cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Commentary and rapprochement.

Opioid analgesia, particularly for severe acute pain and cancer pain, has long been considered appropriate treatment. However, empirical findings and the lack of an established evidence-basis for their long-term efficacy have led to a growing appreciation for the limitations of opioids for chronic pain. And yet, there is virtually unanimous agreement that some people do benefit from opioid therapy, as Drs. Peppin and Franklin each state in their opposing opinions. The issue is determining who will benefit, and while there are negative prognostic indicators—such as psychiatric comorbidities ⇓, histories of substance abuse ⇓, tobacco use ⇓, and being male ⇓—others factors merit consideration. Once opioids are prescribed, there is the need to assess for potential iatrogeneses relevant by age, sex, comorbidities, and polypharmacy as an issue of basic patient care and safety. This aspect of care should not be a one-time upfront assessment, but rather ongoing careful …
Differential gene expression of sFRP-1 and apoptosis in pulmonary emphysema.

I n order to identify the unique molecular pathways that are involved in emphysema, a differential display analysis was performed on lung tissue to identify the genes expressed in the lung tissue of emphysema patients but not in that of patients with healthy lungs. We detected 142 differentially expressed genes. One of these genes, secreted frizzled-related protein sFRP-1, an inhibitor of Wnt signaling, was further characterized by its role in the pathophysiology of emphysema. Although this gene was not detected in the healthy adult mouse lung, it was expressed in the distal epithelial cells of the lung during development and also in the lung in two separate mouse emphysema models. Since the Wnt pathway is involved in proliferation and apoptosis, a study was undertaken that determined that tissue from the emphysematous lung of human patients was undergoing apoptosis. The apoptotic index closely correlated with the severity of disease. In vitro tissue transfection studies have confirmed that sFRP-1 leads to apoptosis of pulmonary epithelial and endothelial cells. The identification of sFRP-1 in emphysema has provided us with novel insight into the pathophysiology of this disease. The characterization of the other 142 differentially expressed genes will allow us to further identify the changes in gene expression in this disease. These genes have been placed on array chips so as to compare the differential gene expression from patients at various clinical stages of COPD with that of smokers prior to the development of COPD.
Ethics and communication: Does students' comfort addressing ethical issues vary by specialty team?

Ethics education aims to train physicians to identify and resolve ethical issues. To address ethical concerns, physicians may need to confront each other. We surveyed medical students to determine if their comfort challenging members of their ward teams about ethical issues varies by specialty and what attributes of students and their teams contributed to that comfort. Compared to other specialties, students felt significantly less comfortable challenging team members about ethical issues on surgery and obstetrics/gynecology. We suggest that ethics education must address the atmosphere on ward teams and give students skills to help them speak out despite their discomfort.
Understanding the “New” Black Pentecostal Activism: Lessons From Ecumenical Urban Ministries in Boston

Previous studies argue that theologically conservative churches are least likely to engage in political and social activism. Other studies assume that if such churches did act, their involvement would be limited to politically conservative causes, such as the New Religious Right. In recent decades, however, black Pentecostal churches have become increasingly activist, and have joined and established local community efforts previously dominated by the religious mainline. This paper seeks to understand the contradiction between theory and recent trends. Using in-depth interviews with activist pastors, the A. develops an explanation of why black Pentecostal churches have become politically and socially active. This explanation emphasizes: a) the influence of the civil rights/black power movement on the third generation of black Pentecostal clergy, b) the transformation of Pentecostalism from a relatively small sect into a major faith community, and c) the flexibility of Pentecostal ideas in the hands of innovative and entrepreneurial clerics.
WE‐C‐J‐6B‐03: Use of 4D Models for Tracking Motion During Therapy

Patient anatomy and physiology, of both normal and tumortissue, changes with time. These timescales vary from seconds (respiratory, cardiac and skeletal motion, rectal gas) to minutes (bladder filling, stomach emptying, muscle relation) and days (repositioning, tumor growth/shrinkage, radiation‐induced effects on bronchiole obstructions, atelectasis regions, edema, fibrosis, functional reserve capacity). These changes challenge the current paradigm of three‐dimensional radiotherapy methods, and demand the exploration of four‐dimensional (4D) techniques to account for these intra‐and interfractional changes. Several components need to be developed for 4D radiotherapy, including online volumetric imaging, automated planning, deformable model development and associated hardware and software modifications. This presentation will focus on the basis and role of 4D deformable models for tracking motion in radiotherapy. The input to 4D deformable models is volumetric imaging information (either 3D or 4D), and for some algorithms user‐defined landmarks. The output of these models are displacement vector fields (DVFs), in which each anatomy element (imaging voxel) is tracked throughout the imaging data sets. These DVFs allow subsets of the anatomy, such as contours and dose distributions, to be seamlessly transferred from one dataset to another, facilitating reoptimization and accurate dose accumulation. An ideal deformable model would be (a) accurately predict DVFs (and be fail‐safe where this is not possible), (b) be unsupervised and require no human input and (c) be fast to allow online implementation and use of the 4D models. The educational objectives of this course include: 1. Appreciate the importance of 4D deformable models in radiotherapy. 2. Introduce the basis of some models that have been applied to the 4D radiotherapy problem. 3. Describe the clinical process for 4D radiotherapy using deformable models.
Color development in C18 unsaturated hydroxyamides

