cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
When renal colic is really malingering

Renal colic malingerers feign symptoms of pain and hematuria, usually to obtain parenteral narcotics. These patients must be identified early to minimize waste of time and supplies by emergency department staff. However, they often use clever ploys to avoid undergoing diagnostic procedures that would unmask them and cut off their drug supply. These malingerers must be differentiated from patients with somatization disorders and those with hard-to-diagnose renal disease, which further complicates their detection. Fortunately, the informed physician can usually suspect the truth early and take steps to reach the proper "diagnosis."
Spread Spectrum for Wireless Communications

Though originally developed as a military technology, spread-spectrum communications has achieved widespread commercial acceptance in the last several years. The increased interest in spread spectrum for wireless communications can be attributed to the high spectral effiiciency of Code Division Multiple Access techniques, and to the natural resistance of spread spectrum signals to the effects of multipath propagation. This paper introduces the basic concepts of spread spectrum communication, discusses current analytic models for spread spectrum systems and discusses important current applications of spread spectrum technology to wireless systems. The paper also highlights current research issues in spread spectrum communications, providing both a tutorial introduction to the subject and a survey of current work.
Methodological Considerations in Longitudinal Studies of Infant Risk

Publisher Summary This chapter presents methodological considerations in the longitudinal studies of infant risk. Large-scale, randomized longitudinal clinical trials are critical to assess the benefits and potential risks of a nutritional intervention in infancy. Socioeconomic status is probably the most important confounder in developmental studies due to its strong and pervasive relationship to child intellectual outcome, usually manifest by 2–3 years of age and correlating at about 0.50 with school age IQ (15). Socioeconomic status measures generally reflect some amalgam of parental educational level, occupational status, and economic resources. A growing body of developmental research has also implicated certain maternal psychological characteristics, especially depression and other psychological distress symptoms, as important correlates of poorer child cognitive and behavioral outcomes through their negative impact on maternal child interactions. It is found that the importance of accurate measurement of control or confounding variables has been emphasized as in multivariate analysis, unreliable measurement will lead to an underestimate of the confounder and a subsequent spurious inflation of the variance attributable to the intervention.
A River Water Quality Model for Chlorophyll and Dissolved Oxygen that Accommodates Zebra Mussel Metabolism

The development, testing and application of a dynamic two-dimensional (longitudinal-vertical) mass balance model for dissolved oxygen (DO) and chlorophyll (Chl) for rivers is documented that for the first time accommodates both the oxygen demand and filtering effects of zebra mussels. The test system is a phytoplankton-rich section (∼ 15 km long) of the Seneca River, NY, that is believed to represent an upper bound of the impact of this exotic invader. Changes in common measures of water quality of the river brought about by the zebra mussel invasion are reviewed and related longitudinal patterns in DO, Chl, and Secchi disc transparency are documented. Model testing is supported by comprehensive measurements of DO, Chl, and various forcing conditions over a three-month period, and independent determinations of several model coefficients. Wide variations in the areal consumption rate of DO (ZOD; g·m−2·d−1) and filtering rate (m3·m−2·d−1) of zebra mussels, as determined through model calibration, occurred over the study period. Values of ZOD in areas with dense zebra mussel populations at times (e.g., > 50 g·m−2·d−1) were an order of magnitude greater than the sediment oxygen demand associated with organically enriched deposits. The value of determinations of these fluxes from model calibration procedures is evaluated within the context of the limitations of protocols presently available to support independent specification of these rates. Model analyses are conducted to evaluate the relative magnitude of source and sink processes for DO and Chl, the potential operation and implications of feedback from low DO levels on oxygen consumption by zebra mussels, and the sensitivity of model simulations to selected sources of uncertainty and variability. Model projections of oxygen resources of the river are presented in a probabilistic format in evaluating reductions in zebra mussel biomass that would be necessary to eliminate violations of standards and regain assimilative capacity.
Prospects for Budget Stabilization by Subnational Governments

This chapter concludes the book as a nonconclusion. It first briefly ­summarizes the key points of the whole book, then reviews the performance of countercyclical savings in the Great Recession, thereby touches upon a few issues indirectly related to budget stabilization at the subnational level that this book has not discussed. Finally the chapter offers the caveat that boom-year savings are one of the devices for financial management and budget stabilization in recession years. Savings per se are not enough; whether savings can accumulate in boom years and whether they can be used most efficiently and effectively in bust years is part of fiscal discipline which is the bottom line that we should hold at any time.
Steady-state and transient solutions to drop evaporation in a finite domain: Alternative benchmarks to the d2 law

