cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Double Appendix: Implications for the Emergency Department.

Abstract Background A double appendix, also known as vermiform appendix duplex, is a rare anomaly in humans, with a reported incidence of 1 in 25,000. The rarity of vermiform appendix duplication makes it a noteworthy medical occurrence. Approximately 100 reported cases have been documented since the first observed case in 1892. There are multiple types of appendiceal duplications, some of which include duplications of other organs. Case Report A 10-year-old boy was diagnosed with acute appendicitis by clinical examination and ultrasound. He underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy and had an unremarkable recovery. His pathology revealed acute suppurative appendicitis. Two months later, he presented to the emergency department due to bilateral lower abdominal pain with guarding and distension on examination. He underwent a computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis secondary to concern for a postoperative abscess, which instead showed a normal-appearing retrocecal appendix containing oral contrast. The patient was diagnosed with constipation, and his symptoms resolved with an enema. Our patient had two completely separate appendices, one arising from the cecal tinea coli, and one retrocecal. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Clinicians should be aware of this rare anomaly as a potential diagnosis in a patient with a history of prior appendectomy and clinical signs consistent with recurrent appendicitis. This also underscores the need for communication between doctors and patients, along with their families, to avoid delays in diagnosis in the future.
Individual differences in members of Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes is associated with resistance or vulnerability to addiction-like behaviors in heterogeneous stock rats

An emerging element in psychiatry is the gut-brain-axis, the bi-directional communication pathways between the gut microbiome and the brain. A prominent hypothesis, mostly based on preclinical studies, is that individual differences in the gut microbiome composition and drug- induced dysbiosis may be associated with vulnerability to psychiatric disorders including substance use disorder. However, most studies used small sample size, ignored individual differences, or used animal models with limited relevance to addiction. Here, we test the hypothesis that pre-existing microbiome composition and drug-induced changes in microbiome composition can predict addiction-like behaviors using an advanced animal model of extended access to cocaine self-administration in a large cohort of heterogenous stock (HS) rats. Adult male and female HS rats were allowed to self-administer cocaine under short (2h/day) and long access (6h/day) for ~7 weeks under various schedule of reinforcement to identify individuals that are resistant or vulnerable to addiction-like behaviors and fecal samples were collected before the first session and after the last session to assess differences in the microbiome composition. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) identified sex-dependent and sex-independent differences at the phylum, order, and species level that are differentially abundant in resistant vs. vulnerable individuals, including high level of actinobacteria both before the first exposure to cocaine and after 7 weeks of cocaine self-administration in resistant animals. Predictions of functional gene content using PICRUSt revealed differential regulation of short-chain fatty acid processing in the vulnerable group after self-administration. These results identify microbiome constituents as well as metabolic pathways that are associated with resistance or vulnerability to addiction-like behaviors in rats. Identification of microbes and tangential metabolic pathways involved in cocaine resilience/vulnerability may represent an innovative strategy for the development of novel biomarkers and medication for the treatment of cocaine use disorder.
General Theory of Finite Probability Spaces

If S is any probability space (Definition 1.6), we have defined an event A as any subset of S (Definition 1.12). In Chapter 2 we worked with a uniform space S and considered the problem of computing the probability p(A) by counting the elements in A and in S and using Equation 1.11: p(A) = n(A)/ n(S).
Natural history of Homo erectus.

Our view of H. erectus is vastly different today than when Pithecanthropus erectus was described in 1894. Since its synonimization into Homo, views of the species and its distribution have varied from a single, widely dispersed, polytypic species ultimately ancestral to all later Homo, to a derived, regional isolate ultimately marginal to later hominin evolution. A revised chronostratigraphic framework and recent work bearing either directly or indirectly on reconstructions of life-history patterns are reviewed here and, together with a review of the cranial and postcranial anatomy of H. erectus, are used to generate a natural history of the species. Here I argue that H. erectus is a hominin, notable for its increased body size, that originates in the latest Pliocene/earliest Pleistocene of Africa and quickly disperses into Western and Eastern Asia. It is also an increasingly derived hominin with several regional morphs sustained by intermittent isolation, particularly in Southeast Asia. This view differs from several current views, most especially that which recognizes only a single hominin species in the Pleistocene, H. sapiens, and those which would atomize H. erectus into a multiplicity of taxa. Following Jolly ([2001] Yrbk Phys Anthropol 44:177–204), the regional morphs of H. erectus may be productively viewed as geographically replacing allotaxa, rather than as the focus of unresolvable species debates. Such a view allows us to focus on the adaptations and biology of local groups, including questions of biogeographic isolation and local adaptation. A number of issues remain unresolved, including the significance of diversity in size and shape in the early African and Georgian records. Yrbk Phys Anthropol 46:126–170, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Toward a comprehensive, knowledge-based software design course

