cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gorham's Disease: A Case of Vanishing Ribs and Its Effective Treatment with Sirolimus

Abstract Introduction: Gorham’s disease, also known as Gorham-Stout syndrome or the vanishing bone disease, is a rare clinical entity characterized by a non-neoplastic proliferation of vascular and/or lymphatic vasculature with resultant osteolysis of adjacent bone1.With just over 200 reported cases, the etiology of Gorham’s disease is no better understood than when originally described by Dr. Jackson in 18382. Due to the rarity of Gorham’s disease, no standard treatment algorithm exists. Many therapeutic options have been proposed, however, the efficacy and success of these options is limited due to the lack of randomized controlled trials. Case Presentation: Our patient is a 10 year old Caucasian female with past medical history significant for abnormal CXR (8months prior) showing absence of right sided 9th rib, who presented with right lateral abdominal pain, swelling and erythema. She denied fever, shortness of breath, malaise, decreased appetite, weight loss, recent travel, TB exposure or recent trauma. Laboratory work showed a normal CBC, BMP, LFTs, lipase, PT/PTT, and urinalysis. CT scan of the abdomen showed a right side pleural effusion as well as edema and fluid in the right anterior abdominal wall and subcutaneous fat. A chest tube was placed and 1.5 liters of fluid drained. An infectious and oncologic workup was initiated. Chest tube output was shown to be chylous and rib radiographs demonstrated absence of the complete right ninth rib, partial absence of the right eighth and tenth ribs. A rib biopsy was performed and showed of lymphatic proliferation with erosion/effacement of surrounding bone with no increased or abnormal osteoclastic activity, and no evidence of infectious or malignant etiology. This confirmed the previously presumed diagnosis of Gorham’s Disease. Management and Outcome: Our patient was initially treated with bisphosphonate and interferon alpha 2b with minimal success. It was not until initiation of treatment and achieving a steady state of sirolimus that her disease was able to be controlled. She is now over two year in remission and continues on sirolimus therapy. Disccussion:The rare diagnosis of Gorham disease unveils the difficulty in treating vascular and lymphatic malformations that medical providers encounter. The successful use of sirolimus in our patient adds another potentially useful medication in the treatment of vascular malformations. There are clinical trials currently being conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of sirolimus use in complex vascular malformations. 1. Franchi, A, Bertoni, F, Bacchini, P, Mourmouras, V, & Miracco, C. CD105/endoglin expression in Gorham disease of bone. J Clin Pathol. 2009;62:163–167. 2. Jackson JBS. A boneless arm. Boston Med Surg J. 1838;18:368-369. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Ion-binding sites in NMDA receptors: classical approaches provide the numbers.

The structure of glutamate receptor pores is not well defined. A new study reveals multiple Na+ binding sites in NMDA receptors, occupancy of which interferes with channel blockers.
Cavitation in the mouse preimplantation embryo: NaK-ATPase and the origin of nascent blastocoele fluid

Abstract This study tested the proposition that Na K - ATPase activity could be involved in the morphogenetic aspects of mouse blastocyst formation by facilitating the localization of certain organelles to apposed cell borders, the production of nascent blastocoele fluid, and cavitation. It was assumed that such Na K - ATPase activity would be sensitive to varying concentrations of external K (Ko)—which would alter plasma membrane potentials—and to ouabain—which would directly alter Na K - ATPase function. Morulae were cultured for 40 hr in varying concentrations of Ko and/or ouabain and were observed for their ability to form blastocoeles (cavitate) and to localize mitochondria to apposed cell borders. Cavitation was accelerated when Ko was decreased from the control value of 6.0 to 0.6 mM and was delayed when Ko was increased to 25 mM. With Ko at 6.0 mM, 10−5 M ouabain accelerated cavitation while 10−4 M ouabain delayed cavitation and reduced the total number of embryos that cavitated by the end of the 40-hr culture period. With Ko at 0.6 mM, 10−5 M ouabain now delayed cavitation while 10−4 M ouabain almost completely inhibited it. When Ko was increased to 25 mM, 10−5 M ouabain again accelerated cavitation while 10−4 M ouabain delayed—rather than inhibited—cavitation. Morphometric analyses at the electron microscopic level showed changes in the distances of mitochondria from apposed cell borders with conditions that accelerated or delayed cavitation and these changes differed for inside and outside cells of the morula. These observations are consistent with the proposition that Na K - ATPase activity could be involved in the localization of organelles to apposed cell borders, the production of nascent blastocoele fluid, and in cavitation during mouse blastocyst development.
Evidence for a noradrenergic mechanism causing hypertension and abnormal glucose metabolism in rats with relative deficiency of γ‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone

A close association between salt-sensitive hypertension and insulin resistance has been recognized for more than two decades, although the mechanism(s) underlying this relationship have not been elucidated. Recent data in mice with genetic disruption of the γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (γ-MSH) system suggest that this system plays a role in the pathophysiological relationship between hypertension and altered glucose metabolism during ingestion of a high-sodium diet (8% NaCl, HSD). We tested the hypothesis that these two consequences of interrupted γ-MSH signalling were the result of sympathetic activation by studying rats treated with the dopaminergic agonist bromocriptine (5 mg kg−1i.p., daily for 1 week; Bromo) to cause relative γ-MSH deficiency. Bromo-treated rats fed the HSD developed hypertension and also exhibited fasting hyperglycaemia (P < 0.005) and hyperinsulinaemia (P < 0.025). Furthermore, Bromo-treated rats on the HSD had impaired glucose tolerance and blunted insulin-mediated glucose disposal. Intravenous infusion of γ2-MSH, or of the α-adrenergic receptor antagonist phentolamine, to Bromo–HSD rats lowered both mean arterial pressure (MAP) and blood glucose to normal after 15 min (P < 0.001 versus control), but had no effect in rats receiving vehicle and fed the HSD; γ2-MSH infusion also reduced the elevated plasma noradrenaline to control levels in parallel with the reductions in MAP and blood glucose concentration. Infusion of hydralazine to Bromo–HSD rats lowered MAP but had only a trivial effect on blood glucose. We conclude that rats with relative γ-MSH deficiency develop abnormal glucose metabolism, with features of insulin resistance, in association with hypertension when ingesting the HSD. Elevated plasma noradrenaline concentration in Bromo–HSD rats is normalized by γ2-MSH infusion, suggesting that an adrenergic mechanism may link the salt-sensitive hypertension and the impaired glucose metabolism of relative γ-MSH deficiency.
Compiling formal specifications to oz programs

Although formal methods have the potential to greatly enhance software development, they have not been widely used in industry (particularly in the United States). We have developed a system for executing specifications by compiling them to Oz programs. Executability is a great aid in developing specifications, and also increases the usefulness of specifications by allowing them to serve as prototypes and test oracles. In this work, we describe how we have used the Oz language both as a translation target and in implementing a library of procedures used by the generated programs. Oz is ideal for our purposes, as it has allowed us to easily use declarative, concurrent constraint and graphical user interface programming together within a single framework.
Femtosecond pulse propagation in the gain region of laser amplifiers and applications to subpicosecond switching

Summary form only given. It has recently been predicted that femtosecond laser pulses with high enough intensity tuned inside the gain region should actually be absorbed rather than being amplified. This effect was explained as resulting from an interplay between the gain and absorbing regions. Pulses that are tuned inside the gain region interact resonantly with the gain states and nonresonantly with the absorbing states. These noninverted states behave like detuned absorbers in the temporal regions of adiabatic following. We have done experiments to investigate these effects. We tuned a self-modelocked Ti:sapphire laser operating at 90 MHz across the bandedge of a laser diode with 30 mA of injection current. The laser was tuned to the peak of the gain, and the transmission of the laser diode as a function of input pulse energy was measured. The laser diode initially exhibits gain saturation as the input pulse energy is increased, but rather than asymptotically approaching unity gain, the output pulse energy continues to decrease as the pulse undergoes induced absorption. We present our spectral hole burning measurements in the gain region.
Dust Charging in the Laboratory and in Space

Publisher Summary This chapter takes a look at the study of dusty plasma, which bridges traditionally separate subjects—celestial mechanics and plasma physics. Dust particles immersed in plasmas and ultraviolet (UV) radiation collect electrostatic charges and respond to electromagnetic forces in addition to all the other forces acting on uncharged grains. Simultaneously, they can alter their plasma environment. Dust particles in plasmas are unusual charge carriers. They are many orders of magnitude heavier then any other plasma particles and they can have many orders of magnitude larger (negative or positive) time dependent charges. This chapter describes the ongoing laboratory experiments that are aimed to verify dust charging theories for plasma and UV bombardment. These measurements are useful in the data analysis of recent Galileo observations (imaging, plasma science, and dust) where the laboratory experiments helped to show that small dust grains—acting as active plasma probes—allow for a unique consistency test of the models of planetary magnetosphere.
Benign lymphoid hyperplasia of the conjunctiva in children.

Benign lymphoid hyperplasia of the conjunctiva occurs infrequently in children, and its presentation, clinical course, and appropriate management are not well established. We describe 2 children with nasal conjunctival masses that on pathological examination demonstrated benign lymphoid hyperplasia. Local irradiation of residual tissue was deferred, and the lesions remained stable for 1 year in one case and for 312years in the other case. No systemic involvement had occurred. Although the natural history of extranodal lymphoid hyperplasia in children is poorly documented, most cases of nodal lymphoid hyperplasia in children are at very low risk of malignant transformation. Careful observation for local and systemic disease is indicated for ocular adnexal lymphoid hyperplasia in children until a more complete understanding of its natural history is available.
Novel strategies of protecting non-cancer cells during chemotherapy: are they ready for clinical testing?

Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz * Brander Cancer Research Institute and Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595 Received: March 25, 2011; Accepted: March 28, 2011; Published: March 29, 2011; Commentary On: Apontes et al. Oncotarget 2011; 2: this issue //
The Effect of Different Brokerage Modes on Closing Costs and House Prices

This study examines the effect of two different modes of real estate broker behavior on both the cash charges paid at closing and the price of houses. The mode of brokers representing only sellers is contrasted with one in which brokers represent buyers. Popular literature and formal studies are reviewed to illustrate the problems inherent in real estate brokers' representation of buyers and sellers. The role of the real estate broker is examined as a provider of information as well as that of a market maker. Two hypotheses are tested: there is no difference to the buyer in shifting cash charges at closing, and there is no difference in house prices attributable to the representational form of real estate brokerage. The study utilizes data on eighty single-family residential sales between January 1989 and August 1990 in north suburban Atlanta, Georgia to test these hypotheses.
Adaptive Increase in D3 Dopamine Receptors in the Brain Reward Circuits of Human Cocaine Fatalities

The mesolimbic dopaminergic system plays a primary role in mediating the euphoric and rewarding effects of most abused drugs. Chronic cocaine use is associated with an increase in dopamine neurotransmission resulting from the blockade of dopamine uptake and is mediated by the activation of dopamine receptors. Recent studies have suggested that the D 3 receptor subtype plays a pivotal role in the reinforcing effects of cocaine. The D 3 receptor-preferring agonist 7-hydroxy- N,N -di- n -propyl-2-aminotetralin (7-OH-DPAT) is a reinforcer in rhesus monkeys trained to self-administer cocaine, but not in cocaine-naive monkeys. In vitro autoradiographic localization of [ 3 H]-(+)-7-OH-DPAT binding in the human brain demonstrated that D 3 receptors were prevalent and highly localized over the ventromedial sectors of the striatum. Pharmacological characterization of [ 3 H]-(+)-7-OH-DPAT binding to the human nucleus accumbens demonstrated a rank order of potency similar to that observed for binding to the cloned D 3 receptor expressed in transfected cell lines. Region-of-interest analysis of [ 3 H]-(+)-7-OH-DPAT binding to the D 3 receptor demonstrated a one- to threefold elevation in the number of binding sites over particular sectors of the striatum and substantia nigra in cocaine overdose victims as compared with age-matched and drug-free control subjects. The elevated number of [ 3 H]-(+)-7-OH-DPAT binding sites demonstrates that adaptive changes in the D 3 receptor in the reward circuitry of the brain are associated with chronic cocaine abuse. These results suggest that the D 3 receptor may be a useful target for drug development of anti-cocaine medications.
A hybrid number system multiplier for graphics and complex arithmetic applications

A hybrid multiplier design which supports 32-bit floating-point, 24-bit fixed-point and 32-bit logarithmic number systems is described. Except for additions and subtractions, floating-point operations such as multiplication, division, and square root are all performed in the logarithmic number system domain. A modified squaring approach is adopted for fixed-point multiplications with little extra hardware. The performance of this multiplier is shown to be superior to that of conventional binary multipliers for most graphics and digital signal processing applications, and the size of the multiplier is comparable to that of conventional multipliers in terms of silicon area. >
Autogenous rib graft-hydroxylapatite augmentation of the severely atrophie mandible: Preliminary report

Traditional transoral rib grafts were combined with particulate hydroxylapatite (HA) for augmentation in four patients who had advanced alveolar atrophy or cortical resection of the mandible. Follow-up evaluation for up to 18 months revealed restoration of mandibular morphology, with good prosthetic function and insignificant resorption. No infection or graft loss was observed, in spite of wound dehiscence in two of the four patients, possibly due to the placement of the HA lateral and superior to the rib grafts.
Determination of Phenytoin and Its Major Metabolite, 5-(p-Hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin in Urine by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract Phenytoin is used in the prevention and treatment of seizures. It is important to measure the concentrations of both phenytoin and its major metabolite, 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin (p-HPPH) to fully describe the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin in patients. The method utilized a Water 10 μm μBondapak C-18 column, a mobile phase containing 45% acetonitrile and 55% distilled water, and a detection wave length of 230 nm. The retention times of p-HPPH, and phenytoin, and internal standard, 5-(4-methylphenyl)-5-phenyl-hydantoin (TPH) were 4.2, 6.4, and 8.1, minutes respectively. The correlation coefficients for p-HPPH and phenytoin were 0.999 for both compounds. The accuracy of the method ranged from 98.8 to 108.8% for p-HPPH and from 94.3 to 102.1% for phenytoin at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.35 mg/mL for each compound. The coefficient of variation ranged from 0.1 to 9.6% for p-HPPH and 0.8 to 5.0% for phenytoin. This method was successfully used to quantify phenytoin and p-HPPH in t...
Treatment of Diabetes: A Clinical Update on Insulin Trials

