cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A brief elevation of serum amyloid A is sufficient to increase atherosclerosis

Serum amyloid A (SAA) has a number of proatherogenic effects including induction of vascular proteoglycans. Chronically elevated SAA was recently shown to increase atherosclerosis in mice. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a brief increase in SAA similarly increased atherosclerosis in a murine model. The recombination activating gene 1-deficient (rag1−/−) × apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoe−/−) and apoe−/− male mice were injected, multiple times or just once respectively, with an adenoviral vector encoding human SAA1 (ad-SAA); the injected mice and controls were maintained on chow for 12–16 weeks. Mice receiving multiple injections of ad-SAA, in which SAA elevation was sustained, had increased atherosclerosis compared with controls. Strikingly, mice receiving only a single injection of ad-SAA, in which SAA was only briefly elevated, also had increased atherosclerosis compared with controls. Using in vitro studies, we demonstrate that SAA treatment leads to increased LDL retention, and that prevention of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling prevents SAA-induced increases in LDL retention and SAA-induced increases in vascular biglycan content. We propose that SAA increases atherosclerosis development via induction of TGF-β, increased vascular biglycan content, and increased LDL retention. These data suggest that even short-term inflammation with concomitant increase in SAA may increase the risk of developing CVD.
CALCULATIONAL PREDICTION OF ULTRAWIDEBAND ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSES BY LASER-INITIATED AIR AVALANCHE SWITCHES*

The gas avalanche switch is a recently conceived, laser-activated, high-voltage, picosecond-speed switch. It basically consists of a set of pulse-charged electrodes immersed in a gas at high-pressure (2--800 atm). A picosecond-scale laser pulse initiates an avalanche discharge in the gas between the electrodes. With the proper configuration, the avalanche, which is fueled by the immense number of electrons available in the gas, causes the applied voltage to collapse in picoseconds and generates electromagnetic waves. A two-dimensional electron fluid computer code solves Maxwell`s curl equations and a set of electron fluid equations for transverse magnetic modes in air between parallel plane conductors. Collision frequencies for ionization and momentum and energy exchange to neutral molecules are taken to scale directly with neutral pressure. Calculations are performed for a Blumlein pulse generator geometry, featuring a charged rectangular center electrode between grounded parallel plates spaced 2 mm apart. In one mode of operation, initial electrons are induced in the lower air gap, the gap between the center electrode and the lower plate. At 292 kV on the center electrode, 27 atm pressure, and uniform ionization under the full width of the center electrode, induced voltage pulses of 300 kV, 2.4 ps rise time, 9.1more » ps full width at half maximum (FWHM), 38 ps duration, and 22 GHz bandwidth at 3 dB occur at the ends of the parallel plates. Reduction of the initial electron number over eleven orders of magnitude has very little gross effect on these pulses. Concentration of the initial electrons into a narrow, centered column generally results in reductions in rise time, FWHM, and pulse duration, as well as increases in peak voltage. Movement of the narrow column to the extreme left of the center electrode causes the voltage pulses at the left and right sides of the parallel plates to differ somewhat in their characteristics. 10 refs.« less
Geography and internship match rates: Quantifying competitiveness and discussing implications for the internship imbalance.

In response to the internship supply/demand imbalance, the field of psychology recognized a crisis andproposed solutions. With each passing year, however, graduate students face the real possibility that theymay not match. Using four years worth of site match rates, competitiveness is quantified and analyzedwith respect to implications for the field, APPIC, internship sites, graduate programs, and prospectiveinterns. Results suggest geographic differences in match rates are less meaningful for applicant strategiesthan monitoring competitiveness using site match rates and submitting 10 to 15 applications. Discussionincludes implications for students and how they may use match rate data to improve their site selectionstrategies and chances for a successful match.Keywords: internship, supply demand, APPIC, imbalance, competition
A Note on the Effects of Voids Upon the Hygral and Mechanical Properties of AS4/3502 Graphite/Epoxy

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of the effects of voids upon the hygral and mechanical properties of AS4/3502 graphite/epoxy. Simple uniaxial tension tests were employed to determine the effects of voids upon ply moduli E11, E22 and G12, and the Poisson ratio ν12. The matrix dominated moduli E 22 and G12 were found to depend significantly upon void content while little dependence was noted for the fiber dominated properties E11 and ν12. Moisture conditioning experiments showed that both the rate and the equilibrium level of moisture sorption depend upon void content. In addition, non-Fickian diffusion anomalies were observed in high void content specimens while specimens with low void content displayed classical Fickian behavior.
Metal Chlorides in Ionic Liquid Solvents Convert Sugars to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural

Replacing petroleum feedstocks by biomass requires efficient methods to convert carbohydrates to a variety of chemical compounds. We report the catalytic conversion of sugars giving high yield to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a versatile intermediate. Metal halides in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride are catalysts, among which chromium (II) chloride is found to be uniquely effective, leading to the conversion of glucose to HMF with a yield near 70%. A wide range of metal halides is found to catalyze the conversion of fructose to HMF. Only a negligible amount of levulinic acid is formed in these reactions.
Housing, medical, and food deprivation in poor urban contexts: implications for multiple sexual partnerships and transactional sex in Nairobi's slums

Identifying the factors that lead to sexual risk behavior is crucial in addressing the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Scholars have primarily relied on traditional measures of SES (income, wealth, and education) to predict risk, overlooking measures of deprivation in important social arenas such as housing, medical care, and food expenses. Findings demonstrated that all three deprivation measures, particularly housing and health care, were robust influences of sexual risk even while controlling for traditional SES measures. A multifaceted deprivation framework appears crucial to the development of effective policy interventions to diminish HIV infection.
Clinical Validation of a Next-Generation Sequencing Screen for Mutational Hotspots in 46 Cancer-Related Genes

Transfer of next-generation sequencing technology to a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments–certified laboratory requires vigorous validation. Herein, we validated a next-generation sequencing screen interrogating 740 mutational hotspots in 46 cancer-related genes using the Ion Torrent AmpliSeq cancer panel and Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (IT-PGM). Ten nanograms of FFPE DNA was used as template to amplify mutation hotspot regions of 46 genes in 70 solid tumor samples, including 22 archival specimens with known mutations and 48 specimens sequenced in parallel with alternate sequencing platforms. In the archival specimens, the IT-PGM detected expected nucleotide substitutions (n = 29) and four of six insertions/deletions; in parallel, 66 variants were detected. These variants, except a single nucleotide substitution, were confirmed by alternate platforms. Repeated sequencing of progressively diluted DNA from two cancer cell lines with known mutations demonstrated reliable sensitivity at 10% variant frequency for single nucleotide variants with high intrarun and inter-run reproducibility. Manual library preparation yielded relatively superior sequencing performance compared with the automated Ion Torrent OneTouch system. Overall, the IT-PGM platform with the ability to multiplex and simultaneously sequence multiple patient samples using low amounts of FFPE DNA was specific and sensitive for single nucleotide variant mutation analysis and can be incorporated easily into the clinical laboratory for routine testing.
Charge transfer of H + with Cl and Cl + with H

The molecular states that control the charge transfer of protons with chlorine atoms and of chlorine ions with hydrogen atoms are identified, and estimates are made of the strengths of the spin-orbit interactions that drive the processes. The cross sections are calculated by solving numerically the coupled equations of scattering theory and the resulting rate coefficients are presented. The rate coefficient for the charge transfer of protons with chlorine atoms at 70 K is 1.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}12}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and at 300 K is 4.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}11}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$.
Skeletal Extension Rates of Cenozoic Caribbean Reef Corals

There has been significant biological and environmental change in Caribbean coral reefs during the past 30 million years, including two periods of accelerated turnover of species in the zooxanthellate coral biota that may have been correlated with changes in regional sea-surface productivity during the Early Miocene and the Early Pleistocene. Skeletal extension rates measured on x-radiographs of 11 massive genera of fossil corals collected from Late Oligocene to Pleistocene units from across the Caribbean were analyzed to determine whether average coral growth responded to these regional environmental changes. The observed patterns were evaluated by comparisons with records of Recent coral growth rates taken from published literature. These analyses suggest that there is significant variation in average growth rate among corals living in the Recent Indo-west Pacific, eastern Pacific, and Caribbean, even when broad ranges of taxa and habitats are intermingled. When applied to fossils, a similar analysis suggests that rates of growth do not change overall through time. One exception is during the Late Miocene, when rates of growth were significantly lower than from other fossil units or for Recent colonies from the Caribbean. However, the Late Miocene colonies sampled for this study lived in relatively deep, turbid habitats, so the observed reduced growth rates may have resulted from local low availability of light. Similar facies were not sampled in other stratigraphic intervals, so there is no strong evidence for reduced regional average growth rates for Caribbean corals during the past 30 million years.
Canopy Height and Nitrogen Supplementation Effects on Performance of Heifers Grazing Limpograss

