cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coronary artery disease in patients with type A aortic dissection

The usefulness of preoperative coronary arteriography in patients with type A dissection of the aorta is controversial. To determine the prevalence of arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease in patients with type A dissection of the aorta, we reviewed our experience in 62 patients (42 with acute dissection and 20 with chronic dissection) who underwent operation between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 1993. Among 23 patients with acute dissection who underwent coronary arteriography, 8 (34.8%) had one or more coronary artery lesions causing a greater than 50% narrowing. Among 14 patients with chronic dissection who underwent coronary arteriography, 6 (42.9%) had one or more coronary artery lesions causing a greater than 50% narrowing. There were no fatal complications associated with coronary arteriography. Four patients with acute dissection and 6 patients with chronic dissection underwent coronary artery bypass grafting at the time of operative repair of the aortic dissection, with no operative deaths. On the basis of these findings and the success of combined coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic repair, we recommend that patients with an acute type A dissection who are in stable condition and all patients with a chronic type A dissection of the aorta should undergo preoperative coronary arteriography.
Antibody to C1̄-inhibitor in a patient receiving C1̄-inhibitor infusions for treatment of hereditary angioneurotic edema with systemic lupus erythematosus reacts with a normal allotype of residue 458 of C1̄-inhibitor

Patients with hereditary C4 deficiency are likely to have severe lupus erythematosus. A patient with hereditary angioneurotic edema (HANE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had a chronic deficiency in C4 because the hereditary deficiency in C1-inhibitor allowed the C1 in her serum to become activated and then inactivate C4. An attempt was made to repair the C4 deficiency as well as the deficiency in C1-inhibitor by giving infusions of human C1-inhibitor in the hope of inducing remissions of both HANE and SLE. During treatment, antibody to C1-inhibitor developed in the patient; this cleared when the infusions were stopped. During subsequent treatment with danazol alone, measurable C1-inhibitor developed in the patient's serum, but levels of C4 were never significantly increased. Antibody to normal C1-inhibitor was not expected to develop in the patient because she is heterozygous for this autosomal dominant trait. A normal allotype (VAL or MET 458), which would have been in the preparation used but which the patient does not synthesize because she can produce only one allotype (MET 458), appears to have been immunogenic. The antibody isolated from the patient's serum reacted with C1-inhibitor from a normal individual known to be homozygous for 458-VAL but not with one from a homozygote for MET-458.
Bistable spin currents from quantum dots embedded in a microcavity

We examine the spin current generated by quantum dots embedded in an optical microcavity. The dots are connected to leads, which allow electrons to tunnel into and out of the dot. The spin current is generated by spin-flip transitions induced by a quantized electromagnetic field inside the cavity with one of the Zeeman states lying below the Fermi level of the leads and the other above. In the limit of strong Coulomb blockade, this model is analogous to the Jaynes-Cummings model in quantum optics. We find that the cavity field amplitude and the spin current exhibit bistability as a function of the laser amplitude, which is driving the cavity mode. Even in the limit of a single dot, the spin current and the $Q$ distribution of the cavity field have a bimodal structure.
The effects of isovalerate supplementation on growth and fatty acid composition of Tetrahymena pyriformis W

Cultures of Tetrahymena pyriformis W respond to isovalerate supplementation by an increase in odd-numbered saturated, unsaturated and alpha-hydroxy iso-fatty acids and by a decrease in even-numbered normal fatty acids in the glycerolipids and sphingolipids. Supplementation, however, did not alter the relative amount of unsaturated fatty acids found in the polar lipids. The unsaturated acids 17 : 1(i) and 19 : 1(i) were isolated from cells grown with [1-14C]isovalerate and found to have a higher specific activity than the monoenes of the normal series. Isotopic and gas-chromatographic analyses also indicated the presence of dienoic and trienoic acids of the iso-acid series. The iso-fatty acid content was elevated with isovalerate levels up to 5.0 mM and an inhibition of growth was noted. At higher concentrations of the short chain precursor, no further increase in total cellular iso-acids was detected although growth inhibition was more pronounced. The alpha-hydroxy iso-fatty acids of the sphingolipids, however, were elevated in a fashion that paralleled the external concentration of isovalerate; thus, the amount of alpha-hydroxy iso-acids and the degree of growth inhibition show a direct relationship. The increase in alpha-hydroxy iso-acid content of the sphingolipids was at the expense of the saturated normal and iso-acid components. The impact on the physiology of the cells can be envisaged as the result of changes in membrane fluidity due to the presence of high levels of iso-fatty acids without an accompanying reduction in unsaturated acids.
Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein is an important mediator of alcohol-induced brain inflammation

