cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experiment research on special activated carbon applied to treat waste water with phenol content

The special activated carbon was applied to the adsorption treatment test of the waste water with phenol content.The paper researched the reaction mechanism and influence factors of the special activated carbon adsorption method to treat the waste water with phenol content and investigated the activated carbon dosages,pH value,reaction temperature,reaction time and other factors influenced to the treatment effect of waster water with phenol content.The experiment results showed that as for 150 ml coking waster water,under the conditions of the activated carbon dosage of 10 g,the pH value of 6.0 7.0,the indoor temperature and reaction time of 2 h,after the special activated carbon adsorption treatment of the waster water with a phenol content,the phenol content of the water at the outlet would be 0.296 mg/L and the water quality index could meet "the discharging standard of the discharging standard of the pollutes from the urban waster water treatment plant".
Allogeneic Whole Pancreas Transplantation in Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

A clinical whole organ pancreas transplantation program for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus complicated by end-stage renal disease was initiated at Henry Ford Hospital in 1987. Five patients have received pancreatic allografts after a previous kidney transplant (phase 1), and six patients had simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants (phase 2). Ten patients had functioning pancreatic grafts after surgery, and all of them had normal carbohydrate tolerance with appropriate plasma free insulin responses to an oral glucose tolerance test three months after transplantation. As long as 28 months postsurgery six patients remained free of insulin requirements; however, one patient rejected the pancreatic allograft, and three patients died because of cytomegalovirus pneumonia. Two of the latter patients had functioning pancreatic allografts at the time of their demise. These results compare favorably with those of the International Pancreas Transplant Registry which reflects the world experience. Pancreas transplantation is a unique experimental treatment with the potential of restoring euglycemia and improving the prognosis of insulin-dependent diabetic patients.
Simulating muscular thin films using thermal contraction capabilities in finite element analysis tools

In this study, new techniques for approximating the contractile properties of cells in biohybrid devices using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) have been investigated. Many current techniques for modeling biohybrid devices use individual cell forces to simulate the cellular contraction. However, such techniques result in long simulation runtimes. In this study we investigated the effect of the use of thermal contraction on simulation runtime. The thermal contraction model was significantly faster than models using individual cell forces, making it beneficial for rapidly designing or optimizing devices. Three techniques, Stoney׳s Approximation, a Modified Stoney׳s Approximation, and a Thermostat Model, were explored for calibrating thermal expansion/contraction parameters (TECPs) needed to simulate cellular contraction using thermal contraction. The TECP values were calibrated by using published data on the deflections of muscular thin films (MTFs). Using these techniques, TECP values that suitably approximate experimental deflections can be determined by using experimental data obtained from cardiomyocyte MTFs. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed in order to investigate the contribution of individual variables, such as elastic modulus and layer thickness, to the final calibrated TECP for each calibration technique. Additionally, the TECP values are applicable to other types of biohybrid devices. Two non-MTF models were simulated based on devices reported in the existing literature.
International Trade, Development and Labor

In this chapter, I discuss various aspects of the moral importance international trade. There are many such aspects, including efficiency in production, development facilitation, weak state’s vulnerability and strong state’s predation and equality of opportunity for employment and income. I defend a rules-governed multi-lateral trade regime that links a commitment to core labor standards to enjoyment of the benefits of liberalized access to markets. Additionally, I argue that requirements to liberalize trade in any such regime should be asymmetrical, with greater leeway given to protectionism in the developing world. In Section II, I discuss the extent to which free trade can be justified as a means for efficient production. Section III argues that protectionist policies in rich industrialized countries retard the development of poor countries. Section IV surveys the claims made by some economists that the socio-economic development of developing and underdeveloped societies requires state intervention to support and protect infant industry. In Section V, I argue that a rules-based multi-lateral regime is superior on anti-predation grounds to a series of bilateral agreements. Section VI argues that although rules that permit protectionism in rich and powerful countries violate the principle of fair equality of opportunity for employment and income, a multi-lateral trade regime that links liberalized market access to the observance of core labor standards can be morally justified.
Room for more IL-6 blockade? Sarilumab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment has been revolutionized by the development of highly efficacious biotherapeutics. However, a significant subset of RA patients has persistently act...
Spintronic devices for ultra-low power neuromorphic computation (Special session paper)

Emerging spin-transfer torque mechanisms in devices like vertical spin valves, lateral spin valves, domain wall motion based devices, spin-torque oscillators and spin-orbit torque based devices have opened up new possibilities of mimicking various neural and synaptic functionalities by the underlying device physics. In this paper, we review various spintronic device structures that can provide a compact and area-efficient implementation of artificial neurons and synapses. Neuromorphic architectures based on such spintronic devices can potentially provide ∼ 10–100× lower energy consumption in comparison to a baseline CMOS implementation.
Spin torque nano-oscillator based Oscillatory Neural Network

