cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An association between crypt apoptotic bodies and mucosal flattening in celiac disease patients exposed to dietary gluten.

Celiac disease (CD) is characterized histologically by inflammation and villous atrophy. Villous atrophy is thought to result from a disruption of epithelial cellular proliferation and death. Epithelial cells in intestinal mucosa normally proliferate in the crypts and migrate towards the lumen, eventually dying. Apoptotic bodies in crypts are usually abnormal and are associated with certain disease states. The presence of crypt apoptosis in celiac disease has not been thoroughly examined by routine histologic assessment of crypt apoptotic body count (ABC). We quantified the ABC in duodenal biopsies from celiac patients before and after initiation of a gluten-free diet (GFD). We examined twenty-three duodenal biopsies from adult patients with celiac disease at diagnosis and following GFD and determined the maximum ABC in 10 consecutive crypts. Fourteen biopsies from heartburn patients served as controls. Mean duration between paired biopsies was 2.9 (0.5–8.5) years. Mean maximum ABC in active celiac disease was 5.44 per crypt and decreased to 2.60 with GFD (p = <.0001). The mean maximum ABC in controls was 1.79, lower than both active celiac disease and GFD (p = <.0001 and p = .019 respectively). Flat lesions with total villous atrophy (mean: 6.44) showed a higher ABC compared to non-flat lesions (mean: 4.87); p = .04. Crypt ABC is markedly elevated in active celiac disease and decreases significantly with GFD, however it does not achieve normalcy. Total villous atrophy is associated with a higher ABC than all other lesions. Crypt apoptosis is likely a significant contributor to villous atrophy in celiac disease and can be appreciated by routine histologic examination.
Free Primary Education, Timing of Fertility, and Total Fertility

This study employs a difference-in-differences estimation strategy to study the causal impacts of free primary education (FPE) on women's schooling and fertility-related outcomes using the 1990s FP...
Implementing a Nurse Discharge Navigator: Reducing 30-Day Readmissions for Heart Failure and Sepsis Populations.

Purpose/objectives The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of a nurse discharge navigator on reducing 30-day readmissions for the heart failure and sepsis populations. Primary practice setting The 238-bed community hospital in central Virginia is part of a health care system that encompasses 13 acute care facilities. Methodology and sample The aim of this project was to identify, implement, and evaluate the transition of care of high-risk readmission patients from January 2019 to April 2019. Inclusion criteria included patients who were 55 years and older, English speaking, diagnosed with heart failure and/or sepsis, discharged to home with or without home health, and/or consults received from case management and social services. Forty-one potential participants were identified with 28 consented. Readmission data were collected pre- and postintervention. The pre-/postanalysis consisted of descriptive statistics, readmission rates, and cost avoidance. Results Out of the 28 participants, 7 participants were readmitted within 30 days. The heart failure readmission rates during the project implementation were as follows: January 24.05%, February 20%, March 19.75%, and April 11.11%. After the project completion the readmission rates were 22.97% for May and 26.03% for June, respectively. The potential cost avoidance with sustained gain from the project is $405,316.00. Implications for case management practice This project demonstrated that a discharge navigator had an effect on 30-day readmissions for high-risk heart failure and sepsis populations, as evident by a steady decline in overall heart failure readmission rate during project implementation. The sepsis population needs further research. The discharge navigator project added to the body of knowledge for comprehensive discharge planning, coordination, and education that is needed for these types of patient populations that have a great deal of medical complexity.
An Innovative Deep Learning Approach Applied to Transient Stability Assessment of Power Systems

Secure and reliable operation of a power system is exceedingly important for efficiency in power systems and everyday life. Transient stability is a large obstacle that, if assessed properly, can help maintain this secure and reliable operation. Transient stability studies have created a big data issue and recently data mining and machine learning techniques have been broadly applied to transient stability assessment (TSA). During the operation of a power system disturbances such as, cut-off loads, short-circuit faults, etc., may occur and it is crucial to be able to quickly and accurately determine if the power system is stable after these disturbances. With the growing consumer demand for reliable power, many methods have been proposed for fast and accurate transient stability assessment, but these traditional methods such as, extended area method, direct method, and time domain simulation do not provide the most optimal solutions. The goal of TSA is to fulfill the needs of speed and capacity, calculation accuracy, and easy online calculation. In this paper, an innovative deep learning method is applied for TSA. The approach presented in this paper is tested on a 19-bus system. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed strategy.
Knowledge and Power: Hayek’s Dual Problems with Planning

This paper explores the connection between Hayek’s dual problems of planning. Following Hayek we begin from the premise that the knowledge problem is ubiquitous. As Hayek argued, markets are effective at resolving the knowledge problem. However, where markets are absent, the knowledge problem requires a search for alternative mechanisms to determine the allocation of scarce resource. Political planning is one such coordination mechanism. Reliance on political planning, however, inevitably leads to the power problem as significant discretionary power is granted to those tasked with planning. If one was to read only Hayek’s work on the knowledge problem, or only his popular writings, such as The Road to Serfdom, they might miss the important connection between these dual problems.
A Tribute to the Honorable Thomas J. Meskill

