cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental Investigation of Equivalence Ratio and Reynolds Number Dependence on Oscillatory Behaviors in Mesoscale Circular Tubes

An experimental investigation into the dependence of oscillatory modes on equivalence ratio and flow speed for fuel -rich mesoscale flames was conducted. The study was performed in the context of micro -combustion for autonom ous power sources that will have the size of commercially available batteries, but significantly higher power density, because they will employ the high power density of hydrocarbon combustion. In order to study flame stabilization in narrow ducts of diam eter on the order of the quenching diameter, premixed fuel and oxygen were burned in an optically accessible straight quartz tube with an inner diameter of a few mm, one end of which was open to the atmosphere. Methane oxygen and propane -oxygen flames wer e examined and compared, and various oscillating and steady flame formations were observed. It was observed that for methane the boundaries between behavioral regimes (steady or oscillating mode) were dependent almost exclusively on equivalence ratio, wit h the boundary equivalence ratio values remaining nearly constant for different Reynolds numbers; for propane the boundaries were dependent on both equivalence ratio and Reynolds number, with the boundary equivalence ratio values decreasing with increasing Reynolds number . The effect of tube length on oscillatory behavior and stability was also examined by repeating all experiments in 35mm, 70mm, and 210mm long tubes. Increasing the tube length decreased the stability of oscillations for both fuels, altho ugh the effect was less for propane.
Space-Angle Homogenization of the Step Characteristic Scheme

We present a new homogenized discretization scheme for solving k-eigenvalue neutron transport problems on coarse grids in space and angle. The developed scheme for 1D slab geometry is based on the step characteristic (SC) method. It is algebraically consistent with fine-mesh SC equations. We analyze the sensitivity of the homogenized transport scheme to perturbations in homogenized cross-sections and other coefficients of the scheme. The obtained results demonstrate that the proposed scheme is stable to small perturbations in its parameters.
Differential interactions of human kallikrein-binding protein and alpha 1-antitrypsin with human tissue kallikrein

The characteristics of a new kallikrein-binding protein in human serum and its activities were studied. Both the kallikrein-binding protein and alpha 1-antitrypsin form 92 kDa SDS-stable and heat-stable complexes with human tissue kallikrein. In non-SDS/PAGE, the mobility of these complexes differ. Complex-formation between kallikrein and the binding protein is inhibited by heparin, whereas that between kallikrein and alpha 1-antitrypsin is heparin-resistant. In normal or alpha 1-antitrypsin-deficient-serum, the amount of 92 kDa SDS-stable complex formed upon addition of kallikrein is not related to serum alpha 1-antitrypsin levels. The rate of complex-formation between kallikrein and the binding protein is 12 times higher than that between kallikrein and alpha 1-antitrypsin. Purified alpha 1-antitrypsin, which exhibits normal elastase binding, has a kallikrein-binding activity less than 5% of that of serum. Binding of tissue kallikrein in serum is not inhibited by increasing elastase concentrations, and elastase binding in serum is not inhibited by excess tissue kallikrein. A specific monoclonal antibody to human alpha 1-antitrypsin does not bind to either 92 kDa endogenous or exogenous kallikrein complexes isolated from human serum. The studies demonstrate a new tissue kallikrein-binding protein, distinct from alpha 1-antitrypsin, is present in human serum.
Hookworms: Necator americanus (Stiles 1902) and Ancylostoma duodenale (Dubini 1843)

Two major species of hookworm infect humans: Necator americanus (New World hookworm) and Ancylostoma duodenale (Old World hookworm). Adults of both species inhabit the small intestine and feed on intestinal mucosa and blood.
Norris v. Alabama (1935)

At the Scottsboro, Alabama Courthouse in April 1931, nine young black men, charged with raping two white women on a freight train, stood trial. Without proper counsel, their trials took only four days and all were found guilty. Eight received a death sentence; the youngest boy life in prison. The NAACP and Communist Party (CP) vied to represent the “Scottsboro Boys,” but the CP prevailed. When Clarence Norris was retried and convicted in 1933, his attorney appealed on grounds that blacks were barred by color from the jury venire. Even so, the Alabama Supreme Court upheld the lower court verdict. However, the US Supreme Court overruled that decision, concluding in Norris that when “all persons of the African race are excluded ... as grand jurors in the criminal prosecution of a person of the African race, the equal protection of the laws is denied to him.” Norris, still incarcerated, was not paroled until 1943. He received a full pardon in 1977.
Organ Donation and the Neurosurgical Patient

The need for organs exceeds their availability. For a deceased patient to be a potential organ donor, the criteria for either brain death or cardiac (circulatory) death must be fulfilled. The majority of organs presently being procured are from brain dead donors. Almost all neurosurgical patients who fulfill brain death criteria can be potential organ donors. There are however certain aggressive brain tumors that may preclude organ donation due to the risk of tumor transmission to the recipient. Brain death needs to be distinguished from a persistent vegetative state. There has been a renewed interest in organ procurement from cardiac death donors.
Digest: Shifting biomes: Insight into patterns of plant radiation and dispersal.