Dark colors both of hydroxyamides produced from unsaturated fatty acids and of alkanolamine compounds in general might possibly limit their industrial applications. While metal salts have long been recognized as probably involved in the problem, little appears in the literature concerning the nature of these colored compounds. When we prepared linseed and soyN,N-bis(2-hydroxyethy)amides as intermediates for protective coatings, we discovered that metals-iron and copper in particular-formed highly colored products with these unsaturated hydroxyamides. On standing at room temperature, these intermediates became deep reddish brown (18 on the Gardner scale) if only 1 ppm of cooper was present. Because purified starting materials (i.e., alkanolamines, methyl esters, or oils) do not color or darken in the presence of copper and air, several structural features and conditions must be present if color is to develop. While either chelating agents or antioxidants are somewhat effective over a short time, color formation has been successfully retarded during long-term storage of polyunsaturatedN,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amides by adding 1% potassium borohydride.
Quantitative isolation of ribonucleic acid from the immature rat uterus—Examination of ribonucleic acid synthesis following in vivo 17β-estradiol administration

Abstract A CsCl centrifugation procedure was utilized to extract 85%–90% of the total cellular RNA from the immature rat uterus. This total RNA was deaggregated by treatment with sarkosyl and further fractionated by cellulose chromatography and acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Using these techniques, no specific RNA synthesis could be detected following in vitro incorporation of [ 3 H]- and [ 14 C]-adenosine into rat uterine RNA 15 min, 30 min and 5 h after in vivo 17β-estradiol administration.
EFFECTS OF THIOPENTONE ON MEDIAN NERVE SOMATOSENSORY EVOKED POTENTIALS

We have studied the effects of an i.v. bolus of thiopentone 4 mg kg−1 on the median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) in 15 unpremedicated patients. The latency and amplitude of the SSEP response over the second cervical vertebra (SC) and sensory cortex (P15, N20, P25) were recorded before and for 12 min after injection. Data were analysed at 0, 4, 8 and 12 min for time-related alterations. Cortical amplitude was variable, with a tendency to decrease (P
Heart failure disease management programs: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background Heart failure (HF) disease management programs have shown impressive reductions in hospitalizations and mortality, but in studies limited to short time frames and high-risk patient populations. Current guidelines thus only recommend disease management targeted to high-risk patients with HF. Methods This study applied a new technique to infer the degree to which clinical trials have targeted patients by risk based on observed rates of hospitalization and death. A Markov model was used to assess the incremental life expectancy and cost of providing disease management for high-risk to low-risk patients. Sensitivity analyses of various long-term scenarios and of reduced effectiveness in low-risk patients were also considered. Results The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of extending coverage to all patients was $9700 per life-year gained in the base case. In aggregate, universal coverage almost quadrupled life-years saved as compared to coverage of only the highest quintile of risk. A worst case analysis with simultaneous conservative assumptions yielded an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $110 000 per life-year gained. In a probabilistic sensitivity analysis, 99.74% of possible incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were Conclusions Heart failure disease management programs are likely cost-effective in the long-term along the whole spectrum of patient risk. Health gains could be extended by enrolling a broader group of patients with HF in disease management.
Magnetohydrodynamic simulations of gamma-ray burst jets: Beyond the progenitor star

Abstract Achromatic breaks in afterglow light curves of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) arise naturally if the product of the jet’s Lorentz factor γ and opening angle Θ j satisfies γ Θ j ≫ 1 at the onset of the afterglow phase, i.e., soon after the conclusion of the prompt emission. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of collimated GRB jets generally give γ Θ j ≲ 1 , suggesting that MHD models may be inconsistent with jet breaks. We work within the collapsar paradigm and use axisymmetric relativistic MHD simulations to explore the effect of a finite stellar envelope on the structure of the jet. Our idealized models treat the jet–envelope interface as a collimating rigid wall, which opens up outside the star to mimic loss of collimation. We find that the onset of deconfinement causes a burst of acceleration accompanied by a slight increase in the opening angle. In our fiducial model with a stellar radius equal to 10 4.5 times that of the central compact object, the jet achieves an asymptotic Lorentz factor γ ∼ 500 far outside the star and an asymptotic opening angle Θ j ≃ 0.04 rad ≃ 2 ° , giving γ Θ j ∼ 20 . These values are consistent with observations of typical long-duration GRBs, and explain the occurrence of jet breaks. We provide approximate analytic solutions that describe the numerical results well.
Responses of isolated perfused uterine vascular beds of nonpregnant and pregnant rats to endogenous and exogenous nitric oxide.

