cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Free-electron laser supermodes for bunches with longitudinal energy-position correlation

In this note the theory of Free-Electron Laser (FEL) supermodes is extended to cover particle distributions with a correlation between energy and longitudinal position in a Gaussian bunch. This extension is important for FEL’s in storage rings, because wake forces stemming from discontinuities in the vacuum chamber as well as the FEL process itself give rise to such correlations.
High fat feeding impairs endothelin-1 mediated vasoconstriction through increased iNOS-derived nitric oxide.

Rats fed a high fat diet develop increased adiposity and oxidative stress leading to impaired vasodilation. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of high fat-induced increases in adiposity and oxidative stress on vasoconstrictor reactivity of isolated mesenteric arteries. We hypothesized that rats with more adiposity would develop oxidative stress-potentiated increases in iNOS-derived nitric oxide leading to diminished vasoconstriction. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a control (Chow) or high fat diet for 6 weeks. The roles of oxidative stress and iNOS in the impaired vasoconstrictor responses to endothelin-1 were characterized in small mesenteric arteries. Rats fed the HFD developed significantly more adiposity compared to Chow rats. Plasma levels of nitric oxide and the inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor α were significantly higher in high fat fed rats compared to Chow rats (nitric oxide: 95.36±19.3 vs. 38.96±6.7 μM; tumor necrosis factor α: 598±111.4 vs. 292±71.8 pg/ml, respectively). Despite exhibiting elevated systolic blood pressure compared to Chow rats (153.5±2.4 vs. 137.5±2.7 mm Hg), endothelin-1 mediated vasoconstriction was impaired in isolated mesenteric arteries from high fat fed rats but was normalized by individual or combined inhibition of nitric oxide synthase, iNOS, or oxidative stress. Therefore, oxidative stress and iNOS are involved in the attenuation of endothelin-1 mediated vasoconstriction observed in isolated mesenteric arteries from high fat fed rats.
Anticancer effects of four varieties of muscadine grape.

The initiating event in carcinogenesis is a somatic mutation. During progression of the disease, additional mutations accumulate as the transformed cells develop the ability to proliferate and metastasize. These mutations can be produced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated through metabolism, or environmental insult. Metastasis involves tissue degradative enzymes, many of which are members of the matrix metalloproteinase family. Hence, substances that can neutralize ROS, inhibit mutagenesis, or block activity of the matrix metalloproteinases should prove to be anticarcinogenic. This study was performed to evaluate the possible anticarcinogenic characteristics of muscadine grapes. These grow wild in the southeast United States and have not been subjected to extensive breeding, as have most commercially cultivated fruits. The extracts tested were from pomace remaining after wine production. This is usually discarded, but the results obtained in this study indicate that pomace water extracts could be ...
The theory and experiments of designing cooperative intelligent systems

In this paper, we identify the business problems that lend themselves to the design of cooperative intelligent systems and empirically demonstrate the design and application of a multi-agent intelligent system for production scheduling. Our experiments suggest that a multi-agent system where agents coordinate their actions generally performs better than a multi-agent system where agents do not coordinate their actions.
McArdle's Syndrome. Fine Structural Changes in Muscle

Two cases of McArdle's syndrome are reported. One is a “classical” exaple; the other is unusual because of the in vitro presence of muscle phosphorylase activity. In the latter case. the electronmicroscopic investigation confirmed the diagnosis. The fine structural changes characteristic of this disease are summarized and it is concluded that histochemical studies alone are insufficient to exclude the diagnosis of McArdle's myopathy.
Substrate hydroxylation in methane monooxygenase: quantitative modeling via mixed quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics techniques.

Using broken-symmetry unrestricted density functional theory quantum mechanical (QM) methods in concert with mixed quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods, the hydroxylation of methane and substituted methanes by intermediate Q in methane monooxygenase hydroxylase (MMOH) has been quantitatively modeled. This protocol allows the protein environment to be included throughout the calculations and its effects (electrostatic, van der Waals, strain) upon the reaction to be accurately evaluated. With the current results, recent kinetic data for CH3X (X = H, CH3, OH, CN, NO2) substrate hydroxylation in MMOH (Ambundo, E. A.; Friesner, R. A.; Lippard, S. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 8770−8771) can be rationalized. Results for methane, which provide a quantitative test of the protocol, including a substantial kinetic isotope effect (KIE), are in reasonable agreement with experiment. Specific features of the interaction of each of the substrates with MMO are illuminated by the QM/MM modeling, and the...
Guest Editor's Introduction: The Promise of Public Software Engineering Data Repositories

