cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Up-front therapy for LCH: is it time to test an alternative to vinblastine/prednisone?

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an inflammatory myeloid neoplasia (Berres, et al 2014) occurring most commonly in children that can be fatal if “risk” organs (liver, spleen, bone marrow) are involved. Long-term consequences including endocrinopathies, sclerosing cholangitis and debilitating neurodegeneration remain problematic (McClain, et al 2011). Vinblastine plus prednisone is standard of care for children with de novo multisystem disease and has been the primary backbone utilized in 30 years of multinational trials (Gadner, et al 2013). While overall survival has steadily improved, outcomes for patients with LCH remain suboptimal. Approximately half of patients will fail to be cured with this approach, requiring extended or alternate therapy. The estimated five-year mortality in patients with risk organ disease remains approximately 15%, and the highest risks of death or disease complications are in patients who fail initial therapy (Gadner, et al 2013). Toxicities of vinblastine and prednisone include excessive weight gain, growth retardation and peripheral neuropathy. In our view, these outcomes with vinblastine/prednisone leave room for improvement.
A retrospective analysis of the revocation of prior authorization restrictions and the use of antidepressant medications for treating major depressive disorder

Abstract Background: The California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) program removed prior authorization rectrictions for 2 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), fluoxetine and paroxetine, in May 1996. Objective: This article documents how open access affected patient compliance and the likelihood of switching antidepressant therapies. Methods: All Medi-Cal patients with a paid claim who had a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) from September 1994 through January 1999 were eligible. The impact of open access on patient compliance and drug switching was investigated using logistic regression models. Completed therapy was defined as 180 days of uninterrupted drug therapy at a minimum therapeutic dose. Results: A total of 6409 patient treatment episodes were identified, of which 80% involved the use of an antidepressant. The aggregate rate of drug therapy completion dropped from 23.2% before the change in formulary policy to 20.5% in the open-access period. There was no corresponding change in the likelihood of switching therapies. For fluoxetine-treated patients, the odds ratio for completing therapy relative to tricyclic antidepressant-treated patients dropped from 3.916 to 1.706 in the open-access period. Corresponding results for paroxetine-treated patients were 1.591 and 0.726, respectively. The reduction in the likelihood of completed therapy without a corresponding increase in switching is consistent with earlier results. Open access resulted in an influx of patients who were not previously treated with an antidepressant or reported by their physician as having an MDD. Physicians may have expanded the use of the open-access SSRIs to treat less severely ill patients. However, paid claims data do not provide sufficient information to accurately measure severity of illness. Conclusions: It is unclear whether patients benefited clinically from the expansion of the Medi-Cal formulary. The significant changes in the characteristics of the patient population in response to open access (access effect) complicate attempts to measure the impact of open access on treatment patterns. Future analysis of the impact of open access on the cost of treating an episode of depression will also have to address this issue.
Evaluation of Thermal Contact Conductance Between Mold Compound and Heat Spreader Materials

The need to develop microelectronic devices capable of operating at increased performance levels with high reliability requires a better understanding of the factors that govern the thermal performance of semiconductor packages. With the recent trend toward increased miniaturization and component density, thermal management wtihin these packages has become the primary factor that limits the physical size of both individual components and multichip modules. Although extensive testing and analysis of the thermal conductivity of various mold compound materials have been performed by several different manufacturers, presently no experimental information is available on the contact conductance occurring at the interface between mold compounds and substrate or heat spreader materials. From a modeling perspective, numerous standard thermal modeling techniques, which have been modified to accomodate electronic packages, are currently in use. In addition, a number of numerical models have been developed specifically for electronic packages by Pogson and Franklin Buchanan and Reeber, Andrews et al., and Chyu and Aghazadeh. However, none of these existing models incorporates the effects of the contact conductance present at the mold compound and heat spreader interface.
Attitudes toward Mainstreaming Scale: Factorial Validity for a Lay Population

The factorial validity of the Attitudes Toward Mainstreaming Scale was supported for a general adult population. A principal components factoring procedure identified four factors: Classroom Functioning, Learning Capability I, Learning Capability II, and General Mainstreaming. Coefficients of internal consistency ranged from .82 to .90. Intercorrelations between factors ranged from .41 to .62. Results were compared to the factor structures previously identified for preservice and inservice teachers.
Resolution of discrepancies in measured values of n 2 of CS2 at 10 Mu m.

We explain the recent discrepancies between reported values of the nonlinear refractive index of CS2 at 10 μm in terms of the relative importance of electrostriction and molecular reorientation under different experimental conditions.
Intracellular calcium ions as regulators of renal tubular sodium transport.