If, after emerging from three years of law school, your first impression of a lawyer was Judge Thomas Meskill, the odds are high you would be imprinted for life. That happened to me when I clerked for the judge in 1990-1991. There were many things to like about the judge. He started life in the same place he ended it — New Britain, Connecticut. And, in between, he stood by many other essentials — his wife of 52 years, his five children (and numerous grandchildren) and his faith. That, however, is not what makes his story unusual. He also had a remarkable string of jobs. First as the Mayor of New Britain, then as a Congressman, then as the Governor of Connecticut and finally as a judge on a highly regarded appellate court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, he had a record of public service that has few equals. He served in the state and federal government. And he served in all three branches of government — the legislative branch (Congress), the executive branch (mayor and governor) and the judicial branch (court of appeals judge). If there are judges who came to the bench with a richer and more diverse set of public-policy experiences, I do not know who they are.
Looking for Proof in the Wrong Generation

The article in this issue “Grandmaternal Perinatal Serum DDT in Relation to Granddaughter Early Menarche and Adult Obesity: Three Generations in the Child Health and Development Studies Cohort,” by Cirillo and colleagues, is the first to report multigenerational health effects in granddaughters stemming from early life exposures to the pesticide o,p9-DDT in grandmothers. Health effects associated with F0 environmental chemical exposures in multiple generations have been reported in rodent studies, but not in humans. The striking finding in this body of work by Cohn and her colleagues is that the granddaughters were never directly exposed to o,p9-DDT—only their grandmothers were, potentially when they were adolescents. The increased rise of obesity and early menarche due to o,p9-DDT exposures generations earlier may help explain why it has been so difficult to describe environmental contributors of disease. Have we been looking for exposures in the wrong generation? See related article by Cirillo et al., p. 1480
Virgil and the Augustan Reception

This book is an examination of the ideological reception of Virgil at specific moments in the last two millennia. The author focuses on the emperor Augustus in the poetry of Virgil, detects in the poets and grammarians of antiquity alternately a collaborative oppositional reading and an attempt to suppress such reading, studies creative translation (particularly Dryden's), which reasserts the 'Augustan' Virgil, and examines naive translation which can be truer to the spirit of Virgil. Scrutiny of 'textual cleansing', philology's rewriting or excision of troubling readings, leads to readings by both supporters and opponents of fascism and National Socialism to support or subvert the latter-day Augustus. The book ends with a diachronic examination of the ways successive ages have tried to make the Aeneid conform to their upbeat expectations of this poet.
The Unjust Application of Miranda: Berghuis v. Thompinks and its Inequitable Effects on Minority Populations

In Berghuis v. Thompkins, the U.S. Supreme Court held that in order to invoke the right to remain silent during a custodial interrogation, a criminal suspect must do so clearly and unambiguously. The Court also held that the Thompkins suspect’s conduct during his interrogation— remaining mostly silent for almost three hours before offering three oneword responses—was sufficient to indicate waiver of his right to remain silent. This Comment argues that these holdings serve to curtail the rights established in Miranda v. Arizona, in line with the recent direction of the Court’s jurisprudence with respect to custodial interrogations. This Comment further argues that, although Thompkins’s dual holdings will abridge the constitutional rights of all criminal suspects, they will even more substantially curtail the rights of minority populations in the United
Continuous assessment of epileptic seizures with wrist-worn biosensors

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized predominantly by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures. The apprehension about injury, or even death, resulting from a seizure often overshadows the lives of those unable to achieve complete seizure control. Moreover, the risk of sudden death in people with epilepsy is 24 times higher compared to the general population and the pathophysiology of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) remains unclear. This thesis describes the development of a wearable electrodermal activity (EDA) and accelerometry (ACM) biosensor, and demonstrates its clinical utility in the assessment of epileptic seizures. The first section presents the development of a wrist-worn sensor that can provide comfortable and continuous measurements of EDA, a sensitive index of sympathetic activity, and ACM over extensive periods of time. The wearable biosensor achieved high correlations with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved system for the measurement of EDA during various classic arousal experiments. This device offers the unprecedented ability to perform comfortable, long-term, and in situ assessment of EDA and ACM. The second section describes the autonomic alterations that accompany epileptic seizures uncovered using the wearable EDA biosensor and time-frequency mapping of heart rate variability. We observed that the post-ictal period was characterized by a surge in sympathetic sudomotor and cardiac activity coinciding with vagal withdrawal and impaired reactivation. The impact of autonomic dysregulation was more pronounced after generalized tonic-clonic seizures compared to complex partial seizures. Importantly, we found that the intensity of both sympathetic activation and parasympathetic suppression increased approximately linearly with duration of post-ictal EEG suppression, a possible marker for the risk of SUDEP. These results highlight a critical window of post-ictal autonomic dysregulation that may be relevant in the pathogenesis of SUDEP and hint at the possibility for assessment of SUDEP risk by autonomic biomarkers. Lastly, this thesis presents a novel algorithm for generalized tonic-clonic seizure detection with the use of EDA and ACM. The algorithm was tested on 4213 hours (176 days) of recordings from 80 patients containing a wide range of ordinary daily activities and detected 15/16 (94%) tonic-clonic seizures with a low rate of false alarms (≤ 1 per 24 h). It is anticipated that the proposed wearable biosensor and seizure detection algorithm will provide an ambulatory seizure alarm and improve the quality of life of patients with uncontrolled tonic-clonic seizures. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
A minK–HERG complex regulates the cardiac potassium current I Kr