Abstract The d2 law, commonly used to assess the accuracy of computational solvers, corresponds to evaporation under steady-state conditions and in an infinite gaseous domain. In the present work, we propose new alternative benchmarks that relax those constraints. The benchmarks are developed for a spherical as well as a circular drop. First, steady-state analytical relations are derived that are applicable to a finite domain. A radially-symmetric transient model is then proposed that can provide transient benchmark solutions in finite domains. Adaptive mesh-refinement and body-fitted mesh are used for numerical solution and to ensure highly accurate transient results. The proposed steady-state and transient benchmarks are examined in several evaporation problems, and the evolution of drop diameter, temperature and vapor mass fraction fields are analyzed. In one such problem, we report a secondary transient phenomenon that appears towards the end of drop lifetime. The benchmarks proposed in this work are straightforward to be implemented for systematic validation of computational solvers.
Teachers movements in the circuits of communication: from crisis to contestation

ABSTRACTThis article develops a theoretical model to understand media framing of teachers as part of an interdiscursive flow moving between the public, policymakers, and educational practitioners. ...
Trading water for carbon

Droughts lead to enhanced water-use efficiency and reduced carbon uptake by plants. Global analyses of atmospheric CO2 monitoring data suggest that the scale of the trade-off between water and carbon extends to a biome level.
“Altogether a Different Thing”: The Emerging Social Sciences and the New Universalisms of Religious Belief in Rudyard Kipling’s Kim

Winter Jade Werner, “‘Altogether a Different Thing’: The Emerging Social Sciences and the New Universalisms of Religious Belief in Rudyard Kipling’s Kim ” (pp. 293–325) In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the needs of some religious practitioners began to conflict with secular scholars in the developing social science disciplines. According to the secular scholars of these disciplines, religion was subordinate to culture; it functioned to delimit one social group from another. A number of religious practitioners, including Protestant missionaries and Hindu reformers, challenged this scientific delineation of religion as particular and “cultural,” asserting instead what I call “new universalisms” of religious belief. I contextualize Rudyard Kipling’s Kim (1901) within this historical moment. Kim , I argue, thematizes and works through these competing discourses. In particular, the novel suggests the enormous potency of the new discourses of religious belief in advancing forms of universalism that challenged and looked to transcend categories of identity as imposed by social scientific thinking. I conclude with an examination of Kim ’s epigraphs, showing that their relationship to the main narrative formally enacts the agonistic relationship between the two modern universalisms of religious belief and social scientific thinking.
Leukemia‐derived exosomes and cytokines pave the way for entry into the brain

Infiltration of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) blasts into the CNS remains as a major clinical problem, with high risk for chemotherapy-resistant relapse and treatment-related morbidity. Despite the common inclusion of CNS prophylaxis treatments in therapy regimens, there are significant gaps in understanding the mechanisms that mediate leukemia cell entry into the CNS as well as roles for resident cells in the brain. In this study, we employ a xenograft model of human B cell precursor (BCP)-ALL in immunocompromised mice. This model system recapitulates key pathological characteristics of leptomeningeal involvement seen in patients and provides insights into rare cases that involve parenchymal invasion. We examine the infiltration of engrafted leukemia blasts into brains of recipient mice and provide evidence that the interaction between blasts and brain resident cells causes aberrant activation of host cells in the brain microenvironment. BCP-ALL blasts also release multiple cytokines and exosomes containing IL-15 that bind and are internalized by astrocytes and brain vessel endothelial cells. Leukemic invasion is linked to production of VEGF-AA by astrocytes and disruption of the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) integrity. Knockdown of either IL-15 or IL-15Rα in the NALM6 cell line decreases CNS infiltration in engrafted mice. These results provide important insights into the multiple mechanisms by which lymphoblasts modulate the brain microenvironment to breach the BBB for metastatic invasion.
‘From a circle of introductions’: adult learning and empowerment of women agricultural landowners

This study is about adult learning and empowerment in a challenging context. The data from this study comes from interviews with women non-operating landowners who attended a learning circle event ...
Internalized stigma, sense of belonging, and suicidal ideation among veterans with serious mental illness.

Objective There is emerging evidence that internalized stigma increases risk for suicide among individuals with serious mental illness. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate whether sense of belonging moderates the relationship between internalized stigma and suicidal ideation. Method Two hundred forty-two veterans with serious mental illness completed measures of internalized stigma, belongingness, and depression. Moderation analysis was used to determine whether sense of belonging interacts with internalized stigma to predict suicidal ideation when accounting for individual differences in depression and relevant demographic variables. Results Consistent with our hypothesis, sense of belonging significantly moderated the relationship between internalized stigma and suicidal ideation. Specifically, the relationship between internalized stigma and suicidal ideation was strongest when sense of belonging was low. Conclusions and implications for practice Internalized stigma and belongingness interact to increase risk for suicide. Both constructs should be assessed and included in interventions to reduce suicide risk among veterans with serious mental illness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Platelet-type von Willebrand disease: Local disorder of the platelet GPIbα β-switch drives high-affinity binding to von Willebrand factor.