Many colleges and universities teach courses in the design and implementation of so-called expert systems. Such a course might include discussions of topics from traditional (symbolic) artificial intelligence, and culminate in the construction of a prototypical rule-based system. In general, the emphasis is on the use of knowledge compiled and encoded by the designer. Here, an alternative approach is suggested in which such a course is broadened to include fundamental topics from the study of artificial neural nets. In this way the student is exposed to the notion that not only can program knowledge be contributed directly by the designers, but might also be extracted by the software from the data itself.
Toward GT3 and OGSI.NET interoperability: GRAM support on OGSI.NET

OGSI.NET is the implementation of the Open Grid Services Infrastructure (OGSI) that leverages the Microsoft .NET Framework. OGSI.NET and the Globus Toolkit combine to create a comprehensive platform for computational science by supporting the emerging Grid protocols on Windows and Linux/UNIX, respectively. A significant challenge in building OGSI.NET is interoperability with the Globus Toolkit, both in terms of the rendering of individual services (OGSI-compliance and more recently WSRF-compliance) and also conformance to higher-level protocols developed in the Globus project and in the Global Grid Forum. This paper presents the design and experiences of implementing the Globus GRAM protocols on OGSI.NET. A major challenge was to easily and securely create processes as specific target users in the Windows environment. Differences between GT3 GRAM and OGSI.NET GRAM are described and an overview of WSRF.NET GRAM is presented.
MULTIDIMENSIONAL DISABILITY/MORTALITY TRAJECTORIES AT AGES 65 AND OVER: THE IMPACT OF STATE DEPENDENCE

How dependent is life expectancy atage 65 on one’s degree of disability or specific typesof functional limitations? Are there significant sexdifferences? For closed-cohorts of males and femalesin different disability/functional-status states atage 65, how do their age and disability-specificfunctional statuses evolve with increasing age? Thesequestions are addressed by analyzing multidimensionaldisability/mortality trajectories generated using atwo-component stochastic process model applied tomultivariate longitudinal data from the 1982 to 1994National Long Term Care Surveys. In this model, onecomponent process describes the temporal and agedynamics of a person’s functional state and the otherdescribes the risk of death as a function of aperson’s age and stochastically evolving position inthe functional-status state space. Large differenceswere found in life expectancy among closed cohorts ofpersons who, at age 65, are in one of seven basicdisability/functional-status states, identified by amultivariate analysis. Large differences betweenmales and females in life expectancy for theorigin-specific cohorts were also found. Whilefemales starting in most states tend to live longer,they are not as likely to return to the healthy,nondisabled state – females also tend to go intoinstitutions at a higher rate than males.
Pollution for Promotion

This paper demonstrates that China’s high environmental pollution levels can partly be explained by the incentives embedded in the country’s political institutions. Guided by a simple career concerns model with the choice of dirty and clean technologies, I examine empirically how promotion incentives of provincial governors aect pollution. To nd exogenous variation in promotion incentives, I explore within-governor variation in connections with key ocials due to reshuing at the center and document the fact that connections are complementary to economic performance for governors’ promotion. The data conrms the model prediction that connections increase pollution. Auxiliary predictions of the model are also conrmed
Recent advances in research on hedge fund activism: Value creation and identification

Hedge fund activism emerged as a major force of corporate governance in the 2000s. By the mid-2000s, there were between 150 and 200 activist hedge funds in action each year, advocating for changes in 200–300 publicly listed companies in the United States. In this article, we review the evolution and major characteristics of hedge fund activism, as well as the short- and long-term impacts of the performance and governance of targeted companies. Though most of the analyses here are based on a comprehensive sample of over 2,000 activism events in the United States from 1994 to 2011, hand-collected by the authors from regulatory filings and news searches, this article covers all major studies on the topic, including those on markets outside of the United States.
Drosophila Longevity Assurance Conferred by Reduced Insulin Receptor Substrate Chico Partially Requires d4eBP

Mutations of the insulin/IGF signaling (IIS) pathway extend Drosophila lifespan. Based on genetic epistasis analyses, this longevity assurance is attributed to downstream effects of the FOXO transcription factor. However, as reported FOXO accounts for only a portion of the observed longevity benefit, suggesting there are additional outputs of IIS to mediate aging. One candidate is target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1). Reduced TORC1 activity is reported to slow aging, whereas reduced IIS is reported to repress TORC1 activity. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein (4E-BP) is repressed by TORC1, and activated 4E-BP is reported to increase Drosophila lifespan. Here we use genetic epistasis analyses to test whether longevity assurance mutants of chico, the Drosophila insulin receptor substrate homolog, require Drosophila d4eBP to slow aging. In chico heterozygotes, which are robustly long-lived, d4eBP is required but not sufficient to slow aging. Remarkably, d4eBP is not required or sufficient for chico homozygotes to extend longevity. Likewise, chico heterozygote females partially require d4eBP to preserve age-dependent locomotion, and both chico genotypes require d4eBP to improve stress-resistance. Reproduction and most measures of growth affected by either chico genotype are always independent of d4eBP. In females, chico heterozygotes paradoxically produce more rather than less phosphorylated 4E-BP (p4E-BP). Altered IRS function within the IIS pathway of Drosophila appears to have partial, conditional capacity to regulate aging through an unconventional interaction with 4E-BP.
Does Ownership Structure Affect Corporate Performance? Evidence from the Divestiture Market

