cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microwave ablation versus radiofrequency ablation in the kidney: high-power triaxial antennas create larger ablation zones than similarly sized internally cooled electrodes.

Purpose To determine whether microwave ablation with high-power triaxial antennas creates significantly larger ablation zones than radiofrequency (RF) ablation with similarly sized internally cooled electrodes. Materials and Methods Twenty-eight 12-minute ablations were performed in an in vivo porcine kidney model. RF ablations were performed with a 200-W pulsed generator and either a single 17-gauge cooled electrode ( n = 9) or three switched electrodes spaced 1.5 cm apart ( n = 7). Microwave ablations were performed with one ( n = 7), two ( n = 3), or three ( n = 2) 17-gauge triaxial antennas to deliver 90 W continuous power per antenna. Multiple antennas were powered simultaneously. Temperatures 1 cm from the applicator were measured during two RF and microwave ablations each. Animals were euthanized after ablation and ablation zone diameter, cross-sectional area, and circularity were measured. Comparisons between groups were performed with use of a mixed-effects model with P values less than .05 indicating statistical significance. Results No adverse events occurred during the procedures. Three-electrode RF (mean area, 14.7 cm 2 ) and single-antenna microwave (mean area, 10.9 cm 2 ) ablation zones were significantly larger than single-electrode RF zones (mean area, 5.6 cm 2 ; P = .001 and P = .0355, respectively). No significant differences were detected between single-antenna microwave and multiple-electrode RF. Ablation zone circularity was similar across groups ( P > .05). Tissue temperatures were higher during microwave ablation (maximum temperature of 123°C vs 100°C for RF). Conclusions Microwave ablation with high-power triaxial antennas created larger ablation zones in normal porcine kidneys than RF ablation with similarly sized applicators.
THE AGGLUTINATION OF RED BLOOD CELLS

1. Unsensitized sheep cells suspended in sugar solutions are agglutinated by electrolytes whenever the potential is depressed to 6 millivolts or less, except in the case of MgCl(2) or CaCl(2). 2. With these salts no agglutination occurs although there is practically no potential. The presence of these salts prevents acid agglutination. This is presumably due to a decrease in the "cohesion" between the cells. 3. Cells which have been sensitized with specific antibody, ricin, colloidal stannic hydroxide, or paraffin oil, are agglutinated whenever the potential is decreased below about 12 millivolts. 4. The agglutination by electrolytes is therefore primarily due to a decrease in the potential whereas agglutination by immune serum, ricin, etc., is due primarily to an increase in the critical potential.
Simian Virus 40: Replication in the Presence of Specific Antiserum and Adenovirus 4

Twelve consecuttive passages of simian virus 40, made in the presence of adenovirus 4 and antiserum to simian virus 40, indicated that simian virus 40 would multiply almost indefinitely under these conditions. The adenovirus and the simian virus had previously replicated together in the absence of antiserum. These data support the conclusion that the SV-40 genome is incorporated within the protein coats of adenovirus 4.
Contraception, Unintended Pregnancies, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Why Isn't a Simple Solution Possible?

Epidemiologists have shown us the importance of using a population-level approach to public health problems. Geoffrey Rose for example quantified the relationship between exposure to a causal agent and the associated risk of developing a disease. He also described the several forms that this relationship could take including a "threshold effect" a linear construct a U-shaped relationship and an inverted U-shaped curve. Based on this quantification Rose showed that prevention strategies that focus on high-risk individuals may benefit those individuals but will likely have little impact on the total disease burden in the population because more cases of disease occur among the many who are at low risk than among the few who are at high risk. Applying these concepts to the relationship of contraceptive choices and the prevention of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) allows the description of a natural history of the sexual and reproductive events in a population of females which reveals that the risk of unplanned pregnancies and STDs exists for nearly the entire reproductive period. Unfortunately no currently-available contraceptive provides good protection against both outcomes and a wide variation has been found in the level of contraceptive effectiveness against these outcomes in different populations. A further complication is that the best available method to date the male condom is not female-controlled (and the female condom is not widely accepted). Therefore to move toward a social norm of the lowest risk for any sexual exposure we need a spectrum of imperfect yet cumulatively effective strategies made possible by a wide array of contraceptives.
Elective localization of the streptococcus from a case pulpitis, dental neuritis and myositis