Scientific discovery related to software is based on a centuries-old paradigm common to all fields of science: setting up hypotheses and testing them through experiments. Repeatedly confirmed hypotheses become models that can describe and predict real-world phenomena. The best-known models in software engineering describe relationships between development processes, cost and schedule, defects, and numerous software "-ilities" such as reliability, maintainability, and availability. But, compared to other disciplines, the science of software is relatively new. It's not surprising that most software models have proponents and opponents among software engineers. This introduction to the special issue discusses the power of modeling, the promise of data repositories, and the workshop devoted to this topic.
Comparative solute–discharge hysteresis analysis for an urbanized and a ‘control basin’ in the Georgia (USA) Piedmont

Solute–discharge hysteresis (C/Q) relationships were investigated in an urbanized (Peachtree Creek) and a less-urbanized ‘control’ basin (Sweetwater Creek, SWC) within the Atlanta metropolitan region of the Georgia Piedmont. C/Q hysteresis loops for the nine parameters (pH, specific conductance, dissolved silica, calcium, magnesium, sodium, bicarbonate, sulfate and chloride) representative of urban storm flow were almost exclusively characterized by clockwise rotation and concave curvature (‘C3’ type hysteresis of Evans and Davies, 1998). The most straight forward interpretation of this hysteresis is that it is the result of two-component mixing in which the concentration of a given component in ‘pre-event’ water (ground water) is greater than ‘event’ water (storm runoff). Simple binary mixing calculations confirm that C3 hysteresis loops result where the more dilute storm runoff dominates both the rising and falling limbs of the storm hydrograph. The two-component mixing model is consistent with the very short recession (24–48 h) periods for this urban stream and the high regression constants (r2 values>0.85) for many pairs of the geochemical parameters. The hysteresis dynamics for the less-urbanized control basin (SWC) are more complicated; however, the dominance of anticlockwise-concave C/Q loops (‘A3’ type of Evans and Davies, 1998) for two of the three storm events suggests that three-component mixing may be occurring, particularly during lower flow events. A3 hysteresis loops can be produced where event and soil water dominate the rising limb and soil and ground water dominate the falling limb of the hydrograph. Three-component mixing is consistent with the low regression coefficients (r2<0.45) for most pairs of geochemical parameters and with the characteristically long recession periods (4 days or more) associated with SWC that might allow more time for soil water to contribute to stream flow.
Dexmedetomidine for the treatment of paroxysmal autonomic instability with dystonia

Introduction A 38-year-old man with severe head trauma complicated by paroxysmal severe intracranial pressure elevation associated with tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and extensor posturing was diagnosed as suffering from paroxysmal autonomic instability with dystonia (PAID). These events were unresponsive to standard medical therapy, which included morphine, fentanyl, labetalol, lorazepam, metoprolol, and clonidine.
The Moon 35 years after Apollo: What's left to learn?

With the cancellation of the Apollo program after Apollo 17 returned from the Moon in 1972, the focus of NASA switched to other areas of the Solar System. Study of the Moon did continue through analysis of the returned samples and remotely sensed data sets (both orbital and surface), as well as through Earth-based telescopic studies. In the 1990s, new orbital data were obtained from several missions (fly-by and orbital), the first being Galileo that allowed the lunar farside to be mapped, followed by global mapping by the Clementine and Lunar Prospector missions. Interest in the Moon started to increase at the beginning of the 21st century as other nations focused their space exploration programs on the Moon. The speech by President Bush in January 2004 put the Moon back into the critical exploration path for NASA, paving the way for humans to return to the lunar surface by 2020. This return will be critical for developing technologies and protocols for the eventual human exploration of other parts of the solar system. At the time of writing (June 2008), the SELENE/Kaguya mission (Japan and Chang’e-1 (China) are orbiting the Moon, with Chandrayaan-1 (India) and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (USA) being scheduled to launch later in 2008. The past (and present) exploration of the Moon begs the question ‘‘what’s left to be done?’’ With the renewed focus on the Moon, now that it is on the pathway for the exploration of Mars (and beyond) a similar question has been raised – what should the astronauts do on the Moon? The publication of the New Views of the Moon book [Jolliff et al., 2006. New Views of the Moon, Reviews in Mineralogy, vol. 60. American Mineralogical Society, 721pp] highlighted a number of important scientific questions that remain unanswered as well as posing many more on the basis of the currently available data. These questions resonated in three Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG) reports pertinent to this discussion, which were also published (on line) during 2006 (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/leag), and in the National Research Council of the National Academies [2007. The Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon. National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 112pp] report entitled ‘‘The Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon’’. This paper synthesizes these recent studies, along with those from the 1980s and 1990s, to emphasize the lunar science questions that remain unanswered. In addition, it summarizes the missions already flown to the Moon along with those that are planned in order to give the reader an idea of exactly what lunar science has been and will be conducted in the hope that it will inspire proposals for missions to address the outstanding science questions. r 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
The Complex Structure of Signals and the Recursive Nature of their Interpretation

