cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inactivation of vascular prostacyclin synthetase by platelet lipoxygenase products

Summary The sensitivity of prostacyclin synthetase to inactivation by hydroperoxy-fatty acids suggests that vascular prostacyclin synthesis might be modulated by the platelet lipoxygenase product 12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE). On incubation of a lipoxygenase source from lysed platelets, a prostacyclin synthetase source from bovine aortic microsomes, and arachidonic acid, rapid inactivation of prostacyclin synthetase resulted. This was reflected by failure to convert exogenous prostaglandin H2 to 6-keto prostaglandin F1α, and the inactivation was prevented by the lipoxygenase inhibitor eicosatetraynoic acid. Prostacyclin synthetase inactivation did not occur when whole platelets were used as the lipoxygenase source unless concentrations of arachidonic acid high enough to induce platelet lysis were employed. Vascular prostacyclin synthesis is thus not likely to be influenced by 12-HPETE released from platelets.
Avian resource depression or intertaxonomic variation in bone density? A test with San Francisco Bay avifaunas

Abstract Previous analyses of the Emeryville Shellmound fauna suggested that ever-expanding late Holocene human populations of the San Francisco Bay area depressed a wide range of vertebrate taxa, including cormorants ( Phalacrocorax ), geese (Anserinae), and large shorebirds (e.g., Numenius , Limosa ). Far-reaching implications for prehistoric human behavior, historical ecology, and modern conservation biology have resulted from that work. We test the generality of the bird-based conclusions here by documenting temporal trends in avifaunal abundances from five additional sites located on the San Francisco Peninsula. Analyses of these data reveal patterns identical to those found at Emeryville, showing significant declines through time in the relative abundances of both geese and cormorants between about 2000 and 700 B.P. New photon absorptiometric-based density data for cormorants, geese, and ducks (Anatinae) are used to determine if the declines through time in the relative abundances of geese and cormorants are correlated with variation in the extent of density-mediated attrition observed in these faunas. The data and analyses presented here suggest that while density-mediated attrition played a role in structuring element abundances in these avifaunas, there is no evidence that it varied systematically through time to produce the revealed patterns in taxonomic abundances. Resource depression thus remains a viable hypothesis for the declining abundances of large-sized waterbirds during the late Holocene of the San Francisco Bay region. The new bone density data we present should be useful to analyses of archaeological and paleontological avifaunas wherever these or related taxa are found around the world.
Thermal Analysis of ZPPR High Pu Content Stored Fuel

The Zero Power Physics Reactor (ZPPR) operated from April 18, 1969, until 1990. ZPPR operated at low power for testing nuclear reactor designs. This paper examines the temperature of Pu content ZPPR fuel while it is in storage. Heat is generated in the fuel due to Pu and Am decay and is a concern for possible cladding damage. Damage to the cladding could lead to fuel hydriding and oxidizing. A series of computer simulations were made to determine the range of temperatures potentially occuring in the ZPPR fuel. The maximum calculated fuel temperature is 292°C (558°F). Conservative assumptions in the model intentionally overestimate temperatures. The stored fuel temperatures are dependent on the distribution of fuel in the surrounding storage compartments, the heat generation rate of the fuel, and the orientation of fuel. Direct fuel temperatures could not be measured but storage bin doors, storage sleeve doors, and storage canister temperatures were measured. Comparison of these three temperatures to the calculations indicates that the temperatures calculated with conservative assumptions are, as expected, higher than the actual temperatures. The maximum calculated fuel temperature with the most conservative assumptions is significantly below the fuel failure criterion of 600°C (1,112°F).
Generating Epsilon-Efficient Solutions in Multiobjective Programming

Scalarization approaches to purposely generating e-efficient solutions of multiobjective programs are investigated and a generic procedure for computing these solutions is proposed and illustrated with an example. Real-life decision making situations in which the solutions are of significance are described.
Relating refined space complexity classes

Refined Turing machine space complexity classes are defined by limiting all three of the resources space, worktape alphabet size, and number of worktape heads. Containment relations among the classes are proved and used to convert a few basic noncontainment relations to noncontainment relations of four more homogeneous types: “less space” (conventional classes), “fewer worktape symbols,” “one fewer worktape symbol,” and “fewer worktape heads.” Noncontainment results for both nondeterministic and deterministic classes of both binary and unary languages are obtained. One corollary is a unary language hierarchy theorem for two-way multihead finite automata.
681: The MFMU Cesarean Registry: cost-effectiveness of a trial of labor compared with an elective repeat cesarean delivery after a previous cesarean in a minimally biased cohort

