cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solubilization of carbon nanotubes by Nafion toward the preparation of amperometric biosensors.

The ability to solubilize single-wall and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) in the presence of the perfluorinated polymer Nafion is described. Such use of Nafion as a solubilizing agent for CNT overcomes a major obstacle for creating CNT-based biosensing devices. Their association with Nafion does not impair the electrocatalytic properties of CNT. The resulting CNT/Nafion modified glassy-carbon electrodes exhibit a strong and stable electrocatalytic response toward hydrogen peroxide. The marked acceleration of the hydrogen peroxide redox process is very attractive for the operation of oxidase-based amperometric biosensors, as illustrated for the highly selective low-potential (−0.05 V vs Ag/AgCl) biosensing of glucose. These findings open the door for using CNT in a wide range of chemical sensors and nanoscale electronic devices.
Increased coronary artery blood flow with aortomyoplasty in chronic heart failure.

Abstract Background . We hypothesized that diastolic counterpulsation using aortomyoplasty will increase coronary blood flow. Methods . In dogs (n = 6, 20 to 25 kg), the left latissimus dorsi muscle was isolated, wrapped around the descending thoracic aorta, and conditioned by chronic electrical stimulation. Heart failure was induced by rapid ventricular pacing. In a terminal study, left ventricular and aortic pressures, and blood flow in the left anterior descending coronary artery and descending aorta were measured. The endocardial-viability ratio was calculated. Results . Aortomyoplasty increased mean diastolic aortic pressure (70 ± 5 to 75 ± 5 mm Hg, p p p p Conclusions . These data demonstrate that aortomyoplasty provides successful diastolic counterpulsation after muscle conditioning and heart failure.
An electromagnetic field distortion measurement system

A quaternion process on EM field data provide a precise six degree-of-freedom measure of position/field distortion between two low frequency variously polarized probes. The technique suggests other fundamental EM field measurement applications which relate to certain types of scattering and field distorting environments.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF NUCLEATED ERYTHROCYTES AND THROMBOCYTES, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE STRUCTURAL BASIS OF THEIR DISCOIDAL SHAPE.

The marginal band of nucleated erythrocytes in the toadfish is found, in electron micrographs, to be composed of about twenty-five microtubules approximately 200 A in diameter. These form a bundle that encircles the erythrocyte just beneath the plasma membrane. These observations support the interpretation of Meves 1904, that this relatively stiff equatorial band may contribute to the maintenance of the discoid shape of nucleated erythrocytes in fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds.
The influence of flow entry and collecting surface on the impaction efficiency of inertial impactors

Abstract The theoretical impaction efficiency curves for round and rectangular impactors are approximately the same when plotted as a function of modified Stokes number, defined as the ratio of aerodynamic stopping distance to impact distance I, where I is the distance from the impact surface to the point at which the free streamline, emanating from the jet orifice, has deflected from a straight line by 5–10% relative to the half-width of the throat. This distance is also equal to half the hydraulic diameter of the throat. Experiments confirm the prediction when tested under the conditions of the numerical model. However, lateral flow entrance into a cascade stage and impaction onto glass fiber paper may change the impaction efficiency considerably, resulting in a shift of the impaction efficiency curve with respect to Stokes number and in a considerable decrease in the sharpness of cut.
Development-related changes of triiodothyronine binding to brain cytosol receptors.

SEVERAL lines of evidence have established that thyroid hormones have a major role in the functional differentiation of the mammalian central nervous system1–4. Clinical or experimental hypothyroidism in early life results in behavioural disturbances and mental dysfunction which are apparently the outward manifestation of well-defined biochemical and structural lesions observed in the cerebellum and cerebral cortex of experimental animals. Significantly, the defects arising from the hypothyroid state are amenable to hormone therapy only during an early critical age period. Furthermore, unlike the liver and most other tissues, the mature brain is not responsive to the manipulation of the thyroid hormone state at least in terms of certain biochemical parameters. The brain is thus uniquely dependent on thyroid hormones for the full expression of functional development during a limited age period which is analogous to the situation in amphibian metamorphosis5. I reasoned that the acquisition and disappearance of brain sensitivity to thyroid hormones may be related to their binding properties with cellular receptors. I show here that the affinity of rat brain (cerebellum) cytosol for triiodothyronine (T3) is high during an early age period when cytodifferentiation is most intense and declines dramatically with age with no apparent change in the number of binding sites. In sharp contrast, the liver shows a marked increase in the number of binding sites with age with little change in affinity.
β-Amyloid increases dendritic Ca2+ influx by inhibiting the A-type K+ current in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons

