cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dexamethasone in bacterial meningitis: to use or not to use?

Permanent neurologic disabilities are seen in up to a quarter of survivors of bacterial meningitis despite major improvements in therapy. Experimental studies have demonstrated that most of the pathology in meningitis is mediated by inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), which are produced by host cells in response to bacterial invasion of the meninges. Dexamethasone has been used in a number of clinical trials to moderate the host response and to improve neurologic outcome of meningitis. Results of six randomized, placebo controlled trials are summarized in this review. Dexamethasone treatment did not lower mortality. Only a moderate, but not a significant reduction in the neurologic and audiologic sequelae was seen in dexamethasone recipients whenHaemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was the causative agent of meningitis. Following routine use of Hib vaccine, meningitis caused by this agent has virtually disappeared in the USA. Hence, findings from these trials may no longer be applicable in countries with high rates of immunization against Hib. Presently, there is little or no evidence showing a benefit of dexamethasone therapy in meningitis caused byS. pneumoniae orN. meningitidis. Global emergence of penicillin and cephalosporin resistantS. pneumoniae has raised new concerns about the use of dexamethasone in pneumococcal meningitis. Since dexamethasone significantly decreases the penetration and concentration of vancomycin and ceftriaxone in the CSF and delays CSF sterilization, adjunctive dexamethasone therapy may increase the risk of treatment failure in meningitis caused by antibiotic resistant pneumococci. An antibiotic combination should be used in the treatment of meningitis caused by antibiotic resistant pneumococci, particularly if dexamethasone is also being administered concurrently.
Expression of diverse neuropeptide cotransmitters by identified motor neurons in Aplysia

Neuropeptide synthesis was determined for individual identified ventral-cluster neurons in the buccal ganglia of Aplysia. Each of these cells was shown to be a motor neuron that innervates buccal muscles that generate biting and swallowing movements during feeding. Individual neurons were identified by a battery of physiological criteria and stained with intracellular injection of a vital dye, and the ganglia were incubated in 35S-methionine. Peptide synthesis was determined by measuring labeled peptides in extracts from individually dissected neuronal cell bodies analyzed by HPLC. Previously characterized peptides found to be synthesized included buccalin, FMRFamide, myomodulin, and the 2 small cardioactive peptides (SCPs). Each of these neuropeptides has been shown to modulate buccal muscle responses to motor neuron stimulation. Two other peptides were found to be synthesized in individual motor neurons. One peptide, which was consistently observed in neurons that also synthesized myomodulin, is likely to be the recently sequenced myomodulin B. The other peptide was observed in a subset of the neurons that synthesize FMRFamide. While identified motor neurons consistently synthesized the same peptide(s), neurons that innervate the same muscle often express different peptides. Neurons that synthesized the SCPs also contained SCP-like activity, as determined by snail heart bioassay. Our results indicate that every identified motor neuron synthesizes a subset of these methionine-containing peptides, and that several neurons consistently synthesize peptides that are likely to be processed from multiple precursors.
Design of a cell library for asynchronous microengines

Asynchronous microengines are an attractive alternative to globally synchronous systems for the realization of high performance programmable controllers. However, because of the specific demands of asynchronous signaling, it is not always easy to use existing standard cell libraries to implement asynchronous microengines. In this paper we present the design and evaluation of a CMOS cell set that augments a generic cell library with cells specific to the design of asynchronous microengines. These cells encapsulate behavior and timing information critical to the implementation of asynchronous microengine controllers. These special purpose cells result in higher performance circuits, and in a significant reduction in design time over a generic library. To validate the library, the control path of a popular asynchronous controller benchmark has been designed and fabricated through MOSIS.
Rheology of HDPE–wood composites. I. Steady state shear and extensional flow

Steady state flow of wood/high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites was studied using capillary rheometry to approach a fundamental understanding of the rheology of wood– polymer composite melts. Mooney slip analysis was applied to examine the nature of shear flow, indicating that the flow of wood/HDPE melts consist of contributions from both wall slip and viscous flow. Both simple viscous flow and yield stress behavior were observed, depending on wood species and content. It was observed that the dependence of wall slip velocity on shear stress in maple (Acer spp.) formulations resembles that of neat HDPE. In pine (Pinus spp.) formulations, however, wall slip rate is influenced by wood content. A converging flow technique was used to study the extensional flow. In contrast to shear flow properties, the extensional viscosity was found to depend much less on wood species. The effects of both wood content and species were observed through Trouton ratio. Strong inter-particle interaction was recorded for some filled melts as yield stress in shear flow and apparent strain hardening in extensional flow. q 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cardiac magnetic resonance of left ventricular trabeculation: the new normal.

