cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Ecology of Breastfeeding and Mother-Infant Immune Functions

Science and society are increasingly aware of the relationship between the environment and the immune system, and how this relationship can impact chronic and infectious health outcomes. A growing body of evidence points to early infancy as a critical window for immunological development. During this time, infants are bombarded with information about the world around them: friendly and not-so-friendly microorganisms from complementary foods, mothers’ milk, and exposure to new people and places. Contact with local exposures is hypothesised to explain differences in immunological profiles between populations, a concept known as ecological immunity. The evolved flexibility in human immune responses is an adaptive mechanism that protects infants from the diseases that are present in their unique environment while priming them to coexist with benign microbes. The mother-infant immune nexus, linked by shared breastfeeding and shared experiences, forms the basis for this early ecology. This chapter reviews the shared mother-infant immune system, focusing on ecological and developmental variation in the immune systems of mothers, infants, and milk. Cytokines, immunoglobulins, and other immunologically active proteins in milk will be discussed, as well as our growing understanding of the microbiome and how it is integrated into the body via breastfeeding and the immune system. This chapter highlights the importance of embodied immune systems, the implications of ecological difference in exposure for understanding immune-mediated chronic health problems, and a new model of shared maternal-infant life histories that recognises the shared maternal-infant immune system.
Novel erbium-doped crystal saturable absorber Q-switches for the Er:glass laser

Er:glass lasers are useful for a large number of applications because they emit in a narrow eye-safe region around 1.53 μm. For many of these applications a Q-switched pulse is required. Active Q-switches increase the complexity and the cost of the system. Passive Q-switches such as saturable absorbers remain the simplest and cheapest method.1-4
Hand and Upper Extremity Infections in Intravenous Drug Users: Epidemiology and Predictors of Outcomes

Purpose Injectable drug use (IDU) is a national epidemic, public health problem, and common cause of hand and upper extremity (UE) infections. This study assesses the epidemiology of the IDU patient population presenting to a Midwestern academic medical center emergency department (ED) and examines predictors influencing morbidity and outcomes. Methods A retrospective review was performed using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes to identify all adult patients presenting to the ED with hand/UE infections, with and without concurrent IDU diagnoses, over a period of 2.5 years. Demographics and clinical factors were examined utilizing bivariate and multivariable analyses to identify predictors of outcomes, including not completing outpatient follow-up and leaving against medical advice (AMA). Results A total of 1,482 patients with 1,754 ED visits for hand/UE infections were identified, including 308 patients with IDU-acquired infections (396 visits) and 1,174 patients with non-IDU infections (1,358 visits). Psychiatric comorbidities and hepatitis C were common in the IDU group (51% and 39%, respectively), and 31% of IDU patients were uninsured. Heroin use was identified in 96% of visits. The IDU infections were more likely to have surgical intervention than those in non-IDU patients (16% vs 6%), and a longer mean length hospital stay (2.4 vs 0.9 days). The IDU patients were more likely than non-IDU patients to leave AMA. In multivariable analysis, IDU, psychiatric comorbidity, and insurance status were independent predictors (P Conclusions In the setting of a national epidemic, hand/UE infections due to IDU are a common problem seen by hand surgeons. This study characterizes the growing IDU patient population at an urban academic medical center, examining the largest cohort of these patients to date. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic IV.
Impact of Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm With Papillary-Like Nuclear Features on Revised Bethesda System Malignancy Rates at a Single Institution.

Abstract Background The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (BSRTC) standardizes thyroid cytopathology reporting in six tier diagnostic categories. In recent years, noninvasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma was reclassified as noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP). This study examines the impact of NIFTP on the BSRTC risk of malignancy (ROM). Methods This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from 565 patients who underwent fine needle aspiration and thyroidectomy at a single institution. ROM for each Bethesda category was analyzed and calculated with NIFTP classified as a malignant and nonmalignant lesion. Absolute and relative differences between ROM were compared. Results Of 565 patients, 19 were Bethesda I, 159 were Bethesda II, 178 were Bethesda III, 46 were Bethesda IV, 42 were Bethesda V, and 121 were Bethesda VI. ROM differences with NIFTP classified as malignant versus nonmalignant for each class were as follows: Bethesda I, no change; Bethesda II, 18%-14%; Bethesda III, 55%-48%; Bethesda IV, 50%-35%; Bethesda V, 93%-91%; and Bethesda VI, 99%-98%. Absolute ROM differences for each category were as follows: Bethesda I, 0%; Bethesda II, 4%; Bethesda III, 7%; Bethesda IV, 15%; Bethesda V, 2%; and Bethesda VI, 1%. Conclusions A decreasing trend in absolute and relative ROM was seen in Bethesda II, III, and IV categories; however, exclusion of NIFTP as a malignant lesion did not significantly alter the ROM of BSRTC categories. Surgeons should assess their respective institution's experiences with NIFTP and the BSRTC.
Best Practices in Peer Assessment: Training Tomorrow’s Physicians to Obtain and Provide Quality Feedback

