cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A study on the onset of turbulent conditions with supercritical fluid chromatography mobile-phases.

Abstract Following a recent publication [1] , the topic of turbulent flow in SFC has generated both interest and questions. Liquid-like density, coupled with significantly low viscosity of CO2-based mobile-phases may result in high Reynolds number (Re) – higher than what represents laminar flow conditions, reaching the so-called turbulent regions. Although such turbulent flows can form only in the connecting tubings, thus not directly affecting the chromatographic process, it is important to know under many situations, whether the flow inside the tubing is laminar or turbulent. In this report a comprehensive guideline to identify the possibilities of turbulent flow conditions is provided through a series of charts. Flow properties depend on state conditions (composition, pressure and temperature) and also on the tubing material and geometry. Here guidelines to detect the onset of turbulent conditions is provided for cylindrical stainless-steel tubings of different internal diameters (i.d.) under a wide range of SFC mobile-phase conditions.
Abstract 13332: Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Continuous-flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Introduction: Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) pose a significant burden in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (cfLVADs). However, the incidence, risk factors, and impact on survival are not yet well-described. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that there were demographic, hemodynamic, and comorbid condition parameters that would predict post-VAD arrhythmias and mortality. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 106 consecutive patients undergoing placement of cfLVADs between April 2007 and September 2012. Exploring the outcomes of early VA (occurring during the index hospitalization), late VA (occurring after discharge) and death, we compared demographic, comorbid, pharmacologic, and clinical data. Time to event analyses were undertaken to identify predictors of the outcomes. Results: Most subjects were men (73%) with non-ischemic heart failure (70%) and an ICD (92%) in place. Forty six (43%) patients died. Pre-LVAD VA (hazard ratio [HR] 5.99, p=0.048), chronic kidney disease (HR 2.09, p=0.025) and diabetes (HR 3.61, p Conclusions: Ventricular arrhythmias following LVAD placement are common and predicted by pre-LVAD arrhythmia and ICD therapy, comorbid conditions and medication use. For the rare patient without an ICD placed pre-LVAD, post-operative implantation should be considered.
Synthesis and Explosion Hazards of 4-Azido-l-phenylalanine

A reliable, scalable, cost-effective, and chromatography-free synthesis of 4-azido-l-phenylalanine beginning from l-phenylalanine is described. Investigations into the safety of the synthesis reveal that the Ullman-like Cu(I)-catalyzed azidation step does not represent a significant risk. The isolated 4-azido-l-phenylalanine product, however, exhibits previously undocumented explosive characteristics.
Impaired social behaviors and minimized oxytocin signaling of the adult mice deficient in the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor GluN3A subunit

The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of neurological diseases, such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD), whose unique clinical hallmark is a constellation of impaired social and/or cognitive behaviors. GluN3A (NR3A) is a unique inhibitory subunit in the NMDAR complex. The role of GluN3A in social behavioral activities is obscure. In this study, we sought to evaluate altered social activities in adult GluN3A knockout (KO) mice. GluN3A KO mice spent less time in reciprocal social interaction in the social interaction test compared to wild-type (WT) mice. A social approach test using a three-chamber system confirmed that mice lacking GluN3A had lower sociability and did not exhibit a preference for social novelty. GluN3A KO mice displayed abnormal food preference in the social transmission of food preference task and low social interaction activity in the five-trial social memory test, but without social memory deficits. Using a home cage monitoring system, we observed reduced social grooming behavior in GluN3A KO mice. Signaling genes that might mediate the altered social behaviors were examined in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus. Among nine genes examined, the expression of the oxytocin receptor was significantly lower in the prefrontal cortex of GluN3A KO mice than that in WT mice. Oxytocin treatment rescued social activity deficits in GluN3A KO mice. These findings support a novel idea that a chronic state of moderate increases in NMDAR activities may lead to downregulation of the oxytocin signaling and impaired behavioral activities that are seen in psychiatric/neurodegenerative disorders.
Diseases of Muscle

Myopathies can present with negative (such as weakness) or positive (such as myalgia and cramps) symptoms. Recognition of certain characteristic patterns of muscle weakness on exam can narrow the differential diagnosis. Serum creatine kinase, focused serologic testing, electromyography, exercise test, muscle imaging, biopsy, and genetic testing are useful to reach a specific diagnosis. The key clinical features, laboratory, EMG, and histopathologic abnormalities of the most common myopathies are discussed below.
A prospective measure of unintended pregnancy in the United States

