cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Risk Factors in the Natural History

Understanding the natural history of lateral patellar dislocations (LPD) is to understand the risk of reinjury. There are many elements that may factor in evaluating a “risk equation,” among them sport, age, and level of fitness. However, at the core of evaluating risk is understanding the unique role of one’s own anatomy in the risk of reinjury. This chapter will be a brief review of the present state of the influence of anatomic risk factors in the risk of reinjury after a primary LPD.
Computing with device dynamics

Abstract Unlike the three fundamental circuit components, such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors, which usually contain some linear function of current or voltage, memristors exhibit a truly and invariably nonlinear relationship between currents and voltages. This results in rich nonlinear dynamics embedded within individual components, which would otherwise require hundreds of transistors to emulate, for example, chaotic dynamics emerging from a single memristor. Meanwhile, in the world of mathematical modeling of the brain’s functioning, it has been shown that nearly all processes embody nonlinear behavior, from connections among neurons and synapses to the edge-of-chaos behavior giving rise to action potentials. In this chapter we discuss a few examples of how the rich nonlinear dynamics emerging from memristors can be used to construct brain-inspired (neuromorphic) computing systems, which remain a vastly unexplored topic that is gaining enormous attention of late.
Evaluation of the students’ understanding of models in science (SUMS) for use in undergraduate chemistry

As chemistry education, and science education more broadly, have shifted to emphasize realistic scientific practices as an important component of education, a number of researchers have used the Students’ Understanding of Models in Science (SUMS) instrument to assess students’ knowledge about scientific models and modelling. SUMS has also been used in a number of studies to assess the efficacy of models- and modelling-focused curricular interventions on students’ epistemic knowledge of models and modelling in several contexts. In this study, we examine the functioning of the SUMS instrument in an introductory university-level chemistry context and present evidence regarding the validity of data produced using SUMS in this context. Data collected from university chemistry students were used to examine students’ response patterns. We also present results from factor analyses, which were used to investigate the internal structure of the SUMS. The results suggest that SUMS cannot be used to support claims about undergraduate chemistry students’ epistemic knowledge of scientific models and modelling.
A Chemistry lecture in November and the virtues of taking a risk

On the occasion of this special issue of the Journal of Coordination Chemistry honoring Professor Jerry L. Atwood, I offer a brief summary of his spectacular career in chemistry and the virtues of ...
The Observed Size and Shape of Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglow

The detection of delayed emission in X-ray, optical, and radio wavelength, or "afterglow," following a γ-ray burst can be described as the emission of a relativistic shell decelerating upon collision with the interstellar medium. We show that the observed radiation surface has well-defined bright edges. We derive an explicit expression for the size as a function of time, and obtain the surface brightness distribution. This might be directly observed if the burst occurs at a small redshift so that its radio signal can be resolved. The size and shape are relevant for detailed analysis of scintillation or microlensing. We show that the effective Lorentz factor depends on the observed frequency and that it is higher for frequencies above the synchrotron typical frequency (optical and X-ray) than for low frequencies (radio). Consequently, transition to nonrelativistic evolution will be observed first in low frequencies and only a factor of ~2 later in the high frequencies.
Program Expansion of a Day Hospital Dedicated to Manage Sickle Cell Pain

Abstract Background: Vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) is the hallmark complication of sickle cell disease (SCD). The majority of SCD-related healthcare costs in the United States, estimated at $2.4 billion annually, is attributed to frequent emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalizations due to recurrent VOC (1-3). A day hospital (DH) dedicated to manage uncomplicated VOC reduces admission rates, decreases length of stay (LOS) for inpatient admissions, and saves hospital costs (4 , 5). Most DH programs have hours of operation from 9 am to 5 pm, and programs with extended hours are limited. The impact of extended hours of DH programs on patient care is less clear. Methods: The Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) started a DH program to manage uncomplicated VOC in 2009 that was open from 8 am-5 pm Monday through Friday. To improve patient access and decrease the burden on the ER, the hours of operation were increased to 8 am-11 pm in February, 2014. Data on VOC-related patient visits to the DH and ER and admissions to the inpatient floors for calendar years 2012- 2016 were collected from the electronic medical record and evaluated. Descriptive statistics, the Cochrane trend test and Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test were used for data analysis. Results: The number of the DH visits increased from 208 visits in to 1058 visits in 2016. The proportion of the DH visits compared to the ER visits during the same time period showed a trend of significant increase (p Summary: Here we show that expanding the operation hours of a DH program increased its utilization by SCD patients by almost 5-fold. This was accompanied by a decreased hospital admission rate from the DH and a decrease in LOS for inpatient admissions, which may represent significant cost savings. A major advertising campaign to promote the UIC Comprehensive Sickle Cell center during the same time period may also contribute to the increasing patient visits in both DH and ER, but the incremental increase in the DH utilization over the ED most likely reflects the impact of expanded hours in the DH. Further expansion of the DH program may offer more benefits to patients with SCD. Reference: 1. K. L. Hassell, Am J Prev Med 38, S512 (Apr, 2010). 2. S. Lanzkron, C. P. Carroll, C. Haywood, Jr., Am J Hematol 85, 797 (Oct, 2010). 3. T. L. Kauf, T. D. Coates, L. Huazhi, N. Mody-Patel, A. G. Hartzema, Am J Hematol 84, 323 (Jun, 2009). 4. L. J. Benjamin, G. I. Swinson, R. L. Nagel, Blood 95, 1130 (Feb 15, 2000). 5. A. H. Adewoye, V. Nolan, L. McMahon, Q. Ma, M. H. Steinberg, Haematologica 92, 854 (Jun, 2007). Download : Download high-res image (106KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures Hsu: AstraZeneca: Other: steering committee for HESTIA trial; Emmi: Other: consultant for Emmi. Gordeuk: Emmaus Life Sciences: Consultancy.
Comparison of Plasma Plume Characteristics Obtained Using PIC-DSMC Approach with Boltzmann Approximations