Peer assessment, also known as peer feedback or peer evaluation, is a tool used in medical education for students to provide and receive constructive feedback. In undergraduate medical education, peer feedback is a method of assessment that is not used commonly; however, its use is on the rise. In this literature-based guide, we discuss the advantages of peer assessment, as well as tips for implementation (including training of students and faculty and assessment tools/instruments) and strategies to overcome barriers to its use. Effective utilization of peer feedback can provide educators with an opportunity to evaluate attributes that are often difficult to assess, including professionalism, teamwork, work habits, and communication skills. Constructive feedback can raise learner awareness about performance and guide future decisions and action plans for improvement. Overall, when used appropriately, peer feedback can be a valuable and effective addition to the arsenal of assessments in medical education.
Do mRNA profiles of lung adenocarcinomas provide information that will help individual patients

Currently every new non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient being evaluated for specific treatment has a history, physical exam, a series of radiologic procedures (computed tomographic and often PET scans), standard blood work, and evaluation of their lung cancer tumour biopsy to establish a histologic diagnosis of lung cancer, to help determine the individual patient's prognosis, and to select an appropriate treatment regimen. Key clinical elements going into these decisions are the type of lung cancer (e.g. non-small cell vs. small cell, adenocarcinoma vs. squamous cancer), the stage of the tumour (e.g. localized or metastatic), patient performance status, and co-morbidities. In the past decade patients also receive an evaluation of tumour molecular characteristics (by DNA sequencing of a tumour biopsy for mutations) that could lead to targeted therapy (e.g. presence of an EGFR mutation leading to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy). In addition, with the demonstration of significant survival benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in a subset (15–20%) of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) there is a concerted effort to determine which molecular and immunologic characteristics of the patient and the tumour or its microenvironment predict response to immunotherapy [1]. Finally, there has been a decades long search for tumour molecular characteristics (e.g. mRNA or protein expression) that provide prognostic information over and above that provided by standard clinical data. While such prognostic information is important, it does not provide much solace to tell patients “you have lung cancer which is a bad cancer, and our molecular analyses shows us you have a really bad type of lung cancer.” Thus, for benefit to patients, any laboratory analyses for tumour characteristics should focus on characteristics that would help deliver a better therapy for that individual patient.
Reactivity of the Polyamide Membrane Monomer with Free Chlorine: Role of Bromide.

Aromatic polyamide-based membranes are widely used for reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) treatment but degrade when exposed to free chlorine (HOCl/OCl-). The reaction mechanisms with free chlorine were previously explored, but less is known about the role of bromide (Br-) in these processes. Br- may impact these reactions by reacting with HOCl to form HOBr, which then triggers other brominating agents (Br2O, Br2, BrOCl, and BrCl) to form. This study examined the reactivities of these brominating agents with a polyamide monomer model compound, benzanilide (BA), and a modified version of it, N-CH3-BA. The results indicated that all these brominating agents only attacked the aromatic ring adjacent to the amide N, rather than the amide N, different from the previously examined chlorinating agents (HOCl, OCl-, and Cl2) that attacked both sites. Orton rearrangement was not observed. Species-specific rate constants (ki, M-1 s-1) between BA and HOBr, Br2O, Br2, BrOCl, and BrCl were determined to be (5.3 ± 1.2) × 10-2, (1.2 ± 0.4) × 101, (3.7 ± 0.2) × 102, (2.2 ± 0.6) × 104, and (6.6 ± 0.9) × 104 M-1 s-1, respectively, such that kBrCl > kBrOCl > kBr2 > kBr2O > kHOBr. N-CH3-BA exhibited lower reactivity than BA. Model predictions of BA loss during chlorination with varied Br- and/or Cl- concentrations were established. These findings will ultimately enable membrane degradation and performance loss following chlorination in mixed halide solutions to be better predicted during pilot- and full-scale NF and RO treatment.
Chromatin Modifications in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is a common inborn error of immunity. The early consequences of thymic hypoplasia are low T cell numbers. Later in life, atopy, autoimmunity, inflammation, and evolving hypogammaglobulinemia can occur and the causes of these features are not understood. This study utilized an unbiased discovery approach to define alterations in histone modifications. Our goal was to identify durable chromatin changes that could influence cell behavior. CD4 T cells and CD19 B cells underwent ChIP-seq analysis using antibodies to H3K4me3, H3K27ac, and H4ac. RNA effects were defined in CD4 T cells by RNA-seq. Serum cytokines were examined by Luminex. Histone marks of transcriptional activation at CD4 T cell promoters and enhancers were globally increased. The promoter activation signature had elements related to T cell activation and inflammation, concordant with effects seen in the transcriptome. B cells, in contrast, had a minimally altered epigenetic landscape in 22q11.2. Both cell types had an “edge” effect with markedly altered chromatin adjacent to the deletion. People with 22q11.2 deletion have altered CD4 T cell chromatin and a transcriptome concordant with the changes in the epigenome. These effects support a disease model where qualitative changes to T cells occur in addition to quantitative defects that have been well characterized. This study offers unique insight into qualitative differences in the T cells in 22q11.2 deletion, an aspect that has received limited attention.
Burden and Cost of Gastrointestinal, Liver, and Pancreatic Diseases in the United States: Update 2021.