Oscillatory Neural Networks (ONN) are becoming a popular neuromorphic computing model owing to their efficient parallel processing capabilities. Hoppensteadt and Izhikevich proposed an ONN architecture resembling associative memory, with Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) circuits as neurons. Unfortunately, there are shortcomings in realizing such architectures due to the inefficiencies of CMOS based implementations of oscillators and other hardware. We propose a PLL structure for ONN applications fashioned using energy efficient and scalable Spin Torque Oscillators (STOs). We demonstrate the functionality of a 60 neuron ONN using STOs for binary image identification.
Long term effects of low intensity pulsed focused ultrasound treatment with microbubbles on brain metabolism in a rat model.

1048 Objectives Ultrasound techniques could serve as potential tools for blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption allowing delivery of therapeutic molecules to localized disease sites such as malignant brain tumors. However, there is lack of data regarding the molecular sequelae of these treatment strategies on brain functions such as glucose metabolism. The aim of our study was to determine the long-term effects of low intensity pulsed focused ultrasound treatment with microbubbles (pFUS+MB) on the metabolic activity of rat brains. Methods A cohort of 6 female rats received one session of pFUS+MB (Optison TM, GE Healthcare, Little Chalfont, UK) targeting the left striatum and adjacent insular cortex. 200 μl of microbubbles were administered intravenously over 1 minute starting 30 sec before pFUS. 0.3 MPa acoustic pressure was applied in 10 ms burst length and 1% duty cycle (9 focal points, 120 sec/9 focal points - striatum, 120 sec/4 focal points - hippocampus) using a single-element spherical FUS transducer (center frequency: 589.636 kHz; focal number: 0.8; aperture: 7.5 cm; FUS Instruments, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced images were obtained using 3.0 T MRI (Philips, Amsterdam, Netherlands), immediately after pFUS+MB. The animals underwent static brain 18F-FDG microPET/CT studies at 6 and 12 weeks post treatment. The animals were fasted for at least 6 hours before receiving 0.7 - 0.9 mCi of 18F-FDG via tail vein injection, while anesthetized. Subsequently, the animal was allowed to regain consciousness for an uptake period of 30 minutes in total, and then was anesthetized and scanned using Inveon Multimodality PET/CT scanner (Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.). CT scan was performed for localization and attenuation correction purposes. SUV values were obtained from volumes of interest (VOI) corresponding to the sonicated left striatum/insular cortex, and contralateral brain (green contours in Fig 1b). The ratios of uptake (ipsilateral/contralateral) were then calculated. Results Enhanced T1-weighted MRI scans performed immediately after pFUS+MB showed contrast enhancement in the targeted brain regions (left striatum and adjacent insular cortex), suggestive of BBB disruption (arrows in Fig. 1a). 18F-FDG microPET/CT studies performed at 6 and 12 weeks after the initial treatment with pFUS+MB did not reveal glucose metabolism discrepancies between ipsilateral (targeted) and contralateral brain upon qualitative evaluation. The ratios of SUV values (ipsilateral/contralateral) were 0.993 (0.017) at 6 weeks and 0.994 (0.007) at 12 weeks (Fig. 1b). There were no statistically significant differences between the two sides. Conclusions Low intensity pFUS+MB does not cause long-term changes in rat brain metabolic activity at 6 and 12 weeks after sonication. Those findings suggest preserved neuronal integrity and function in the sonicated brain regions. However, the short-term effects (24h, 3 days, 1 week) as well as the effects of repeated pFUS+MB treatments need to be further explored.
XDesign: an open-source software package for designing X-ray imaging phantoms and experiments

The development of new methods or utilization of current X-ray computed tomography methods is impeded by the substantial amount of expertise required to design an X-ray computed tomography experiment from beginning to end. In an attempt to make material models, data acquisition schemes and reconstruction algorithms more accessible to researchers lacking expertise in some of these areas, a software package is described here which can generate complex simulated phantoms and quantitatively evaluate new or existing data acquisition schemes and image reconstruction algorithms for targeted applications.
Planning for the Residential Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Older Adults

ABSTRACTLesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults experience housing-related barriers. Previous research has described residential challenges experienced by this population, but few studies have examined implementation of housing solutions. This exploratory study conducted 7 semistructured phone interviews with program directors and/or development managers from initiatives offering residential services to LGBT older adults. Qualitative analysis identified themes that characterize the implementation of housing solutions. Study results suggest that future residential solutions for LGBT older adults should consider housing in relation to other aging-related barriers and frame solutions that promote collaboration among community actors (e.g., residential and service providers).
Development and validation of Nusselt number and friction factor correlations for laminar flow in semi-circular zigzag channel of printed circuit heat exchanger

