-galactosidase deficiency, dysostosis multiplex, and hearing deficit. It is also characterized by theabsenceof clinically enlarged organs, vacuolated blood cells, and mucopolysacchariduria.
Plasma β-endorphin and insulin concentrations in relation to body fat and nutritional parameters in overweight and obese prepubertal children

Plasma β-endorphin and insulin concentrations in relation to body fat and nutritional parameters in overweight and obese prepubertal children
FLuid exchange across a meandering jet

Abstract The motion of fluid parcels in a two-dimensional kinematic model of a meandering jet is investigated using Melnikov's method. The study is motivated by a recent analysis of float trajectories in the Gulf Stream. The results indicate that the efficiency of cross-jet exchange induced by fluctuating meander amplitudes depends strongly on the frequency of the fluctuations. For high frequencies (≳0.04 cpd), exchange between the core of the jet and regions of “trapped” fluid moving with the meander is preferred, while for low frequencies (≲0.04 cpd), exchange between the “trapped” fluid and the slow-moving fluid surrounding the jet is preferred. Propagating waves superimposed on the meandering jet can efficiently cause exchange between regimes when their phase speeds roughly match the basic flow velocities along the regime boundaries. Numerical results suggest that exchange across the center of the jet is less efficient than exchange between adjacent regimes so that the meandering jet will tend to stir...
Deterministic distributed algorithm for self-reconfiguration of modular robots from arbitrary to straight chain configurations

The problem addressed is the reconfiguration of a system of hexagonal metamorphic robots from an initial arbitrary shape configuration I, to a straight chain goal configuration, G. This is the first time a fully distributed deterministic algorithm has been written to achieve the parallel reconfiguration of a system of homogeneous modules from an initial arbitrary shape to a straight chain goal configuration. The contribution of this paper is an algorithm that uses no pre-processing or message passing to accomplish reconfiguration. The algorithm eliminates the possibility of module collision by assuming modules have the capability to detect another module at a distance of one cell away on each of their six sides. The algorithm is successful as long as: the system starts in an initial configuration that satisfies admissibility requirements, the goal cells are known to all modules, and if every module is equipped with sensors to determine if the cell adjacent to and in the same direction as a neighboring empty cell is occupied. A discrete-event simulator tests the algorithm.
Ultraviolet observations of the Be star MU Centauri during its recent active phase

IUE and Copernicus ultraviolet observations and ground-based image-tube and direct spectrograms of the pole-on Be star Mu Cen have been combined to investigate the nature of this star's activity during its Balmer emission-line episode of 1980-81. Within the uncertainties of the observations, the UV data show no evidence for a wind, a classical-type shell injection, or a region of superionization, either before, during, or after the active phase. This is contrary to current views on how the circumstellar envelopes in Be stars are produced. The only difference between the UV spectra observed during activity and quiescence was that the lines from the more highly ionized species (e.g., Si III, Si IV, Al III) were slightly stronger and broader when Balmer emission was present. Evidence is presented that the activity most likely resides in or near the photosphere, and that during such active periods the photospheric temperature is higher. The recently discovered nonradial pulsations in Mu Cen (Baade, 1984) may supply the energy. The lack of sharp or broad shell lines in the UV suggests that the Balmer emission envelope is at least somewhat flattened.
Role of estradiol metabolism in asthma

Abstract Emerging data suggest a significant involvement of estrogens in the development and clinical course of asthma. Yet, little is known regarding the effects of 17β-estradiol (estradiol; E2) metabolism in asthma. E2 is metabolized by 2-hydroxylation and subsequent O-methylation to 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME) and by 16-hydroxylation to estriol (16α-hydroxyestradiol; 16HE2) and to 16α-estrone (16HE1). 2ME is a non-estrogenic metabolite which exhibits anti-mitogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects, whereas 16HE2 and 16HE1 are estrogenic metabolites with mitogenic, pro-inflammatory, and angiogenic properties. We hypothesize that estradiol metabolites from the 2-hydroxylation and 16-hydroxylation pathways have opposing effects in asthma, and that the net effect of E2 in asthma reflects the balance of these two metabolic pathways. In this regard, we propose that 2ME and E2/16HE1 divergently affect mitogenic and synthetic activity of cells involved in airway inflammation, angiogenesis and remodeling. Finally, we suggest that an “ anti-cancer approach ”, i.e., the use of anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and anti-mitogenic agents such as 2ME, may have therapeutic effects in asthma.
Detecting Earnings Management: A New Approach

