cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How Cognitive Artifact Support of Acute Care Distributed Cognition Affects Patient Safety

Demands for acute care are uncertain and change frequently, while resources to meet them are constrained and subject to production pressure. To manage this conflict, the anesthesiology coordinator makes continual assessments and tradeoffs between and among patients and work groups. The complexity and uncertainty of the acute environment requires the creation and use of common artifacts such as display boards, lists, and worksheets that are part of the distributed cognition. We describe a project in which ethnographic methods reveal the strategies, shown in schemata analyses, that anesthesia coordinators use to develop schedules. Such research promises to benefit the evolution of medical informatics, which is the software and computing systems that support the organization, management and use of health care information. Experience shows that digital replicas of physical cognitive artifacts are often blind to the needs of those who are expected to use them. The resulting effects of this clumsy automation can impede staff performance rather than improve it. The research approach described here will assist in understanding the traits of acute care technical work and successful physical artifacts, which promises to improve medical informatics. Better digital cognitive artifacts will benefit work processes, including planning, communications and resource management and thereby benefit patient safety.
Bilingual and Home Language Interventions With Young Dual Language Learners: A Research Synthesis

Purpose The purpose of this systematic review was to determine what bilingual or home language interventions have been found to be effective for 2- to 6-year-old dual language learners who have lan...
SIRIUS-T, an Advanced Tritium Production Facility Utilizing Symmetrically Illuminated Inertial Confinement Fusion

SIRIUS-T is a study of an advanced tritium production facility which utilizes direct drive symmetric illumination inertial confinement fusion provided by a KrF laser. Symmetrically illuminated reac...
Systemically administered collagen-targeted gold nanoparticles bind to arterial injury following vascular interventions

Abstract Surgical and endovascular therapies for severe atherosclerosis often fail due to the development of neointimal hyperplasia and arterial restenosis. Our objective was to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate the targeting specificity and biocompatibility of a novel systemically injected nanoparticle. We hypothesize that surface‐functionalization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with a collagen‐targeting peptide will be biocompatible and target specifically to vascular injury. 13 nm AuNPs were surface functionalized with a peptide‐molecular fluorophore and targeted to collagen (T‐AuNP) or a scrambled peptide sequence (S‐AuNP). After rat carotid artery balloon injury and systemic injection of T‐AuNP or S‐AuNP, arteries and organs were harvested and assessed for binding specificity and biocompatibility. The T‐AuNP bound with specificity to vascular injury for a minimum of 24 h. No significant inflammation was evident locally at arterial injury or systemically in major organs. The T‐AuNP did not impact endothelial cell viability or induce apoptosis at the site of injury in vivo. No major changes were evident in hepatic or renal blood chemistry profiles. Herein, we synthesized a biocompatible nanoparticle that targets to vascular injury following systemic administration. These studies demonstrate proof‐of‐principle and serve as the foundation for further T‐AuNP optimization to realize systemic, targeted delivery of therapeutics to the sites of vascular injury.
Promoting Patriarchy or Dual Equality? Multiculturalism and the Immigrant Household Division of Labor

ABSTRACTIn this article, we provide the first empirical analysis of the relationship between multicultural immigration policy and gender inequality within immigrant communities. A fierce sociological debate pits those who identify multiculturalism as a key obstacle to gender equality among immigrant families against those who believe multiculturalism and gender egalitarianism are “dual-equality projects.” At the core of this debate are differences over the extent to which multiculturalism impedes or promotes the transmission of gender egalitarianism from host societies to immigrant communities. To adjudicate between these two perspectives, we examine whether microfoundations of the household division of labor—relative resources, time availability, and gender ideology—reduce the share of women’s labor to a greater or lesser degree in multicultural countries. We find multiculturalism increases the egalitarian effects of microfoundations among immigrant households. Both symbolic and material forms of multicu...
Early American Joint-Stock Investors and Their Challenges Investing in a Physical Structure: The Case of Boston’s Long Wharf, 1710-1825

This paper examines the case of Boston’s Long Wharf, a joint-stock company locally chartered in 1710, in order to gain insight into the significant internal and external challenges early American investors faced when their investment was in a physical structure. These challenges that were addressed by the shareholders, who were referred to as the proprietors, are examined over a period of 115 years from the points of the wharf’s construction to its diminution. An analysis of the company’s various records shows that the more serious challenges for the proprietors were seen in building the wharf itself, trying to prevent avoidable damage, addressing maintenance needs, surviving the economic consequences of the American Revolution and the War of 1812, and adjusting to Boston’s physical and commercial growth. The paper concludes that the proprietors did an admirable job in addressing the major challenges of their time and produced results that kept the wharf active economically for the long term.
On LDPC decoding with natural redundancy