What determines a taxon's range? This is a deceptively simple question. It represents the intersection of ecology and evolution, requiring an understanding of the fundamental relationship between biotic and abiotic factors that can both constrain and drive assemblage structure and rates of lineage diversification. Modern methods have enabled robust analyses of this complex relationship through the integrated use of phylogenomics, community ecology, functional morphology, and biogeography. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Theology Proper and Abstract Objects

The biblical and patristic witness to the doctrine of divine aseity and God’s status as the only uncreated (agenētos) being is expounded in detail through a careful exegesis of original texts. Arguments based on perfect being theology reinforce the traditional doctrine that God alone is uncreated.
Custom extracellular matrix cylinder mitral valve in a pediatric patient.

Mitral valve construction using extracellular matrix (ECM) is a relatively new procedure. In this case, a 15-month-old boy with a history of severe mitral valve regurgitation secondary to endocarditis underwent mitral valve surgery. Mitral valve repair was not possible, and thus, a 17 mm extracellular matrix cylinder valve (ECM-CV) was constructed for valve replacement. The ECM-CV is clearly imaged using echocardiography, especially three-dimensional imaging, that helped define valve function. As the use of ECM for valve construction increases, echocardiography will play an essential role in evaluating the function and mechanics of these novel valves.
Tuning Neuronal Potassium Channels to the Auditory Environment

Neurons in auditory brainstem nuclei have developed several molecular and cellular specializations to ensure that auditory information can be relayed and processed at high rates and with very high temporal accuracy. Among these is the expression of Kv3 family voltage-dependent potassium channels such as Kv3.1, which allow the neurons to fire many hundreds of times per second. The specific channel isoforms in auditory neurons change during development, allowing the activity and amount of Kv3.1 to be adjusted by changes in the amplitude and frequencies of sounds in the auditory environment. The molecular mechanisms that produce such adjustments include direct phosphorylation of the channels and rapid alterations in the rates at which the channels are synthesized. These mechanisms, in combination with changes in other types of channels, may maximize the accuracy of information transfer through brainstem nuclei in different auditory environments, and may contribute to the learning of auditory discrimination tasks.
Transmodalities and Transnational Encounters: Fostering Critical Cosmopolitan Relations

The ‘trans-’ turn in language studies illuminates human communication as the coordination and interpretation of a vast array of semiotic resources that are entangled with language in fluid and unpredictable ways. It also highlights the current era of globalization in which communication occurs with ever-increasing rapidity among ever-expanding audiences, through rapidly changing semiotic means and modes. It transcends the local, to become translocal and transnational, indexing the diversity of actors engaged in new configurations of communicative engagements. Framed by notions of repertoires and modalities, in this article I offer a rationale for and close articulation of transmodalities, to more fully consider processes of semiosis across place, space, and time. Because meanings matter—especially relational aspects of communication—I propose critical cosmopolitanism to account for humane, ethical approaches to human engagements and their outcomes. I provide data from a project that connects youth across the globe through technology-mediated communications to demonstrate how these dual frames—transmodalities and critical cosmopolitanism—can serve as guideposts and heuristic lenses for transnational interactions, relations, and learning in a globalized, technologized world.
Component Separation: Robotic Approach

Ventral abdominal hernias remain a challenge for the general surgeon. Optimal management is still being sought; however, several advantages have developed in recent years that allow for low recurrence rates, decreased surgical site infections, and decreased length of inpatient stay. Although there exists little data supporting the robotic retromuscular ventral hernia repair, the benefit appears to be its ability to replicate an open operation, in a minimally invasive fashion. This chapter will provide details on preoperative care, operative steps, postoperative care, and some common tips and pitfalls that occur with robotic ventral hernia repair for both single-dock Rives-Stoppa and double-dock bilateral transversus abdominis muscle release hernia repair techniques.
Numbers, Numbers, and More Numbers

This chapter is on the study of numbers. Of course, we all have a working understanding of the real numbers, and we use many aspects of these numbers in everyday life: tallying up tuition and fees, figuring out how much we have left on our food cards, etc. We have accepted from our childhood all the properties of numbers that we use every day.
A Time Resolved Spectroscopic (TRS) Study of Migration of Visual to Infrared Waves in Brain Tissue in Relation to Absorption of Hemoproteins

Previous optical spectroscopic studies of brain tissue revealed that only short photon migration distributions yeilds absorption spectra in the visual wavelength range (Heinrich et al. 1985), while longer wavelengths penetrated over greater distances (Brazy et al., 1985). The alpha and beta bands of hemoproteins in brain tissue have extremely high absorption coefficients which reduce the length of light migration distributions. This phenomena can be explained by photon migration theory. As shown in Figure 1A, in scattering media such as a brain tissue, light path lengths have a distribution function. In this figure, the Y-axis represents the log of photon intensity (I) or number of photons, and the X-axis represents time in nanoseconds. Migrating light path lengths (L), can be represented by use of the conversion factor: 1 ns = 23 cm (light path length in water).
Critical Load Restoration Using Distributed Energy Resources for Resilient Power Distribution System