Binge drinking has been associated with cerebral dysfunction. Ethanol induced microglial activation initiates an inflammatory process that causes upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines which in turn creates neuronal inflammation and damage. However, the molecular mechanism is not fully understood. We postulate that cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP), a novel proinflammatory molecule, can contribute to alcohol-induced neuroinflammation. To test this theory male wild-type (WT) mice were exposed to alcohol at concentrations consistent to binge drinking and blood and brain tissues were collected. At 5 h after alcohol, a significant increase of 53% in the brain of CIRP mRNA was observed and its expression remained elevated at 10 h and 15 h. Brain CIRP protein levels were increased by 184% at 10 h and remained high at 15 h. We then exposed male WT and CIRP knockout (CIRP−/−) mice to alcohol, and blood and brain tissues were collected at 15 h post-alcohol infusion. Serum levels of tissue injury markers (AST, ALT and LDH) were significantly elevated in alcohol-exposed WT mice while they were less increased in the CIRP−/− mice. Brain TNF-α mRNA and protein expressions along with IL-1β protein levels were significantly increased in WT mice, which was not seen in the CIRP−/− mice. In cultured BV2 cells (mouse microglia), ethanol at 100 mM showed an increase of CIRP mRNA by 274% and 408% at 24 h and 48 h respectively. Corresponding increases in TNF-α and IL-1β were also observed. CIRP protein levels were markedly increased in the medium, suggesting that CIRP was secreted by the BV2 cells. From this we conclude that alcohol exposure activates microglia to produce and secrete CIRP and possibly induce pro-inflammatory response and thereby causing neuroinflammation. CIRP could be a novel mediator of alcohol-induced brain inflammation.
Short- and long-term demand curves for stocks: theory and evidence on the dynamics of arbitrage

Abstract I develop a framework to analyze demand curves for multiple risky securities at extended horizons in a setting with limits-to-arbitrage. Following an unexpected change in uninformed investor demand for several assets, I predict returns of each security to be proportional to the contribution of that security's demand shock to the risk of a diversified arbitrage portfolio. I show that securities that are not affected by demand shocks but are correlated with securities undergoing changes in demand should experience returns related to their hedging role in arbitrageurs' portfolios. Finally, I predict a negative cross-sectional relation between post-event returns and the initial return associated with the change in demand. I confirm these predictions using data from a unique redefinition of the Nikkei 225 index in Japan, in which 255 stocks simultaneously undergo significant changes in index investor demand, causing more than ¥ 2 , 000 billion of trading in one week and large price changes followed by subsequent reversals for all of the reweighted stocks.
A Prediction Model to Forecast the Cost Impact from a Break in the Production Schedule.

The losses which are experienced after a break or stoppage in sequence of a production cycle portends an extremely complex situation and involves numerous variables, some of uncertain quantity and quality. There are no discrete formulas to define the losses during a gap in production. The techniques which are employed are therefore related to a prediction or forecast of the losses that take place, based on the conditions which exist in the production environment. Such parameters as learning curve slope, number of predecessor units, and length of time the production sequence is halted are utilized in formulating a prediction model. The pertinent current publications related to this subject are few in number, but are reviewed to provide an understanding of the problem. Example problems are illustrated together with appropriate trend curves to show the approach. Solved problems are also given to show the application of the models to actual cases or production breaks in the real world.
Evolutionary implications of the unusual walking mechanics of the common marmoset (C. jacchus).

Several features that appear to differentiate the walking gaits of most primates from those of most other mammals (the prevalence of diagonal-sequence footfalls, high degrees of humeral protraction, and low forelimb vs. hindlimb peak vertical forces) are believed to have evolved in response to requirements of locomotion on thin arboreal supports by early primates that had developed clawless grasping hands and feet. This putative relationship between anatomy, behavior, and ecology is tested here by examining gait mechanics in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a primate that has sharp claws and reduced pedal grasping, and that spends much of its time clinging on large trunks. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected on three male Callithrix jacchus as they walked across a force platform attached to the ground or to raised horizontal poles. The vast majority of all walking gaits were lateral-sequence. For all steps, the humerus was retracted (<90° relative to a horizontal axis) or held in a neutral (90°) position at forelimb touchdown. Peak vertical forces on the forelimb were always higher than those on the hindlimb. These three features of the walking gaits of C. jacchus separate it from any other primate studied (including other callitrichids). The walking gaits of C. jacchus are mechanically more similar to those of small, nonprimate mammals. The results of this study support previous models that suggest that the unusual suite of features that typify the walking gaits of most primates are adaptations to the requirements of locomotion on thin arboreal supports. These data, along with data from other primates and marsupials, suggest that primate postcranial and locomotor characteristics are part of a basal adaptation for walking on thin branches. Am J Phys Anthropol 120:000–000, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Modalities for Treating Acute Seizures in Children: Overview

