cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing Students for Attention Deficit Disorder.

This article provides information to educators on assessing and identifying students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). We discuss several purposes of ADD assessment: (a) as a diagnostic procedure, (b) to determine educational need, and (c) to evaluate educational programs. Schools are now required to meet statutory requirements regarding assessment of children with ADD under either P.L. 101476, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of P.L. 93-112, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1973. To comply with these requirements, we recommend using a multilevel, multimodal approach to assessment and identification. Multilevel refers to the different stages in the assessment process. Multimodal refers to the different types of instruments and procedures that are used to assess children with ADD. We provide information on the strengths and limitations of various instruments and procedures used in this process, and we offer recommendations for making the assessment process relevant to the needs of children and adolescents with ADD. The foundation for effective implementation of this approach to assessment is the multidisciplinary team, which consists of regular and special educators, administrators, and related service personnel such as school psychologists, nurses, or speech and language clinicians, as well as parents and students, when appropriate. All the team members should be involved in making decisions about assessment and identification of students who are experiencing problems that may be associated with ADD. Because special education services or general education accommodations depend on identification of disorders in children, educators need to be familiar with the various assessment instruments and procedures for identifying children with ADD. Understanding and interpreting the data collected about individual students at this initial stage is vital. Only with this knowledge of instruments and procedures will the team be able to make educated, informed decisions regarding services for children with ADD.
Model calibration of exciter and PSS using Extended Kalman Filter

Power system modeling and controls continue to become more complex with the advent of smart grid technologies and large-scale deployment of renewable energy resources. As demonstrated in recent studies, inaccurate system models could lead to large-scale blackouts, thereby motivating the need for model calibration. Current methods of model calibration rely on manual tuning based on engineering experience, are time consuming, and could yield inaccurate parameter estimates. In this paper, the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) is used as a tool to calibrate exciter and power system stabilizer (PSS) models of a particular type of machine in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). The EKF-based parameter estimation is a recursive prediction-correction process, which uses the mismatch between simulation and measurement to adjust the model parameters at every time step. Numerical simulations using actual field test data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in calibrating the parameters.
Predictors of increased condom use following HIV intervention with heterosexually active drug users.

Abstract Research with injection drug users (IDUs), at risk for acquiring and transmitting HIV, has focused primarily on their risky drug practices, with far less attention paid to their risky sex behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine what variables were associated with an increase in condom use following an HIV intervention with 3357 IDUs in nine cities. Participants reported using condoms during 15% of their sexual encounters prior to the HIV intervention, and during 22% of their sexual encounters six months later. A logistic regression analysis indicated that individuals who increased their condom use were likely to be HIV seropositive (odds ratio OR=2.49), to have received AIDS information prior to the intervention (OR=1.28), to have multiple sex partners (OR=2.14), to be single with multiple sex partners (OR=1.34), or to have exchanged drugs or money for sex (OR=1.33). Discussion focuses on the generally low incidence of condom use and the need for increased intervention, particularly among drug users in monogamous relationships and sex workers.
IR spectroscopic study of Pt/KL zeolites using adsorption of CO as a molecular probe

FTIR spectra of CO adsorbed on Pt/KL catalysts show that the relative band intensities and the total dispersion markedly depend on the catalyst preparation method (ion exchange, incipient wetness impregnation or co-impregnation with KCl). The CO stretching frequency of the dominant band for linear CO is shifted to higher wavenumbers, parallel with the proton concentration in the reduced catalyst, which is derived independently from the intensity of the IR bands of the OH groups. The results are in accordance with the model that electron-deficient platinum particles are platinum-proton adducts.
The ultrastructure of cells in human thoracic duct lymph

The cells of human thoracic duct fluid were concentrated and studied with the help of the electron microscope. Though most of the cells were considered to by typical lymphocytes, there proved to be a marked heterogeneity within this cell population. Some cells were completely devoid of rough endoplasmic reticulum whereas in others this organelle was well developed. This finding is discussed in the light of recent evidence that thoracic duct lymphocytes may play an important role in the immune response. The high incidence of multivesicular bodies and the occurrence of fibrillar structures in these cells is also pointed out. In addition it was observed that many thoracic duct eosinophiles have a paucity of specific granules and a somewhat degenerated appearance. The absence of neutrophiles, basophiles, and thrombocytes in thoracic duct lymph was also noted.
Final Report Deans' Council Task Force on Post Graduate Pharmacy (Residency) Education, July 2007