The responses to endothelial vasodilators and exogenous nitric oxide (NO) were characterized in intact isolated uterine vascular beds of nonpregnant, midpregnant and late-pregnant rats perfused with Kreb's buffer (37 °C, 5% CO2 in air, pH ∼7.4) containing 2% dextran and indomethacin. Phenylephrine increased perfusion pressure in the vascular beds equally in all three groups. In the presence of phenylephrine, Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) significantly augmented perfusion pressure in the order: nonpregnant<midpregnant<late-pregnant uterine vascular bed. Acetylcholine and bradykinin-induced attenuation of perfusion pressure did not depend on gestational age. The decrease in perfusion pressure induced by acetylcholine was nonsignificantly attenuated by L-NAME in vascular beds from pregnant rats. The attenuation induced by bradykinin reached significant level in the vascular beds from midpregnant rats. The diethylamine (DEA)/NO-induced decrease in perfusion pressure was not influenced by L-NAME in any group. These data demonstrate the augmentation of basal release of NO associated with progression of pregnancy, while the responses to endothelial vasodilators do not depend on gestational age and are not abolished by inhibition of NO synthase, suggesting involvement of nonprostanoid non-NO factor in the control of uterine circulation.
Utilization of Electronic Communication (E-Mail) With Patients at University and College Health Centers

Abstract Purpose: To examine the utilization and potential uses and problems of electronic communication with patients. Methods: University and college health centers were surveyed about the type of utilization and policies of electronic communication with patients. The survey group consisted of 99 health centers predominantly serving students representing small-, medium-, and large-sized public and private colleges and universities. Eighty-nine health centers completed the survey. Results: Of the responding health centers, 63.6% use some form of electronic communication with patients. Twenty-seven percent of the health centers give out some form of medical advice via E-mail or the Internet; 14.7% give out some laboratory results via E-mail; 3.4% make appointments via E-mail; and 63.6% give out administrative advice by E-mail. While there was consistent concern expressed about confidentiality and security, only five health centers had a policy about electronic communication. Uses were most common in nonclinical areas but did include health education, Web sites, medical advice, laboratory results, appointment-making or confirmation, and contacting hard-to-reach patients including those studying abroad. Conclusions: While electronic communication with patients was common, provision of direct medical advice was less common. Issues receiving little attention include determining the types of electronic communication that is acceptable to staff and students, determining the level of security of their current information system, educating staff about confidentiality and security issues, and establishing a comprehensive policy regarding electronic communication with patients.
Isobar Formalism and One Pion Exchange Partial Wave Cross-Sections in pi n --> pi pi n

This work is a prelude to a phase-shift analysis of $\ensuremath{\pi}N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}N$ which we are presently performing. We here review the partial-wave isobar formalism for the above process and introduce the notation being used in our analysis. We compute the partial-wave projections of the one-pion-exchange diagrams because we hope to use the high-partial-wave contributions of these diagrams, which are not modified by the interactions, to remove phase ambiguities in the partial waves being varied. A study of the low partial waves, even though they violate unitarity badly, gives modest insights into the results of previous partial-wave analyses.
A theoretical study of the dithionite reduction of pyridinium salts

The dithionite reduction of pyridinium salts results in the preferential formation of the 1,4-dihydropyridines over the other possible (1,2 and 1,6) structural isomers. Theoretical studies performed in the framework of the AM1 molecular orbital approximation both on some simple, model molecules (dihydro-1-methyl-3-nicotinamide, 1, and dihydro-1-methyl-3-methyl-nicotinate, 2) and more complex derivatives (1-methyl-dihydro-pyridine-3-carboxylates of estradiol, 3, and azidothymidine, 4) supported thermodynamic product control. The increased relative thermodynamic stability of the 1,4-dihydropyridine isomers is explained by favorable electronic interactions (homoaromaticity, hyperconjugation) governing in these derivatives. The calculated data support existing experimental evidence for product formation and isomer stability. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Effect of age on the rate of recovery of beta-adrenergic receptors in rat brain following desmethylimipramine-induced subsensitivity.

