cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Twenty-six years of experience with the modified Eloesser flap

Abstract Background Empyema thoracis is a common thoracic problem with a multitude of therapeutic options. The modified Eloesser flap (MEF) is one means of dealing with this problem in selected complicated patients. The purpose of this study is to report our 26-year experience with the MEF. Methods A review of 78 patients who had a MEF from 1975 to 2001 was performed. Results There were 52 males (67%) and 26 females (33%). Mean age was 59 ± 14 years. The overall length of stay was 26 ± 27 days, while mean postoperative length of stay was 16 ± 17 days. Microbiology of the empyema cavity revealed a predominance of gram-positive organisms. Before a modified Eloesser flap, all patients failed initial conservative interventions and 23 patients (29%) failed surgical interventions. Operative indications were as follows: parapneumonic effusions, 35 patients (45%); postresectional, 23 patients (29%); tuberculosis related, 7 patients (9%); malignant effusion, 4 patients (5%); esophageal fistulas, 4 patients (5%); abdominal sepsis, 3 patients (4%); and hemothorax secondary to trauma, 2 patients (3%). The inverted-U incision was performed in all patients. Average rib resection was 3 ± 1 ribs. There were no intraoperative complications and adequate drainage was achieved in all patients. Thirty-day morbidity/mortality was 4 patients (5%): 3 died of sepsis and 1 died of metabolic encephalopathy; although long-term follow-up (mean: 109 ± 141 months) revealed no additional morbidity related to the MEF. Conclusions We demonstrate that MEF can be performed as a safe, definitive surgical procedure for the treatment of chronic empyema thoracis. The MEF remains an important option in the surgical treatment of chronic, complicated empyema thoracis.
Controller design oriented model identification method for Hammerstein system

Abstract The paper proposes a new polynomial identification method for the Hammerstein system. By combining the results of Parameter Estimation Theory and Functions Approximation Theory the method circumvents many disadvantages of the earlier methods. It is suitable for producing the controller design oriented model of Hammerstein system. Consistency and convergency analysis are given for the obtained parameter estimates of the system's linear dynamics and approximating polynomial of its nonlinear memoryless element, respectively. Simulation study verifies the effectiveness of the method.
Some cardiovascular effects of ST-91 and clonidine

Abstract St-91, 2(2,6-diethylphenylamino)-2-imidazoline ∗∗ , is a clonidine derivative which does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier. In spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats is acutely increased arterial pressure and reduced heart rate while at 8 to 12 h after oral administration, it slightly lowered arterial pressure. In contrast, clonidine had acute antihypertensive activity at all doses used. By intracerebroventricular admnistration to SH rats, both drugs (St-91 and clonidine) reduced by low frequency electrical rate; in this respect, clonidine was more potent than St-91. Cardiac acceleration induced by low frequency electrical stimulation of right cardiac sympathetic nerves in anesthetized and vagotomized dogs was reduced by St-91 at the same doses as by clonidine. Phenoxybenzamine, phentolamine and desipramine antagonized the inhibitory effects of St-91 on electrically induced cardiac acceleration. It was concluded that St-91, like clonidine, stimulates inhibitory α-adrenergic receptors at the sympathetic nerve endings but, unlike clonidine, is substantially devoid of acute antihypertensive activity. This suggests that stimulation of peripheral presynaptic inhibitory α-adrenergic receptors is not likely to represent the sole mechanism of antihypertensive action of clonidine.
Time pattern of off-site plutonium deposition from rocky flats plant by lake sediment analyses

A sediment core from a lake downwind of the Rocky Flats Plant, where nuclear weapons components are produced, was used to reconstruct a time pattern of off-site plutonium deposition. Core sections were dated by analyses of 137Cs, 239,240Pu, 238Pu, and 241Am fallout from nuclear testing and 238Pu fallout from a satellite failure. A peak in transuranic concentrations occurred in late 1969 which was attributable to the Plant. This was confirmed by mass isotopic analysis of plutonium isotopes in selected core segments where the global fallout and Plant contributions could be differentiated. The 18 nCi 239,240Pu per m2 from the Plant that had accumulated in the sediment is reasonable when compared to soil analyses.
GAUGE CAPABILITY AND DESIGNED EXPERIMENTS. PART I: BASIC METHODS

(1993). GAUGE CAPABILITY AND DESIGNED EXPERIMENTS. PART I: BASIC METHODS. Quality Engineering: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 115-135.
Secure controllers: Requirements of S*FSM