A Council of Deans Taskforce was charged to conduct an environmental scan to determine the funding mechanisms that are currently used for post graduate pharmacy education (residency). The report summarizes the history of post graduate education and the critical elements in the changing accreditation requirements. The benefits of post graduate pharmacy education to schools and colleges and faculty are analyzed. Various funding mechanisms to support academic programs were explored including federal reimbursements to hospitals and the status of residency education in 2006/2007 was presented. The Report made three recommendations. A detailed presentation of the federal funding strategies for Graduate Medical Education supporting pharmacy residencies is presented in the Appendix at http://www.ttuhsc.edu/sop/AJPE2007.pdf.
The Role of Extracellular Ca2+ in the Activation of Pectinaria Oocytes

Several events are associated with fertilization in oocytes. Two such events are an increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and the resumption of meiosis. Oocytes of the marine annelid, Pectinaria gouldii, are in metaphase I arrest when they are spawned. In this report we investigate the relationship between Ca2+ and resumption of meiosis in this species. Meiosis in unfertilized oocytes could be re-initiated with the divalent cation ionophore, A23187. Oocytes in Ca2+ free sea water, however, did not resume meiosis in the presence of the ionophore. Furthermore, it was observed that Ca2+ must be present for at least 15 min following ionophore treatment for meiosis to resume. These results suggest that extracellular Ca2+ is required for the re-initiation of meiosis in this species.
Properties of the cell envelope and a cell-envelope protein of Pseudomonas facilis

The molecular weight of the protein moiety of a phospholipoprotein complex isolated from Pseudomonas facilis has been examined with a variety of sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic systems. A molecular weight of 35 000 was determined for the protein in all analyses. A 35 000-dalton protein was present in the EDTA extract of P. facilis and in the cytoplasmic and outer membrane fractions, but not in the lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan. Prior inoculation of mice with the phospholipoprotein complex led to a 7.5- to 15-fold increase in the LD50 when mice were subsequently inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium; this pathogen has a cell-surface protein which cross-reacts immunologically with antibody to the P. facilis phospholipoprotein complex.
Identification of the predominant protein phosphorylated by ATP in extracts of Bacillus subtilis as nucleoside diphosphokinase

Abstract The major protein in cell-free extracts of Bacillus subtilis -168 that is directly phosphorylated by (γ- 32 P) ATP has been identified as nucleoside diphosphokinase based on the co-elution of the phosphorylated protein and enzymatic activity on Sephadex G-200 and DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography and by co-migration in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein-bound 32 P is base stable and acid labile, properties consistent with a phosphohistidine-type linkage.
An analysis of preclinical students' perceptions of cardiothoracic surgical procedures.

Background Interest in cardiothoracic surgery training has decreased, and there is a predicted shortage of 1,500 cardiothoracic surgeons by 2020. This study aims to analyze the attitudes toward cardiothoracic surgery of premedical and medical students in the preclinical years. Methods An anonymous electronic survey assessing interest in the cardiothoracic surgery field was sent to preclinical medical students and interviewees at the University of Michigan Medical School in 2010. Respondents were analyzed as a single population (N = 566) and then compared in premedical (n = 460) and medical student (n = 106) groups. Responses were compared using independent-sample t tests. Results Forty-six percent of respondents were women. Surgical specialty was ranked the top field of interest. Ninety-four percent reported intellectual interest, and 70% listed lifestyle as important factors when considering a specialty. Ninety-two percent of respondents were unaware of the new integrated training programs. Just 4% had had previous mentorship from a cardiothoracic surgeon. In group comparison, salary and lifestyle were of greater concern to the medical group than the premedical group (salary, 47% vs 33%; p p p Conclusions Cardiothoracic surgeons may be better served by aiming their recruiting and mentoring efforts toward premedical students, who are more open to longer training, less concerned about lifestyle and salary, and are generally more interested in pursuing thoracic surgery than are medical students.
Density Waves inside the Inner Lindblad Resonance: Nuclear Spirals in Disk Galaxies