Signals are more complex than current research suggests. I identify two aspects of signals: the technical aspect relays direct information about the sender; the institutional aspect conveys legitim...
Functional Outcome After Acute Compartment Syndrome of the Thigh

Background: Acute compartment syndrome of the thigh is an uncommon condition that is associated with a high rate of morbidity. Because of its rarity, limited information is available on the long-term functional outcome for patients with this condition and the factors that affect the clinical result. Methods: Eighteen patients with acute compartment syndrome of the thigh were evaluated at an average of sixty-two months after treatment. Functional outcome was evaluated by means of physical examination, isokinetic thigh-muscle testing, and validated functional outcome scores. Results: Long-term functional deficits were present in eight patients, and only five patients had full recovery of thigh-muscle strength. The persistent dysfunction was reflected in worse overall functional outcome scores. High injury severity scores, ipsilateral femoral fracture, prolonged intervals to decompression, the presence of myonecrosis at the time of fasciotomy, and an age of more than thirty years were associated with increased long-term functional deficits, persistent thigh-muscle weakness, and worse functional outcome scores. Conclusions: Acute compartment syndrome of the thigh is often associated with considerable long-term morbidity. Several factors can affect the functional outcome, and knowledge of these factors can help in the development of a more effective clinical management strategy to reduce long-term morbidity. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Effects of Altered Thyroid States on Myelinogenesis

Myelinogenesis was studied in controls and in rats treated since birth with Methimazole (hypothyroid) or thyroxine (hyperthyroid). The amount of myelin in forebrain and its protein composition were determined between 13 and 40 days of age, the period of most rapid myelin accumulation. Hypothyroid rats had reduced on both and brain weights relative to controls and the yield of myelin was reduced on both a per brain and a per milligram brain protein basis. Developmental changes in the protein composition of isolated myelin followed the pattern of control animals (the percentage of total myelin protein present as proteolipid protein, large basic protein, and small basic protein increased, as did the ratio of proteolipid/large basic protein) but were delayed temporally by 1-2 days. Hyperthyroid rats also had reduced body and brain weights. At 13 days myelin accumulation was greater than that of controls, corresponding to an earlier initiation of myelination. At later ages myelin yield was reduced on a per brain basis but not on a per milligram brain protein basis. The developmental pattern of myelin protein composition was accelerated temporally by 1-2 days. Myelination in optic nerve, assayed by proteolipid protein content, also was slightly delayed in hypothyroid animals and somewhat accelerated in hyperthyroid animals. The relative synthesis of myelin proteins (determined as incorporation of intracranially injected [(3)H]glycine into myelin protein relative to incorporation into whole brain protein), as well as distribution of radioactivity among individual myelin proteins, was determined. The results supported the conclusion of the myelin protein accumulation study; hypothyroidism retards the developmental program for myelinogenesis, whereas in the hyperthyroid state myelin synthesis is initiated earlier but is also terminated earlier.
Revisiting Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition through Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) has a 5-year survival rate of 90%. The 15-year survival rate drops to 10% due to recurrence and invasion. ACC has three subtypes: cribriform, tubular, and solid. The cribriform subtype has the best prognosis and the solid subtype has the worst prognosis. By immunohistochemistry of tissue sections, we showed that the solid form expresses αvβ6 integrin and tenascin-C, which are known promoters of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We also defined two ACC cell lines with the characteristics of the cribriform and solid subtype. The SACC83 cells grow in basaloid-like clusters and express high levels of E-cadherin. In contrast, the ACCh cells are more myoepithelial-like and express high levels of vimentin and of αvβ6 integrin. The ACCh cells are highly invasive and this behavior is dependent upon the αvβ6 integrin function. Our results suggest that the transition from the cribriform to solid form may occur through EMT. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the most common malignancy of the minor salivary glands and accounts for 25% of all salivary gland tumors (1). It is relatively slow- growing yet highly invasive with a high rate of recurrence (2). Distant metastasis frequently occurs despite loco- regional tumor control and this can occur more than ten years after initial therapy (2). The majority of patients with ACC survive 5 years post-surgery and radiation therapy. The 15-year survival rate drops to 10% (3). Histologically, ACC has three major subtypes: cribriform, tubular and solid. The most common subtype is cribriform. The cribriform pattern is well-differentiated and has an excellent prognosis. It is composed of basaloid cell islands surrounding cyst-like spaces (4). The tubular pattern is characterized by glandular spaces of elongated tubules lined by epithelial cells, surrounded by single or multiple layers of basaloid cells (4). The solid pattern is poorly-differentiated, very aggressive, and has the worst prognosis. The solid subtype is composed of solid tumor islands with necrosing centers (4). The cribriform subtype
Rapid, Point-of-Care Extraction of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Proviral DNA from Whole Blood for Detection by Real-Time PCR