MinK is a widely expressed protein of relative molecular mass approximately 15K that forms potassium channels by aggregation with other membrane proteins. MinK governs ion channel activation, regulation by second messengers, and the function and structure of the ion conduction pathway. Association of minK with a channel protein known as KvLQT1 produces a voltage-gated outward K+ current (I[sK]) resembling the slow cardiac repolarization current (I[Ks]). HERG, a human homologue of the ether-a-go-go gene of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, encodes a protein that produces the rapidly activating cardiac delayed rectifier (I[Kr]). These two potassium currents, I(Ks) and I(Kr), provide the principal repolarizing currents in cardiac myocytes for the termination of action potentials. Although heterologously expressed HERG channels are largely indistinguishable from native cardiac I(Kr), a role for minK in this current is suggested by the diminished I(Kr) in an atrial tumour line subjected to minK antisense suppression. Here we show that HERG and minK form a stable complex, and that this heteromultimerization regulates I(Kr) activity. MinK, through the formation of heteromeric channel complexes, is thus central to the control of the heart rate and rhythm.
Murmurations: Drawing Together Art, Visualization, and Physical Phenomena

Dennis Hylnsky, a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design and head of the Film/Animation/Video Department, is a practicing artist and early adopter of electronic media. At RISD he has studied 3D modeling and animation. One of his current projects focuses on the movement of small animals and what animal visualizations can tell us. In this issue's Art on Graphics, department editors Bruce Campbell and Francesca Samsel talk with Hylnsky about his work and how it can help to bridge the gap between art and science practice and facilitate a dialogue between the two communities.
A comparison of the performance of image motion analysis algorithms operating on low signal to noise ratio images

Image motion analysis algorithms can be employed to generate the 2-D velocity, the direction of the 3-D velocity, the rotation, and/or the relative depth of objects in a sequence of images. Most of these algorithms are designed to operate on high-signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) images (typical of optical and infrared images). The applicability of these algorithms to estimation for low-SNR images (typical of radar and sonar images) is addressed. Motion analysis algorithms can be segregated into two major categories: optical flow and feature-based algorithms. The effects of noise on the performance of a number of optical-flow-based algorithms are evaluated using Monte Carlo computer simulation on a set of standardized image sequences. The effects of feature coordinate perturbations on the performance of a feature-based algorithm are evaluated using Monte Carlo computer simulation. The 1-D FFT (fast Fourier transform) algorithm was found to yield the best results in the presence of noise. This algorithm is simple but has difficulty when multiple moving objects are present in the scene. >
Complexities of collapse: the evidence of Maya obsidian as revealed by social network graphical analysis

The authors use a social network analysis to map the changing patterns of obsidian supply among the Maya during the period of Classic to Postclassic transition. The quantity of obsidian received from different sources was calculated for 121 sites and the network analysis showed how the relative abundance of material from different sources shifted over time. A shift from inland to coastal supply routes appears to have contributed to the collapse of inland Maya urban centres. The methods employed clearly have a high potential to reveal changing economic networks in cases of major societal transitions elsewhere in the world.
Regulation of plasma creatinine concentration by use of a servo control system.

A method for controlling the plasma creatinine concentration is described. This method uses continuous determination of the plasma creatinine concentration and a servomechanism which drives an infusion pump at a rate proportional to the difference between the actual and desired creatinine concentrations. The rate and volume of creatinine infusion necessary to maintain the desired plasma concentration provide information related to kidney function and the accumulation of creatinine in the body. Experiments using this technic and the method of data analysis are described. It has been shown that under certain conditions this technic may be used to estimate the renal clearance of creatinine and the size and nature of the space into which creatinine is distributed in the dog.
Predicting progressive hemorrhagic injury from isolated traumatic brain injury and coagulation