Abstract Friction factor and heat transfer correlations have been developed for printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHEs) as a function of geometric parameters. These correlations summarize the thermal hydraulic performance of PCHEs and allow for accurate determination of their cost and effectiveness. Although there have been previous studies of the thermal-hydraulic performance of zigzag channel PCHEs, explicit correlations for friction factor or Nusselt number as a function of geometric parameters have not yet been reported. In this study, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) predictions were used to aid in the development of friction factor and Nusselt number correlations for laminar flow in semicircular zigzag-channel PCHEs. Two CFD models were developed to investigate the thermal-hydraulic characteristics of fluid flow in zigzag channels. A single-channel isothermal CFD model was used to investigate friction factors in PCHE zigzag channels. A two-channel CFD model was used to investigate the Nusselt number in zigzag channels and the effect of temperature-dependent fluid properties on the pressure loss. The effects of geometric parameters such as relative length ratio, zigzag angle and radius of curvature of bend were investigated. From the extensive CFD analysis database, friction factor and Nusselt number correlations were developed by implementing a least squares method with a non-linear Generalized Reduced Gradient algorithm. The friction factor correlation is valid for 50 ≤ Re ≤ 2000, 5° ≤ α ≤ 45° and 4.09 ≤ lR/Dh ≤ 32.73. The Nusselt number correlations are valid for 200 ≤ Re ≤ 2000, Pr ≤ 1.0, 5° ≤ α ≤ 45° and 4.09 ≤ lR/Dh ≤ 12.27. The correlations were validated against experimental data from The Ohio State University (OSU) and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The friction factor for zigzag-channel PCHEs is mainly influenced by the zigzag channel geometry while the Nusselt number is influenced by the overall heat exchanger design including the plenum sections.
Inotuzumab ozogamicin (IO) combined with mini-hyper-CVD as salvage therapy for patients (pts) with R/R acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

7025Background: Outcome of pts with R/R ALL is poor. IO, a CD22 monoclonal antibody bound to a toxin, calicheamicin, has single-agent activity in R/R ALL with response rate of 80% and median surviv...
Isogeometric analysis of EM scattering on multiply-connected subdivision surfaces

Isogeometric analysis (IGA) has been implemented to solve the electric field integral equation (EFIE) on simply-connected subdivision surfaces (Li et al., J. Comput. Phys., 319, 145–162, 2016) using a Helmholtz decomposition. This paper will present a method of moments within the framework of IGA on more complicated (mainly multiply-connected) subdivision surfaces by developing div-conforming basis sets. Furthermore, we will examine h-refinement to study the super-convergence behavior of the numerical scheme used to discretize the the EFIE.
Mycotic pulmonary artery aneurysm secondary to septic emboli

A 16-year-old girl with a medical history of tetralogy of Fallot repaired as an infant with right ventricle (RV) to pulmonary artery (PA) conduit presented to the emergency department with sudden onset fever of 38.4°C, leg cramps and poor oral intake. At admission, she was hypotensive and tachycardic. Blood cultures were positive for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus with white blood cell count of 6.1 x10^9/L and C reactive protein 8.1. An echocardiogram found evidence for moderate conduit stenosis and severe right ventricular hypertrophy, without occlusive vegetation directly visualised. An initial chest CT angiogram (CTA) confirmed these findings, showing an incompletely occlusive vegetation in the RV to PA conduit and multiple peripheral and nodular ground glass opacities, some with cavitation, scattered throughout both lungs consistent with septic emboli (figure 1A). After initiation of anticoagulation and antibiotics, her clinical symptoms steadily improved. Repeat blood cultures remained negative. Follow-up chest CTA …
"It was a shady HIT": Navigating Work-Related Privacy Concerns on MTurk

As online digital labor platforms grow in popularity, research is needed to understand how workers navigate the unique privacy concerns that emerge during their work. We surveyed 82 Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) workers about how they make decisions about revealing personal data while doing tasks. We find that many comply with privacy-invasive information requests for a range of reasons, including benefits outweighing costs, fears of losing access to work, and contributing to scientific research. Several workers also engage in privacy-protective behaviors, motivated by perceptions that the information request is unnecessary or violates policies, as well as concerns about data use and identification. We discuss how our findings can inform policy and design to protect workers' privacy.
Non-cell Autonomous Degeneration: Role of Astrocytes in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Role of Astrocytes in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Abstract Astrocytes, representing the most abundant glial cells in the central nervous system, regulate the development and function of neurons. Accumulating evidence suggests that astrocytes also play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, once thought to selectively afflict neurons. In response to disease or injury, astrocytes become reactive with profound morphological and transcriptomic alterations. Some changes in reactive astrocyte morphology and function are thought to be beneficial. Other responses in reactive astrocytes contribute to neuronal degeneration. In this chapter, we review evidence for astrocyte-dependent non-cell autonomous degeneration of neurons in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and spinocerebellar ataxia type 7. We also highlight recent advances in our understanding of glial cell–intrinsic mechanisms that underlie neurodegenerative diseases. These studies are laying the foundation for development of novel therapies in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
ShapeShifter: a novel approach for identifying and quantifying stable lariat intronic species in RNAseq data

