cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Linezolid for tympanostomy tube otorrhea caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multiple drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

Summary Objective To describe a consecutive series of children with refractory tympanostomy tube otorrhea treated with linezolid and document its clinical effectiveness and adverse effects. Design Retrospective, single institution case series. Methods The records of children treated with linezolid for refractory gram-positive otorrhea from 2003 to 2007 were analyzed for causative organisms, antimicrobial sensitivities, history of prior medical treatments, time to cessation of otorrhea, adverse effects of linezolid and recurrence of infection. Results Ten episodes of refractory gram-positive otorrhea treated with linezolid were documented among eight children during the study period. Seven were caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and three by multiple-drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae . Prior treatment regimes included clindamycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole/rifampin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and/or a third-generation cephalosporin. Seven of eight children had failed extended courses of fluoroquinolone ear drops. All children were free of otorrhea by the 14th day of twice-daily treatment with oral linezolid at 20 mg/kg/day. One child developed two additional episodes of S. aureus otorrhea three and 10 months after initial treatment. Each was successfully controlled with linezolid. There were no adverse effects from linezolid treatment. Conclusion Oral linezolid is highly effective in the treatment of refractory otorrhea caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus and multiple drug-resistant S. pneumoniae . It has a low risk of serious side effects. It is one of only a few oral agents with activity against these organisms and is very expensive. Linezolid should be used only when otorrhea cannot be treated with conventional agents or when complications of otitis media pose a risk to life or function.
A Prospective Evaluation of Field Categorization of Trauma Patients

We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of comprehensive field triage in 8,891 trauma patients transported to trauma centers in Dade County, Florida, over a 1-year period ending in September 1986. There were 5,685 males (63.9%) and 3,206 females (36.1%) with a mean age of 32.4 +/- 18.4 years. The overall accuracy for identifying severe injury for the entire group was 30.2%. A Trauma Score less than or equal to 12 was the most accurate predictor of severe injury. Of 669 patients in this group, 617 (92.2%) sustained severe injury and 361 died (54.0%). High-speed (greater than 40 m.p.h.) motor vehicle accident was the most common reason for triage; however, of 2,277 in this group 201 patients (9.0%) had severe injury and four patients (0.2%) died. Only nine deaths (0.9%) occurred in 1,004 patients with penetrating trauma whose Trauma Scores were greater than 12. Of the 8,891 patients 4,791 (53.9%) had moderate to severe injury. The overtriage rate was therefore 46.1% using this field categorization system.
Glycine potentiation of anticonvulsant drags in pentylenetetrazol seizures in rats

This study evaluates the glycine potentiation of anticonvulsant drugs in subcutaneous pentylenetetrazol seizures in rats. Administered alone, glycine (30 or 40 mM/kg, PO) induced no anticonvulsant effect or neurological deficit. Coadministered with anticonvulsants, glycine significantly enhanced the anticonvulsant potency of diazepam and sodium valproate without affecting the neurological deficit induced by the anticonvulsants. Glycine did not significantly alter the anticonvulsant activity of ethosuximide or phenobarbital. These findings indicate a possible glycine-sensitive component in the mechanism of action of diazepam and sodium divalproate in subcutaneous pentylenetetrazol seizures. With the possible exception of sodium valproate, the present study provides little support for a glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) interaction as a mechanism of anticonvulsant activity in SC PTZ seizures. Further studies are required to determine the role of strychnine-sensitive and strychnine-insensitive glycine receptors in this experimental model of absence epilepsy.
Some properties of hazard rate functions of systems with two components

In this paper we compare the hazard rate functions of two parallel systems, each of which consists of two independent components with exponential distribution functions. The paper gives various conditions under which there exists a hazard rate ordering between the two parallel systems. It is also shown that some of these conditions are both sufficient and necessary. In particular, it is proven that if the vector consisting of the two hazard rates of the two exponential components in one parallel system weakly supmajorizes the counterpart of the other parallel system, then the first parallel system is greater than the second parallel system in the hazard rate ordering. This paper further compares the hazard rate functions of two parallel systems when both systems have components following a certain bivariate exponential distribution.
Natural embryo loss and the moral status of the human fetus.

Ord's (2008) position is that the view of equal moral status between embryos and adult humans necessarily entails a reductio ad absurdum in the form of the Conclusion: “Spontaneous abortion is one ...
CO2 Laser-Induced Combustion of Ammonium Dinitramide (ADN)

Abstract Experimental studies of CO 2 laser-induced combustion of ammonium dinitramide (ADN) were performed to determine the key physical and chemical processes involved. Experimental conditions covered the range of 0.1–5.0 atmospheres in argon and incident laser heat fluxes of 20 to 300 W/cm 2 . Quantitative gaseous species measurements obtained by microprobe sampling and mass spectrometer analysis are presented in the form of spatial and temporal profiles. Both gas-phase temperature profiles and surface temperatures measured with fine-wire thermocouples are given. Observations made with a high-magnification video recording system and Schlieren photography of the physical phenomena involved are also discussed. Three distinct regimes of behavior were identified during testing: laser-induced pyrolysis, laser-induced regression, and laser-assisted combustion. The physical, thermal, and chemical characteristics of these three regimes are described.
Śakti, Celibacy, and Colonial Politics: Interlocking Themes of the Ānandamaṭh and Debī Chaudhurāṇī of Bankimcandra

