cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What are the potential implications of identifying intracranial internal carotid artery atherosclerotic lesions on cone-beam computed tomography? A systematic review and illustrative case studies.

Purpose A systematic literature review was performed to examine the clinical implications of intracranial internal carotid artery calcific atherosclerotic lesions (IICACALs) detected at cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) examinations. Materials and Methods The PubMed database was queried in 2 separate searches using the linked search terms non-contrast enhanced cone beam computed tomography and calcified intracranial vascular lesions and non-contrast enhanced computed tomography and calcified intracranial vascular lesions. Reviewed were all English-language articles using CBCT or CT imaging that enrolled neurologically asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Excluded were studies describing patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Illustrative cases describing incidentally detected IICACALs on CBCT scans are provided. Results Three articles described identification of IICACALs on CBCT scans of almost 1,500 dental patients. Two of these fully addressed the subject, with 1 noting that IICACALs were benign and another urging patient referral for further workup. Five non–contrast-enhanced CT studies were evaluated in detail; all confirmed IICACALs as a substantive risk marker of advanced stenotic disease in the cerebral circulation, central brain atrophy, concomitant advanced atherosclerotic disease in the cardiovascular circulation, and an indicator of future ischemic events. Five CBCT examinations showing IICACALs in the cavernous and ophthalmic segments are presented. Conclusion Few studies have denoted the importance of identifying IICACALs on CBCT scans. However, all non–contrast-enhanced CT studies emphasized the clinical significance of these lesions in relation to cerebral and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, IICACALs seen on CBCT and CT scans present the same risk and should prompt referral for further evaluation.
A Tale of Two Stimulus Payments: 2001 versus 2008

Fiscal stimulus payments (i.e., direct lump-sum payments from the government to households) were used in the recessions of 2001 and 2008 in an attempt to simultaneously alleviate households' economic hardship and stimulate aggregate demand. Despite the similarities between the two stimulus policies, there were important differences in both their design and the prevailing economic conditions. We use the model of Kaplan and Violante (2013) to compare the consumption response to these policies. Consistent with empirical evidence from microdata, we find that the consumption response was around one-third lower in 2008, primarily due to the larger size of the payments.
Body composition of newborn twins: intrapair differences.

Objective: To measure body composition in newborn twins and to test the hypothesis that differences in body weights between twins are reflected proportionally by their differences in various components of body composition.Methods: 48 pairs of newborn twins delivered at a tertiary teaching hospital had dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition measurement for bone mineral content (BMC), lean and fat mass (LM, FM). Data analyzed with regression and analysis of variance.Results: Body weight, BMC, LM and FM increased with increased gestational age (p < 0.001). The percent difference in BW between each twin pair was significantly correlated with percent difference in BMC, LM, and FM (p < 0.001). However, mean (± SD) percent difference in body weight (14.3 ± 10.0%) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than FM (26.0 ± 15.0%) but was not significantly different from LM (13.4 ± 9.0%) or BMC (15.9 ± 11.6%).Conclusion: In newborn twins, body weight and body composition varies with gestational age. For a...
EFFECTS OF VIOLATING ITEM CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLES1

Two forms of a social studies achievement test were constructed with half the items for each form containing a cue, grammar, or length fault. Faults were found to make the items easier, which was supported by confidence intervals for the differences. However, validity coefficients with achievement and intelligence criteria, as well as the reliability coefficients, were virtually unchanged. The results agreed with those of Dunn and Goldstein (1959), even though the methodology differed. A suggested measure of test-wiseness for groups is presented.
Liquid Chromatographic Separation of Five Trans-dihydrodiols of Benz[A] anthracene

Abstract Among the five possible trans-dihydrodiol derivatives of benz[a] anthracene (BA), trans-3,4- and trans-8,9-dihydrodiols could not be separated by either a normal-phase or a reversed-phase HPLC method unless they were first converted to diacetates. We describe in this report a complete separation of five BA trans-dihydrodiols using a Vydac C18 column and a column packed with a chiral stationary phase (R)-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl) leucine covalently bonded to γ-aminopropylsilanized silica. Enantiomeric compositions of BA 3,4-, 5,6-, 8,9-, and 10,11- trans-dihydrodiols formed in the metabolisms of BA by liver microsomes from untreated, phenobarbital-treated, and 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats were determined by chiral stationary phase HPLC or by comparing their circular dichroism spectral data with those of optically pure reference compounds.
Solution of the Multi-Asset Finite Horizon Investment Renewal Problem

The multi-asset investment renewal problem is characterized by two types of costs: transaction costs incurred when any renewal takes place at a point in time, and investment costs which are associated with renewing individual assets. A discrete-time version of this renewal scheduling problem is formulated as an integer program that, due to its structure, admits to an efficient branch and bound approach to solution. Computational experience with the solution algorithm is presented.
Fever and Neutropenia in an Adolescent with Leukemia

