cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Secondary to Histoplasmosis

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a relatively common acquired bleeding disorder characterized by autoimmune destruction of platelets. In adults, the annual incidence is around 1.6/100,000, common in middle aged females. In patients with ITP, physical examination is usually normal aside from bleeding manifestations, such as petechiae, ecchymoses, and purpura. The three key diagnostic criteria for ITP are isolated thrombocytopenia with otherwise normal peripheral complete blood count and smear, an absence of hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy on physical examination, and platelet response to classic ITP therapy. Review of the literature has shown case reports of disseminated histoplasmosis presenting with thrombocytopenia. Our patient comes from a geographic location where histoplasmosis is endemic. Most cases of histoplasmosis have mild symptoms and usually escape diagnosis. The microconidia formed in the mold phase of Histoplasma capsulatum are easily aerosolized, inhaled into the lungs, and then phagocytized by alveolar macrophages. Inside the macrophage, the organism converts to the yeast phase, survives within the macrophage for the first few weeks, and disseminates widely throughout the reticuloendothelial system. If cell-mediated immunity is deficient because of immunosuppression due to corticosteroids, transplanted organs, the organisms remain viable within macrophages and cause progressive infection. Most patients have either no symptoms or mild pulmonary complaints that are not severe enough to seek medical care. Although disseminated histoplasmosis has been reported to be associated with thrombocytopenia and anemia, most of these patients are immunocompromised. We report a case of ITP secondary to histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient. J Med Cases. 2015;6(11):483-484 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc2230w
Parallel methods for synthesizing whole-hand grasps from generalized prototypes

Robotic hands are very flexible mechanisms. Because of this flexibility, it has been difficult to automate the process of acquiring objects using these robotic hands. Each new grasping problem is too complex to analyze without the use of good heuristics. Constraints due to target object geometry, environment geometry, hand kinematics and geometry, and a task description must all be considered when forming a solution. One tempting approach to this problem is to contain the flexibility of the robot hand by developing standard routines for grasping common objects. Standard grasping routines greatly reduce the complexity of the grasp synthesis problem, but these routines tend to go too far, becoming inflexible to variation in the target object and environment geometries. If the range of application of any given grasping routine is small, a reasonably sized library of routines will not cover an acceptable space of problem situations. This thesis describes one way in which standard grasping routines can be made more effective. A technique is developed for generalizing standard grasps and applying a generalized grasp description to new problem situations. The grasp generalization technique expands the range of application of a standard grasp to a wide variety of target object and environment geometries, while ensuring that the resulting grasps are appropriate for the intended task. The ability to generalize a standard grasp in this way greatly reduces the number of standard grasping routines that must be stored in any comprehensive grasp library. A generalized grasp description is applied to a new problem situation using a parallel search through hand configuration space. The generalized grasp description allows the placement of each contact of a grasp to be independently optimized. This means that the process of assembling good hand configurations can be transformed into a dynamic programming algorithm. The many-dimensional space of hand configurations is searched for optimal solutions by performing a small number of steps in a six-dimensional workspace. The result of applying a generalized grasp description to a new problem situation is a space of wrist configurations from which high quality, collision-free grasps can be achieved. It is useful to have such a global solution, because this solution can be used to estimate the robustness of a grasp to errors in wrist placement, to measure the effect of obstacles on the size and shape of the space of good grasps, and to indicate whether any good grasps are possible at all. A global solution also provides a flexible starting point for a post-processing step that adds the constraint of robot arm kinematics to the problem and finds an approach path into one of the high quality, collision-free grasps that have been identified. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.) (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Storage Encryption: A Cryptographer's View

Encryption is the bread-and-butter of cryptography, with well-established notions of security and a large variety of schemes to meet these notions. So what is left for researchers in cryptography to look at when it comes to encrypting storage? In this talk I will cover cryptography issues that arise when introducing encryption to real-world storage systems, with some examples drawn from the work of the IEEE 1619 standard committee that deals with standardizing aspects of storage encryption. The issues that I plan to touch upon include: Encryption Schemes and Modes-of-Operation:The use of "authenticated" vs. "transparent" encryption, "wide block" vs. "narrow block" transparent encryption modes, and other considerations. Issues with Key-Management and IV-Management:How to avoid nonce collision when your nonces are only 96-bit long, why you may want to use deterministic encryption for key-wrapping, what is the difference between key-wrapping and KEM/DEM, and related questions. Self-Encryption of Keys:Can an encryption scheme remain secure when used to encrypt its own secret key? It turns out that this requirement sometimes comes up when encrypting storage. I will talk about several aspects of this problem, including the not-so-bad, the bad, and the ugly.
Transoral robot-assisted carbon dioxide laser surgery for hypopharyngeal cancer.