This review addresses the putative role of intracellular calcium ions in the regulation of sodium transport by renal tubules. Cytoplasmic calcium-ion activities in proximal tubules of Necturus are less than 10−7 M and can be increased by lowering the electrochemical potential gradient for sodium ions across the peritubular cell membrane, or by addition of quinidine or ionomycin to peritubular fluid. Whereas lowering of the peritubular Na concentration increases cytosolic [Ca++] and [H+], ionomycin, a calcium ionophore, raises intracellular [Ca++] without decreasing pHi. The intracellular calcium-ion level is maintained by transport processes in the plasma membrane and membranes of intracellular organelles, as well as by calcium-binding proteins. Calcium ions inhibit net transport of sodium by reducing the rate of sodium entry across the luminal cell membrane. In the collecting tubule this inhibition is caused, at least in part, by an indirect reduction in the activity of the amiloride-sensitive sodium channel.
Surgical Repair of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in Immunosuppressed Patients with Clytomegalovirus Retinitis

The authors performed retinal reattachment surgery in 29 eyes of 24 patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome virus with retinal detachment associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis and documented the course of eight additional untreated eyes. Retinal detachment repair using vitrectomy, posterior hyaloid removal, and intraocular tamponade with silicone oil or SF-6 gas resulted in a total retinal reattachment rate of 76% and a macular attachment rate of 90% in one operation. The mean postoperative visual acuity (best corrected) was 20/60, but, in some patients, the visual acuity decreased because of progressive retinitis. Prophylactic laser photocoagulation of fellow eyes to surround CMV lesions did not appear to prevent retinal detachment. The mean postoperative survival was 37 weeks (range, 8 to 127 weeks). The surgical techniques used and pathophysiology of these retinal detachments are discussed.
Abstract 3178: Rack1 protects N-terminal phosphorylated c-Jun from Fbw7-mediated degradation

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA The c-Jun transcription factor is a highly unstable oncoprotein. Several ubiquitin ligases mediate c-Jun degradation. However, c-Jun can be stabilized once it is phosphorylated at the N-terminus by c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) or other protein kinases. This phosphorylation decreases c-Jun ubiquitination and degradation. The underlying mechanism for this phenomenon is still unknown. We show that receptor for activated C-kinase 1 (Rack1) can bind with c-Jun and ubiquitin ligase Fbw7 to form a complex. When c-Jun is phosphorylated at the N-terminus, c-Jun is released from the complex and cannot be ubiquitinated by Fbw7, which leads to increased stabilization and accumulation of c-Jun. These results reveal that Rack1 plays a very important role in tumorigenesis by maintaining the stability of c-Jun that has been phosphorylated at its N- terminus by JNKs or other kinases. Citation Format: Jinhui Zhang, Feng Zhu, Xiang Li, Yanming Xu, Cong Peng, Shengqing Li, Yong-Yeon Cho, Ke Yao, Tatyana A. Zykova, Ann M. Bode, Zigang Dong. Rack1 protects N-terminal phosphorylated c-Jun from Fbw7-mediated degradation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3178. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3178
CHICO, a heavy ion detector for Gammasphere

A 4π position-sensitive heavy-ion detector system, CHICO, has been developed primarily for use in conjunction with the 4π γ-ray facility, Gammasphere. The CHICO detector comprises an array of 20 Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters (PPACs) covering 12°<θ<85° and 95°<θ<168° and 280° in φ. The PPACs have segmented delay-line cathode boards, measuring the polar scattering angle θ to 1°, and segmented anodes, measuring the azimuthal angle φ with 9° resolution, while measuring the time-of-flight difference with 500 ps resolution. For binary reactions the kinematics can be reconstructed from the measured information, allowing identification of the target- and projectile-like nuclei with a mass resolution of Δm/m≈5%. The measured masses, recoil velocities, and recoil angles allow correction for Doppler shift and assignment of individual γ-rays to decay of the correct reaction product. This paper describes the design, operation and performance of the CHICO detector. The powerful combination of CHICO plus Gammasphere provides new research opportunities for the study of nuclear structure and reactions.
Effects of alcohol on conditioned avoidance responding

Abstract Albino rats were trained in a conditioned avoidance response and tested 48 hr later for retention in a 2 × 2 factorial design of alcohol and no alcohol states. Group AA was trained and tested 1 hr after a stomach-tubing of an 11.88% aqueous solution of ethanol in an amount which was approximately 2% of the animal's bodyweight. Group OO was trained and tested without alcohol. (Group AO received alcohol in testing, but not in training.) Analysis of variance of the difference scores between training and testing percent avoidances showed an alcohol effect, as well as an interaction of the alcohol effects in the two situations. The results are discussed in relation to the central nervous effects of ethanol.
Theory and Observation of Displacement Phenomena in Coadsorbed Films

Displacement refers to a surprising phenomenon observed in a number of adsorption systems. At low temperatures, some relatively inert gases, such as krypton (Kr) or methane ( CH4), are found to displace molecules from preadsorbed monolayer films of a more condensable species, such as carbon tetrachloride ( CCl4), from a graphite substrate. We present a simple thermodynamic model to explain displacement and make a prediction applicable to both first-order and continuous displacement processes. We also present measurements on CH4/CCl4 and Kr/CCl4 coadsorbed films from 77–112 K that verify our prediction and yield the CCl4 film spreading pressure.
Experimental alteration of biomagnetic interactions among bean seeds

