Collecting and processing records from the ultracentrifuge in "real-time" using an on-line computer

An analytical system consisting of an analytical cantrifuge coupled 'on-line' to a computer was assembled and tested. Collection of records from up to 9 solutions was achieved through programmes which sum readings to reduce noise as well as controlling the positioning of the scanner. With this system it was found that the limit on accuracy for molecular weights at concentrations less than 0.01 g cm-3 was +/- 3% estimated from sedimentation equilibrium experiments. The same system was used to collect records for similar concentrations from velocity experiments by employing a scanning schlieren. In this case the accuracy in estimating sedimentation coefficients was similar to those found when measuring photographs. Since the collection yields detailed information about the shape of the sedimenting boundary, the centroids of the boundary were routinely computed by second moment analysis rather than relying on the position of the maximum of the schlieren peak. In the same analysis estimates of diffusion coefficients were made routinely by calculating corrected height/area ratios for each scan. These calculations were made during the real-time of the experiment, so making available molecular parameters rather than records which must be evaluated some time after stopping the experiment.     

The cytoplasmic membrane is a primary target for the staphylocidal action of thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal protein

Thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal protein (tPMP-1) is a small, cationic peptide released from rabbit platelets exposed to thrombin in vitro. tPMP-1 is microbicidal against a broad spectrum of bloodstream pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus. Preliminary evidence suggests that tPMP-1 targets and disrupts the staphylococcal cytoplasmic membrane. However, it is not clear if the cytoplasmic membrane is a direct or indirect target of tPMP-1. Therefore, we assessed the in vitro activity of tPMP-1 versus protoplasts prepared from logarithmic-phase (LOG) or stationary-phase (STAT) cells of the genetically related S. aureus strains 19S and 19R (tPMP-1 susceptible and resistant, respectively). Protoplasts exposed to tPMP-1 (2 microg/ml) for 2 h at 37 degrees C were monitored for lysis (decrease in optical density at 420 nm) and ultrastructural alterations (by transmission electron microscopy [TEM]). Exposure to tPMP-1 resulted in substantial lysis of LOG but not STAT protoplasts of 19S, coinciding with protoplast membrane disruption observed by TEM. Thus, it appears that tPMP-1-induced membrane damage is influenced by the bacterial growth phase but is independent of the staphylococcal cell wall. In contrast to 19S, neither LOG nor STAT protoplasts of 19R were lysed by tPMP-1. tPMP-1-induced membrane damage was further characterized with anionic planar lipid bilayers subjected to various trans-negative voltages. tPMP-1 increased conductance across bilayers at -90 mV but not at -30 mV. Once initiated, a reduction in voltage from -90 to -30 mV diminished conductance magnitude but did not eliminate tPMP-1-mediated membrane permeabilization. Therefore, tPMP-1 appears to directly target the staphylococcal cytoplasmic membrane as a primary event in its mechanism of action. Specifically, tPMP-1 likely leads to staphylococcal death, at least in part by permeabilizing the bacterial membrane in a voltage-dependent manner.     

FAST

We propose Frontier Allocation Synchronized by Token passing (FAST), a distributed algorithm for online terrain coverage using multiple mobile robots, ensuring mutually exclusive selection of frontier cells. Many existing approaches cover the terrain in an irregular fashion, without considering the usability of the already covered region. For instance, in the task of floor cleaning in an office building, these approaches do not guarantee the cleanliness of large unbroken areas until a majority of the task is complete. FAST on the other hand, incrementally traverses the terrain generating structured trajectories for each robot. Following a structured trajectory for coverage path planning is proven to be a very powerful approach in literature. This renders large portions of the terrain usable even before the completion of the coverage task. The novel map representation techniques used in FAST render it scalable to large terrains, without affecting the volume of communication among robots. Moreover, the distributed nature of FAST allows incorporation of fault-tolerance mechanisms. Empirical investigations on maps of varied complexities and sizes both in simulation and on an experimental test-bed demonstrate that the proposed algorithm performs better than some of the benchmark approaches in terms of coverage completion time and less redundant coverage.     