Ion thruster plumes, consisting of neutrals, ions, and electrons, interact with the spacecraft surface and the solar panels in the backflow region, affecting their performance 1. Therefore, an understanding of the plume characteristics, the charge-exchange reactions2, and ion energy distribution in the backflow region plays an important role in the design of such thrusters. Generally, ion thruster plumes are modeled using a single-temperature Boltzmann relation to obtain the electric potential under the assumption of quasi-neutrality. However, the electron temperature not only varies as a result of expansion, but is also found to be anisotropic. Recently, we developed a three-dimensional, multi-GPU, octree-based PIC-DSMC3 solver to self-consistently model the induced electric field as well as the momentum and charge-exchange reactions.
Investigation Of Tribologic Processes in Bearing Nodes with the Use of the Fam-C And Fdm-A Methods – The Model With Elevated Passive Resistance

The paper discloses selected results of application of the FAM-C (a.c. generator) and FDM-A (d.c. generator) methods for comprehensive troubleshooting of bearing nodes in single-spool turbojet engines. A.c. generators provide information about slow-changing processes and, consequently, that information makes it possible to monitor radial and axial clearance of bearings as well as misalignment of shafts. On the other hand, the information transmitted by d.c. generators refers to fast-changing processes and is suitable to monitor dynamic properties of antifriction bearings: variations in the Q factor of bearings, slip factor of mating antifriction surfaces, rates of bearing cage rotation against its journal, etc. Nearly ten years of observations and data collection from a numerous set of engines during their operation have made it possible to classify processes associated with wear of bearings and categorize them into four phenomenological models. This paper is devoted to the model of elevated passive resistance.
Isolation and characterization of complex I, rotenone‐sensitive NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, from the procyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei

Additional characterization of complex I, rotenone-sensitive NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, in the mitochondria of Trypanosoma brucei brucei has been obtained. Both proline:cytochrome c reductase and NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase of procyclic T. brucei were inhibited by the specific inhibitors of complex I rotenone, piericidin A, and capsaicin. These inhibitors had no effect on succinate: cytochrome c reductase activity. Antimycin A, a specific inhibitor of the cytochrome bc1 complex (ubiquinol:cytochrome c oxidoreductase), blocked almost completely cytochrome c reductase activity with either proline or succinate as electron donor, but had no inhibitory effect on NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity. The rotenone-sensitive NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase of procyclic T. brucei was partially purified by sucrose density centrifugation of mitochondria solubilized with dodecyl-β-d-maltoside, with an approximately eightfold increase in specific activity compared to that of the mitochondrial membranes. Four polypeptides of the partially purified enzyme were identified as the homologous subunits of complex I (51 kDa, PSST, TYKY, and ND4) by immunoblotting with antibodies raised against subunits of Paracoccus denitrificans and against synthetic peptides predicted from putative complex I subunit genes encoded by mitochondrial and nuclear T. brucei DNA. Blue Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of T. brucei mitochondrial membrane proteins followed by immunoblotting revealed the presence of a putative complex I with a molecular mass of 600 kDa, which contains a minimum of 11 polypeptides determined by second-dimensional Tricine–SDS/PAGE including the 51 kDa, PSST and TYKY subunits.
Indolic compounds affect tryptophan binding to rat hepatic nuclei

