cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NTCT-10INCREASED RISK FOR HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA IN GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS TREATED WITH DAPSONE

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic prophylaxis against Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is recommended for glioblastoma (GBM) patients receiving radiation and temozolomide. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), dapsone, atovaquone, and inhaled pentamadine are accepted antibiotics. Oxidant hemolysis is a known complication of dapsone, typically associated with G6PD deficiency. We report hemolytic anemia in 7/12 GBM patients treated with dapsone. We compare the rate of anemia with TMP-SMX and pentamadine-treated patients. METHODS: Retrospective review of charts of GBM patients treated with radiation and temozolomide 2009 -14 at our institution. RESULTS: Of 52 patients, 23 received TMP-SMX, 17 pentamadine, and 12 dapsone. Seven (58%) of the dapsone treated patients experienced > 2.0 g/dl drop in hemoglobin from baseline. In each patient, G6PD screening was normal. Macrocytosis was present in 4/7 dapsone-treated patients with anemia. Lactate dehydrogenase levels were elevated (range 312-414 U/L) in 3 / 4 in whom it was available. Peripheral smears of 5 demonstrated degmacytes (‘bite cells’). CONCLUSION: Anemia was more common in patients treated with dapsone than with TMP-SMX or pentamadine. The frequency of anemia is higher than anticipated, especially with normal G6PD levels. Evidence of hemolysis is supported by characteristic bite cells, increased LDH levels, with compensatory reticulocytosis suggested by macrocytosis. Close monitoring for anemia in GBM patients treated with dapsone for PCP prophylaxis is required, even with normal pretreatment G6PD levels.
Surviving on the edge of change.

The face of rural America is changing dramatically, according to author Bruce Behringer, M.P.H. Rural health care, in its broadest sense, continues to struggle for its very survival. Things, however, are beginning to look up and Behringer describes the positive changes taking place.
John Bates Clark in Defense of the Status Quo

In the 1880s, no American political economist was more renowned than Henry George. A decade later, however, there was no American academic economist better known than John Bates Clark. Although they were different in many respects — the former was a journalist and self-taught economist, whereas his contemporary was steeped in academia and, ultimately, shouldered the responsibility of the maintenance of the status quo — they both came from similar devout Puritan beginnings.
Laboratory Evaluation of the Fibrinolytic System

The regulation and control of the fibrinolytic mechanism involves the interaction of three components: activators, plasminogen, and α2-antiplasmin. Plasmin, the proteolytic enzyme, is formed from plasminogen by various plasminogen activators, including endothelial activators, kallikrein, streptokinase, and urokinase. The authors review selected aspects of fibrinolysis, including the role of plasminogen, extrinsic and exogenous plasminogen activators, three separate genetic abnormalities of the fibrinolytic system, and laboratory evaluation of fibrinolysis including recent developments in substrate assays.
Maritime Archaeology and Climate Change: An Invitation

Maritime archaeology has a tremendous capacity to engage with climate change science. The field is uniquely positioned to support climate change research and the understanding of past human adaptations to climate change. Maritime archaeological data can inform on environmental shifts and submerged sites can serve as an important avenue for public outreach by mobilizing public interest and action towards understanding the impacts of climate change. Despite these opportunities, maritime archaeologists have not fully developed a role within climate change science and policy. Moreover, submerged site vulnerabilities stemming from climate change impacts are not yet well understood. This article discusses potential climate change threats to maritime archaeological resources, the challenges confronting cultural resource managers, and the contributions maritime archaeology can offer to climate change science. Maritime archaeology’s ability to both support and benefit from climate change science argues its relevant and valuable place in the global climate change dialogue, but also reveals the necessity for our heightened engagement.
Macrophages are a central hub of innate immunity and inflammatory signaling programs induced by HCV/HIV coinfection. (INM6P.344)

Hepatic inflammation is a hallmark feature of pathogenesis due to HCV/HIV-1 coinfection but the processes that propagate this inflammatory response are not understood. Coinfection of HIV-1 within the HCV-infected liver results more commonly in inflammatory liver disease than monoinfection of either virus, with a quicker progression to end-stage disease. HCV causes significant liver inflammation by triggering inflammasome activation after uptake by hepatic macrophages. Also known as “Kupffer cells”, these CD4+ cells are targets of HIV-1 infection. Phagocytosed HCV particles are potent activators of the NLRP3 inflammasome driving IL1β secretion from macrophages to impart liver inflammation. Here, we evaluated coinfection in human THP1 macrophages as a model of Kupffer cells. We demonstrate that like HCV, HIV-1 activates the inflammasome in these cells upon infection. Coinfection synergizes the inflammatory response, resulting in the production of pro-inflammatory mediators known to drive immune infiltration, tissue damage, and liver fibrogenesis. Furthermore, we have defined the macrophage-secreted cytokine milieu that accompanies monoinfection vs coinfection, revealing how each virus directs an innate immune response on its own and during coinfection. Our studies identify the hepatic macrophage as a hub of inflammatory signaling and reveal crosstalk between virus-responsive inflammatory signaling pathways that underlie hepatic disease and destruction in HCV/HIV-1 coinfection.
An emissive antenna correction for the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Microwave Imager (TMI)