We analyze the formation of grand-design two-arm spiral structure in the nuclear regions of disk galaxies. Such morphology has been recently detected in a number of objects using high-resolution near-infrared observations. Motivated by (1) the observed continuity between the nuclear and kiloparsec-scale spiral structures and (2) low arm-interarm contrast, we apply the density wave theory to explain the basic properties of the spiral nuclear morphology. In particular, we address the mechanism for the formation, maintenance, and detailed shape of nuclear spirals. We find that the latter depends mostly on the shape of the underlying gravitational potential and the sound speed in the gas. Detection of nuclear spiral arms provides diagnostics of mass distribution within the central kiloparsec of disk galaxies. Our results are supported by two-dimensional numerical simulations of gas response to the background gravitational potential of a barred stellar disk. We investigate the parameter space allowed for the formation of nuclear spirals using a new method for constructing a gravitational potential in a barred galaxy, where positions of resonances are prescribed.
Adeno-associated virus-mediated microdystrophin expression protects young mdx muscle from contraction-induced injury.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common inherited lethal muscle degenerative disease. Currently there is no cure. Highly abbreviated microdystrophin cDNAs were developed recently for adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated DMD gene therapy. Among these, a C-terminal-truncated ΔR4-R23/ΔC microgene (ΔR4/ΔC) has been considered as a very promising therapeutic candidate gene. In this study, we packaged a CMV.ΔR4/ΔC cassette in AAV-5 and evaluated the transduction and muscle contractile profiles in the extensor digitorum longus muscles of young (7-week-old) and adult (9-month-old) mdx mice. At ∼3 months post-gene transfer, 50–60% of the total myofibers were transduced in young mdx muscle and the percentage of centrally nucleated myofibers was reduced from ∼70% in untreated mdx muscle to ∼22% in microdystrophin-treated muscle. Importantly, this level of transduction protected mdx muscle from eccentric contraction-induced damage. In contrast, adult mdx muscle was more resistant to AAV-5 transduction, as only ∼30% of the myofibers were transduced at 3 months postinfection. This transduction yielded marginal protection against eccentric contraction-induced injury. The extent of central nucleation was also more difficult to reverse in adult mdx muscle (from ∼83% in untreated to ∼58% in treated). Finally, we determined that the ΔR4/ΔC microdystrophin did not significantly alter the expression pattern of the endogenous full-length dystrophin in normal muscle. Neither did it have any adverse effects on normal muscle morphology or contractility. Taken together, our results suggest that AAV-mediated ΔR4/ΔC microdystrophin expression represents a promising approach to rescue muscular dystrophy in young mdx skeletal muscle.
Test for campers' experience preference differences among three ROS setting classes

Abstract The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) has evolved into a major planning concept used by recreation managers. This approach has much intuitive and practical appeal; however, many of the theoretical concepts have not been thoroughly tested. This research investigated whether visitors’ experience preferences are heterogeneous or homogeneous across different campground setting classes as categorized by the ROS. Five hundred and sixty campers in three ROS classes were surveyed. Of the 31 experience variables studied, three mean perferences differed significantly among all three classes, six differed among two sets of classes, and four differed significantly between one set of classes. Results showed that visitors’ experience preferences differed less between ROS classes than might have been expected. This study suggests that campground settings do not necessarily follow ROS guidelines and that ROS class designation may not be applicable to all types of recreation activities and settings.
POISSON GRAVITY MODELS OF SPATIAL FLOWS

The purpose of this paper is to bring together a number of results on spatial flow models, and to reformulate them within a unified probability framework based on Poisson frequencies. To do so, a class of discrete stochastic processes, designated as independent flow processes, is developed which not only yields a complete characterization of Poisson flow frequencies, but also allows a wide range of gravity-type flow models to be formulated within this distributional framework. In particular, a hierarchical classification of 12 model types is developed, and each model type is shown to be characterizable directly in terms of behavioral axioms on independent flow processes.
The influence of information technology diffusion and business process change on perceived productivity: the IS executive's perspective

Abstract A hallmark of the emerging `information age' is the dramatic rise in expenditures by modern business enterprises on information technologies (IT). On account of these investments, senior managers anticipate gains in productivity, which are commensurate with the cost of modern IT and Information Systems. While the evolving capabilities of emerging IT are evident, the association between technological diffusion and increased productivity has not been readily demonstrated in terms of corporate repositioning or scholarly research findings. One possible source of this paradox is the absence or presence of Business Process Redesign in positioning the organization to assimilate and leverage technological innovation. This study empirically examines the nature and magnitude of relationships between IT diffusion, perceived productivity improvement, and process redesign. The findings suggest that process redesign and IT have a complex relationship with productivity, and that these can be represented by a mediating or moderating model for different technologies. The data, while exploratory, do suggest alternate ways to examine the productivity paradox.
Electrocardiographic characteristics in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis indicating cardiac involvement.

ECG Characteristics of Cardiac Sarcoidosis. Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease that can affect the heart. Early identification of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is critical because sudden death can be the initial presentation. We sought to evaluate the potential role of the ECG for identification of cardiac involvement in a cohort of patients with biopsy-proven pulmonary sarcoidosis. Methods: Our cohort consisted of referred patients with biopsy-proven pulmonary sarcoidosis who demonstrated symptoms consistent with cardiac involvement. The ECG characteristics collected were PR, QRS duration, QT interval, rate, bundle branch block (BBB), fragmented QRS (fQRS). QRS fragmentation was defined as 2 anatomically contiguous leads demonstrating RSR’ patterns in the absence of BBB. Results: There were 112 subjects included in the cohort. Of the 52 subjects eventually diagnosed with CS, 39 had an ECG demonstrating fQRS while 21 of the 60 of non-CS patients had fQRS (75% vs 33.9%, P < 0.01). A RBBB or LBBB pattern were both more prevalent in the CS population (RBBB: 23.1% vs 6.7%, P = 0.016; LBBB: 3.8% vs 1.7%, P = 0.6). QRS duration remained significantly associated with CS after exclusion of those with BBB (93.5 +/− 10.6 vs 88 +/− 11 ms; P = 0.04). When fQRS and bundle branch block were combined, 90.4% of CS patient's ECGs contained at least one of the features, compared to 36.7% of noncardiac CS (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The presence of fQRS or BBB pattern in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis is associated with cardiac involvement and therefore should prompt further evaluation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. pp. 1-6)
Polyamine analogs modulate gene expression by inhibiting lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and altering chromatin structure in human breast cancer cells