The prevalence of diabetes, along with its accompanying long-term microvascular and macrovascular complications, continues to increase. Landmark studies of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have provided the foundations on which to investigate improved treatment strategies for type 2 diabetes. Recent evidence suggests a new paradigm for treating type 2 diabetes that adds insulin earlier in the treatment process to maintain tight glycemic control. The newer insulin analogues in combination with oral antidiabetic agents provide a viable option for improving glycemic control and preventing or delaying the occurrence of complications.
Neonatal behavioral profile of the offspring of women who continued to exercise regularly throughout pregnancy

Abstract Objective: The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that continuing regular exercise throughout pregnancy alters early neonatal behavior. Study Design: The offspring of 34 women who exercised were compared with those of 31 demographically similar control subjects. All women had normal antenatal courses. Behavior was assessed at 5 days after birth with the Brazelton Scales. Results: The offspring of the exercising women performed better in 2 of the 6 behavioral constellations when examined at 5 days after birth. The scores reflecting their ability to orient to environmental stimuli were (mean ± SEM) 7.6 ± 0.1 and 6.5 ± 0.3, respectively, and the scores reflecting their ability to regulate their state or quiet themselves after sound and light stimuli were 6.6 ± 0.2 and 4.9 ± 0.3, respectively. The scores reflecting habituation (7.9 ± 0.2 and 8.0 ± 0.1, respectively), motor organization (5.7 ± 0.1 and 5.5 ± 0.1, respectively), autonomic stability (5.9 ± 0.2 and 5.5 ± 0.3, respectively), and behavioral state range (4.1 ± 0.2 and 4.5 ± 0.3, respectively) were not significantly different. Conclusions: These data indicate that the neonates born of exercising mothers have a different neurobehavioral profile as early as the fifth day after birth. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:91-4.)
LST general research hypotheses

One way to apply living systems theory (LST) to traditional disciplines and specific empirical studies is by testing hypotheses derived from LST. This article discusses the process of deriving testable specific hypotheses from the LST conceptual framework and illustrates that process with the development of actual testable hypotheses that concern accounting information systems of organizations.
Adenovirus E1a proteins repress transcription from the SV40 early promoter

Abstract Using a transient expression assay in HeLa cells, we show that products from the adenovirus-5 E1a transcription unit repress transcription from the SV40 early promoter. The repression is unrelated to T antigen autoregulation, occurs maximally with low concentrations of E1a expression plasmid, is exerted at the transcriptional level, and requires functional Ela protein. The 289 and 243 amino acid E1a proteins are equally effective at repressing transcription. Since only the 289 amino acid protein is efficient at activating transcription, we conclude that activation and repression are separate Ela functions. We discuss possible mechanisms for E1a repression and the relationship of repression to the function of E1a in cell immortalization and transformation.
Quantitative Doppler ultrasound-based determination of volumetric blood flow

Conventional ultrasound Doppler velocity measurements are scaled by the cosine of the angle between the blood flow axis and ultrasound beam axis. In the approach used here, a transducer array was used to acquire a first cross-sectional Doppler data set of the vessel under examination. The transducer array was then moved to a different angle to acquire a second cross-sectional Doppler data set. Thereafter, we used the known angle between the two arrays ultrasound beams and the cosine (theta) scaled Doppler estimates to solve for the true angle between the blood flow axis and ultrasound beam axis of the first data set. Upon integrating the angle corrected velocity estimates over the entire vessel cross-section, we were able to estimate blood volume flow rate. The performance of the new approach was tested in a flow phantom that was designed to provide a constant flow in a simulated vessel. The data were collected for two sets of angles and three different flow velocities for each angle set. The unknown Doppler angle was calculated from the data and used to correct the flow velocity.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Synthesis, structure, and chemistry of a 1-thia-4-azanaphthalene

Abstract From a crystal structure determination and thermal rearrangement studies, it is evident that 1-methyl-2-carbethoxy-3-phenyl-1-thia-4-azanaphthalene is an alias for a molecule more properly represented by a name emphasizing its zwitterionic character.
Analysis of carcinogenic and mutagenic aromatic amines: An overview

Abstract The aromatic amines represent a category of considerable importance in terms of their broad industrial utilization per se as well as intermediates in the manufacture, of a wide variety of dyes which have been broadly used in textile, leather, plastic and paper products as well as in permanent and semi‐permanent coloring products. The exposure to these agents, a number of which are carcinogenic and/or mutagenic, can occur primarily via skin contact and inhalation and covers the spectrum of occupational, consumer and the general public. This overview will principally highlight a number of the recently applied methodologies (including GLC, HPLC, and SPF) for the analyses of benzidines, naphthylamines, aminobiphenyls, methylene bis(2‐chloro‐aniline); 2,4‐diaminotoluene and 2,4‐diaminoanisole with a focus on their determination in environmental and occupational samples.
Elastic constants of cellular structures

Abstract Lattice models for calculating the elastic properties of cellular structures are described; on small scales the elastic constants are isotropic, both in two and three dimensions. Stresses are transmitted by harmonic springs that connect the nodes surrounding each volume element. The force constants of the springs are determined by the local elastic stiffness, which can vary from element to element. The model was tested by comparing the elastic constants of periodic two-dimensional microstructures with analytic results. Then it was applied to calculations of the elastic constants of samples of human trabecular bone, using images of the microstructure determined by X-ray transmission microscopy.
Autoclave sterilization produces acrylamide in rodent diets: implications for toxicity testing.