Abstract Objective To describe a new measure, the unintended pregnancy risk index (UPRI), which is based primarily on attitudinal and behavioral measures of women's prospective pregnancy desire, and compare it to the unintended pregnancy rate, typically calculated retrospectively. Study design We used three rounds of the National Survey of Family Growth to calculate trends in the UPRI and compare it to the retrospective rate. The UPRI estimates the annual risk of becoming unintentionally pregnant on a scale from 0 to 100. It is based on women's prospective pregnancy desire as well as fecundity, sexual activity and contraceptive use patterns. Results Among all women aged 15–34, the UPRI ranged from 7.4 in 2002 to 5.7 in 2013. The retrospective unintended pregnancy rate had similar levels and declines for the same overall period, although the UPRI declined earlier than the retrospective rate. Conclusions Changes in the use of any contraceptive method, the methods used and the effectiveness of the methods used all contributed to the decline in the UPRI. Implications The sufficiency of retrospective measures of pregnancy intention has been challenged, and data availability has constrained needed surveillance of the unintended pregnancy rate. The UPRI offers a new measure that can be calculated with existing national surveillance data or for any population for which data on prospective pregnancy desire, pregnancy risk and contraceptive use are available.
Identification and cellular localization of the components of the VIP signaling pathway in the lacrimal gland.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a 28 amino acid regulatory peptide that is found in parasympathetic nerves of most exocrine glands. VIP binds to its receptor on the basolateral membrane, which is coupled by guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) to adenylyl cyclase (AC). Two distinct VIP receptors (types I and II)1,2 and at least nine types of adenylyl cyclases (I-IX) have been identified.3 Multiple forms of the three G protein subunits (α, β, and γ) also exist, making for a large number of possible combinations. ACs are large, complex structures that are multiply regulated by the subunits of various G proteins, protein kinase C (PKC), and Ca2+.
Potential of Crown Ether-Assisted Anionic Polymerization of Styrene and Dienes for Commercial Processes

Literally hundred of powerful cationic complexing agents have been prepared in the past 25 years, with the synthetic multidentate macrocycles receiving the greatest attention.1 Macrocyclic oligomers of ethylene oxide, termed crown ethers, have warranted extensive investigation due to their extremely high binding constants for typical cations such as Na+, K+ and Li+ compared to linear analogs.
The Negative Clinical Impact of Diabetes on Tuberculosis: A Cross-Sectional Study in New Jersey

Context Numerous studies have investigated a link between tuberculosis (TB) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in high-incidence countries. There is a need to characterize the relationship of TB and DM in the United States. Objective To characterize the clinical and demographic differences in patients with TB with and without DM. Design Cross-sectional. Setting This study was performed at an institutional center providing TB care for New Jersey. Patients or other participants A total of 353 cases of TB were seen at the Lattimore Clinic between 2009 and 2014. After excluding those with HIV infection and those under 19 years of age, 73 cases of TB were reviewed. Interventions No interventions performed. Main outcome measures Sputum culture positivity, time to culture conversion, extent of disease on chest x-ray, and degree of cavitation on chest x-ray. Outcome measures were determined prior to data collection. Results Extent of disease on chest x-ray was higher for DM+ cases compared with DM- cases (P = 0.007). A total of 24% of DM+ cases had evidence of cavitation on chest x-ray compared with 5% of DM- cases (P = 0.03). DM+ cases were slightly more likely to have positive sputum cultures than were DM- cases (P = 0.07). The median time to sputum culture conversion was 27.5 days in the DM+ group vs 18.0 days in the DM- group (P = 0.26). Conclusions Extent of disease on chest x-ray was significantly more severe in the DM+ group than in the DM- group.
Transverse Vibration of an Orthotropic Plate with a Collection of Holes of Arbitrary Configuration and Mixed Boundary Conditions

Within the framework of a refined theory that takes into account the transverse shear strains and the inertial components, we consider the problem of stationary vibration of an orthotropic bounded plate containing an arbitrary number of curvilinear holes. Mixed boundary conditions harmonic in time are analyzed both on the outer boundary of the plate and on the contours of the holes. The solution is constructed on the basis of the indirect boundary-element method. We use a sequential approach to the representation of Green functions. Integral equations are solved by the collocation method. We also present numerical results obtained for a rectangular plate with two circular holes.
VCN: Versatile Clos-Type Networks for Traffic Locality in Data Centers

Traffic locality is ubiquitously exploited in today's data centers. It allows network resources to be used more efficiently because traffic in data centers is adapted to the underlying network infrastructures. In this paper, we approach this problem from another direction, which is to adapt network infrastructure to the traffic. Towards this direction, we adopt two approaches to boost the efficiency of network resource utilization. First, we improve the topology of Clos-type data center networks by introducing horizontal connections, which facilitates the routing of local traffic. Second, based on the improved topology, we make the network infrastructure to be versatile, in the sense that it can be fitted into the characteristics of the traffic. We name this design as Versatile Clos-type Networks (VCN). We describe the topological architecture of the VCN, design its addressing and routing schemes, and demonstrate its various properties. We also evaluate its performance and compare it with fat-tree, a representative Clos-type data center network architecture. The evaluation results show that the VCN can deliver the same throughput as fat-tree, but use significantly reduced network resources.
Influence of Gender and Program of Enrollment on Adolescents' and Teens' Occupational and Educational Aspirations