Abstract Brain tissues from aged rats have an impaired ability to increase beta-adrenergic receptors in response to reduced noradrenergic input, but can down-regulate these receptors in response to repeated administration of desmethylimipramine (DMI). In this study we compared the ability of brain tissues from young (3-month) and aged (20- to 26-month) rats to restore their density of beta-adrenergic receptors following desmethylimipramine (DMI)-induced receptor subsensitivity. Either DMI or saline was administered i.p. twice daily for 7 days to groups of young and aged rats. At various times after drug administration [ 3 H]dihydroalprenolol (DHA) binding was determined in homogenates of pineal gland and cerebral cortex. Four hours after the last dose of DMI there was a decrease in DHA binding in both brain areas of young and aged rats. In young rats DHA binding in these tissues returned to control levels by 2 days after DMI administration. In contrast, in aged rats it took 8 and 16 days for DHA binding to recover in cerebrum and pineal, respectively. The concentration and half-life for the disappearance of DMI from serum and cerebrum were significantly greater in aged rats than in young rats, but the differences do not entirely explain the delayed recovery of beta-receptors in the aged rats. The results suggest that beta-adrenergic receptors of brain tissues from aged rats cannot recover from beta-receptor subsensitivity as readily as those from young rats. If this recovery process requires the synthesis of new receptors, then this synthetic mechanism may be impaired with age. The results also suggest that one must beware of alterations in the pharmacokinetic properties of centrally-acting drugs when studying these agents in aged animals.
Epidemiology of Erectile Dysfunction: the Role of Medical Comorbidities and Lifestyle Factors

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a highly prevalent condition in aging men with significant interpersonal and psychosocial consequences. Large-scale epidemiologic studies have demonstrated a consistent age-related loss of erectile function in men from different geographic and ethnic backgrounds, with approximately half of men over 70 years of age reporting moderate to severe symptoms. ED is associated strongly with specific comor-bidities, such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lower urinary tract symptoms, prostate cancer, and depression. Lifestyle factors, including obesity and exercise frequency, also have been implicated in recent studies.
Static and Dynamic Slider Air-Bearing Behavior in Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording Under Thermal Flying Height Control and Laser System-Induced Protrusion

The air bearing’s response to regions of elevated temperature on its bounding surfaces (the slider and disk) may be an important consideration in the head–disk interface design of heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) systems. We implement the general non-isothermal molecular gas lubrication equation into an iterative static solver and dynamic air-bearing solver to evaluate the effect of localized heating of the air-bearing surface (ABS) due to the near-field transducer (NFT). The heat-dissipating components in our simplified HAMR design are the NFT, laser diode, and thermal flying height control (TFC) heater. We investigate the effect of each HAMR slider component on ABS temperature and thermal deformation and the slider’s flying height. The NFT induces a localized thermal spot and protrusion on the larger TFC bulge, and it is the location of maximum temperature. This ABS temperature profile alters the air-bearing pressure distribution, increasing the pressure at the hot NFT location compared with predictions of an isothermal air-bearing solver, so that the center of the pressure acting on the ABS is slightly closer to the trailing edge, thereby decreasing the pitch angle and increasing the minimum flying height. Other researchers have shown that the NFT’s thermal response time may be much faster than its protrusion response time (Xu et al. in IEEE Trans Magn 48:3280–3283, 2012). The slider’s dynamic response to a time-varying NFT thermal spot on the ABS while the combined TFC and NFT induced thermal protrusion remains constant is investigated with our dynamic air-bearing solver. We simulate the slider’s step response to a suddenly applied ABS temperature profile and a pulsed temperature profile that represents laser-on over data zones and laser-off over servo zones. The sudden (step) or rapid (pulse) increase in ABS temperature induces a sudden or rapid increase in pressure at the NFT location, thereby exciting the air bearing’s first pitch mode. For the slider design and simulation conditions used here, the result of the pitch mode excitation is to alter the position of the center of pressure in the slider’s length direction, thereby changing the pitch moment. In response, the pitch angle and minimum flying height change. The step response decays after approximately 0.15 ms. Because the laser duty cycle is much shorter than this response time, a periodic disturbance is predicted for the center of pressure coordinate, pitch angle, and minimum flying height. The peak-to-peak minimum flying height modulations are relatively small (only up to 0.126 nm); more significantly, the time-averaged minimum flying height increases 0.5 nm for the NFT that reached 208 °C compared to simulations of the isothermal ABS at ambient temperature.
Mercury in fish.

The Policy Forum “Balancing fish consumption benefits with mercury exposure” by Grace M. Egeland and John P. Middaugh (12 Dec., [p. 1904][1]) questions the wisdom of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) using our Iraqi data ([1][2]) to calculate their reference dose (Rfd), arguing that
Single arch stabilization devices for segmental orthognathic surgery

Abstract Single arch stabilization of segmental osteotomies is desirable because it eliminates intermaxillary fixation while it, in turn, improves oral hygiene and communication and patient comfort, function, and acceptability. Orthodontic appliances with stabilizing arch wires are the method of choice if avaiable. Arch bars modified for segmental stabilization function very well as an alternative to orthodontic appliances. Cast splints are also useful for these cases, although cost and the need for expert laboratory support limit their acceptability. Certain other devices, such as palatal and lingual plates and interocclusal wafers, provide additional support for several of the above-mentioned stabilization systems.
Exact closed form aliasing probability in class of multiple input signature registers

Linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs) are commonly used in built-in self-test schemes to compact the test response. Compaction introduces the problem of aliasing. An exact closed form expression for the aliasing probability for a class of multiple input LFSRs for equiprobable independent bit errors is derived.
Myosin cooperates with microtubule motors during organelle transport in melanophores