Acrylamide (AA) is a neurotoxic and carcinogenic contaminant that is formed during the cooking of starchy foods. Assessment of human risks from toxicants is routinely performed using laboratory rodents, and such testing requires careful control of unintended exposures, particularly through the diet. This study describes an analytical method based on liquid chromatography with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry that was used to measure endogenous AA in rodent diets and to survey a number of commercial products for contamination. Method sensitivity permitted accurate quantification of endogenous levels of AA in raw diets below 20 ppb. Autoclaving a standard rodent diet (NIH-31) increased the AA content 14-fold, from 17 to 240 ppb. A nutritionally equivalent diet that was sterilized by irradiation was found to contain ∼10 ppb of AA (NIH-31IR). A toxicokinetic study of AA and its epoxide metabolite, glycidamide, was performed by switching mice from NIH-31IR to the autoclaved diet for a 30 min feeding perio...
Depletion of carboxypeptidase E, a regulated secretory pathway sorting receptor, causes misrouting and constitutive secretion of proinsulin and proenkephalin, but not chromogranin A.

Previous studies have shown that the prohormone POMC is sorted to the regulated secretory pathway (RSP), at the trans-Golgi network, by binding of a conformation-dependent sorting signal to a sorting receptor, identified as membrane-bound carboxypeptidase E (CPE) (Cool et al., 1997, Cell, 88:73–83). In this study, the role of CPE as a sorting receptor for other RSP proteins that contain sorting signals (proinsulin, proenkephalin, and chromogranin A) was investigated in neuroendocrine cells (Neuro-2a) stably expressing CPE antisense RNA. Whereas these cells were depleted of CPE by greater than 85%, electron microscopy showed that they contain dense core secretory granules identical to wild-type Neuro-2a cells, indicating that CPE is not essential for granulogenesis. Secretion and immunocytochemical studies showed that, in wild-type Neuro-2a cells, endogenous proenkephalin and transfected proinsulin/insulin were localized to punctate secretory granules and were released via the RSP. However, in CPE-depleted...
Irreducible ∗-representations of some group rings and associated Banach ∗-algebras

Let G be the group which is a wreath product of two infinite cyclic groups. We construct a faithful, topologically irreducible ∗-representation of l1(G) on l2(Z), and a faithful, strictly irreducible representation on l1(Z). The finite-dimensional, irreducible ∗-representations of l1(G) are described, and we find that an associated C∗-algebra is primitive and antiliminal, with a separating set of finite-dimensional, irreducible representations. A similar study is made of the group H generated by x and y with the relation x−1yx = x2.
Failure-Time Mixture Models: Yet Another Way to Establish Efficacy

We propose to use mixture survival models to establish the efficacy of the trial treatment. In particular, we consider the lognormal distribution to model the right-censored event time and a logistic regression for the incidence part of the model. The model attempts to estimate simultaneously the effects of treatments on the acceleration/deceleration of the timing of a given event and the surviving fraction-the proportion of the population for which the event may never occur. We use the SAS/IML subroutine NLPTR to obtain the maximum likelihood estimates of the model parameters. The estimates of the standard errors of the parameter estimates are computed from the inverse of the observed information matrix. We use the Cox-Snell residual plot based on the unconditional survivor function for evaluating goodness-of-fit of the model. The principal research hypothesis will be that under the trial treatment, the time-to-event will be more decelerated/accelerated compared to the control, given that the event occurs. We suggest that this methodology could be considered as a means to establish efficacy. We emphasize that there can be a substantial advantage to using mixture models even when the log-rank test is valid and significant. Data on overall survival time from a typical colorectal cancer clinical trial are used to illustrate the procedure.
Angular Correlations in K e 4 Decays and Determination of Low-Energy π − π Phase Shifts

The study of correlations in ${K}_{e4}$ decays can give unique information on low-energy $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\pi}$ scattering. To this end we introduce a particularly simple set of correlations. We show that the measurement of these correlations at any fixed $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\pi}$ c.m. energy allows one to make a model-independent determination of the difference ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\delta}}_{1}$ between the $S$- and $P$-wave $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\pi}$ phase shifts at that energy. Information about the average value of ${\ensuremath{\delta}}_{0}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\delta}}_{1}$ can be obtained from a measurement of the same correlations averaged over the energy spectrum. Measurement of the average correlations is particularly suited to the testing of any model of low-energy $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\pi}$ scattering. We discuss in particular two such models: (a) the Chew-Mandelstam effective-range description of $S$-wave scattering and (b) the Brown-Faier $\ensuremath{\sigma}$-resonance model for the $S$ wave. If the Chew-Mandelstam description is adequate, the suggested measurements should yield a value for the $S$-wave scattering length in the $I=0$ state. If the $\ensuremath{\sigma}$-resonance model is correct, these measurements should yield a value for the mass of the resonance.
Differences in biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from airways of mechanically ventilated patients and cystic fibrosis patients

Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms exhibit increased antimicrobial resistance compared with planktonic isolates and are implicated in the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic lung infections. Whilst antibiotic choices for both infections are based on planktonic antibiotic susceptibility results, differences in biofilm-forming ability between the two diseases have not previously been explored. The aim of this study was to compare differences in biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa isolated from intubated patients and from patients with chronic pulmonary disease associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). The temporal evolution of antibiotic resistance in clonal P. aeruginosa strains isolated from CF patients during periods of chronic infection and acute pulmonary exacerbation was also evaluated. Biofilm formation and biofilm antibiotic susceptibilities were determined using a modified microtitre plate assay and were compared with antibiotic susceptibility results obtained using traditional planktonic culture. Clonality was confirmed using random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) analysis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates collected from intubated patients produced substantially more biofilms compared with CF isolates. There was considerable heterogeneity in biofilm-forming ability amongst the CF isolates and this was unrelated to pulmonary status. Biofilm antibiotic resistance developed rapidly amongst clonal CF isolates over time, whilst traditional antibiotic resistance determined using planktonic cultures remained stable. There was a significant positive correlation between imipenem/cilastatin and ceftazidime resistance and biofilm-forming ability. The variability in biofilm-forming ability in P. aeruginosa and the rapid evolution of biofilm resistance may require consideration when choosing antibiotic therapy for newly intubated patients and CF patients.
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms induced by atypical antipsychotics. A review of the reported cases

Atypical antipsychotics (APs) are now widely in use in clinical practice. They exert a beneficial effect in patients with schizophrenic disorders, including cases resistant to traditional APs and negative symptoms. They have also enhanced the ratio of therapeutic efficacy to adverse effects. Atypical APs, mainly risperidone and olanzapine, have been used as adjunctive treatment in (selective) serotonin reuptake inhibitor [(S)SRI]-refractory cases with obsessive symptoms. However, de novo emergence or exacerbation of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms during treatment with clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine and quetiapine has been described in the literature. The reported cases and the possible pathogenetic mechanisms involved in their occurrence are discussed and reviewed.
Mass-limited laser-plasma cryogenic target for 13 nm point x ray sources for lithography

We propose the use of mass-limited, line emitting cryogenic targets for SXPL, which permit a continuous supply of targets without the problem of particulate debris and excessive heating of multilayer optics by an intense x-ray flux in wavelength regions outside the multilayer bandwidth. In preliminary experiments we measured the oxygen line emission in the vicinity of 13 nm. The x-ray emitting plasma was produced by using a laser intensity of 2 X 1012 W/cm2 on the surface of an ice target. From the observed crater on target we can deduce that clusters are also ejected from cryogenic targets.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Freeform Lens for LED Dental Headlight

Currently commercially available dental headlights have two major problems: low illumination uniformity and stray light. To address those issues, we have applied different freeform lens structures combined with optimization method to achieve high uniformity and reduce the stray light.
Full Field Imaging of Nickel Oxidation States in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Anode Materials by Xanes Nanotomography

A greater understanding of nickel reduction-oxidation cycling (redox) mechanisms at the microstructural level can enhance SOFC performance and reliability. Transmission x-ray microscopy (TXM) provides several techniques for exploring oxidation states within SOFC electrode microstructure. X-ray nanotomography and full field x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy are new TXM techniques that have been applied in tandem to study samples of varying nickel (Ni) and nickel oxide (NiO) compositions. The imaged samples are treated as mock SOFC anodes containing distinct Ni and NiO regions. XANES spectra for the individual materials provide a basis for the processing and analysis of these mixed samples. Images of composite samples obtained using x-ray nanotomography are treated using numerical image processing steps including: scaling, tomographic reconstruction, and image alignment and subtraction. The distinct nickel and nickel oxide phases have been uniquely identified using full field XANES nanotomography. Applications to SOFC anodes are discussed.© 2011 ASME
The immunobiology of basal cell carcinoma: an in situ monoclonal antibody study

A semi-quantitative, immunoperoxidase monoclonal antibody technique was used to study the mononuclear cells surrounding 32 basal cell carcinoma specimens from 30 patients. Tumours were analysed in subgroups based on recurrence, size and ulceration. T cell counts were high (greater than 3 out of 4) for all groups while T helper/inducer and T suppressor/cytotoxic cell counts were equal (approx. 2). Macrophage counts were low for all groups, about I X 2, while B cell and Ia positive cell counts were high (greater than 3). T/B cell and T helper/suppressor cell ratios approached one for the tumours as a whole as well as the sub-groups. The relative importance and contribution of cell mediated vs. humoral immunity in keeping basal cell carcinomas in check is discussed.
Media carbon induction of extracellular cellulase activities in Neocallimastix frontalis isolate EB188