ABSTRACT Background Gastrointestinal diseases account for considerable health care use and expenditures. We estimated the annual burden, costs, and research funding associated with gastrointestinal, liver, and pancreatic diseases in the United States. Methods We generated estimates using data from National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, National Inpatient Sample, Kids’ Inpatient Database, Nationwide Readmissions Database, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, National Vital Statistics System, Centers for Disease Control Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research, MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters data, MarketScan Medicare Supplemental data, United Network for Organ Sharing registry, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, and National Institutes of Health. Results Gastrointestinal health care expenditures totaled $119.6 billion dollars in 2018. Annually, there were more than 36.8 million ambulatory visits for gastrointestinal symptoms and 43.4 million ambulatory visits with a primary gastrointestinal diagnosis. Hospitalizations for a principal gastrointestinal diagnosis accounted for more than 3.8 million admissions with 403,699 readmissions. A total of 22.2 million gastrointestinal endoscopies were performed and 284,844 new gastrointestinal cancers diagnosed. Gastrointestinal diseases and cancers caused 255,407 deaths. The National Institutes of Health supported $3.1 billion dollars (7.5% of the NIH budget) for gastrointestinal research in 2020. Conclusion Gastrointestinal diseases are responsible for millions of health care encounters and hundreds of thousands of deaths which annually costs billions of dollars in the US. To reduce the high burden of gastrointestinal diseases, focused clinical and public health efforts, supported by additional research funding, are warranted.
The Wavelet Representations

In this chapter we will discuss the presence of the Gibbs phenomenon in the continuous wavelet integral representation as well as the discrete wavelet series expansion of functions. The latter is seen more often since it represents, as we shall see shortly, an algorithm that is very efficient to compute. We will show that, to date, aside from the well known and oldest Haar wavelet, as a wavelet with jump discontinuities, almost all the well known continuous wavelets exhibit a Gibbs-type phenomenon in their approximation of functions with jump discontinuities. In general, the resulting overshoots and undershoots are smaller in magnitude than those of the Fourier integral and series representations covered in Chapters 1 and 2, and that of the general orthogonal series expansion in Chapter 3. Also, it is shown that some wavelets can be found that exhibit no such overshoots or undershoots, i.e., no Gibbs phenomenon. Indeed, for the well known wavelets the number of extremas, in general, are very few, and sometimes just only one overshoot and one undershoot on each side of the jump discontinuity. We shall discuss and illustrate this fact with complete details for the case of using the Mexican hat wavelet, and with some details for a group of Hardy functions-type wavelets (or the Poisson wavelets,) in the representation of the unit step function u(t) of Fig. 1.8b with its jump discontinuity at the origin.
Removal of cationic surfactants from water using clinoptilolite zeolite

Batch and column experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a clinoptilolite zeolite as an inexpensive sorbent material to remove cationic surfactant from water. With an initial surfactant concentration greater than its critical micelle concentration, the removal of surfactant is achieved by admicellar sorption onto the zeolite surface. Although the sorption capacity of hexadecyltrimethylammonium by zeolite of different aggregate size is about the same (200 mmol/kg), the finer particles had a much higher capacity at breakthrough point and almost twice the column efficiency compared to the coarse aggregates.
ILUTP_Mem: A Space-Efficient Incomplete LU Preconditioner

When direct methods for solving large, sparse, nonsymmetric systems of linear equations use too much computer memory, users often turn to preconditioned iterative methods. It can be critical in solving such systems to choose a preconditioner which both uses a limited amount of memory, and helps the subsequently applied iterative solver converge more rapidly. This paper describes ILUTP_Mem, an incomplete LU preconditioner that computes an incomplete LU factorization that effectively uses an amount of space specified by the user. The ILUTP_Mem preconditioner is evaluated on a set of matrices from real applications.
A Survey of Graph Algorithms Under Extended Streaming Models of Computation

There has been a great deal of recent interest in the streaming model of computation where algorithms are restricted to a single pass over the data and have significantly less internal memory available than would be required to store the entire stream of data. Because of the inherent difficulty of solving graph problems in the streaming model, a number of extensions to the streaming model have been considered, namely the Semi-Streaming model, the W-Stream model, and the Stream-Sort model. In this chapter, we survey the algorithms developed for graph problems in each of these models. The survey is intended to be tutorial in nature although familiarity with graph algorithms is assumed.
Chapter 6 Pyrimidine Damage and Repair

Abstract Pyrimidines are essential to the structure and function of nucleic acids in all organisms. The chemical reactivity of the pyrimidines is therefore a fundamentally important aspect of survival of all organisms. Pyrimidines are subject to endogenous damage through hydrolysis, alkylation and oxidation, and to damage by exogenous environmental molecules. Damage to these important molecules can result in loss of biochemical function and cell toxicity. The damage of pyrimidines in deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) could have more long-lasting consequences, as many of the pyrimidine lesions are miscoding during DNA replication resulting genetic mutations, and allowing the effects of the damage to be transmitted to future progeny cells. Emerging evidence also suggests that pyrimidines in DNA play a critical role in establishing transcriptional regulation in complex organisms, and that damage to DNA pyrimidines could alter epigenetic programming. Fortunately, repair systems exist in cells that recognize specific damaged structures and facilitate their removal and ultimately DNA repair.
Patient and cardiologist perceptions on decision making for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: a qualitative study.