Extreme weather events have a significant impact on the aging and outdated power distribution infrastructures. These high-impact low-probability events often result in extended outages and loss of critical services, thus, severely affecting customers’ safety. This calls for the need to ensure the resilience in distribution networks by quickly restoring the critical services during a disaster. This paper presents an advanced feeder restoration method to restore critical loads using distributed energy resources (DERs). A resilient restoration approach is proposed that jointly maximizes the amount of restored critical loads and optimizes the restoration times by optimally allocating grids available DER resources. The restoration problem is modeled as a mixed-integer linear program with the objective of maximizing the resilience to postrestoration failures while simultaneously satisfying grids critical connectivity and operational constraints and ensuring a radial operation for a given open-loop feeder configuration. Simulations are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach using the IEEE 123-node feeder with five DERs supplying 11 critical loads and the IEEE 906-bus feeder with three DERs supplying 17 critical loads. The impacts of DER availability and fuel reserve on restored networks are assessed and it is shown that the proposed approach is successfully able to restore a maximum number of critical loads using available DERs.
Violence Against Female Adolescents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Evidence From 36 National Household Surveys:

The goal of this article is to provide evidence on the past-year prevalence of violence against female adolescent children age 15 to 17 and test the hypothesis that higher socioeconomic status is associated with lower likelihoods of past-year violence. We used national household surveys from 36 low- and-middle-income countries to provide evidence on the prevalence of violence against 34,901 adolescents age 15 to 17 and logistic regression analysis to measure the association between socioeconomic status and past-year violence against adolescents. Among the sample population, prevalence of physical violence by nonpartners was 10.4% and by partners was 2.8%. Prevalence of sexual violence by nonpartners was 1.8% and by partners was 1.2%. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for country of residence, and demographic characteristics indicated that completing primary school was associated with higher likelihood of physical violence by nonpartner (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13, confidence interval [CI] [1.03, 1.24]) an...
Hang on tight: reprogramming the cell with microstructural cues

Cells interact intimately with complex microdomains in their extracellular matrix (ECM) and maintain a delicate balance of mechanical forces through mechanosensitive cellular components. Tissue injury results in acute degradation of the ECM and disruption of cell-ECM contacts, manifesting in loss of cytoskeletal tension, leading to pathological cell transformation and the onset of disease. Recently, microscale hydrogel constructs have been developed to provide cells with microdomains to form focal adhesion binding sites, which enable restoration of cytoskeletal tension. These synthetic anchors can recapitulate the complex 3D architecture of the native ECM to provide microtopographical cues. The mechanical deformation of proteins at the cell surface can activate signaling cascades to modulate downstream gene-level transcription, making this a unique materials-based approach for reprogramming cell behavior. An overview of the mechanisms underlying these mechanosensitive interactions in fibroblasts, stem and other cell types is provided to review their effects on cellular reprogramming. Recent investigations on the fabrication, functionalization and implementation of these materials and microtopographical features for drug testing and therapeutic applications are discussed.
Development of Informative Path Planning for Inspection of the Hanford Tank Farm

Traditional environmental and structural monitoring often uses static sensor networks deployed at predetermined locations or mobile robots that use a rastering technique for area coverage. These methods rely on the operators making assumptions about the nature of the unknown field that is being measured and are often time-consuming for localizing an area of interest. Here, we aim to quickly localize possible leaks within high-level nuclear waste tanks at the Hanford facility. The structure of these tanks precludes most sensor network approaches and raises many issues with robotic inspection, such as navigation within highly constrained environments. This work uses a Bayesian Optimization approach for guiding a mobile robot’s search strategy and implements a utility function that allows for prior knowledge of the structure to be incorporated when selecting future search locations. Compared to traditional exhaustive approaches, our method quickly reduces RMSE error and shortens the distance the robot must travel.
Attitudes and referral practices for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among HIV rapid testers and case managers in Philadelphia: A mixed methods study