This paper concerns the measurement of brightness temperature using the TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) satellite microwave radiometer. Specifically, the development of an algorithm for correcting the effects of a slightly emissive reflector antenna on the measured earth scene radiance is presented. This algorithm is based upon rigorous radiative transfer theory and on-orbit reflector emissivity measurements during a deep space calibration, whereby the antenna viewed a homogeneous and isotropic cosmic background source of microwave radiance. These results will be used in the generation of the legacy brightness temperature product 1B11 V8 to be released during fall 2017.
Abdominal Injuries: Indications for Surgery

This overview addresses the indications for laparotomy following trauma. The authors will suggest algorithms and tenants of care, but there is not a cookie-cutter approach that incorporates all trauma patients or their injuries. Laparotomy for trauma is an individualized decision based collectively upon clinical evaluation and diagnostic adjuncts. Multiple tools exist within the surgeon’s armamentarium, including focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) exam, diagnostic peritoneal aspirate (DPA)/diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL), imaging, and laparoscopy, to facilitate diagnosis and management of the trauma patient. Care for each injured patient requires experienced clinical evaluation, time-honed judgment, and individualized treatment. Junior trainees are often reminded of the value of experience in the trauma bay when a misstep in management occurs. Appropriate and timely intervention will limit the number of nontherapeutic laparotomies and their attendant morbidity.
Fracture Evolution in Multimineral Systems: The Role of Mineral Composition, Flow Rate, and Fracture Aperture Heterogeneity

Geochemical reactions add complexity to the characterization and prediction of fracture hydraulic properties because they depend on factors that are highly heterogeneous, such as mineral composition. However, systematic analyses of fracture evolution in mineralogically heterogeneous systems are still limited. In this study, we investigated fracture evolution in multimineral systems using a reduced dimension reactive transport model. The model was developed and tested based on experimental studies and addresses the complex morphological and geochemical changes that arise from the presence of multiple minerals of different reactivities. Numerical experiments were performed using randomly generated initial fracture geometries based on representative geostatistics, different categories of mineral composition, and a range of flow rates that are relevant to geologic carbon storage systems. The simulation results showed distinct dissolution regimes at different flow rates, each of which produced characteristic d...
Degradation of Macondo 252 oil by endophytic Pseudomonas putida.

Abstract Plant endophytic microbes, accustomed to the Macondo oil-spill environment, may be ideal candidates for crude-oil degradation, bioremediation and endophyte-assisted phytoremediation. We tested both single strain and bacteria consortia for their ability to degrade weathered crude oil, over 25 days, and found the single strain Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) exhibited the best performance for degrading all alkanes from C14 to C32 and 61.01% of the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPHs), but bacterial consortia did not degrade as much of the n-alkanes as the single strain, with TPHs degradation ranging from 28.4% to 51.5%. This is the first time the endophyte P. putida has been shown to improve the degradation of crude oil, demonstrating the potential of this strain to benefit biological remediation. We did not find any correlation between bio-surfactant production and oil degradation.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is an Independent Risk Factor for Hospital Readmission

Study Objectives:Hospital readmissions are an important metric of quality and safety. This study seeks to characterize the relationship between readmissions and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A bet...
General Theory of Perfect Fluids

We consider an element of volume anywhere in a fluid. Let dA be an element of area of the surface of this element of volume. Let dF be the force exerted upon dA by the surrounding particles. It is the essential hypothesis by which the perfect fluid is defined that this force is always acting normal to dA. Then it follows by mathematical reasoning, which we omit here, that the value of dF/dA is the same for all elements of surface passing through a given point. If we consider two elements dA and dA’ belonging to the boundary surfaces of two different elements of volume, but both having a point P in common, then the differential quotients dF/dA and dF’/dA’ have the same value. This quotient (of dimension FL-2) is called the hydraulic pressure p. We shall have to consider p as a function of x, y, z, and eventually of the time, t, but p will not depend upon the orientation of the surface element dA.
Cost-Effectiveness of Screening for and Early Diagnosis of Breast and Gynecological Cancers in Low-Income Countries