PCR detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proviral DNA is the method recommended for use for the diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in infants in limited-resource settings. Currently, testing must be performed in central laboratories, which are usually located some distance from health care facilities. While the collection and transportation of samples, such as dried blood spots, has improved test accessibility, the results are often not returned for several weeks. To enable PCR to be performed at the point of care while the mothers wait, we have developed a vertical filtration method that uses a separation membrane and an absorbent pad to extract cellular DNA from whole blood in less than 2 min. Cells are trapped in the separation membrane as the specimen is collected, and then a lysis buffer is added. The membrane retains the DNA, while the buffer washes away PCR inhibitors, which get wicked into the absorbent blotter pad. The membrane containing the entrapped DNA is then added to the PCR mixture without further purification. The method demonstrates a high degree of reproducibility and analytical sensitivity and allows the quantification of as few as 20 copies of HIV-1 proviral DNA from 100 μl of blood. In a blinded study with 182 longitudinal samples from infants (ages, 0 to 72 weeks) obtained from the Women and Infants Transmission Study, our assay demonstrated a sensitivity of 99% and a specificity of 100%.
Computer-aided diagnosis of breast cancer using artificial neural networks: comparison of backpropagation and genetic algorithms

The authors investigated computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) schemes to determine the probability for the presence of breast cancer using artificial neural networks (ANNs) that were trained by a backpropagation (BP) algorithm or by a genetic algorithm (GA). A clinical database of 418 previously verified patient cases was employed and randomly partitioned into two independent sets for CAD training and testing. During training, the BP and the GA were independently applied to optimize, or to evolve the inter-connecting weights of the ANNs. Both the BP/GA-trained CAD performances were then compared using the receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. In the training set, both the BP/GA-trained CAD schemes yielded the areas under ROC curves of 0.91 and 0.93, respectively. In the testing set, both the BP/GA-trained ANNs yielded the areas under ROC curves of approximately 0.83. These results demonstrated that the GA performed slightly better, although not significantly, than BP for the training of the CAD schemes.
RNA Polymerase-Promoter Interactions: the Comings and Goings of RNA Polymerase

Initiation of transcription is a complicated process involving several different phases: promoter location by RNA polymerase, formation of a competent initiation complex, synthesis of the initial phosphodiester bonds, and movement of RNA polymerase from the promoter as it enters the elongation phase
What do students want? Perspectives from the front line of doctoral training in professional and Combined‐Integrated psychology

Doctoral students in professional psychology face broad challenges, such as changing market demands and increased competition for careers in traditional practice settings. To prepare for these demands, students must decide how much and when to specialize, if at all, predoctorally. Complicating matters, students in single practice area programs (clinical, counseling, or school) may risk becoming insulated within the culture of their practice area, which can limit exposure and understanding of the larger practice field. Despite conditions that may drive potential students away from psychology, little research exists on efforts to address student needs, or on student perspectives of doctoral training in general. One training model that is sensitive to these student needs and concerns is the Combined-Integrated (C-I) model. An exploratory study of C-I student and graduate opinions, experiences, and aspirations revealed that C-I students value breadth of training, diversity of experience, and professional flexibility, and that they experience diverse training opportunities and socialization experiences. Implications of these results vis-a-vis the larger framework of student concerns are examined.
Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release mediates Ca2+ transients evoked by single action potentials in rabbit vagal afferent neurones.

1. Standard intracellular recording techniques with ‘sharp’ micropipettes were used to evoke action potentials (APs) in acutely dissociated adult nodose neurones. 2. APs induced a transient increase in [Ca2+]i (a calcium transient), recorded with fura-2, that was dependent upon [Ca2+]o and the number of APs. Over the range of one to sixty-five APs, the relation between the amplitude of the calcium transient and the number of APs was well fitted by a rectangular hyperbola (chi 2 = 3.53, r = 0.968). From one to four APs, the calcium transient-AP relation can be described by a line with a slope of 9.6 nM AP-1 (r = 0.999). 3. Charge movement corresponding to Ca2+ influx evoked by a single AP was 39 +/- 2.8 pC (mean +/- S.E.M.) and did not change significantly during trains of one to thirty-one APs (P 90%) by lowering [Ca2+]o, and by ryanodine (10 microM), 2,5-di(t-butyl)hydroquinone (DBHQ, 10 microM), or thapsigargin (100 nM). 5. Neurones incubated with ryanodine, DBHQ or thapsigargin required at least eight APs to evoke a detectable calcium transient. These reagents did not significantly affect Ca2+ influx (P < 0.05). In the presence of these inhibitors, the calcium transient-AP relation exhibited slopes of 1.2, 1.1 and 1.9 nM AP-1 for ryanodine, DBHQ and thapsigargin, respectively. When compared with the slope of 9.6 nM AP-1 in non-treated neurones, it appears that Ca2+ influx produced by a single AP is amplified by ca 5- to 10-fold.
Resonator-based filter-banks for frequency-domain applications