Abstract Accumulation of the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) is a primary event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the mechanisms by which Aβ mediates neurotoxicity and initiates the degenerative processes of AD are still not clear. Recent evidence shows that voltage-gated K+ channels may be involved in Aβ-induced neurodegenerative processes. In particular, a transient A-type K+ current, with a linear increase in its density with distance from soma to distal dendrites in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, has been shown to contribute to dendritic membrane excitability. Here, I report that Aβ (1–42) inhibits the dendritic A-type K+ current in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, and this inhibition causes increases in back-propagating dendritic action potential amplitude and associated Ca2+ influx. These results suggest that the persistent inhibition of the A-type K+ current resulting from deposition of Aβ in dendritic arborization will induce a sustained increase in dendritic Ca2+ influx and lead to loss of Ca2+ homeostasis. This may be a component of the events that cause synaptic failure and initiate neuronal degenerative processes in the hippocampus.
Small Cell Lung Cancer: State-of-the-Art Therapy 1994

In the United States, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for about 20% of all cases of lung cancer. Without treatment, tumor progression in patients with SCLC is rapid, with a median survival of 2 to 4 months. Modern chemotherapy has yielded multifold increases in median survival, but only minimal improvements have occurred over the last decade. Combination chemotherapy with etoposide/cisplatin prolongs survival, especially in patients with limited disease. In patients at high risk of toxicity from standard combination chemotherapy, single-agent chemotherapy may have a viable role, but whether its efficacy is comparable to combination regimens must be established in clinical trials. Clearly, new, more effective drugs will be required for any major improvements in the treatment of SCLC. Combined-modality therapy employing chemotherapy and chest irradiation appears to produce excellent cytotoxic effects and is relatively well tolerated in patients with limited disease. A recent meta-analysis of 13 randomized trials showed a modest but significant 14% reduction in the relative mortality rate of patients receiving chemotherapy/chest irradiation vs those receiving chemotherapy alone. Surgery as sole treatment can produce cures in highly selected patients with limited disease and can reduce the rate of local recurrence. The use of surgery after definitive treatment remains experimental and should not be considered other than in controlled clinical trials.
A TEST OF EMPLOYER DISCRIMINATION IN THE NBA

This paper presents a test of an important implication of Becker's theory of employer discrimination: when institutional change enhances labor mobility, employer discrimination falls because it becomes more costly for employers to indulge tastes for discrimination. The test case is the National Basketball Association (NBA). This paper specifically addresses the following question about the NBA: why did black/white player salary differentials vanish by the early 1990s? Previous studies claim that NBA wage gaps in the 1980s are attributable to customer discrimination and monopsonistic wage discrimination. This study argues that employer discrimination was an important source of those gaps and that one reason they vanished was because reduced monopsony power eradicated employer discrimination. Monopsony power fell because the 1988 NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement and the entry of four new teams in the league enhanced player mobility and increased the amount of labor market competition. Using data for the 1985-86 and 1990-91 seasons, employer discrimination was proxied by the race of the team's general manager. Empirical results strongly suggest that a major reason the NBA wage gap vanished in the later period was because of a reduction in employers' ability to discriminate. This is in contrast to earlier literature on the NBA, which has tended to emphasize the role of customer discrimination. (JEL J71)
Impact of Different Stages of Juice Processing on the Anthocyanin, Flavonol, and Procyanidin Contents of Cranberries

Juice is the most common form in which cranberries are consumed; however there is limited information on the changes of polyphenolic content of the berries during juice processing. This study investigated the effects of three different pretreatments (grinding plus blanching; only grinding; only blanching) for cranberry juice processing on the concentrations of anthocyanins, flavonols, and procyanidins throughout processing. Flavonols and procyanidins were retained in the juice to a greater extent than anthocyanins, and pressing resulted in the most significant losses in polyphenolics due to removal of the seeds and skins. Flavonol aglycones were formed during processing as a result of heat treatment. Drying of cranberry pomace resulted in increased extraction of flavonols and procyanidin oligomers but lower extraction of polymeric procyanidins. The results indicate that cranberry polyphenolics are relatively stable during processing compared to other berries; however, more work is needed to determine their fate during storage of juices.
Cytolethal Distending Toxin: A Unique Variation on the AB Toxin Paradigm

Some of the most potent toxins produced by plants and bacteria are members of a large family known as the AB toxins. AB toxins are generally characterized by a heterogenous complex consisting of two protein chains arranged in various monomeric or polymeric configurations. The newest class within this superfamily is the cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt). The Cdt is represented by a subfamily of toxins produced by a group of taxonomically distinct Gram negative bacteria. Members of this subfamily have a related AB-type chain or subunit configuration and properties distinctive to the AB paradigm. In this review, the unique structural and cytotoxic properties of the Cdt subfamily, target cell specificities, intoxication pathway, modes of action, and relationship to the AB toxin superfamily are compared and contrasted.
A Phase II study of paclitaxel and ifosfamide for patients with advanced refractory carcinoma of the urothelium.