Historically, left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) was considered to be a rare form of cardiomyopathy; however, during the past decade, there has been a significant increase in reports of patients with LVNC. Using either echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, LVNC is relatively straightforward to diagnose in individuals expressing a typical phenotype. However, the diagnosis may be challenging to make in those individuals who express more subtle phenotypes of LVNC. CMR imaging offers a more detailed examination of myocardial structure and composition compared with other imaging modalities, such as echocardiography. With more common use of CMR, there has been increased appreciation of the degree of trabeculation of the LV. The ventricle comprises 2 myocardial layers: the compact myocardium and the trabecular myocardium. During cardiac development, after heart looping, the myocardium becomes deeply trabeculated through a clonal outgrowth of embryonic cardiomyocytes.1 After the coronary arteries form and provide a ready supply of oxygen and nutrients, the LV undergoes compaction accompanied by resolution of the deep trabeculae. Persistence of the LV trabeculae in the postnatal myocardium may be associated with cardiomyopathy, and LVNC is classified as a cardiomyopathy.2,3 Article see p 139 There is a lack of consensus surrounding LVNC diagnostic criteria. The imaging criteria for LVNC differ depending on whether echocardiography or CMR is used. Both imaging modalities use the ratio of the thickness of the trabeculated layer to the thickness of the compacted layer (T/C). However, a commonly used diagnostic criterion for echocardiography requires the T/C to be >2.0 at end systole,4 whereas the diagnostic criterion for CMR is T/C …
Professor William R.A. Muntz (1936–2005)

Whereas I only worked with Bill for three years when he supervised my PhD at the University of Stirling in the mid 1970s, his influence on me has lasted a lifetime. This piece, rather than summarizing the details of his considerable contributions to science, is a personal tribute to one of the most significant people in my life.
Terrain Dependent Correspondence Search for 3D Urban Modeling Using Multiple High-Resolution Satellite Images

This paper presents a methodology for generating semi-automated 3D models of urban area from multiple high- resolution satellite images. Adoption of Rational Function Models (RFM's) during recent years as a replacement for satellite's rigorous sensor model by many commercial imagery providers makes 3D information extraction fast and reliable for most of end-users. This paper presents an application of RFM in generating 3D terrain models, i.e. bear-ground models void of any vegetation and man-made objects, as well as 3D surface modeling (surface models with man-made objects). A fast one- dimensional terrain-dependent object-based search technique for identifying correspondences in multiple images followed by a refined 2D search to obtain an optimal correspondence match is introduced. Corresponding objects are then used in conjunction with the RFM to generate 3D model of the area. Example of correspondence matching and a 3D model generated for a selected area of Yokohama, Japan using QuickBird stereo images is presented.
Molecular evidence of genetic heterogeneity in Wistar-Kyoto rats: implications for research with the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto ("WKY") rats are frequently employed in experimental studies of hypertension. Although both SHR and WKY rat strains have been presumed to be fully inbred, recent studies have revealed important biologic variability in WKY rats from different commercial sources. Genealogic evidence suggests that, in the United States, breeding stocks of WKY rats may have been distributed to major commercial suppliers as early as the F10 generation. To test the hypothesis that commercially available WKY rats are genetically heterogeneous, we performed deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) "fingerprint" analysis on genomic DNA of WKY rats from two of the largest vendors in the United States, Taconic Farms and Charles River Laboratories. We found molecular evidence of genetic variability not only among WKY rats from two different breeding facilities, but also among WKY rats within a single breeding facility (Taconic Farms). Although some studies have suggested the possibility of biologic variability in SHR from different sources, preliminary studies have not revealed molecular evidence of genetic heterogeneity in SHR from these vendors. In demonstrating genetic variability in WKY rats from different sources, the current study provides compelling evidence that rats designated WKY do not constitute an inbred strain. Accordingly, the results of studies in which SHR and WKY rats are compared might vary because of genetic heterogeneity in "the WKY rat control strain."
Magnetic resonance imaging of abdominal masses in the pediatric patient.

Magnetic resonance (MR) plays a unique role in the diagnosis and management of pediatric abdominal masses. The “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA) radiation dose of CT is zero when substituted by MR. Whole body MR may also compete with PET imaging to stage abdominal tumors. Specific advantages of MR include determination of resectability of hepatic tumors using MRI and MRA; staging of neuroblastoma in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, liver, and spinal canal; response of bilateral Wilms tumor and nephroblastomatosis; detection of pelvic tumors with sagittal sectioning, and peritoneal tumors with contrast enhancement.
Application of hierarchical basis functions to the generalized SIE for simulation of metamaterial antennas

Summary form only given. Antennas consisting of textured materials can lead to miniature, yet broadband, designs (Kiziltas, G., et al. IEEE Trans. Ant. Prop., vol.51, p.2732-43, 2003). These metamaterial antennas consist of very high contrast media with intricate texture detail. Due to the rapid variations within the textured substrates, accurate analysis of such structures requires a very fine sampling rate or the use of high order methods that have the ability to achieve the required resolution throughout the computational domain. Recently, a new class of higher order hierarchical basis functions have been proposed for curvilinear finite elements and applied to scattering by electrically large PEC structures (Jorgensen, E., et. al., IEEE Trans. Ant. Prop., vol.52, p.2985-95, 2004). We propose to use these bases in a generalized surface integral equation approach for analyzing complex structures consisting of intricate detail and which may incorporate high contrast textured materials. We also investigate (for an adaptive refinement) error indicators to aid us in the design of antennas containing complex materials.
Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in the O(N) Model for Large N

