cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stereofluoroscopic image-guided robotic biopsy system

ABSTRACT This paper presents the key techniques of a stereo-fluoroscopic image-guided robotic biopsy system: 3D positionreconstruction, 3D path planning, path registration and robot trajectory control with safety considerations. Thissystem automatically adjusts the needle inserting path according to a real-time 3D position error feedback. Thissystem is particularly applicable to the soft tissue and organ biopsy, with advantages of increased accuracy, shortcompletion time and minimum invasiveness to the patient. Simulation shows the safety and accuracy of this roboticbiopsy system.Keywords: image guidance, stereo image, real-time 31) path, robot trajectory control. 1 INTRODUCTION Robotic localization system with 3D image guidance emerges in clinical environment because of its accuracy, quickness and minimal invasive features [2, 5]. To deal with soft tissue and organ displacement in surgical/interventionaloperations, a robotic localization system which allows automatic and continuous path adjustment based on real-time position feedback is important. The key techniques of this system include real-time 3D path generation,path registration, and robot trajectory control with guarded motion. These techniques are applicable to radiologicinterventional procedures requiring real-time imaging. It is ideally suited for image-guided breast interventionalprocedures such as image-guided needle biopsy and image-guided local interstitial lesion ablation. It is applicable to
Patient-controlled versus scheduled, nurse-administered analgesia following vaginal reconstructive surgery: a randomized trial.

Objective To determine whether patient-controlled analgesia or scheduled intravenous analgesia provides superior pain relief and satisfaction with pain control after vaginal reconstructive surgery. Study Design Fifty-nine women scheduled for vaginal reconstructive surgery were enrolled in this randomized trial. Operative procedures and postoperative orders were standardized. Visual analog scales for pain and satisfaction with pain control were recorded during the hospital stay and 2 weeks after surgery. Results Patients receiving patient-controlled analgesia had less pain on postoperative day 1, 25 mm vs 39 mm, on visual analog scales ( P = .007). Although this group used twice as much hydromorphone (3.57 mg vs 1.48 mg, P P = .009) and worse satisfaction scores (r = −0.348, P = .012). Conclusion In patients undergoing vaginal surgery, patient-controlled analgesia offers superior pain relief on postoperative day 1 when compared with scheduled, nurse-administered hydromorphone.
CORR Insights®: Do Various Factors Affect the Frequency of Manipulation Under Anesthesia After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty?

T he gold standard for the surgical treatment of patients with advanced arthritis remains TKA. Its reliability in relieving pain and improving function in the shortand long-term is well proven. Despite our best efforts, however, joint replacement surgery is not without its complications. In particular, the development of arthrofibrosis can be substantially disabling to the 1% to 12% [2, 6, 9] of patients who develop it. The etiology is multifactorial, often unknown, and frequently resistant to treatment. There is a large quantity of literature on arthrofibrosis. Recent studies [11] have identified both patient-dependent and independent risk factors, which include limited ROM preoperatively, prior knee surgery, complex regional pain syndrome, lack of patient compliance with therapy, and diminished patient pain threshold. Other patientrelated factors associated with the development of arthrofibrosis include nonwhite race younger than 65 years of age, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking [5]. Technical factors include ‘‘overstuffing’’ the knee (both tibiofemoral and patellofemoral compartments), component malalignment in all planes, instability, balance flexion-extension gap failure, joint line elevation, infection, and heterotopic ossification [10]. But even when these risk factors are absent, some patients can still develop the condition through an exaggerated fibroblastic response, tissue metaplasia, or revision interventions [4]. Numerous treatments options have been used, but their results are inconsistent. These options include manipulation under anesthesia with or without arthroscopic intervention, open arthrolysis, and revision surgery [3].
In vitro synergism of rifampin-cephalosporin combinations against Haemophilus influenzae type b.

The in vitro susceptibility ofHaemophilus influenzae type b to rifampin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and cefuroxime was examined at inocula of 105 and 107 CFU/ml. Time-kill curves were then obtained using antibiotic concentrations at one-half the MIC for each drug at the two inocula with combinations of rifampin plus each of the cephalosporins. There was a pronounced inoculum effect with all of the cephalosporins except for cefuroxime, but the MIC values were also higher for the latter drug. The rare failure of some cephalosporins to promptly sterilize the cerebrospinal fluid in meningitis should encourage investigation of the relationship between the inoculum effect, minimum bactericidal concentration and cerebrospinal fluid antibiotic levels in these clinical situations. A marked synergistic effect was noted for most of the isolates, and therefore, cephalosporin-rifampin combinations might show clinical utility.
Use of the fetal fibronectin assay to avert unnecessary hospitalization and bedrest in patients with preterm labor symptoms: a cost analysis.