Screening and diagnosis provided for breast and gynecological cancers in the low-resource setting should be based not only on cost-effectiveness but also on affordability to ensure that large-scale implementation is possible. Over the past two decades, with the growing importance of economic evaluations in informing health care planning, a large number of cost-effectiveness assessments have been published for high-income countries, but these studies unfortunately have limited generalizability to low- or even middle-income countries. Only a few studies have been published on cost-effectiveness of screening in the resource-limited setting for breast and cervical cancer. In general, these studies support the use of clinical breast exams for breast cancer screening and the use of visual inspection with acetic acid or human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing for cervical cancer screening. HPV vaccination of adolescent girls can also be cost-effective, but the cost of both HPV vaccination and HPV DNA testing has to be quite low to make them affordable in the low-resource setting. No study to date has directly addressed the cost-effectiveness of providing integrated cancer screening, that is, combining breast and cervical cancer screening along with diagnostic evaluation for other gynecological cancers into a single visit. Integrating cancer screening services for women can potentially result in lower costs due to efficiencies for both the provider and the patient. On the provider side, synergies can reduce health care costs as a person is seen once for several screening tests and not multiple times. For the patient, a single trip is efficient and can reduce transportation and child care costs. Targeted screening trials and cost-effectiveness modeling are urgently needed to fully understand the impact of packaging screening for multiple cancers on the overall cost and effectiveness in the low-income setting.
Verizon Lecture: Why Is It So Difficult to Be an Ethical Leader?

In some ways it is more important to understand why it is difficult for leaders to be ethical than it is to understand how to be an ethical leader. By being aware of the common temptations and moral pitfalls of leadership, leaders are better able to avoid them. Like all areas of applied ethics, leadership has its own set of problems that stem from the roles leaders play and their relationship and responsibilities to followers and others. Moreover, leadership is ethically challenging because it and requires control of the self, the ego, and the use of power. This article examines some of the aspects of leadership that make it ethically difficult.
Relationship between Mosquito Species Distribution and Human Population Density

Abstract: Mosquitoes are known to exhibit different feeding behaviors, with some preferring to feed on mammals, others on birds, and so on. Many of them vector life-threatening diseases and pose a threat to public health and safety. When coupled together, mosquitoes that prefer to be around people could be more likely to transmit disease to those individuals. If it is possible to predict and map the potential mosquito species and vectors that are most closely associated with people, it would serve as an invaluable tool in combating disease. In an effort to see if this was possible, an experiment was done by surveying the mosquito larvae around College Station, TX in areas with varying population densities. The mosquitoes were identified down to the species taxonomic level and plotted against the population map of Brazos County. Mosquito species varied widely by location, with different feeding preferences per each area surveyed. When results were evaluated for any possible trends, it was found that areas with high populations did not show a preference for any one species or genus and did not yield species that preferred to feed on people. Key Words:relationship, mosquito, distribution, population
Decision Making in a Time of Uncertainty: Dolutegravir for Reproductive-Age Women

Dugdale and colleagues' elegant model explored 3 different antiretroviral therapy strategies for women of child-bearing potential in South Africa and the outcomes of maternal and child deaths, sexu...
Cancer in the context of aging: Health characteristics, function and caregiving needs prior to a new cancer diagnosis in a national sample of older adults.

Abstract Introduction As cancer trajectories change due to screening, earlier diagnoses, living longer with illnesses, and new successful treatments, cancer is increasingly a disease of older adults. While cancer diagnoses themselves are very stressful for patients and families, little is known about the health status, functional limitations, and social resources of older patients before they face a new cancer diagnosis. Materials and Methods Using the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a national survey of older Medicare beneficiaries linked to Medicare claims data, we examined the health characteristics, functional limitations and social and financial resources of older adults before a new diagnosis of lung, breast, prostate or colorectal cancer and how these factors vary by race/ethnicity. Results We identified 274 community-dwelling older adults with incident cancer diagnoses: lung (30.6%), breast (20.3%), prostate (30.8%), and colorectal (18.3%) representing 1,202,920 older Medicare beneficiaries. The sample was 81% Non-Hispanic White, 10% Non-Hispanic Black, and 9% Hispanic/Other. Before diagnosis, patients had an average of three comorbidities and 29% of patients reported poor/fair health. Almost one-third were living alone, 13% received help with at least one activity of daily living (ADL), 11% had probable dementia and nearly one in ten already received financial help from family members. Discussion Before an older adult has ever been diagnosed with a major cancer, many face significant health and financial challenges and are dependent on others for care. These needs vary based on cancer type and race/ethnicity and must be considered as clinicians develop individualized care plans for patients alongside caregivers.
Making our plant modelling community more than the sum of its parts: a personal perspective