Background Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has been used as a novel procedure for the resection of laryngopharyngeal cancers with promising outcomes. There are several studies proposing the benefit of combining TORS with a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser in resecting upper aerodigestive tract tumors. The purpose of this study was to illustrate transoral robot-assisted carbon dioxide laser surgery (TORS-L) for hypopharyngeal cancers. Methods A 59-year-old patient with T1N0M0 cancer at the lateral hypopharyngeal wall was selected for TORS-L. Results Tumor was excised in 1 piece with adequate surgical margins. There was no perioperative complication. The patient was extubated immediately after surgery. Oral diet was initiated within the first 24 hours. No gastrostomy or tracheostomy tube placement was required. A video demonstration of TORS-L is included, which can be viewed online on Head & Neck's home page at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1097-0347. Conclusion TORS-L hypopharyngectomy is a safe and feasible procedure for the resection of selected hypopharyngeal tumors. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 37: 743–745, 2015
Response to simultaneous dehydration and thermal stress in three species of Puerto Rican frogs

The response to simultaneous temperature and dehydration stress was examined in three species of Puerto Rican frogs.Eleutherodactylus antillensis is found primarily in hot, arid grasslands at low altitudes.Eleutherodactylus portoricensis is restricted to cool, forested montane habitats above 300 m.Eleutherodactylus coqui occurs in both the lowlands and the highlands. The physiological tolerance of the frogs to temperature was measured at 20, 25, and 30°C at various levels of dehydration using an index derived from jumping performance. Although jump distance of fully hydratedE. antillensis was unaffected by temperature, this species tolerated significantly more dehydration at high temperatures than low.Eleutherodactylus portoricensis died at 30°C, but in this species both distance jumped and dehydration tolerance were unaffected by lower temperatures. Distance jumped byE. coqui increased with increasing temperature, but tolerance of dehydration remained unchanged.Eleutherodactylus coqui was less tolerant of high temperatures thanE. antillensis but more tolerant thanE. portoricensis.
Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Enhances the Growth of Postnatal Neostriatal GABAergic Neurons in Vitro

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) significantly enhances the short-term survival of embryonic striatal neurons in vitro but has little effect on the outgrowth of striatal cells compared to neurons from other brain regions. Studies in our laboratory have shown that bFGF protects postnatal striatal cells in vitro from NMDA receptor-induced neurotoxicity. We therefore examined the effects of bFGF on the outgrowth of GABA-containing cells taken from the postnatal (Day 1) caudate-putamen and cultured for up to 3 weeks. In control cultures GABAergic neurons formed three populations based on somatic size and developed the cytoarchitectural features characteristic of dendrites, spines, and axons. In the presence of bFGF (6 pM continuously from the day of plating), small- and medium-sized GABAergic neurons showed significant increases compared to untreated controls in axon-like growth (axon length) at 6 days in culture and in both axon- and dendrite-like neurite growth (axon length and branch order, number of primary dendrites, dendrite length, and dendritic branch order) at 13 and 17 days in culture. Large GABAergic neurons were unaffected by treatment with bFGF. Striatal GABAergic neurons exposed to nerve growth factor (10 ng/ml) were not different from untreated controls. Neuron survival was also unaffected by bFGF treatment at all days in culture examined. Other observations suggested that the neurotrophic effects of bFGF were mediated by a direct action of the growth factor on striatal neurons and not glial cells. First, glial cells (identified by the immunohistochemical localization of glial fibrillary acidic protein) were unaffected by bFGF treatment at the low concentration (6 pM) used to enhance neurite growth, but did significantly proliferate at higher concentrations of bFGF (6 nM). Second, immunoreactive bFGF receptor protein was localized predominantly to the somata and processes of striatal neurons and not to glial cells in the cultures. Finally, when neurons from control cultures were briefly exposed (1 to 4 h) to bFGF at concentrations which were neurotrophic, a marked elevation in the immediate early gene protein c-fos was observed by immunohistochemistry in the nuclei of neurons, including GABAergic cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Assessing the Impact of Statutory Change: A Statewide Multilevel Analysis of Restitution Orders in Pennsylvania

This research analyzed decisions in 170,260 restitution-eligible cases in Pennsylvania from 1990 to 1998 to infer the policies underlying the imposition of restitution when it was discretionary and to assess whether a 1995 statutory change making restitution mandatory changed those policies. Multilevel analyses of restitution decisions from the 1990-1994prestatutory change period suggested that judges considered restitution to be both a victim-focused sanction, in that restitution was ordered more for offenders who committed more serious crimes and for property offenders (whose crimes could be more easily quantified), and an offender-focused sanction, in that restitution was ordered more for offenders who pleaded guilty, offenders with no prior record, White offenders, and female offenders. The statutory change increased the proportion of restitution orders statewide from 1996 to 1998. Moreover, it appeared to meet the policy goal of greater focus on victims.
Arctic climate characteristics and recent trends from space

