cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Axillary dissection versus no axillary dissection in patients with sentinel-node micrometastases: commentary on the IBCSG 23-01 Trial.

Breast surgical oncologists have rapidly and successfully transitioned from the routine use of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for staging the axilla in clinically node negative patients. This approach limits the use of ALND to those patients with pathologically-proven axillary lymph node metastases and has prompted great current interest in whether or not all SLN-positive patients benefit from a completion ALND. Analysis of population-based data shows a decades-long trend towards omitting ALND in patients with low volume axillary disease. Thus, even prior to publication of the results of the ACOSOG Z0011 study and the IBCSG 23-01 study, completion ALND was being performed less frequently for selected patients with nodal micrometastases. Herein we review the contribution of the recently published IBCSG 23-01 study which provides additional data to confirm that for selected patients, mainly those with small, estrogen receptor-positive tumors with low nodal disease burden undergoing breast conservation with radiation and adjuvant systemic therapy, ALND might be avoided safely. This trial, which included small numbers of patients treated by mastectomy without radiation, and lumpectomy with partial breast irradiation, suggests interest in further clinical trials investigating these important patient populations. The study’s short median follow-up however, cautions us to be clear in discussion, especially with younger patients who have otherwise biologically favorable tumors, that the long-term outcomes of SLN biopsy alone for low volume axillary disease remains unknown.
Regulation of mir-196b by MLL and its overexpression by MLL fusions contributes to immortalization.

Chromosomal translocations involving the Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) gene produce chimeric proteins that cause abnormal expression of a subset of HOX genes and leukemia development. Here, we show that MLL normally regulates expression of mir-196b, a hematopoietic microRNA located within the HoxA cluster, in a pattern similar to that of the surrounding 5′ Hox genes, Hoxa9 and Hoxa10, during embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation. Within the hematopoietic lineage, mir-196b is most abundant in short-term hematopoietic stem cells and is down-regulated in more differentiated hematopoietic cells. Leukemogenic MLL fusion proteins cause overexpression of mir-196b, while treatment of MLL-AF9 transformed bone marrow cells with mir-196–specific antagomir abrogates their replating potential in methylcellulose. This demonstrates that mir-196b function is necessary for MLL fusion-mediated immortalization. Furthermore, overexpression of mir-196b was found specifically in patients with MLL associated leukemias as determined from analysis of 55 primary leukemia samples. Overexpression of mir-196b in bone marrow progenitor cells leads to increased proliferative capacity and survival, as well as a partial block in differentiation. Our results suggest a mechanism whereby increased expression of mir-196b by MLL fusion proteins significantly contributes to leukemia development.
Aircraft aerodynamic design and evaluation methods

This paper presents some practical methods for the aerodynamic design and evaluation of conventional aircraft. High-lift methodology which provides improved takeoff and landing and transonic maneuvering performance is discussed. Also, new techniques for estimating and minimizing cruise pressure drag are presented. These include a far-field theory to minimize trimmed induced drag, theories to estimate the spanwise variation of drag due to thickness and lift, and a far-field theory to estimate total pressure drag. In addition to the description of methods, aerodynamic design procedures are outlined and results from both the design and evaluation methods are presented.
Handling of antifoam oils for fermentations

Control of foams by oil additions is of large economic importance to the fermentation industry. Excessive foaming causes loss of material and contamination, while excessive oil additions may decrease the product formation. Antifoam oils may be synthetic, such as silicones or polyglycols, or natural, such as lard oil or soybean oil. Either will substantially change the physical structure of foam, principally by reducing surface elasticity. Industrial antifoam systems usually operate automatically from level-sensing devices. Methods for metering of oil under aseptic conditions are: timed delivery through a solenoid, two solenoids with an expansion chamber between, a motor-driven hypodermic syringe, and certain industrial pumps. Distribution devices can improve efficiency over straight-pipe entry. Types described are spray distribution, diverter bars, and wick devices.
The division of child care among couples with young children: An empowerment model