The study examined relationships of gender and program of enrollment to adolescents' occupational and educational aspirations using data from youth in grades 7-12. Frequency distributions created demographic profiles of participants. A regression analysis used job choice as the dependent variable, and gender and program of enrollment as independent variable. Results indicated students desired professional jobs, many requiring graduate degrees or licensing. Gender and program of enrollment were significantly related to ideal job, with program of enrollment being a stronger predictor. Nearly 1/2 of vocational students desired professional jobs, yet expect to work in lower positions in the jobs hierarchy than their college preparatory counterparts. This study confirmed existing knowledge about unrealistic occupational and educational aspirations held by adolescents. Job opportunities likely to be available to them do not match goals. Recommendations focused on providing more opportunities for students to explore realities of the labor market and make choices in-line with abilities and interests.
A Rare Case of Carcinoid Constrictive Pericarditis.

We describe a case of atypical carcinoid heart disease. A 62-year-old woman with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor metastatic to the liver and lymph nodes presented with recurrent unilateral pleural effusions and lower extremity edema. Multimodality imaging and workup resulted in the diagnosis of carcinoid-related constrictive pericarditis, a rare form of carcinoid heart disease. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).
Book Review: China's Changing Welfare Mix: Local Perspectives:

A review is presented of the book "China's Changing Welfare Mix: Local Perspectives," edited by Beatriz Carrillo and Jane Duckett.
Relationship Between Mobile Digital Sensor Monitoring and Perioperative Outcomes: Systematic Review.

Background: Monitoring surgical recovery has traditionally been confined to metrics measurable within the hospital and clinic setting. However, commercially available mobile sensors are now capable of extending measurements into a patient’s home. As these sensors were developed for nonmedical applications, their clinical role has yet to be established. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the relationship between data generated by mobile sensors and postoperative outcomes. Objective: The objective of this study is to describe the current use of mobile sensors in the perioperative setting and the correlation between their data and clinical outcomes. Methods: A systematic search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library from inception until April 2019 was performed to identify studies of surgical patients monitored with mobile sensors. Sensors were considered if they collected patient metrics such as step count, temperature, or heart rate. Studies were included if patients underwent major surgery (≥1 inpatient postoperative day), patients were monitored using mobile sensors in the perioperative period, and the study reported postoperative outcomes (ie, complications and hospital readmission). For studies including step count, a pooled analysis of the step count per postoperative day was calculated for the complication and noncomplication cohorts using mean and a random-effects linear model. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation tool was used to assess study quality. Results: From 2209 abstracts, we identified 11 studies for review. Reviewed studies consisted of either prospective observational cohorts (n=10) or randomized controlled trials (n=1). Activity monitors were the most widely used sensors (n=10), with an additional study measuring temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate (n=1). Low step count was associated with worse postoperative outcomes. A median step count of around 1000 steps per postoperative day was associated with adverse surgical outcomes. Within the studies, there was heterogeneity between the type of surgery and type of reported postoperative outcome. Conclusions: Despite significant heterogeneity in the type of surgery and sensors, low step count was associated with worse postoperative outcomes across surgical specialties. Further studies and standardization are needed to assess the role of mobile sensors in postoperative care, but a threshold of approximately 1000 steps per postoperative day warrants further investigation.
Selective deletion of the receptor for CSF1, c-fms, in osteoclasts results in a high bone mass phenotype, smaller osteoclasts in vivo and an impaired response to an anabolic PTH regimen

The receptor for Colony Stimulating Factor 1 (CSF1), c-fms, is highly expressed on mature osteoclasts suggesting a role for this cytokine in regulating the function of these cells. Consistent with this idea, in vitro studies have documented a variety of effects of CSF1 in mature osteoclasts. To better define the role of CSF1 in these cells, we conditionally deleted c-fms in osteoclasts (c-fms-OC-/-) by crossing c-fmsflox/flox mice with mice expressing Cre under the control of the cathepsin K promoter. The c-fms-OC-/- mice were of normal weight and had normal tooth eruption. However, when quantified by DXA, bone mass was significantly higher in the spine and femur of female knock out mice and in the femurs of male knock out mice. MicroCT analyses of femurs showed that female c-fms-OC-/- mice had significantly increased trabecular bone mass with a similar trend in males and both sexes demonstrated significantly increased trabecular number and reduced trabecular spacing. Histomorphometric analysis of the femoral trabecular bone compartment demonstrated a trend towards increased numbers of osteoclasts, +26% in Noc/BPm and +22% in OcS/BS in the k/o animals but this change was not significant. However, when the cellular volume of osteoclasts was quantified, the c-fms-OC-/- cells were found to be significantly smaller than controls. Mature osteoclasts show a marked spreading response when exposed to CSF1 in a non-gradient fashion. However, osteoclasts freshly isolated from c-fms-OC-/- mice had a near complete abrogation of this response. C-fms-OC-/- mice treated with (1-34)hPTH 80 ng/kg/d in single daily subcutaneous doses for 29 days showed an attenuated anabolic response in trabecular bone compared to wild-type animals. Taken together, these data indicate an important non-redundant role for c-fms in regulating mature osteoclast function in vivo.
Unconfirmed penicillin allergy labels in the paediatric outpatient setting: A call for research and quality improvement initiatives.