The rise of mathematical modelling represents a transition in any scientific area towards quantitative and unequivocal presentation of hypotheses and theory. In Physics, phenomena are now predicted from mathematical models and computer simulations of those models well before observations are made to confirm these predictions. Indeed the largest endeavours in Physics, such as particle physics accelerators and astrophysics observational platforms, are created to test the most profound predictions of such models. Given the huge complexity of living organisms coupled with massive species and even phenotype within genotype diversity, we are far from the same level of advancement, yet need to approach it. Complexity of our systems means that many biological modelling efforts will remain, largely, based on emergent properties and phenomena. Nevertheless, complete models of the full complexity of single-celled organisms are beginning to transition to eukaryotes (Beard et al. 2012; Service 2016). Within narrow areas of gene function, we are already seeing successful projections from gene expression to prediction of growth and development of whole plants (Chew et al. 2014). Modelling provides a framework in which we can precisely organize and test our quantitative knowledge and hypotheses about how a plant process or combination of processes works and then test these against reality. As such, it provides a data-hypothesis-test-learn cycle to improve our understanding of plants and their use. Equally, the rapid growth of high-throughput ‘omics facilities is delivering ever-increasing amounts of data for which our capacity and ability to analyse and interpret lags. Mathematical models coupled with high-performance computing provide a means to deliver this needed acceleration. Simultaneously it should provide the means to predict which data is needed most, so providing feedback and focus for ‘omics approaches. This wealth of data also provides unprecedented opportunities for improving the precision of models by high-speed data to model linkage. Similarly, numerical and text mining knowledge discovery offer much to improving mathematical modelling of plant processes, with opportunities for automated improvement of representation and parameterization (Fer et al. 2018). In parallel, computer simulation of mathematical models has evolved from printouts of numbers to 3D representations of the growth and development of organs, whole plants and even communities of plants that can be indistinguishable from the real thing (Fig. 1). This facilitates identification of emergent phenomena while providing unprecedented opportunities in revolutionizing plant science education (Prusinkiewicz et al. 2007; Prusinkiewicz and Runions 2012; Runions et al. 2017).
Beta-iodoallenolates as springboards for annulation reactions.

β-Iodoallenolates II, generated from alkynones I with tetra-n-butylammonium iodide and a Lewis acid, underwent selective single or double annulation, depending on the Lewis acid promoter. Treatment...
Just in Time Radiology Decision Support Using Real-time Data Feeds.

Ready access to relevant real-time information in medical imaging offers several potential benefits. Knowing both when important information will be available and that important information is available can facilitate optimization of workflow and management of time. Unexpected findings, as well as deficiencies in reporting and documentation, can be immediately managed. Herein, we present our experience developing and implementing a real-time web-centric dashboard system for radiologists, clinicians, and support staff. The dashboards are driven by multi-sourced HL7 message streams that are monitored, analyzed, aggregated, and transformed into multiple real-time displays to improve operations within our department. We call this framework Pipeline. Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, HTML, and SQL serve as the foundations of the Pipeline application. HL7 messages are processed in real-time by a Mirth interface engine which posts exam data into SQL. Users utilize web browsers to visit the Ruby on Rails–based dashboards on any device connected to our hospital network. The dashboards will automatically refresh every 30 seconds using JavaScript. The Pipeline application has been well received by clinicians and radiologists.
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

1. Two cases of congenital diabetes insipidus resistant to pitressin, or diabetes insipidus of the nephrogenic type, occurring in male cousins during infancy have been described in which the most striking manifestations were recurrent pyrexia, polyuria, polydipsia, poor weight gain and development and hyperelectrolytemia. 2. The basic defect in these patients appears to be renal; in the nature of an endorgan failure to respond to the antidiuretic hormone of the posterior pituitary body. 3. The demonstration of the trait in the mothers of the patients and probably an uncle and maternal grandmother suggests genetic transmission by means other than the previously postulated sex-linked recessive pattern. 4. The literature pertinent to this condition is reviewed and some of the clinical features and diagnostic problems are discussed.
New Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Hospitalized with Pneumonia

Introduction: There is little information on the incidence of atrial fibrillation (“a-fib”) in patients hospitalized with pneumonia. Our aim was to assess the incidence of a-fib after hospitalization for pneumonia and the impact of a-fib on 30-day mortality. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national data including patients >65 years hospitalized with pneumonia in fiscal years 2002-2007 that did not have a prior diagnosis of a-fib. We included only the first pneumonia-related hospitalization. We identified patients who had a new diagnosis of a-fib within 30-days of admission. The primary outcome was all-cause 30-day mortality. Our primary analysis was a multilevel regression model, adjusting for >40 potential confounders including sociodemographics, health care utilization, comorbidities, medications, and severity of illness. Results: We identified 38,679 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 2,690 (7%) had a new diagnosis of a-fib within 30-days of admission. In the univariate analysis, a-fib was associated with increased 30-day mortality (20.1% vs. 13.2%, P Conclusion: A clinically significant number of patients hospitalized for pneumonia have new onset a-fib and it is associated with increased 30-day mortality. Additional research is needed to identify the potential causes of a-fib as well as to determine the ideal way to manage these patients.
Stimmen schreibender Frauen in der Mystik des 15. Jahrhunderts: der Fall Anna Eybins