Leaf percentage and herbage crude protein (CP) are greater in the upper than lower half of limpograss [Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf & Hubb.] canopies; thus, canopy height may affect N status and cattle (Bos spp.) weight gain. Average daily gain (ADG) of beef heifers and sward characteristics were measured on continuously stocked limpograss pastures grazed to heights of 20, 40, and 60 cm, with cattle receiving 0 or 0.8 kg d -1 of a 44% CP corn (Zea mays L.)-urea mixture. Cattle grazing 20- and 60-cm pastures increased ADG by 200 g when supplemented (to 590 g); however, cattle grazing 40-cm pastures tended to have greater ADG when not supplemented (644 g) vs. when supplemented (536 g). Herbage mass and allowance increased with increasing canopy height, partially explaining greater ADG of unsupplemented cattle grazing 40- vs. 20-cm swards. The 40-cm canopies also had lower herbage bulk density, allowing greater opportunity for selection of leaf than in 20-cm canopies. Stocking rate increased linearly (5.9+8.5 head ha -1 ) as canopy height decreased from 60 to 20 cm, and gain per hectare increased linearly with decreasing canopy height for both unsupplemented (161-352 kg) and supplemented (273-378 kg) treatments. Data suggest stubble height is an important determinant of heifer performance. A 40-cm canopy height may be near optimum because of greater herbage allowance and opportunity to select leaf than in dense 20-cm canopies and less trampling and greater leaf proportion and accessibility than in 60-cm swards.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE PLASMASPHERE ON THE BASIS OF INDIRECT MEASUREMENTS

Using whistler data the large-scale structure of the plasmasphere has been mapped in the equatorial plane. With the aid of topside sounding data the distribution along field lines was found to have a diffusive equilibrium form. The outer boundary of the plasmasphere called the plasmapause, reaches its maximum distance from the earth in the early evening hours and the radial profile shows variations apparently connected with convective motions. Sometimes a well-defined peak in electron density appears near L = 4, as a result of convective motion. The properties of small-scale field-aligned irregularities, or ducts, extending between the hemispheres have been measured using topside sounders and whistlers. Latitudinal thicknesses (at low altitude) of these ducts extend from less than a kilometer to tens of kilometers, with spacings up to ten times their thickness. Density variations are 1–10%. From drift motion of whistler ducts, east-west electric fields of magnitude 0.1–1.0 mV/m at L =4 are deduced. During a substorm, plasma is somehow removed from the outer part of the plasmasphere leaving a void called the ‘trough’. Replenishment of the trough ionization has been measured using whistlers, and occurs by upward flow from the ionosphere. The time required is in excess of eight days and hence the plasmasphere is seldom in equilibrium with the ionosphere. The downward flux from the plsmasphere at night, measured by whistlers, is sufficient to account for the nighttime F layer.
Aldehydic DNA lesions in calf thymus DNA and HeLa S3 cells produced by bacterial quinone metabolites of fluoranthene and pyrene

There is increasing concern that compounds formed during the chemical or biological transformation of pollutants in the environment may be more detrimental to human and environmental health than the original pollutant. In this study, two bacterial transformation products of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pyrene-4,5-quinone (P45Q) and fluoranthene-2,3-quinone (F23Q), were evaluated for mutagenicity by measuring aldehydic DNA lesions (ADL) in calf thymus DNA and HeLa S3 cells. Both quinones caused oxidative DNA damage in vitro through a copper-mediated redox cycle and subsequent production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hydrogen peroxide and copper were essential for causing oxidative DNA damage and glutathione (GSH) prevented DNA damage from F23Q better than from P45Q. In experiments using HeLa cells, F23Q decreased cell viability, but did not produce measurable levels of ADL or base oxidation. To test the hypothesis that DNA damage was being prevented by conjugation of F23Q with GSH, GSH-depleted cells were treated with both quinones. GSH depletion did not increase the toxicity of F23Q or cause it to oxidize DNA. Treatment of HeLa cells with metal chelators did not decrease F23Q toxicity. It is therefore possible that F23Q affected cell viability through a ROS-independent mechanism, either by conjugation with essential cellular proteins or through cellular or mitochondrial membrane damage, which precluded oxidation of DNA. In contrast, P45Q caused both ADL and base oxidation in cells. Neocuproine reduced the amount of ADL caused by P45Q, indicating that copper was still important for the intracellular generation of damaging oxidants. P45Q is a novel metabolite and its effects on DNA have not been investigated previously. This study exemplifies the importance of considering not only primary environmental pollutants, but also their biologically or chemically generated transformation products.
The Alcohol Hangover