We study the O(N) generalization of the σ model in the limit of large N, for four, three, two, and one space-time dimensions. We compute the effective potential and some momentum-dependent Green's functions. In one and two dimensions, spontaneous symmetry breakdown is impossible; any asymmetric minimum inserted in the tree-approximation potential is immediately filled in by the effects of radiative corrections. This is in agreement with general theorems. In four dimensions, the model is inconsistent; it possesses a tachyon. In three dimensions, the model seems to be consistent, and offers an interesting example of some nonlinear effects associated with spontaneous symmetry breakdown that are not present in the usual (tree-approximation) models.
Reactions of iridium(I) compounds with oxidized derivatives of organic disulfides and with thionyl chloride

The complex trans-[IrZ(CO)(PMePh2)2] (Z = Cl or Br) undergoes an oxidative addition reaction, at room temperature, at the sulfur—sulfur bond of diphenyl disulfide, (PhSSPh), phenyl benzenethiosulfonate, (PhSSO2Ph), and phenyl benzenesulfinylsulfonate, (PhS(O)SO2Ph). Diphenyl disulfone is unreactive at 75°C. Phenyl benzenethiosulfinate (PhSS(O)Ph) disproportionates in the reaction medium. The iridium(I) complex also inserts into the sulfur—sulfur bond of 1,2-dithiolene-1,1-dioxide, (S(O)2(CH2)3S). Thionyl chloride adds to square planar iridium(I) compounds to give iridium(III) complexes containing the chlorosulfinyl group (-S(O)Cl). The remaining sulfur—chlorine bond is reactive toward methanol producing the coordinated methoxy sulfinyl group.
The safety and efficacy of stereotactic biopsy for intracranial lesions.

BACKGROUND Stereotactic brain biopsy is considered by many physicians to have significant morbidity and mortality rates with a high risk of sampling error resulting in misdiagnosis. The technical aspects necessary to perform the procedure safely and effectively are unfamiliar to most physicians. METHODS After reporting his initial results with stereotactic brain biopsy, several modifications were implemented by the author to improve the morbidity, mortality, and diagnostic yield rates, including complex surgical planning with regard to patient selection, biopsy trajectory, imaging technique, target choice, and intraoperative pathologic review. The results of implementing these modifications were examined retrospectively in 134 consecutive brain biopsies. RESULTS One hundred and thirty-four stereotactic brain biopsies were performed in 122 patients. Computed tomography guidance was used in 85 patients (63%) and magnetic resonance imaging was used in 49 patients (37%). Sixty-four lesions (48%) were located in the right hemisphere, 61 (45%) in the left, and 9 (7%) in the midline. The most common diagnoses included 62 malignant brain tumors (46%), 24 benign brain tumors (18%), 23 neurologic disorders (17%), and 20 infections (15%). Five biopsies (4%) did not demonstrate a pathologic process for an overall diagnostic yield of 96%. Reasons for diagnostic failure included lesion location adjacent to the ventricular system, inaccurate targeting, and the inability to penetrate the tumor. One patient sustained a neurologic deficit after the biopsy for a morbidity rate of 0.7% and one sustained a fatal hemorrhage during the biopsy of a vascular tumor for a mortality rate of 0.7%. These results are comparable to those reported in 7471 biopsies (current series included) in which the morbidity rate was 3.5%, the mortality rate was 0.7%, and the diagnostic yield was 91%. CONCLUSIONS Stereotactic brain biopsy is an extremely safe and effective procedure for evaluating intracranial lesions. Complex surgical planning can decrease the risk of potential complications and the use of intraoperative pathologic examination can improve the diagnostic yield for this procedure. Cancer 1998;82:1749-55. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
Lodging operating statistics: Overcoming the numbers game

The U.S. lodging industry's segmentation strategy has resulted in a proliferation of "new" lodging products. Moreover, terms such as hotel and motel long ago ceased to convey meaningful information about facilities and levels of service for managers to compare lodging properties' operating statistics. Working with South Carolina's lodging industry, the author developed a new, multi-tier categorization scheme for lodging properties. The scheme takes into account the characteristics of different types of properties and combines those with existing location characteristics. In some cases the category labels are familiar, but their definitions have lacked industry consensus. Three primary bases for grouping are the dominant type of lodging unit, on-site food and beverage services, and meeting and banquet facilities.
Working around the clock: circadian rhythms and skeletal muscle