Abstract A streptococcus having peculiar properties was isolated from the dead pulp of the left upper first molar in the region where the attacks of pain usually began. The streptococcus was also demonstrated in the sections and isolated from the infiltrated deep fascia and muscles of the left side of the neck. A similar streptococcus was isolated from the pharynx and stool. This streptococcus was proved to have elective affinity for the pulp of teeth, dental nerves and muscles in animals. It was repeatedly isolated from and demonstrated in the experimental lesions in animals whose blood was sterile; the lesions were again produced on reinjection and the streptococcus again isolated. Many animals appeared to be in pain and 1 rabbit (Fig. 4) had marked swelling and tenderness over the left upper jaw. This affinity was proved absent in the diptheroid bacillus and Bacillus fusiformis , which also were isolated from the pulp of the tooth, and in the streptococcus broth culture filtrate. Streptococci from other sources rarely cause lesions in the pulp of teeth and dental nerves. The phagocytic power of the patient's blood following the attack over the strain from the tooth was twice that of comparable normal blood. These results would appear to warrant drawing the conclusion that the attacks of pain in the face in this patient were due to a streptococcus infection of the sheaths of the dental nerves, and that the pain, swelling, tenderness and spasm of the muscles of the neck were due to myositis and fibrositis—the result of infection by this streptococcus. The demonstration of living streptococci in the pulp of the tooth and in the fascia and muscle during quiescent intervals is significant and may explain the recurrence of the attacks. The cavity in the tooth containing the dead pulp, which was originally infected from the mouth, judging by the character of the filling and of the bacterial flora, was quite unable to heal for mechanical reasons. The contents of the cavity appeared to affored a culture medium for the growth of the streptococcus. From stimulation of the defensive mechanism in the patient during the attacks, active growth appeared to be held in check and the symptoms disappeared in consequence, only to reappear later from recurrence of active growth and localization of the streptococci when the immunity was low. The improvement in the patient since extraction of the tooth appears to be due to the removal of this focus and to prolonged artificial stimulation of the defensive mechanism by means of the autogeneous vaccine, which, it is hoped, will lead to the destruction of all the streptococci in the muscle and dental nerves, and results in the ultimate recovery of the patient. However, the isolation of this streptococcus from so many places, indicates that complete recovery will probably be difficult.
The effects of inhaling a 35 per cent CO2-65 per cent O2 mixture upon anxiety level in neurotic patients☆

Abstract Wolpe has reported the use of a 35 per cent CO2-65 per cent O2 mixture to relax patients who cannot otherwise be relaxed sufficiently to allow desensitization. In this investigation, the anxiety-reducing effects of single inhalations of a 35 per cent CO2-65 per cent O2 were studied on twelve patients, all of whom had been diagnosed by their doctors as having a high level of anxiety. On the basis of the subjects' ratings, this mixture was more effective than was an equal volume of air which was breathed through the same apparatus as was the experimental mixture. Evidence is offered which suggests that the decrement in anxiety which followed administration of the 35 per cent CO2-65 per cent O2 mixture was due to some effect of the gas other than the hyperventilation which it induces.
A systematic approach for constructing higher-order immersed boundary and ghost fluid methods for fluid-structure interaction problems

A systematic approach is presented for constructing higher-order immersed boundary and ghost fluid methods for CFD in general, and fluid-structure interaction problems in particular. Such methods are gaining popularity because they simplify a number of computational issues. These range from gridding the fluid domain, to designing and implementing Eulerian-based algorithms for challenging fluid-structure applications characterized by large structural motions and deformations or topological changes. However, because they typically operate on non body-fitted grids, immersed boundary and ghost fluid methods also complicate other issues such as the treatment of wall boundary conditions in general, and fluid-structure transmission conditions in particular. These methods also tend to be at best first-order space-accurate at the immersed interfaces. In some cases, they are also provably inconsistent at these locations. A methodology is presented in this paper for addressing this issue. It is developed for inviscid flows and prescribed structural motions. For the sake of clarity, but without any loss of generality, this methodology is described in one and two dimensions. However, its extensions to flow-induced structural motions and three dimensions are straightforward. The proposed methodology leads to a departure from the current practice of populating ghost fluid values independently from the chosen spatial discretization scheme. Instead, it accounts for the pattern and properties of a preferred higher-order discretization scheme, and attributes ghost values as to preserve the formal order of spatial accuracy of this scheme. It is illustrated in this paper by its application to various finite difference and finite volume methods. Its impact is also demonstrated by one- and two-dimensional numerical experiments that confirm its theoretically proven ability to preserve higher-order spatial accuracy, including in the vicinity of the immersed interfaces.
Uterine estrogen receptor binding of catecholestrogens and of estetrol (1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3,15α,16α,17β-tetrol)

Abstract The binding affinities for the catecholestrogen metabolites of estradiol and of their methyl ethers for the rat uterine cytosol estrogen receptors were examined. Similarly the binding of the fetal estradiol metabolite, 15α-hydroxyestriol (estetrol) was also measured. All of the catecholestrogens showed binding affinities far in excess of their uterotrophic potency. This is different from estriol, the product of the alternative metabolic pathways and suggests that the direction of estradiol metabolism may have an important role in the modulation of estrogenic activity of the female sex hormone.
Rapid thermal diffusion of zinc into GaAs