Bankimcandra Chatteiji (born 1 838) was an important Bengali writer in the nineteenth century in colonial India. We are now fortunate in having two excellent translations of his novels into English by Julius J. Lipner of the University of Cambridge: Anandamath, or the Sacred Brotherhood (2005) and the more recent Debi Chaudhurâni, or The Wife Who Came Home (2009), both published by Oxford University Press. Lovers of Indian literature owe a debt of gratitude to Lipner for his superior translations as is evident by his being awarded the A. K. Ramanujan Prize for Translation by the South Asia Council of the American Association of Asian Studies in 2008 for Anandamath. Along with Lipner's superb translations, he includes lucid, informative and insightful introductions to them, providing readers with sufficient historical and cultural background to enable them to more fully understand and appreciate the novels and the copious notes that enlighten a reader about obscure references within the novels to Bengali culture. Lipner cares enough about his task to share some reflections about the philosophy of language and art of translation behind his effort. In addition, readers learn about the alienation between British and urbane, educated Indians, the importance of Tantra, eroticism, and the vision of the author. The Anandamath reflects tensions and oppositions within Indian culture between Hindus and Muslims, the expectations of and pressures upon the traditional roles of women, of householder and renouncer, husband and
Applied inference: Case studies in microarchitectural design

We propose and apply a new simulation paradigm for microarchitectural design evaluation and optimization. This paradigm enables more comprehensive design studies by combining spatial sampling and statistical inference. Specifically, this paradigm (i) defines a large, comprehensive design space, (ii) samples points from the space for simulation, and (iii) constructs regression models based on sparse simulations. This approach greatly improves the computational efficiency of microarchitectural simulation and enables new capabilities in design space exploration.We illustrate new capabilities in three case studies for a large design space of approximately 260,000 points: (i) Pareto frontier, (ii) pipeline depth, and (iii) multiprocessor heterogeneity analyses. In particular, regression models are exhaustively evaluated to identify Pareto optimal designs that maximize performance for given power budgets. These models enable pipeline depth studies in which all parameters vary simultaneously with depth, thereby more effectively revealing interactions with nondepth parameters. Heterogeneity analysis combines regression-based optimization with clustering heuristics to identify efficient design compromises between similar optimal architectures. These compromises are potential core designs in a heterogeneous multicore architecture. Increasing heterogeneity can improve bips3/w efficiency by as much as 2.4×, a theoretical upper bound on heterogeneity benefits that neglects contention between shared resources as well as design complexity. Collectively these studies demonstrate regression models' ability to expose trends and identify optima in diverse design regions, motivating the application of such models in statistical inference for more effective use of modern simulator infrastructure.
Iridovirus and cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus in the freshwater daphnid Simocephalus expinosus.

AN iridovirus and a cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus have been found as the cause of disease in the freshwater daphnid, Simocephalus expinosus, collected in Florida (Fig. 1). Although both types of virus were originally reported from insects1–3 and are now well known insect virus types4, neither has been reported before from the Crustacea. Iridoviruses have been reported from other invertebrates and from some vertebrates5, however, cytoplasmic polyhedrosis viruses have been reported only from insects.
Spectroscopic properties of a Ce3+Tm3+ center in CsCdBr3 crystals: Absorption, emission, and energy transfer

Abstract When crystals of CsCdBr 3 are doped with trivalent cerium and thulium, it appears that Ce 3+ -vacancy-Tm 3+ centers are formed. A very efficient cerium to thulium energy transfer is observed in this center when the doped crystals are irradiated at the energy (∼ 27800 cm −1 ) corresponding to the 4f → 5d transition of Ce 3+ . Spectroscopic studies indicate that the energy transfer begins to diminish when the temperature is raised above 100 K. At room temperature the doped crystals show no detectable energy transfer.
Homomorphisms of unitary groups

In Problem XVII from [4], Weisfeiler indicates a general formulation for homomorphisms between classical groups in terms of a congruence subgroup coming from an induced integral structure in the group. As he observes, certainly not all homomorphisms arise in this manner, but this formulation provides a good foundation for extending the fairly well understood situation for isomorphisms. We establish here Weisfeiler's conjecture for unitary groups, and homomorphisms which do not kill involutions. For monomorphisms this problem is usually solved via group theoretical arguments using derived groups and centralizers, but for homomorphisms these methods are hard to apply and it seems necessary to use a more geometrical approach. In the proof here the central new idea involves moving subspaces in a controlled manner, intersecting them and counting dimensions. It should also be possible to use this technique in other situations. Let V and W be right vector spaces over the division rings k and K with involutions (both denoted by *) where
CHOOSING THE RIGHT FINANCIAL SYSTEM FOR GROWTH