Extracellular cellulase induction in the ruminal fungusNeocallimastix frontalis isolate EB188 was followed. Glucose media-established cultures produced cellulase when switched to a variety of cellulose-containing media. High levels of cellulase and xylanase activities were present in cultures switched to sigma cell 100, solka floc, avicel, sisal fiber, and wheat straw, but not those switched to glucose, carboxymethylcellulose, or wood chips. Several assay substrates were used to show differential cellulase induction as well asβ-glucosidase activity. Cellulases hydrolyzed short oligosaccharides and released glucose from insoluble cellulose. Cellobiase activity was also indicated. Cellulase activity tolerated brief exposure to high temperature, was insensitive to certain metal ions, and possessed pH optima between 5.0 and 6.5.
Climate variability attributable to terrestrial and oceanic forcing in the NCAR CAM3-CLM3 Models

Based on numerical experiments using the NCAR CAM3-CLM3 models, this paper examines the impact of soil moisture, vegetation, and sea surface temperature (SST) on the inter-annual variability of climate over land. For each element, two experiments are carried out, with the inter-annual variability preserved in one experiment and eliminated in the other. Differences in the standard deviation of the precipitation and air temperature at the inter-annual time scale are used to quantify the impacts from soil moisture dynamics, vegetation dynamics, and oceanic forcing. The impact of oceanic forcing is mainly limited to the Tropics, with the strongest signal in the equatorial zone, and moisture convergence is the key linkage between SST forcing and tropical precipitation. Soil moisture plays a significant role in climate variability during the rainy seasons of all semi-arid regions (which is consistent with many previous studies), and during the dry seasons of the humid Amazon. Evapotranspiration is identified as the main mechanism linking precipitation variability to soil moisture. Amazon is the only region where vegetation dynamics has a significant influence on precipitation variability. However, the impact of vegetation dynamics on temperature is strong over the US Great Plains in all four seasons and in the Amazon region during the dry and dry-to-wet transition seasons.
Preparation of poly(trimethylene carbonate)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(trimethylene carbonate) triblock copolymers under microwave irradiation

Abstract Poly(trimethylene carbonate)- block -poly(ethylene glycol)- block -poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC–PEG–PTMC) triblock copolymers were synthesized successfully by the microwave-assisted ring-opening copolymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The polymerizations were carried out in a single-mode microwave oven in the absence of any metallic compound catalyst. In the presence of PEG600, PTMC–PEG–PTMC triblock copolymer with a number-average molar mass of 16,600 g/mol and a TMC conversion of 97% could be synthesized after the TMC/PEG600 reaction mixture was irradiated at 120 °C for 60 min. Both the molar mass of the resulting triblock copolymer and TMC conversion produced by the microwave method were higher than those produced by the conventional method. Thermal properties of the resulting polymers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry.
Properties and processing of corn oils obtained by extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide

Crude oils were extracted from wet- and dry-milled corn germs with supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) at 50–90 C and 8,000–12,000 psi and were characterized for color, free fatty acids, phosphorus, refining loss, unsaponifiable matter, tocopherol and iron content. They were compared with commercial products. Extraction of wetmilled germ with SC-CO2 has some advantages over the conventional prepress solvent method commonly used in the industry. For example, SC-CO2 extraction of wet-milled germ at 50 C and 8,000 psi yields crude oil with a lower refining loss and a lighter color. After laboratory processing, a light-colored, bland salad oil is obtained. Crude, refined, bleached and deodorized oils from SC-CO2-extracted dry-milled germ appear equivalent to those obtained by expeller pressing.
Experiments with new overlapped block motion estimation algorithms

A new international standard for videoconferencing uses overlapped block motion compensation (OBMC) in the advanced prediction mode for improved motion compensation accuracy. Optimal motion estimates for OBMC may be computed by a computationally expensive iterative algorithm. A recent paper has suggested a computationally inexpensive two pass algorithm to compute motion estimates for OBMC. In the first pass, exhaustive search block matching is used to compute motion. This motion is then used for OBMC. Using a combination of the average OBMC error over and the variance of the error over a block and its neighbors, blocks are ordered. In the second pass, motion of the significant blocks form the ordering are optimized. In this paper, we investigate two fast search block motion estimation algorithms in the place of the exhaustive search algorithm. The algorithms are the three step search and gradient search block motion estimation algorithm. Simulations results with a head and shoulders video sequence reveals that the gradient search algorithm performs close to exhaustive search algorithm while the three step algorithm has lower performance.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Reactive molecular simulations of protonation of water clusters and depletion of acidity in H-ZSM-5 zeolite