of a trial of labor compared with an elective repeat cesarean delivery after a previous cesarean in a minimally biased cohort Sharon A. Gilbert For the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, MaternalFetal Medicine Units Network, Bethesda, MD OBJECTIVE: To determine the most cost-effective strategy for women eligible for a trial of labor (TOL) with one prior cesarean delivery and balanced baseline characteristics. STUDY DESIGN: We developed a decision analysis model comparing TOL after one prior cesarean with an elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD) for a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 women with no contraindication to a TOL. To derive probability estimates, a group of women who underwent either TOL or ERCD were selected from a 1999-2002 prospective study. The final probabilistic estimates were obtained from women who underwent TOL or ERCD and were selected by propensity score analysis as being matched according to their baseline characteristics. Cost data were obtained from national databases and included hospital, obstetrician, pediatrician, and anesthesiologist costs as well as opportunity costs of the mother and a caregiver. Quality adjusted life-years (QALYs) were obtained from the literature. Probability, cost and QALY data for the outcome of cerebral palsy were obtained from the literature as well. The primary outcome was cost-effectiveness measured as the marginal cost per QALY gained, with a $50,000 threshold per QALY. RESULTS: According to baseline estimates, the TOL strategy dominated the ERCD strategy, with $142.4 million saved and 1793 QALYs gained per 100,000 women. The model was sensitive to five variables (table). Bivariable analysis on the probability of successful TOL and uterine rupture indicated when the probability of success was at the base value, 68.5%, TOL was preferred if the probability of rupture was 4.6% or less (graph). When uterine rupture was at the base value, 0.8%, TOL was preferred if the probability of successful TOL was 40.8% or more. CONCLUSION: A TOL after one prior cesarean is less expensive and more effective than an ERCD in a group of women with balanced baseline characteristics; these results are sensitive to five variables, which need to be considered in cost-effective assessment. www.AJOG.org Epidemiology, Infectious Disease, Intrapartum Fetal Assessment, Operative Obstetrics, Obstetric Quality & Safety, Public Health-Global Health PosterSessionIV
Reckoning Kinship in Maneo (Seram, Indonesia)

This study among the Maneo (Seram, Indonesia) focuses on the pragmatics of kinship knowledge. Through an extended investigation of a stranger's arrival, I untangle processes of recognition from those guiding the determination of relatedness. Recognition establishes the continuity of experience; as such, verity is a measure of the adequacy as opposed to accuracy of observation: a fact that contributes to the possibility of misrecognition. By contrast, relatedness is contingent upon the expression and suppression of different, sometimes contradictory historical ties, [kinship, knowledge, pragmatism, Maneo, Indonesia]
Cirrhosis and diabetes. II. Association of impaired glucose tolerance with portal-systemic shunting in Laennec's cirrhosis.

The increased frequency of diabetes in patients with cirrhosis was investigated by performing oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests (GTT) and glucose clearance rate (KG) in 145 cirrhotic patients, including some with overt diabetes and some with portacaval anastomoses (PCA) as well as in appropriate normal and diabetic control groups.
Weight management in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Obesity is a well known risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus are at risk for weight gain as a result of multiple influences, including sedentary lifestyle, high-calorie diet, diabetes medications, sociocultural factors, chronic medical and psychiatric illnesses, and a dysregulated enteroendocrine axis. Because both diabetes mellitus and obesity predispose patients to abnormal cardiometabolic profiles and increased cardiovascular disease, management of diabetes mellitus should focus on weight management and optimizing cardiometabolic parameters, concomitant with glycemic control. Lifestyle modification incorporating healthy, calorie-appropriate diets and increased physical activity, in addition to metformin, are central components to diabetes management and weight management. These interventions have been shown to improve body weight, glycemic control, and overall cardiometabolic profile. The weight-neutral and weight-losing diabetes medications include metformin, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, and amylin analogs. It is essential that providers understand the metabolic and weight effects of diabetes medications in order to develop strategies for managing diabetes mellitus while helping patients maintain or lose weight in order to improve their overall health outcomes. Mt Sinai J Med 77:533–548,2010. © 2010 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Regiocontrolled synthesis of poly(3‐alkylthiophene)s by Grignard metathesis

Poly(3-octadecylthiophene)s (P3OTs) were prepared via Grignard metathesis polymerization of 2,5-dibromo-3-octadecylthiophene in the presence of palladium and nickel catalysts. The effect of catalyst structure and reaction temperature on the regioregularity of P3OTs was investigated. Nickel catalysts provided P3OTs with higher regioregularity, while palladium catalysts gave lower regioregularity. Surprisingly, the regioregularity of P3OTs increased when the polymerization was conducted at higher temperature. The catalyst and temperature dependence of the regioregularity is consistent with two competing mechanisms. Polymerizations at higher temperature with nickel catalysts occur primarily via chain-growth reactions, while polymerizations at lower temperature with palladium catalysts have competing step-growth and chain growth reactions. P3OTs with higher regioregularity have longer wavelength visible absorptions, while P3OTs with lower regioregularity have shorter wavelength absorptions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5538–5547, 2004
Can warming particles enter global climate discussions