Well-functioning financial systems promote economic growth by channeling funds from those who save to those who invest in the productive capacity of economies. What are the main features of a well functioning system? Are well developed capital markets essential to the process? Or are commercial banks and other “private” sources of capital capable of bringing about the same levels of growth and prosperity? In this article, the authors use information about the financial systems of a large number of both developed and developing countries to examine various relationships between a country's financial structure and its overall economic performance. Perhaps most important, the authors report a significantly positive correlation, using data for 34 countries, between the size of a country's financial system—measured by the total of commercial bank assets, equity market capitalization, and bonds outstanding—and economic development (as measured by GDP per capita). At the same time, the authors also provide evidence that banks (or loans) and capital markets (or securities) are complements, not substitutes, in promoting economic development, and that the presence of foreign-owned banks (though not state-owned banks) has a positive association with growth. In other words, both private banks and capital markets are likely to play important, though different roles in channeling funds from savers to investors.
Youth Performance in Virtual Environments

This article examines the changing nature of young audiences in a media-saturated society. There is a growing trend toward participation and agency in video and augmented reality games allowing players to become participant and observer, actor and avatar. Based on my work with drama for youth, my experiments with participatory performance utilizing video games, and the convergence of theories about play and performance, I analyze the evolving connections between the way children and adults experience virtual environments and games, the ways they engage with a theatrical event, and how this informs the development of theatre for young audiences.
High Authority and Nonlinearity Issues in Active-Passive Hybrid Piezoelectric Networks for Structural Damping

The purpose of this research is to address the issues of high field nonlinearities in vibration control using APPN (Active-Passive Hybrid Piezoelectric Network). Experimental effort is carried out to quantify the nonlinearities in piezoelectric actuation. Based on the sliding mode theory, a robust controller is developed to compensate for the nonlinearities as uncertainties in the integrated system. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is demonstrated by numerical and experimental analyses.
Effects of Case and Traditional Writing Assignments on Writing Products and Processes

This study investigates the effects of case and traditional assignments on the writing products and processes of community college students. Specifically, each of 57 first-year business students in three sections of a business composition course wrote in response to either (a) two traditional assignments, (b) two short case scenario assignments, or (c) two lengthy, elaborated case assignments. Participants' letters were scored using a performance criteria rating scale for determining both overall quality and specific trait quality. Results indicate that the case assignments generally produced more effective writing products than did traditional paradigm assignments. Results also indicate that the elaborated case assignments generally produced better writing products than did the short case scenarios. However, results also suggest that the writing of participants who already possess business-related experience was not as affected by assignment type as the writing of inexperienced participants. Finally, qua...
Prostate-specific antigen as a prognostic factor for prostate cancer treated by external beam radiotherapy.

Abstract The potential prognostic significance of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serum concentrations was evaluated in 171 patients with stages A2 to C adenocarcinoma of the prostate treated with external beam radiotherapy. After a median follow-up of 17 months, 12 patients sustained relapse of disease and PSA levels were found to be prognostically significant in three ways. (a) Pretreatment PSA level: none of 59 patients with a pretreatment PSA level ≤ 4 ng/ml relapsed to date and only one developed a subsequently rising PSA profile; 7 of 102 patients (7%) with a pretreatment PSA level in the range 4–40 ng/ml relapsed and 17 (17%) showed a rising PSA profile; 5 of 10 patients (50%) with a pretreatment PSA level ≥ 40 ng/ml relapsed and six (60%) developed rising PSA values. The differences were significant and were maintained when patients were stratified by stage or grade. (b) PSA level at 6 months: for patients with pretreatment PSA levels in the range 4–40 ng/ml, a 6-month value >2 ng/ml predicted a significantly worse outcome than a 6-month value
c-Myc activates BRCA1 gene expression through distal promoter elements in breast cancer cells

The BRCA1 gene plays an important role in the maintenance of genomic stability. BRCA1 inactivation contributes to breast cancer tumorigenesis. An increasing number of transcription factors have been shown to regulate BRCA1 expression. c-Myc can act as a transcriptional activator, regulating up to 15% of all genes in the human genome and results from a high throughput screen suggest that BRCA1 is one of its targets. In this report, we used cultured breast cancer cells to examine the mechanisms of transcriptional activation of BRCA1 by c-Myc. c-Myc was depleted using c-Myc-specific siRNAs in cultured breast cancer cells. BRCA1 mRNA expression and BRCA1 protein expression were determined by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot, respectively and BRCA1 promoter activities were examined under these conditions. DNA sequence analysis was conducted to search for high similarity to E boxes in the BRCA1 promoter region. The association of c-Myc with the BRCA1 promoter in vivo was tested by a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. We investigated the function of the c-Myc binding site in the BRCA1 promoter region by a promoter assay with nucleotide substitutions in the putative E boxes. BRCA1-dependent DNA repair activities were measured by a GFP-reporter assay. Depletion of c-Myc was found to be correlated with reduced expression levels of BRCA1 mRNA and BRCA1 protein. Depletion of c-Myc decreased BRCA1 promoter activity, while ectopically expressed c-Myc increased BRCA1 promoter activity. In the distal BRCA1 promoter, DNA sequence analysis revealed two tandem clusters with high similarity, and each cluster contained a possible c-Myc binding site. c-Myc bound to these regions in vivo. Nucleotide substitutions in the c-Myc binding sites in these regions abrogated c-Myc-dependent promoter activation. Furthermore, breast cancer cells with reduced BRCA1 expression due to depletion of c-Myc exhibited impaired DNA repair activity. The distal BRCA1 promoter region is associated with c-Myc and contributes to BRCA1 gene activation.
Functional testing for cellular neural networks

