cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imaging muscarinic cholinergic receptors in human brain in vivo with Spect, [123I]4-iododexetimide, and [123I]4-iodolevetimide.

A method to image muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (muscarinic receptors) noninvasively in human brain in vivo was developed using [123I]4-iododexetimide ([123I]IDex), [123I]4-iodolevetimide ([123I]ILev), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). [123I]IDex is a high-affinity muscarinic receptor antagonist. [123I]ILev is its pharmacologically inactive enantiomer and measures nonspecific binding of [123I]IDex in vitro. Regional brain activity after tracer injection was measured in four young normal volunteers for 24 h. Regional [123I]IDex and [123I]ILev activities were correlated early after injection, but not after 1.5 h. [123I]IDex activity increased over 7–12 h in neocortex, neostriatum, and thalamus, but decreased immediately after the injection peak in cerebellum. [123I]IDex activity was highest in neostriatum, followed in rank order by neocortex, thalamus, and cerebellum. [123I]IDex activity correlated with muscarinic receptor concentrations in matching brain regions. In contrast, [12...
Arterial blood sample collection from the newborn calf

Measurements of arterial blood gas tensions and acid-base status provide a means of assessing how well the respiratory system is functioning. This information is essential for thorough evaluation of a compromised neonatal calf but arterial blood sampling is difficult immediately after birth. A technique for collecting blood from the brachial artery of the newborn calf is described. This technique, which uses an easily located site, has been successfully used in field studies to determine arterial blood gas values in such calves.
A method for postmastectomy chest wall dosimetry.

Postmastectomy chest walls are often irradiated by means of parallel opposed, tangential 60Co fields. The necessary given dose per field to achieve a prescribed tumor dose depends on field size, chest curvature, and field separation. Computer calculations on 50 patients indicate that the given dose is mainly determined by a single parameter, the separation between medial and lateral fields. Over a considerable range, the relationship between given dose and separation is linear. A nomogram was constructed indicating the given dose per field necessary to give 200 rads tumor dose. With this method treatment planning with good dose distribution is simplified.
Regulation of Shear Stress in the Canine Coronary Microcirculation

Background—Physical forces, such as pressure and flow, are well known to affect vascular function in the coronary circulation. Increases in shear stress produce vasodilation in coronary arterioles in vitro, and constant-flow preparations suggest a role for shear stress–induced vasodilation during adjustments to metabolic demand in vivo. Hypothetically, the regulation of shear stress can be viewed as a negative feedback control scheme (increased velocity → increased shear → vasodilation → decreased velocity → shear normalized). Therefore, we hypothesized that shear stress would be at least partially regulated during conditions of elevated flow. Methods and Results—We used fluorescence microangiography to measure microvascular diameters and velocities in the coronary circulation in vivo and used these variables to calculate shear stress. Measurements were obtained under basal conditions, during maximal coronary blood flow, and after inhibition of NO synthase. Basal shear stress in the coronary circulation a...
Large-scale dynamics in high Reynolds number jets and jet flames

The far-field large-scale dynamics of a momentum-driven Re = 2 × 108 non-reacting jet and a Re = 3 × 107 jet diffusion flame are presented and compared. The results are derived from computer graphic volume rendering of a set of sequential images of each flow. When compared to conventional display techniques, volume rendering, by allowing many frames of a movie sequence to be presented simultaneously, more clearly shows the detailed flow evolution. For the non-reacting jet we see the passage and growth of large-scale organized structures up through the jet column, the axial velocity decay of the structures, the fluid entrainment patterns, and occasional pairing events. A rendering of a non-sequential set of images shows no discernible organized component. Volume rendering of the reacting jet shows a similar pattern of burning large-scale organized structures which convert over considerable axial distances but without the corresponding velocity decay, similar to observations of laboratory flames. The images presented here are believed to be some of the most direct visual evidence to date for large-scale organized motions in the far-field of high Reynolds number, fully developed jets and jet flames. Since conditional sampling techniques are not used, we believe that the volume renderings seen here are likely to be representative of the natural development of jet flows.
Probing the telltale physics: Towards a cyber-physical protocol to mitigate information corruption in smart grid systems

We consider a cyber-physical perspective to the problem of identifying and mitigating information corruption in smart grid systems. We study the problem of transient stability with distributed control using real-time data from geographically distributed phasor measurement units via a flocking-based modeling paradigm. We demonstrate how cyber corruption can be identified through the effective use of telltale physical couplings within the power system.We develop a novel witness-based cyber-physical protocol whereby physical coherence is leveraged to probe and identify phasor measurement unit data corruption and estimate the true information values for attack mitigation.
What Determines How Long Political Appointees Serve

The president's role as chief executive depends on the quality and tenure of political appointees who assist with the constitutional charge to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” This study explores the determinants of the duration of political appointee service. Using an agency theory framework, we propose that appointee tenure depends on financial incentives, executive-legislative conflict, solidary, and material benefits offered by the president, as well as implicit incentives that differ across presidential administrations. Using Office of Personnel Management records from January 1982 through August 2003, we employ multivariate survival analysis to confirm most aspects of the theory. The results imply that the most important determinants of political appointee tenure are financial and the difficulty of public administrative service. However, the president can affect exit propensities at the margins by manipulating rewards and implicit incentives that promote loyalty to public service and the administration.
Transforming growth factor beta: a central modulator of pulmonary and airway inflammation and fibrosis.

