cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pioneer Venus Results: An Overview

A summary is presented of the scientific results obtained during the first 120 days of the Pioneer Venus orbiter mission and produced by analysis of multiprobe data as of about 1 April 1979. The summary is essentially a guide to the material presented in the reports devoted to Pioneer Venus results in this issue of Science.
Managing autonomy in robot teams: observations from four experiments

It is often desirable for a human to manage multiple robots. Autonomy is required to keep workload within tolerable ranges, and dynamically adapting the type of autonomy may be useful for responding to environment and workload changes. We identify two management styles for managing multiple robots and present results from four experiments that have relevance to dynamic autonomy within these two management styles. These experiments, which involved 80 subjects, suggest that individual and team autonomy benefit from attention management aids, adaptive autonomy, and proper information abstraction.
Neuropeptide-dopamine interactions. V. Cyclo(His-Pro) regulation of striatal dopamine transporter complex.

Cyclo(His-Pro) (CHP) is a cyclic dipeptide that is ubiquitously distributed through the central nervous system, including striatum. Many biologic effects of CHP seem to be mediated through a dopaminergic mechanism. To further examine the mechanism of action of this peptide, we have studied effects of chronic CHP treatment on the properties of nigro-striatal dopaminergic neurons in rats. Chronic CHP administration elicited significant increase in both KD and Bmax of striatal mazindol-binding sites (labelling DA transporter complex), but no change in either D1- or D2-type DA receptors. Chronic treatment with DA uptake blockers (e.g., benztropine, GBR 12909, bupropion, and mazindol) also produced changes in striatal mazindol-binding sites that were similar to that of chronic CHP. Furthermore, CHP led to a dose-dependent inhibition of [3H]-DA uptake by striatal synaptosomes, reaching to maximal inhibition of uptake (30%) at CHP dosage of 10 nM. The dose-response curve for CHP inhibition of DA uptake, unlike DA uptake blockers that led to a total inhibition, was partial and V-shaped. Again unlike DA uptake blockers, CHP did not inhibit the binding of [3H]-mazindol to striatal membranes. On the basis of these data we hypothesize that while CHP may inhibit DA uptake by modifying mazindol-binding locus at DA transporter complex, its primary action may be at a site other than mazindol-binding site.
Relationships between the surface electronic and chemical properties of doped 4d and 5d late transition metal dioxides

Density functional theory calculations were performed to elucidate the underlying physics describing the adsorption energies on doped late transition metal dioxide rutiles. Adsorption energies of atomic oxygen on doped rutiles MD-MHO2, where transition metal MD is doped into MHO2, were expressed in terms of a contribution from adsorption on the pure oxide of the dopant MD and perturbations to this adsorption energy caused by changing its neighboring metal cations and lattice parameters to that of the host oxide MHO2, which we call the ligand and strain effects, respectively. Our analysis of atom projected density of states revealed that the t2g-band center had the strongest correlation with adsorption energies. We show that charge transfer mediated shifts to the t2g-band center describe the ligand effect, and the radii of the atomic orbitals of metal cations can predict the magnitude and direction of this charge transfer. Strain produces systematic shifts to all features of the atom projected density of s...
N-Methyl scan of somatostatin octapeptide agonists produces interesting effects on receptor subtype specificity.

The search for synthetic analogues of somatostatin which exhibit selective affinities for the five receptor subtypes is of considerable basic and therapeutic interest and has generated a large number of potent agonist analogues with a wide spectrum of binding profiles. In the past, conformational restriction of side chain groups and the peptide backbone has yielded the most interesting results. Under the latter category and as part of the present study, we were interested in the potential effects of N-methylation of peptide bond NH groups on binding affinity since this approach had not been systematically examined with these peptides. This was aided by new chemistries for introducing an N-Me group during regular solid-phase peptide synthesis using Boc protection. A number of interesting effects were noted on relative binding affinities of the two series of agonist sequences chosen, dPhe5(or Tyr5)-c[Cys6-Phe7-dTrp8-Lys9-Thr10-Cys11]Thr12-NH2 (SRIF numbering), at the five known human somatostatin receptors ...
A solution of the two-dimensional boundary-layer equations for an Ostwald—deWaele fluid

Abstract The Gortler series method for the solution of the two-dimensional boundary-layer flow equations is extended to include Ostwald—deWaele (power-law) fluids. The resulting differential equations are solved numerically for the first two to four terms of the series solution over a wide range of dilatant and pseudo-plastic behavior and for two different classes of flows, flat plate type flows and symmetrical flows over rounded contours. It is shown that the approximate method of Acrivos gives, in general, a good approximation to the velocity gradient at the wall, but that errors of 20 per cent or greater can be expected when using this method in the vicinity of the separation point or for highly pseudo-plastic fluids.
Determination of Heats of Adsorption by Transient-Response Techniques