Purpose To review the cause, pathophysiologic characteristics, cost, and treatment of alcohol-induced hangover. Data sources A MEDLINE search of English-language reports (1966 to 1999) and a manual search of bibliographies of relevant papers. Study selection Related experimental, clinical, and basic research studies. Data extraction Data in relevant articles were reviewed, and relevant clinical information was extracted. Data synthesis The alcohol hangover is characterized by headache, tremulousness, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue combined with decreased occupational, cognitive, or visual-spatial skill performance. In the United States, related absenteeism and poor job performance cost $148 billion annually (average annual cost per working adult, $2000). Although hangover is associated with alcoholism, most of its cost is incurred by the light-to-moderate drinker. Patients with hangover may pose substantial risk to themselves and others despite having a normal blood alcohol level. Hangover may also be an independent risk factor for cardiac death. Symptoms of hangover seem to be caused by dehydration, hormonal alterations, dysregulated cytokine pathways, and toxic effects of alcohol. Physiologic characteristics include increased cardiac work with normal peripheral resistance, diffuse slowing on electroencephalography, and increased levels of antidiuretic hormone. Effective interventions include rehydration, prostaglandin inhibitors, and vitamin B6. Screening for hangover severity and frequency may help early detection of alcohol dependency and substantially improve quality of life. Recommended interventions include discussion of potential therapies and reminders of the possibility for cognitive and visual-spatial impairment. No evidence suggests that alleviation of hangover symptoms leads to further alcohol consumption, and the discomfort caused by such symptoms may do so. Therefore, treatment seems warranted. Conclusions Hangover, a common disorder, has substantial morbidity and societal cost. Appropriate management may relieve symptoms in many patients.
Real-Time Implementation of a Dual Function Neuron based Wide Area SVC Damping Controller

The use of wide area measurements for power system stabilization is recently given a lot of attention by researchers and the power industry to avoid cascading failures and blackouts such as the August 2003. This paper presents the design of a nonlinear external damping controller based on wide area measurements as inputs to a Dual Function Neuron (DFN). This DFN controller is specifically designed to enhance the damping characteristics of a power system considering the nonlinearity in the system. The major advantage of the DFN controller is that it is simple in structure with less development time and hardware requirements for real-time implementation. The DFN controller is implemented on a digital signal processor and its performance is evaluated on the IEEE 12 bus FACTS benchmark power system implemented on a real time platform ? Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS). Experimental results show that the DFN controller provides better damping than a conventional linear controller.
Epigenetic Regulation of the Stem Cell Mitogen Fgf-2 by Mbd1 in Adult Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells

Whether and how mechanisms intrinsic to stem cells modulate their proliferation and differentiation are two central questions in stem cell biology. Although exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2/Fgf-2) is commonly used to expand adult neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) in vitro, we do not yet understand the functional significance or the molecular regulation of Fgf-2 expressed endogenously by adult NSPCs. We previously demonstrated that methylated CpG binding protein 1 (MBD1/Mbd1) is a transcriptional repressor of Fgf-2 and is enriched in adult brains. Mbd1 deficiency in mice selectively affected adult neurogenesis and the differentiation of NSPCs. Here we show that an Mbd1 and DNA methylation-mediated epigenetic mechanism regulated the expression of stem cell mitogen Fgf-2 in adult NSPCs. Mbd1 bound to the Fgf-2 promoter and regulates its expression in adult NSPCs. In the absence of functional Mbd1, the Fgf-2 promoter was hypomethylated, and treatment with a DNA methylation inhibitor resulted in increased Fgf-2 expression in adult NSPCs. We further demonstrated that both acute knockdown of Mbd1 or overexpression of Fgf-2 in adult NSPCs inhibited their neuronal differentiation, which could be responsible for the neurogenic deficits observed in Mbd1-deficient mice. These data indicate that intrinsic epigenetic mechanisms play critical roles in the regulation of adult NSPC functions.
A new perspective on neural tube defects: Folic acid and microRNA misexpression

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common birth defects in the United States. It is well known that folic acid supplementation decreases about 70% of all NTDs, although the mechanism by which this occurs is still relatively unknown. The current theory is that folic acid deficiency ultimately leads to depletion of the methyl pool, leaving critical genes unmethylated, and, in turn, their improper expression leads to failure of normal neural tube development. Recently, new studies in human cell lines have shown that folic acid deficiency and DNA hypomethylation can lead to misexpression of microRNAs (miRNAs). Misexpression of critical miRNAs during neural development may lead to a subtle effect on neural gene regulation, causing the sometimes mild to severely debilitating range of phenotypes exhibited in NTDs. This review seeks to cohesively integrate current information regarding folic acid deficiency, methylation cycles, neural development, and miRNAs to propose a potential model of NTD formation. In addition, we have examined the relevant gene pathways and miRNAs that are predicted to affect them, and based on our investigation, we have devised a basic template of experiments for exploring the idea that miRNA misregulation may be linked to folic acid deficiency and NTDs.
‘Domination’: The Blind Spot in Mead’s Analysis of the Social Act

We owe a great debt to George Herbert Mead for, arguably, analyzing the ‘social act’ more profoundly than anyone else before or after him. While undeniably profound, his analysis, which rests on th...
The Politics of Diffusion: Public Policy in the American States