Background Mutations in the β-switch of GPIbα cause gain-of-function in the platelet-type von Willebrand disease. Structures of free and A1-bound GPIbα suggest that the β-switch undergoes a conformational change from a coil to a β-hairpin. Objectives Platelet-type von Willebrand disease (VWD) mutations have been proposed to stabilize the β-switch by shifting the equilibrium in favor of the β-hairpin, a hypothesis predicated on the assumption that the complex crystal structure between A1 and GPIbα is the high-affinity state. Methods Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry is employed to test this hypothesis using G233V, M239V, G233V/M239V, W230L, and D235Y disease variants of GPIbα. If true, the expectation is a decrease in hydrogen-deuterium exchange within the β-switch as a result of newly formed hydrogen bonds between the β-strands of the β-hairpin. Results Hydrogen-exchange is enhanced, indicating that the β-switch favors the disordered loop conformation. Hydrogen-exchange is corroborated by differential scanning calorimetry, which confirms that these mutations destabilize GPIbα by allowing the β-switch to dissociate from the leucine-rich-repeat (LRR) domain. The stability of GPIbα and its A1 binding affinity, determined by surface plasmon resonance, are correlated to the extent of hydrogen exchange in the β-switch. Conclusion These studies demonstrate that GPIbα with a disordered loop is binding-competent and support a mechanism in which local disorder in the β-switch exposes the LRR-domain of GPIbα enabling high-affinity interactions with the A1 domain.
Canonizing Margaret Cavendish: On the Creation of a Cult and Its Idol

In the commemorative A Collection of Letters and Poems (1678), friends of Margaret Cavendish compare her thoughts to miracles, her texts to shrines, and her person to a nun. This essay argues that ...
Single-Emitter-Sensitivity in Flow Cytometry Verified by Quantum Measurement

We demonstrate single quantum emitter sensitivity in a flow cytometer by measuring the second order correlation function to be g(2) (0)= 0.5(1).
Research progress in chemical and biological protective materials with integrated conventional “decontamination-and-sensing” functions

Abstract Personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial for ensuring occupational safety when handling toxic chemicals or in close contact with biological pathogens. The increased poisoning and infection cases outside the working scenario have attracted public attention, which drove the development and application of PPE for the professionals and the public. The use of PPE can effectively lower the risk of acute and chronic diseases caused by pesticide exposures and significantly reduce the spread of infectious diseases. However, conventional PPE mostly only functions as physical blocking or electrostatic repulsion materials, which still poses potential risks caused by cross- and post-contamination from the PPE. Although sensors are not usually considered as a necessary component of PPE, the detection of health threats in the environment could benefit preparations for unprepared risks promptly, especially in non-occupational situations, thus improving the protection of human safety. In this review, we discuss the needs of novel PPE by surveying some insufficient protection cases and threats that occurred during conventional PPE applications. Then, we summarize recent progress in developing single-functional decontamination and colorimetric sensing PPE, mostly fiber-based media against agricultural toxicants and microorganisms, with intension to inspire the future design of novel PPE with the integrated “decontamination-and-sensing” property. Some recently developed conventional dual-functional materials against either pesticide or microorganism exposures are highlighted. Finally, strategies and limitations of developing decontamination and sensing material using unique interactions and reactions of targets with functionalized fibrous substrates are discussed by comparing the successful approaches and practical challenges in PPE applications.
A computationally tractable framework for nonlinear dynamic multiscale modeling of membrane woven fabrics

A general-purpose computational homogenization framework is proposed for the nonlinear dynamic analysis of membranes exhibiting complex microscale and/or mesoscale heterogeneity characterized by in-plane periodicity that cannot be effectively treated by a conventional method, such as woven fabrics. The framework is a generalization of the "finite element squared" (or FE2) method in which a localized portion of the periodic subscale structure is modeled using finite elements. The numerical solution of displacement driven problems involving this model can be adapted to the context of membranes by a variant of the Klinkel-Govindjee method[1] originally proposed for using finite strain, three-dimensional material models in beam and shell elements. This approach relies on numerical enforcement of the plane stress constraint and is enabled by the principle of frame invariance. Computational tractability is achieved by introducing a regression-based surrogate model informed by a physics-inspired training regimen in which FE$^2$ is utilized to simulate a variety of numerical experiments including uniaxial, biaxial and shear straining of a material coupon. Several alternative surrogate models are evaluated including an artificial neural network. The framework is demonstrated and validated for a realistic Mars landing application involving supersonic inflation of a parachute canopy made of woven fabric.
Vulnerable Groups, Virtual Cities, and Social Isolation