We propose a high level methodology for Finite State Machine (FSM) protection on a set of insecure FSMs. Hardware controllers, from those used in low-power authentication devices to those coordinating UAVs, as well as stream-based encoders rely on classically derived and implemented FSMs. As the proliferation of electronic devices that process sensitive data and provide authentication continues so do the potential attack vectors to circumvent them. These attack vectors include side-channel attacks that use physical byproducts to reconstruct the internal operation of a device. With the increased need for complete device security, designers need to focus on topdown security constructs to protect more than just cryptographic primitives. While low level cell solutions exist, they require significant overhead, customized cells, and increased design automation complexity downstream. The proposed high level methodology is validated using a set of insecure FSMs ranging in both size (4-60) as well as internal transitions (8-216). The two-part methodology physically restructures the machines, requiring on average 72% additional states and a doubling in the number of required transitions - though in most cases only a 67% increase in the bits needed to create a secure encoding over a the original binary implementation. The methodology, validated using preliminary hardware synthesis results, removes the correlation between common attack models and both underlying FSM logic as well as the associated power consumption.
Representing graph families with edge grammars

Abstract An edge grammar is a formal mechanism for representing families of related graphs (binary trees, hypercubes, meshes, etc.). Given an edge grammar, larger graphs in the family are derived from simple basis graphs using edge rewriting rules. A drawback to many graph grammars is that they cannot represent some important, highly regular graph families such as the family of shuffle-exchange graphs. Edge grammars, however, exist for all “computable” graph families, and simple edge grammars exist for most regular graph families. In this paper, we define and illustrate edge grammars and analyze them in the context of formal language theory. Our results include hierarchy and decidability properties. Because this work originally was motivated by a need to represent graph families found in parallel computation, the application of edge grammars in this context is also discussed.
The Heidelberg Retina Tomograph vs clinical impression in the diagnosis of glaucoma.

Abstract PURPOSE: To compare the sensitivity and the specificity of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) classification of “Glaucoma” or “Normal” with that derived from clinical impression (CI) based on several parameters. DESIGN: Consecutive observational case series. METHODS: In a retrospective chart review of 200 left eyes of 200 consecutive patients referred to the Glaucoma Service Diagnostic Laboratory of the Wills Eye Hospital, we compared the HRT-based classification of “Glaucoma” or “Normal” with a CI classification of “Definite glaucoma,” “Probably glaucoma,” “Probably no glaucoma,” and “No glaucoma.” RESULTS: The HRT-based diagnosis of “Glaucoma” or “Normal” had an 86% sensitivity and 68% specificity when compared with a clinical impression (CI) of “Definite glaucoma,” used as a strict gold standard definition of glaucoma; an 83% sensitivity and 57% specificity when the CI “Definite glaucoma” and “Probably glaucoma” were combined as a more liberal definition of glaucoma; a 76% sensitivity and 69% specificity when the CI “Definite glaucoma,” “Probably glaucoma,” and “Probably no glaucoma” were combined as the most liberal definition of glaucoma. The HRT diagnosis had an 86% sensitivity and 51% specificity when compared with the groups “Probably glaucoma,” “Probably no glaucoma,” and “No glaucoma” combined and considered as no glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, HRT-based classification of “Glaucoma” or “Normal” was moderately sensitive, but not very specific when compared with the clinical impression as the gold standard. Clinicians should not rely on the HRT diagnosis alone, but should use it to supplement the impression based on an eye examination and other ancillary tests.
Ligand recognition during thymic development and gammadelta T cell function specification.

γδ T cells develop in the thymus before entering the periphery. Recent work suggests that thymic development does little to constrain γδ T cell antigen specificities, but instead determines their effector fate. When triggered through the T cell receptor, ligand-naive γδ T cells produce IL-17, ligand-experienced cells make IFN-γ and those that are strongly self-reactive make IL-4. Importantly, γδ T cells are able to make cytokines immediately upon TCR engagement. These characteristics allow γδ T cells to initiate an acute inflammatory response to pathogens and to host antigens revealed by injury. These advances warrant a fresh look at how γδ T cells may function in the immune system.
B2 kinin receptor-mediated internalization of bradykinin in DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells is paralleled by sequestration of the occupied receptors.

We have previously shown that exposure of DDT1 MF-2 smooth muscle cells to the agonist bradykinin (BK) resuits in a rapid B2 kinin receptor-mediated internalization of BK followed by degradation of the intracellular BK [Munoz, C. M., and Leeb-Lundberg, L. M. F. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 303-309]. Here, we show that BK internalization is paralleled by sequestration of the occupied B2 receptors. Sequestration was observed as a stoichiometric decrease in the number of accessible B2 receptors, i.e., the binding of one molecule of BK effectively compartmented that receptor so as to render the binding site unavailable to the extracellular environment. The rate at which BK stimulated sequestration (t1/2 ∼ 7 min) was almost the same as that for BK internalization (t1/2 ∼ 9 min). Agonist specificity for the receptor sequestration was indicated by the lack of effect by the high affinity B2 kinin receptor-specific antagonist [D-Arg0, Hyp3, D-Phe7, Thi5,8]-BK (10 μM). Removal of free and bound extracellular BK resulted in a rapid (t1/2 ∼ 15 min) reappearance of accessible receptors and this process was not sensitive to the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. Essentially all of the cellular receptors identified by BK were associated with the plasma membrane fraction. A majority of the sequestered receptors remained inaccessible following cell disruption. However, sequestered receptors were retrievable by treating particulate fractions with the detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]propanesulfonic acid. Pretreatment with BK (1 μM), the α1-adrenergic agonist norepinephrine (10 μM), or the tumor promoting phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (0.1 μM) resulted in desensitization of BK stimulation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover. On the other hand, only BK stimulated B2 receptor sequestration. Together, these results suggest that B2 kinin receptors become sequestered by the cell in a compartment contiguous with the plasma membrane following occupancy of the receptor by an agonist. This sequestration appears to be closely associated with BK internalization and not a general mechanism for desensitization of BK-stimulated PI turnover.
Energy from refuse by bioconversion, fermentation and residue disposal processes