This paper examines the effect of ownership structure on the market assessment of asset sales. Three types of ownership structures are identified: large block outside, inside, and widely held. Empirical results indicate that firms with large block outside shareholders experience significantly positive announcement effects for both buying and selling firm samples. These are significantly greater than those for the inside shareholder and large widely held firms. This paper also examines whether ownership structure of the firm being transacted with and disclosure of the price of the transaction has an effect on the market assessment of the deal.lease enter abstract text here.
Biochemical sensors: Adapting to nanoscale events

Ways of characterizing single-molecule events are rapidly emerging in the biochemical sciences. One such line of research now shows how measurement of ionic transport through a single, atomic-scale pore in an insulating membrane can distinguish between organic molecules of relative molecular mass as low as 100; remarkably, a single protein channel can be adapted for simultaneous analysis of a mixture of organic molecules.
Failure of selective attention to phonetic segments in consonant-vowel syllables

Subjects performed a two-choice speeded classification task that required selective attention to either the consonant or the vowel in synthetic consonant-vowel (CV) syllables. When required to attend selectively to the consonant, subjects could not ignore irrelevant variation in the vowel. Similarly, when required to attend selectively to the vowel, they could not ignore irrelevant variation in the consonant. These results suggest that information about an initial stop consonant and the following vowel is processed as an integral unit.
Simultaneous Evaluation of Infarct Size and Cardiac Function in Intact Mice by Contrast-Enhanced Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reveals Contractile Dysfunction in Noninfarcted Regions Early After Myocardial Infarction

Background— The objective of this study was to noninvasively determine the effects of reperfused myocardial infarction (MI) on regional and global left-ventricular (LV) function 24 hours after MI in intact mice with contrast-enhanced cardiac MRI and a single, gradient-echo pulse sequence. Methods and Results— Twenty-three mice received baseline MRI scans followed by either 60 minutes of coronary occlusion (MI group, n=15) or thoracotomy without occlusion (sham group, n=8). Gadolinium-DTPA–enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired 24 hours after surgery. Hearts were then excised for conventional infarct size determination via 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. In addition to infarct size, analysis of the MR images yielded left ventricular (LV) mass, LV end-systolic volume (LVESV), LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), LV ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac output, and percent LV wall thickening (%WTh). Twenty-four hours after surgery, infarct size was 28.1±1.8% of LV mass by MRI and ...
Regio- and Stereoselective Indium Triflate-Mediated Nucleophilic Ring-Opening Reactions of 3-Aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene and -[2.2.2]oct-5-ene Systems

Indium triflate-mediated nucleophilic ring-opening reactions of 3-aza-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene and -[2.2.2]oct-5-ene systems with alcohols and water were investigated. Reactions of [2.2.1] bicyclic systems gave anti-1,2-, anti-1,4- and syn-1,4-ring-opened products with moderate to excellent regio- and stereoselectivity. When [2.2.2] bicyclic systems were subjected to similar reaction conditions, only anti-1,2 and anti-1,4-ring-opened products were obtained.
Parameter uncertainties in models of equivariant dynamical systems

Abstract We examine the advantages of using equivariant versus nonequivariant phenomenological models for chaotic systems that possess an inversion symmetry. Numerical experiments used the minimum description length (MDL) criteria for model selection. They indicated that the selection between equivariant versus nonequivariant models should be made on an a priori basis. We also examine the relationship between the optimal truncation accuracy of the parameters of the model (as predicted by the MDL criteria) and the true uncertainty in the parameters of the model. Numerical experiments indicate that the true uncertainties are poorly approximated by the optimal truncation accuracy. They also indicate that the true uncertainties may be useful for determining the presence of an inversion symmetry in reconstructed attractors.
Interferometry of uncollimated broadband beams: nifty new things you can do

We all know how easy it is to interfere laser light, which has great coherence both temporally and spatially.
Corticocortical connections of area 2 of somatosensory cortex in macaque monkeys: a correlative anatomical and electrophysiological study.