Melanophores offer an outstanding system for the study of intracellular motility. These cells aggregate their pigment-filled melanosomes to the cell center or disperse them throughout the cytoplasm in response to hormonal modulation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels in order to effect color changes in lower vertebrates [1]. Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated a role for microtubule-based motors in melanosome transport and we succeeded in reconstituting their regulated motility along microtubules in vitro [2,3]. Here we demonstrate that, in addition to microtubule-mediated motility, melanosomes purified from Xenopus melanophores exhibit unidirectional movement along actin filaments in vitro as well. Immunoblotting analysis shows that these organelles possess the actin-based organelle motor, myosin-V. In vivo, melanosomes are able to slowly disperse in the absence of microtubules, and this slow dispersion requires the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton. Furthermore, in cells with dispersed pigment, disruption of filamentous actin induces a rapid, microtubule-dependent aggregation of melanosomes to the cell center. Our results, together with the accompanying paper by Rodionov et al. [4], demonstrate that the concerted efforts of both microtubule-based and actin-based motors are required for proper melanosome distribution in melanophores. This is the first example of a biochemically defined organelle in possession of both plus-end and minus-end directed microtubule motors and a myosin; coordinated activity of all three motors is essential for organelle motility in vivo.
Optical evidence for analogy between transition metals and transition metal monoantimonides

Abstract Optical reflectivity data show that 3d-states are present at the Fermi level in CrSb and MnSb, and absent for NiSb. This result supports a simple metallic band model proposed for the transition metal monoantimonides by analogy to the transition metals, in which the 3d-states decrease in energy in the sequence from TiSb to NiSb until they are below the Fermi level in NiSb.
Determination of the structure of a water in oil microemulsion

Abstract Two surfactants (the sodium salts of paradihexyl benzenesulfonate and 2,3-dimethyl-5-dodecylbenzenesulfonate), found to form cosolvent-free microemulsions, have been used as the basis for a series of experimental studies on microemulsion structure. By varying the electrolyte concentration, one can obtain them as Winsor type I, II, or III systems; however, the studies reported here concentrated on microemulsions of water in oil (Winsor type II). These microemulsions were characterized by a variety of techniques: dynamic light scattering, lifetime measurements, fluorescence, fluorescence polarization, and electrical conductivity. Dynamic light scattering has been used to investigate the effect of dilution and electrolyte concentration on the physical and structural properties of the microemulsions. Excimer emission indicated that the composition of many of the systems tested was not changed during the dilution process. However, electrical conductivity experiments showed that for systems close to the middle-phase region (Winsor III), the structure of the microemulsions may have been affected during the dilution. The microviscosity of the micelle-oil interfaces was examined by fluorescence polarization measurements and the interface was found to increase in fluidity when the composition of the system approached that of the middle-phase region.
COBIA: The next generation buoy a modular approach

Buoys are continuing to see increased use around the world for functions ranging from collecting atmospheric, meteorological and oceanographic data to providing early warning of tsunamis and renewable power generation. To accomplish these tasks, many of the current buoy systems attempt to couple cutting-edge sensors and advanced communication technology with relatively older structural designs and electrical powering. COBIA is a ldquonext generation buoyrdquo approach, designed as a low-profile, modular and fully reconfigurable buoy platform based on state-of-the-art maritime technology. COBIA is designed to support single or multiple payloads and, in its low-profile state, it can be deployed by many types of aircraft and watercraft. COBIA can support and enhance a wide range of missions, from measurement of oceanic, acoustic, meteorological and biological data to the detection and monitoring of maritime hazards, including oil or chemical spills. With COBIA's multiple and modular communication protocols and technologies, COBIA buoys can serve as gateway network relays between air, surface and subsurface, as well as provide sensor monitoring and detection points for harbor security. COBIA's modular design greatly simplifies configuration and reconfiguration for specific tasks, while it's use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components further simplifies repairs and upgrades, thereby lowering engineering, deployment and life-cycle costs. The COBIA next generation buoy solution meets the emergent need for a rapidly designed, fabricated and deployable buoy that can handle the rigors of ocean use. They can be small to allow transportability by a varied number of platforms and are multi-functional with reduced acquisition and operations and maintenance costs. A flexible and modular COBIA buoy-based solution can be easily and rapidly developed for virtually any maritime mission.
A reduced order system ID approach to the modelling of nonlinear structural behavior in aeroelasticity