Big-data storage has substantial challenges due to accumulative noise in storage media. To ensure its long-term reliability, new techniques for error correction are being explored. This paper studies how to discover natural redundancy in data and use it for error correction. It explores the combination of natural redundancy decoding with low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes for enhanced error-correction performance. It derives analytical equations for the density evolution of LDPC decoding given information from natural-redundancy decoders. It proposes a theoretical model for compressed languages, and studies the performance of iterative decoding between the LDPC decoder and the natural-redundancy decoder. It also presents an upper bound to the code sizes of error-correcting codes given the assistance from natural-redundancy decoders.
Ultrashort-Pulse LIBS for Detecting Airborne Metal Particles from Energetic Material Reactions

Ultrashort-pulse, femtosecond-duration laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (fs-LIBS), has been demonstrated for enhanced detection of metal particles such as Al, Pb, Cu, and Hg, released to the gas phase during energetic material reactions.
Bilirubin binding in jaundiced newborns: from bench to bedside?

Background: Bilirubin-induced neurologic dysfunction (BIND) is a spectrum of preventable neurological sequelae in jaundiced newborns. Current total plasma bilirubin (BT) concentration thresholds for phototherapy and/or exchange transfusion poorly predict BIND. Methods: The unbound (free) bilirubin (Bf) measured at these BT thresholds provides additional information about the risk for BIND. Bf can be readily adapted to clinical use by determining Bf population parameters at current BT thresholds. These parameters can be established using a plasma bilirubin binding panel (BBP) consisting of BT, Bf, and two empiric constants, the maximum BT (BTmax) and the corresponding equilibrium association bilirubin constant (K). Results: BTmax and K provide the variables needed to accurately estimate Bf at BT < BTmax to obtain Bf at threshold BT in patient samples. Once Bf population parameters are known, the BBP in a newborn can be used to identify poor bilirubin binding (higher Bf at the threshold BT compared with the population) and increased risk of BIND. Conclusion: The BBP can also be used in jaundice screening to better identify the actual BT at which intervention would be prudent. The BBP is used with current BT thresholds to better identify the risk of BIND and whether and when to intervene.
The Recognition and Therapy of Patho-Physiologic Patterns in Human Shock

A variety of different patterns of deranged cardiovascular function can produce hypotension (1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 15, 16, 20). Consequently, quantitative determinations of the specific set of physiologic abnormalities responsible must influence the physician’s choice of a therapeutic program to support the failing circulation. In hypovolemic shock, produced either by hemorrhage or by a decrease in extra-cellular fluid secondary to a third space loss, appropriate replacement of the loss in circulatory volume is usually sufficient therapy and will generally result in an increase in both cardiac output and oxygen consumption reflecting an adequate peripheral perfusion (1, 6, 8, 9). However, in many patients the presence of occult myocardial failure compounded by the hypoxemia brought about by the low flow state, may make the use of a cardiac inotropic agent mandatory if cardiovascular competence is to be restored. An example of this is seen in the case demonstrated of an 83 year old male who presented with an acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage and a long history of chronic duodenal ulcer (Fig.1). The patient when first seen had profound hypotension, and a pulse rate of 120 beats per minute despite attempts at massive transfusion. Even though his cardiac index was only 0.82 liters/min/m2, the central venous pressure was noted to be elevated to 14 mm Hg.
Canine Rod Cone Dysplasia Type 2 (rcd2) Is the Canine Ortholog of Human and Murine RD3

AV Kukekova1, O Goldstein1, JL Johnson1, SE Pearce-Kelling1, MA Richardson1, A Swaroop2, 3, JS. Friedman2, GD Aguirre4, GM Acland1 1James A. Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; 2W. K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; 3National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; 4School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
Cultural Values Affecting Risk Perception: Individualism and the Perception of Toxicological Risks

Cultural assumptions and values shape the way members of a society characteristically perceive and respond to risks. As new risks arise, they are perceived through existing cultural orientations. Individualism is often considered the quintessence of American culture; and given its lasting preeminence, it should influence the way Americans perceive such new risks as those posed by toxic chemicals in the environment.
Paying the meter: Effect of metrical similarity on word lengthening

Language has a rhythmic structure, but little is known about the mechanisms that underlie how it is planned. Traditional models of language production assume that metrical and segmental planning occur independently and in parallel (Roelofs & Meyer Learning Memory and Cognition, 24(4), 922–939, 1998). We test this claim in two experiments. In Experiment 1, participants completed an event-description task in which a disyllabic target word shared segmental overlap with a prime that either had matching or nonmatching lexical stress. Participants lengthened words in trials with both segmental and metrical overlap, which could either be the result of metrical interference or having uttered a prime with similar segmental realizations. To adjudicate between these possibilities, Experiment 2 included segmentally distinct word pairs with either matching or nonmatching stress. Participants again showed lengthening in trials with both segmental and metrical overlap, but no lengthening from metrical overlap alone. These data suggest that the acoustic-phonetic similarity of the initial syllables of the prime and target creates competition that leads to word lengthening. These are consistent with production models in which segmental and metrical structures are tightly bound at the point of phonological encoding.
Orbitofrontal-striatal potentiation underlies stimulant induced hyperactivity