Most intronic lariats are rapidly turned over after splicing. However, new research suggests that some introns may have additional post-splicing functions. Current bioinformatics methods used to identify lariats require a sequencing read that traverses the lariat branchpoint. This method provides precise branchpoint sequence and position information, but is limited in its ability to quantify abundance of stabilized lariat species in a given RNAseq sample. Bioinformatic tools are needed to better address these emerging biological questions. We used an unsupervised machine learning approach on sequencing reads from publicly available ENCODE data to learn to identify and quantify lariats based on RNAseq read coverage shape. We developed ShapeShifter, a novel approach for identifying and quantifying stable lariat species in RNAseq datasets. We learned a characteristic “lariat” curve from ENCODE RNAseq data and were able to estimate abundances for introns based on read coverage. Using this method we discovered new stable introns in these samples that were not represented using the older, branchpoint-traversing read method. ShapeShifter provides a robust approach towards detecting and quantifying stable lariat species.
Actionable Media: Digital Communication beyond the Desktop

As one would find at the back cover of Actionable Media, John Tinnell’s book is an attempt to situate “the arts and humanities” amid the growing scholarly inquiries on the phenomenon of ubiquitous ...
Non-battle Emergency Department Utilization of the First Modular Army Field Hospital Prototype in Support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.

Introduction The 2010-2011 withdrawal from Iraq included the closure of all fixed-facility military medical resources. Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, the United States-led counter-terrorism mission in Iraq and Syria, subsequently commenced in 2014. With increasing combat operations, the 28th Combat Support Hospital deployed to Iraq to support that mission as a limited footprint unit prototyped after the new modular Army Field Hospital. We describe the non-battle utilization of the emergency medical treatment section. Methods We prospectively collected data for this project as part of a performance improvement initiative to track healthcare utilization to guide emergency medical treatment section staffing. The project took place at a combat support hospital near Baghdad, Iraq from July 2016 through January 2017. Results During this time, the emergency department (ED) averaged 3.5 visits per day totaling 675 non-battle encounters. Most (84.6%) were U.S. military personnel with a median age of 32 (IQR 26-38). The most common procedure performed was point-of-care ultrasound (n = 33). Most patients (96.9%) underwent discharge from the ED. Of the 21 subjects admitted, 6 were for surgical intervention and the remaining for medical or observational indications. The most common chief complaints were musculoskeletal (31.1%, n = 210), respiratory (15.3%, n = 103), and dermatologic (12.0%, n = 81). Conclusions Non-battle injuries and illnesses were the predominant reason for ED utilization. Most subjects were discharged back to duty with relatively low-resource utilization. Few visits required procedural interventions.
Developing a framework for sustainable growth of flexible learning opportunities

Flexible learning increases access to higher education, particularly for traditionally undeserved students. First-time entrants, who may lack the cultural capital to be successful, may also be more...
Nurses' roles and challenges in providing end-of-life care in neonatal intensive care units in South Korea.

Abstract Background Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses in Korea often experience challenges in providing care for dying infants and their families. However, there is limited understanding about what contributes to the challenges related to end-of-life care. Purpose To describe NICU nurses' perceived roles and challenges faced while providing end-of-life care in South Korea. Methods A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 20 NICU nurses in South Korea using semi-structured interviews. Participants were recruited from two NICUs in Seoul, where infant mortality is the highest in South Korea. Transcribed interviews were coded by two research personnel, and subsequently, a developed coding book was translated by three research personnel. The codes developed were categorized and peer-reviewed to develop themes using conventional content analysis. Results Nurses' roles during end-of-life care were grouped into four categories: providing information and support, enhancing attachment between the parents and infants, providing direct care to the infant, and completing documentation. Nurses' perceived challenges during end-of-life care included providing end-of-life care without adequate experience and knowledge, environmental constraints on end-of-life care, and conflicted situations during end-of-life care. Conclusion Although the nurses provided the best care they could, their end-of-life care practice was hindered for various reasons. To enhance NICU nurses' ability to provide and make them more capable of providing high quality EOL care, hospitals need to support nurse education and improve staffing level, and create in NICUs an environment that is favorable for providing EOL care.
Patient-Centered Care: An Examination of Provider–Patient Communication Over Time:

Objective:To examine the quality of provider communication over time considering the increasing emphasis on patient-centered care (PCC). Patient-centered care has been shown to have a positive impa...
Abstract P241: Psychosocial Profiles and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Control: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (cardia) Study

Introduction: Psychosocial factors are associated with the onset of chronic disease, however few studies have examined the association between these factors and cardiovascular disease risk factor (...
Polarization-Induced Local pH Swing Promotes Pd-Catalyzed CO2 Hydrogenation

Electrochemical polarization can dramatically promote the rate of concurrent nonfaradaic catalytic reactions, but the mechanistic basis for these promotion effects at solid-liquid interfaces remains poorly understood. Herein, we establish a mechanistic framework for nonfaradaic promotion in aqueous media that operates via a local pH swing induced by a concurrent faradaic reaction. As a model system, we examined the kinetics of nonfaradaic Pd-catalyzed CO2 hydrogenation to formate and find that the reaction can be promoted by a combination of high alkalinity and high CO2 concentration. In bulk electrolyte, alkalinity and CO2 concentration are inversely correlated to each other as set by the CO2/bicarbonate equilibrium. We show that this impasse can be overcome by using electrical polarization to generate a nonequilibrium local environment that has both high alkalinity and high CO2 concentration. We find that this local pH swing promotes the rate of nonfaradaic CO2 hydrogenation to formate by nearly 3 orders of magnitude at modest potential bias. The work establishes a rigorous mechanistic model of nonfaradaic promotion in aqueous media and provides a basis for enhancing hydrogenation catalysis under mild conditions via electrical polarization.
On the physical properties of memristive, memcapacitive and meminductive systems

We discuss the physical properties of realistic memristive, memcapacitive and meminductive systems. In particular, by employing the well-known theory of response functions and microscopic derivations, we show that resistors, capacitors and inductors with memory emerge naturally in the response of systems-especially those of nanoscale dimensions-subjected to external perturbations. As a consequence, since memristances, memcapacitances and meminductances are simply response functions, they are not necessarily finite. This means that, unlike what has always been argued in some literature, diverging and non-crossing input-output curves of all these memory elements are physically possible in both quantum and classical regimes. For similar reasons, it is not surprising to find memcapacitances and meminductances that acquire negative values at certain times during dynamics, while the passivity criterion of memristive systems imposes always a non-negative value on the resistance at any given time. We finally show that ideal memristors, namely those whose state depends only on the charge that flows through them (or on the history of the voltage), are subject to very strict physical conditions and are unable to protect their memory state against the unavoidable fluctuations, and therefore are susceptible to a stochastic catastrophe. Similar considerations apply to ideal memcapacitors and meminductors.
Ado-trastuzumab emtansine: Avoiding side-effects of traditional HER2 positive breast cancer treatment.

IntroductionApproach to cancer treatment is dictated by guidelines based on clinical research. New research continuously changes what we consider to be first-line therapy for a given type of cancer...
Impact of reproduction number on the multiwave spreading dynamics of COVID-19 with temporary immunity: A mathematical model

Abstract Objectives The recent discoveries of phylogenetically confirmed COVID-19 reinfection cases worldwide, together with studies suggesting that antibody titres decrease over time, raise the question of what course the epidemic trajectories may take if immunity were really to be temporary in a significant fraction of the population. The objective of this study is to obtain an answer for this important question. Methods We construct a ground-up delay differential equation model tailored to incorporate different types of immune response. We considered two immune responses: (a) short-lived immunity of all types, and (b) short-lived sterilizing immunity with durable severity-reducing immunity. Results Multiple wave solutions to the model are manifest for intermediate values of the reproduction number R; interestingly, for sufficiently low as well as sufficiently high R, we find conventional single-wave solutions despite temporary immunity. Conclusions The versatility of our model, and its very modest demands on computational resources, ensure that a set of disease trajectories can be computed virtually on the same day that a new and relevant immune response study is released. Our work can also be used to analyse the disease dynamics after a vaccine is certified for use and information regarding its immune response becomes available.
A Rapid Exosome Isolation Using Ultrafiltration and Size Exclusion Chromatography (REIUS) Method for Exosome Isolation from Melanoma Cell Lines

Cells release extracellular vesicles (EVs) that can be detected both in vivo and in cell culture medium. Among EVs, exosomes are 50-150 nm vesicles that are systematically packaged into multivesicular bodies for release into the external environment. In cancer, these intentionally packaged exosomes carry a payload of proteins such as RNAs and surface receptors that facilitate the reprogramming of proximal cells to assemble a protumor microenvironment. Exosomes have been implicated as an important intermediary extracellular communication pathway between cells, including in melanoma. Human melanoma-derived exosomes (HMEX) have been demonstrated to modulate the extracellular environment and inhibit immune cell activation. There are many methods to isolate and enrich for exosomes and the method applied can impact yield and purity of the isolates. In this chapter we describe the REIUS (rapid exosome isolation using ultrafiltration and size exclusion chromatography) method to isolate HMEX from melanoma cell cultures and then demonstrate their enrichment using molecular and microscopic approaches.
Top Picks From the 2020 Computer Architecture Conferences