THE classical equations of chromatography1 have been applied to the determination of the heat of adsorption of a gas on a solid2,3 by recognizing that the measured residence time, within a packed column, of a pulse of adsorbable gas relative to that of the carrier (or non-adsorbable component) may be related to an ‘equilibrium constant’ K a by the equation: where t a and t c represent the retention times, respectively, of the active and carrier species. By assuming that K a ≫ 1 and utilizing the usual temperature functionality for K a, Greene and Pust2 show that the logarithm of the retention time of the adsorbing component is linearly related to the reciprocal of the absolute temperature. Thus the observed data on retention time versus temperature permit the evaluation of the adsorption heat, ΔH. Good agreement between values of ΔH determined by this technique and those obtained by others calorimetrically and/or isosterically was found by Greene and Pust for the adsorption of some low boiling gases on charcoal and for light hydrocarbons on alumina and silica gel at temperatures below 100° C. However, these authors correctly noted that no simple correspondence should exist between heats of adsorption derived from continuous-flow transient-response data (adsorption chromatography in their work) and those obtained by calorimetric methods, since the latter are functions of surface coverage.
Neutralization of staphylococcal enterotoxin B by soluble, high-affinity receptor antagonists

Neutralization of staphylococcal enterotoxin B by soluble, high-affinity receptor antagonists
A three-prong strategy to develop functional food using protein isolates recovered from chicken processing by-products with isoelectric solubilization/precipitation.

BACKGROUND: Skin-on bone-in chicken drumsticks were processed with isoelectric solubilization/precipitation to recover muscle proteins. The drumsticks were used as a model for dark chicken meat processing by-products. The main objective of this study was conversion of dark chicken meat processing by-products to restructured functional food product. An attempt was made to develop functional food product that would resemble respective product made from boneless skinless chicken breast meat. A three-prong strategy to address diet-driven cardiovascular disease (CVD)with a functional food was used in this study. The strategy included addition of three ingredients with well-documented cardiovascular benefits: (i) ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich oil (flaxseed-algae, 9:1); (ii) soluble fiber; and (iii) salt substitute. Titanium dioxide, potato starch, polyphosphate, and transglutaminase were also added. The batters were formulated and cooked resulting in heat-set gels. RESULTS: Color (L*a*b*), texture (torsion test, Kramer shear test, and texture profile analysis), thermal denaturation (differential scanning calorimetry), and gelation (dynamic rheology) of chicken drumstick gels and chicken breast gels were determined and compared. Chicken drumstick gels generally had comparable color and texture properties to the gels made from chicken breast meat. The endothermic transition (thermal denaturation) of myosin was more pronounced and gelation properties were better for the drumstick gels. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a feasibility to develop functional food made of muscle proteins recovered with isoelectric solubilization/precipitation from low-value dark chicken meat processing by-products. The functional food developed in this study was enriched with CVD-beneficial nutrients and had comparable instrumental quality attributes to respective products made of chicken breast meat. Although the results of this study point towards the potential for a novel, marketable functional food product, sensory tests and storage stability study are recommended. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Fall prevention research and practice: a total worker safety approach

Slips, trips, and falls (STF) represent a serious hazard to workers and occupants in many industries, homes, and communities. Often, the cause of a STF incident is multifactorial, encompassing human, environmental, and task risk factors. A STF-related disability can greatly diminish the occupational capability and quality of life of individuals in both the workplace and the home. Countering STF hazards and risks both on and off the job and on all aspects of control measures is a “total worker safety” matter, a challenging yet tangible undertaking. As the federal organization responsible for conducting research for the prevention of work-related injuries in the United States, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has been conducting research on STF controls for some decades. Many NIOSH research outcomes have been utilized for STF prevention in workplaces, with potential for prevention in homes as well. This paper summarizes the concept of total worker safety for STF control, NIOSH priority research goals, major activities, and accomplishments, and some emerging issues on STF. The strategic planning process for the NIOSH research goals and some identified research focuses are applicable to the development and implementation of global STF research goals.
Use of Patient-Derived Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Integrases To Identify a Protein Residue That Affects Target Site Selection