Abstract Stimulants are one of the most widely prescribed classes of pharmaceuticals, but it is unclear which brain pathways underlie their therapeutic and adverse actions. Here, with real-time monitoring of circuit plasticity, we demonstrate that psychostimulants strengthen orbitofrontal (OFC) to dorsomedial striatum (DMS) pathway synapses, and increase striatal output in awake mice. In vivo high-frequency stimulation of OFC-DMS pathway blocked stimulant-induced potentiation and the expression of locomotor sensitization, thereby directly linking OFC-DMS plasticity to hyperactivity.
The Intergenerational Transmission of Family Communication Patterns: (In)consistencies in Conversation and Conformity Orientations across Two Generations of Family

For 50 years, researchers have used family communication patterns theory (FCPT) to examine the associations among conversation and conformity orientations and a variety of family member outcomes. D...
Quality of Education and Performance of Students in Examination

This study will help the schools in other districts to identify, understand, and improve the level of performance of the students.
Differentiating between teaching experience and expertise in the music studio: A pilot study:

The purpose of this study was to develop a measure to investigate studio teacher’s observational skill as a function of the observer’s ability to identify effective pedagogical practices. A seconda...
Correlating the phase evolution and anionic redox in Co-Free Ni-Rich layered oxide cathodes

Abstract Current trend of high-capacity Ni-rich layered cathode is to develop high-Ni and low-Co or Co-free oxides. The high Ni content layered oxides provide great advantages in capacity, cost and environmental benignity, similar to LiNiO2 parent compound. But they also inherit drawbacks in structural and chemical instability at high voltages upon cycling. Elemental substitution plays a profound role in addressing these challenges. This work elucidates the roles of Al doping in cationic redox and anionic oxygen activity in LiAlxNi1-xO2 using combined X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) as well as operando differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS). Using synchrotron wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), we extrapolate a general principle of phase transition and its coupling with lattice anionic oxygen redox. These findings shed light on the advancement of high-capacity, stable-cycling and safe-operating Ni-rich cathode materials for next generation Li-ion batteries.
New Architecture: Cloud-Enabled CPS

Large-scale CPSs gather an increasing amount of data from networked and distributed sensors. They require a significant amount of computational resources to process the data, extract the information, and control the plants to achieve system objectives. As a result, resource-constrained control systems are not able to attain these objectives with conventional system architectures. For example, in the case of nano and microrobots, the size of the physical part of the robots is often limited. It constrains the hardware’s resources, making it impractical for the robots to handle complex sensing information, such as video and image information. The recent development of Cloud Computing Technologies (CCTs) makes it possible to resolve the resource-constrained issues of CPSs. CCTs provide massive computing resources and storage resources to CPSs and extensively enhance their performance by migrating massive local computations to a cloud. This chapter briefly introduces the advantages and basic framework of the CE-CPS.
Energy-efficient analog sensing for large-scale, high-density persistent wireless monitoring

The research challenge of current Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is to design energy-efficient, low-cost, high-accuracy, self-healing, and scalable systems for applications such as environmental monitoring. Traditional WSNs consist of low density, power-hungry digital motes that are expensive and cannot remain functional for long periods on a single charge. In order to address these challenges, a dumb-sensing and smart-processing architecture that splits sensing and computation capabilities among tiers is proposed. Tier-1 consists of dumb sensors that only sense and transmit, while the nodes in Tier-2 do all the smart processing on Tier-1 sensor data. A low-power and low-cost solution for Tier-1 sensors has been proposed using Analog Joint Source Channel Coding (AJSCC). An analog circuit that realizes the rectangular type of AJSCC has been proposed and realized on a Printed Circuit Board for feasibility analysis. A prototype consisting of three Tier-1 sensors (sensing temperature and humidity) communicating to a Tier-2 Cluster Head has been demonstrated to verify the proposed approach. Results show that our framework is indeed feasible to support large scale high density and persistent WSN deployment.
Emerging Adult Report of Childhood Maltreatment and Related Facets of Impulsivity.

