cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Positive emission tomography for evaluating a complete clinical response in patients with ovarian or peritoneal carcinoma: correlation with second-look laparotomy.

Abstract Objective. Positive emission tomography (PET) provides a novel means of imaging malignancies. The following study was undertaken to evaluate the predictive value of PET in determining a pathologic complete response in patients with advanced ovarian or peritoneal carcinoma who had a complete clinical response following primary chemotherapy. Methods. Twenty-two patients with advanced-stage ovarian ( N = 17) or peritoneal ( N = 5) carcinoma who had achieved complete clinical and radiologic remission and normal CA-125 level after six cycles of chemotherapy and who had consented to a second look laparotomy procedure were studied. All patients received platinum based therapy and all but one patient, treated elsewhere, received paclitaxel in combination with platinum. Following IV administration of 20 mCi [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), the entire abdomen and pelvis were scanned. Various technical modifications including bladder activity dilution, intravenous hydration with diuretic therapy, and mechanical bowel preparations, were used to reduce background activity. Second-look laparotomy findings were classified as negative, macroscopically positive if a biopsy of a suspicious area was histologically positive, or microscopically positive if only a nonsuspicious area was histologically positive. The effect of patient preparation prior to PET imaging was evaluated. Results. Persistent disease was found in 13 of the 22 patients (59%). Only one of nine sites with macroscopic and none of four with microscopic disease were accurately predicted. The sensitivity was only 10% and the specificity 42%. Intravenous hydration, diuretic therapy, and bowel preparation did not improve the results. Conclusions. These results suggest that despite technical modifications the sensitivity of PET before second-look laparotomy for small-volume persistent disease is low.
Quantitative lipid composition of cell envelopes of Corynebacterium glutamicum elucidated through reverse micelle extraction

Cells of the Corynebacterium-Nocardia-Mycobacterium group of bacteria are surrounded by an outer membrane (OM) containing mycolic acids that are covalently linked to the underlying arabinogalactan-peptidoglycan complex. This OM presumably acts as a permeability barrier that imparts high levels of intrinsic drug resistance to some members of this group, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and its component lipids have been studied intensively in a qualitative manner over the years. However, the quantitative lipid composition of this membrane has remained obscure, mainly because of difficulties in isolating it without contamination from the inner cytoplasmic membrane. Here we use the extraction, with reverse surfactant micelles, of intact cells of Corynebacterium glutamicum and show that this method extracts the free OM lipids quantitatively with no contamination from lipids of the cytoplasmic membrane, such as phosphatidylglycerol. Although only small amounts of corynomycolate were esterified to arabinogalactan, a large amount of cardiolipin was present in a nonextractable form, tightly associated, possibly covalently, with the peptidoglycan-arabinogalactan complex. Furthermore, we show that the OM contains just enough lipid hydrocarbons to produce a bilayer covering the cell surface, with its inner leaflet composed mainly of the aforementioned nonextractable cardiolipin and its outer leaflet composed of trehalose dimycolates, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, and highly apolar lipids, similar to the Minnikin model of 1982. The reverse micelle extraction method is also useful for extracting proteins associated with the OM, such as porins.
Use of a Roll Film Back for Photographic Spectral Detection

Use of a film back designed for size 120 or 220 film is presented as an alternative to photographic plates for detection of emission spectra. Spectral quality and cost comparisons are made.
Chronic intrastriatal injection of the excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist l-kynurenic acid in rat produces selective neuron sparing lesions

Abstract Heritable neurodegenerative diseases may be associated with one or more endogenous neurotoxins whose actions on neurons lead to the degenerative changes. One metabolite of tryptophan, the amino acid l -kynurenic acid ( l -KYN), was chronically injected into the striatum of the male rat to test its potential as an endogenous neurotoxin. l -KYN, at concentrations of approximately five times its normal brain levels, produced a large lesion with relative selective neuron sparing. The l -KYN-induced lesion presented three concentric regions: a central necrotic zone, a thin pyknotic zone, and an outermost spongiose zone. The number of GABA-ergic neurons were markedly reduced (∼76%), while cholinesterase-positive neurons were also lost. The NADPH diaphorase-positive neurons were the most resistant to l -KYN neurotoxicity and were spread throughout the spongiose zone. The brain levels of l -KYN are abnormal in patients with the neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease and as a neurotoxin l -KYN may play a role in the etiology of this disease. Of further significance, the fact that l -KYN is neurotoxic contraindicates the use of this excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
Herbicide Phytotoxicity Model for Assessing Herbicide Tolerance