Background Progressive hemorrhagic injury (PHI) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients is associated with poor outcomes. Early prediction of PHI is difficult yet vital. We hypothesize that TBI subtype and coagulation would be predictors of PHI. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of highest level activation adult trauma patients with evidence of TBI (head Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥3). Coagulopathy was determined using rapid thrombelastography (r-TEG), complete blood counts, and conventional coagulation tests obtained on arrival. Patients were dichotomized into PHI and stable groups based on head computerized CT. Subtypes of TBI included subdural hematoma, intraparenchymal contusions (IPC), subarachnoid hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, and combined. Data are reported as median values with interquartile range (IQR). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the effect of subtype and coagulation on PHI. Results We included 279 isolated TBI patients who met study criteria. There were 157 patients (56%) who experienced PHI; 122 (44%) were stable on repeat CT. Patients with PHI were older, had fewer hospital-free days, and higher mortality (all P Conclusion This study demonstrates that older patients with coagulation abnormalities and IPC on admission are more likely to experience PHI, identifying a target population for earlier therapies.
Investigation of a staged plasma-focus apparatus

A new staged plasma-focus geometry combining two Mather-type plasma-focus guns was constructed, and the current-sheet dynamics were investigated. The production of simultaneous pairs of plasma foci was achieved. The intensities of X-ray and fusion-neutron emission were measured and found to agree with the scaling law for a plasma focus. Advantages of this new geometry include the possibility of using plasma-focus type pinches in multiple arrays at power levels beyond the validity regime of the current scaling law for a single gun.
1667 Perioperative Changes in Renal Biomarkers in Children Undergoing Open Heart Surgery

Introduction Cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is commonly perceived as a risk factor for decline in renal function. Hypothermia, hypoxia, hypotension, non-pulsatile blood flow during CPB, use of ACE inhibitors, inotropic and (or) vasoactive support affects kidney and contributes to the acute kidney injury (AKI). Objective To evaluate dynamics of renal biomarkers - serum creatinine (SCr) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children undergoing open heart surgery. Methods We conducted prospective, non-randomized observational study at the tertiary care University Children’s Hospital Pediatric ICU. We enrolled 30 patients, 12 boys and 18 girls with CHD. Their median body weight was 6.8 kg, (IQR 5.2< 8.2 kg) and median age 7 months (IQR 5< 10 months). SCr was determined and preoperative and postoperative creatinine clearance (ClCr) was estimated using Schwarz formula. During surgical repair and till the end of the first 24 hours urine was collected to measure ClCr, using the difference in urine (UCr) and SCr concentrations. Urine output, body temperature, duration of aortic cross clamping and cardiopulmonary bypass was recorded. Results Median intraoperative urine output was 2.4 ml/kg/h (IQR 1.29< 3.15 ml/kg/h). Intraoperative SCr rised to 35 µmol/l (IQR 27.5< 50.5) vs preoperative SCr 29 µmol/l (IQR 24< 32.9), p<0,0001. GFR declined from preoperative 98.4 ml/min./1.73 m2 (IQR 89.6< 123.04) to intraoperative 39.8 ml/min./1.73 m2, (IQR 24.9< 65.5), p<0,0001. Conclusion Open heart surgery in children has severe, but transient effect on expression of renal biomarkers. Before discharge from the hospital both biomarkers returned to normal values.
Articulating creativity in a new domain: expert insights from the field of e-textiles

Building on Csikszentmihalyi's conception of creativity as a system composed of the domain, the individual, and a field of experts who validate creative innovations, we examine a new domain of e-textiles to describe creativity. Further, we use our interviews with domain experts to outline some of the limitations of current assessment techniques to inform our understanding of creativity.
“Occupying Nature: Fishing for Meaning in the Asian Carp”

This article explores the ecological and social processes by which some species become invasive and the prominent environmental and commercial role they play as such. The deliberate introduction of non-native species to novel environments is as old as the history of human migration but in recent years their accelerated movement globally made strikingly visible the impact of these nonhuman occupations of the natural world. Methods for dealing with the problem of invasive species highlight the interconnections among degraded ecologies, the social transformation of local environments, and processes of globalization. The example of the Asian carp demonstrates how the natural world intrudes on human infrastructure and landscapes, exceeding the uses to which humans endeavor to put it, occupying and altering the organic and built environment alike.
Characterization of the spatiotemporal evolution of ultrashort optical pulses using FROG holography

We propose holographically recorded frequency-resolved-optical-gating (FROG) measurement for probing the evolution of ultrashort optical pulses at multiple locations. As a proof-of-concept demonstration of our method, we record holographic FROG traces at five axial locations as we traverse through the focus of an objective lens along its axis using BaTiO3 micro-cluster as the nonlinear medium and retrieve the amplitude and phase of the ultrashort pulse at each location. Moreover, the group delay of the pulse retrieved numerically using FROG holography is used to compute the separation between the five locations which agree well with the experimentally measured distances. This study suggests that FROG holography can be used to remove the ambiguity regarding arbitrary constant phase and arbitrary temporal shift in the retrieved pulse at each location (upto to an overall constant phase).
Bessel Functions on Quaternionic Siegel Domains