Every year, IEEE Micro selects some of the most notable articles published in the previous year's computer architecture conferences to highlight in this Special Issue. In early 2021, the selection committee chose 12 articles to appear as “Top Picks” and an additional 12 deserving an “Honorable Mention” from among the 2020 conferences.
Challenges in the Management of Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections in Patients With Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt.

Gram-negative bacterial infections of the central nervous system (CNS) have worse clinical outcomes. The most common bacteria include Escherichia Coli, Citrobacter species, Enterobacter species, Serratia species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. There are multiple risk factors for CNS infection after shunt insertion, including younger age, obstructive hydrocephalus, shunt revision surgery, and trauma. The clinical presentation of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infection includes the signs and symptoms of meningitis to fever with abdominal pain and peritonitis. Apart from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, microbiological cultures and radiological studies are key diagnostic tools. Initial empirical intravenous antimicrobial therapy is preferably broad spectrum with appropriate coverage for resistant Gram-negative pathogens and the duration of treatment depends upon pathogenesis, host factors, and clinical response to the therapy. Considering the importance of this disease and associated clinical outcomes, in this review article, we have summarized the epidemiology, clinical features, management, and prevention of Gram-negative VP shunt infections in adults.
Studying Hedgehog Signaling During Mouse Neural Tube Development.

The identity of ventral neural progenitors in the neural tube is largely dependent on Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. Variations in staining patterns are excellent indicators of aberrant Hh signaling. Here we describe the basic protocol to stain for progenitor populations based on transcription factor expression. We also provide an overview of ciliary and centrosomal staining in the neural tube.
Terra firma-forme dermatosis: A report of ten individuals with Duncan's dirty dermatosis and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Terra-firma forme dermatosis, also known as Duncan's dirty dermatosis, is a benign skin condition that presents as dirt-like plaques in patients of all ages. PURPOSE: We describe a series of ten patients that presented with terra-firma forme dermatosis. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed PubMed for the following terms: dermatosis, Duncan's dirty dermatosis, isopropyl alcohol, terra firma, and terra firma-forme dermatosis. We also reviewed papers containing these terms and their references. RESULTS: The diagnosis of terra firma-forme dermatosis was confirmed in all patients who had complete resolution of each lesion after the application of 70% isopropyl alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Terra-firma forme dermatosis is easily diagnosed and treated with 70% isopropyl alcohol. It is important to recognize this benign dermatologic condition since it can be confused with other cutaneous disorders. Therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary referrals, biopsies, blood tests, and medications, we suggest a trial of wiping the skin lesion with 70% isopropyl alcohol pads when the diagnosis of terra-firma forme dermatosis is considered.
Constituents ofCannabis sativaL. XXIV: The Potency of Confiscated Marijuana, Hashish, and Hash Oil Over a Ten-Year Period

The chemical analysis of 2169 Cannabis preparations confiscated in the United States over a ten-year period is discussed. Samples are categorized according to physical appearance and potency trends are noted. The appearance of sinsemilla and buds, more potent forms of marijuana, and their effects on overall potency are emphasized along with discussion on domestically grown marijuana.
Temporal event conceptualisation

This paper describes a system that performs Temporal Event Recognition, ie., the task of forming causal and conceptual descriptions of stimulii given to a system over a period of time. A temporal logic that integrates state based and interval based representations is is used to represent and maintain knowledge about the temporal relationships between events. A knowledge based system is then constructed that uses this temporal knowledge to generate higher level conceptual abstractions that describe the events occurring at the input. An implementation of the system called MUSE is described and examples of the system working in a Blocks world are presented.
Equality of What? Evidence from India

This paper explores univariate health inequality in India using a representative sample of pre-school age children. I make comparisons, both spatially between states, and inter-temporally, to both illustrate the methods for measuring and decomposing health inequality, while providing some interesting empirical findings on health inequality. The results suggest that the changes in the distribution of height are less important than the changes in the mean values, when explaining the evolution of the nutrition poverty index over time in India. However, I also observe that the level of stunted growth would be reduced markedly among the various Indian states if the distribution of heights corresponded to the pattern that exists in Kerala, where health of children is relatively equally distributed. In addition, I compare the health inequality results to income inequality figures reported elsewhere, and find no correlation.
Interrelated influence of iron, light and cell size on marine phytoplankton growth