A herbicide phytotoxicity model was used to investigate differences in herbicide tolerance between two species of Amsinckia (A. intermedia Fischer and Meyer and A. gloriosa Suksdorf) to the herbicide bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile). The model included two primary parameters that predicted the plant's maximum response and the response rate to a given herbicide level. The models for the two species were compared at each herbicide rate (0.06, 0.12, 0.25, and 0.50 kg ai/ha), and the modeled reaction of the two species to the herbicide was significantly different at all but the lowest herbicide rate. Fitted curves were compared using a t-test for each model coefficient and alternatively by using a multivariate statistic that considers the joint behavior of the coefficients in the model. Zusammenfassung Ein Modell fur die Pflanzentoxizitat von Herbiziden zur Einschatzung von Herbizid-toleranzen Ein mathematisches Modell fur die Pflanzentoxizitat von Herbiziden wurde zur Unter-suchung von Unterschieden in der Herbizid-toleranz von zwei Arten von Amsinckia (A. intermedia Fischer & Meyer and A. gloriosa Suksdorf) gegenuber dem Herbizid Bromoxy-nil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile) angewandt. Das Modell basiert auf zwei Hauptparametern, die es ermoglichen, die maximale Reaktion und die Reaktionsrate vor-herzusagen. Die zwei Arten wurden fur ver-schiedene Herbiziddosen (0,06, 0,12, 0,25, und 0,50 kg/ha) mit Hilfe des Modells ver-glichen. Bezuglich aller Level, ausgenommen dem niedrigsten, zeigten sich signifikante Unterschiede. Der Vergleich der Kurven wurde sowohl mittels t-test fur jeden Koef-fizienten als auch mittels multivarianter Statis-tik durchgefuhrt, die das Verhalten beider Koeffizienten gleichzeitig berucksichtigte.
Cinefilms of particle capture by an induced local change of beat of lateral cilia of a bryozoan

Abstract A local disruption of the metachronal wave always accompanies capture of algal cells by tentacles of Flustrellidra hispida (Fabricius). Beat changes for ≈0.2 s over ≈100μm of the ciliated band during capture of a 10-μm particle. The halted parcel of water is therefore larger than the particle of food but much smaller than the flow that continues past the tentacles elsewhere. These events are consistent with the hypothesis that an induced local reversal of beat concentrates particles for those suspension feeders that retain particles upstream from a band of simple cilia (adults or larvae of bryozoans, brachiopods, phoronids, hemichordates, and echinoderms). These events are not explained by other hypotheses that have been advanced for concentration of particles by these suspension feeders. Aerosol filtration models of direct interception are not applicable to this type of ciliary suspension feeder because retention depends on the magnitude of a stimulus and response to it. The stimulus will not be the same function of diameter of the food particle, and response is unlikely below a threshold stimulus.
An association of pulmonary hypoplasia with unilateral agenesis of the diaphragm

During a period of 5 years, 33 newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia were treated. Three groups presenting with respiratory distress in the delivery room were identified. These included 8 newborns with agenesis (group 1) and 4 newborns with nonagenesis (group 2), all of whom died. There were 19 nonagenesis survivors (group 3), giving an overall survival rate of 61%. Two newborns who presented beyond 6 hours of life were excluded. No one specific arterial blood gas value or ventilation parameter obtained preoperatively could predict survival. Postmortem right and left lung weights, lung/body weight ratio, and radial alveolar counts demonstrate that agenesis is a unique subgroup with profound pulmonary hypoplasia and a dismal prognosis.
Prognostic value of EEG in neonatal meningitis: retrospective study of 29 infants.

Neonatal meningitis is associated with significant neurologic sequelae. Previous studies from our laboratory and others demonstrated electroencephalography (EEG) to be a useful tool in predicting long-term neurologic outcome in at-risk neonates. We, therefore, retrospectively studied 29 infants with culture-proved neonatal meningitis who died in the neonatal period or survived to follow-up at a mean of 34.4 months. Seventy-five EEGs were obtained during the acute phase of infection; the degree of EEG background abnormality proved to be an accurate predictor of outcome. Infants who had normal or mildly abnormal backgrounds had normal outcomes, whereas those with markedly abnormal EEGs died or manifested severe neurologic sequelae at follow-up. When the EEG was considered with the presence or absence of seizures and the level of consciousness, an accurate prediction of neurologic outcome was obtained in 27 infants (93%). Although the EEG patterns were generally nonspecific, some abnormalities, such as positive rolandic sharp waves, persistent hemispheric or focal voltage attenuation, suggested more specific pathology (i.e., deep white matter necrosis, large-vessel infarction and abscess, respectively). EEG was also valuable for the recognition of subtle and subclinical seizures. Therefore, we conclude that EEG is a valuable tool for predicting the long-term prognoses of infants with neonatal meningitis.
Diagnosis of asthma: diagnostic testing