'Soot' or 'black carbon', which comes from incomplete combustion, absorbs light and warms the atmosphere. Although there have been repeated suggestions that reduction of black carbon could be a viable part of decreasing global warming, it has not yet been considered when choosing actions to reduce climatic impact. In this paper, I examine four conceptual barriers to the consideration of aerosols in global agreements. I conclude that some of the major objections to considering aerosols under hemispheric or global agreements are illusory because: (1)?a few major sources will be addressed by local regulations, but the remainder may not be addressed by traditional air quality management; (2)?climate forcing by carbon particles is not limited to 'hot spots'?about 90% of it occurs at relatively low concentrations; (3)?while aerosol science is complex, the most salient characteristics of aerosol behavior can be condensed into tractable metrics including, but not limited to, the global warming potential; (4)?despite scientific uncertainties, reducing all aerosols from major sources of black carbon will reduce direct climate warming with a very high probability. This change in climate forcing accounts for at least 25% of the accompanying CO2 forcing with significant probability (25% for modern diesel engines, 90% for superemitting diesels, and 55% for cooking with biofuels). Thus, this fraction of radiative forcing should not be ignored.
SU‐FF‐T‐300: Monte Carlo Benchmark for Radiation Dose Assessment in Varian On‐Board Imager

Purpose: To evaluate radiation dose in kV cone‐beam computed tomography(CBCT) and to benchmark Monte Carlo(MC) simulations in the PMMA CT phantoms Method and Materials: Using an On‐Board Imager (Varian Medical Systems), we measured absorbed doses to the air in the head and body CT phantoms. The default x‐ray scan parameters were: 125kVp, 80mA, 25msec. The head phantom was scanned in “full‐fan” mode and the body phantom was scanned in “half‐fan” mode. Absorbed dose was measured with TLD‐100 chips (Harshaw); four TLD chips were placed at the midpoint of cylindrical cavities located in the center and peripheral locations of the phantom. We established a MC model for OBI x‐ray tube using BEAMnrc/EGSnrc code. XTUBE CM was used for the target and PYRAMID CM was used to build both full‐ and half‐bowtie filters. Directional bremsstrahlung splitting was adopted from the study (Mainegra‐Hing) to reduce the simulation time. The x‐ray spectrum obtained from MC was compared with that of IPEM report 78 for verification. DOSXYZnrc calculated dose to the head and body phantoms. To match the MC calculations with measurements, we normalized the MC simulations to the measurements at the isocenter of the phantoms. Results: The center‐to‐periphery dose ratios were 1.14 (TLD) and 1.0 (MC) for the head phantom and 0.57 (TLD) and 0.59 (MC) for the body phantom. The percentage differences between TLD and MC were 12% and 4% for the head and body phantoms, respectively. Conclusion: The differences were within 12% between MC and the TLD measurements. To our knowledge, this work was one of the first attempts to benchmark MC code for a clinical CBCTscanner. It provided a simple and effective method to benchmark MC code in CBCT. The large difference between MC and TLD should be investigated further. Partially supported by Varian research grant.
The interaction between micro- and macro-scopic flow in RTM preforms

Abstract Both experimental and modeling results are presented to convey the wide span of length scales over which flow in porous media can occur in a single material. Flow in such heterogeneous porous media are shown to be important in composites processing because the structure of fibrous reinforcements contains multiple length scales. Flow phenomena that arise due to material heterogeneity have been shown to include void formation and to explain the differences observed between measurements of the ‘wet’ permeability and the ‘dry’ permeability. The work presented indicates that the heterogeneous reinforcement structure may also contribute to the differences observed in permeability measurements carried out by the radial flow and the one-dimensional flow methods. The concept of heterogeneous porous media is also extended to the molecular level by considering the flow problem in a reinforcement sized with grafted macromolecules.
Σ 0 Lifetime and Associated Photoproduction Poles

The Born-approximation calculations for the differential cross sections for photoproduction of K/sup +/- LAMBDA and K/sup +/ - SIGMA /sup o/ pairs from hydrogen are generalized to include the effect of the SIGMA - LAMBDA mass difference and the possibility of odd SIGMA - LAMBDA parity. The residues of the poles in the unphysical regions of the centel-of-mass production angle are computed. It is shown that if the laboratory photon energy is greater than about 2 Bev, information may be obtained about the SIGMA /sup O/ lifetime and the anomalous moment of the produced hyperon by extrapolating the experimentally measured differential cross section in the backward direction of the K-production angle. (auth)
Testing messages to encourage discussion of clinical trials among cancer survivors and their physicians: examining monitoring style and message detail.