The cortical connections of electrophysiologically identified locations in the body representations in somatosensory cortex of macaque monkeys were investigated after injections of horseradish peroxidase, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) conjugated with horseradish peroxidase, tritiated WGA, or tritiated proline. After extensive microelectrode mapping of portions of the body representations in areas 3b, 1, 2, and 5 and careful determinations of electrophysiological borders between areas, restricted injections of tracers were placed, usually into the representation of the hand in area 2. Other injections were placed in the foot representation in area 2 or in area 1, in the wrist representation in area 1, and in the forearm and wrist representation in area 5. Connection patterns were related to the physiological mapping results and to cortical cytoarchitecture. Injections confined to a lateral portion of area 2 representing the glabrous digits of the hand revealed reciprocal connections with the digit representations in areas 1 and 3b. Projections to area 2 were largely from layer III neurons in both of these fields, and return projections terminated largely in supragranular layers. Other inputs were from layer III cells in one or more separate locations in area 5 and in one or more closely spaced foci in the expected location of S-II in the lateral sulcus. These connections were also reciprocal with terminations apparent in layers IV and III. A few neurons in area 4 were labeled in some of these cases. Results were similar after an injection in the foot representation in area 2 with the differences that infragranular neurons, in addition to supragranular neurons, formed a substantial part of the projection to area 2, terminations as well as projections were noted from area 4, interconnections were found more rostrally in area 6, and a dense focus of label was apparent in the dorsal bank of cingulate sulcus in the apparent location of the supplementary motor area. Injections in the foot representation in area 1 revealed dense layer IV terminations in the foot representation in area 2, as well as connections with area 3b, the S-H region, and areas 5 and 7. The injection in the wrist representation in area 1 resulted in dense terminations in the portion of area 5 responsive to the distal forearm and hand, sparser connections with a lateral location in part of area 2 related to the hand, and interconnections with 3b and S-11. Finally, an injection in the forearm representation of a part of area 5 that is highly responsive to cutaneous stimuli revealed connections with area 1, area 7, and S-II. The results suggest that (1) somatotopically matched locations in area 3b and 1 provide much of the cutaneous receptor information for processing in area 2, (2) the highly cutaneous zone of area 5 receives cutaneous receptor information directly from area 1, (3) area 2 relays to area 5, and (4) major outputs of areas 1, 2, and at least a specialized cutaneous portion of area 5 are to the S-II region.
Clinical decision support systems to improve utilization of thromboprophylaxis: a review of the literature and experience with implementation of a computerized physician order entry program.

AbstractObjective: A literature review was conducted of studies investigating the effectiveness of paper- and computer-based clinical decision support systems (CDSS) used with or without educational programs designed to increase the use of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis. Methods: Medline was searched on August 9, 2010, without limits on publication year, but with restrictions to English-language articles only. The search terms used were “venous thromboembolism,” “deep vein thrombosis,” “pulmonary embolism,” “prophylaxis,” “thromboprophylaxis,” “computerized,” “computerised,” “decision support,” “alerts,” “reminder,” “paper system,” “risk assessment,” and “risk score.” All types of studies regarding the effects of CDSS on VTE prophylaxis rates were included. Studies were included if ≥ 1 post-implementation outcome was measured, such as rates of VTE, rates of prophylaxis prescribing, or guideline-adherence measures. Results: Studies evaluating paper-based CDSS used different strategies, including ...
Indomethacin sensitive suppressor cell activity in head and neck cancer patients pre- and postirradiation therapy

The effects of the addition of indomethacin to PHA or Con A stimulated lymphocytes from patients with untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck or from patients with the disease who have just finished irradiation therapy from the disease was quantitated and compared to those of the control group. Lymphocytes from eight of 26 patients with untreated carcinoma were significantly augmented by the addition of indomethacin. The remaining eighteen patients were equal to the controls. For all 17 patients who had just finished extensive field irradiation therapy, significant enhancement of PHA and Con A reactivity by indomethacin was found, which did not appear to be solely a function of low baseline mitogen reactivity. In additional studies, stimulated lymphocytes of irradiated patients were tested for their sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of PGE2. The mitogen treated lymphocytes from all patients that had just finished irradiation therapy were found to be significantly more sensitive to the inhibition by PGE2 as compared to the normal lymphocyte response. This effect was also found not to be related merely to a low PHA or Con A reactivity of the lymphocytes. The results of this study support the hypothesis that perhaps patients receiving irradiationmore » therapy may benefit by the oral administration of indomethacin, an approach that needs further consideration.« less
The legacy of model programs.