This paper provides a new approach to test for accrual-based earnings management. Our approach exploits the inherent property of accrual accounting that any accrual-based earnings management in one period must reverse in another period. If the researcher has priors concerning the timing of the reversal, incorporating these priors can significantly improve the power and specification of tests for earnings management. Our results indicate that tests incorporating reversals increase test power by around 40% and provide a robust solution for mitigating model misspecification arising from correlated omitted variables.
Listening to Students: A Usability Evaluation of Instructor Commentary

Many students see instructor commentary as not constructive but prescriptive directions that must be followed so that their grade, not necessarily their writing, can be improved. Research offering ...
Effects of Ozone on Nutritive Quality of Alfalfa

Abstract Mesa Sirsa, an ozone-susceptible cultivar, and Team, an ozone-resistant cultivar of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. , were grown in a greenhouse with ozone filtered and nonfiltered ambient air environments. Yield of dry matter was 42% higher in either environment for Team than for Mesa Sirsa. The in vitro rate of cell wall digestion was 35% faster for Team than for Mesa Sirsa, but in vitro cell wall digestion was 11% greater for Mesa Sirsa. Foliage grown in filtered air contained less lignified cellulose and had cell walls that were digested 34% faster than foliage grown in nonfiltered air. When grown in the presence of ozone, the nitrogen content of Team was higher than that in Mesa Sirsa. Cell walls digested in vitro more rapidly but less in Team under both environments. Decreases of in vitro rate of cell wall digestion induced by ozone may explain some of the variation in voluntary intake of all-forage diets by ruminants.
The Unintended Consequences of Stigma-free Remediation.

Social stratification may emerge within efforts to reduce it. Although open admissions policies increase access to college, many students may not really be college students; they are taking noncredit remedial courses, which raises concerns about stigma and cooled-out aspirations. Studying two community colleges, this article describes a remedial approach that avoids stigma and cooling out but creates unintended consequences. Analyses of interviews with staff and students and of institutional procedures show how this approach arises. The analyses also indicate how this approach inhibits and delays students' awareness of their remedial status, causes them to misjudge their prospects, and prevents them from considering alternative options
The contrastive discourse marker ata in Belizean Kriol

Abstract This paper investigates the semantics and pragmatics of the discourse marker ata in Belizean Kriol. I argue that ata is a contrastive discourse marker in the sense of Fraser ( “Towards a Theory of Discourse Markers”, 2006a ) and that it is used to convey an emphatic contrast with the immediately preceding discourse. I analyze this latter element as a Gricean ( Studies in the Way of Words , 1989 ) conventional implicature. In addition, ata is frequently used in conveying negative attitudes toward the preceding discourse. I argue that this is not a conventional aspect of ata 's meaning but that it is instead calculated in context via Gricean pragmatic reasoning.
Correlates of attempted suicide among young injection drug users in a multi-site cohort

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of attempted suicide among young injection drug users (IDUs) from six study sites in five US cities. Two thousand two hundred and nineteen participants 15-30 years of age underwent interviewer-administered questionnaires relating to self-reported drug use, sociodemographics, suicidal ideation and attempts, and exposure to violence. The 6-month prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts was 35.8% (n = 795) and 7% (n = 156), respectively. Compared to those not reporting a recent (past 6 months) suicide attempt, those attempting suicide were more likely to have a lifetime history of mental health facility admission or sexual abuse. Participants receiving drug treatment at the time of the baseline interview (53.2% versus 37.1%, odds ratio [OR] = 1.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39, 2.67) were also more likely to report a recent attempt; as were those reporting a history of experiencing violence. These associations persisted after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, study site, and other significant covariates by multiple logistic regression. These data suggest that increased access to drug treatment, community mental health, and violence prevention programs may decrease suicidal behavior among young injection drug users.
Shot noise correlations in the detection of ultrashort optical pulses

The time-varying nature of optical pulses produces correlations in the photocurrent shot noise spectrum. These correlations are exploited to produce a phase noise floor of −177 dBc/Hz on a 10 GHz photonically generated microwave signal.
Synchronization and dq current control of grid-connected voltage source inverter