To identify parts of retroviral integrase that interact with cellular DNA, we tested patient-derived human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrases for alterations in the choice of nonviral target DNA sites. This strategy took advantage of the genetic diversity of HIV-1, which provided 75 integrase variants that differed by a small number of amino acids. Moreover, our hypothesis that biological pressures on the choice of nonviral sites would be minimal was validated when most of the proteins that catalyzed DNA joining exhibited altered target site preferences. Comparison of the sequences of proteins with the same preferences then guided mutagenesis of a laboratory integrase. The results showed that single amino acid substitutions at one particular residue yielded the same target site patterns as naturally occurring integrases that included these substitutions. Similar results were found with DNA joining reactions conducted with Mn2+ or with Mg2+ and were confirmed with a nonspecific alcoholysis assay. Other amino acid changes at this position also affected target site preferences. Thus, this novel approach has identified a residue in the central domain of HIV-1 integrase that interacts with or influences interactions with cellular DNA. The data also support a model in which integrase has distinct sites for viral and cellular DNA.
Synchrotron light source experiments: Bringing aladdin on line

Abstract At the beginning of 1985, Aladdin, the 1 GeV electron storage ring at the Synchrotron Radiation Center of the University of Wisconsin — Madison, could achieve, at best, 1.5 mA at 800 MeV. By the end of February, 1986, the achievable current at 800 MeV had risen to 150 mA. The scientific and technical effort that led to this two order of magnitude increase in performance is described.
Crystal structures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase in ternary complex with substrate and inhibitors.

S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) is a ubiquitous enzyme that plays a central role in methylation-based processes by maintaining the intracellular balance between S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) and S-adenosylmethionine. We report the first prokaryotic crystal structure of SAHH, from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), in complex with adenosine (ADO) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Structures of complexes with three inhibitors are also reported: 3′-keto aristeromycin (ARI), 2-fluoroadenosine, and 3-deazaadenosine. The ARI complex is the first reported structure of SAHH complexed with this inhibitor, and confirms the oxidation of the 3′ hydroxyl to a planar keto group, consistent with its prediction as a mechanism-based inhibitor. We demonstrate the in vivo enzyme inhibition activity of the three inhibitors and also show that 2-fluoradenosine has bactericidal activity. While most of the residues lining the ADO-binding pocket are identical between Mtb and human SAHH, less is known about the binding mode of the homocysteine (HCY) appendage of the full substrate. We report the 2.0 A resolution structure of the complex of SAHH cocrystallized with SAH. The most striking change in the structure is that binding of HCY forces a rotation of His363 around the backbone to flip out of contact with the 5′ hydroxyl of the ADO and opens access to a nearby channel that leads to the surface. This complex suggests that His363 acts as a switch that opens up to permit binding of substrate, then closes down after release of the cleaved HCY. Differences in the entrance to this access channel between human and Mtb SAHH are identified.
Methodology for the Examination of the Function of Values and Interests in the Process of Social Change

This paper reports the methods used to investigate a problem in social change. In order to investigate how internalized social values and interests affect the direction of the historical process two instruments were developed. The first purports to measure general orientations to change and to resistance to change along with preferences for making choices in terms of general values or special interests; the second investigates styles of behavior in response to pressures to change when the pressures are historically significant and the respondents playing significant roles in the situation facing change. The instruments were tested on a sample of priests from the Boston Archdiocese where, along with all parish structures in the Church today, roles are being pressured toward change of behavior long institutionalized in the areas of commandobedience relations, social responsibility, independence training for children, respect for the intellectual life and motivational awareness. This paper handles specifically the methodological problems of operationalizing the abstractions "values" and "interests," and the use of historically significant stimuli in place of artificial laboratory situations.
High field-effect-mobility a-Si:H TFT based on high deposition-rate materials

Summary form only given. The hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with field-effect mobility (/spl mu//sub FE/) of 1.5 cm/sup 2//V/spl middot/s and threshold voltage (V/sub /spl tau//) of 1.9 V have been fabricated using the high deposition-rate plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited (PECVD) materials. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest field-effect mobility ever reported for a-Si:H TFT made from high deposition-rate materials.
A comparison of the toxicity of ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Daily oral doses of 50,000, 100,000 and 200,000 IU of ergocal- ciferol and cholecalciferol in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) demonstrated that cholecalciferol was significantly more toxic than ergocalciferol in this spe cies. All animals given cholecalciferol developed hypercalcemia, died and had extensive soft tissue mineralization. Hypercalcemia occurred in ergocalciferol- supplemented monkeys, but the animals survived and comparable soft tissue mineralization was not evident after sacrifice. A unique feature of the lesion of cholecalciferol toxicity was the deposition of crystals resembling urates with an associated granulomatous reaction. A relationship to relative vitamin A deficiency was suggested. J. Nutr. 102: 975-986, 1972.
Antiinfective Applications of Toll-like Receptor 9 Agonists