BACKGROUND Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy for patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urothelium has limitations, and new therapies need to be evaluated. METHODS Ifosfamide 1.0 gm/m2 on Days 1–4 and paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 by 24-hour infusion on Day 4 were administered to 26 patients with locally unresectable or metastatic TCC. Cycles were repeated every 21 days for a maximum of 6 cycles; dose escalation was dependent on whether Grade 3 or 4 toxicities occurred. RESULTS There were 24 males and 2 females, with a median age of 66 years and a median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0. The median number of cycles administered was 3. Twelve patients had Grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities, including 1 patient who died of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage while pancytopenic. There were no episodes of neutropenic fever. Two patients each had a complete response (CR) that lasted 5 and 28 months, respectively (response rate: 15%; 95% CI: 2–45%), among the 13 patients who had received prior chemotherapy. Of the 13 patients without prior chemotherapy, there were 3 with complete responses and 1 with a partial response ranging from 8 to 25+ months (RR: 30.7%; 95% CI: 9–61%). CONCLUSIONS The combination of ifosfamide and paclitaxel is well tolerated and can produce objective responses in patients who are chemonaive or have had prior therapy. For previously untreated patients, the addition of ifosfamide does not appear to result in a better response rate than single agent paclitaxel; and for previously treated patients, the addition of paclitaxel does not appear to result in a better response rate than single agent ifosfamide. Cancer 1999;86:514–8. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Geographic pattern of genetic variation in Pinus resinosa: area of greatest diversity is not the origin of postglacial populations

Genetic diversity is low in natural populations of red pine, Pinus resinosa, a species that has a vast range across north-eastern North America. In this study, we examined 10 chloroplast microsatellite or simple sequence repeats (cpSSR) loci in 136 individuals from 10 widespread populations. Substantial variation for the cpSSR loci was observed in the study populations. The contrast with red pine's lack of variation for other types of loci is likely to be due to the higher mutation rates typical of SSR loci. The amount of variation is lower than that generally found for cpSSR loci in other pine species. In addition, the variation exhibits a striking geographical pattern. Most of the genetic diversity is among populations, with little within populations, indicating substantial isolation of and genetic drift within many populations in the southern half of the species distribution. The greatest diversity now occurs in the north-eastern part of New England, which is especially intriguing because this entire area was glaciated. Thus the centre of diversity cannot be the origin of postglacial populations, rather it is likely caused by admixture, most probably because of influences from two separate refugia. Furthermore, the pattern indicates that the spread of red pine since the last glaciation is rather more complex than usually described, and it likely includes more than one refugia, complex migration routes, and postglacial-retreat isolation and genetic drift among shrinking populations in regions of the present southern range.
The effect of age in the outcome and treatment of older women with ductal carcinoma in situ

The effect of increasing age on outcomes and type of treatment given to older women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was assessed. 646 women ≥60 years old (654 cases) receiving surgery for DCIS at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 2000 and 2007 (8 bilateral) had wide local excision (WLE; 37%), WLE plus radiotherapy (WLE+RT; 41%), or mastectomy (22%). 45%, 38%, and 16% of patients 60-69 years, 70-79 years, and ≥80 years, respectively, received WLE+RT (P<0.001) and 25%, 20%, and 13%, received mastectomy, respectively (P<0.001). Age (P<0.001), grade (P<0.001), and necrosis (P<0.01) were highly associated with treatment. Four-year local recurrence was 3.6%. Overall local recurrence differed by treatment (mastectomy, 0%; WLE, 5%; WLE+RT, 4%; P<0.00001) but not age. It is possible to identify older women with DCIS in whom the risk of recurrence is acceptably low after WLE alone. WLE alone may be a viable treatment option for select older women with DCIS.
Quantitation of shrinkage during preparation for scanning electron microscopy: Human lung

Human lung tissue is found to shrink considerably with preparation for SEM. Fifty-one blocks of glutar-aldehyde-fixed and inflated lung, approximately 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm × 1 cm, shrank a mean of 19% (± 4.0% SD) linear dimension through post fixation, dehydration and critical point drying. Shrinkage with fixation was not measured. Blocks of lung were observed to shrink equally in length (L) and width (W), L = 19.4% ± 2.7 SD, W = 19.0% ± 4.0 SD. Final shrinkage was the same whether samples were dehydrated in acetone or ethanol, although with acetone more of the shrinkage occurred during the dehydration process and less occurred during critical point drying.
On generalized hankel operators induced by sums and products

Vectorial Hankel operators are studied, in particular the ranges of Hankel operators induced by sums and products of matrix functions defined on the unit circle are determined. The analytical tools involve factorization theorems for operator valued analytic functions and the spectral analysis of operators that intertwine restricted shifts.
Relationship of thrombohemorrhagic complications to endothelial cell function in patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders.