Numerous studies have investigated the diffusion of public policies, often focusing on the ways in which learning among governments influences that process. We know relatively little, however, about those policies that diffuse very rapidly, rather than in the familiar S-shaped distribution associated with policy learning, or about what causes variation in temporal diffusion patterns. This study focuses on policy characteristics as a way to develop a priori expectations about the diffusion patterns of public policies. It argues that the salience and complexity of an issue condition lawmakers’ willingness to discount long-term consequences in favor of short-term electoral gain and, thus, to forgo policy learning in favor of immediate adoption. It tests those expectations in an analysis of 57 previously studied policies that diffused between 1850 and 2001 and finds evidence that salience increases the likelihood of rapid diffusion, particularly in noncomplex policies. The paper also explores the causal mecha...
Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment in Critically Ill Children

Background: Underweight children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) have a higher risk of mortality than normal-weight children. The authors hypothesized that subjective global nutrition assessment (SGNA) could identify malnutrition in the PICU and predict nutrition-associated morbidities. Methods: The authors prospectively evaluated the nutrition status of 150 children (aged 31 days to 5 years) admitted to the PICU with the use of SGNA and commonly used objective anthropometric and laboratory measurements. Each child was administered the SGNA by a dietitian while anthropometric measurements were performed by an independent assessor. To test interrater reproducibility, 76 children had SGNA performed by another dietitian. Occurrence of nutrition-associated complications was documented for 30 days after admission. Results: SGNA ratings of well nourished, moderately malnourished, or severely malnourished demonstrated moderate to strong correlation with several standard anthropometric measur...
Reducing power system costs with thermal energy storage

Abstract Thermal energy storage (TES) have been shown to be locally beneficial, helping building managers reduce their electricity bills. Due to increasing interest in TES, it is important for utilities and policy-makers alike to consider the economic implications of increasing TES penetration levels on to the power system. The aim of this paper is to show that TES can also bring significant benefits, and that these benefits are maximized when loads are properly controlled. This paper studies the effect of a heuristic optimal TES load allocation strategy on the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) system’s load factor, peak-to-valley ratio, ramping, and operation costs. These results are also compared to different control methods in order to justify the need for such a model and also to justify the results. We first determine the total amount of cooling load that can be shifted in New York State through the use of TES technology by using data from various government agencies. Using a coefficient of performance (COP) model for the chiller to account for efficiency changes throughout the day, the flexible cooling demand for the system is estimated. A method to optimally allocate flexible cooling loads is then used with the goal of reducing the power system cost, while providing the necessary cooling load to keep buildings at comfortable temperature levels throughout the state. Power system cost is determined by using a wholesale energy cost model that was developed using NYISO market and load data for both the day-ahead and real-time wholesale markets. By flattening out the system load, increasing the electrical system’s load factor, and reducing system ramping, TES can reduce steady-state and ramping costs, thus reducing the overall power system’s operation costs.
True story: dynamically generated, contextually linked quests in persistent systems

Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) typically use a handful of static conventions for involving players in stories, such as predefined quest or story paths (a quest or story path is one in which the user experiences a sequence of related quests that must be accomplished in a particular order). Beyond the work done in MMORPGs there has been strong research in designing adaptive approaches to interactive fiction/drama that dynamically author content for users of the interactions [10] [18]. The system architecture presented in this paper, TRUE STORY, is designed to address issues concerning dynamically generated quest or story paths in persistent worlds, such as MMORPGs, for users to engage in more enhanced, interactive and personal experiences. TRUE STORY empowers persistent world designers by offering a truly modular approach for dynamically generating and presenting compelling content that results in user experiences worth telling a story about. The current implementation is set in a game model to demonstrate a dynamic quest generation system built to present users with unique and compelling experiences linked by context to past quests and/or experiences. This is achieved by utilizing history and relationships developed through interaction between world objects and actions.
Characterization of two antigenically related integral membrane proteins of the guinea pig sperm periacrosomal plasma membrane.

The periacrosomal plasma membrane of mammalian spermatozoa functions both in recognition and in binding of the egg's zona pellucida and in the acrosome reaction. This study characterizes two antigenically related proteins with molecular weights of 35 kD (PM35) and 52 kD (PM52) of the guinea pig sperm periacrosomal plasma membrane. Polyclonal antisera were prepared against electrophoretically purified PM35 or PM52. Each antiserum recognized both the 35-kD and 52-kD polypeptides on Western blots, indicating that they are structurally related. This conclusion was supported by peptide mapping experiments demonstrating comparably sized fragments of both PM35 and PM52. Both PM35 and PM52 behave as integral membrane proteins during phase-separation analysis with Triton X-114. Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry and differential fractionation of sperm membranes established that both PM35 and PM52 are exclusively localized to the periacrosomal plasma membrane. Three different antisera were used for ultrastructural studies, and each specifically bound the cytoplasmic but not the extracellular membrane surface. The electrophoretic mobilities of the PM35 and PM52 polypeptides were unchanged during sperm maturation and during the ionophore-induced acrosome reaction. The localization of PM35 and PM52 suggests a potential role for these integral plasma membrane proteins in signal transduction or membrane fusion events of the acrosome reaction. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Surgical Treatment of Primary Sternal Osteomyelitis

