cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Slouching toward a systems approach to treatment

Both the health care sector generally and the alcohol and drug field are moving toward a truly systematic approach to treatment, accelerated by the anticipated advent of health care reform. There is considerable reluctance to develop systems. Many are not convinced of their necessity, and systematization inevitably involves a decrement in autonomy for the components of the system. Nor are systems panaceas; they have problems of their own, such as the bottleneck. But only true systems will be able to cope with the expected increase in demand for services that will accompany the universal entitlement of health care reform. Recent work giving the alcohol and drug treatment field an edge in systems development is discussed. Regrettably, the main motivation for deploying systems has become economic. They would more appropriately be justified by their potential for enhancing the efficacy of treatment.
Optimal Affine Incentive Strategies For Dynamic Decision Problems With Mnti-levels Of Hierarchy

A three-level hierarchical dynamic game problem is discussed in this paper. We deal with existence and construction of three-level optimal incentive strategies in such a game problem. Here, the strategies constructed are affine in the data available and they are represented by means of Stieltjes measures. The sufficient conditions for the three-level optimal incentive strategies are derived by making use of the function space approach and with the aid of the unsymmetric Fubini theorem. The idea and approach given in this paper may be generalized to various dynamic decision problems with multi-levels of hierarchy.
Spontaneous pneumocephalus in nasopharyngeal cancer: a report of two cases and review of literature

Abstract Occurrence of pneumocephalus in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is rare. To date, there were only five single-case reports in literature. We here report two additional cases. Both patients were male, aged 35 and 49. They presented initially as advanced disease with intracranial invasion, and received a full course of radiotherapy. Spontaneous pneumocephalus developed after tumor recurrence. Clinical course of the two patients was subacute. Both survived 3 months after the onset of pneumocephalus. It is speculated that local recurrence following high-dose irradiation and associated osteoradionecrosis of the base of the skull are possible factors predisposing to the development of this rare complication.
The KH-theory of complete simplicial toric varieties and the algebraic K-theory of weighted projective spaces

Abstract We show that, for a complete simplicial toric variety X , we can determine its KH-theory entirely in terms of the torus pieces of open sets forming an open cover of X . We then construct conditions under which, given two complete simplicial toric varieties, the two spectra KH ( X ) ⊗ Q and KH ( Y ) ⊗ Q are weakly equivalent. We apply this result to determine the rational KH-theory of weighted projective spaces. We next examine K-regularity for complete toric surfaces; in particular, we show that complete toric surfaces are K0-regular. We then determine conditions under which our approach for dimension 2 works in arbitrary dimensions, before demonstrating that weighted projective spaces are not K1-regular, and for dimensions bigger than 2 are also not in general K0-regular.
A deletion mutation in glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI denton)

Abstract A new genetic variant form of glucosephosphate isomerase has been found in a family heterozygous for the mutant allele. The mutant enzyme, unlike other phenotypic variants, does not appear to be the result of a single amino acid replacement. The allozyme exhibits an isoelectric point of 5.7 and is thus much more acidic than the normal enzyme (p I = 9.3). The allozyme has been isolated from placenta and separated from the normal homodimer and heterodimer by isoelectric focusing. The enzyme exhibits normal k m and K i values for the substrates and competitive inhibitors. The allozyme exhibits a normal pH optimum and thermal stability. However, the molecular specific activity of the variant enzyme as quantitated by radioimmunoassay is significantly lower than normal. Analytical gel filtration revealed that the molecular weight of the enzyme is significantly lower than the normal enzyme. These data thus suggest that the phenotype is unlike any previously reported and is due to a deletion mutation.
Efficient Recursive Generation of the Scalar Spherical Multipole Translation Matrix

New efficient recursive procedures for generating the translation matrix of the scalar spherical multipole field are described. They are based on a new set of recurrence relations that result when the angular-momentum operator is applied to the spherical multipole field. Their efficiency and accuracy are compared analytically and through a computer experiment with those of the brute-force method and an existing recursive procedure.
Large scale solution assembly of quantum dot-gold nanorod architectures with plasmon enhanced fluorescence.

Tailoring the efficiency of fluorescent emission via plasmon–exciton coupling requires structure control on a nanometer length scale using a high-yield fabrication route not achievable with current lithographic techniques. These systems can be fabricated using a bottom-up approach if problems of colloidal stability and low yield can be addressed. We report progress on this pathway with the assembly of quantum dots (emitter) on gold nanorods (plasmonic units) with precisely controlled spacing, quantum dot/nanorod ratio, and long-term colloidal stability, which enables the purification and encapsulation of the assembled architecture in a protective silica shell. Overall, such controllability with nanometer precision allows one to synthesize stable, complex architectures at large volume in a rational and controllable manner. The assembled architectures demonstrate photoluminescent enhancement (5×) useful for applications ranging from biological sensing to advanced optical communication.
40 DYNAMIC INTERACTIONS: A COMPUTER MODEL OF CHILD ABUSE