Background: Although implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) reduce mortality in selected patients, they are also associated with potential risks. Periprocedural decision making requires understanding both benefits and risks. Methods: This qualitative study aims to understand cardiologists’ and patients’ perspectives about decision making surrounding ICD implantation using semi-structured, in-depth interviews. We interviewed 11 cardiologists (including four electrophysiologists) and 20 patients (14 with ICDs; six who declined ICDs). The data were analyzed through the theoretical lens of patient-centered care using the constant comparative method. Results: Cardiologists emphasized the benefits of ICD therapy but varied substantially in the extent to which they emphasized the various risks associated with ICD implantation with patients. Cardiologists indicated that they were influenced by the benefits of therapy as presented in published guidelines. Many patients who chose to receive an ICD indicated that they followed the advice of their physician without questioning the risks and benefits of the device. Some ICD recipients described not learning many of the risks until after device implantation or when they experienced these side effects. Patients who declined ICD implantation were concerned that the ICD was unnecessary or believed that the risks related to sudden death without an ICD did not apply to them. Only one patient considered the trade-off between dying quickly versus living longer with progressive heart failure. Conclusions: In our sample, cardiologists’ desire to adhere to published guidelines appears to inhibit shared decision making. The marked variability in the discussions surrounding ICD decisions highlights a need for an improved process of ICD decision making. (PACE 2011; 34:1634–1644)
Image analysis to measure strain in wood and paper.

A fast and accurate strain measurement method was developed to quantify microscopic deformation in wood and paper using video images. Two or more video images, one of which was undeformed and the others of which were deformed, were digitized and compared using the image correlation technique. This digital computer pattern recognition technique permitted the displacement of any point in the image to be measured. Then, strain between any two points in this observation field could be calculated and, hence, normal, shearing strains and Poisson's ratio could be measured directly. Independent strain measurements showed that the method using video images provided accurate strain measurements and could be applied to complex materials like wood and wood products. The strain measurements using the image analysis produced not only normal strains but strain profiles of the normal strains. From the strain profiles, it was possible to detect local areas of strain concentration which might be beyond the elastic range. As it measures displacements and strains from a set of video images using the image correlation technique, the method is non-contact and the observation field can be adjusted easily by changing magnifying power of the optical devices. Thus, the method can be applied to mechanical testing of wood and wood products from the cellular level to full size lumber and will no longer be limited by the fragile nature of the material being tested, industry standards, or equipment restrictions.
Evidence for multiple substrate-reduction sites and distinct inhibitor-binding sites from an altered Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase MoFe protein.

The arginine-277 residue of the α-subunit of the nitrogenase MoFe protein was targeted for substitution because it is (i) a close neighbor of α-cysteine-275, which is one of only two residues ancho...
Effect of NaCl on the conversion of cellulose to glucose and levulinic acid via solid supported acid catalysis

Abstract Cellulose is hydrolyzed to glucose, which is further converted to levulinic acid in the presence of Nafion, as a surface supported acid catalyst. The addition of simple alkali metal halide salts, including NaCl, provides significant enhancement to the yield. The catalyst can be recycled suggesting possible extension into a continuous flow reactor for the synthesis of the biofuel precursors.
Economic model predictive control of a first-order hyperbolic PDE system

This work focuses on economic model predictive control (EMPC) of a system of two quasi-linear first-order hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs) arising in the first-principles modeling of a non-isothermal plug-flow reactor where a second-order reaction takes place. Owing to the hyperbolic nature of the PDE model, a suitable finite-difference scheme is initially used to carry out spatial discretization and construct an accurate ordinary differential equation (ODE) model in time, which is subsequently used for the design of an EMPC system that manipulates the feed reactant concentration to directly maximize the production rate of the product species along the length of the reactor; both state and output feedback implementations of the EMPC are presented. Extensive simulations studies are carried out by applying the EMPC schemes to a high-order approximation of the PDE process model to evaluate economic performance improvement over steady-state operation, computation time EMPC requirements versus the sampling time, and impact of EMPC horizon length on economic performance and number of measurement points on state estimation accuracy.
What Can Interactionism Contribute to the Study of Inequality? The Case of Marriage and Beyond

The equality/inequality dichotomy is a central concept in sociology and in the study of marriage. Almost all researchers, though, use their own preconceived definitions and measurement strategies to identify equal and unequal states of affairs. An alternative approach, one that better accords with interactionist principles, is to privilege people's interpretations of equality over analysts' Drawing on interviews with individuals who define their own marriages as equal or unequal, I compare people's stories about marital equality with scholars' depictions. While some narratives resonate (in part) with the themes propounded by scholars, others do not. If people's experiences of equality and inequality are to be taken seriously, then it is important to listen to what they have to say on the subject, as well as to how they say it. This is the distinctive contribution symbolic interactionists can make to the study of inequality.
Foraminal nerve sheath tumors: intermediate follow-up after cyberknife radiosurgery.