The increased trend in using the renewable energy instead of fossil fuel based generation due to its low environmental impact and to facilitate the increased consumption has led to extensive use of distributed generation. The use of power electronics with renewable energy offers wide advantages including greater controllability of generated power and fulfilling the requirements for grid connected systems. The interface of renewable energy consists mainly of the Voltage Source inverter therefore its control is an important factor as its output should be completely synchronized with grid. In this paper the synchronization of grid connected voltage source inverter and control of injected current to ensure unity power factor at point of common coupling (PCC) is discussed. Phase locked loop is used to extract grid angle and to lock synchronous rotating dq reference frame with grid voltage in terms of frequency and phase thus making the control parameters as dc values. The current control strategy is Voltage oriented Control (VOC) implemented in synchronous rotating dq frame to control active and reactive power independently by controlling currents in d and q axis respectively. The simulation of system is done in Matlab Simulink environment using the Simpower toolbox.
A buoyant life investigating mobile platform (BLIMP)

Abstract The search for life in new environments, e.g., Mars/Titan, will be scientifically challenging and have great engineering difficulties. In this paper the authors discuss an approach to field-testing methods relevant to three scientific thrusts in the detection of life and pre-biotic organics on other worlds. We describe how this can be accomplished through a series of field trials using a mobile aerial vehicle that is a proxy for the exploration approaches and instrument techniques necessary for the next stage of life detection on other planets. We do this by deploying a mobile organic laboratory on Earth to demonstrate the requisite techniques. We show how terrestrial field trials provide new insights on the colonization by life of fresh volcanic flows, and the competition between biotic and abiotic processes on a newly cooling piece of the Earth’s crust. This paper suggests that such work could be very effectively conducted on Hawaii, where the erupted lava is basaltic, an important crustal component for terrestrial planets. The presence of water is generally agreed to be a prerequisite for planetary habitability but the combination of basalt and water is chemically unstable at the temperatures to which basalt cools after eruption. The subsequent chemical reactions occur because the total energy of the products is lower than that of the precursor materials and on Earth biological processes result from organisms harvesting that difference in energy. For life processes to succeed they must out-compete the rate at which abiotic chemistry might accomplish the same tasks. Monitoring the rate at which chemical processes occur is therefore a life-detection approach. Biotic involvement in the rate of weathering of basalts is the test case for this new, generic life detection paradigm. This approach would be applicable to the periglacial zones of Mars, if liquid water were proven to be present there. We show that a 15 m autonomous BLIMP could carry various instrument packages including camera, visible spectrometer, tunable diode laser spectrometer (TDLS) for gas and gas isotope analysis, gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GCMS). These could be calibrated followed by ground-truthing using field experiments in the interior of Meteor Crater in Arizona. This well understood system could then study the extreme environment of the still active volcanic caldera of Kilauea and the adjacent older lava flows. For Mars the BLIMP is a proxy for a lighter balloon or even a Martian Rover, which could carry a similar suite of instruments and take a similar set of measurements. For Titan, with its dense and high-molecular weight atmosphere calm winds and low gravity, a BLIMP will be the vehicle of choice. The experiments would be directly relevant. We discuss how a Titan BLIMP could search for organic compounds in the post-Cassini exploration of Titan.
Are specific dependence criteria necessary for different substances: how can research on cannabis inform this issue?

Aims Research on cannabis dependence is used to comment on the similarities and differences among the substance dependence disorders, and to address the issue of whether specific versus generic substance dependence diagnostic criteria might offer the most fruitful approach to diagnosis. If cannabis dependence can be diagnosed and characterized adequately using the extant generic Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) dependence criteria, then one could argue that these diagnostic guidelines are valid and of high utility for substances with more well-accepted dependence syndromes. Method A brief, selective critical review of research on cannabis withdrawal and on the validity and internal consistency of cannabis dependence as assessed via DSM criteria for cannabis dependence was performed. Results Findings from these reports indicate that cannabis dependence is much more similar to than different from other types of substance dependence, even with regard to withdrawal. The generic DSM-IV dependence criteria can be applied fairly well to cannabis, and yield findings similar to that observed with other substance dependence disorders. However, across substances, the generic criteria may not discriminate cases in a manner consistent with the underlying constructs of abuse and dependence, and cross-substance differences probably exist in the general dependence severity level and specific symptom profiles. Conclusions The use of generic DSM-IV criteria appears to work as well for cannabis dependence as for other substances, yet the more important question might be as to whether we can do better by developing more sophisticated generic criteria or by using substance specific criteria.
Interplay of thermochemistry and structural chemistry, the journal (volume 15, 2004) and the discipline