History of Present Illness (HPI) The patient presented initially with chest tightness and shortness of breath and was found to have a mediastinal mass with tracheal and superior vena caval compression. In addition, splenomegaly, bilateral pleural effusions, and a pericardial effusion were present. Initial laboratory studies were significant for a white blood cell count of 242,000/mm3 with 98% blasts and a serum lactate dehydrogenase (LD) concentration of >2,000 U/L. A diagnosis of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was made by bone marrow biopsy with flow cytometric analysis of the bone marrow and peripheral blood leukocytes. Chemotherapy with vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone was initiated in addition to intrathecal administration of cytosine arabinoside. The patient responded well to chemotherapy and was discharged 6 days after initial presentation. Discharge medications included erythropoietin, ferrous sulfate, prednisone, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ranitidine, and hydrocodone/acetaminophen. At his regularly scheduled follow-up appointment during the second week of chemotherapy, the subcutaneous nodules and ulcerative ankle lesion were noted and the patient was referred to our ED for further evaluation. Past Medical History Non-contributory.
A Simulation Study of Maximum Feasible Farm Debt Burdens by Farm Type

Financial leverage, which magnifies the effect of farm income instability upon "bottom line" profitability, becomes less feasible as income fluctuation increases. The combination of wide fluctuations in income coupled with heavy debt-servicing commitments can render the farm insolvent, imperiling continued survival. Determining how much debt a given farm can service is therefore a matter of considerable importance. Studies that have explored the effects of income variability upon debt usage have for the most part focused upon one or limited farm types. Few have attempted to identify maximum feasible debt burdens consistent with continued survival of the firm. In an analysis of Ohio dairy farms, Falls found that changes in interest rates had only slight effect upon maximum feasible debt levels and also that large dairy farms could sustain greater debt-to-asset (D/A) ratios than small farms. Wehrly and Atkinson estimated that dairy-hog farms could service debt loads ranging from 46% to 60% of assets, depending upon farm size and ability of the farm family to "live frugally." Patrick and Eisgruber found that managerial ability and long-term loan limits were the most important factors influencing farm growth; while Boehlje and White determined that maximization of net worth requires heavy debt loads. Finally, Baker has proposed to index land payments to farm prices and yields in a model including amortization insurance and a mandatory debt reserve.
A neurobiological basis for decision making in language pragmatics

In the nervous system, the orbitofrontal cortex, the amygdala, and the body proper are involved in personal and social decision making. Since normal conversational interaction involves making personal and social decisions on a moment to moment basis about what to say and how to say it, it is proposed that these areas of the nervous system, which subserve stimulus appraisal, attachment, affect regulation, and social cognition, also subserve decision making in language pragmatics.
Nonhemolytic antibody-induced loss of erythrocyte surface antigen.

Transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) into patients with anti–donor RBC antibodies (crossmatch-incompatible transfusion) can result in lethal antibody-mediated hemolysis. Less well appreciated is the ability of anti-RBC antibodies to specifically remove their target antigen from donor RBCs without compromising cell survival or adversely affecting the transfusion recipient. In an effort to elucidate the mechanistic details of this process, we describe the first animal model of nonhemolytic antibody-induced RBC antigen loss. RBCs from transgenic mHEL mice express surface hen egg lysozyme (HEL) as a transmembrane protein. Transfusion of mHEL RBCs into mice immunized with HEL results in selective loss of HEL antigen from donor RBCs without affecting other blood group antigens or reducing the circulatory life span of the transfused RBCs. While this process does not require the presence of a spleen, it requires both anti-RBC immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and the FcIII receptor. These studies provide mechanistic insight into the phenomenon of antigen loss during incompatible transfusion in humans. (Blood. 2005;106:1105-1112)
Using logarithmic derivative functions for assessing the risky weighting function for binary gambles

Abstract A logarithmic derivative (LD) of a continuous function g ( x ) is itself a function in the form of g ′ ( x ) g ( x ) . Hazard and reverse hazard are examples of LD functions that have proven to be useful for discriminating among similar functions for stochastic systems, and the essential idea of LD functions can be used more generally. In this research, an analysis of the logarithmic derivative was employed to evaluate the various proposals for the risky weighting function w ( p ) that have been advanced in the psychological and economic literature. Risky weighting functions are the weighting coefficients of the outcome utility values, i.e., if an outcome has an associated probability p , then w ( p ) is the transform of p that weights the utility of the outcome. An experiment was done to obtain empirical estimates of the logarithmic derivative of the risky weighting function for individuals by utilizing a novel gamble-matching paradigm with binary gambles. Five models from the research literature did not predict the observed shape for the LD function. Four additional models for the risky weighting function could predict the general profile of the LD function but nonetheless resulted in a nonrandom, systematic pattern for the corresponding model fit residuals. The nonrandom pattern of the fit residuals is taken as evidence against the models. Consequently nine models had problems in accounting for the empirical LD function. However, two risky weighting functions provided an accurate description of the empirical LD function. These risky weighting functions are the Prelec function w ( p ) = e − s ( − ln p ) a , with a and s as fitting parameters, and a novel model, the Exponential Odds function w ( p ) = e − s ( 1 − p ) b p a with a , b and s as fitting parameters.
Longitudinal stability of facial attractiveness