The newly available Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Polar Pathfinder (APP) data has been extended to create a comprehensive data set, called APP-x, containing cloud microphysical properties, surface temperature and broadband albedo, radiative fluxes and cloud forcing for the Arctic and Antarctic over the 19-year period 1982-2000. The APP-x data show that the annual mean cloud coverage in the Arctic is about 70%, with a maximum in September and a minimum in April. Arctic cloud optical depth averages about 5 ~ 6. The largest downwelling shortwave radiative flux at the surface occurs in June; the largest upwelling shortwave flux occurs in May. The largest downwelling and upwelling longwave and net radiative fluxes occur in July, with the largest loss of longwave radiation from the surface in April. Over the past 19 years, the Arctic has warmed and become cloudier in spring and summer, but has cooled and become less cloudy in winter. The decadal rate of annual surface temperature change is 0.57C for the Arctic region north of 60N. The surface broadband albedo has decreased at a decadal rate of -1.5% (absolute). Cloud fraction has decreased at a decadal rate of 6% (absolute) in winter, and increased at decadal rates of 3.2% and 1.6% in spring and summer, respectively. On an annual time scale, net cloud forcing at the surface has decreased at a decadal rate of -3.35 W/m 2 , indicating an increased cooling by clouds. There are large correlations between surface temperature anomalies and climate indices such as the Arctic Oscillation (AO) index for some areas, implying linkages between global climate change and Arctic climate change.
Helix periodicity, topology, and dynamics of membrane-associated α-synuclein

The protein α-Synuclein (aS) is a synaptic vesicle-associated regulator of synaptic strength and dopamine homeostasis with a pathological role in Parkinson’s disease. The normal function of aS depends on a membrane-associated conformation that is adopted upon binding to negatively charged lipid surfaces. Previously we found that the membrane-binding domain of aS is helical and suggested that it may exhibit an unusual structural periodicity. Here we present a study of the periodicity, topology, and dynamics of detergent micelle-bound aS using paramagnetic spin labels embedded in the micelle or attached to the protein. We show that the helical region of aS completes three full turns every 11 residues, demonstrating the proposed 11/3 periodicity. We also find that the membrane-binding domain is partially buried in the micelle surface and bends toward the hydrophobic interior, but does not traverse the micelle. Deeper submersion of certain regions within the micelle, including the unique lysine-free sixth 11-residue repeat, is observed and may be functionally important. There are no long-range tertiary contacts within this domain, indicating a highly extended configuration. The backbone dynamics of the micelle-bound region are relatively uniform with a slight decrease in flexibility observed toward the C-terminal end. These results clarify the topological features of aS bound to membrane-mimicking detergent micelles, with implications for aS function and pathology.
Alcohol abuse in deceased liver donors: Impact on post-transplant outcomes

Background Many deceased liver donors with a history of alcohol abuse are excluded based upon medical history alone. This paper summarizes the transplant outcomes for a large number of deceased liver donors with a documented history of alcohol abuse. Methods The records for 1478 consecutive deceased liver donors were reviewed (2001–2012). As per the United Network for Organ Sharing criteria, heavy alcohol use by an organ donor is defined as chronic intake of two or more drinks per day. Donors with a documented history of alcohol abuse were divided into three groups according to duration of abuse (<10 years, 10–24 years and 25 + years). Reperfusion biopsies are reported. Outcomes include biopsy appearance, early graft function and early and late graft survival. Results There were 161 donors with alcohol abuse: <10 years (29%); 10–24 years (42%); and ≥25 years (29%). Risk of 90-day graft loss for these three groups was: 0%, 3% and 2%, compared to 3% for all other donors (P = 0.62). Graft survival at 1 year for donor grafts with and without alcohol abuse was 89% and 87% (P = 0.52). There was no difference in early graft function. Cox proportional hazards modelling for graft survival demonstrates no statistically significant difference in survival up to 10 years post-transplant. Conclusions This study demonstrates successful transplantation of a large number of deceased donor liver grafts from donors with a documented history of alcohol abuse (n = 161; 11% of all grafts). These extended criteria donor allografts may, therefore, be utilized successfully with similar outcomes.
Stereoselective Access to Z and E Macrocycles by Ruthenium-Catalyzed Z-Selective Ring-Closing Metathesis and Ethenolysis

The first report of Z-selective macrocyclizations using a ruthenium-based metathesis catalyst is described. The selectivity for Z macrocycles is consistently high for a diverse set of substrates with a variety of functional groups and ring sizes. The same catalyst was also employed for the Z-selective ethenolysis of a mixture of E and Z macrocycles, providing the pure E isomer. Notably, an ethylene pressure of only 1 atm was required. These methodologies were successfully applied to the construction of several olfactory macrocycles as well as the formal total synthesis of the cytotoxic alkaloid motuporamine C.
A Review of a Few Key Factors Regulating Voluntary Feed Intake in Ruminants

During the history of ruminant nutrition many factors have been proposed as regulators of voluntary feed intake. In some cases, the implicit assumption has been that a factor acted independently and exclusively of other mechanisms. A knowledge of ruminant digestive anatomy aids in understanding both the ecological niche and the feeding behavior of the ruminant animal. Factors controlling ruminant intake should be assumed to function with multiple interactions. A number of feedback regulators such as distension, protein, and energy should be considered in the context of their interacting regulatory effects when attempting to predict intake. Behavioral aspects also influence voluntary feed intake through associations formed via post-ingestive feedback. Ruminants can learn to identify particular feeds and alter intake on the basis of past experiences. An integrated approach is proposed as a means of understanding ruminant feed intake regulation and eventually to improving prediction of intake. Empirical mathematical methods are likely to be fundamental to developing understanding and models of feed intake because of the difficulty of studying the central nervous system. In spite of these difficulties, knowledge of theoretical feedbacks has already been used to develop practical ruminant feeding strategies.
Celiac disease and osteoporosis.