Biological conversion of organic refuse to methane by anaerobic fermentation is one mechanism by which the energy in urban waste can be reclaimed. Laboratory studies have been used to determine the rate and quantity of gas production at various operating temperatures. The dewatering characteristics of the spent fermentation slurry have been evaluated. The spent solids can be dewatered to a sufficiently low moisture content such that incineration is self-sustaining. The incineration system has been evaluated to determine the possible energy recovery from the spent cake. A process for treating the liquid blowdown from the system has been developed. A mathematical simulation of the total system has been constructed to evaluate performance under various operating conditions. The operating cost of the system can be obtained. A plant processing 908 metric tons of refuse per day will produce 3905 m/sup 3/ of methane per hour. If the methane is marketed for $3.53/100 m/sup 3/, the system will require a dump fee for refuse disposal in excess of $5.34/metric ton. Sale of recovered steam from the incineration of the spent cake can reduce the dump fee by about $3.00. Recovery of just methane provides an efficiency of energy recovery of 32.6 percent. Thismore » efficiency can be increased to 63.4 percent if the steam from the incinerator can be sold.« less
Effects of Selenomethionine in Irradiated Human Thyroid Epithelial Cells and Tumorigenicity Studies

The objectives of the present study were to characterize γ-ray, 1 GeV/n proton, and 1 GeV/n iron ion radiation-induced adverse biological effects in terms of toxicity and transformation of HTori-3 human thyroid epithelial cells; to evaluate the ability of L-selenomethionine (SeM) to protect against radiation-induced transformation when present at different times during the assay period; and to evaluate the tumorigenicity of HTori-3 cells derived from anchorage-independent colonies following iron ion radiation exposure. Cell survival was determined by a clonogenic assay, transformation was measured by a soft agar colony formation assay, and the tumorigenic potential of the cells was determined by injecting them subcutaneously into athymic nude mice and monitoring tumor formation. The results demonstrate that exposure of HTori-3 cells to γ-ray, proton, or iron ion radiation resulted in decreased clonogenic survival, which persisted for weeks after the radiation exposure. Treatment with SeM initiated up to 7...
Progression of myocardial abnormalities in experimental alcoholism.

Abstract To determine those characteristics of left ventricular functional and metabolic alterations in chronic ethanolism that may be time-dependent, up to 36 percent of total daily calories as ethanol was fed to dogs for an average of 18 months (study group 1) or 52 months (study group 2). The short- and long-term study groups were fed the same diet with vitamin supplements and were compared with simultaneously studied control animals. Left ventricular function was assessed in the intact anesthetized dogs using the thermodilution method for end-diastolic volume and stroke volume determinations. During preload increments with saline solution, a significantly greater increase in end-diastolic pressure was observed in both groups receiving ethanol as compared with the control animals; this increase was associated with reduced end-diastolic and stroke volume. However, the responses were similar in the short- and long-term study groups. Increased left ventricular collagen was the apparent basis for the compliance abnormality, but neither variable differed in the groups receiving ethanol. In contrast, the first derivative of ventricular pressure (dP/dt) normalized for preload and afterload, an index of left ventricular contractility, and the velocity of the contractile element (Vce) were significantly reduced only in the long-term study group while tissue calcium was normal. When chromium-51-EDTA was used as an extracellular marker, accumulation of water and sodium in myocardial cells was observed only in the long-term study group, without a reduction of cell potassium. In view of the dilatation of sarcoplasmic reticulum observed on electron microscopy, It is postulated that distortion of the tubular membranes may limit the rate of calcium availability to contractile protein and thus diminish contractile function in chronic alcoholism.
Serum copper correlations with bone marrow

A study of 346 bone marrow samples and serum copper levels obtained on the same day from 112 patients with acute leukemia shows highly significant relationships between serum copper levels and cellular components of the bone marrow. Of these, the relationship between percentage of blast cells and serum copper is the most important, in view of the significance of blast cells as an index of disease activity and their role in management of leukemias. The relationship may be expressed in terms of probability (Fig. 9), although the model utilized does not appear to define the relationship fully. The findings were most striking in the pediatric group. However, the relationship is quite similar in the adult group. Pediatric values were demonstrated to coincide with adult data by application of an age-correction factor. The serum copper level is proposed as an important value for the management of acute leukemia.
Long-term effects of land application of class B biosolids on the soil microbial populations, pathogens, and activity