A computer simulation model, Dynamic Interactions, simulates the emergence of child abuse from a system of interacting individual, family and social variables. Each variable has a value, determined by the simultaneous excitatory and inhibitory influences of other variables, which can be converted to a probability to compare the relative strength of parental violence (PV) versus parental non-violence (PNV) (eg, non-violent discipline). The variables and interactions between them are based on research on pairwise interactions of relevant factors. The literature shows that PV increases a child's negative behaviors (CNB) (eg, hyperactivity, social withdrawal). In the model PV has an excitatory effect on the CNB. The literature suggests that a CNB can evoke PV. In the model the CNB has a simultaneous excitatory effect on PV. Similarly PNV and the child's positive behaviors (affection, affilitation) have reciprocal excitatory influences. Social variables including stress, supports and school experiences, and the child's health all have mutually excitatory interactions with parental or child variables. The model considers all interactions simultaneously in simulations of real life situations and replicates findings on child abuse. There are no necessary or sufficient causes. Variables (eg, stress) have greater impact in the context of other variables (child's illness) and block the impact of other factors (social support). The system develops positive feedback loops which stabilize patterns of PV. Adequate and dysfunctional parenting can be understood as arising from identical variables but differing in the particular values for the variables.
Febrile spontaneous abortion and the IUD

Abstract A case-control study was done to determine the risk and pathogenesis of febrile spontaneous abortion for intrauterine device (IUD) wearers compared to non-wearers. Four groups of women coming to a large city hospital between 1970 and 1975 were compared: 1) women presenting with febrile spontaneous abortion, 2) women presenting with afebrile spontaneous abortion, 3) women presenting with afebrile spontaneous abortion which subsequently became febrile, and 4) women delivering a live infant. Pregnant women with an IUD in situ had a 5-fold higher risk of both febrile and afebrile spontaneous abortion compared to pregnant women without an IUD in situ. Women who had a spontaneous abortion that shifted from afebrile to febrile were somewhat more likely to be IUD wearers than the other 2 spontaneous abortion groups. In our study population, the increased risk of febrile spontaneous abortion for IUD wearers appeared primarily due to the increased risk of the spontaneous abortion event itself, rather than a primary IUD-related infection causing febrile spontaneous abortion.
Bragg-Diffraction Imaging And It's Application For Non Destructive Testing

Though nature abounds with sonic detecting systems, men have been slow to recognize the potential use of acoustic energy as a means of visualization, that is, for "seeing" with sound. In the 18th Century a rather inventive Italian scientist named Spallanzani carried out a study of the remarkable ability possessed by bats for avoiding obstacles in the dark. (Ref. 1) He and his co-workers finally concluded that bats must have some unknown "sixth sense". One hundred years later the Frenchman Langevin proposed a sonic-echo system as a possible means of locating objects submerged in the sea, German U-boats in particular. Shortly after, Hartridge recognized and suggested a possible similarity between Langevin's system and the system used by bats (Ref. 2,3).© (1972) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
International Reference Ionosphere update

The International Reference Ionosphere is the standard ionospheric model developed and improved by a joint working group of the International Union of Radio Science and the Committee on Space Research. Based on all reliable and accessible ground and space data, IRI describes monthly averages of the electron density, electron temperature, ion temperature, ion composition, and ion drift at ionospheric altitudes. The newest version of IRI is described in a report, NSSDC/WDCA-R&S 90-22, published by the National Space Science Data Center in November 1990. The book contains sections on history and new developments, formulas and buildup, graphs, and references. The main difference between IRI-90 and its predecessor IRI-86 are new models for the E-F region electron density and for the ion composition. It was decided to offer these new model choices in addition to the older versions, thus making the transition from old to new version more transparent to the user community.
Sycamore and sweetgum plantation productivity on former agricultural land in South Carolina

Abstract Former agricultural lands in the southern US comprise a significant land base to support short rotation woody crop (SRWC) plantations. This study presents the seven-year response of productivity and biomass allocation in operational-scale, first rotation sycamore (Plantanus occidentalis L.) and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) plantations that were established on drained Ultisols which were historically planted in cotton and soybeans. Three plantation systems, sycamore open drainage, sycamore plus water management, and sweetgum open drainage were established on replicate 3.5–5.5 ha catchments. Height, diameter, and mortality were measured annually. Allometric equations, based on three, five, and seven year-old trees, were used to estimate aboveground biomass. Below-ground biomass was measured in year-five. Water management did not affect sycamore productivity, probably a result of a 5 year drought. The sycamore plantations were more productive after seven growing seasons than the sweetgum. Sycamore were twice the height (11.6 vs. 5.5 m); fifty percent larger in diameter (10.9 vs. 7.0 cm); and accrued more than twice the biomass (38–42 vs. 17 Mg ha - 1 ) of the sweetgum. Sweetgum plantation productivity was constrained by localized areas of high mortality (up to 88%) and vegetative competition. Mean annual height increment has not culminated for either species. Diameter growth slowed in the sycamore during growing seasons five through seven, but was still increasing in the sweetgum. Both species had similar partitioning of above-ground (60% of total) and below-ground biomass (40% of total).
No immune responses by the expression of the yeast Ndi1 protein in rats.