Encouraging cancer survivors to discuss clinical trials with their physicians may increase enrollment in clinical trials. Health messages offer one method for encouraging such discussions. We hypothesized that matching messages to an individual’s preference for detailed or non-detailed information (i.e., monitoring style) would result in more discussions. Participants (N = 538) were cancer survivors, who phoned the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service (CIS). Participants were classified as higher or lower monitors and then randomized to receive detailed or non-detailed messages in the mail 1 and 4 weeks following their baseline CIS call. At 12 weeks, there was a significant interaction between monitoring style and message detail. Follow-up analyses were nonsignificant but suggested a theoretically consistent pattern in which non-detailed messages were more effective among lower monitors. These findings imply that providing extremely detailed information may be excessive, even to individuals engaged in information seeking behavior.
ADIABATIC APPROXIMATION FOR SCATTERING PROCESSES

The adiabatic approximation, frequently utilized in treating bound states of quantum-mechanical systems, is shown to be applicable also to scattering processes in cases for which the number of excited states of the target contributing significantly to the wave function is limited, and for which the time of traversal of the scattered particle through the region of interaction is small compared with the period of the target motion excitable in the collision. In this approximation, calculation of partial inelastic cross sections is reduced to two steps: (1) determination of the elastic scattering amplitude for fixed target coordinates and (2) subsequent evaluation of scalar products in the space of the target. The method is illustrated by means of a simple one-dimensional example. Calculation of cross sections for nuclear rotational excitation by neutrons is formulated.
Intravascular hemolysis associated with coarctation of the aorta.

A 14-year-old boy with coarctation of the aorta and mild intravascular hemolytic anemia is described. Destruction of the red cells in the intravascular space appeared to be due to turbulence at the site of the coarctation. This is the first known report of overt intrarvascular hemolysis accompanying a congenital anatomical cardiovascular defect.
Sample selection rules and the intergenerational correlation of earnings

Abstract This paper investigates the sensitivity of estimates of the intergenerational correlation of earnings to different sample selection rules. Recent articles report father–son correlations to be on the order of 0.4. Those estimates, however, are based on samples which exclude observations with low or zero earnings. Since events such as unemployment are common, it is not clear that such episodes should be excluded. We show that estimated correlations are quite sensitive to the selection rule used. The sensitivity of estimates to selection rules suggests one should be cautious about using recent estimates to infer the degree of intergenerational mobility.
Purely mechanical constitutive theory for fluid-filled porous materials with broken outer boundaries

The purely mechanical constitutive theory for a fluid-filled porous material is reexamined from a point of view that the outer boundary of an actual representative volume element consists of solid and fluid. Volume average kinematical and kinetical quantities for porous materials with broken outer boundaries are introduced. If a pointwise stress distribution on the inner boundary of the porous solid material is replaced by a constant hydrostatic fluid pressure, the form of constitutive equations for the broken outer boundary case is shown to be the same as that for the closed outer boundary case.
CHARACTERIZATION OF RETINOIC ACID-INDUCED AP-1 ACTIVITY IN B16 MOUSE MELANOMA CELLS

Retinoic acid (RA) induces differentiation of B16 mouse melanoma cells, which is accompanied by an increase in protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha) as well as a selective enrichment of nuclear PKCalpha. We report here that RA also increases AP-1 activity in these cells. Transient transfection of B16 cells with luciferase reporter gene constructs indicated that RA induced a concentration-dependent increase in AP-1 activity. Acute treatment (2 h) of B16 cells with phorbol dibutyrate (PDB) increased AP-1 activity by 10-fold. RA treatment did not change the expression of Jun family members; however, it decreased the expression of c-Fos. In contrast acute PDB treatment induced c-Fos expression, while having little effect on c-Jun. Five DNA-protein complexes were formed with nuclear extracts from B16 cells and an oligonucleotide containing an AP-1 consensus sequence. Several complexes were decreased in cells treated with RA. Conversely, certain complexes were increased in cells acutely treated with PDB. The slowest migrating complexes were shown to contain Fos family members. Down-regulation of PKC inhibited both the acute PDB-induced and the RA-induced increase in AP-1 activity. The selective PKC enzyme inhibitor, bisindolylmaleimide, reduced PDB-stimulated AP-1 activity, but enhanced RA-induced AP-1 activity. These results together with our previous studies suggest the intriguing possibility that PKC protein, but not enzyme activity, may be required for RA-induced AP-1 activity.
Hot spots for growth hormone gene deletions in homologous regions outside of Alu repeats

Familial growth hormone deficiency type 1A is an autosomal recessive disease caused by deletion of both growth hormone-1 (GH1) alleles. Ten patients from heterogeneous geographic origins showed differences in restriction fragment length polymorphism haplotypes in nondeleted regions that flanked GH1, suggesting that these deletions arose from independent unequal recombination events. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples from nine of ten patients showed that crossovers occurred within 99% homologous, 594-base pair (bp) segments that flanked GH1. A DNA sample from one patient indicated that the crossover occurred within 454-bp segments that flanked GH1 and contained 274-bp repeats that are 98% homologous. Although Alu repeats, which are frequent sites of recombination, are adjacent to GH1, they were not involved in any of the recombination events studied. These results suggest that length and degree of DNA sequence homology are important in defining recombination sites that resulted in GH1 deletions.
Development of the high-tc phase by recrystallization of melt-quenched BiCaSrCu oxides

Abstract Oxide materials in the Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu system were prepared by a melt-quench method. The starting compositions were 2-2-2-3, 2-3-2-4 and 2-4-2-5. Three superconducting phases, 2-0-2-1, 2-1-2-2 and 2-2-2-3, crystallized sequentially in specific heat-treatment regimes. The phases corresponded to the single-, double-, and triple-layered structures with T c values of 20, 80 and 105 K respectively. The high- T c phase developed after prolonged heat treatment at 865°C. Superconducting transitions as high as 105 K were observed. Our results suggest that an interaction between an unidentified liquid phase and 2-1-2-2 promotes the development of the 2-2-2-3 phase.
Melatonin as an antioxidant – a role in human aging?