Abstract In this article, we present a qualitative analysis of couples’ child care arrangements using an empowerment model. Data are taken from gender-segregated focus group interviews with eight married, co-residential couples parenting young children. We analyze this data using an empowerment model that focuses on individuals’ experiences recognizing and acting on opportunities to exercise control, which in this case we conceptualize as preferences for child care involvement. In addition to this focus on interpersonal negotiation between parents, we build on Bronfenbrenner's (1979, 1986) ecological perspective and understand child care arrangements as emerging within complex social systems, demanding constant negotiation between the person and environment. Thus, our attention to empowerment includes a focus on the notable contexts of work, school, and community. We find that in many ways, both mothers and fathers in our sample felt little control over ecological factors shaping child care arrangements. For mothers, empowerment was a process that involved varying degrees of control over fathers’ involvement in child care within the further confines presented by work and school. Fathers generally felt empowered to engage in child care tasks when they chose to do so. This stands in contrast to mothers’ implicit responsibility for the care of their children and need to request fathers’ involvement unless social contexts demanded it.
A Promise to Our Patients with Metastatic Bone Disease

In the United States alone, the prevalence of cancer is approximately 5 million cases per year. There will be greater than 1.2 million new cases of cancer diagnosed this year, the majority of these patients will be older than age 40 years. Approximately half of these newly diagnosed cases will involve the skeleton. Accordingly, metastatic bone disease (MBD) is a major source of morbidity and mortality for patients afflicted with advanced cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, kidney, thyroid, as well as myeloma and other cancers. As of 2007, the cost to U.S. society was approximately $12.6 billion and made up almost 20 % of societal cancer costs as estimated by the National Institutes of Health. 1 These numbers are continuing to wax as the population ages and are not restricted to the United States. MBD is a major global health care issue. While progress has been made in the medical management of MBD and patients are living longer with their cancers more than ever before, the challenges to optimize quality of life in these patients has never proven more prevalent. Specifically bisphosphonates and denosumab have improved the quality of life for many patients with MBD, yet surgical management remains a cornerstone of skeletal stabilization and local disease control. 2,3 How beneficial is the role of surgery? We as surgeons believe it is important; but just how important is it given the potential inflicted morbidity of an invasive procedure in a patient with a limited life span? We need to better understand the quality of our interventions. Quality—it’s the new incantation for the provisioning of health care. Surgery in most arenas has been about delivering the best care possible in the setting of expert experience and high clinical volumes. Quality is defined as value/cost. Various instruments have been put forth to determine value including patient satisfaction and reported outcomes. Yet in surgery inconsistency is common, and a sedulous sense of urgency must be established to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving delivery of health care in North America and the world. 4 In this month’s issue, Wood et al., 5 in their paper entitled ‘‘Surgical Management of Bone Metastases: Quality of Evidence and Systematic Review,’’ attempt to address the
Dietary cobalt supplements and the growth and reproduction of the earthworm Eisenia foetida

Abstract The effect of adding cobalt, as 60 Co, to the food source of the earthworm Eisenia foetida was studied. Cobalt was retained with a half-life of 387 ± 43 (SD) days in the worm. After 172 days more cobalt was concentrated in the gut than the body wall. 60 Co was not transmitted from adults to cocoons. Prolonged studies involving the addition of CoCl 2 (0, 8.2, 16.5 and 82.5 μg Co g −1 ) to a food source low in Co indicated that total Co concentrations of 17.6 and 25.9 μg g −1 resulted in significantly increased maximum weights compared to the control worms which were exposed to 9.4 μg Co g −1 . The highest Co addition (82.5 μg g −1 , total 91.9 μg g −1 ) caused no increase in maximum weight over controls, but resulted in a statistically significant lag in early growth compared to that of all other groups. Significantly more cocoons were produced by worms fed 17.6 or 25.9 μg Co g −1 compared with those fed 9.4 or 91.9 μg Co −1 Co.
Trigeneration in a northern Chinese village using crop residues

Gasification of crop residues can provide modern energy carriers to rural areas at potentially attractive costs along with substantial environmental benefits. Such possibilities are illustrated here by modeling a village-scale “trigeneration system” for a hypothetical village in northern China to provide clean cooking fuel, hot water for heating, and electricity. The electricity and hot water would be provided by a microturbine operated in the combined heat and power mode. The cooking fuel and hot water would be distributed by underground pipes to individual houses in the village. Overall system economics would be most favorable when the microturbine is operated as a baseload power-generating unit. Because of low village electricity demand levels, this mode of operation requires selling most of the generated electricity into the electric grid. Prospective generating costs would be sufficiently low to make this option attractive as a source of grid electricity, but policies are needed that allow such village generators to sell their electricity into the grid at prices that reflect its value.
Chromosomes of some Asian and South American squirrels (Rodentia: Sciuridae).