Background: The rotenone-insensitive internal NADH-quinone oxidoreductase from yeast, Ndi1, has been shown to work as a replacement molecule for complex I in the respiratory chain of mammalian mitochondria. In the so-called transkingdom gene therapy, one major concern is the fact that the yeast protein is foreign in mammals. Long term expression of Ndi1 observed in rodents with no apparent damage to the target tissue was indicative of no action by the host’s immune system. Methodology/Principal Findings: In the present study, we examined rat skeletal muscles expressing Ndi1 for possible signs of inflammatory or immune response. In parallel, we carried out delivery of the GFP gene using the same viral vector that was used for the NDI1 gene. The tissues were subjected to H&E staining and immunohistochemical analyses using antibodies specific for markers, CD11b, CD3, CD4, and CD8. The data showed no detectable signs of an immune response with the tissues expressing Ndi1. In contrast, mild but distinctive positive reactions were observed in the tissues expressing GFP. This clear difference most likely comes from the difference in the location of the expressed protein. Ndi1 was localized to the mitochondria whereas GFP was in the cytosol. Conclusions/Significance: We demonstrated that Ndi1 expression did not trigger any inflammatory or immune response in rats. These results push forward the Ndi1-based molecular therapy and also expand the possibility of using foreign proteins that are directed to subcellular organelle such as mitochondria.
Decoherence of anyonic charge in interferometry measurements.

We examine interferometric measurements of the topological charge of (non-Abelian) anyons. The target's topological charge is measured from its effect on the interference of probe particles sent through the interferometer. We find that superpositions of distinct anyonic charges a and a[prime] in the target decohere (exponentially in the number of probes particles used) when the probes have nontrivial monodromy with the charges that may be fused with a to give a[prime].
Surface corona discharge-induced plasma chemical process-chemical vapor deposition (SPCP-CVD) as a novel method for surface modification of ceramic membranes

Abstract In this work, surface corona discharged-induced plasma chemical process—chemical vapor deposition (SPCP-CVD) was applied as the surface modification method to introduce functional groups (aminopropyl groups) onto the inner surface of a porous ceramic membrane. The amino group was successfully introduced not only onto the surface of the ceramic tube but also onto the surface of the inside pores of the membrane. The amount of introduced amino group increased with an increase of the adsorption time, as an operational condition, in both cases of 1 and 2 times treatments. In the case of 2 times treatments, the efficiency of the introduction was significantly higher than that in the 1 times treatment. The amount of adsorbed γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, as an ingredient of the surface modification, increased with an increase of the adsorption time, and the amount was the same for the both treatment cases. The reason for the high efficiency of the 2 times treatments can not be explained at present. This should be studied in the future in detail to reveal the mechanism of the SPCP-CVD treatment.
Control of reticulocyte polyribosome content and hemoglobin synthesis by heme

Abstract Hemin was found to enhance polyribosome stabilization and formation as well as globin synthesis, thus duplicating the previously demonstrated effects of iron salts. Similar enhancing effects on polyribosome and globin production were seen with cobaltous ion, deuterohemin and zinc protoporphyrin. Nickel deuteroporphyrin was partially effective. Little or no effect was noted with other metal cations, metalloporphyrins or protoporphyrin IX. Lead ion, an inhibitor of both heme and globin synthesis in the reticulocyte, caused disaggregation of polyribosomes and marked suppression of protein synthesis. Hemin was more effective than iron in preventing the effect of lead on polyribosomes, but was less able to prevent the inhibition of hemoglobin synthesis. Hemin, but not iron, was shown to protect polyribosomes against subsequent disruption by a high concentration of 2,2′-bipyridine and to reverse an established inhibition by lead. These results indicate that hemin is the intracellular mediator of polyribosome assembly; the metalloporphyrin in some manner induces the aggregation of monomeric ribosomes and, presumably, messenger RNA into functional polyribosomes.
Peripheral epinephrine modulates the effects of post-training amygdala stimulation on memory

Abstract The present study investigated the role of adrenal epinephrine in the memory modulatory effects of post-training amygdala stimulation. Adrenal demedullated (ADMX) or sham demedullated (SHAM) rats received electrical stimulation of the amygdala immediately after training on inhibitory and active avoidance tasks. With both tasks, the stimulation impaired retention only in the rats with intact adrenal medullae: the retention performance of the ADMX rats given post-training stimulation was better than that of the unstimulated ADMX group with implanted electrodes. However, ADMX rats given post-training epinephrine (1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) immediately before the amygdala stimulation had retention deficits comparable to those of the SHAM group given amygdala stimulation. If epinephrine was administered a short time after rather than before the post-training amygdala stimulation, retention of the ADMX animals was not impaired. The findings are interpreted as indicating that circulating epinephrine present at the time of amygdala stimulation modulates the effects of amygdala stimulation on memory.
An economic risk assessment of the management of pregnant feedlot heifers in the USA.

