cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing identifies low risk patients with heart failure and severely impaired exercise capacity considered for heart transplantation

Objectives. The 3-year survival rates of 500 patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) referred for heart transplantation were assessed to evaluate the clinical and exercise variables most useful for estimating prognostic risk. Background. Detailed prognostic risk stratification of patients with a peak exercise oxygen consumption (Vo2) 14 ml/min per kg to identify lower risk patient subsets has been limited in earlier series by relatively small sample size. Methods. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed in 500 patients with CHF referred for heart transplantation; 154 (31%) had a peak exercise Vo2≤14 ml/min per kg. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the 3-year prognostic risk. Results. The 55% 3-year survival rate of the 77 patients with a peak exercise Vo2≤14 ml/min per kg unable to reach a peak exercise systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120 mm Hg was significantly lower than the 83% survival rate in the 74 patients able to reach this exercise blood pressure (p = 0.004). Multivariate analysis revealed that peak exercise SBP (p = 0.0005) and percent predicted peak Vo2≤50% (p = 0.04) were the two most important predictors for the combined end point of death or listing as Status 1. Conclusions. Peak exercise SBP and percent predicted peak exercise Vo2are two inexpensive and easily measured noninvasive variables that can be used to further prognostically risk stratify ambulatory patients with CHF referred for heart transplantation with a peak exercise Vo2≤14 ml/min per kg.
Purification and characterization of trans-permethrin metabolizing microsomal esterases from workers of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar).

Abstract Three α-naphthyl acetate hydrolyzing esterase isozymes were purified from microsomes prepared from Reticulitermes flavipes workers. The two step process involved sequential preparative IEF followed by continuous elution preparative electrophoresis on a 5% non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel. The first IEF run resulted in 5.4-fold purification with a yield of 46.1%. Subsequent IEF further purified the esterases 14.3-fold and 12% yield. Preparative electrophoresis of the pooled IEF fractions produced three major peaks of α-naphthyl acetate hydrolyzing activity. The esterases were correspondingly designated microsomal esterase (ME) 1, ME 2, and ME 3 based on increasing molecular retention on a native PAGE gel. ME 1, ME 2, and ME 3 were acidic proteins with p I values of 4.61, 4.70, and 4.77, respectively. Molecular mass as determined by gel filtration chromatography of ME 1, ME 2, and ME 3 was 69, 64, and 62 kDa, respectively. SDS–PAGE gels produced a single band for each of the isozymes with a molecular mass of 63 kDa indicating that the esterases were monomers. Specific activities of ME 1, ME 2, and ME 3 increased with increasing pH and the enzymes were active over a broad temperature range (25–55°C). The three purified isozymes were inhibited at low concentration by paraoxon (10 −10 M), chlorpyrifos (10 −6 M), DEF (10 −6 M), and PMSF (10 −6 M) indicating that they were “B” type serine esterases. Conversely, inhibition was not observed at 10 −4 M eserine, PHMB, or CaCl 2 , further supporting the conclusion that the microsomal esterases were of the “B” type. None of the isozymes was inhibited by 10 −4 M imidacloprid, fipronil, or PBO. Quantitatively, ME 1, ME 2 and ME 3 metabolized t -permethrin at 21.8, 21.0, and 38.8 nmol/h/mg protein, representing a purification factor of 333-, 318-, and 591-fold over microsomes, respectively. The three isozymes produced the same type and number of t -permethrin metabolites.
A capacitively coupled field mapper for 2-dimensional distributed source field problems

POISSONIAN or distributed source fields occur often in present-day problems dealing with such subjects as torsional stress analysis, heat transfer, viscous fluid flow, eddy currents, and electric and magnetic fields. Since the mathematical solution of Poissonian fields has only been possible in several special cases, physical analogues have been developed for 2-dimensional fields. A highly successful physical analogue is the sandbed fluid mapper.1?3 This paper describes an electric analogue mapper which was originated and developed by the authors. The analogue can give directly usable 2-dimensional solutions of high accuracy.
Systematic concurrency testing using CHESS

Concurrency testing should aim for systematic coverage of thread interleavings. The most common method used today is stress testing, where the program is run under load with lots of threads. While this indirectly increases the variety of thread interleavings, the coverage is neither sufficient and nor predictable---stories are legend of the so-called "Heisenbugs" that rarely surface during testing and are very hard to debug.In this talk, I will argue for a new notion of concurrency testing called scenario testing and describe CHESS, a tool we have developed towards that end. A user of CHESS provides simple concurrency scenarios and CHESS systematically enumerates all thread interleavings of these scenarios. CHESS employs model checking techniques to effectively focus on potentially bug-yielding schedules and provides sound quantifiable notions of coverage. On finding an error, CHESS has the capability to replay the erroneous interleaving, greatly simplifying the debugging process. CHESS has been successfully integrated with several codebases inside Microsoft and is used daily by the test teams. CHESS has found numerous bugs in systems that have been stress-tested for months. Additionally, CHESS has successfully reproduced many stress-test crashes that were previously hard to debug. The latter shows that many bugs that are found in stress-testing can indeed be reproduced in simple scenarios, a good validation for scenario testing.CHESS is available for download at http://research.microsoft.com/CHESS. The talk will contain enough material to act as a tutorial for first-time users. I will also describe the challenges in applying CHESS to a new codebase and how to address them.
The phosphorylase b to a converting enzyme of rabbit skeletal muscle.