As practiced disciplines, structural chemistry, and thermochemistry need not necessarily be related. Yet such relationships, ranging from minor to very close, can help our overall understanding and detailed analyses of the species and methods under consideration. In the current study, these relations are made more evident from among the contents of the journal “Structural Chemistry” (Vol. 15) for the year 2004. The year’s articles have been reviewed, giving to most of those appearing therein a thermochemical commentary, “spin” or “slant.” A special emphasis is made on raising questions or noting possible future research topics that arise when looking at the relations noted earlier.
Simulation of the Coupling of Cell Contractility and Focal Adhesion Formation

The remodeling of the cytoskeleton and focal adhesion distributions for cells on substrates with micro-patterned ligand patches is investigated using a bio-chemo-mechanical model. All the cells have approximately the same area and we investigate the effect of ligand pattern shape on the cytoskeletal arrangements and focal adhesion distributions. The model for the cytoskeleton accounts for the dynamic rearrangement of the actin/myosin stress fibers and entails the highly non-linear interactions between signaling, the kinetics of tension-dependent stress-fiber formation/dissolution and stress dependent contractility. This model is coupled with a focal adhesion (FA) model that accounts for the mechano-sensitivity of the adhesions from thermodynamic considerations. This coupled stress fiber and focal adhesion model is shown to capture a variety of key experimental observations including: (i) the formation of high stress fiber and focal adhesion concentrations at the periphery of circular and triangular, convex–shaped ligand patterns; (ii) the development of high focal adhesion concentrations along the edges of the V, T, Y and U shaped concave ligand patterns; and (iii) the formation of highly aligned stress fibers along the un-adhered edges of cells on the concave ligand patterns. When appropriately calibrated, the model also accurately predicts the radii of curvature of the un-adhered edges of cells on the concave-shaped ligand patterns.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Chiral pyridinyloxazolidine ligands and copper chloride complexes

Two chiral bidentate C1-symmetric 1,3-oxazolidine ligands (1 and 2) and coordination complexes with copper(II) chloride (Cu2Cl4(C15H14N2O)2 (3) and [Cu2Cl4(C16H16N2O)2]·CH3OH (4)) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallographic techniques. The ligands maintain the same stereochemistry within all structures, resulting in an anti-relationship between the 2,4-substituents. Structures 3 and 4 dimerized through bridging chlorides and 3 has an extended hydrogen bonding network resulting in an infinite 1D chain.
Pharmacokinetics in Patients with Cardiac Failure