The innate immune system detects pathogens by the presence of highly conserved pathogen-expressed molecules, which trigger host immune defenses. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 detects unmethylated CpG dinucleotides in bacterial or viral DNA, and can be stimulated for therapeutic applications with synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides containing immune stimulatory "CpG motifs." TLR9 activation induces both innate and adaptive immunity. The TLR9-induced innate immune activation can be applied in the prevention or treatment of infectious diseases, and the adaptive immune-enhancing effects can be harnessed for improving vaccines. This article highlights the current understanding of the mechanism of action of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides, and provides an overview of the preclinical data and early human clinical trial results, applying these TLR9 agonists in the field of infectious diseases.
Effects of Talents Unlimited Counseling on Gifted/Learning Disabled Students:

Students who have learning disabilities concurrently with giftedness continue to trouble educators regarding the nature of programming best suited to their needs. While numerous extant studies have concentrated on the disabilities of such students, this analysis, patterned after a similar study (Olenchak, 1995), has focused on their personal strengths. This inquiry was structured to ascertain the effects of counseling aimed at enhancing their success in instructional environments. The counseling interventions were based predominately on Talents Unlimited (Schlichter & Palmer, 1993) and the study probed their effects on the attitudes, self-concepts, and creative productivity of gifted/LD youngsters enrolled in the sixth through eighth grades. Quantitative results indicated that year-long participation in such counseling had significant positive impact on attitudes toward school and self-concept. Furthermore, qualitative data consisting of interviews, journal analyses, and classroom observations reinforced the quantitative findings.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars Program: An opportunity for junior nurse faculty

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty Scholars program provides promising junior faculty extramural funding, expert mentoring, and the training needed to be successful in the academic role. The Nurse Faculty Scholars program, which admitted its first cohort in 2008, is designed to address the nursing faculty shortage by enhancing leadership, educational, and research skills in junior nursing faculty. This article provides an overview of the program, its purpose, and its eligibility requirements. The authors give strategies for selecting mentors, developing the written application, and preparing for an oral interview. Finally, the authors provide an analysis of funded institutions, research design and methods from current and recently funded projects, and rank and positions held by nursing mentors.
The Slidepipe: a timeline-based controller for real-time sample manipulation

When working with sample-based media, a performer is managing timelines, loop points, sample parameters and effects parameters. The Slidepipe is a performance controller that gives the artist a visually simple way to work with their material. Its design is modular and lightweight, so it can be easily transported and quickly assembled. Also, its large stature magnifies the gestures associated with its play, providing a more convincing performance. In this paper, I will describe what the controller is, how this new controller interface has affected my live performance, and how it can be used in different performance scenarios.
Apraxia: the rise, fall and resurrection of diagrams to explain how the brain works

The purpose of brains is to make movement. A brain has to identify what is going on in the environment and in its attached body and generate movements to stay alive and procreate to keep the species going. Movements of a person, which includes speech, are all that other people know of another person. The repertoire of movements that people can make is very broad, and even most ordinary movements are complex. Eating and dressing, for example, involve multiple body parts making a series of coordinated multi-joint movements. The movements of highly skilled athletes and musicians are so well tuned that most persons cannot match them. These complex movements that form the behaviour of everyday life are praxis movements. Their failure is apraxia. To call such a failure apraxia, of course, requires that the deficit cannot be explained by a more basic abnormality such as weakness, sensory loss, ataxia or aphasia. The range of capability of the brain to make movement is so large that there can be many types of failures. This has generated different classification schemes with a variety of different terms, sometimes with the same term meaning something else in a different classification. The book by Goldenberg on apraxia contains a comprehensive description of different manifestations of apraxia and addresses the different classifications. Chapters 6 through 14 deal with topics such as imitation, body part specificity, and use of single tools. Chapters 1 to 5 give the historical background and set the stage for the rest of the book. I found the historical part particularly interesting, both as relates to apraxia but also ideas as to how the brain works. While there were some historical precedents, the first well described cases of apraxia and pathological explanation were from Hugo Liepmann from 1900 to 1908 (Fig. 1). On …
Can Heterogeneity of Chronic Sickle-Cell Disease Pain Be Explained by Genomics? A Literature Review