Abstract A method for the purification of the enzyme catalyzing the conversion of phosphorylase b to a is described. After a 65-fold increase in specific activity, the enzyme obtained is free of PR enzyme activity. The course of the reaction at several concentrations of converting enzyme is illustrated, and converting enzyme units are defined. The optimum pH for the enzyme is approximately 9.0; the reaction requires Mn++ or Mg++ ions and ATP. It is shown that a mono-manganous-ATP complex is probably acting in the reaction. Conversion of phosphorylase b to a is carried out in the presence of 32P-ATP, and an incorporation of at least 2 moles of 32P per mole of phosphorylase a is found to occur.
WE-A-218-10: The Tradeoff between Diagnostic Performance and Radiation Dose for CT Imaging in the Diagnosis of Appendicitis Across Observers with Various Levels of Experience

Purpose: To investigate the tradeoffs between radiationdose and diagnostic performance in CT for a challenging clinical task (diagnosis of appendicitis). Methods: This IRB approved study utilized data for 20 patients undergoing clinical CT exams for indications of appendicitis. Medical records were reviewed to establish true diagnosis and identified 10 positive and 10 negative cases. Original (100%) and simulated reduced dose levels (70%, 50%, 30%, 20% of original) were created with a validated software tool using raw projection data from each scan. An observer study was performed with 6 radiologists (of different training and cross‐sectional reading experience) reviewing each case at each dose level in stratified random order over several sessions. Readers assessed image quality and provided confidence in their diagnosis of appendicitis, each on a 5 point scale. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves were generated for each dose level using all rating levels and from the resulting ROC curves, the AUC (Area under curve) was calculated for each dose level. This analysis was repeated for groups of readers with different experience levels. Results: The ROC curves averaged over all 6 observers and corresponding AUC values showed indifferent performances for all the dose levels. For the 2 non‐abdominal trained, occasional CT readers, the performance did not decrease until 30% dose level. For the 2 non‐abdominal trained, routine CT readers, the performance did not decrease until 20% dose level. For the 2 abdominal trained, routine CT readers, the performance is consistent across all the dose levels. Conclusions: This preliminary study demonstrated the tradeoffs between radiationdose and diagnostic performance and indicated that: (a) There is essentially no difference between diagnostic performance of 100%, 70%, and 50% dose level for all 6 observers. (b) For abdominal CT specialists, the diagnostic difference is not substantially compromised even at 20% dose levels. (c) For non‐abdominal trained CT readers, the performance declines at 30% and 20% dose levels. For Michael McNitt‐ Gray: Institutional research agreement, Siemens AG Recipient research support Siemens AG
Satellite assessment of Mississippi River plume variability: Causes and predictability

Abstract The Mississippi River is the largest river in North America and 6th largest worldwide in terms of discharge. In this study, 5 years (1989–1993) of NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer satellite data were used to investigate the variability of the Mississippi River sediment plume and the environmental forcing factors responsible for its variability. Plume variability was determined by extracting information on plume area and plume length from 112 cloud free satellite images. Correlation and multiple regression techniques were used to quantify these relationships for possible predictive applications. River discharge and wind forcing were identified as the main factors affecting plume variability. Seasonal and interannual variabilities in plume area were similar in magnitude and corresponded closely with large changes in river discharge. However, day-to-day variability in plume size and morphology was more closely associated with changes in the wind field. The plume parameters best predicted by the multiple regression models were plume area, east and west of the delta. Predictive models were improved by separating the data into summer and winter seasons. The best predictive model for the western area was obtained during summer when 64 % of plume variability was explained by river discharge, wind speed, and the east-west wind component. The best model for the eastern plume area was obtained during summer when river discharge, the north-south and east-west wind components explained 70 % of plume variability. The best model for the offshore extent of the sediment plume was obtained during summer when 53% of plume variability was explained by the east-west wind component, river discharge, and wind speed. All plume measurements were maximized by eastward winds from slightly different directions. During winter, the area and length of the western plume was additionally enhanced by offshore winds associated with winter storms. Anticyclonic curvature of the plume west of the delta was observed in 42% of the satellite images. This circulation pattern was observed primarily in association with westward winds.
Studies in plant metabolism. II. The metabolism of C14-labeled 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in bean plants.

