cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using an Android application to assess registration strategies in open hepatic procedures: a planning and simulation tool

Sparse surface digitization with an optically tracked stylus for use in an organ surface-based image-to-physical registration is an established approach for image-guided open liver surgery procedures. However, variability in sparse data collections during open hepatic procedures can produce disparity in registration alignments. In part, this variability arises from inconsistencies with the patterns and fidelity of collected intraoperative data. The liver lacks distinct landmarks and experiences considerable soft tissue deformation. Furthermore, data coverage of the organ is often incomplete or unevenly distributed. While more robust feature-based registration methodologies have been developed for image-guided liver surgery, it is still unclear how variation in sparse intraoperative data affects registration. In this work, we have developed an application to allow surgeons to study the performance of surface digitization patterns on registration. Given the intrinsic nature of soft-tissue, we incorporate realistic organ deformation when assessing fidelity of a rigid registration methodology. We report the construction of our application and preliminary registration results using four participants. Our preliminary results indicate that registration quality improves as users acquire more experience selecting patterns of sparse intraoperative surface data.
"Country-of-Origin, Government- and Consumer-Based Advantage & Disadvantage of Foreignness, and FDI"

We analyze how a firm’s country of origin affects its investments abroad. Integrating the resource-based view and the country-of-origin literature to view the country of origin as a resource, we ex...
Spontaneous Droplet Motion on a Periodically Compliant Substrate

Droplet motion arises in many natural phenomena, ranging from the familiar gravity-driven slip and arrest of raindrops on windows to the directed transport of droplets for water harvesting by plants and animals under dry conditions. Deliberate transportation and manipulation of droplets are also important in many technological applications, including droplet-based microfluidic chemical reactors and for thermal management. Droplet motion usually requires gradients of surface energy or temperature or external vibration to overcome contact angle hysteresis. Here, we report a new phenomenon in which a drying droplet placed on a periodically compliant surface undergoes spontaneous, erratic motion in the absence of surface energy gradients and external stimuli such as vibration. By modeling the droplet as a mass-spring system on a substrate with periodically varying compliance, we show that the stability of equilibrium depends on the size of the droplet. Specifically, if the center of mass of the drop lies at a...
Sustained Release of Transforming Growth Factor-β1 from Platelet-Rich Chondroitin Sulfate Glycosaminoglycan Gels.

Activated platelet-rich plasma (PRP), also referred to as platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), has been used to augment numerous techniques of cartilage repair in the knee but does not always result in superior quality of repair tissue. One possible reason that PRF does not consistently result in excellent cartilage regeneration is the transiency of growth factor provision with PRF. The objective of this study was to compare the release of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 from PRF and from PRP combined with a novel chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan (CS-GAG) gel. PRP was prepared from nine healthy dogs and split into two aliquots: one activated with bovine thrombin and calcium chloride (CaCl2) to form PRF and the other aliquot was used to rehydrate a lyophilized CS-GAG gel. Both PRF and the CS-GAG gels were incubated in media for 13 days and media were collected, stored, and replaced every 48 hours and the concentration of TGF-β1 quantified in the media using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Concentrations of TGF-β1 in the media were up to three times greater with the CS-GAG gels and were significantly (p
Extending the Operating Wavelength of Type-I InAs Quantum Well Lasers on InP

I will discuss our recent work on type-I InAs quantum well lasers grown on InAsP/InP buffers with room-temperature operation at 2.76 µm. Efforts to extend the wavelength beyond 3.0 µm will also be described.
Mixed Chlamydia trachomatis Peptide Antigens Provide a Specific and Sensitive Single-Well Colorimetric Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Human Anti-C. trachomatis Antibodies.