Rapid thermal diffusion of zinc into semi-insulating GaAs from spin-on Zn doped silica film was performed. Spin-on films act both as Zn diffusion sources and GaAs surface encapsulant layer against decomposition during the rapid thermal diffusion. The very shallowp + layers were obtained at a diffusion temperature of 900° C for 5 sec. Non-alloyed ohmic contacts to thesep + layers were achieved with an average contact resistivity of 2.4 × 10−6 Ω cm2. The interface is very smooth. The zinc diffusion coefficient for rapid thermal diffusion with effective diffusion time of 6 sec at 900° C was numerically calculated from SIMS profiles. In contrast to the common Longini-Weisberg-Blanc model, the rapid thermal diffusion is under nonequilibrium condition. Complications due to interstitial-substitutional nonequilibrium, vacancy supply resulted from the interface stress field, and zinc precipitation are briefly discussed.
Effects of collisions on level populations and dielectronic recombination rates of multiply charged ions

A generalization of previously reported statistical theories is developed for determining the excited-level populations and the ionization-recombination balance of multiply charged atomic ions in an optically thin high-temperature plasma. Account is taken of the most important collisional and radiative processes involving bound and autoionizing levels in three consecutive ionization stages. We obtain a set of rate equations for the population densities of the low-lying levels which contains effective excitation, ionization, and recombination rates describing indirect transitions through the more highly excited bound and autoionizing levels. The familiar corona-model equations for the ground-state populations are recovered by making the assumption that all excited states decay by only spontaneous radiative or autoionization processes. When collisional processes become efficient in depopulating the highly excited levels important in dielectronic recombination, the effective rate of recombination must be described by a collisional-dielectronic recombination coefficient. Results of calculations are presented for the collisional-dielectronic recombination rate coefficients for recombination of Fe/sup +8/--Fe/sup +13/ ions. At an electron density of 10/sup 16/ cm/sup -3/, dielectronic recombination is still the dominant recombination process. However, the collisional-dielectronic recombination rate coefficients are found to be reduced by about an order of magnitude from their corona-model values due to the effects ofmore » multiple-collisional excitations on the populations of the highly excited bound levels of the recombined ion. The dielectronic recombination rates into these highly excited levels are found to be enhanced by the effects of collisionally induced angular momentum redistribution on the populations of the autoionizing levels.« less
Inadequate behavior analysis: The achilles heel of outcome research in behavior therapy

Abstract In contrast to clinical practice, behavior analysis has figured but little in behavior therapy outcome research. Misconception-based fears have not been separated from those based on direct emotional (autonomic) conditioning, and in the latter category little attempt has been made to distinguish and separate cases with different antecedents of anxiety that might require different treatments. As a result, practically all outcome research comparisons have involved subject groupings of uncertain and non-uniform constitution, from which few valid deductions can be made.
Winograd's fourier transform via circulants

Abstract For small primes the minimal multiplication algorithms of Winograd can be expressed as the eigenvalue-eigenvector decomposition of the associated circulant matrix, but forced into the real field.
The Use of the Beagle Dog as a Dental Stain Model

Two studies were conducted to assess stain accumulation in beagle dogs following four wk of treatments with water or chlorhexidine. Clinical stain assessments were made by two examiners using different grading procedures. Both scoring methods demonstrated increased stain associated with chlorhexidine usage, and the results for both examiners appeared to be reproducible from one study to the other.
Decoupling of Tumor-Initiating Activity from Stable Immunophenotype in HoxA9-Meis1-Driven AML

Increasing evidence suggests tumors are maintained by cancer stem cells; however, their nature remains controversial. In a HoxA9-Meis1 (H9M) model of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we found that tumor-initiating activity existed in three, immunophenotypically distinct compartments, corresponding to disparate lineages on the normal hematopoietic hierarchy--stem/progenitor cells (Lin(-)kit(+)) and committed progenitors of the myeloid (Gr1(+)kit(+)) and lymphoid lineages (Lym(+)kit(+)). These distinct tumor-initiating cells (TICs) clonally recapitulated the immunophenotypic spectrum of the original tumor in vivo (including cells with a less-differentiated immunophenotype) and shared signaling networks, such that in vivo pharmacologic targeting of conserved TIC survival pathways (DNA methyltransferase and MEK phosphorylation) significantly increased survival. Collectively, H9M AML is organized as an atypical hierarchy that defies the strict lineage marker boundaries and unidirectional differentiation of normal hematopoiesis. Moreover, this suggests that in certain malignancies tumor-initiation activity (or "cancer stemness") can represent a cellular state that exists independently of distinct immunophenotypic definition.
Short-range ordering and {1,1/2,0} diffuse intensity maxima in ZrNx

Abstract Diffuse intensity maxima in ZrN x caused by short-range ordering (SRO) of nitrogen atoms or vacancies are shown in electron diffraction patterns along four different low-index zone-axes. Analysis of the shape of the diffuse intensity was performed using an equation developed by Sauvage and Parthe [1] . Additional {1,1/2,0} diffuse intensity maxima were also observed and these have not been previously reported for interstitial carbides and nitrides with a NaCl-type crystal structure. Both a Kohn construction, which assumes that the positions of 2 k F110 yield the diffuse intensity maxima, and microdomain crystal models based on M 2 X or M 4 X 3 crystal structures, are presented as possible explanations for the origin of the {1,1/2,0} diffuse intensity maxima. The close relationship between the SRO model and the shape of the Fermi surface indicates that the Fermi surface in ZrN has nearly the same shape as that of TiN.
Effect of C4 depletion on the utilization of the terminal components of guinea-pig complement by endotoxin.