Abstract Four patients with primary sternal osteomyelitis are described. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the infective organism. Three of the 4 were heroin addicts. Limited surgical resection with preservation of the posterior periosteum is recommended for an infected sternum. Postoperative antibiotic therapy for a period of six weeks is also recommended. Preservation of the posterior sternal periosteum rather than conventional radical excision is important for maintaining physical stability and avoiding chest wall deformity in this group of patients.
Using bibliographic software to appraise and code data in educational systematic review research

Background: Bibliographic database software is often recommended as a tool that can assist researchers in managing the large numbers of references produced in early stages of a systematic review. The uses of such software in systematic review research are often represented solely in terms of bibliographic functions, while the uses that extend beyond simple bibliographic functions have not been explored.Aims: This article provides a guide on how to use extended functions of bibliographic software to systematically complete the steps of appraising search results and coding references for inclusion in or exclusion from the systematic review.Methods: The process is illustrated using an ongoing systematic review as a case description and using screenshots from the bibliographic database, EndNote®, the authors’ preferred software program for the study.Results: The case description illustrates how bibliographic software serves not only to organize and store search results, but also to appraise and code search re...
Phase-shift estimation in sinusoidally illuminated images for lateral superresolution

Sinusoidally patterned illumination has been used to obtain lateral superresolution and axial sectioning in images. In both of these techniques multiple images are taken with the object illuminated by a sinusoidal pattern, the phase of the sinusoidal illumination being shifted differently in each image. The knowledge of these phase shifts is critical for image reconstruction. We discuss a method to estimate this phase shift with no prior knowledge of the shifts. In postprocessing we estimate randomly introduced, unknown phase shifts and process the images to obtain a superresolved image. Results of computer simulations are shown.
Entry region of louvered fin heat exchangers

Abstract The dominant thermal resistance for most compact heat exchangers occurs on the gas side and as such an understanding of the gas side flowfield is needed before improving current designs. Louvered fins are commonly used in many compact heat exchangers to increase the surface area and initiate new boundary layer growth. For this study, detailed flowfield measurements were made in the entry region of several louvered fin geometries whereby the louver angle, ratio of fin pitch to louver pitch, and Reynolds number were all varied. In addition to mean velocity measurements, time-resolved velocity measurements were made to quantify unsteady effects. The results indicated larger fin pitches resulted in lower average flow angles in the louver passages and longer development lengths. Larger louver angles with a constant ratio of fin pitch to louver pitch resulted in higher average flow angles and shorter development lengths. As the Reynolds number increased, longer development lengths were required and higher average flow angles occurred as compared with a lower Reynolds number case. Time-resolved velocity measurements indicated some flow periodicity behind the fully developed louver for a range of Reynolds numbers. The Strouhal number of these fluctuations was constant for a given louver geometry, but the value increased with increasing fin pitch.
Nucleotide polymorphism in the chalcone synthase‐A locus and evolution of the chalcone synthase multigene family of common morning glory Ipomoea purpurea

Chalcone synthase (CHS) is a small multigene family with at least four members (CHS-A, B, C and PS) in common morning glory Ipomoea purpurea ROTH. The chalcone synthase enzyme performs the initial condensation reaction that results in the 15-carbon three-ring structure that is the backbone of flavonoid biosynthesis. The biochemical pathway that commences with CHS is important in plant disease defence, pigment biosynthesis and UV protection. Accordingly, it is of substantial interest to characterize levels and patterns of molecular diversity for genes that encode this important enzyme. We report the sequence of 19 CHS-A alleles from Mexican and American populations of common morning glory. American populations of this annual self-compatible vine are believed to have been introduced from Mexico, where the species is native. Individual plants were sampled from populations of common morning glory throughout Mexico and the south-eastern USA. Four American alleles were sequenced and these, together with one allele from Mexico City, were identical in primary nucleotide sequence. These data suggest a restricted origin for the American population, probably as a consequence of selection for domestication by pre-Columbian peoples. Additionally the Mitontic (Chiapas, Mexico) population is significantly more homogeneous than expected by chance indicating that this population may also have experienced a recent population bottleneck. Estimates of nucleotide diversity from the Mexican CHS-A alleles were high. We present evidence that these estimates may, in part, result from low to moderate levels of interlocus recombination/gene conversion. We also present evidence that the ancient duplication of the CHS gene family, preceding the origin of the genus Ipomoea, was associated with heterogeneity in the rate of substitution between the resulting gene family members. The group of gene family members whose sequences possess a signature amino acid of the closely related Stilbene synthase exhibit a significantly faster proportional rate of nonsynonymous substitution.
Inverse planning for interstitial gynecologic template brachytherapy: truly anatomy-based planning