This paper applies the theory of operator-valued Bessel functions on Schrodinger-Fock spaces and Siegel domains of type II developed in (H. Ding, J. Funct. Anal.106 (1992), 189-225) to harmonic analysis on quaternionic Hermitian symmetric spaces and the representation theory of the groups O*(2m) for m odd. Using the reduced Bessel function Kπ we study the harmonic representation and holomorphic discrete series for these groups.
Mapping velocity fields in coastal waters using an autonomous underwater vehicle

High resolution spatial and temporal observations are essential in determining mechanisms driving dynamic ocean processes. Mobile oceanographic sensors are often used to observe these processes at spatial resolutions unattainable by cast-based techniques. By undulating the sensor path (seesaw pattern), ocean parameters (e.g., velocity, salinity, colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM)) are profiled synoptically and utilized to characterize the process of interest. We present the methods employed to estimate velocity fields observed by a Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) deployed on an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) during two field campaigns at New River, North Carolina, and Huntington Beach, California. In addition, we discuss the utilization of synoptic observations to characterize (1) the mixing region of the New River Inlet discharge during maximum ebb tide and (2) the nearshore discharge region of a wastewater outfall. The AUVs sampling resolution, adaptive sampling capabilities, and suite of instruments were key in determining the mechanisms of these processes.
Differential xanthophyll cycling and photochemical activity in symbiotic dinoflagellates in multiple locations of three species of Caribbean coral

Abstract Changes in in situ xanthophyll activity were compared in symbiotic dinoflagellates within the reef-building corals, Montastraea faveolata, Montastraea annularis, and Acropora cervicornis over a daily light cycle from morning until dusk on a shallow (4 m) patch reef. Examination of algae collected from the tops and sides of M. faveolata and M. annularis revealed typical inter-conversion of diadinoxanthin and diatoxanthin, with the greatest abundance of diatoxanthin noted by the mid-morning to afternoon, correlating to daily reduction in the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ΔF / Fm′) for the respective colony location. A. cervicornis had the highest proportion of diatoxanthin relative to the total xanthophyll pool, yet it also displayed the least amount of total daily xanthophyll cycling which did not correlate well with patterns of change in ΔF / Fm′. For intraspecific comparisons, no significant difference in daily xanthophyll activity was noted between the different locations in each coral species, while differences in ΔF / Fm′ were detected. In some cases temporal trends in nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) of chlorophyll fluorescence did not match patterns in xanthophyll activity when peak xanthophyll cycling tended to lag behind the immediate light intensity measured in the mid-morning at some colony locations. Genetic characterization of symbionts using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient electrophoresis of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer 2 region (ITS2) revealed that M. faveolata and M. annularis hosted the type B1 symbiont at all locations, while the type A3 symbiont was noted throughout A. cervicornis. Results indicate that while xanthophyll cycling appears to be largely a ubiquitous phenomenon in symbiotic dinoflagellates, the degree of cycling can be quite different between coral species at the same depth and that other biochemical pathways for daily photoprotection may predominate some host–symbiont combinations.
Modeling of Residual Stress Profile in Finish Hard Turning

ABSTRACT Mechanical components shaped by hard turning processes are commonly used under high stress and repeated loading conditions. The physical strength and fatigue life of these components is known to be significantly affected by the residual stress distributions induced by finish hard turning. A thorough understanding of the residual stress profile including both magnitude and direction along the depth of the hard turned workpiece is therefore very important to maximize component life and improve its performance. Many studies have been conducted to determine the effect of cutting tool geometry, cutting parameters, and workpiece material on residual stress distribution in hard turning. However, due to the complexity of hard turning processes, the effect factors considered in these studies are typically insufficient. Knowledge of the most important effect factors such as cooling type, insert grade and tool geometry, tool wear, cutting conditions, and workpiece material has been limited. Very few analyti...
Use of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of hospitalized patients with intra-abdominal infections.