Childhood maltreatment is related to a host of outcomes, many of which may be partially explained by the transdiagnostic factor of impulsivity. The research linking maltreatment to impulsivity is w...
Patient experience and understanding of genetic testing in ovarian cancer

Objectives: New advances in ovarian cancer (OC) treatment have solidified the importance of genetic testing in the management of ovarian cancer. As part of a larger quality improvement project aimed to increase somatic tumor testing in the upfront setting, we aimed to understand the OC patient experience with genetic testing through qualitative research methodology. Download : Download high-res image (373KB) Download : Download full-size image Methods: We identified 23 patients who underwent surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced OC from January 2019 - January 2020 at a large volume single institution. Patients participated in a semi-structured phone interview exploring their experience with both germline and somatic testing for ovarian cancer and their understanding of the difference in testing, why it is performed, and the relevance to their care. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and were analyzed by an independent reviewer with expertise in qualitative research using a two-stage process. First, a deductive content analysis provided a comprehensive overview of participant responses to the interview questions. Several new questions emerging from the content analysis then guided a second stage of thematic analysis to provide a more fine-grained understanding of key factors influencing patients’ experience with and knowledge of genetic testing. Results: All 23 patients underwent genetic counseling, germline testing and somatic testing, 22/23 recalled provider education regarding genetic testing and 20/23 recalled seeing a genetics provider. Most patients (22/23) voiced understanding that test results would have implications for family members and their treatment, though two-thirds of patients (15/23) did not have a good understanding of available genetic tests for ovarian cancer and only 4 patients reported being aware of germline or somatic testing. Of the 23 patients, only 2 patients stated they received germline and/or somatic testing, 6 said testing had not been performed and 15 did not know if either had been performed. During the thematic analysis, several themes surrounding patient experience with and knowledge of genetic testing emerged from the interviews; patient passivity during medical consultation, patient desire to understand more regarding their diagnosis and low sense of entitlement (Table). Conclusions: We observed that patients appear to have a weak understanding of genetic testing for ovarian cancer. These data offer questions to understand patient wishes regarding genetics education and opportunities for patient care improvement. This data ultimately culminates in the question of why do patients not know much about genetic testing for ovarian cancer and subsequently does this lack of understanding pose a problem for the quality of patient care.
Definitions of intracranial aneurysm size and morphology: A call for standardization.

Background Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are classified based on size (maximal dome diameter) as well as additional parameters such as neck diameter and dome-to-neck ratio (DNR). The neurosurgical literature includes a wide variety of definitions for both IA size and neck classifications. Standardizing the definitions of IA size and wide-neck classifications would help eliminate inconsistencies and potential misunderstandings of aneurysm morphology and rupture risk. Methods We queried the MEDLINE (EBSCO) database using the terms "unruptured IA" and ("small" or "medium" or "large") and filtered based on publication date, language, and scholarly journals. The resulting articles and their references were further screened for eligibility. This identified 286 records, of which 104 were excluded, leaving 182 articles for analysis. The review found several different IA size classifications and neck classifications. Results A review of the existing literature describing size and neck classifications revealed 13 size classifications for small aneurysms, four classifications for medium aneurysms, 15 classifications for large aneurysms, and one classification for giant aneurysms. There were also seven different wide-neck classifications found. Conclusion It is imperative that a standardization in classification be implemented to help interventionalists make the most informed decisions regarding emerging treatment options as new endovascular technologies and devices are emerging with indications based around these classifications. Based on the database findings, this article recommends standardized quantitative measurement ranges for IA size and neck classifications.
TMEM16B is a Dominant Component of the Cholecystokinin–Activated Cl- Conductance in Vagal Afferents that is Down-Regulated in Mice on High Fat Diet

We have reported cholecystokinin (CCK) sensitive Ca2+-activated chloride (Cl-) currents (CaCCs) in DiI labeled intestinal nodose ganglia neurons from C57BL/6 mice. These CaCCs were significantly re...
Innovations in Governance: Application to Social Work

This article provides a conceptual framework of utility to social work clinicians, administrators, and resource brokers to increase knowledge of the current paradigms driving the environment in which social workers practice. The historical government paradigm is compared and contrasted with the developing innovative governance paradigm. Elements of each are reviewed and applied to current practice. The core values and skills of generalist social work practice are then highlighted and compared to each dimension of the dueling paradigms. Finally, this article demonstrates that social work is inherently aligned with the ‘emerging’ and innovative governance paradigm, under which social work practitioners have been unknowingly, yet successfully operating within for decades.
Integrating social media data for community detection

Community detection is an unsupervised learning task that discovers groups such that group members share more similarities or interact more frequently among themselves than with people outside groups. In social media, link information can reveal heterogeneous relationships of various strengths, but often can be noisy. Since different sources of data in social media can provide complementary information, e.g., bookmarking and tagging data indicates user interests, frequency of commenting suggests the strength of ties, etc., we propose to integrate social media data of multiple types for improving the performance of community detection. We present a joint optimization framework to integrate multiple data sources for community detection. Empirical evaluation on both synthetic data and real-world social media data shows significant performance improvement of the proposed approach. This work elaborates the need for and challenges of multi-source integration of heterogeneous data types, and provides a principled way of multi-source community detection.
Using the Web In a Finance Class: A Web-Enhanced Class or a Web-Centered Class