Background Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, encompassing both atopic and non-atopic phenotypes. Diagnosis of asthma is based on the combined presence of typical symptoms and objective tests of lung function. Objective diagnostic testing consists of 2 components: (1) demonstration of airway obstruction, and (2) documentation of variability in degree of obstruction. Methods A review of current guidelines and literature was performed regarding diagnostic testing for asthma. Results Spirometry with bronchodilator reversibility testing remains the mainstay of asthma diagnostic testing for children and adults. Repetition of the test over several time points may be necessary to confirm airway obstruction and variability thereof. Repeated peak flow measurement is relatively simple to implement in a clinical and home setting. Bronchial challenge testing is reserved for patients in whom the aforementioned testing has been unrevealing but clinical suspicion remains, though is associated with low specificity. Demonstration of eosinophilic inflammation, via fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurement, or atopy, may be supportive of atopic asthma, though diagnostic utility is limited particularly in nonatopic asthma. All efforts should be made to confirm the diagnosis of asthma in those who are being presumptively treated but have not had objective measurements of variability in the degree of obstruction. Conclusion Multiple testing modalities are available for objective confirmation of airway obstruction and variability thereof, consistent with a diagnosis of asthma in the appropriate clinical context. Providers should be aware that both these characteristics may be present in other disease states, and may not be specific to a diagnosis of asthma.
Differences in the association between apolipoprotein E genotype and mortality across populations.

Background. The gene for apolipoprotein-E (APOE) has three common alleles (� 2, � 3, and � 4) that have been shown to be associated with differences in the risk of death in persons older than 60 years in European populations. However, previous research suggests that they may not be associated with mortality in African Americans, and the evidence in Asians is mixed. It is now possible to examine the effects of these genotypes on mortality in African American, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean populations. Methods. The analysis is based on two types of published data: genotype by age and mortality by genotype. Demographic synthesis uses a multistate model to combine data from these case–control and cohort studies to provide maximum likelihood estimates of the relative risks of death. Results. In general, the APOE � 2 allele is associated with 5%–10% lower mortality than the � 3/3 genotype. The � 4/4 allele is generally associated with a moderately high relative risk of death. The � 3/4 genotype is associated with 22% excess risk in Europeans and U.S. whites and with about 35% in Chinese. However, there is no evidence of excess risk with � 3/4 among African Americans and little excess risk among Japanese and Koreans. The relationship between genotype and mortality is consistent within these ethnic groups. For example, the estimates of R3/4 for Japanese in Japan and Hawaii are both low, and the estimates for Chinese in Taiwan and Shanghai are relatively high. Conclusions. The relationship between APOE genotype and mortality differs across population groups but shows little evidence of variation within groups.
Decline in 25% to 75% forced expiratory flow as an early predictor of chronic airway rejection in pediatric lung transplant recipients.

Background Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is the major obstacle to long-term lung allograft viability. Its clinical correlate, BO syndrome (BOS), is defined as a decline of at least 20% in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) from baseline. BOS is often diagnosed after significant organ dysfunction has occurred. Because BO is a small-airways disease, we hypothesized that a 20% decline in the 25% to 75% forced expiratory flow (FEF 25–75 ) from baseline should occur before a decline in FEV 1 and should predict progression to BOS with high sensitivity and specificity. Methods Pulmonary function tests and records of pediatric lung transplantation patients at Texas Children's Hospital from 2002 to 2007 were reviewed. Declines in FEV 1 and FEF 25–75 from the best post-transplant baseline values were recorded and analyzed. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results Thirty-one patients were eligible for the study. In 11 BOS patients, the mean±standard deviation number of days from transplant until a 20% decline in FEV 1 was 896.5±400 compared with 728.0±475 ( p = 0.022) until a 20% decline in FEF 25–75 was reached. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive and negative predictive values of a 20% reduction in FEF 25–75 in determining BOS were 100%, 90.0%, 84.6%, and 100%, respectively. Conclusions All patients who developed BOS had a decline in FEF 25–75 at or before the decline in FEV 1 . The reduction in FEF 25–75 occurred statistically significantly earlier than the decline in FEV 1 , by an average of 168.5 days. This decline in FEF 25–75 was also highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of BOS.
High-order discretization of integral equations with singular kernels

High-order discretization of integral equations with a singular kernel (such as the electric- or magnetic-field integral equation) requires a high-order quadrature method for singular integrands. "High-order" means, in this case, that one can obtain extra digits of precision at relatively modest cost. High-order basis functions alone are not sufficient. Use of low-order integration techniques may be responsible for reports of the limited utility of high-order basis functions. Often, in the computation of near matrix elements, Gaussian quadrature is employed in a way that destroys its high-order behavior, a practice often called "singularity subtraction". The author shows, by simple numerical example, how the high-order behavior of Gaussian quadrature is destroyed by crude "singularity subtraction", even with functions that appear, visually to be extraordinarily smooth. He then exhibits quadratures for one dimensional integrals (appropriate to two dimensional scattering problems) that are high-order for integrands with logarithmic singularities. Finally, he outlines a method of high-order integration for three dimensional surface scattering.
Incorporating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis measures into preventive interventions for adolescent depression : Are we there yet?