The study of the circadian molecular clock in skeletal muscle is in the very early stages. Initial research has demonstrated the presence of the molecular clock in skeletal muscle and that skeletal muscle of a clock-compromised mouse, Clock mutant, exhibits significant disruption in normal expression of many genes required for adult muscle structure and metabolism. In light of the growing association between the molecular clock, metabolism, and metabolic disease, it will also be important to understand the contribution of circadian factors to normal metabolism, metabolic responses to muscle training, and contribution of the molecular clock in muscle-to-muscle disease (e.g., insulin resistance). Consistent with the potential for the skeletal muscle molecular clock modulating skeletal muscle physiology, there are findings in the literature that there is significant time-of-day effects for strength and metabolism. Additionally, there is some recent evidence that temporal specificity is important for optimizing training for muscular performance. While these studies do not prove that the molecular clock in skeletal muscle is important, they are suggestive of a circadian contribution to skeletal muscle function. The application of well-established models of skeletal muscle research in function and metabolism with available genetic models of molecular clock disruption will allow for more mechanistic understanding of potential relationships.
Analysis of the Disruptive Action of an Epididymal Protease and the Stabilizing Influence of Molybdate on Nondenatured and Denatured Glucocorticoid Receptor

The nucleomyofibrillar fraction of epididymides from sexually mature rabbits contains a novel leupeptin-sensitive protease that disrupts the oligomeric conformation of cytosolic estrogen and progesterone receptors, and molybdate inhibits this process. In this report we used the AtT-20 cell glucocorticoid receptor as substrate and performed analyses under n.ondenaturing vs. denaturing conditions to further investigate the effects of the epididymal protease and molybdate on steroid receptor structure. Analysis on low salt sucrose gradients indicated that the protease partially converted the oligomeric (9–10S) glucocorticoid receptor to several more slowly sedimenting forms (3-7S), and this effect was not observed in the presence of molybdate. Paradoxically, gradient analysis under high salt conditions revealed that the protease induced a discrete, quantitative and molybdate-insensitive conversion of the 4–5S steroid-binding subunit to a 3S form. Further studies were done using denaturing polyacrylamide gel ...
Developing Parallel EDA Tools [The Last Byte]

In the past decades, EDA tools were able to keep up with the increasing design sizes, enabled by Moore's Law, through smarter algorithms running on faster processors. Now that most key algorithms are close to n:LogðnÞ, implementation inefficiencies have been cleaned up and single-threaded performance gains have leveled off, parallel CAD is the way forward. Every EDA application will need to scale to dozens of processors. While several EDA tools have shown good scalability to many threads, some are not scaling beyond 12-16 threads and other tools have not even been replaced with more scalable equivalents. To reach massive parallelism, it is important for every EDA developer to master the following key skills described by the author.
Learning from E-commerce for E-learning

Both e-learning and e-commerce are increasingly of interest to researchers in recent years. A body of research has emerged regarding the two trends. It was considered that e-learning could be taken as a special type of e-commerce, in which the education service provided online is, in fact, the product that being purchased and delivered online from an e-commerce system. Based on this concept, some lessons or findings drawn from e-commerce researches should also be useful for e-learning system design. The purpose of this paper is to carry out a preliminary investigation on the e-learning system design considerations from users' (students') point of view by referring to some of the e-shop designing considerations. With literature reviewed and the author's previous study on e-commerce, the characteristics of e-learning systems were highlighted and compared with their counterparts in e-commerce systems. It was found that the characteristics of a product affect customers' preference of online shopping for that particular product. By the same token, an inference was made with this study that the content features of a particular course would influence students' acceptance of the e-learning approach. Content feature and its suitableness for online delivery may provide a new perspective when designing an e-course, and could be an early signal for the success of the service.
Increasing Data Transparency and Estimating Phylogenetic Uncertainty in Supertrees: Approaches Using Nonparametric Bootstrapping

The estimation of ever larger phylogenies requires consideration of alternative inference strategies, including divide-and-conquer approaches that decompose the global inference problem to a set of smaller, more manageable component problems. A prominent locus of research in this area is the development of supertree methods, which estimate a composite tree by combining a set of partially overlapping component topologies. Although promising, the use of component tree topologies as the primary data dissociates supertrees from complexities within the underling character data and complicates the evaluation of phylogenetic uncertainty. We address these issues by exploring three approaches that variously incorporate nonparametric bootstrapping into a common supertree estimation algorithm (matrix representation with parsimony, although any algorithm might be used), including bootstrap-weighting, source-tree bootstrapping, and hierarchical bootstrapping. We illustrate these procedures by means of hypothetical and empirical examples. Our preliminary experiments suggest that these methods have the potential to improve the correspondence of supertree estimates to those derived from simultaneous analysis of the combined data and to allow uncertainty in supertree topologies to be quantified. The ability to increase the transparency of supertrees to the underlying character data has several practical implications and sheds new light on an old debate. These methods have been implemented in the freely available program, tREeBOOT.
The hybrid librarian: the affinity of collection management with technical services and the organizational benefits of an individualized assignment

Collection management and technical services have a natural affinity that is not reflected in the organization of many academic libraries, where subject librarians are often aligned with reference. This article examines organizational and individual approaches to librarian assignment, along with the place of collection management in the organization.
Fibrin clot adhesion to dentin conditioned with protein constructs: an in vitro proof-of-principle study.