Thrombotic and hemorrhagic disorders are common complications of the myeloproliferative disorders. Endothelial cells release both procoagulant and profibrinolytic factors, which may contribute to these hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications. The pre- and postvenous stasis levels of the procoagulant and profibrinolytic factors produced by endothelial cells were correlated with the occurrence of complications in polycythemia rubra vera (PRV) patients (n = 29) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) patients (n = 17) compared with normal patients (n = 17). Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity, von Willebrand's factor (vWF) activity and antigen (vWF:Ag), and factor VIII activity were measured. The resting tPA activity was significantly higher in the two disease groups compared with normal controls, but no difference between the levels of tPA and either complication within the disease groups was observed. Significantly elevated tPA following venous stasis was observed in the patients of both disease groups who had bleeding complications. Significant decreases, compared with the normal group, in both resting and postvenous stasis levels of PAI were observed in the disease groups regardless of complication history. The subjects from both disease groups with thrombotic complications had significantly elevated resting vWF and both resting and postvenous stasis vWF:Ag levels compared with normal controls. The endothelial cell is likely to be responding to abnormal hemastasis rather than being primarily involved in the genesis of a hyper- or hypocoaguable state. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Identification and quantification of diesel fuel components derived from off-shore drilling operation discharges

A GC/MS technique that provides quantitative and qualitative information on diesel fuel components in drilling muds is described. Several low molecular mass aromatic components of diesel fuel are identified as indicators of diesel fuel. The presence and relative concentration of these indicators is used to identify diesel fuel contamination. This information can be used to approximate the amount of diesel fuel contamination in off-shore drilling discharges.
Mediators of septic shock: new approaches for interrupting the endogenous inflammatory cascade.

ObjectivesTo review the molecular pathogenesis of septic shock, with particular emphasis on the induction of cytokines by endotoxin. By understanding the mechanisms that result in the systemic inflammatory response, novel clinical interventions may be more effectively studied.Data SourcesThe English
Spiritual well-being and mental health outcomes in adolescents with or without inflammatory bowel disease.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to describe spiritual well-being (existential and religious well-being) in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) versus healthy peers; 2) to examine associations of spiritual well-being with mental health outcomes (emotional functioning and depressive symptoms); and 3) to assess the differential impact of existential versus religious well-being on mental health. Methods A total of 155 adolescents aged 11–19 years from a children's hospital and a university hospital filled out questionnaires including the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, the Children's Depression Inventory–Short Form, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Covariates in multivariable models included demographics, disease status, and interactions. Results Participants' mean (SD) age was 15.1 (2.0) years; 80 (52%) were male; and 121 (78%) were of white ethnicity. Levels of existential and religious well-being were similar between adolescents with IBD and healthy peers. In multivariable analyses, existential well-being was associated with mental health (partial R 2 change=.08–.11, p R 2 = .23, p Conclusions Although both healthy adolescents and those with IBD had high levels of spiritual well-being, having IBD moderated the relationship between spiritual well-being and mental health. Meaning/purpose was related to mental health more than was connectedness to the sacred.
Nucleotide sequence of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies Mycoides plasmid pKMK1

To facilitate the development of mycoplasmal cloning vectors, we have determined the nucleotide sequence of pKMK1, a cryptic plasmid isolated from Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides. It is 1875 bp in length and contains two open reading frames (ORFs) that share homology with ORFs from members of a large family of gram-positive bacterial plasmids which replicate via a single-stranded DNA intermediate. Putative origins of replication and candidate cloning sites have been identified.
Molecular Evidence from a Parasitoid Wasp, Schlettererius cinctipes (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae), for a North American West-to-East Transcontinental Conduit for Wood-Boring Insects

Until recently, Schlettererius cinctipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae) has been restricted to western North America. Since 1996, three specimens of S. cinctipes have been found in the eastern United States (Kentucky and Virginia). To determine whether these specimens represent recent introductions from the west, cytochrome c oxidase I mitochondrial DNA and one region of 28s rDNA were examined, and pairwise distances were compared. Our results indicate the three specimens represent separate introductions from the west. Because S. cinctipes is a parasitoid of wood-boring insects, these conclusions indicate the ease and frequency with which wood-boring insects are transported across the United States.
Why Barbie is Perceived as Beautiful

The long-term acceptance and success of the Barbie doll suggests the physical characteristics of the doll are perceived as attractive. When viewed in the context of universal attractiveness, response to the doll raises the question why Barbie is perceived as attractive. Published paleontological data on hominid fossils indicate how the shapes and anatomical proportions of humans have evolved. Included in the fossils are phenotypic traits no longer prevalent in humans (primitive) and phenotypic traits that have become increasingly prevalent (derived). It is noted that the anatomical proportions of the Barbie doll are exaggerated and emphasize derived characteristics. It was proposed that in the perception of human form, derived traits are perceived as attractive while primitive traits are perceived as unattractive. Drawings and photographs were utilized to survey reactions to a comparison of primitive vs derived traits by 495 subjects, instructed to select the shape or proportion they considered more attractive. There was significant agreement among the subjects that derived anatomical traits were perceived as more attractive than primitive ones. The Barbie doll is illustrative of how human beauty has evolved and indicates elements of human form that appear beautiful. The doll emphasizes our derived evolutionary traits and, possibly, that is why the doll is perceived as attractive.
The Obviousness of Social and Educational Research Results

Highly estimable writers have averred that well nigh all of the results of social and educational research are obvious, that is, could have been predicted without doing the research. To examine the justifiability of this allegation, one should examine its accord with actual research results. Thus, is it a "truism" that higher achievement comes about when students spend more time with the subject matter? That smaller groups are easier to control than larger groups? Do judges regard actual results as more obvious and statements of their opposites as nonobvious ? Both the century-old research results of Joseph Mayer Rice and recent results throw light on these issues.
The use of smaller, more flexible chest drains following open heart surgery : an initial evaluation.