The pharmacologic interventions for treatment of acute repetitive seizures and those for treatment of status epilepticus are similar. The choice of treatment should be based on the drug's onset of action, spectrum of anticonvulsant activity, route and ease of administration, elimination half-life, therapeutic margin of safety, and redistribution from the central nervous system. Treatment should be initiated early in patients who are prone to seizure clusters or prolonged partial seizures that may generalize or progress to status epilepticus. Benzodiazepines have become first-line drugs for treatment of acute seizures and status epilepticus, followed by phenytoin/fosphenytoin and phenobarbital. Short-acting benzodiazepines, including diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, and midazolam, can decrease the frequency of emergency department visits if given at the appropriate times. The recently approved intravenous formulation of valproate may be of use in children receiving oral valproate who develop breakthrough seizures caused by subtherapeutic plasma levels that are secondary to missed doses or an inability to tolerate oral valproate.
The Reciprocal Relationships Among Parents’ Expectations, Adolescents’ Expectations, and Adolescents’ Achievement: A Two-Wave Longitudinal Analysis of the NELS Data

Previous research has consistently demonstrated the importance of parents’ expectations and adolescents’ expectations on adolescents’ academic achievement. Less is known, however, about the reciprocal relationships among these constructs. To address this issue, we analyzed two waves of data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) using longitudinal cross-lagged path models. The sample consisted of 14,376 students (51.1% females; 6.5% Asian, 11.1% Hispanic, 9.2% African American, and 73.2% White). Results indicated that there was a reciprocal relationship between parents’ expectations and adolescents’ expectations (i.e., they had mutual influence on each other). Moreover, there was a reciprocal relationship between expectations (both parents’ and adolescents’) and adolescents’ academic achievement. Multiple-group analyses of gender and ethnicity revealed that the effects of parents’ expectations on students’ expectations were stronger among males than among females. With respect to ethnic differences, the effects of adolescents’ expectations were weakest on parents’ expectations among African Americans as compared to the other ethnic groups (i.e., Asian, Hispanic and White). Implications of these findings are discussed.
Directional selection and developmental stability: evidence from fluctuating asymmetry of dental characters in mice

Developmental stability was assessed among lines of mice subjected to 11 generations of selection for increased (up line) and decreased (down line) widths of the first maxillary molar (M1), primarily to test the hypothesis that this stability would decline over time as a result of selection. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) was used as an inverse measure of developmental stability, and was calculated for the M1 and a correlated character, the second mandibular molar (M2), in each generation. As measured by the regression of FA on generations, there was a statistically significant decline in stability only in the down selection line for the M2, and this trend did not differ significantly from that for the control line. The combined regressions obtained from pooling over all three lines were significantly different from zero in both molars, however, and this was taken to be evidence of a decline in stability due to increased homozygosity presumably generated by inbreeding during the selection experiment. The variation in FA among generations was greater for the selection lines than the control line for both molars, especially for the M2. The heritability of the M1 (and M2) was high, but there was no significant additive genetic variance for FA in either molar.
Constrained elastic net based knowledge transfer for healthcare information exchange

Transfer learning methods have been successfully applied in solving a wide range of real-world problems. However, there is almost no attempt of effectively using these methods in healthcare applications. In the healthcare domain, it becomes extremely critical to solve the "when to transfer" issue of transfer learning. In highly divergent source and target domains, transfer learning can lead to negative transfer. Most of the existing works in transfer learning are primarily focused on selecting useful information from the source to improve the performance of the target task, but whether the transfer learning can help and when the transfer learning should be applied in the target task are still some of the impending challenges. In this paper, we address this issue of "when to transfer" by proposing a sparse feature selection model based on the constrained elastic net penalty. As a case study of the proposed model, we demonstrate the performance using the diabetes electronic health records (EHRs) which contain patient records from all fifty states in the United States. Our approach can choose relevant features to transfer knowledge from the source to the target tasks. The proposed model can measure the differences between multivariate data distributions conditional on the predicted model, and based on this measurement we can avoid unsuccessful transfer. We successfully transfer the knowledge across different states to improve the diagnosis of diabetes in a certain state with insufficient records to build an individualized predictive model with the aid of information from other states.
Yqs in an American family of Scottish descent.

A satellited Y (Yqs) was traced through six generations of a kindred. G, C, and NOR banding were performed. NOR-specific silver staining of the Yqs was observed in 86% of cells analyzed. The Yqs was found in satellite association in 34% of the cells counted.
Friction and wear of polymeric materials at 293, 77 and 4.2 K

