cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infectious Complications Associated with Temporary Epidural Catheters

To identify cases of deep-tissue or local infection associated with temporary epidural catheters, we reviewed medical records from 1980 through 1992 and prospectively followed up patients with temporary epidural catheters from January 1993 through June 1993 who were hospitalized at a large, tertiary referral hospital. We identified seven cases of temporary epidural catheter-associated infection, including three cases of deep-tissue infection (paraspinal muscle abscess, epidural abscess, and meningitis) and four cases of local infection. The infections were diagnosed 2 days to 22 days following insertion of the epidural catheter. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in four (57%) of the cases. All seven patients were treated with removal of the catheter and antimicrobial therapy; three patients also required surgical drainage for management of deep-tissue infection. Our findings emphasize the importance of daily inspection and prompt removal of temporary epidural catheters if infection is suspected.
Utilization of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in survivors of cardiac arrest in the United States from 1996 to 2001.

OBJECTIVES We analyzed the incidence of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in survivors of cardiac arrest (CA) in the U.S. from 1996 through 2001. BACKGROUND Cardiac arrest is a class I indication for ICD therapy. The current patterns of ICD utilization in survivors of CA have not been fully examined. METHODS We searched a representative sample of all hospital discharges for patients admitted with the primary diagnosis of CA who survived to hospital discharge. Patients with a concomitant diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction or previous ICD in situ were excluded. RESULTS From 1996 to 2001, 113,262 patients were admitted for CA. Of those, 63,745 (56.3%) did not survive to hospital discharge. Of the remaining 49,517 patients, 30.7% received an ICD before discharge, with a gradual increase in implantation rates from 1996 (23.6%) to 2001 (46.3%). Using logistic regression for the years 2000 and 2001, patients who were discharged without an ICD were older (odds ratio [OR] 0.93 for every 10-year increase in age, p < 0.001), more likely to be African American (OR 0.19, p < 0.001), and more likely to be admitted to a smaller hospital (OR 2.24 for each additional 100 beds, p < 0.001). These predictors were independent of other co-morbid illnesses. CONCLUSIONS Although they are increasing, the rates of ICD therapy after CA remain very low. There are gross discrepancies by race. At a time when newer indications for ICD implantation are emerging, efforts should be focused on identifying the causes of this underutilization and discrepancies in survivors of CA.
Confessions of an American clinical anatomist.

The American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA) is a diverse group that includes practicing clinicians, some of whom work outside the academic realm, and other clinicians and basic scientists whose primary responsibility is to patient care, publication, and teaching. This essay pointedly examines why our professional activities often do not lend themselves to the personal and professional realizations for promotion, tenure, and prestige enjoyed by most research-oriented colleagues. Thus the issue of how we can thrive as a distinct group of academic professionals warrants sincere dialogue. Most of the scholarship contributed over the past 2 years to Clinical Anatomy has come from investigators outside the AACA, and only 11% of the AACA membership have published in Clinical Anatomy during this time. A self-examination and analysis of the issues that may bear on these findings are discussed in the hope that they may prompt introspection and encourage development of individual and association strategies that promote increased membership support of the AACA and its journal. Clin. Anat. 10:208–209, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Substitutional-solute influence upon solvent tracer diffusion in an fcc lattice with an applied field

The correlated motion of solvent tracer atom is followed for the situation where a near-neighbor substitutional solute may alter its jump frequency in an fcc lattice; the existence of an applied force field (temperature or electric potential gradient) also influences the motion of the lattice atoms. Diffusion is assumed to occur by a vacancy mechanism and both the diffusivity and mobility are calculated using the matrix defect walk techniques of Manning and Stark.
Helicobacter pylori and the gastroduodenal mucosa.

THE EARLY SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT of the pathophysiology of peptic ulcer disease (PUD), including both duodenal ulcer (DU) and gastric ulcer (GU) disease, revolved around the role of both gastric acid and pepsin secretion. The etiology of DU was believed to be the result of a combination of increased rates of gastric acid secretion and increased gastric emptying. In contrast, patients with GU demonstrated normal to subnormal rates of gastric acid secretion. It was thus hypothesized that abnormal gastric defense mechanisms may contribute to the formation of GU. For example, patients with GU have abnormal forms of mucus overlying the epithelium and lower than normal rates of mucosal blood flow. However, the dictum “no acid, no ulcer” appeared to remain valid for both DU and GU. Multiple studies clearly demonstrated that antisecretory therapy achieved ulcer healing in the majority of patients. Unfortunately, ulcer recurrence rates are significant when medical therapy is discontinued. In 1984, Marshall and Warren published their landmark paper entitled “Unidentified curved bacilli in the stomach of patients with gastritis and peptic ulceration,”1 identifying a flagellated, spiral organism, originally referred to as Campylobacter pyloridis, now known as Helicobacter pylori (H pylori). Numerous reports show an association between H pylori and PUD unrelated to the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The prevalence of H pylori in patients with DU and GU is nearly 100% and 80% to 90%, respectively, and eradication of H pylori in infected patients has been shown to decrease PUD recurrence rates to less than 10%. Thus, the majority of DUs and GUs in the current era are believed to be a result of either (1) H pylori infection or (2) NSAID use.
Gray matter heterotopias in schizophrenia