Objective To conduct a retrospective review of outcomes in 15 patients with 18 foraminal tumors, including 17 benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors and 1 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, who underwent CyberKnife (Accuray, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) radiosurgery at Stanford University Medical Center from 1999 to 2006. Methods Symptoms and findings, neurofibromatosis (NF) association, previous radiation, imaging, dosimetry, tumor volume, central necrosis, and the relation of these factors to outcomes were evaluated. Results Before treatment, 1 asymptomatic patient had radiculopathic findings, 3 patients experienced local pain with intact neurological examinations, and 7 patients had radiculopathic complaints with intact (1 patient), radiculopathic (4 patients), or radiculomyelopathic examinations (2 patients). Five patients had myelopathic complaints and findings. Three patients had NF1-associated neurofibromas, 1 patient with NF2 had a schwannoma, and 1 patient had a schwannomatosis-related lesion. Two likely radiation-induced lesions, a neurofibroma and a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, were observed. Prescribed doses ranging from 16 to 24 Gy, delivered in 1 to 3 fractions of 6 to 20 Gy, resulted in maximum tumor doses ranging from 20.9 to 30 Gy. Target volumes ranged from 1.36 to 16.9 mL. After radiosurgery, the asymptomatic case remained asymptomatic, and neurological findings improved. Thirteen of 15 symptomatic patients with (12 patients) or without (3 patients) neurological findings improved (3 cases after resection) or remained stable, and 2 patients worsened. Symptoms and examinations remained stable or improved in 8 (80%) of 10 patients with schwannomas and 3 (60%) of 5 patients with neurofibromas. Tumor volumes decreased in 12 (67%) of 18 tumors and increased in 3 tumors. Tumor volumes decreased in 8 of 10 schwannomas and 3 of 7 neurofibromas. Central necrosis developed in 8 (44%) of 18 tumors. Conclusion CyberKnife radiosurgery resulted in pain relief and functional preservation in selected foraminal peripheral nerve sheath tumors and a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Symptomatic and neurological improvements were more noticeable with schwannomas. Myelopathic symptoms may necessitate surgical debulking before radiosurgery.
A Method for Estimating Effective Porosity and Ground‐Water Velocity

Estimates of ground-water velocity, based either on Darcy's law or on the single-well drift and pumpback tracer method, require prior knowledge of effective porosity. That is, after field data have been collected, the equation for ground-water velocity, using either method, still contains the two unknowns, velocity and porosity. If the local hydraulic gradient is known and if a drift and pumpback tracer test is conducted at a well whose hydraulic conductivity has been determined, two independent functional relationships between velocity and porosity are established. By treating these functions as nonlinear simultaneous equations, a unique solution for the local velocity and porosity can be obtained.
Profound hyperglycemia and metabolic acidosis after verapamil overdose

Verapamil, a potent calcium antagonist, possesses varied systemic effects, including smooth muscle relaxation leading to both peripheral and coronary artery vasodilation, slowed atrioventricular nodal conduction and decreased insulin release from the pancreatic B cells. Reports concerning the effects of acute intoxication with verapamil are scarce. A case is presented of a 22 year old woman who developed profound hyperglycemia and metabolic acidosis after the inadvertent overdose of thirty 80 mg tablets (2,400 mg) of verapamil. This case illustrates the need for physicians to be aware of verapamil's inhibitory effects on insulin release and to exercise special care when prescribing verapamil in patients with preexisting diabetes mellitus.
Cardiac Death in Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome

A 12 year old boy had 4 symptom-free years after hospitalization for acute febrile mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome before he died suddenly from extensive myocardial infarction. Current evidence suggests that many patients with this syndrome have coronary artery disease and that those with significant cardiac findings should be studied with coronary angiography. Serial studies are recommended because of the danger of sudden death.
Adrenal corticosteroid involvement in the control of phosphorylase in muscle.