Abstract Experiments were performed to determine the friction and wear coefficients of various polymer pins slid against either AISI 304 stainless steel or oxygen-free high conductivity (OFHC) copper at temperatures of 293, 77 and 4.2 K. Three kinds of polymeric materials were tested: 1, unfilled; 2, solid-lubricant filled; and 3, fabric- and particle-reinforced plastics. The polymers' penetration hardnesses were measured at 293 and 77 K to facilitate the wear coefficient calculations. Although the polymers were much harder at the cryogenic temperatures, it was found that their non-dimensional wear coefficients remained relatively constant, generally in the range 5 × 10−7–5 × 10−6. Cross-plots of the polymers' wear coefficients versus the corresponding friction coefficients show good correlation and indicate a third- to fourth-power functional relationship between friction and wear for both the unfilled and the reinforced plastics. The magnitude of the wear coefficients and the relationship between friction and wear suggest that adhesive wear is the dominant wear mechanism for these polymers.
Use of self-expandable stents in the treatment of bariatric surgery leaks: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Bariatric surgery leaks can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic placement of self-expandable stents (SESs) is emerging as a less-invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of leaks. Objective To evaluate the success of SESs in the treatment of bariatric surgery leaks. Design Studies using SESs in the management of bariatric surgery leaks were selected. Success of SES treatment was defined as radiographic evidence of leak closure after stent removal. Articles were searched in MEDLINE, PubMed, Ovid, and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials. Pooled proportions were calculated by using fixed- and random-effects models. Publication bias was calculated by using the Begg-Mazumdar and Harbord bias estimators. Results A total of 189 relevant articles were reviewed of which 7 studies (67 patients with leaks) met inclusion criteria. The pooled proportion of successful leak closures by using SESs was 87.77% (95% CI, 79.39%-94.19%). The pooled proportion of successful endoscopic stent removal was 91.57% (95% CI, 84.22%-96.77%). Stent migration was noted in 16.94% (95% CI, 9.32%-26.27%). Test of heterogeneity gave a P value >.10. There was no publication bias. Limitations Small retrospective studies, different types of stents used. Conclusion Endoscopic placement of SESs is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective alternative in the management of leaks after bariatric surgery. The use of SESs can minimize the need for surgical revision and improve patient outcomes.
Purification and characterization of Escherichia coli MreB protein.

The actin homolog MreB is required in rod-shaped bacteria for maintenance of cell shape and is intimately connected to the holoenzyme that synthesizes the peptidoglycan layer. The protein has been reported variously to exist in helical loops under the cell surface, to rotate, and to move in patches in both directions around the cell surface. Studies of the Escherichia coli protein in vitro have been hampered by its tendency to aggregate. Here we report the purification and characterization of native E. coli MreB. The protein requires ATP hydrolysis for polymerization, forms bundles with a left-hand twist that can be as long as 4 μm, forms sheets in the presence of calcium, and has a critical concentration for polymerization of 1.5 μm.
Radiocarbon Dating Human Skeletal Material on Rapa Nui: Evaluating the Effect of Uncertainty in Marine-Derived Carbon

A primary concern with dating skeletal material from oceanic environments is the effect of marine-derived carbon on resulting radiocarbon ages. Due to uncertainties in local marine reservoir effects and the proportion of marine carbon incorporated in bone, dates from archaeological skeletal material exhibiting marine dietary signatures have previously been characterized as problematic and removed from further analysis. While in certain instances this may be appropriate, in others it is not. This article presents 26 new 14 C dates obtained from human teeth (dentin collagen) on Rapa Nui. The effect of the local marine reservoir on 14 C ages is evaluated assuming a range of incorporated marine-derived carbon. The results indicate that the Rapa Nui 14 C ages are not significantly different under varying realistic extreme ranges in estimates of the proportion of marine carbon consumed. The article argues that this is primarily due to the small local marine reservoir effect measured in Rapa Nui and relatively lower reliance on marine resources in the prehistoric and protohistoric population. DOI: 10.2458/56.16923
Insights into the mode of action of the two-peptide lantibiotic haloduracin

Haloduracin, a recently discovered two-peptide lantibiotic composed of the post-translationally modified peptides Halα and Halβ, is shown to have high potency against a range of Gram-positive bacteria and to inhibit spore outgrowth of Bacillus anthracis. The two peptides display optimal activity in a 1:1 stoichiometry and have efficacy similar to that of the commercially used lantibiotic nisin. However, haloduracin is more stable at pH 7 than nisin. Despite significant structural differences between the two peptides of haloduracin and those of the two-peptide lantibiotic lacticin 3147, these two systems show similarities in their mode of action. Like Ltnα, Halα binds to a target on the surface of Gram-positive bacteria, and like Ltnβ, the addition of Halβ results in pore formation and potassium efflux. Using Halα mutants, its B- and C-thioether rings are shown to be important but not required for bioactivity. A similar observation was made with mutants of Glu22, a residue that is highly conserved among se...
Intracardiac ARF-driven shear wave velocimetry to estimate regional myocardial stiffness and contractility in pigs with focal infarctions