Using reactive molecular dynamics (RMD), we present an atomistic insight into the interaction between water molecules and acidic centers of H-ZSM-5 zeolite. The reactive force field method, ReaxFF, was used to evaluate the adsorption and diffusion of water as well as to study the protonation of water molecules inside zeolite channels. The existing Si/Al/O/H parameters were refitted against DFT calculations to improve the ReaxFF description of interaction between water molecules and the acidic sites of zeolites. The diffusion coefficient of water in the zeolite obtained from refitted parameters is in excellent agreement with experimental results. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicate that protonation of water molecules and acidity of the zeolite catalyst depend on water loadings and temperature and the observed trends compare favorably with existing experimental and theoretical studies. At higher water loadings, protonation of water molecules is more frequent leading to formation and growth of protonated water clusters inside zeolite channels. From the analysis of various reaction channels that were observed during the simulations, we found that such water clusters have relatively short life due to frequent interchange of protons and water molecules among the water clusters. Such proton hopping events play a key role in moving the protons between different acidic centers of zeolite. These simulations show the capability of ReaxFF in providing atomistic details of complex chemical interactions between the water phase and solid acid zeolites.
Chemistry Consistency Analysis of Tungsten-Doped Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) Coatings

Tungsten-doped diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings have been magnetron sputtered onto 52100 steel with chromium and chromium/tungsten carbide dual interlayers using a Hauzer Techno Coating HTC 1200 4 UBM unbalanced magnetron deposition system. Internal fixturing to the deposition chamber rotates parts to be coated with a two degree of freedom system. By design, at certain intervals during the deposition, the acetylene flow is linearly altered to change film characteristics throughout the film. AES sputter depth profiling analysis shows that the fixture rotational system, designed to uniformly coat parts, causes localized chemistry variations in the coating. For a given location, the AES depth profile also clearly documents the intervals when acetylene flow was constant and when the flow was ramped.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The angry male and the passive female: The role of gender and self-esteem in anger expression

To study the role of self-esteem and gender in anger expression, participants, who were screened for high or low self-esteem, were angered by a confederate. Participants were then given the opportunity to express their anger by administering blasts of white noise to a confederate. Men with low self-esteem exhibited anger-out anger reactions by administering the loudest blasts of white noise, while women with low self-esteem exhibited anger-in anger responses by administering the softest blasts of white noise. High self-esteem men and women did not differ in their anger responses. These findings support the hypothesis that low self-esteem men and women rely upon socialized sex-role stereotypes when responding to anger. The implications of the findings are discussed in terms of their impact on therapy for maladaptive anger responses.
Size-dependent fracture toughness of bulk-metallic glasses

The fracture toughness is a critical material property that determines engineering performance. However, as is well known for crystalline materials, if certain sample geometry and size requirements are not met, test results become sample-size dependent and difficult to compare between different studies. Here, the room-temperature fracture toughness of the Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 (Vitreloy 105) was evaluated using compact-tension, as well as single-edge notched-bend, specimens of different sizes to measure KIc values according to ASTM standard E399 and JIc values according to ASTM standard E1820. It is concluded that the ASTM standard E399 sample-size requirements should be cautiously accepted as providing size-independent (valid) KIc results for BMGs; however, it is also concluded that small-sized samples may result in a wider scatter in conditional toughness KQ values, a smaller yield of valid tests and possibly somewhat elevated toughness values. Such behavior is distinct from crystalline metals where the size requirements of ASTM standard E399 are quite conservative. For BMGs, KQ values increase and show a larger scatter with decreasing uncracked ligament width b, which is also distinct from crystalline metals. Samples smaller than required by ASTM standards for KIc testing are allowed by the J-integral-based standard E1820; however, in this study on BMGs, such tests were found to give significantly higher toughness values as compared to valid KIc results. Overall, the toughness behavior of BMGs is more sensitive to size requirements than for crystalline metals, an observation that is likely related to the distinct size-dependent bending ductility and strain softening behavior found for metallic glasses. It is concluded that toughness values measured on BMG samples smaller than that required by the KIc standard, which are common in the literature, are likely sample size- and geometry-dependent, even when they meet the less restrictive valid JIc requirements.
Statistical errors invalidate conclusions in “caffeine and unsaturated fat diet significantly promotes DMBA‐induced breast cancer in rats”

The conclusion drawn in a recent paper by Minton and associates (Cancer 1983; 51:1249-1253), that caffeine and an unsaturated fat diet significantly promoted dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer in rats, is based on fallacious statistical reasoning. Minton and associates based their conclusion on the mean latency to first tumor appearance for rats diagnosed with tumors. However, evaluation of percentages of tumor-bearing rats yields contrary results. Using data from a totally negative hypothetical two-group experiment, we demonstrate how such "conflicting" results could arise from differential intercurrent mortality in the two groups. The correct statistical analysis of this hypothetical experiment allows for differential intercurrent mortality and no conflict arises; the data of Minton and associates need to be analyzed by these methods.