Abstract Objective: To model cost implications of the fetal fibronectin (fFN) assay in management of patients with symptoms of preterm labor based on data from a previously published multicenter trial. Study design: Data from a trial of fFN in 763 patients with symptoms of preterm birth was used to create a decision analytic model. Standard management in the trial was compared with a theoretic management plan using fFN results to guide decisions regarding hospitalization and use of bedrest. Average costs and durations of antepartum and delivery hospitalizations for patients with preterm labor were obtained from a data set of 404,466 patients delivered in California in 1993. Average bedrest costs were obtained using data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics ($89 per day). A cost savings of $3,000 from the use of betamethasone prior to 34 weeks was assumed based on estimates from the NIH consensus conference. All patients were treated equally until fFN results were obtained. All fFN positive patients were admitted, given steroids, and discharged after an average of 2.5 days of bedrest. Results: Under baseline assumptions, theoretic management using fFN cost $3,900 per patient vs estimates of $4,820 in the trial. This resulted in savings of $919 per patient, which was robust under sensitivity analysis of all costs in the model. Conclusions: Addition of fFN management of threatened preterm labor has theoretic cost advantages when compared to existing patterns of clinical management.
The use of regression and statistical methods to establish calibration graphs in chromatography

Calibration graphs are normally calculated by regression techniques, and the confidence and prediction intervals indicating the range of amounts are included with a prescribed probability. Logarithmic transformation of data helps to compensate for the change in variance over the regressed line. Examples are given from practical data on the best performance bandwidth for such intervals and the effect that curvature and change of instrumental sensitivity have on the bandwidths. The efficiency of the chromatographic process with different instruments and injection techniques can be compared by observation of the confidence and prediction bandwidths.
Measuring quality of life in children with obstructive sleep disorders.

Objective To validate a disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument for children with obstructive sleep disorders (OSDs). Design Prospective cohort study using a 6-item health-related instrument (OSD-6). Subjects One hundred caregivers of patients with OSDs secondary to adenotonsillar hypertrophy (age range, 2-12 years) from 2 tertiary care, pediatric otolaryngology practices. Intervention The OSD-6 was administered on initial presentation and 4 to 5 weeks after adenotonsillectomy. A subset of patients repeated the OSD-6 within 3 weeks after presentation to assess test-retest reliability. Main Outcome Measures Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and responsiveness to clinical change of the OSD-6 score. Results Test-retest reliability was good (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.74). Median OSD-6 score was 4.5 (0- to 6-point scale) with higher scores indicating poorer quality of life (QOL). Construct validity was demonstrated by the moderate correlation between OSD-6 score and global adenoid and tonsil-related QOL ( R = −0.62), strong correlation between the OSD-6 change score and change in global adenoid and tonsil-related QOL ( R = −0.63), and the moderate correlation between the change score and parent estimate of clinical change ( R = 0.40). The mean change in OSD-6 score after adenotonsillectomy was 3.0 (95% confidence interval, 2.7-3.4). The mean standardized response was 2.3 (95% confidence interval, 1.9-2.7) indicating the instrument's large responsiveness to clinical change. The change score was very reliable ( R = 0.85). Conclusions The OSD-6 is a reliable, responsive, easily administered instrument. It is valid for detecting change after adenotonsillectomy in children with OSDs.
The metabolism of β-chloroprene: preliminary in-vitro studies using liver microsomes

Abstract Based on analogy with butadiene and isoprene, the metabolism of β-chloroprene (2-chloro-1,3-butadiene, CD) to reactive intermediates is likely to be a key determinant of tumor development in laboratory rodents exposed to CD by inhalation. The purpose of this study is to identify species differences in toxic metabolite (epoxide) formation and detoxification in rodents and humans. The in-vitro metabolism of CD was studied in liver microsomes of B6C3F1 mice, Fischer/344 and Wistar rats, Syrian hamsters, and humans. Microsomal oxidation of CD in the presence of NADP + , extraction with diethyl ether, and analysis by GC-mass selective detection (MSD) indicated that (1-chloroethenyl)oxirane (CEO) was an important metabolite of CD in the liver microsomal suspensions of all species studied. Other potential water-soluble oxidative metabolites may have been present. The oxidation of CD was inhibited by 4-methyl pyrazole, an inhibitor of CYP 2E1. CEO was sufficiently volatile at 37°C for vial headspace analysis using GC-MSD single ion monitoring ( m / z =39). CEO was synthesized and used to conduct partition measurements along with CD and further explore CEO metabolism in liver microsomes and cytosol. The liquid-to-air partition coefficients for CD and CEO in the microsomal suspensions were 0.7 and 58, respectively. Apparent species differences in the uptake of CEO by microsomal hydrolysis were hamster ∼human>rats>mice. Hydrolysis was inhibited by 1,1,1-trichloropropene oxide, a competitive inhibitor of epoxide hydrolase. A preliminary experiment indicated that the uptake of CEO in liver cytosol by GSH conjugation was hamster>rats∼mice (human cytosol not yet tested). In general, the results suggest that metabolism may help explain species differences showing a greater sensitivity for CD-induced tumorigenicity in mice, for example, compared with hamsters. Additional experiments are in progress to quantify the kinetic parameters of CD oxidation and CEO metabolism by enzymatic hydrolysis and conjugation by glutathione S -transferase for in cytosol. A future goal is to use the kinetic rates to parameterize a physiologically based toxicokinetic model and relate the burden of toxic metabolite to the cancer dose–response observed in experimental animals.
Interactions between nutrients and peptide growth factors in intestinal growth, repair, and function.