Profile facial photographs of 12 white males and 12 white females, each at six different ages, were rated on scales of perceived attractiveness, intelligence, and sociability. Each of the six age-level sets of photographs was rated by a different group of 18 male and 18 female white college students. Multivariate analysis of variance and correlational analyses showed a moderate degree of longitudinal stability of perceived facial attractiveness for the faces of most people in the stimulus sample. Some people, however, showed a progressive decline in perceived attractiveness. Additional analyses compared statistical properties of the three social judgments and tested for effects of sex of rater and stimulus person.
Species-Specific Toxicity of Certain Insecticides to Tephritids in Hawaii Suggested by Unusual Susceptibility Relationships Among Oriental Fruit Flies, Melon Flies, and Mediterranean Fruit Flies

For the past 17 years almost all insecticides evaluated at Honolulu, Hawaii, against the oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis Hendel; the melon fly, D. cucurbitae Coquillett; and the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), showed interspecies toxicity relationships similar to those observed with malathion, the standard of comparison. This report notes 13 exceptions. Bay 22408 ( O,O -diethyl phosphorothioate O-ester with N hydroxynaphthalimide) was equal to malathion in toxicity to Mediterranean fruit fly, but was much less toxic than malathion to oriental fruit fly and melon fly. Conversely, Bay 19596 (ethyl (mercaptoacetyl) carbamate S -ester with O,O -diethyl phosphorodithioate), and Pyrolan® (3-methyl-1-phenyl-pyrazol-5-yl dimethylcarbamate), were equal to malathion in toxicity to oriental fruit fly and melon fly but were much less toxic than malathion to Mediterranean fruit fly. The closely related insecticides methyl parathion, dicapthon, and Chlorthion® ( O -(3-chloro-4-nitrophenyl) O,O -dimethyl phosphorothioate) were progressively less and less toxic, respectively, to all 3 species of fruit flies. However, melon fly showed an increasingly greater degree of resistance to these insecticides, in the order listed, than did the other 2 species.
A Monte Carlo Simulation of an Actual Segmented Calorimeter: A Study of Calorimeter Performance at High Energies

The computer code system CALOR has been used to simulate data taken with a large segmented liquid argon/iron calorimeter at Fermilab. The resulting energy and angular distributions along with the longitudinal and transverse shower shapes are compared to experimental data in the range 1-38 GeV. Results are presented extending the Monte Carlo simulations to 125 GeV. The energy resolution of an incident hadron can be determined with a resolution ?E/E = (7.6 + 29.2/?E)% and its direction with a resolution of ?(?) = 22.7 + 390/E) mrad (where E is in GeV).
Be doped GaAs grown by migration enhanced epitaxy at low substrate temperature

Conductive Be doped GaAs grown by molecular beam epitaxy at low substrate temperatures (300° C) was obtained for the first time by using migration enhanced epitaxy (MEE) without subsequent annealing. The layers were characterized using Hall effect, double crystal x-ray diffraction, and photoluminescence. With low arsenic exposure, the low temperature MEE layers doped with Be had the same carrier density and similar luminescent efficiency as layers grown by conventional MBE at 580° C. Mobility at 77 K was reduced somewhat for layers doped at 2 × 1017cm−3, which also exhibited hopping conductivity below 40 K. Double crystal x-ray diffraction showed that low temperature MEE samples grown at low As exposure had the narrow linewidth associated with conventional MBE material grown at 580° C, unlike layers grown by conventional MBE at low temperatures, which exhibit an expansion in lattice parameter.
Neutralizing antibodies to interferon β-1a and interferon β-1b in MS patients are cross-reactive

Objective: To determine whether neutralizing antibodies (NABs) to interferon beta (IFNβ)-1a (Avonex) and IFNβ-1b (Betaseron) cross-react. Background: A total of 38% of MS patients treated with IFNβ-1b and 22% of those treated with IFNβ-1a were reported to develop NABs, which could reduce the clinical efficacy of the drug. Methods: Blood from 10 MS patients was collected before and at 3 and 6 months after initiating treatment with IFNβ-1a. ELISA was performed to detect binding antibodies to IFNβ-1a. Sera from patients who tested positive for binding antibodies to IFNβ-1a were then screened for NABs to IFNβ-1a in a biologic assay based on neutralization of antiviral activity. These serum samples were subsequently tested for cross-reactivity with IFNβ-1b both in the ELISA and the biologic assay. In the second part of the study, sera from patients who participated in the phase III IFNβ-1b trial at the University of Maryland were examined for cross-reactivity with IFNβ-1a in the ELISA and the biologic assay. Results: Of the 10 patients treated with IFNβ-1a, three developed binding as well as NABs to IFNβ-1a 6 months after treatment, and these antibodies cross-reacted with IFNβ-1b both in the binding and the biologic assay. Similarly, sera from six patients with NABs to IFNβ-1b showed cross-reactivity with IFNβ-1a in the binding assay. Three of these six serum samples tested for neutralizing activity against IFNβ-1a demonstrated the presence of NABs to IFNβ-1a. Conclusions: NABs to IFNβ-1a (Avonex) and IFNβ-1b (Betaseron) cross-react, both in the binding and the biologic assays. This suggests that switching to alternate IFNβ preparation in patients who develop NABs may not be clinically beneficial. Studies examining cross-reactivity between NABs to IFNβ-1a and IFNβ-1b in a large number of patients are indicated.
Silicon‐Directed Nazarov Cyclizations. Part V. Substituent and heteroatom effects on the reaction