Chromosomensatze verschiedener Sciurinae sind:Sciurus anomalus (2n=40),S. granatensis (2n=42),Callosciurus flavimanus (2n=40),Dremomys rufigenis (2n=38) undMenetes berdmorei (2n= 62). Ein Vergleich mit fruher beschriebenen Sciurinae-Karyotypen ergibt als ursprunglich diploide Satze 38–40, Spaltung, sowie Fusion zu grosseren und kleineren2n's fuhrend.
Dynein family of motor proteins: Present status and future questions

Analysis of sequence relationships in dynein heavy chains shows that dynein motor proteins comprise a single homologous family with three main branches, cytoplasmic dynein, axonemal dynein, and a third branch represented by DYH1B that lies between the other two. In all branches of the family the dynein heavy chain has four copies of the P-loop motif for a nucleotide-binding site spaced ∼300 residues apart in its midregion, with the amino acid sequence GPAGTGKT in the P-loop of the hydrolytic ATP-binding site. Cytoplasmic dyneins appear more primitive in that the heavy chain usually occurs as a homodimer, with traces of the early evolution of its four P-loop motifs by gene duplication being recognizable. In the axonemal subfamily the heavy chains occur as heterodimers or heterotrimers encoded by multiple genes, and their non-hydrolytic P-loop motifs are much more divergent with little trace of their origin by gene duplication. The DYH1B subfamily is more closely related to the cytoplasmic dyneins in sequence, but appears related to axonemal dyneins in function since it becomes upregulated during reciliation and has not been found in organisms, such as yeast and Dictyostelium, that are totally without cilia or flagella.
Lidocaine increases the proarrhythmic effects of monophasic but not biphasic shocks.

Lidocaine and Shock Proarrhythmia. Introduction: Lidocaine increases monophasic shock defibrillation energy requirement (DER) values but does not alter biphasic shock DER values. However, the mechanism of this drug/shock waveform interaction is unknown. It may be that lidocaine increases the proarrhythmic actions of monophasic shocks but not biphasic shocks. Thus, lidocaine may increase monophasic shock DER values by increasing myocardial vulnerability to shock-induced ventricular fibrillation. Methods and Results: Area of myocardial vulnerability (AOV), defined by a two-dimensional grid according to shock strength (y-axis) and shock coupling interval (x-axis), was assessed for biphasic shocks (n = 11) and monophasic shocks (n = 13) in intact swine hearts. Shocks were randomly delivered during right ventricular pacing at 10 shock strengths (50 to 500 V) and five coupling intervals (160 to 240 msec). AOV was defined as the number of points within the test grid that induced ventricular fibrillation. AOV, upper limit of vulnerability (ULV), and DER values were determined at baseline and during systemic infusion of lidocaine (10 mg/kg/hour). Lidocaine increased AOV, ULV, and DER values by 35%, 23%, and 36%, respectively, for monophasic shocks. However, lidocaine did not alter AOV, ULV, or DER values for biphasic shocks. Conclusion: Lidocaine increases the AOV to monophasic shocks, which is directly related to changes in ULV and DER values. This implies that lidocaine increases the proarrhythmic activity of monophasic shocks but not biphasic shocks. This may explain why lidocaine increases monophasic shock DER values.
Babesia microti: biochemistry and function of hamster erythrocytes infected from a human source.

Abstract Babesia microti, a protozoan parasite of mammalian erythrocytes was obtained from the blood of an infected human and maintained in golden hamsters, in which a parasitemia of 70% was obtained regularly. The hamsters' response—a subacute, hemolytic anemia—was studied with regard to oxygen affinity and red cell organic phosphate content. In addition, the reduced glutathione status of infected erythrocytes was observed because of the possible importance of this metabolite to parasite growth and red cell integrity. Infected animals developed a severe anemia with reticulocytosis; there occurred a 4-mm decrease in whole blood oxygen affinity without any change in erythrocytes' 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels. The glutathione content of the infected animals' erythrocytes increased twofold during the course of the infection. In uninfected animals, in which anemia and reticulocytosis had been produced by bleeding, all changes seen in infected animals were reproduced. It was concluded that the changes in the infected animals were due to the anemia and reticulocytosis alone, and that the parasite played no role in these changes apart from being a cause of anemia and reticulocytosis.
Smart Hydrogels Containing Adenylate Kinase: Translating Substrate Recognition into Macroscopic Motion