The sub-optimal growth of phytoplankton and the resulting persistence of unutilized plant nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) in the surface waters of certain ocean regions has been a long-standing puzzle1,2. Of these regions, the Southern Ocean seems to play the greatest role in the global carbon cycle3,4, but controversy exists as to the dominant controls on net algal production. Limitation by iron deficiency4,5, light availability1,6,7 and grazing by zooplankton2 have been proposed. Here we present the results from culture experiments showing that the amount of cellular iron needed to support growth is higher under lower light intensities, owing to a greater requirement for photosynthetic iron-based redox proteins by low-light acclimatized algae. Moreover, algal iron uptake varies with cell surface area, such that the growth of small cells is favoured under iron limitation, as predicted theoretically8. Phytoplankton growth can therefore be simultaneously limited by the availability of both iron and light. Such a co-limitation may be experienced by phytoplankton in iron-poor regions in which the surface mixed layer extends below the euphotic zone—as often occurs in the Southern Ocean6,7—or near the bottom of the euphotic zone in more stratified waters. By favouring the growth of smaller cells, iron/light co-limitation should increase grazing by microzooplankton, and thus minimize the loss of fixed carbon and nitrogen from surface waters in settling particles9,10.
An Investigation Of Perceived Risk Of Body Weight Among Normal And Overweight: Can Consumer Perceived Risk Theory Help?

Weight-related problems such as obesity and eating disorders are among the most prominent public health concerns with serious health and economic consequences. Risk perception related to weight is one of the strongest predictors of intention to manage weight and the practice of eating healthy diets. This study explores the feasibility of adapting perceived risk theory from consumer behavior research to perceived weight risks, and investigates the differences in perceived weight risk between normal and overweight consumers, and in their weight-related behaviors. The findings indicated that the overweight and normal weight consumers differed in their perceived weight risks in all risk dimensions. However, this difference was not reflected in their food consumption behaviors and physical activity levels which are indications of weight management efforts.
INITIAL FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OUTCOMES AND MODIFICATIONS IN PURSUIT OF DIFFERENTIATION: A SUMMARY OF 176 INPATIENT CASES

The functional analysis (FA) described by Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, and Richman (1982/1994) delineated not only a set a specific procedures, but also a model that involves the use of analogue conditions wherein antecedent and consequent variables are systematically manipulated. This consecutive case-series analysis describes FAs of 176 individuals with intellectual disabilities who had been admitted to an inpatient unit for severe problem behavior. Following an initial standardized FA, additional modifications were performed in pursuit of differentiation. Ultimately, a function was identified in 86.9% of the 176 cases and in 93.3% of the 161 cases for which the FA, if necessary, was modified up to 2 times. All modifications were documented and classified as involving changes to antecedents, consequences, or design (or some combination of these). Outcomes for each type of modification are reported. The results support the utility of ongoing hypothesis testing through individualized modifications to FA procedures, and provide information regarding how each type of modification affected results.
Poverty and children's nutritional status in the United States

This study describes deficits in nutritional status among poor children in the United States using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth for children born between 1979 and 1988. The prevalence of low height-for-age (stunting) and low weight-for-height (wasting) is higher among children in persistently poor families. Differentials appear greater according to long-term rather than short-term income; hence, single-year income measures do not adequately capture the effects of persistent poverty on children's nutritional status. Differences in nutritional status between poor and nonpoor children remain large even when controls for other characteristics associated with poverty, such as low maternal educational attainment, single-parent family structure, young maternal age, low maternal academic ability, and minority racial identification, are included. The excess risks of stunting and wasting among poor children are not reduced appreciably when size of the infant at birth or mother's height and weight are controlled.
Cell proliferation follows acoustically-induced hair cell bundle loss in the zebrafish saccule

Fishes are capable of regenerating sensory hair cells in the inner ear after acoustic trauma. However, a time course of auditory hair cell regeneration has not been established for zebrafish. Adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to a 100 Hz pure tone at 179 dB re 1 microPa RMS for 36 h and then allowed to recover for 0-14 days before morphological analysis. Hair cell bundle loss and recovery were determined using phalloidin to visualize hair bundles. Cell proliferation was quantified through bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling. Immediately following sound exposure, zebrafish saccules exhibited significant hair bundle damage (e.g., splayed, broken, and missing stereocilia) and loss (i.e., missing bundles and lesions in the epithelia) in the caudal region. Hair bundle counts increased over the course of the experiment, reaching pre-treatment levels at 14 days post-sound exposure (dpse). Low levels of proliferation were observed in untreated controls, indicating that some cells of the zebrafish saccule are mitotically active in the absence of a damaging event. In sound-exposed fish, cell proliferation peaked two dpse in the caudal region, and to a lesser extent in the rostral region. This proliferation was followed by an increase in numbers of cuticular plates with rudimentary stereocilia and immature-like hair bundles at 7 and 14 dpse, suggesting that at least some of the saccular cell proliferation resulted in newly formed hair cells. This study establishes a time course of hair cell bundle regeneration in the zebrafish inner ear and demonstrates that cell proliferation is associated with the regenerative process.
Rubbery Thermosets by Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization of a Functionalized Castor Oil and Cyclooctene