The filter-bank structure proposed is based on a digital simulation of a singly terminated ladder filter. This filter bank can also be arrived at from a filter described by G Peceli (1989) and represents an extremely hardware efficient structure, having a complexity of O(N). The main application examined is adaptive line enhancement. The filter-bank-based line enhancer is shown to have the necessary conditions for global convergence and to yield uncorrelated sinusoidal enhanced outputs that are undistorted versions of the corresponding frequency components of the input. A number of additional possible applications for the filter-bank are described. These include the tracking of periodic signals, subband coding, frequency-domain adaptive noise-cancellation, and frequency-domain processing of signals from phased arrays. >
MCM structures with poled dielectrics to improve testability

To improve multichip module (MCM) testability, we have used a new, recently-demonstrated technique to detect on-substrate electric field strength. This technique employs a noninvasive, laser-based instrument to probe MCM structures fabricated with poled polyimide interlayer dielectrics and thin film metallizations on silicon carriers. Circuit elements characteristic of MCMs were probed to detect electric field strength. The electrical, mechanical, and optical properties of these electro-optic dielectric layers were determined to investigate the effect of the poling and processing operations on the efficacy of the polyimide as both a dielectric layer and an electro-optic material suitable for laser probing.
Geometric reasoning for extraction of manufacturing features in iso-oriented polyhedrons

This paper investigates the extraction of machining features from boundary descriptions of iso-oriented (having no inclined faces) polyhedrons. We prove that manufacturing the features proposed by our feature extractor results exactly in the desired part-in this respect, the approach is both sound and complete. Our method uses the adjacency information between faces to derive the features. This keeps the determination of isolated features in a part straightforward. However, interaction of features creates difficulties since the adjacency information between some faces is lost. We derive this lost information by considering faces that when extended intersect other faces to form concave edges. The derived face adjacencies are termed virtual links. Augmenting the virtual links to the cavity graph of the object leads to its feature graph, and subgraph matching of primitive graphs in this graph results in feature hypotheses. A feature hypothesis is considered valid if the volume corresponding to it is not shared with the part in question; therefore, we verify the feature hypotheses by checking the regularized intersection of the feature volume and the part. Thus, feature verification employs a constructive solid geometry approach. We have implemented a prototype of the system in the Smalltalk-80 environment. >
Rapid convergence by cascading Applebaum adaptive arrays

An adaptive array architecture is described which has improved convergence speed over the conventional Applebaum array when the eigenvalue spread of the input signal covariance matrix is large. The architecture uses N+1 Applebaum adaptive arrays in a two-layer cascaded configuration. The gain constants in the first layer are set so that large interfering sources are quickly nulled, but small interfering sources are suppressed more slowly. Since the first layer removes the large interfering signals, the gain constant for the second layer can be set to a large value to quickly null the smaller interferers. The adaptation time is examined for several combinations of signal levels and array sizes. It is shown that, in many signal environments, the computational requirements for the cascaded array compare favorably with those of conventional sample matrix inversion (SMI) methods for large arrays. >
Carbon dioxide and climate over the past 300 Myr

The link between atmospheric CO(2) levels and global warming is an axiom of current public policy, and is well supported by physicochemical experiments, by comparative planetary climatology and by geochemical modelling. Geological tests of this idea seek to compare proxies of past atmospheric CO(2) with other proxies of palaeotemperature. For at least the past 300 Myr, there is a remarkably high temporal correlation between peaks of atmospheric CO(2), revealed by study of stomatal indices of fossil leaves of Ginkgo, Lepidopteris, Tatarina and Rhachiphyllum, and palaeotemperature maxima, revealed by oxygen isotopic (delta(18)O) composition of marine biogenic carbonate. Large and growing databases on these proxy indicators support the idea that atmospheric CO(2) and temperature are coupled. In contrast, CO(2)-temperature uncoupling has been proposed from geological time-series of carbon isotopic composition of palaeosols and of marine phytoplankton compared with foraminifera, which fail to indicate high CO(2) at known times of high palaeotemperature. Failure of carbon isotopic palaeobarometers may be due to episodic release of CH(4), which has an unusually light isotopic value (down to -110 per thousand, and typically -60 per thousand delta(13)C) and which oxidizes rapidly (within 7-24 yr) to isotopically light CO(2). Past CO(2) highs (above 2000 ppmv) were not only times of catastrophic release of CH(4) from clathrates, but of asteroid and comet impacts, flood basalt eruptions and mass extinctions. The primary reason for iterative return to low CO(2) was carbon consumption by hydrolytic weathering and photosynthesis, perhaps stimulated by mountain uplift and changing patterns of oceanic thermohaline circulation. Sequestration of carbon was promoted in the long term by such evolutionary innovations as the lignin of forests and the sod of grasslands, which accelerated physicochemical weathering and delivery of nutrients to fuel oceanic productivity and carbon burial.
Determination of γ-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in Biological Specimens by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A simple liquid-liquid extraction procedure for the analysis of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in biological fluids without conversion to its lactone, gamma-butyrolactone, is described. Following derivatization to its di-TMS derivative, GHB was detected using gas chromatography-electron impact mass spectrometry. Diethylene glycol was used as the internal standard. The limit of quantitation in 1 mL of blood was 1 mg/L, and a linear response was observed over the concentration range 1 to 100 mg/L. Coefficients of variation for both intra-assay precision and interassay reproducibility ranged between 3.9 and 12.0%. GHB was detected in the blood of a sexual assault victim (3.2 mg/L), in the blood of two driving (DUI) cases (33 and 34 mg/L), and in the blood and urine of two nonfatal GHB-overdose cases (blood 130 and 221 mg/L; urine 1.6 and 2.2 g/L). The observed clinical symptoms ranged from confusion, disorientation, vomiting, and nystagmus to ataxia, sinus bradycardia, unconsciousness, and apnea.
Dependence of Satellite Sampling Error on Monthly Averaged Rain Rates:Comparison of Simple Models and Recent Studies