ENDOTOXIN and antigen-antibody complexes (Ag-Ab) are potent inflammatory agents which induce marked pathophysiological effects in a number of animal species. Both these agents lead to increased vascular permeability, local accumulations of polymorphonuclear leucocytes and alterations in the coagulability of blood1. There is mounting evidence that these similarities derive from endotoxins and Ag-Ab being activators of the complement (C) system, an important mediator of inflammation1'2. When endotoxins or preformed Ag-Ab are reacted with normal guinea-pig (GP) serum so as to induce equivalent consumption of whole haemolytic C, there are, however, striking differences in the consumption profiles of the individual C components3. Although interaction of Ag-Ab with GP serum results in the consumption of CI, C4, and C2 as well as C3 to C9, the interaction of endotoxin with GP serum leads to a marked depletion of C3 to C9 with little or no detectable loss of C1,C4 and C2 (ref. 3).
Stage IA uterine serous carcinoma : A study of 13 cases

Although in endometrioid type endometrial carcinoma depth of invasion is a powerful predictor of extrauterine disease and survival, in serous carcinoma its importance is unclear. Recurrences and death in patients with serous tumors confined to the endometrium or an endometrial polyp have been reported. In other studies, however, the absence of myometrial invasion was correlated with a more favorable course. In an attempt to clarify this issue, we reviewed 13 completely staged, stage IA serous carcinomas with follow-up from 10 to 93 months (median 38), in which extensive histologic examination had been performed. Serous carcinoma was identified in an endometrial polyp in six cases, in an endometrial polyp and associated endometrium in four, and solely in the endometrium in three cases. No other histologic types of endometrial carcinoma were present, and there was no myometrial invasion. Multifocal serous intraepithelial carcinoma was also seen in 12 cases. Two of the patients died of disease with intraabdominal carcinomatosis at 10 and 14 months after presentation. The overall estimated survival was 83%, showing a relatively favorable prognosis. In conclusion, although the absence of histologically detected myometrial invasion may be associated with recurrences and death in serous carcinoma, an accurately assessed stage based on a careful histologic examination appears to be, at present, the most reliable predictor of survival.
The assimilation of arginine and lysine in canavanine resistant and sensitive strains of Neurospora crassa

Abstract By the use of [14C]lysine it was demonstrated that arginine, lysine and canavanine are competitive for assimilation into the mycelium of Neurospora crassa. This suggests a common uptake mechanism for these basic amino acids. Ornithine was only slightly competitive while citrulline and serine were without effect. The uptake mechanism of canavanine resistant and partially resistant strains possessed the same affinity for canavanine as that of a sensitive strain as deduced from the kinetics of arginine/canavanine and lysine/canavanine competition. Furthermore, the resistant and partially resistant strains had significantly higher rates of arginine and lysine uptake than the sensitive strain. These results therefore exclude the possibility that a decreased rate of assimilation of basic amino acids is the basis for canavanine resistance in Neurospora. However, the data do offer an explanation for arginine/lysine antagonisms noted in the past and also clarify in part the reversal of canavanine inhibition of Neurospora by arginine and lysine.
Immunological Characterization of Tristetraprolin as a Low Abundance, Inducible, Stable Cytosolic Protein

Abstract Tristetraprolin (TTP) is a zinc finger protein that can bind to AU-rich elements within certain mRNAs, resulting in deadenylation and destabilization of those mRNAs. Its physiological targets include the mRNAs encoding the cytokines tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. TTP was originally identified on the basis of its massive but transient increase in mRNA levels following mitogen stimulation of fibroblasts. It has been difficult to reconcile this transient mRNA profile with the presumed continuing “need” for TTP protein, for example, to reverse the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated TNF secretion. To investigate this and other questions concerning endogenous TTP protein in cells and tissues, we raised a high titer rabbit antiserum against full-length mouse TTP. TTP could be detected on immunoblots of mouse cytosolic tissue extracts; it was most highly expressed in spleen, but its concentration in that tissue was only about 1.5 nm. TTP could be detected readily in splenic macrophages and stromal cells from LPS-injected rats. In both LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages and fetal calf serum-treated mouse embryonic fibroblasts, TTP protein was stable after induction, with minimal degradation occurring for several hours after treatment of the cells with cycloheximide. The biosynthesis of TTP was accompanied by large changes in electrophoretic mobility consistent with progressive phosphorylation. Confocal microscopy revealed that TTP accumulated in a vesicular pattern in the cytosol of the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and was occasionally seen in the cytosol of unstimulated dividing cells. Gel filtration of the endogenous protein suggested that its predominant structure was monomeric. TTP appears to be a low abundance, cytosolic protein in unstimulated cells and tissues, but once induced is relatively stable, in contrast to its very labile mRNA.
Multispectral landuse classification using neural networks and support vector machines: one or the other, or both?