Purpose: Commercially available optimization schemes generally result in an undesirable dose distribution, because of the particular shapes of tumors extending laterally from the tandem. Dose distribution is therefore manually obtained by adjusting relative dwell time values until an acceptable solution is found. The objective of this work is to present the clinical application of an inverse planning dose optimization tool for the automatic determination of source dwell time values in the treatment of interstitial gynecologic templates. Methods and Materials: In cases where the tumor extends beyond the range of the tandem-ovoid applicator, catheters as well as the tandem are inserted into the paravaginal and parametrial region in an attempt to cover the tumor volume. CT scans of these patients are then used for CT-based dose planning. Dose distribution is obtained manually by varying the relative dwell times until adequate dose coverage is achieved. This manual planning is performed by an experienced physician. In parallel, our in-house inverse planning based on simulated annealing is used to automatically determine which of all possible dwell positions will become active and to calculate the dwell time values needed to fulfill dose constraints applied to the tumor volume and to each organ at risk. To compare the results of these planning methods, dose‐volume histograms and isodose distributions were generated for the target and each organ at risk. Results: This procedure has been applied for the dose planning of 12 consecutive interstitial gynecologic templates cases. For all cases, once the anatomy was contoured, the routine of inverse planning based on simulated annealing found the solution to the dose constraints within 1 min of CPU time. In comparison, manual planning took more than 45 min. The inverse planning‐ generated plans showed improved protection to organs at risk for the same coverage compared to manual planning. Conclusion: This inverse planning tool reduced the planning time significantly and produced improved plans with reduced dose to the organs at risk. Furthermore, the inverse planning approach improves the physician’s control over treatment. The focus becomes the physician’s prescription to the target and his or her compromise due to dose to normal structures. © 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. Brachytherapy, Gynecologic, Inverse planning, Simulated annealing, IPSA.
Parent Tutoring as a Supplement to Compensatory Education for First-Grade Children:

Children identified for Chapter I compensatory education programs were randomly assigned to an experimental program in which mothers were trained in structured tutoring techniques or to a control group. Children assessed on two standardized reading tests showed statistically significant differences after 6 months, but these differences later disappeared. When analyses were limited to those pairs of children in which the parent of the experimental group child had participated more completely in the tutoring program, there were both immediate and long-term statistically significant differences between the groups. It is concluded that parent tutoring programs can be an effective supplement to compensatory education programs but a substantial number of parents do not participate in such programs. The failure to account for degree of participation in previous research on parent involvement may account for the contradictory findings often reported.
A computer program for testing average partial association in three-way contingency tables (PARCAT)

Abstract PARCAT is a computer program which implements alternative tests for average partial association in three-way contingency tables within the framework of the product multiple hypergeometric probability model. Primary attention is directed at the relationship between two of the variables, controlling for the effects of a covariable. This approach is essentially a multivariate extension of the Cochran/Mantel-Haenszel test to sets of ( s × r ) tables. A set of scores such as uniform, ridits, or probits can be assigned to categories which are ordinally scaled. In particular, if ridit scores with midranks assigned for ties are utilized, this procedure is equivalent to a partial Kruskal-Wallis test when one variable is ordinally scaled, and is equivalent to a partial Spearman rank correlation test when both variables are ordinally scaled.
A framework for performability modeling of messaging services in distributed systems

Messaging services are a useful component in distributed systems that require scalable dissemination of messages (events) from suppliers to consumers. These services decouple suppliers and consumers, and take care of client registration and message propagation, thus relieving the burden on the supplier Recently performance models for the configurable delivery and discard policies found in messaging services have been developed, that can be used to predict response time distributions and discard probabilities under failure-free conditions. However, these messaging service models do not include the effect of failures. In a distributed system, supplier, consumer and messaging services can fail independently leading to different consequences. In this paper we consider the expected loss rate associated with messaging services as a performability measure and derive approximate closed-form expressions for three different quality of service settings. These measures provide a quantitative framework that allows different messaging service configurations to be compared and design trade-off decisions to be made.
Role of Gallium-68 DOTATOC PET-CT in Neuroendocrine Tumors with Unknown Primary Site

