cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activities of antimicrobial agents against clinical isolates of Mycobacterium haemophilum.

Mycobacterium haemophilum, first described in 1978, can cause severe infections of skin, respiratory tract, bone, and other organs of immunocompromised patients. There is no standardized antimicrobial susceptibility test, and for the 27 reported cases, a variety of test methods have been used. This paper reports the in vitro test results for 17 isolates of M. haemophilum recovered from 12 patients in the New York City area. MICs of 16 antimicrobial agents were determined in microtiter trays containing Middlebrook 7H9 broth plus 60 microM hemin, inoculated with 10(6) CFU of the organism per ml and incubated at 30 degrees C for 10 days. Ethambutol, ethionamide, tetracycline, cefoxitin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were inactive against initial isolates from the 12 patients. Isoniazid was weakly active with a MIC for 50% of strains tested (MIC50) of 8 micrograms/ml and a MIC90 of > 32 micrograms/ml. Three quinolones, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and sparfloxacin, were moderately active with MIC50s of 2 to 4 micrograms/ml and MIC90s of 4 to 8 micrograms/ml. Amikacin and clofazamine were active with MIC90s of 4 and 2 micrograms/ml, respectively. Clarithromycin was the most active macrolide with a MIC90 of 16 microgram/ml, whereas initial isolates were inactivated by low concentrations of the rifamycins. Both patients had been treated for several months with several antimicrobial agents, including a rifamycin.
Global convergence for Newton methods in mathematical programming

In constrained optimization problems in mathematical programming, one wants to minimize a functionalf(x) over a given setC. If, at an approximate solutionxn, one replacesf(x) by its Taylor series expansion through quadratic terms atxn and denotes byxn+1 the minimizing point for this overC, one has a direct analogue of Newton's method. The local convergence of this has been previously analyzed; here, we give global convergence results for this and the similar algorithm in which the constraint setC is also linearized at each step.
Red and near-infrared sensor response to off-nadir viewing

It has first been intended to employ the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) as a meteorological instrument to aid in detecting clouds and atmospheric temperature stratifications over large areas. However, more recently the satellite data have been used for monitoring large areas of vegetation with emphasis on the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) bands. The present investigation is concerned with the objective to model ranges in AVHRR VIS and NIR radiances and normalized differences expected under typical AVHRR viewing and illumination conditions. Atmospheric data sets reported by Dave (1978) and Dave and Braslau (1975) were used. It is shown that sensor response to atmospheric path length can be substantial for the AVHRR VIS and NIR channels and normalized difference (ND) values. However, errors can be minimized by high sun and clear atmosphere viewing.
Novel method to obtain the optimal polygonal approximation of digital planar curves based on Mixed Integer Programming

A novel method to obtain optimal polygonal approximation is proposed.The method is based on Mixed Integer Programming techniques.Computation time obtained drastically decreases over state-of-the-art methods.The proposed method does not need parameters to be set. Polygonal approximations of digital planar curves are very useful for a considerable number of applications in computer vision. A great interest in this area has generated a huge number of methods for obtaining polygonal approximations. A good measure to compare these methods is known as Rosin's merit. This measure uses the optimal polygonal approximation, but the state-of-the-art methods require a tremendous computation time for obtaining this optimal solution.We focus on the problem of obtaining the optimal polygonal approximation of a digital planar curve. Given N ordered points on a Euclidean plane, an efficient method to obtain M points that defines a polygonal approximation with the minimum distortion is proposed.The new solution relies on Mixed Integer Programming techniques in order to obtain the minimum value of distortion. Results, show that computation time for the new method dramatically decreases in comparison with state-of-the-art methods for obtaining the optimal polygonal approximation.
Temporal radio frequency spectra of multifrequency waves in a turbulent atmosphere characterized by a complex refractive index

Ishimaru's formulation for the amplitude and phase spectra for radio waves propagating in a turbulent medium is extended to cover the case where the refractive index is complex and frequency dependent. New static limits for the amplitude and phase spectrum are derived. The temporal radio frequency spectra give an estimate of the short time variations (i.e., tenths to tens of seconds) that tend to occur when radio waves propagate in a turbulent medium. For example, the refractive index is complex in a dispersive medium with a Lorentzian line shape, such as the earth's atmosphere over the the range of 50 to 70 GHz, due to resonant frequencies of molecular oxygen. The results for the amplitude and phase spectrum corresponding to radio links on earth (altitudes less than 5 km) indicate that turbulence does not significantly alter the radio frequency spectrum even for radio frequencies separated by 3 GHz. By contrast, the impact of turbulence is to make the details of the spectrum due to an isolated oxygen line in the 60 GHz band time dependent and, therefore, not readily compensated for by an equalizer. An isolated line in the 60 GHz oxygen band does constitute the propagation medium for radio links at altitudes greater than 25 km.
Oligomers of the cytoplasmic fragment from the Escherichia coli aspartate receptor dissociate through an unfolded transition state.