ABSTRACT Sensitive and specific detection of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies in standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) is compromised by cross-reactivity and poor sensitivity of classical C. trachomatis antigens. Previously, we discovered 48 strongly reactive peptide antigens of C. trachomatis-specific B-cell epitopes from 21 immunodominant proteins. By comprehensive individual testing of 11 top-ranked peptide antigens, we found very high sensitivity and specificity for detection of anti-C. trachomatis antibodies in chemiluminescent ELISAs. The current study established a labor-saving colorimetric ELISA by using a mixture of 12 strongly reactive C. trachomatis peptide antigens (Ctr Mix1) in a single well/serum rather than assaying reactivity to each individual peptide. For performance evaluation, we used a simulated population of 212 anti-C. trachomatis antibody-positive and -negative sera from 125 women with NAAT-confirmed active C. trachomatis infection and from 87 healthy women at low risk for C. trachomatis infection. In comparison to a composite reference standard (CRS) for anti-C. trachomatis antibody status, the Ctr Mix1 IgG ELISA achieved 93.9% sensitivity, significantly superior to the 49% to 79% sensitivities of four commercial anti-C. trachomatis IgG ELISAs, and 98% specificity of all tested assays. Compared to the labor-intensive individual peptide testing, this mixed peptide ELISA retained high specificity with only marginal, ∼5% sensitivity loss. By ROC-AUC, likelihood ratio, and predictive value analyses, the Ctr Mix1 ELISA performed satisfactorily at 10% to 75% prevalence range of anti-C. trachomatis antibodies but significantly better than commercial ELISAs. Thus, the labor-saving mixed peptide colorimetric ELISA format provides simultaneously high specificity and sensitivity for detection of anti-C. trachomatis antibodies. IMPORTANCE For detection of anti-C. trachomatis antibodies by serological assays, use of classical chlamydial antigens results in high cross-reactivity and poor sensitivity. Previously, we discovered 48 strongly reactive peptide antigens of C. trachomatis-specific B-cell epitopes from 21 immunodominant proteins, and individual testing and combined scoring of 5 to 11 peptide antigens provided highly sensitive and specific detection of anti-C. trachomatis antibodies in chemiluminescent ELISAs. To simplify this method, this study established a single-well labor-saving colorimetric ELISA using a mixture of 12 strongly reactive C. trachomatis peptide antigens (Ctr Mix1) for detection of anti-C. trachomatis antibodies. This Ctr Mix1 ELISA (94% sensitivity and 98% specificity) outperformed 4 commercial ELISAs (49% to 79% sensitivity and 98% specificity). This ELISA can be easily implemented and commercialized, with convenient setup for use in nonspecialized laboratories. Thus, this mixed peptide assay with superior specificity and sensitivity will improve serodiagnosis of C. trachomatis infections.
The Role of Sleep in the Control of Feeding Behavior

Abstract There is a consistent epidemiological association between short sleep duration and obesity. It is increasingly clear from intervention studies that restricting sleep increases food intake. However, the control mechanisms of food intake that are disturbed by sleep duration remain somewhat unknown. There are some data supporting a homeostatic mechanism implicating alterations in ghrelin and leptin concentrations, but there are also data supporting changes in hedonistic controls of food intake. This chapter focuses on the latter and examines the state of science relating sleep duration to changes in food appeal and food choice. Food stimuli seem to elicit greater neuronal reactivity in reward and pleasure centers of the brain under conditions of sleep restriction, which could lead to poor food choices, overeating, and weight gain over time. The effects of sleep duration on food intake are clearly complex, and more research is necessary to disentangle the roles of the environment and biology.
Historical Thinking and Sports History: A Case Study Using the Brooklyn Dodgers

This article discusses how the history of sports can serve as way to understand abstract concepts associated with local history and social studies education. An introductory discussion outlines how...
The Expressive Triad: Structure, Color, and Texture Similarity of Emotion Expressions Predict Impressions of Neutral Faces.

Previous research has demonstrated how emotion resembling cues in the face help shape impression formation (i.e., emotion overgeneralization). Perhaps most notable in the literature to date, has been work suggesting that gender-related appearance cues are visually confounded with certain stereotypic expressive cues (see Adams, Hess, & Kleck, 2015 for review). Only a couple studies to date have used computer vision to directly map out and test facial structural resemblance to emotion expressions using facial landmark coordinates to estimate face shape. In one study using a Bayesian network classifier trained to detect emotional expressions structural resemblance to a specific expression on a non-expressive (i.e., neutral) face was found to influence trait impressions of others (Said et al., 2009). In another study, a connectionist model trained to detect emotional expressions found different emotion-resembling cues in male versus female faces (Zebrowitz et al., 2010). Despite this seminal work, direct evidence confirming the theoretical assertion that humans likewise utilize these emotion-resembling cues when forming impressions has been lacking. Across four studies, we replicate and extend these prior findings using new advances in computer vision to examine gender-related, emotion-resembling structure, color, and texture (as well as their weighted combination) and their impact on gender-stereotypic impression formation. We show that all three (plus their combination) are meaningfully related to human impressions of emotionally neutral faces. Further when applying the computer vision algorithms to experimentally manipulate faces, we show that humans derive similar impressions from them as did the computer.
Measuring social-communication difficulties in school-age siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder: Standardized versus naturalistic assessment.