The ability to incorporate alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and heteroatomic groups into substrates for the silicon-directed Nazarov cyclization and their subsequent reactions has been investigated. In general, most of the groups are compatible with the conditions for the cyclization and do not interfere even when directly attached to the divinyl ketone. The influence of substituents on the rate of the cyclization has been addressed and is consistent with a simple mechanistic picture. O- and N-Containing functions are tolerated except when attached to the α-vinyl C-atom of the divinyl ketone. The diastereoface-directing effect of a fused cyclobutane is discussed.
Creation of an atrial septal defect in utero for fetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and intact or highly restrictive atrial septum

Background— Infants born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and an intact or highly restrictive atrial septum face a neonatal mortality of at least 48% despite early postnatal left atrial decompression and palliative surgery. Prenatal left atrial decompression has been suggested as a means of improving these outcomes. This study reports the feasibility of fetal catheterization to create an interatrial communication and describes technical considerations. Methods and Results— Seven fetuses at 26 to 34 weeks’ gestation with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and intact or highly restrictive atrial septum underwent attempted prenatal intervention. Under ultrasound guidance, the atrial septum was approached with a needle introduced percutaneously from the maternal abdominal surface. In 6 of 7 fetuses, the atrial septum was successfully perforated, with balloon dilation of this iatrogenic defect resulting in a small but persistent interatrial communication. There were no maternal complications. One fetus died a...
Signaling Mechanisms Underlying Muscarinic Receptor-mediated Increase in Contraction Rate in Cultured Heart Cells

Abstract We have investigated the mechanisms by which stimulation of cardiac muscarinic receptors result in paradoxical stimulatory effects on cardiac function, using cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes as a model system. Application of low concentrations of carbachol (CCh) (EC50 = 35 nm) produced an atropine-sensitive decrease in spontaneous contraction rate, while, in cells pretreated with pertussis toxin, higher concentrations of CCh (EC50 = 26 μm) elicited an atropine-sensitive increase in contraction rate. Oxotremorine, an m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonist, mimicked the negative but not the positive chronotropic response to CCh. Reverse transcription followed by polymerase chain reaction carried out on mRNA obtained from single cells indicated that ventricular myocytes express mRNA for the m1, m2, and, possibly, m4 mAChRs. The presence of m1 and m2 mAChR protein on the surface membranes of the cultured ventricular myocytes was confirmed by immunofluorescence. The CCh-induced positive chronotropic response was significantly inhibited by fluorescein-tagged antisense oligonucleotides directed against the m1, but not the m2 and m4, mAChR subtypes. The response was also inhibited by antisense oligonucleotides against Gqα protein. Finally, inhibition of CCh-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis with 500 μm neomycin or 5 μm U73122 completely abolished the CCh-induced positive chronotropic response. These results are consistent with the stimulatory effects of mAChR activation on the rate of contractions in cultured ventricular myocytes being mediated through the m1 mAChR coupled through Gq to phospholipase C-induced phosphoinositide hydrolysis.
ELIMINATING DIFFERENTIALLY DIFFICULT ITEMS AS AN APPROACH TO TEST BIAS

SUMMARY In this study, a substantial number of items that were appreciably more difficult for Black than for White students were eliminated from a verbal test and from a mathematical test. Shortening the tests by this method had relatively little effect on score differences between Black and White students. This method of selecting items for elimination resulted in tests that were decidedly more difficult for both student groups. These outcomes clearly limit the value of this method for use in developing tests.
Active sodium transport by turtle colon via an electrogenic Na–K exchange pump

Active sodium absorption by a variety of epithelia is abolished by ouabain, but the obligatory coupling between the movement of sodium and potassium expected from a basolateral (Na+ + K+) ATPase has not been convincingly demonstrated1. According to the model of Koefoed-Johnsen and Ussing2, the asymmetric cation selectivities of the apical and basolateral membranes prevent basolateral Na–K exchange from being expressed as opposing transmural ion flows. An additional consequence of this asymmetry is that the short-circuit current (ISC) cannot be identified with the current through the sodium–potassium pump. We used the polyene antibiotic, amphotericin-B, to reduce the resistance and the cation selectivity of the apical membrane of isolated turtle colon so that the basolateral membrane current could be dissected into two components: one through a barium-sensitive potassium channel and another which represents the current associated with ouabain-sensitive, electrogenic, Na–K exchange. Comparison of cation fluxes and short circuit current indicates that in these conditions active sodium absorption is entirely attributable to an electrogenic Na–K pump with a stoichiometry of approximately 3Na:2K.
Characterization of impurities in commercial lots of sodium saccharin produced by the Sherwin-Williams process. I. Chemistry