Cardiac failure is often associated with disturbances in cardiac output, autonomic nervous system activity, central and systemic venous pressures, and sodium and water metabolism. These disturbances influence the extent and pattern of tissue perfusion, may lead to tissue hypoxia and visceral congestion, and may alter gastrointestinal motility. By these mechanisms, cardiac failure potentially affects absorption and disposition characteristics of drugs, which may necessitate adjustment in dosage regimen for optimum therapy. Lignocaine is the drug which has been studied most extensively in cardiac failure. Volumes of distribution and clearance are decreased. As a drug whose metabolism is largely limited by liver blood flow, decreased blood flow to the liver accounts for some of the change in clearance, but impaired hepatic metabolism appears also to play a role in some patients. Accumulation of active metabolites of lignocaine and procainamide in patients with cardiac failure can influence therapeutic and toxic effects. Theophylline metabolism, which is largely independent of blood flow, appears to be reduced significantly in patients with severe cardiac failure and necessitates reduction of dosage. In the presence of severe cardiac failure, digoxin clearance may be less than anticipated on the basis of estimates of renal function. Quinidine plasma levels may be higher after single doses due to reduced volume of distribution. Quinidine metabolites are believed not to be pharmacologically active but may create confusion with nonspecific assays. Specific assays are recommended in cardiac failure, especially complicated by renal insufficiency. Data are lacking relating pharmacokinetic alterations to haemodynamic measurements in patients with cardiac failure. Whereas the direction of change in pharmacokinetic parameters may be predicted, variability in the magnitude of change is so great that determination of drug concentration in blood remains an essential adjunct to therapy.
Testing safety eyewear: how frame and lens design affect lens retention.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the role that frame and lens design play in lens retention during high-impact testing of safety eyewear that advertises conformance to the performance-based ANSI Z87.1-2003 standard. Methods A total of 75 Z87 safety eyeglass frames (3 each of 25 frame models) were used in this study, procured from 5 of the leading U.S. safety frame manufacturers. Frames were fitted by an independent laboratory with 2.0-mm plano polycarbonate lenses in compliance with ANSI Z87.1-2003. Finished spectacles were sent to a subsequent laboratory testing facility where each frame was subjected to both high-mass and oblique-incidence high-velocity impacts to determine frame characteristics that were most highly associated with testing failure. Among the frame and lens parameters that were considered in this analysis were the A and B dimensions, effective diameter, distance between lenses, bridge type, frame material, bevel type, and frame cost. Certain variables were controlled for by maintaining consistency among all spectacle pairs, e.g., lens prescription, center thickness, and edge thickness. Multiple logistic regression was used to control potential confounding variables and to develop the best combination of them for predictive value. Results Of 25 separate frame models assessed, 10 passed both high-mass and high-velocity impact testing, i.e., none of the 3 frame/lens samples failed. Of the models that failed, 13 failures were caused by high-velocity testing, 1 by high-mass testing, and 1 failed both high-mass and high-velocity testing. None of the 15 spectacles with the SprinGuard™ (Hilco, Plainville, Massachusetts) bevel design failed, although these were proprietary to 1 manufacturer and included only 5 frame models. Two spectacle designs (6 individual frames) incorporated an inverted bevel design of which 3 of the frames failed impact testing. Controlling for drop ball velocity among the 54 remaining standard “V” bevel spectacle pairs, the odds of failure were about 8 to 9 times higher for metal frames than Zylonite frames (odds ratio [OR], 8.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 52.3; P = 0.02), and the odds of failure were about 4 times higher for lens effective diameters of less than 50 mm than for lens effective diameters more than 50 mm (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.2 to 14.8; P = 0.03). Conclusion Among our sample of safety spectacles, failure from high-mass impact resistance testing rarely occurred. No spectacles with the SprinGuard bevel design failed in our analysis, but this was limited to a small sample size from a single manufacturer. Among our sample of 54 spectacle pairs with a v-bevel design, metal frame material and an effective diameter of less than 50 mm were the strongest predictors of failure relative to high-velocity impact testing with a 45° temporal angle projectile.
Laparoscopic repair of an incarcerated obturator hernia

Obturator hernia is a rare cause of bowel obstruction. Occurring primarily in elderly women, it has a high incidence of incarceration and a high mortality rate. This report describes the successful laparoscopic reduction and repair of an incarcerated obturator hernia. Using open laparoroscopy, an incarcerated obturator hernia was diagnosed intraoperatively. After laparoscopic reduction, a transabdominal preperitoneal repair was completed using polypropylene mesh. The patient recovered uneventfully with no recurrence at 6 months. Laparoscopic techniques have been successfully applied to diagnose, reduce, and repair an incarcerated obturator hernia.
Drugs and nutrition in old age

Drug effects are influenced by physiologic and pathologic changes that occur as a consequence of aging. The elderly may be more disposed to drug-induced nutrient depletion because of chronic illness, inadequate diet and long-term drug use. Digoxin, isoniazid, corticosteroids, diuretics and psychoactive agents pose special hazards to the nutritional status of elderly patients. On the other hand, dietary factors, such as protein levels or vitamin deficiencies, may be important determinants of age-related changes in drug disposition or toxicity.
Adventitial inversion technique in repair of aortic dissection

We describe a new technique for aortic anastomosis in the repair of acute dissection. The aorta is buttressed by inverting the adventitia without the use of Teflon or other synthetic materials. This technique provides a safe and secure anastomosis.
An Experimental Investigation of Asset Pricing in Segmented Markets

This article reports the results of experimental asset markets in which participants trade two assets with distinct dividend claims. Some traders are able to transact in the markets for both assets, whereas others can trade in only one market. When some are restricted from transacting in one market, the ineligible asset that cannot be traded by all commands a super risk premium. Without this premium, unrestricted investors would not hold all the available shares of the ineligible asset. In addition, we find that although unrestricted traders have the opportunity to remove all risk, few take advantage of this hedging opportunity.
Effects of Organometallic Compounds on Lepidoptera