This study evaluates the effects of indolic or indole-related compounds on binding of L-tryptophan (saturable, stereospecific and of high affinity) to rat hepatic nuclei or nuclear envelopes. Addition of any one of many indolic or indole-related compounds, and particularly of 3-methylindole, does not inhibit in vitro binding of [3H]tryptophan to hepatic nuclear envelopes. However, when 3-methylindole (10(-10) to 10(-4) mol/L) is added in combination with unlabeled L-tryptophan (10(-4) mol/L), it diminishes the inhibitory effect of unlabeled L-tryptophan alone. Scatchard analysis of the binding affinities of in vitro [3H]tryptophan binding to hepatic nuclear envelopes using L-tryptophan in the absence or presence of 3-methylindole reveals similar dissociation constants (KD) under the two conditions, but the binding concentrations (Bmax) were greater in the combined group compared with that in the L-tryptophan alone group. Addition of 3-methylindole to liver before homogenization decreases specific [3H]tryptophan binding to nuclei compared with controls (without addition). L-Tryptophan tube-fed to rats with or without 3-methylindole administration increases in vitro hepatic protein synthesis compared with that of saline tube-fed controls. 3-Methylindole itself does not affect protein synthesis. Our report describes the effects of 3-methylindole on specific tryptophan binding to hepatic nuclear envelope receptor and discusses the possible implications thereof.
Tissue Water and Lipids: Chemical Shift Imaging and Other Methods

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Manipulation Types and Uses 3 Methods 4 Other Uses 5 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
Decimated time-frequency distributions

The decimated generalized discrete time-frequency distribution (D-GDTFD) was introduced by O'Hair and Suter (see IEEE International Conference on Circuits and Systems, London, U.K., 30 May-2 June 1994). It trades bandwidth for speed of implementation and requires greatly reduced storage over the generalized discrete time-frequency distribution (GDTFD). A new formulation for the D-GDTFD is presented which is based upon the singular value decomposition. The performance characteristics of the D-GDTFD are discussed as part of an example based upon the binomial distribution. The error between the binomial GDTFD and D-GDTFD is also examined. >
Longevity of Ceratomyxa shasta and Parvicapsula minibicornis Actinospore Infectivity in the Klamath River

Abstract Infectious Ceratomyxa shasta and Parvicapsula minibicornis actinospores were present in Klamath River samples collected in April, May, and June 2005. Juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha exposed to river water maintained at the ambient Klamath River temperature for 0, 4, 24, 72, and 168 h (7 d) developed asymptomatic infections from both parasites. Elevated water temperature (18°C) in June may have reduced actinospore viability, as both C. shasta and P. minibicornis infection markedly declined in fish exposed for over 72 h. As judged by the prevalence of infection for both parasites, the number of infectious actinospores tended to increase or remain steady through the spring. Ceratomyxa shasta infections were characterized by the presence of a few trophozoites within granulomatous foci in mesentery adipose tissue and were consistently observed outside of the intestine. Similarly, low numbers of P. minibicornis were observed in kidney glomeruli and tubules but were not associated with ...
Pharmacokinetics, Tolerability and Efficacy of Bolus-Dose vs Continuous-Infusion Granisetron in the Prevention of Vomiting in Patients Undergoing Haematopoietic Stem-Cell Transplantation: A Randomised, Double-Blind Evaluation

Objective: We compared bolus-infusion with continuous-infusion administration of granisetron antiemetic therapy in patients undergoing haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.
Line of continuous phase transitions in a three-dimensional U(1) loop model with 1/r^2 current-current interactions

We study a lattice model of interacting loops in three dimensions with a 1/r^2 interaction. Using Monte Carlo methods, we have found that the phase diagram contains a line of second-order phase transitions between a phase where the loops are gapped and a phase where they proliferate. The correlation length exponent and critical conductivity vary continuously along this line. Our model is exactly self-dual at a special point on the critical line, which allows us to calculate the critical conductivity exactly at this point.
Efficient Operational Profiling of Systems Using Suffix Arrays on Execution Logs

Operational profiles are an essential part of software reliability engineering. Typically they are created from the software requirements, and through customer reviews. Creation of operational profiles often is laborious and requires human intervention. Our approach builds an operational profile based on the actual usage from execution logs. The difficulty in using execution logs is that the amount of data to be analyzed is extremely large (more than a million records per day in many applications). Our solution constructs operational profiles by identifying all the possible clustered sequences of events (patterns) that exist in the logs. This is done very efficiently using suffix arrays data structure.
Forecasting housing starts

Abstract This paper develops a multi-equation econometric model of the U.S. housing sector and compares its forecasting performance to that of a time-series (ARIMA) model. The essential issue explored is wether a faithful modeling of relationships suggested by economic theory constitutes a real advantage in forecasting. The econometric model has a stock-flow structure with cost and credit availability variables emphasized in the housing supply equation. We conclude that unaided one-period ahead econometric forecasts are superior to the time-series forecasts. But, due to bias in the former, prediction by the ARIMA model turns out to be better for longer period forecasts. This disadvantage in the econometric model can be overcome by judgmental adjustments while the same is not necessarily true for the ARIMA model.
The effect of heliox-driven bronchodilator aerosol therapy on pulmonary function tests in patients with asthma.