Over the last 10 years, the electronic medical record has redefined medical documentation, and physicians rely on accurate records to make clinical decisions. Penicillin allergy labels (PALs) are important pieces of the medical history that guide physicians in selecting specific antibiotic classes for the treatment of infectious diseases. However, most children labelled as penicillin-allergic do not have an IgE-mediated (immediate) allergic reaction to penicillin or its derivatives. In the absence of confirmatory penicillin allergy testing or additional history, these children receive alternative, often broad-spectrum and second-line, antibiotics. Addressing unconfirmed PALs requires an understanding of how and why labels get added to the electronic medical record. This viewpoint highlights the knowledge gaps in paediatric outpatient penicillin allergy labelling and proposes an acronym ('LABEL') that primary care providers and antimicrobial stewards can utilise when designing initiatives to address unconfirmed PALs in the community.
The Malleable Latina: The Construction of Hispanic Womanhood in Hollywood

This research studies how Latinas have been characterized in Hollywood movies and television in the past twenty years, questioning who is able to portray Hispanic women, who gets to be considered a Hispanic woman in Hollywood, and what productions look for when casting a “ Latina ” character. Data analysis includes analysis of films with Latinas as the central characters and the roles Hispanic women play in films. I aim to trace how the perception of Latinas has changed over the past twenty years in film and television in order to highlight the lack of diversity in films and television and to turn the spotlight onto the need for the creation of more realistic stories for Hispanic women.
Factors Associated with Incarceration in Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness: Results from the HOPE HOME Study

In the US, the median age of adults experiencing homelessness and incarceration is increasing. Little is known about risk factors for incarceration among older adults experiencing homelessness. To develop targeted interventions, there is a need to understand their risk factors for incarceration. To examine the prevalence and risk factors associated with incarceration in a cohort of older adults experiencing homelessness. Prospective, longitudinal cohort study with interviews every 6 months for a median of 5.8 years. We recruited adults ≥50 years old and homeless at baseline (n=433) via population-based sampling. Our dependent variable was incident incarceration, defined as one night in jail or prison per 6-month follow-up period after study enrollment. Independent variables included socioeconomic status, social, health, housing, and prior criminal justice involvement. Participants had a median age of 58 years and were predominantly men (75%) and Black (80%). Seventy percent had at least one chronic medical condition, 12% reported heavy drinking, and 38% endorsed moderate-severe use of cocaine, 8% of amphetamines, and 7% of opioids. At baseline, 84% reported a lifetime history of jail stays; 37% reported prior prison stays. During follow-up, 23% spent time in jail or prison. In multivariable models, factors associated with a higher risk of incarceration included the following: having 6 or more confidants (HR=2.13, 95% CI=1.2–3.7, p=0.007), remaining homeless (HR=1.72, 95% CI=1.1–2.8, p=0.02), heavy drinking (HR=2.05, 95% CI=1.4–3.0, p<0.001), moderate-severe amphetamine use (HR=1.89, 95% CI=1.2–3.0, p=0.006), and being on probation (HR=3.61, 95% CI=2.4–5.4, p<0.001) or parole (HR=3.02, 95% CI=1.5–5.9, p=0.001). Older adults experiencing homelessness have a high risk of incarceration. There is a need for targeted interventions addressing substance use, homelessness, and reforming parole and probation in order to abate the high ongoing risk of incarceration among older adults experiencing homelessness.
Effects of alcohol on brain oxygenation and brain hypoxia induced by intravenous heroin.

Abstract Alcohol is the most commonly used psychoactive drug, often taken in conjunction with opioid drugs. Since both alcohol and opioids can induce CNS depression, it is often assumed that alcohol potentiates the known hypoxic effects of opioid drugs. To address this supposition, we used oxygen sensors to examine the effects of alcohol on brain oxygenation and hypoxic responses induced by intravenous heroin in awake, freely moving rats. To eliminate robust sensory effects of alcohol following its oral or intraperitoneal delivery, alcohol was administered directly into the stomach via chronically implanted intragastric catheters at human relevant doses. Alcohol delivered at a 0.5 g/kg dose did not affect brain oxygen levels, except for a weak transient increase during drug delivery. This phasic oxygen increase was stronger at a 2.0 g/kg alcohol dose and followed by a weaker tonic increase. Since alcohol absorption from intragastric delivery is much slower and more prolonged than with intraperitoneal or intravenous injections, the rapid rise of brain oxygen levels suggests that alcohol has a direct action on sensory afferents in the stomach well before the drug physically reaches brain tissue via circulation. Despite slow tonic increases in brain oxygen, alcohol at the 2.0 g/kg dose strongly potentiates heroin-induced oxygen responses, increasing both the magnitude and duration of oxygen decrease. Therefore, under the influence of alcohol, the use of opioid drugs becomes much more dangerous, increasing brain hypoxia and enhancing the probability of serious health complications, including coma and death.
STEM Education and STEM-Focused Career Development in Vietnam