Abstract Considerable progress has been made in recent years with using satellite data to generate maps of rain rate with grid resolutions of 1°–5° square. In parallel with these efforts, much work has been devoted to the problem of attaching error estimates to these products. There are two main sources of error, the intrinsic errors in the remote sensing measurements themselves (retrieval errors) and the lack of continuity in the coverage by low earth-orbiting satellites (sampling error). Perhaps a dozen or so studies have attempted to estimate the sampling-error component. These studies have been based on rain gauge and radar-derived data, and the estimates vary so much that it is clear that the sampling error cannot be represented satisfactorily by a single value. These studies are reviewed. Some of the results reported in these studies are based on a method referred to in this paper as “resampling by shifts.” The authors find that the method unfortunately tends to produce estimates that are subject to...
Subclavian stenosis causing angina after coronary artery bypass grafting.

The Medical Journal of Australia ISSN: 0025729X 16 March 2009 190 6 331-332 ©The Medical Journal of Australia 2009 www.mja.com.au Lessons from Practice after coronary artery bypass using internal mammary Unfortunately, this simple non-invasive assessm overlooked, as it was in the patients reported here. approach to catheterisation of the left internal ma (LIMA) graft can also cause the diagnosis to be m catheter can often cross a significant subclavian sten po or sy A tentially clinically significant stenosis in the subclavian brachiocephalic arteries will produce a difference in stolic blood pressure between the right and left brachial arteries of 15–20 mmHg or more. Therefore, bilateral arm blood pressure measurements should be taken in symptomatic patients artery grafts. ent is often A haphazard mmary artery issed, as the osis. Meticulous comparison of the subclavian and aortic pressure tracings will identify the gradient and enable diagnosis. The difference in pressure between the arms may be reduced or absent in patients with significant bilateral subclavian and/or brachiocephalic disease, a scenario more likely in patients with extensive atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease elsewhere. Coronary subclavian steal syndrome describes angina related to a subclavian stenosis with retrograde flow up the LIMA graft. This reverse LIMA flow results from lower vascular resistance and blood pressure in the arm compared with the myocardial territory supplied by the LIMA. However, steal with reverse LIMA flow is not an Clinical records
Temperature-Pressure Phase Relationships in Niobium Pentoxide.

A pressure-temperature (P-T) section of the phase equilibrium diagram for Nb2O5 has been determined. Four single phase regions, H-Nb2O5, B-Nb2O5, and two L-Nb2O5 areas, were characterized by x-ray powder diffraction data. The superstructure of L-Nb2O5 was indexed on the basis of similarities to the known superstructures of L-Ta2O5 and confirmed with single crystal electron diffraction data. The correct unit cell is orthorhombic with a = 6.168, b = 29.312, c = 3.938 A, with the b axis 8 times the subcell (8 × 3.664 A).
Psychosocial issues in post-treatment cancer survivors: Desire for support and challenges in identifying individuals in need

ABSTRACTPurpose: The ongoing and late effects of cancer treatment can interfere with quality of life and adoption of healthy behaviors, thus potentially impairing recovery and survival. Developing effective methods to identify individuals in need of support is crucial in providing comprehensive, ongoing care and ensuring optimal use of limited resources. The current study provides an examination of long-term survivors’ reports of psychosocial issues, their desire for follow-up, and the role of widely used distress-screening measures for identifying survivors who desire help. Method: 317 cancer survivors (M age = 62.98 years, female = 70%, Md years since treatment = 7.5 years, mixed diagnoses) completed measures of psychosocial adjustment and quality of life as well as a checklist of psychosocial issues on which they indicated whether they would like to speak with a health professional regarding each issue. Results: Participants reported an average of 1.7 psychosocial issues. Only a minority desired to spe...
Thechnology and Typology of Handaxes of Stone Artifacts at Fengshudao of Baise,Guangxi