To compare the effects of heliox-driven (He 80:O2 20) to air-driven (N 79:O2 21) β2-agonist aerosol therapy on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with asthma, a prospective randomized crossover study was undertaken in the asthma clinic of the university-affiliated county hospital in Houston, TX. Thirty-one patients (22 female, age range 18–44) with clinically stable asthma consented. All patients were studied on two different days with both heliox and air as driving gas, therefore serving as their own controls. The PFTs including forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF25–75), and maximal expiratory flow rate (FEFmax) were obtained while breathing ambient air at baseline and 30 min after the bronchodilator treatment. Albuterol sulfate 2.5 mg was nebulized with either heliox or compressed air at 8 L/min for 8 min. When heliox was used as driving agent, additional heliox was delivered via a closed system and no entrainment of exter...
Electromechanics of Cardiac Tissue: A Unified Approach to the Fully Coupled Excitation‐Contraction Problem

This contribution is concerned with a new, unified finite element approach to the fully coupled problem of cardiac electromechanics. In contrast to the existing numerical approaches suggested in the literature; to the best of our knowledge, for the first time, we propose a fully implicit, purely finite-element-based approach to the coupled problem. The system of coupled algebraic equations obtained by simultaneous linearization of non-linear weighted residual terms is solved monolithically. The put forward modular algorithmic framework leads to an unconditionally stable and geometrically flexible structure that can readily be extended towards complex ionic models of cardiac electrophysiology. The performance of the proposed approach is illustrated by the coupled electromechanical analysis of a biventricular generic heart model. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1 Strain MN Neutralizing Antibody in HIV-Infected Children: Correlation with Clinical Status and Prognostic Value

Protective immunity to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was examined in 228 serial sera from 58 HIV-infected children before and during antiretroviral therapy. Binding antibodies to putative protective V3 epitopes of HIV-1IIIB and HIV-1MN were investigated by a peptide ELISA, and neutralizing antibodies by inhibition of HIV-1MN cell-free viral infection. No difference in binding of total IgG or IgG subclasses was observed between patients with mild (group A) or advanced disease (group B). However, group A patients were more likely to possess neutralizing antibody titers > or = 225 (P = .040 after adjustment for CD4). This threshold titer also predicted clinical outcome in patients with age-adjusted CD4 count > 10% of normal median. Patients with titers or = 225 (P = .0028). Epitopes other than the linear V3 loop contribute to this protective immune response. Identification of these epitopes should assist immune therapy of AIDS and HIV vaccine development.
Mechanism of subsidence of ancient cratonic rift basins

Cratonic basins commonly occur over ancient rift zones. These inactive rift basins are recognizable by a positive linear Bouguer gravity anomaly that may correspond to the axial gravity high found in modern rift valleys. Many of these basins undergo discrete periods of increased subsidence rates, or reactivations, long after the mass excess responsible for the linear gravity high was emplaced. Furthermore, the reactivation of many cratonic basins occurs simultaneously with large-scale compressional tectonics. It is suggested that the driving force for subsidence is the isostatically uncompensated ancient mass excess. The subsidence of these basins is modelled by a lithospheric flexure model with a nonlinear Maxwell viscoelastic rheology. Solutions to this model indicate that basins may experience a low subsidence rate throughout geologic time. The subsidence of a basin will stop only when isostatic compensation of the mass excess is achieved. Since ancient rift mass excesses may be uncompensated over long geologic time intervals, the early thermal and structural evolution of rifts may not significantly influence later basin subsidence. The models suggest that basins may be reactivated by any mechanism which lowers the effective viscosity of the lithospheric material, allowing the uncompensated basin to settle toward an isostatic-compensation depth faster than normal. Since viscosity is a strong function of temperature, reactivation by a world-wide increase in heat flow is suggested as a possible mechanism for the synchroneity of basin subsidence throughout a continent. An increase of 15% in the geothermal gradient, for example (from 16.5°–18.9°K/km), will cause about a 5% increase in subsidence. This increase in heat flow, however, seems unlikely of producing by itself the magnitude of basin subsidence during a reactivation phase that is observed in the geologic record where up to 100% increase in subsidence might occur. Since the rheology of the lithosphere is nonlinear, effective viscosity is also a strong nonlinear function of stress. The presence of a regional compressive stress during periods of tectonism of 1.1 · 108 Pa (about 2.8% of the buckling strength of the lithosphere) produces a short period of reactivated subsidence (≅ 105 yr). During the reactivated subsidence, the newly-imposed regional stress relaxes sufficiently in the lower lithosphere to restore the effective viscosity to values similar to that before reactivation. This suggests that reactivated subsidence caused by regional compression can be maintained as long as the stress level remains high in the lower lithosphere. This may be accomplished by an intermittent application of the regional stress over time.
The informational and facilitative effects of an audience upon expression and the evaluation of humorous stimuli