Interactional patterns among bean-seed (Phaseolus vulgaris) clusters distributed on a table differed statistically significantly between when in clockwise rotating fields (table or magnetic) and when in counterclockwise fields or as nonrotating controls. It is postulated that clockwise rotation shortens the range of interactions.
Giant cavernous hepatic hemangioma: Treatment by ligation of the hepatic artery

We present a case of a giant hepatic hemangioma. We found it at laparotomy and we decided on the course of treatment on the operating table. As right lobectomy was not feasible, we performed ligation of the hepatic artery. The patient made an uneventful recovery. A selective hepatic angiography and a liver scan were performed 8 months postoperatively and they both showed regression of the tumor. The tumor was not demonstrable in the right hepatic artery. The patient is in excellent health 2 years after the operation; the liver is smaller in palpation and the tumor itself is nonpalpable. In this case the ligation of the hepatic artery was a successful therapeutic procedure.
Myositis: an update on pathogenesis.

Purpose of review The etiology and much about the pathogenesis of the inflammatory myopathies remain a mystery. In this review, we investigate recent research efforts to understand the pathogenesis of the diverse entities of polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), and inclusion body myositis (IBM), diseases that result from interactions between environmental risk factors and genetic susceptibility. Recent findings Over the past year, there has been considerable progress toward better understanding of IBM, with relatively few developments toward understanding PM and DM. Although these diseases may share some common clinical phenotypic and serologic components, they differ on a molecular and cellular level. Summary The need for definitive, safer therapies in these diseases makes vital the search for defining detailed pathogenesis of inflammation and muscle fiber damage at the molecular level.
Echocardiographic detection of a left atrial thrombus in an infant with complex congenital heart disease

revealed only a trace of mitral insufficiency and tricuspid insufficiency. The capability of a chronic supraventricular tachycardia inducing cardiomyopathy has been reported. These cases were present in children or in adolescents, with the oldest patient being 14. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in an adult. In the initial studies, the main therapy was surgical intervention, with subsequent resolution and normalizing of function. The next cases were pediatric patients whose myocardial function improved after medical therapy. Our case reveals changing echocardiographic findings consistent with the development of a congestive cardiomyopathy and valvular insufficiency secondary to a supraventricular arrhythmia, and subsequent medical treatment eliminating this. The initial echocardiogram was done when supraventricular tachycardia was at a lower rate. As the tachycardia became more consistent and had a faster rate, a congestive cardiomyopathy developed. The patient had been treated with prednisone for her acute exacerbation, with tapering dosages. The possibility of a steroid causing the myopathy was considered. However, the patient was on a larger prednisone dose when her first echocardiogram was done than during the second echocardiogram, and she continued to be maintained on prednisone. Subsequent therapy with amiodarone corrected the arrhythmia and within 1 year the patient showed marked improvement of left ventricular function. The Doppler study (although not quantitative) appears to show decreasing regurgitation that accompanied the resolution of the dilatation of the ventricles. This shows that cardiomyopathy can occur in the adult as well as in the adolescent population secondary to tachycardias, and that the condition may cause vaIvular dysfunction. This also demonstrates the time course of the occurrence and resolution of the cardiomyopathy. The treatment of the tachycardia should be aggressive, including experimental drugs, surgical or catheher ablation, or other mechanisms. With successful therapy, the cardiomyopathy and valvular dysfunction may resolve.
Product modeling within the framework of the World Wide Web

This paper presents an approach to the development of an open collaborative design environment in the Computer Aided Design (CAD) setting of a networked enterprise. Demand for high quality and variety of low to medium quality of products or 'mass customization’ has led to the concept of 'virtual organizations’. The de-centralized design teams of such an organization require a framework to manage the CAD product information. By integrating the emerging standard for 3D geometry on the World Wide Web with conventional CAD packages, we describe a framework for the development of a product model with various levels of abstractions. The syntactic content of the product model, accessible through any Internet interface such as Netscape Navigator associates itself with a centralized database for embedding technological information at the face and feature levels. The semantic and syntactic content of the product model can then be accessed and manipulated through the single Internet interface. The system is deployed on a test-bed utilizing both a UNIX box and a machine operating under the Windows NT system, to demonstrate it's open architecture and interoperability.
A Small Low Angular Momentum Inertial Gyroscope

A single-degree-of-freedom gyroscope, less than 1^ in. in diameter, less than 2 in. long, and weighing less than J Ib, has been developed for inertial guidance applications. Small size, high reliability, low power consumption, and ability to withstand extreme environments are achieved through use of a low angular momentum (2—8 X 10 dyne-cm-sec) wheel. A discussion of advanced material technology, subassembly design, and a computer-executed analytical model of the wheel and hence instrument performance are discussed. These are presented in terms of how they relate to the magnitude and stability of the gyroscope coefficients.
A framework for 2D hyperstability theory based provably convergent adaptive 2D IIR filtering

A set of results for 2D quarter plane causal systems reminiscent of 1D hyperstability theory is reported. The key to this development is a little-known spectral factorability type 2D result of E. Landau (1906). The tools used are largely based on notions of passivity. An adaptive 2D recursive filtering scheme potentially useful in propagating-wave-type 2D problems is considered, and it is shown via the 2D hyperstability result that the scheme converges in an appropriate sense. >
Estrogen and muscle stiffness have a negative relationship in females.