Abstract Background: Numerous combination and single-agent antimicrobial regimens are available for the treatment of intra-abdominal infections. Selection of empiric agents must be directed at providing reliable activity against endotoxin-generating Escherichia coli , other gram-negative facultative bacteria, and anaerobes such as Bacteroides fragilis . Safety profiles, pharmacokinetic profiles, and cost-effectiveness must also be considered. Use of fluoroquinolones for the treatment of intra-abdominal infections has recently been advocated. Methods We review 2 prospective, comparative clinical trials conducted between 1992 and 2002 that evaluated the efficacy and safety of IV ciprofloxacin in patients with intra-abdominal infections. Separate pharmacoeconomic analyses conducted for each study are also reviewed. Results A total of 4 ciprofloxacin studies (2 clinical, 2 pharmacoeconomic) comprise the database. Thecombination of ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole was at least as effective as imipenem/cilastatin and clinically more effective than piperacillin/tazobactam therapy, based on clinical success end points. In 1 trial, treatment success for the clinically valid population was reported for 84% (93/111) of patients treated with IV ciprofloxacin/metronidazole, 86% (91/106) of those treated with IV/oral ciprofloxacin/metronidazole, and 81% of those treated with IV imipenem/cilastatin (91/113). The IV/oral ciprofloxacin/metronidazole regimen had a statistically significant lower mean infection-related cost than the IV only ciprofloxacin/metronidazole plus imipenem groups (difference of ≈$1100; P = 0.029). In the second clinical trial, clinical resolution rates were statistically different for patients receiving IV/oral ciprofloxacin/metronidazole (74%) versus IV piperacillin/tazobactam therapy (63%; P = 0.047). Ciprofloxacin/metronidazole was more cost-effective compared with piperacillin/tazobactam ($2200–$3600 lower cost-effective ratios per patient) regardless of whether the patient had a diagnosis of appendicitis or whether a switch to an oral drug was permissible. Conclusions In the studies reviewed herein, the combination of ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole was aneffective and safe regimen for the treatment of intra-abdominal infections. This regimen has potential advantages over exclusively IV regimens, including the option of sequential IV/oral therapy, patient convenience, cost savings, and reduced hospital stay.
Mass Transport Phenomena in Oil-in-Water Emulsions Containing Surfactant Micelles: Ostwald Ripening

The influence of nonionic surfactant type and concentration on the kinetics of Ostwald ripening (OR) of hydrocarbon emulsion droplets suspended in aqueous micellar solutions was investigated. OR rates were determined by measuring changes in the droplet size distribution of 5 wt % n-tetradecane oil-in-water emulsions containing different surfactant types (Tween 20, Tween 40, Tween 60, Tween 80, Triton SP 190, and Triton SP 175) and concentrations (0.5−10 wt %). At low surfactant concentrations, the OR rate increased with surfactant concentration probably because micelles incorporated oil molecules and transported them across the aqueous phase. At high surfactant concentrations, the OR rate decreased with surfactant concentration for some of the surfactants. The OR rate also depended on the molecular structure of the surfactants: Tween 80 > Tween 20 > Tween 40 > Tween 60 > Triton SP 190 > Triton SP 175 (at 2 wt % surfactant). No clear correlation was found between the OR rate and the solubilization kinetic...
Visualization of uncertainty and ensemble data: Exploration of climate modeling and weather forecast data with integrated ViSUS-CDAT systems

Climate scientists and meteorologists are working towards a better understanding of atmospheric conditions and global climate change. To explore the relationships present in numerical predictions of the atmosphere, ensemble datasets are produced that combine time- and spatially-varying simulations generated using multiple numeric models, sampled input conditions, and perturbed parameters. These data sets mitigate as well as describe the uncertainty present in the data by providing insight into the effects of parameter perturbation, sensitivity to initial conditions, and inconsistencies in model outcomes. As such, massive amounts of data are produced, creating challenges both in data analysis and in visualization. This work presents an approach to understanding ensembles by using a collection of statistical descriptors to summarize the data, and displaying these descriptors using variety of visualization techniques which are familiar to domain experts. The resulting techniques are integrated into the ViSUS/Climate Data and Analysis Tools (CDAT) system designed to provide a directly accessible, complex visualization framework to atmospheric researchers.
Adolescent Hallux Valgus: Evaluation and Treatment

Adolescent hallux valgus is a challenging pathologic entity that differs from adult onset hallux valgus. It is most commonly seen in females, and genetic predisposition plays a strong role in its development. Evaluation and treatment of this pathologic process are unique and both clinical and radiographic findings are considered. Surgical treatment is initiated when conservative measures fail and it should be for relief of pain, not for cosmesis. The authors' preferred treatment is to avoid surgery until skeletal maturity; however, if surgical treatment is required, distal chevron osteotomy is our treatment of choice. Proximal osteotomies are avoided in the skeletally immature patient.
Advances in newly developing therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection afflicts a reported 170 million people worldwide and is often complicated by cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Morbidity and mortality are decreased with the successful treatment of chronic HCV infection. Increased understanding of the HCV has allowed further development of new direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents against the HCV and has also allowed the development of IFN-free oral treatment regimens. In late 2013 the first nucleotide polymerase inhibitor regimen with RBV alone for genotypes 2/3 and in combination with a 12-week regimen of PEG-IFN + RBV for genotypes 1, 4 was approved for use in the US. A number of promising new DAA regimens which are IFN-free are in phase 3 development and the first will likely be approved for use in the US in 2014. The currently approved regimens are discussed in detail and currently available data on future regimens are reviewed herein.
Triosephosphate isomerase from young and old Turbatrix aceti