Lethal effects of some organometallic compounds on larvae of the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie); tobacco budworm, H. virescens (F.); and the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), were evaluated. Also, the effect of these compounds on larval weight and hatch of eggs from moths that developed from treated larvae was determined. Acetoxytrimethyltin, hydroxytrimethyltin, and acetoxytriethyllead, caused 92% or more kill of bollworm and tobacco budworm larvae when they were applied topically and 52% or more when they were applied as foliar sprays. Hydroxytrimethyltin, acetoxytriphenyllead, acetoxytrihexyltin, acetoxytributyllead, oxybis[tributyltin], and hydroxytriphenyltin caused the greatest reduction in larval weights of both Heliothis species when they fed on plants treated with the compounds. Less than 2% of the eggs laid by moths emerging from tobacco budworm larvae treated with acetoxytrimethyltin, hydroxytriphenyltin, and oxybis[triphenylgermane] hatched, and hatch was 0.3% or less from moths emerging from bollworm larvae that had been treated with hydroxytriphenyltin and chlorotrioctyltin. It appeared that tobacco budworm moths produced fewer eggs than bollworm moths emerging from reared larvae. Hydroxytriphenyltin reduced the percentage of fruiting forms damaged by Heliothis species by 60% in a field cage and 10% in a field trial. A dosage of 3.36 kg per hectare reduced the larval weight of cabbage looper larvae 75%.
Selecting and Training In‐Home Child Caregivers

A screening and training program for caregivers who work in children's homes was designed and implemented in an attempt to minimize risk for the employing family, reduce potential liability for the referral agency, and maximize employment opportunities for low‐income women. The use of an extensive clinical interview, a check of public records and a multi‐faceted educational program comprised the selection and training process. It was found that no one screening device could eliminate all risks nor assure a quality caregiver, but multiple screenings were valuable in identifying successful candidates. An open‐ended clinical interview conducted by a multi‐disciplinary team was invaluable in revealing risks and identifying training issues.
An inductive analysis of verbal immediacy: Alternative conceptualization of relational verbal approach/avoidance strategies

This research explored whether verbal immediacy is an autonomous and distinct linguistic verbal code that people use to approach and avoid relationship formation, or part of a much larger repertoire of verbal relational strategies that are situated in everyday conversation. Two studies yielded verbal strategies rather than a verbally immediate linguistic code people employ to approach or avoid relation‐ship formation. The data suggest that when people want a relationship to develop, they engage in approach verbal strategies. However, when they want to keep a relationship from forming, instead of using avoidance strategies, they decrease their level of approach strategies. An argument is presented as to why these verbal approach and avoidance strategies do not comprise verbal immediacy and instead comprise a measure of relational approach and avoidance.
Entertainment and media/cultural/communication/etc. studies

This article argues that thinking of media/cultural/communication/etc. studies as entertainment studies might help the field break through numerous impasses, (1) moving beyond medium specificity, (2) honestly embracing the fact that we study entertainment, (3) forcing us to contextualize contemporary entertainment within broader histories of entertainment, (4) asking of us to examine news and ads as entertainment, and (5) analyzing that which does not entertain alongside that which does.
Structure and function of the 5′→3′ exoribonuclease Rat1 and its activating partner Rai1

The 5'-->3' exoribonucleases (XRNs) comprise a large family of conserved enzymes in eukaryotes with crucial functions in RNA metabolism and RNA interference. XRN2, or Rat1 in yeast, functions primarily in the nucleus and also has an important role in transcription termination by RNA polymerase II (refs 7-14). Rat1 exoribonuclease activity is stimulated by the protein Rai1 (refs 15, 16). Here we report the crystal structure at 2.2 A resolution of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Rat1 in complex with Rai1, as well as the structures of Rai1 and its murine homologue Dom3Z alone at 2.0 A resolution. The structures reveal the molecular mechanism for the activation of Rat1 by Rai1 and for the exclusive exoribonuclease activity of Rat1. Biochemical studies confirm these observations, and show that Rai1 allows Rat1 to degrade RNAs with stable secondary structure more effectively. There are large differences in the active site landscape of Rat1 compared to related and PIN (PilT N terminus) domain-containing nucleases. Unexpectedly, we identified a large pocket in Rai1 and Dom3Z that contains highly conserved residues, including three acidic side chains that coordinate a divalent cation. Mutagenesis and biochemical studies demonstrate that Rai1 possesses pyrophosphohydrolase activity towards 5' triphosphorylated RNA. Such an activity is important for messenger RNA degradation in bacteria, but this is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of this activity in eukaryotes and suggests that Rai1/Dom3Z may have additional important functions in RNA metabolism.
Electronic structure of light metal hydrides