Objectives: Periodontal regeneration is contingent on the adsorption, uninterrupted adhesion, and maturation of a fibrin clot to a periodontally compromised root surface. Clot adhesion appears vitally dependent on the formation of a resilient union between the clot and the root surface. Root surface demineralization will remove a root surface smear layer exposing dentin tubules and collagen matrix for enhanced clot adhesion. Recently, protein constructs have been introduced to condition the root during periodontal surgery. The effect of such root conditioning on clot adhesion has not been clarified. The objective of this study was to evaluate clot adhesion to protein conditioned dentin surfaces. Methods: Human dentin blocks (4 × 6 × 1 mm) were exposed to a saturated citric acid solution (CA) or a commercial ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) preparation using standardized protocols. Some dentin blocks were additionally conditioned with proteins, either bovine serum albumin (BSA) or an enamel matrix protein preparation (EMP). Fresh human whole blood was applied to the blocks. The blood was allowed to clot for 20 min. in a humidified chamber. The dentin blocks were rinsed 3 × 5 min. in phosphate-buffered saline under standardized conditions to test clot adhesion. They were then processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two masked examiners independently evaluated the SEM images. Results: CA removed the dentin smear layer, exposing dentin tubules and collagen. EDTA appeared less efficacious leaving smear layer residues. The BSA or EMP application resulted in a surface morphology similar to that of a smear layer. Fibrin clot adhesion was best supported by the CA-treated dentin surface. Forces produced by the rinse protocol partially removed the fibrin clot from EDTA-treated surfaces. BSA- or EMP-treated surfaces poorly retained the fibrin clot. Conclusions: CA surface demineralization removes a dentin surface smear layer to promote adhesion of a fibrin clot. The EDTA gel appears less effective. Further conditioning of the dentin surface with protein constructs produces a surface morphology similar to that of the smear layer with poor fibrin clot retention.
The effects of tooth movement on the palatine rugae

Abstract A review of the structural and functional characteristics of the palatine rugae was presented, and a system of rugae classification was reviewed. Only slight morphologic alterations were seen in 127 rugae as a result of tooth movement, indicating that the rugae patterns were not appreciably altered. Quantitative evaluations of the rugae were not clinically useful. However, the general direction of the angles of the rugae are of benefit to a classification system.
Relative prolongation of the terminal part of the QT segment is associated with sudden death in the elderly

Holter-based QT parameters were measured in 40 matched participants (age 73.03 ± 4.51, 24 M, 8 F), 20 with SCD (sudden cardiac death) and 20 without SCD who had recordings in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Time to SCD was 6.5±2.8 years. Beat-by-beat QT onset , QT peak , and QT end times were measured and averaged for one 2-min segment/hr and results compared between cases and controls. QT interval was significantly longer among cases (445 ± 88 vs. 405 ± 45 ms, p≪0.001). Correcting the QT for heart rate did not affect this relationship. % QT in the pre-peak interval was significantly shorter in SCD cases (23.7 ± 3.1% vs. 24.2 ± 3.7%, p=0.040). % QT in the post-peak interval was significantly longer in SCD cases (23.4 ± 3.9% vs. 22.0 ± 2.5%, p≪0.001). Results did not differ by the channel examined. Findings are consistent with a prolonged Holter-based QT and an additional relative prolongation of the terminal QT, in older adults with SCD.
Oral Anatomy and Physiology in the Companion Animal

This chapter provides a synopsis of the anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract of small animals, specifically cats and dogs. The stomach is both a grinding organ and a reservoir, metering foodstuffs into the small intestine for further processing and absorption. The small intestine is the primary site of absorption. On the one hand, the gastrointestinal tracts’ acidified stomach contents may result in the precipitation of pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, in response to food, the secretion of pancreatic fluid, bile salts and lecithin in the small intestine may result in a fine emulsion that facilitates the aqueous solubility and subsequent absorption of the pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The large intestine (cecum and colon) completes the processing and absorption of nutrients. Absorption of the API in this region is balanced by its solubility and residence time in this organ. This chapter shows that there appear to be many similarities in the anatomy and physiology of mammals.
N=1 field theory duality from M theory

We investigate Seiberg{close_quote}s N=1 field theory duality for four-dimensional supersymmetric QCD with the M-theory 5-brane. We find that the M-theory configuration for the magnetic dual theory arises via a smooth deformation of the M-theory configuration for the electric theory. The creation of Dirichlet 4-branes as Neveu-Schwarz 5-branes are passed through each other in type IIA string theory is given an elegant derivation from M theory. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Adaptive processes for knowledge creation in complex systems: The case of a global IT consulting firm