Four pigs, three with focal infarctions in the apical intraventricular septum (IVS) and/or left ventricular free wall (LVFW), were imaged with an intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) transducer. Custom beam sequences were used to excite the myocardium with focused acoustic radiation force (ARF) impulses and image the subsequent tissue response. Tissue velocity in response to the ARF excitation was calculated with a phase-based estimator, and transverse wave velocity was estimated from a time-of-flight approach at each depth. The excitation sequence was repeated every 1/40 s for four seconds to generate 40 Hz M-Modes of induced Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) displacement magnitudes and Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging (SWEI) wave speeds. These images were taken from various views in the right and left ventricles, in and out of infarcted regions. Various views are presented and discussed. In all animals, ARFI and SWEI estimates indicated contraction and stiffness in non-infarcted tissues with high variance and no indications of remodeling in the diseased animals. Where available, views of infarcted tissue were compared to similar views from the control animal. In views of the LVFW, the infarcted tissue presented as stiff and non-contractile compared to the control. In a view of the IVS, no significant difference was seen between infarcted and healthy tissue. In another view, a heterogenous infarction was seen presenting itself as soft and noncontractile.
Teaching online in the Bronx: local distance education

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to describe the rapid development and effectiveness of online education in an urban college, emphasizing the use of distance education by local students, their academic performance and perspectives for future growth.Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides a description of the phases of distance education development. It analyzes of survey data on student response to online learning and analysis of grades indicating academic performance online in relation to overall undergraduate performance.Findings – The paper finds that early unplanned development has brought increased administrative support: plans are being made for programs, major concentrations, and advanced degrees on the undergraduate and graduate level. Student academic success reflects the special demands of online education and indicates the need for special screening processes and support services.Research implications – The academic success of students reflects the special demands of distance learnin...
Biofeedback training in children with functional constipation : a critical review

Many uncontrolled studies suggest that biofeedback training is an effective adjunctive therapy in improving the outcome of functional constipation and/or encopresis in children. This could not be confirmed in controlled studies. Adding biofeedback training after conventional treatment had failed did not provide benefits. The results of biofeedback treatment in children with functional constipation and/or encopresis are disappointing.
A Molecular and Stable Isotopic Approach to Investigate Algal and Detrital Energy Pathways in a Freshwater Marsh

The relative importance of algal and detrital energy pathways remains a central question in wetlands ecology. We used bulk stable isotope analysis and fatty acid composition to investigate the relative contributions of periphyton (algae) and floc (detritus) in a freshwater wetland with the goal of determining the inputs of these resource pools to lower trophic-level consumers. All animal samples revealed fatty acid markers indicative of both microbial (detrital) and algal origins, though the relative contributions varied among species. Vascular plant markers were in low abundance in most consumers. Detritivory is important for chironomids and amphipods, as demonstrated by the enhanced bacterial fatty acids present in both consumers, while algal resources, in the form of periphyton, likely support ephemeropteran larvae. Invertebrates such as amphipods and grass shrimp appear to be important resources for small omnivorous fish, while Poecilia latipinna appear to strongly use periphyton and Ephemeroptera larvae as food sources. Both P. latipinna and Lepomis spp. assimilated small amounts of vascular plant debris, possibly due to unintentional ingestion of floc while foraging for invertebrates and insect larvae. Physid snails, Haitia spp., were characterized by considerably different fatty acid compositions than other taxa examined, and likely play a unique role in Everglades’ food webs.
Clustering algorithm for entropy-constrained vector-quantizer design

A clustering algorithm for the design of efficient vector quantizers to be followed by entropy coding is proposed. The algorithm generates a sequence of quantizers whith rates close to theoretical ratedistortion bound. A fast version of this algorithm can be used as an alternative to the entropy-constrained vector quantizer technique proposed by Chou Lookabaugh and Gray.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The growth response of BG-1 ovarian carcinoma cells to estradiol, 4OH-tamoxifen, and tamoxifen: evidence for intrinsic antiestrogen activation.

Abstract The influence of estrogen (E) and antiestrogen (AES) on the in vitro growth of BG-1 ovarian carcinoma cells, which express steroid receptors was examined (K. R. Geisinger, T. E. Kute, M. J. Pettenati, C. E. Welander, Y. Dennard, L. A. Collins, and M. E. Berens, Characterization of a human ovarian carcinoma cell line with estrogen and progesterone receptors, Cancer 63, 280–288, 1989). All determinations were simultaneously referenced under similar conditions to MCF-7 cells, a well-established cell line for modeling hormonal responses in breast cancer. In "complete" media containing fetal calf serum (FCS, 10%), MCF-7 cell numbers increased ~7× in 7 days, remaining at this level Days 8–15. In contrast, BG-1 cells achieved similar numbers by Day 7, but showed apparent exponential growth over Days 8–15 to 15–20 ×. Phenol red-free media containing 10% FCS ( 2 )/ml by RIA) was used to assess responses to E and AES. Growth of both MCF-7 and BG-1 cells slowed in E-free media. E 2 (10 n M ) stimulated the growth of both cell lines, yet was responsible for exponential increases during Days 8–15 only in BG-1 cell numbers (50–70 ×). The metabolically active AES (4OH-tamoxifen, 50 n M ) reduced E 2 -stimulated MCF-7 growth to 3–4 ×, while tamoxifen (50 n M ) had no effect. Rescue with 10 μM E 2 fully overcame the AES inhibition of MCF-7 proliferation. In contrast, BG-1 cells experienced significant E 2 -stimulated growth reductions in the presence of either 4OH-tamoxifen or tamoxifen. E 2 was observed to rescue BG-1 cells from both of these antagonists. We conclude that BG-1 ovarian carcinoma cells respond in vitro to E and AES. Moreover, by virtue of responses to tamoxifen, BG-1 cells may have an intrinsic capacity to hydroxylate tamoxifen to its active metabolite. This property of ovarian carcinoma cells might be worth exploiting in the design of more effective combination chemotherapy regimens.
Nonparametric inference in small data sets of spatially indexed curves with application to ionospheric trend determination