Gray matter heterotopias (GMHs) are a type of neuronal migration anomaly in which collections of normal neurons are abnormally located secondary to an arrest of radial migration. They are often manifested clinically by seizures and cognitive, motor, and language deficits. Through magnetic resonance imaging, we have observed two cases in patients presenting with symptoms of schizophrenia, but no neurological abnormalities, and otherwise normal scans. While the incidence of GMH among normal individuals is unknown, it is possible that this particular anomaly may occur in schizophrenic patients at a higher rate than in the normal population. Furthermore, neuronal migration abnormalities may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disorder among a small subset of patients with schizophrenia.
Archaeal type IV pili and their involvement in biofilm formation.

Type IV pili are ancient proteinaceous structures present on the cell surface of species in nearly all bacterial and archaeal phyla. These filaments are involved in a diverse array of critical cellular processes. While the core components of the pilus biosynthesis machinery are highly conserved, type IV pilins, the structural subunits of pili, share little sequence homology. However, the conserved structure of the signal peptides of these pilus subunits has allowed the development of prediction programs that accurately detect the processing sites recognized by bacterial and archaeal prepilin peptidases. Using these programs, the genomes of organisms from both prokaryotic domains have been shown to encode a diverse set of putative type IV pilins. Recently, in vivo studies in model archaea representing the euryarchaeal and crenarchaeal kingdoms confirmed that several of these pilins are incorporated into type IV adhesion pili. In addition to facilitating surface adhesion, these in vivo studies also showed that several predicted pilins are required for additional functions that are critical to biofilm formation. Examples include the subunits of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius Ups pili, which are induced by exposure to UV light and promote cell aggregation and conjugation, and a subset of the Haloferax volcanii adhesion pilins, which play a critical role in microcolony formation while other pilins inhibit this process. The recent discovery of novel pilin functions such as the ability of haloarchaeal adhesion pilins to regulate swimming motility rather than being unique to organisms that inhabit high salt environments may point to novel prokaryotic regulatory pathways. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of the functional roles played by archaeal type IV adhesion pili and their subunits, with particular emphasis on their involvement in biofilm formation.
Selective stimulation of the canine hypoglossal nerve using a multi-contact cuff electrode.

Electrical activation of the tongue protrusor muscle has been demonstrated as an effective technique for alleviating upper airway (UAW) obstructions and is considered a potential treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Recent studies, however, have shown marked improvements in UAW patency by coactivating the tongue protrudor and retractor muscles. As such, selective stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve (XII) using a single implantable device presents an attractive approach for treating OSA. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of such a device, the maximum achievable stimulation selectivity of the Flat Interface Nerve Electrode (FINE) was investigated. The XII nerve of beagles was stimulated with an acutely implanted FINE, while the corresponding neural and muscular responses were recorded and analyzed. The overall performance of the FINE, as depicted by the average of the maximum target-specific selectivity values, S(i), confirmed that high degrees of selectivity can be achieved at both the fascicular and muscular levels: 0.93 ± 0.03 (n = 5) and 0.88 ± 0.03 (n = 4), respectively. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of the FINE for selective stimulation of the XII nerve branches and the innervated tongue muscles.
Management skill in student organizations

Seventy-two social fraternities were studied to discover some reasons for the variation in the degree of success attained by these student organizations on a college campus. The specific factors studied were management practices that could be employed by the groups. Analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between success as a fraternity and the use of certain management practices, and it identified several individual practices or characteristics highly associated with more successful groups. This article proposes that student organizations would find such practices influential in their future survival and success.
The numerical evaluation of the time-dependent emergent intensity from a semi-infinite atmosphere

Abstract Exact expressions for the time-dependent, emergent intensity from a simi-infinite atmosphere are obtained from the steady-state emergent intensity for several source conditions at the free surface. For an isotropic entering intensity, the exact solution is compared to several approximate solutions found in the literature.
Evaluation of MODIS land surface temperature data to estimate air temperature in different ecosystems over Africa