Younger siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; high-risk siblings) are at elevated risk for developing the broader autism phenotype (BAP), which consists of subclinical features of ASD. We examined conversational skills in a naturalistic context and standardized assessments of pragmatic language and communication skills in high-risk and low-risk school-age children with BAP (n = 22) and ASD (n = 18) outcomes, as well as comparison children without ASD or BAP (n = 135). Children with BAP characteristics exhibited lower conversational skills than comparison children, but did not differ on any of three standardized measures. Only the conversational ratings significantly predicted membership in the BAP versus Comparison group. This suggests that naturalistic tasks are crucial when assessing social-communication difficulties in children with a family history of ASD. LAY SUMMARY: The broader autism phenotype (BAP) consists of subclinical features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is more common among family members of those with ASD. School-age children with BAP characteristics exhibited lower conversational skills than comparison children, but did not differ on standardized language measures tapping similar abilities. This suggests that naturalistic tasks may be more sensitive to the social-communication difficulties seen in some children with a family history of ASD than the standardized language tests used in most evaluations.
Asymmetric heterostructure design considerations for high-power laser

An asymmetric heterostructure diode laser with high wallplug efficiency is proposed. Investigation of quasi-Fermi level variation shows the importance of eliminating relevant band offsets.
Quality of simple reaction time and the psychological refractory period.

Abstract Twenty-four male subjects were used to study effects upon successive hand reaction times when the interval between paired visual stimuli was manipulated over the range 50 to 1,000 mseconds. Subjects were divided into fast and slow groups on the basis of well-practiced simple reaction time measures. Results indicated that both simple reaction time and initial paired response reaction time were unrelated to delays in the second response due to the psychological refractory period. It was suggested that a serious reappraisal of the single channel response system theory merits consideration and that ability to execute fast, consecutive paired responses may represent a new component in motor skills.
At the Crossroads: Saudi Arabia's Dilemmas

In the course of the last decade it has become clear that events have gone wrong in Saudi Arabia. A deep intra-societal struggle cuts across all formative institutions of the country and the house of Al Saud is at pains to address its profound crisis of legitimacy and performance, the overwhelming crisis of identity associated with modernity, the internal and external pressures for socio-economic reforms, and the complex and multi-faceted phenomenon of religious extrem ism. This article examines the formidable challenge of addressing frustrated popular expectations, and reforming the state's religious institutions and rigid politico-ideological agenda without alienating the substantial conservative constituency on which the monarchy's legitimacy depends. It also traces the historical and the ideological roots of international and local jihadism as well as the evolution of Wahhabism from a retrograde but status quo -oriented philosophy into a radical ideology prone to violence and terrorism.
Characterization and Analysis of Biopharmaceutical Proteins

Abstract Appropriate and complete analysis and characterization of biopharmaceutical proteins are important to the control of their safety, purity, potency, stability, and overall quality. This chapter reviews the methodologies that are used to characterize important attributes of biopharmaceutical proteins. The methods used to characterize the primary and higher-order structures are discussed, including techniques to determine protein sequence, posttranslational modifications, folding, and aggregation. Aberrant results for those attributes may raise quality issues. Methods for protein concentration are described, including amino acid analysis, intrinsic protein absorbance, and colorimetric methods. This is followed by the determination of impurities, both product-related and process-related, which may compromise the safety of the protein therapeutics. Various assays, including bioassays and non-cell based binding assays for determining the functional activity of proteins, which may be indicative of potency, are described in this chapter.
Estimates of Ω Based on Motions Within the Local Supercluster

Three ways to estimate Ω from the motions of nearby galaxies are reviewed: (i) comparisons can be made between observed local streaming motions and observed density fluctuations, (ii) a timing argument can give a value of f(Ω) = to Ho, and (iii) the motions in groups provide solid evidence regarding the amount of matter that is distributed like galaxies on a scale of 0.5 Mpc. In each case, the evidence suggests the Universe is open, but only by a factor of 3–5 and, given the uncertainties, a closed Universe definitely is not precluded.
A stochastic graph evolution framework for robust multi-target tracking

Maintaining the stability of tracks on multiple targets in video over extended time periods remains a challenging problem. A few methods which have recently shown encouraging results in this direction rely on learning context models or the availability of training data. However, this may not be feasible in many application scenarios. Moreover, tracking methods should be able to work across different scenarios (e.g. multiple resolutions of the video) making such context models hard to obtain. In this paper, we consider the problem of long-term tracking in video in application domains where context information is not available a priori, nor can it be learned online. We build our solution on the hypothesis that most existing trackers can obtain reasonable short-term tracks (tracklets). By analyzing the statistical properties of these tracklets, we develop associations between them so as to come up with longer tracks. This is achieved through a stochastic graph evolution step that considers the statistical properties of individual tracklets, as well as the statistics of the targets along each proposed long-term track. On multiple real-life video sequences spanning low and high resolution data, we show the ability to accurately track over extended time periods (results are shown on many minutes of continuous video).
Battle of Seattle

In the “Battle of Seattle” tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of that city to oppose the “Millennium Round” of trade talks of the World Trade Organization (WTO) starting November 30, 1999. The talks ended in failure partly because of the protests, but largely because of opposition within the meetings from governments opposed to backroom deals made between the United States, Canada, the European Union, and Japan (Smith 2002: 208). Keywords: civil disobedience; democracy; Social Movements and Social Change; International Trade; globalization
Public health vs. civil liberties

Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September, a Model State Emergency Health Powers Act was drafted to help legislatures update t heir legal infrastructure to deal with potential bioterrorist acts. A fierce debate ensued over provisions in the act that would lim it privacy, civil liberties and property rights. This debate, involving groups of varying p olitical and ideological viewpoints, thr ew into relief the enduring tension between the responsibility of the state to guard the public health and the need to protect indiv idual rights and freedoms.
Computer-Extended Series in Fluid Mechanics

A still unconventional use of the computer in fluid mechanics is to extend a regular perturbation series to high order. Using even a desk computer, one can calculate dozens of terms for a nonlinear partial differential equation, and hundreds of terms for a linear one. However, the result is ordinarily so limited that it needs improvement. A second step is therefore to analyze the coefficients to unveil the analytic structure of the solution in the complex plane of the perturbation quantity. On that basis, one can undertake the third step of applying a variety of devices for extending and improving the convergence. This three-step process will be discussed and illustrated by examples from various branches of fluid mechanics.
Analyzing salt-marsh fungal diversity: comparing ARISA fingerprinting with clone sequencing and pyrosequencing

Abstract In a previous study from our laboratory we used automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) to assess salt-marsh fungal diversity ( Torzilli et al. 2006 ). The results demonstrated that different salt-marsh plants harbor distinct fungal communities, thereby supporting the hypothesis that substratum type is an important factor in determining fungal community composition. However, ARISA of several pure cultures of salt-marsh fungi indicated that an operational taxonomic unit (OUT) in an ARISA community profile may represent more than one taxon. To assess the extent to which such ambiguity might have affected the interpretation of our ARISA fingerprinting, we have now fingerprinted and sequenced clones derived from the same fungal DNA used for our ARISA community profiles. Results from this confirmed that an ARISA OTU may represent multiple taxa and that a given taxon may be represented by more than one OTU. Nonetheless, sequencing still confirmed the importance of substratum in determining community composition, and indicated that despite ambiguities associated with OTU's, ARISA may be used to provide a quick snapshot of diversity which can be further refined using sequencing methods. In addition, we compared the fungal diversity from short-form Spartina alterniflora as revealed by clone sequencing with that obtained from pyrosequencing, which avoids the cloning biases of traditional sequencing, and provide greatly expanded depth of coverage. Pyrosequencing significantly enhanced the characterization of fungal diversity compared to traditional clone sequencing.
Unity of Subject Matter in the Teaching of Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

In teaching intermediate microeconomic theory, emphasis should be placed on the presentation of individual elements as part of a unifying general equilibrium model. The author outlines such a model.
Consensus standards for unmanned systems: ASTM International Committees F38 and F41

This paper will highlight the standardization work product (to date) developed by Committees F38 and F41, with specific focus on the electronic tools employed during the development process and the impact of the standards activity upon the UAV and UUV industries. Sub-topics will include the scope and structure of the committees, the status of new and existing work items, and the process by which ASTM International standards are developed.
Body Objectification, Social Pressure, and Disordered Eating Behavior in College Women: The Role of Sorority Membership

Social pressure to conform to the thin ideal is believed to play a decisive role in the development of eating disorders. In this field study at a college with only sophomore rush, 99 sorority women...
Bound by Competing Agendas: A Comment on Patchen Markell's Bound by Recognition

Patchen Markell's book, Bound by Recognition' is an astute analysis of the shortcomings of the literature on recognition, in particular of the "glance of affirmation" which appears to freeze the subject of recognition forever into a statue representing one moment, one dimension, one appearance, and one set of concerns and needs. Markell points to the inevitable tension of this glance: it is nearly impossible to recognize someone in their finitude, the dynamical and ever-changing texture of their concerns and needs which are inextricably bound up with the deceptively eternal moment of recognition. Markell's solution is to think about a much less normatively laden category by which to address the problems of identity and recognition: he suggests that we think of identity and the needs of various subjects and populations through the category of acknowledgement. There are four features of acknowledgement: Acknowledgment consists in 1) marking something about the self (and not the other, as in recognition) (35); 2) marking the limits of one's ontological circumstances/identity as a ground of action, limits which arise out of our constitutive vulnerability (36); 3) practical finitude: vulnerability, contingency (37); and 4) coming to terms with the contingencies of life-conflict, hostility, misunderstanding, alienation, opacity (38). In so asking for a shift from recognition to acknowledgment, Markell correspondingly asks for a shift in the
Crystal Structure of a Silyl Cation with No Coordination to Anion and Distant Coordination to Solvent