The kinetic and equilibrium properties of a clustering process were studied as a function of temperature for two point mutants of a 31 kDa fragment derived from the cytoplasmic region of the Escherichia coli aspartate receptor (C-fragment), which were shown previously to have a greater tendency to form clusters relative to the wild-type C-fragment [Long, D. G., & Weis, R. M. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 9904-9911]. The clustering equilibria were different for the two C-fragments. Monomers of a serine-461 to leucine (S461L) mutant C-fragment were in equilibrium with dimers, while monomers of a S325L C-fragment were in equilibrium with trimers. The positive values for delta H degree, delta S degree, and delta Cp degree of dissociation estimated from a van't Hoff analysis, and the differences in the CD spectra of isolated monomers and oligomers, demonstrated that the monomers were less well-folded than the clustered forms. The oligomer dissociation rate exhibited a marked temperature dependence over the range from 4 to 30 degrees C and was remarkably slow at low temperatures; e.g. t1/2 of dimer dissociation for the S461L C-fragment was 85 h at 4 degrees C. The values for delta H degree +2, delta S degree +2, and delta Cp degree +2 derived from the temperature dependence of the dissociation rate were comparable to the corresponding parameters determined in a DSC study of C-fragment denaturation [Wu, J., Long, D. G., & Weis, R. M. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 3056-3065], which indicated that the transition state resembled thermally denatured C-fragment. Octyl glucoside accelerated the dissociation rate by 3-5-fold presumably by lowering the barrier to dissociation. This acceleration and the positive value of delta Cp degree +2 were interpreted as evidence for an increase in solvent accessible hydrophobic groups in the transition state. The molecular basis for the slow rate of dissociation is proposed to result from the conversion of intermolecular coiled coils in the oligomers to an intramolecular coiled coil in the monomer.
ASSEMBLY/DISASSEMBLY OF THE NUCLEAR ENVELOPE MEMBRANE : CELL CYCLE-DEPENDENT BINDING OF NUCLEAR MEMBRANE VESICLES TO CHROMATIN IN VITRO

Dissociation and association of membranes with chromatin at the beginning and end of mitosis are critical in controlling nuclear dynamics during these stages of the cell cycle. Employing purified membrane and cytosolic fractions from Xenopus eggs, a simple assay was developed for the reversible binding of nuclear membrane vesicles to chromatin. We have shown, using phosphatase and kinase inhibitors, that membrane-chromatin association is regulated by a phosphatase/kinase system. In interphase, the balance in this system favors dephosphorylation, possibly of a membrane receptor, which then mediates chromatin binding. At mitosis the membrane receptor is phosphorylated, causing release of chromatin-bound membrane. Purified MPF kinase does not directly cause membranes to dissociate from chromatin. Rather, binding of membranes to chromatin at mitosis appears to be regulated indirectly by MPF through its action on a phosphatase/kinase system that directly modulates the phosphorylation state of a nuclear membrane component.
Effects of the Lewis number of water vapor on the combustion and extinction of methanol drops

Abstract A simplified model for the time-dependent, spherically symmetrical combustion and extinction of methanol droplets is extended to account for a Lewis number of water vapor different from unit. A parametric study is performed, showing that, with water absorption and good mixing in the liquid, the burning time and extinction diameter achieve maxima for water Lewis numbers slightly less than unity in the gas phase. At high Lewis numbers, the smaller diffusion coefficient reduces the amount of water absorbed, and at lower Lewis numbers, the larger diffusion coefficient increases the rate of water loss to the atmosphere, reducing the water concentration at the flame and the water absorbed in the liquid. The extent of absorption, therefore, maximizes at an intermediate Lewis number.
The early stages of tempering in a 3CR-1.5MO steel

In 1959 Baker and Nutting established that the carbides precipitated during the tempering of bainitic 2.25Cr-1Mo pressure vessel steels followed the sequence M/sub 3/C, Mo/sub 2/C, M/sub 7/C/sub 3/, M/sub 23/C/sub 6/ and M/sub 6/C. Titchmarsh and later Pilling and Ridley identified characteristic energy dispersive X-ray spectra for these carbides. Recent studies of the early stages of tempering in a 3Cr-1.5Mo steel have revealed a carbide, containing both chromium and molybdenum, which does not correspond to the above characteristic spectra. Convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses have been carried out to investigate the structure and composition of this carbide and also to study the change in tempering kinetics produced by additions of chromium and molybdenum to 2.25Cr-1Mo pressure vessel steels.
The potential Ebola-infected patient in the ambulatory care setting: preparing for the worst without compromising care.