Abstract The number of people suffering from perpetual loneliness continues to increase, diminishing their wellbeing. While this condition affects people's mental life, research shows that it also significantly impacts physical health. Those enduring such hardships often have superficial encounters, but they lack meaningful social engagement with others. Addressing this problem requires highly specialized and interdisciplinary mitigatory efforts. The increasing economic feasibility of virtual reality equipment can help remedy some of these situations, especially when users can connect in supportive digital environs, “virtual cities.” In turn, this exploratory paper examines how creating specific kinds of virtual cities could facilitate meaningful social engagements, which can improve numerous people's living conditions. The author fleshes out this view, showing that these technologies' progressive nature can be shaped to secure the needed measures to improve the quality of some people's lives..
Exploring relationships between alcohol consumption, inflammation, and brain structure in a heavy drinking sample

BACKGROUND Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with structural brain changes and increased inflammatory signaling throughout the brain and body. Increased inflammation in the brain has been associated with structural damage. Recent studies have also shown that neurofilament light polypeptide (NfL) is released into the systemic circulation following neuronal damage. Although NfL has thus been proposed as a biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases, its connection to alcohol use disorder has not been explored. For this secondary data analysis, we proposed a conceptual model linking alcohol consumption, the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, brain structure, and NfL in heavy drinking participants. METHODS Of the 182 individuals enrolled in this study, 81 participants had usable data on gray matter (GM) thickness and 80 had usable data on white matter (WM) diffusivity. A subset of participants had NfL (n = 78) and IL-6 (n = 117) data. An estimate of GM thickness was extracted from middle frontal brain regions using FreeSurfer. Estimated mean WM diffusivity values were extracted from Tract Based Spatial Statistics. NfL and IL-6 were measured in blood. Regression models were used to test individual linkages in the conceptual model. Based on significant regression results, we created a simplified conceptual model, which we tested using path analysis. RESULTS In regressions, negative relationships emerged between GM and both drinks per drinking day (DPDD) (p = 0.018) and NfL (p = 0.004). A positive relationship emerged between WM diffusivity and DPDD (p = 0.033). IL-6 was not significantly associated with alcohol use, GM or WM. The final path model demonstrated adequate fit to the data and showed significant, negative associations between DPDD and middle frontal gyrus (MFG) thickness, and between MFG thickness and NfL, but the association between DPDD and NfL was not significant. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to show that heavy drinking is associated with lower GM thickness and higher WM diffusivity and that lower GM thickness is associated with higher circulating NfL. The analyses also show that the effects of drinking do not involve the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6.
Fast data-driven learning of parallel MRI sampling patterns for large scale problems

In this study, a fast data-driven optimization approach, named bias-accelerated subset selection (BASS), is proposed for learning efficacious sampling patterns (SPs) with the purpose of reducing scan time in large-dimensional parallel MRI. BASS is applicable when Cartesian fully-sampled k-space measurements of specific anatomy are available for training and the reconstruction method for undersampled measurements is specified; such information is used to define the efficacy of any SP for recovering the values at the non-sampled k-space points. BASS produces a sequence of SPs with the aim of finding one of a specified size with (near) optimal efficacy. BASS was tested with five reconstruction methods for parallel MRI based on low-rankness and sparsity that allow a free choice of the SP. Three datasets were used for testing, two of high-resolution brain images ( $$\text {T}_{2}$$ -weighted images and, respectively, $$\text {T}_{1\rho }$$ -weighted images) and another of knee images for quantitative mapping of the cartilage. The proposed approach has low computational cost and fast convergence; in the tested cases it obtained SPs up to 50 times faster than the currently best greedy approach. Reconstruction quality increased by up to 45% over that provided by variable density and Poisson disk SPs, for the same scan time. Optionally, the scan time can be nearly halved without loss of reconstruction quality. Quantitative MRI and prospective accelerated MRI results show improvements. Compared with greedy approaches, BASS rapidly learns effective SPs for various reconstruction methods, using larger SPs and larger datasets; enabling better selection of sampling-reconstruction pairs for specific MRI problems.
Disruption of protein quality control of the human ether-à-go-go related gene K+ channel results in profound long QT syndrome.

