Results of treatment of inferior vena cava syndrome with expandable metallic stents

A 73-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of detection of Shigella flexneri 2a from his stool. Antimicrobial treatment with levofloxacin (LVFX) was started, but could not eliminate the organism in the stool. In the examination of drug susceptibility, this strain was highly resistant to all new quinolones. The minimal inhibitory concentration of norfloxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin to this strain was 12.5 micrograms/ml, 6.25 micrograms/ml and 6.25 micrograms/ml, respectively. The dual mutations were detected in the codon 83 and 87 of the gyrA gene by sequencing the quinolone-resistance determining region (QRDR). There was, however, no significant difference between the intracellular uptake of ciprofloxacin in this strain and in the ciprofloxacin-sensitive strain. The amount of ciprofloxacin in this strain unchanged when carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) was added. These results suggest that the advanced resistance in Shigella flexneri against new quinolones could be acquired by only this dual mutations without the change of the active efflux mechanism.     

Outcome of different treatment mixes in a multidimensional neuropsychological rehabilitation program.

Within a clinical demonstration program, 59 traumatically brain-injured patients were treated with 1 of 3 mixes of treatment. Mix 1 included cognitive remediation (CGR), small-group interpersonal (SGI) communication training, therapeutic community activities, and personal counseling. Mix 2 was similar to Mix 1 but stressed SGI exercises and eliminated CGR. Mix 3 emphasized CGR and eliminated SGI exercises. The efficacy of the treatment mixes was evaluated with performance on neuropsychological tests, improved independence in functional activities, measures of intra- and interpersonal functioning, and vocational outcome. Ss' participation in the program, irrespective of treatment mix, yielded improvements in (1) self-image, (2) quality of interpersonal relatedness and interaction, (3) involvement with others in naturalistic settings, and (4) vocational outcome. Overall, data point to the superiority of the balanced mix (Mix 1) over Mixes 2 and 3. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contextual void patching for digital elevation models

Digital terrain models can be created by gathering a set of measurements from geometric objects. For various reasons, these models may be incomplete and thus fail to meet the requirements defined by their potential applications. In this work, we develop a novel multiresolution approach to repair the voids commonly found in digital elevation models (DEM). We use the overall shape and structure of the surrounding terrain to build a smooth patch for the void. Then, using a multiresolution approach obtained from reverse Chaikin subdivision, we extract the low-scale characteristics from the surrounding terrain and apply them to the smooth patch. The results demonstrate that our approach is effective in synthesizing models with realistic characteristics.     

Encoding Abstract Syntax Without Fresh Names

This paper introduces a variant of nominal abstract syntax in which bindable names are represented by normal meta-variables as opposed to a separate class of globally fresh names. Distinct meta-variables can be instantiated with the same concrete name, which we call aliasing. The possible aliasing patterns are controlled by explicit constraints on the distinctness (freshness) of names. This approach has already been used in the nominal meta-programming language ??ML. We recap that language and develop a theory of contextual equivalence for it. The central result of the paper is that abstract syntax trees (ASTs) involving binders can be encoded into ??ML in such a way that ??-equivalence of ASTs corresponds with contextual equivalence of their encodings. This is novel because the encoding does not rely on the existence of globally fresh names and fresh name generation, which are fundamental to the correctness of the pre-existing encoding of abstract syntax into FreshML.     

Thermal denaturation of soy proteins as related to their dye-binding characteristics and functionality

The binding of Cresol Red and of Acid Orange 10 (in the absence and presence of urea) to unheated and progressively heated, defatted soy meal was compared with their NSI values, urease activities,in vitro digestibilities, unreactive lysine contents, and foaming and emulsifying capacities. These results suggested that increased amounts of Cresol Red and of Acid Orange 10 (in the presence of urea) bound to the heated samples were due to the progressive exposure of hydrophobic residues caused thermal denaturation. High statistical correlations were obtained between dye-binding, the duration of heating, and functional properties. Our results indicate that dye-binding has potential for predicting certain functional properties as well as for monitoring thermal denaturation of soy proteins.     

Catalytic Molecular Logic Devices by DNAzyme Displacement

Chemical reactions catalyzed by DNAzymes offer a route to programmable modification of biomolecules for therapeutic purposes. To this end, we have developed a new type of catalytic DNA‐based logic gates in which DNAzyme catalysis is controlled via toehold‐mediated strand displacement reactions. We refer to these as DNAzyme displacement gates. The use of toeholds to guide input binding provides a favorable pathway for input recognition, and the innate catalytic activity of DNAzymes allows amplification of nanomolar input concentrations. We demonstrate detection of arbitrary input sequences by rational introduction of mismatched bases into inhibitor strands. Furthermore, we illustrate the applicability of DNAzyme displacement to compute logic functions involving multiple logic gates. This work will enable sophisticated logical control of a range of biochemical modifications, with applications in pathogen detection and autonomous theranostics.     

A Personnel Radiation Dosimeter with Storage for Preset Alarm and Continuous Readout

The circuit design of a gamma radiation dosimeter is described which permits continuous monitoring of accumulated radiation dosage. An electro-chemical integrating and storage device permits continuous readout in Roentgens followed by a preset audible alarm with an exponential horn tuned for maximum audio output with minimum power input. Any radiation dose rate can be monitored by selecting a G-M detector that gives the desired range. The unit described has a readout range of 200 R and will operate in a radiation field up to 1000 R/hr with an accuracy to within ±5% in an operating temperature range from 0° to 60 °C. The unit weighs less than one pound and has the capability to be clipped to the user's belt, allowing freedom of activity during emergency rescue operations or other hazardous assignment.     

The Q sort reevaluated.

Astudy is reported examining movement in psychotherapy using the Butler-Haigh Q Sort, comparing before and after therapy self- and ideal-self ratings of 79 high school and college students. Especially important was the examination of congruence (a concept offered by Rogers) in relation to therapeutic change; data do not support Rogers' findings regarding self moving toward ideal during and after therapy; the general notion of congruence is questioned on the basis of relatively unvarying self-ideal correlations and on the basis of item shifts on a before- and after-therapy basis. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)