Abstract The estimation of near surface air temperature (Ta) is useful for a wide range of applications such as agriculture, climate related diseases and climate change studies. Air temperature is commonly obtained from synoptic measurements in weather stations. In Africa, the spatial distribution of weather stations is often limited and the dissemination of temperature data is variable, therefore limiting their use for real-time applications. Compensation for this paucity of information may be obtained by using satellite-based methods. However, the derivation of near surface air temperature (Ta), from the land surface temperature (Ts) derived from satellite is far from straight forward. Some studies have tried to derive maximum Ta from satellites through regression analysis but the accuracy obtained is quite variable according to the study. The main objective of this study was to explore the possibility of retrieving high-resolution Ta data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Ts products over different ecosystems in Africa. First, comparisons between night MODIS Ts data with minimum Ta showed that MODIS nighttime products provide a good estimation of minimum Ta over different ecosystems (with (ΔTs − Ta) centered at 0 °C, a mean absolute error (MAE) = 1.73 °C and a standard deviation = 2.4 °C). Secondly, comparisons between day MODIS Ts data with maximum Ta showed that (ΔTs − Ta) strongly varies according to the seasonality, the ecosystems, the solar radiation, and cloud-cover. Two factors proposed in the literature to retrieve maximum Ta from Ts, i.e . the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Solar Zenith Angle (SZA), were analyzed. No strong relationship between (ΔTs − Ta) and (i) NDVI and (ii) SZA was observed, therefore requiring further research on robust methods to retrieve maximum Ta.
Changes in balance in older adults based on use of physical therapy vs the Wii Fit gaming system: a preliminary study.

Abstract Objectives To determine the effectiveness of Wii Fit training on balance control in older adults compared with physical therapy training. Design Quasi-experimental design. Participants Eight males and nine females aged 53 to 91 years. Materials and methods Participants were divided into three groups: one group received both physical therapy training and Wii Fit training (PW group), one group received Wii Fit training alone (WI group), and one group received physical therapy training alone (PT group). Training consisted of three sessions per week for 4 weeks. Main outcome Berg Balance Scale (all groups) and Bubble Test (PW and WI groups) scores. Statistical analysis Descriptive statistics, medians, interquartile ranges and 95% confidence intervals are reported to identify trends in balance control as a result of different types of training. Results All subjects showed improvement in the Berg Balance Scale and Bubble Test scores. The PT and PW groups tended to perform better than the WI group on the Berg Balance Scale following treatment. Although the differences in the Bubble Test score were not substantial between the PW and WI groups, the PW group performed slightly better than the WI group on the Berg Balance Scale. Conclusions Wii Fit training appears to improve balance. However, physical therapy training on its own or in addition to Wii Fit training appears to improve balance to a greater extent than Wii Fit training alone.
Management implications of fishing up, down, or through the marine food web

Since it was first documented in 1998, a trend of decreasing mean trophic level (MTL) has been reported in several ecosystems around the world. Some scientists have proposed that MTL may be used as an indicator of biodiversity and fishery sustainability. The use of this measure has been supported by several international bodies, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, European Union, and Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem and Adjacent Project. Recently, the use of MTL as an ecosystem health indicator has been called into question by the publication of studies examining the underlying cause of decreasing MTL. Evidence now shows that there are three primary mechanisms that could be driving the observed change: fishing down, fishing through, and increase to overfishing. Each of these scenarios corresponds to a specific sequence of fishery evolution over time. Additionally, the underlying ecology associated with these scenarios suggests that very different governance responses should be employed for each method. Rather than relying only on MTL trends for broad-based management decisions, MTL must be carefully examined in conjunction with historic catch data to determine the mechanism of change. Only then should this indicator be used to make management decisions, and such decisions should only be applied at the regional or ecosystem level.
Self-reported narcissism and shame: Testing the defensive self-esteem and continuum hypotheses

Abstract Inverse correlations of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) with shame theoretically reflect a defensive self-esteem or a healthier form of narcissism that helps define a continuum of self-functioning. In the present study, the NPI correlated directly with self-esteem; and inverse associations with shame were reduced or eliminated when self-esteem was entered into multiple regressions before the NPI. The defensive self-esteem hypothesis predicts that the NPI and self-esteem should interact in predicting shame, but this did not occur. Other measures of narcissism like the O'Brien (1987) Multiphasic Narcissism Inventory and the Pseudoautonomy Scale were associated with lower self-esteem and greater shame. Overall, these data supported the hypothesis that self-report measures of narcissism help define a continuum of unhealthy to healthy self-functioning.
Research on Spatio-Temporal Epistemic Relevant Logic in the Domain of Air Traffic Control

Anticipatory Reasoning-Reacting System (ARRS) proposed by Cheng is a new reacting system with more ratability and security compared with traditional reacting systems. Cheng also proposed the logic basis of ARRS with three-dimensional moving objects, i.e. 3D-STSRL. In this paper, we focus on the research on the logic basis of ARRS in the domain of air traffic control. In order to express knowledge and belief concisely and precisely, epistemic operators are necessary. This paper described the addition of epistemic operators into 3D-STSRL together with the foundation of 3D-STERL. Then a study case about air traffic control is shown for the application of 3D-STERL.
Steroid injection for lateral epicondylitis.