The recently published “ASHP Therapeutic Position Statement on the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis in Adults” is a well-written, comprehensive review of a very important disease.[1][1] I respectfully suggest that the document should have included a discussion of the important
Cementoblastoma involving multiple deciduous teeth

The first case of a cementoblastoma involving multiple mandibular deciduous incisors is presented. The clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic features of the cementoblastoma are reviewed. The possible etiology for the pain frequently associated with this lesion is discussed.
A Comparison of EUV Spectroheliograms and Photospheric Magnetograms

A comparison of EUV data from an experiment on the OSO-6 satellite with photospheric magnetograms from Kitt Peak National Observatory indicates relationships between the strength of the photospheric magnetic field and density in the overlying corona in quiet and in active regions, distinctly differing from previous notions. In addition, the photospheric field beneath a coronal hole is found to be virtually identical to that beneath normal quiet regions.
Varicose veins: evaluating modern treatments, with emphasis on powered phlebectomy for branch varicosities

Varicose veins are an early manifestation of chronic venous insufficiency. Although the risk factors associated with varicose veins are well described, the basic pathophysiology leading to venous valvular incompetence, and thus, varicosities are less well known. However, cosmetics aside, the leg fatigue and heaviness that is associated with chronic venous insufficiency in the presence of varicose veins can be disabling. The treatment of superficial vein reflux has evolved in the past 10 years making open surgical ligation and stripping of the great saphenous vein largely a historic procedure. Endovenous ablation using catheter-based techniques achieve vein closure with minimal surgical risk. In the same sense, removal of varicosities associated with superficial reflux has also evolved. Traditionally, varicose veins were removed with multiple stab incisions and hook phlebectomy. The introduction of transilluminated-powered phlebectomy has allowed for removal of large clusters of varicose veins using fewer ...
Leibniz’s Rule, Sampling and Wavelets on Mixed Lebesgue Spaces

Several new results about Leibniz’s rule, sampling, and wavelets in the context of mixed Lebesgue spaces are presented. The results obtained rely in part on vector-valued estimates for Calderon–Zygmund operators and the use of appropriate maximal functions and Littlewood–Paley estimates.
Effects of interchanging hyperopic defocus and form deprivation stimuli in normal and optic nerve-sectioned chicks

To test the hypothesis that the same mechanisms mediate form deprivation and lens-induced myopia, the ocular growth responses of chicks alternately exposed to lenses and diffusers at regular intervals (3h) were compared to those of chicks exposed to either negative lenses or diffusers alone. In total, there were four experiments: (1) -15 D lenses and/or diffusers on normal birds, (2) -15 D lenses and/or diffusers on optic nerve-sectioned (ONS) birds, (3) -5/-10/-15 D lenses (sequentially applied) and/or diffusers on normal birds and (4) -5/-10/-15 D lenses and/or diffusers on ONS birds. All treatments were monocular. In all experiments, optical axial lengths (cornea-to-retina distances) in treated eyes were greater than in fellow eyes, irrespective of the optical device (diffuser, lens or switch), lens power (fixed or incremented) and optic nerve condition (intact or severed). In normal chicks, optical axial length responses in the switch group were significantly reduced relative to those of the diffuser but not to those of the -15 D lens group. For both groups of ONS birds, diffusers exaggerated the optical axial length changes. For all groups, the responses to the switch and lens groups were most similar. These results together suggest that the mechanisms mediating form deprivation- and lens-induced myopia are different.
Understanding animal flight with three-dimensional and infrared computer vision: invited keynote talk

Analysis of bird and bat flight with computer vision algorithms provides a new perspective on how animals move through three-dimensional space. This is important for understanding the intricacies of flight and the interactions of airborne animals that fly in groups. Results can be applied to a large array of tasks, for example, bio-inspired engineering of airplanes [3] and censusing of populations of bats [1], [2], [6].Censusing populations of bats is imperative for quantifying the ecological and economic impact of these animals on terrestrial ecosystems [5]. Colonies of Brazilian free-tailed bats are of particular interest because they represent some of the largest aggregations of mammals known to mankind. It is challenging to census these bats accurately, since they emerge in large numbers at night from their day-time roosting sites. We have used infrared thermal cameras to record Brazilian free-tailed bats in California, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Texas, and developed automated image analysis methods that detect, track, and count emerging bats [1].We have developed guidelines of camera setup and calibration procedures in the field [7]. Our computer vision algorithms use stereography to analyze the three-dimensional flight paths of bats and birds. Our techniques include detection of individual animals in each camera view, reconstruction of their positions in three-dimensional space, across-time and across-space data association and multiple-object tracking [3], [8]-[11].We found that six colonies of Brazilian free-tailed bats in the southwestern United States may have plummeted from 54 million members to 4 million since 1957 [2]. Analysis of emergence flights from dusk through darkness also revealed patterns in group behavior. Flow patterns of bats during emergence flights exhibited characteristic single or multiple episodes. A consistent rhythmic pattern of flow episodes and pauses was revealed across colonies and was independent of emergence tempo.
T1DM in 2014: Progress towards a bionic pancreas