Recommendations for evaluation of patients with possible Ebola virus disease have focused on hospital emergency departments and inpatient units as the loci of care. However, patients may present to...
Dural repair with four spinal sealants: focused review of the manufacturers’ inserts and the current literature

Abstract Background context Deliberate or traumatic dural fistulas are typically augmented by a “sealant” or “fibrin glue” to enhance the strength of dural closure. Purpose Little is known about the risks and complications associated with two specific “sealants” and two specific “fibrin glues” used for dural closure. Study design/setting Review of the manufacturers’ inserts and a focused review of the literature concerning the pros and cons for two “sealants” (DuraSeal [Confluent Surgical Inc., Waltham, MA, USA] and BioGlue [Cryolife, Kennesaw, GA, USA]) and two “fibrin glues” (EVICEL [Johnson and Johnson Wound Management, Ethicon Inc., Somerville, NJ, USA] and Tisseel [fibrin sealant; Baxter International Inc., Westlake Village, CA, USA]) were assessed. Patient sample A focused review of the literature using four different “sealants” or “fibrin glues” was performed. Outcome measures Documentation of persistent/recurrent postoperative cerebrospinal fluid fistulas was an end point for failure for the four different “sealants” and “fibrin glues.” Methods Manufacturers’ inserts and a focused review of the literature concerning the relative safety and efficacy of two “sealants” (DuraSeal and BioGlue) and two “fibrin glues” (EVICEL and Tisseel) used to augment dural closure were assessed. Results Although DuraSeal is approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for intracranial and spinal application, two instances of paralysis are described in the literature. BioGlue is classified by the manufacturer as neurotoxic. EVICEL, one of the “fibrin glues,” appeared in just two animal studies, whereas Tisseel, the other “fibrin glue,” has been used in many large clinical series without adverse events. Conclusion Despite the lack of FDA approval, Tisseel (fibrin glue) has seen wide adoption in “off-label” use. DuraSeal, which is FDA approved, was associated with two instances of paralysis. Alternatively, BioGlue was described as neurotoxic even by the manufacturer.
Resonant leaky-mode spectral-band engineering and device applications

Single-layer subwavelength periodic waveguide films with binary profiles are applied to design numerous passive guided-mode resonance elements. It is shown that the grating profile critically influences the spectral characteristics of such devices. In particular, the symmetry of the profile controls the resonance spectral density. Symmetric profiles generate a single resonance on either side of the second stopband whereas two resonances arise, one on each side of the band, for asymmetric structures. Moreover, the profile's Fourier harmonic content, along with the absolute value of the grating modulation strength, affects the resonance linewidths and their relative locations. Computed Brillouin diagrams are presented to illustrate many key properties of the resonant leaky-mode spectra in relation to modulation strength and profile symmetry at the second stopband. Associated mode plots elucidate the spatial distribution of the leaky-mode field amplitude at resonance and show that, for small modulation, the mode shape may be simple whereas at higher modulation, the shape appears as a complex mixture of modes. By computing device spectra as function of the modulation strength, the buildup of the final spectral properties is illustrated and the contributions of the various leaky modes clarified. The results presented include wavelength and angular spectra for several example devices including narrow linewidth bandpass filters with extended low sidebands for TE and TM polarization, wideband reflectors for TE and TM polarization, polarizer, polarization-independent element, and a wideband antireflector, all with only a single binary layer with one-dimensional periodicity. These results demonstrate new dimensions in optical device design and may provide complementary capability with the field of thin-film optics.
Correlation of tissue water content with lymphatic structure in toad and turtle bladders

Abstract 1. 1. Toad bladder lymphatics were injected with India ink via the central lymphatic sinus. The lymphatic capillaries were small and delicate and they fed into larger trunks which accompanied blood vessels. 2. 2. Turtle bladder lymphatics were injected directly from the serosal surface. The lymphatic system consisted of a coarse meshwork of anastomosing channels. 3. 3. The water content of turtle bladder tissue was found previously to exceed that of toad bladder tissue by 58 per cent. It is suggested that the extra fluid of the turtle bladder is not distributed throughout the tissue but is held within the lymphatic system.
The Management of Acute Limb Ischemia: Techniques for Dealing with Thrombus

Acute limb ischemia (ALI) has long been a major clinical problem, producing significant risks for limb loss and death. It is most commonly caused by arterial thrombosis in the setting of underlying atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease or by arterial embolism, usually of cardiac origin. Over the past several decades, preferred treatment options for ALI have alternated between medical and surgical approaches. More recently, direct intra-arterial thrombolysis became the standard of care after several randomized trials demonstrated the benefit of this approach as compared with acute surgical intervention. Despite all of the experience with direct intra-arterial thrombolysis for the treatment of ALI, the optimal thrombolytic approach not been clearly established. Current investigation is directed at identifying the ideal thrombolytic agent for this purpose and the appropriate dosing regimen. In addition, there is interest in the newer mechanical thrombectomy devices and the use of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors to speed the time to reperfusion of the acutely ischemic limb.
Absolute beam-foil excitation probabilities of hydrogen-like states in iron☆