Several lines of evidence demonstrate that general nutritional status, specific nutrients (eg, zinc, glutamine), and certain trophic growth factors (eg, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor I, keratinocyte growth factor, and glucagon-like peptide-2) have important interactions relevant for intestinal growth and function. Adequate nutritional status is critical for endogenous growth factor synthesis in the gut and other tissues and is an important mediator of organ responsiveness to exogenous growth factor administration. Both endogenously synthesized and exogenously administered growth factors upregulate nutrient uptake and utilization by gut mucosa, skeletal muscle, and other organs. Emerging data from both animal and human studies indicate that combinations of selected growth factors and specific nutrients may improve the growth, adaptation, and repair of the intestinal mucosa. Additional studies to determine basic mechanisms of nutrient—growth factor interactions and the safety and efficacy of tr...
Persistent sodium and calcium currents in rat hypoglossal motoneurons

Voltage-dependent persistent inward currents are thought to make an important contribution to the input–output properties of α−motoneurons, influencing both the transfer of synaptic current to the ...
Age and severe adverse drug reactions caused by nifedipine and verapamil

The association of age with risk for severe adverse drug reactions (SADRs) was studied in 2371 and 862 hospitalized patients taking nifedipine and verapamil, respectively. Nifedipine caused hypotension (n = 22), tachycardia (n = 3), and acute renal failure (n = 1) (total SADR rate, 1.1%, 26/2371). Verapamil caused hypotension (n = 3), bradycardia (n = 9), and atrioventricular blocks (n = 2) (total SADR rate, 1.6%, 14/862). The mean age of patients with and without SADRs was for nifedipine 77.1 +/- 1.7 and 71.8 +/- 0.8 years, respectively (p < 0.05), and for verapamil 73.4 +/- 2.9 and 73.1 +/- 0.4 years, respectively. Sex, length of stay, comorbidity, polypharmacy, intake of slow-release preparations, daily dosage, and new intake of calcium antagonists were examined as potential confounders of the age-SADR association. After adjusting for potential confounders, age was significantly and independently associated with SADRs caused by nifedipine, but not with SADRs caused by verapamil (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.05-2.72 and OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.63-1.68 for 10-year increase, respectively). Although nifedipine and verapamil did not have significantly different rates of SADRs, an age-related gradient was found only for nifedipine.
Penile Desensitization Does Not Affect Postcopulatory Genital Autogrooming in Rats: Evidence for Central Motor Patterning

Abstract Postcopulatory genital autogrooming was studied in rats following desensitization of the glans penis due to topical application of an anesthetic ointment or to surgical transection of the dorsal penile nerve. These treatments sharply reduced the number of mounts resulting in intromission, but genital autogrooming was largely unaffected. The probability and duration of genital grooming were sensitive to the mount bout status of the copulatory event. The probability of autogrooming was higher, and the duration longer, after mounts that ended mount bouts and after intromissions, than after mounts that were incorporated within a mount bout. These findings suggest that the apprently compulsive genital autogrooming within a copulatory context is not regulated by afferent impulses from the penis, but may largely reflect central motor programing.
In vivo validation of in vitro testing of hallucal flexor mechanics

Abstract Objective . The purpose of this study was to validate an in vitro method of testing first metatarsophalangeal joint mechanics. Design . We compared the orientation of the resultant moment of hallucal plantarflexion in cadaveric specimens undergoing loading of the flexor hallucis longus to the plane of the active great toe plantarflexion moment in normal volunteers. Background . Frontal plane deviation of hallucal plantarflexion is a fundamental component of the altered biomechanics in hallux valgus. Methods . The cadaveric model utilized dynamic loading of the flexor hallucis longus and static loading of the remaining muscles of the great toe. The in vivo method involved measurement of force output with isometric hallucal plantarflexion in the standing position. The medial-lateral and superior-inferior forces as well as the angle of the resultant moment in the clinically relevant frontal plane for both groups were quantified. Results . We found no significant difference between the frontal plane forces of each group. The directional orientations in the frontal plane also displayed a marked similarity, with an average lateral deviation of 0.63 ° ( P = 0.99) for each group. Conclusions . The lack of a significant difference between the cadaveric and clinical methods of finding the resultant hallucal moment indicates that the cadaveric method accurately simulates in vivo internal flexor muscular loading of the great toe.
Friction and wear behavior of high silicon bainitic structures in austempered cast iron and steel