UNLABELLED: This literature review explores the potential of genomics to explain, or at least contribute to the discussion about, heterogeneity in chronic pain in sickle-cell disease (SCD). BACKGROUND: Adults with SCD, a single-gene disorder, are living longer than in years past, yet report being burdened by chronic pain. With only a few studies on chronic pain in this population, the epidemiology is unclear. However, research in the area of pain genetics continues to advance since the conclusion of the Human Genome Project. Two pain susceptibility genes, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and cytochrome P450, have, to date, been discovered that can increase individual susceptibility to the development of chronic pain. METHOD: A search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and EBSCO using the terms "sickle cell,'' "chronic pain,'' "polymorphism,'' "genetics,'' "pain genetics,'' "human,'' "adult,'' "association studies,'' and "pain susceptibility genes'' to search for articles published between 1970 and 2008. FINDINGS: Chronic pain generally is more prevalent and severe than previously reported, and individuals with SCD report daily pain. The genomic era has made it possible for scientists to identify pain susceptibility genes that contribute to variability in the interindividual experience of chronic pain. CONCLUSION: Nurses are well positioned to generate and translate genomic research, thus improving care delivery. Such research may lead to the identification of polymorphisms associated with pain sensitivity in individuals with SCD.
Circadian Variation in Vascular Function and Regenerative Capacity in Healthy Humans

Background Progenitor cells (PCs) are mobilized in response to vascular injury to effect regeneration and repair. Recruitment of PCs requires intact nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by endothelial cells, and their number and activity correlate with cardiovascular disease risk burden and future outcomes. Whereas cardiovascular vulnerability exhibits a robust circadian rhythm, the 24-hour variation of PCs and their inter-relation with vascular function remain unknown. We investigated the circadian variation of PCs and vascular function with the hypothesis that this will parallel the pattern observed for cardiovascular events (CVEs). Methods and Results In 15 healthy subjects (9 men, 37±16 years), circulating PCs and vascular function were measured at 8 am, noon, 4 pm, 8 pm, midnight, 4 am (only PCs counts), and 8 am the following day. Circulating PCs were enumerated as mononuclear cells (MNCs; CD45med) that express CD34 as well as CD133, and their activity was assessed as the number of colonies formed by culturing MNCs. Vascular function was evaluated by measurement of endothelium-dependent, flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and tonometry-derived indices of arterial stiffness. Higher CD34+ and CD34+/CD133+ cell counts were observed at 8 pm than any other time of the day ( P -ANOVA=0.038 and <0.001; respectively) and were lowest at 8 am. PC colony formation was highest at midnight ( P -ANOVA=0.045) and lowest in the morning hours. FMD was highest at midnight and lowest at 8 am and 8 pm, and systemic arterial stiffness was greatest at 8 am and lowest at 4 pm and midnight ( P -ANOVA=0.03 and 0.01; respectively). Conclusion A robust circadian variation in PC counts and vascular function occurs in healthy humans and both exhibit an unfavorable profile in the morning hours that parallels the preponderance of CVEs at these times. Whether these changes are precipitated by awakening and time-dependent physical activity or governed by the endogenous circadian clock needs to be further investigated.
The Impact of Weight Matrices on Parameter Estimation and Inference: A Case Study of Binary Response Using Land Use Data

This paper develops two new models and evaluates the impact of using different weight matrices on parameter estimates and inference in three distinct spatial specifications for discrete response. These specifications rely on a conventional, sparse, inverse-distance weight matrix for a spatial auto-regressive probit (SARP), a spatial autoregressive approach where the weight matrix includes an endogenous distance-decay parameter (SARPα), and a matrix exponential spatial specification for probit (MESSP). These are applied in a binary choice setting using both simulated data and parcel-level land-use data. Parameters of all models are estimated using Bayesian methods. In simulated tests, adding a distance-decay parameter term to the spatial weight matrix improved the quality of estimation and inference, as reflected by a lower deviance information criteriaon (DIC) value, but the added sampling loop required to estimate the distance-decay parameter substantially increased computing times. In contrast, the MESSP model’s obvious advantage is its fast computing time, thanks to elimination of a log-determinant calculation for the weight matrix. In the model tests using actual land-use data, the MESSP approach emerged as the clear winner, in terms of fit and computing times. Results from all three models offer consistent interpretation of parameter estimates, with locations farther away from the regional central business district (CBD) and closer to roadways being more prone to (mostly residential) development (as expected). Again, the MESSP model offered the greatest computing-time savings benefits, but all three specifications yielded similar marginal effects estimates, showing how a focus on the spatial interactions and net (direct plus indirect) effects across observational units is more important than a focus on slope-parameter estimates when properly analyzing spatial data.
HPLC Silica Column Fractionation of Pesticides and PCB from Butterfat