2014 was a good year for developments in automated insulin delivery systems for patients with diabetes mellitus. Clinical trials shifted from research units to the outpatient setting, included both adult and adolescent individuals and were conducted over periods from overnight to 24 h, with improvements seen in time spent in the target glycaemic range and reduced risk of hypoglycaemia.
Effect of Combined Fluoroquinolone and Azole Use on QT Prolongation in Hematology Patients

QTc prolongation is a risk factor for development of torsades de pointes (TdP). Combination therapy with fluoroquinolones and azoles is used in patients with hematologic malignancies for prophylaxis and treatment of infection. Both drug classes are implicated as risk factors for QTc prolongation. The cumulative effect on and incidence of QTc prolongation for this combination have not been previously described. A retrospective chart review was performed with hospitalized inpatients from 1 September 2008 to 31 January 2010 comparing QTc interval data from electrocardiogram (ECG) assessment at baseline and after the initiation of combination therapy. Ninety-four patients were eligible for inclusion. The majority, 88 patients (93.6%), received quinolone therapy with levofloxacin. Fifty-three patients (56.4%) received voriconazole; 40 (42.6%) received fluconazole. The overall mean QTc change from baseline was 6.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2 to 11.9) ms. Twenty-one (22.3%) of the studied patients had clinically significant changes in the QTc while receiving combination fluoroquinolone-azole therapy. Statistically significant risk factors for clinically significant changes in QTc were hypokalemia (P = 0.03) and a left-ventricular ejection fraction of <55% (P = 0.02). Low magnesium (P = 0.11), exposure to 2 or more drugs with the potential to prolong the QTc interval (P = 0.17), and female sex (P = 0.21) trended toward significance. Combination therapy with fluoroquinolone and azole antifungals is associated with increased QTc from baseline in hospitalized patients with hematologic malignancies. One in five patients had a clinically significant change in the QTc, warranting close monitoring and risk factor modification to prevent the possibility of further QTc prolongation and risk of TdP.
Failure to eradicate streptococci and beta-lactamase producing bacteria.

Background: The presence of beta-lactamase-producing bacteria is associated with the failure of penicillins to eradicate Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in patients with pharyngo-tonsillitis. This study correlated the rate of recovery of beta-lactamase-producing bacteria from healthy children with the rate of amoxicillin failure to eradicate Group A streptococci from children with acute Group A streptococcal pharyngo-tonsillitis. Patients and Methods: A total of 228 children with Group A streptococcal pharyngo-tonsillitis, treated with amoxicillin for 10 days, and 663 healthy children were evaluated in a single year. Pharyngo-tonsillar cultures were obtained from all well children and from those with pharyngo-tonsillitis before treatment and on the 12th day. Results: Amoxicillin failed to eradicate Group A streptococci from 48 of the 228 treated children (21%). Amoxicillin failure rate varied from month to month; it was high between October and May (22–32%), with the exception of April (11%); and low between June and September (8% to 12%). Beta-lactamase-producing bacteria were recovered from 226 of 663 (34%) well children. The rate of recovery of beta-lactamase-producing bacteria varied; it was also high between October and May (40–52%), with exception of April (23%), and the lowest between June and September (10–12%). Prior to their treatment, beta-lactamase-producing bacteria were recovered from 26 of the 48 (54%) children who eventually failed amoxicillin therapy, and from 28 of the 180 (16%) who did not fail (p < 0.001). Conclusions: A correlation was noted between the rate of recovery of beta-lactamase-producing bacteria in healthy children and the rate of amoxicillin failure to eradicate Group A streptococci. A high failure rate of penicillins in eradication of Group A streptococci in pharyngo-tonsillitis can serve as sensitive indicator for a high prevalence rate of beta-lactamase-producing bacteria in the community.
Toxicology for the twenty-first century

The testing of substances for adverse effects on humans and the environment needs a radical overhaul if we are to meet the challenges of ensuring health and safety.
Energy release criteria for enclosure fire hazard analysis — part I

An approach to modeling enclosure fires is presented in which a graphic plot of five fire development constraints is used.
Phase conjugate optics and real-time holography

Nonlinear optical mixing can be used to perform a variety of new optical functions, as well as real-time holography. The theory and some of the first experiments are described.
Synthesis, Structure, and Carbon Dioxide Capture Properties of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks

Zeolites are one of humanity’s most important synthetic products. These aluminosilicate-based materials represent a large segment of the global economy. Indeed, the value of zeolites used in petroleum refining as catalysts and in detergents as water softeners is estimated at $350 billion per year. A major current goal in zeolite chemistry is to create a structure in which metal ions and functionalizable organic units make up an integral part of the framework. Such a structure, by virtue of the flexibility with which metal ions and organic moieties can be varied, is viewed as a key to further improving zeolite properties and accessing new applications. Recently, it was recognized that the Si−O−Si preferred angle in zeolites (145°) is coincident with that of the bridging angle in the M−Im−M fragment (where M is Zn or Co and Im is imidazolate), and therefore it should be possible to make new zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with topologies based on those of tetrahedral zeolites. This idea was successfu...
Facile Functionalization of Gold Nanoparticles via Microwave-Assisted 1,3 Dipolar Cycloaddition

This contribution describes a simple and facile method for the functionalization of thiol-coated gold nanoparticles using microwave-assisted 1,3 dipolar cycloadditions. The developed procedure allows for the attachment of terminal alkynes onto azide-containing gold nanoparticles in nearly quantitative conversions within minutes. The utility of the method has been demonstrated by attaching a library of substituted alkynes onto gold nanoparticles in nearly quantitative yields. In a proof of principle study, we demonstrate the potential use of this methodology in catalysis by attaching palladium catalysts to the azide-containing gold nanoparticles and investigate the resulting materials as supported catalysts in Suzuki couplings. Activities that rival the nonsupported analogues were observed, demonstrating that the nanoparticle support does not interfere with the catalytic activity.
Human Perception and Fabric Streakiness

Streakiness and barre have been problems for the textile industry for years. It is interesting that streakiness can be a problem in fabrics when it is barely detectable by instruments. This paper uses theory developed to explain the way humans see, to understand the origin of the fabric streakiness problem as a perception phenomenon. It then uses this understanding to suggest and evaluate options for improving, (i.e., reducing) the appearance of streakiness in real fabrics. Testing of the options suggested is done on simulated fabrics created under precisely controlled conditions on a high- quality color printer.
Simple, rapid and micro high-pressure liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of tolbutamide and carboxy tolbutamide in plasma.

Abstract A rapid high-pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay is described for the quantitative analysis of tolbutamide and its major metabolite, carboxy tolbutamide, in plasma. An aliquot (25–100 μl) of plasma was prepared for chromatography by deproteinization as follows. One volume of plasma and 2.5 volumes of acetonitrile were vortex mixed for a few seconds and then centrifuged for approx. 1 min. A 50-μl sample of the clear supernatant was injected into the chromatograph. A μBondapak C 12 reversed-phase column was used with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid (45:55) at a flow-rate of 1.5 ml/min. The column effluent was monitored by a variable-wavelength UV detector set at 200 nm. Tolbutamide and its metabolite had retention times of 5.75 and 3.25 min, respectively. The procedure yields reproducible results with sensitivity adequate for routine clinical monitoring of plasma levels or for single-dose pharmacokinetic studies. A number of commonly used drugs do not interfere with the method. A single plasma sample can be analyzed in approx. 9 or 10 min.
The effects of a National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program on social disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Massachusetts

Objective: To assess social disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment by comparing the stage at diagnosis and treatment of women diagnosed with breast cancer through a National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) for low income and uninsured women in Massachusetts, the Women’s Health Network (WHN), to other breast cancer patients in the state. Methods: We linked data from the WHN and the Massachusetts Cancer Registry (MCR). We compared 331 WHN women and 13,372 other breast cancer patients in Massachusetts diagnosed from 1995 to 1999. We used logistic regression, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, marital status, region of residence, and stage, where appropriate. Results: Compared to other breast cancer patients reported to the MCR, WHN women were just as likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage (III or IV), treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy, and treated with complete mastectomy versus partial mastectomy. WHN women were less likely to receive radiation therapy (odds ratio=0.7; 95% confidence interval=0.6–0.9), particularly after partial mastectomy, and had a slightly longer time from diagnosis to treatment than other breast cancer patients (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Women diagnosed with breast cancer through a NBCCEDP in Massachusetts had similar stage and treatment patterns as other breast cancer patients in the state, except for the use of radiation therapy.
Hydroformylation catalysis explored by cylindrical internal reflectance spectroscopy. Spectroscopic evidence for the fragmentation of the benzylidyne cluster PhCCO3(CO)9

Abstract The hydroformylation of 1 -pentene using the benzylidyne-capped cluster PhCCO3(CO)9 has been examined by cylindrical internal reflectance (CIR) spectroscopy. At 130°C, cluster fragmentation is observed and the formation of aldehydes is shown to coincide with fragmentation of PhCCO3(CO)9 by CIR spectroscopy. These results are discussed in relationship to the observations previously reported by Withers and Seyferth (Inorg. Chem. 22 (1983) 2931) on PhCCO3(CO)9 and its polymer-bound analogues. CIR spectral data for the CO2(CO)8-catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-pentene are also presented for comparative purposes.
AppRush: Using Dynamic Shortcuts to Facilitate Application Launching on Mobile Devices