This paper is concerned with estimation and testing in data sets consisting of a small number (about 20-30) of curves observed at unevenly distributed spatial locations. Such data structures may be referred to as spatially indexed functional data. Motivated by an important space physics problem, we model such data as a mean function plus spatially dependent error functions. Given a small number of spatial locations, the parametric methods for the estimation of the spatial covariance structure of the error functions are not satisfactory. We propose a fully nonparametric estimator for the mean function. We also derive a test to determine the significance of the regression coefficients if the mean function is a linear combination of known covariate functions. In particular, we develop methodology for the estimation a trend in spatially indexed functional data, and for assessing its statistical significance. We apply the new tools to global ionosonde records to test the hypothesis of ionospheric cooling. Nonparametric modeling of the space-time covariances is surprisingly simple, much faster than those previously proposed, and less sensitive to computational errors. In simulated data, the new estimator and test uniformly dominate those based on parametric modeling.
Ultraviolet photoablation of a plasma-synthesized fluorocarbon polymer

Plasma polymerized tetrafluoroethylene (PPTFE) is shown to undergo efficient 248 nm excimer laser ablation. The principle difference between this material and the analogous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which results in only poor quality ablation, is PPTFE's much greater absorption coefficient (7×104 vs. ∼102 cm−1). A plot of the ablation depth per pulse versus incident fluence indicates that the threshold for significant ablation occurs near 50 mJ/cm2, and that approximately 0.7 μm/pulse can be removed at 800 mJ/cm2. Near threshold, the ablation rate curve can be fit by a single Arrhenius-type exponential. This suggests that the removal process is at least partially governed by a photothermal process, similar to well-known laser induced thermal desorption experiments. In the very low fluence regime between 10 and 30 mJ/cm2, small removal rates are measured in a process likely dominated by non-thermal ablation. The paper concludes with a discussion of the high quality, micron-size features that can be directly patterned into PPTFE surfaces.
Preoxygenation and Prevention of Desaturation During Emergency Airway Management

Patients requiring emergency airway management are at great risk of hypoxemic hypoxia because of primary lung pathology, high metabolic demands, anemia, insufficient respiratory drive, and inability to protect their airway against aspiration. Tracheal intubation is often required before the complete information needed to assess the risk of periprocedural hypoxia is acquired, such as an arterial blood gas level, hemoglobin value, or even a chest radiograph. This article reviews preoxygenation and peri-intubation oxygenation techniques to minimize the risk of critical hypoxia and introduces a risk-stratification approach to emergency tracheal intubation. Techniques reviewed include positioning, preoxygenation and denitrogenation, positive end expiratory pressure devices, and passive apneic oxygenation.
Infrared Study of the Stability and Folding Kinetics of a 15-Residue β-Hairpin

The thermal stability and folding kinetics of a 15-residue β-hairpin (SESYINPDGTWTVTE) have been studied by using infrared (IR) spectroscopy coupled with laser-induced temperature-jump (T-jump) technique for rapid folding−unfolding initiation. An alternative method based on analyzing IR difference spectra was also introduced to obtain thermodynamic properties of β-sheets, which complements the commonly used circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence techniques. Equilibrium IR measurements indicate that the thermal unfolding of this β-hairpin is fairly broad. However, it can be described by a two-state transition with a thermal melting temperature of ∼29 °C. Time-resolved IR measurements following a T-jump, probed at 1634 cm-1, indicate that the folding of this β-hairpin follows first-order kinetics and is amazingly fast. At 300 K, the folding time is approximately 0.8 μs, which is only 2−3 times slower than that of α-helix formation. Additionally, the energetic barrier for folding is small (∼2 kcal mol-1). ...
Safety and efficacy of bleomycin sclerotherapy for microcystic lymphatic malformation.

Purpose Sclerotherapy is the mainstay of treatment of macrocystic lymphatic malformation (LM), but the response using traditional sclerosants is much less beneficial in microcystic lesions. Intralesional bleomycin has been reported to be effective in microcystic LM; however, its use is limited by concerns about pulmonary fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bleomycin sclerotherapy in microcystic LM.
The subjective and reinforcing effects of visual and olfactory stimuli in alcohol drinking.