Aberrant epigenetic repression of gene expression has been implicated in most cancers, including breast cancer. The nuclear amine oxidase, lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) has the ability to broadly repress gene expression by removing the activating mono- and di-methylation marks at the lysine 4 residue of histone 3 (H3K4me1 and me2). Additionally, LSD1 is highly expressed in estrogen receptor α negative (ER-) breast cancer cells. Since epigenetic marks are reversible, they make attractive therapeutic targets. Here we examine the effects of polyamine analog inhibitors of LSD1 on gene expression, with the goal of targeting LSD1 as a therapeutic modality in the treatment of breast cancer. Exposure of the ER-negative human breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 to the LSD1 inhibitors, 2d or PG11144, significantly increases global H3K4me1 and H3K4me2, and alters gene expression. Array analysis indicated that 98 (75 up and 23 down) and 477 (237 up and 240 down) genes changed expression by at least 1.5-fold or greater after treatment with 2d and PG11144, respectively. The expression of 12 up-regulated genes by 2d and 14 up-regulated genes by PG11144 was validated by quantitative RT-PCR. Quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis demonstrated that up-regulated gene expression by polyamine analogs is associated with increase of the active histone marks H3K4me1, H3K4me2 and H3K9act, and decrease of the repressive histone marks H3K9me2 and H3K27me3, in the promoter regions of the relevant target genes. These data indicate that the pharmacologic inhibition of LSD1 can effectively alter gene expression and that this therapeutic strategy has potential.
Nonlinear alignment and averaging for estimating the evoked potential

Addresses the problems associated with averaging brain responses evoked through a repetitive application of an external stimulus. In order to improve the estimate of the evoked potential (EP) through signal averaging, a method which incorporates nonlinear alignment of the EPs into the averaging operation is developed. The method makes no prior assumptions about the properties of the EP or which response in the set best characterizes the EP to be estimated. The nonlinear alignment procedure is designed to pairwise generate optimally aligned EPs by backtracking along the optimal alignment path. The nonlinear alignment and averaging operations are systematically combined to develop methods to estimate the EP. Results from a series of experiments conducted on simulated and real sets of responses show that, through nonlinear alignment and averaging, the events in the EPs are preserved and the estimates of the EP are quite robust.
Double cardiomyoplasty: Acute versus chronic results

Abstract We previously found that double cardiomyoplasty using both acutely raised, unconditioned latissimus dorsi muscles increased cardiac output by 9.6% (1,547 ± 154 versus 1,695 ± 166 mL/min), stroke volume by 18.2% (12.1 ± 0.6 versus 14.3 ± 0.7 ml), peak left ventricular pressure by 18.4% (98 ± 3 versus 116 ± 5 mm Hg), and peak right ventricular pressure by 62.5% (24 ± 2 versus 39 ± 4 mm Hg) ( p p p
Final state interaction contribution to the response of confined relativistic particles

We report studies of the response of a massless particle confined by a potential. At large momentum transfer q it exhibits \tilde{y} or equivalently Nachtmann \xi scaling, and acquires a constant width independent of q. This width has a contribution from the final state interactions of the struck particle, which persists in the q->\infty limit. The width of the response predicted using plane wave impulse approximation is smaller because of the neglect of final state interactions in that approximation. However, the exact response may be obtained by folding the approximate response with a function representing final state interaction effects. We also study the response obtained from the momentum distribution assuming that the particle is on the energy shell both before and after being struck. Quantitative results are presented for the special case of a linear confining potential. In this case the response predicted with the on-shell approximation has correct values for the total strength, mean energy and width, however its shape is wrong.
Theory of Measurement of Flow Birefringence by use of the Sénarmont Compensator. IV. Use of White Light and Blue-to-Purplish-Blue End Point*

The color of polychromatic light transmitted through the Senarmont compensator has been calculated as a function of the analyzer angle and the retardation of the sample. For the case of the zirconium arc source and a compensator quarter-wave plate for 546 mμ, a theoretical curve was obtained which gives the retardation of the sample in terms of the analyzer angle at which a blue-to-purplish-blue color change takes place. This curve is found to be in agreement with some experimental results.
Adaptation of the World Health Organization's Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use for use in the United States