Enzyme-based hybrid hydrogels were prepared by covalently incorporating an adenylate kinase mutant, possessing two thiol groups, into HPMA copolymer- or PEG-based hydrogel structures. The nanoscale conformational change of enzyme, triggered by substrate recognition, translated into macroscopic motion of hydrogels.
A semi-automatic mold cost estimation framework based upon geometry similarity

The automation of cost estimation for manufacturing processes is a challenging task in computer-aided manufacturing. In this paper, we introduce a two-step analogy and mathematical approach to estimate the cost of injection molding. In the analogy step, data of molds are partitioned into homogeneous groups based on mold type and mold design. In the prediction step, regression models based upon geometry, topology, and other inherent shape properties are constructed within each group. The variables in the regression models within each group are extracted automatically from one orthographic two-dimensional (2D) image of the injection-molded part. Mean and variance estimates are calculated on a subset of relevant molds so that the risk of an inaccurate bid can be assessed on a subset of relevant molds.
Cyclodiene Insecticide Resistance in Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) Is Associated with a Temperature-Sensitive Phenotype

Abstract Mutations within or affecting ion channel genes can cause insecticide-resistant or temperature-sensitive phenotypes. Some laboratory-isolated temperature-sensitive sodium channel mutants of Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) have been shown to possess low levels of resistance to DDT and pyrethroids but the extent to which field-isolated insecticide-resistant mutants are temperature sensitive has not been investigated. We report here a temperature-sensitive phenotype associated with the cyclodiene insecticide resistant mutant Rdl . Following exposure to 38°C resistant flies show temporary paralysis and are unable to locomote. Rescue of this mutant phenotype by a P-element-mediated germline transformant carrying a wild type copy of Rdl proves that the phenotype is associated with this locus. The possible reduced fitness conferred upon resistant insects in the field by this sensitivity to high temperature is discussed.
Chronic nicotine improves cognitive performance in a test of attention but does not attenuate cognitive disruption induced by repeated phencyclidine administration.

Rationale Nicotine-induced cognitive enhancement may be a factor maintaining tobacco smoking, particularly in psychiatric populations suffering from cognitive deficits. Schizophrenia patients exhibit higher smoking rates compared with the general population, suggesting that attempts to self-medicate cognitive schizophrenia deficits may underlie these high smoking levels.
Chemoprevention of Patients with Hepatitis B Receiving Chemotherapy or Bone Marrow Transplant

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is a common but preventable complication of immunosuppression. With the advent of new therapies that provide efficient and prolonged immunosuppression, the incidence of HBV reactivation is likely to increase. The clinical presentation can range from mildly elevated aminotransferase values to fatal fulminant hepatitis. Despite prompt antiviral therapy, the mortality rates remain high, and it can adversely affect the outcome of immunosuppressive therapy for the underlying hematological disease. Over the past decade, several studies evaluated the risk of HBV reactivation, role of serological tests, and effectiveness of antiviral therapies in preventing severe hepatic dysfunction among patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. Studies show that HBV antiviral therapy given prior to chemotherapy may prevent HBV replication, and reduce the risk of HBV reactivation during the immunosuppression period. This article reviews the current literature and society guidelines on HBV reactivation, risk factors, and prophylaxis for HBV reactivation in patients undergoing chemo-/immunosuppressive therapy.
Destabilizing divergences in supergravity-coupled supersymmetric theories.