The crystal structure of a stable silyl cation, triethylsilylium, in the form of its tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl)borate salt [Et(3)Si(+) (C(6)F(5))(4)B(-)] (Et, ethyl) shows no coordination between cation and anion. The closest silicon-fluorine distance is greater than 4 angstroms. A toluene solvent molecule is close enough to cause some deviations from planarity at the silicon, but the silicon-toluene distance is well beyond the sum of the silicon and carbon covalent radii. The toluene molecule is essentially planar and undistorted, as expected if little or no positive charge has been transferred from silicon to toluene.
Reversal of Erosion Cycle and Climatic Change

Successive surveys of the cross section of ephemeral channels in New Mexico over a period of 15 years 1960–1975, show that arroyos that were actively eroding early in the century have reversed the trend and are alluviating. This appears to be associated with the worldwide cooling trend that began about 1940. If the inference proves to be correct, it is significant hydrologically, for it provides some specific knowledge of the climatic conditions associated with the alternate periods of valley erosion and valley alluviation that created the widespread terraces of the semiarid West.
Development of Craniofacial Orthodontics as a Subspecialty at New York University Medical Center

This is a brief personal history of craniofacial orthodontics as reported by Dr Joseph G. McCarthy, Professor of Plastic Surgery and Director of the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York. He describes early collaborations with research orthodontists who were, at the time, studying the development in patients experiencing severe anomalies of craniofacial growth. From these early collaborations came an appreciation for the role of orthodontists in the interdisciplinary treatment team that was caring for patients with complex craniofacial problems as well as those patients who presented with cleft lip and palate. Both the distraction osteogenesis of the craniofacial skeleton and nasoalveolar molding are clinical innovations that came forth from the close collaboration of surgeon and orthodontist at New York University Medical Center. The story of this collaboration is described with attention to clinical and laboratory research, multidisciplinary team practice, and the development of a Fellowship in Craniofacial Orthodontics. This short history of how a Fellowship in Craniofacial Orthodontics came about at the New York University Langone Medical Center is fitting in its now-timely relationship to the action of the American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics to recognize standards for fellowships in Craniofacial and Special Needs Orthodontics.
Head phantoms for transcranial focused ultrasound.

Purpose: In the ongoing endeavor of fine-tuning, the clinical application of transcranial MR-guided focused ultrasound (tcMRgFUS), ex-vivo studies wlkiith whole human skulls are of great use in improving the underlying technology guiding the accurate and precise thermal ablation of clinically relevant targets in the human skull. Described here are the designs, methods for fabrication, and notes on utility of three different ultrasound phantoms to be used for brain focused ultrasound research. Methods: Three different models of phantoms are developed and tested to be accurate, repeatable experimental options to provide means to further this research. The three models are a cadaver, a gel-filled skull, and a head mold containing a skull and filled with gel that mimics the brain and the skin. Each was positioned in a clinical tcMRgFUS system and sonicated at 1100 W (acoustic) for 12 s at different locations. Maximum temperature rise as measured by MR thermometry was recorded and compared against clinical data for a similar neurosurgical target. Results are presented as heating efficiency in units (°C/kW/s) for direct comparison to available clinical data. The procedure for casting thermal phantom material is presented. The utility of each phantom model is discussed in the context of various tcMRgFUS research areas. Results: The cadaveric phantom model, gel-filled skull model, and full head phantom model had heating efficiencies of 5.3, 4.0, and 3.9 °C/(kW/s), respectively, compared to a sample clinical heating efficiency of 2.6 °C/(kW/s). In the seven research categories considered, the cadaveric phantom model was the most versatile, though less practical compared to the ex-vivo skull-based phantoms. Conclusions: Casting thermal phantom material was shown to be an effective way to prepare tissue-mimicking material for the phantoms presented. The phantom models presented are all useful in tcMRgFUS research, though some are better suited to a limited subset of applications depending on the researchers needs.
Presynaptic and postsynaptic subcellular localization of substance P receptor immunoreactivity in the neostriatum of the rat and rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

The substance P receptor (SPR) gene is expressed at high levels in basal ganglia, but the paucity of information about localization of the encoded receptor protein has limited our understanding of this peptide's involvement in cellular and subcellular mechanisms in this region. Morphological evidence in the rodent striatum indicates that SPRs are expressed in postsynaptic neuronal elements, while pharmacological studies suggest the existence of presynaptic SPRs in this structure. We have examined the issue of subcellular distribution of this receptor protein in rat and primate neostriatal tissue, employing an antiserum raised against SPR. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that SPR immunoreactivity is present in presynaptic and postsynaptic neuronal elements in both species. In agreement with earlier studies, SPR immunoreactivity was found predominantly in perikarya and dendrites of a small subset of striatal neurons, the large and medium-sized aspiny interneurons. In addition, a small but significant proportion of the immunoreaction product was localized in presynaptic profiles, both in axons and axon terminals. The majority of SPR immunoreactive boutons formed asymmetric synapses with dendrites and dendritic spines. The association of SPRs with asymmetric synapses provides a morphological substrate for peptidergic modulation of excitatory neurotransmission of extrastriatal origin. A minor proportion of immunolabeled axons established symmetric synaptic junctions with unlabeled dendrites. The presence of SPRs in these synapses suggests a presynaptic peptidergic modulation of intrinsic striatal transmitter systems. The observations in this study also indicate that SPR mediates a complex combination of postsynaptic and presynaptic effects on acetylcholine release in the mammalian striatum. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials of antibiotic prophylaxis before percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