Altered functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a robust correlate of major depression in adults, and to a lesser extent, in adolescents. Premorbid differences in HPA axis function have been found to prospectively predict the onset of adolescent depression. To what extent might our knowledge of HPA axis function in adolescents with, or at risk for, depression, help guide efforts to prevent depression in this age group? We review evidence regarding the role of the HPA axis in the development of adolescent depression, and examine whether and which HPA axis measures might be useful in guiding prevention efforts as (a) as a criterion by which to select youth at risk for depression, (b) as a predictor of which youth will be most responsive to prevention efforts, and (c) as an indicator of whether prevention/intervention efforts are working. We conclude that our current understanding of the HPA axis, and its measurement, in adolescent depression are not sufficiently precise to be of immediate practical use in improving prevention efforts. Incorporating HPA axis measures into prevention studies, however, would be immensely useful in clarifying the role of the HPA axis in adolescent depression, such that future prevention efforts might more confidently rely on HPA axis information.
Preference for consistency and social influence: A review of current research findings

Throughout the history of social psychology there has been a strong and long-standing belief that individuals are generally consistent within their attitudes and behaviors; yet there is a track record of small effect sizes and difficulty in replicating findings involving consistency-based phenomena. To address this discontinuity, Cialdini, Trost, and Newsom (1995) developed a scale to assess individual differences in preference for consistency (PFC)—differences that they argued might account for the puzzling pattern. The PFC scale measures individual differences in the desire to be consistent, to be perceived as consistent, and for others to be consistent. This paper reviews the literature on social influence and PFC and evaluates the contribution this scale has made to the social influence literature in years since its initial introduction.
Residential Mobility and Lung Cancer Risk: Data-Driven Exploration Using Internet Sources.

Frequent relocation has been linked to health decline, particularly with respect to emotional and psychological wellbeing. In this paper we investigate whether there is an association between frequent relocation and lung cancer risk. For the initial investigation we used web crawling and tailored text mining to collect cancer and control subjects from online data sources. One data source includes online obituaries. The second data source includes augmented LinkedIn profiles. For each data source, the subjects’ spatiotemporal history is reconstructed from the available information provided in the obituaries and from the education and work experience provided in the LinkedIn profiles. The study shows that lung cancer subjects have higher mobility frequency than the control group. This trend is consistent for both data sources.
Triheptanoin improves brain energy metabolism in patients with Huntington disease.

Objective: Based on our previous work in Huntington disease (HD) showing improved energy metabolism in muscle by providing substrates to the Krebs cycle, we wished to obtain a proof-of-concept of the therapeutic benefit of triheptanoin using a functional biomarker of brain energy metabolism validated in HD. Methods: We performed an open-label study using 31 P brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure the levels of phosphocreatine (PCr) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) before (rest), during (activation), and after (recovery) a visual stimulus. We performed 31 P brain MRS in 10 patients at an early stage of HD and 13 controls. Patients with HD were then treated for 1 month with triheptanoin after which they returned for follow-up including 31 P brain MRS scan. Results: At baseline, we confirmed an increase in Pi/PCr ratio during brain activation in controls—reflecting increased adenosine triphosphate synthesis—followed by a return to baseline levels during recovery ( p = 0.013). In patients with HD, we validated the existence of an abnormal brain energy profile as previously reported. After 1 month, this profile remained abnormal in patients with HD who did not receive treatment. Conversely, the MRS profile was improved in patients with HD treated with triheptanoin for 1 month with the restoration of an increased Pi/PCr ratio during visual stimulation ( p = 0.005). Conclusion: This study suggests that triheptanoin is able to correct the bioenergetic profile in the brain of patients with HD at an early stage of the disease. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class III evidence that, for patients with HD, treatment with triheptanoin for 1 month restores an increased MRS Pi/PCr ratio during visual stimulation.
Restoring auditor credibility: tertiary monitoring and logging of continuous assurance systems

Abstract The continuing series of business scandals, from Enron to WorldCom, have undermined the credibility of auditing and auditors. In response, the SEC and the AICPA have advocated greater reliance on continuous assurance (CA), which utilizes on-line information technology to produce audit results simultaneously with, or a short period of time after, the occurrence of relevant events. In comparison with the traditional financial statements audit, CA aims to be timelier, more comprehensive, more accurate and more supportive of the management process. However, even if CA accomplishes that goal, will that be sufficient by itself to help restore investors' faith in auditing? We argue that while CA is certainly useful if the problem behind firm failure is lack of information and analysis, it is no more effective than standard auditing in a setting in which managers and auditors collude to deliberately mislead investors. Indeed, its reliance on automated analytics based on auditor- and manager-determined benchmarks makes CA especially vulnerable in the event of fraud. To overcome this potential weakness of future CA systems, we propose that they be augmented with a “black box (BB) log file” that is a read-only, third-party-controlled record of the actions of auditors, especially in regard to their interactions with management and choice of audit metric and models. Comprehensive and secure in a way that the current system of working papers is not, and accompanied by sophisticated search and analytic algorithms, the log files will serve as an “audit trail of an audit”, thus enabling an efficient and effective tertiary assurance system. We also argue that the strongest incentive to adopt logging is the replacement of SAS No. 96 with a new standard specifying that the audit documentation contained in the BB log has to be comprehensive in the sense that the auditor can rely on no other evidence but the BB log to support the issued audit opinion, e.g., in the case of litigation. Such a new standard will essentially leave it to the audit firms and to market forces to determine the extent and scope of logging, while ensuring that the intent of logging—to enhance the credibility of the audit by ensuring that it is better backed up by audit documentation—will be fulfilled.
Consideration of Sire Relationships for Estimation of Variance Components with Interaction of Herd and Sire