Abstract A method is proposed for identifying a set of reduced order, nonlinear equations which describe the structural behavior of aeroelastic configurations. The strain energy of the system is written as a (polynomial) function of the structures’ modal amplitudes. The unknown coefficients of these polynomials are then computed using the strain energy data calculated from a steady state, high-order, nonlinear finite element model. The resulting strain energy expression can then be used to develop the modal equations of motion. From these equations, zero and nonzero angle of attack flutter and limit cycle oscillation data are computed for a 45 ∘ delta wing aeroelastic model. The results computed using the reduced order model compare well with those from a high-fidelity aeroelastic model and to experiment. A two to three order of magnitude reduction in the number of structural equations and a two order of magnitude reduction in total computational time is accomplished using the current reduced order method.
Is Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw an Infection? A Histological and Microbiological Ten-Year Summary

The role of infection in the etiology of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is poorly understood. Large-scale epidemiological descriptions of the histology and microbiology of BRONJ are not found in the literature. Herein, we present a systematic review of BRONJ histology and microbiology (including demographics, immunocompromised associations, clinical signs and symptoms, disease severity, antibiotic and surgical treatments, and recovery status) validating that infection should still be considered a prime component in the multifactorial disease.
Recent insights into the pathophysiology of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia, characterized by new-onset gestational hypertension and proteinuria, is a common and serious complication of pregnancy. Evidence from both animal and human studies has implicated placental ischemia and hypoxia as a central causative factor in the etiology of the disorder. The ischemic placenta in turn initiates a cascade of secondary effector mechanisms, including altered proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factor balance, increase in maternal oxidative stress and endothelial and immunological dysfunction. The full elucidation of these mechanisms will hopefully lead to a more complete understanding of the etiology of preeclampsia and lead to successful therapeutic intervention through the targeted disruption of new and novel pathways.
Static virtual channel allocation in oblivious routing

Most virtual channel routers have multiple virtual channels to mitigate the effects of head-of-line blocking. When there are more flows than virtual channels at a link, packets or flows must compete for channels, either in a dynamic way at each link or by static assignment computed before transmission starts. In this paper, we present methods that statically allocate channels to flows at each link when oblivious routing is used, and ensure deadlock freedom for arbitrary minimal routes when two or more virtual channels are available. We then experimentally explore the performance trade-offs of static and dynamic virtual channel allocation for various oblivious routing methods, including DOR, ROMM, Valiant and a novel bandwidth-sensitive oblivious routing scheme (BSORM). Through judicious separation of flows, static allocation schemes often exceed the performance of dynamic allocation schemes.
Tilting antennas to reduce line-of-sight microwave link fading

Tilting the antennas up to obtain 2 dB loss (for each antenna) over maximum gain during steady signal conditions is shown to reduce fading over this particular path. The technique should also work on other paths where sufficient angular separation between the direct and reflected rays exists, and where antennas with sufficiently "sharp" main beams are used.
Mechanism of Borna Disease Virus Entry into Cells

We have investigated the entry pathway of Borna disease virus (BDV). Virus entry was assessed by detecting early viral replication and transcription. Lysosomotropic agents (ammonium chloride, chloroquine, and amantadine), as well as energy depletion, prevented BDV infection, indicating that BDV enters host cells by endocytosis and requires an acidic intracellular compartment to allow membrane fusion and initiate infection. Consistent with this hypothesis, we observed that BDV-infected cells form extensive syncytia upon low-pH treatment. Entry of enveloped viruses into animal cells usually requires the membrane-fusing activity of viral surface glycoproteins (GPs). BDV GP is expressed as two products of 84 and 43 kDa (GP-84 and GP-43, respectively). We show here that only GP-43 is present at the surface of BDV-infected cells and therefore is likely the viral polypeptide responsible for triggering fusion events. We also present evidence that GP-43, which corresponds to the C terminus of GP-84, is generated by cleavage of GP-84 by the cellular protease furin. Hence, we propose that BDV GP-84 is involved in attachment to the cell surface receptor whereas its furin-cleaved product, GP-43, is involved in pH-dependent fusion after internalization of the virion by endocytosis.
18Gb/s Optical IO: VCSEL Driver and TIA in 90nm CMOS

An 18 Gb/s optical data rate is achieved with a commercial GaAs VCSEL by applying rising and falling edge pre-emphasis with a 90 nm CMOS driver. The pre-emphasis pulse shape can be digitally adjusted with time resolution less than one bit period. The TIA receiver has cross-coupled cascodes to increase the amplifier gain/bandwidth and operates at 12.5 Gb/s to 18 Gb/s depending on the input capacitance.
Enterococcus faecalis Plasmid pAD1-Encoded Fst Toxin Affects Membrane Permeability and Alters Cellular Responses to Lantibiotics

Fst is a peptide toxin encoded by the par toxin-antitoxin stability determinant of Enterococcus faecalis plasmid pAD1. Intracellular overproduction of Fst resulted in simultaneous inhibition of all cellular macromolecular synthesis concomitant with cell growth inhibition and compromised the integrity of the cell membrane. Cells did not lyse or noticeably leak intracellular contents but had specific defects in chromosome partitioning and cell division. Extracellular addition of synthetic Fst had no effect on cell growth. Spontaneous Fst-resistant mutants had a phenotype consistent with changes in membrane composition. Interestingly, overproduction of Fst sensitized cells to the lantibiotic nisin, and Fst-resistant mutants were cross-resistant to nisin and the pAD1-encoded cytolysin.
Application of Game Theory on Inventory Level Decision Making