N p s t ( s a n HE PATIENT 52-year-old woman, a former pediatrician, presents or treatment of lateral elbow pain of 3 months’ duraion. No longer working, she has filled her spare time ith playing tennis 3 times a week and mountain biking n weekends. She is extremely frustrated because both f these activities exacerbate the pain. Recently the pain ad occurred with holding a coffee cup and brushing er teeth. She has taken over-the-counter nonsteroidal nti-inflammatory medications and has worn a forearm race without relief. Examination reveals exquisite oint tenderness over the lateral epicondyle. The pain is ncreased with wrist extension against resistance and ith passive wrist flexion. Provocative signs for radial unnel syndrome are all negative. Radiographs of the lbow including anteroposterior, lateral, and radiocapiellar views are normal. You confirm her self-diagnosis f lateral epicondylitis. She comes to your office asking our opinion about steroid injection and other potenially disease-modifying nonsurgical treatments.
12 Highly Interactive Teaching: A “HIT” with Residents

Covering the core content of emergency medicine during residency training is both a time consuming and challenging endeavor. One of the more significant challenges in graduate medical education is to develop more interactive, less didactic teaching modalities. In an attempt to develop a more interactive educational curriculum, we interspersed weekly sessions titled “Highly Interactive Teaching” (HIT) with standard formal lecture didactics. A primary focus of many educators in emergency medicine is teaching residents how to manage the undifferentiated patient. To this end, we revised our curriculum to include 34 four-hour symptom/chief complaint-based sessions. The first hour is an introductory lecture on the general approach to a patient with the specified complaint. Residents then divide into small groups which rotate through specific case-based sections covering varied diagnoses which might present with the symptom complaint. These faculty-run small groups use a case-based approach, either high or low simulation-based or oral boards-based format. Each faculty then is required to sum up the salient points of their section. The final hour of the day is an evidenced-based review of supporting literature. Residents are required to read and critique selected articles for the audience so that the basis for diagnosis and management decisions can be discussed as a large group discussion. We believe this change in format will help residents not only to become more active learners, but also to become more astute clinicians.
A Systematic Approach to Assessing the Needs of Distance Faculty

Abstract Beginning in the 1990s, various academic units within our health sciences institution moved aggressively toward providing courses and programs via distance education. Without a centralized campus distance education office, distance library services from our campus evolved sporadically in response to individual needs. In 2001, the library hired its first distance services librarian, whose primary responsibility was to develop a written distance library services plan. In accordance with the ACRL Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services, the library determined that the formulation of an effective plan required a formal needs assessment of the faculty providing distance education. In this paper, we will discuss the process for developing this needs assessment, based on focus groups and a written survey instrument. We will also address some of the challenges we faced with this approach. Preliminary data identified copyright clearance and lack of awareness regarding library services as the maj...
Accuracy of in vivo colorectal polyp discrimination by using dual-focus high-definition narrow-band imaging colonoscopy

Background Discriminating neoplastic from non-neoplastic polyps can significantly reduce the cost of colonoscopy. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) recently set threshold levels for optical diagnostic accuracy to be acceptable for clinical use. Objective In this study, we compare a novel colonoscope capable of dual-focus imaging with standard colonoscopy with respect to the ASGE guidelines. Setting An academic medical center ambulatory surgical center. Patients and Interventions Patients at average risk were randomized to standard colonoscopy (Olympus CF-H180 and Exera II 180 colonoscopes, Olympus America, Center Valley, Pa) or dual-focus colonoscopy (Olympus CF-HQ190 and Exera III 190 colonoscopes, Olympus America). All polyps were given an optical diagnosis and compared with histology. Results A total of 600 patients were consented and 522 completed all aspects of the procedure. A total of 927 polyps were analyzed. Optical diagnostic accuracy was 79% (95% confidence interval, 74%-83%) for the 190 and 77% (95% confidence interval, 73%-81%) for the 180 colonoscope. Adenoma detection rates were also similar between the 2 groups (50% for the 190 vs 52% for the 180 colonoscope). For small distal rectosigmoid polyps with a high confidence diagnosis, the negative predictive value for adenoma was 96% (range 89%-99%) for the 180 in the narrow-band imaging (NBI) mode and 97% (range 88%-99%) for the 190 colonoscope in NBI mode. Agreement of surveillance intervals by using optical diagnosis was 94% to 95% for all modalities (180 and 190 colonoscopes, white light imaging, NBI). Limitations Our study evaluated the accuracy of the 180 and 190 colonoscopes at a center with already-established expertise in endoscopic imaging. Conclusions Both traditional and new dual-focus colonoscopes provide highly accurate optical polyp discrimination. There was no difference between the 2 systems in terms of discrimination or adenoma detection. Both systems are consistent with ASGE guidelines for optical diagnosis of selected colorectal polyps without histological confirmation.
Preliminary results on between and within twin set variation in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) and some relationships with performance traits in identical twin heifers