Three major radioactive compounds have been found in 80% alcohol extracts of bean stems from plants treated with either α-methylene or carboxyl C14-labeled 2,4-D. One of the compounds was identified as 2,4-D. The Rf values of these compounds were respectively: 0.76 – 0.78 and 0.83 – 0.86 for 2,4-D, 0.55 – 0.59 and 0.29 – 0.32 for unknown 1, and 0.32 – 0.35 and 0.66 – 0.73 for unknown 2 when chromatographs containing the extracts were developed with phenol saturated with water and butanol-propionic acid-water. Free 2,4-D and unknown 1 were also found in the 80% alcohol extracts of leaves from bean plants treated with α-methylene C14-labeled 2,4-D. The concentration of 2,4-D in the stem extracts decreases to a minimum and then rises at a later date. A corresponding increase occurs in the concentration of unknown 1. A drop in its concentration occurs at the time the concentration of 2,4-D begins to increase. A similar relationship is observed in the leaf extracts. The close relationship between unknown 1 and 2,4-D, as well as the large quantity of unknown 1 formed, and the relatively great stability of unknown 1, suggests that a detoxification reaction may be operative in the plant. Unknown 1 may be a glycoside containing 2,4-D as the aglycon group.
Injecting electrospray ions into a Fourier transform electrostatic linear ion trap

Abstract A Fourier transform electrostatic linear ion trap (FT-ELIT) is a mass analyzer consisting of a field free region with a reflectron on each side. Ions bounce back and forth and a signal is generated using a centrally located image charge pickup electrode. In this report we describe a technique for injecting packets of ions produced by dim sources such as electrospray ionization (ESI) into an FT-ELIT. The technique involves accumulating and thermalizing ions in a collision cell. The collision cell is equipped with a set of electrodes that enables the creation of an axial electric field that is used to concentrate the accumulated ions near the exit. Further concentration is achieved by reducing the potential on the exit lens of the collision cell prior to ion ejection. We demonstrate that these concentration techniques significantly increase signal intensity. We also use ion optical simulations to show that the signal intensity increases because the concentration increases the spatial charge density of the injected ion cloud not only by compressing the ion cloud in the collision cell, but also by decreasing the time required to eject the ions from the collision cell. We also demonstrate that the concentration techniques do not broaden the kinetic energy distribution of the injected ions; therefore, the concentration does not degrade resolution. Using these injection techniques, we are able to analyze ions produced by ESI ranging from 300 to 2200 m/z in a single injection with high signal-to-noise ratio using FT-ELIT.
Signals of nature, prestidigital ecology

This article combines ecocritical readings of three digital texts – the iPad app ‘Grass’ and Ian Bogost’s games Guru Meditation and A Slow Year – with analytical ‘field notes’ from teaching these texts in recent EcoMedia seminars. This hybrid approach helps us encounter these digital texts in ways that produce unique insights relevant to ecocritical thought and pedagogy. The article argues that digital texts with overt signals of ‘Nature’ combine visual perceptions, bodily motions that are simultaneously outside and inside digital spaces, and psychological challenges that leverage memory and anticipation in unique ways that lead us into acts of ecological prestidigitation – sleight of hand. By studying such digital prestidigitation, we can perceive the illusions that have prevented us from thinking and being ecological. Thus liberated, we begin to explore ecology where new ways where algorithms, magic, and imagination meet.
METAPHORIC COHERENCE: DISTINGUISHING VERBAL METAPHOR FROM “ANOMALY”

Theories and computational models of metaphor comprehension generally circumvent the question of metaphor versus “anomaly” in favor of a treatment of metaphor versus literal language. Making the distinction between metaphoric and “anomalous” expressions is subject to wide variation in judgment, yet humans agree that some potentially metaphoric expressions are much more comprehensible than others. In the context of a program which interprets simple isolated sentences that are potential instances of cross-modal and other verbal metaphor, I consider some possible coherence criteria which must be satisfied for an expression to be “conceivable” metaphorically. Metaphoric constraints on object nominals are represented as abstracted or extended along with the invariant structural components of the verb meaning in a metaphor. This approach distinguishes what is preserved in metaphoric extension from that which is “violated”, thus referring to both “similarity” and “dissimilarity” views of metaphor. The role and potential limits of represented abstracted properties and constraints is discussed as they relate to the recognition of incoherent semantic combinations and the rejection or adjustment of metaphoric interpretations.
A Knowledge Scout for Discovering Medical Patterns: Methodology and System SCAMP

Knowledge scouts are software agents that autonomously synthesize knowledge of interest to a given user (target knowledge) by applying inductive database operators to a local or distributed dataset. This paper describes briefly a method and a scripting language for developing knowledge scouts, and then reports on experiments with a knowledge scout, SCAMP, for discovering patterns characterizing relationships among lifestyles, symptoms and diseases in a large medical database. Discovered patterns are presented in two forms: (1) attributional rules, which are expressions in attributional calculus, and (2) association graphs, which graphically and abstractly represent relations expressed by the rules. Preliminary results indicate a high potential utility of the presented methodology for deriving useful and understandable knowledge.
Fast approximation algorithms for job scheduling with processing set restrictions