The requirement for precise geometric organization of endothelial cells and epithelial cells makes the gas-exchange region of the lung especially vulnerable to the adverse consequences of toxic products released from inflammatory cells. However, as a filter for large volumes of atmospheric gas, the lung is continually exposed to microorganisms and other toxic insults that require robust inflammatory defense. Enhanced production of extracellular matrix proteins is one important mechanism for restricting tissue damage, but excessive matrix production also has serious adverse effects on gas exchange. The amazing ability of the lung to recover from a barrage of environmental insults depends on precisely regulating both inflammation and extracellular matrix production in space and time. Below I review some of the evidence implicating members of the transforming growth factor β family as critical mediators of this delicate dance and describe examples of how disruption of this balance by alterations in the magnitude of spatially restricted transforming growth factor β activation can contribute to pathologic consequences of alveolar and airway injury and inflammation.
Tuberculous Pleural Effusions

While a number of recent reports have documented the changing clinical and radiographic spectrum of parenchymal tuberculosis, relatively little attention has been paid to changes in the patterns of pleural tuberculosis. We therefore reviewed the clinical, laboratory, and radiographic characteristics of 26 adult patients with tuberculous pleural effusions. We found that pleural tuberculosis has become a disease of older adults (median age, 56 years) and that 19 percent (5/26) of the cases were due to postprimary (reactivation) disease. This shift in age led to problems in diagnosis, since many of these older patients had underlying or coexisting disease that could have caused a pleural effusion. Both specimens of pleural fluid and pleural biopsy were useful in establishing the diagnosis. Examination of sputum was less helpful. All patients who were not anergic had positive cutaneous reactions to first-strength purified protein derivative of tuberculin. Lymphocytosis of the pleural fluid was not a uniform finding; only 62 percent of our patients had greater than 50 percent lymphocytes on their initial examinations of pleural fluid, and four patients had greater than 90 percent polymorphonuclear cells. All of the effusions were exudates, and four had glucose levels in the pleural fluid that were less than 30 mg/dl. Pleural tuberculosis is an important diagnostic consideration in adult or elderly patients with exudative pleural effusions.
Quantitative evaluation of cineaortography in the assessment of aortic regurgitation

Cineaortography, quantitative biplane left ventricular angiocardiography and Fick cardiac output studies were performed in 69 patients with aortic regurgitation to evaluate the usefulness of the aortogram in quantitating regurgitation. Thirteen patients had coexistent aortic stenosis and 12 had coexistent mitral stenosis. Patients with concomitant mitral regurgitation were excluded because their aortic regurgitant flow cannot be separately quantified with biplane ventriculography. Twenty-eight other patients without valvular regurgitation were also studied to assess further the accuracy of the quantitative ventriculography, and the stroke volumes derived from Fick and angiographic methods were found to correlate well (r = 0.97). Aortic regurgitation in the 69 patients, graded on a 1 to 5 scale from the aortogram, correlated significantly with the percent and volume of regurgitation (r = 0.56 and 0.65, P < 0.01), respectively). However, there was a wide range in amount of regurgitant flow within the aortographic grades, especially in grades 4 and 5, and there was considerable overlap between the grades. The degree of aortic regurgitation was more commonly overestimated than underestimated from the aortogram, but the correlation tended to be better in the patients with a large end-diastolic volume and normal ejection fraction and without aortic or mitral stenosis.
Anti-termitic efficacy of the resin and rubber in fractionator overheads from a guayule extraction process

Abstract Antitermitic properties were evaluated for a mixture of resin and rubber obtained by solvent extraction of guayule. Pine (Pinus strobus L.) sapwood was impregnated with fractionator overheads consisting of resin and low-molecular-weight rubber. The impregnated wood was exposed for 71 months at two sites in the Panama rain forest and for 67 months at a site in the Arizona desert. None of the treated wood sustained any termite damage at either site, whereas untreated baitwood was routinely destroyed. The impregnant mixture acted as a termite antifeedant rather than a repellant. Almost no loss of resin or rubber was sustained by specimens exposed in Arizona, whereas significant losses occurred at both sites in Panama. Environmental factors, including microbiological activity, may have contributed to the loss of both resin and rubber in the rain forest environment. Enough impregnant did remain in the wood to protect it from termite attack throughout the exposure period.
Corneal topography in the study of astigmatic excimer laser ablation