Abstract A study was conducted to investigate the facilitative and informational effects of an audience upon a subject's expressive behavior (i.e., smiling and laughing) and his rating of cartoon stimuli. Forty-eight male and 48 female subjects were shown single frame cartoons accompanied by audience laughter and were asked to rate the cartoons for funniness and liking. Two aspects of the audience were varied: the appropriateness of the audience setting for the expression of laughter (the audience was identified as viewing the cartoons in a classroom or party condition) and the consistency of the audience's laughter (either consistently high for both good and poor quality cartoons, or varied, high for good cartoons and low for poor cartoons). The findings show that male subjects discriminated most between good and poor cartoons when the audience laughter was in an appropriate (party) setting and was varied with cartoon quality. They discriminated least (gave similar ratings to good and poor cartoons) to a party audience that expressed consistently high laughter. No convergence in rating of good and poor cartoons was found in the inappropriate classroom conditions. These results support the hypothesis that male subjects use the audience laughter as information about cartoon quality either averaging or discounting the audience laughter with the perceived quality of the cartoon. For female subjects, on the other hand, the party audience and consistently high laughter elevated observed expressions of mirth and elevated cartoon ratings. The fact that variables which increased expressive behavior also increased ratings is consistent with the two-part hypothesis that female subjects base their cartoon ratings on their feeling states, and that these feelings states reflect the pooled impact of the quality of the cartoons and the subject's expressive behavior. There was no overall difference in amount of audience influence for male and female subjects. Thus, male and female subjects differ in the way they are influenced by an audience rather than in how much they are influenced.
Influence of vascular parameters on the effectiveness of intra-aortic balloon pumping: a model study.

The intra-aortic balloon pump has been widely used as a temporary heart-assist device. In this investigation, a nonlinear mathematical model of the arterial system and intra-aortic balloon pump was studied analytically. Thus, the influences of a number of vascular parameters on the effectiveness of intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) were determined. The effects of changes in vascular parameters of the model on a number of performance indexes were investigated. These performance indexes (aortic mean diastolic pressure, aortic end diastolic pressure, cardiac output, coronary flow and phase differences between the fundamental Fourier components of aortic root pressure and flow) were used as the criterion for an evaluation of the effectiveness of the assist pump. The following vascular parameters were perturbed by four steps (±10%, ±20%) from the values in the standard model: heart rate, peripheral resistance, left ventricular pressure, aortic elastance, aortic radius, arterial wall thickness, and aortic length. This model was evaluated for a wide range of balloon-pump phase-control settings (assisted case) and for the unassisted case (when the pump is disabled). It is concluded that changes in heart rate, peripheral resistance and left ventricular pressure cause the most significant changes in pump performance.
A Monte Carlo study of the Hoyt reliability coefficient in the Bower-Trabasso model

Abstract Monte Carlo procedures are used to study the sampling distribution of the Hoyt reliability coefficient. Estimates of mean, variance, and skewness are made for the case of the Bower-Trabasso concept identification model. Given the Bower-Trabasso assumptions, the Hoyt coefficient of a particular concept identification experiment is shown to be statistically unlikely.
Preparation of no carrier added fluorine-18 labeled 16-fluorohexadecanoic and fluoroacetic acids from highly reactive tetraethylammonium [18F]fluoride.

Abstract No carrier added tetraethylammonium [ 18 F]fluoride prepared via synthesis and hydrolysis of fluorotrimethylsilane was reacted with methyl 16-iodohexadecanoate in acetonitrile. At 80°C, yields of up to 80% were found with reaction times of 20–30 min. As would be expected for fluoride-for-iodide exchange, reactions were slower than previously-reported cyclic sulfate and triflate displacements. TLC and reverse-phase HPLC indicated that a single pure radioactive product was formed, which was hydrolyzed with alkali to the free acid. NMR spectroscopy of a carrier added preparation was consistent with assignment as 16-fluorohexadecanoic acid and no rearrangement to the 15-fluoro compound. [ 18 F]Fluoroacetic acid was prepared analogously in high yield from ethyl iodoacetate. The results are discussed in terms of guidelines for syntheses of other 18 F compounds and of the properties of near anhydrous tetraethylammonium fluoride in acetonitrile.
Immunosuppression for pediatric cardiac transplantation in the modern era.

Abstract With the advent of the T cell activation inhibitors such as cyclosporine, heart transplant success rates for pediatric patients have improved to the point that the initially restricted ages and indications have expanded considerably. Currently the half-life (50% still alive) for children transplanted in the early 1980s is approximately 12–14 years. Decades-long survival seems likely. Components and functions of the immune system are naive and change during postnatal development. Maturation occurs not only in the first years of life, but well through adolescence and even into adult life. These age-dependent changes within the immune system greatly complicate any attempt to assess immune implications for the use of immunosuppression in children. Since the introduction of cyclosporine, immunosuppression regimens have been virtually unchanged through the 1990s. Recently, there have been significant new immune pharmacological agents which are now commercially available, or still in investigational stages of development. The new maintenance immunosuppressive drugs are either inhibitors of de novo synthesis of nucleotides (purines or pyrimidines), or are immunophilin-binding drugs that inhibit signal transduction in lymphocytes. The newer inhibitors of de novo nucleotide synthesis include mycophenolate mofetil, mizoribine, brequinar and leflunomide. The immunophilin-binding drugs are cyclosporine, tacrolimus and rapamycin. Antibody preparations such as ATG, ATGAM and OKT3, as well as the newer biological agents, which specifically bind to the IL-2 receptor, basiliximab and daclizumab, are discussed. The potential for biologicals which inhibit co-stimulation are also discussed. There may be dramatic changes in protocols used clinically as a result of these new agents over the next decade. The increasing understanding of the alloimmune response as well as the clinical use of these newer drugs promise even better long-term results.
Twisting of a high authority morphing structure