Abstract Adrenalectomy does not result in any change in the levels of active or inactive muscle glycogen phosphorylase. However, in adrenalectomized rats administration of epinephrine or cyclic-AMP is not followed by activation of the enzyme. Hydrocortisone replacement therapy results in a return of the activation capabilities of epinephrine and cyclic-AMP. Hydrocortisone treatment also results in an increase in phosphorylase to twice normal levels. We propose that adrenal corticosteroids play a role in the conversion of inactive to active phosphorylase and in the regulation of phosphorylase synthesis.
Microfabricated artificial-muscle-based microvalve array

Artificial muscle is defined herein as a blend of a hydrogel and a redox polymer, which dramatically swells and shrinks under environmental stimuli. This actuator can be applied to micro fabricating valves for controlled delivery systems. Previous work in our group has shown that a blend of poly(2- hydroxy ethyl)methacrylate (polyHEMA) and polyaniline displayed significant swelling and shrinking upon application of an electrochemical bias. In this type of artificial muscle, polyaniline, a redox polymer, acts as the 'electronic backbone' for transferring for most of the swelling and shrinking. However, polyHEMA showed only weak swelling an shrinking in a chemimechanical system, thus purpose of the current study is to enhance the artificial muscle actuating properties. An optimized hydrogel swelled up to 1000 percent in alkaline solution and contracted 70 percent in acid solution. An artificial muscle microvalve array was also micro fabricated and tested. These results could lead to a smart wireless drug delivery implanted system.
Finding fundamental units in cubic fields

This paper improves a method of Godwin (4) for finding a pair of fundamental units in a totally real cubic field. The determination of such a unit pair is a well known computational problem. There is an old algorithm (circa 1896) of Voronoi which solves this problem, but the algorithm is quite complicated (an account of it is given in the book of Delone and Faddeev ((3), chapter IV, part A)). The method of Godwin is, in principle, much simpler. However, this method also has its drawbacks (more is said about this in Section 4 below). Indeed, when Godwin's student Angell produced his large table (see (1)) of totally real cubic fields some 15 years after (4) appeared, Voronoi's algorithm was used to compute the pairs of fundamental units.
Zoogeography and characters of the American cyprinid fishnotropis bifrenatus

Notropis bifrenatus, the bridle shiner, occurs from southeastern Canada along the Atlantic slope of the United States to the Neuse River drainage in North Carolina. First records from the Rappahannock, York, James, Chowan, and Neuse drainages are documented. This species inhabits lentic and moderate to low gradient lotic situations. Reports of its capture in waters of low salinity are only from the southern portion of its range.
An in vitro comparison of commonly used topical glucocorticoid preparations

Abstract Background: Glucocorticoids (GC) are potent inhibitors of peripheral blood eosinophil, basophil, and airway epithelial cell function. Objectives: We compared in vitro the inhibitory activity of synthetic GC used for topical treatment in asthma and rhinitis on basophil histamine release (HR), eosinophil viability, and expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. Methods: Cells were treated for 24 hours with increasing concentrations (range 10 –13 to 10 –6 mol/L) of fluticasone propionate (FP), mometasone furoate (MF), budesonide (BUD), beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), triamcinolone acetonide (TAA), hydrocortisone (HC), or dimethyl sulfoxide diluent before challenge. HR was measured by a fluorometric assay, viability of purified eosinophils was assessed by erythrosin B dye exclusion, and expression of VCAM-1 was measured by flow cytometry. Results: GC induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of anti-IgE-induced HR. Maximum inhibition ranged from 59.7% to 81%, with a rank order of GC potency of FP > MF > BUD > BDP ≅ TAA >> HC. Three-day treatment of eosinophils with GC concentration-dependently inhibited IL-5–induced eosinophil viability, with a rank of potency almost identical to that observed with basophil HR. The rank order of potency of GC for inhibition of the expression of VCAM-1 in BEAS-2B cells was MF ≅ FP >> BUD > TAA > HC ≅ BDP. Inhibitory concentration of 50% values revealed that epithelial cells were the most sensitive and eosinophils were the least sensitive. Conclusions: These data, combined with information on pharmacodynamics of these drugs in vivo, may be useful in estimating GC local anti-inflammatory effects. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:623-9.)
THE RELATION OF LEUKOSIS TO SARCOMA OF CHICKENS : III. SARCOMATA OF STRAINS 11 AND 15 AND THEIR RELATION TO LEUKOSIS.

Two transmissible sarcomata (Nos. 15 and 11) are described. Strain 15 originated in a chicken injected with neurolymphomatosis of Strain 5. Its virus produces sarcoma characterized by peculiar giant cells, different from those of the other known chicken sarcomata. It does not produce neurolymphomatosis or leukosis. Strain 11 is morphologically similar to the spindle cell sarcoma of Rous and of other workers. It occurred in an uninjected control chicken and its virus produces sarcoma unassociated with leukosis. Both Strains 11 and 15 can be readily transmitted with material free from viable cells and their virus can be preserved by drying in the frozen state. The viruses of leukosis of Strain 1 and sarcoma of Strain 11 when injected into the same bird retain their identity and can be readily reisolated.
ROLES OF SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL FACTORS IN VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGN EFFECTIVENESS UNDER NONRECURRENT CONGESTION