Saccharin produced by the Sherwin-Williams process was analysed to determine the concentration and identities of impurities. Inorganic and ionic organic (water-soluble) impurities were not present above the detection limit of the methods used. Low levels (c. 10 ppm in total) of solvent-extractable organic impurities were detected and characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Over 50% of the total impurity content was identified, and most of the contaminants were found to be derived from the material (polyethylene bags) in which the saccharin was packed rather than from the saccharin production process. N-Methylsaccharin (0.15 ppm) and methyl anthranilate (0.05 ppm) were the predominant impurities related to the production process. Impurities derived from the packaging material included mineral oil, fatty acid amides and various plasticizers and antioxidants. No single impurity was present at a level above 1 ppm in the saccharin. The results of this study indicate that saccharin produced by the Sherwin-Williams process is a highly pure material.
Trabecular Bone Structure Analysis in the Limited Spatial Resolution Regime of In Vivo MRI

Rationale and Objectives To develop a method for processing and visualization of trabecular bone networks on the basis of magnetic resonance (MR) images acquired in the limited spatial resolution regime of in vivo imaging at which trabecular thickness is comparable to voxel size. Materials and Methods A sequence of processing steps for analyzing the topologic structure of trabecular bone networks is presented and evaluated using three types of datasets: images of synthetic structures with various levels of superimposed Gaussian noise, micro-computed tomographic images of human trabecular bone downsampled to in vivo resolution, and in vivo micro-MR images from a prior longitudinal study investigating the structural implications of testosterone treatment of hypogonadal men. The simulated images were analyzed at a voxel size of 150 μm 3 , the clinical MR image data had been acquired with 137 × 137 × 410 μm 3 voxel size. The technique is a modification to the virtual bone biopsy processing chain that involves a sinc convolution step immediately preceding binarization, and employs the Manzanera-Bernard thinning algorithm for obtaining the three-dimensional skeleton before topologic classification. The detectability of plate and rod bone elements was also analyzed theoretically. Results As compared with previously published techniques, the approach produced a more accurate bone skeleton in the micro-computed tomographic and simulation experiments, with clear improvement in preservation of rod and plate elements. Simulations suggest that rods are detectable down to a diameter of approximately 50% of the MR image voxel length, whereas plates can be detected at thicknesses of 20% or more of voxel length. For in vivo studies, it was shown that the method could recover the treatment response in terms of the ensuing topologic changes in patients undergoing antiresorptive treatment. Conclusions The algorithm for processing of in vivo micro-MR images of trabecular bone is superior to prior approaches in preserving the topology of the network in the presence of noise.
Utilization of Mucus from the Coral Acropora palmata by the Pathogen Serratia marcescens and by Environmental and Coral Commensal Bacteria

In recent years, diseases of corals caused by opportunistic pathogens have become widespread. How opportunistic pathogens establish on coral surfaces, interact with native microbiota, and cause disease is not yet clear. This study compared the utilization of coral mucus by coral-associated commensal bacteria ("Photobacterium mandapamensis" and Halomonas meridiana) and by opportunistic Serratia marcescens pathogens. S. marcescens PDL100 (a pathogen associated with white pox disease of Acroporid corals) grew to higher population densities on components of mucus from the host coral. In an in vitro coculture on mucus from Acropora palmata, S. marcescens PDL100 isolates outgrew coral isolates. The white pox pathogen did not differ from other bacteria in growth on mucus from a nonhost coral, Montastraea faveolata. The ability of S. marcescens to cause disease in acroporid corals may be due, at least in part, to the ability of strain PDL100 to build to higher population numbers within the mucus surface layer of its acroporid host. During growth on mucus from A. palmata, similar glycosidase activities were present in coral commensal bacteria, in S. marcescens PDL100, and in environmental and human isolates of S. marcescens. The temporal regulation of these activities during growth on mucus, however, was distinct in the isolates. During early stages of growth on mucus, enzymatic activities in S. marcescens PDL100 were most similar to those in coral commensals. After overnight incubation on mucus, enzymatic activities in a white pox pathogen were most similar to those in pathogenic Serratia strains isolated from human mucosal surfaces.
Beneficial effect of norepinephrine in the treatment of circulatory shock caused by tricyclic antidepressant overdose

The beneficial effect of dopamine in circulatory shock induced by tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) overdose may be decreased due to compromise of the endogenous stores of norepinephrine caused by TCA. The successful outcome of two cases of TCA overdose complicated by hypotension, unresponsive to an initial treatment with physostigmine fluid challenge and dopamine (greater than 15 micrograms/kg/min) but subsequently responsive to an infusion of norepinephrine is reported.
Issues in the scaling of multi-robot systems for general problem solving