Background Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a hereditary disease that predisposes patients to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Our previous study of the human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG)–encoded K+ channel (Kv11.1) supports an association between hERG and RING finger protein 207 (RNF207) variants in aggravating the onset and severity of LQTS, specifically T613M hERG (hERGT613M) and RNF207 frameshift (RNF207G603fs) mutations. However, the underlying mechanistic underpinning remains unknown. Objective The purpose of the present study was to test the role of RNF207 in the function of hERG-encoded K+ channel subunits. Methods Whole-cell patch-clamp experiments were performed in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) together with immunofluorescent confocal and high resolution microscopy, auto-ubiquitinylation assays, and co-immunoprecipitation experiments to test the functional interactions between hERG and RNF207. Results Here, we demonstrated that RNF207 serves as an E3 ubiquitin ligase and targets misfolded hERGT613M proteins for degradation. RNF207G603fs exhibits decreased activity and hinders the normal degradation pathway; this increases the levels of hERGT613M subunits and their dominant-negative effect on the wild-type subunits, ultimately resulting in decreased current density. Similar findings are shown for hERGA614V, a known dominant-negative mutant subunit. Finally, the presence of RNF207G603fs with hERGT613M results in significantly prolonged action potential durations and reduced hERG current in human-induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes. Conclusion Our study establishes RNF207 as an interacting protein serving as a ubiquitin ligase for hERG-encoded K+ channel subunits. Normal function of RNF207 is critical for the quality control of hERG subunits and consequently cardiac repolarization. Moreover, our study provides evidence for protein quality control as a new paradigm in life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias in patients with LQTS.
Bladder Tissue Engineering for Pediatric Urology

The development of “replacement parts” for humans has been the dream of clinicians ever since solitary organ dysfunction has been identified as the cause of morbidity and mortality in otherwise healthy humans. Organ transplantation has been used successfully to prolong and improve life for countless patients but has also introduced new disease processes and morbidities that force us to look for better solutions. Autologous tissue and organ transplantation is seen as the ultimate goal, as the ability to grow replacement organs and tissues would revolutionize the care of patients with organ failure and does not come burdened with the risk of immunologic rejection. In this summary, we will describe the history and techniques of tissue and organ engineering and its promise to provide autologous bladder tissue for use in children with bladder disease.
Determinants of U.S. direct investment in the E.E.C.: Revisited again

Abstract This paper discusses the Scaperlanda-Balough comment on a previous study of mine that appeared in this Review. The Scaperlanda-Balough paper extends and improves upon my study by employing better variables to test the hypotheses. However, I offer a different interpretation of the empirical evidence they present concerning the efficacy of the U.S. controls on direct investment.
Feed Reactivity Study for Fluidized Bed Steam Reformer (FBSR) Processing

During Fluidized Bed Steam Reforming (FBSR) of high-sodium low-activity wastes (LAW) from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Hanford, clay is added as a co-reactant in order to form a mineral waste form. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of the FBSR bed products demonstrated from various pilot scale demonstrations of this technology showed that the bed products have unreacted clay cores. The presence of the mineralized "reaction rims" and the unreacted clay cores suggest that some pre-reaction with the feed may be occurring before heat treatment in the FBSR. Many industrial processes pre-condition feeds before processing to enhance reaction during processing, e.g. the textile fiber industry. Therefore, a study was initiated to determine (1) whether pre-reaction does occur and (2) what can be done to enhance pre-reaction. Test conditions included room temperature mixing for 24 hours, mixing at 80°C for 24 hours, and mixing at room temperature and high shear for 2 hours. The SEM images obtained in this study have shown that the pre-reaction appears to occur when the clay is mixed with the basic (pH=13.1) Hanford LAW simulants, but not with the acidic (pH=3.0) INL sodium-bearing waste (SBW) simulant.
Arsenic in drinking water and bladder cancer: review of epidemiological evidence

Abstract Worldwide, an estimated 261 000 cases of urinary bladder cancer are diagnosed, and result in 115 000 deaths each year. Strong evidence exists for an association between bladder cancer and exposure to arsenic (As) in drinking water at concentrations exceeding 300–500 μg/l; however, health risks from As exposure in the 10–100 μg/l range are equivocal. Given low-to-moderate concentrations of As in drinking water, other sources of As exposure such as food, occupational hazards, and tobacco may be important. Exposure to other potential bladder carcinogens in drinking water, such as disinfection byproducts or nitrates, along with mediating factors in the diet, such as selenium and zinc, may also prove to be decisive factors. This review presents a critical evaluation of epidemiologic studies of As in drinking water and bladder cancer, emphasizing the need to carefully assess individual-level exposure to As in drinking water along with other sources of As, as well as considering potential confounding and mediating factors.
The Preparation of Homogeneous Monkey and Human Pituitary Growth Hormones

Simian pituitary growth hormone was prepared in homogeneous form by sequential application of exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G-100, ion exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl Sephadex with a single eluent, and density gradient column electrophoresis. DEAE-Sephadex chromatography with a single eluent was also used to separate two biologically active components of human pituitary growth hormone. All three primate growth hormone preparations possessed similar activity in the tibia test. The homogeneity of these preparations was shown by disc electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel under both acidic and alkaline conditions and also by analytical exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G-100. The latter technique also indicated a close similarity in molecular size of all three hormonal preparations.
Reliability Prediction for Composites Under Periodic Proof Tests in Service