Land use classification is an important part of many remote sensing applications. A lot of research has gone into the application of statistical and neural network classifiers to remote-sensing images. This research involves the study and implementation of a new pattern recognition technique introduced within the framework of statistical learning theory called Support Vector Machines (SVMs), and its application to remote-sensing image classification. Standard classifiers such as Artificial Neural Network (ANN) need a number of training samples that exponentially increase with the dimension of the input feature space. With a limited number of training samples, the classification rate thus decreases as the dimensionality increases. SVMs are independent of the dimensionality of feature space as the main idea behind this classification technique is to separate the classes with a surface that maximizes the margin between them, using boundary pixels to create the decision surface. Results from SVMs are compared with traditional Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) and an ANN classifier. The findings suggest that the ANN and SVM classifiers perform better than the traditional MLC. The SVM and the ANN show comparable results. However, accuracy is dependent on factors such as the number of hidden nodes (in the case of ANN) and kernel parameters (in the case of SVM). The training time taken by the SVM is several magnitudes less.
Microtubule depolymerization can drive poleward chromosome motion in fission yeast.

Prometaphase kinetochores interact with spindle microtubules (MTs) to establish chromosome bi-orientation. Before becoming bi-oriented, chromosomes frequently exhibit poleward movements (P-movements), which are commonly attributed to minus end-directed, MT-dependent motors. In fission yeast there are three such motors: dynein and two kinesin-14s, Pkl1p and Klp2p. None of these enzymes is essential for viability, and even the triple deletion grows well. This might be due to the fact that yeasts kinetochores are normally juxtapolar at mitosis onset, removing the need for poleward chromosome movement during prometaphase. Anaphase P-movement might also be dispensable in a spindle that elongates significantly. To test this supposition, we have analyzed kinetochore dynamics in cells whose kinetochore–pole connections have been dispersed. In cells recovering from this condition, the maximum rate of poleward kinetochore movement was unaffected by the deletion of any or all of these motors, strongly suggesting that other factors, like MT depolymerization, can cause such movements in vivo. However, Klp2p, which localizes to kinetochores, contributed to the effectiveness of P-movement by promoting the shortening of kinetochore fibers.
Severity of basal cell hyperplasia differs in reflux versus eosinophilic esophagitis.

ABSTRACTObjectives:Basal cell hyperplasia of the esophageal epithelium is a frequent finding in children with histological evidence of esophagitis. The aim of this study was to compare the severity of basal cell hyperplasia in gastroesophageal reflux vs eosinophilic esophagitis.Methods:A cohort of p
Separation and purification of isoflavones from a crude soybean extract by high-speed counter-current chromatography

A set of isoflavones with a broad range of polarity including daidzin, glycitin, genistin, acetyldaidzin, glycitein, acetylgenistin and daidzein was separated from a crude soybean extract by high-speed counter-current chromatography using a two-step operation. Three solvent systems were used: chloroform-methanol-water (4:3:2, v/v); chloroform-methanol-n-butanol-water (4:3:0.5:2, v/v); and methyl tert.-butyl ether-tetrahydrofuran-0.5% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (2:2:0.15:4, v/v). The first solvent system was used for separating less polar isoflavones and the second for more polar isoflavones by eluting the lower organic phase. Genistin and glycitin, which were only partially resolved in the chloroform system, were separated by the third solvent system. Each isolated component showed 98-99% purity as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Their structures were identified by LC-MS.
The Effect of Neutron Flux on Radiation-Induced Embrittlement in Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels

The effect of neutron flux level is a longstanding concern for determining the applicability of test reactor data or high lead-factor surveillance data to the prediction of embrittlement in commercial reactor pressure vessels (RPV). However, as operating reactors reach higher fluences, the question of flux effects is becoming increasingly relevant for situations such as embrittlement attenuation through the (RPV) and the comparison of boiling and pressurized reactor RPVs. In spite of its technological importance and extensive experimental and theoretical investigation, the issue of neutron flux effects on radiation-induced embrittlement in RPV steels remains unresolved. For neutron fluxes much greater than RPV operating conditions (>100 times higher), a regime exists in which the effects of flux are well defined experimentally and are well predicted by current models. These same models predict that the effect of flux should be relatively weak for values near those obtained in commercial RPVs, but may increase at lower fluxes. However, it is difficult to obtain sufficient data at low to intermediate fluxes to unambiguously determine the effects of flux since the time required to reach the desired fluences is necessarily long. In order to demonstrate the potential effects of flux on RPV embrittlement, and to help interpret the available experiments, a kinetic embrittlement model has been used in an analysis of the primary variables involved. The results of the analysis are consistent with a modest effect of flux on embrittlement for fluxes near those typical of commercial RPVs.
Predesquamin Inhibits Desquamation