The present paper is a continuation of the article "Technological analysis for the core and flake of the Lower Paleolithic assemblage from Fengshudao site,Bose basin of Guangxi" (GUIZHOU SCIENCE,Vol.27,No.2,2009). It will analyse the processing sequence for producing handaxes from Fengshudao. This research is an important step towards future comparaison with the European Acheulean (Mode II) technique.
Investigation on DON contamination of flour and flour-related food in Guangzhou

Objective To investigate deoxynivalenol(DON)contamination of flour and flour-related food in Guangzhou;to provide reference and basis to supervise food safety and draw up related hygienic regulations and standards.Methods An ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS)assay was established to determine DON concentration in flour and flourrelated foods.Flours and flour-related products from farmer’s markets and supermarkets were collected for DON analysis.Results A total of 100samples were analyzed,71.0%of all samples were contaminated with DON,average concentration was 49.5μg/kg.Conclusion DON contamination in Guangzhou is at low level,but with a wide range.
Decreased libido: A side effect of carbonic anhydrase inhibitor

Thirty-nine cases of decreased libido in glaucoma patients on carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are reported. This symptom completely reversed or markedly improved after discontinuation of the drug in all cases. Twelve of these patients restarted their carbonic anhydrase inhibitor medication which resulted in a recurrence of decreased libido symptoms. There were 3 cases of impotency which reversed after discontinuation of the drug. Most likely, these symptoms are a result of the malaise and depression occurring in some patients on carbonic anhydrase inhibitor therapy.
Restoration of Knee Motion After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Subvastus Approach and Alternate Flexion and Extension Splintage

The aim of this study was to examine the factors controlling the ultimate range of motion (ROM) which can lead to a successful outcome of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Among these factors, the efficiency of the postoperative continuous passive motion (CPM) and the alternate flexion and extension splint management (AFES) on the ultimate ROM of the replaced knees using mainly Tricon-M and Miller-Galante prostheses were studied. A total of 161 TKAs in III patients were performed. The mean preoperative and postoperative final ROM were 105.2° ± 13.4° and 115.1° ± 14.7°. In 74 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) knees, the final mean ROM was 107.6° ± 13.7°; in 87 osteoarthritis (OA) knees, the final mean ROM was 123.1°± 14.9°. The final mean ROM of the splinted knees was significantly greater than that of the CPM group, and the subvastus approach provided a little wider ROM than the medial parapatellar approach. The type of implant did not influence the final ROM of the replaced knees when the same postoperative rehabilitation program was provided. It was confirmed that postoperative application of the alternate flexion and extension splintage on the operated knee is the most reliable and effective method of restoring wider ROM following TKA.
The Effect of Human Serum on 3H-Thymidine Incorporation in Human Prostate Tumors in Tissue Culture

AbstractHuman prostatic tumors, 4 adenomas and 4 adenocarcinomas, were established in tissue culture. We used the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into deoxyribonucleic acid as a measure of cell activity to compare the effects of supplementing the culture media with human or fetal calf serum. 3H-thymidine incorporation was greater with human serum, with up to 120 per cent increase observed. The addition of dihydrotestosterone (10−8M.) did not enhance or inhibit 3H-thymidine incorporation.
Conservatism strikes back: later is better than earlier dialysis for acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is not a disease but rather a clinical syndrome with multiple etiologies, and often is the result of multiple concurrent insults to the kidney. The definition of AKI is any of the following—increase in serum creatinine by 0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours; or increase in serum creatinine to 1.5 times baseline level, which is known or presumed to have occurred within the past week; or Urine volume of less than 0.5 mL/kg/h for 6 hours. Quite frequently an AKI event occurs in the setting of an underlying CKD, so that it is said that AKI is a marker of preexisting CKD (1,2).
Cells, gels and the engines of life: a fresh paradigm for cell function

The cytoplasm is a gel. When cell function is built on the premise of a gel, rather than on the usual premise of an aqueous solution, the resulting cellular mechanisms are simple, and consistent with available evidence.
Host Response to Biomaterials

The implantation of a biomaterial-based device or drug carrier will elicit a localized or systemic inflammatory response. An immune response occurs regardless of the method of introduction of biomaterial into the body, as all methods of biomaterial insertion, including surgery and injection, result in the disruption of the host’s tissue. The extent of the inflammatory response, however, is dependent upon the location, implantation procedure, and compatibility of biomaterial. In general, inflammatory responses can be classified as acute or chronic, defined primarily by the duration of the response and the type of cells infiltrating a tissue in response to pro-inflammatory signals. This chapter discusses the general process of acute and chronic inflammatory response and gives details on the key immune cells and soluble blood plasma factors involved. Information is also provided on biomaterial design approaches employed to minimizing inflammatory response.
Modeling organic electronic materials: bridging length and time scales