Corneal astigmatism, both naturally occurring and iatrogenically induced, is a commonly encountered problem. Examination of corneal topography with instruments that digitize reflected ring images and calculate corneal geometry suggests that corneal astigmatism often deviates from spherocylindrical optics; the observed topography may be highly asymmetrical about the center of the pupil. Currently used incisional procedures are limited in terms of predictability of surgical outcome. The 193 nm excimer laser can be used to alter anterior corneal curvature and flatten the cornea to correct myopia. For correction of astigmatism, a slit-opening in the laser delivery system can be used to selectively flatten the steep meridian. Early results using this procedure for correction of iatrogenically induced high corneal astigmatism are promising. A nationwide multicenter clinical trial is now underway in the United States to evaluate this technique for the correction of naturally occurring astigmatism and compound myopic astigmatism.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Performance characteristics of a cascaded two-level converter

A cascaded two-level power converter is proposed which utilizes two six-transistor inverters and is capable of producing voltages which are identical to those of three-level and four-level converters. Since the machine voltages are the same, the converter performance is the same as is verified through laboratory tests. The advantages and disadvantages of the proposed cascaded converter are explored. The proposed converter is simpler to construct and offers more nonredundant switching states per number of active semiconductors than standard multi-level converters.
Enthalpy changes during O2 adsorption and H2 titration of adsorbed oxygen on platinum

Integral, isothermal heats of adsorption were measured for O{sub 2} on UHP Pt powder and SiO{sub 2{minus}} supported Pt, with the latter providing an average crystallite size range of 1.3-22.3nm. The energy changes that occur during the titration of this chemisorbed oxygen by dihydrogen were also measured. The average Q{sub ad} value of 67.9{plus minus}8.9 kcal/mol for well-dispersed Pt on Davison 57 silica compared to that of 52.6{plus minus}6.1 kcal/mol for the Pt powder indicates that a small increase may occur on very small Pt crystallites. The enthalpy of titration was relatively constant, with a value of{Delta}H{sub titr} = {minus}26.7{plus minus}4.2 kcal/mol H{sub 2} obtained for all the Pt/SiO{sub 2} samples compared to {minus}24.5{plus minus}3.5 kcal/mol H{sub 2} for the Pt powder. The use of a thermodynamic cycle not only gave an approximate value of 11 kcal/mol for the heat of adsorption of water on SiO{sub 2}, but also indicated that all the water desorbed from the Pt surface at 300 K thus allowing a complete monolayer of hydrogen to form.
A Splitting Method for Orthogonality Constrained Problems

Orthogonality constrained problems are widely used in science and engineering. However, it is challenging to solve these problems efficiently due to the non-convex constraints. In this paper, a splitting method based on Bregman iteration is represented to tackle the optimization problems with orthogonality constraints. With the proposed method, the constrained problems can be iteratively solved by computing the corresponding unconstrained problems and orthogonality constrained quadratic problems with analytic solutions. As applications, we demonstrate the robustness of our method in several problems including direction fields correction, noisy color image restoration and global conformal mapping for genus-0 surfaces construction. Numerical comparisons with existing methods are also conducted to illustrate the efficiency of our algorithms.
Superfluidity in a model of massless fermions coupled to scalar bosons

We study superfluidity in a model of massless fermions coupled to a massive scalar field through a Yukawa interaction. Gap equations for a condensate with total spin J=0 are solved in the mean-field approximation. For the Yukawa interaction, the gaps for right- and left-handed fermions are equal in magnitude and opposite in sign, so that condensation occurs in the J{sup P}=0{sup +} channel. At finite scalar mass, there are two different gaps for fermions of a given chirality, corresponding to condensation of particle pairs or of antiparticle pairs. These gaps become degenerate in the limit of infinite scalar mass. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
The role of diet in animal models of systemic lupus erythematosus: Possible implications for human lupus

Studies of diet in the mouse model of SLE have established the beneficial effects of a low calorie, low fat diet in these animals as well as the importance of the specific source of dietary fat. The role of zinc in murine and human SLE is less clear. The reported improvement of patients with SLE and other related diseases on a low phenylalanine and tyrosine diet high in fish content, and the lupus inducing capacity of a nonphysiologic amino acid present in alfalfa are also reviewed. The need for carefully controlled prospective studies of diet in patients with SLE is noted, and a diet of potential therapeutic benefit is described.
Oberfläche und katalytische Eigenschaften von Silber- und Kupferpulvern

Bei der Untersuchung der katalytischen Eigenschaften (HCOOH-Zerfall) von Silber-und Kupferpulver(1) war auf Grund des Anstiegs des temperaturunabhangigen Gliedes der ARRHENIUS-Gleichung (log α) mit zunehmender Vorerhitzungstemperatur vermutet worden, das nur eine Teil der Oberflache der Pulver aktiv ist und das in gewissen Bereichen mit zunehmender Frittung ein immer groserer Teil der Oberflache aktiv wird. Diese Vermutung wird nun auf einem direkten Wege bestatigt: Auch die auf die Oberflacheneinheit des Katalysators bezogene katalytische Aktivitat (= spezifische Aktivitat) steigt in diesen Bereichen der Vorerhitzungstemperatur an. Dieser Anstieg der spezifischen Aktivitat ist auf die zunehmende Ausbildung geordneter Kristalloberflachen zuruckzufuhren. Aus dem Glied log α der ARRHENIUS-Gleichung last sich der Einflus der Aktivierungsenergie Q eliminieren; die erhaltenen Werte zeigen einen ahnlichen Verlauf mit der Vorbehandlungstemperatur wie die spezifische Aktivitat.
Myeloid neoplasms with isolated isochromosome 17q represent a clinicopathologic entity associated with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative features, a high risk of leukemic transformation, and wild‐type TP53