The general rule for female writers of late medieval German manuscripts is that they hardly ever make themselves heard, or so it seems. Occasionally, however, we are lucky enough to encounter a manuscript or parts of a manuscript that can be definitively attributed to a female scribe. In this essay, I discuss one such case. Anna Eybin, who wrote and produced ›many books‹ (according to her sisters in the reformed Augustinian convent near Nuremberg), which are witness to her written ›multi-vocality‹. She signs her name in two different compilations that circulated among Southern German observant religious houses in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Taking into account the exchange of texts between different observant religious houses, the investigation shows that on different levels Eybin’s work can be understood as part of a conversation between several voices. Further, analyzing the shared texts in these compilations, in particular the mystical dialogue known as the Sister Catherine-Treatise, allows us the unusual opportunity to witness a female scribe in action and thus to mark and isolate a specific voice of a female author. That is, Eybin not only reproduces texts, but also, between one manuscript and the next, edits and improves them. Although Eybin’s changes to the text are subtle, they nevertheless suggest the presence of a (veiled) female authorial voice. This analysis then leads to a reconsideration of what it means to be an author for women in this context.
Pulmonary Involvement in a Mouse Model of Sjögren's Syndrome Induced by STING Activation.

Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS), a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting multiple organ systems, is characterized by an elevated type I interferon (IFN) response. Activation of Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) protein induces type I IFN and in mice, several features of SS, including anti-nuclear antibodies, sialadenitis, and salivary gland dysfunction. Since lung involvement occurs in one-fifth of SS patients, we investigated whether systemic activation of STING also leads to lung inflammation. Lungs from female C57BL/6 mice injected with the STING agonist 5, 6-Dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA), were evaluated for acute and chronic inflammatory responses. Within 4h of DMXAA injection, the expression of Ifnb1, Il6, Tnf, Ifng, and Mx1 was significantly upregulated. At 1 and 2 months post-treatment, lungs showed lymphocytic infiltration in the peri-bronchial regions. The lungs from DMXAA treated mice showed an increased expression of multiple chemokines and an increase in lymphatic endothelial cells. Despite STING expression in bronchial epithelium and cells lining the alveolar wall, bone marrow chimeras between STING knockout and wild type mice showed that STING expression in hematopoietic cells was critical for lung inflammation. Our results suggest that activation of the STING pathway might be involved in SS patients with concomitant salivary gland and lung disease.
Kerr metasurface enabled by metallic quantum wells

Our work combines the extreme nonlinear properties in MQWs with the implementation of metasurface. We introduce the quantum multilayer composed of TiN/Al2O3 as a tunable metamaterial, which couples with the localized plasmonic resonances (gap plasmon) of an array of gold nano-antennas forming a meta-device. When the metasurface sample is illuminated by a collimated low-intensity laser with a linear polarization, the reflected beam is being diffracted as the left- and right-handed circularly polarized (LCP and RCP) components into 1 order, respectively. While for the case of a high-intensity laser illumination, the metasurface will act as a mirror, i.e. the linear polarization remains unchanged with both RCP and LCP components reflected to its zero-order. Furthermore, a tunable hologram is demonstrated based on our proposed design. A clear image is observed when the metasurface is illuminated by a low-intensity laser, while for the high-intensity case, the image will disappears Our finding paves the way for nonlinear optical modulators25, high speed all-optical switchs26 and reflective tunable displays.
Sinful indulgences, soft substitutes, and self-control

For several harmful goods (e.g., junk food and cigarettes), less-harmful substitutes are available (e.g., light cigarettes and reduced-fat junk food). A simple individual-decision model is developed to analyse the effects of less-harmful substitutes on consumption and health outcomes.
Effects of white-tailed deer habitat use preferences on southern cattle fever tick eradication: simulating impact on "pasture vacation" strategies.