Abstract Separation of trace levels of toxic pesticides and other chemical contaminants (e.g., PCB) from edible fats and oils in preparation for quantitation by gas chromatography (i.e., GC-EC, GC-MS, etc.) continues to be an important analytical concern. Commercial HPLC silica columns were evaluated for practical application to the fractionation of selected compounds of different polarity from butterfat. Samples were injected in hexane solution and fractionated using isocratic hexanemethylene chloride mobile phases. Fat was readily purged from the columns with methylene chloride. A 254-nm UV detector was used to monitor elution patterns of concentrated standard solutions and of lipid material. Analyte fractions subsequently collected from samples fortified at sub-ppm levels were analyzed by GC-EC after concentration into hexane. A semi-preparative HPLC silica column (25 cm × 9.4 mm i.d., 6 um spheres) provided complete separation of organochlorine compounds and partial separation of organophosphorous pes...
Transforming Societies, Transforming Anthropology

Transforming Societies, Transforming Anthropology. EMILIO F. MORAN. ed. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1998. xil. 361 pp., contributors, index.
2-D Roger-Ramanujan continued fraction and inversion

In this paper the generalized numerical Rogers - Ramanujan continued fraction expansion is extended to two-dimensions(2-D). A new fast algorithm is proposed for the inversion of the 2-D Rogers - Ramanujan continued fraction expansion. The algorithm is based on matrix formulations. The simplicity and efficiency of the algorithm are illustrated by step-by-step examples.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: A 10-Year Natural History Study at the Childrens Hospital of Alabama

Childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a common disorder. However, single-institution, long-term, natural history data are limited. The objective of this paper is to review presenting features, response to therapy, and natural history of ITP treated at a single pediatric academic medical center. A retrospective chart review was made for all children (ages birth-18 years) diagnosed with ITP (ICD 287.3) and treated at the Childrens Hospital of Alabama/University of Alabama at Birmingham between 1993 and 2003. Four hundred nine patients were identified (49% male, 51% female; mean age: 5.85 years; range: 1 month-17 years). There was no seasonal variation of presentation. The mean platelet count was 19k (0-120k). Bone marrow aspiration (BMA) was performed in 72% but altered the diagnosis or therapy in no patient. Treatment consisted of corticosteroids in 256 (92% response), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in 125 (87% response), Win-Rho D in 58 (91% response), and no therapy in 71(100% respons...
Pathophysiological findings in a model of persistent atrial fibrillation and severe congestive heart failure

Objective: Develop and evaluate a model of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and severe congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods: A single-chamber atrial pacemaker was implanted in pigs (20–30 kg). Burst atrial pacing at 42 Hz led to development of persistent AF. Immediately and 20 days after activation of the burst pacing protocol, animals underwent echocardiography. Heart rate, rhythm and general condition were monitored on a daily basis. After 20 days of atrial fibrillation, the animals were sacrificed. Conventional histological methods were used to evaluate microscopic structural changes. Results: In the pig model, persistent atrial fibrillation developed 5±0.7 days after initiation of the burst protocol. Ventricular response rate was 274±5 bpm during atrial fibrillation, leading to a tachycardiomyopathy. Heart failure symptoms occurred approximately 15 days after initiation of burst pacing. Increases in QT interval on electrocardiogram, heart weight-to-body weight ratio, and laboratory values suggestive of a hypercatecholaminergic state, as well as liver and kidney dysfunction occurred during the 20-day duration of the study. Microstructural changes consistent with cellular hypertrophy, variable fibrosis, myolysis and apoptosis were found in the atria and ventricles of the study animals. Conclusions: The combined entity of atrial fibrillation and severe congestive heart failure leads to multiple organ dysfunction, ultrastructural and microscopic cardiac changes. Cellular hypertrophy, fibrosis and apoptosis are more prominent in this combined entity than previously reported models of lone atrial fibrillation or heart failure. This model can be used for further investigation into the pathophysiology and treatment of atrial fibrillation and advanced heart failure.
What can we expect from high-dimensional feature selection

High-throughput technologies for rapid measurement of vast numbers of biological variables like cDNA microarray technology offer the potential for highly discriminatory diagnosis and prognosis; however, high dimensionality together with small samples creates the need for feature selection, while at the same time making feature-selection algorithms less reliable. Through a regression approach, we found that (1) it is unlikely that feature selection will yield a feature set whose error is close to that of the optimal feature set; and (2) the inability to find a good feature set should not lead to the conclusion that good feature sets do not exist.
Temporal bone histopathology in neurofibromatosis type 2.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To describe the histopathologic findings in the temporal bone in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). The literature contains limited data on otopathology of NF2. Study Design: Basic science study. Methods: Twenty-six temporal bones from 16 patients with NF2 were examined by light microscopy. The diagnosis of NF2 was made on the basis of bilateral cochleovestibular schwannomas. Clinical information was obtained from review of the medical records. Results: The tumors were multicentric in origin in 19 of 26 (73%) ears. Typically, tumors were seen arising within the internal auditory canal and from various locations within the labyrinth. The majority of schwannomas showed high cellularity with involvement of the labyrinth. Most cases showed significant degrees of degeneration of sensory and neural elements within the cochlea. Fusion tumors were sometimes seen as a result of a schwannoma merging with an adjacent meningioma. Fifteen of 26 (58%) ears showed facial nerve involvement by schwannoma. Conclusions: Cochleovestibular schwannomas in NF2 are aggressive neoplasms; they are often multicentric and demonstrate a propensity to involve the labyrinth. There is often associated secondary degeneration within the cochlea. These features make total removal of these tumors and their removal with preservation of hearing more difficult than with sporadic unilateral cochleovestibular schwannoma.
Emerging Themes in Image Informatics and Molecular Analysis for Digital Pathology