The spatial and temporal network dynamics induced by variable message sign (VMS) information under nonrecurrent congestion are investigated. Computational experiments were performed to analyze the role of incident attributes (number, location, and timing), information characteristics (delay, update frequency, compliance rates), and alternative operational strategies. The network performance of VMSs was compared with those of in-vehicle devices (IVDs). The findings indicate that VMS performance varies dynamically and depends on the interactions between information lag, diversion rate (overconcentration) onto alternative paths, efficiency of reported paths, time-varying interactions between vehicles with VMS information and vehicles without VMS information, residual capacity on alternate paths, compliance rates, and spatial incident characteristics. The VMS strategies that account for information quality, compliance, and overconcentration are likely to outperform purely travel time-based strategies. The findings have important implications for the design, operation, and evaluation of VMS and IVD systems.
Volitional control of ankle plantar flexion in a powered transtibial prosthesis during stair-ambulation

Although great advances have been made in the design and control of lower extremity prostheses, walking on different terrains, such as ramps or stairs, and transitioning between these terrains remains a major challenge for the field. In order to generalize biomimetic behaviour of active lower-limb prostheses top-down volitional control is required but has until recently been deemed unfeasible due to the difficulties involved in acquiring an adequate electromyographic (EMG) signal. In this study, we hypothesize that a transtibial amputee can extend the functionality of a hybrid controller, designed for level ground walking, to stair ascent and descent by volitionally modulating powered plantar-flexion of the prosthesis. We here present data illustrating that the participant is able to reproduce ankle push-off behaviour of the intrinsic controller during stair ascent as well as prevent inadvertent push-off during stair descent. Our findings suggest that EMG signal from the residual limb muscles can be used to transition between level-ground walking and stair ascent/descent within a single step and significantly improve prosthesis performance during stair-ambulation.
Hegel’s Secular Theology

This essay attempts to present Hegel as a secular theologian and to argue that the theological dimension of Hegel’s thought is central to his entire philosophy and is, in fact, the leitmotif that draws together all of his work. The task of overcoming the dualism between the sacred and the secular provides the driving spirit of all Hegel’s endeavors, from his juvenilia to the mature thought of his Heidelberg and Berlin periods. A secular theology demonstrates its commitment to secularity through three main affirmations: (1) the full reality and significance of this world, (2) the autonomy of the different fields of culture and knowledge besides that of religion, and (3) the epistemological authority of reason and shared experience in determining the real and the true. Hegel’s secular theology, however, has an ambiguous relationship with most forms of theism, including panentheism.
Infra‐red study of hydrothermal conversion of alumina trihydrate into alumina monohydrate

Infra-red studies have been made of the materials produced from alumina trihydrates (hydrargillite and bayerite) by heating under various conditions with water in an autoclave.
THE FINE STRUCTURE OF BLATTARIAN PROTHORACIC GLANDS.

The ultrastructural characterization of the prothoracic glands derives interest from the fact that they are the only known source of a steroid hormone (ecdysone) among invertebrates. The present material includes nymphal glands of two blattarian species studied at graded intervals over a period of several intermolt cycles.
Optical activity of single stranded polydeoxyadenylic and polyriboadenylic acids; dependence of adenine chromophore cotton effects on polymer conformation

Circular dichroism (CD) curves are reported for poly dA, (pdA)6, (pdA)2, poly A, ApAp, ApA, AMP, dApA, pdApA, A-2′-O-methyl pA, and A-2′-O-methyl pAp. Analysis of these curves indicated the presence of single CD bands at 228–230 mμ and at 278–280 mμ in oligomers longer than dinucleotides. In the case of dinucleotides and mononucleotides (from the literature, in addition to those studied here), the 230 mμ CD of band appears but the 280 mμ CD band does not. We assign the 230 mμ band to a very weak π–π* transition at this wavelength. From theoretical considerations, we show that the 280 mμ band is not an exciton component of the strong π–π* transition at 260 mμ in adenine. We conclude that the 280 mμ CD band must be assigned to a distinct absorption, not previously reported, which we suggest arises from an n–π* transition. The fact that the n–π* CD band at 280 mμ is not seen in mononucleotides or dinucleotides is ascribed to solvation of the adenine ring by water, which shifts the band to shorter wavelengths. Therefore, only interior residues of oligomers have the 280 mμ band, and the optical activity of a polymer cannot be computed from that of a dinucleotide, by using a nearest-neighbor approximation. The existence of this end effect hag been tested, by taking it into account in computing the rotational strengths of the 278 mμ n–π* transition for several oligomers; it is pointed out that a more sensitive test of this end effect would require CD data for the oligo dA series of 3 to 5 residues. We speculate about the structural and optical differences between poly dA and poly A, and point out the need for a theoretical treatment of n–π* Cotton effects in polynucleotides.
Characterization of the human nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha (α) 9 (CHRNA9) and alpha (α) 10 (CHRNA10) in lymphocytes