Many companies producing durable products, profit more from spares than the base parts. In a competitive and uncertain aftermarket, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) can benefit from Game Theory to manage spare parts inventories. We study the spare parts inventory game as an N-person non-zero-sum single-shot game where players play simultaneously. The game is restricted to a two-player (the OEM and the market) non-cooperative game setup. The market is an unreasoning entity whose strategic choices affect the payoff of the OEM, with no interest in the outcome of the game. This is a game against nature, which means the OEM plays against the market. The OEM decides on a pricing strategy (in a competitive manner with low cost manufacturers or will-fitters to absorb more customers) and the order-up-to stock level, and its inventory level strategy is not dominated – i.e. the game has a mixed strategy solution. This solution maximizes the payoff for the OEM by setting the price and the inventory level based on assumptions on the lower and upper bounds of the demand’s distribution parameters.
Sea ice remote sensing using surface reflected GPS signals

This paper describes a new research effort to extend the application of Global Positioning System (GPS) signal reflections, received by airborne instruments, to cryospheric remote sensing. Their experimental results indicate that reflected GPS signals have potential to provide information on the presence and condition of sea and fresh-water ice as well as the freeze/thaw state of frozen ground. They show results from aircraft experiments over the ice pack near Barrow, Alaska indicating correlation between forward-scattered GPS returns and RADARSAT backscattered measurements.
Aldosterone blockade in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aldosterone blockade has been shown to be effective in reducing mortality in patients who have severe heart failure because of systolic left ventricular dysfunction (SLVD) and those who have heart failure and SLVD post–myocardial infarction. Aldosterone blockade also may be beneficial in patients who have New York Heart Association class II heart failure, asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction, and heart failure with preserved or normal left ventricular function. Considering the beneficial effects of aldosterone blockade on improving nitric oxide availability, endothelial function, and atherosclerosis, it can also be postulated that an aldosterone blockade would add to the benefits of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in patients who have coronary artery disease. However, these hypotheses must be confirmed in well-designed, large-scale, prospectively randomized studies.
Kilometer-scale upward migration of hydrocarbons in geopressured sediments by buoyancy-driven propagation of methane-filled fractures

Several lines of evidence support kilometer-scale upward migration of fluids in the Gulf of Mexico Basin: discharge of hypersaline brines at the sea floor; long-term, natural hydrocarbon seeps and microseeps; gas chimneys; lead-zinc mineralization in salt dome cap rocks; and allochthonous brines in Cenozoic sediments. We explore the hypothesis that upward fluid transport in geopressured sediments is caused by buoyancy-driven propagation of isolated methane-filled fractures. In other words, instead of fluid migrating along a fixed network of interconnected pores or fractures, fluid enclosed within an isolated fracture is transported upward by hydrofracturing the mechanically weak geopressured sediments. Thus, the fluid-filled fracture propagates upward through the sediments. Hydrofracture is driven by the pressure difference (buoyancy) between the enclosed methane and the surrounding sediments. Our results show that methane-filled fractures with half-lengths of a few meters should propagate upward through geopressured sediments with velocities of hundreds of meters per year or higher. As methane-filled fractures increase in volume and decrease in density with decreasing confining pressure, they develop the potential to entrain and transport more than 1000 kg/m3 of oil or brine. Methane-filled fractures should propagate to the surface unless they are trapped beneath a layer that has high fracture toughness, such as salt, or are absorbed when they intersect a permeable (>10 md) sand layer.
Strategic relatedness in mergers and financial performance: the case of the health maintenance organization industry in the United States:

Knowledge and identification of strategic factors associated with favourable post-acquisition performance can be of benefit to both managers and shareholders. From a management perspective, the identification of contextual factors that can influence postmerger performance is 'strategic' in nature, and should be considered in the analysis of future acquisitions. Within the context of the health maintenance organization (HMO) industry, this study examines the impact of strategic relatedness on postmerger financial performance. Strategic relatedness is conceptualized as similarity between the acquirer and target HMOs in terms of operational efficiency, marketing orientation, organizational structure and profit orientation. Regression analysis showed that similarity in operational efficiency and similarity in HMO structure were associated with better postmerger financial performance. However, marketing orientation similarity and profit orientation similarity were not significantly related to postmerger performance. This finding suggests that HMO mergers involving firms with similar strategic orientations and similar approaches to the delivery of care have greater strategic fit and experience better financial performance.
Recruitment of N-CoR/SMRT-TBLR1 Corepressor Complex by Unliganded Thyroid Hormone Receptor for Gene Repression during Frog Development