Abstract Effects of sire relationships for sire and interaction of herd and sire were examined using simulation and minimum variance quadratic unbiased estimates of variance components. Data were simulated for 50 herds and 20 sires for five sire relationship matrices, three data structures, and three interaction levels. A total of 1000 replicates were simulated for each combination of relationship matrix, data structure, and interaction level. The minimum variance quadratic unbiased estimates were calculated for the true (simulation) model, for models ignoring relationships for sires and interaction, and for models excluding interaction of herd and sire. Interaction variance was underestimated when relationships were ignored. Underestimation increased with sire relatedness. Sire variance and heritability estimates increased when variance components were estimated using sire models compared with estimates using interaction models. This overestimation increased with interaction level simulated in the data and as the data were more unbalanced. Estimates of sire variance were as much as 2.7 times larger than that expected, and heritability estimates were as much as 2.8 times larger than that expected.
The Possible Role of Adenosine Triphosphate in Rubidium Absorption as Revealed by the Influence of External Phosphate, Dinitrophenol and Arsenate.

Ion accumulation in plant cells requires aerobic respiration. According to Lundegardh's theory of anion absorption, the driving mechanism for the process is the cytochrome system which transports anions inward as electrons move outward in the steps of terminal oxidation (9). DNP (2,4-dinitrophenol)which in animal mitochondria is known to interfere with metabolic steps involving adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (7, 8)-inhibits salt accumulation by plant tissue while maintaining or increasing the rate of respiratory oxygen consumption (11). This suggests that ATP, an energy source for many reactions, may be rather directly linked with the ion accumulation process. The present study deals with some experiments designed to obtain further evidence on the hypothesis that active salt uptake may be closely related to ATP. If ATP is closely linked with ion accumulation, then several possible consequences may be useful in testing this hypothesis. One is that inorganic phosphate deficiency may limit the amount of ATP and thus lower ion uptake. Another possibility is that DNP depression of ion uptake is due to interference with phosphate transfers to or from ATP; the rate at which useful bond energy from ATP is made available should be related to amounts of ion accumulation. Finally the presence of ATP should be demonstrable. Previous work has shown that Rb+ is absorbed by excised tissues (3, 4, and 13) much as in the case of potassium and that after a more rapid initial uptake the amount of cation uptake parallels that of anion absorption (13). Also Rb86 appears to be a suitable tracer for K+ in short term experiments (6). Auxin may enhance Rb+ uptake in amounts related to the auxin induced increase in respiration (3) ; and, in turn, auxin activity has been reported to be related to oxidative phosphorylation (2) and, in fact, to raise the level of ATP (10).
Phase II trials of erlotinib or gefitinib in patients with recurrent meningioma.

There are no established treatments for recurrent meningioma when surgical and radiation options are exhausted. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is often over-expressed in meningiomas and may promote tumor growth. In open label, single arm phase II studies of the EGFR inhibitors gefitinib (NABTC 00-01) and erlotinib (NABTC 01-03) for recurrent malignant gliomas, we included exploratory subsets of recurrent meningioma patients. We have pooled the data and report the results here. Patients with recurrent histologically confirmed meningiomas with no more than 2 previous chemotherapy regimens were treated with gefitinib 500 mg/day or erlotinib 150 mg/day until tumor progression or unacceptable toxicity. Twenty-five eligible patients were enrolled with median age 57 years (range 29–81) and median Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score 90 (range 60–100). Sixteen patients (64%) received gefitinib and 9 (36%) erlotinib. Eight patients (32%) had benign tumors, 9 (36%) atypical, and 8 (32%) malignant. For benign tumors, the 6-month progression-free survival (PFS6) was 25%, 12-month PFS (PFS12) 13%, 6-month overall survival (OS6) 63%, and 12-month OS (OS12) 50%. For atypical and malignant tumors, PFS6 was 29%, PFS12 18%, OS6 71%, and OS12 65%. The PFS and OS were not significantly different by histology. There were no objective imaging responses, but 8 patients (32%) maintained stable disease. Although treatment was well-tolerated, neither gefitinib nor erlotinib appear to have significant activity against recurrent meningioma. The role of EGFR inhibitors in meningiomas is unclear. Evaluation of multi-targeted inhibitors and EGFR inhibitors in combination with other targeted molecular agents may be warranted.
Applying parallel block predictor-corrector methods to a Space Shuttle main rocket engine simulation