A high authority shape morphing plate is examined. The design incorporates an active Kagome back-plane capable of changing the shape of a solid face by transmitting loads through a tetrahedral core. This design is known to perform effectively upon hinging. This article examines limitations on its authority when twisting is required to attain the desired shapes. The specific objective is to ascertain designs that provide the maximum edge twist subject to specified passive load. Non-linear effects, such as face wrinkling, have been probed by using a finite element method and the fidelity of the results assessed through comparison with measurements. The numerical results have been used to validate a dimensional analysis of trends in the actuation resistance of the structure with geometry, as well as the passive load capacity. The forces determined by such analysis have been combined with the failure mechanisms for all subsystems to establish the constraints. The important domains have been visualized using mechanism maps. An optimization has been used to generate load capacity maps that guide geometric design and provide actuator capacity requirements.
Unilateral renal artery revascularization can salvage renal function and terminate dialysis in selected patients with uremia

Abstract Revascularization of renal arteries to salvage glomerular function in patients with chronic renal failure is performed infrequently. However, during the past 12 months we have encountered three patients over 60 years of age known to have chronic renal failure who were on dialysis for 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 2 months, respectively. All three patients were hypertensive, requiring between four and five antihypertensive medications. One patient was ventilator dependent in intractable cardiac failure with pulmonary artery systolic pressures ranging from 60 to 70 mm Hg. Standard biplanar arteriography revealed occlusion of the left renal artery with distal reconstitution in two patients and a 99% stenosis of the right renal artery in the remaining patient. The contralateral renal artery was totally occluded in two patients and diffusely stenotic in one. The recipient kidneys measured 8, 10, and 11 cm in length. Kidney function was assessed by renal scintigraphy and creatinine clearance. Two splenorenal bypasses and one hepatorenal bypass with 6 mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft were performed successfully. After surgery, renal function improved in all patients with two of three patients resuming normal function as evidenced by reduction of serum creatinine levels to 0.9 and 1.3 mg/dl. The third patients recovered to have a creatinine level of 3.2 mg/dl. All patients were discharged home within 1 month with a daily urine output greater than 1500 ml. At discharge, each patient required only two antihypertensive medications to control blood pressure. Duplex scanning 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery confirmed patency of all reconstructions. We conclude that unilateral renal artery revascularization in selected patients who are dialysis dependent can be performed safely and avert the necessity for chronic dialysis. (J VASC SURG 1993;18:1012-8.)
Alkali lability of deoxyribonucleic acid that contains adenine arabinoside

Abstract We have demonstrated previously that 9-β- d -arabinofuranosyl adenosine (ara-A), like 1-β- d -arabinofuranosyl cytosine (ara-C), incorporates exclusively into DNA, not RNA [Kufe et al., Cancer Res. 43 , 2000 (1983)]. We have also demonstrated that (ara-C)DNA is degraded by alkali [Major et al., Biochem. Pharmac. 31 , 861 (1982)], suggesting a structural instability of this abnormal nucleic acid. These findings have been extended by investigating the effects of various alkaline conditions on ara-A and (ara-A)DNA. The results indicate that the nucleoside was degraded under stringent conditions (0.4 M NaOH, 0.5 hr, 100°) and that a similar effect occurred following exposure of (ara-A)DNA. The results also indicate that milder alkaline conditions (0.4 M NaOH, 6 hr, 37°) resulted in strand scission of (ara-A)DNA at the 3'-carbon of the incorporated arabinosyl sugar without degradation of the ara-A moiety itself. These findings may be useful when attempting to purify (ara-A)DNA and confirm the structural instability of arabinosyl-containing DNA.
Multigrade security monitoring for ad-hoc wireless networks

Ad-hoc wireless networks are being deployed in critical applications that require protection against sophisticated adversaries. However, wireless routing protocols, such as the widely-used AODV, are often designed with the assumption that nodes are benign. Cryptographic extensions such as Secure AODV (SAODV) protect against some attacks but are still vulnerable to easily-performed attacks using colluding adversaries, such as the wormhole attack. In this paper, we make two contributions to securing routing protocols. First, we present a protocol called Route Verification (RV) that can detect and isolate malicious nodes involved in routing-based attacks with very high likelihood. However, RV is expensive in terms of energy consumption due to its radio communications. To remedy the high energy cost of RV, we make our second contribution. We propose a multigrade monitoring (MGM) approach. The MGM approach employs a previously developed lightweight local monitoring technique to detect any necessary condition for an attack to succeed. However, local monitoring suffers from false positives due to collisions on the wireless channel. When a necessary condition is detected, the heavy-weight RV protocol is triggered. We show through simulation that MGM applied to AODV generally requires little extra energy compared to baseline AODV, under the common case where there is no attack present. It is also more resource-efficient and powerful than SAODV in detecting attacks. Our work, for the first time, lays out the framework of multigrade monitoring, which we believe fundamentally addresses the tension between security and resource consumption in ad-hoc wireless networks.
Introducing Evidence-Based Physical Examination to Internal Medicine Clerkship Students