Abstract The sliding wear behavior of various microstructural combinations obtained by austempering ductile cast iron (3.7 wt.% C, 2.54 wt.% Si, 0.45 wt.% Mn) in the upper bainitic temperature range of 370 °C as a function of time was investigated. The wear behavior of high silicon steel (2.5 wt.% Si, 1 wt.% Ni) austempered at 420 °C for various times was also studied. Sliding wear tests were performed in a pin-on-disk wear tester with the test material rubbing under dry atmospheric conditions against a flat hardened toolsteel disk at a speed of 1.15 m s−1 and loaded with normal loads of 10.5 and 19.6 N. It was found that the wear resistance of austempered steel was much higher than that of austempered cast iron. The effect of graphite on friction and wear was studied using the high silicon steel austempered to provide the same microstructures as in ductile cast iron with the exception of graphite. The increased wear rate of cast iron was attributed to the surface-weakening produced by the presence of graphite. The effect of retained austenite on wear behavior was investigated in terms of work hardening and the deformation-induced transformation of retained austenite to martensite. The worn surfaces of austempered cast iron and steel were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Surface cracks and extensive deformation were observed on the worn surfaces of austempered cast iron but there was no indication of cracking on the austempered steel surfaces.
Temporal dynamics of divided spatial attention

In naturalistic settings, observers often have to monitor multiple objects dispersed throughout the visual scene. However, the degree to which spatial attention can be divided across spatially nonc...
A joint optimal pricing, rebate value, and lot sizing model

Delayed incentives in the form of mail-in cash rebates are very popular among manufacturers, and more recently, among retailers. One of the main advantages of rebates is that while they increase demand, a small proportion of consumers redeem them. In this paper, we formulate and solve models for jointly determining the optimal price, rebate face value, and the optimal order quantity for a price and rebate sensitive deterministic demand. The models show that under realistic conditions, offering rebates can have significant pricing and inventory policy implications and can lead to a significant increase in profit.
Establishing Best Practices to Improve Usefulness and Usability of Web Interfaces Providing Atmospheric Data

AbstractAccessing scientific data and information through an online portal can be a frustrating task, often because of the fact that they were not built with the user’s needs in mind. The concept of making web interfaces easy to use, known as “usability,” has been thoroughly researched in the field of e-commerce but has not been explicitly addressed in the atmospheric and most other sciences. As more observation stations are installed, satellites flown, models run, and field campaigns performed, data are continuously produced. Portals on the Internet have become the favored mechanisms for sharing this information and are ever increasing in number. Portals are often created without being explicitly tested for usability with the target audience though the expenses of testing are low and the returns high. To remain competitive and relevant in the provision of atmospheric information, it is imperative that developers understand design elements of a successful portal to make their product stand out among other...
A Shielded Fine-Wire Probe for Rapid Measurement of Total Temperature in High-Speed Flows

Shielded fine wire probe for total temperature rapid measurement in high speed flows, discussing construction and theoretical considerations
Homoplastic Ovarian Transplantability in the House Mouse.

SummaryFunctional homoplastic ovarian grafts in mice became established only after complete bilateral ovariectomy in in the host. This is in agreement with Halsted's “law of endocrine deficiency” since, in this series of experiments, the transplants were successful only in the absence of host ovarian tissue.
A model-system for the induction of an enzymatic transport system by an external substrate

Abstract A model-system has been developed to analyze the formation of an adaptive enzyme system for the transport of a substrate into the cell. Flow schemes and differential equations are established and the system is programmed for the analog computer. Kinetic data on enzyme formation are obtained during various modes of substrate inducer introduction into the system. The model-system presented reveals highly flexible and well-controlled operational characteristics in a highly variable chemical environment.
Cytoplasmic Structures in Yeasts

YOTSUYANAGI1 has reported long, curved, cylindrical, occasionally branched, thread-like mitochondria in yeast cells by staining with tetrazolium. Although mitochondria are often clearly visible in living yeast cells, no other observer has ever reported long cylindrical cytoplasmic structures in Saccharomyces; we believe these thread-like structures are crystals of dye rather than mitochondria.
Feasibility study to determine the suitability of using TiN/W and Si 1-x Ge x as alternative gate materials for sub-0.1-μm gate-length PMOS devices

In this paper we report on a simulation study on the impact of gate material on PMOS device performance. The gate materials studied were conventional poly-silicon gate, SiGe gate with varying Ge composition,and TiN/W metal gate. The motivation for alternative gate materials is to progressively alleviate or eliminate the poly depletion problem as observed with existing poly-silicon gate material, which becomes increasingly more important as the gate oxide becomes ultra thin (less than or equal to 26 Angstrom). Using these alternative gate materials, drive currents can be higher than those with conventional poly-silicon gate material, especially for PMOS devices where gate depletion is more pronounced. Two types of PMOS device designs were studied: (1) a high- performance design which is characterized by a maximum off current of 1nA/micrometer, and (2) a low-power design characterized by a maximum off current of 10 pA/micrometer. A plus or minus 10% variation in gate length is allowed for the high-performance design, and a larger variation for the low- power design. The minimum allowed gate length is 0.09 micrometer in both cases. Key results obtained from this study are as follows. First, use of TiN gate material results in a 30% improvement in pMOS nominal drive current compared to conventional poly-Si gate pMOS devices for the low-power device design, and a 15% pMOS nominal drive current improvement for the high-performance device design. Second, use of SiGe gate material results in a 25% improvement in nominal pMOS drive current compared to conventional poly-Si gate pMOS for the low-power device design, and a 13% pMOS nominal drive current improvement for the high-performance device design.
Spontaneous Regression of Cystic Dysplasia of the Testis