Abstract Background The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently adapted global guidance on contraceptive use from the World Health Organization (WHO) to create the United States Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (MEC). This guidance includes recommendations for use of specific contraceptive methods by people with certain characteristics or medical conditions. Study Design CDC determined the need and scope for the adaptation, conducted 12 systematic reviews of the scientific evidence and convened a meeting of health professionals to discuss recommendations based on the evidence. Results The vast majority of the US guidance is the same as the WHO guidance and addresses over 160 characteristics or medical conditions. Modifications were made to WHO recommendations for six medical conditions, and recommendations were developed for six new medical conditions. Conclusion The US MEC is intended to serve as a source of clinical guidance for providers as they counsel clients about contraceptive method choices.
Plastic Instabilities in Spherical Shells Under Load, Displacement, and Impulsive Loading

Plastic instabilities that could potentially develop in spherical shells under a variety of symmetric loading conditions are examined. First, a literature survey of both static and dynamic instabilities associated with spherical shells is presented, with emphasis on plastic tensile instability. Then, building upon work done elsewhere for cylindrical shells, a plastic instability condition for spherical shells subjected to displacement controlled and impulsive loading is developed and compared with earlier results reported in the literature. It is found that the instability point for displacement controlled loading and impulsive loading of a spherical shell is the same as for a uniaxial tension specimen and for an impulsively loaded plane-strain ring/cylinder. In addition, a simple, one-dimensional strain-softening model is developed that investigates the relationship between instabilities associated with displacement-controlled loading and impulsive loading. Conclusions of this work are that there are two fundamental types of instabilities associated with failure of spherical shells: local and global. Moreover, the local instability, associated with failure under displacement control and impulsive loading, is found to require an imperfection to develop, whereas the global instability does not require an imperfection. The need for experiments to verify these results is discussed.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Who Is Maintaining Certification in Internal Medicine—and Why? A National Survey 10 Years after Initial Certification

Internists who received initial board certification in 1990 to 1992 were the first whose certification required renewal. This survey asked why they did or did not participate in the American Board ...
Drug-seeking behavior in urolithiasis in the noncontrast computed tomography era: 2 cases.

Abstract Symptomatic urolithiasis is usually treated with narcotic pain management. This leads to the potential for use of its symptoms for personal gain. Historically, the typical presentation of a narcotic-seeking “stone patient” was a history of radiolucent stones and an intravenous contrast allergy. With the increased use of non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography to evaluate patients suspected of having acute urolithiasis, we have seen a change in the strategy of narcotic-seeking patients. We report 2 patients with pelvic calcifications on non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography feigning symptoms of urolithiasis to receive narcotic drugs.
Calculation of Detection Probability for Frequency Compressive Receivers

A numerical method is described for predicting the detection probability of a frequency compressive pulse receiver. The approach is general; i.e., input pulse envelope shapes, pulse offset frequencies, and filter magnitude responses are arbitrary. The performance of the frequency compressive receiver is analyzed and compared to that of a crystal video receiver for a specific case.
The gaze-contingent moving window in reading: Development and review

The development of the gaze-contingent moving window paradigm (McConkie & Rayner, 1975, 1976) is discussed and the results of the earliest research are reviewed. The original work suggested that the region from which readers can obtain useful information during an eye fixation in reading, or the perceptual span, was asymmetric around the fixation point, and extended from 3–4 letter spaces to the left of fixation to about 14–15 letter spaces to the right of fixation. Subsequent research which substantiated these findings is discussed. Then more recent research using the moving window paradigm to investigate the following topics (1) effects of reading speed, (2) effects of reading skill, (3) effects of the writing system, (4) effects due to age, (5) effects related to deafness, and (5) effects related to schizophrenia is discussed. Finally, some extensions of gaze-contingent paradigms to areas other than reading are discussed.
Excitation of spin waves by an electric current

The excitation of spin waves in an unbounded ferromagnetic film by a direct spin-polarized current distributed over a small area is treated macroscopically. The derived critical threshold current for excitation has two additive terms: The first arises from radiation of spin waves and is constant. The second arises from local viscous dissipation and varies in proportion to damping coefficient, external field, and area. An application of these predictions modifies the existing interpretation of experiments by Tsoi and collaborators employing currents flowing through point contacts.
Amino acid sequences of ovomucoid third domains from 27 additional species of birds