BACKGROUND: Isolated isochromosome (17q) is a rare cytogenetic abnormality in Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloid neoplasms, usually myelodysplastic and/or myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN). De novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with isochromosome 17q has rarely been reported. The frequency of genetic mutations is unknown. METHODS: The authors assessed clinicopathologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular genetic features of 22 myeloid neoplasms with isolated isochromosome 17q. RESULTS: Fourteen patients presented as MDS/MPN; 8 as de novo AML. Most presented with leukocytosis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and splenomegaly. Morphologically, all showed myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative features, including pseudo-Pelger-Huet-like neutrophils, micromegakaryocytic hyperplasia, hypercellularity, fibrosis, and osteosclerosis. Blasts were increased (median, 40% in de novo AML; 9% in MDS/MPN). Immunohistochemical assessment of proliferation and apoptosis rates in AML were similar to a matched group without isochromosome 17q. In most patients, isochromosome 17q occurred at time of blast transformation or disease progression. DNA sequencing revealed no mutation in the uninvolved TP53 allele. Mutational analyses showed rare mutations in NRAS (3 of 10), FLT3 (2 of 16), and JAK2 (1 of 18), and no mutations in NPM1 (0 of 15), KIT (0 of 4), and CEBPA (0 of 4). The median overall survival was 14.5 months for de novo AML, and 11.0 months for MDS/MPN. With a median follow-up of 8.5 months (range, 1.5-107 months), 15 died of disease, 6 had persistent disease, and 1 was in remission after bone marrow transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that myeloid neoplasms with isolated isochromosome 17q represent a distinct clinicopathologic entity with myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative features, high risk of leukemic transformation, and wild-type TP53. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Automatic synthesis of robot controllers for tasks with locative prepositions

This paper describes the synthesis of correct robot control from high-level tasks that include non-projective locative prepositions. Here, locative prepositions such as ‘near’ and ‘between’ are used to refer to regions in the robot's workspace and are part of a high-level task description such as “Always stay near room 1” or “Visit the area between room 2 and room 3”. These prepositions induce a discrete abstraction of the workspace which, together with the rest of the task, is used to synthesize a correct-by-construction robot controller such that the robot is guaranteed to behave as expected, if the task is feasible. This work presents an important step towards allowing linguistic control of robots that is both intuitive and provably correct.
Interaction of Wingless Protein (Wnt), Transforming Growth Factor-β1, and Hyaluronan Production in Fetal and Postnatal Fibroblasts

Background:Mammalian fetal skin injury heals scarlessly. The intrinsic differences between embryonic and adult fibroblasts that underlie this observation are poorly understood. Several studies have linked Wnt proteins with skin morphogenesis. The authors' study aimed to establish a correlation betwe
Sulfur distribution in lake sediment profiles as an index of historical depositional patterns

Changes in S concentration in sediment profiles from South Lake (Adirondack region, New York, USA) and Ledge Pond (western Maine, USA) indicated an increased input of S beginning around 1850. This S was probably derived from anthropogenic sources. The S budget for South Lake indicated that sedimentation of seston rich in S (∼0.9% dry mass) accounts for most of the input of S in sediment. Sulfur in both seston and sediment is primarily organic (57 and 22% ester sulfate, 32 and 52% carbon-bonded S, respectively). The transformation and translocation of organic S constitutes a major pathway of S flux in South Lake.
Extrastriate Area MST and Parietal Area VIP Similarly Represent Forward Headings

Many studies have documented the involvement of medial superior temporal extrastriate area (MST) in the perception of heading based on optic flow information. Furthermore, both heading perception and the responses of MST neurons are relatively stable in the presence of eye movements that distort the retinal flow information on which perception is based. Area VIP in the posterior parietal cortex also contains a robust representation of optic flow cues for heading. However, the studies in the two areas were frequently conducted using different stimuli, making quantitative comparison difficult. To remedy this, we studied MST using a family of random dot heading stimuli that we have previously used in the study of VIP. These stimuli simulate observer translation through a three-dimensional cloud of points, and a range of forward headings was presented both with and without horizontal smooth pursuit eye movements. We found that MST neurons, like VIP neurons, respond robustly to these stimuli and partially compensate for the presence of pursuit. Quantitative comparison of the responses revealed no substantial difference between the heading responses of MST and VIP neurons or in their degree of pursuit tolerance.
Large area orientation of block copolymer microdomains in thin films via directional crystallization of a solvent