Problem solving using multi-agent robotic systems has received significant attention in recent research. Complex strategies are required to organize and control these systems. Biological-inspired methodologies are often employed to bypass this complexity, e.g. self-organization. However, another line of research is to understand the relationship between low-level behaviors and complex high-level strategies. In this paper, we focus on understanding the interference caused in multi-robotic systems for the problem of search and tagging. Given a set of targets that must be found and tagged by a set of robots, what are the effects of scaling the number of robots and sensor ranges? Intuitively, increasing robot numbers, or sensor strength would seem beneficial. However, experience suggests that path and sensor interference caused by increased robots, increased targets, and sensor range will be harmful. The following investigation uses several abstract models to elucidate the issues of robot scaling and sensor noise.
The expression of anger and its relationship to symptoms and cognitions in obsessive-compulsive disorder

We compared the association between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the expression of anger in a sample of 71 patients and 71 college students. Some authors [Rubenstein et al., J Anxiety Disord 1995;9:1-9] have proposed that anger and hostility underlie the symptoms of OCD; however, there has been little empirical study of this relationship. One recent study [Whiteside and Abramowitz, Cog Therapy Res 2004;28:259-268] with college undergraduates found that the association between OCD symptoms and anger was attributable to depressive symptoms. In the present study, we compared the expression of anger in a sample of patients diagnosed with OCD and nonclinical volunteers. Consistent with the previous study, we found increased levels of anger in patients with OCD as compared to control participants; however, these differences could be attributed to between-group differences in general distress. These results were discussed within the framework of the cognitive theory of OCD.
Applying antimicrobial pharmacodynamics to resistant gram-negative pathogens.

Purpose. Guided antibiotic adjustment for the treatment of multidrug-resistant, gram-negative pathogens is explored. Summary. Multidrug-resistant pathogens are being isolated with increasing frequency, while the production of novel agents to circumvent resistance has slowed to a near halt. Hence, antimicrobial adjustment based on drug pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties has moved to the forefront of treatment. Pharmacodynamic principles for major classes of antimicrobials are reviewed, and the use of susceptibility reports to optimize pharmacodynamics to treat gram-negative infections is described. The need for the application of antimicrobial pharmacodynamics continues to grow as resistance to the agents becomes more common. Susceptibility reports, including antibiograms, and their limitations are briefly discussed. The resistance profiles of the β-lactams (including carbapenems), aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines and glycylcyclines, and the polymyxins are reviewed, and the pharmacodynamic optimization of these profiles is explored. Conclusion. Various mechanisms account for resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. The appropriate use of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics can guide antibiotic therapy and enhance the likelihood of success.
Mechanisms of control in the temporary help service industry

As firms increasingly rely on temporary clerical workers, previous control mechanisms centered in the workplace no longer are sufficient to maintain labor discipline and ensure production quality and uniformity. Through participant observation of four temporary help service firms and two placement sites, this case study reveals forms of control that differ from those in place at more commonly studied manufacturing enterprises. Temporary help service firms have developed a dualistic form of control that operates on two levels: (1) a decentralized level, whereby the temporary help service firm indirectly controls workers; and (2) a bureaucratic level, whereby the temporary help service firm rationalizes jobs in the organization's hierarchy by delimiting a set of tasks, competencies, and responsibilities.
Conceptualizing the Person: Hierarchical Society and Individual Autonomy in India

Explanations by social scientists of the Indian person have emphasized the subordination of the individual to caste and family and the compelling influence of hierarchy for explaining motivations for behavior. They have asserted there is no room for individuation and personal autonomy in Indian society. If correct, personal goals should be rare among Indians, rebellion against family and caste should be unusual, and deviation from the etiquette of hierarchy should be infrequent. Based on 23 life histories, the findings of this article contradict this view. As Indians age, achieving a degree of autonomy is an increasingly important theme in adult life and is closely associated with rebellions against hierarchy and with these Indians' perception of responsibility for how their lives turn out. The article concludes that hierarchy has been given such a dominant role in describing Indian society that the significance of personal explanations of autonomy and motivation has been discounted.
Synthesis, dynamic mechanical, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy of crown-ether-based linear aliphatic polyurethane rotaxanes

Linear aliphatic polyurethanes were synthesized from hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and either ethylene glycol (EG) or diethylene glycol (DEG). Polymerization of HDI and EG in a 30-crown-10 (30c10) solvent afforded poly[(ethylene hexamethylenediurethane) n -rotaxa-(30-crown-10) x ] with x/n = 0.02 (4% by mass). Polymerization of HDI and DEG in a 36-crown-12 (36c12) solvent provided poly[(oxydiethylene hexamethylenediurethane) n -rotaxa-(36-crown-12) x ] with x/n = 0.15 (23% by mass). For both polyurethane-rotaxanes, the melting temperatures are lower than those of the unthreaded backbones, and the glass temperature decreases when the threading efficiency is sufficiently high. The dynamic mechanical (DM) spectrum of the EG-30c10-containing polyrotaxane is identical to that of its unthreaded backbone. For both EG-based polymers, vacuum drying led to the disappearance of a sub-T g mechanical loss around -85 °C (1 Hz). The DM spectrum of the DEG-36cl2-containing polyrotaxane contains additional loss peaks in its tan δ versus temperature curves, as compared to its unthreaded backbone. Solid-state 2D WISE NMR revealed the new sub-T g loss process around -53 °C to be due to the onset of 36-crown-12 mobility in the polyrotaxane.
Transcriptome network component analysis with limited microarray data