An exploratory reliability analysis of composites under periodic proof tests in service is presented. The ultimate strength of composites is a random variable. A residual strength degradation model for composites under service loads is employed. Failure occurs as soon as the residual strength of composites is exceeded by statistical service loads, for example, gust turbulence and maneuver loads. Meanwhile, the composites are subjected to periodic proof tests in order to eliminate weak components and ensure an acceptable level of reliability. When a component fails under the proof test, a new component is manufactured and proof-tested for replacement, so that the strength of composites is renewed. Taking into account the statistical strengths, strength degradation characteristics, statistical service loads, design stresses, periodic proof tests, and renewal processes due to replacement, the probability of composite failure in service is derived. Two numerical examples, a boron/titanium bonded joint of a fighter aircraft and a glass/epoxy component of a transport-type aircraft, are worked. It is demonstrated that significant fatigue reliability improvement for composites can be achieved by the application of periodic proof tests.
The line shapes of the water proton resonances of red blood cells containing carbonyl hemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and methemoglobin: Implications for the interpretation of proton MRI at fields of 1.5 T and below

The 300 MHz (7 T) water proton resonances of suspensions of red blood cells containing paramagnetic deoxyhemoglobin or methemoglobin can be resolved into two broad lines assignable to intra- and extracellular water which undergoes rapid T2 relaxation by diffusion in magnetic field gradients induced by the intracellular paramagnets. The width of the resolved lines allowed an estimate of the maximum contribution that diffusion makes to T2 relaxation at 7 T. The dependence of the diffusion contribution on the square of the strength of the static magnetic field suggest that diffusion makes a small contribution to water proton T2 relaxation at 1.5 T compared to 7 T, and a negligible one at 0.5 T in early and intermediate hematomas containing deoxyhemoglobin or methemoglobin in intact red blood cells. At the lower field strengths, water proton T2 relaxation is apparently dominated by the rapid chemical exchange (mean lifetime tau = 10 msec) between the intra- and extracellular environments.
Publication productivity of clinical and counseling psychologists

Compared the research productivity of clinical versus counseling psychologists and found surprisingly few differences. A serendipitous finding was low productivity across the board and a question was raised about the success of the scientist-practitioner model in both clinical and counseling psychology doctoral programs in instilling a research/publication ethic among professional (as opposed to experimental, social, etc.) psychologists.
New null experiment to test the inverse square law of gravitation

A "source-independent" null experiment for the Newtonian law of gravity is proposed. The new scheme involves detection of the Laplacian of the gravitational potential ${\ensuremath{\nabla}}^{2}\ensuremath{\varphi}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{r}})$ in free space, i.e., where $\ensuremath{\rho}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{r}})=0$. This quantity should vanish identically regardless of the mass distribution in the rest of the universe if the inverse square law is exact. A departure from null in ${\ensuremath{\nabla}}^{2}\ensuremath{\varphi}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{r}})$ could be measured by monitoring the breathing mode of a sphere or by summing three gravity gradients at a single point along any three orthogonal directions. The "source-independent" behavior of the proposed technique will allow a test of the inverse square law in the intermediate range between 1 m and 10 km in which large geological objects might be used as sources.
Protocol for the Nutrition Management of Patients with Necrotizing Fasciitis

Abstract Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an uncommon but rapidly progressive soft tissue infection associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Predisposing factors include obesity, age >50 years, diabetes, and recent trauma, surgery or infection. Treatment of NF requires aggressive surgical debridement followed by prolonged supportive care and eventual autografting. Nutrition support is recognized as an essential component of successful patient outcome, yet nutritional requirements of patients with NF have not been reported in the literature. Since 1990, 84 patients with NF were admitted to the wound treatment service. In an effort to standardize and improve care, a nutrition protocol was developed. The key components of the protocol include guidelines foi early enteral feeding, assessment of calorie and protein requirements, vitamin and mineral supplementation and monitoring parameters. Since implementing the protocol, nutrition support is initiated earlier, blood glucoses are improved and tube feeding is continued until adequate oral intake is achieved. Outcome studies of the nutrition management of NF need to be completed in order to better define the nutritional standards of care.
An improved user experience model with cumulative prospect theory

Abstract User experience (UX) design involves decision making for an optimal mix of product attributes to offer pleasurable UX. While the cognitive influences on human decision making have been well addressed, the affective elements for analyzing and simulating human perception on UX in the prevailing computational models are missing. In order to incorporate both affective and cognitive factors in the UX model for decision making, cumulative prospect theory (CPT) under two different affective states is studied. The least-square curve fitting technique is used to find multiple parameters involved in CPT. It successfully estimates parameters to represent different cognitive tendency and affective influence. A case study of the aircraft cabin interior design is illustrated to show the potential and feasibility of the proposed method.
Cultured lymphoid cell lines from normal subjects: membrane associated immunoglobulins studied by the mixed antiglobulin reaction.