A fast method for inducing alignment of microdomains in noncrystalline block copolymers is presented. The method is based on the use of crystalline organic materials, which are solvents for the block copolymers above their melting temperatures, and, when cooled and directionally crystallized, act as a substrate on which thin films of the block copolymers are formed. Both lamellar and cylindrical type microdomains in a symmetric polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer and in an asymmetric polystyrene-block-polyisoprene respectively are globally aligned using either benzoic acid (BA) or anthracene (AN) as the crystallizable solvent. The fast directional solidification during the phase separation leads to alignment of the intermaterial dividing surface (IMDS) of both types of microdomains parallel to the fast growth direction of BA and AN crystals (b axis direction in both cases). Depending on film thicknesses, the block copolymers show various microdomain orientations such as vertical ...
Inhomogeneities in initial cavity distribution in a superplastic Al 5083 alloy

Superplastic (SP) materials can exhibit large strains-to-failure when deformed under conditions that lead to a high value of the strain rate sensitivity parameter, m (usually {approximately} 0.5 or higher). It is well-known that several SP alloys exhibit lower elongations due to the presence of cavities (internal voids) which grow with strain and interlink, leading to premature failure. The effect of a uniform distribution of initial cavitation on tensile elongations has been modeled before. It has been suggested that an inhomogeneity in the initial distribution of cavities could lead to even lower elongations. A recent study by the authors on SP Pb-Sn samples with pre-machined holes also indicated that samples with a non-uniform distribution of holes gave lower elongations than those with a uniform distribution. One of the early attempts at modeling superplastic failure in the presence of an inhomogeneous cavitation distribution was by Stowell. The tensile sample was idealized as consisting of two sections: Section 1 with an initial cavity volume fraction {psi}{sub 0} and Section 2 with a cavity volume fraction f {psi}{sub 0} (where f > 1). The model predictions were compared to experimental failure strains in a Supral 2004 alloy, with reasonable agreement between them, provided fmore » values were in the range 1.5 to 2.5. However, no experimental verification of these values was reported. This study details an attempt at quantifying the extent of such inhomogeneities in a 5083 Al alloy, that is known to fail due to cavitation.« less
Mating pattern variability among western toad (Bufo boreas) populations

Breeding ecology and mating patterns of the western toad, Bufo boreas, were examined in three large explosively breeding populations in the Oregon Cascade Mountains. Two mating patterns occurred variably within and among the three populations. First, a large male mating advantage was observed in two of the three populations when data from all the days of data collection were combined. When each day of breeding was analyzed separately, there was a large male mating advantage on 3 of 5 days at one population, and mating was random on all days at the two other populations. The second mating pattern, positive assortative mating by size, was observed at two of the three populations. This pattern was found on separate days of breeding as well as when data from all days were combined at one population, and on only one day of breeding at the second population.In a survey of anuran amphibian mating patterns, intraspecific variation was found in 13 of 15 species, including the present study of the western toad. Intrapopulation variation in mating patterns among breeding years has been observed in 5 of 8 anurans, whereas within-site, within-year mating pattern variation has only been reported for the western toad. These results strongly suggest that anuran mating patterns are frequently neither species-specific nor population-specific attributes. Variable mating patterns were most commonly observed in explosively-breeding anurans. Explosive breeders may be susceptible to variable mating patterns because they may be more sensitive to fluctuations in environmental conditions, demographic parameters, and the intensities of intrasexual competition and mate choice.
Self-inflicted penetrating injuries at a Level I Trauma Center

Abstract Introduction Although gunshot and stab wounds are a common cause of self-inflicted injury, very little is understood about this mechanism of injury. The aim of this study was to characterise the epidemiology and outcomes of patients who injured themselves with a gun or sharp object. Methods After IRB approval, the LAC+USC Trauma Registry was utilised to identify all patients who sustained a self-inflicted injury caused by firearm (GSW) or stabbing (SW) from 1997 to 2007. Demographic data, injury characteristics, surgical interventions, and outcomes were abstracted and analysed. Results During the 11-year study period, a total of 753 patients (1.6%) were admitted for a self-inflicted injury. Of these, 369 (49.0%) had a self-inflicted penetrating injury, with 72 (19.5%) having sustained a GSW and 297 (80.5%) having a SW. Overall, the mean age was 36.4±15.8 years, 83.5% were male, with a mean ISS of 7.4±11.0. The most commonly injured body region in GSW patients was the head (76.4%), followed by the chest (15.3%) and in SW patients the upper extremity (37.0%), followed by the abdomen (36.4%). When compared to SW, GSW were significantly more frequent in males (21.4% vs. 9.8%, p =0.04), and were most commonly to the head (21.4% vs. 8.2%, p =0.02). Patients sustaining a GSW were more likely to be older than 55 years (22.2% vs. 8.4%, p p Conclusion Although a self-inflicted SW is far more common than a self-inflicted GSW, patients sustaining a GSW are more severely injured, and have a nearly 110-fold increased risk of death. Though less lethal, stab wounds still consume significant amounts of healthcare resources and incur large in-hospital costs. The average hospital charge incurred for treating these self-inflicted injuries was five times the amount spent per annum on American citizens. Self-inflicted penetrating injuries represent a golden opportunity for secondary prevention through psychiatric intervention. These interventions may not only preserve life but also improve resource utilisation.
Meteorological factors of ozone predictability at Houston, Texas.