Much has been written about the advantages of using the Internet in an educational setting. This paper discusses the benefits as well as the costs of using a web-site in a Finance class. It also documents what is currently being included on Finance class web-sites and tries to demonstrate that the web is a useful tool in a college business class and specifically in a finance class. The paper shows that a class web-site can improve the course for both student and faculty. Web-Centered classes are defined as those classes that use the web in an integral manner. The class would be vastly different without the Web. Conversely, a web-enhanced class is one that uses the web but more as a supplement or to disseminate documents. A model is presented that predicts where a web-site will be most advantageous to the learning experience and as a result where a web-centered class may be more advantageous than a web-enhanced class. The benefits of web-usage are increasing functions of technological sophistication of both students and professor, scope of the material covered in the course, size of class, physical size of the university, level of the course, the degree to which the school is equipped to handle the technical demands of a web-centered course, and the pace of change in the course matter. Teaching a web-centered class without a text book is discussed and by example it is shown that in the right circumstances, using a class web-site in lieu of a traditional text book may be worthwhile.
Lung spirometry parameters and diffusion capacity are decreased in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Diabet. Med. 29, 212–219 (2012) Abstract Aims In cohort studies, Type 2 diabetes mellitus has been associated with decreased forced 1 s expiratory volume and forced vital capacity. We examined if forced vital capacity, forced 1 s expiratory volume and diffusion lung capacity correlate with diabetes mellitus across different races in a clinical setting. Methods We examined the medical records of 19 882 adults 18–97 years of age in our centre from 1 January 2000 to 1 May 2009. After excluding patients with diseases causing abnormal lung function, 4164 subjects were available for analysis. We used multiple linear regressions to examine cross-sectional differences in forced vital capacity, forced 1 s expiratory volume and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity between patients with and without diabetes mellitus, after adjustment for age, age2, sex, race, height, height2, smoking, BMI and heart failure. Results Patients with diabetes (n = 560) were older (62 ± 12 vs. 55 ± 16 years), more likely to be men (56 vs. 43%), overweight (BMI 31.7 ± 8.5 vs. 27.3 ± 6.7 kg/m2), have heart failure (33 vs. 14%) and less likely to be Caucasians (65 vs. 76%) and never smokers (66 vs. 72%) compared with patients without diabetes (n = 3604). The mean unadjusted values in patients with diabetes vs. those without were: forced vital capacity 2.78 ± 0.91 vs. 3.19 ± 1.03 l; forced 1 s expiratory volume 2.17 ± 0.74 vs. 2.49 ± 0.0.83 l; and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity 16.67 ± 5.53 vs. 19.18 ± 6.72 ml−1 min−1 mmHg, all P < 0.0001. These differences remained significant after adjustment for covariates. After race stratification, only Caucasians with diabetes had a significant decrease in all lung function measures. Conclusions Patients with diabetes have decreased lung function compared with those without diabetes. Caucasians with diabetes have more global lung function impairment compared with African-Americans and Hispanics.
ToolSpace: a next generation computing environment

A group of chemists each direct their Web browsers to a page containing an embedded virtual reality (VR) representation of a collection of molecules. Each chemist is represented in the VR world by an "avatar" reflecting position and view. The molecule is not a simple ball and stick model; depicted is the solvent accessible surface (SAS) surrounding a protein that the chemists fold in real time. They manipulate and measure the structures using tools from a variety of different vendors. As more collaborators join, performance actually improves as each Web browser loads an applet contributing to the SAS computation. Agents on the server coordinate computations amongst the dynamic pool of clients and act as interfaces to legacy software. ToolSpace is a Collaborative Virtual Environment (CVE) software framework with: a visualization client that runs in a standard Web browser equipped with a VRML plugin, a state sharing server that runs under any operating system with a Java virtual machine, and a set of Java classes for developing applications. The goal of the project is to prototype a next generation computing environment that is: multi-user collaborative, distributed, component and object based, platform independent, three dimensional, scalable with respect to computer hardware and input/output devices, and above all, easy to use and develop for. Such an environment has natural applications in fields ranging from chemistry, to crime scene analysis, to military war games.
Effect of a random real on $$\kappa \to \left( {\kappa ,{\text{ }}\left( {_{\omega _1 }^\alpha } \right)} \right)^2 $$

It is consistent that\(\kappa \to (\kappa ,{\text{ }}\left( {_{\omega _1 }^\alpha } \right))^2 \) holds in the random extension.
Time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography.