Abstract Triosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.1) has been purified from young and old Tubatrix aceti . The enzyme shows a sharply lower specific activity in homogenates from old nematodes compared to similar preparations from young animals. However, when the enzyme activity of the respective homogenates was adjusted to the same level, equal amounts of antiserum (prepared to pure “young” triosephosphate isomerase) were required to remove the activity. Therefore, the lower specific activity observed in “old” homogenates was due to the presence of less enzyme and not to “altered” enzyme. The same results were obtained by immunotitrations of pure preparations of “young” and “old” enzyme. Moreover, in contrast to results reported for other enzymes, the specific activity of “old” triosephosphate isomerase, during purification, rose to the same value as that of pure “young” enzyme. The evidence indicates that altered triosephosphate isomerase does not exist in old T. aceti . The above results contradict the idea of an “error theory” in which all proteins would develop altered sequences. Pure triosephosphate isomerase (old or young) from T. aceti consists of two subunits, each of molecular weight 26,500. No isozymes could be detected.
Cell production in the chicken cochlea

In the chicken cochlea, the structural features of the cilia bundles of individual hair cells vary systematically along the length of the sensory epithelium. As a first approach to understanding the developmental mechanisms that underlie this precise arrangement of structurally distinct hair cells, the spatiotemporal pattern of the terminal mitoses of their precursor cells was investigated by administering 3H-thymidine, a radioactive precursor to DNA. This demonstrated that the first hair cells were produced during the sixth day of incubation and formed a longitudinal band that extended along most of the length of the sensory epithelium. The epithelium grew further through appositional addition of hair cells at the edges of this first band of cells, and the hair cell addition process expanded into the surrounding areas during the next 3 days. By the ninth day of incubation all the hair cells in the sensory epithelium except for those at the peripheral edges in the distal (apex) portion had been produced through terminal mitoses. Our results have demonstrated that hair cells that have similar stereocilia phenotypes do not all leave the mitotic cycle at the same time.
Vaccine safety: current systems and recent findings.

Purpose of review An understanding of vaccine safety is important for all immunization providers, who have responsibilities to identify, report, and prevent adverse events. Recent findings New analytic methods can provide more rapid information on adverse events compared with traditional observational studies. Some adverse events following vaccination are preventable. Syncope is increasingly recognized postvaccination and may be associated with severe injury or death. Both human and system factors should be addressed to prevent vaccine administration errors. Ongoing basic science and clinical research is critical to improved understanding of vaccine safety. A recent study suggests that many cases of encephalopathy following whole-cell pertussis vaccine were due to severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy, a severe seizure disorder associated with mutations of the sodium channel gene SCN1A. Summary Vaccine safety requires prelicensure evaluation, postlicensure surveillance and investigation, addressing preventable adverse events, reconsideration of vaccine policy as understanding of risks and benefits changes, and ongoing research to better understand the response to vaccination and the pathogenesis of adverse events.
Automatic Crack Detection and Segmentation Using a Hybrid Algorithm for Road Distress Analysis

In this paper, we investigate advanced image processing technologies to detect cracks for road distress analysis. An algorithm which can detect and segment cracks effectively is proposed. The proposed algorithm is a hybrid crack detection and segmentation algorithm. In the proposed detection and segmentation algorithm, we first use histogram based thresholding method to get the rough locations of the cracks and then mathematics morphology technologies and B-spline based snake model based technology are used to refine the locations of the cracks. We conducted experiments on 10 images with different types of cracks and experimental results show that the proposed technologies can be used for find the cracks effectively.
Influence of water on the activity and stability of activated MgAl hydrotalcites for the transesterification of tributyrin with methanol

Abstract Magnesium–aluminum hydrotalcite with a Mg/Al molar ratio of 4 was synthesized by a coprecipitation method. Thermally-decomposed and rehydrated Mg–Al hydrotalcites were used to catalyze the transesterification of tributyrin, a model triglyceride, with methanol (tributyrin:methanol molar ratio 1:30) at 333 K to produce methyl butyrate, monobutyrin, dibutyrin, and glycerol. The pseudo first order rate constants of a three step reaction sequence for tributyrin transesterification were determined by fitting a kinetic model to the experimental data. Although decomposed and rehydrated Mg–Al hydrotalcite was one order of magnitude more active than decomposed Mg–Al hydrotalcite based on surface area measured by N 2 adsorption, the activity correlated well to the CO 2 adsorption capacity. The most active rehydrated samples also deactivated faster, presumably because butyric acid produced by hydrolysis of ester with adsorbed water reacted with the base sites. The areal rate and CO 2 adsorption capacity of decomposed-rehydrated Mg–Al hydrotalcite decreased as the interlayer water was removed by heating.
Vocal outcome measures after bilateral posterior cricoarytenoid muscle botulinum toxin injections for abductor spasmodic dysphonia.