Abstract By measuring the absolute intensities of hydrogen-like spectral lines, we have deduced absolute foil-excitation probabilities for several levels of high principal quantum number ( n ) and several emerging charge states of a 1.5-MeV iron beam. Core polarization allows the partial resolution of transitions involving different l -values for the same initial and final n . The probability that an iron ion emerging from the foil with charge state g is in a state characterized by n is found to be of order 10 −3 for n = 6–9 and q = 4 + −7 + . For a given n , population of high l appears to be favored. A discussion of the overall state population distribution among high n states following foil excitation will be presented.
Microvideography of gas bladder inflation in larval walleye

High-resolution microvideograph observations supported the hypothesis that first filling of the gas bladder of larval walleye Stizostedion vitreum is accomplished by the fish penetrating the air-water interface to gulp air, then transmitting a swallowed air bubble through the gut and the pneumatic duct to the gas bladder. The snout of the larva penetrated the water surface with extension of most of the mouth into the air for only 1.5 s. An air bubble (c. 100 μm) in the foregut was broken up into progressively smaller bubbles (10–15 μm), presumably by the combined effect of surfactant derived from the gall bladder and mechanical (peristaltic) action of the gut. These smaller bubbles seemed to be aligned in the pneumatic duct before being forced to the gas bladder by pressures generated from peristalsis.
Crystal Growth of Tl4CdI6: A Wide Band Gap Semiconductor for Hard Radiation Detection

We report the synthesis, physical characterization, and crystal growth of Tl4CdI6. We show that this material has good photoconductivity and is a promising semiconductor for room temperature X-ray and γ-ray detection. Large single crystals were grown by the vertical Bridgman method and cut to dimensions appropriate for detector testing. Single crystal X-ray diffraction refinements confirm that Tl4CdI6 crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system with a centrosymmetric space group of P4/mnc, with a calculated density of 6.87 g/cm3. Thermal analysis and high-temperature synchrotron powder diffraction studies were used to determine phase relationships and crystallization behavior during crystal growth. We have elucidated the reason for different colors encountered when synthesizing or growing single crystals of Tl4CdI6 (yellow, red, and black), and it is the presence of a small amount of TlI impurity. We report proper crystal growth conditions to obtain essentially pure yellow Tl4CdI6 crystals. The material...
Cavity ringdown and laser-induced incandescence measurements of soot

Currently laser-induced incandescence (LII) is widely used for the measurement of soot volume fraction. A particularly important aspect of the technique that has received less attention, however, is calibration. The applicability of cavity ringdown (CRD) for measurement of soot volume fraction fv is assessed, and the calibration of LII by means of CRD is demonstrated. The accuracy of CRD for fv determination is validated by comparison with traditional light extinction and path-integrated LII. By use of CRD, the quantification of LII for parts in 109 (ppb) fv levels is demonstrated. Results are presented that demonstrate the accuracy of CRD for a single laser pulse to be better than ±5% for measurement of ppb soot volume-fraction levels over a 1-cm path length. By use of CRD, spatially resolved LII signals from soot within methane–air diffusion flames are calibrated for ppb fv levels, thereby avoiding the extrapolation required of less sensitive methods in current use.
BOUNDS FOR GRAPH EXPANSIONS VIA ELASTICITY

In two recent papers, one by Friedland and Schneider, the other by Forster and Nagy, the authors used polynomial matrices to study the effect of graph expansions on the spectral radius of the adjacency matrix. Here it is shown that the notion of the elasticity of the entries of a nonnegative matrix coupled with the Variational Principle for Pressure from symbolic dynamics can be used to derive sharper bounds than existing estimates. This is achieved for weighted and unweighted graphs, and the case of equality is characterized. The work is within the framework of studying measured graphs where each edge is assigned a positive length as well as a weight.
Geoelectric Studies of Seasonal Wetting and Drying of a Texas Vertisol

Vertisols are complex soils with high clay content (>30%), high shrink–swell potential, and microrelief features known as gilgai . We applied field and laboratory electrical-resistivity measurements to characterize seasonal wetting and drying of a Texas Vertisol, and to quantify the effects of gilgai and cracks on seasonal hydrodynamics of the soil. Thirty-two multielectrode resistivity-profiling lines were collected along the same profile from 1 May 2005 to 22 Apr. 2006, using combined dipole–dipole and Schlumberger electrode configurations. The profiles were 17.5 m long and intersected two sets of microlows and microhighs of the gilgai. The resistivity data were inverted using the RES2DINV program and the inverted data were corrected for temperature. We measured variations of resistivity with soil moisture in the laboratory and the results were used to calibrate the field data. To evaluate the resistivity results, in situ measurements of soil moisture were made using auger sampling. During the wetting cycle, three distinct soil moisture regimes were recognized in the upper 1.4 m of the Vertisol: an upper zone (0–0.5-m depth), which is the most dynamic with regard to wetting and drying; a middle zone (0.5–1.1 m), which is relatively saturated and less dynamic; and a lower zone (below 1.1 m), which is relatively less saturated compared with the middle layer. The saturation of the middle layer appears to be enhanced by preferential flow through cracks. Also, the microrelief topography exercises a control on spatiotemporal variations in soil moisture in that the microhighs dry faster than the microlows.
Insulin Resistance, Hyperglycemia, and Atherosclerosis