Ovomucoids consist of a single polypeptide chain which is composed of three tandem Kazal domains. Each Kazal domain is an actual or putative protein inhibitor of serine proteinases. Ovomucoid third domains were already isolated and sequenced from 126 species of birds (Laskowskiet al., 1987, 1990). This paper adds 27 new species. A number of generalizations are made on the basis of sequences from 153 species. The residues that are in contact with the enzyme in enzyme-inhibitor complexes are strikingly hypervariable. While the primary specificity residue,P 1, is the most variable; substitutions occur predominantly among aliphatic, hydrophobic residues. Consensus sequences for an avian ovomucoid third domain, for a b-type Kazal domain (i.e., a COOH terminal domain of multidomain inhibitors) and for a general Kazal domain are given. Finally, the individual new sequences are briefly discussed.
Adult‐onset systemic Langerhans cell histiocytosis mimicking inflammatory bowel disease: the value of skin biopsy and review of cases of Langerhans cell histiocytosis with cutaneous involvement seen at the Mayo Clinic

Background Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is frequently known to involve multiple organ systems. However, gastrointestinal involvement by LCH is rare. Methods We describe a 68-year-old woman with a 3-year history of intermittent diarrhea initially diagnosed as inflammatory bowel disease. She was subsequently found to have systemic LCH with involvement of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, liver, and skin after skin biopsy was performed. A retrospective review of patients with cutaneous involvement of LCH seen at the Mayo Clinic over the past 15 years was conducted. The presence of systemic disease as well as specific organ system involvement was reviewed. Results Twenty-four patients with cutaneous LCH were identified. Besides our case, one other patient with both gastrointestinal and cutaneous involvement was identified. This patient died at six months of age. No other adult-onset cases were identified. Conclusions Gastrointestinal involvement with LCH is rare, can be easily misdiagnosed, and likely portends a poor prognosis. In patients with ill-defined systemic symptoms, cutaneous exam and biopsy have the potential to diagnose systemic disease.
Detection of Glycinamide Ribonucleotide by HPLC with Pulsed Amperometry: Application to the Assay for Glutamine:5-Phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate Amidotransferase (EC 2.4.2.14)

Abstract An assay method is described for measuring the catalytic activity of glutamine:5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyro-phosphate amidotransferase (EC 2.4.2.14), the first enzyme in the de novo purine biosynthetic pathway. Phosphoribosylamine, the unstable product of the enzymatic reaction, is trapped by glycinamide ribonucleotide synthetase (EC 6.3.4.13), the second enzyme in the pathway, to form the stable product glycinamide ribonucleotide. Glycinamide ribonucleotide is resolved by ion-exchange HPLC at alkaline pH and quantified by the use of a pulsed amperometric detector. The assay is specific, reproducible, rapid (15 min chromatography, including column recycling and stabilization), convenient (no radioactive materials used), linear at a wide range of glycinamide ribonucleotide concentrations, and sensitive at subnanomole levels even with crude extracts. Both the glutamine- and ammonia-dependent activity of glutamine:5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate amidotransferase can be accurately quantified.
Plenary talk: Resilience and risk in networked systems

We will present recent work on the resilience and risk of failure emerging in cyber-physical infrastructures such as smart transportation systems and the smart grid. In the first part of the talk, we present results on the volatility and risk of failure associated with real-time response in the future smart grid. Real-time demand response has been postulated as the solution to the intermittency problem created by renewable generation. The proposed market architecture is simple, namely, consumers react directly to spot market prices in order to fulfill their demands. This mechanism creates a closed loop system between price and demand that has implications on efficiency, demand and price volatility, and risk of demand spikes. In this talk, we first present an analysis of this closed loop system for homogeneous consumers and highlight the tradeoffs between market efficiency and demand and price volatility. Then, we present an abstracted framework to analyze the tradeoffs between efficiency and risk for heterogeneous consumers in the presence of shiftable demands. In this context, we expand the market mechanism to study the impact of coordination on such a tradeoff. We show that although the non-cooperative load-shifting scheme leads to an efficiency loss (otherwise known as the price of anarchy), the scheme has a smaller tail probability of the aggregate unshiftable demand distribution than cooperative schemes. This tail distribution is important as it corresponds to rare and undesirable demand spikes. Such instances highlight the role of the market mechanisms in striking a balance between efficiency and risk in real-time markets. In the second part of the talk, we present results on the robustness (resilience) properticlosedes of transportation networks for various agents' route-choice behavior. We perform the analysis within a dynamical system framework over a directed acyclic graph between a single origin-destination pair. We give a precise characterization of various margins of resilience of the network with respect to the topology, `pre-disturbance' equilibrium, and agents' local route-choice behavior. We show that the cooperative route choice behavior is maximally resilient in this setting. We also setup a simple convex optimization problem to find the most resilient `pre-disturbance' equilibrium for the network and determine link-wise tolls that yield such an equilibrium. Finally, we extend the analysis to link-wise outflow functions that accommodate the possibility of cascaded failures and study the effect of such phenomena on the margins of resilience of the network.
Emergency Evacuations in Disasters