Nonrenormalizable couplings in supergravity-coupled supersymmetric theories can give rise to power-law divergences that destabilize the weak-scale hierarchy. For the case of the standard-model gauge group, the problem can arise in theories with SU(3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}SU(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}U(1) gauge-singlet chiral superfluids. The minimal supersymmetric standard model is free from such destabilizing divergences.
Modeling of creep damage evolution around blunt notches and sharp cracks

Abstract The spread of intergranular creep damage around blunt notches and sharp cracks in ductile single phase alloys such as Type 304 stainless steel has been modeled by a mechanism based continuum material damage model and a finite element approach. The details of the material damage model have been derived from extensive earlier experimental results on this material carried out by us. The finite element simulation of the evolution of intergranular damage in the form of accumulating densities of grain boundary facet cracks has indicated that while this damage spreads out preferentially along inclined planes around the tips of sharp cracks, it localized in the symmetry plane ahead of a blunt notch. These results are in excellent agreement with the experimental observations of Ozmat, et al. on the directions of early crack growth from sharp cracks and blunt notches in 304 stainless steel.
Transport phenomena in germanium and silicon

Abstract A variational principle for interband scattering and general energy surfaces is derived, which enables one to obtain the various transport quantities in terms of infinite determinants. The matrix elements are calculated for warped energy surfaces, such as occur in germanium and silicon, using the appropriate transition probabilities derived by Ehrenreich and Overhauser . The general results are applied to the evaluation of the transport quantities for acoustical and optical scattering. In particular, it is found that in that approximation the temperature dependence of the mobility of germanium is given by T −2.5 , which compares well with the experimental results which lead to a T −2.3 dependence, in contrast to the standard theory predicting a temperature dependence of the form T −1.5 .
Isolation of an inhibitor of bovine trypsin from the tissues of the purple sea star Pisaster ochraceus

Abstract 1. 1. Affinity chromatography of resuspended acetone powders prepared from the tissues of P. ochraceus have yielded a band with A280 absorbance. The affinity chromatography columns were prepared by covalently attaching bovine trypsin to Sepharose 4B. 2. 2. Fractions from the A280 absorbing band were pooled and concentrated. This material inhibited the hydrolysis of TAME ( p- toluenesulfonyl- l -arginine methyl ester) by bovine trypsin. 3. 3. The lower limit for the association constant between bovine trypsin and P. ochraceus inhibitor was determined to be 2 × 105M−1.
Pulmonary toxicity of antineoplastic agents: Anaesthetic and postoperative implications

Agents commonly used in the treatment of neoplastic diseases may impair pulmonary function, and a wide spectrum of agents are currently implicated as toxic to the pulmonary system. Agents most commonly implicated are bleomycin, carmustine, busulfan, methotrexate, and thoracic radiotherapy. Less commonly implicated agents include mitomycin, procarbazine, melphalan, chlorambucil, and cyclophosphamide. Therapeutic interactions at time of operation and postoperatively may exacerbate existing pulmonary damage. It is imperative for the physicians treating patients receiving antineoplastic therapy to recognize potentially dangerous therapeutic interactions, and adjust the therapeutic regimen accordingly. Concentrations of inspired oxygen must be maintained as low as is safely possible. Intraoperative monitoring of arterial and mixed venous oxygen tensions will enable the clinician to adjust inspired oxygen concentrations to the lowest possible level while maintaining adequate oxygen tensions to the tissues. A systematic review of antineoplastic agents currently implicated, drug-oxygen interactions, and a review of the pathophysiology are presented.
Adventure-Based Group Therapy to Promote Social Skills in Adolescents

This article presents adventure-based group therapy as one type of activity-based group treatment that can be used to promote social skills in adolescents. Adventure-based therapy groups are a blend of experiential education, outdoor education, and group therapy. Key components of adventure-based therapy groups include activities that provide immediate and concrete consequences of behaviors, reliance on problem solving, their use of novel and unfamiliar environments, and the use of physical trust. The article includes practice examples of how these factors can be used to promote social skills and discusses limitations and implications for social work group practice.
Separation of cell organelles in density gradients based on their permeability characteristics

The buoyant density of intracellular organelles is dependent in part on the nature of the buffer composition of the density gradient and the permeability characteristics of the organelle membrane to the constituents of this buffer. Therefore, knowledge of the transport properties of different organelles allows the design of density gradients useful for their purification. We have used this approach to significantly decrease mitochondrial contamination of pancreatic zymogen granules in a one-step purification procedure on a 40% Percoll density gradient. These gradients, prepared with isoosmotic sucrose, yield a narrow band of zymogen granules and mitochondria. However, by substitution of sucrose with salts to which mitochondria but not zymogen granules are permeable, the densities of mitochondria are altered to give a significant separation. For example, the incorporation of 100 mM sodium succinate in the Percoll gradient can produce a 70% reduction in mitochondrial contamination. The increased ionic strength has an additional beneficial effect on zymogen granule yield by 5-10%. The recognition and utilization of transport pathways in organelle membranes is the principal feature of this technique and should prove to be widely applicable to other isolation procedures.
Identification of labeled thyroxine and triiodothyronine in amphioxus treated with 131I

