A Hypochondriac Investigates the Evolution of Medicine

This exhibit will open to the public in February 2014, but until then I have my work cut out for me. I am currently researching various aspects of medical history spanning from the mid-1800s, through the Civil War, to WWI. Thus far I have read accounts of women volunteers during the American Civil War, important changes that went into effect during WWI, and an overly detailed description on how to perform tooth extractions according to the latest science of the 1860s. [excerpt

What I\u27ve Learned to Expect

“Hey bitch!” someone yelled. “Biiitttch!” I heard again from the car. Music blared from inside. I pretended not to notice. Don’t give them the satisfaction, I thought. Don’t do something you’ll regret. So I stood there until the cars stopped whizzing past, pretending to ignore a car of boys yelling insults. When the light changed, I hurried across Carlisle Street, got into my room, and lost it. I was furious. Being reduced to an insult while walking home from a movie for class is infuriating. But, what really got under my skin was that incidents like this seem commonplace. While surprising in the moment, it doesn’t feel unexpected to be called a “bitch” and “whore” by a passerby, to be whistled at provocatively or to be talked about as if I am an object. It’s just part of life. [excerpt

Toeing the Line between Offense and Education

Medical history can be gruesome. People shy away from blood and guts and images of death perhaps because it makes us question our own mortality or perhaps because it reminds us a bit too much about the origins of that hamburger we ate for lunch. Whatever the reason, a lot of humans cannot stomach the truly heinous. [excerpt

Histoplasma capsulatum Infection in an Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patient Receiving Voriconazole Prophylaxis

Histoplasma capsulatum infection is a rare complication in the allogeneic stem cell transplant patients. Minimal guidance exists on how to appropriately manage histoplasmosis in these patients. We report a patient who developed Histoplasma pneumonia while receiving voriconazole prophylaxis at a therapeutic trough level. The patient experienced significant clinical improvement after initiation of itraconazole pharmacotherapy. We recommend a lower threshold for evaluation for histoplasmosis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients who live in endemic regions, regardless of their antifungal prophylactic regimen

Inclusive Photoproduction of η\eta Mesons on Nuclei and the in-medium properties of the S11_{11} Resonance

A relativistic non-local model for the inclusive photoproduction of $\eta$ mesons from complex nuclei is introduced. The model is based on the dominance of the S$_{11}$(1535) resonance. We compare the results of our calculations with the available data on inclusive cross sections for the nuclei C, Al and Cu. Assuming the resonance propagates freely in the nuclear medium, we find that the calculated angular distribution and energy dependence of the cross sections reproduce the data in a reasonable fashion. The present non-local model allows the inclusion of density dependent mass and width in the calculations. Including these in the calculations reveals that the presently available data do not show clear preference for the inclusion of such modifications of the properties of the S$_{11}$(1535) in the nuclear medium.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure

Software-Engineering Process Simulation (SEPS) model

The Software Engineering Process Simulation (SEPS) model is described which was developed at JPL. SEPS is a dynamic simulation model of the software project development process. It uses the feedback principles of system dynamics to simulate the dynamic interactions among various software life cycle development activities and management decision making processes. The model is designed to be a planning tool to examine tradeoffs of cost, schedule, and functionality, and to test the implications of different managerial policies on a project's outcome. Furthermore, SEPS will enable software managers to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of software project development and perform postmodern assessments

Acute vigabatrin-phenobarbitone-interaction on exploratory behaviour of rats

Vigabatrin (gamma-vinyl GABA) is an irreversible inh:bitor of the enzyme GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) which is responsible for the catabolism of the major inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma- aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. Vigabatrin causes a several fold increase in the levels of brain GABA. The current study investigated further the effects of acute treatment with vigabatrin (100 mgl kg, i.p.) & phenobarbitone sodium (20 mg/kg, i.p.)f alone and in combination, in two rat behavioural models of exploratory activity: the elevated plus-maze model of anxiety and the open field test of locomotor activity. A single injection of vigabatrin or phenobarbitone alone, produced anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus-maze test and increased locomotor activity in the open field test. In contrast, after the concomitant administration of both drugs, the anxiolytic effects were no longer produced in the elevated plus-maze. The increased locomotor activity was also diminished in both tests of exploratory behaviour. These results shed light on the GABA hypothesis of anxiety, insofar as the increased availability of GABA, resulting from either GABA-T inhibition (vigabatrin) or facilitation of GABA-mediated chloride channels (phenobarbitone), seems to result in an increased emotional reactivity which, however, subsequently disappears during combined treatment.peer-reviewe

Monte Carlo Methods for Simulation of Optical Coherence Tomography of Turbid Media

We describe two importance sampling techniques for a standard Monte Carlo (MC) method that could enable fast simulation of signals from optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging systems. These OCT signals are generated due to diffusive reflections from either multilayered or arbitrary shaped, turbid media, for example, tissue. Such signals typically consist of ballistic and quasi-ballistic components, of scattered photons inside the medium, in addition to photons that undergo multiple scattering. We show that MC simulation of these OCT signals using importance sampling reduces its computation time on a serial processor by up to three orders of magnitude compared to its corresponding standard implementation. Therefore, these importance sampling techniques enable practical simulation of OCT B-scans of turbid media, for example, tissue, using commonly available workstations