Study objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacyof smaller-caliber drains in patients undergoing open heartsurgery. Design: A retrospective analysis of themedical records and chest radiographs assembled data on total amount ofdrainage, number of days of drainage, length of postoperative stay, appearance of postoperative chest radiographs, and need for furtherdrainage from either the pleural or pericardial spaces. Setting: A large university-based teaching hospital, where>800 open-heart procedures are performed yearly. Patientsand interventions: A total of 202 patients underwent standardopen heart surgery by one surgeon, and postoperative pleural andpericardial decompression was undertaken using small caliber, moreflexible drains connected to bulb suction. Results: Tubes were left in an average of 2.4 days, with a mean of 826.7 m, Lcollected during that time. The average postoperative length of staywas 6.7 days (median, 5 days). At or before 6-week follow-up, chestradiographs revealed moderate or large effusions in 19 patients (9.4%)in a pleural space that had been drained postoperatively. Twelvepatients (5.9%) required an additional postoperative procedure forpleural drainage (eight thoracenteses, four tube thoracostomies). Fourpatients (2.0%) required reexploration of the pericardium fortamponade. Conclusions: Use of smaller-caliber drainshave been found at our institution to be an adequate means ofdecompression of the pleural and pericardial spaces following openheart surgery, with patients rarely having clinically significantpleural effusions at 6-week follow-up.
Methods for Reducing Aerodynamic Drag on Cargo Carrying Railcars

In recent years the cost of diesel fuel has increased sharply and this has led to an interest in reducing shipping costs by train. Current manufacturing practices of railcars provide an opportunity for research in methods that reduce the aerodynamic drag. This paper reports on a study which involved collecting experimental data from wind tunnel tests using 1/29 scale train models. Two cargo carrying railcar types were studied. The first were coal carrying railcars and the second were auto carrying railcars. Different features of the railcars were investigated. The largest contributor to drag on the coal cars is the large void space of an empty car. The research investigates several roof structures that cover this space and act to reduce drag. From these structures it is determined that the drag can potentially be reduced by nominally 46%. Similarly, profile features of the auto carrying railcars are also investigated. This research reviewed the roof structure, side panels and chassis structure. From the data, it was determined that drag could be reduced by modifying or covering the roof, side panels and chassis structure by nominally 20%, 5% and 15% respectively.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Calculation of the electrostatic potential field for an open-endcap cylindrical penning trap

A calculation of the electrostatic potential field for a compensated, open-endcap, cylindrical-type Penning trap is presented. Sufficient detail is given so that various parts of the calculation can be easily modified as needed. The effects of finite-length endcaps and of a non-negligibly sized gap between the electrodes are explicitly included. It is shown that inclusion of a realistic gap has a significant effect on the calculated electrostatic field.
Does microtia predict severity of temporal bone CT abnormalities in children with persistent conductive hearing loss

Summary Purpose This study aimed to determine the spectrum of temporal bone computed tomography (CT) abnormalities in children with conductive hearing loss (CHL) with and without microtia. Patients and methods From 1993 to 2008, a total of 3396 pediatric records including CHL were reviewed at our institution and revealed 180 cases of persistent CHL, 46 of whom had diagnostic temporal bone CT examinations. All of these examinations were systematically reviewed by two pediatric neuroradiologists, working in consensus, who had 5 and 18 years, respectively, of dedicated pediatric neuroradiology experience. Results Of the 46 children, 16 were boys and 30 were girls (age: 0.2–16 years; mean: 5 years). Also, 21 (46%) children had microtia and 25 (54%) children did not, as determined by clinical evaluation. External auditory canal atresia/stenosis (EAC-A/S) was the most common anomaly in both microtia and non-microtia groups. Two or more anomalies were observed in 18/21 children with microtia. The frequency of EAC-A/S was greater in children with microtia versus those without it (86% versus 32%, respectively; P = 0.0003). Syndromic diagnoses were also significantly more frequently made in children with microtia versus those without microtia (76% versus 20%, respectively; P = 0.0001). Temporal bone CT scans were normal in 10 children (22%) with persistent CHL. Conclusion Microtia is an important finding in children with CHL. EAC and middle ear/ossicle anomalies were significantly more frequently seen in children with microtia, and multiple anomalies and bilateral microtia were more common in children with syndromic associations. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the embryological development of the temporal bone. The presence of one anomaly should raise suspicion of the possibility of other anomalies, especially in the setting of microtia. Bilateral microtia and multiple anomalies should also raise suspicion of genetic syndromes.
Arsenic drinking water regulations in developing countries with extensive exposure.