We consider the problem of scheduling n independent jobs on m parallel machines, where the machines differ in their functionality but not in their processing speeds. Each job has a restricted set of machines to which it can be assigned, called its processing set. Preemption is not allowed. Our goal is to minimize the makespan of the schedule. We study two variants of this problem: (1) the case of tree-hierarchical processing set and (2) the case of nested processing set. We first give a fast algorithm for the case of tree-hierarchical processing set with a worst-case bound of 4/3, which is better than the best known algorithm whose worst-case bound is 2. We then give a more complicated algorithm for the case of nested processing set with a worst-case bound of 5/3, which is better than the best known algorithm whose worst-case bound is 7/4. In both cases, we will give examples achieving the worst-case bounds.
HYPERTROPHIC OSTEOARTHROPATHY AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS SIMULTANEOUS OCCURRENCE IN ASSOCIATION WITH DIFFUSE INTERSTITIAL FIBROSIS

A patient is described who was treated with high-dose prednisone in an attempt to halt progressive respiratory insufficiency associated with diffuse interstitial fibrosis. On cessation of steroid therapy the patient was noted to have radiologic manifestations of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) as well as clinical and laboratory features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Subsequently a diffuse vasculitis developed with bowel perforation and sepsis leading to death.
Effect of ileal sub-section and the method of collection of digesta on the determination of apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids in broilers

Abstract This study investigated the effect of the site of digestive sampling (terminal ileum vs. entire ileum) and the method of digesta collection (flushing vs. squeezing) on the determination of ileal amino acid (AA) digestibility in broilers. An experimental diet was formulated based on soybean meal and dextrose. The diet was fed to broiler chickens from 14 to 18 days of age. Twenty four replicate pens (twelve birds each) were given access to the experimental diet. Ileal contents were collected after euthanizing the birds by cervical dislocation at 18 days of age. Digesta were collected from the terminal (last 15 cm of the distal ileum) or entire ileum using either by flushing or squeezing with saline solution. The section from which the digesta were collected did not have a significant impact on the AA digestibility coefficients. However, values were higher (P via flushing than digesta collected via squeezing. The results suggest that flushing procedure to determine AA digestibility is a more accurate procedure than squeezing the digesta from ileum. However, the digestive section (terminal or entire ileum) of collection of digesta did not affect the CAID of AA in broilers.
A framework for encoding and caching of video for quality adaptive progressive download

Progressive download of multimedia objects over the Internet (e.g. www.youtube.com), where the video is downloaded and viewed during the download process, has become an increasingly popular alternative to multimedia streaming. Due to the fluctuating bandwidth and latency of the Internet, progressive download is often not fast enough, often resulting in intermittent stalling of the video. In this paper, we first propose a variation of the existing MPEG Fine Grained Scalability (FGS) profile to create a layered video representation that is suitable for progressive download in an environment characterized by varying bitrate. We also propose an efficient caching scheme that is specifically tailored for the proposed layered video representation. The proposed layered version of the Greedy-Dual-Size cache replacement policy is shown to reduce the latency observed by the client during progressive download of video in a varying bitrate environment. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed caching scheme improves the latency of progressive video downloads as well as the server efficiency.
Quantitative determination of the nutritional status of detrital microbiota and the grazing fauna by triglyceride glycerol analysis

Abstract Endogenous lipid storage components are accumulated or utilized by both microorganisms and marine invertebrates, depending upon their nutritional status. Triglycerides are commonly the lipid endogenous storage materials utilized by fungi, marine vertebrates and many invertebrates, and can be quantitatively estimated by gas Chromatographic assay of triacyl glycerol from lipid extraction. Deprivation from a food source can be detected by loss of triglyceride glycerol and estimated as the ratio of triglyceride glycerol to phospholipid measured as extractable lipid phosphate. In several estuarine animals, deprivation from food sources resulted in decline of both neutral lipid glycerol and triglyceride glycerol. Amphipods, feeding on estuarine detritus in the laboratory, showed the same nutritional state as those taken from detrital baskets in the field and were considerably better nourished than control amphipods deprived of food for a week.
Optimal estimation and sequential channel equalization algorithms for chaotic communications systems

Many previously proposed communications systems based on chaos disregard common channel distortions and fail to work under realistic channel conditions. In this paper, optimal estimation and sequential channel equalization algorithms are proposed for chaotic communications systems where information is encoded using symbolic dynamics representations. For the optimal estimate of the transmitted signal, the symbolic dynamics representation of chaotic systems is first exploited to represent the chaotic dynamics of the signal by an equivalent trellis diagram. Then, the Viterbi algorithm is used to achieve an optimal estimate of the noise corrupted chaotic sequence. For the sequential channel equalization algorithm, the dynamics-based trellis diagram is expanded to accommodate a finite impulse response (FIR) model of the channel. Once the initial estimate of the channel parameters is obtained through the training sequence, then the Viterbi algorithm is used to estimate the chaotic sequence. If necessary, channel parameters can then be updated through successive estimates of the chaotic sequence. The proposed algorithms are simulated for both time-invariant and time-varying channels.
Parallel Double Greedy Submodular Maximization