Nonpharmacological cues associated with drug intake may influence subjective and reinforcing effects of those drugs. Social drinkers ( N 80) participated in 2 sessions in which they rated and then consumed ad lib their preferred beer (with participants blind to brand). Visual and olfactory stimuli were obscured during 1 session (blocked) and not obscured during the other (unblocked). Dependent measures included ratings of “liking,” “want another,” and “desire to drink”; subjective mood; and ad lib beer consumption (reinforcement). Most ratings and ad lib consumption were lower during the blocked versus the unblocked condition. There were no interactions of blockade condition with sex and no effect of blockade on mood. These findings show that nonpharmacological stimuli associated with alcohol consumption influence alcohol’s subjective and reinforcing effects. Consumption of drugs of abuse, including alcohol, has both pharmacological and nonpharmacological effects (Conklin & Tiffany, 2002; Drummond & Glautier, 1994). Under a classical conditioning model, stimuli repeatedly associated with the consumption of a drug (such as the sight and smell of the drug substance) are thought to elicit conditioned responses related to an increased desire to consume the drug (e.g., self-report or other indices of craving). These stimuli are collectively referred to as cues, and responses of drug-experienced individuals to these cues are of interest to researchers focused on nonpharmacological contributions to drug use. In typical cue reactivity research, drug users are presented with drug-related cues but without the opportunity to consume the drug itself. Participants’ reactions to these cues— most often their self-reported desire to use the drug but sometimes physiological responses of heart rate and skin conductance—are then measured (for a meta-analysis, see Carter & Tiffany, 1999). For example, mere exposure to the sight of a preferred alcoholic beverage without the opportunity to consume it has been shown to increase self-reported desire to drink as well as heart rate and skin conductance (Cooney, Litt, Morse, Bauer, & Gaupp, 1997). Another study found that exposure to the sight of bottles of
Use of Epoxy-Aggregate Coatings In Grouted Pile-Sleeve Connections

A pilot testing program has been completed on grouted pile-sleeve (P/S) connections using Epoxy-Aggregate (E/A) coatings in lieu of welded shear keys at the steel-grout interfaces. The program consisted of axial load static tests to failure of four large scale model connections with different grout strengths. In this paper, details of the specimen fabrication and test procedure are given, as well as an evaluation of the results obtained relative to conventional P/S connections. Areas of future research on coated connections are also discussed. Results indicate that, for the geometry and grout strengths tested, (a) failure of an E/A coated connection takes place in the grout annulus, not at the steel-epoxy or epoxy-aggregate interfaces, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of the coating, (b) the coated connection exhibits more ductility at failure than its shear-key counterparts and (c) for the grout strengths used, the axial capacities attained by the E/A coating are comparable to, if not greater than, those of shear-key connections. However, additional tests of coated connections are recommended before design design guidelines can be established. In particular, tests with high strength grouts, varying cross-sectional areas and various aggregate alternatives are suggested.
An improved hybrid global optimization method for protein tertiary structure prediction

First principles approaches to the protein structure prediction problem must search through an enormous conformational space to identify low-energy, near-native structures. In this paper, we describe the formulation of the tertiary structure prediction problem as a nonlinear constrained minimization problem, where the goal is to minimize the energy of a protein conformation subject to constraints on torsion angles and interatomic distances. The core of the proposed algorithm is a hybrid global optimization method that combines the benefits of the ?BB deterministic global optimization approach with conformational space annealing. These global optimization techniques employ a local minimization strategy that combines torsion angle dynamics and rotamer optimization to identify and improve the selection of initial conformations and then applies a sequential quadratic programming approach to further minimize the energy of the protein conformations subject to constraints. The proposed algorithm demonstrates the ability to identify both lower energy protein structures, as well as larger ensembles of low-energy conformations.
Analysis of the 48Ca(d, p)49Ca reaction for incident energies below and above the Coulomb barrier

Abstract The 48 Ca(d,p) 49 Ca reaction has been studied at incident deuteron energies of 1.992, 2.485 and 2.925 MeV. Angular distributions for the ground state (2 p 3 2 ) and first excited state (2 p 1 2 ) were obtained at lab angles between 7.5° and 172.5°. Distorted-wave Born calculations were carried out using several sets of parameters, both in the zero-range local approximation and also introducing finite-range and non-local corrections. Those calculations were extended up to 7.2 MeV bombarding energy to include data taken previously at this laboratory.
A Teenager With Sore Throat and Neck Pain