A 9-year-old boy with left multicystic dysplastic kidney and the VATER (vertebral defects, imperforate anus, tracheoesophageal fistula, and radial and renal dysplasia) syndrome presented with an enlarging left testis, and negative serum -fetoprotein and -human chorionic gonadotropin. Because construction of a catheterizable stoma was planned, the patient underwent exploration rather than ultrasound. The left testis, including the rete testis, was cystic and measurement with calipers showed a size of 2.4 1.9 1.5 cm. (4.9 cc). Due to lesion proximity to the epididymis the testis was not biopsied but replaced in the scrotum. At age 9 years 8 months scrotal ultrasound showed that the left testis was 5 times larger than the right testis, that is 7.2 versus 1.3 cc according to the Lambert formula (fig. 1). At age 10 years 4 months testis volumes had increased to 8.8 and 1.9 cc, respectively. At age 11 years 8 months the left testis was 9.4 cc but the right had also enlarged to 4.8 cc. The areas of cystic dysplasia had completely resolved and were replaced by normal appearing parenchyma (fig. 2). At age 13 years the left testis was 8.7 cc and the right testis was 6.7 cc without evidence of recurrent cysts.
A Relationship between Thermal Diffusivity and Finite Deformation in Polymers

The thermal diffusivity of elastomers (i.e., rubber-like materials) can change substantially with elastic finite deformation. Initially isotropic elastomers may be thermally anisotropic when deformed. Data from several experimental studies demonstrate significant changes in the thermal conductivity or diffusivity tensor with finite deformation. Formulating the thermal diffusivity tensor and deformation in terms of the reference configuration may aid in the development of constitutive relations by use of material symmetry. Illustrated here is a relationship between the diffusivity and deformation of representative materials during uniaxial and equibiaxial deformation. Each component of the diffusivity tensor appears to be related to the deformation in the direction of the component only.
Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of suspected osteonecrosis of the knee.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 19 patients with suspected or proven osteonecrosis of the knee. The results were compared to radionuclide and plain radiographic studies when possible. The patients were grouped into one of three categories: patients with disease predisposing them to osteonecrosis (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), steroid use, and renal transplants), older patients without risk factors with acute onset of symptoms, and patients with knee pain months or years following trauma.
Magneto-motive detection of tissue-based macrophages by differential phase optical coherence tomography.

Background and Objectives A novel method to detect tissue-based macrophages using a combination of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles and differential phase optical coherence tomography (DP-OCT) with an external oscillating magnetic field is reported. Study Design/Material and Methods Magnetic force acting on iron-laden tissue-based macrophages was varied by applying a sinusoidal current to a solenoid containing a conical iron core that substantially focused and increased magnetic flux density. Results Nanoparticle motion was detected with DP-OCT, which can detect tissue movement with nanometer resolution. Frequency response of iron-laden tissue movement was twice the modulation frequency since the magnetic force is proportional to the product of magnetic flux density and gradient. Conclusions Results of our experiments indicate that DP-OCT can be used to identify tissue-based macrophage when excited by an external focused oscillating magnetic field. Lasers Surg. Med. 39:266–272, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reciprocal peer tutoring and repeated reading: Increasing practicality using student groups†

Previous research has investigated the efficacy of peer-mediated repeated reading (RR) interventions carried out by student dyads. This research extends the existing research by investigating the impact of RR on oral reading fluency and comprehension when carried out by a teacher in small groups of fourth-grade students. Outcomes were analyzed using a multiple baseline single case design across groups in addition to supplementary analyses (dual level and trend criteria, percentage of non-overlapping data, class box plots). Visual analysis of results indicated that RR was effective in improving levels of reading fluency and reading comprehension skills of four targeted students as well as classwide performance in fluency and comprehension. Acceptability ratings showed that the small group format was easy to implement and acceptable to the teacher and students. Despite positive findings, RR may need to be supplemented by other instructional and practice strategies to promote consistent and comprehensive changes beyond fluency. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dietary fructose alters the insulin-like effects of dietary vanadate in adipocytes from rats