Many machine learning problems can be reduced to the maximization of sub-modular functions. Although well understood in the serial setting, the parallel maximization of submodular functions remains an open area of research with recent results [1] only addressing monotone functions. The optimal algorithm for maximizing the more general class of non-monotone submodular functions was introduced by Buchbinder et al. [2] and follows a strongly serial double-greedy logic and program analysis. In this work, we propose two methods to parallelize the double-greedy algorithm. The first, coordination-free approach emphasizes speed at the cost of a weaker approximation guarantee. The second, concurrency control approach guarantees a tight 1/2-approximation, at the quantifiable cost of additional coordination and reduced parallelism. As a consequence we explore the tradeoff space between guaranteed performance and objective optimality. We implement and evaluate both algorithms on multi-core hardware and billion edge graphs, demonstrating both the scalability and tradeoffs of each approach.
Thermotolerance of adenylylsulfate reductase from Thiobacillus denitrificans

Adenylylsulfate (APS) and APS reductase are important in the energy-generating processes of sulfate-reducing bacteria and sulfur lithotrophs (phototrophs and nonphototrophs). APS reductase from an extremely thermophilic archaebacterial sulfate-reducer was recently shown to be thermophilic with optimal activity at 85°C (Speich and Truper (1988) J. Gen. Microbiol. 134, 1419–1425). APS reductase of Thiobacillus denitrificans, a mesophilic eubacterium, has biochemical and physical properties in common with the thermophilic enzyme and is also thermotolerant (up to 75°C). APS reductase and other enzymes of dissimilative inorganic sulfur metabolism may commonly be thermotolerant is mesophilic eubacteria; perhaps a vestige of their primordial significance.
Feline Vaccine-associated Fibrosarcoma: An Ultrastructural Study of 20 Tumors (1996–1999)

Twenty feline vaccine-associated sarcomas were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Tumors contained pleomorphic spindle cells, histiocytoid cells, and giant cells. Most tumors contained myofibroblasts, which had morphologic features similar to those of fibroblasts. These cells were further distinguished by subplasmalemmal dense plaques and thin cytoplasmic actin myofilaments organized as elongated bundles concentrated at irregular intervals forming characteristic dense bodies. Intracellular crystalline particulate material was found in 5 of the 20 tumors. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was used to identify the crystalline material within one tumor as aluminum-based. One tumor from a feline leukemia virus-infected cat contained budding and immature retroviral particles.
Moderate time-scale dynamic spectrum access with wide-area spectrum sensors

Dynamic spectrum access research usually considers very short time-scale secondary access based on spectrum sensing local to the radio. Recent discussion of market mechanisms in civil spectrum management consider longer time-scales of hours and days, still much faster than current processes. We conjecture that many of the benefits of dynamic spectrum management can be realized on a time-scale of minutes or hours. It is desirable to utilize wide area spectrum sensing data from sensors that are not co-located with radios for this purpose. Two aspects of wide area spectrum sensing that will affect system performance are examined here: transmitter location accuracy, and the allowable delay in incorporating sensor results into a new frequency plan.
Monopole antennas for microwave catheter ablation

We study the characteristics of various monopole antennas for microwave catheter ablation of the endocardium. The investigation is done with a computer model based on the finite-element method in the frequency domain. Three monopole geometries are considered: open-tip, dielectric-tip, and metal-tip. Calculations are made for the magnetic field, the reflection coefficient and the power deposition pattern of the antennas immersed in normal saline. The theoretical results are compared with measurements performed on prototypes and good agreement Is obtained. The antenna characteristics suggest that the metal-tip monopole best fulfils the requirements of catheter ablation. The computer model is then used to compare metal-tip monopoles of different dimensions and to determine design trade-offs.
Peripheral Artery Disease as a Manifestation of Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) and Practical Implications

48-year-old white man was seen in November in the emergency room of a county hospital in Houston with cold blue toes on both feet after exposure to temperatures that were above freezing, and with no snow on the ground. Besides the blue toes, the foot pulses were diminished. The skin over the feet was intact. An arteriogram revealed the absence of flow in multiple digital arteries (Figure 1). Subsequently over the following 2 months, the worst affected toes developed dry gangrene (Figure 2).One month earlier, in October, the patient had been admitted to the same hospital with migranous headaches and memory loss. He had severe dementia on cognitive testing, ataxia, and resting tremors. He had mildly impaired renal function that reversed with hydration. We noted transient, easy to control hypertension and asymptomatic bradycardia. A 12-lead ECG showed sinus bradycardia with no evidence of conduction pathway abnormalities or ongoing acute ischemia (Figure 3). A pharmacological stress test suggested nonreversible single vessel disease in the right coronary artery territory. MRI of the brain showed chronic ischemic changes involving the watershed areas of the frontal and the parietal lobes (Figure 4). On direct questioning, the patient recalled a half-brother who volunteered that they shared the same father, also with severe dementia.With this history of a familial dementia, and ruling out other commoner causes of dementia, a skin biopsy was performed. Electron microscopy showed granular osmiophilic material, confirming the diagnosis of cerebral autosomal dominant arte-riopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL; Figure 5).At 3 months follow-up after the first encounter, the patient was still severely demented and with dry gangrene of the right 1st through 3rd toes. Unfortunately, he left unannounced from a personal care home before completion of the process of making him a ward of state.
Swimming in the Sea of Galilee