Pathology is essential for research in disease and development, as well as for clinical decision making. For more than 100 years, pathology practice has involved analyzing images of stained, thin tissue sections by a trained human using an optical microscope. Technological advances are now driving major changes in this paradigm toward digital pathology (DP). The digital transformation of pathology goes beyond recording, archiving, and retrieving images, providing new computational tools to inform better decision making for precision medicine. First, we discuss some emerging innovations in both computational image analytics and imaging instrumentation in DP. Second, we discuss molecular contrast in pathology. Molecular DP has traditionally been an extension of pathology with molecularly specific dyes. Label-free, spectroscopic images are rapidly emerging as another important information source, and we describe the benefits and potential of this evolution. Third, we describe multimodal DP, which is enabled by computational algorithms and combines the best characteristics of structural and molecular pathology. Finally, we provide examples of application areas in telepathology, education, and precision medicine. We conclude by discussing challenges and emerging opportunities in this area.
Surgery for acquired cardiac disease: An evolving paradigm with a promising future.

The landscape of adult cardiac surgeryis evolving at a rapid pace. The proliferation of endovascular techniques, minimallyinvasiveandtranscathetervalvetherapies,andvarious deviceoptionsformechanicalcirculatorysupporthasadded exponentially to the requisite skill set, knowledge base, and clinical volume for ‘‘expertise’’ in any of these designated niche areas. As such, the days of any single cardiac surgeon capable of adeptly treating all facets of heart failure, structural heart diseases, and coronary artery disease in accordance with modern technologic standards are numbered at best, if not already a historical footnote. The advent and continued expansion of public reporting initiatives by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons 1 and consumer advocate agencies will subject our field to an unprecedented level of public scrutiny. 2 Individual surgeon performance, including granular specifics related to outcomes and procedure type, will be cataloged and disseminated to the general public. These widely circulated physician report cards could foreseeably affect remuneration, referral patterns, and scope of practice for individual cardiac surgeons. Despite these and other challenges that lie on the horizon, the future of surgery for acquired cardiac disease is quite promising, especially from a supply and demand perspec
Biological Control of Foodborne Bacteria

This chapter provides an overview of the biologically based preservation technologies termed "biopreservation". The first part of the chapter covers acid production by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in temperature-abused foods (controlled acidification). While organic acids are usually added to foods, LAB can produce lactic acid in situ. The controlled production of acid in situ is an important form of biopreservation. Then the chapter discusses some LAB produce antimicrobial proteins, called bacteriocins, that inhibit spoilage and pathogenic bacteria without changing the physicochemical nature of the food. The largest section of this chapter deals with bacteriocins. Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides of bacterial origin that are not lethal to the host. Many bacteriocins inhibit foodborne pathogens of serious concern such as Listeria monocytogenes, which is recalcitrant to traditional preservation methods. The chapter presents general characteristics, methodological considerations, bacteriocin applications in foods, genetics of LAB bacteriocins, and resistance of bacteriocins of each of these conditions in detail. The use of bacteriophages to control pathogens in food has “shown promise” for decades. But, perhaps due to the difficulty of obtaining reproducible results in foods, they have not gained widespread use. The chapter closes by examining the use of bacteriophages as biocontrol agents.
A QUARTIC QUALITY LOSS FUNCTION AND ITS PROPERTIES

We propose a quartic function to represent a family of continuous quality loss functions. Depending on the choice of its parameters the shape of this function within the specification limits can be either symmetric or asymmetric, and it can be either similar to the ubiquitous quadratic loss function or somewhat closer to the conventional step function. We examine this family of loss functions in the context of their industrial applications and use them in a mathematical programming model for the parameter design problem.
The use of passive visual stimuli to enhance compliance with handwashing in a perioperative setting