Accordingly, the major value of model programs for these patients lies not in their exportability per se, but rather in their development and demonstration of certain principles of program planninig. Unlike the model programs themselves, the principles upon which these programs are founded may be adopted in a variety of settings. Eight such principles have previously been documented and discussed in the literature (2), and they are now being applied with increasing frequency in communities throughout the United States. The programs based on these principles differ among themselves markedly in format and funding arrangements. Some are in the private sector, others are in the public sector, and stillothers combine public and private funding. They also vary widely in their philosophies and treatment approaches. What exactly are these princi-
Comparison of Services Among Different Types of Home Health Agencies

Past and proposed public policy reforms in home care have presumed that similar services are provided by different types (e.g., public, proprietary) of home health agencies under a uniform benefit. To examine this presumption, the author used Medicare billing data and interview information for a nationally representative sample of 921 home health patients from the 1984 National Long Term Care Survey, supplemented with data on agency type from the Health Care Financing Administration. In multivariate linear regression models that included patient demographics, marital status, insurance status, living arrangement, urban/rural location, informal support, and functional status, patients of public home health agencies and Visiting Nurse Associations (VNAs) had lower total charges and fewer visits per episode of enrollment than patients of hospital-based, private nonprofit, or proprietary agencies. Public home health agency patients had the lowest and proprietary agency patients the highest number of visits per week of enrollment. Model R2 ranged from 0.13 to 0.22. These results indicate that, for example, similar patients could be expected to incur nearly four times the total charges, and receive three times the total visits and twice the number of visits per week at proprietary as compared with public home health agencies. Patients enrolled in home health agencies with greater incentives to generate revenue incurred more charges, and received more total and more frequent visits than patients enrolled in agencies that can cross-subsidize services. The amount of services and total cost of current proposals to expand the provision of supportive home care services may be strongly influenced by the implicit mix of provider types.
Comparison of plasma parameters between QH and ELMing phases of the same discharges

Abstract H-mode confinement is observed for many energy confinement times without edge localized modes (ELMs) in QH (quiescent high-confinement)-mode discharges in DIII–D. To determine the critical differences between ELMing and QH modes we compared electron temperature (Te), density (ne), and ion temperature (Ti), in the pedestal (ped) and scrape-off layer (SOL) for a group of discharges. We also compared the electron pressures Pped, and maximum pressure gradient ∇maxPe,ped because of their importance in confinement and stability. Experimental results show that the core line averaged density, median Te,ped, Te,SOL, and Te,ped width, and Ti,SOL are nearly the same in QH mode as that during ELMs. The ne,ped (average), ne,ped width, Pped, and ∇maxPe,ped are similar to corresponding values in QH mode and at various times between ELMs. However, the median Ti,ped is 1.6 times higher in QH mode than during ELMing.
Pneumothorax itératifs et spontanés révélant un syndrome de Birt-Hogg-Dubé

The Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD) syndrome is associated with cutaneous disorders including fibrofolliculomas and trichodiscomas, and also lung pneumatocysts and kidney tumours. The BHD syndrome occurs as a consequence of an autosomal dominantly inherited genodermatosis, linked to multiple germline mutations in the 14 exons of the BHD gene, mapped on 17p11.2 and encoding for folliculin (FLCN). The size and number of lung pneumatocysts are extremely variable and the cysts are surrounded by normal pulmonary tissue. In the absence of smoking lung function is usually unimpaired. The lung cysts are frequently complicated by the development of recurrent pneumothoraces. Treatment of pneumothorax in patients with the BHD syndrome is similar to the approach taken for patients with spontaneous pneumothorax. Lung cysts in the BHD syndrome are a rare cause of cystic pulmonary lesions. However, they must be systematically evaluated since kidney tumours occur in one third of patients. We report a case of classical BHD syndrome with specific cutaneous involvement, recurrent pneumothoraces complicating lung cysts, an exon 12 germline mutation on BHD gene and a familial history suggesting other related cases. This observation allows us to update this orphan disease, to consider BHD in the differential diagnosis of lung cysts and, above all, to highlight the high frequency and the prognostic significance of associated kidney tumours.
LISP and its applications to physical problems

Abstract The language LISP 1.5 is proposed as a standard language for the writing and description of symbolic computer programs designed for applications in physics. A detailed discussion of LISP is given, together with a survey of LISP programs for physical problems.
Challenges for tertiary storage in multimedia servers

Abstract The low cost per Mbyte of optical disk and magnetic tape storage makes these technologies particularly attractive for use in large capacity storage servers, including multimedia servers. However, these devices have performance problems that range from high costs for many optical drives to low performance and lack of random access in tape drives. We evaluate the performance on multimedia applications of several tertiary storage systems, including optical disk jukeboxes, arrays of optical drives, and storage hierarchies composed of magnetic disk arrays and magnetic tape libraries. We conclude that striped arrays of next-generation write-once optical disks will offer the best performance at acceptable cost.
Internal Condition of a Diminishing Blue Crab Population (Callinectes sapidus)

Abundance of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, in Rhode Island estuaries has decreased during the last 30 years. A commercial fishery once existed in areas where the blue crab is no longer found. Composition of the plasma and muscle was studied to see if abnormalities could be recognized. Mean concentrations of total sugars, protein, non-protein nitrogen, phosphate, and chloride did not differ in crabs from two contrasting lagoons; the mean concentrations of lipids and total nitrogen were also independent of the population's habitat. The concen- tration of sugars was atypically low compared with reports on crabs from North Carolina. In the plasma, total sugar concentration was directly related to its conductivity; the concentrations of non-protein nitrogen and phosphate were inversely related to chlorinity. Groups of such correlated tests have predictive value and, when further elaborated, they might be applied to the management of the fishery.
Diabetic silent hearts and anesthesia: the duty to assess.