Abstract When there are many applications (apps) installed on a mobile device, the simple task of launching an app could become inconvenient, as the user may need to swipe the screen several times to find the desired app. In this paper, we present AppRush, an adaptive user interface solution for mobile devices, which uses dynamic shortcuts to facilitate app launching. AppRush predicts the apps most likely to be launched at a certain time based on the user's app usage history. The prediction model utilizes multiple features including recency, frequency, duration, time distribution and app launching sequence. AppRush updates the app shortcuts dynamically on the home screen according to the prediction result. With the correct prediction, the user is able to launch an app from the home screen via one-tap. The evaluation performed on real-world user data demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed prediction algorithm. In addition, AppRush maintains a low system overhead, which makes it applicable for running on battery-driven mobile devices.
On the Inconsistent Relationship between Pacific and Atlantic Niños

The tropical Atlantic wind response to El Nino forcing is robust, with weakened northeast trade winds north of the equator and strengthened southeast trade winds along and south of the equator. However, the relationship between sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the eastern equatorial Pacific and Atlantic is inconsistent, with El Nino events followed sometimes by warm and other times by cold boreal summer anomalies in the Atlantic cold tongue region. Using observational data and a hindcast simulation of the Nucleus for European Modeling of the Ocean (NEMO) global model at 0.5° resolution (NEMO-ORCA05), this inconsistent SST relationship is shown to be at least partly attributable to a delayed negative feedback in the tropical Atlantic that is active in years with a warm or neutral response in the eastern equatorial Atlantic. In these years, the boreal spring warming in the northern tropical Atlantic that is a typical response to El Nino is pronounced, setting up a strong meridional SST gradient. This leads to a negative wind stress curl anomaly to the north of the equator that generates downwelling Rossby waves. When these waves reach the western boundary, they are reflected into downwelling equatorial Kelvin waves that reach the cold tongue region in late boreal summer to counteract the initial cooling that is due to the boreal winter wind stress response to El Nino. In contrast, this initial cooling persists or is amplified in years in which the boreal spring northern tropical Atlantic warming is weak or absent either because of a positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) phase or an early termination of the Pacific El Nino event.
Physical activity levels and obesity status of Oregon Rural Elementary School children

Objective To evaluate the relationship between physical activity (PA, min/school-day) at school and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) among rural elementary-aged children.
Psychiatry and preventive detention

Abstract Increasingly, the use of governmental authority to detain people, particularly for purported therapeutic purposes, has been under attack. Without careful supervision and multiple review, attempts at compulsory treatment may result in preventive detention. Areas of particular concern are hospital commitment of the mentally ill and the handling of mentally disturbed criminal offenders and sex offenders. The right to freedom must supersede mandatory treatment systems unless scrupulously monitored. The history of the increasing judicial review is presented with particular emphasis on changes in the last seven years. Physicians should be kept aware of these changes in view of their applicability to a variety of medical problems as well as the important philosophical implications which should concern all citizens.
1186 CALCIOTROPIC HORMONE RESPONSES IN NEONATAL HYPOMAGNESEMIA

Calciotropic hormone responses in neonatal hypomagnesemia have not been reported. A 3 wk old term female infant developed hypomagnesemia (serum Mg 1.2-1.5 mg/dl) and hypocalcemia (lowest serum calcium 4.1 mg%) over 2 wks. Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) was 29μl-Eq/ml (normal ≤57μl-Eq/ml) and inappropriately low for the severe degree of hypocalcemia. PTH response to Mg infusion was evaluated by infusing 6 mg/kg of Mg as 50% Mg So4 IV over 1 hr. Serum PTH rose gradually from 54 μlEq/ml to 63, 63, 61 and 129μl Eq/ml at 1/2, 1, 2, and 6 hrs. Urinary cyclic AMP excretion rose from 1.75-5.0 nmole/mg creatinine before Mg to 7.8, 11.6, 3.4, 6.3, 8.5 n mole/mg creatinine over the next 6 hrs. Incremental doses of synthetic bovine PTH (1-34 fragment) resulted in responses in serum Ca at 6 hrs; ΔCa (change in Ca relative to controls) at 15 units/kg of PTH was 0.9 mg/dl, at 20 units/Kg 0.7 mg/dl, at 30 units/kg 1.5 mg/dl and at 35 units/kg 1.1 mg/dl. Serum calcitonin concentration was <10pg/ml (normal <107pg/ml). Rapid infusion of 5 mg/kg of Ca as 10% Ca gluconate resulted in a prompt calcitonin response from <10 pg/ml to 77, 26 and 48 pg/ml at +1,+3 and + 5 min. Thus in neonatal hypomagnesemia, magnesium infusion resulted in increased circulating PTH; end organ responses to PTH appeared to be intact; and calcium infusion elicited a prompt calcitonin response. We speculate that part of the etiology of hypocalcemia in neonatal hypomagnesemia is related to inapproriately low PTH levels which can be corrected with magnesium.
Clinical Outcome of Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection after Chemotherapy in Patients with Pure Embryonal Carcinoma in the Orchiectomy Specimen.