Abstract Predesquamin is a Con A binding glycoprotein from human epidermis, with a molecular weight of 650 kDa. Its isolation and characterization are detailed, as well as the preparation of a polyclonal antibody to it. The antibody labels primarily the lower stratum corneum in fluorescent and ultrastructural immunolocalization, both in normal skin and plantar callus. A desquamation model system, in which plantar callus is incubated with the chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is refined by substituting for EDTA the Ca 2+ -specific ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether)- N,N′ -tetraacetic acid. Moreover, the shedding activity can be suppressed by raising the Ca 2+ concentration. Within this model, it is demonstrated that predesquamin at nanomolar concentrations inhibits squame shedding in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that predesquamin plays an important role in blocking premature desquamation of the lower stratum corneum.
Solubilities of caffeine and theophylline in supercritical ammonia

Abstract The solubilities of caffeine and theophylline in supercritical ammonia at 140°C have been determined. Both compounds exhibited substantial solubility in the ammonia, with caffeine showing the greatest increase in solubility near the critical pressure where density increases most rapidly. However, theophylline showed an appreciable solubility at pressures substantially below the critical pressure. Possible chemical reactions of supercritical ammonia with these solutes at this temperature were found to be unimportant in the present study. The role of supercritical ammonia as a solvent for polar organic molecules is discussed.
Epistemology for empiricists

Dans le debat scientifique entre realisme et empirisme, l'A. explique la position de Van Fraassen quant a son empirisme constructif. Il souleve differents problemes epistemologiques concernant le role des hypotheses et leur utilisation dans les sciences
Computational inefficiencies in sequential modular flowsheeting

Abstract Aspects of the performance problem of sequential modular flowsheet simulators on advanced computer architectures were investigated. It was found that modest computational performance improvements can be expected with increasing flowsheet problem complexity. Tests also revealed that for the sequential modular flowsheet simulator utilized, a large proportion of the computation time was spent in physical property calculations. For the simulator studied, the structure of the code inefficiencies would appear to prevent taking advantage of supercomputer architecture in a substantial way.
Thiazolidinedione use and post-operative atrial fibrillation: a US nested case-control study.

ABSTRACTBackground: Previous investigations suggested thiazolidinediones (TZDs) have the ability to suppress inflammation. Since the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) likely involves an inflammatory mechanism, we sought to determine whether preoperative use of TZDs could further reduce the incidence of post-CTS AF in a population treated with beta-blockers and prophylactic amiodarone.Methods: All diabetic patients over the age of 50 years, not in atrial arrhythmia prior to surgery, who underwent CTS from the Atrial Fibrillation Suppression Trials I, II and III (AFIST I, II and III) were evaluated in this nested case-control study. Patient demographics, surgical character­istics, medication utilization and the incidence of post-CTS AF (AF > 5 minutes duration) were collected as part of AFIST I, II and III. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results: One hundred and eighty-four diabetic ...
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments are commonly used for children with autism spectrum disorders. This review discusses the evidence supporting the most frequently used treatments, including categories of mind-body medicine, energy medicine, and biologically based, manipulative, and body-based practices, with the latter two treatments the most commonly selected by families. Clinical providers need to understand the evidence for efficacy (or lack thereof) and potential side effects. Some CAM practices have evidence to reject their use, such as secretin, whereas others have emerging evidence to support their use, such as melatonin. Most treatments have not been adequately studied and do not have evidence to support their use.
C. E. Jacob's Study on the Prospective and Hypothetical Future of the Mining of the Ground Water Deposited Under the Southern High Plains of Texas and New Mexico

From 1965 till his death on January 30, 1970, Professor C. E. Jacob was chairman of Ground-Water Hydrology at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. During the last three decades, ground-water studies have advanced considerably due to his efforts, original achievements, and philosophies. He is therefore considered by many as one of the founders of modern ground-water hydrology. In this study, taken from unpublished reports and notes, Jacob projects the decline of the water table in the Ogallala aquifer of the Southern High Plains of New Mexico and Texas. After developing approximate analytical solutions for steady and unsteady flow as a function of flow depth, slope, water-table configuration, and recharge, numerical results are obtained by digital computation. Representative values of porosity and hydraulic conductivity, required for this purpose, were obtained from an analysis of well data. The author concludes that the hypothetical time required for draining the aquifer, without pumping and without recharge, is from 5,000 to 8,000 years. At pumping rates prevailing during the decade 1951-1960, with natural recharge and discharge operating, the aquifer will be depleted in less than 100 years. Starting with complete exhaustion, the aquifer would recover to within 2 percent of its initial (1938) storage in 5,600 to 5,700 years. If pumpage had ceased at the end of 1958, recovery to within 2 percent of initial storage would probably not exceed 1,500 years. These estimates assume that no local or temporary climatic fluctuations of the water table take place during the time spans considered.
Partial and conditional maximum likelihood for variance-component estimation.