A novel approach to test the functional behaviour of cellular neural networks (CNNs) is proposed. The method attains 100% stuck-at fault coverage regardless of the array size without any extra hardware for its implementation. The Letter discusses the new fault model, presents the algorithmic procedures and shows simulated testing results.
Projective ribbon permutation statistics: A remnant of non-Abelian braiding in higher dimensions

In a recent paper, Teo and Kane [Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 046401 (2010)] proposed a three-dimensional (3D) model in which the defects support Majorana fermion zero modes. They argued that exchanging and twisting these defects would implement a set $\mathcal{R}$ of unitary transformations on the zero-mode Hilbert space which is a ``ghostly'' recollection of the action of the braid group on Ising anyons in two dimensions. In this paper, we find the group ${\mathcal{T}}_{2n}$, which governs the statistics of these defects by analyzing the topology of the space ${K}_{2n}$ of configurations of $2n$ defects in a slowly spatially varying gapped free-fermion Hamiltonian: ${\mathcal{T}}_{2n}\ensuremath{\equiv}{\ensuremath{\pi}}_{1}({K}_{2n})$. We find that the group ${\mathcal{T}}_{2n}=\mathbb{Z}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathcal{T}}_{2n}^{r}$, where the ``ribbon permutation group'' ${\mathcal{T}}_{2n}^{r}$ is a mild enhancement of the permutation group ${S}_{2n}$: ${\mathcal{T}}_{2n}^{r}\ensuremath{\equiv}{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}E\mathbf{(}({\mathbb{Z}}_{2}){}^{2n}\ensuremath{\rtimes}{S}_{2n}\mathbf{)}$. Here, $E\mathbf{(}({\mathbb{Z}}_{2}){}^{2n}\ensuremath{\rtimes}{S}_{2n}\mathbf{)}$ is the ``even part'' of $({\mathbb{Z}}_{2}){}^{2n}\ensuremath{\rtimes}{S}_{2n}$, namely, those elements for which the total parity of the element in $({\mathbb{Z}}_{2}){}^{2n}$ added to the parity of the permutation is even. Surprisingly, $\mathcal{R}$ is only a projective representation of ${\mathcal{T}}_{2n}$, a possibility proposed by Wilczek [e-print arXiv:hep-th/9806228]. Thus, Teo and Kane's defects realize projective ribbon permutation statistics,'' which we show to be consistent with locality. We extend this phenomenon to other dimensions, codimensions, and symmetry classes. We note that our analysis applies to 3D networks of quantum wires supporting Majorana fermions; thus, these networks are not required to be planar. Because it is an essential input for our calculation, we review the topological classification of gapped free-fermion systems and its relation to Bott periodicity.
Tumor infiltration of the bone marrow: comparative study using computed tomography.

During the past two years five patients with malignant primary bone tumors undergoing amputation or resection of the involved bone had preoperative computed tomography (CT) examination of the medullary cavity. The contralateral extremity was used as a control in all cases. The positive attenuation coefficient of the marrow indicated the extent of tumor infiltration. The correlation between the preoperative CT and pathologic measurement ranged between 1–8 mm, an accuracy greater than 94%.
The psychophysical dimensions of similarity among random shapes

Six psychological dimensions were recovered from similarity judgments of 20 random forms using Kruskal’s nonmetric scaling technique. These were related to 10 physical factors describing the forms by using canonical correlation analysis and rotations of the resulting vectors. Four factors accounted for 2/3 of the variance of the intersection of the physical and psychological spaces for each of 11 Ss. The factors are described as Complexity, Curvature, Curvature Dispersion, and Straight-length Dispers ion. The problem of the proper psychological distance metric is discussed, and individual differences among Ss are analyzed. The results lead to the conclusion that the four major factors found may be good representations of processes occurring in the perceptual system.
Preparation of Macrocyclic Z-Enoates and (E,Z)- or (Z,E)-Dienoates through Catalytic Stereoselective Ring-Closing Metathesis

The first examples of catalyst-controlled stereoselective macrocyclic ring-closing metathesis reactions that generate Z-enoates as well as (E,Z)- or (Z,E)-dienoates are disclosed. Reactions promoted by 3.0–10 mol % of a Mo-based monoaryloxide pyrrolide complex proceed to completion within 2–6 h at room temperature. The desired macrocycles are formed in 79:21 to >98:2 Z/E selectivity; stereoisomerically pure products can be obtained in 43–75% yield after chromatography. Utility is demonstrated by application to a concise formal synthesis of the natural product (+)-aspicilin.
Simple x-ray focusing mirror using float glass