The effectiveness of applying two types of parallel block predictor-corrector algorithms presented by L.F. Shampine and H.A. Watts (Math. Comput., vol.23, p.731-40, 1969; BIT, vol.12, p.252-66, 1972) and L.G. Birta and O. Abdou-Rabia (IEEE Trans. on Comput. vol.C-36, no.3, p.299-311 March 1987) to the simulation of a Space Shuttle main rocket engine is discussed. Comparisons between the sequential and parallel versions of the algorithms are made, based upon implementations of Shuttle main engine simulations on a four-node multiple-instruction multiple-data parallel processing environment consisting of Inmos T800 transputers. The results of these simulations are reported in terms of certain performance measurements, including execution time, processor utilization, simulation accuracy and simulation stability. The expected performance of expanded versions of the algorithms which employ more than four transputers is also calculated assuming a hypercube-type topology. >
Intracranial glioblastoma models in preclinical neuro-oncology: neuropathological characterization and tumor progression

Although rodent glioblastoma (GBM) models have been used for over 30 years, the extent to which they recapitulate the characteristics encountered in human GBMs remains controversial. We studied the histopathological features of dog GBM and human xenograft GBM models in immune-deficient mice (U251 and U87 GBM in nude Balb/c), and syngeneic GBMs in immune-competent rodents (GL26 cells in C57BL/6 mice, CNS-1 cells in Lewis rats). All GBMs studied exhibited neovascularization, pleomorphism, vimentin immunoreactivity, and infiltration of T-cells and macrophages. All the tumors showed necrosis and hemorrhages, except the U87 human xenograft, in which the most salient feature was its profuse neovascularization. The tumors differed in the expression of astrocytic intermediate filaments: human and dog GBMs, as well as U251 xenografts expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin, while the U87 xenograft and the syngeneic rodent GBMs were GFAP− and vimentin+. Also, only dog GBMs exhibited endothelial proliferation, a key feature that was absent in the murine models. In all spontaneous and implanted GBMs we found histopathological features compatible with tumor invasion into the non-neoplastic brain parenchyma. Our data indicate that murine models of GBM appear to recapitulate several of the human GBM histopathological features and, considering their reproducibility and availability, they constitute a valuable in vivo system for preclinical studies. Importantly, our results indicate that dog GBM emerges as an attractive animal model for testing novel therapies in a spontaneous tumor in the context of a larger brain.
LeRC rail accelerators: Test designs and diagnostic techniques

As a part of electromagnetic propulsion research at Lewis Research Center (LeRC), an in-house effort has been initiated to investigate the feasibility of using rail accelerators for various in-space and to-space propulsion applications. A 1 meter, 4×6 mm bore accelerator has been designed with the goal of demonstrating projectile velocities of 15 km/sec using a peak current of 200 kA. A second rail accelerator, 1 meter long with a 12.5×12.5 mm bore, has been designed with clear polycarbonate sidewalls to permit visual observation of the plasma arc. This paper presents a study of available diagnostic techniques and their application to the rail accelerator. Specific topics of discussion include the use of interferometry and spectroscopy to examine the plasma armature as well as the use of optical sensors to measure rail displacement during acceleration.
Risks and consequences of incidental parathyroidectomy during thyroid resection.

Background: Inadvertent removal of the parathyroid glands during elective thyroid surgery occurs more frequently in certain high-risk patients and can lead to symptomatic hypocalcaemia. Methods: A case–control study was carried out at a tertiary referral, academic medical centre between May 1994 and August 2001. Five hundred and thirteen patients underwent thyroid resection. Pathology reports were reviewed to identify patients who had the inadvertent removal of a parathyroid gland during their thyroid surgery. Thirty-three (6.4%) patients had inadvertent resection of a parathyroid gland. The outcomes of these 33 patients (INCIDENTAL) were compared with the other 480 patients who did not have resection of parathyroid tissue (NO INCIDENTAL). Results: Risk factors for inadvertent parathyroid resection included younger age (P = 0.003), bilateral thyroid resection (P = 0.001) and malignant pathology (P = 0.002). Factors that did not increase the risk of incidental parathyroidectomy included gland weight, sex, presence of a goitre, previous neck exploration and concurrent lymph node dissection. In the INCIDENTAL group 24% had a postoperative calcium levels less than 7.0 mg/dL (P = 0.001). Symptomatic hypocalcaemia developed in 12% of INCIDENTAL patients, compared to 4% in the NO INCIDENTAL group (P = 0.06). Conclusion: Incidental removal of parathyroid tissue occurred in 6.4% of thyroid resections. Younger patients undergoing a total or subtotal thyroidectomy for malignancy were at the highest risk. These patients had lower postoperative calcium levels, but the majority (88%) experienced no clinical consequences.
Culturally, Clinically, and Ethically Competent Practice With Individuals and Families Dealing With Medical Conditions