OBJECTIVES: We sought to review the published literature on the value of antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of wound infection that occurs after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. We also sought by meta-analysis to estimate the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing wound infection. METHODS: We performed a fully recursive literature search for randomized, controlled trials of antibiotic prophylaxis against wound infection occurring after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Relative and absolute risk reductions and the numbers needed to treat were derived for individual trials and pooled data. RESULTS: We identified seven trials, two of which did not find a statistically significant benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis. After pooling, antibiotic prophylaxis was found to reduce the relative and absolute risk of wound infection by 73% and 17.5%, respectively. The number needed to treat to prevent one wound infection was 5.7 (95% confidence interval = 4.4-8.0). CONCLUSION: A single intravenous dose of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, given approximately 30 min before percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is effective in reducing the incidence of peristomal wound infections.
A New Instrument for Surgical Creation of an Atrial Septal Defect

Abstract An instrument for surgical creation of an atrial septal defect (ASD) was designed and tested in puppies weighing an average of 4.7 kg. Oxygen saturations were obtained in both atria, the superior vena cava, and the inferior vena cava before and after septectomy. The instrument has a cutting cylinder introduced into the right atrium (RA) through the right atrial appendage with a second part (baseplate) inserted into the left atrium (LA) just posterior to the interatrial groove. In 21 animals (Group 1), a single hole was created in dogs killed 48 hours later. In 9 animals (Group 2), an attempt was made to create two adjoining holes. In 14 animals (Group 3), a single hole was created and the dogs were allowed to triple their body weight before they were killed. Group 1 dogs demonstrated a 10% increase in average venae cavae—RA oxygen saturation immediately after septectomy and a 9.4 ± 0.37 mm diameter of the ASD at death; in Group 2, there was a 14% average step-up and a 12.7 ± 0.6 mm diameter of the ASD; and in Group 3, the diameter of the ASD was 11.5 ± 0.4 mm, representing a 50% increase in average area with dog growth compared with that of Group 1. After this experience in the production of ASDs in 44 experimental animals, we find that this instrument seems to be reliable, simple, and safe.
Prolactin-like antithyroid action of pituitary grafts in tadpoles

Abstract We have shown previously that ovine prolactin inhibits amphibian metamorphosis. In the present experiments we investigated the possibility that grafted pituitaries produce sufficient amounts of prolactin to inhibit metamorphosis. Pituitary transplants placed in the tail fin of normal hosts in prometamorphosis retarded tail resorption especially in the vicinity of the transplant, but the transplants placed under the jaw just before climax of the host inhibited tail resorption more successfully. It is concluded that pituitary of the tadpole is capable of secreting prolactin at levels required to influence the metamorphic process, acting in part, directly on the tissues.
Seasonal variations in circadian levels of serum prolactin in striped mullet, Mugil cephalus

Abstract Plasma concentrations of prolactin were estimated by radioimmunoassay throughout a day at three seasons of the year (summer, fall, and winter) in the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus. Daily rhythms were found at each season. In addition, the patterns of the rhythms with respect to the daily photoperiod differed from one another. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that a seasonal change in the daily rhythm of prolactin has an important role in regulating the seasonal changes in physiology of some animals.
Reactive Processing of a ZrB2/ZrC/Zr–Si Ceramic Composite with a Controlled Oxygen Potential

A Zr–Si liquid reacted with B4C in a graphite enclosure was configured to control the oxygen potential (10−45 kPa) to form a ZrB2 / ZrC / Zr – Si ceramic composite. The graphite enclosure was placed in a temperature gradient with the hot zone at >2133 K to react Zr – Si with B4C and with the opposite end approximating 933–1000 K at the position of an aluminum melt. A ZrB2 / ZrC / Zr – Si composite forms with the scanning-electron microscope (SEM), microstructures showing rectangular ZrB2 precipitates and hexagonally shaped ZrC precipitates embedded in a Zr – Si matrix.
Future directions of meteorology related to air-quality research.