Objective Adoption of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection has been slow. The purpose of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and referral practices for PrEP among non-prescribing providers, who may play key role. Methods We performed a cross-sectional survey on PrEP knowledge, attitudes, and referral practices among 66 non-prescribing HIV prevention providers (1st August to 31st December, 2016), in Philadelphia, followed by qualitative interviews with 12 of them (5th April to 10th May, 2017). Results Participants had a mean age of 36 years, with 62% females. Majority were HIV case managers and rapid testers. For half of the respondents, PrEP eligibility screening was part of rapid HIV testing at their organization, 40% never had PrEP training and only 27% indicated personally screening clients for eligibility. Qualitative data revealed that participants held positive attitudes about PrEP and perceived organizational support, but had concerns about potential negative impacts and barriers to routine HIV screening. Conclusion Results highlight the importance of training non-prescribing HIV prevention providers about PrEP, addressing their concerns, and incorporating PrEP screening and referral into routine HIV testing.
Failure of B Cell Tolerance in CVID.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) comprises a group of related disorders defined by defects in B cell function and antibody production. Concurrent autoimmune features are common, but the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmunity in CVID are poorly understood. Overlap in some clinical and laboratory features suggests a shared pathogenesis, at least in part, with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). One important part of SLE pathogenesis is loss of B cell tolerance, an aspect that warrants further study in CVID. The study of inherently autoreactive 9G4+ B cells has led to a greater understanding of B cell tolerance defects in lupus. Study of these B cells in CVID has yielded conflicting results, largely due to differences in methodological approaches. In this study, we take a comprehensive look at 9G4+ B cells throughout B cell development in CVID patients and compare patients both with and without autoimmune features. Using flow cytometry to examine B cell subpopulations in detail, we show that only those CVID patients with autoimmune features demonstrate significant expansion of 9G4+ B cells, both in naive and multiple memory populations. Examination of two autoreactive B cell subsets recently characterized in SLE, the activated naive (aNAV) and double negative 2 (DN2) B cells, reveals an expanded 9G4+ DN2 population to be common among CVID patients. These results reveal that both multiple central and peripheral B cell tolerance defects are related to autoimmunity in CVID. Furthermore, these data suggest that the autoreactive DN2 B cell population, which has not previously been examined in CVID, may play an important role in the development of autoimmunity in patients with CVID.
Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia and Lobular Neoplasia: Update and Easing of Guidelines

OBJECTIVE. Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH), and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) are among high-risk lesions that have been previously recommended for surgical excision when diagnosed on core needle biopsy. Recent studies have examined whether imaging surveillance is a reasonable alternative to surgical management for these lesions. This article synthesizes the evidence regarding management of atypical hyperplasia and LCIS diagnosed on core needle biopsy and clinical implications of these diagnoses on future breast cancer risk as well as highlights areas of further research needed to improve practice guidelines for these high-risk lesions. CONCLUSION. Although surgical excision is still recommended after diagnosis of ADH on core needle biopsy, in specific circumstances ALH and LCIS can safely be managed by imaging surveillance.
Similar Effects of Acute Resistance Exercise on Carotid Stiffness in Males and Females

Sex differences exist in vascular responses to blood pressure perturbations, such as resistance exercise. Increases in aortic stiffness following acute resistance exercise appear different between sexes, with attenuated increases in females vs. males. Whether sex differences exist in carotid stiffness, following resistance exercise is unknown. This study sought to examine sex differences in carotid stiffness, aortic stiffness, and hemodynamics following acute resistance exercise. Thirty-five participants (18 male) completed 3 sets of 10 repetitions of maximal isokinetic knee extension/flexion. Aortic stiffness and hemodynamics were estimated using an automated oscillometric blood pressure monitor at baseline, 5- and 30-min post-exercise. Carotid stiffness was assessed by β-stiffness index, pressure-strain elastic modulus and arterial compliance using ultrasonography. Resistance exercise increased aortic stiffness, mean and systolic pressure at 5-min (p<0.01), and pressure-strain elastic modulus at 5-min in both sexes (p<0.05). Arterial compliance decreased at 5- and 30-min post exercise in both sexes (p<0.01). No interaction effects were detected in carotid stiffness, aortic stiffness, and hemodynamics, indicating similar vascular responses between sexes. Our findings indicate that the large arteries appear to stiffen similarly following resistance exercise in males and females when presented with similar blood pressure responses.
Skeletal Muscle Index Z-score —A Novel Method to Evaluate Malnutrition Level in Pediatric Heart Failure Patients?

Purpose Malnutrition in children is defined by international guidelines as the age-adjusted Z-score for weight or BMI. However, weights can be misleading in children with HF because of fluid retention leading to misclassification of malnutrition level. We sought to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenic malnutrition in pediatric HF patients by quantifying objectively muscle wasting (sarcopenia) relative to age-adjusted normative data for children. Methods All children listed for HT between 2012 and 2017 who underwent thoracic CT as part of transplant surgical planning were identified using a hospital database. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was defined as the cross-sectional area of skeletal muscle at L3 index to patient, a known predictor of total muscle mass. Age adjusted Z-scores were calculated using normative data from the University of Michigan. Mild, moderate and severe were defined by cut-off Z-scores of -2 and -3, respectively. Results Among 28 children listed for HT, the median age was 10 (IQR 6, 13) years, the median weight was 26 (18, 40) kg, 39% were female, 82% had congenital heart disease. By ASPEN guidelines, the prevalence of mild, moderate and severe malnutrition was 14%, 29% and 25%. The median SMI was 39 cm2/m2 (Z-score, -1.7); the prevalence of sarcopenia by Z-score was 36%, 25% and 10% (figure) (P Conclusion Muscle wasting is common in children with advanced heart failure and can be profound. Conventional definitions for malnutrition in children may misclassify malnutrition severity in children with HF. Normative curves may be helpful for understanding the severity of muscle wasting in children with HF, and may help to guide nutritional replacement.
Orbital inflammatory disorders: new knowledge, future challenges.