Abstract Blood samples were collected from eight sets of Simmental crossbred identical twin heifers at 291. 328, 254, 656 and 684 days of age and were assayed for serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). The between twin set intraclass correlation for IGF-1 at these ages was −0.08±0.38, 0.25±0.35, 0.62±0.23, 0.68±0.21 and 0.54±0.27, respectively. Residual correlations of serum IGF-1 concentrations with weights taken at the same ages ranged from 0.29 (P > 0.10) to 0.74 (P 0.10) to 0.61 (P
Pupil-function design for bipolar incoherent spatial filtering

A general procedure for pupil-function design for two-channel bipolar incoherent spatial filtering is presented. The procedure considers both the feasibility, or existence, of the synthesis and the specification of the pupil functions once their existence has been established. Further, the procedure is not specific to a particular type of synthesis, nor is it ad hoc. A comparison is made with other design procedures, and an example of the proposed procedure is presented.
Spin-spin correlation functions in the frustrated two-dimensional planar model

The low-temperature limit of the frustrated 2-D $x\ensuremath{-}y$ model is studied via the generalized Villain model. The spin-spin correlation functions are calculated for two limits of the density of frustrated plaquettes "${x}_{f}$." In the dilute case the model is described in terms of the usual spin waves, vortex and symmetry-breaking excitations, plus the "curved" or frustrated half-integer static charges. In this limit, to lowest order in ${x}_{f}$, the infinite susceptibility phase of the ferromagnetic model remains. The stability of this result is shown to hold including higher excited states for the static vortices although there seems to be a lower critical temperature. In the special limit ${x}_{f}\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{1}{2}$ a model with only vortex, symmetry-breaking, and frustrated plaquettes is studied. The spin-spin correlation functions are calculated for large separation distances. There, the susceptibility has an exponential behavior to lowest order in an expansion in the density of thermal vortices. We discuss under which conditions this result would lead us to the nonexistence of spin-glass ordering for the planar model in two dimensions.
Disentangling the signalling and liquidity effects of stock splits

We examine, signalling-based versus liquidity-based explanations of stock splits using market data for both industrial firms and depository institutions for the period 1981 to 2000. While both groups react favourably to the announcements of stock splits, we find no significant difference in market responses between the two groups. We further divide the industrial sample firms into two sub-groups [research and development (R&D) firms and nonR&D firms] using R&D activities as proxy for information asymmetry. We find no significant difference in abnormal returns between R&D firms and nonR&D firms, providing evidence against signalling effects of stock splits. We find that the average monthly trading volume following stock splits is significantly higher compared to the pre-split level for both industrial firms and depository institutions. We interpret these results as evidence in support of the liquidity hypothesis.
Microlocal Analysis of the Doppler Transform on R^3

The Doppler transform of a vector field $F = (f_1,f_2,f_3)$ on $\mathbb{R}^3$ is defined by \[\displaystyle\mathcal{D}F(x,\omega) = \sum_j\int_\mathbb{R} \omega_j f_j(x+t\omega)\, dt~,\] where $x\in \mathbb{R}^3$ and $\omega \in S^2$ specifies the direction of a line passing through $x$. In practical applications, $\mathcal{D}F$ is known only for a small subset of lines in $\mathbb{R}^3$. In this article, we deal with the case of $\mathcal{D}F$ restricted to all lines passing through a fixed smooth curve. Using techniques from microlocal analysis, we study the problem of recovering the wavefront set of $\mbox{curl}(F)$ from that of the restricted Doppler transform of $F$.
Dynamics of the resting CD4(+) T-cell latent HIV reservoir in infants initiating HAART less than 6 months of age.

OBJECTIVES Identification of HIV infection in exposed infants facilitates early therapy, which may limit viral reservoirs that maintain HIV infection under HAART. METHODS The dynamics of the resting CD4 T-cell latent HIV reservoir was determined over the first 2 years of life in 17 HIV-infected infants initiating lopinavir/ritonavir-based HAART at a median age of 8.1 weeks and achieving adequate suppression of plasma viral load by 24 weeks. RESULTS The resting CD4 T-cell latent HIV reservoir was detected in 12 of 14 (86%) infants tested at 24 weeks of HAART [median frequency 1.88 infectious units per million (IUPM); range <0.22 to 81.7), and remained measurable (median IUPM = 0.32; range <0.22 to 3.25) in six of 10 (60%) children retested at 96 weeks. The reservoir declined, from 24 to 96 weeks of HAART, at an estimated mean rate of 0.028 log10 IUPM/month, corresponding to a half-life of 11 months (95% confidence interval 6-30 months]. A strong relationship was found between the frequency of latently infected CD4 T cells at 96 weeks of HAART and time to first undetectable plasma viral load (Spearman r = 0.91, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Although the resting CD4 T-cell latent reservoir remains detectable over the first 2 years of HAART in a substantial proportion of infants, its size is associated with time to first undetectable viral load. To minimize HIV reservoirs in infants, rapid curtailment of viremia may limit HIV reservoirs and should be a therapeutic goal of early HAART in infants.
New challenges in homeland security: smart advanced materials and structural systems