Objective To review vocal outcome measures, using the Voice Related Quality of Life (VRQOL) index, after simultaneous bilateral posterior cricoarytenoid muscle botulinum toxin injections. Study Design Case series. Setting Tertiary care academic clinic. Subjects and Methods Fourteen subjects with abductor spasmodic dysphonia received 37 simultaneous bilateral posterior cricoarytenoid muscle botulinum toxin injections for isolated abductor spasmodic dysphonia (ABSD) over a 16-month period. Main Outcome Measures VRQOL index. Results Of the 37 injections, 33 of 37 (89%) resulted in improvement. Three injections resulted in no improvement, and one injection resulted in a worse VRQOL. The overall VRQOL mean improvement was 19.8 (range 5-53), with an average pre/postinjection VRQOL interval of 36 days (range 21-45 days). Conclusions Simultaneous bilateral posterior cricoarytenoid muscle botulinum injections result in a statistically significant improvement in VRQOL index scores for a high percentage of ABSD patients, thus improving patient quality of life.
Femtosecond Optical Switching of Electron Transport Direction in Branched Donor−Acceptor Arrays

The branched donor−acceptor triad 4 and tetrad 5 were synthesized to study the possibility of controlling the direction of electron transfer in a divergent array of electron acceptors using ultrafa...
Writing programs that construct proofs

When we learn mathematics, we learn more than definitions and theorems. We learn techniques of proof. In this paper, we describe a particular way to express these techniques and incorporate them into formal theories and into computer systems used to build such theories. We illustrate the methods as they were applied in the λ-PRL system, essentially using the ML programming language from Edinburgh LCF [23] as the formalised metalanguage. We report our experience with such an approach emphasizing the ideas that go beyond the LCF work, such as transformation tactics and special purpose reasoners. We also show how the validity of tactics can be guaranteed. The introduction places the work in historical context and the conclusion briefly describes plans to carry the methods further. The majority of the paper presents the λ-PRL approach in detail.
Cranial computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging studies on the Rett syndrome

We reported here 5 cases with the Rett syndrome (RS) who fulfilled the criteria for RS. The changes in CT and MRI findings with the clinical course were studied. Cortical atrophy especially in the frontal area, progressed gradually with the clinical progression after 2 years old in CT. In axial sections on MRI, frontal atrophy was also demonstrated. The white matter, basal ganglia, thalamus and hypothalamus area were all normal. In midline sagittal sections, corpus callosum was hypoplastic, and widening of prepontine cistern and narrowing of the brainstem were demonstrated in some cases. There was no significant atrophy of the cerebellum, amygdala and hippocampus. Follow-up studies including CT and MRI are necessary to evaluate brain morphology in RS.
13C-NMR spectra and contact time experiment for Skjervatjern fulvic and humic acids

Abstract The T CP and T 1ϱ time constants for Skjervatjern fulvic and humic acids were determined to be short with T CP values ranging from 0.14 ms to 0.53 ms and T 1ϱ values ranging from 3.3 ms to 5.9 ms. T CP or T 1ϱ time constants at a contact time of 1 ms are favorable for quantification of 13 C-NMR spectra. Because of the short T CP values, correction factors for signal intensity for various regions of the 13 C-NMR spectra would be necessary at contact times greater than 1.1 ms or less than 0.9 ms. T CP and T 1ϱ values have a limited non-homogeneity within Skjervatjern fulvic and humic acids. A pulse delay or repeat time of 700 ms is more than adequate for quantification of these 13 C-NMR spectra. Paramagnetic effects in these humic substances are precluded due to low inorganic ash contents, low contents of Fe, Mn, and Co, and low organic free-radical contents. The observed T CP values suggest that all the carbon types in Skjervatjern fulvic and humic acids are fully cross-polarized before significant proton relaxation occurs. The 13 C-NMR spectra for Skjervatjern fulvic acid is similar to most aquatic fulvic acids as it is predominantly aliphatic, low in aromaticity (fa 1 = 24), low in phenolic content, high in carboxyl content, and has no resolution of a methoxyl peak. The 13 C-NMR spectra for Skjervatjern humic acid is also similar to most other aquatic humic acids in that it is also predominantly aliphathic, high in aromaticity (fa 1 = 38), moderate in phenolic content, moderate in carboxyl content, and has a clear resolution of a methoxyl carbon region. After the consideration of the necessary 13 C-NMR experimental conditions, these spectra are considered to be quantitative. With careful consideration of the previously determined 13 C-NMR experimental conditions, quantitative spectra can be obtained for humic substances in the future from the HUMEX site. Possible changes in humic substances due to acidification should be determined from 13 C-NMR data.
Diabetes mutations delineate an atypical POU domain in HNF-1α

Mutations in Hnf-1alpha are the most common Mendelian cause of diabetes mellitus. To elucidate the molecular function of a mutational hotspot, we cocrystallized human HNF-1alpha 83-279 with a high-affinity promoter and solved the structure of the complex. Two identical protein molecules are bound to the promoter. Each contains a homeodomain and a second domain structurally similar to POU-specific domains that was not predicted on the basis of amino acid sequence. Atypical elements in both domains create a stable interface that further distinguishes HNF-1alpha from other flexible POU-homeodomain proteins. The numerous diabetes-causing mutations in HNF-1alpha thus identified a previously unrecognized POU domain which was used as a search model to identify additional POU domain proteins in sequence databases.