Progress in preventing atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) has been stalled by the epidemic of type 2 diabetes. Further advances in this area demand a thorough understanding of how two major features of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, impact atherosclerosis. Insulin resistance is associated with systemic CAD risk factors, but increasing evidence suggests that defective insulin signaling in atherosclerotic lesional cells also plays an important role. The role of hyperglycemia in CAD associated with type 2 diabetes is less clear. Understanding the mechanisms whereby type 2 diabetes exacerbates CAD offers hope for new therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Surface projections of array beam patterns

Described is an application of surface projection calculations of array beam patterns. An example is presented showing how the surface patch illuminated by the transmitted pulse from a monostatic active sonar system intersects the surface projection of the beam pattern as a function of time.
The Deaf History Reader

"The Deaf History Reader" presents nine masterful chapters that bring together a remarkably vivid depiction of the varied Deaf experience in America. This collection features the finest scholarship from a noteworthy group of historians, including Reginald Boyd, Barry A. Crouch, Mary French, Brian H. Greenwald, Harlan Lane, Harry G. Lang, Kent R. Olney, Richard Pillard, Jill Hendricks Porco, Michael Reis, and volume editor John Vickrey Van Cleve. The incisive articles collected here include an exploration of the genesis of the Deaf community and early evidence of the use of sign language; a comparison of a failed, oralist school for deaf students in Virginia to the success of the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut; the development of Deaf consciousness among people who carried a dominant gene for deafness; a biographical sketch of Mary Ann Walworth Booth, an accomplished deaf woman who lived on the Western frontier; an account of Deaf agency in the Indiana Institution and the Evansville Day School; the early antecedents of mainstreaming deaf children despite the objections of their parents; a profile of Alexander Graham Bell that contrasts his support of eugenics to his defense of Deaf rights; the conflicting actions of supervisors of the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf; and finally, the critical role played by deaf people in the Chicago Mission for the Deaf s success in maintaining the Deaf community for more than five decades. The remarkably rich range of topics treated in "The Deaf History Reader" assure its future status as a standard resource for all Deaf scholars and students."
Black hole formation in core collapse supernovae and time-of-flight measurements of the neutrino masses

In large stars that have exhausted their nuclear fuel, the stellar core collapses to a hot and dense proto-neutron star that cools by the radiation of neutrinos and antineutrinos of all flavors. Depending on its final mass, this may become either a neutron star or a black hole. Black hole formation may be triggered by mass accretion or a change in the high-density equation of state. We consider the possibility that black hole formation happens when the flux of neutrinos is still measurably high. If this occurs, then the neutrino signal from the supernova will be terminated abruptly (the transition takes ≲0.5 ms). The properties and duration of the signal before the cutoff are important measures of both the physics and astrophysics of the cooling proto-neutron star. For the event rates expected in present and proposed detectors, the cutoff will generally appear sharp, thus allowing model-independent time-of-flight mass tests for the neutrinos after the cutoff. If black hole formation occurs relatively early, within a few (∼1) seconds after core collapse, then the expected luminosities are of order LBH=1052 erg/s per flavor. In this case, the neutrino mass sensitivity can be extraordinary. For a supernova at a distance D=10 kpc, SuperKamiokande can detect a νe mass down to 1.8 eV by comparing the arrival times of the high-energy and low-energy neutrinos in νe+p→e++n. This test will also measure the cutoff time, and will thus allow a mass test of νμ and ντ relative to νe. Assuming that νμ and ντ are nearly degenerate, as suggested by the atmospheric neutrino results, masses down to about 6 eV can be probed with a proposed lead detector of mass MD=4 kton (OMNIS). Remarkably, the neutrino mass sensitivity scales as (D/LBHMD)1/2. Therefore, direct sensitivity to all three neutrino masses in the interesting few-eV range is realistically possible; there are no other known techniques that have this capability.
Highly sensitive compact refractive index sensor based on phase-shifted sidewall Bragg gratings in slot waveguide

The geometrical and physical parameters of phase-shifted sidewall Bragg gratings in a silicon slot waveguide are optimized to possess performance characteristics desirable for integrated optical sensors. By tailoring the spectral response of such phase-shifted sidewall gratings, highly sensitive compact refractive index sensors detecting the resonance wavelength shift or the variation of light intensity are designed with the transfer matrix method. Both refractive index sensors have a minimum detection limit on the order of 10(-6), and a linear response and a compact structure dimension as small as 11.7 μm, offering the capabilities for sensor array and lab-on-a-chip integration. The resonance-shift sensor has a much wider detection range of 1.32 refractive index units than the intensity-measurement sensor. The performance parameters are compared with other refractive index sensors, including Mach-Zehnder interferometers, ring resonators, surface gratings, and phase-shifted gratings in silicon nanowire.
The Implications of Survey Method for Measuring Cultivation Effects