In our recent x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (speckle) experiments at NSLS, one of the challenges is to increase the coherent photon flux through a pinhole, whose size is chosen to match the beam`s horizontal transverse coherence length {ital l{sub h}}. We adopted an approach to vertically focus the x-ray beam so as to match its vertical transverse coherence length {ital l{sub v}}, (at NSLS X13, {ital l{sub v}}{approximately} 50{ital l{sub h}}, {ital l{sub h}}{approximately} 12 {mu}m at 3 KeV) with {ital l{sub h}}. By demagnifying the vertical size by a factor of {ital l{sub v}/l{sub h}}, we expect to increase the intensity of the x-rays through the pin hole by the same factor while keeping the beam coherent. A piece of commercial 3/8 inch thick float glass, by virtue of its low surface roughness ({approximately}3{Angstrom} rms), good reflectivity in the low photon energy range of interest and low cost, was chosen as the mirror material. A computer controlled motorized bender with a four point bending mechanism was designed and built to bend the float glass to a continuously variable radius of curvature from {approximately}700 m (intrinsic curvature of the glass surface) to < 300 m, measured with the Long Trace Profiler at the BNL Metrology Lab. This mirror bender assembly allows us to continuously change the focal length of the x-ray mirror down to 0.5 m under our experimental conditions. At the NSLS X13 Prototype Small Gap Undulator (PSGU) beamline, we were able to focus the x-ray beam from a vertical size of 0.5 mm to {approximately} 25{mu}m at the focal point 54 cm from the mirror center, thus increasing the photon flux density by a factor of 20. Results also show that, as expected, at an incident angle of 9 mrad, the mirror cuts off the harmonics of the undulator spectrum, leaving a clean 3 KeV fundamental for our experiments.
Continuum Quantum Field Theory for a Linearly Conjugated Diatomic Polymer with Fermion Fractionization

The recently proposed model Hamiltonian for a linearly conjugated diatomic polymer is studied in the continuum limit in which there emerges a field-theoretic Dirac Hamiltonian, exhibiting charge fractionization into irrational numbers, just as in the discrete model.
Intermittent drug dosing intervals guided by the operational multiple dosing half lives for predictable plasma accumulation and fluctuation

Intermittent drug dosing intervals are usually initially guided by the terminal pharmacokinetic half life and are dependent on drug formulation. For chronic multiple dosing and for extended release dosage forms, the terminal half life often does not predict the plasma drug accumulation or fluctuation observed. We define and advance applications for the operational multiple dosing half lives for drug accumulation and fluctuation after multiple oral dosing at steady-state. Using Monte Carlo simulation, our results predict a way to maximize the operational multiple dosing half lives relative to the terminal half life by using a first-order absorption rate constant close to the terminal elimination rate constant in the design of extended release dosage forms. In this way, drugs that may be eliminated early in the development pipeline due to a relatively short half life can be formulated to be dosed at intervals three times the terminal half life, maximizing compliance, while maintaining tight plasma concentration accumulation and fluctuation ranges. We also present situations in which the operational multiple dosing half lives will be especially relevant in the determination of dosing intervals, including for drugs that follow a direct PKPD model and have a narrow therapeutic index, as the rate of concentration decrease after chronic multiple dosing (that is not the terminal half life) can be determined via simulation. These principles are illustrated with case studies on valproic acid, diazepam, and anti-hypertensives.
p63 mediates survival in squamous cell carcinoma by suppression of p73-dependent apoptosis

We demonstrate that deltaNp63alpha is an essential survival factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) through its ability to suppress p73-dependent apoptosis. Inhibition of endogenous p63 expression by RNAi induces apoptosis selectively in HNSCC cells that overexpress deltaNp63alpha. Knockdown of p63 induces the proapoptotic bcl-2 family members Puma and Noxa, and both their induction and subsequent cell death are p53 independent but require transactivating isoforms of p73. Inhibition of p73-dependent transcription by deltaNp63alpha involves both direct promoter binding and physical interaction with p73. In HNSCC cells lacking endogenous deltaNp63alpha expression, bcl-2 is instead upregulated and can suppress p73-mediated death. Together, these data define a pathway whereby deltaNp63alpha promotes survival in squamous epithelial malignancy by repressing a p73-dependent proapoptotic transcriptional program.
Dual Modality Drainage for Symptomatic Walled-Off Pancreatic Necrosis Reduces Length of Hospitalization, Radiological Procedures, and Number of Endoscopies Compared to Standard Percutaneous Drainage

Background Symptomatic walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) treated with dual modality endoscopic and percutaneous drainage (DMD) has been shown to decrease length of hospitalization (LOH) and use of radiological resources in comparison to standard percutaneous drainage (SPD).
ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SYMMETRICAL TILT, TWIST, "SPECIAL", AND "FAVORED" GRAIN BOUNDARIES

Etude des criteres de selection pour l'identification des interfaces «speciales» ou «favorisees»
Observations on the Carotid Sinus Reflex and Angina Pectoris