Introduction Evidence-based physical examination (PE) is an important diagnostic tool, yet the PE skills of medical students remain suboptimal.1 Students learn fundamental PE skills in their pre-clerkship years; during internal medicine clerkships, education in PE focuses on basic skills and examining patients with classic or unusual findings. Prior work introducing evidence-based PE to internal medicine clerkship students has required extensive faculty time and extra work by students.2 We sought to begin an effective evidence-based PE program which integrates into the active schedules of students and faculty.
Anxiolytic drug targets: beyond the usual suspects

Individuals suffering from anxiety experience an unpleasant emotional state defined by psychological and physiological responses to the anticipation of real or imagined danger. Physical manifestations include increased heart rate, altered respiration, sweating, trembling and fatigue, while psychological concomitants include feelings of powerlessness, apprehension, and potential danger. Many effective treatments for anxiety target the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ-aminobutyrate (GABA). Within the brain, there are two principal subtypes of GABA receptor complexes: GABAA and GABAB. The subunits of the pentameric GABAA receptor form a tight group enclosing a chloride channel whereby GABA activation induces channel opening and subsequent influx of chloride ions (Cl–) into the intracellular medium. The increase in negative charge causes neuronal membrane hyperpolarization and a resultant inhibition of neurotransmitter release. In this way, GABA agonists can induce anxiolysis, sleep, and anesthesia.
Vapor Compression Cycles: Control-Oriented Modeling and Validation

This paper presents experimental validation of a dynamic vapor compression cycle (VCC) system model specifically suited for multivariable control design. A moving-boundary lumped parameter modeling approach captures the essential two-phase fluid dynamics while remaining sufficiently tractable to be a useful tool for designing low-order controllers. This research makes two key contributions to the control-oriented dynamic modeling of these systems. First, the moving-boundary approach is used to develop models of evaporators and condensers with receivers, models previously unavailable in the literature. Second, semi-empirical correlations are incorporated for predicting key model parameters. The resulting models are compared to experimental data for validation purposes.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Semiparametric Stochastic Mixed Models for Longitudinal Data

Abstract We consider inference for a semiparametric stochastic mixed model for longitudinal data. This model uses parametric fixed effects to represent the covariate effects and an arbitrary smooth function to model the time effect and accounts for the within-subject correlation using random effects and a stationary or nonstationary stochastic process. We derive maximum penalized likelihood estimators of the regression coefficients and the nonparametric function. The resulting estimator of the nonparametric function is a smoothing spline. We propose and compare frequentist inference and Bayesian inference on these model components. We use restricted maximum likelihood to estimate the smoothing parameter and the variance components simultaneously. We show that estimation of all model components of interest can proceed by fitting a modified linear mixed model. We illustrate the proposed method by analyzing a hormone dataset and evaluate its performance through simulations.
CrO2/Co multilayers on Cu(100)

Abstract CrO2/Co multilayers, consisting of four layers of Co and one layers CrO2, have been fabricated on Cu(100) by a new technique of utilizing the thermodynamic sink of CrO2. The multilayers exhibit an easy magnetization axis in plane and the rotation angle increased rapidly with film thickness. Four CrO2/Co repeats are sufficient to yield a Kerr rotation angle 0.09°, suitable for technological applications. The coercivity decreases from 105 Oe for clean four layers of Co to 80 Oe for clean four CrO2/Co repeats. The effect of carbon doping, excess Cr, and other modifications on the magnetic properties are discussed.
Heme regulation of human cystathionine β-synthase activity: Insights from fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) plays a central role in homocysteine metabolism, and malfunction of the enzyme leads to homocystinuria, a devastating metabolic disease. CBS contains a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) cofactor which catalyzes the synthesis of cystathionine from homocysteine and serine. Mammalian forms of the enzyme also contain a heme group, which is not involved in catalysis. It may, however, play a regulatory role, since the enzyme is inhibited when CO or NO are bound to the heme. We have investigated the mechanism of this inhibition using fluorescence and resonance Raman spectroscopies. CO binding is found to induce a tautomeric shift of the PLP from the ketoenamine to the enolimine form. The ketoenamine is key to PLP reactivity because its imine C═N bond is protonated, facilitating attack by the nucleophilic substrate, serine. The same tautomer shift is also induced by heat inactivation of Fe(II)CBS, or by an Arg266Met replacement in Fe(II)CBS, which likewise inactivates the enzyme; in both...
Synthesis of Nanowalled Polymer Microtubes Using Glass Fiber Templates