Abstract The mixed antiglobulin reaction was used to analyze the membrane associated immunoglobulins on lymphoid cells of established suspension cultures grown from the peripheral blood of seven healthy individuals and three subjects with viral diseases. After preincubation in an acetate buffer system, membrane immunoglobulins were found on a high percentage of cells; in control samples not exposed to acetate buffer less than 4% of the cells were positive. All 10 lines had κ light chain antigens on 5 to 83% of cells; 8 had μ antigens on 28 to 91% of cells, two lines were μ negative. IgG Fc, IgA and IgD antigens were not detected. The immunological specificity of the detection systems was confirmed by inhibition with isolated light chains, F(ab′)2 fragments, or intact molecules from purified monoclonal proteins of the various immunoglobulin classes and chain types. Cultured cells were synchronized by double thymidine blockade and examined. Except for a small decrease in the late G2 phase, the proportion of lymphoid cells with membrane associated μ and κ antigens remained relatively constant throughout the cell cycle.
Surface passivation optimization using DIRECT

We describe a systematic and efficient method of determining pseudo-atom positions and potentials for use in nanostructure calculations based on bulk empirical pseudopotentials (EPMs). Given a bulk EPM for binary semiconductor X, we produce parameters for pseudo-atoms necessary to passivate a nanostructure of X in preparation for quantum mechanical electronic structure calculations. These passivants are based on the quality of the wave functions of a set of small test structures that include the passivants. Our method is based on the global optimization method DIRECT. It enables and/or streamlines surface passivation for empirical pseudopotential calculations.
The Role of Geographic Expertise in International Border Disputes: A Study of the Middle of Lake Erie Through Historical and Cartographic Perspectives

A great deal of consequence attaches to the placement, marking, mapping, and monitoring of borders and the lines that separate nations. Throughout the article attention is drawn to the role of geographic regional expertise and map analysis in providing the background for territorial and related disputes over sovereignty. This article traces, through maps, the evolving story of the international boundary between the United States and Canada in the vicinity of Lake Erie. Between the Treaty of Paris in 1783 and the delimitation of the actual boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada in Lake Erie in the 1820s, the depiction of the boundary was prone to two types of error: the gross inaccuracy of the base maps on which the lines were drafted and the imprecision of the words and methods used to describe or compute the location of the boundary. Although much less controversial than in the Northeast United States, where settlement was delayed until the Webster–Ashburton Treaty in 1842, the iss...
Intrapulmonary receptors in the garter snake (thamnophis sirtalis)

Abstract Receptors in the respiratory system of anesthetized, unidirectionally ventilated garter snakes were analyzed from single-unit vagal recordings. Three types of receptors were found; rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors (RARs), slowly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors (SARs) and intrapulmonary chemoreceptors (IPCs). RARs gave a burst of activity when the lung was inflated or deflated. Discharge frequency of SARs increased during a sustained elevation of intrapulmonary pressure (P ip ); a step increase in P ip usually caused an overshoot in receptor activity that slowly adapted to a new tonic level during the sustained inflation. The activity of intrapulmonary chemoreceptors (IPCs) decreased when airway CO 2 was raised. A sudden removal of CO 2 caused a striking overshoot in activity which slowly adapted. Receptor discharge of SARs and IPCs was studied at 20, 25 and 30°C. Discharge frequency increased with increasing temperature. The Q 10 of discharge frequency averaged 3.0 for IPCs and 1.5 for SARs. Temperature clearly had a profound effect on pulmonary receptor activity; however, the relative change of activity of IPCs or SARs to a given stimulus was similar regardless of body temperature, and since the body temperature of snakes varies considerably, this may have important implicatios regarding the control of breathing in these animals.
The image flow constraint equation

Abstract The image flow field is the velocity field in the image plane due to the motion of the observer or objects in the scene, or due to apparent motion. There is a fundamental equation describing image flow that is called the image flow constraint equation in this paper. A new derivation of the image flow constraint equation is presented that shows that the equation is valid at image irradiance discontinuities and motion boundaries. A clearer discussion of the conditions for validity of the image flow constraint equation is presented. The image flow constraint equation is reformulated in polar coordinates. Several advantages of this representation are discussed. The polar representation is compared with directional selectivity. It is shown that in the case where the image is sampled in time to form an image sequence, the image flow constraint equation is incorrect at occluding boundaries to a far greater degree than has been assumed.
Anticoagulation with enoxaparin versus intravenous unfractionated heparin in postoperative vascular surgery patients