My father is an extraordinary man and a captivating orator, who often uses parables to impart significant life lessons. One of my favorites from childhood�and one that he continues to use today�is about the importance of giving back. When it comes to this particular lesson, he favors a story about the Jordan River.
How a Managed Behavioral Health Care Carve-Out Plan Affected Spending for Episodes of Treatment

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the impact on spending for episodes of mental health and substance abuse treatment of a managed behavioral health care carve-out program implemented by the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission in July 1993. METHODS: Episodes of mental health and substance abuse treatment were defined using claims and enrollment data from before and after the carve-out implementation. Regression models were used to compare spending per episode for different types of episodes of mental health and substance abuse care: those involving care provided only in an inpatient facility (that is, inpatient care or partial hospitalization), those involving both inpatient-facility and outpatient care, and those involving only outpatient care. RESULTS: Adoption of the carve-out plan was associated with a large decrease in spending per episode across all three episode types, particularly for episodes involving inpatient-facility care. The decrease was 54 percent for inpatient-facility-only episodes, 46 ...
Applications and Measurements of Polycapillary X-Ray Optics

The recent invention of Kumakhov polycapillary x-ray and neutron optics has expanded the ways x-ray beams can be controlled. X rays incident on the interior of glass tubes at small angles can be guided down the tubes by total external reflection. Now, arrays of curved tapered capillaries can be used to focus, collimate, and filter x-ray radiation. Extensive research is being conducted on the performance and potential applications of these optics. Potential medical applications include mammography, digital energy subtraction angiography, and focused beam therapy. Other applications are x-ray lithography, x-ray astronomy, crystal diffraction, x-ray fluorescence, and neutron prompt gamma analysis.
Content uniformity acceptance limit for a validation batch--suppositories, transdermal systems, and inhalations.

Background: The USP test for ‘Uniformity of Dosage Units’ specified by USP Chapter is required of every drug product sold in the United States. Dosage-unit uniformity is determined either by weight variation or by assay of individual units. The USP acceptance criteria for content uniformity states that the relative standard deviation (RSD) of a sample of 30 units should not exceed 7.8%. Purpose: This article provides a methodology for deriving an upper acceptance limit on the RSD of dosage units from a validation batch of suppositories, transdermal systems, or inhalations such that future batches will have a 95% chance of passing the USP content uniformity RSD acceptance criterion (the RSD of 30 dosage units does not exceed 7.8%).
Towards a Practice-based Model for Community Practice: Linking Theory and Practice

Careful examination of the literature of community practice shows that existing community practice models do not adequately respond to the unique and changing needs of various communities. This article provides an alternative model that challenges the existing models. Based on extensive content analysis of the literature and practice knowledge, this alternative model offers sufficient flexibility to adapt to any particular community. The model is also participatory, process-oriented, and reflective. Herein we first review existing models, provide criteria for assessing their applicability, then introduce the new model, and subsequently discuss its applicability and merit.
Larger Foraminifera as Indicators of Coral-Reef Vitality

Human activities are impacting ecosystems on a global scale; Vitousek et al. (1997a) asserted that no ecosystem on the Earth’s surface is free of human influence. The land, atmosphere, and hydrosphere have all been altered to varying degrees. Up to 50% of the Earth’s land area has been transformed or degraded (Vitousek et ai., 1997a). As a result of stratospheric ozone depletion, intensities of biologically damaging ultraviolet radiation (UVB) at 20°N latitude between April and August now exceed the June 1969 (summer solstice) maximum (Shick et al., 1996). Carbon dioxide concentration in the atmos- phere has increased by nearly 30% since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (Schimel et ai., 1995), with potential influences ranging from climate changes to altered ocean chemistry. Human activities have effectively doubled the annual transfer of nitrogen from the atmospheric pool of N2 to biologically-available fixed nitrogen (Schnoor et al., 1995; Vitousek et al., 1997b). Much of this fixed nitrogen, along with nitrous oxides from fossil-fuel burning (e.g., Prinn et al., 1990), is washed by the rains into aquatic systems.
Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Arsenite Induce Dose-Dependent Differential Genotoxicity Through Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibition and Oxidative Stress in Mouse Thymus Cells