Summary Patterson and Thompson's idea of ‘error contrasts’ (or restricted maximum likelihood) (1971) was extended to multiple sets of linear contrasts for variance component estimtion. The error contrasts were established in such a way that only errors are retained in the model. The error variance was then estimated by maximizing the likelihood function obtained from the error contrasts. More sets of linear contrasts were then progressively established such that each set of linear contrasts contains only one class of random effects and the errors. A likelihood function was constructed and maximized for each variance of random effects given the error variance held at its estimated value. The likelihood function for estimating the covariance component between two classes of random effects was established such that all other random effects are treated as fixed effects. The likelihood function was then maximized with respect to the covariance given the two variance components fixed at their estimated values. The multidimensional optimization problem in the traditional restricted maximum-likelihood problem was then turned into several one-dimensional optimization problems by using this technique. Inasmuch as the error variance was estimated using a partial likelihood function and the other variance components are estimated using likelihood functions conditional on the estimated error variance, the method is referred to as partial and conditional maximum likelihood (PCML). Zusammenfassung Partielle und bedingte Maximum Likelihood zur Schatzung von Varianzkomponenten Die Patterson und Thompson Vorstellungen von ‘Fehlerkontrasten’ (1971) (oder beschrankte maximale Likelihood) wurde auf multiple Gruppen linearer Kontraste fur Varianzkomponenten- schatzung ausgedehnt. Die Fehlerkontraste erfolgen in der Form, das nur Fehler im Modell verbleiben. Die Fehlervarianz wurde dann durch Maximierung der Likelihood Funktion von Fehlerkontrasten geschatzt. Weitere Gruppen linearer Kontraste wurden nacheinander etabliert dergestalt, das jede Gruppe linearer Kontraste nur eine Klasse zufalliger Wirkungen und die Fehler enthalt. Eine Likelihood Funktion wurde konstruiert und fur jede Varianz von Zufallsgrosen maximiert unter der Voraussetzung, das die Fehlervarianz auf ihrem geschatzten Wert verbleibt. Die Likelihood Funktion zur Schatzung der Ko-Varianzkomponenten zwischen zwei Klassen zufalliger Wirkungen wurde in der Form aufgestellt, das alle anderen Zufallswirkungen als fixe behandelt werden. Die Likelihood Funktion wurde maximiert im Hinblick auf Ko-Varianz bei gegebenen geschatzten Varianzkomponenten. Das multidimensionale Optimierungsproblem der traditionellen restringierten Maximum Likelihood wurde auf diese Weise in ein eindimensionales Optimierungsproblem verwandelt. Nachdem die Fehlervarianz aus der partiellen Likelihood Funktion und die anderen Varianzkomponenten unter Verwendung der bedingten Likelihood Funktionen geschatzt worden waren, wurde die Methode als partielle und bedingte Maximum Likelihood (pcml) bezeichnet.
Numerical Computational Fluid Dynamics-Based Models of Ultraviolet Disinfection Channels

Various numerical modeling approaches, all based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions for the flow field, are studied for an ultraviolet disinfection system in which the lamps are oriented perpendicular to the flow direction. A two-dimensional model assumption is made in all simulations, for which turbulent flow solutions were obtained with commercial CFD software (FIDAP). Two modeling approaches were studied. A continuum Eulerian approach was taken in formulating an appropriate advection–diffusion equation which is solved for the viable micro-organism concentration. Alternatively, a Lagrangian approach, in which particles are numerically introduced into the flow and their trajectories through a spatially varying field of ultraviolet intensities were computed, was also investigated. The effect of modeling unsteady-flow features associated with vortex shedding and motion on the extent of disinfection was examined by comparing time-averaged results based on an unsteady-flow continuum model with t...
WHAT IS NEW IN CLINICAL RESEARCH OF VIRAL DISEASES OF THE SKIN

Several viral exanthems have now been attributed to specific viruses. The treatment of virus infections has been mainly by physical destruction. Newer techniques and the introduction of specific antimicrobial agents have made more definitive therapies possible. Focus on the human immunodeficiency virus has stimulated research similar to that of bacteria several decades ago.
Preparation and Characterization of High‐Temperature Ferroelectric xBi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O3–yBi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3–zPbTiO3 Perovskite Ternary Solid Solution

A new high-temperature ferroelectric ternary solid solution xBi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O3–yBi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3–zPbTiO3 has been developed and characterized. A detailed study on the preparation and characterization of the compositions along the pseudobinary line xPT-(1−x)(0.9BMT-0.1BZT) has been performed to study the property trends with composition. High c/a ratio of 1.04 has been observed for the composition with surprisingly low tolerance factor of 0.97. These compositions have been studied with focus mainly on the tetragonal phase field. Varied transition temperature trends have been observed along the pseudobinary line, which is then compared with the individual binary BZT-PT and BMT-PT systems. Structure property relationship is evaluated and discussed in terms of modern ferroelectric theories.
Median "pseudoneurapraxia" at the wrist: reassessment of palmar stimulation of the recurrent median nerve.