Professionals are increasingly expected to provide services that are clinically, ethically, and culturally competent. Counselors and other professionals working with individuals and families in counseling as well as consultation contexts, where medical concerns are a focus, would do well to consider the implications of clinical, ethical, and cultural competence in their work. The article describes clinical, ethical, and cultural competence—and their components—and illustrates them with case material.
Promoter Independence as a Feature of Most Skin Papillomas in SENCAR Mice

In the present study, the fate of individual papillomas induced by initiation-promotion on the backs of SENCAR mice was monitored after discontinuation of limited promoter treatment. Groups of 40 SENCAR mice each were initiated by a single topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) at 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.25 micrograms/mouse. Animals were promoted with 2 micrograms of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) twice weekly during 10 weeks. At that time point, 10 papilloma bearing mice from each group were randomly selected to follow the growth of their existing tumors. Animals and their individual tumors were identified, charted, and photographed weekly. After an initial increase, the average number of papillomas/mouse remained constant after discontinuation of TPA in all the groups except the group receiving the highest DMBA dose (Group 1) and with highest tumor load. Twenty-one weeks after TPA was discontinued, only 10-20% of the papillomas had regressed and no statistically significant differences were found among the different DMBA dose groups. On the other hand, Group 1 showed the highest percentage of coalescing tumors which was apparently a function of tumor load. In addition, no differences were observed in the proportion of positive tumors with activating point mutations at codon 61 of the Ha-ras gene when comparing samples of papillomas from the highest DMBA initiation dose group (2 micrograms) versus the lowest DMBA initiation dose group (0.25 micrograms). Our present data suggest that papillomas induced with low doses of DMBA in SENCAR mice are no more TPA dependent than those induced by higher initiating doses. Furthermore, in SENCAR mice at the doses used in the present study (0.25-2 micrograms/mouse), the number of so-called "promoter dependent" papillomas represents only a small percentage of the total papillomas produced using the initiation-promotion protocol.
The biochemistry of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

have effectson diverse physiological processes impacting normal health andchronic disease, such as the regulation of plasma lipid levels (1–4),cardiovascular (5–7) and immune function (8), insulin action (9,10), and neuronal development and visual function (11) (see TableI, supplemental material). Ingestion of
He’s Been in Starkfield Too Many Winters

The author recalls a conversation he had with a friend who runs an advertising agency. The friend tells the author about a project his agency is working on, that it involved a producer who hired screen writer to dramatize a fairly famous novel. The screen writer had been instructed by the producer to come close, but not infringe the original work by making the screenplay a derivative work based on the original work. "I wondered to myself how the writer would know the difference, but asked by friend to continue." What follows is a discussion of the perils involved in such a scenario regarding possible liability for copyright infringement.
Language across difference: ethnicity, communication, and youth identities in changing urban schools, by Django Paris

As a former teacher and current researcher in urban secondary schools, I have searched the academic literature to understand the linguistic realities of the Black and Latina/o youth with whom I hav...
Opiate Prescription Medication Dependence and Pain Perceptions

Our study showed that the perception of pain lessens with detoxification from chronic prescription opiate medications. Thus, removal of opiates resulted in less pain, and chronic administration of opiates actually increased pain perceptions. The underlying pathophysiology of increased pain sensitivity from chronic administration is not well understood. However, the enhanced pain from the development of tolerance and dependence is a common phenomenon. Clinicians are advised to limit their prescribing of opiate drugs to patients on a chronic basis. Further, unresolved pain complaints, and continued complaints of pain despite escalating doses of opiate medications suggest addiction and its adverse consequences. Identification of addiction and detoxification is the proper approach to pain management in chronic opiate administration.
Current density effects on the corrosion of ceramic and metallic electrode materials in waste glasses

Vitrification by joule-heating requires suitable electrode materials. Molybdenum electrodes are used often in high temperature (∼1500°C) joule-heated melters producing commercial glass while Inconel 690 has been the material of choice for lower temperature (∼1150°C) high-level nuclear waste vitrification. Vitrification of diverse waste streams at higher-temperatures places increasingly severe demands upon the electrode materials. Some commercially available ceramics possess sufficient conductivity at high temperatures to be used as electrodes. Many mixed- and low-level waste vitrification applications involve significant amounts of reducible species that accelerate the corrosion process for metallic electrodes. In addition, the corrosion rate of all electrode materials depends on the electrode current density. A special test rig was designed that measures the dependence of corrosion rate on both current density and temperature over extended periods of time. Molybdenum, Inconel 690, and three types of commercial ceramic coupons were tested over a range of conditions in simulated waste glasses containing key reducible species (e.g., PbO, CuO, ZnO, SO3). The corrosion rates show strong dependencies on the current density. Coupons were sectioned and the glass-coupon interface examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Cu, Pb, Ni and Sn were found to be reduced to their metallic states at the molybdenum coupon surfaces and were active in the corrosion process.
Variability of Zoospore Discharge in Species of the Genus Dictyuchus