Abstract Meteorology is one of the major factors contributing to air-pollution episodes. More accurate representation of meteorological fields has been possible in recent years through the use of remote sensing systems, high-speed computers and fine-mesh meteorological models. Over the next 5–20 years, better meteorological inputs for air quality studies will depend on making better use of a wealth of new remotely sensed observations in more advanced data assimilation systems. However, for fine mesh models to be successful, parameterizations used to represent physical processes must be redesigned to be more precise and better adapted for the scales at which they will be applied. Candidates for significant overhaul include schemes to represent turbulence, deep convection, shallow clouds, and land-surface processes. Improvements in the meteorological observing systems, data assimilation and modeling, coupled with advancements in air-chemistry modeling, will soon lead to operational forecasting of air quality in the US. Predictive capabilities can be expected to grow rapidly over the next decade. This will open the way for a number of valuable new services and strategies, including better warnings of unhealthy atmospheric conditions, event-dependent emissions restrictions, and nowcasting support for homeland security in the event of toxic releases into the atmosphere.
Mode interactions in reaction-driven convection in a porous medium

Abstract Convective-mode interaction occurring in reaction-driven convection in a porous medium is analyzed using local bifurcation theory. The system considered is a porous medium in the shape of a rectangular box with nonflux boundary conditions at the side walls and the bottom. From linear stability analysis it is found that vertical mode 1 (with one roll in the vertical direction) was always the first to destabilize. Hence, mode interactions occurring among various horizontal modes and the first vertical mode are considered. Center manifold theory is used to derive formulae for evaluating the coefficients of the amplitude equations of the normal form for a double zero singularity, directly from the original system of PDEs. Three different kinds of bicritical points are considered. For the case of interaction between mode 1 and mode 2 solutions, pure mode 1 solution does not exist and the presence of a secondary Hopf bifurcation and hence, oscillatory convection is predicted. From the simple zero and limit point interaction, it is shown that when the convective solution branches from the middle (unstable) conduction branch, a secondary Hopf bifurcation point exists on the convective branch leading to stable oscillatory convective solutions. Similar analysis done for mode 2 and mode 3 interaction shows that three types of solutions, pure mode 2, pure mode 3 along with a mixed mode 2 3 solution exist. These results indicate that mode interactions occurring in reaction-driven convection are profoundly different from those in Lapwood or Benard convection. A simple lower-dimensional, discretized version of the original model was developed and shown to have the same local behavior as the infinite-dimensional model. Finally, global bifurcation diagrams were calculated for the full system of equations using the orthogonal collocation method. It was found that even though the collocation method breaks the symmetry present in the problem, spurious solutions can be avoided by taking enough terms in the direction where symmetry is present.
Effective treatment of severe cancer pain of the head using low-dose ketamine in an opioid-tolerant patient

We report the case of a 39-year-old man with severe pain due to unresectable squamous-cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus that had invaded cranial bone and had metastasized to the cervical spine. Tolerance to opioids had developed, and high doses of transdermal, continuous intravenous, and epidural opioids did not control his pain. An acute episode of extremely severe head pain was immediately controlled with a subanesthetic dose of ketamine after failure of a stress dose of corticosteroid and intravenous lidocaine. Because the patient was terminally ill and invasive procedures were not options, we controlled his pain using a low-dose ketamine infusion until his death 13 days later. Ketamine may be a good co-analgesic for breakthrough pain and for severe pain caused by terminal cancer when invasive techniques are inappropriate. Its mechanism of action may include reversal of opioid tolerance in addition to an inherent analgesic effect.
A Grain Boundary Defect in Polycrystalline Films

Our studies primarily concern an S=1/2 electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at g=2.0028 with a pair of weaker partially resolved satellites that has been observed in polycrystalline diamond grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). These satellites can be shown to result from the forbidden Δm=±l nuclear spin flips of hydrogen during the EPR ΔM∼ 2A away from the unpaired electron spin. It is suggested that hydrogen enters a vacancy-like stretched bond at a grain boundary, allowing the carbons to relax backward, one bonding to the hydrogen, the other with an unpaired electron in its dangling bond.
The Effect of Lysozyme and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid on Salmonella on Broiler Parts

Abstract A dip system, consisting of lysozyme (1 mg/ml) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (5 mg/ml), was studied to determine its effect on Salmonella-contaminated broiler parts. Enumeration of S. typhimurium from the broiler parts showed that both lysozyme and a lysozyme-EDTA mixture gave a significant reduction in the number of viable organisms. In a trypticase-soy broth solution, Salmonella growth was inhibited by EDTA while lysozyme showed little effect.
Regional landslide evaluation: Two Utah examples

Landslide-susceptibility evaluations based on bedrock units, slope inclination, and aspect (slope orientation) incorporate the lithologic, stratigraphic, structural, and topographic passive conditions contributing to landsliding as outlined by Sharpe (1938). Generalized results based on passive condition analyses may define potential for failure over entire states or large parts of states, establishing an approximate landslide susceptibility for specific areas that are still in need of detailed study. This provides a preliminary susceptibility for use in land management and identifies high-priority areas for future detailed investigations.
Autoimmunity: Alopecia Areata