On 6/12/93, SD, a 38-year-old obese man with a medical history significant for diabetes and hypertension, went to a medical clinic for treatment of a perirectal abscess, pain, and fever. The medical clinic referred SD to the emergency room of Hospital for evaluation. At Hospital, SD was examined by surgeon Dr. P, who indicated that the abscess required surgery. Subsequently, Dr. P admitted SD to the inpatient service and scheduled SD for surgery the next morning. Due to SD’s medical history, Dr. P ordered an electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess SD’s cardiac and pulmonary status. The ECG was performed on 6/12/93 at approximately 10:30 pm, and Dr. P referred the ECG for interpretation to a cardiologist. On the morning of 6/13/93, Dr. A, the anesthesiologist, arrived at the hospital to prepare for SD’s surgery. Dr. A noted that SD was an obese man with a history of hypertension and diabetes. Dr. A also noted that SD suffered from shortness of breath. At that time, Dr. A also saw the uninterpreted ECG tracing for SD, which had abnormalities present. However, Dr. A then or subsequently did not report this information to Dr. P, nor did Dr. A seek out a cardiologist to interpret the ECG. The surgery on SD was performed as scheduled using general anesthesia provided by Dr. A. At the end of the surgery, Dr. A noted that SD was experiencing significant problems breathing. At this point, Dr. A attempted to intubate SD’s trachea to establish an airway. This action proved futile, and SD then went into cardiac arrest. Resuscitation efforts were made; despite these efforts, SD died on the operating table. Later that morning, a cardiologist interpreted the ECG, reporting a possible previous myocardial infarction. An autopsy found that SD had suffered a silent myocardial infarction at least 1 week before the date of surgery. Plaintiff sued, amongst others, Dr. A for medical malpractice, claiming that Dr. A violated the anesthesiologist’s standard of care by not assessing the ECG before surgery. At trial, plaintiff presented expert testimony of Dr. M, a board-certified anesthesiologist. Dr. M indicated that an anesthesiologist must consider the possibility that a patient with a history of diabetes may have had a silent myocardial infarction and heart disease, particularly if the patient has a history of hypertension and is obese. Dr. M also indicated that, armed with this knowledge, the known monitoring options could have been used by the surgical team to monitor and obtain an early indication of SD’s heart failure, which would have led to immediate treatment. Dr. M indicated that he believed that SD
Electrochemical Study of 3-(N-alkylamino)thiophenes: Experimental and Theoretical Insights into a Unique Mechanism of Oxidative Polymerization

A number of conjugated polymer systems can be generated via electropolymerization, including polythiophenes and polyanilines. While both have been reported to polymerize anodically via radical coupling, the presence of the aniline nitrogen plays a significant role in the mechanism of electropolymerization. In this study, the electropolymerization mechanism of 3-(N-alkylamino)thiophenes, structural hybrids of thiophene and aniline, is studied utilizing experimental and theoretical methods. Synthesis of new short chain 3-(N-alkylamino)thiophenes is discussed, and a mechanism of electropolymerization is proposed whereby oxidation occurs through removal of a nitrogen lone pair electron, followed by a chemical step resulting in radical contribution at the 2-position of the thiophene ring. Coupling of these final radical cations thus results in a typical poly(α−α′-thiophene) backbone.
Measuring the Past: Free Digitized Sources of Historical International Economic Information

Although international economic statistics from the 1950s to the present are freely available, finding historical international economic statistics (e.g., statistics prior to World War II) can be challenging. This article discusses the development of international economic statistics, traditional sources of historical data, and the availability of free, historical economic statistics from selected international sources, government agencies, digitization projects, and Web portals. This article includes examples of two hypothetical cases for historical economic statistics—trade statistics for Argentina and prewar statistics for the metal industries of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Enhancement of Growth of Common Carp by Injection of a Homogenate of Carp Pituitary Glands

Abstract The growth rate of small (10-25 g), intact (i.e., not hypophysectomized) common carp (Cyprinus carpio) held at 35°C was enhanced by injections of pituitary material obtained from adult carp. Percentage increase over initial length and weight was dose-dependent by 4 weeks after the first injection. The dose-response curve for length increase due to the pituitary material was parallel to the curve demonstrated for injections of bovine growth hormone (bGH). The potency of bGH (determined in a previous study) was from 5.0 to 5.4 times greater per unit weight than the potency of the pituitary material. Condition factor of all fish increased slightly; the greatest increase was apparent among fish receiving the two lowest dosages and the least increase was noted among the control fish.
Simple Echoes and Subtle Reverberations