ABSTRACT Several ozone modeling approaches were investigated to determine if uncertainties in the meteorological data would be sufficiently large to limit the application of physically realistic ozone (O3) forecast models. Three diagnostic schemes were evaluated for the period of May through September 1997 for Houston, TX. Correlations between measured daily maximum and model calculated O3 air concentrations were found to be 0.70 using a linear regression model, 0.65 using a non-advective box model, and 0.49 using a three-dimensional (3-D) transport and dispersion model. Although the regression model had the highest correlation, it showed substantial underestimates of the highest concentrations. The box model results were the most similar to the regression model and did not show as much underestimation. The more complex 3-D modeling approach yielded the worst results, likely resulting from O3 maxima that were driven by local factors rather than by the transport of pollutants from outside of the Houston do...
Black hole systems seen at high spectral resolution: Inflow and outflow

High-resolution Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray spectroscopic studies of stellar and supermassive black holes have revealed that these phenomenologically different systems share many common physical characteristics. The observed outflows in the micro-quasar GRS 1915+105, the Seyfert 1 galaxy MCG-6-30-15 and the Seyfert 2 galaxy IRAS 18325-5926 are the focus of this proceeding.
Evidence for heavy mesons with the decay processes K π2 → π + π 0 and K μ2 → μ + ν from observations with a multiplate cloud chamber→ μ + ν from observations with a multiplate cloud chamber

Analysis of the data on S-events observed in the M.I.T. multiplate cloud chamber shows that these events represent the decay processes of two kinds of heavy mesons. The decay processes are of the type: Kμ2 → μ + ν and Kπ2 → π + π0
An unusual bowl-shaped aluminum-nitrogen cage compound

Trimethylaluminum reacts with 2,6-diaminopyridine in a 3:2 mole ratio to form the unusual cage-type compound AlMe[AlMe 2 {N(H),N(H)–C 5 H 3 N}] 2 ( 1 ). The structure of 1 , which was established by single crystal X-ray diffraction, features an overall bowl shape. The bowls stack along the (0 1 0) direction.
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for super obese patients: forty-eight percent excess weight loss after 6 to 8 years with 93% follow-up.

OBJECTIVES In this study, we report long-term outcomes of high-risk, high-BMI (body mass index) patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). BACKGROUND Short- and medium-term data appear to support the effectiveness of LSG, but long-term data to support its durability are sparse. METHODS A prospective database was reviewed on all high-risk patients who underwent LSG as part of a staged approach for surgical treatment of severe obesity between January 2002 and February 2004. We included only patients who did not proceed to second-stage surgery (gastric bypass). Analyzed data included demographics, BMI, comorbidities, and surgical outcomes. All partial gastrectomies were performed using a 50F bougie. RESULTS Seventy-four patients underwent LSG, and follow-up data were available on 69 of 74 patients (93%). The mean age was 50 years (25-78) and the mean number of co-morbidities was 9.6. Perioperative mortality (<30 days) was zero, and the incidence of short- and long-term postoperative complications was 15%. The mean overall follow-up time period was 73 months (38-95). Mean excess weight loss (EWL) at 72, 84, and 96 months after LSG was 52%, 43%, and 46%, respectively, with an overall EWL of 48%. The mean BMI decreased from 66 kg/m(2) (43-90) to 46 kg/m(2) (22-73). Seventy-seven percent of the diabetic patients showed improvement or remission of the disease. CONCLUSIONS This study reports the longest follow-up of LSG patients thus far and supports the effectiveness, safety, and durability of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as a definitive therapeutic option for severe obesity, even in high-risk, high-BMI patients.
Ion drag for a negatively biased solar array in low earth orbit

Highly biased solar arrays in the space environment are found to have a number of significant interactions with the space environment. The enhanced drag suffered by highly biased solar arrays is studied with the particle-in-cell code. The results are compared to recent numerical work. The drag calculations contain the effect of having the conductor surrounded by dielectrics as well as the charging of the dielectric by electrons. The results are used to calculate the attitude change expected on the high-voltage solar array of the Japanese Space Flyer Unit.
Trauma-focused imaginal exposure for individuals with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence: Revealing mechanisms of alcohol craving in a cue reactivity paradigm.

With a sample (N = 43) of participants meeting current diagnostic criteria for both alcohol dependence and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the authors tested the hypothesis that alcohol craving elicited by a trauma cue might be attenuated if trauma-elicited negative emotion were reduced following trauma-focused imaginal exposure. In a laboratory-based experiment, participants were randomly assigned to either trauma-focused imaginal exposure or imagery-based relaxation. A cue reactivity paradigm was used to assess alcohol craving prior to, and after completion of, the 6 clinical sessions. Attrition was high but did not differ between experimental conditions. For study completers, PTSD symptoms decreased in the exposure condition but not in the relaxation condition. Alcohol craving and distress elicited by trauma images decreased in the exposure condition but did not change in the relaxation condition. Results support the hypothesis that negative emotion is a mechanism of alcohol craving.
Effect of antibiotics on clinical, pathologic and immunologic responses in murine Potomac horse fever: protective effects of doxycycline.