Pregnant heifers are undesirable in the feedyard. We applied simulation modeling to a partial-budget model to compare alternative strategies for managing pregnant heifers in feedyards. The model was developed with input costs (cattle, preventive medical care, morbidity, mortality, treatments, and performance), input benefits (sales of poorly performing heifers, baby calves, open (non-pregnant) heifers, recently calved heifers, and pregnant heifers), and net returns as the output. Predicted mean net returns for feeding either open heifers or aborted heifers were greater than $ 100 (live-basis sales) to $ 200 (rail-basis sales) higher than for pregnant heifers. However, there was substantial variability in net returns for all three types of heifers. Net returns were compared among three decision choices made upon arrival of the cattle at the feedyard: (1) palpate all heifers and inject with abortifacient only those pregnant (PALABT), (2) inject all heifers with abortifacient without determining pregnancy status (ABTALL), and (3) do not palpate or administer abortifacient to any of the heifers (NOTHING). Predicted returns for PALABT and ABTALL were equivalent when estimated pregnancy prevalence was 43% (median net returns=$44.92 and $ 50.46, respectively). For heifer lots with pregnancy prevalences /=49%. Net returns for PALABT and NOTHING were equivalent when the estimated prevalence of pregnancy was 2% on a live-basis sales (median net return=$50.05) and approximately 0.9% on a rail-basis sales (median net returns=$58.36 (PALABT) and $ 58.30 (NOTHING)) (with PALABT yielding positive net returns at the higher pregnancy prevalences). NOTHING yielded a positive net return relative to PALABT when the pregnancy prevalence was <1.5% (live-basis sales) and <0.5% (rail-basis sales).
How do therapists administer the rapid exchange grip test? A survey

Abstract The rapid exchange grip (REG) test is one of many methods devised to detect insincere grip strength efforts. Studies investigating the REG test have used different testing protocols and different interpretation criteria for what constitutes a sincere effort. Since therapists get information about evaluation tools from the literature, inconsistencies among researchers may lead to a lack of standardization in the administration of the REG test among therapists. The purpose of the study was to survey therapists to determine what protocol they follow during REG test administration and how they interpret the REG test results. Fourteen therapists working in hand clinics completed the survey. The ways in which the therapists administered the REG test varied widely. Differences among therapists in administering the REG test included the position of the patient, the handling of the dynamometer, the number of repetitions, the hand switch rate, and the comparative test used to interpret the REG test. On the basis of these results, we concluded that the REG test does not meet the most basic testing and measurement criteria. This may impede the ability of therapists to report the outcomes of the REG test accurately and correctly. The implications for the profession due to the lack of standardization of the REG test are discussed. J HAND THER. 2002;15:53-61.
The role of c5b-9 terminal complement complex in activation of the cell cycle and transcription.

Activation of the complement system plays an important role in innate and acquired immunity. Activation of complement and subsequent formation of C5b-9 channels on the surface of cellular membranes leads to cell lysis. When the number of channels assembled on the surface of nucleated cells is limited, C5b-9 doses not cause lysis, but instead can induce cell-cycle progression by activating signal transduction pathways, transcription factors, and key components of the cell-cycle machinery. Cell-cycle induction by C5b-9 is dependent on the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and the ERK1 pathway in a Gi protein-dependent manner. Cell-cycle activation is regulated, in part, by activation of proto-oncogene c-jun and AP1 DNA binding activity. C5b-9 induces sequential activation of CDK4 and CDK2, leading to G1/S-phase transition and cellular proliferation. RGC-32 is a novel gene whose expression is induced by C5b-9. RGC-32 may play a key role in cell-cycle activation by increasing cyclin B1-CDC2 activity. C5b-9-mediated cell-cycle activation plays an important role in cellular proliferation and proctection from apoptosis.
Blood Cell Aggregation and Screen Filtration Pressure

Changes in the microcirculation of the conjunctiva were compared with the screen filtration pressure (SFP) of venous blood in presumed normal subjects and in others with known systemic disease. The presence of arteriolar aggregation and of other circulatory abnormalities was not attended by significantly different mean SFP values. When, however, 2.5 µg of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) per milliliter were added to blood in vitro 20 to 30 seconds before the SFP determination, the SFP increased. In subjects with normal microcirculation, the increase was slight; in those with abnormal circulation, it was marked. When abnormal changes in the circulation were present, or ADP potentiation was high, there was an increase in the spread of control SFP values. Also when the ADP potentiation was high, the control SFP values were slightly higher than when the SFP potentiation was low. Two serotonin antagonists did not prevent or decrease the increase in SFP by ADP.
Diagnostic Profiles Among Urban Adolescents With Unmet Treatment Needs Comorbidity and Perceived Need for Treatment