143 Objectives Previous studies suggest a survival advantage in patients (pts) with metastatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET), who undergo resection of the primary tumor. The goal of this study is to evaluate Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT in localization of the primary NET in pts presenting with metastases and unknown primary site. Methods A single center prospective study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT in pts with proven or suspected NET. Ga-68 DOTATOC was produced under a physician-sponsored investigational new drug (IND) approval using an automated 68Ge/68Ga generator coupled with a ModularLab PharmTracer fluid handling system (Eckert-Ziegler). PET-CT scans were obtained approximately 60 min after the IV administration of 148 MBq of Ga-68 DOTATOC with a low-dose non-contrast CT. Images were interpreted qualitatively with focal uptake above normal background considered positive for NET. Results 36 pts with metastatic NET and unknown primary tumor site were evaluated with Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT. No primary tumor was identified in 7 pts, who did not have DOTATOC avid metastases. In 29 pts with DOTATOC avid metastases, Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT suggested a primary tumor site in 19 pts. The primary site indicated by Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT was confirmed in 11 pts, by histology in 8 and by imaging in 3 pts. There were 3 false positives, either nontumoral or lymphadenopathy suggesting primary tumor. 5 lesions identified on Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT scans remain unconfirmed. 7 pts underwent resection of primary tumor and 1 pt underwent peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, resulting in a major change in management in 28% of pts, who have DOTATOC avid metastases and unknown primary tumor site. Conclusions Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT can identify the primary tumor, which leads to a significant change in management in pts with metastatic NET and unknown primary tumor site.
High-speed alternative phase-extraction method for imaging array-coupled binary moiré interferometry.

An alternative phase-extraction methodology is presented for high-resolution moire analysis, in which the projected and imaged pattern is imaged by a charge-coupled device (CCD) array relatively spaced at three pixels per period. The profilometric method uses a photolithographically printed binary pattern with a 33.3% duty cycle symmetrically projected and imaged using telecentric lenses. The resulting surface height map reduces phase error by 33% when compared to conventional sinusoidal projection and extraction methods. The presented system has the ability to resolve surface features with a lateral resolution of <50 μm and a topographical resolution <10 μm.
Automated motion correction based on target tracking for dynamic nuclear medicine studies

Nuclear medicine dynamic studies of kidneys, bladder and stomach are important diagnostic tools. Accurate generation of time-activity curves from regions of interest (ROIs) requires that the patient remains motionless for the duration of the study. This is not always possible since some dynamic studies may last from several minutes to one hour. Several motion correction solutions have been explored. Motion correction using external point sources is inconvenient and not accurate especially when motion results from breathing, organ motion or feeding rather than from body motion alone. Centroid-based motion correction assumes that activity distribution is only inside the single organ (without background) and uniform, but this approach is impractical in most clinical studies. In this paper, we present a novel technique of motion correction that first tracks the organ of interest in a dynamic series then aligns the organ. The implementation algorithm for target tracking-based motion correction consists of image preprocessing, target detection, target positioning, motion estimation and prediction, tracking (new search region generation) and target alignment. The targeted organ is tracked from the first frame to the last one in the dynamic series to generate a moving trajectory of the organ. Motion correction is implemented by aligning the organ ROIs in the image series to the location of the organ in the first image. The proposed method of motion correction has been applied to several dynamic nuclear medicine studies including radionuclide cystography, dynamic renal scintigraphy, diuretic renography and gastric emptying scintigraphy.
West Nile Virus Encephalomyelityis Simulating Brain Death (P6.106)

Objective: To report a case of West Nile virus (WNV) encephalomyelitis with severe acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) simulating brain death. Background: West Nile virus is an endemic cause of encephalomyelitis in North America. Most WNV infected individuals are asymptomatic, but 20% have mild symptoms such as fever, headache, and myalgia. Less than 1% develops neurological manifestations which may include meningitis, encephalitis, and AFP. AFP can manifest as generalized or asymmetrical segmental weakness. Design/Methods: Retrospective review of medical records. Results: A 74-year-old man with a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia presented in late summer with fever attributed to a dental infection and was treated with clindamycin. He was admitted to an outside facility for lethargy and generalized weakness. He rapidly worsened and required mechanical ventilation on hospital day 2. Spinal fluid showed pleocytosis and increased protein with positive WNV IgM antibodies. He developed atrial fibrillation, and hyponatremia which was corrected slowly, and was transferred to our facility on day 14. Neurology was consulted for brain death evaluation. On examination, he was on ventilator support and off sedation. Pupils were equal and mildly reactive. Corneal stimuli produced subtle upgaze. He had bifacial weakness and absent vestibulo-ocular, gag and cough reflexes. Motor exam showed flaccid quadriplegia. Brain MRI was consistent with encephalitis. EMG showed fibrillations in upper, lower extremities and facial muscles. EEG showed continuous sleep with minimal asymmetry. Follow-up results will be provided. Conclusions: One must be cautious when prognosticating patients with flaccid quadriplegia and abnormal brainstem function. WNV infection presenting with AFP may progress to severe loss of brainstem functions and simulate brain death. Disclosure: Dr. Srikanth-Mysore has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bertoni has received personal compensation for activities with Pfizer Inc., Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis, Medtronic Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Inc., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, and Mylan-Bertek as a speaker. Dr. Bertoni has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Neura. Dr. Bertoni has received research support from Teva Neuroscience, Novartis, Elan Corporation, Pharmacia, and Kyowa. Dr. Thaisetthawatkul has nothing to disclose. Dr. White has nothing to disclose. Dr. Fernandes-Filho has nothing to disclose.