Purpose Hormonal fluctuations are one potential reason why females might have a greater rate of noncontact ACL injury. The hamstrings are capable of limiting anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) loading. This study examined whether relationships existed between reproductive hormones (estradiol-β-17, free testosterone, and progesterone) and hamstring neuromechanical variables (hamstring musculotendinous stiffness (MTS), rate of force production (RFP), time to 50% peak torque (T50%), and electromechanical delay (EMD)) in genders combined and independently.
Clinical presentation and outcome of high-grade urinary bladder leiomyosarcoma in adults.

Abstract Objectives To determine the clinical presentation and outcome of patients with high-grade bladder leiomyosarcoma. Methods Between July 1986 and April 1998, 36 adult patients (mean follow-up 56 months) with a diagnosis of urinary bladder leiomyosarcoma were evaluated at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. We retrospectively reviewed the records of these patients for information on clinical features, treatment, and outcome. Results The mean age of the patients was 63 years. Twenty-six patients were white men in their seventh decade. The most common symptom at presentation was gross hematuria (81% of patients), followed by increased urinary frequency (28%), and dysuria (19%). Thirty-five patients were treated surgically for bladder leiomyosarcoma; of these, 12 (34%) developed recurrent disease (5 with local recurrence and 7 with distant metastasis), with a median time to diagnosis of recurrent disease of 8.3 months. The most common site of distant failure was the retroperitoneum. The disease-specific survival rate at 1, 3, and 5 years was 88.6%, 62.0%, and 62.0%, respectively. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that only the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center disease stage system was a significant predictor of survival of patients with bladder leiomyosarcoma ( P = 0.018). Conclusions In patients with high-grade leiomyosarcoma of the bladder, radical cystectomy in the face of localized disease, whether at the initial presentation or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, can result in a 5-year, disease-specific survival rate of 62.0%.
A Model for Prediction of Bone Stiffness Using a Mechanical Approach of Composite Materials

A model to predict the bone stiffness is presented in this paper. The objective is to obtain a description of bone stiffness of a representative elementary volume (REV) based on a small set of physical parameters. The main idea is to use measurable information related to the orientation and the density of a basic elementary submicrostructure (ESMS). This ESMS is the first arrangement of the basic components. A simple rule-of-mixtures approach is used to provide the elastic properties for the ESMS. The basic properties are dependent on the volume fraction of the mineralized phase. The orientation and the density of the ESMS is described by a tensor and a scalar, respectively. The model is used to obtain the elastic properties of both the cortical and trabecular bones. Data from femoral bone are used to verify this approach.
Unintegrated two-long terminal repeat circular human T lymphotropic virus DNA accumulation during chronic HTLV infection

Accumulation of unintegrated human T lymphotropic virus (HTLV) DNA was analyzed in long-term T cell lines infected with HTLV type I (HTLV-I) or type II (HTLV-II). By using a polymerase chain reaction-based assay, amplified products of expected size were obtained in all of the HTLV-I-infected (n = 7) and HTLV-II-infected (n = 8) cell lines. The signal intensities of the hybridizing band varied greatly among the cell lines and did not correlate with HTLV p24gag antigen production. Further analysis of HTLV-I-infected clones demonstrated considerable variability in the unintegrated DNA accumulation, suggesting that either the epigenetic status of the host cell or some environmental factor determines the occurrence of unintegrated DNA. The presence of lower levels of unintegrated DNA in most of the HTLV-infected, long-term cell lines presumably results in persistent noncytopathic infection.
OVULE ABORTION IN QUERCUS (FAGACEAE)

A B S T R A C T This study deals with the occurrence and relative abundance of four different types of abortive ovules in three species of Quercus. It was found that, contrary to previous literature, fertilization does not always occur in the abortive ovules. The most common type of abortive ovule is the one in which a normal embryo sac develops, yet fertilization does not occur. The absence of embryo sacs and the occurrence of empty embryo sacs account for abortion in other ovules. All types of abortive ovules can occur in the same ovary. It is proposed that all of the ovules that develop a normal embryo sac are potential seeds, but the first one to be fertilized suppresses the normal development of the others. OVULE ABORTION has been reported in a wide variety of angiosperms. While some authors offer an apparent explanation for this abortion, such as the failure of the embryo sac to complete its development (Agave, Catalano, 1930; Fagus, Langdon, 1939; Anemone obtusiloba, Bhandari, 1968) or the lack of fertilization (Corchorus olitorus, Banerji, 1932; Tropaeolum majus, Walker, 1947, Sachar and Kanta, 1958), in many plants the mechanism of ovule abortion is not known (Corylus, Hagerup, 1942, Davis, 1966; Nothofagus, Poole, 1952; Tilia, Fahn, 1967). In the ovary of Quercus it is well known that there are originally six ovules and that typically five of these abort very early, resulting in the oneseeded acorn at maturity (Lubbock, 1892; Ward, 1892; Scaramuzzi, 1960; Stairs, 1964; Mogensen, 1966). Although the nonabortive ovule has been studied in some detail (Brown and Mogensen, 1972; Mogensen, 1972, 1973), the abortive ovule has been consistently neglected. From the existing literature one would conclude that the abortive ovule of Quercus develops a normal embryo sac (Brown, 1971), that (based upon the presence of free-nucleate endosperm) fertilization occurs (Stairs, 1964; Mogensen, 1966; Brown, 1971), and that the state of development in this ovule may reach the zygote (Mogensen, 1966) or proembryo stage (Brown, 1971).
Multi-structural fast nonlinear model-based predictive control of a hydronic heating system