The United States Public Health Service set an interim standard of 50 μg/l in 1942, but as early as 1962 the US Public Health Service had identified 10 μg/l as a goal which later became the World Health Organization Guideline for drinking water in 1992. Epidemiological studies have shown that about one in 10 people drinking water containing 500 μg/l of arsenic over many years may die from internal cancers attributable to arsenic, with lung cancer being the surprising main contributor. A prudent public health response is to reduce the permissible drinking water arsenic concentrations. However, the appropriate regulatory response in those developing countries with large populations with much higher concentrations of arsenic in drinking water, often exceeding 100 μg/l, is more complex. Malnutrition may increase risks from arsenic. There is mounting evidence that smoking and arsenic act synergistically in causing lung cancer, and smoking raises issues of public health priorities in developing countries that face massive mortality from this product. Also, setting stringent drinking water standards will impede short term solutions such as shallow dugwells. Developing countries with large populations exposed to arsenic in water might reasonably be advised to keep their arsenic drinking water standards at 50 μg/l.
Amphetamines in Human Urine: Rapid Estimation by Gas—Liquid Chromatography

A procedure is described for the quantitative determination of amphetamine and p -methoxyamphetamine and for the semiquantitative determination of methamphetamine, mephentermine, and normephentermine in human urine. An internal reference compound, phenethylamine, is added to 5 ml of urine. The urine is extracted at low pH to remove acidic contaminants, then at high pH with chloroform, in which the amines were acetylated with acetic anhydride. After evaporation, the residue, dissolved in dioxane, is injected onto a column at 215°C, packed with 8% ethyleneglycol adipate on Chromosorb W, 100-120 mesh, except at both ends, where the packing was 8% silicon rubber SE 30 on Chromosorb W, 100-120 mesh. The excretion rate of amphetamines by patients admitted with a diagnosis of amphetamine psychosis was measured.
Estimating and evaluating confidence for forensic speaker recognition

Estimating and evaluating confidence has become a key aspect of the speaker recognition problem because of the increased use of this technology in forensic applications. We discuss evaluation measures for speaker recognition and some of their properties. We then propose a framework for confidence estimation based upon scores and meta-information, such as utterance duration, channel type, and SNR. The framework uses regression techniques with multilayer perceptrons to estimate confidence with a data-driven methodology. As an application, we show the use of the framework in a speaker comparison task drawn from the NIST 2000 evaluation. A relative comparison of different types of meta-information is given. We demonstrate that the new framework can give substantial improvements over standard distribution methods of estimating confidence.
Neutron diffraction studies and multivariant simulations of shape memory alloys: Concurrent verification of texture development and mechanical response predictions

Abstract A new methodology has been developed to compare texture development and macroscopic response predictions of micromechanical shape memory alloy models directly with diffraction data. Using these methods empirical neutron diffraction data from sequential, multi-axial, compressive loading schemes were compared with calculations from the simplified multivariant model. Through this process the ability of a multivariant model to predict both the texture development and mechanical response trends during the creation of complex stress states in martensitic polycrystalline NiTi was demonstrated for the first time. The result made it evident that a multivariant model is more completely validated through simultaneous verification of micro and macroscale predictions as opposed to only verifying macroscale predictions, as was the previous state of the art. The new methodology presented here provides the means to perform this multiscale verification for any multivariant model. It is also shown that in combining a multivariant model with diffraction techniques a new tool for examining the plausibility of variant growth and depletion mechanisms has been created.
Sharp, an inducible cofactor that integrates nuclear receptor repression and activation

A yeast two-hybrid screen using the conserved carboxyl terminus of the nuclear receptor corepressor SMRT as a bait led to the isolation of a novel human gene termed SHARP (SMRT/HDAC1 Associated Repressor Protein). SHARP is a potent transcriptional repressor whose repression domain (RD) interacts directly with SMRT and at least five members of the NuRD complex including HDAC1 and HDAC2. In addition, SHARP binds to the steroid receptor RNA coactivator SRA via an intrinsic RNA binding domain and suppresses SRA-potentiated steroid receptor transcription activity. Accordingly, SHARP has the capacity to modulate both liganded and nonliganded nuclear receptors. Surprisingly, the expression of SHARP is itself steroid inducible, suggesting a simple feedback mechanism for attenuation of the hormonal response.
Identification and localization of BK-β subunits in the distal nephron of the mouse kidney

Large-conductance, Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BK), comprised of pore-forming α- and accessory β-subunits, secrete K+ in the distal nephron under high-flow and high-K+ diet conditions. BK channels ...
Identical Atherosclerotic Lesions in Identical Twins