This study evaluated the influence of 20 annual land applications of Class B biosolids on the soil microbial community. The potential benefits and hazards of land application were evaluated by analysis of surface soil samples collected following the 20th land application of biosolids. The study was initiated in 1986 at the University of Arizona Marana Agricultural Center, 21 miles north of Tucson, AZ. The final application of biosolids was in March 2005, followed by growth of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) from April through November 2005. Surface soil samples (0-30 cm) were collected monthly from March 2005, 2 wk after the final biosolids application, through December 2005, and analyzed for soil microbial numbers. December samples were analyzed for additional soil microbial properties. Data show that land application of Class B biosolids had no significant long-term effect on indigenous soil microbial numbers including bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi compared to unamended control plots. Importantly, no bacterial or viral pathogens were detected in soil samples collected from biosolid amended plots in December (10 mo after the last land application) demonstrating that pathogens introduced via Class B biosolids only survived in soil transiently. However, plots that received biosolids had significantly higher microbial activity or potential for microbial transformations, including nitrification, sulfur oxidation, and dehydrogenase activity, than control plots and plots receiving inorganic fertilizers. Overall, the 20 annual land applications showed no long-term adverse effects, and therefore, this study documents that land application of biosolids at this particular site was sustainable throughout the 20-yr period, with respect to soil microbial properties.
Inside the Debriefing Room: Multidisciplinary Rapid Response Team Training Findings Revealed

Abstract Background Research indicates that, despite the intent to save lives through rapid response teams (RRTs), mortality and morbidity outcome data are variable. A reason for that may be a lack of proficient and consistent training and education. Objectives To determine whether high-fidelity simulation is an effective instructional method for interdisciplinary RRT training. Methods Multidisciplinary health care team members participated in high-fidelity simulation scenarios, were evaluated by the instructors during the simulation, and then were given the opportunity to give informal and formal feedback. Results The results of an anonymous survey sent to all participants showed that a majority who completed the online survey (91.4%) found this instructional method to be either very effective or somewhat effective for teaching in the hospital setting. The majority of participants (63.6%) indicated that high-fidelity simulation was their preferred method of learning when compared with case studies, online learning modules, or classroom/lecture. Major themes and opportunities identified for additional training were communication, assessment skills, teamwork, critical thinking, cardiopulmonary resuscitation skill retention, and timely initiation of RRT calls. Conclusions This pilot study supports the current literature detailing the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation and perceived learner outcomes. During crisis situations, there are significant communication barriers that can derail care providers from providing the most optimal care to the patient. As a result of debriefing, it was found that derogatory comments made by the RRT members during previous rapid response calls significantly impacted how early subsequent rapid responses were called by some participants.
Correlation between energy, surface tension and structure of free surfaces in fcc metals

Abstract A many-body potential of the embedded-atom-method (EAM) type and a Lennard-Jones (LJ) pair potential are used to determine the zero-temperature structures, energies and surface tensions of 85 different free surfaces in fcc metals. The variation of the surface energy as function of the two variables characterizing the surface normal, n, is found to be similar for the two potentials. However, while the LJ potential yields outward relaxation of the surface plane in some cases and inward relaxation in others, the EAM potential yields inward relaxation for all surfaces considered. Large differences are also found in the magnitudes of the related surface tensions and in their dependence on the two degrees of freedom in n. These differences are shown to arise from the very different magnitudes of the perfect-crystal cohesive energies associated with the two potentials and from their rather different variations as function of volume. In spite of these differences, however, a strong correlation is found for both potentials between the number of broken nearest- and second-nearest neighbor bonds on the one hand, and the surface tensions and energies on the other.
High-temperature thermoelectric properties of n-type PbSe doped with Ga, In, and Pb

We report a systematic study of the thermoelectric properties of PbSe doped with Ga, In, and excess Pb as a function of carrier density and temperature. All metal dopants efficiently generate electron carriers in the crystal lattice with densities as high as ∼1020 cm−3 measured by the Hall effect. The Seebeck coefficient as a function of carrier density at room temperature was found to be similar for all dopants, while at 700 K substantial differences were observed with PbSe-In exhibiting a larger response. Infrared spectral reflectivity measurements at room temperature showed that both Ga and In substitution in PbSe weakens the curvature of the dispersion relation of the conduction band compared to Pb. This electronic effect contributes a larger density of states in transport processes at high temperatures. We have obtained thermoelectric figures of merit of ∼0.9 at 900 K, exceeding that of PbTe for T > 800 K.
NADPH and oxygen-dependent epoxidation of zeaxanthin in isolated chloroplasts