Rubbery thermosets prepared by ROMP of a modified castor oil containing norbornene moieties and cyclooctene have been synthesized and characterized. The thermosets range from 55 to 85 wt.-% oil and are flexible, slightly transparent and have a sand-like hue. Increasing concentration of the modified castor oil in the feed ratio results in an increase in the extracted (unreacted or oligomeric) components in the final thermoset. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that all of the specimens have temperatures of maximum degradation around 500°C. DMA and TGA analysis on solvent-extracted specimens show that the presence of the soluble fractions helps to plasticize the materials and give added thermal stability.
Aesthetic fields: A topological particle

We extend the complex aesthetic field equations forAjki andBjk/i so as to have symmetry between these fields. We find computer solutions in which the confluence region takes on a loop shape. We call such a particle a “topological” particle.
SELF-IDENTIFICATION OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN BY SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELS

Twenty preschool children identified as in the poverty group by OEO standards were compared with twenty preschool children from upper middle class families, as judged by father’s occupation, as to the extent and nature of their ability to recognize their own photographs from five other unidentified photographs on each of a series of six different views. Statistical analysis supported the hypothesis that preschool lower class children cannot recognize themselves from photographs as well as preschool middle class children (P = . 005). Although some views were significantly more recognizable by both groups of children (P = .01), sex and’’time to respond" differences were not significant.
Modeling of Silicon Wafer Vibration in Semiconductor Process Tools

Abstract An investigation of the behavior of bare, unprocessed silicon wafers during their loading and transport in wafer cassettes is documented. Semiconductor process tools can generate sufficient vibration to cause the current 200-mm diameter wafers to vibrate inside the cassettes leading to particle generation, mechanical misalignment, and wafer walking. The cassettes feature chamfered slots into which the wafers are inserted. In the interest of minimizing particle generation in the cleanroom environment, the wafers slide loosely into the slots. As a result, the wafers show distinct pitching and rattling behavior under certain excitation conditions. A study of the wafer dynamics, when positioned in the cassette slots, shows that the wafers make a transition to instability under repeatable conditions of excitation frequency and amplitude. The development of two models of the wafer behavior is included, as well as an experimental verification of the model's results for 200-mm wafers. The model is expected to predict the behavior of future wafer sizes including the 300-mm wafers now under development.
Measurement error robustness of a closed-loop minimal sampling method for HIV therapy switching

We test the robustness of a closed-loop treatment scheduling method to realistic HIV viral load measurement error. The purpose of the algorithm is to allow the accurate detection of an induced viral load minimum with a reduced number of samples. Therapy must be switched at or near the viral-load minimum to achieve optimal therapeutic benefit; therapeutic benefit decreases logarithmically with increased viral load at the switching time. The performance of the algorithm is characterized using a number of metrics. These include the number of samples saved vs. fixed-rate sampling, the risk-reduction achieved vs. the risk-reduction possible with frequent sampling, and the difference between the switching time vs. the theoretical optimal switching time. The algorithm is applied to simulated patient data generated from a family of data-driven patient models and corrupted by experimentally confirmed levels of log-normal noise.
Effect of NH4Cl on plasma aldosterone, cortisol and renin activity in supine man.

Plasma aldosterone, renin activity, cortisol and serum potassium were measured in six normal subjects before (control day) and during the oral administration of NH4Cl (1.9 meq/kg body weight). Blood samples were obtained with the subjects supine and fasting while in balance on a 10 meq sodium, 60 meq potassium diet. During the control day, 24 h urinary sodium excretion was 8 ± 3 (se) meq and plasma aldosterone, renin activity and cortisol followed their expected diurnal variation. Following NH4Cl (given between 0900 h and 1100 h), venous blood pH and serum bicarbonate concentrations decreased (P < 0.05 and P < 0.005, respectively) but the expected circadian decline in plasma aldosterone did not occur and the values at 1200 h and 1600 h were higher (P < 0.05 and P < 0.02, respectively) than those of the control day. There were slight but not significant increases in plasma renin activity and serum potassium concentration. These observations indicate that plasma aldosterone increases in response to NH4Cl. T...
Predicting outcomes of peritoneal-dialysis-associated peritonitis based on dialysate white blood cell count.

Predicting outcomes of peritoneal-dialysis-associated peritonitis based on dialysate white blood cell count