A time-resolved phase contrast magnetic resonance angiography technique is described. This technique provides a series of angiograms obtained at different phases of the cardiac cycle. Such a series of angiograms can be used to evaluate blood flow dynamics. For example, turbulent flow in the regions of vessel bifurcations is easily demonstrated and followed during systole and diastole. Retrograde flow can also be observed. Dynamic angiography can be particularly useful in distinguishing transient image features, such as signal voids due to turbulent flow, from static features arising from vessel morphology. © 1988 Academic Press, Inc.
Urinary serotonin metabolite excretion during cisplatin chemotherapy

Background. Nausea and vomiting associated with cisplatin chemotherapy is a source of major morbidity that remains difficult to control. Acute phase (0-24 hours after induction of chemotherapy) nausea and vomiting parallels plasma serotonin release, which explains the effectiveness of 5HT3 antagonists; serotonin release in the delayed phase (24–48 hours after induction), during which consistent antiemetic control remains elusive, has not been investigated. The effect of propofol, a recent addition to the antiemetic armamentarium, on this serotonin release has not been studied. Methods. Ten women with nausea and vomiting refractory to ondansetron and dexamethasone prophylaxis in their first cisplatin chemotherapy cycle were studied. Serial urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were determined during a 48-hour period in 30 subsequent cycles, conducted under ondansetron/dexamethasone prophylaxis together with a propofol infusion. Results. There was a significant urinary 5-HIAA peak 6 hours after induction of chemotherapy, with no peaks thereafter. Propofol did not inhibit serotonin release. Conclusions. Cisplatin chemotherapy is associated with serotonin release in the acute phase. There is no serotonin release during the delayed phase. Thus the use of 5HT3 antagonists for delayed-phase nausea and vomiting would appear questionable.
Sedimentary coprostanol and hydrocarbon distribution adjacent to a sewage outfall

Abstract The concentrations of coprostanol and hydrocarbons were measured in the effluent from the Chesapeake-Elizabeth sewage treatment plant (STP) and surface sediments from the area surrounding the effluent discharge site. Most of the coprostanol (> 84%) and hydrocarbons (> 91%) were associated with particulates in the effluent. The area was found to be dynamic where changes in the percentage and distribution of fine grained sediments occur over periods of months and the movement of these sediments is an important determinant of the distribution of sewage derived contaminants. The Chesapeake-Elizabeth STP was found to be responsible for only 7% of the hydrocarbon contamination of the sediments in the study area. The sediment hydrocarbon distribution also indicates that the Bay Bridge tunnel may be a unique source of hydrocarbons to the lower Chesapeake Bay. This study shows the usefulness of coprostanol in providing a better understanding of the fate and importance of sewage derived contaminants in areas around sewage outfalls.
Relative size of the human corpus callosum redux: Statistical smoke and mirrors?

Data do exist to support the fact that the corpus callosum is relatively larger in women than in men. The corpus callosum is an integral part of the brain, and contrary to Fitch & Denenberg's examples of “pseudostatistics,” is not an extrinsic structure when determining its relative size.
Cryptic and polar variation of the fragile X repeat could result in predisposing normal alleles

Abstract Fragile X syndrome results from the expansion of a CGG repeat that is normally interrupted by occasional AGG triplets. Linkage disequilibrium suggests that certain normal haplotypes may contribute unequally to the pool of fragile X chromosomes. Sequence analysis of normal alleles demonstrates haplotype-specific variation of the cryptic nature of the repeat. Variation occurs principally at the 3′ end of the repeat, suggesting stability differences between the leading and lagging strands of DNA replication. Normal alleles with greater than 24 perfect 3′ CGG repeats appear more frequently on haplotypes overrepresented among fragile X chromosomes. Such alleles are found in 2% of normal chromosomes and could comprise the ancestral allelic pool from which fragile X chromosomes are derived. These data also may imply that equilibrium between certain predisposed alleles and fragile X expansions has not yet been attained, indicating ongoing evolutionary change at this locus.
The Later Developmental Features in the Skull of Sus barbatus barbatus

. Skull growth after eruption of the third permanent molar in Sus barbatus presents the following features:– Extension of maxilla accompanies eruption of the canine tooth. Following this additional growth takes place in the region of maxillary tuberosity. Meantime bodily size of the animal increases and there is a vertical expansion of upper or respiratory area of face. Fronto-parietal forward growth overbalances maxillary extension, and face buckles down and back on cranium, as in the sheep, with sliding of zygomatic processes of malar and temporal on each other. This facial buckling terminates on closure of the coronal suture. Between the dates of closure of coronal and squamous sutures the swing of the face changes. There being no more growth above, that in the maxillary area causes the fronto-nasal contour to increaae its forward concavity by adjustments in the hafting zone which runs from nasion to palato-pterygoid plate. There is further sliding of malar and temporal zygomatic processes on each other, but it occurs in the reverse direction. Increase of the muscular scaffolding now occurs, more particularly for cranio-vertebral musculature than for masticatory muscles. Zygomata move laterally. The lambdoid crests but not the sagittal enlarge. Some elongation of face follows by additions along the hafting line, mainly on the orbital side. Fronto-nasal contour is not changed. The last skull modification is produced by great masticatory muscle development. Elevation of the sagittal crest exaggerates the already existing fronto-nasal concavity, while extension and lateral movement of the zygomata indicate the increased size of the masticatory musculature. So-called individual differences can thus be resolved into simple orderly growth changes,
Feasibility of vortex tube-assisted environmental control of a manned underwater research habitat