OBJECTIVE To determine the pathologic findings and clinical outcome of patients with pure embryonal carcinoma (EC) of the testis who were diagnosed with testis cancer from January 1989 to January 2013 who underwent an orchiectomy, cisplatin-based chemotherapy and a postchemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND). METHODS We compared those patients with 100% EC with those with mixed nonseminomatous germ cell tumor pathology who underwent a PC-RPLND. RESULTS Of 1105 patients who underwent a PC-RPLND, 145 had pure EC. Twenty-six percent of patients presented with metastatic disease outside the retroperitoneum. Patients with mixed histologies tended to have worse International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group risk compared to those with EC at orchiectomy (P = .037). Histology at PC-RPLND revealed fibrosis or necrosis in 76%, mature teratoma in 19% and viable cancer in 4%. Over one-third of the patients had a residual mass of <1 cm prior to RPLND; of whom 15% harbored mature teratoma in PC-RPLND histology. The Kaplan-Meier estimated probability of recurrence at 5 years of follow-up was 3.1% (95% CI 1.2%, 8.0%) for EC histology, 7.3% lower than mixed histology. For cancer-specific mortality, the Kaplan-Meier estimated probability at 5 years was 4.6% (95% CI 3.3%, 6.3%) and 1.7% (95% CI 0.4%, 6.8%) for mixed and pure EC histologies, respectively. CONCLUSION Approximately 20% of patients with pure EC had teratoma at PC-RPLND. We have shown that those with a maximum node size of <1 cm should not be precluded from RPLND.
Temperature can sharpen tactile acuity.

The spatial acuity of the skin, as measured by two-point and two-edge limens, depends on the temperature of the objects that are touched. Cooling and warming the objects caused a marked improvement (an average of 41% in six subjects) in the skin’s acuity relative to thermally neutral stimulation. This improvement seems to be closely related to earlier observations that warm and cold objects placed on the skin feel heavier than do thermally neutral objects.
Color Doppler imaging of placental masses: differential diagnosis and fetal outcome.

Objectives To evaluate the application of Doppler imaging in the differential diagnosis of placental masses and perinatal outcome. Methods A retrospective study of all cases referred for suspicion of placental chorioangioma over a nine and a half year period. Only cases in which color flow mapping and pulsed Doppler examination were performed were considered. Results Fourteen cases fulfillled the criteria and included seven cases of chorioangioma, two cases of placental hemorrhage and five cases of a placental mass which resolved during pregnancy. All cases of chorioangioma could be distinguished by increased blood flow within the mass. Polyhydramnios was associated with six cases of chorioangioma. Rapid tumor growth, premature labor and neonatal death occurred in one case. Premature labor occurred in six cases of chorioangioma and both cases of placental hemorrhage. IUGR was associated with two cases of chorioangioma and both cases of placental hemorrhage. All cases of resolving placental mass delivered uneventfully at term. Conclusions Color Doppler is a useful tool in the differentiation of placental masses. Such masses should be followed up regularly because their growth rate is variable and unpredictable. Copyright © 2000 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Effect of a synthetic platelet activating factor on steroidogenesis of cultured porcine granulosa cells

An embryo-derived platelet activating factor has been demonstrated to play an important role in reproduction. This report examined the effect of various doses of a synthetic platelet activating factor on the production of progesterone by porcine granulosa cells in culture. Granulosa cells aspirated from ovarian follicles of prepubertal gilts were grown for 24 hours in Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Media: Ham's F-12 with 5% fetal bovine serum and 1 micrograms/ml insulin. Cells were washed once in serum-free media and then cultured for an additional 48 hours with 0 to 5000 ng/ml of the platelet activating factor in media containing either 0.25% bovine serum albumin or 1% fetal bovine serum. Cells grown with fetal bovine serum produced 50% of the amount of progesterone that was produced in the absence of serum. Low doses of the platelet activating factor caused a slight decrease in progesterone production. Higher doses (greater than 500 ng/ml) in serum-free media caused a marked decrease in progesterone production. Serum had a protective effect at high doses of platelet activating factor which was probably mediated by enzymatic degradation of the platelet activating factor. In summary, platelet activating factor had no stimulatory effect on production of progesterone by porcine granulosa cells in culture.
Laser Raman scattering of cobramine B, a basic protein from cobra venom.

Abstract Cobramine B, a small basic protein from cobra venom, is selected as a model for studying the scattering intensity of tyrosyl ring vibrations in the Raman spectra of proteins. All three tyrosines in this protein appear to be “buried” in the interior of the molecule and probably involved in interactions which are similar to those of the three “buried” tyrosines in RNase A when it is dissolved in water. Spectral evidence is presented and discussed. The Raman spectra in the 300–1800 cm−1 region of cobramine B in the solid and solution are compared quantitatively. Several differences exist between the two spectra and may be interpreted in terms of difference in conformation. In the amide I region, a strong single line was observed at 1672 cm−1 both in the solid and solution spectra, suggesting that this protein may contain a large fraction of antiparallel-β structure. This is supported by the presence of a line at 1235 cm−1 in the amide III region, which is also characteristic of β-structure. The resolved peaks at 1254 and 1270 cm−1 indicate the coexistence of some hydrogen-bonded random-coil and some α-helix with the β-structure.