Abstract In a chronic adaption feeding regimen, both D-fructose and vanadate independently altered glucose oxidation and lipogenesis in adipose tissue of rats. This study investigated the acute feeding effects of vanadate and D-fructose on these parameters in isolated rat adipocytes. In a 3-d fasting/refeeding regimen, male Wistar rats (10/group), weighing 150–200 g, were fed a diet containing either glucose (control) or fructose at 27% (ww) with sodium orthovanadate at 0, 25 (vanadate-1), and 50 (vanadate-2) mg/kg of diet. Neither body weight gain nor food efficiency differed statistically between treatment groups, but lower food intake in vanadate-treated animals suggests a compensatory effect of food efficiency in maintaining body weight gain at the same level as in other groups. Basal glucose oxidation to CO 2 was enhanced in a dose-related fashion in glucose-vanadate groups, but a significant interaction between fructose and vanadate led to a reduction in vanadate-induced basal glucose oxidation. The reduction in basal and insulin-stimulated glucose conversion to lipid in adipocytes and in hepatic glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme activities by vanadate was not altered by fructose. These results suggest that, under acute feeding, fructose alters the insulin-mimetic aspect of vanadate involving glucose conversion to CO 2 in isolated adipocytes.
Chlorination of naturally occurring organic compounds in water

Abstract This paper describes the chlorination of naturally occurring organic compounds. Chlorination of tannic, humic, vanillic and gallic acids and D‐glucose resulted in the formation of chloroform, CHC13, whereas, chlorination of α‐pinene, acetic, propionic and butyric acids failed to produce any measurable chloroform.
Group similarities in beliefs concerning the causes of alcohol problems and the effectiveness of means of overcoming problem alcohol use.

Four hundred and eight respondents, who did or did not know persons close to themselves with alcohol problems, from four different racial/ethnic groups (with one group, Filipinos, categorized in terms of whether they were born in the Philippines or in the U.S.) rated the importance of 19 different causes of problem alcohol use and 22 different means of overcoming problem alcohol use. Rank-order correlations across sexes, persons differing in exposure to problem drinkers, and ethnic groups were nearly all in the 0.90's regarding causation. Correlations of Caucasians' ratings with those of other groups were high, but only in the 0.60's and 0.70's, chiefly because Caucasians were more prone to regard problem alcohol use as hereditary and as a disease, and less likely to believe problem use to result from social factors. All across-group correlations concerning beliefs about the effectiveness of means of overcoming problems were in the 0.90's. Some of the means of treatment regarded most highly by all groups have not been demonstrated to be effective.
SU‐GG‐I‐75: Calculating the Effective Dose for Pediatric Patients from Multi‐Detector CT Studies: New vs. Old ICRP Recommendations

Purpose: To compare calculated effective doses for pediatric CT exams using the new and old ICRP recommendations. Methods and Materials: A total of 178 pediatric patients who underwent traumaCT studies were analyzed retrospectively. Subjects were divided into 6 groups according to the type of exams performed, ranging from only a head scan to a full body assessment (head/face/neck/chest/abdomen/pelvis). Two versions of ImPACT software (ImPACT CT, version 0.99x & 1.0) were used to analyze study data and extract the effective dose: the older version used ICRP‐60 to calculate effective doses whereas ImPACT 1.0 used ICRP‐103 recommendations. The correction factors for pediatrics, which are included in spreadsheet, were applied to obtain the equivalent pediatric effective dose. A paired student's t‐test was used with significance threshold set at 0.01. Results: Pediatric effective doses using ICRP 103 were found to be significantly different from those calculated with ICRP 60 (p 0.01) were when face scans were included in the “full body” scan. This is probably due to the fact that the new tissue weighting factors of face organs did not change significantly from ICRP‐60. However, when only a head and face scans were performed, the difference was found to be highly significant most likely because of the inclusion of the brain and salivary glands, which accounted for a larger contribution of the received doses from head than face scan, in the new ICRP weighting factors.
The Political Ecology of Cereal Seed Development in Africa: A History of Selection

Agricultural history and the history of seeds in sub‐Saharan Africa are an aggregate effect of individual day‐to‐day decisions by farmers. The role of seeds within an agricultural system can be a valuable indicator of both social and natural time since farmers' seed selections indicate both natural conditions – moisture, pests, soils – and short‐term, season by season farm decisions about labour, potential yield vs risk and market potential. In the immediate future, international donors and African governments are planning that African farmers will receive their seeds from a global political structure that anticipates, perhaps wishfully, economic and political stability. Those expectations of development specialists are ones that failed at the end of the twentieth century. Will seed selection by African farmers in the twenty‐first century take place in an ideal free market of infinite choice or in real‐world conditions fraught with uncertainty of supply, climate fluctuations and unintended consequences within complex local ecologies?
Relation of the centrally evoked pressor effect of angiotensin II to the calcium ion.