Abstract Results of model predictions of the environment (temperature and relative humidity ratio) within a manned Underwater Research Habitat with conventional or with vortex tube-assisted control, are compared. Vortex tube assist to the conventional environmental control system is demonstrated as an effective and efficient means for habitat environmental control with substantial power savings. The model presented incorporates a complete description of the psychrometric properties of the humid gas mixture within the habitat, as well as the sensible and latent heat loads associated with the occupants and wet porch of the habitat.
Interaction of estrogen receptor isoforms with immobilized monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract High-performance liquid chromatography was performed to separate the various isoforms of estrogen receptor from human breast cancer, based on size (high-performance size-exclusion chromatography) and surface charge (high-performance ion-exchange chromatography) properties. The ability of these isoforms to interact with the monoclonal antibodies was assessed. All isoforms exhibited similar immunodeterminant sites, but when they are bound to [ 125 I]iodoestradiol-17β (IE), only 30% binding of the radioactive complex to the immobilized monoclonal antibodies was observed. However, the mass of the receptor recognized by the antibody bead, via the estrogen receptor-enzyme immunoassay (ER-EIA), was always significantly higher. This was true for both fractionated and non-fractionated cytosols, suggesting that (1) non-ligand binding forms, such as precursors and products of the estrogen receptor, were also recognized; or (2) the ligand was only selecting for a particular conformer(s); or (3) the monoclonal antibody on the bead recognized other proteins associated with estrogen receptor. Ion-exchange fractionation of unlabeled receptor showed loss of immunodeterminant sites. However, size-exclusion fractionation did not show this effect. Diethylstilbestrol, a competitor of IE binding, showed marked stability of receptor recognized by ER-EIA during both size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography. Limited trypsin treatment of the receptor caused the loss of immunodeterminant sites without altering the ligand binding sites. Thus, proteolysis of estrogen receptors in cytosols of human breast cancer could easily lead to underestimation by ER-EIA. Although the components with immunodeterminant sites recognized by ER-EIA were always eluted with the ligand-binding isoforms of the estrogen receptor, our data suggest that the concentration of the protein having the epitope associated with the monoclonal antibody is unequal to that recognized by the steroid ligand. We conclude that application of ER-EIA to clinical assays of estrogen receptors clearly needs further clarification.
The Detection of Alcoholism in Hospitalized Schizophrenics: A Comparison of the MAST and the MAC

The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) and the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC) were administered to forty-one schizophrenic inpatients also meeting DSM-III criteria for either alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence and 29 schizophrenic inpatients who did not qualify for an additional substance abuse diagnosis other than marijuana abuse/dependence. The MAC failed to differentiate between the alcoholic and nonalcoholic groups and both groups scored above the recommended cutting score. The MAST significantly differentiated the alcoholic and nonalcoholic schizophrenic patients and was as sensitive to a history of alcohol abuse as to alcohol dependence. Neither the MAST nor MAC was sensitive to recent versus more remote drinking. The overall classificatory accuracy of the MAST was found to be 80% and that of the MAC was 56%. A logistic regression analysis revealed that the use of just four MAST items can yield a group classificatory rate of 83%. It was concluded that the MAST exhibited sufficient sensitivity and specificity to be used as an initial screening instrument for alcoholism in schizophrenic patients.
A case of rare, fungal peritonitis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum in a patient on CAPD

This article reports the case of a 62-year-old man with end-stage renal disease on continued ambulatory peritoneal dialysis who presented with epigastric pain. Physical examination, imaging of the abdomen and cultures of peritoneal dialysis fluid led to a diagnosis of rare, fungal peritonitis caused byHistoplasma capsulatum. Removal of the peritoneal catheter and a switch to hemodialysis led to resolution of the patient's symptoms. Background. A 62-year-old man with a history of end-stage renal disease secondary to hypertension who was on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), presented to a peritoneal dialysis clinic with subacute onset of abdominal pain, mainly in the epigastric region. Investigations. Full medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, cultures of peritoneal dialysis fluid, radiography, ultrasonography and CT scanning of the abdomen and pelvis. Diagnosis. Isolated fungal peritonitis caused by infection with Histoplasma capsulatum. Management. Removal of the peritoneal dialysis catheter, treatment with itraconazole for 6 months.
DNA Strand Scission by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon o-Quinones: Role of Reactive Oxygen Species, Cu(II)/Cu(I) Redox Cycling, and o-Semiquinone Anion Radicals†,‡