Reverberation within an enclosed space can be viewed as a superposition of a large number of simple echoes. The echoes that make up the sound of reverberation fall neatly into two categories, relatively loud and sparse early reflections, and relatively soft and dense late reflections. Ways in which readily available music production software can be used for the study of reverberation are suggested. Additionally, methods of adding reverberation to recorded sound are discussed.
Role of lymphangiography in stagingtesticular seminoma

Abstract Bipedal lymphangiography (LAG) and abdominal/pelvic computerizedtomography (CT) are both useful in evaluating retroperitoneal lymph nodes in early-stage testicular seminoma. Fifty-four patients who had both radiologic studies performed between 1982 and 1986 were identified, and their films were reviewed. Four patients had evidence of retroperitoneal lymph node metastases on both CT and LAG. Of the 50 patients who had normal findings on CT scan, 39 (78 %) had a normal LAG and 11 (22 %) had a positive LAG. All 11 patients had architectural abnormalities within normal-sized nodes. No patient had positive findings on CT with negative LAG. In addition to aiding in staging, LAG is very useful in designing radiation treatment portals. Therefore, we believe that LAG can continue to play an important role in the accurate staging and treatment of patients with testicular seminoma.
Oxidative Degradation of Nylon 66 Filaments

Drawn and undrawn nylon 66 filaments were exposed to oxygenated aqueous systems, and the extent of chemical degradation was studied as a function of time. Degradation was estimated by measuring the changes in both chemical and physical properties. At the same time, oxygen absorption measurements were made and these were correlated with the observed structural changes. A significant pH effect on the rate and extent of the degradation was found. Viscosity measurements in m-cresol and other physical and chemical properties show that there is little degradation at pH 3 and that the rate of degradation increases with pH until a maximum is reached at pH 8.3, after which the rate again decreases. A tentative mechanism for the autoxidation of nylon, including pH dependence, is postulated.
A simple method for monitoring the hardness of thin amorphous carbon-containing coatings

Abstract Steel balls suffer abrasive wear when they slide against diamond-like carbon- or boron carbide-coated steel disks in a hall-on-disk arrangement. The volume of material removed can be measured with a low-power microscope by observing the wear sear left on the ball. We find that the initial abrasion rates and the ultimate sizes of the abrasion scars depend very sensitively on the hardness of the coating. This sensitivity suggests that the hardness of such films could be monitored simply, rapidly, and accurately from a measurement of abrasion on a steel ball.
The Contemporary Indications for Augmentation Cystoplasty

Augmentation cystoplasty (AC) is a well-established technique for improving bladder compliance and capacity, preserving renal function, and minimizing incontinence due to severe detrusor overactivity. The popularity of AC has declined over the past decade due to the improved efficacy of other conservative therapies such as botulinum toxin. However, AC plays an important role in the management of refractory patients. Many patients requiring AC will also benefit from the creation of a continent catheterizable channel and bladder outlet surgery. Various augmentation and continent channel techniques are described, along with associated complications. In the appropriate patient, AC is an excellent treatment option that can improve bladder function and improve patients’ quality of life.
Considerations for the Clinical Development of Cytokine Gene-Transduced Tumor Cell Vaccines

In preclinical models, tumor cells genetically altered to secrete cytokines or express costimulatory molecules can generate systemic antitumor immunity. In some studies, these tumor vaccines have been shown to eradicate micrometastases. These results have led to the initiation of numerous phase I clinical trials employing either genetically modified or allogenic tumor vaccines. This article addresses a number of issues related to the clinical development of cytokine gene-transduced tumor cell vaccines including: (1) the production of cytokine-secreting tumor vaccines; and (2) the preclinical feasibility and toxicity studies required for testing these vaccines in patients with cancer.
Modelling considerations for electrostatic forces in electrostatic microactuators

Abstract Electrostatic force generation may offer distinct advantages over more familiar magnetostatics at size scales approaching microns. The fabrication of very small electrostatic actuators is becoming technologically feasible, but is extremely difficult, so that mathematical modelling of actuator designs is likely to be very important in the advancement of this technology. Modelling involves difficulties not only in finding solution (typically numerical) to a mathematical problem, but more important, it requires that the mathematical problem be well formulated. This in turn requires an understanding of, and intuition for, what electrostatic effects are likely to be revelant, as well as an appreciation for the behavior of materials in electrostatic interactions and for the impact on other machine components (bearing, loads, etc). The well-established lore of magnetostatics is not of much use as a guide in this task for several reasons: magnetic materials tend to be either highly permeable (i.e. ferromagnetic) or to have no magnetic effect. By contrast, there are no electrostatically inert materials; the relative dielectric constant e of any solid (of normal density) is of order two or greater, and thus any solid element of an electrostatic configuration has a significant influence on the field. Also, the sources of magnetic fields, currents or magnetization, can be specified with some confidence, while the sources of the electrostatic field, electric charge and polarization, are much more elusive and subject to change. It is the purpose of this paper to point out some of the effects that must be taken into account if a mathematical model is to give an adequate representation of the behavior of an actualy system. To do this we sketch a brief list of the types of electrostatic elements and interactions (conductors, dielectrics, compensated and uncompensated electrets, ferroelectrics, image forces, dielectrophretic forces, etc.) and use this list as background for discussing some electrostatic effects that may be important in the design or modelling of microactuators. For some of these effects, applicable results are reported from experimental investigations carried out with both a small (several hundred micron scale) electrostatically actuated device (‘SCOFSS’) built to study aspects of microelectromechanical design and of control via electrostatic actuation, and the ‘Wobble Motor’, a successful electrostatic microactuator.
Effect of prokinetic agents on ileal contractility in a rabbit model of gastroschisis.