Effects of three antibiotics on clinical, pathologic and immunologic responses in murine Potomac horse fever caused by Ehrlichia risticii infection were examined. When antibiotics were given after the development of clinical signs, antibiotics ranked in the order of reducing clinical signs and in preventing body weight loss and an intestinal enlargement were doxycycline, demeclocycline and rifampin. Infected mice treated with doxycycline and demeclocycline developed greater splenomegaly than rifampin-treated or untreated infected mice. All antibiotics used prevented thymic atrophy due to E. risticii infection. Indirect fluorescent antibody titers were highest with doxycycline treatment. Mice treated with demeclocycline and rifampin produced higher antibody titer than those without treatment. Ehrlichia risticii was reisolated from the spleens of both untreated and rifampin-treated infected mice. The effects of administering single doses of doxycycline at different times after infection were examined. Body weight loss was prevented by the drug given at every treatment day examined, i.e. Days 3, 5 and 7 post-infection (PI). Thymic atrophy was minimum in mice treated at Day 5 PI, while splenomegaly was found on every treatment day. Splenocyte proliferative response to concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide, and specific antibody development against E. risticii was best in mice treated at Day 5 PI followed by those treated at Day 3 and Day 7 PI.
Optical properties of amorphous and crystalline silicon surfaces functionalized with Agn adsorbates

Light absorption by nanostructured surfaces of silicon, relevant to the capture of solar radiation, has been modeled starting from their atomic structure and calculating electronically excited states. Thin, two-layer silicon slabs were cut from a model optimized amorphous supercell and studied to elucidate the effect of adsorbate geometry and size for small silver clusters chemisorbed onto the hydrogen-passivated semiconductor surface. Density functional (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) methods were performed to calculate optical properties of the amorphous Agn/a-Si surface. Optimized geometries, density of states, band gap and binding energies, and excited-stated spectra and oscillator strengths have been calculated within the DFT and TD-DFT approaches. The results demonstrate the correlation between these properties and the size of the systems, and are compared with those we previously obtained for the corresponding crystalline Agn/Si(111) surfaces. Similar trends are observed for the amorphous and crystalline silicon slabs as the number of silver atoms included in the clusters were increased. Our results demonstrate that Agn clusters adsorbed on amorphous slabs are significant contributors to increased light absorption of lower energy photons. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
Genetic Sequence Classification and its Application to Cross-Species Homology Detection

Although large-scale classification studies of genetic sequence data are in progress around the world, very few studies compare different classification approaches, e.g. unsupervised and supervised, in terms of objective criteria such as classification accuracy and computational complexity. In this paper, we study such criteria for both unsupervised and supervised classification of a relatively large sequence data set. The unsupervised approach involves use of different sequence alignment algorithms (e.g., Smith-Waterman, FASTA and BLAST) followed by clustering using the Maximin algorithm. The supervised approach uses a suitable numeric encoding (relative frequencies of tuples of nucleotides followed by principal component analysis) which is fed to a Multi-layer Backpropagation Neural Network. Classification experiments conducted on IBM-SP parallel computers show that FASTA with unsupervised Maximin leads to best trade-off between accuracy and speed among all methods, followed by supervised neural networks as the second best approach. Finally, the different classifiers are applied to the problem of cross-species homology detection.
Stimulation and elimination of the anterior thalamic nuclei in man and cat.

1. Stimulation of the anterior nucleus in anesthetized cats and man induces slowing or arrest of respiration. The effect upon the blood pressure in cats is variable, though a depressor effect is frequently observed.
Growth and sustainability of managed security services networks: an economic perspective

Managed security service provider (MSSP) networks are a form of collaboration where several firms share resources such as diagnostics, prevention tools, and policies to provide security for their computer networks. While the decision to outsource the security operations of an organization may seem counterintuitive, there are potential benefits from joining an MSSP network that include pooling of risk and access to more securityenabling resources and expertise. We examine structural results explaining the reasons firms join an MSSP network, and characterize the growth of MSSP network size under different forms of ownership (monopoly versus consortium). We find that the need for an initial investment in MSSP networks (which is necessary to overcome the stalling effect) only affects the optimal network size for a consortium but has no impact on the optimal network size for a profit-maximizing monopolist. Our results provide an explanation why the majority of the MSSPs are for-profit entities and consortium-based MSSPs are less common. Such a market structure can be attributed to the potential for larger size by the for-profit MSSP owner combined with beneficial pricing structure and a lack of growth uncertainty for the early clients.
Conservation Genetics of an Undescribed Species of Dionda (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in the Rio Grande Drainage in Western Texas