Some disasters produce circumstances that require the emergency removal of some or all of the citizens from a geographic area. Emergency or mass evacuation can be divided into immediate evacuation, in which the citizens are given no warning of their need to evacuate, and potential evacuation, in which citizens are given time (usually a day or two) to evacuate. The mass evacuation aspect of disaster planning frequently is neglected, but must be planned in detail. An essential ingredient of a plan is the designation of a person who has the authority to order an evacuation and that that person or an authorized alternate, is available instantly 24 hours a day. The plans should identify likely scenarios which could require emergency evacuation for a given community requiring, means of communicating with the citizens, evacuation routes, evacuation mechanisms, and shelter arrangements. All plans need to take into account human behavior during such a stressful situation.
Fine-structural Correlates of Growth in Hyphae of Ascodesmis sphaerospora

Abstract Mycelial mats of Ascodesmis sphaerospora were fixed and embedded for electron microscopy, and thin sections of 1-mm blocks, taken from the 1st to the 7th mm behind the hyphal tips, were cut parallel to the long axis of the hyphae. The hyphal tip region is characterized by an outer zone of electron-transparent vesicles, 500 to 1,000 A in diameter, and is apparently associated with wall elaboration. Immediately behind this region, dense granules become evident along convoluted membrane systems and along the plasma membrane; in the same region are numerous small lomasomes in the lateral wall. As the hypha grows, septa are laid down at 3- to 7-min intervals at a distance of 200 to 250 μ behind the hyphal tip. A cylinder of endoplasmic reticulum is intimately involved in cross-wall deposition from its earliest stages; as the wall grows in, it becomes increasingly constricted in the pore region, finally assuming a torus-like configuration. Woronin bodies are shown to have a crystalline substructure and to originate in pouch-like membrane systems. Cross-walls from a 7- to 13-hr-old mycelium frequently show highly ordered structures in the vicinity of the pore. These structures may appear either as laminar stacks of discs to one side of the pore or as series of stubby concentric rings within the pore area itself. In the latter case, a mass of granular material is frequently seen plugging the pore. Other unusual organelles and inclusions in 7- to 13-hr hyphae are vesicles containing swirls of beaded or dilated membrane, membrane-enclosed rods, and stacks of unit membranes associated with spherical, electron-transparent vesicles.
Microarchitectural synthesis for rapid BIST testing

The impact of testability on design cost necessitates its consideration during the earliest stages of synthesis. Built-in self test (BIST) is an accepted testing approach, but its application to many designs is limited by the long test application time required to achieve high fault coverage. This work addresses the problem of BIST test time for high fault coverage by targeting test concurrency during high-level and structural synthesis. High-level synthesis generates RTL circuits which guarantee concurrent controllability and observability of all hardware components from test registers. Structural synthesis for testability completes the microarchitectural definition by specifying the test registers in the circuit, and defining a BIST test plan for the circuit. Remaining test conflicts are avoided without reducing test throughput by using partial-intrusion BIST to enable test data to be pipelined through nontest registers. The use of pipelined BIST testing in conjunction with high-level synthesis for test conflict minimization enables reduced test time through high test concurrency. Partial-intrusion BIST reduces the number of test registers by using nontest registers to propagate test data. Both behavioral and structural synthesis are directed by testability metrics which measure the test concurrency of a design. The use of these metrics in an integrated behavioral synthesis system pioneers the inclusion of test concurrency issues in microarchitectural synthesis. Experimental results using this synthesis system, SYNCBIST, show that designs generated by this approach are testable with few patterns, and using few test registers.
The effect of Combitube use on paramedic experience in endotracheal intubation

Abstract Objective To determine the change in number of endotracheal intubations per paramedic after the implementation of Combitube use and to explore consequences. Methods Before-and-after study; urban/suburban EMS system; population 1 million. Number of patients 16 years and older, type of airway used, attempts, and successes were abstracted for time periods before and after the use of Combitubes. The number of endotracheal intubations/paramedic for each period was calculated. Results Three-year pre-Combitube: patients 50 983; 6.6% arrests; 3142 received an endotracheal intubation attempt with 93.5% success. The average annual number of paramedics was 153 with 6.9 ± 6.4 intubations per paramedic per year. Three-year post-Combitube: patients 55 959; 6.0% arrests; 2913 received an advanced airway attempt: 860 Combitubes, success 89.4%; 2144 endotracheal intubations, success 91.6% (95% confidence interval success rate difference, 0.5-3.3; P = .007). The average annual number of paramedics was 177 with 3.7 ± 3.3 intubations per paramedic per year. Conclusion After implementation of the Combitube, the number of endotracheal intubation attempts/paramedic and success rates decreased.
A high sensitivity process variation sensor utilizing sub-threshold operation