Summary NADPH and molecular oxygen were required for epoxidation of zeaxanthin to violaxanthin in isolated lettuce chloroplasts ( Lactuca sativa var. Manoa). Accordingly, the epoxidase is classifed as an “external monooxygenase.” Epoxidation in the dark was optimal at pH 7.3 and showed no activity below pH 5.5; it also occurred in the light where the thylakoid loculus is known to be acidified. These results suggest that the epoxidase is located in a chloroplast compartment that remains near neutrality under illumination. This may indicate that the epoxidase and de-epoxidase are separated by the thylakoid membrane; and to maintain cyclic turnover of violaxanthin under such conditions, a violaxanthin-zeaxanthin shuttle across the membrane is postulated.
Mesomorphic Properties of a Metallomesogen Based on a Copper(II) Metal-Chain Structure

Liquid crystalline properties have been introduced into one-dimensional metal-chain complexes based on Cu(pyridine)2X2 via straightforward derivatization of the pyridyl ligands. When the aliphatic portion of the mesogen is introduced via an ester, no mesophase behavior is observed; however, when an amide group is used as the means of incorporating the flexible portion of the molecule, a mesogenic material results. The structure of these amide-derivatized materials is different when obtained from solution vs from the melt, due to changes in the hydrogen-bonding framework formed along the chain. The solution-derived material does not display any mesophase behavior, whereas the material derived from the melt does. The thermal behavior of these materials is somewhat complicated by the variety of noncovalent interactions (hydrogen bonds, metal−halide bridging interactions) involved. By including hydrogen-bonding groups in the ligands at positions opposite to the metal-coordination site it is possible to signif...
Dissonance theory revised again: Comment on the paper by Fazio, Zanna, and Cooper.

Abstract Fazio, Zanna, and Cooper (Dissonance and self-perception: An integrative view on each theory's proper domain of application. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1977 , 13, 464–479) specified mutually exclusive domains of application for dissonance and self-perception theory and used a misattribution-of-arousal procedure to distinguish between dissonance reduction and self-perception processes. Because their proposed limitations of the domains of the two theories and their use of the misattribution procedure are not directly derivable from earlier statements of either theory, it may be best to regard their analysis as a new theory, rather than as a conciliation of the parent theories. New analyses based on the Fazio et al. results indicate that their data provide an insufficient basis for preferring their theory to earlier versions of dissonance and self-perception theories. Dissonance and self-perception: An integrative view of each theory's proper domain of application. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1977, 13, 464–479.
Volume-Cycled vs. Pressure-Cycled Respirators in Ventilatory Failure Due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The acute effects of a pressure-cycled respirator, Bird Mark VII, and a volume-cycled respirator, Air Shields, were compared in 13 hospitalized patients with acute ventilatory failure caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The results indicate that, with matched pressure settings and optimal flow rates, the two respirators produced a similar total and effective alveolar ventilation, suggesting a similar effect upon the distribution of inspired gas within the lung. Both types of equipment are suitable for the management of patients with acute ventilatory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
SENSORY PRECONDITIONING IN CATS FOLLOWING BILATERAL ABLATION OF TEMPORAL CORTEX.

Summa~y.-Nine normal and eight operated cats with similar bilateral lesions in the auditory cortex were given preconditioning treatment in the form of 200 paired presentations of light and tone. All Ss were subsequently trained to make an avoidance response in a shuttle box with the light serving as a CS. After reaching criterion on this problem they were then trained to make the same avoidance response to a tone. The number of trials saved in learning the tone-avoidance following training on light-avoidance was used as a measure of sensory preconditioning effects. Although such effects were found in normal cats, animals sustaining bilateral ablation of auditory cortex did not appear to profit from the preconditioning treatment. Since Brogden (1939) first demonstrated sensory preconditioning effects in dogs, a number of experiments using both animal and human Ss have been reported in the literacure confirming his essential finding and investigating some of its parameters. Most of these studies have been reviewed by Seidel (1959) and are chiefly concerned with the manipulation of variables traditionally involved in behavioral approaches to conditioning, e.g., stimulus intensity, incerstimulus interval, and number of stimulus pairings. It was the intent of this study to investigate the role of corcical scruccures in sensory preconditioning by ablating the sensory projection areas associated with the modality of one of the preconditioning stimuli. METHOD Szdbject.r.-Ss were 17 male cats, ranging in age from 6 to 10 mo. and weighing between 3.5 and 7.2 Ib. at the beginning of training. Procedure.-All Ss were trained in a wo-compartment shuctle box to avoid shock by crossing from one side to the other following the presentation of a CS. The apparatus was housed in a soundproof room the interior of which was illuminated with low intensity red light. Stimuli were presented remotely from an adjacent room and the animal was observed through a one-way window. Two conditioning stimuli, a tone (S1) and a light (Sz), were used. The tone was generated by a loudspeaker located in the sound room and driven by an audio-oscillator. It had a frequency of 800 cps and an intensity approximately 45 db above a reference of ,0002 dynes/cm.? The light was produced by a group of 6 15-w white lamps arranged at equal intervals around the perimeter of the shuttle-box ceiling. Shock (approximately .5 ma. at 40 v) could be administered through the brass rods making up the floor and sides of the box. Two weeks prior to the initiation of training procedures large bilareral lesions were made in the temporal cortex of eight Ss. Aseptic precautions were taken during surgery and cortical tissue was ablated by sub-pial aspiration.
A monolithic instrumentation amplifier with low input current