The magnitude of the cultivation effect for perceptual estimates of social reality has been shown to be affected by a number of contextual factors such as source priming and motivation to process information during judgment construction, and these contextual factors have been linked to the use of heuristic processing strategies when constructing judgments of frequency and probability (L. J. Shrum, in press). An experiment that manipulated data collection method explored the implications of these findings. A random sample of general population respondents were randomly assigned to either telephone or mail survey conditions. Because telephone surveys generally result in greater heuristic processing than mail surveys, telephone surveys were expected to produce larger cultivation effects than mail surveys. Results showed that not only were the magnitude of the estimates of affluence, crime, vice, marital discord, and occupations generally greater in the telephone than in the mail survey but the correlation of the estimates with amount of viewing was also greater in the telephone than in the mail survey. The implications for measuring the cultivation effect are discussed.
Phrenic long-term facilitation after acute intermittent hypoxia requires spinal ERK activation but not TrkB synthesis

Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) elicits a form of spinal respiratory plasticity known as phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF). pLTF requires spinal serotonin receptor-2 activation, the synthesis of new brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the activation of its high-affinity receptor tyrosine kinase, TrkB. Spinal adenosine 2A receptor activation elicits a distinct pathway to phrenic motor facilitation (pMF); this BDNF synthesis-independent pathway instead requires new synthesis of an immature TrkB isoform. Since hypoxia increases extracellular adenosine levels, we tested the hypothesis that new synthesis of TrkB and BDNF contribute to AIH-induced pLTF. Furthermore, given that signaling mechanisms “downstream” from TrkB are unknown in either mechanism, we tested the hypothesis that pLTF requires MEK/ERK and/or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt activation. In anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats, an intrathecal catheter at cervical level 4 was used to deliver drugs near the phrenic motor nucleus. Since pLTF was blocked by spinal injections of small interfering RNAs targeting BDNF mRNA but not TrkB mRNA, only new BDNF synthesis is required for AIH-induced pLTF. Pretreatment with a MEK inhibitor (U0126) blocked pLTF, whereas a PI3K inhibitor (PI-828) had no effect. Thus, AIH-induced pLTF requires MEK/ERK (not PI3K/AKT) signaling pathways. When U0126 was injected post-AIH, pLTF development was halted but not reversed, suggesting that ERK is critical for the development but not maintenance of pLTF. Thus, there are clear mechanistic distinctions between AIH-induced pLTF (i.e., BDNF synthesis and MEK/ERK dependent) versus adenosine 2A receptor-induced pMF (i.e., TrkB synthesis and PI3K/Akt dependent).
Phase I Study of Celecoxib with Concurrent Irinotecan, Cisplatin, and Radiation Therapy for Patients with Unresectable Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose: Preclinical findings suggest that adding targeted therapies to combination radiation-chemotherapy can enhance treatment efficacy; however, this approach may enhance normal tissue toxicity. We investigated the maximum tolerated dose, dose-limiting toxicities, and response rate when the selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib is added to concurrent irinotecan, cisplatin, and radiation therapy for patients with inoperable stage II-III non-small cell lung cancer. Methods and materials: Eighteen patients were analyzed in a phase I clinical dose-escalation trial. Celecoxib was given daily beginning 5 days before radiation followed by maintenance doses for 12 weeks. Toxicity was graded with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events V3.0 and response with the World Health Organization system. Primary endpoints were maximum tolerated dose of celecoxib and treatment toxicity; secondary endpoints were response and survival rates. Results: The maximum tolerated dose of celecoxib was not reached, in part owing to discontinuation of the drug supply. At doses of 200 or 400 mg/day, no patients experienced any dose-limiting toxicity (acute grade ≥4 esophagitis or pneumonitis, neutropenic fever or thrombocytopenia requiring transfusion, or acute grade ≥3 diarrhea). Grade 3 toxicities were leukopenia (5 patients), fatigue (3), pneumonitis (2), dyspnea (1), pain (1), and esophageal stricture (1). Interestingly, pulmonary fibrosis (a late toxicity) was no more severe in the higher-dose (400-mg) group and may have been less common than in the lower-dose group. The clinical response rate was 100% (8 complete, 10 partial). Two-year rates were: overall survival 65%; local-regional control 69%; distant metastasis-free survival 71%; and disease-free survival 64%. Conclusions: Although preliminary, our results suggest that adding celecoxib to concurrent chemoradiation for inoperable NSCLC is safe and can improve outcome without increasing normal tissue toxicity.
Wafer-level in-registry microstamping