This 15-year-old White female was admitted with a 7-10 day history of high fever, joint pain, and increasing shortness of breath. Her illness began 10 days prior to admission (PTA) with fever to 105°F and severe throat pain associated with blisters in the posterior oropharynx and what was thought to be enlarged right anterior cervical lymph nodes causing neck pain. She was seen in the acute care clinic at Disney World, Orlando, Florida, where she and her father were vacationing. A strep screen and heterophile antibody test were negative. She was discharged with symptomatic treatment. Over the next 2 days she had continued fever, an increasingly painful cough, pleuritic chest pain with dyspnea, watery diarrhea, decreased appetite, and intermittent abdominal pain. Seven days PTA she experienced right hip, right shoulder, and left knee pain. When her dyspnea increased, she was seen in the emergency department where a chest x-ray revealed a nodular pneumonia pattern. On admission she was unable to walk because of her hip pain and had moderate respiratory distress. Her temperature was 101.9°F, pulse 142 beats per minute, respirations 64 breaths per minute, blood pressure 101/57 mm Hg, and pulse oximetry 85% on room air. Tonsils were enlarged but there was no exudate. There was a slight fullness palpable from the right submandibular area to the mid neck. Exam of the heart was normal. There were decreased breath sounds at both lung bases. There was diffuse, poorly characterized pain around the right shoulder and right hip without appreciable joint effusion or increased pain on internal rotation. The rest of the physical exam was unremarkable.
Wave power variability and trends across the North Atlantic influenced by decadal climate patterns

Climate variations influence North Atlantic winter storm intensity and resultant variations in wave energy levels. A 60 year hindcast allows investigation of the influence of decadal climate variability on long-term trends of North Atlantic wave power, PW, spanning the 1948–2008 epoch. PW variations over much of the eastern North Atlantic are strongly influenced by the fluctuating North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) atmospheric circulation pattern, consistent with previous studies of significant wave height, Hs. Wave activity in the western Atlantic also responds to fluctuations in Pacific climate modes, including the Pacific North American (PNA) pattern and the El Nino/Southern Oscillation. The magnitude of upward long-term trends during winter over the northeast Atlantic is strongly influenced by heightened storm activity under the extreme positive phase of winter NAO in the early 1990s. In contrast, PW along the United States East Coast shows no increasing trend, with wave activity there most closely associated with the PNA. Strong wave power “events” exhibit significant upward trends along the Atlantic coasts of Iceland and Europe during winter months. Importantly, in opposition to the long-term increase of PW, a recent general decrease in PW across the North Atlantic from 2000 to 2008 occurred. The 2000–2008 decrease was associated with a general shift of winter NAO to its negative phase, underscoring the control exerted by fluctuating North Atlantic atmospheric circulation on PW trends.
Risk Factors for Adverse Drug Events: A 10-Year Analysis

BACKGROUNDMany adverse drug events (ADEs) are the result of known pharmacologic properties, and some result from medication errors. However, some are the result of patient-specific risk factors.OBJECTIVETo identify inpatient risk factors for ADEs.METHODSConditional logistic regression was used to analyze all pharmacist-verified ADEs by therapeutic class of drugs and severity during a 10-year study period. All inpatients ≥18 years of age from a 520-bed tertiary teaching hospital were included. Each case patient was matched with up to 16 control patients. Odds ratios for patient factors associated with ADEs were calculated from different therapeutic classes of drugs.RESULTSOdds ratios for numerous risk factors were identified for 4376 ADEs and were found to vary depending on therapeutic classification. The risk factors for the different classifications were grouped by (1) patient characteristics—female (OR 1.5–1.7), age (0.7–0.9), weight (1.2–1.4), creatinine clearance (0.8–4.7), and number of comorbidities...
S-Nitrosylation of mitochondrial caspases

Caspase-3 is a cysteine protease located in both the cytoplasm and mitochondrial intermembrane space that is a central effector of many apoptotic pathways. In resting cells, a subset of caspase-3 zymogens is S-nitrosylated at the active site cysteine, inhibiting enzyme activity. During Fas-induced apoptosis, caspases are denitrosylated, allowing the catalytic site to function. In the current studies, we sought to identify the subpopulation of caspases that is regulated by S-nitrosylation. We report that the majority of mitochondrial, but not cytoplasmic, caspase-3 zymogens contain this inhibitory modification. In addition, the majority of mitochondrial caspase-9 is S-nitrosylated. These studies suggest that S-nitrosylation plays an important role in regulating mitochondrial caspase function and that the S-nitrosylation state of a given protein depends on its subcellular localization.
Towards 'robust' watermarks

Digital watermarking remains a very empirical area of research so an immediate question which stands out is whether we can develop a comprehensive theory of information hiding, in the sense that Shannon provided us with a proof that one-time pad is secure regardless of the computational power of the opponent. Quite apart from intellectual curiosity, there is a strong practical reason to seek constructions whose security is mathematically provable. This is because copyright protection mechanisms may be subjected to attack over an extraordinarily long period of time. Copyright subsists for typically 50-70 years after the death of the artist, depending on the country and the medium; this means that mechanisms fielded today might be attacked using the resources available in a hundred years' time. This paper gives a general introduction to digital watermarking, its weaknesses and the challenging opportunities for future research. (7 pages)