September 11th awakened us to the massive damage terrorists can cause with airplanes by bringing down the twin towers of World Trade Center and damaging Wedge-1 of the Pentagon. These incidents represent the worst disaster and loss of lives ever involving a single building structure. The South tower collapsed 56 minutes after the impact, and the North tower collapsed 1 hour and 43 minutes after the impact. Stronger and more durable building materials, as well as fully equipped sensor network monitoring systems may be able to limit structural damages and save lives in the future. America is now facing a great challenge in homeland security, we must build the national measurement infrastructure and develop new technologies that will protect our national infrastructure, strengthen homeland security, and help combat terrorism. The development of Smart Advanced Materials and Structural Systems technologies is one of the key challenges to meeting our national needs.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Regulation of HSP60 mRNA expression in a human ovarian carcinoma cell line

The expression of the 60-kDa heat-shock protein (HSP60) varies markedly among patients with ovarian carcinoma, and high-level expression predicts poor survival in such patients treated with cisplatin (DDP)-containing chemotherapy programs. We investigated the expression of HSP60 in human ovarian carcinoma 2008 cells and an 11-fold DDP-resistant subline 2008/C13*5.25. Heating for 2 h at 44°C produced a 2.7±0.16-fold increase (mean ± SD) that was maximal at 4 h after the start of heat exposure. Exposure to an IC50 concentration of DDP for 1 h induced a 1.8±0.03-fold increase inhsp60 expression. The opposite was true for cadmium and zinc, both of which induced increases in metallothionein IIA but not in thehsp60 message. 2008/C13*5.25 cells constitutively over-expressedhsp60 mRNA by 1.7±0.16 orders of magnitude and contained a 3.8±0.45-fold higher level of HSP60 as detected by immunocytochemical staining. 2008/C13*5.25 cells showed 1.2-fold cross-resistance to thermal killing. Expression ofhsp60 was markedly reduced in 2008 xenografts as compared with 2008 cells growing in vitro; however, neither serum starvation nor refeeding altered the message level. Exposure to a variety of growth factors and drug treatmens known to alter the DDP sensitivity of 2008 cells, including epidermal growth factor, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, buthionine sulfoximine, ouabain, and forskolin, did not alterhsp60 expression. These results suggest a role for HSP60 in mediating resistance to both DDP and hyperthermia but indicate that thehsp60 mRNA levels are not regulated by the factor listed above.
Effect of low boiling point liquids on volatile retentions in starch extrudates

Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, nonanoic acid or 3-octanone were blended with corn starch (25% amylose content) and extruded in a C. W. Brabender twin-screw extruder. Acetone and isopropanol were injected in the third port at 0, 2.5 or 5% of feed. Injection of the low boiling point liquids and the flavor type significantly influenced radial expansion ratios. Both acetone and isopropanol reduced radial expansion ratios for all flavor compounds except 3-octanone. Specific mechanical energy (SME) was significantly influenced by injection of liquids. Except for nonanoic acid, flavor type significantly influenced SME. Volatile retention was significantly influenced by injection of liquid and flavor type. Higher volatiles retention were obtained upon injection of low boiling point liquids.
Wound Healing for the Dermatologic Surgeon

An understanding of the basic science of cutaneous wound repair is essential to the dermatologic surgeon for the management of the postoperative wound. This review discusses the stages of wound healing and then applies these principles to the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management of the surgical patient.
ECONOMIC REDIRECTIONS IN RECENT U.S. AGRICULTURAL POLICY

Decisions of governments around the world concerning their agriculturul sectors have taken on increasingly an international dimension. The United Kingdom with its unique economic character has shared historically a mutual concern with major agricultural countries about their policies. This study analyses recent developments in U.S. agricultural price and income policy and programmes. Though some version of these policies has prevailed in the U.S. for almost forty years, distinct redirections have appeared in the current decade following a major policy crisis in the late 1950's. The new voluntary land retirement and compensatory payment approach is characterised, its economic rationale examined, and some of its probable economic consequences are measured. There has been a shift away from a high price support and from attempts at a compulsory production control programme. Many of the problems have been eliminated or mitigated, but both remaining and newly created difficulties still plague the policy scene.
Acriflavin-induced dyskinetoplastic Leishmania donovani grown in monkey kidney cell culture.