The effect of carotid sinus pressure on the duration and character of attacks of angina pectoris induced by exercise under controlled conditions has been studied in 13 patients. Observations are presented which are consistent with the hypothesis that stimulation of the carotid sinus induces relief of cardiac pain by interruption of sympathetic reflex arcs or sensory pathways. The usefulness of carotid sinus pressure as a diagnostic test and a therapeutic measure in angina pectoris is discussed.
Learning HCI design: mentoring project groups in a course on human-computer interaction

We describe the role of mentors in an experimental course on human-computer interaction (HCI) taught in the Computer Science Department at Stanford University for the past two years. Students practice design within the course by collaborating in small groups on 12-week projects, in which they analyze a work environment, design and implement a prototype user interface, and evaluate the prototype with project clients. As part of our experiment in providing contact with the world of practical design, we invited people from local industry to serve as mentors for the student groups. These unpaid volunteers have been important adjuncts in guiding students as they developed their HCI projects. We discuss: the background for the projects; the role of mentors in the learning process; what is required of mentors and what benefits they get; how to support the mentoring process; and what we have learned from the experience so far. We consider mentors to be a critical part of the design project within the course, and we welcome a sharing of experience with other people who may have developed similar courses where mentors played an important role.
Robust Throttle Control of Automotive Engines: Theory and Experiment

An adaptive, sliding control algorithm is developed for automated throttle control of an I.C. engine to be used in drive-by-wire applications such as coordinated engine/transmission gear shiftings, traction control and autonomous vehicle control (IVHS). The paper presents a new sliding control formulation that includes combustion transport delays and a simplified adapation law to account for slowly varying engine parameters. The new technique is evaluated by computer simulation and laboratory dynamometer tests.
InGaAsP avalanche photodetectors for non-gated 1.06 micron photon-counting receivers

The efficient detection of single photons at 1.06 micron is of considerable interest for lidar/ladar systems designed for remote sensing an d ranging as well as for free-space optical transmission in photon-st arved applications. However, silicon-based single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) used at shorter wavelengths have very low single photon d etection efficiency (approximately 1 - 2%) at 1.06 micron, and InP/In GaAs SPADs designed for telecommunications wavelengths near 1.5 micro n exhibit high dark count rates that generally inhibit non-gated (free-running) operation. To bridge this "single photon detection gap" for wavelengths just beyond 1 micron, we have developed high performance , large area (80 - 200 micron diameter) InP-based InGaAsP quaternary absorber SPADs optimized for operation at 1.06 micron and based on a highly reliable planar geometry avalanche photodiode structure. We wil l show that dark count rates are sufficiently low to allow for non-ga ted operation while achieving detection efficiencies far surpassing t hose found for Si SPADs. At a detection efficiency of 10%, 80 micron diameter devices exhibit dark count rates below 1000 Hz and count rate s of at least 3 MHz when operated at -40 C. Significantly higher dete ction efficiencies (30 - 50%) are achievable with acceptable tradeoff s in dark count rate. In this paper, we will also discuss performance modeling for these devices and compare their behavior with longer wav elength InP-based InGaAs ternary absorber SPADs fabricated on a relat ed device design platform.
Path-integral analysis of frustrated quantum Heisenberg models.

We provide a systematic derivation of effective actions describing the low-energy sector of frustrated quantum Heisenberg models. The method presented is very general and can be applied to any antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model, irrespective of the number of additional frustrating interactions or of the type of lattice. We show that the effective action is completely governed by the topology of the ground state. Qualitative aspects of the {ital T}=0 phase diagram are discussed.
For better or for worse: does stem cell factor importantly regulate mast cell function in pulmonary physiology and pathology?

Depending on one's perspective, the complexity of biology can be a source of fascination and wonder or significant frustration. To illustrate, let's consider the following problem. If one could administer to patients with allergic asthma a cytokine that promotes mast cell survival, proliferation, and development, that can directly induce mast cell degranulation, and that can augment mast cell mediator release in response to stimulation of the cells with IgE and specific antigen, would the patients be better, worse, or unaffected? This is not an idle question, since a cytokine that has all of these characteristics, as well as potent synergistic effects in hematopoiesis, is now in clinical testing (1, 2). Stem cell factor (SCF) is a ligand for a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase III (RTKIII) family, the SCFR, which is encoded by the c-kit proto-oncogene (reviewed in references 1and 2). In the mouse, SCF is encoded at the Steel (Sl ) locus on chromosome 10, whereas the SCFR is encoded at the Whitespotting (W) locus on chromosome 5. The SCFR is expressed on hematopoietic progenitor cells, mast cells, melanocytes, and germ cells, whereas SCF is expressed by bone marrow stromal cells, fibroblasts, and other cells that influence the development of SCFR + lineages. Mice with a double dose of those W mutations that markedly reduce SCFR expression or function, or mice with a double dose of those Sl mutations that markedly impair SCF production, typically exhibit a hypoplastic anemia, a virtual absence of mature mast cells, a lack of cutaneous pigmentation, and sterility (2). These findings, as well as data from humans and rats, indicate that SCF/SCFR interactions are critical for normal hematopoiesis and for the development and survival of mast cells, cutaneous melanocytes, and germ cells (1, 2). In addition to its many effects in hematopoiesis (1, 2), recombinant SCF (rSCF) has many actions that importantly contribute to mast cell development (2): it maintains mast
A Parallel PLA Minimization Program