Strong direct and indirect evidence supports an autoimmune etiology for alopecia areata. T lymphocytes that have been shown to be oligoclonal and autoreactive are predominantly present in the peribulbar inflammatory infiltrate. Alopecia areata frequently occurs in association with other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroiditis and vitiligo, and autoantibodies to follicular components have been detected. Finally, the use of immune modulating drugs, including corticosteroids and contact sensitizers such as dyphencyprone, can be beneficial in the management of this disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that alopecia areata scalp skin grafted onto nude mice with severe combined immunodeficiency grow hair and that infiltrating lymphocytes in the graft are lost. It is now also possible to induce alopecia areata in human scalp explants on these mice by injecting T lymphocytes with scalp homogenate. Neuropeptides produced by cutaneous nerves are known to modify immune reactivity and, in all likelihood, affect the alopecia areata process. Future studies may show that modulation of neuropeptide expression is associated with hair regrowth. Likewise, testing the efficacy of the newly developed immunomodulatory agents in patients with alopecia areata may lead to the introduction of novel therapies for this immune-mediated disease of the hair follicle.
The enhancement of PCR amplification of a random sequence DNA library by DMSO and betaine: application to in vitro combinatorial selection of aptamers

A PCR method for uniform amplification of a random sequence DNA library is described. A combination of 1 M betaine and 5% DMSO improves the PCR amplification by increasing the ratio of full-length products to shortened products, which are a consequence of nonuniform amplification due to stable secondary structures in the templates. This method is expected to be beneficial for obtaining high-affinity aptamers with stable secondary structures.
Three distinct global estimates of historical land-cover change and land-use conversions for over 200 years

Earth’s land cover has been extensively transformed over time due to both human activities and natural causes. Previous global studies have focused on developing spatial and temporal patterns of dominant human land-use activities (e.g., cropland, pastureland, urban land, wood harvest). Process-based modeling studies adopt different strategies to estimate the changes in land cover by using these land-use data sets in combination with a potential vegetation map, and subsequently use this information for impact assessments. However, due to unaccounted changes in land cover (resulting from both indirect anthropogenic and natural causes), heterogeneity in land-use/cover (LUC) conversions among grid cells, even for the same land use activity, and uncertainty associated with potential vegetation mapping and historical estimates of human land use result in land cover estimates that are substantially different compared to results acquired from remote sensing observations. Here, we present a method to implicitly account for the differences arising from these uncertainties in order to provide historical estimates of land cover that are consistent with satellite estimates for recent years. Due to uncertainty in historical agricultural land use, we use three widely accepted global estimates of cropland and pastureland in combination with common wood harvest and urban land data sets to generate three distinct estimates of historical land-cover change and underlying LUC conversions. Hence, these distinct historical reconstructions offer a wide range of plausible regional estimates of uncertainty and the extent to which different ecosystems have undergone changes. The annual land cover maps and LUC conversion maps are reported at 0.5°×0.5° resolution and describe the area of 28 landcover types and respective underlying land-use transitions. The reconstructed data sets are relevant for studies addressing the impact of land-cover change on biogeophysics, biogeochemistry, water cycle, and global climate.
Purification of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes by Selective Microwave Heating of Catalyst Particles

A new scalable method for purification of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by using microwave heating in air is developed. The microwaves couple to the residual metal catalyst, raising significantly the local temperature leading to both the oxidation and rupturing of the carbon passivation layer over the metal catalyst particles. With this protective carbon coating weakened or removed, a mild acid treatment is then sufficient to remove most of the metal in the sample, leaving the nanotubes in tact. Using microwave processing and 4 M HCl acid reflux for 6 h we were able to remove residual metal (Ni, Y) in arc-discharge SWNTs to a level lower than 0.2 wt % (∼0.04 at. %). Results from transmission and scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric studies were discussed.
Modeling the Manually Controlled Bicycle

A control-theoretic model of the bicycle rider is developed. The model has its origins in pilot modeling efforts previously reported in the literature. A handling-quality metric that was employed in pilot/vehicle analysis is adopted for use in estimating the task-independent handling qualities of bicycles. The resulting model is parameterized by five gains, two fixed second-order filters, and a preview time. Analysis and computer simulation of the rider/bicycle system are undertaken using six linear models of existing bicycles at three different velocities. The rider's task consisted of a 2-m lane-change maneuver and return. Lane tracking performance was comparable for all bicycles at each velocity. Distinct variations in estimated handling-quality levels were evident in the analysis that indicated that bicycle velocities, rather than differences in the bicycles themselves, dominated the handling-quality predictions. A brief discussion of a rider control model for hands-free riding and a possible approach for model identification concludes this paper.