Abstract Park TA, Welshofer JA, Dzwierzynski WW, Erickson SJ, Del Toro DR. Median "pseudoneurapraxia" at the wrist: reassessment of palmar stimulation of the recurrent median nerve. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82:190-7. Objective: To determine the occurrence and effect of incidental deep ulnar nerve (DUN) costimulation during palmar stimulation of the recurrent median nerve (RMN). Design: Observational. Setting: Electromyography laboratory. Participants: Seventeen asymptomatic adult volunteers (34 hands) and 4 fresh cadaver hands. Main Outcome Measures: Median nerve stimulation at the wrist and careful incremental surface and subcutaneous (needle) palmar stimulation were performed while recording thenar and first dorsal interosseous manus compound muscle action potentials. Thenar palm-to-wrist amplitude difference (P − WΔ) and palm-to-wrist amplitude ratio (P/W) were compared with published values. Correlation of DUN costimulation with falsely elevated P − WΔ and P/W values was assessed. Multiplanar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and subsequent dissection of 4 fresh cadaver hands was done to measure the distance between the RMN and DUN at the palmar stimulation site. Results: Two groups emerged: Group I (63%), with DUN stimulation, and II (37%), with no DUN stimulation. When DUN costimulation occurred (Group I), there was a statistically significant increase in P − WΔ ( p =.002 percutaneous, p =.02 subcutaneous) and P/W ( p =.004 percutaneous, p =.007 subcutaneous) when compared with previously published data. Combining all trials on all hands, 53% and 25% had P − WΔ values and P/W values that exceeded previously published normative data, respectively. The mean distance between the DUN and RMN at the palmar stimulation site was determined by dissection (1.2cm) and MRI (1.5cm). Conclusions: Close proximity of the DUN to the RMN causes frequent and often unavoidable DUN activation during palmar stimulation of the RMN. This inadvertent stimulation may cause a false diagnosis of median neurapraxia at the wrist.
Mathematical modeling and numerical analysis of the growth of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in spinach leaves.

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the growth of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in spinach leaves and to develop kinetic models to describe the bacterial growth. Six serogroups of non-O157 STEC, including O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, were used in the growth studies conducted isothermally at 4, 8, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C. Both STEC and background microflora were enumerated to develop kinetic models. Growth of STEC in spinach leaves was observed at elevated temperatures (15–35 °C), but not at 4 and 8 °C. This study considered the dynamic interactions between the STEC cells and the background microflora. A modified Lotka–Volterra and logistic equation was used to simulate the bacterial growth. In combination with an unconstrained optimization procedure, the differential growth equations were solved numerically to evaluate the dynamic interactions between the STEC cells and the background microflora, and to determine the kinetic parameters by fitting each growth curve to the growth equations. A close agreement between the experimental growth curves and the numerical analysis results was obtained. The analytical results showed that the growth of STEC in spinach leaves was unhindered when the population was low, but the growth was suppressed by the background microflora as the STEC population approached the maximum population density. The effect of temperature on the growth of both STEC and background microflora was also evaluated. Secondary models, evaluating the effect of temperature on growth rates, were also developed. The estimated apparent minimum growth temperature for STEC was 11 °C in commercial spinach leaves. The methodology and results of this study can be used to examine the dynamic interactions and growth between different bacteria in foods, and to conduct risk assessments of STEC in spinach leaves.
Seeking radio emissions from hypervelocity micrometeoroid impacts: Early experimental results from the ground

Abstract High-velocity impact experiments have been conducted to look for radio frequency (RF) emissions from impact-produced plasmas that could be used to identify micrometeoroid impacts to spacecraft in orbit. Launched by a three-stage light gas gun, 17 mm diameter by 0.9 mm thick Ti6Al-4V flyer plates impacted 0.75 mm thick indium (In) foil at more than 10 km s −1 . The resulting collision presumably ionized some fraction of the vaporized In cloud, which was accelerated to about 12 km s −1 . This weak In plasma then passed through a wide-band detection system that looked for RF emissions. Over the course of five shots during the experiment, no conclusive plasma emissions from the In were detected. However, strong evidence indicates that significant charge is accumulated on the flyer plate during acceleration and flight, possibly producing Paschen discharge to the chamber walls. Finally, plasma may be produced by the launcher secondary to launching the plate, leading to further contamination of the results. These effects have significant consequences for RF experiments attempted in launching systems of this type.