In this paper we report on an implementation of a parallel algorithm to minimize PLA realizations of logic functions. The algorithm is derived from a widely available PLA minimization program called ESPRESSO-MV. The parallel algorithm was implemented on a shared memory multicomputer system. In the course of development of the parallel algorithm, some changes were made to ESPRESSO-MV which resulted in lower computing time. Experimental results using 105 PLAs are included.
Stimulation of the Hexose Monophosphate Shunt in Human Neutrophils by Ascorbic Acid: Mechanism of Action

Abstract The addition of either ascorbic acid or dehydroascorbic acid to a suspension of polymorphonuclear leukocytes caused a dramatic increase in the resting hexose monophosphate shunt activity. A sequence of reactions involving dehydroascorbate, reduced glutathione, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate is described to explain this stimulation. This sequence could provide an alternate method of producing H2O2 and a bactericidal mechanism which is independent of myeloperoxidase.
Persons and bodies : a constitution view

What is a human person, and what is the relation between a person and his or her body? In her third book on the philosophy of mind, Lynne Rudder Baker investigates what she terms the person/body problem and offers a detailed account of the relation between human persons and their bodies. Baker's argument is based on the 'Constitution View' of persons and bodies, which aims to show what distinguishes persons from all other beings and to show how we can be fully material beings without being identical to our bodies. The Constitution View yields answers to the questions 'What am I most fundamentally?', 'What is a person?', and 'What is the relation between human persons and their bodies'? Baker argues that the complex mental property of first-person perspective enables one to conceive of one's body and mental states as one's own.
Primary and secondary prevention of gallstone disease: Implications for patient management and research priorities

Primary prevention is defined as the prevention of gallstone formation; secondary prevention is defined as the prevention of clinical manifestations of gallstones--symptoms or more severe complications. For primary prevention, general "wellness" measures can be recommended from a theoretic standpoint. These include elimination of obesity (to decrease excessive cholesterol biosynthesis or mobilization of tissue cholesterol during rapid weight loss); a high-fiber, high-calcium diet (to diminish input of deoxycholic acid); ingestion of meals at regular intervals (to diminish gallbladder storage and interruption of the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids); and vigorous exercise (to permit frequent meals without excessive caloric intake). In addition, based on animal studies, intake of low saturated fatty acids may diminish the nucleation of supersaturated bile. Secondary prevention is recommended only when gallstones become symptomatic because of the benign natural history of asymptomatic gallstones, the intrinsic limitations of medical therapy, and the absence of predictors that would enable selection of asymptomatic patients at high risk for becoming symptomatic. Secondary prevention involves nonsurgical approaches (dissolution with ursodiol, extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy plus adjuvant bile acids, and, rarely, contact dissolution with organic solvents). For patients with symptomatic gallstones, nonsurgical therapy will be used by those patients who cannot or will not have surgery, as well as those patients who wish to explore a trial of nonsurgical therapy before having surgery. Because of the intrinsic limitations of nonsurgical therapy in comparison to the efficacy and safety of surgery, most patients will undergo surgery. Future research priorities include elucidation of factors responsible for: (1) bile that is supersaturated in cholesterol; (2) elevated biliary deoxycholic acid levels in patients with cholesterol gallstones; (3) rapid nucleation in patients with multiple cholesterol gallstones; (4) precipitation of calcium bilirubinate; and (5) impaired gallbladder motility in gallbladder stone disease.
Sugar coated stealth carbon nanotubes

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) have shown tremendous promise as agents for diagnostic and therapeutic intervention in vivo. We demonstrate how Dextran sulfate (DS) can render SWNT transparent to macrophages, a vital component of the innate immunity. We also demonstrate a site specific attachment strategy to conjugate antibodies to DS for downstream applications. DS was compared to Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) coated SWNT, a trusted standard for rendering nanoparticles immune to opsonization.
Characterization of effects of periodic and aperiodic surface distortions on membrane reflector antennas

The focus of this paper is to characterize the effects of periodic and aperiodic surface distortions on the performance of membrane reflector antennas. Since the surface of this class of reflector antennas is very thin, it is susceptible to various types of periodic and aperiodic distortions. The particular antenna dimensions used for this study are similar to the specifications for the JPL/UCLA half scale model of second generation precipitation radar (PR-2) mission reflector. Analytical expressions are introduced to model periodic and aperiodic surfaces and based on these models the effects of distortions on the radiation performance of the antenna are simulated. Aperiodic distortions are more realistic cases of distortions due to the fact that the period of the distortions is not constant through out the reflector surface. For each case, far-field patterns of the reflector are simulated and it is shown that closed-form expressions can then be derived which result in a very efficient computational method to predict some of the unique features of these patterns including location and level of observed grating lobes. Furthermore, based on spatial Fourier analysis of the surface distortion, it is shown that deviation from periodicity in the distortions of reflector surface results in lowering these grating lobes. Parametric studies have been performed to provide design guidelines for acceptable surface behavior for large deployable membrane reflector antennas for future space borne missions.
The consumer’s perspective on evaluating products: service is the key