A monolithic instrumentation amplifier with very low input currents and internal compensation has been designed. Requires only two external resistors connected to internal nodes for operation.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Clinical considerations in diagnosis and management

Advances in the understanding of the immune response, in immunogenetics, and in better identification of microbial agents that produce arthritis have made possible more accurate diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Epidemiologic study of groups of rheumatoid patients and their response to therapy has provided a broader perspective of the disease's course and management. Therapy must be guided by the acute or chronic phase of the disease and must embrace chemical, psychologic, and physical modalities to achieve the goals of pain relief and the restoration of immune balance. Rheumatoid arthritis can no longer be considered benign since it impairs the duration as well as the quality of life. Therapy should be aggressive depending upon the predictors of more destructive disease.
Coping with dying: Lessons that we should and should not learn from the work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.

Abstract This article begins from an appraisal of the work of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in the area of coping with dying. In that appraisal, some reason are noted as to why we should not consider her stage-based model to be the heart of the useful lessons that she taught. Instead, three lessons are suggested that we can and should learn from the work of Kubler-Ross on coping with dying. Three further elements round out this exposition: 1) some broader conclusions are drawn about the processes involved in coping with dying; 2) an argument is offered on behalf of our need to develop better theoretical models to explicate what is involved in coping with dying; and 3) some requirements are suggested that should be satisfied by any adequate model in this field.
Racial Disparity in Bladder Cancer: Trends in Tumor Presentation at Diagnosis

Purpose: White Americans have a 2-fold higher incidence of bladder cancer than black Americans but the latter have a higher mortality rate. This survival disparity has been attributable largely to the late stage presentation of black patients but other factors likely exist. We examined trends in bladder cancer presentation and survival in white and black patients in a 27-year period to gain additional insight into these factors.Materials and Methods: Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program data trends in tumor presentation, treatment and survival were defined in 93,093 patients, including 89,481 white and 3,612 black patients, with bladder cancer. Parameters were measured during 5 and 7-year intervals from 1973 to 1999. Bivariate relationships between patient/disease characteristics, and the time and survival were explored. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the independent effect of parameters on disease specific survival.Results: Median followup was 10 years. Black pat...
ERIC reports on ID

ing support activities in Canada that use communications technology in distance learning is based on the findings of a survey of Canadian universities and colleges, provincial departments of education, the telecommunications industry and organizations, professional associations, and private corporations. Included are both public and private sources that directly support the instructional process as well as those that support the administration of distance education projects and research. The first of three sections of this report provides background information on the survey and an introduction to the sourcebook. The second section comprises three charts which summarize the communications technologies used by each of the respondents, the educational levels for which their instruc-
The disciplinary, interdisciplinary and global dimensions of African studies

Abstract In discussing African studies or any other field, it is important to note that the economies and cultures of knowledge production are an integral part of complex and sometimes contradictory, but always changing, institutional, intellectual and ideological processes and practices that occur, simultaneously, at national and transnational, or local and global levels. From their inception, universities have always been, or aspired to be, universalistic and universalising institutions. This is not the place to examine the changes and challenges facing universities in Africa and elsewhere, a subject dealt with at length in African universities in the twenty‐first century (Zeleza and Olokoshi 2004). It is simply to point out that African studies ‐ the production of African(ist) knowledges ‐ has concrete and conceptual, and material and moral contexts, which create the variations that are so evident across the world and across disciplines.This article is divided into four parts. First, it explores the ch...
Mercury Binding to the Chelation Therapy Agents DMSA and DMPS and the Rational Design of Custom Chelators for Mercury

Clinical chelation therapy of mercury poisoning generally uses one or both of two drugs--meso-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and dimercaptopropanesulfonic acid (DMPS), commercially sold as Chemet and Dimaval, respectively. We have used a combination of mercury L(III)-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to investigate the chemistry of interaction of mercuric ions with each of these chelation therapy drugs. We show that neither DMSA nor DMPS forms a true chelate complex with mercuric ions and that these drugs should be considered suboptimal for their clinical task of binding mercuric ions. We discuss the design criteria for a mercuric specific chelator molecule or "custom chelator", which might form the basis for an improved clinical treatment.
Proxemics as a reflection of psychological terror in Madame Bovary