Summary: Network component analysis (NCA) is a method to deduce transcription factor (TF) activities and TF-gene regulation control strengths from gene expression data and a TF-gene binding connectivity network. Previously, this method could analyze a maximum number of regulators equal to the total sample size because of the identifiability limit in data decomposition. As such, the total number of source signal components was limited to the total number of experiments rather than the total number of biological regulators. However, networks that have less transcriptome data points than the number of regulators are of interest. Thus it is imperative to develop a theoretical basis that allows realistic source signal extraction based on relatively few data points. On the other hand, such methods would inherently increase numerical challenges leading to multiple solutions. Therefore, solutions to both the problems are needed. Results: We have improved NCA for transcription factor activity (TFA) estimation, based on the observation that most genes are regulated by only a few TFs. This observation leads to the derivation of a new identifiability criterion which is tested during numerical iteration that allows us to decompose data when the number of TFs is greater than the number of experiments. To show that our method works with real microarray data and has biological utility, we analyze Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell cycle microarray data (73 experiments) using a TF-gene connectivity network (96 TFs) derived from ChIP-chip binding data. We compare the results of NCA analysis with the results obtained from ChIP-chip regression methods, and we show that NCA and regression produce TFAs that are qualitatively similar, but the NCA TFAs outperform regression in statistical tests. We also show that NCA can extract subtle TFA signals that correlate with known cell cycle TF function and cell cycle phase. Overall we determined that 31 TFs have statistically periodic TFAs in one or more experiments, 75% of which are known cell cycle regulators. In addition, we find that the 12 TFAs that are periodic in two or more experiments correspond to well-known cell cycle regulators. We also investigated TFA sensitivity to the choice of connectivity network we constructed two networks using different ChIP-chip p-value cut-offs. Availability: The NCA Toolbox for MATLAB is available at http://www.seas.ucla.edu/~liaoj/download.htm Contact: liaoj@seas.ucla.edu
Joint channel identification in punctured hybrid ARQ retransmissions

The channel estimation of a bandwidth efficient automatic repeat request (ARQ) system in which retransmissions are symbol or bit-wise punctured is presented in this paper. Unlike simple ARQ in which an erroneous packet is retransmitted, many hybrid ARQ systems aim to conserve bandwidth by only retransmitting a punctured or recoded data packet. In this paper, we formulate a joint subspace based blind channel estimation algorithm for a punctured hybrid ARQ network. We show that this new method can improve the identifiability conditions for channel estimation as well as the overall system performance.
Plea Bargaining and Convicting the Innocent: The Role of the Prosecutor, the Defense Counsel, and the Judge

The vast majority of criminal cases are resolved by guilty pleas. While practitioners commonly perceive plea bargaining as effectuating justice, numerous commentators have called this proposition into question. This article examines what some commentators have referred to as the 'innocence problem' in plea bargaining - the question of whether and why innocent defendants might plead guilty - by scrutinizing the roles of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges and discussing the ways in which each might contribute to the problem rather than alleviate it. This article argues that the incentives to a plea bargain are powerful enough to blind the prosecutor to the defendant's actual culpability. In addition, various pressures lead defense attorneys to plea bargain most cases. Even innocent defendants may plead guilty; such inclination to plead guilty derives from a combination of factors including their attorney's aversion to trial and the attractiveness of the prosecution's inducements. Structural incentives encourage judges to allow plea bargaining. These incentives also increase the possibility that the innocent defendant will be incarcerated. This article offers several suggestions for reforming the plea bargain system, addressing particular problems discussed in the article.
Radiofrequency perforation in the treatment of acquired left pulmonary artery atresia following repair of tetralogy of Fallot

Acquired pulmonary artery discontinuity can complicate operative repair of certain congenital heart defects. We describe successful recanalization of acquired left pulmonary artery atresia using radiofrequency energy in a 14-month-old child who had previously undergone repair of tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia.
The conference reviewing crisis and a proposed solution

In Computer Science, we have developed a vibrant conference culture, which has served us well thus far. However, with the growth of our field, the number of submissions to many conferences has sky-rocketed, leading to a downward spiral in reviewing quality and author satisfaction. This article proposes to break this downward spiral for the database community through JDMR, a journal for short "conference style" papers with rapid turn-around. An initial step toward this vision has been taken by VLDB.
Identification of Fibrillins as a Major Component of Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaques

Fibrillins are two distinct 350 kD RGD-containing glycoproteins found in microfibrils in the extracellular matrix. Fibrillin-containing microfibrils are required for elastic fiber formation and serve as an anchor for protein binding via β1 and/or αvβ3 receptors. Fibrillin-1 is causally linked to Marfan's syndrome, which is in part characterized by disruption of the aortic media. Fibrillin-2 is causally linked to congenital contractural arachnodactyly, which is rarely characterized by cardiovascular symptoms. We hypothesized that fibrillins might be present in coronary atherosclerotic plaques and contribute to plaque stability. To test this, we examined the expression of fibrillins-1 and -2 in human coronary arteries and coronary atherectomies. Positive staining for fibrillin-1 and fibrillin-2 proteins was observed by immunochemistry in 95% of the specimens. Fibrillin-1 was localized to the plaque, adventitia, and endothelial cells. Fibrillin-2 stained diffusely in the adventitia and focally in the plaque. Neither fibrillin was abundant in the media. Substantial differences between the amount and localization of histologically stained elastic fibers and fibrillin immunohistochemical staining were noted. By in situ hybridization, fibrillin-1 mRNA was localized to smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. In spite of the presence of fibrillin-2 antigen by immunohistochemistry, fibrillin-2 mRNA was not detected by in situ hybridization. These data implicate fibrillins as important components of the atherosclerotic plaque. Fibrillins may contribute to plaque stability and act as binding sites for other macromolecules within the atherosclerotic lesion.
Compositional trends in arc-related, deep-marine sand and sandstone: A reassessment of magmatic-arc provenance

Detrital modes for 524 deep-marine sand and sandstone samples recovered on circum-Pacific, Caribbean, and Mediterranean legs of the Deep Sea Drilling Project and the Ocean Drilling Program form the basis for an actualistic model for arc-related provenance. This model refines the Dickinson and Suczek (1979) and Dickinson and others (1983) models and can be used to interpret the provenance/tectonic history of ancient arc-related sedimentary sequences. Four provenance groups are defined using QFL, QmKP, LmLvLs, and LvfLvmiLvl ternary plots of site means: (1) intraoceanic arc and remnant arc, (2) continental arc, (3) triple junction, and (4) strike-slip-continental arc. Intraoceanic- and remnant-arc sands are poor in quartz (mean QFL%Q 75); they are predominantly composed of plagioclase feldspar and volcanic lithic fragments. Continental-arc sand can be more quartzofeldspathic than the intraoceanic- and remnant-arc sand (mean QFL%Q values as much as 10, mean QFL%F values as much as 65, and mean QmKP%Qm as much as 20) and has more variable lithic populations, with minor metamorphic and sedimentary components. The triple-junction and strike-slip-continental groups compositionally overlap; both are more quartzofeldspathic than the other groups and show highly variable lithic proportions, but the strike-slip-continental group is more quartzose. Modal compositions of the triple junction group roughly correlate with the QFL transitional-arc field of Dickinson and others (1983), whereas the strike-slip-continental group approximately correlates with their dissected-arc field.
Therapeutic flexible endoscopy replacing surgery: Part 2—Gastroesophageal reflux disease and its complications

Abstract Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a complex entity whereby gastric contents reflux into the esophagus owing to either a lack of a natural barrier between the stomach and esophagus or a dysfunction of foregut motility. In many cases, elements of both are present. GERD presents with either typical or atypical symptoms and can lead to metaplasia of the esophageal epithelium, a precancerous condition called Barrett's esophagus (BE). GERD is a chronic disease, and like other chronic diseases, it requires a thorough evaluation to deduce the exact etiology and also necessitates a dynamic and evolving spectrum of therapy. Until relatively recently, the spectrum of treatment for chronic GERD and BE included lifestyle modification, pharmacotherapy, and laparoscopic fundoplication. Considering the effect of chronic GERD on health and quality of life, and with further progress in understanding the disease process, newer and less invasive techniques for treatment have emerged and developed over the past decade. The 2 current FDA-approved therapies for the endolumenal treatment of GERD are transoral incisionless fundoplication with the Esophyx2 device and the Stretta system. If chronic GERD has lead to BE, endolumenal therapies include radiofrequency ablation with the HALO system or endoscopic resection of the metaplastic changes. Data regarding the outcomes of each of these procedures are accumulating rapidly; however, further data and evaluation are necessary to determine the most appropriate place for these procedures in the spectrum of therapy for chronic GERD and BE.
Ab initio structural and thermoelastic properties of orthorhombic MgSiO3 perovskite

We present results of an ab initio study of the structural and thermoelastic properties of orthorhombic (Pbnm) MgSiO3 perovskite as a function of temperature and pressure. Self-consistent free energies are computed using quasiharmonic lattice dynamics with interatomic potentials derived from an electron-gas formulation. At high temperatures the orthorhombic phase undergoes successive second-order transitions to tetragonal and cubic phases. The transition temperatures increase with pressure such that the orthorhombic phase is stable throughout most of the lower mantle although the higher symmetry phases could occur near the top of the lower mantle. At zero pressure the calculated bulk modulus and thermal expansion are in excellent agreement with the available data. We find that for high-temperature isotherms, a finite-strain decompression of the high-pressure equation of state of perovskite substantially overestimates its zero-pressure density and bulk modulus; hence, constraints on the chemical composition of the lower mantle, based on a comparison of the decompressed seismological properties with zero-pressure laboratory data may significantly overestimate the proportion of perovskite in the lower mantle.