SYNOPSIS. Monkey kidney cells (LLC-MK2) grown in flasks and on coverslips in Leighton tubes were used as host cells for the growth of the intracellular stage, Leishman-Donovan bodies (LDs), of Leishmania donovani obtained from hamster spleen. These parasitized cultures were then used to determine the ability of acriflavin to induce dyskinetoplastic LDs. LD-infected cells were somewhat fewer in number than uninfected cells at all times except for the 1st day after infection. The parasites attained their maximum numbers on the 5th day after infection of the cultures having a 1.9-fold increase at that time. When acriflavin was added to the cell culture medium (250 mμ/ml) the numbers of monkey kidney cells did not differ greatly from non-treated cultures until 6–7 days after treatment with acriflavin. Similarly, the numbers of LDs in acriflavin-treated cell cultures, altho somewhat below those of untreated cultures, did not differ greatly from them. The combined effect of acriflavin and LDs reduced the numbers of monkey kidney cells in treated, LD-infected cell cultures more than either alone. Dyskinetoplastic LDs appeared in considerable numbers in acriflavin-treated, LD-infected cell cultures. Dyskinetoplastic and normal LDs harvested from cell cultures were inoculated into NIH medium and incubated at 27 C for transformation into leptomonads. There was no indication that dyskinetoplastic LDs were capable of transforming into leptomonads.
The Lifecycle of Public Policy: An Event History Analysis of Repeals to Landmark Legislative Enactments, 1951-2006

The first stage in the policy lifecycle—creation—has garnered significant attention while the final stage—repeal—has received scarcely any. To reconcile this imbalance, an extensive data set record...
Introduction to special section: Maurice Ewing Symposium on Applications of Trace Substance Measurements to Oceanographic Problems

On October 16–20, 1995, a Maurice Ewing Symposium on Applications of Trace Substance Measurements to Oceanographic Problems was held at Biosphere 2 in Oracle, Arizona. The objectives of this symposium were (1) to review the status of tracer methodology for oceanographic research (technological advances and progress in applications), (2) to evaluate the potential of the individual tracers for regional and global studies of water mass formation and circulation in the ocean, and (3) to outline the role of tracers in calibration and improvement of global circulation models. Trace substances of natural and anthropogenic origin have been used to study circulation and mixing in the ocean for roughly the past 4 decades. In such studies the penetration and subsequent spreading of anthropogenic trace substances released to the ocean are observed and evaluated in terms of flow paths and mean transit and residence times of specific water masses. These studies are basically regional or global dye experiments. Additionally, the radioactive character of several natural tracers is used to determine the mean residence times of deep waters.
Identification of a lipopolysaccharide inducible transcription factor in murine macrophages

Abstract To study macrophage genes activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) we have constructed a cDNA library using the mouse macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. By differential screening, a gene, designated LRG-21, was identified that showed nucleic acid sequence homology to rat liver regenerating factor-1 (LRF-1) and human activating transcription factor-3 (ATF3). Both LRG-21 and LRF-1 are transcribed within an hour following stimulation and in the absence of protein synthesis. The predicted protein sequence of LRG-21 consists of 181 amino acids with a molecular weight of 20.7 kDa. All three sequences contain basic and leucine zipper regions characteristic of the c-Fos and c-Jun family of transcription factors, but the remainder of the sequences are unrelated to this family. Recombinant LRG-21 has been shown to bind to a phorbol ester promoter element. Additional experiments have shown that LRG-21 is also induced by interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and by interleukin-4 (IL-4) in both RAW264.7 cells and murine peritoneal macrophages. Based on these observations, it is likely that LRG-21 plays an important role in macrophage activation.
Heightened avidity for trisodium pyrophosphate in mice lacking Tas1r3.

Laboratory rats and mice prefer some concentrations of tri- and tetrasodium pyrophosphate (Na3HP2O7 and Na4P2O7) to water, but how they detect pyrophosphates is unknown. Here, we assessed whether T1R3 is involved. We found that relative to wild-type littermate controls, Tas1r3 knockout mice had stronger preferences for 5.6–56 mM Na3HP2O7 in 2-bottle choice tests, and they licked more 17.8–56 mM Na3HP2O7 in brief-access tests. We hypothesize that pyrophosphate taste in the intact mouse involves 2 receptors: T1R3 to produce a hedonically negative signal and an unknown G protein-coupled receptor to produce a hedonically positive signal; in Tas1r3 knockout mice, the hedonically negative signal produced by T1R3 is absent, leading to a heightened avidity for pyrophosphate.
Music perception, pitch, and the auditory system

The perception of music depends on many culture-specific factors, but is also constrained by properties of the auditory system. This has been best characterized for those aspects of music that involve pitch. Pitch sequences are heard in terms of relative as well as absolute pitch. Pitch combinations give rise to emergent properties not present in the component notes. In this review we discuss the basic auditory mechanisms contributing to these and other perceptual effects in music.
Interpretation of prostate cancer screening events and outcomes: a focus group study