In previous studies, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione (BPQ), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) o-quinone, was found to be 200-fold more potent as a nuclease than (+/-)-anti-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9, 10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene, a suspect human carcinogen. The mechanism of strand scission mediated by naphthalene-1,2-dione (NPQ) and BPQ was further characterized using either phiX174 DNA or poly(dG).poly(dC) as the target DNA. Strand scission was extensive, dependent on the concentration of o-quinone (0-10 microM), and required the presence of NADPH (1 mM) and CuCl2 (10 microM). The production of reactive species, i.e., superoxide anion radical, o-semiquinone anion (SQ) radical, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (OH.), and Cu(I), was measured in the incubation mixtures. The formation of SQ radicals was measured by EPR spectroscopy under anaerobic conditions in the presence of NADPH. A Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox cycle was found to be critical for DNA cleavage. No strand scission occurred in the absence of Cu(II) or when Cu(I) was substituted, yet Cu(I) was required for OH* production. Both DNA strand scisson and OH. formation were decreased to an equal extent, albeit not completely, by the inclusion of OH. scavengers (mannitol, soduim benzoate, and formic acid) or Cu(I) chelators (bathocuproine and neocuproine). In contrast, although the SQ radical signals of NPQ and BPQ were quenched by DNA, no strand scission was observed. When calf thymus DNA was treated with PAH o-quinones, malondialdehyde (MDA) was released by acid hydrolysis. The formation of MDA was inhibited by OH. scavengers suggesting that OH* cleaved the 2'-deoxyribose moiety in the DNA to produce base propenals. These studies indicate that for PAH o-quinones to act as nucleases, NADPH, Cu(II), Cu(I), H2O2, and OH*, were necessary and that the primary species responsible for DNA fragmentation was OH., generated by a Cu(I)-catalyzed Fenton reaction. The genotoxicity of PAH o-quinones may play a role in the carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of the parent hydrocarbons.
Transbronchial Needle Aspiration

Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is a technique in which a cytology or histology specimen is obtained during flexible bronchoscopy from beyond the confines of the endobronchial tree. Mediastinal staging of lung cancer is the most common indication for TBNA. The procedure is also useful in diagnosis of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis as the cause of mediastinal lymph node enlargement. The procedure is performed under conscious sedation and does not need expensive guiding or tracking devices. The procedure is cost-effective, is easy to learn, and has an excellent safety record. Unfortunately, many bronchoscopists never adopted this technique in their practice due to lack of training and widespread misconceptions about the usefulness and safety issues. Endobronchial needle aspiration (EBNA) is a related technique in which the 22-gauge needle is used to obtain cytology specimen from endoscopically visible lesion. EBNA increases the diagnostic yield from submucosal and peribronchial lung tumors. Peripheral TBNA (P-TBNA) is a technique in which a ­cytology specimen is obtained from a suspected malignant peripheral lung nodule under fluoroscopic guidance. Addition of P-TBNA to conventional sampling techniques improves diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy, especially in patients with Tsuboi type III or IV tumor bronchus relationship. The role of conventional TBNA has further become a topic of hot debates with the emergence of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided TBNA. The authors believe that even in the era of EBUS-TBNA, the standard TBNA technique maintains an important position in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer.
The Utility of the WISC-III Freedom from Distractibility in the Diagnosis of Youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a Psychiatric Sample

The “Freedom from Distractibility” (FD) or the Third Factor of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children—Revised (WISC-R), has been used to discern attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from other childhood disorders. This study expands the current research by examining the utility of the Third Factor of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children-III (WISC-III) to differentiate between youth with and without ADHD who are hospitalized at an acute-care psychiatric hospital. There were no significant differences between subjects with and without ADHD on the Third Factor solutions of the WISC-III. The WISC-III FD was not a valid discriminator of psychiatric disorder (affective versus disruptive disorders) or ADHD diagnosis. While these findings question the utility of the Third Factor in the diagnosis of ADHD, the WISC-III FD may be, as described by Kaufman (1994) “a land mine that explodes on a diversity of abnormal populations” (p. 213).
Josephson tunnel junctions with refractory electrodes

Fabrication of high quality Josephson tunnel junctions with refractory electrodes is made difficult by the electrode's short coherence lengths and the sensitivity of the their superconducting properties to tunnel barrier processing. Several innovative procedures have been developed to address this problem. In this review, we describe these tunnel barrier processes and the junction characteristics that were obtained using them. In particular, attention is focused on the junction's subgap conductance and the reproducibility of the maximum Josephson current because of their importance as device design parameters for integrated circuits.
RECONSTRUCTING SYMMETRIC IMAGES FROM THEIR UNDERSAMPLED FOURIER INTENSITIES

An algorithm is described for reconstructing a symmetric three-dimensional image from its Fourier intensity that is sampled below the Nyquist rate. The study is motivated by an image reconstruction problem in macromolecular x-ray crystallography. Application of the algorithm to simulated crystallographic problems shows that it converges to the correct solution, with no initial phase information, where algorithms currently used in crystallography fail. The algorithm is potentially useful in a variety of situations in macromolecular crystallography. The results presented also lend support to the possibility of ab initio phase retrieval in macromolecular crystallography when sufficient a priori information is available. Other applications in image reconstruction are possible.