The goal of this study was to document comorbidity profiles of psychiatric disorder and perceived need for treatment among urban adolescents with unmet behavioral health needs. Participants were 303 community-referred adolescents and their primary caregivers. Adolescents included both boys (54%) and girls and were primarily Hispanic (58%), African American (23%), and multiracial (13%). Home-based interviews with both adolescents and caregivers were used to assess DSM-IV diagnoses and perceived treatment needs. Most adolescents (80%) were diagnosed with multiple disorders and most families (66%) reported a need to treat more than one disorder. Latent class analysis of endorsed DSM-IV disorders identified five distinct diagnostic profiles: Parental Concern, Adolescent Distress, Basic Externalizers, Severely Distressed, and Comorbid Externalizers. Diagnostic profiles were compared on perceived treatment need and related psychosocial risk characteristics. Implications for behavioral health care policy and practice for youth with unmet treatment needs are discussed.
A Markov-renewal extension of a deterministic state-variable model of the transport and fate of a toxic chemical in the environment

Specifications for stochastic Markov-renewal (MR) models are compared with those for deterministic, dynamic, state-variable (SV) models. Numerical predictions provided by MR models are qualified by probabilities. A case study is demonstrated in which the fate of the herbicide atrazine upon application in the watershed of an Iowa lake is tracked. Comparisons of numerical results on an MR model with those obtained in an earlier study employing an SV model show that explicit allowance for statistical variability in measured concentrations of a target chemical species assist substantially in interpreting differences between predicted and measured concentrations of the species. It is concluded that MR models provide a feasible alternative to SV models for predicting the fate of chemical species in aquatic environments in cases involving zero- or first-order kinetics of transfer and transformation of those species.
Construction of Bivariate Compactly Supported Biorthogonal Box Spline Wavelets with Arbitrarily High Regularities

Abstract We give a simple formula for the duals of the filters associated with bivariate box spline functions. We show how to construct bivariate non-separable compactly supported biorthogonal wavelets associated with box spline functions which have arbitrarily high regularities.
Observations of Cloud, Radiation, and Surface Forcing in the Equatorial Eastern Pacific

Abstract In this paper the authors report on a study of cloud and surface flux processes in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean based on a series of ship-based cloud and flux measurements made during fall (1999–2002) and spring (2000–02) maintenance cruises along the 95° and 110°W Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) buoy lines between 8°S and 12°N. The year-to-year and seasonal variabilities of many of the meteorological and oceanic means are relatively small. However, notable seasonal variability is found in the northern branch of the intertropical convergence zone, the north–south sea surface temperature gradient, and heat fluxes north of the equator. In the fall, the strengthening of the north–south SST contrast enhances convective activity (more and deeper clouds, precipitation, southerly inflow) in the area around 6°N, 95°W; diurnal variations of low cloud fraction were weak. Spring cloud fraction varied significantly over the diurnal cycle with substantially lower cloud fraction during the day south of 5...
Usefulness of combined color Doppler/contrast in providing complete delineation of left ventricular cavity

Abstract CECD results in complete delineation of the LV endocardium in almost all patients, and this should facilitate more accurate determination of LV volume and ejection fraction.
Enhanced proliferation and migration and altered cytoskeletal proteins in early passage smooth muscle cells from young and old rat aortic explants.

Abstract Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, migration, and cytoskeletal protein expression were studied in cultured cells obtained from the aortic explants of young (6-month) and old (30-month) Fischer 344XNB rats. Second-passage SMC were cultured on coverslips, and cytoskeletal fibers were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies specific for smooth muscle myosin, α-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, desmin, and tubulin. The cytoskeletal fiber density was quantified as fluorescence intensity by confocal microscopy. The proliferation of SMC was analyzed from the growth curve of cells grown in culture from 0 to 14 days, and a Boyden chamber assay was used to quantify the SMC migration rate. The diameter of fresh SMC digested enzymatically from old rat aortae was 52.4% larger than that of the cells from young animals (20.0 ± 3 μm vs 13.1 ± 2 μm, P P P P P
Temporal and spatial variability in dune reactivation across the Nebraska Sand Hills, USA