Career development (CD) is important to individual, organizational, and national successes because it informs career plans and outcomes. CD is generally understood as a decision driven by a person, but shaped by parents, organizations, communities, and societies. Vietnam has become part of the global market and joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the World Trade Organization. This has prompted a shift in the education system to produce employees that can compete in a global workforce. To achieve this, Vietnam has shifted to a STEM-focused curriculum at K-12 and higher education. This chapter discusses the promotion of (STEM) education and CD at K-12 and higher-education levels in Vietnam while focusing on the factors that affect career guidance and development in STEM. Future suggestions and considerations are proposed for research and practice. This chapter contributes to establishing research and practice between the two orientations—STEM education and Career Development in Vietnam.
Accountable Care Organizations: A Case Study in the Use of Care Coordination: Montefiore Medical Center

Montefiore Medical Center is an integrated delivery system in the Bronx and lower Westchester and the University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Montefiore provides care for a diverse population with a high rate of chronic disease and low socioeconomic status. This chapter traces the history of Montefiore’s Accountable Care Organization (ACO) development including care management experience prior to the Affordable Care Act, administrative structure, and the use of care management as a central element in its ACO.
Some features of peptidergic transmission.

Publisher Summary In the nervous system, neurons communicate with each other mainly through the use of chemical transmitters. From a simplistic point of view, one could imagine that one excitatory and one inhibitory transmitter would be sufficient for a nervous system to function. However, this does not seem to be true in view of the recent discovery of many peptides in the nervous system. Finding an explanation for this “diversity of transmitters” may provide much insight to understanding of the nervous system. Simple model systems have proven very useful in the past; for instance, the knowledge of synaptic transmission gained from studies of the frog neuromuscular junction seems to apply to fast chemical transmission in general. The study of peptidergic transmission may benefit from a similar strategy. A sufficiently simple preparation may permit a rigorous and detailed characterization of peptidergic transmission.
Fine tuning the specificity of the periplasmic phosphate transport receptor. Site-directed mutagenesis, ligand binding, and crystallographic studies.

Phosphorous, primarily in the form of phosphate, is a critical nutrient for the life of a cell. We have previously determined the 1.7-A resolution structure of the phosphate-binding protein, an initial receptor for the high-affinity phosphate active transport system or permease in Escherichia coli (Luecke, H., and Quiocho, F.A. (1990) Nature 347, 402-406). This structure is the first to reveal the key role of hydrogen bonding interactions in conferring the high specificity of the permease, a specificity also shared by other phosphate transport systems. Both monobasic and dibasic phosphates are recognized by the phosphate-binding protein with Asp56 playing a key role. Here we report site-directed mutagenesis, ligand binding, and crystallographic studies of the binding protein which show that introduction of one additional Asp by mutagenesis of the Thr141 in the ligand-binding site restricts binding to only the monobasic phosphate.
Evaluation of Restricted Domain Question-Answering Systems

Question-Answering (QA) evaluation efforts have largely been tailored to open-domain systems. The TREC QA test collections contain newswire articles and the accompanying queries cover a wide variety of topics. While some apprehension about the limitations of restricted-domain systems is no doubt justified, the strict promotion of unlimited domain QA evaluations may have some unintended consequences. Simply applying the open domain QA evaluation paradigm to a restricted-domain system poses problems in the areas of test question development, answer key creation, and test collection construction. This paper examines the evaluation requirements of restricted domain systems. It incorporates evaluation criteria identified by users of an operational QA system in the aerospace engineering domain. While the paper demonstrates that user-centered task-based evaluations are required for restricted domain systems, these evaluations are found to be equally applicable to open domain systems.
Parameterization of Ring Current Adiabatic Energization

An analysis of the factors that parameterize the net adiabatic energy gain in the inner magnetosphere during magnetic storms is presented. A single storm was considered, that of April 17, 2002. Three simulations were conducted with similar boundary conditions but with different electric field descriptions. It is concluded that the best parameter for quantifying the net adiabatic energy gain in the inner magnetosphere during storms is the instantaneous value of the product of the maximum westward electric field at the outer simulation boundary with the nightside plasma sheet density. In addition, these two quantities alone usually produced large correlation coefficients, along with several other magnetospheric quantities. An analysis is given regarding which parameters could be considered useful predictors of the net adiabatic energy gain of the ring current. Long integration times over the parameters lessen the significance of the correlation. This implies the instant response of the ring current to the particle source and convection. Finally, some significant differences exist in the correlation coefficients depending on the electric field description, and these differences are presented and discussed.
Injection laryngoplasty in children with cystic fibrosis and abnormal swallow.