Microstamping is an inexpensive technique that allows for micrometer-scale patterning of a rich variety of materials by a replication procedure based on an elastomeric stamp. We have investigated the scalability of microstamping for its use in the fabrication of microelectromechanical systems. Until now, the application of microstamping to multilayer processing at a wafer level has been impaired by the flexibility of the stamp. By mounting the stamp onto a rigid glass surface, we demonstrate the feasibility of in-registry multilayer microstamping at a 4-in wafer level.
Understanding IMS III: old data shed new light on a futile trial

Neurointerventionalists and other believers in intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) were disappointed to learn that the Interventional Management of Stroke (IMS) III trial was halted at a prespecified endpoint. Already there are a number of articles citing rationales for failure of bridging therapy to demonstrate what would seem like an intuitive benefit over intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) monotherapy.1 There are genuine questions relating to patient selection and device availability as to the ability of IMS III to demonstrate a positive effect. In this brief comment we explore an area not necessarily well-known to the broader neurointerventional community that might confound any bridging trial. At the most basic level, acute ischemic stroke is caused by the lack of cerebral blood flow. This leads to neurologic dysfunction and brain tissue injury. Hence, prompt restoration of blood flow is the most logical therapeutic approach. Reperfusion remains the only proven method to treat large vessel stroke, and the criticality of recanalization is well-known to neurointerventionalists and is an active part of clinical practice.2 ,3 IMS III was a ‘bridging’ trial; patients were first treated with intravenous tPA, then randomized to mechanical recanalization versus no additional therapy. ‘Bridging’ had been shown to benefit patients.4 ,5 The rationale was to maximize chances for rapid clot lysis, restoring blood …
Assessing laser-tissue damage with bioluminescent imaging

Effective medical laser procedures are achieved by selecting laser parameters that minimize undesirable tissue damage. Traditionally, human subjects, animal models, and monolayer cell cultures have been used to study wound healing, tissue damage, and cellular effects of laser radiation. Each of these models has significant limitations, and consequently, a novel skin model is needed. To this end, a highly reproducible human skin model that enables noninvasive and longitudinal studies of gene expression was sought. In this study, we present an organotypic raft model (engineered skin) used in combination with bioluminescent imaging (BLI) techniques. The efficacy of the raft model was validated and characterized by investigating the role of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) as a sensitive marker of thermal damage. The raft model consists of human cells incorporated into an extracellular matrix. The raft cultures were transfected with an adenovirus containing a murine hsp70 promoter driving transcription of luciferase. The model enables quantitative analysis of spatiotemporal expression of proteins using BLI. Thermal stress was induced on the raft cultures by means of a constant temperature water bath or with a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser (=10.6 µm, 0.679 to 2.262 W/cm2, cw, unfocused Gaussian beam, L=4.5 mm, 1 min exposure). The bioluminescence was monitored noninvasively with an IVIS 100 Bioluminescent Imaging System. BLI indicated that peak hsp70 expression occurs 4 to 12 h after exposure to thermal stress. A minimum irradiance of 0.679 W/cm2 activated the hsp70 response, and a higher irradiance of 2.262 W/cm2 was associated with a severe reduction in hsp70 response due to tissue ablation. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that hsp70 mRNA levels increased with prolonged heating exposures. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent protein assays confirmed that luciferase was an accurate surrogate for hsp70 intracellular protein levels. Hematoxylin and eosin stains verified the presence of the ...
Interneuron Diversity series: Circuit complexity and axon wiring economy of cortical interneurons

The performance of the brain is constrained by wiring length and maintenance costs. The apparently inverse relationship between number of neurons in the various interneuron classes and the spatial extent of their axon trees suggests a mathematically definable organization, reminiscent of 'small-world' or scale-free networks observed in other complex systems. The wiring-economy-based classification of cortical inhibitory interneurons is supported by the distinct physiological patterns of class members in the intact brain. The complex wiring of diverse interneuron classes could represent an economic solution for supporting global synchrony and oscillations at multiple timescales with minimum axon length.
Principles and techniques of digital holographic microscopy

Digital holography is an emerging field of new paradigm in general imaging applications. We present a review of a subset of the research and development activities in digital holography, with emphasis on microscopy techniques and applications. First, the basic results from the general theory of holography, based on the scalar diffraction theory, are summarized, and a general description of the digital holographic microscopy process is given, including quantitative phase microscopy. Several numerical diffraction methods are described and compared, and a number of representative configurations used in digital holography are described, including off-axis Fresnel, Fourier, image plane, in-line, Gabor, and phase-shifting digital holographies. Then we survey numerical techniques that give rise to unique capabilities of digital holography, including suppression of dc and twin image terms, pixel resolution control, optical phase unwrapping, aberration compensation, and others. A survey is also given of representative application areas, including biomedical microscopy, particle field holography, micrometrology, and holographic tomography, as well as some of the special techniques, such as holography of total internal reflection, optical scanning holography, digital interference holography, and heterodyne holography. The review is intended for students and new researchers interested in developing new techniques and exploring new applications of digital holography.
Improving technical writing via web-based peer review of final reports