In 1997, a 55-year-old man underwent percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of a lesion in the middle segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) (Figure⇓, A). He subsequently informed his cardiologist that his twin brother had also been treated successfully with PTCA at another hospital for stenosis of the LAD. The cineangiographic film of the twin brother was retrieved (Jackson Heart Clinic, Jackson, …
A 3D pencil-beam-based superposition algorithm for photon dose calculation in heterogeneous media

In this work, a novel three-dimensional superposition algorithm for photon dose calculation is presented. The dose calculation is performed as a superposition of pencil beams, which are modified based on tissue electron densities. The pencil beams have been derived from Monte Carlo simulations, and are separated into lateral and depth-directed components. The lateral component is modeled using exponential functions, which allows accurate modeling of lateral scatter in heterogeneous tissues. The depth-directed component represents the total energy deposited on each plane, which is spread out using the lateral scatter functions. Finally, convolution in the depth direction is applied to account for tissue interface effects. The method can be used with the previously introduced multiple-source model for clinical settings. The method was compared against Monte Carlo simulations in several phantoms including lung- and bone-type heterogeneities. Comparisons were made for several field sizes for 6 and 18 MV energies. The deviations were generally within (2%, 2 mm) of the field central axis dmax. Significantly larger deviations (up to 8%) were found only for the smallest field in the lung slab phantom for 18 MV. The presented method was found to be accurate in a wide range of conditions making it suitable for clinical planning purposes.
A microassay for humoral cytotoxicity demonstrating sublethal effects of antibody.

A sensitive and objective microassay has been developed for detection of antibodies against tumor-associated antigens of murine sarcoma cells, by measuring the ability of cells to incorporate 3H-thymidine after exposure to immune serum and complement. The cytotoxic effect detected by this method reflects cytostasis as well as cell death. This study also demonstrated that incubation periods longer than 4 h are required for the maximum cytotoxic effects of immune sera on sarcoma cells to become manifest.
Progress toward the long time confinement of large positron numbers

The requirements for, and recent progress toward, the long time confinement of large positron number using a novel microtrap array will be discussed, with reviews of previously published data highlighted in support of the current proposal.
A new blind receiver for downlink DS-CDMA communications

A linear receiver is proposed for downlink DS-CDMA communications over unknown frequency-selective fading channels. The new receiver exploits the fact that all synchronized downlink signals go through the same channel and recovers the desired signal with a constrained channel equalizer followed by a despreader. Such a scheme allows the receiver to operate blindly in a time varying environment for both periodic CDMA and aperiodic CDMA systems.
Optimal Design of Ground‐Water Capture Systems Using Segmental Velocity‐Direction Constraints

An effective means of containing contaminant plumes in regional aquifers is to regulate the ground-water flow through extraction wells that are strategically located. In this paper, the best well locations and flow rates are determined using numerical ground-water simulation and optimization techniques. As a first step in the analysis, the methodology utilizes a novel idea of delineating the capture zone by imposing segmental implicit velocity-direction constraints as opposed to explicit and unilateral velocity-direction constraints which have been proposed by others. The optimization problem that arises is a mixed-integer linear program which is solved by standard branch and bound techniques. The overall procedure is illustrated on representative example problems.
Treatment of Acute Iliofemoral Deep Venous Thrombosis: A Strategy of Thrombus Removal

Patients with acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) suffer the most severe postthrombotic sequelae. The majority of physicians treat all patients with acute DVT with anticoagulation alone, despite evidence that postthrombotic chronic venous insufficiency, leg ulceration, and venous claudication are common in patients treated only with anticoagulation. The body of evidence to date in patients with iliofemoral DVT suggests that a strategy of thrombus removal offers these patients the best long-term outcome. Unfortunately, currently published guidelines use outdated experiences to recommend against the use of techniques designed to remove thrombus, ignoring recent clinical studies showing significant benefit in patients who have thrombus eliminated. Contemporary venous thrombectomy, intrathrombus catheter-directed thrombolysis, and pharmacomechanical thrombolysis are all options that can be offered to successfully remove venous thrombus with increasing safety. The authors review evidence supporting the rationale for thrombus removal and discuss the most effective approaches for treating patients with acute iliofemoral DVT.
Impact of prolonged leucine supplementation on protein synthesis and lean growth in neonatal pigs

Most low-birth weight infants experience extrauterine growth failure due to reduced nutrient intake as a result of feeding intolerance. The objective of this study was to determine whether prolonge...
Molecular dynamics in strong laser fields

Dynamics of molecules in strong laser fields is an area that still warrants investigation. Our observations emphasize the role played by ionic states in accessing higher charge states of molecules, corroborating recent theoretical predictions.
A Strain of Clostridium Welchii Producing Fatal Dysentery in Lambs