Abstract Background: The use of postoperative anticoagulation is not uncommon for patients undergoing vascular procedures, whether for adjunctive therapy to the surgical procedure or for resumption of preoperative anticoagulation. We investigated whether low-molecular-weight heparin, specifically enoxaparin, was an effective replacement for intravenous heparin during the postoperative period until achievement of a therapeutic international normalized ratio, together with the impact on postoperative length of stay. Methods: We retrospectively examined 330 patients who received either traditional intravenous unfractionated heparin with adjusted-dose warfarin daily (n = 169) or subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin, specifically enoxaparin 1 mg/kg every 12 hours, with adjusted-dose warfarin daily (n = 161). Safety was defined as incidence of bleeding, hematoma, stroke, expiration, thrombocytopenia, return to surgery for graft thrombosis or hematoma, and readmission within 30 days for hematoma or thrombosis. Results: For all procedures, regardless of type of anticoagulation treatment, there was no difference in the incidence of postoperative complications, except for the increased incidence of return to surgery for graft thrombosis ( P = .02), failing graft ( P = .0004), and debridement ( P = .01) in patients who received unfractionated heparin. For all procedures combined, the average postoperative length of stay was shortened by 2 days with use of low-molecular-weight heparin ( P = .0001). Conclusions: In this series, use of enoxaparin appears to be safe and effective for vascular postoperative anticoagulation. At the same time, its use can significantly reduce the average postoperative length of stay for patients undergoing vascular procedures. Further prospective data are needed before this protocol can be accepted as an alternative for postoperative anticoagulation in this set of patients. (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:341-5.)
Responses to ragweed-pollen nasal challenge before and after immunotherapy.

Abstract To evaluate whether immunotherapy reduces mediator release after nasal challenge, we followed previously untreated patients with ragweed hay fever through 2 years (three seasons) of treatment. Eleven adult patients started immunotherapy after a season of symptom diaries and graded pretreatment challenges with 0.03, 0.3, 3.3, and 16.5 mg of ragweed pollen. Repeat challenges were performed when the treatment dosage reached 0.6, 12.4, and 24.8 μg of Amb aI (antigen E) equivalents per injection. After the 0.6 μg dose, there was little change, but after the larger doses, there was a significant reduction in histamine and tosylarginine methyl ester-esterase (TAME-esterase) release in two respects. More pollen was required before any mediator appeared, and the amount of mediator released at each stage of the challenge was reduced. There was no significant difference between the responses at the 12.4 and 24.8 μg treatment doses. Sneezing after challenge was not apparently changed after immunotherapy; however, patients' seasonal symptom-medication scores were reduced after treatment. These data set the optimal individual treatment dose of ragweed extract for immunotherapy at >0.6 μg, but probably not more than 12.4 μg in terms of Amb a I equivalents.
Intra-list interference in single trial short-term memory

In a group testing procedure, 480 Ss were given a single trial to learn a list of five nonsense syllables, presented one at a time in order. Ss were given an interpolated interval of 0, 15, or 30 sec in which they were required to cancel vowels from lists of random letters. At the end of the interval they were required to recall either the first, middle, or last syllable in the list. Results revealed a significant effect associated only with serial position.
The Robustness of the Three-Way Chart to Non Normality

In batch processing, the Three-Way control chart has been offered for controlling the mean of a process when the batch-to-batch variation is much greater than the within-batch variation. These two sources of variation are typically monitored along with usual batch sample means. Although the Three-Way chart was originally developed for normally distributed process data, its robustness to violations of the normality assumption is the central theme of this study. For data streams with heavy tails or displaying skewness, the in-control average run lengths (ARLs) for the Three-Way chart are seen to be significantly shorter than expected. On the other hand, out-of-control ARLs are much longer than the normal theory benchmarks for symmetric non-normal distributions. The Three-Way chart is not robust to moderate or strong skewness.
Allergies and Learning/Behavioral Disorders:

How allergies affect school learning and behavior---and how to helpEvery fall and spring many teachers notice an outburst of coughmg, sneezing, wheezing, and nose blowing in their classrooms. Affli...
High-resolution x-ray diffraction study of In 0.25 Ga 0.75 Sb/InAs superlattice

An In 0.25 Ga 0.75 Sb/InAs strained-layer superlattice, grown by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) on a GaSb[001] substrate, has been characterized by four-circle x-ray diffractometry. This system, proposed by Maliot and Smith for ir detection application, is challenging because of the two group V species and the likelihood of cross-incorporation of the different elements during growth, leading possibly to interdiffusion and thus, to a more diffuse interface. High-resolution x-ray diffraction (XRD) profiles were obtained about several reciprocal lattice points in order to extract a reliable set of structural parameters. The profiles were then successfully modeled by computer simulation. The presence of many sharp higher-order satellite reflections in the XRD profiles is a measure of the high quality of the superlattices. The normal and lateral structural coherence was also measured and will be discussed.
Can vaccination prevent sinusitis

(2004). Can vaccination prevent sinusitis? Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 115, No. 1, pp. 33-34.