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (southern cattle fever tick; SCFT), collectively known as cattle-fever ticks (CFTs), are vectors of protozoal parasites (Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis) that cause bovine babesiosis (also known as cattle fever). One traditional strategy for CFT eradication involves the implementation of a “pasture vacation,” which involves removing cattle (Bos taurus) from an infested pasture for an extended period of time. However, vacated pastures are often inhabited by wildlife hosts, such as white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus), which can serve as alternate hosts for questing CFTs. We hypothesized that the distribution of host-seeking larvae among habitat types post-pasture vacation would reflect habitat use patterns of WTD, and in turn, affect the subsequent rate of pasture infestation by CFT. We adapted a spatially explicit, individual-based model to simulate interactions among SCFT, cattle, and WTD as a tool to investigate the potential effects of WTD habitat use preferences on the efficacy of a pasture vacation. We parameterized the model to represent conditions typical of rangelands in south Texas, USA, simulated a 1-year pasture vacation under different assumptions regarding WTD habitat use preferences, and summarized effects on efficacy through (1) time post-vacation to reach 100% of pre-vacation densities of host-seeking larvae, and (2) the ecological conditions that resulted in the lowest host-seeking larval densities following pasture vacation. Larval densities at the landscape scale varied seasonally in a similar manner over the entire simulation period, regardless of WTD habitat use preferences. Following the removal of cattle, larval densities declined sharply to 60% of pre-vacation densities ≈ 21 weeks post-vacation, and reached pre-vacation levels in less than a year. Trends in larval densities in different habitat types paralleled those at the landscape scale over the entire simulation period, but differed quantitatively from one another during the pasture vacation. Relative larval densities (highest to lowest) shifted from (1) wood/shrub, (2) grass, (3) mixed-brush during the pre-vacation period to (1) mixed-brush, (2) wood/shrub, (3) grass or (1) wood/shrub, (2) mixed-brush, (3) grass during the post-vacation period, depending on WTD habitat use preferences. By monitoring WTD-driven shifts in distributions of SCFT host-seeking larvae among habitat types during simulated pasture vacation experiments, we were able to identify potential SCFT refugia from which recrudescence of infestations could originate. Such information could inform timely applications of acaricides to specific refugia habitats immediately prior to the termination of pasture vacations.
Numerical and Experimental Investigation of an Ultrasoft Elastomer Under Shock Wave Loading

Wearable sensors can be utilized to measure the strain or pressure response following a blast, in order to establish injury thresholds and analyze symptoms. To explore the potential of utilizing the material polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) when fabricating wearable sensors for blast environments, it is essential to first investigate the dynamic response of ultra soft PDMS under shock wave loading. The choice of PDMS for use in wearable sensors stem from the flexible and low cost characteristic of this silicone elastomer. The mechanical properties of PDMS has been reported in the literature. However, limited data exists regarding the mechanical properties of ultra soft PDMS. In this study, the possibility of utilizing the ultra soft PDMS for wearable sensors in an extreme environment such as shock exposure was explored. An approach combining experimental and simulation methods was applied to study the dynamic behaviour of hemispherically-shaped PDMS samples, having a 50:1 or 80:1 ratio of base-to-curing agent. The PDMS samples were exposed to a shock wave created by a custom-built compression-driven shock tube. Digital image correlation (DIC) technique was applied to measure the deformation on the PDMS sample’s surface, following shock wave exposure. A finite element analysis was performed to predict the mechanical response of the PDMS sample under shock wave loading. The deformation field provided by the finite element simulation was validated with the measured results from the DIC experiments. The comparison of out-of-plane displacement, maximum principal strain, and shear strain on the sample surface for PDMS 50:1 and 80:1 were shown. The dynamic elastic modulus of PDMS 50:1 and 80:1 was provided and compared with the quasistatic elastic modulus. A new analytical model was presented in this study to predict the quasistatic elastic modulus of PDMS with different ratios. This study will add new understanding of an ultra soft material’s dynamic response under shock wave loading.
Heterologous protein transfer within structured myxobacteria biofilms.

Summary Microbial biofilms represent heterogeneous populations of cells that form intimate contacts. Within these populations cells communicate, cooperate and compete. Myxobacteria are noted for their complex social interactions, including gliding motility and lipoprotein exchange. Here, we investigated cis protein sequence and cellular behaviour requirements for lipoprotein transfer between Myxococcus xanthus cells. Specifically, an outer membrane (OM) type II signal sequence (SS) fused to the heterologous mCherry fluorescent reporter resulted in OM localization. When donor cells harbouring SSOM–mCherry were mixed with GFP-labelled recipient cells they developed red fluorescence. Our results surprisingly showed that a type II SS for OM localization, but not inner membrane localization, was necessary and sufficient for rapid and efficient heterologous protein transfer. Importantly, transfer did not occur in liquid or on surfaces where cells were poorly aligned. We conclude that cell–cell contact and alignment is a critical step for lipoprotein exchange. We hypothesize that protein transfer facilitates cooperative myxobacteria behaviours.
Reliability of constant error and within-individual variability for kinesthetically monitored force reproduction.

Abstract Sixty college women volunteers performed on each of two days 8 trials of a kinesthetically monitored force reproduction task. The amount of movement of the handle of the apparatus during performance was minimal to avoid contamination of judgment with extent of movement. The reliability of constant error and within-individual variability, the latter a measure of kinesthetic sensitivity, was studied both within and between days. Within-day reliability of constant error was moderate (ranged from .66 to .86). Between-day reliability was .73 using all 8 trials for each day and ranged from .49 to .70 using blocks of four trials. Reliability of within-individual variability was low. Between-days using 8 trials for each day was .37. Using blocks of 4 trials the reliabilities ranged from .05 to .45.
Colorectal Anastomosis: Factors Influencing Success