Abstract Buildings consume a significant amount of energy to maintain the indoor thermal comfort. One way to reduce the energy consumption in buildings is to improve the overall energy efficiency through integrated advanced controls. It is undoubted that incorporating a model and utilizing future information in real-time building operation offers great energy saving potentials. However, there are many barriers preventing this from happening. Building systems are nonlinear and multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) in nature. Conventional approach with a global search solver and a detailed model simulator or direct nonlinear model predictive control (MPC) incurs prohibitive computational cost. This paper proposes a multi-structural fast nonlinear model predictive control (MPC) for handling nonlinear building systems and applied it on a hydronic heating system. The methodology remains the advantages of linear classical MPC and solves the nonlinearity issues involved in thermal comfort and energy conservation oriented control. The simulation shows that the controllers can achieve the optimal solutions in less than five minutes for five days simulation in a full look-ahead scenario with a Duo T6400 2.0 GHz computer. The fastest scenario takes only thirty more seconds to accomplish, which makes the approach feasible for online implementation. The techniques of using MPC for achieving smooth day-night switch, band control, dynamic constraints, and dynamic weighting are discussed. The energy saving potential of applying the proposed MPCs is found to be between six to forty two percent. In addition, the techniques decouple the building system from the mechanical system and are applicable to other space conditioning systems as well.
Does sildenafil also improve breathing

Sildenafil is being used by a number of patients with erectiledysfunction. Some of these patients also may have concomitant COPD. Theeffect of sildenafil on lung function is not known. Two patients withsevere COPD and erectile dysfunction reported that their dyspneaimproved when they took oral sildenafil for erectile dysfunction. Spirometry performed in these patients revealed an improvement in FEV1 by 24% and 12%. This suggests that, in COPD patients, oral sildenafil does not have any deleterious effect onpulmonary function, and in some patients it may produce a modestimprovement in FEV1.
THE APPLICATION OF A SHAPIRO REACTION - SUZUKI COUPLING SEQUENCE TO THE STEREOSELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF E-TRISUBSTITUTED OLEFINS

Abstract A three-component coupling process is described for the rapid, stereoselective synthesis of a wide variety of E-trisubstituted olefins.
Chloramphenicol-resistant typhoid fever in Vietnam associated with R factor.

Abstract Blood cultures from febrile patients in Saigon yielded Salmonella typhi in eight cases. Four isolates were sensitive to all antibiotics and four isolates were highly resistant to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, and sulphadiazine. While receiving chloramphenicol the patients with drug-resistant S. typhi had prolonged febrile courses, and one patient died. The multiple drug resistance was associated with three distinct Vi-phage types and could be transferred from three of the isolates to recipient Escherichia coli organisms. This R-factor-mediated drug resistance in S. typhi in Vietnam is similar to the recent experience with typhoid fever in Mexico. Ampicillin and co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole) seem to be the best alternatives to chloramphenicol when treating these patients or travellers with typhoid fever who have lately returned from these regions.
Arginine supplementation improves the hydration of sickle cells in a mouse model

The polymerization rate of sickle hemoglobin (HbS) is exquisitely sensitive to its concentration. Since the amount of HbS in a sickle cell is essentially fixed, the concentration is determined by cell volume, which in turn depends on the cellular content of monovalent cations. Sickle cells tend to
Amalgam alternatives: what can compete?

Despite the evolution of many hardy and exciting new materials and the attacks on dental amalgam, amalgam has survived as the primary restorative material.
Sliding wear behavior of protective coatings for diesel engine components

Abstract The use of heat-insulating ceramic coatings on the cylinder walls of diesel engines is currently being considered for certain advanced engine designs. Since a major consideration in such an application is the wear resistance of the coatings, a series of tests has been carried out to determine the sliding wear behavior of several pairs of candidate materials systems, initially at room temperature. The tests were performed using a washer-on-disc specimen configuration and an oscillatory rotation movement to simulate the motion of a piston ring on a cylinder wall. It was determined that each material tested had a different pattern of sliding wear behavior. Impregnation of plasma-sprayed Y 2 O 3 -ZrO 2 with chromia markedly improved its wear resistance.
Relative economic efficiency in Texas nursing facilities: A profit function analysis

The purpose of this analysis is to examine the relative economic efficiency of profit-seeking versus nonprofit nursing facilities. A Cobb-Douglas profit function is used on cross-sectional data to determine the technical efficiency, price efficiency, and overall economic efficiency of Texas nursing facilities. Ownership form influences the profit level of the firm. Profit-seeking firms are more economically efficient than their nonprofit counterparts. Inclusion of price efficiency analyses reinforces profit-seeking firms’ superior technical efficiency. Additionally, nursing facilities are price takers in the output market as well as in resource markets, indicating effective industry regulation.
An analysis of vision screening data from New York City public schools.