Abstract Objective Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) are uniquely vulnerable to the pulmonary complications of chronic aspiration. We present a case series of children with CF and evidence of chronic aspiration who underwent injection laryngoplasty to improve the safety and efficacy of their swallow. Study design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary care children's hospital. Methods/Subjects A chart review was performed on three consecutive cases of children with CF and evidence of aspiration on modified barium swallow (MBS) evaluated at a tertiary care, academic children's medical center. Results Three patients with CF underwent injection laryngoplasty for evidence of aspiration or laryngeal penetration on MBS evaluation. Normal laryngeal anatomy was identified intraoperatively in each case. At the time of the procedure, patients were 22 months, 70 months, and 24 months old, and follow-up information was available for 7 months, 11 months, and 12 months post-procedure, respectively. Presenting symptoms included chronic cough, cough with oral liquids, and recurrent pneumonia. Each patient underwent successful injection into the interarytenoid space. Post-operatively, modified barium swallow demonstrated resolution of aspiration or penetration in all patients. No procedure-related complications were encountered. Conclusion Patients with CF are highly susceptible to pulmonary infections, and aggressive treatment of chronic aspiration is often necessary. Injection laryngoplasty may be effective in normalizing swallowing in these children. Future study will elucidate the duration of effect and if this technique improves long-term pulmonary outcomes in CF patients.
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa as a Cause of Infectious Diarrhea Successfully Treated with Oral Ciprofloxacin

Objective:To describe an immunocompromised patient (without AIDS) with nosocomial infectious diarrhea caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Oral ciprofloxacin therapy proved to be effective.Case Summary:An 80-year-old woman with type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension developed progressive renal insufficiency, was hospitalized because of uremia, and underwent hemodialysis. When the patient developed hematochezia, Duke's C sigmoid colon cancer was detected and successfully resected. She received broad-spectrum antibiotics in the perioperative period. The patient then developed profuse diarrhea associated with abdominal cramping, a low-grade fever, prostration, and headache. The patient then started to receive vancomycin 500 mg po qid empirically. Four days later, the diarrhea continued unabated, the Clostridium difficile titer was negative, and the vancomycin therapy was stopped. However, the stool culture was positive for heavy growth of P. aeruginosa sensitive to ciprofloxacin. The patient then began to r...
Economic impact of wood pellet co-firing in South and West Alabama

Abstract Alabama imports coal from other states to generate electricity. This paper assessed the direct and indirect economic impacts of small-scale wood pellet production to be co-fired with coal for power generation in Alabama. Three sizes of wood pellet plants and a regional input–output model were used for the analysis. The results showed that the economic impact increases with the size of the plant. Wood pellet production will have a multiplier effect on the economy, especially forest-related services, retail stores, the health service industry, and tax revenue for the government. Domestic wood pellet production can reduce the use of imported coal, allow the use of local woody biomass, and create economic activities in Alabama's rural communities. A policy to support the production of wood pellet will serve to encourage the use of wood for power generation and the local economy.
COINCIDENCE AND CONSEQUENCE: Marianism and the Mass Media in the Global Philippines

In this essay, I examine several events involving Filipinos at home and abroad that organize themselves around convergences of mediation: sites and events where figures and practices of religious mediation interact with modern technologies of the mass media. Illustrating these at the center of the essay is an ethnography of a festival celebrating the Virgin Mary's birthday that was organized by a Filipino devotional group and took place in New York City. Framing this event in the essay is a seemingly unrelated incident: the kidnapping of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) by a group demanding that the Philippine government withdraw its coalition forces from Iraq. One extraordinary coincidence and the appeal for divine intervention immediately links the two. What further draws these two events into relatedness, however, is that they both entail imaginaries of the global Philippines that are rooted in a shared history of transnational movement, but diverge owing to significant differences in socioeconomic status and physical vulnerability. For the religious imaginary wherein the Philippines is firmly and safely situated in a worldwide order of Marian redemption betokens the privilege to assume preemptive control over dangerous worlds via particular frameworks of interpretation. Using Filipino Marianism first as a lens through which to understand the range of affinities between religious and technological mediation, I then examine the ways in which such intermedial relationships reveal the associative paths that generate class-inflected interpretations of crisis and danger, as well as the strategies of power and control to which those paths give rise.
Risks and Benefits of Taxanes in Breast and Ovarian Cancer