Background To encourage handwashing, we analyzed the effect that a passive visual stimulus in the form of a picture of a set of eyes had on self-directed hand hygiene among health care staff. Methods This was a prospective, single-blind study using a repeated measure design. Four dispensers of alcohol foam located in positions identified as #1, #2, #3, and #4 were used to deliver a single uniform volume of alcohol foam in an automated fashion. Pictures of eyes were placed on dispensers #1 and #3 but not dispensers #2 and #4 for 1 time period. The visual stimulus was rotated with each study time period. At the end of each study period, the volumes dispensed were examined to determine if the visual stimulus had a statistically significant influence on the volume dispensed. Results There were a total of 6 time periods. The average volume dispensed in stations with eyes was 279 cc versus that in the stations without eyes, which was 246 cc, and this was a statistically significant difference ( P = .009). Conclusion The correct visual stimuli may enhance compliance with hand hygiene in health care settings.
Genomics: Prediction, Prevention, Priorities, and Punnett

In this issue, Christensen and colleagues found that disclosure of unexpected genomic risk information to healthy adults did not have adverse psychological effects. The editorialist discusses the s...
Some aspects of carbohydrates metabolism in biotin-deficient rats.

SummaryIn biotin deficiency, energy production was impaired in two ways: by decreased utilization of glucose and by decreased oxidative phosphorylation. The decrease in the utilization of glucose w...
Nuclear physics: Four neutrons together momentarily

A system of four neutrons known as the tetraneutron is a hypothetical state in nuclear physics. The report of evidence for the fleeting existence of this state has implications for research into neutron stars.
In-Situ Fluorescence Strain Sensing of the Stress in Interconnects

An optical fluorescence method is introduced for determining the localized stresses in passivated aluminum lines on sapphire substrates containing a thin epitaxial ruby film at the AI/AI 2 O 3 interface. The method is based on the piezo-spectroscopic properties of the ruby film, which acts as an in situ sensor. By focusing a laser beam through the sapphire substrate and onto the bottom of an aluminum line, the fluorescence from the ruby sensor can be excited and collected through an optical microscope. The frequency shift of the fluorescence lines is proportional to the stress in the aluminum line. To illustrate our observations two sets of measurements are presented: the spatial variation perpendicular to an interconnect line; and the temperature dependence on heating upto the deposition temperature of the SiN used to passivate the interconnects.
A Diagnostic Dilemma: When Urodynamic Findings Differ from the Clinical Impression

We evaluated prospectively 425 consecutive patients with respect to the correlation between the clinical and urodynamic assessment of the symptoms. A disparity between the clinical and urodynamic diagnosis was found in 45 per cent of the patients who were believed to have storage problems, 25 per cent with emptying problems, and 54 per cent with storage and emptying problems on clinical examination. The reasons for these disparities are outlined and a rationale for including urodynamic studies in the evaluation of patients with voiding dysfunction is presented.
Reducing particle size of corn in lactation diets from 1,200 to 400 micrometers improves sow and litter performance.

One hundred primiparous sows were used to determine the effects of particle size of corn in lactation diets on sow and litter performance. The sows were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet with the corn ground to 1,200, 900, 600, or 400 microns. Particle size of corn had no influence on sow BW or backfat loss (P > .30), subsequent weaning-to-estrus interval (P > .40), or percentage of sows returning to estrus (P > .09). However, ADFI was increased (linear effect, P .30) but litter BW gain was increased by 11% when sows were fed diets with 400 vs 1,200 microns corn (linear effect, P < .05). Apparent digestibilities of DM, N, and GE were increased by 5, 7, and 7%, respectively, as particle size was reduced from 1,200 to 400 microns (linear effects, P < .001). Intake of DE was increased 14% (13.7 to 15.6 Mcal/d) as corn particle size was reduced from 1,200 to 400 microns. Intakes of digestible DM and N also were increased (11 and 14%, respectively), whereas fecal excretions of DM and N were decreased by 21 and 31%, respectively (linear effects, P < .001). Reducing particle size increased severity of ulceration and keratinization (nonzero correlations of P < .04 and P < .004, respectively) in the esophageal region of the stomach, although the changes were not associated with reduced sow performance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Process integration of isolated emitter transistors with common emitter heterojunction bipolar transistor circuits

The process of integrating two types of AlGaAs-GaAs emitter-down HBTs (heterojunction bipolar transistors), one with isolated emitter and one with grounded emitter, on a common n/sup +/ substrate is described. The use of a selective p/sup -/ implanted region followed by MOCVD (metalorganic chemical vapor deposition) overgrowth has resulted in junction isolation with an emitter-to-emitter blocking voltage greater than approximately 12 V. The characteristics of such integrated HBTs are examined. The advantages and limitations of the isolated emitter HBT to enhance I/O interfaces and introduce linear circuits to an all emitter-down HBT technology are addressed. >