Eighteen isolates representing six species of Dictyuchus were propagated in five different cultural media and observed on days 2, 4, 6, 10, and 22 after inoculation to determine variability of spor...
Gender Violence as Global Phenomenon: Refugees, Genital Surgeries, and Neocolonial Projects of the United States

This essay investigates the mounting U.S. vision of gender violence since the 1990s as a global phenomenon. Focusing on U.S. legal, political, and media discourse about female circumcision in parti...
Lossless Data Hiding for JPEG Image Based on Forecast Entropy

Aiming at the problem of choosing DCT coefficients blocks in data hiding,this paper proposes a lossless data hiding method for JPEG images based on minimum entropy.Utilizing the histogram pairs method,data are embedded into the low-middle frequency quantized coefficients of DCT blocks with the minimum forecast entropy.Without recording location map of selected blocks,hidden data can be extracted blindly and the original image can be reconstructed with no distortion.Experimental results show that the Peak Signal to Noise Ratio(PSNR) of this method is higher than other methods.
Application of IEEE1588 protocol on industrial Ethernet switch

With the development of the intelligent substation technology,the collection and the transmission of digital signal must be based on unified timing sequence and clock standards to ensure the accuracy,real-time performance,and effectiveness of the data.IEEE1588 clock synchronization technology plays an important role in a new generation of intelligent substation.In this paper,the PTP technology defined in IEEE1588 is analyzed.The system architecture and message classes of the PTP system are studied in detail.It mainly introduces similarities and differences between P2P and E2E.IEEE1588 clock synchronization plan has many advantages of high-accuracy,simple configuration,low cost and so on.It can satisfy the technical requirements of time synchronism in power system.
U.S. academic medical centers under the managed health care environment.

This research investigates the impact of managed health care on academic medical centers in the United States. Academic medical centers hold a unique position in the U.S. health care system through their missions of conducting cutting-edge biomedical research, pursuing clinical and technological innovations, providing state-of-the-art medical care and producing highly qualified health professionals. However, policies to control costs through the use of managed care and limiting resources are detrimental to academic medical centers and impede the advancement of medical science. To survive the threats of managed care in the health care environment, academic medical centers must rely on their upper level managers to derive successful strategies. The methods used in this study include qualitative approaches in the form of key informants and case studies. In addition, a survey questionnaire was sent to 108 CEOs in all the academic medical centers in the U.S. The findings revealed that managers who perform the liaison, monitor, entrepreneur and resource allocator roles are crucial to ensure the survival of academic medical centers, so that academic medical centers can continue their missions to serve the general public and promote their well-being.
Rôle of surfactant free fatty acids in antimicrobial defenses

Previous studies of the mechanisms of killing of inhaled bacteria have been confined to the demonstration that alveolar macrophages phagocytose and kill inhaled staphylococcus intracellularly. We have found recently th at the surfactant-containing fraction of rat bronchoalveolar lavage fluid is bactericidal for pneumococci and some other gram-positive bacteria, excluding staphylococci. In studies reviewed herein, we show that these antibacterial factors in rat surfactant are long-chain free fatty acids (FFA). Polyunsaturated FFA appear to be particularly active. Because inhaled pneumococci are cleared very rapidly in vivo in the absence of conventional opsonins, we speculate that FFA may have a role in pneumococcal killing. All species tested to date, including humans, dogs, and guinea pigs have detectable FFA in their surfactant, although the level of FFA in these species is lower than in rats. Human and guinea pig surfactant, in fact, have too little FFA in their pulmonary surfactant to give detectable antipneumococcal activity in vitro. Nonetheless, inhaled pneumococci are killed rapidly by guinea pigs, suggesting that the level of FFA in bronchoalveolar lavage is not a good indication of the amount of FFA on alveolar surfaces, or, alternatively that FFA may not play a role in pneumococcal clearance in vivo. We have recently completed histological studies which demonstrate that inhaled pneumococci are, in fact, killed extracellularly in rats. This observation adds credence to the concept that mechanisms exist in the alveoli for extracellular killing of some bacteria and indicates that further studies of FFA in this process are worthwhile.
An Integrated Experimental and Modeling Approach to Predict Sediment Mixing from Benthic Burrowing Behavior

Bioturbation is the dominant mode of sediment transport in many aquatic environments and strongly influences both sediment biogeochemistry and contaminant fate. Available bioturbation models rely on highly simplified biodiffusion formulations that inadequately capture the behavior of many benthic organisms. We present a novel experimental and modeling approach that uses time-lapse imagery to directly relate burrow formation to resulting sediment mixing. We paired white-light imaging of burrow formation with fluorescence imaging of tracer particle redistribution by the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus. We used the observed burrow formation statistics and organism density to parametrize a parsimonious model for sediment mixing based on fundamental random walk theory. Worms burrowed over a range of times and depths, resulting in homogenization of sediments near the sediment-water interface, rapid nonlocal transport of tracer particles to deep sediments, and large areas of unperturbed sediments. Our fundame...