N-Acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, commonly known as melatonin, was isolated and structurally identified by a dermatologist, Aaron B. Lerner, in 1958. His interest stemmed from the fact that melatonin has potent skin-lightening effects in amphibians and some other non-mammalian species. In humans, however, melatonin is not capable of lightening skin or in reducing pigmentation. While melatonin synthesis is the best known to occur in the pineal gland, it is also produced in several other organs including the skin. Melatonin is a powerful, multifaceted direct free radical scavenger and indirect antioxidant. Numerous studies have shown that melatonin production wanes with increasing age and its loss has been speculated to be consequential in free radical-mediated cellular and organ deterioration that occurs in the elderly. Additionally, a number of free radical-related diseases, e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinsonism, cataract formation, etc., may in part be a consequence of the loss of endogenous melatonin production. The administration of melatonin in animal models of these diseases typically defers their progression and limits their severity. Likewise, due to its antioxidant properties and via other mechanisms, melatonin may reduce skin aging. Melatonin, when applied topically to the skin of humans, has obvious protective effects against ultraviolet (UV) light-induced erythema. Also, lipid peroxidation in human skin fibroblasts due to their exposure to UV-B is reduced when melatonin is present.
Schottky-barrier lowering on gallium arsenide by submicron ohmic contacts

Abstract Although low-barrier Schottky diodes have been fabricated on n-types GaAs using an alloy process, there has been no good model which describes the Schottky-barrier lowering during the sintering cycle. We propose that the lowering of the barrier is due not only to a thin highly-doped region near the Schottky/semiconductor interface, but also to an array of heavily-doped areas separated by higher-barrier regions whose formation depends on the thickness and type of Schottky metals used. It will be shown that such a structure is capable of giving very low forward turn-on voltage, depending on the size of the ohmic areas, while maintaining an acceptable reverse-leakage current.
Sodium Channel Inactivation in Squid Axon is Removed by High Internal pH or Tyrosine-Specific Reagents

In squid axon, internal alkalinization from pH 7.1 to pH 10.2 results in a reversible decrease of the maximum inward current and the steady state sodium channel inactivation. Similar effects were observed after treatment of the axon with tetranitromethane or after iodination with lactoperoxidase. These results suggest that a tyrosine residue is an essential component of the inactivation process in this nerve.
Impact of pubertal development on body fat distribution among white, Hispanic, and Asian female adolescents.

Variation in the waist/hip ratio (WHR) may be related to changes in hormonal secretion associated with pubertal maturation. We therefore studied the effects of race, pubertal development, and body fatness on WHR during adolescence in a multiethnic population. A total of 688 white, Asian, and Hispanic female adolescents (mean (±SD) 12.4±0.7 years), participating in the evaluation of a multisite school-based health education program, were included in these analyses. Self-assessed stage of puberty and measurements of height, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference were obtained from each participant. The WHR and age-adjusted body mass index were calculated. Analysis of covariance demonstrated that puberty significantly affects hip circumference and WHR but not waist circumference among female adolescents. Age and fatness, as reflected by age-adjusted body mass index, contributed significantly to both circumferences and to the WHR. There was a significant effect of ethnicity on hip circumference but not on waist circumference or the WHR. These results confirm that pubertal stage exerts a significant effect on the hip circumference and WHR in female adolescents, even after the effects of fatness and age are controlled. Studies of body fat distribution during late childhood and adolescence should include assessments of pubertal maturation.
Axisymmetric Adhesion Tests of Pressure Sensitive Adhesives

>The fracture mechanics of adhesion tests based on the contact of a flat punch or a spherical indenter with a thin elastic layer are studied. For a flat punch, existing literature data are used to derive semi-empirical analytic expression for the compliance of the thin film. For spherical indenters, the load-displacement relationship, in addition to values for the compliance, are obtained from finite element analysis. Preliminary experimental results on the adhesion of a spherical indenter to commercially available pressure sensitive adhesives are also described, and the fracture mechanics analysis is placed in the context of these results.
Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging on an IVUS circular array