The Nebraska Sand Hills is a stabilized dune field on the Great Plains of North America. Although it is well known that this dune field, like several others on the Great Plains, last experienced widespread activity during the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (MCA, ~AD 900–1300), spatial variation in the timing and nature of drought development is poorly constrained. To elucidate spatial trends in dune reactivation, samples potentially representing MCA activity across the Sand Hills were collected and dated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). Ages from the older part of the MCA were obtained from eolian sediments in the northwestern Sand Hills, while ages from later in the episode were obtained to the southeast, suggesting a geographic trend in the timing of revegetation of the dunes near the end of the drought. Revegetation likely occurred to the northwest initially as a result of renewed moisture availability from a rising water table in the interdunes, which serve as refugia for vegetation during times of drought. Vegetation then gradually spread to the southeastern Sand Hills. An additional spatial trend in ages is apparent in the chronology of linear dune mobilization across the Sand Hills. Linear dunes in the northwest are superimposed on megadunes and originated during the last reactivation, while linear dunes in the southeast are built around older cores of dunes and formed during several reactivations. Our geochronology reveals three episodes of eolian transport, including the MCA, in the formation of linear dunes in the southeast.
The ultrasonographic diagnosis of typhlitis (neutropenic colitis)

Typhlitis is a necrotizing inflammatory disease of the cecum, usually with secondary infection. It is most often found in acute leukemia patients on chemotherapy but has also been reported in other patients on chemotherapeutic drugs. Diagnostic features of typhlitis have been reported on plain radiographs, barium enema, angiography, CT, and one other reported case with ultrasound. We report three cases of typhlitis with a characteristic echogenic thickening of the mucosa on ultrasound. The sonographic findings in the one previous report were identical to those of our three cases. We believe that the sonographic findings of typhlitis are unique and that ultrasound offers an easy noninvasive method of diagnosing this potentially lethal disease.
The localizing value of depth electroencephalography in 32 patients with refractory epilepsy

Clinical seizure manifestations, physical examination, radiological studies, neuropsychological tests, and scalp and depth electroencephalographic (EEG) studies were done to localize seizure foci in 32 patients, 23 of whom have undergone surgery with more than one year of follow-up. Of 16 patients with unlocalized scalp EEGs, depth EEG detected a consistent focal seizure onset in 3. Of 15 patients with localized scalp EEGs, depth EEG revealed multiple foci in 3 and inaccurate localization of the focus by scalp EEG in 4. Therefore, localization by scalp EEG was inaccurate in 10 of 31 patients. When depth EEG revealed a consistent focal seizure onset and this localization was used to determine the surgical resection site, good to excellent results were obtained in 12 of 13 patients. When depth EEG revealed additional foci of seizure origin, surgical results were fair or poor in all patients. No other localizing criteria predicted depth EEG results or surgical success with such accuracy. Furthermore, some criteria, including neuropsychological tests and radiological abnormalities, were falsely localizing at times. Therefore, of the presently available localizing criteria, depth EEG appears to be the most accurate.
Estimation of the number of routing layers and total wirelength in a PCB through wiring distribution analysis

This paper describes a model to estimate the number of routing layers and total wirelength for a printed circuit board given the netlist, partslist, placement and board form factor. The estimation model is based on analysis of the wiring distribution on the board. The wiring distribution consists of the net distribution and net segmentation. An algorithm is presented which determines the contribution of net distribution. A statistical model has been developed to estimate net segmentation as "wrong way" routes due to obstacles and congestion on a board. Routability estimations are substituted for the routing task while searching the design space, significantly reducing the design time since routing is the most time consuming design task. These estimation techniques have been successfully applied to the board estimations of several designs, including a multiprocessor printed circuit board and the results are presented.
Job Satisfaction of College Graduates with Learning Disabilities

Job satisfaction, as assessed via five scales that posed questions concerning colleagues, work, supervision, pay, and promotion, as well as overall total job satisfaction, was examined for 55 self-identified college graduates with learning disabilities (LD) and 55 control graduates matched by gender, major, degree, and graduation year. All participants graduated from a competitive midwestern university from 1987 to 1994 and represented advantaged groups when compared to both LD and non-LD populations. The graduates with LD required significantly more time to complete their degrees and showed significantly lower GPAs. Data analysis indicated that the graduates with LD perceived themselves as receiving significantly less pay and promotion opportunities, and reported less total job satisfaction, than graduates without LD. However, no significant salary differences between the groups were found. The implications of these findings are examined.
Evaluation of DS/SSMA: a comparison of simulation results with bit error probability bounds

In this paper, a binary direct-sequence spread-spectrum multiple-access (DS/SSMA) communication system with an additive white Gaussian noise channel and a correlation receiver are considered. The signature sequences are m-sequences or random sequences when the number of users is small and are random sequences, Gold sequences, or Kasami sequences when the number of users is large. Simulation results are obtained to verify a variety of bounds provided in other literature and to compare system performance when employing different signature sequences. >
Refractive index of planktonic cells as a measure of cellular carbon and chlorophyll a content