Knowledge is becoming more important as the foundation of a resource-based theory of the firm but the process of knowledge creation is still neglected. There is no clear understanding of the processes that an organization should adopt to create new knowledge. Drawing on complex adaptive theory, we developed a holistic process to provide a means for knowledge creation; based on the properties of CAS, multiple level processes for knowledge creation were identified. Data collected from a leading multinational IT consulting firm was used to illustrate how the proposed processes were implemented.
The Texas Implementation of Medication Algorithms: Update to the Algorithms for Treatment of Bipolar I Disorder

Background A panel consisting of academic psychiatrists and pharmacist administrators of the Texas Department of State Health Services (formerly Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation), community mental health physicians, advocates, and consumers met in May 2004 to review new evidence in the pharmacologic treatment of bipolar I disorder (BDI). The goal of the consensus conference was to update and revise the current treatment algorithm for BDI as part of the Texas Implementation of Medication Algorithms, a statewide quality assurance program for the treatment of major psychiatric illness. The guidelines for evaluating possible medications, the criteria for selection and ranking, and the updated algorithms are described. Method Principles from previous consensus conferences were reviewed and amended. Medication algorithms for the acute treatment of hypomanic/manic or mixed and depressive episodes in BDI were developed after examining recent efficacy and safety and tolerability data. Recommendations for maintenance treatments were developed. Results The panel updated the 2 primary algorithms (hypomanic/manic/mixed and depressive) based on clinical evidence for efficacy, tolerability, and safety developed since 2000. Expert consensus was utilized where clinical evidence was limited. Prevention of new episodes or prophylaxis treatment recommendations were developed based on recent data from longer-term trials. Maintenance recommendations are provided as levels versus a specified staged algorithm, as for acute treatment, due to the relatively limited database to inform treatment. Conclusions These algorithms for the treatment of BDI represent the recommendations based on the most recent evidence available. These recommendations are meant to provide a framework for clinical decision making, not to replace clinical judgment. As with any algorithm, treatment practices will evolve beyond the recommendations of this consensus conference as new evidence and additional medications become available.
SOX And ERP Adoption

The objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) legislation and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, and to investigate the impact that the passage of this legislation has had on the decision for companies to adopt ERP technology. The legislation itself is discussed, along with an analysis of ERP systems, including their components, their advantages and disadvantages, and the critical factors and crucial components which must be present for the successful deployment of such systems. This paper explores the contributory effect of SOX on ERP adoption. The authors concluded that SOX merely accelerated an inevitable process. The best managers will always find and use the best tools to maximize benefits to their organizations. The requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley forced companies to rethink their processes and technology, and therefore may have provided the final incentive for companies to commit to ERP.
EPITHELIZATION OF CANCELLOUS BONE IN OSTEOMYELITIS

A pathological lesion is described, wherein stratified squamous epithelium grew widely in the marrow cavity, and was associated with localized osteomyelitis of unusual duration. It is suggested that epithelization of the marrow cavity constitutes another cause for persistence of drainage in certain cases of osteomyelitis.
Curli fimbriae are conditionally required in Escherichia coli O157:H7 for initial attachment and biofilm formation

Several species of enteric pathogens produce curli fimbriae, which may affect their interaction with surfaces and other microbes in nonhost environments. Here we used two Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak strains with distinct genotypes to understand the role of curli in surface attachment and biofilm formation in several systems relevant to fresh produce production and processing. Curli significantly enhanced the initial attachment of E. coli O157:H7 to spinach leaves and stainless steel surfaces by 5-fold. Curli was also required for E. coli O157:H7 biofilm formation on stainless steel and enhanced biofilm production on glass by 19-27 fold in LB no-salt broth. However, this contribution was not observed when cells were grown in sterile spinach lysates. Furthermore, both strains of E. coli O157:H7 produced minimal biofilms on polypropylene in LB no-salt broth but considerable amounts in spinach lysates. Under the latter conditions, curli appeared to slightly increase biofilm production. Importantly, curli played an essential role in the formation of mixed biofilm by E. coli O157:H7 and plant-associated microorganisms in spinach leaf washes, as revealed by confocal microscopy. Little or no E. coli O157:H7 biofilms were detected at 4 °C, supporting the importance of temperature control in postharvest and produce processing environments.
Development of hematopoietic cells lacking transcription factor GATA-1