Abstract A.E.DANIELS and J.P.BUCKLEY, Relation of the centrally evoked pressor effect of angiotensin II to the calcium ion . European J. Pharmacol. 4 (1968) 152–164. Interrelationships between the centrally induced pressor effects of angiotensin II and the calcium ion were studied by administering the polypeptide intraventricularly to cats pnor to and after alteration of calcium levels in the ventricular perfusion medium. Elevated calcium concentrations had little effect on the angiotensin II response, but perfusion with acalcemic artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or with the same medium containing EDTA inhibited the pressor activity. Repetitive administration of angiotensin II by the intraventricular route did not alter the regional distribution of norepinephrine in perfused brains. Similarly, endogenous norepinephrine was not influenced by perfusing with acalcemic CSF, with or without EDTA. Since normal physiological levels of norepinephrine have been reported to be required for central angiotensin II effects, the data suggest that calcium may be another requirement for activation of the central adrenergic pressor mechanism by the peptide.
The effects of peripherally administered 6-hydroxydopamine on rat brain monoamine turnover

Abstract Peripheral chemical sympathectomy by 6-hydroxydopamine in rats accelerated turnover of cerebral noradrenaline, but did not change turnover of cerebral dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine. This increase in noradrenaline turnover was long lasting and was observed in the first degenerative phase of the action of 6-hydroxydopamine as well as after established degeneration of the peripheral sympathetic nerves.
Interactions and the Anderson transition

We examine the effects of the electron-electron interaction on the Anderson transition. It is shown that the dimensionality of the system and the range of the interaction are crucial in determining the decay properties of a single-particle citation. For a long-range interaction we find that the appropriate one-electron excitations, when localized, decay via a ${(\ensuremath{\epsilon}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\mu})}^{\frac{1}{d}}$ law where ($\ensuremath{\epsilon}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\mu}$) is the energy above the Fermi energy and $d$ is the dimensionality. At finite temperatures this becomes a ${T}^{\frac{1}{d}+1}$ law. The single-particle excitations are bound for short-range forces. The conditions for the persistence of the Anderson transition are presented in terms of the nature of the "$m$-basis" (that in which the Green's function is diagonal) and the convergence of a series for the renormalized self-energy.
Organic carbon dynamics and preservation in deep-sea sediments

Abstract Three methods of estimating the particulate organic carbon fluxes to the sediment-water interface of the deep Pacific Ocean agree to within the error of the measurements at MANOP sites M, H, and C. Sediment trap experiments, pore water results, and surface sediment organic carbon data suggest that a major fraction of the particulate organic carbon raining to abyssal depths at these locations is degraded within the surface sediments rather than at the sediment-water interface or in the nephloid layer. Organic carbon rain rates at the three sites are similar—within a factor of two; however, the preservation rate of organic carbon and the chemistry of sediment pore waters are very different. A model developed to describe the pore water oxygen and sedimentary carbon distributions indicates model developed to describe the pore water oxygen and sedimentary carbon distributions indicates that changes in the rate constant for organic matter degradation and the bioturbation rate may contribute significantly to the observed differences in character of both pore water and sediment chemistry at these locations. The implication with respect to interpreting the sedimentary record is that cycles of organic carbon and redox sensitive metals (i.e., manganese) are not simply related to particulate organic carbon flux or surface water primary productivity. The residence time of organic carbon with respect to degradation in the surface sediments is on the order of 15 to 150 y.
Fractures of the Sesamoid Bones of the Thumb

Stability of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint is provided by the collateral ligament proper, the accessory collateral ligament, the proximal and distal palmar ligaments, and the palmar plate. The adductor pollicis and flexor pollicis brevis muscles also provide soft tissue support and insert on the proximal phalanx of the thumb by way of the sesamoid bones. Fractures of the metacarpophalangeal joint sesamoid bones are uncommon but are often associated with sporting injuries during which the joint is acutely hyperextended. Routine anteroposterior and lateral radiographs may be unremarkable, and oblique views are often necessary to document the fracture. We report eight cases of fracture of the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint sesamoid. Seven were isolated sesamoid fractures, and one was associated with a metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation. None of the fractures were evident on anteroposterior radiographs, but all were seen in the oblique projection. Six fractures were treated with splint or cast immobilization for 2 to 3 weeks, and two were taped. Clinical followup of the seven patients with isolated sesamoid fracture at 6 to 8 weeks revealed pain-free normal function. One patient could not be reached for followup.
Lifelong calcium intake and prevention of bone fragility in the aged.

Primary prevention of osteoporosis involves achieving the full genetic potential for bone mass. Secondary prevention is concerned with protecting what bone mass a woman may have at her current age. Calcium plays an important role in both. Calcium requirement varies with stage of growth, with physiological drains (e.g., pregnancy and lactation), and with factors that influence absorption and excretory loss (e.g., gonadal hormone status and sodium and protein intakes). The evidence is strong that prevailing calcium intakes contribute to the low bone mass component of osteoporotic fragility and that increases in intake would reduce the osteoporotic fracture burden. At the same time it needs to be emphasized that bone health is a multifactorial affair and that meeting calcium requirements alone will neither guarantee optimal bone growth nor protect against bone loss if other critical factors are missing. For example, calcium affords only minimal protection against either immobilization or estrogen withdrawal bone loss. Thus, while assuring an adequate calcium intake remains a sound strategy, it cannot be considered a total preventive for osteoporosis.
Preparation of precision-cut renal slices and renal proximal tubular fragments for evaluating segment-specific nephrotoxicity.