Abstract The systematic and conservation-genetic status of a population of the cyprinid genus Dionda in Alamito Creek, a tributary of the Rio Grande in Big Bend Ranch State Park, Presidio County, Texas, was assessed using mtDNA sequences and nuclear-encoded microsatellites. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene revealed that the Dionda in Alamito Creek likely is conspecific with an undescribed species (Dionda species 1) known only from the Rio Conchos and Rio Nazas basins of Mexico and in the USA from Cibolo Creek, a small tributary of the Rio Grande drainage. Genetic variation of Dionda in Alamito Creek is extremely low. All 18 fish assayed for 1,533 base pairs of mitochondrial mtDNA (cytb and ND5 sequences) had the same haplotype, and 40 fish assayed for 34 nuclear-encoded microsatellites (25 monomorphic) averaged only 1.44 alleles/microsatellite (HE = 0.12). Estimates of current effective size (Ne) and effective number of breeders (Nb) were 22 and 28, respectively. Bayesia...
Critical Role of Cyclophilin A and Its Prolyl-Peptidyl Isomerase Activity in the Structure and Function of the Hepatitis C Virus Replication Complex

Replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA occurs on intracellular membranes, and the replication complex (RC) contains viral RNA, nonstructural proteins, and cellular cofactors. We previously demonstrated that cyclophilin A (CyPA) is an essential cofactor for HCV infection and the intracellular target of cyclosporine's anti-HCV effect. Here we investigate the mechanism by which CyPA facilitates HCV replication. Cyclosporine treatment specifically blocked the incorporation of NS5B into the RC without affecting either the total protein level or the membrane association of the protein. Other nonstructural proteins or viral RNAs in the RC were not affected. NS5B from the cyclosporine-resistant replicon was resistant to this disruption of RC incorporation. We also isolated membrane fractions from both naive and HCV-positive cells and found that CyPA is recruited into membrane fractions in HCV-replicating cells via an interaction with RC-associated NS5B, which is sensitive to cyclosporine treatment. Finally, we introduced point mutations in the prolyl-peptidyl isomerase (PPIase) motif of CyPA and demonstrated a critical role of this motif in HCV replication in cDNA rescue experiments. We propose a model in which the incorporation of the HCV polymerase into the RC depends on its interaction with a cellular chaperone protein and in which cyclosporine inhibits HCV replication by blocking this critical interaction and the PPIase activity of CyPA. Our results provide a mechanism of action for the cyclosporine-mediated inhibition of HCV and identify a critical role of CyPA's PPIase activity in the proper assembly and function of the HCV RC.
Histologic chorioamnionitis: an occult marker of severe pulmonary hypertension in the term newborn.

To determine whether the presence of histologic chorioamnionitis is associated with the severity of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN) as evidenced by the use of exogenous nitric oxide (iNO), high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV), extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and/or death. Retrospective chart review of term neonates ≥37 weeks gestation with PPHN. Placental pathology was reviewed. Primary outcome is the use of iNO. Secondary outcomes include the use of HFOV, ECMO and death. Over 2 years, 29 neonates fulfilled the entry criteria for the study. Interventions included iNO use n=14 (48%), HFOV n=7 (24%) and ECMO n=3 (10%); two neonates died. Histologic chorioamnionitis and/or funisitis was noted in 16 (55%) neonates. The presence of chorioamnionitis and/or funisitis (n=16) versus neither (n=13) was significantly associated with iNO use 11/16 (78%) versus 3/13 (22%) (p=0.02) and HFOV 7/16 (43%) versus 0/13 (0%) (p=0.008) but not to ECMO or death. The presence of histologic chorioamnionitis and/or funisitis is associated with more severe PPHN as indicated by the use of iNO as well as an increased requirement for more advanced respiratory support, that is, HFOV. The mechanism/s contributing to these findings are unclear.
Bile salts of vertebrates: structural variation and possible evolutionary significance.

Biliary bile salt composition of 677 vertebrate species (103 fish, 130 reptiles, 271 birds, 173 mammals) was determined. Bile salts were of three types: C27 bile alcohols, C27 bile acids, or C24 bile acids, with default hydroxylation at C-3 and C-7. C27 bile alcohols dominated in early evolving fish and amphibians; C27 bile acids, in reptiles and early evolving birds. C24 bile acids were present in all vertebrate classes, often with C27 alcohols or with C27 acids, indicating two evolutionary pathways from C27 bile alcohols to C24 bile acids: a) a ‘direct’ pathway and b) an ‘indirect’ pathway with C27 bile acids as intermediates. Hydroxylation at C-12 occurred in all orders and at C-16 in snakes and birds. Minor hydroxylation sites were C-1, C-2, C-5, C-6, and C-15. Side chain hydroxylation in C27 bile salts occurred at C-22, C-24, C-25, and C-26, and in C24 bile acids, at C-23 (snakes, birds, and pinnipeds). Unexpected was the presence of C27 bile alcohols in four early evolving mammals. Bile salt composition showed significant variation between orders but not between families, genera, or species. Bile salt composition is a biochemical trait providing clues to evolutionary relationships, complementing anatomical and genetic analyses.
Experimental demonstration of a technique to generate arbitrary quantum superposition states of a harmonically bound spin-1/2 particle.

Using a single, harmonically trapped 9 Be + ion, we experimentally demonstrate a technique for generation of arbitrary states of a two-level particle confined by a harmonic potential. Rather than engineering a single Hamiltonian that evolves the system to a desired final state, we implement a technique that applies a sequence of simple operations to synthesize the state.