GATA-1 is a zinc-finger transcription factor believed to play an important role in gene regulation during the development of erythroid cells, megakaryocytes and mast cells. Other members of the GATA family, which can bind to the same DNA sequence motif, are co-expressed in several of these hemopoietic lineages, raising the possibility of overlap in function. To examine the specific roles of GATA-1 in hematopoietic cell differentiation, we have tested the ability of embryonic stem cells, carrying a targeted mutation in the X-linked GATA-1 gene, to contribute to various blood cell types when used to produce chimeric embryos or mice. Previously, we reported that GATA-1- mutant cells failed to contribute to the mature red blood cell population, indicating a requirement for this factor at some point in the erythroid lineage (L. Pevny et al., (1991) Nature 349, 257–260). In this study, we have used in vitro colony assays to identify the stage at which mutant erythroid cells are affected, and to examine the requirement for GATA-1 in other lineages. We found that the development of erythroid progenitors in embryonic yolk sacs was unaffected by the mutation, but that the cells failed to mature beyond the proerythroblast stage, an early point in terminal differentiation. GATA-1- colonies contained phenotypically normal macrophages, neutrophils and megakaryocytes, indicating that GATA-1 is not required for the in vitro differentiation of cells in these lineages. GATA-1- megakaryocytes were abnormally abundant in chimeric fetal livers, suggesting an alteration in the kinetics of their formation or turnover. The lack of a block in terminal megakaryocyte differentiation was shown by the in vivo production of platelets expressing the ES cell-derived GPI-1C isozyme. The role of GATA-1 in mast cell differentiation was examined by the isolation of clonal mast cell cultures from chimeric fetal livers. Mutant and wild-type mast cells displayed similar growth and histochemical staining properties after culture under conditions that promote the differentiation of cells resembling mucosal or serosal mast cells. Thus, the mast and megakaryocyte lineages, in which GATA-1 and GATA-2 are co-expressed, can complete their maturation in the absence of GATA-1, while erythroid cells, in which GATA-1 is the predominant GATA factor, are blocked at a relatively early stage of maturation.
A frequency translation approach for multichannel 13 C spectroscopy

Multi-channel receivers are commonplace in MRI, but very few of these receivers are capable of operating over a broad enough bandwidth to accommodate nuclei other than 1H. While this is fine for imaging, the recent surge in interest in in vivo NMR has created a need for receive arrays to improve the often-poor sensitivity of other nuclei. However, the development of these arrays has been slowed by the scarcity of multi-channel, multinuclear receivers. Frequency translation is a method to solve this by using radiofrequency mixers to convert signals received from multinuclear arrays to the proton frequency, adapting narrow-band receivers to multinuclear use. This method works with a wide variety of nuclei and easily accommodates proton decoupling, a necessity for working with 13C.
Unilateral facet dislocation of the lumbosacral junction. A case report and review of the literature.

Unilateral dislocation of a facet without fracture of the lumbosacral spine is a rare injury. We describe a case of unilateral dislocation of a lumbosacral facet, discuss the literature, and explain our treatment
The Anatomy of a Myth: Serbian Hegemony

The old myth of Serbian hegemony has recently been resurrected following disturbances in Yugoslavia in the last years of the past decade. These protests were sparked by a variety of Serbian grievances, the most immediate of which was the seeming inability of the Yugoslav authorities to protect the Serbian minority in the autonomous province of Kosovo from persecution by the provincial Albanian majority. The myth, some would call it a canard, of Serbian hegemony has an old and interesting history. It bears examination, especially in view of recent events in Yugoslavia. Two English publicists were in the main responsible for spreading the myth. They are Wickham Steed and R. W. Seton-Watson, mainly the latter. Both had been critics of the AustroHungarian Empire and strong proponents of a south Slav state. They, however, had some preconceived notions of what that state should be, or perhaps what it should not be. Seton-Watson, writing in 1911, concluded, "the triumph of the Pan-Serb idea would mean the triumph of Eastern over Western culture, and would be a fatal blow to progress and modern development throughout the Balkans." ' Moreover, he even denied the importance of Serbs in Croatia by quoting the position of the party of Pure Right, led by Joseph Frank, which saw the Serbs in Croatia as not really Serbs but as "merely Orthodox Croats." 2 After the new state, first called the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, came into being in 1918, and especially when it became evident that it would not be an instant success, Steed and Seton-Watson began an assiduous search for the reasons. The easiest solution was to settle on the Serbs as culprits, that is of secking to dominate the other south Slavs. The two
The Fatty Acids as Contact Insecticides

An investigation of the aliphatic fatty acids has shown that certain members of the series possess promising insecticidal properties as contact sprays. The studies have indicated that the toxicity of soaps when used as contact sprays is due to the release of the acid components through hydrolytic dissociation.
First-principles study of the atomic and electronic structures of misfit-layered calcium cobaltite (Ca 2 CoO 3 )(CoO 2 ) 1.62 using rational approximants

This is a copy of an article published in the Physical Review B © 2012 American Physical Society
Application of the compensated Arrhenius formalism to fluidity data of polar organic liquids.