Adult psychological functioning of individuals born with craniofacial anomalies

This study represents an initial investigation into the adult psychological functioning of individuals born with craniofacial disfigurement. A total of 24 men and women born with a craniofacial anomaly completed paper and pencil measures of body image dissatisfaction, self-esteem, quality of life, and experiences of discrimination. An age- and gender-matched control group of 24 non-facially disfigured adults also completed the measures. As expected, craniofacially disfigured adults reported greater dissatisfaction with their facial appearance than did the control group. Craniofacially disfigured adults also reported significantly lower levels of self-esteem and quality of life. Dissatisfaction with facial appearance, self-esteem, and quality of life were related to self-ratings of physical attractiveness. More than one-third of craniofacially disfigured adults (38 percent) reported experiences of discrimination in employment or social settings. Among disfigured adults, psychological functioning was not related to number of surgeries, although the degree of residual facial deformity was related to increased dissatisfaction with facial appearance and greater experiences of discrimination. Results suggest that adults who were born with craniofacial disfigurement, as compared with non-facially disfigured adults, experience greater dissatisfaction with facial appearance and lower self-esteem and quality of life; however, these experiences do not seem to be universal.     

Combination antiretroviral therapy and recent declines in AIDS incidence and mortality

The reasons for recent declines in AIDS incidence and mortality may include advances in treatment, but these may be confounded by earlier declines in the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. To determine whether the declines in AIDS and mortality may, in part, stem from wider use of combination antiretroviral therapy, 622 HIV-positive men with well-characterized dates of seroconversion were followed. In this group, combination therapy came into widespread use in only 1996. In a Cox proportional hazards model, the 1996 calendar period was significantly associated with slower progression to AIDS (relative hazard [RH]=0. 19, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05-0.69, P=.01) and death (RH=0. 45, 95% CI, 0.21-0.95, P=.04). Declines in incidence of HIV infection, changes in HIV virulence, and end-point underreporting cannot fully explain the decline in AIDS and death in 1996. The introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy as the standard of care may already have had measurable effects.     

Histopathology of the liver in children with chronic hepatitis C viral infection

Although the epidemiology, natural history, and pathological aspects of chronic hepatitis C are well-defined in the adult population, little is known about the characteristics of chronic hepatitis C infection in children. Reports on the histological features and progression of hepatitis C in children are scarce, and consist primarily of multicenter studies in Japanese and European children. Given the geographic variations in viral genotype and the association of pathology with genotype, whether the Japanese and European studies can be extended to the North American populations is unclear. We report the histopathology of the liver in 40 children with chronic hepatitis C infection treated in a single North American institution. The children included 19 males and 21 females ranging in age from 2.0 to 18.6 years at the time of liver biopsy (mean +/- SD: 11.4 +/- 4.3 years). Our findings indicate that the characteristic histopathological lesions of chronic hepatitis C infection, including sinusoidal lymphocytosis, steatosis, portal lymphoid aggregates/follicles, and bile duct epithelial damage, occur with approximately the same frequencies in children as have been reported in adults. Necroinflammatory activity was generally mild. Portal fibrosis was present in 78% of the specimens, including fibrous portal expansion (26%), bridging fibrosis (22%), bridging fibrosis with architectural distortion (22%), and cirrhosis (8%). Centrilobular pericellular fibrosis, which has not been previously reported in the context of chronic hepatitis C infection in adults or children, was also a prominent feature in our series, occurring with a similar frequency as steatosis or portal lymphoid aggregates/follicles. Our data suggest that in spite of mild histological necroinflammatory activity in general, the stage of fibrosis in children can be severe in spite of relatively short duration of infection.     

Preoperative sonographic diagnosis of acute appendicitis caused by Ascaris lumbricoides

Acute appendicitis caused by Ascaris lumbricoides is an uncommon variant of a common disease. We describe a case in which sonography was used for preoperative diagnosis of ascaris appendicitis.