Our long-term goal is the detection and characterization of vulnerable plaque in the coronary arteries of the heart using IVUS catheters. Vulnerable plaque, characterized by a thin fibrous cap and a soft, lipid-rich, necrotic core is a pre-cursor to heart attack and stroke. Early detection of such plaques may potentially alter the course of treatment of the patient in order to prevent ischemic events. In this paper, we modified Volcano Visions 8.2 French, 9MHz catheters and Volcano Platinum 3.5 French, 20MHz catheters by short circuiting portions of the array for ARFI applications. The catheters had an effective transmit aperture size of 2mm and 1.5mm respectively. The catheters were connected to a Verasonics scanner and driven with pushing pulses of 180Vp-p to acquire ARFI data from a soft gel phantom with a Young's modulus of 2.9 kPa. The dynamic response of the tissue-mimicking material demonstrates a typical ARFI motion of 1-2 microns as the gel phantom displaces away and recovers back to its normal position. Our results demonstrate that the generation of radiation force from IVUS catheters and the development of intravascular ARFI may be feasible.
Elevated plasma C3 anaphylatoxin levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Because synovial fluid levels of the C3 anaphylatoxins, C3a and C3a desArg, are more than 7 times higher in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than in patients with degenerative joint disease or traumatic arthritis, we conducted a prospective study of plasma levels of C3 and C5 anaphylatoxins in 11 RA patients. The mean level of C3 anaphylatoxin in 37 RA plasma specimens was twice as high as that in samples obtained from 9 normal volunteers (272.9 +/- 106.1 ng/ml versus 133.9 +/- 19.4 ng/ml) (P less than 0.05). We found that the joint index and the disease activity index were correlated with the plasma C3 anaphylatoxin level, and that the correlation values were similar to those for serum C-reactive protein level and for the Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate. In correlations of the joint index and disease activity index with combinations of laboratory test results, the plasma C3a level, the serum C-reactive protein level, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, we found that almost any pair of laboratory tests correlated more strongly than did any one test.
Silhouette and background information analysis

Michelle N. Moore and John D. OConnor US Army RDECOM CERDEC Night Visi on and Electronic Sensors Directorate 10221 Burbeck Road, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 22060 ABSTRACT Thermal target identification testing was conducted to explore some of the potential differences in the perception of ID cues in conventional gray shade images, and those same target images when rendered as various types of silhouette, including one with no background. Such experiments may give insigh t into the human targ et identification and discrimination tasks relevant to emerging la ser-based imaging technology. For example, laser range gating is known to produce silhouett ed grey shade targets with a single grey shade background like the ones included here. Well-understood thermal imagery of a well-understood target set was chosen as a conve nient and relevant baseline image set for initial exploration. Experiments were formed to compare human vehicle ID performance when viewing full gray-shade imagery versus viewing various combinations of silhouette images. Experiments were performed using 1) Original gray-shade imagery, 2) Silhouette (uniform target) with no background (i.e. background consisting of uniform grey shade, 3) silhouette (target) with (original grey shade) background, and 4) Original target with no background. An eight target set was presented at three different aspects. Notional viewing ranges were simulate d by applying two levels of Gaussian blur and two down sampling rates to the complete experimental target set. Observer results indicate higher target identification scores for the target with no background and silhouette with no background imagery than for the original gray shade imagery. However, ID results were lower for silhouette with background imagery than for the original imagery. Keywords: Silhouette, modeling, target signature , infrared, delta T, human perception 1. BACKGROUND The development of Laser Range Gated (LRG ) sensors has added a new dimension to modeling sensor performance for target acqui sition. LRG sensor systems are intended to classify, recognize or identify a target after it has been detected. Laser range gating allows the user to choose to view only the target without background, or only the background with the silhouette of the target. Traditional passive sensor models often model the target contrast relative to th e background (Johnson, 1958). The current target-to-background contrast method in Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) calculates the ¨ T, (target to background temperature difference) using the Root Sum of Squares, or RSS (Lawson and Ratc hes, 1972). This can be defined as:
Simulated Osteotomy of the Trapezium Reduces Radial Subluxation and Improves Contact Pressure Distribution Across the Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint in Lateral Pinch

Joint laxity and radial subluxation of the metacarpal on the trapezium have been associated with arthritis of the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint of the thumb. In normal flexion and extension of the thumb, the ligaments and the joint are minimally stressed. However, in opposition and lateral pinch (key pinch), the two surfaces rotate on each other, generating an unequal surface stress. Over time, the unequal stresses lead to an asymmetrical wear pattern. This leads to increased strain on the ligaments and may lead to subluxation over time.1 Surgical treatment of early arthritis of the CMC joint includes ligament reconstruction or first metacarpal extension osteotomy to decrease joint laxity. Once laxity exists, joint degeneration is accelerated.2 The long-term impact of painful CMC arthritis on activities of daily living can be debilitating.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Pleuroperitoneal shunting for malignant pleural effusions.