Purpose of review This review aims to bring together recent advances in basic, translational and clinical research on the pathogenesis and treatment of orbital inflammatory conditions. Recent findings Basic science studies provide mechanistic insights into why the orbit is targeted for inflammation by autoimmune inflammatory disorders. Using Graves' disease as a test case reveals that endocrine pathways, such as the TSH and IGF1 receptor pathways play important roles in stimulating orbital inflammation. Furthermore, orbital tissues contain high concentrations of retinoids - byproducts of the visual pathway that diffuse across the sclera and can activate de novo transcription of inflammatory cytokines. Such cytokine expression places the orbit in a hyper-inflammatory 'resting' state, prone to respond to any additional systemic or local pro-inflammatory signals. The HIF2A--LOX pathway appears important for orbital tissue fibrosis. Lastly, bench-to-bedside studies of the IGF1R pathway have led to an FDA-approved drug, teprotumumab that represents a novel treatment approach for Graves' orbitopathy. Unfortunately, high drug costs and misplaced insurance company 'step-therapy' policies may block patients from receiving therapy that can protect vision and improve quality of life. Summary Improved understanding of orbital inflammatory conditions has led to a new drug and promises additional breakthroughs. Translational research is successful, but requires time, resources, and patience.
Head and neck cancer visualization using deep learning combined with fluorescence lifetime imaging and white light imaging

A key step for mitigating tumor recurrence for patients with head and neck cancer is adequate surgical margin delineation. Presently available techniques however limit accurate tumor margin detection during surgery. Herein, we report on tumor visualization using deep learning by combining autofluorescence images acquired by a fiber-based fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) system and white light images (WLI) obtained by surgical cameras. To accomplish accurate registration between FLIm and WLI, a tissue motion correction algorithm was employed as a pre-processing step. The trained model was applied to differentiation of healthy and cancerous tissues in a 50 head and neck cancer patients dataset (ROC-AUC : 0.87).
Nonlinear extensions of new causality

Abstract New causality (NC) is a relatively recent method for inferring causal relationships between time-series data. Similar to other popular causal inference methods, like Granger causality (GC), NC can be evaluated in time or frequency domain. NC derives its value by partitioning a predictive model, grouping them by different inputs, and finding a normalized ratio of the power of all contributions. In its seminal form, NC is defined atop a linear ARMAX models. If the contribution between two time-series cannot be accurately expressed with a linear model, the seminal form of NC cannot accurately measure the causal relationship. In the frequency domain, linear models also prevent cross-frequency contributions from being measured. This work introduces an extension to NC to NARMAX models. This extension reduces to the seminal form when applied to linear models and can be also evaluated in the frequency domain. The nonlinear extension is applied to a range of synthetic models and real EEG data with promising results. A discussion on modeling and its effect on linear and nonlinear NC estimates is provided.
Let There Be Cain: A Clash of Imaginations in Genesis 4:

This article contributes to the ongoing discussion of the story of Cain by exploring the speeches within Genesis 4 as speech acts. The investigation will focus on two narrative levels of analysis, ...
Selected as the best paper in the 1990s: Reducing frailty and falls in older persons: an investigation of tai chi and computerized balance training.

were reduced after the TC intervention compared with the ED group (P 5.046 and P 5.058, respectively). After adjusting for fall risk factors, TC was found to reduce the risk of multiple falls by 47.5%. CONCLUSION: A moderate TC intervention can impact favorablyon definedbiomedicalandpsychosocial indicesof frailty. This intervention can also have favorable effects upon the occurrence of falls. TC warrants further study as an exercise treatment to improve the health of older people. J Am Geriatr Soc 51:1794–1803, 2003.
Meaning Production, Modelling Mental Architecture and Blending

In this article, the models of mental spaces and blending proposed by Turner & Fauconnier are revisited in a cognitive-semiotic framework, which anchors all space networks in semiotic base spaces of mental and communicative activity. This move (sometimes termed the Aarhus model) makes it possible to establish a connection to a phenomenologically based modelling of mental architecture for apperception and action planning, and thus to regain a certain scientific realism. Five cases of blending are briefly reviewed: counterfactual conditionality, XYZ, metaphor, hypothesis, and agency.
Quick Start: a novel oral contraceptive initiation method

Conventional oral contraceptive (OC) starting instructions require waiting until menses to begin the OC. The conventional approach requires detailed patient education about when to begin and also may require the use of less effective or less acceptable interim contraceptive protection until menses. At our urban family planning clinic, we routinely offer patients starting the OC the option of taking the first tablet sooner. We prospectively evaluated predictors of short-term OC continuation among 250 OC requestors who were offered several approaches to OC initiation. Telephone follow-up of 91% of participants showed that women who swallowed the first OC in the clinic were more likely to continue the OC until the second package than women who planned to start the OC later (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% C.I. 1.1-7.3). Other factors associated with short-term continuation were: partner's knowledge of planned OC use, older age, and participant's agreement that she would be very unhappy about becoming pregnant in the next 6 months.
Acupuncture for dyspnea in advanced cancer: a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial [ISRCTN89462491]

Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is a common symptom in patients with advanced cancer. Pharmacologic management is of proven benefit, but it does not help all patients. Preliminary data suggest that acupuncture can relieve dyspnea in a variety of populations, including cancer patients. We conducted a pilot study (ISRCTN89462491) preparatory to a fully powered randomized, placebo-controlled trial to determine whether acupuncture reduces dyspnea in patients with lung or breast cancer. The study sample was comprised of forty-seven patients with lung or breast cancer presenting with dyspnea. Patients receiving symptomatic treatments were not excluded as long as no changes in management were planned during the trial. Patients were randomized to receive a single session of true or placebo acupuncture in addition to their existing dyspnea treatments. Semi-permanent acupuncture "studs" were then inserted: patients applied pressure to these studs twice a day to provide ongoing stimulation to acupuncture points. The subjective sensation of dyspnea was assessed with a 0 – 10 numerical rating scale immediately before and after acupuncture treatment and daily for a week thereafter. All but two of 47 randomized patients provided follow-up data. Dyspnea scores were slightly higher for patients receiving true versus placebo acupuncture, for both the period immediately following acupuncture treatment and for the daily one week follow-up (differences between means of 0.34, 95% C.I. -0.33, 1.02 and 0.56, 95% C.I. -0.39, 1.51). The 95% confidence interval excludes the prespecified minimum clinically significant difference of a 20% greater improvement in dyspnea for patients receiving acupuncture. The acupuncture technique used in this trial is unlikely to have effects on dyspnea importantly larger than placebo for patients with advanced cancer.
Uveitis in cats

INTRODUCTION Uveitis is one of the most frequent and significant ophthalmic diseases in cats. As discussed in the first article, intraocular inflammation is predominantly triggered by tissue and vascular damage with subsequent release of inflammatory mediators and breakdown of the blood-ocular barrier, so the rich blood supply of the uveal tract makes it a prime target for disease originating elsewhere in the body. It must be remembered that regardless of aetiology, all cases of uveitis are a consequence of the host’s immune response that produces most of the intraocular pathology, although some of the intraocular pathology could be caused by the physical injury in the case of trauma-induced uveitis.
Fixed-banalysis of LM-type tests for a shift in mean

Summary We analyse Lagrange Multiplier (LM) tests for a shift in mean of a univariate time series at an unknown date. We consider a class of LM statistics based on non-parametric kernel estimators of the long-run variance and we develop a fixed-b asymptotic theory for the statistics. We provide results for the case of I(0) and I(1) errors. The fixed-b theory suggests that, for a given statistic, kernel and significance level, there exists a bandwidth such that the fixed-b asymptotic critical value is the same for both I(0) and I(1) errors. We compute these ‘robust’ bandwidths for a selection of well-known kernels. In the case of the supremum statistic, the robust bandwidth LM tests have good power that is monotonic and similar for all kernels. In the case of the mean and exponential mean statistics, power is non-monotonic when the robust bandwidths are used. Under the null hypothesis, the Bartlett supremum statistic has little, if any, over-rejection problems in finite samples even when there is a moving average component with a negative coefficient. In contrast, the other supremum statistics tend to over-reject in this case. In practice, we recommend the Bartlett supremum LM statistic implemented with the robust bandwidth.
A Polish, Jewish Scientist in 19th-Century Prussia

Robert Remak, a Polish Jew who spent his professional career in Berlin from 1833 to 1865, made major contributions to neurohistology, embryology, pathology, and cell theory, including critical evidence that new animal cells are created by division of existing cells. In spite of his achievements, Remak was denied a full academic appointment. In this Essay, his work is compared with similar work by other better-known figures during his time.
Static electroweak properties and partial conservation of axial-vector current in the MIT bag model

We calculate charge radii, magnetic moments, and axial-vector couplings in a version of the MIT bag model that incorporates the partial conservation of axial-vector current condition. We find a modest improvement over values obtained in the standard bag model.
Modification and Stability of Aromatic Self-Assembled Monolayers upon Irradiation with Energetic Particles

We have studied ion and electron irradiation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 2-(4‘-methyl-biphenyl-4yl)-ethanethiol (BP2, CH3−C6H4C6H4CH2CH2−SH), phenyl mercaptan (PEM, C6H5CH2CH2−SH), and 4‘-methyl-biphenyl-4-thiol (BP0, CH3−C6H4C6H4−SH) deposited on Au(111) substrates. Desorption of neutral particles from PEM/Au and BP2/Au was investigated using laser ionization in combination with mass spectrometry. The ion-induced damage of both BP2 and PEM SAMs is very efficient and interaction with a single ion leads to the modification of tens of molecules. This feature is the result of a desorption process caused by a chemical reaction initiated by an ion impact. Both for ions and electrons, experiments indicate that the possibility for scission of the Au−S bond strongly depends on the chemical nature of the SAM system. We attribute the possible origin of this effect to the orientation of the Au−S−C angle or adsorption sites of molecules. The analysis of electron-irradiated PEM/Au and BP2/Au, using ion-init...
A Clinically Applicable Technique to Study Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Normal and Abnormal Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes Isolated From Small Volume Blood Samples