The corepressors N-CoR (nuclear receptor corepressor) and SMRT (silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors) interact with unliganded nuclear hormone receptors, including thyroid hormone (T3) receptor (TR). Several N-CoR/SMRT complexes containing histone deacetylases have been purified. The best studied among them are N-CoR/SMRT complexes containing TBL1 (transducin beta-like protein 1) or TBLR1 (TBL1-related protein). Despite extensive studies of these complexes, there has been no direct in vivo evidence for the interaction of TBL1 or TBLR1 with TR or the possible involvement of such complexes in gene repression by any nuclear receptors in any animals. Here, we used the frog oocyte system to demonstrate that unliganded TR interacts with TBLR1 and recruits TBLR1 to its chromatinized target promoter in vivo, accompanied by histone deacetylation and gene repression. We further provide evidence to show that the recruitment of TBLR1 or related proteins is important for repression by unliganded TR. To investigate the potential role for TBLR1 complexes during vertebrate development, we made use of T3-dependent amphibian metamorphosis as a model. We found that TBLR1, SMRT, and N-CoR are recruited to T3-inducible promoters in premetamorphic tadpoles and are released upon T3 treatment, which induces metamorphosis. More importantly, we demonstrate that the dissociation of N-CoR/SMRT-TBLR1 complexes from endogenous TR target promoters is correlated with the activation of these genes during spontaneous metamorphosis. Taken together, our studies provide in vivo evidence for targeted recruitment of N-CoR/SMRT-TBLR1 complexes by unliganded TR in transcriptional repression during vertebrate development.
MAC performance analysis and enhancement 100 Mbps data rates for IEEE 802.11

The IEEE 802.11 specifications provide up to 54 Mbps data rate. Furthermore, the industry is seeking higher data rates (HDR's) over 100 Mbps for IEEE 802.11a extension. In this paper, we explore the overhead of HDR's to find out whether the MAC is good enough for the increasing data rates and what to expect as the industry seeks much higher data rates. We prove that a theoretical throughput upper limit and a theoretical delay lower limit exist for IEEE 802.11 protocols. The existence of such limits indicates that the overhead must be reduced to get good performance for HDR's. In order to reduce overhead, we introduce a burst transmission and acknowledgement (BTA) mechanism, in which, instead of acknowledging each packet, a burst of packets is received first, and then the whole burst is acknowledged one time.
Energetic interplanetary nucleon flux anisotropies: the effect of earth's bow shock and magnetosheath on sunward flow

Attention is given to the combined, average effects of the bow shock and magnetosheath on the diffusive flow of interplanetary nuclei. The observations presented show that differences between 'connected' and 'unconnected' data subsets are apparent from the beginning of the analysis. Through an investigation of the mean unconnected diffusive anisotropy (those fluxes least affected by the earth's bow shock and magnetosheath) it is confirmed that the cross-field transport of MeV energy nuclei in interplanetary space is statistically significant and in the direction expected from the large-scale particle flux gradients. The direction of particle flow relative to the IMF is then used to show that nucleon flow characteristics on connected IMF differ from those on unconnected IMF. A scenario for producing this difference is then presented. It is concluded that the inclusion of the bow shock connected information biases measurements of the flux anisotropies of MeV energy H.
Late-twentieth-century warming in Lake Tanganyika unprecedented since AD 500

Lake Tanganyika has become warmer, increasingly stratified and less productive over the past 90 years. Analyses of lake sediments show that this recent warming is unprecedented within the past 1,500 years.
Shoulder Activity Level Is Not Associated With the Severity of Symptomatic, Atraumatic Rotator Cuff Tears in Patients Electing Nonoperative Treatment

Background:Patient activity level may be an important prognostic variable relating to outcomes in patients with shoulder disorders. Little is known about the predictors of activity level in patients with shoulder disorders.Hypothesis:Tear size and patient variables would be predictive of shoulder activity level in a cohort of patients who have selected initial nonoperative treatment for a symptomatic, atraumatic rotator cuff tear on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Patients with an atraumatic rotator cuff tear on MRI were prospectively enrolled in the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) shoulder study of nonoperative treatment. As part of routine data collection, these patients were asked to complete a previously validated shoulder activity scale. A regression analysis was performed to assess the association of shoulder activity level to rotator cuff tear characteristics, including tendon involvement and retraction, and patient f...
Status of the FASTBUS Standard Data Bus

FASTBUS is a new laboratory standard data bus intended for use in experimental data acquisition and control. The development of FASTBUS began with a feasibility study in 1976 and is presently at the development prototyping stage. The principal aims of the standard are to provide a factor of ten or more improvement in speed of data transfers over present systems, as well as to provide an architecture for systems containing multiple processors. Developmental prototypes now in progress include crates, backplanes, cooling devices, power supplies, test and diagnostic modules, and user modules. A sizeable software development effort is also underway. Several experiments have made commitments to use FASTBUS. A review of current work and potential applications is given.