Traditional therapy for malignant pleural effusions includes thoracentesis or tube drainage with instillation of irritants to achieve pleurodesis. This can require a lengthy hospitalization, causes pain and discomfort, and has an appreciable failure rate. Because of these drawbacks, the authors used a shunting device to transfer fluid to the peritoneal cavity in 17 patients with malignant pleural effusions. Eleven patients had undergone previous therapeutic thoracenteses and three had chest tube placement with failed sclerosis. The shunt was a subcutaneous valved pump chamber with attached pleural and peritoneal catheters, which used manual compression to transfer fluid against the normal abdominal/pleural pressure gradient. Operative placement under local or general anesthesia was performed without complication. Five patients achieved minimal benefit, either because of moribund status (2) or their inability to compress the pump effectively (3). In the other 12 patients, there was radiographic evidence of diminished or stabilized pleural effusion; respiratory symptoms were effectively palliated, and no further treatment for their effusion was required. Peritoneal dissemination of malignant cells has not been clinically detected. We feel that pleuroperitoneal shunting is a valid new method for treatment of malignant pleural effusions which can effectively palliate respiratory symptoms with low morbidity. Advantages include the absence of external tubing and the possibility for only a short hospitalization or even outpatient placement. Shunting is applicable for patients who are able to perform the requisite pumping and is particularly suitable for those with trapped lungs or who have failed attempted pleural sclerosis. Cancer 58:2740-2743, 1986. RADITIONAL THERAPY for malignant pleural effuT sions consists of thoracentesis or intercostal tube drainage with subsequent instillation of pleural irritants to achieve pleurodesis. These processes can require a lengthy hospitalization, cause pain and discomfort for the patient and have an appreciable complication and failure rate.' Because of these drawbacks we have used a shunting device to transfer pleural fluid to the peritoneal cavity in patients with symptomatic malignant pleural effusions to determine the risks of placement, to evaluate associated morbidity, and to assess efficacy of palliation of respiratory symptoms.
Effective Treatment of Phlyctenular Keratoconjunctivitis with Oral Tetracycline

Purpose: To determine the clinical characteristics, possible etiologic agents, and response to oral antibiotic therapy in patients with phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis. Methods: The authors reviewed the medical records of the 17 patients with phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis who were seen and treated at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between 1981 and 1991. Results: All 17 patients were younger than 18 years of age at the onset of their disease. Girls (n =14) outnumbered boys (n = 3) 4:1. Significant incapacitating symptoms and ocular morbidity occurred frequently, including three perforated corneas. Five of ten patients who were tested for Chlamydia infection had positive test results and five patients possibly had early rosacea dermatitis. All patients experienced long-term remission of their ocular disease after a course of oral tetracycline or erythromycin. Two patients demonstrated unique linear (fascicular) corneal phlyctenules. Conclusion: Oral tetracycline or erythromycin treatment produces long-lasting remission of phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis in affected children.
Boundary crossing random variables related to quantile convergence

Let X1, X2, … be a sequence of independent random variables with distribution F. Suppose that 0 < p < 1, that ζp is the unique p-th quantile of F, and that ζp,n is the sample p-th quantile of X1,…,Xn. If B(n) → O+ sufficiently slowly then N(b(n))=∑n=1∞I{|ζp,n − ζp| > b(n)} and L(b(n)) = sup {n:|ζp,n − ζp| > b(n)} are finite with probability one. In this paper we investigate the moment behavior of N and L for sequences b(n) approaching zero at a variety of rates.
The effects of cigarette smoking on script-driven imagery in smokers with and without posttraumatic stress disorder

The study investigated the effects of smoking a nicotinized or denicotinized cigarette on craving, affect and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms while recalling neutral, stressful and traumatic events in smokers with and without PTSD. Smokers completed laboratory sessions during which they were presented with audiotapes of personalized scripts followed by smoking a cigarette. The effect of the script and cigarette conditions on dependent variables was evaluated. There was a main effect of script type across groups for smoking craving, negative affect and PTSD symptoms, with increased symptoms in trauma and stressful conditions. Responses were significantly higher in PTSD smokers. Smoking either cigarette type resulted in decreased craving, negative affect and PTSD symptoms in both groups. A second script presentation following smoking elicited similar responses, suggesting the ameliorative effect of having smoked a cigarette was short-lived. These results support that context and non-pharmacologic effects of smoking are important variables in smoking craving and mood, particularly in smokers with PTSD.
Late prognostic value of scintigraphic parameters of acute myocardial infarction size in complicated myocardial infarction without heart failure.