Though the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits alpha9 and alpha 10 have been thoroughly characterized within hair cells of the organ of Corti in the inner ear, prior studies have shown that they are also expressed in lymphocytes. In this report, we sought to more definitively characterize the nAChR subunits alpha9 and alpha10 within various populations of human lymphocytes. Using a combination of techniques, including RT-PCR, single-cell RT-PCR, Northern and western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence, expression of both alpha9 and alpha 10 was demonstrated in purified populations of T-cells (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and the Jurkat, MT2 and CEM T-cell lines) and B-cells (CD19+, CD80+ and EBV-immortalized B-cells). Single-lymphocyte recording techniques failed to identify an ionic current in response to applied acetylcholine in either T-cells or B-cells. These results clearly demonstrate the presence of these nicotinic receptor subunits within several populations of human lymphocytes, implicating their role in the immune response. However, a lack of demonstrated response to applied acetylcholine using standard single-cell recording techniques suggests a physiology different than that seen in hair cells of the inner ear.
Management of COPD. Early identification and active intervention are crucial.

PREVIEWChronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects millions of Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Early identification of patients at risk is the crucial first step in turning the tide of this debilitating disease. Dr Ferguson reviews the latest management practices, including timely intervention, appropriate drug therapy, and comprehensive rehabilitation.
Suspended sediment transport on the continental shelf near Davenport, California

Abstract Suspended sediment transport on the shelves off Santa Cruz and Davenport, California is studied using field measurements and bottom boundary layer modeling. Strong transport events mostly occur during storms in winter; the volume of winter sediment transport is at least one order of magnitude greater than that of summer/spring transport. Rock outcrops on the inner shelf (
Effects of para-chlorophenylalanine on food intake in rats

Food intakes, water intakes, and body weights of rats were monitored for up to 30 days during daily intragastric administration of 100 mg/kg p-chlorophenylalanine. During treatment, food intake was reduced to 50%-75% of control levels, water intake was decreased to about 28% of control levels, and body weights stabilized at about 80%-90% of control levels. Body weight remained low as long as treatment continued, and animals defended the low body weights against food deprivation and weight gain induced by insulin injections. It is unlikely that the decrease in body weight during PCPA treatment is due to malaise, since anorexia could be prevented by depriving animals of food during the first 2 days of drug treatment.
Cycle-time reduction of CD targeting using automated metrology and analysis

This paper describes a technique for quickly achieving photolithography and etch critical dimension (CD) targets using measurement data from an automated CD SEM and a statistical analysis package. The experimental dataset is created from the measured CD response as a function of process input parameters that have been varied in a controlled fashion across a wafer or on multiple wafers. The resulting model is displayed as an array of "prediction profiles" that allow interactive variation of the model components to simulate the response of CD to input changes. The outputs of the analysis are used to determine optimal processing conditions and to provide an estimate of process latitude. Keywords: Automated CD SEM Metrology, Lithography Process Characterization
Surface structure of pyrolyzed polyimide

Abstract X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows that polyimide is thermally converted to glassy carbon during pyrolysis. Scanning tunneling microscopy gives direct evidence of the existence of small graphitic domains in the amorphous carbon matrix, and we believe that those surface graphitic structures may play a major role in the biocompatibility of carbon surfaces.
Ion sorption by polyamide with consideration of ionic interaction and other physical interactions

A modified Donnan model is discussed with consideration of physical interactions in the ion sorption by polyamide as a function of the influence of ions in the system. Lyotropic numbers and the salt effect on water-structure changes are considered to describe their influence on the physical interactions between the sorbate and the sorbent. It is found that some electrolytes, such as sulfates and phosphates, can increase the sorption of some negatively charged ions (e.g., acid dyes) on positively charged polyamide it salt concentration is high (e.g., > 0.5 M), after the initial decrease of ion sorption at a low salt concentration range. This result is difficult to explain by the model that treats all interactions other than ionic interaction as a constant. The modified Donnan model explains both the decrease and increase of ion sorption with increasing salt concentration quantitatively. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Internet traffic growth: Sources and implications

The high tech bubble was inflated by myths of astronomical Internet traffic growth rates. Yet although these myths were false, Internet traffic was increasing very rapidly, close to doubling each year since 1997. Moreover, it continues growing close to this rate. This rapid growth reflects a poorly understood combination of many feedback loops operating on different time scales. Evidence about past and current growth rates and their sources is presented, together with speculations about the future. The expected rapid but not astronomical growth of Internet traffic is likely to have important implications for networking technologies that are deployed and for industry structure. Backbone transport is likely to remain a commodity and be provided as a single high quality service. It is probable that backbone revenues will stay low, as the complexity, cost, and revenue and profit opportunities continue to migrate towards the edges of the network.
Quantitative structure-activity relationships of purines I: Choice of parameters and prediction of pKa values.

Linear free energy relationships were derived for several monosubstituted purines. The derived equations relate the pKa to the Hammett constants αm and αp. A general linear free energy relationship was derived that permits calculation of the pKa of polysubstituted purines. The results suggest that correlation of biological data with standard parameters is feasible.