Abstract Previous research in animals and humans has demonstrated that many nephrotoxic chemicals induce selective injury within the kidney affecting either renal proximal straight (PST) or proximal convoluted (PCT) tubules. Selective injury has also has been observed following in vitro nephrotoxicant exposure to precision-cut renal slices and isolated PCT and PST segments. These in vitro models provide a means of comparing and contrasting basic mechanistic differences which render these segments innately susceptible to nephrotoxicant injury. In this article, methods for preparing precision-cut slices and isolating PST and PCT segments will be reviewed.
Rapid-manufacturable hair sensor array for legged millirobots

We present a rapid-manufacturable, hair-actuated contact sensor array designed for use on legged millirobots. The sensor is an array of sensitive contact switches. Each switch is activated by loading a hair mounted at the switch tip. The hair sensor array is sufficiently sensitive to detect the small contact forces experienced by a lightweight robot, with an average normal sensitivity of 0.8 grams/hair. The compliant polymer hairs detect both normal and shear contact, allowing the array to detect a variety of contact forces. By virtue of its design, the hair sensor array can be fabricated using a roll-to-roll layered process. We demonstrate a straightforward application of the sensor technology on a hexapedal millirobot, using the array to both estimate average ground speed and detect high-centering when running over obstacles. This application is of particular interest for milliscale robots operating in rough terrain, where the risk of entrapment is high. Our results indicate that the hair sensor array can estimate ground speed and detect high-centering when running over simple geometric obstacles.
o-Nitrobenzenesulfonamides in Nucleoside Synthesis: Efficient 5‘-Aziridination of Adenosine

5‘-Aziridinoadenylates of the form 1 and a related nitrogen mustard variant have been constructed using a novel variation of the Mitsunobu reaction. Such molecules allow conversion of biological methyltransferases into nucleoside transferases, thus providing powerful tools for investigating S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent methylation. We present here a highly effective synthesis of such molecules that is amenable to aziridine diversification as well as elaboration of the base moiety so as to afford “bumped” cofactor mimics compatible with “hole”-bearing mutant proteins.
VEGFR1-activity-independent metastasis formation

Molecules such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or placental growth factor-critical regulators of tumour angiogenesis-are also thought to mobilize into blood circulation bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs), which may subsequently be recruited to tumours and facilitate tumour growth and metastasis. A study has suggested that BMDCs form 'metastatic niches' in lungs before arrival of cancer cells, and showed that pharmacological inhibition of VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1, also known as Flt1)-cognate receptor for VEGF and placental growth factor-prevented BMDC infiltration in lungs and 'metastatic niche' formation. Here we report that blockade of VEGFR1 activity does not affect the rate of spontaneous metastasis formation in a clinically relevant and widely used preclinical model. Therefore, alternative pathways probably mediate the priming of tissues for metastasis.
Exploring the present challenges of the associate degree in nursing program director role: Part II

This study explores the unique work life and challenges in the role of the associate degree in nursing program director. Directors in this study reported how faculty issues and workload issues are primary challenges to their role. If these challenges remain unaddressed, difficulty in retaining current seasoned directors and recruiting future leaders into this role will continue.
Finite-Element Simulation of Ductile Fracture in Reduced Section Pull-Plates Using Micromechanics-Based Fracture Models

Micromechanics-based models that capture interactions of stress and strain provide accurate criteria to predict ductile fracture in finite-element simulations of structural steel components. Two such models—the void growth model and the stress modified critical strain model are applied to a series of twelve pull-plate tests that represent reduced (or net) section conditions in bolted and reduced beam section connections. Two steel varieties, A572 Grade 50 and a high-performance Grade 70 bridge steel are investigated. The models are observed to predict fracture much more accurately than basic longitudinal strain criteria, by capturing stress–strain interactions that lead to fracture. The flat stress and strain gradients in these pull plates allow the use of relatively coarse finite-element meshes providing economy of computation while capturing fundamental material behavior and offering insights into localized ductile fracture effects.
Automatic Clustering of Grid Nodes

In a grid-computing environment, resource selection and scheduling depend on the network topology connecting the computation nodes. This paper presents a method to hierarchically group compute nodes distributed across the Internet into logical clusters, and determine the relative location of the clusters. At inter-domain level, distance from landmarks (a small group of distributed reference nodes) is the basis for converting the location of nodes inside a complex network structure onto a simple geometric space. The position of compute nodes in this geometric space is the basis for partitioning nodes into clusters. For compute nodes within an administrative domain, minimum RTT is used as the metric to partition nodes into clusters. This approach leads to an efficient, scalable and portable method of clustering grid nodes and building a distance map among clusters. We demonstrate the system for automatic clustering by applying it to computation nodes distributed across five universities in Texas.