ABSTRACT Shape change and motility of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are essential for host defense and require dynamic reorganizations of microfilamentous cytoskeleton by reversible polymerization of G-actin into filaments (F-actin). Although clinical disorders of actin polymerization are rare, recently described simple methodologies for assaying actin dynamics in PMNs make the technique readily applicable to clinical studies. To develop a clinically useful F-actin assay, the authors investigated the optimal preparation conditions for PMN isolation that resulted in the least in vitro cytoskeletal activation and evaluated the variability in actin dynamics in acutely and chronically infected patients. Basal and chemotactic factor-activated PMN F-actin content was measured by a previously described flow cytometric technique in fixed, permeabilized, NBDphallacidinstained PMNs isolated by centrifugation in Percoll or Ficoll-Hypaque density gradients or by counter-current elutriation. F-actin content is expressed as mean fluorescent channel or relative fluorescence intensity. Basal F-actin in PMNs prepared from countercurrent elutriation (mean fluorescent channel = 79.0 ± 4.5, n = 6) or by Ficoll Hypaque (82.0 ± 3.5, n = 4) was significantly higher than endotoxin free, Percoll purified PMNs, whether purified in bulk (56.1 ± 7.9, n = 8) or by the small volume modification applicable to clinical studies (53.3 ± 8.7, n = 15). Basal Ficoll Hypaque purified PMNs have evidence of shape change, whereas endotoxin free, Percoll purified PMNs are smooth and round and represent the most basal cell equivalent in F-actin content to a circulating PMN. In contrast, maximal F-actin in PMNs observed 45 seconds after N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylala-nine activation (10–9 M) was highest in Ficoll Hypaque (relative fluorescence intensity = 2.21 ± 0.30, n = 4), then countercurrent elutriation (1.77 ± 0.25, n = 6) and finally, large (1.60 ± 0.21, n = 8) or mini volume (1.64 ± 0.28, n = 12) endotoxin free, Percoll purified PMNs, suggesting that preparative regimens can activate the cytoskeleton of PMNs and may affect clinical evaluation of actin dynamics in clinical or basic science studies. With the small volume (5.0 mL) modification of the endotoxin free, Percoll technique, the authors compared actin dynamics in patients with acute and chronic infections with those of healthy volunteers. This novel technique offers unique opportunities for study of the cytoskeleton in PMNs from healthy and unhealthy patients and defines optimal conditions for clinical investigations of cytoskeletal dynamics.
Update on wound dressings: Indications and best use

Currently, there are a variety of wound dressings available ranging from passive adherent/nonadherent to interactive and bioactive products that contribute to the healing process. Many of the newer dressings are designed to create a moist wound healing environment which allows the wound fluids and growth factors to remain in contact with wound, thus promoting autolytic debridement and accelerating wound healing. Even with substantial advancements in wound dressings it appears that no single material can produce the optimum microenvironment for all wounds or for all the stages of the wound healing process. The intent of this report is to provide a review of currently available dressings, their physical characteristics and to describe their best use as it relates to the condition of the wound (clean, contaminated or infected) and the phases of wound healing.
Etching characteristics of dentin: effect of ferric chloride in citric acid

Citric acid etchants with ferric chloride (10-3) promote adhesion and are effective etchants. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine the dentin etching characteristics of 10% citric acid etchant with various additions of ferric chloride. AFM was used to measure the surface recession and morphology of dentin etching for a variety of 10% citric + Fe-Cl etchants. Commercial 10-3 was used as the control. Dentin disks were prepared and partially masked during etching so that the unetched dentin served as a reference. AFM images of the same samples were taken at each of the seven experimental steps using 10% citric acid with various quantities of ferric chloride ranging from 0 to 3% (denoted 10-0, 10-1, 10-1.8 and 10-3, respectively) which altered the pH from 1.63 to 0.42. Changes in depth (nm) relative to the reference height for intertubular dentin were determined after etching 15 s; clinical air drying, rewet for 1-5 min; desiccation for 24 h; rehydration for 24 h. Differences of log(depth change) were tested with mixed effects cell mean models. Overall differences were significant (P < 0.001). Significant differences were found between etchants and the extent of collapse on drying was dependent on pH and Fe-Cl content. Following long-term rehydration, samples recovered, but those with 0 or 1% Fe-Cl did not recover as completely (P < 0.01). Etching and collapse depended on Fe-Cl content. The collapse was nearly reversed on rehydration. Ten per cent citric acid with ferric chloride did not prevent the collapse of etched dentin. Ferric chloride additions reduced pH and increased the collapse of dentin on drying for either brief or prolonged periods. Brief rewetting can reverse the effect of brief air drying. For fully desiccated samples the effect was not reversed after 30 s, but was largely or completely reversed at 24 h in solution depending on Fe-Cl content.
Multistatic synthetic aperture imaging of aircraft using reflected television signals