Current methods for determining carbon content in individual planktonic cells from particle volume alone may involve large errors, and no routine technique exists for determining chlorophyll a content in individual phytoplankters. In this study the concept of using the refractive index of cells as a measure of intracellular concentrations of carbon and chlorophyll a is discussed. Specifically, the real part of the refractive index n (at light wavelengths where absorption is negligible or very small) is shown to correlate well with the intracellular concentration of carbon, Ci. The imaginary part of the refractive index n′ (in the red band of chlorophyll a) correlates well with the intracellular chlorophyll concentration, Chli. These relationships were found to be nearly identical for two species, a cyanobacterium Synechococcus and a diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana, over a two-fold range in Ci and Chli. This range was associated with interspecies differences and intraspecies variations in the cell properties over a day–night cycle. These observations and the underlying theoretical considerations suggest that the relationships Ci vs. n and Chli vs. n′ may be robust and hold for a variety of planktonic species regardless of interspecies and intraspecies variability in cellular carbon content, Chl a content, and cell size. In addition, these relationships may be applicable to single-particle analysis of natural water samples, which promises a unique capability to acquire information about the distribution of carbon and chlorophyll a among individual cells, different size classes, and taxonomic groups of planktonic microorganisms in the ocean. Further research with various planktonic species is needed to examine the generality of the relationships Ci vs. n and Chli vs. n′ before the approach can be implemented in field studies.
Inhibition of fructan‐fermenting equine faecal bacteria and Streptococcus bovis by hops (Humulus lupulus L.) β‐acid

Aims The goals of this study were to determine if β-acid from hops (Humulus lupulus L.) could be used to control fructan fermentation by equine hindgut micro-organisms, and to verify the antimicrobial mode of action on Streptococcus bovis, which has been implicated in fructan fermentation, hindgut acidosis and pasture-associated laminitis (PAL) in the horse. Methods and Results Suspensions of uncultivated equine faecal micro-organisms produced fermentation acids when inulin (model fructan) was the substrate, but β-acid (i.e. lupulone) concentrations ≥9 ppm inhibited lactate production and mitigated the decrease in pH. Inulin-fermenting Strep. bovis was isolated from the β-acid-free suspensions after enrichment with inulin. The isolates were sensitive to β-acid, which decreased the viable number of streptococci in faecal suspensions, as well as growth, lactate production and the intracellular potassium of Strep. bovis in pure culture. Conclusions These results are consistent with the hypothesis that hops β-acid prevented the growth of fructan-fermenting equine faecal bacteria, and that the mechanism of action was dissipation of the intracellular potassium of Strep. bovis. Significance and Impact of the Study Bacterial hindgut fermentation of grass fructans has been linked to PAL and other metabolic disorders in horses. Hops β-acid is a potential phytochemical intervention to decrease the growth of bacteria responsible for PAL.
Draft Genome Sequence of Streptomyces acidiscabies 84-104, an Emergent Plant Pathogen

A draft genome sequence of the plant pathogen Streptomyces acidiscabies 84-104, an emergent plant pathogen, is presented here. The genome is among the largest of streptomycetes, at more than 11 Mb, and encodes a 100-kb pathogenicity island (PAI) shared with other plant-pathogenic streptomycetes. The presence of this conserved PAI, and the remnants of a conserved integrase/recombinase at its 3′ end, supports the hypothesis that S. acidiscabies emerged as a plant pathogen as a result of this acquisition.
Wetland vegetation ecology on a reclaimed coal surface mine in southern Illinois, USA

An early successional wetland complex on a reclaimed surface coal mine in southern Illinois was studied 1985–1987. Seasonally, biomass was low, with above-ground values of 10–210g m−2 and below-ground biomass of 1.5–2435 g m−2. Biomass peaked in spring and did not vary much throughout the remainder of the growing season. Stem densities were high (179–1467 m−2) because large numbers of seedlings became established as falling water levels exposed large areas of mudflats. Fluctuating water levels led to a lack of community zonation. Species diversity (H′) was low to moderate over all sites with diversity values ranging between 1.86 and 3.27.
HAWKING ON GOD AND CREATION

Abstract. Although full of talk about God, Stephen Hawking's recent best seller, A Brief History of Time, apparently has little use for the traditional notion of God as cosmic creator. More precisely, Hawking seems to reject the idea that we need appeal, any longer, to the notion of creatio originans (originating creation). The reason is that he has developed, over the last decade, a cosmological model that avoids any beginning to spacetime and the universe, and so eliminates the need for a cosmic beginner. I criticize Hawking's model in this essay, arguing that either it is not intended to be construed realistically or that, if it is, the model is highly implausible.
Rare case of left ventricular haemangioma: multi-modal approach to diagnosis.

A 59-year-old female with a history of permanent pacemaker implantation for a high-grade AV block presented with lightheadedness. EKG showed LABB. Pacemaker interrogation was unremarkable. A transthoracic echocardiogram (see Supplementary material online, Video S1 ) revealed an ejection fraction of 40%, apical hypokinesis and septal dyskinesis. Additionally, an echodensity 1.4 × 1.1 cm located in the mid-distal anteroseptal …
Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review.