Abstract Intestinal hypomotility is a major problem after repair of gastroschisis. The authors assessed the effect of four clinically available prokinetic agents on intestinal contractility using a rabbit model of gastroschisis. Gastroschisis was surgically created at 24 days' gestation in fetal rabbits. At term, 10-mm ileal muscle strips were harvested, suspended in an organ bath, and stimulated with 10 −6 mol/L carbechol with and without each prokinetic agent: metoclopromide (1 × 10 −5 mol/L), cisapride (2 × 10 −5 mol/L), erythromycin (1 × 10 −5 mol/L), and octreotide (5 × 10 −5 mol/L). The effect of each agent on contractility was calculated as percent change from maximal response to carbechol alone. There were two control groups: sham operated fetuses, and maternal ileum. Metoclopromide was effective only in the adult rabbits. Cisapride improved contractility in newborns with gastroschisis, as well as in both newborn and adult control groups. Neither erythromycin or octreotide improved bethanechol-induced contractility in any of the animals. These data suggest that cisapride may be useful for treating hypoperistalsis in infants with gastroschisis. Clinical studies must be done to further pursue this finding.
Maneuver Trim Optimization Techniques for Active Aeroelastic Wings

Presented at the 41st AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference and Exhibit, Atlanta, GA, April 3-6, 2000.
Observations on crab, Carcinus maenas, spermatozoa following rapid-freeze and conventional fixation techniques

Mature crab, Carcinus maenas, spermatozoa are multibranched, spherical to biconvex-shaped cells containing a centrally located acrosome situated within a cytonucleoplasmic network which arises following partial nuclear membrane breakdown during spermiogenesis. Elsewhere the nuclear membrane becomes pentalaminar and is situated subplasmalemmally. Cryofixation and -substitution techniques are superior to chemical fixation as evaluated by thin sections and freeze-fracture. The cells are smaller, the cytonucleoplasmic network is more compact, of higher electron opacity, and the multilaminar nuclear membrane and the plasma membrane are smoother and of finer morphologic detail than in chemically processed cells. Freeze-fracture observations demonstrate smoother-appearing membranes and more regularly distributed particles. As seen following cryofixation the cytonucleoplasmic network is composed of a tightly woven meshwork of 3- to 6-nm-size filaments. The plasmalemma, the subplasmalemmal, pentalaminar membrane, and multilaminar membranes exhibit a particulate pattern whose constituent particles are 2.0 to 4.0 nm in diameter. The plasmalemma is further characterized by outward-projecting, stalk-like elements whose base is a continuation of the outer lamina of the plasmalemmal unit membrane. Freeze-fracture observations demonstrate that 7- to 9-nm-size, plasmalemmal, P-face particles occur throughout the spermatozoon, except the region of direct plasmalemmal acrosomal membrane contact. Here both P and E plasmalemmal fracture faces are smooth. The outer acrosomal membrane contains closely packed, 7- to 9-nm-size, E-face particles throughout its extent. The nuclearly derived pentalaminar membranes subjacent to the plasmalemma contain fewer particles than the plasmalemma. These results are discussed in terms of previously employed rapid-freeze techniques in other cells, where enhancement of fine structure detail was described. The data are further compared with data of other species of crab spermatozoa following chemical fixation.
Pion interferometric tests of transport models

Abstract In hadronic reactions, the usual space-time interpretation of pion interferometry often breaks down due to strong correlations between spatial and momentum coordinates. We derive a general interferometry formula based on the Wigner density formalism that allows for arbitrary phase space and multiparticle correlations. Correction terms due to intermediate state pion cascading are derived using semiclassical hadronic transport theory. Finite wave packets are used to reveal the sensitivity of pion interference effects on the details of the production dynamics. The covariant generalization of the formula is shown to be equivalent to the formula derived via an alternate current ensemble formalism for minimal wave packets and reduces in the nonrelativistic limit to a formula derived by Pratt. The final expression is ideally suited for pion interferometric tests of Monte Carlo transport models. Examples involving gaussian and inside-outside phase space distributions are considered.