The equilibrium lattice constant, cohesive energy, and electron density of states of light metal hydrides (LiBeH{sub 3}, LiMgH{sub 3}, LiCaH{sub 3}, NaMgH{sub 3}, and LiBH{sub 3}) are calculated using the linear combination of muffin-tin orbitals method on a perovskite lattice structure. Large gaps in the density of states appear at the Fermi energy of LiBeH{sub 3}, LiMgH{sub 3}, LiCaH{sub 3}, and NaMgH{sub 3} indicating that these classes of hydrides are insulators. LiBH{sub 3}, on the other hand, is metallic and could have interesting electronic properties. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism in Patients Who Have Chronic Kidney Disease

Disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism are almost invariable consequences of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Because the capacity to regulate calcium and phosphorus metabolism becomes compromised progressively as kidney function declines, calcium and phosphorus homeostasis is disrupted and serum calcium or phosphorus levels are perturbed in many patients with CKD. The level of interest in, and concerns about, abnormalities in calcium and phosphorus metabolism among patients with CKD has increased substantially in recent years. Strategies for clinical management are being revised, and recent recommendations differ substantially from those used previously with a renewed emphasis on safety.
Systematic and medicinal reasoning in Mitla folk botany.

Abstract This paper reviews cognitive, symbolic, systematic botanical, and biochemical bases of plant classification, and analyzes their inter-relationships in the medicinal folk botany of Mitla, Oaxaca, Mexico. It evaluates the “pharmacological wisdom” of the local population, along with their symbolic use of the environment, to show how they construct medicinal plant classifications which follow a folk logic, but often conform as well to modern botanical classifications based on the principles of systematic botany or chemistry. Working from both the chemical data and the folk categories, the analysis suggests the local Zapotec population systematically selected plants which foam for symbolic reasons to treat illnesses of the “soul” and identifies their underlying chemical constituents and medicinal qualities. Other correspondences between chemical, medicinal and reputed folk qualities are also suggested.
The rostral subcommissural ventral pallidum is a mix of ventral pallidal neurons and neurons from adjacent areas: an electrophysiological study

The ventral pallidum (VP) is a part of the ventral striatopallidal system and is involved in reward-related behaviors. The VP is composed of a ventromedial (VPvm) and a dorsolateral (VPdl) subregion, and some rostral-caudal differences are reported. Study of the VP often focuses on the subcommissural VP, typically considered homogenous in spite of known subdivisions. In this work, we used slice electrophysiology combined with immunohistochemistry for marker neuropeptides to test whether the subcommissural VP is functionally homogenous. Using sagittal slices, we show that more lateral levels (2.40 mm) of the subcommissural VP are homogenous but that a more medial slice (1.90 mm) contains two types of neurons. One type, located more caudally, resembles neurons in the lateral subcommissural VP, with long aspiny dendrites, primarily GABAergic input, and characteristic electrophysiological properties, such as depolarized membrane potential and spontaneous action potential discharge. The second type of neuron, located mostly in the rostral subcommissural VP, shows properties that are akin to medium spiny neurons of adjacent regions, including spiny dendrites, major glutamatergic input, hyperpolarized membrane potential, and no spontaneous action potentials. The two types of neurons were present in both the VPvm and VPdl, implying that the mix is not a characteristic of histologically defined subregions. We conclude that at medial levels the rostral subcommissural VP contains a mix of typical ventral pallidal neurons and spiny neurons similar to those in adjacent regions. This observation needs to be considered when interpreting past experiments and designing future experiments in the subcommissural VP.
One path to understanding energy transduction in biological systems.

Who is not fascinated by the myriad biological movements that define life? From cell migration, cell division and a network of translocation activities within cells to highly specialized muscle contraction, molecular motors operate by burning ATP as fuel. Three types of molecular motors—myosin, kinesin and dynein—and nearly 100 different subtypes transduce that chemical energy into mechanical movements to carry out a wide variety of cellular tasks. Understanding the molecular basis of energy transduction by these motors has taken decades.