In this paper, we propose a novel low-power, bias-free, high-sensitivity process variation sensor for monitoring random variations in the threshold voltage. The proposed sensor design utilizes the exponential current-voltage relationship of sub-threshold operation thereby improving the sensitivity by 2.3X compared to the above-threshold operation. A test-chip containing 128 PMOS and 128 NMOS devices has been fabricated in 65 nm bulk CMOS process technology. A total of 28 dies across the wafer have been fully characterized to determine the random threshold voltage variations.
Phthalocyanine dye as an extremely photostable and highly fluorescent near-infrared labeling reagent

Current organic fluorophores used as labeling reagents for biomolecule conjugation have significant limitations in photostability. This compromises their performance in applications that require a photostable fluorescent reporting group. For example, in molecular imaging and single molecule microscopy, photostable fluorescent labels are important for observing and tracking individual molecular events over extended period of time. We report in this paper an extremely photostable and highly fluorescent phthalocyanine dye, IRDyeTM 700DX, as a near-infrared fluorescence labeling reagent to conjugate with biomolecules. This novel water-soluble silicon phthalocyanine dye has an isomericly pure chemical structure. The dye is about 45 to 128 times more photostable than current near-IR fluorophores, e.g. Alexa Fluor"R"680, CyTM 5.5, CyTM 7 and IRDyeTM 800CW dyes; and about 27 times more photostable than tetramethylrhodamine (TMR), one of the most photostable organic dyes. This dye also meets all the other stringent requirements as an ideal fluorophore for biomolecules labeling such as excellent water solubility, no aggregation in high ionic strength buffer, large extinction coefficient and high fluorescent quantum yield. Antibodies conjugated with IRDyeTM 700DX at high D/P ratio exist as monomeric species in high ionic buffer and have bright fluorescence. The IRDyeTM 700DX conjugated antibodies generate sensitive, highly specific detection with very low background in Western blot and cytoblot assays.
Risk factors influencing early and late mortality after total cavopulmonary connection.

Objective: Among the later modifications of the Fontan type procedure, a significant alteration was introduced by de Leval and associates when they described the total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). Although current results of TCPC have encouraged us to extend this procedure to high risk patients, risk factors influencing surgical outcome after TCPC have not been evaluated. We review our experiences with TCPC to identify which risk factors may have had a considerable impact on the outcome of patients undergoing TCPC and to clarify selection criteria of high-risk Fontan candidates for TCPC. Patients and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical and surgical records of all 76 patients who underwent TCPC between July 1988 and August 2000. A cross-sectional review of these patients was undertaken. Results: There were eight early deaths and four late deaths. In a Fisher’s exact test, the following variables were associated with an increased early mortality after TCPC: systemic ventricular morphology (right ventricle), ejection fraction of the systemic ventricle less than 60%, and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (240 min or longer). The log-rank test demonstrated that heterotaxy syndrome, moderate to severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (240 min or longer), and prolonged aortic cross clamp time (70 min or longer) were associated with late mortality after TCPC. Six deaths occurred in eight (75%) patients who had six or more risk factors, whereas six deaths (9%) occurred in those who had five or fewer. Conclusions: Patients with complex cardiac anomalies who have six or more risk factors should be excluded from TCPC candidates. q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Reflections of other minds: how primate social cognition can inform the function of mirror neurons

Mirror neurons, located in the premotor cortex of macaque monkeys, are activated both by the performance and the passive observation of particular goal-directed actions. Although this property would seem to make them the ideal neural substrate for imitation, the puzzling fact is that monkeys simply do not imitate. Indeed, imitation appears to be a uniquely human ability. We are thus left with a fascinating question: if not imitation, what are mirror neurons for? Recent advances in the study of non-human primate social cognition suggest a surprising potential answer.
Effect of Chronic Alcohol Use on Hepatic Testosterone 5α-A-Ring Reductase in the Baboon and in the Human Being

Hepatic testosterone 5α-A-ring reductase (HTAR) activity was measured in open liver biopsies in eight alcohol-fed baboons and eight pair-fed controls. The animals were studied after at least 1 yr of alcohol feeding. In the alcohol-fed animals, a significant fall in enzyme activity was noted. This occurred whether the enzyme levels were related to soluble protein, to DNA, or to wet tissue weight, showing that the change was due to a decrease in the specific activity of the enzyme. In addition, aspiration liver biopsy specimens were obtained from 14 men and women with alcoholic liver disease. Again, there was a significant decrease in HTAR activity in these patients compared with a normal population. No relationship was found between hepatic histology and HTAR levels in either the baboon or human population with alcoholic liver disease, suggesting that the changes in enzyme activity were related to an alcohol effect rather than to liver disease per se. This study demonstrates that chronic alcohol use decreases the function of the enzyme which controls an important rate-limiting step in the metabolism of testosterone in the liver and that this effect may be due primarily to alcohol.