Purpose – This paper aims to begin to remedy deficiencies in the understanding of how the increased focus on service, even in manufacturing environments, relates to consumer desire for relationships. The role of relationships in both services and physical goods has taken on a new meaning that should be further explored. Design/methodology/approach – The qualitative study reported in this paper examines the extent to which consumers feel that they are in relationships with companies from a variety of product categories that range from search goods (easy to evaluate in advance of purchase) to credence goods (difficult to evaluate). The analysis is based on semi-structured interviews with 20 customers. Findings – The results identify when consumers place an emphasis on specific relational behaviors in evaluating the product use experience. Specifically, trust, commitment and expertise seemed more important when products were difficult to evaluate in advance, whereas social benefits and special treatment were...
Raman spectra of copper(I), silver(I) and gold(I) cyanides in aqueous solutions of sodium thiosulphate

Systems of copper(I), silver(I) and gold(I) cyanides dissolved in aqueous solutions of sodium thiosulphate in different molar ratios have been studied by Raman Spectroscopy. CuCN dissolves completely in aqueous thiosulphate solution in a 1:3 CuCN to S2O32− ratio, forming only mixed cyanothiosulphate species. No evidence was found for the formation of Cu (CN)2−, Cu(CN)32− or Cu(CN)43−. The mixed cyano copper complex was isolated as a white solid insoluble in water and most other solvents. The solid probably consists of a polymeric structure with bridging cyanide and thiosulphate. AgCN dissolves completely in aqueous thiosulphate solution in a 1:1 AgCN to S2O32− ratio, resulting in the formation of Ag(CN)2− and Ag(S2O3)23− species. As the concentration of thiosulphate increases Ag(CN)2(S2O3)3− and Ag(CN)2(S2O3)25− are formed. There is strong evidence for the existence of bridging silver thiosulphate complex in solutions of low S2O32− concentration. AuCN dissolves completely in aqueous thiosulphate solution in a 1:2 AuCN to S2O32− ratio, forming Au(CN)2−, Au(CN) (S2O3)2− and Au(S2O3)23−. No evidence was found for the formation of species of higher coordination number on increasing the concentration of S2O32−, which indicates that the linear two-coordinate gold complexes are the most stable.
Extracting Contact Effects in Organic FETs

Contact resistances between organic semiconductors and metal electrodes have been shown to play a dominant role in electronic charge injection properties of organic FETs (OFETs). These effects are more prevalent in short channel length devices and therefore should not be ignored when examining intrinsic properties such as the mobility and its dependence on temperature or gate voltage. Here we outline a general procedure to extract contact current-voltage characteristics and the true channel mobility from the transport characteristics in bottom-contact poly (3-hexylthiophene) FETs, for both ohmic and nonlinear charge injection, over a broad range of temperatures and gate voltages. Distinguishing between the contact and channel contributions in bottom-contact OFETs is an important step toward improved understanding and modeling of these devices.
Heart transplant and left ventricular assist device costs.

Abstract Background With the increasing clinical success of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), physicians need to measure device cost efficacy to determine the societal value of this technology. Today's large clinical volume allows comparison of the costs of this innovation as compared with orthotopic heart transplant (OHT). Methods We evaluated hospital cost and reimbursement for patients who were discharged after LVAD implantation and returned to the hospital for OHT. To control for patient-specific variables, LVAD therapy and OHT therapy were compared in the same patient; that is, only those patients who received an LVAD were discharged, and returned for OHT were studied. Length of stay (LOS), re-admissions and outpatient services were analyzed, including their respective total actual hospital cost (TAHC) and net revenue (NR). Time periods analyzed were the same for LVAD and OHT. Results From the LVAD population at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, 36 patients were discharged following HeartMate vented electric (VE) implantation and re-admitted for OHT between December 1996 and June 2000. Mean pre-LVAD implantation LOS was 21.3 ± 24.1 days. Post-LVAD LOS was 36.8 ± 22.2 days vs 18.2 ± 12.2 days post-OHT ( p p = 0.005). NR averaged $144,756 ± 96,656 post-LVAD vs $178,562 ± 68,571 post-OHT ( p = 0.09). LVAD patients had more re-admissions compared with OHT: 1.2/123 days (± 1.7) vs 0.3/123 days (± 0.6), respectively ( p = 0.005). The average LOS during a re-admission was similar between the 2 groups (LVAD 5.6 days [± 10.6] vs OHT 9.6 days [± 8.2]; p = 0.18). OHT was associated with a significantly greater number of outpatient services compared with LVAD (9.7 [± 6.1] vs 3.0 [± 4.7]; p Conclusions LVAD implantation is associated with longer LOS and higher cost for initial hospitalization compared with OHT. LVAD patients have higher re-admission rates compared with OHT but similar costs and LOS. OHT is associated with a greater number of outpatient services. Reimbursements for LVAD therapy are relatively low, resulting in significant lost revenue. If LVAD therapy is to become a viable alternative, improvements in both cost-effectiveness and reimbursement will be necessary.