The majority of rectal neoplasms can now be resected safely with preservation of the anus. In my practice the ratio of restorative resection to complete rectal excision is 6: 1. The operation is also reasonably safe. In just over 100 consecutive cases the mortality for patients of 75 years and under was nil. For patients over that age the mortality was in the region of 20%. Of six postoperative deaths, five were caused by cardiorespiratory complications and one by peritonitis secondary to anastomotic dehiscence. The latter was in a blind and deaf 87-year-old. She might have been saved by an emergency colostomy but it was decided to dp no more.
HHV6 Encephalitis Complicating Post Stem Cell Transplantation Course: A Case Series of Five Leukemic Patients (P4.315)

Objective: To report clinical, radiological and EEG features of HHV6 encephalitis occurring in leukemic patients who underwent stem cell/bone marrow transplantation. Background: Literature about HHV6 encephalitis in leukemic patients post stem cell/bone marrow transplantation is limited and consists mainly of a few case reports. We present a case series of five patients seen in MD Anderson Cancer Center. Design/Methods: Retrospective review of five leukemic patients with HHV6 encephalitis complicating their post-transplant courses. Subjects included three patients with CML, one patient with CLL and one with ALL. Results: The study patients developed altered mental status within a few months after transplantation; two of whom in overt coma. Other clinical features included seizures, headache, fever and extrapyramidal features. Four required ICU admission with intubation. Comorbidities included: pancytopenia, sepsis, graft versus host disease, and multi-organ failure. MRI brain showed T2/FLAIR hyperintensities in four patients: two in bilateral temporal lobes with corresponding diffusion restriction, one in the thalamus/hypothalamus/brainstem/cerebellum/basal ganglia and one in the periventricular areas. EEG showed focal electrographic seizures coming from temporal lobes in two patients, periodic epileptiform complexes in three patients, focal slowing in two patients, and diffuse slowing in three patients. Spinal fluid showed pleocytosis, high protein and positive HHV6 PCR. Foscarnet was used as anti-viral agent for all patients. Anti-epileptics used included phenytoin, levetiracetam and valproic acid. Four patients died within few months; one patient had a complete recovery. Conclusions: HHV6 encephalitis can add significant morbidity and mortality to leukemic patients who have undergone transplantation. Salient EEG characteristics include periodic epileptiform complexes and overt temporal lobe seizures. MRI findings were T2/FLAIR signal hyperintensities primarily in the temporal lobes. We suggest that leukemic patients with altered mental status following transplant should empirically be started on Foscarnet along with indicated antiepileptic agents until spinal fluid viral studies are obtained. Disclosure: Dr. Yassin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tummala has nothing to disclose.
Urine diastase in the evaluation of pancreatic disease.

,44 1. Add 0.5 m!. of urine or serum to 2 m!. of starch solution (obtained commercially from Aloe Supply Company, St. Louis, Missouri) in a water bath at 40° C. 2. At timed intervals add 0.2 cc. of this digested mixture to 0.2 ee. of iodine solution (iodine indicator, 0.002 N, contains 0.252 gm. of iodine and 20.0 gm. of KI) at room temperature.
A comparison of antenna problems at UHF a VHF TV

Television transmitting and receiving antennas are components of a major intelligence transfer system only small portions of which are subject to man's control. The information is carried between antennas by propagating waves which are affected by the propagation media. The main propagation phenomena are considered briefly, but not in detail, to point up how wavefront variations occur. These usually are greater at UHF than at VHF and make the large capture area UHF receiving antenna impractical in many cases. The design and effective application of receiving antennas is quickly discussed in the light of these problems. UHF transmitting antenna design is then reviewed. It is approached from the standpoint of requiring an effective Size near the VHF antenna, in order to partly offset the inapplicable receiving antenna. The resulting many wavelength UHF apertures then require new feeding techniques. These are briefly described. It is also pointed out how the resultant high gains require care in application, with perhaps necessary contouring. The manner in which the same FCC curves are used to predict coverage for channels 14-83 as for channels 2-6 despite differences in propagation characteristics is explained. A single set of measured UHF field intensities is shown. In conclusion, adequate-signal UHF results in superb picture quality because of less selective distortion because of the smaller percent bandwidth. Man-made noise is almost nil. It is only necessary for the receiving end economically to approach as near VHF performance as the transmitting end has, and many of the UHF problems will vanish.
Effect of autonomic blockade on pressor responses to vasopressin in pregnant rats.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that gestational changes in reflex neural control of the heart and vasculature contribute to altered cardiovascular responses to vasopressin during pregnancy. Study Design: Changes in mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, and heart rate were measured in response to constant infusion of arginine vasopressin (0.15 to 2.5 mU/kg/min) in conscious pregnant and virgin rats ( n = 9) with total autonomic blockade plus restoration of baseline hemodynamics by norepinephrine infusion. Results: Resting cardiac output was 40% higher and total peripheral resistance 30% lower in pregnant animals ( p Conclusion: These findings suggest that neural modulation of arginine vasopressin-induced hypertension is altered during pregnancy and are consistent with a reduction in intrinsic vascular sensitivity to arginine vasopressin during gestation.
Multi-layer multi-feature map architecture for situational analysis