The article's main thrust is to demonstrate how Flaubert's Madame Bovary is an outstanding illustration of how anthropological issues can readily lend themselves to artistic use. Setting out from a brief discussion of proxemics according to the anthropologist Edward T. Hall, the paper explores Emma's proxemic behaviour toward her environment and those she comes in contact with, in order to demonstrate that this behaviour in a form of psychological terror, leads the protagonist to her death.
Electrical properties of phosphate glasses

Abstract The electrical properties of glasses in the Na2OP2O5, Ag2OP2O5 and (1−x)Na2OxAg2OP2O5 systems have been measured over a range of temperature and composition. The properties of the Na2OP2O5 and Ag2OP2O5 glasses have been compared within the phosphate system as well as with silicate glasses. The silver-containing glasses show higher conductivity and lower temperature coefficients when compared with the sodium-containing glasses. A maximum in the room temperature resistivity of the (1−x)Na2O−xAg2O−P2O5 system was found around the mole ratio of 0.16:0.84 Ag2O:Na2O, indicating a mixed-alkali effect. A similar effect was seen in the tan δ, but not in the Tg-against-composition plots. A linear relationship was noted for the tan δ-versus-log10 (resistivity) plot, as has been seen in other glass-forming systems.
Bipolar disorder and cognitive therapy: A commentary

This article comments on the three articles ( Leahy, 2005; Newman, 2005; and Reilly-Harrington & Knauz, 2005 ) that deal with the applications of cognitive therapy to treatment of bipolar disorder. They focus on the uses of cognitive therapy in treating three important facets of the special problems of bipolar patients: rapid cycling, severe depression/suicidality, and manic states. This article concludes its commentary with several open questions and ideas about the role of thought suppression and rebound processes in the cycling between depressive or euthymic and manic states in bipolar disorder.
Helping English-Language Learners Develop Computational Fluency.

and explain how it can be nurtured, the challenge is to ensure that all students attain fluency. How can we help all students, especially English-language learners, develop computational fluency if they have experienced mathematics as quiet, solitary practice of standard procedures? How do we make communication the focus of mathematics class so that mathematical conversations are productive and accessible to everyone? What sensitivity, awareness, and skills do teachers need when working with students from diverse backgrounds with differing experiences and skills who may be learning English as a second language?
Jamming considerations and the sanguine system

The subset of ECCM techniques easily applicable to ELF communications is identified, and the problems of processing the transmission to simultaneously make jamming infeasible, desired reception feasible, and other systems undisrupted are briefly discussed. The quantitative levels of SANGUINE ECCM features planned for depends on cost-performance tradeoffs incorporating data and forecasts which are, and ought to be, classified; but general principles affecting the selection are sketched.
Fostering Professional Formation (Professionalism): Lessons from the Carnegie Foundation's Five Studies on Educating Professionals

The American Bar Association is going to change the accreditation standards for law schools to require more emphasis on each student’s professional formation. Professional formation refers to the fostering of students’ formation of an ethical professional identity. This change from a focus on educational inputs like a course on professional responsibility to a focus on clearly-articulated learning outcomes relating to each student’s ethical development that are assessable is a major paradigm shift in legal education. Legal educators and the profession itself can learn a great deal from the five Carnegie studies of higher education in medicine, nursing, clergy, engineering, and law concerning professional formation. From the turn of the century to 2010, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching conducted dozens of site visits to study how professional schools educate physicians, nurses, clergy, engineers, and lawyers. From these studies, the president of the Carnegie Foundation, Lee Shulman, found that “the most overlooked aspect of professional preparation was the formation of a professional identity with a moral core of service and responsibility,” while the Carnegie foundation’s final study, Educating Physicians, found that “formation [is] the fundamental goal of the learning process,” and “professional formation [is] the purpose that should guide medical education.” This paper provides an analysis of the five Carnegies studies that will guide law faculties in defining learning outcomes for professional formation that are assessable and in selecting the pedagogies most effective to achieve the defined learning outcomes.
Comparison of mesospheric VHF radar echoes and rocket probe electron concentration measurements

Refractive index irregularities in the equatorial mesosphere have been investigated using both the Jicamarca VHF radar and a rocket-borne Langmuir probe launched from Punta Lobos, Peru. On February 27, 1983, a single layer of turbulence was observed in the upper mesosphere by both experiments. There is very good agreement between the observed radar echo power and the radar scattering cross section calculated from the rocket data when these are interpreted in the context of isotropic turbulence. The inner and outer scales of turbulence have been calculated from both the radar and the rocket data, and good agreement is found. The radar data show indications of large-scale vortices in the layer of irregularities. Rocket data show that the inner scale of turbulence in the upper mesosphere is a few tens of meters and that the Jicamarca radar Bragg wavelength (3 m) is well within the viscous subrange of turbulence in this altitude range. The spectral index in the inertial subrange is close to -5/3, changing to about - 7 at higher wave numbers. Energy dissipation rate in the layer was calculated to be 0.05 W/kg, in good agreement with previous estimates.
International human trade: a marketing analysis