This paper describes the use of web-based software for peer evaluation of final environmental impact assessment documents written by senior environmental resources engineering students. The use of peer evaluation of documents was implemented in order to respond to the need to improve the technical writing skills of our graduates as part of our ABET 2000 outcomes assessment program. This paper discusses how students demonstrate their understanding of environmental impact assessment and their writing skills through the peer evaluation of their final documents. Students report that this activity assists them in the development of their writing skills. These evaluations are a student reflection activity and provide the instructor information for assessing the acquisition of course knowledge as well as the improvement of students' technical writing skills.
Fine‐needle aspiration cytology of ductal adenoma: Report of a case associated with a mucocele‐like lesion

Ductal adenoma (DA) is an uncommon breast lesion that can histologically and clinically mimic carcinoma. We performed a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of a DA. Cytologically, the lesion had features overlapping with those of mucinous carcinoma (MC), mucocele-like lesion, lactating adenoma (LA), and in retrospect with intraductal papilloma (IP). The smears were highly cellular and contained numerous monolayered sheets of ductal cells with prominent punched-out, small vacuoles distending the cytoplasm. The nuclei were mostly round to oval and had bland chromatin. Occasionally cells with enlarged nuclei and conspicuous nucleoli were present. The background showed large mucin pools, scattered single cells with mild nuclear atypia, some with apocrine metaplasia, rare stripped nuclei, and a fibrovascular stromal component. Calcifications were also present. We compare our cytologic findings with those of the lesions considered in the differential diagnosis. Due to its rare incidence and unusual features. DA may represent a diagnostic pitfall on FNA. Increased awareness of its cytologic appearance may help prevent a misdiagnosis.
Precision medicine: Clarity for the clinical and biological complexity of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases

The goal of precision medicine is to deliver optimally targeted and timed interventions tailored to an individual’s molecular drivers of disease. This concept has wide currency in cancer care and in some diseases caused by monogenetic mutations, such as cystic fibrosis, and recently has been endorsed by the White House Office of Science and Technology for more widespread application in medicine. Here we describe our vision of how precision medicine can bring greater clarity to the clinical and biological complexity of the two most common neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Meals and snacks: Children's characterizations of food and eating cues

This study examined preschoolers' and their parents' categorizations of eating episodes based on cues used for defining these occasions (i.e., time, portion size, preparation, content, and emotion) as a meal or snack. Thirty-four children aged 4 to 6 saw pictorial representations of each cue, along with a short verbal description, and were asked to place the picture in one of three boxes: "meal", "snack", or "either meal or snack". One parent per child (85% mothers, Mean age = 35.1 years) separately categorized the same items in an online survey. Results illustrated which cues play a role in how parents and children categorize eating occasions as meals or snacks. Parents used 24 of the 32 cue-related items to distinguish between eating occasions as a meal or a snack, while children used only four. Parents and preschoolers were consistent in using cartoon character packaging to indicate a snack, and also used several of the same content cues. The current study highlights the various cues used to categorize an eating occasion, and the unhealthy character of snacks, as participants associated some unhealthy foods and very few healthy foods with snacks. Future research should focus on the role of parents, the home environment, and advertising media in shaping children's characterizations of eating occasions towards development of healthy eating habits and away from problematic eating behaviors that may persist later in life.
Vesiculobullous and hemorrhagic erythema migrans: uncommon variants of a common disease.

Background The diagnosis of Lyme disease relies on the accurate diagnosis of erythema chronicum migrans (ECM) because serologic tests, culture, and polymerase chain reactions are often inaccurate. Although ECM is classically associated with a targetoid rash, there are many variants of this lesion. These variants of ECM are often initially diagnosed as cellulitis or spider bite reactions and treated with oral antibiotics. Inappropriate treatment further delays the diagnosis of Lyme disease, leading to late complications. Methods We present four cases of vesiculobullous and hemorrhagic ECM, a less common variant of ECM. Results All four patients had a history of exposure to wooded areas in Massachusetts during the summer months. In these patients, ECM presented with central vesicles and bullae with hemorrhage, crusting, and in some cases necrosis. Serologic testing was positive in three of the four cases at presentation. In one case, microscopic examination of a skin biopsy showed epidermal spongiosis with parakeratosis, focal necrosis, papillary dermal edema, erythrocyte extravasation, and a superficial and deep perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate with neutrophils and eosinophils of the dermis. No fungal organisms or bacteria were identified. All four patients were treated with doxycycline with complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusions It is important to recognize the vesiculobullous and hemorrhagic variants of ECM in order to minimize the provision of inappropriate antibiotic treatment for other diagnoses. Early diagnosis of ECM and the initiation of appropriate antibiotics may prevent late complications of Lyme disease.
Chip-independent Error Correction in main memories

Main memory reliability is an important concern in today's computer systems. Error Correction Codes (ECCs) improve memory reliability but have high area and energy overheads. Furthermore, ECCs cannot be easily applied to memories with wide chips such as stacked memories.