The temperature dependence of viscosity (the reciprocal of fluidity) in polar liquids has been studied for over a century, but the available theoretical models have serious limitations. Consequently, the viscosity is often described with empirical equations using adjustable fitting parameters that offer no insight into the molecular mechanism of transport. We have previously reported a novel approach called the compensated Arrhenius formalism (CAF) to describe ionic conductivity, self-diffusion, and dielectric relaxation in terms of molecular and system properties. Here the CAF is applied to fluidity data of pure n-acetates, 2-ketones, n-nitriles, and n-alcohols over the temperature range 5–85 °C. The fluidity is represented as an Arrhenius-like expression that includes a static dielectric constant dependence in the exponential prefactor. The dielectric constant dependence results from the dependence of mass and charge transport on the molecular dipole moment and the solvent dipole density. The CAF is the...
Flight simulation in flight dynamics education

Thii paper describes the use of manned Sight simulation for flight dynamics education. The uses of a simulator for instruction and some of the capabilities that make these uses possible are discussed. Specific examples of the use of simulation in classes in the Virginia Tech Aerospace Engineering curriculum are presented. Lessons learned from these examples included the diiculty in scheduling student use of the simulator, the importance of sufficient preparation before demonstrations, and the need for students to be involved in preand post-experiment briefings and demonstrations.
The emergence of Applied Physiology within the discipline of Physiology

Despite the availability and utilization of the physiology textbooks authored by Albrecht von Haller during the 18th century that heralded the modern age of physiology, not all physicians or physiologists were satisfied with its presentation, contents, or application to medicine. Initial reasons were fundamental disagreements between the "mechanists," represented by Boerhaave, Robinson, and von Haller, and the "vitalists," represented by the faculty and graduates of the Montpellier School of Medicine in France, notably, Bordeu and Barthez. Subsequently, objections originated from Europe, United Kingdom, and the United States in publications that focused not only on the teaching of physiology to medical and secondary students, but on the specific applications of the content of physiology to medicine, health, hygiene, pathology, and chronic diseases. At the turn of the 20th century, texts began to appear with applied physiology in their titles and in 1926, physician Samson Wright published a textbook entitled Applied Physiology that was intended for both medical students and the medical profession. Eleven years later, physicians Best and Taylor published The Physiological Basis of Medical Practice: A University of Toronto Texbook in Applied Physiology Although both sets of authors defined the connection between applied physiology and physiology, they failed to define the areas of physiology that were included within applied physiology. This was accomplished by the American Physiological Society (APS) Publications Committee in 1948 with the publication of the Journal of Appplied Physiology, that stated the word "applied" would broadly denote human physiology whereas the terms stress and environment would broadly include work, exercise, plus industrial, climatic and social factors. NIH established a study section (SS) devoted to applied physiology in 1964 which remained active until 2001 when it became amalgamated into other SSs. Before the end of the 20th century when departments were changing their titles to reflect a stronger science orientation, many established laboratories and offered degree programs devoted to Applied Physiology. We concluded that Applied Physiology has been an important contributor to the discipline of physiology while becoming an integral component of APS.
The Influence of Driving Factors on the Test Result of Auto Emission

While carrying out test on the hazard emission,the different driving operations may lead to the turbulence of test data,which may cause different test conclusion.Three different experiments have been designed to make conclusions by discussing the influence of driving factors on the emission test result by using constant volume sampling to test auto emissions.
Recyclable Hybrid Inorganic/Organic Magnetically Active Networks for the Sequestration of Crude Oil from Aqueous Environments

Hybrid inorganic/organic composite materials have been synthesized from the coupling of amine-functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles (amine-IONs) and pre-established shell cross-linked knedel-like (SCK) polymer nanoconstructs. The magnetically active hybrid networks (MHNs), composed of several interconnected SCKs bound to magnetically active amine-IONs, were designed for their application in the sequestration of hydrophobic contaminants from polluted environments. Initial assessment of the ability of the MHNs to capture complex pollutants, such as crude oil (oil), determined a loading capacity in the range of 3.5–4.5 mg of oil sequestered/mg of MHNs. The magnetic component of the hybrid nanoconstructs was exploited as a facile method of manipulation of the loaded networks, which allowed for the recovery of ca. 93% of the MHNs deployed in water, as well as ca. 90% recovery of the oil originally sequestered. Reutilization of these materials exhibited comparable efficiency after three cycles of remediation,...
The Neurologic Exam in Neonates and Toddlers

Performing a comprehensive neurological examination in children is sometimes considered a challenge by non-neurologists. A neurologic exam which tests all aspects of all neurologic modalities can quite literally take several hours to perform. On the other hand, a very good, thorough neurologic exam which yields substantial relevant information can be performed in under 5 min. Adherence to a systematic framework or approach to the examination, appropriate for the age and abilities of the child, can be extremely helpful in simplifying the basic questions: Is this child normal, and if not, why not, and how do I describe it? This chapter will focus on how to perform some of the routine elements of the neurologic examination with tips on how to tailor the exam for various age groups.