Abstract Objective This study compares different vision screening batteries and documents the failure rates of different vision tests in children who receive periodic vision screenings. Methods Vision screenings were conducted on 1,992 preschool through fifth grade children attending schools in lower socioeconomic areas in New York City. The screening battery incorporated visual acuity, retinoscopy, cover test, stereopsis, near point of convergence, ocular motility, accommodation, color vision, and ocular health. Results Slightly less than one third (30%) of the children screened failed the State University of New York (SUNY) battery and were referred for a comprehensive examination, of which 249 (41%) children actually passed distance visual acuities. The referral rate for distance visual acuity alone was 19%. The referral rate for the Modified Clinical Technique (MCT) was 22%. A greater percentage (33%) of the children in grades kindergarten through fifth were referred compared with the preschoolers (20%). Only a small percentage (8%) of the children wore corrective lenses at the time of testing. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of binocular vision problems found in children from grades kindergarten through 5. Conclusions Poor visual acuity and binocular vision problems exist in schoolchildren despite ongoing vision screenings. The results provide evidence for the necessity of periodic rescreening starting in kindergarten and the importance of screening for hyperopia and binocular vision problems in addition to distance visual acuities.
Intracerebral hemorrhage: what's next?

Marc Fisher MD Kennedy Lees MD Section Editors A proven and effective treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains an elusive goal. Results of recent clinical trials have been bitterly disappointing. Neither a surgical approach focusing on evacuation of the hematoma1 nor a medical approach focusing on neuroprotective strategies2,3 have shown any clinically relevant benefit. The hematoma in ICH is a dynamic expanding mass. An increase in hematoma volume of >33% is seen in 38% of patients scanned within 3 hours of symptoms onset.4 In two-thirds of patients this increase in volume is seen within 1 hour.4 Because volume of the hematoma has been shown to be an important predictor of mortality and functional outcome,5 an approach focusing on preventing further bleeding is worth investigating. In a recent phase 2 trial, a role for ultra-early hemostatic therapy with recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) was identified.6 In this study, 399 patients with ICH were randomly assigned to receive placebo or 40, 80, or 160 μg of rFVIIa per kg of body weight. Treatment was given within 1 hour of the baseline CT scan and no later than 4 hours of symptoms onset. The primary efficacy endpoint for the study was the percent change in the volume of ICH. Global outcomes at 90 days were assessed using modified Rankin scale and the extended Glasgow Outcome scale. Of note, death and complete dependence on others was defined as modified Rankin Scale scores of 4 to 6. The study was conducted …
Elevated-temperature mechanical behavior of plasma-sprayed MoSi2SiC

Abstract The elevated-temperature mechanical behavior of a plasma-sprayed MoSi2-9vol.%SiC particulate composite was investigated over the temperature range 1100–1500°C. At temperatures of 1200 °C or less the stress exponent of 2.3–2.5, grain size exponent of −2.2, activation energy for creep of about 300 kJ mol−1, equiaxed grains after deformation and no deformation-induced dislocations suggest grain boundary sliding controlled by lattice diffusion of either Mo or Si as the dominant deformation mechanism. At temperatures of above 1300 °C the stress exponent is 1.3–1.5 and the activation energy for creep is 190 kJ mol−1. It is believed that the dominant deformation mechanism in this temperature range is grain boundary sliding controlled by grain boundary diffusion. The decrease in the stress exponent and activation energy for creep is thought to be a result of melting or softening of an amorphous silica grain boundary phase. The creep resistance of the plasma-sprayed MoSi2SiC composite is lower than that for MoSi2SiC composites produced using powder metallurgy and in-situ techniques as a result of its finer grain size and/or lower volume fraction of SiC.
Intermediate metabolism of electric tissue in relation to function. I. Glycolytic enzymes and succinic oxidase.