Perfusion scintigraphy with thallium-201, infarct scintigraphy with technetium-99m pyrophosphate (TcPYP), and equilibrium blood pool scintigraphy were performed during the initial hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (MI) in 25 patients without evidence of heart failure who presented with advanced electrocardiographic rhythm and conduction disturbances requiring treatment. Scintigraphic findings during short-term hospitalization were related to the late clinical follow-up performed an average of 14 months later, where patients were grouped as asymptomatic, 8 patients; symptomatic, 9 patients; and deceased, 8 patients. Quantitation of perfusion abnormalities, TcPYP image abnormalities, and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) revealed that the deceased group had significantly larger TcPYP abnormalities (36 ± 20 cm2), absolute perfusion abnormalities (32 ± 16 cm2), and perfusion abnormalities expressed as a percentage of the projected left ventricular area (42 ± 8%) than the asymptomatic group (13 ± 8 cm2, 14 ± 6 cm2, and 20 ± 9%; p 0.05, and p < 0.01, respectively). The percent perfusion abnormality was significantly larger in the deceased group (42 ± 8%, p < 0.01) than in either the symptomatic group (35 ± 13%, p < 0.01) or the asymptomatic group (20 ±9%), and this parameter in the symptomatic group also differed from that in the asymptomatic group (p < 0.01). The study indicates that patients with rhythm and conduction disturbances and without congestive heart failure during acute MI may follow an uncomplicated or a complicated late clinical course. Early scintigraphic measurements of MI and perfusion correlate well with this outcome; however, EF could not differentiate among prognostic subgroups.
Selection of diurnal roosts by red bats (Lasiurus borealis) in an intensively managed pine forest in Mississippi

Abstract Forest managers are increasingly expected to incorporate biodiversity objectives within forest landscapes devoted to timber production. However, data on which to base management recommendations for bats within these systems are limited. Although the red bat ( Lasiurus borealis ) is a widespread and common species in temperate forests of North America, little is known of its ecology within intensively managed pine ( Pinus spp.) forests of the southeastern United States. Diurnal roost sites of red bats may be limiting on industrial pine forests due to a lack of large hardwoods within managed stands. Therefore, we investigated selection of day roosts by red bats at multiple spatial scales during June–September 2000 and May–August 2001 in an intensively managed pine landscape in east-central Mississippi, USA. We captured bats using 4-tier mist nets placed over water and attached 0.47–0.54 g radiotransmitters to captured red bats ( n = 46). We located day roosts of red bats ( n = 141 roosts of 27 bats) for the life of the transmitters. Red bats roosted in 16 species of hardwood trees (70% of day roosts) and loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda ; 30% of day roosts). In contrast to other studies in the southeastern United States, red bats roosted in pine trees and in midstory hardwood trees. Within thinned pine stands, red bats tended to prefer roost trees with a denser subcanopy and higher basal area as compared to random sites. Stand-level characteristics appeared more important than individual tree characteristics in choice of diurnal roosts. Except for adult males, logistic regression models of roost sites of red bats had high (≥79%) correct classification rates. Day roost site requirements of red bats may exhibit greater plasticity than previously thought. On our study area, intensive forest management appears compatible with diurnal roost needs of this species.
Isolated Common Iliac Aneurysm and Spontaneous Ilioiliac Arteriovenous Fistula in a Patient with Subsequent Type II Endoleak and Successful Endovascular Management.

angiographic endpoint. However, the initial plan was not for embolization as a definitive measure, but rather as a temporizing measure to stabilize the patient’s condition for definitive surgery. Embolization was terminated because of hemodynamic improvement and stabilization of the patient’s condition despite the presence of minimal residual flow. Our intent to perform interval surgery could be also seen in that our needle trajectory traversed only the right lower lobe, with extensive coil embolization of the parenchyma tract, as right lower lobe lobectomy was an expected outcome. It was fortuitous that the patient’s condition not only stabilized, but that he went on to show a full recovery following embolization, averting surgical intervention altogether. We postulate that the low pressure and slow flow of the pulmonary venous system allowed eventual thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm despite the incomplete embolization.
The structure of some quasi-steady fire-spread waves

An experimental and theoretical examination of the mass burning and evaporation-rate structure of a bed of fine solid-fuel elements is made for several cases of quasi-steady firespread waves propagating along and into the surface of the bed. Several distinct regimes are found to characterize the vaporization and degradation history of the fuel array. The extent of penetration of the propagating-flame phenomenon into the fuel array is found and related to various thermophysical constants as well as the vaporization kinetic parameters which characterize the array and its elements.
The Care and Feeding of Advisory Boards

Corporate advisory boards are not subject to the same liability exposure as directors. At the same time, they offer a valuable governance resource—if they are properly nurtured.
Research reports on treatments for bipolar disorder: preliminary assessment of methodological quality.

Objective: To assess frequencies of types of publications about bipolar disorder (BD) and evaluate methodological quality of treatment studies. Method: We classified 100 randomly selected articles (1998–2002) from five psychiatric journals with highest impact ratings, by topic areas, and assessed methods employed in treatment studies. Results: Topics ranked: treatment (41%; 37% on pharmacotherapy) > biology (31%) > psychopathology (14%) = miscellaneous (14%). Of treatment studies, only 19% of original articles were randomized, 15% were relatively large (n ≥ 50) but non-randomized, 65% were small non-randomized, case-series or -reports, and 53% relied on baseline-to-endpoint contrasts without a control group. Patient dropout rates were ≥40% in 43% of prospective studies. Only two reports provided confidence intervals; one included a power analysis, and 53% included no references on study design or statistical methods. Conclusion: Even in highly respected journals, the typical methodological quality of recent reports on therapeutics for BD was unexpectedly limited, and psychopathology and psychotherapies were little studied.