Covalently crosslinked flexible polymer microtubes with wall thicknesses of 1–3 nm, diameters of 2–10 μm, and lengths of 0.1–0.5 mm have been fabricated using glass wool and silica wool as templates. Fluorescent-dye-tagged polyamines were adsorbed onto the glass and silica templates and crosslinked by reductive amination with glutaraldehyde and sodium cyanoborohydride, then the templates were dissolved with hydrofluoric acid. Microtubes were prepared from polyallylamine (PAA), polyethyleneimine (PEI), and poly(iminohexamethylene) (PIH) labeled with sulforhodamine B. These flexible hollow structures were characterized by bright-field and fluorescent optical microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy; they adopt open tubular conformations when suspended in water, and dry to give flat ribbons.
3,8-Diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one Peptide Mimetics: Synthesis of a Conformationally Restricted Inhibitor of Farnesyltransferase†

A new synthesis of the 3,8-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-one framework is described. Transannular enolate alkylation of piperazinone derivatives provides a flexible route to highly constrained bicyclic peptidomimetic synthons with substitution at the Cα position. The chemistry was used to produce a conformationally constrained farnesyltransferase inhibitor, which aided the elucidation of enzyme-bound conformation.
Reversible G1 arrest of a human lung epithelial cell line by staurosporine.

Staurosporine, a microbial-derived protein kinase inhibitor, reversibly blocked non-synchronized, replicating cultures of the human lung epithelial cell line EKVX in the G1 phase of cell cycle and inhibited DNA synthesis and cell replication. The mechanism of this cell-cycle arrest in EKVX cells by staurosporine was likely due to inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) because: (1) dose-dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis occurred at levels of staurosporine that inhibit phosphorylation of PKC substrate, (2) inhibition of DNA synthesis was also seen after treatment with another PKC inhibitor H7, but not by the chemically similar HA1004, which has a relative inhibitory specificity for cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and (3) the DNA synthesis was not inhibited by specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors Genistein and Lavendustin A at concentrations that inhibit tyrosine kinase activity. Removal of staurosporine from cell culture media resulted in a rebound in PKC activity and synchronized DNA synthesis in EKVX cultures. The reversibility of the inhibition was noted even after 5 days of treatment with staurosporine, and DNA synthesis remained synchronized for at least two rounds of cell replication after removal of staurosporine. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that more than 90% of the cell population was blocked in the G1 phase after cells were treated with staurosporine for 24 h. Agents such as staurosporine may be useful for synchronizing cell populations to study cell-cycle specific biochemical events important for the regulation of cell replication in the EKVX cell line. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Managing their own past. German archivists between national socialism and democracy

The article examines the transition of (West) German archivists from the Nazi period to the time of Allied occupation and on into the early years of the Federal Republic of Germany. After considering the extent of the profession’s nazification, the article focuses on Allied denazification efforts after the war and discusses the strategies archivists devised in order to maneuver through these dangerous times. In the end, the archival profession mastered the transition with only minor “denazification damage.” The article closes with an examination of the consequences of the continuity of personnel especially among the leading archivists of the former Prussian Archival Administration (Preussische Archivverwaltung) for the reconstruction of the archival profession in West Germany.
Chronic subdural hematoma patients aged 90 years and older

AbstractObjectives: The American population above 65 years of age will double by 2050, and more nonagenarians will present to neurosurgeons for treatment for subdural hematomas (SDH), common in the elderly. Healthcare providers, and patients’ relatives, often choose treatment when there is little chance of recovery. Hospital mortality is 24% (n = 5) in chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) patients over 65 years, but there are no studies on cSDH outcomes in patients aged over 90 years. This retrospective study evaluates outcomes in this population.Methods: We reviewed all patients with cSDH between December 2005 and December 2011. We analyzed charts of patients aged 90 years and older. Patient demographics, Glagow Coma Scale (GCS) at presentation, medical co-morbidities, length of stay, disposition, treatment, and radiographic characteristics were abstracted.Results: Twenty-one patients aged 90 or older with 24 admissions for cSDH were identified. Median age was 92 (SD = 2·5); 76% (n = 16) underwent surgery. M...
Switch-stacks: a scheme for microtasking nested parallel loops

This paper discusses run-time microtasking support for executing nested parallel loops on a shared memory multiprocessor system, and presents a new scheme called switch-stacks for implementing such support. We first discuss current approaches to flat microtasking, and investigate how to extend these for full microtasking. We point out the problem of dummy waiting in the processor that initiates a parallel loop. To solve this problem, two schemes, dequeue-tasks and dequeue-descendant-tasks are considered and their disadvantages are discussed. The switch-stacks scheme we proposed perfectly solves the problem. These schemes have been implemented in the PARCEL run-time system. The results show that the new scheme achieves the best performance in execution time and stability nearly always.
Of a fire in the dark: Public and private feminism in the Wife of Bath's Tale

(1984). Of a fire in the dark: Public and private feminism in the Wife of Bath's Tale. Women's Studies: Vol. 11, Women in the Middle Ages, pp. 157-178.