Professional guidelines call for physicians to provide patients with information to permit informed decision making. We conducted focus groups to obtain reactions to numerical information about events and outcomes related to prostate cancer screening (prevalence, natural history, accuracy of screening, and treatment outcomes). The focus groups were used to help develop a balance sheet, a decision aid that explicitly compares likelihood and value of outcomes. In all, 90 persons participated in 12 focus groups homogeneous in ethnicity (African American, White, Hispanic) and gender. Discussions were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative methods. The view of screening derived by participants from the numerical information was less positive than initial opinions based on the media and confidence in medicine. Participants suggested shorter screening intervals, regular screening, and different treatment methods. No single topic was seen as sufficient for the screening decision. The balance sheet should cover prevalence and outcomes of screening and treatment.
The ultrastructure of meiotic kinetochores of luzula

Reconstructions of serial sections of metaphase I bivalents reveal that there is a defined kinetochore region for each chromatid. Kinetochore material is less electron-opaque than the chromatin and is arranged on the surface of each chromatid in threadlike skeins approximately 60–120 nm across.
What Caused Excess Strokes in Patients Randomized to Darbepoetin in the Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Events With Aranesp Therapy (TREAT)? No Smoking Gun

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have been the treatment of choice for patients with renal anemia for >2 decades. Epoetin alfa was first approved in 1989 on the basis of its ability to increase hematocrit swiftly and to reduce the burden of transfusion in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving dialysis.1 In addition to transfusion avoidance, recombinant human erythropoietin and its longer-acting cousins were also prescribed on the basis of the common belief that reducing anemia would improve relevant hard clinical end points, including cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, an earlier trial of patients receiving chronic hemodialysis who also had significant cardiovascular disease was halted owing to futility and safety considerations, and seemed to signal that a more aggressive anemia treatment target (normalization) would lead to an increased risk of mortality or nonfatal myocardial infarction (hazard ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.9–1.9; the Table).2 The findings of this Normal Hematocrit Trial were readily pushed aside owing to what was perceived as an extremely selected and nonrepresentative study population and a nonsignificant primary result, and did not appear to have a sustained effect on overall prescriber behavior. View this table: Table. Key Features of 4 Landmark Studies of Erythropoesis-Stimulating Agents in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Article see p 2903 It was not until relatively recently that large randomized trials in populations with non–dialysis-dependent CKD were conducted to test for that putative cardiovascular benefit from more aggressive anemia correction. In 2006, 2 randomized trials comparing higher and lower hemoglobin treatment targets in patients with CKD were simultaneously published (for pertinent details, see the Table). The Cardiovascular Risk Reduction by Early Anemia Treatment with Epoetin Beta (CREATE) trial found no difference between treatment groups in cardiovascular risk using a comprehensive composite end point.3 The Correction of Hemoglobin and Outcomes in Renal Insufficiency (CHOIR) …
Localization with multi-modal vision measurements in limited GPS environments using Gaussian Sum Filters

A Gaussian Sum Filter (GSF) with component extended Kalman filters (EKF) is proposed as an approach to localize an autonomous vehicle in an urban environment with limited GPS availability. The GSF uses vehicle relative vision-based measurements of known map features coupled with inertial navigation solutions to accomplish localization in the absence of GPS. The vision-based measurements are shown to have multi-modal measurement likelihood functions that are well represented as a weighted sum of Gaussian densities and the GSF is ideally suited to accomplish recursive Bayesian state estimation for this problem. A sequential merging technique is used for Gaussian mixture condensation in the posterior density approximation after fusing multi-modal measurements in the GSF to maintain mixture size over time. The representation of the posterior density with the GSF is compared over a common dataset against a benchmark particle filter solution. The Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm is used offline to determine the representational efficiency of the particle filter in terms of an effective number of Gaussian densities. The GSF with vision-based vehicle relative measurements is shown to remain converged using 37 minutes of recorded data from the Cornell University DARPA Urban Challenge (DUC) autonomous vehicle in an urban environment that includes a 32 minute GPS blackout.
Models in biology: ‘accurate descriptions of our pathetic thinking’

In this essay I will sketch some ideas for how to think about models in biology. I will begin by trying to dispel the myth that quantitative modeling is somehow foreign to biology. I will then point out the distinction between forward and reverse modeling and focus thereafter on the former. Instead of going into mathematical technicalities about different varieties of models, I will focus on their logical structure, in terms of assumptions and conclusions. A model is a logical machine for deducing the latter from the former. If the model is correct, then, if you believe its assumptions, you must, as a matter of logic, also believe its conclusions. This leads to consideration of the assumptions underlying models. If these are based on fundamental physical laws, then it may be reasonable to treat the model as ‘predictive’, in the sense that it is not subject to falsification and we can rely on its conclusions. However, at the molecular level, models are more often derived from phenomenology and guesswork. In this case, the model is a test of its assumptions and must be falsifiable. I will discuss three models from this perspective, each of which yields biological insights, and this will lead to some guidelines for prospective model builders.