International human trade is a dark side of international business that has largely been ignored by international business researchers. With a rapid globalisation, these activities have intensified to become a global phenomenon in the past two decades. The intent of this paper is to raise an awareness of such an important global business phenomenon. We offer a general classification of international human trade as well as describing it more specifically in the marketing context of product, price, place and promotion of humans and human organs. Recommendations for policy makers and suggestions for future research are included.
Algorithm-based fault-tolerant techniques for MVDR beamforming

The authors present novel fault-tolerance schemes for 2-D systolic implementation of a recursive least squares minimization problem with applications to beamforming problems. They show that the errors can be detected by examining only a few scalars. In the case of the transient errors the technique is self-correcting. The technique can be implemented with negligible algorithm modification and little additional hardware. The simplicity of the method invites its use in future systolic arrays. >
Don't Clog the Queue! Circuit Clogging and Mitigation in P2P Anonymity Schemes

At Oakland 2005, Murdoch and Danezis described an attack on the Tor anonymity service that recovers the nodes in a Tor circuit, but not the client. We observe that in a peer-to-peer anonymity scheme, the client is part of the circuit and thus the technique can be of greater significance in this setting. We experimentally validate this conclusion by showing that "circuit clogging" can identify client nodes using the MorphMix peer-to-peer anonymity protocol. We also propose and empirically validate the use of the Stochastic Fair Queueing discipline on outgoing connections as an efficient and low-cost mitigation technique.
Hydrocarbon source signatures in Houston, Texas: Influence of the petrochemical industry

[1] Observations of C1-C10 hydrocarbon mixing ratios measured by in situ instrumentation at the La Porte super site during the TexAQS 2000 field experiment are reported. The La Porte data were compared to a roadway vehicle exhaust signature obtained from canister samples collected in the Houston Washburn tunnel during the same summer to better understand the impact of petrochemical emissions of hydrocarbons at the site. It is shown that the abundance of ethene, propene, 1-butene, C2-C4 alkanes, hexane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, isopropylbenzene, and styrene at La Porte were systematically affected by petrochemical industry emissions. Coherent power law relationships between frequency distribution widths of hydrocarbon mixing ratios and their local lifetimes clearly identify two major source groups, roadway vehicle emissions and industrial emissions. Distributions of most aromatics and long chain alkanes were consistent with roadway vehicle emissions as the dominant source. Air mass reactivity was generally dominated by C1-C3 aldehydes. Propene and ethene sometimes dominated air mass reactivity with HO loss frequencies often greater than 10 s−1. Ozone mixing ratios near 200 ppbv were observed on two separate occasions, and these air masses appear to have been affected by industrial emissions of alkenes from the Houston Ship Channel. The La Porte data provide evidence of the importance of industrial emissions of ethene and propene on air mass reactivity and ozone formation in Houston.
Hydrologic inferences from comparisons among small basin experiments

The hydrologic community is poised to make important advances in basic hydrology through comparative analysis of small basin experiments around the world. Existing long-term records from small basins have already enriched our knowledge of fundamental processes and important societal issues, and yet they contain a wealth of untapped information about hydrologic and biogeochemical responses to climate change, natural disturbance and human activities over a wide range of climate, geophysical and vegetation settings.
Abnormal Paneth cell granule dissolution and compromised resistance to bacterial colonization in the intestine of CF mice

Paneth cells of intestinal crypts contribute to host defense by producing antimicrobial peptides that are packaged as granules for secretion into the crypt lumen. Here, we provide evidence using li...
The first Cretaceous Rhinotermitidae (Isoptera): a new species, genus, and subfamily in Burmese amber

A new subfamily, genus, and species, Archeorhinotermitinae, Archeorhinotermes rossi, from Burmese amber, dated as Turonian-Cenomanian (90‐100 mya) of the Cretaceous period, are described and figured. Comparisons are made between the other subfamilies of the Rhinotermitidae and the new subfamily. This is the first fossil record of the family Rhinotermitidae from the Cretaceous.
A 6-bit 3.5-GS/s 0.9-V 98-mW Flash ADC in 90-nm CMOS

A 6-bit 3.5-GS/s flash ADC is reported. A load circuit with a clamp diode and a replica-biasing scheme is developed for low-voltage and high-speed operation. An acceleration capacitor is introduced for high-speed overdrive recovery of a comparator. An averaging and interpolation network is employed in this ADC. The interpolation factor is optimized considering random offset, active area, and systematic offset to realize low offset and small active area. The ADC is fabricated in a 90-nm CMOS process and occupies 0.15 mm2. It consumes 98 mW with a 0.9-V power supply. With Nyquist input, SNDR and SFDR at 3.5 GS/s are 31.18 dB and 38.67 dB, respectively.