The taxanes are a unique class of agents with a broad spectrum of clinical activity. They act by binding to tubulin, producing unnaturally stable microtubules and subsequent cell death. The distribution and elimination of paclitaxel depend on dose and administration rate. This nonlinearity is much less evident at lower infusion rates (24-hour infusions) and more evident at high plasma concentrations (3-hour infusions). The pharmacokinetics of docetaxel also suggest the presence of nonlinear pathways, but these appear to be clinically insignificant at the current doses utilised (60 to 100 mg/m2). Both agents undergo hepatic metabolism and biliary excretion and require dose adjustment in the setting of liver dysfunction. Drug interactions are quite common with these agents, some of which are sequence-dependent and clinically significant. The optimal dose of paclitaxel is not known at this time, and controversy over possible dose- or schedule-related differences in efficacy still remain. Docetaxel is somewhat more consistent in its dose and scheduling information, but controversy remains regarding a dose-benefit relationship as well as scheduling differences (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Toxicity profiles for these agents are somewhat different. Paclitaxel is more likely to be associated with peripheral neuropathy and myalgias/arthralgias than docetaxel. Docetaxel is more likely to be associated with a cumulative fluid retention syndrome that can be dose limiting. Paclitaxel and docetaxel are both highly active agents against breast cancer, including tumours that are resistant to anthracyclines. Docetaxel tends to have higher response rates overall, but direct comparisons at maximally tolerated doses have not been completed. Combination regimens with many different agents are attempting to improve on the responses seen with single-agent taxanes. The combination of paclitaxel and a platinum compound should be utilised as first-line therapy of advanced ovarian cancer. Controversy lies in the choice of the platinum compound and the dose and administration schedule of paclitaxel. Substitution of docetaxel for paclitaxel in these platinum-containing regimens is also being investigated. The taxanes also exhibit activity against ovarian cancer in patients previously exposed to platinum agents. These agents may also be administered intraperitoneally for local therapy of metastatic ovarian cancer. Although docetaxel and paclitaxel are often considered similar in activity and tolerability, this review emphasises the fact that these agents are indeed different. Clinicians need to be familiar with the benefits and adverse events related to each agent in order to make informed, appropriate clinical decisions.
Civet cats, fried grasshoppers, and David Beckham's Pajamas: Unruly bodies after SARS

This article discusses the viscerality of consumption; in particular, consumption-as-eating and consumption-as-spending as a set of heterogeneous, contestatory discourses and practices of identity production and subject formation. To do so, I bring together two intersecting events: the Chinese government's ban on wild animal markets during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, and Chinese and European media frenzy over the visit to China by the Spanish football club Real Madrid in the wake of the epidemic. In discussing these events, I pay specific attention to unruly bodies-both human and nonhuman-as consumables and those who consume them. In examining translocal encounters of these unruly bodies, I suggest that, in post-SARS China, discourses and practices of consumption produce emergent socialities that at once refigure racialized Orientalist tropes and conjure up discrepant neoliberal imaginaries of lifestyle and consumer choice.
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Fluoroquinolones

The pharmacokinetic characteristics of levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and gatifloxacin include excellent oral bioavailability (90-99%), extensive penetration into tissues and body fluids, and an elimination half-life (6-12 hrs) that allows for once-daily dosing in patients with normal renal function. Levofloxacin and gatifloxacin primarily are excreted unchanged in the urine, whereas moxifloxacin undergoes hepatic metabolism. The pharmacodynamic values that correlate with successful clinical and microbiologic outcomes, as well as prevent emergence of bacterial resistance, are ratios of maximum or peak unbound drug concentration (Cmax) to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and 24-hour unbound area under the concentration curve (AUC(0-24hr)) to MIC. For gram-negative infections, a Cmax:MIC greater than or equal to 10 and AUC(0-24hr):MIC greater than or equal to 125 are associated with increased probability of a successful outcome. For infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, an AUC(0-24hr):MIC of 30 or more is suggested for favorable clinical outcomes. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic values influence rational therapeutic decisions in the selection and dosages of these drugs.
How accurately does prostate biopsy Gleason score predict pathologic findings and disease free survival

Objective Due to the significant impact on prognosis by subgrouping of prostatectomy Gleason scores 7, we undertook this study to answer whether the biopsy Gleason score was as predictive of disease free survival and assess the correlation with the prostatectomy Gleason score in a modern prostatectomy series. Methods An analysis of 1,031 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer was performed. All data was prospectively collected. The Gleason score was categorized into 3 different groups ( 7) for biopsy and prostatectomy specimens. Disease free survival was then analyzed for each group. Discrepancies between scores and outcomes were evaluated. Results Accurate correlation was noted in 54.8, 66.8, and 47.4% of Gleason scores 7, respectively. Overall accuracy was 58.3%. Both, biopsy and prostatectomy Gleason score correlated significantly with disease free survival (P = 0.001), furthermore the classification (Gleason scores 7) was highly significant (P = 0.001). Patients with prostatectomy Gleason 7 than those with prostatectomy Gleason > 7, (P = 0.02). The overall disease free survival was similar among the patients with Gleason score of 7 (P = 0.12). Conclusions It appears that biopsy Gleason score, although oftentimes not correlating strongly with the prostatectomy Gleason score, is an important prognostic factor in prostate cancer. There are significant differences in disease free survival between biopsy and prostatectomy Gleason score categories. Prostate 49:185–190, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
SYNTHESIS OF RNA IN ISOLATED NUCLEI OF THE NOVIKOFF ASCITES TUMOR.