Organic electronics is a popular and rapidly growing field of research. The optical, electrical and mechanical properties of organic molecules and materials can be tailored using increasingly well controlled synthetic methods. The challenge and fascination with this field of research is derived from the fact that not only the chemical identity, but also the spatial arrangement of the molecules critically affects the performance of the material. Thus synthetic, fabrication, characterisation and computational scientists need to work closely to relate a materials performance in a device to the molecular details that cause and optimise that performance. For computational scientists in particular, the need to relate macroscopic device performance to details of molecular electronic structure brings challenges in methodology due to the need to bridge many orders of time and length scales. This article provides a survey of computational methods applied to multiple-length and time scale problems in organic electro...
Optimal sensor density and placement in power-constrained Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper presents algorithms that find the optimal number of sensor nodes and the optimal location of nodes to achieve more efficient estimation in a wireless sensor network under power constraints. The network consists of sensors that are optimally placed over an area. Sensors' observations are noisy measurements of an underlying field. Each sensor processes its observation prior to transmitting it to a fusion center, where a field parameter vector is estimated. The network has limited power for the observations transmission processes. Transmission channels between the sensors and the fusion center are assumed to be noisy parallel channels. The sensors' locations, the noise probability density function, and the field characteristic function are assumed to be known at the fusion center. Simulation results which support the derived algorithms are shown.
Comparison of QSOFA score and SIRS criteria as screening mechanisms for emergency department sepsis

Abstract Objectives The Quick Sequential [Sepsis-related] Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score has been shown to accurately predict mortality in septic patients and is part of recently proposed diagnostic criteria for sepsis. We sought to ascertain the sensitive of the score in diagnosing sepsis, as well as the diagnostic timeliness of the score when compared to traditional systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria in a population of emergency department (ED) patients treated in the ED, admitted, and subsequently discharged with a diagnosis of sepsis. Methods Electronic health records of 200 patients who were treated for suspected sepsis in our ED and ultimately discharged from our hospital with a diagnosis of sepsis were randomly selected for review from a population of adult ED patients (N = 1880). Data extracted included the presence of SIRS criteria and the qSOFA score as well as time required to meet said criteria. Results In this cohort, 94.5% met SIRS criteria while in the ED whereas only 58.3% met qSOFA. The mean time from arrival to SIRS documentation was 47.1 min (95% CI: 36.5–57.8) compared to 84.0 min (95% CI: 62.2–105.8) for qSOFA. The median ED “door” to positive SIRS criteria was 12 min and 29 min for qSOFA. Conclusions Although qSOFA may be valuable in predicting sepsis-related mortality, it performed poorly as a screening tool for identifying sepsis in the ED. As the time to meet qSOFA criteria was significantly longer than for SIRS, relying on qSOFA alone may delay initiation of evidence-based interventions known to improve sepsis-related outcomes.
Patient Factors Associated with Failure of Flap Coverage Used during Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) is a challenging problem in the setting of soft tissue defects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients who underwent rTKA requiring flap coverage and determine patient factors that predisposed them to failure. Forty-three consecutive patients (mean follow-up, 46.5 months) who underwent rTKA requiring flap coverage were retrospectively reviewed between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010. Sixteen of 43 patients experienced failure requiring either flap revision (n = 2) or above the knee amputation (n = 14). Patients with heart failure (p = 0.008), cancer (p = 0.049), or infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae (p = 0.002) had greater rates of failure. Smoking (p = 0.287), diabetes (p = 0.631), and flap type (p = 0.634, p = 0.801) were not associated with increased failure. Mean survival was 46.4 months. Survival of patients with a history of cancer (34.3 months) was less (p = 0.033) than those without (49.2 months). Flap coverage in rTKA is a viable limb salvage option for patients with soft tissue defects; however, failure rates are much higher than in patients not requiring flap coverage.
Commercial labs offer high quality services.

A physician responds to a previous article about the differences between using a commercial laboratory and a smaller hospital or pathology group lab for dermatological tests. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
3.41 – Liquid-Based Microextraction Techniques for Environmental Analysis

This chapter reviews liquid-based microextraction techniques and their application to environmental analysis. Formats of different liquid-based microextraction setups, solvent properties that are critical for liquid microextraction, commonly used chemical reactions that facilitate extraction, and experimental parameters that are important for method development are discussed. Examples of environmental application of these techniques are provided, based on the analysis of important pollutants including volatile organic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenolic compounds, acids and amines, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides and herbicides, environmental residues of pharmaceutical compounds, and metal ions and organometallic species.