Inhibition of DNA repair and oxidative stress are 2 common mechanisms associated with arsenic-induced genotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to examine mechanisms of genotoxicity induced by environmentally relevant doses of arsenite (As(+3)) in mouse thymus cells. An increase in DNA damage and a decrease in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activity were seen in vitro following exposure to 50 nM As(+3) in primary mouse thymus cells and a murine thymus pre-T cell line, D1. 3,4-Dihydro-5[4-(1-piperindinyl) butoxyl]-1(2H)-isoquinoline, a well-characterized PARP inhibitor, also produced DNA damage in D1 cells, confirming the correlation between PARP inhibition and DNA damage increase. As(+3) at 500 nM induced double strand breaks (DSBs) in DNA and oxidative stress at 4 h in D1 cells, which was reversed at 18 h. No apoptosis or decrease of viability was observed in these exposures. 4-Hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl, a widely-used antioxidant, was utilized to confirm that oxidative stress is partially responsible for the increase of strand breaks in 500 nM As(+3) exposure at 4 h. Expression of As(+3) exporters, Mdr1 and Mrp1, were found to be induced by 500 nM As(+3) in D1 cells, suggesting a possible mechanism for reversal of oxidative stress and DSBs at the 18-h timepoint. Finally, we showed that DNA damage and PARP inhibition by As(+3) were reversed by zinc (Zn(+2)) at approximate equimolar doses. Collectively, these results demonstrate that As(+3) at doses within the nanomolar range induce genotoxicity by inhibiting PARP, and produces oxidative stress at higher concentrations, which can be reversed by a Zn(+2) treatment.
Dyadic Adaptation to Chronic Illness: The Importance of Considering Context in Understanding Couples’ Resilience

This chapter focuses on dyadic resilience among gay male couples who exhibit resilience in the face of a particular medical challenge: HIV disease. We expand the construct of resilience in two ways: first, considering it as an interpersonal process and second applying it to a specific population of couples who face a particular medical challenge: gay male couples where one or both partners are living with HIV. We draw special attention to dyadic resilience among serodiscordant couples (when one partner is HIV-negative and the other HIV-positive) as there is an inherent risk of HIV transmission as a consequence of unprotected anal intercourse. After defining the construct of dyadic resilience, we systematically review the literature on relationship processes as they affect sexual risk behavior, adherence and well-being among gay couples where one or both partners has HIV, noting which processes contribute to or inhibit resilience. From the findings of the review, we propose a social-relational framework that integrates interdependence theory (Lewis et al., 2006) and dyadic coping models (Revenson TA, Kayser KE, Bodenmann GE, Couples coping with stress: emerging perspectives on dyadic coping. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, 2005) to examine potential mechanisms and sociocultural factors that may be critical to optimizing dyadic resilience among couples facing severe life stressors.
The Influence of Pre-natal Supplement Initiation on Preterm Birth Among Majority Hispanic Women in Los Angeles County: The Role of Nativity

Objectives Despite being encouraged to take pre-natal supplements, suboptimal micronutrient intake is common in pregnancy, especially among Hispanic women. In this study, we assessed whether initiation and timing of pre-natal vitamin use influences the risk of preterm birth. Methods Women who gave birth to singletons in 2003 in Los Angeles County, California, were enrolled into a population-based case-control study. Focusing on non-Hispanic white and Hispanic women, associations between timing of pre-natal supplement use and preterm birth were assessed using logistic regression. Results Among Hispanic mothers, the odds of preterm birth increased the later a woman initiated pre-natal supplement use in pregnancy. The magnitude of this association was larger in US-born compared to foreign-born Hispanic women. Conclusions These findings suggest that nativity may modify the relationship between pre-natal supplement use and preterm birth possibly due to underlying differences in diet composition of Hispanic women by place of birth.
Understanding the Chemical Stability of Polymers for Lithium–Air Batteries