Abstract Studies have been initiated with the aim of obtaining more detailed information on the intermediary metabolism of electric tissue in relation to electrical activity and ion flux. The following results are described in this paper: 1. 1. Appropriate methods were worked out for preparing extracts of electric tissue and for testing them for enzyme activity. 2. 2. All the enzymes of the glycolytic scheme from phosphoglucoisomerase through lactic acid dehydrogenase have been demonstrated to be present in electric tissue extracts with the exception of triosephosphate isomerase and 1,3-phosphoglyceric kinase. 3. 3. The presence of the two latter enzymes is indicated by the experiments on glycolysis with whole homogenates. 4. 4. Some of the optimal conditions and cofactor requirements of glycolysis of electric tissue homogenates were worked out. 5. 5. Succinic oxidase activity was studied in two types of electric organ, the Bundle of Sachs and the main organ; the QO2 average in the former is 3.5; in the latter, 2.1. 6. 6. Succinic oxidase activity of electric tissue was compared with that in other conducting tissue (striated muscle, heart) and nonconducting tissue (kidney and liver). The succinic oxidase activity in electric tissue was as high as in striated muscle, but it was still higher in heart, kidney, and liver.
Nobel Lecture: Defining and measuring optical frequencies

Four long-running currents in laser technology met and merged in 1999--2000. Two of these were the quest toward a stable repetitive sequence of ever-shorter optical pulses and, on the other hand, the quest for the most time-stable, unvarying optical frequency possible. The marriage of UltraFast and UltraStable lasers was brokered mainly by two international teams and became exciting when a special ``designer'' microstructure optical fiber was shown to be nonlinear enough to produce ``white light'' from the femtosecond laser pulses, such that the output spectrum embraced a full optical octave. Then, for the first time, one could realize an optical frequency interval equal to the comb's lowest frequency, and count out this interval as a multiple of the repetition rate of the femtosecond pulse laser. This ``gear-box'' connection between the radio frequency standard and any/all optical frequency standards came just as Sensitivity-Enhancing ideas were maturing. The four-way Union empowered an explosion of accurate frequency measurement results in the standards field and prepares the way for refined tests of some of our cherished physical principles, such as the time-stability of some of the basic numbers in physics (e.g., the ``fine-structure'' constant, the speed of light, certain atomic mass ratios etc.), and the equivalence of time-keeping by clocks based on different physics. The stable laser technology also allows time-synchronization between two independent femtosecond lasers so exact they can be made to appear as if the source were a single laser. By improving pump/probe experiments, one important application will be in bond-specific spatial scanning of biological samples. This next decade in optical physics should be a blast.
SNAr-Derived Decomposition By-products Involving Pentafluorophenyl Triazolium Carbenes.

Pentafluorophenyl triazolium carbenes, widely used in NHC catalysis, can decompose by several mechanisms. Under high concentration conditions, the azolium may undergo a pentafluorophenyl exchange by a proposed SNAr mechanism to give an inactive salt. In the presence of appropriate substrates, cyclization on the ­ortho-position of the arene can occur, also by SNAr. These adducts provide a potential pathway for catalyst decomposition and serve as a caveat to the development of new reactions and catalysts.
Drug Resistance Mutations Alter Dynamics of Inhibitor-Bound HIV-1 Protease.

Under the selective pressure of therapy, HIV-1 protease mutants resistant to inhibitors evolve to confer drug resistance. Such mutations can impact both the dynamics and structures of the bound and unbound forms of the enzyme. Flap+ is a multidrug-resistant variant of HIV-1 protease with a combination of primary and secondary resistance mutations (L10I, G48V, I54V, V82A) and a strikingly altered thermodynamic profile for darunavir (DRV) binding relative to the wild-type protease. We elucidated the impact of these mutations on protein dynamics in the DRV-bound state using molecular dynamics simulations and NMR relaxation experiments. Both methods concur in that the conformational ensemble and dynamics of protease are impacted by the drug resistance mutations in Flap+ variant. Surprisingly this change in ensemble dynamics is different from that observed in the unliganded form of the same variant (Cai, Y. et al. J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2012, 8, 3452–3462). Our comparative analysis of both inhibitor-free and ...
Image Gently pediatric digital radiography summit: Executive summary

The goal of the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Radiology’s Image Gently campaign is to promote radiation protection for children undergoing imaging examinations that use ionizing radiation. The campaign creates awareness, develops educational content toward this goal, and more recently has advocated for change in equipment design to better meet the needs of pediatric patients. A previous meeting sponsored by the Alliance, the Image Gently CT Vendor Summit in 2008, urged manufacturers to standardize the CT dose display and nomenclature across vendors and promoted the adoption of a more accurate dose display or patient dose index to account for the wide range of size variability among pediatric patients. The campaign held a second meeting, the Image Gently Pediatric Digital Radiography Summit, building on the work of Drs. Charles E. Willis and Thomas L. Slovis, co-chairs of the 2004 conference, the ALARA Concept in Pediatric CR and DR: Dose Reduction in Pediatric Exams [1]. Although digital radiography (DR) technology, which encompasses both computed radiography and direct radiography, has advanced rapidly, progress has lagged in standardization, quality initiatives, and education to minimize dose while preserving image quality. To address this issue, the Image Gently Pediatric Digital Radiography Summit was held at Mallinkrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis on Feb. 4, 2010. More than 70 guests participated, including radiologists, medical physicists, radiological technologists (RTs), equipment manufacturers, educators, representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and medical professional societies. The goal of the meeting was to bring together the medical professionals who use this technology with the vendor community in order to review recent advancements in DR, discuss new standards for exposure indices, clarify the need for a national database and expand educational efforts. Plain film radiography is the most common examination in radiology, representing 74% of all radiologic examinations performed in the USA, including both adults and S. Don (*) Electronic Radiology Laboratory, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, 510 S. Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA e-mail: dons@mir.wustl.edu
Molecular Density Measurements Using Tunable Semiconductor Lasers in a Supersonic Flow

Tunable semiconductor lasers were used to probe flow-cooled UF6 molecules in a supersonic nozzle expansion. The number density obtainable and condensation characteristics were determined.
Separation of assembly-competent tubulin from brain microtubule protein preparations using a fast-performance liquid chromatography procedure.