During February and March of 1932, approximately 4,300 ewes were lambed in an exceptionally well equipped lambing shed. By March 4, 1,800 ewes had lambed. Seven lambs were showing dysentery on March 4 and 5. This number was doubled the following three days. On March 9, fifteen lambs died, and the next day twenty-five died. The death loss subsided on March 11, with fewer lambs showing dysentery. The lambs developed a grayish, putty-colored, gaseous, fetid diarrhea within the first few hours after birth. The majority became rapidly prostrated, in some cases without evidence of diarrhea. The history of a pair of lambs was typical of the outbreak: These twins were born on March 8 at 4 p. m. When observed on March 9 at 1 p. m., they appeared perfectly normal. Within two hours both were scouring badly and were prostrated, and by 7 p. m. they were moribund. This peracute type of dysentery with early prostration differs from the type usually observed in lambs, although prostration and coma often follow a severe continuous diarrhea.
An epidemiological investigation on a suspected foodborne outbreak of norovirus

Objecive To identify the source of infection,route of transmission and risk factors of a cluster of acute gastroenteritis cases in a primary school of Guangzhou.Methods Cases were identified according to the case definition.Descriptive epidemiological approaches and case-control study designs were employed for the analysis.The samples were tested for norovirus by RT-PCR.Results A total of 27 cases of norovirus gastroenteritis were identified in March 28 to 31,2013 and the attack rate was 3.31%(27/816).The peak in morbidity was seen on March 28 at 14:00 to 22:00.Clustering was found in classes.The case-control study revealed that washing hands before meals(OR=0.13,95%CI:0.03~0.63) and wash hands more than 5 times a day(OR=0.26,95%CI:0.10~0.72) were protective factors.A total of 85 samples,including rectal swabs from the patients and Kitchen workers,leftovers and environmental swabs were collected.Five samples were positive for norovirus G Ⅱ detected by RT-PCR.Conclusion This is the acute gastroenteritis outbreak caused by the norovirus genotype II-4.It was a foodborne outbreak in which food was contaminated by the asymptomatic kitchen workers who carried the virus.
The role of sialic acid in the dysfibrinogenemia associated with liver disease: distribution of sialic acid on the constituent chains

To further evaluate the role of sialic acid in the dysfibrinogenemia associated with liver disease, we studied the effect of removal of excess sialic acid residues from the fibrinogen of five patients with liver disease on the thrombin time and fibrin monomer aggregation. Patient fibrinogens containing 1.4–3.4 residues of sialic acid per molecule in excess of normal controls, with thrombin times 12–22 sec longer than normal and with abnormal fibrin monomer aggregation, were stripped of their excess sialic acid by incubation with Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase, followed by rapid removal of the enzyme by antineuraminidase antibody affinity chromatography. These partially desialylated patient fibrinogens, with a normal number of sialic acid residues remaining, exhibited normal thrombin times and normal fibrin monomer aggregation. Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of reduced normal, patient, and partially desialylated patient (sialyl-3H)-fibrinogen exhibited 60% of the radioactivity in the B beta chain and 40% in the gamma chain. There was no radioactivity detectable in the A alpha chain. These studies provide additional evidence that the increased sialic acid content of the acquired dysfibrinogenemia of liver disease is responsible for its functional defect and that the excess sialic acid is distributed on the B beta chain and gamma chains of the fibrinogen.
Aerosolized manganese SOD decreases hyperoxic pulmonary injury in primates. II. Morphometric analysis

Welty-Wolf, Karen E., Steven G. Simonson, Yuh-Chin T. Huang, Stephen P. Kantrow, Martha S. Carraway, Ling-Yi Chang, James D. Crapo, and Claude A. Piantadosi. Aerosolized manganese SOD decreases hyp...
Alterations in Retinal Layer Thickness and Reflectance at Different Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy by En Face Optical Coherence Tomography.

PURPOSE This article reports a method for en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and quantitative assessment of alterations in both thickness and reflectance of individual retinal layers at different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS High-density OCT raster volume scans were acquired in 29 diabetic subjects divided into no DR (NDR) or non-proliferative DR (NPDR) groups and 22 control subjects (CNTL). A customized image segmentation method identified eight retinal layer interfaces and generated en face thickness maps and reflectance images for nerve fiber layer (NFL), ganglion cell and inner plexiform layers (GCLIPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), outer nuclear layer (ONL), photoreceptor outer segment layer (OSL), and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Mean thickness and intensity values were calculated in nine macular subfields for each retinal layer. RESULTS En face thickness maps and reflectance images of retinal layers in CNTL subjects corresponded to normal retinal anatomy. Total retinal thickness correlated negatively with age in nasal subfields (R ≤-0.31; P ≤ 0.03, N = 51). In NDR subjects, NFL and OPL thickness were decreased (P = 0.05), and ONL thickness was increased (P = 0.04) compared to CNTL. In NPDR subjects, GCLIPL thickness was increased in perifoveal subfields (P< 0.05) and INL intensity was higher in all macular subfields (P = 0.04) compared to CNTL. CONCLUSIONS Depth and spatially resolved retinal thickness and reflectance measurements are potential biomarkers for assessment and monitoring of DR.