Recent studies have shown that many aprotic electrolytes used in lithium–air batteries are not stable against superoxide and peroxide species formed upon discharge and charge. However, the stability of polymers often used as binders and as electrolytes is poorly understood. In this work, we select a number of polymers heavily used in the Li–air/Li-ion battery literature, and examine their stability, and the changes in molecular structure in the presence of commercial Li2O2. Of the polymers studied, poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) are reactive and unstable in the presence of Li2O2. The presence of the electrophilic nitrile group in PAN allows for nucleophilic attack by Li2O2 at the nitrile carbon, before further degradation of the polymer backbone. For the halogenated polymers, the presence of the electron-withdrawing halogens and adjacent α and β hydrogen a...
Abstract 4098: CXCR4 regulation of neuroblastoma migration and differentiation.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC CXCR4 is a chemokine involved in the migration of numerous cell types, including hematopoietic cells, neuronal cells during differentiation, and metastatic tumor cells. CXCR4 has been implicated in the invasion of metastasis of multiple tumor types that metastasize to bone, including prostate carcinoma and breast carcinoma. However, in neuroblastoma, a pediatric tumor that frequently metastasizes to bone and causes osteolytic lesions, the role of CXCR4 has not been elucidated. Several studies have suggested multiple potential roles of CXCR4 activation and signaling in neuroblastoma progression, including proliferation, migration, and invasion. Our previous studies have shown that blocking the CXCR4 receptor using a neutralizing antibody reduces migration toward the CXCR4 ligand CXCL12. However, when CXCL12 is added to neuroblastoma cells, activating the receptor, rather than an increase in migration, neurite extension and differentiation occurs. Through subsequent studies, we have demonstrated that upon stimulation, CXCR4 interacts with the actin cytoskeleton, potentially through the adaptor protein drebrin. Furthermore, this interaction appears to be dependent upon Akt. Our current hypothesis is that at low levels of CXCL12, migration is induced; upon increased activation of the receptor, however, CXCR4 is internalized, reducing the amount of receptor on the cell surface, and the internalized receptor then interacts with actin to increase process extension. This enables the neuroblastoma cells to migrate toward favorable conditions, but once the cells have reached those conditions (such as high CXCL12 levels in bone), the cells to remain in that environment. Experiments are currently being performed to test this working hypothesis. Citation Format: Yufei Shan, Cynthia M. Van Golen. CXCR4 regulation of neuroblastoma migration and differentiation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4098. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4098
Metacognitive judgments in music performance

We examined two metacognitive judgments, ease of learning (EOL) and judgments of learning (JOL), in music performance. Specifically, we tested whether the extrinsic cue of modality (auditory versus visual presentation), as well as the intrinsic cue of syntax (providing more or less cohesion), would influence such judgments. The participants were piano players in Experiment 1 and other instrumentalists in Experiments 2 and 3. Results showed that modality of the to-be-learned pieces did indeed influence both EOL (all experiments) and JOL (Experiments 2 and 3) ratings. Both ratings were also influenced by syntax (Experiment 3). Thus, successful EOL and JOL were extended to music performance itself. Moreover, unlike in the verbal domain where individuals can often use intrinsic cues but ignore extrinsic cues, both types of cues were used effectively. The findings are interpreted within the framework of cue-utilization theory and salience of cues.
Environmental Control of Tuberculosis: Continuing Controversy

The incidence of tuberculosis--and, more important, that of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis--have risen drastically in the past decade. Nosocomial outbreaks have alerted health-care workers to the hazards of the spread of tuberculosis. The use of environmental control modalities (e.g., ventilation, air filtration, and ultraviolet irradiation) and personal protective devices has been explored in the medical, legislative, and public forums. New regulations and legislation have created controversy over the recommendations and their interpretation. In this review we present the theory behind the rational selection of environmental-control modalities and personal protective devices. We also offer suggestions about the application of specific control techniques and the revision of existing facilities to comply with new standards.
Mapping Peptide Thiol Accessibility in Membranes Using a Quaternary Ammonium Isotope-Coded Mass Tag (ICMT)

The plasma membrane contains a diverse array of proteins, including receptors, channels, and signaling complexes, that serve as decision-making centers. Investigation of membrane protein topology is important for understanding the function of these types of protein. Here, we report a method to determine protein topology in the membrane that utilizes labeling of cysteine with isotope-coded mass tags. The mass tags contain a thiol reactive moiety, linker, and a quaternary ammonium group to aid ionization in the mass spectrometer and were synthesized in both light and heavy (deuterated) forms. The probes were found to be membrane impermeable when applied to lipid vesicles. To assess the utility of the probes for mapping peptide thiol topology, we employed a two-step labeling procedure. Vesicles containing α-helical transmembrane peptides were labeled with heavy (or light) probe, solubilized by detergent, and then labeled by an excess of the complementary probe. Peptide for which the cysteine was oriented in ...
Association between skin lesions and arsenic methylation product in urine of workers from arsenic smelting plant

[Objective]To study the relationship between skim lesions and metabolites of arsenic in urine of workers exposed occupationally to arsenic.[Methods]The smelting plants which were in outlying mountain area were selected as study object.A total of 91 arsenic exposed workers were recruited,and 58 other workers as control group.Arsenic compounds concentration in operating posts of working space were detected,physical examination was performed,and morphological analysis of arsenic in urine was done.At the same,percentages of 3 arsenic compounds,primary and second methylation indexes were calculated.[Results] Arsenic concentrations of all operating posts were over national occupational health standards.There were 36 workers who had obvious skin lesions of chronic arsenic toxicosis.The concentrations of inorganic arsenic,methyl arsenate and dimethyl arsenate(Log10) were(2.18 ±0.40)μg/g,(2.26±0.35)μg/g and(2.77±0.31)μg/g creatinine which were significantly higher than those of the workers without skin lesions and from the control group.Percentage of urine concentration of methyl arsenate in total arsenic and secondary methylation index of workers with skin lesions were significantly higher than those of other workers in smelting plant.[Conclusion]Methylated products in urine play an important role in skin lesions of smelter workers,secondary methylation index is associated with arsenic induced skin damage.