We investigate passive radar imaging of aircraft using reflected TV signals. Such passive multistatic ``radar'' has been developed to detect and track aircraft with good accuracy. The additional capability of image formation would help to identify targets. The Fourier space sampling provided by passive radar is nonuniform. For a given aircraft flight path, different receiver locations give rise to different sampling patterns. We simulate multistatic radar returns using Fast Illinois Solver Code (FISC) and show that a good sampling pattern can be used to form a recognizable target image using direct Fourier reconstruction. However, a bad sampling pattern can make it impossible to form a useful image. In the Gaithersburg, MD area, we can select a good receiver location using 21 or fewer channels, which provides good enough Fourier-space coverage to form a useful aircraft image.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Density Of States In Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon

This paper reviews various experiments that give information about the density of states in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). The data are used to construct the density of states distribution N(E), and its dependence on doping. The structural origin of the different groups of states is discussed, and it is also shown that N(E) depends on the thermal history of the samples.
Transcriptional regulation of the interleukin-2 gene in normal human peripheral blood T cells. Convergence of costimulatory signals and differences from transformed T cells.

To study transcriptional regulation in normal human T cells, we have optimized conditions for transient transfection. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) promoter-reporter gene behavior closely parallels the endogenous gene in response to T cell receptor and costimulatory signals. As assessed with mutagenized promoters, the most important IL-2 cis-regulatory elements in normal T cells are the proximal AP-1 site and the NF-κB site. Both primary activation, with phytohemagglutinin or antibodies to CD3, and costimulation, provided by pairs of CD2 antibodies or B7-positive (B cells) or B7-negative (endothelial) accessory cells, are mediated through the same cis-elements. Interestingly, the nuclear factor of activated T cell sites are much less important in normal T cells than in Jurkat T cells. We conclude that IL-2 transcriptional regulation differs in tumor cell lines compared with normal T cells and that different costimulatory signals converge on the same cis-elements in the IL-2 promoter.
µφυτος Λγος: A New Covenant Motif in the Letter of James

Understanding the significance of the of the implanted word in James 1:21 has divided between two lines of interpretation: (1) those that invest it with cosmological significance and understand it as something akin to human reason or (2) those who invest it with soteriological significance and relate it to Christian conversion. The argument in this article supports the soteriological line of reasoning and attempts to demonstrate through an examination of pagan, Jewish and Christian sources that the implanted word in James conveys the notion of divine enablement, a notion that was especially suited for articulating the hope of divine enablement for faithfulness promised in the new covenant of Jeremiah.
Lipid peroxidation and associated hepatic organelle dysfunction in iron overload.

It has recently been recognized that genetic hemochromatosis (GH) is one of the most common inherited disorders. Approximately 0.1%–0.8% of whites of northern European ancestry are affected and the frequency of heterozygotes is thought to be about 5%–16% of the population [7, 12, 17, 20, 24, 34, 39, 43, 44, 53, 54]. In GH, there is an inappropriate increase in intestinal absorption of iron leading to progressive deposition of excess iron in parenchymal cells of the liver and several other organs [26, 28, 41, 47, 56]. The liver is the major recipient of the excess absorbed iron and after several years of high tissue iron concentrations, fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis develop [8, 38, 42, 56]. In addition, excess iron deposition in the liver is found in a variety of other disorders leading to secondary iron overload (e.g., thalassemia, chronic liver disease, porphyria cutanea tarda, sideroblastic anemia, African iron overload) [8, 26, 38, 41, 56].
Depression and 24-hour urinary cortisol in medical outpatients with coronary heart disease: The Heart and Soul Study

Background In patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), depression leads to worse cardiovascular outcomes. Depression has been associated with increased cortisol in medically healthy patients, suggesting that cortisol may act as a mediator in the pathway between depression and cardiovascular events. However, it is not known whether depression is associated with elevated cortisol levels in patients with CHD. Methods We examined the association between depression (assessed by the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule) and 24-hour urinary cortisol in 693 medical outpatients with known CHD. Results Of 693 participants, 138 (20%) had current depression. Depressed participants had greater mean cortisol levels than those without depression (42 ± 25 vs. 36 ± 20 μg/day, p p p = .01). This association remained strong after adjusting for potential confounding variables (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.4, p Conclusions In patients with CHD,depression is associated with elevated cortisol levels.
Presacral Mesenchymoma: a Case Report

A 4-year-old girl with a presacral benign mesenchymoma is reported. The nature of the tumor was not recognized preoperatively or intraoperatively. There was evidence of pericapsular infiltration of the soft tissues of the pelvis but not signs of malignancy. A follow-up examination after 3 months indicates that the patient has no clinical evidence of recurrence. Review of the English literature shows the rarity of benign mesenchymoma in childhood and the lack of reports of its occurrence in the pelvis.