Background: Rigorous rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is necessary for a successful surgical outcome. A large number of clinical trials continue to assess aspects of this rehabilitation process. Prior systematic reviews evaluated fifty-four Level-I and II clinical trials published through 2005. Methods: Eighty-five articles from 2006 to 2010 were identified utilizing multiple search engines. Twenty-nine Level-I or II studies met inclusion criteria and were evaluated with use of the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) criteria. Topics included in this review are postoperative bracing, accelerated strengthening, home-based rehabilitation, proprioception and neuromuscular training, and six miscellaneous topics investigated in single trials. Results: Bracing following ACL reconstruction remains neither necessary nor beneficial and adds to the cost of the procedure. Early return to sports needs further research. Home-based rehabilitation can be successful. Although neuromuscular interventions are not likely to be harmful to patients, they are also not likely to yield large improvements in outcomes or help patients return to sports faster. Thus, they should not be performed to the exclusion of strengthening and range-of-motion exercises. Vibration training may lead to faster and more complete proprioceptive recovery but further evidence is needed. Conclusions: Several new modalities for rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction may be helpful but should not be performed to the exclusion of range-of-motion, strengthening, and functional exercises. Accelerated rehabilitation does not appear to be harmful but further investigation of rehabilitation timing is warranted. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Effect of Dietary Protein Intake on Serum Total CO2 Concentration in Chronic Kidney Disease: Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Findings

Metabolic acidosis is a feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but whether serum bicarbonate concentration is influenced by variations in dietary protein intake is unknown. For assessing the effect of diet, data that were collected in the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study were used. In this study, patients with CKD were enrolled into a baseline period, then randomly assigned to follow either a low- or a usual-protein diet (study A, entry GFR 25 to 55 ml/min) or a low- or very low-protein diet, the latter supplemented with ketoanalogs of amino acids (study B, entry GFR 13 to 24 ml/min). Serum [total CO2] and estimated protein intake (EPI) were assessed at entry (n = 1676) and again at 1 yr after randomization, controlling for changes in GFR and other key covariates (n = 723). At entry, serum [total CO2] was inversely related to EPI (1.0 mEq/L lower mean serum [total CO2]/g per kg body wt increase in protein intake/d; P = 0.009). In an intention-to-treat analysis, the reduction in mean EPI in the low-protein group as compared with the usual-protein group (0.41 g/kg body wt per d) was independently associated with a 0.9-mEq/L increase in serum [total CO2], after adjustment for covariates (P < 0.001). No such effect was evident in study B, in which the very low-protein diet group received dietary supplements. Serum [total CO2] is inversely correlated with dietary protein intake in patients with CKD. A reduction in protein intake results in an increase in serum [total CO2].
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding Protein Is Carried on Lipoproteins and Acts as a Cofactor in the Neutralization of LPS

Lipoproteins isolated from normal human plasma can bind and neutralize bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and may represent an important mechanism in host defense against gram-negative septic shock. Recent studies have shown that experimentally elevating the levels of circulating high-density lipoproteins (HDL) provides protection against death in animal models of endotoxic shock. We sought to define the components of HDL that are required for neutralization of LPS. To accomplish this we have studied the functional neutralization of LPS by native and reconstituted HDL using a rapid assay that measures the CD14-dependent activation of leukocyte integrins on human neutrophils. We report here that reconstituted HDL particles (R-HDL), prepared from purified apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) combined with phospholipid and free cholesterol, are not sufficient to neutralize the biologic activity of LPS. However, addition of recombinant LPS binding protein (LBP), a protein known to transfer LPS to CD14 and enhance responses of cells to LPS, enabled prompt binding and neutralization of LPS by R-HDL. Thus, LBP appears capable of transferring LPS not only to CD14 but also to lipoprotein particles. In contrast with R-HDL, apoA-I containing lipoproteins (LpA-I) isolated from plasma by selected affinity immunosorption (SAIS) on an anti-apoA-I column, neutralized LPS without addition of exogenous LBP. Several lines of evidence demonstrated that LBP is a constituent of LpA-I in plasma. Passage of plasma over an anti-apoA-I column removed more than 99% of the LBP detectable by ELISA, whereas 31% of the LBP was recovered by elution of the column. Similarly, the ability of plasma to enable activation of neutrophils by LPS (LBP/Septin activity) was depleted and recovered by the same process. Furthermore, an immobilized anti-LBP monoclonal antibody coprecipitated apoA-I. The results described here suggest that in addition to its ability to transfer LPS to CD14, LBP may also transfer LPS to lipoproteins. Since LBP appears to be physically associated with lipoproteins in plasma, it is positioned to play an important role in the neutralization of LPS.