A neural network architecture is described that can recognize and later reconstruct spatially related groupings of various objects. The recognition and reconstruction properties are invariant under input patterns that are translated, distorted, noisy, incomplete, and rotated by approximately 30 degrees with respect to the training patterns. The system utilizes massive redundancy and localized coagulation of spatial information in a manner related to K. Fukushima's Neocognitron for visual image recognition. This system is the first to use multilayered multitopologically ordered T. Kohonen (1984) feature maps in a Neocognitron-related architecture. The model is described, applications are discussed, and results exhibiting an example run are presented. >
Origins of New World monkeys

Abstract Fossil ceboid evidence is reviewed with reference to the origins and affinities of the New World monkeys. This evidence indicates that the ceboids evolved from a North American primate of omomyid-like form. The events of continental drift apparently had little to do with the origin and dispersion of the New World monkeys and direct relationships to the Old World monkeys are not indicated. Three of the five extant New World monkey subfamilies are represented in late Miocene deposits of South America and it appears that evolutionary events leading to extant Ceboidea occurred within the South American continent.
Nonlinear Structural Analysis of an Icosahedron Under an Internal Vacuum

The concept that a structure is capable of producing buoyancy using an internal vacuum rather than a gas dates back to the 1600s, but material technology has restricted the construction of such concepts for common geometries, such as the sphere. Different and often complex geometries compensate for the lack of light materials that provide the stiffness and strength needed. Therefore, this research looks at a lighter-than-air vehicle in the form of an icosahedral frame/skin configuration using nonlinear finite element analysis in order to determine the structural response of such a vehicle, its capacity to sustain a vacuum with both material technology that exists today and in the near future, and its buoyancy characteristics. The structural response is characterized with large displacements, where membrane behavior dominates the icosahedral skin response, generating geometric stiffening in the overall structure. It is shown that those displacements have minimal effect in the structure’s buoyancy, with no ...
Understanding the memory loss of Alzheimer's disease The most common presenting symptom

Post-mortem examination of the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease revealed both a regional and a cellular specific pattern of neurofibrillary tangles. The neurons that are affected are crucial projection neurons for memory-related structures in the medial temporal lobes. There loss is likely to interfere with normal learning and memory.
Male Pseudohermaphroditism Due to Testicular 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Deficiency1

A 46-yr-old phenotypic female with XY genotype presented an unusual form of nonfamilial male pseudohermaphroditism with gynecomastia. Seemingly a normal girl until puberty, the patient developed breasts but became virilized as well at age 13 and failed to menstruate. No uterus was found above the short and blindending vagina. Serum testosterone (T) was subnormal for a male while urinary 17-ketosteroids (17KS) were elevated. The disorder was clarified when increased serum LH concentrations and a 10-fold elevation in serum androstenedione (A) were found. Serum A and estrone (E1) concentrations doubled following HCG stimulation while little change in serum T was observed. Exogenous T suppressed scrum LH by 50% and lowered serum A, E1 and estradiol (E2) to normal or subnormal levels. Dexamethasone suppression and ACTH stimulation studies revealed normal adrenal function. Blood production, metabolic clearance, and A to T conversion rates indicated that 91% of circulating T was derived from A which was produced...
Development of Controlled Release Formulations of Ketoprofen for Oral Use

AbstractMicroencapsulated forms of ketoprofen were formulated using polymers and polymer combinations and their in-vitro release characteristics were evaluated against pure ketoprofen using Vanderkamp 600 dissolution test apparatus. Suspensions of cellulose acetate phthalate were prepared and various quantities of drug, glycerin, tween 80, span 80, methocel and avicel were added and the resulting solution was passed through a peristaltic pump into a hardening solution. Beads were formed, dried and the release of the drug was studied at various time intervals in a dissolution medium of simulated intestinal pH. The dissolution studies of the ketoprofen demonstrated differences in drug release properties depending on composition and method of preparation. A formulation of Methocel beads with equal proportions of the two surfactants released its drug content over a period of 12 hours in a zero-order fashion. Rapid drug dissolution was seen when the formulations contained Tween 80 as a surfactant. Varying the ...
Plane Strain Deformation Textures of β-Si3N4

Several prior investigations have documented deformation-induced rotation of β-Si3N4 grains resulting in texture and property anisotropy. As documented previously for axisymmetric textures, Jeffery-based models correlate well with experimental results for a limited range of strains in plane strain deformation. Comparison to other experimental results and the implications of these results on texture modeling are discussed.