: Fast-performance liquid chromatography was used to purify assembly-competent tubulin from porcine brain microtubule protein prepared by two cycles of assembly-disassembly. Microtubule protein (1–100 mg at 1.5–2.5 mg/ml) in buffer consisting of 0.1 M 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid, 0.5 mM MgCl2, 1 mM EGTA, 0.3 M KCl, and 0.02 mM GTP (pH 6.6) was applied to the Mono Q column (anion exchanger). The microtubule-associated proteins, GTP and GDP, eluted in the void volume. The tubulin fraction eluted at 0.45–0.50 M KCl with 65–80% recovery. The tubulin fraction contained trace enzymatic activities when compared with the starting microtubule protein, i.e., < 1 versus 60 mU/mg/min of nucleotide diphosphate kinase, 0.2 versus 7.0 nmol/mg/min of Mg-ATPase at pH 6.6, and 0.2 versus 88 mU/mg/min of adenylate kinase. Both the Mono Q-purified tubulin and the pelleted microtubules that were assembled in 0.5 mM [3H]GTP contained 0.77 mol of labeled nucleotide/tubulin dimer. The Mono Q-purified tubulin fraction was competent to assemble, i.e., the critical concentration was 0.1 mg/ml in the presence of 0.03 mM taxol and 1 mM GTP at 37°C. The Mono Q-purified tubulin fraction showed trace high-molecular-weight components, which were removed on Mono S (cation exchanger) columns. Alternatively, microtubule protein in buffer was applied to the Mono S column. Tubulin, trace nontubulin proteins, and several enzymatic activities came off in the void volume. A combination of Mono Q-Mono S or Mono S-Mono Q chromatography resulted in highly purified protein. However, it is possible to separate active tubulin-nucleotide rapidly from the major microtubule-associated proteins, enzyme contaminants, and unbound nucleotide with just Mono Q column chromatography.
An unexpected complication following immunoadsorption with a staphylococcal protein A column.

Extracorporeal immune adsorption with staphylococcal protein A (SPA) columns can remove immune complexes and immunoglobulins in the treatment of a variety of diseases. We present the case of an elderly man with neuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy, treated by 3 on-line SPA procedures. At the completion of these treatments his neuropathy relapsed, progressing to near-total paralysis. Return to a baseline clinical status required several months. The reason for this severe relapse is not clear. Possible explanations include SPA activation of T-lymphocytes, with release of gamma interferon and increased antigen recognition, or removal of an anti-idiotype control mechanism. We advise caution in the application of immunoadsorption to conditions in which it has not yet been evaluated. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fissile and fertile nuclear material measurements using a new differential die-away self-interrogation technique

Abstract This paper presents a new technique for the measurement of fissile and fertile nuclear materials in spent fuel and plutonium-laden materials such as mixed oxide (MOX) fuel. The technique, called differential die-away self-interrogation, is similar to traditional differential die-away analysis, but it does not require a pulsed neutron generator or pulsed beam accelerator, and it can measure the fertile mass in addition to the fissile mass. The new method uses the spontaneous fission neutrons from 244Cm in spent fuel and 240Pu effective neutrons in MOX as the “pulsed” neutron source, with an average of ∼2.7 neutrons per pulse. The time-correlated neutrons from the spontaneous fission and the subsequent induced fissions are analyzed as a function of time to determine the spontaneous fission rate, the induced fast-neutron fissions, and the induced thermal-neutron fissions. The fissile mass is determined from the induced thermal-neutron fissions that are produced by reflected thermal neutrons that originated from the spontaneous fission reaction. The sensitivity of the fissile mass measurement is enhanced by the use of two measurements, with and without a cadmium liner between the sample and a hydrogenous moderator that surrounds the sample. The fertile mass is determined from the multiplicity analysis of the neutrons detected soon after the initial triggering neutron is detected. The method obtains good sensitivity by the optimal design of two different neutron die-away regions: a short die-away for the neutron detector region and a longer die-away for the sample interrogation region.
Relational instability at the network core: Support dynamics in developmental networks

Abstract We present a descriptive model of developmental networks – interpersonal ties who take an active interest in and concerted action to advance one's career – and argue that both network structure and relational content are necessary for understanding how individuals receive early career support. By following 77 MBA graduates over three time periods ( N = 977 ties), we find evidence for an inner–outer core network structure in which ties providing high psychosocial support and low career support populate the inner core.