Nuclei of the Novikoff ascites rat tumor were prepared in a sucrose-salts medium and incubated in a buffered isotonic sucrose medium supplemented with dextran, MgCl2, an ATP-regenerating system, and labeled ribonucleotide triphosphates. Incorporation of the labeled ribonucleotides into RNA was demonstrated; this incorporation required all four triphosphates, was sensitive to both ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease, and was inhibited completely by Actinomycin D. The labeled RNA remained associated with washed nuclei and on fractionation with phenol was found in the phenol interphase fraction with the DNA. The nucleotide composition of the labeled RNA, determined by distribution of the 32P label, was closely similar to the nucleotide composition of the phenol interphase “high turnover” RNA formed in the nucleus of intact cells. The composition of the labeled “high turnover” RNA was distinct from that of the bulk of the nuclear RNA and was inversely related to the composition of the DNA; the C + GA + U(T) ratios were approximately 1.25, 1.7 and 0.8, respectively. The significance of the DNA-dependent formation of a high G + C type of RNA was discussed with regard to the possibility of a modified activity of RNA polymerase within the structurally organized nucleus.
Intensive versus moderate blood-pressure control in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes

Intensive versus moderate blood-pressure control in normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes
Cerebral ventricular change over the first 10 years after the onset of schizophrenia.

Whether the brain structural abnormalities seen in schizophrenia are progressive is controversial. We previously reported on a longitudinal study of 50 first-episode patients with schizophrenia and 20 controls who had serial MRI scans during the first 5 years of illness. Greater enlargement of lateral ventricles and reduction of hemispheric volume was observed over time in the patients compared with controls. The present study obtained MRI scans from 26 of these patients and 10 controls at a follow-up 10 years subsequent to their first evaluations. The initial, 4–5th and 10th year scans were examined for the degree of change in ventricular and hemispheric volume. Significantly greater ventricular enlargement during the second 5 years was detected in the patient cohort compared with controls (P<0.05) with nine of the patients having ventricular enlargement (as measured by percent change) occurring at a rate exceeding that of any of the controls from years 1 through 10. The rate of ventricular change during the first 5 years was significantly correlated with age at first hospitalization, and ventricular enlargement in years 5–10 was correlated with the amount of time spent in hospital. Paradoxically, greater change in ventricles over time was correlated with better, not worse, outcome at the 10th year of follow-up with regard to the presence of symptoms. These data suggest heterogeneity in the course of brain change whereby some patients may exhibit active structural brain change only early in their illness or not at all after their first episode, while others continue to exhibit ventricular change spanning the decade subsequent to their first episode. Despite these differences among patients, the present study fails to detect any relationship of ventricular enlargement to poorer outcome as has been reported by other investigators.
Fourier analysis of the approximation power of principal shift-invariant spaces

The approximation order provided by a directed set {S h } h>0 of spaces, each spanned by thehZ d -translates of one function, is analyzed. The “nearoptimal” approximants of [R2] from eachs h to the exponential functions are used to establish upper bounds on the approximation order. These approximants are also used on the Fourier transform domain to yield approximations for other smooth functions, and thereby provide lower bounds on the approximation order. As a special case, the classical Strang-Fix conditions are extended to bounded summable generating functions. The second part of the paper consists of a detailed account of various applications of these general results to spline and radial function theory. Emphasis is given to the case when the scale {s h } is obtained froms 1 by means other than dilation. This includes the derivation of spectral approximation orders associated with smooth positive definite generating functions.
Variability of winds and temperatures in the lower thermosphere

Abstract High-resolution daytime incoherent scatter radar measurements of plasma temperatures and drifts in the ionospheric E-region above Millstone Hill (42.6°N, 71.5°W) have been used to derive horizontal neutral winds and temperatures in the lower thermosphere (105–130 km) during five multi-day campaigns in 1987–1991. The underlying semi-diurnal tidal component has been determined from the observations, with characteristic average amplitudes of 50 ± 15 m/s and 30 ± 10 K. Phase propagation with altitude follows the expected structure of semi-diurnal tidal modes, but reveals complex coupling of tidal modes, particularly above 115 km. Day-to-day variability in the winds and temperatures is large, and the deviations from the semi-diurnal harmonic can exceed 40 m/s and 50 K. No strong correlations have so far been found with geophysical parameters to explain the observed variability.