Abstract Specimens of the protochordate, amphioxus, were maintained in sea water containing 131I for periods rainging from I h to II days. The utilization of the 131I was studied with the aid of paper-chromatographic techniques. The highest concentration of 131I was found in the endostylar region of these animals, but 131I protein was also found in the notochord, the hepatic cecum, and carcass tissues. 131Ithyroxine and [131I]triiodothyronine were found in this thyroidless organism and clearly identified by co-chromatography with authentic compounds. In contrast to observations made in mammalian thyroid glands, [131I]triiodothyronine was formed in proportions equal to ar greater than those of [131I]thyroxine.
Individual-Based Simulation Models of HIV Transmission: Reporting Quality and Recommendations

Background Individual-based modeling is a growing technique in the HIV transmission and prevention literature, but insufficient attention has been paid to formally evaluate the quality of reporting in this field. We present reporting recommendations for individual-based models for HIV treatment and prevention, assess the quality of reporting in the existing literature, and comment on the contribution of this model type to HIV policy and prediction. Methods We developed reporting recommendations for individual-based HIV transmission mathematical models, and through a systematic search, used them to evaluate the reporting in the existing literature. We identified papers that employed individual-based simulation models and were published in English prior to December 31, 2012. Articles were included if the models they employed simulated and tracked individuals, simulated HIV transmission between individuals in a particular population, and considered a particular treatment or prevention intervention. The papers were assessed with the reporting recommendations. Findings Of 214 full text articles examined, 32 were included in the evaluation, representing 20 independent individual-based HIV treatment and prevention mathematical models. Manuscripts universally reported the objectives, context, and modeling conclusions in the context of the modeling assumptions and the model’s predictive capabilities, but the reporting of individual-based modeling methods, parameterization and calibration was variable. Six papers discussed the time step used and one discussed efforts to maintain internal validity in coding. Conclusion Individual-based models represent detailed HIV transmission processes with the potential to contribute to inference and policy making for many different regions and populations. The rigor in reporting of assumptions, methods, and calibration of individual-based models focused on HIV transmission and prevention varies greatly. Higher standards for reporting of statistically rigorous calibration and model assumption testing need to be implemented to increase confidence in existing and future modeling results.
Chemical and physical properties affecting strontium distribution coefficients of surficial-sediment samples at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho

The U.S. Geological Survey and Idaho State University, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, conducted a study to determine strontium distribution coefficients (Kds) of surficial sediments at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). Batch experiments using synthesized aqueous solutions were used to determine Kds, which describe the distribution of a solute between the solution and solid phase, of 20 surficial-sediment samples from the INEEL. The Kds for the 20 surficial-sediment samples ranged from 36 to 275 ml/g. Many properties of both the synthesized aqueous solutions and sediments used in the experiments also were determined. Solution properties determined were initial and equilibrium concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and strontium, pH and specific conductance, and initial concentrations of potassium and sodium. Sediment properties determined were grain-size distribution, bulk mineralogy, whole-rock major-oxide and strontium and barium concentrations, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area. Solution and sediment properties were correlated with strontium Kds of the 20 surficial sediments using Pearson correlation coefficients. Solution properties with the strongest correlations with strontium Kds were equilibrium pH and equilibrium calcium concentration correlation coefficients, 0.6598 and –0.6518, respectively. Sediment properties with the strongest correlations with strontium Kds were manganese oxide (MnO), BET surface area, and the >4.75-mm-grain-size fraction correlation coefficients, 0.7054, 0.7022, and –0.6660, respectively. Effects of solution properties on strontium Kds were interpreted as being due to competition among similarly charged and sized cations in solution for strontium-sorption sites; effects of sediment properties on strontium Kds were interpreted as being surface-area related. Multivariate analyses of these solution and sediment properties resulted in r2 values of 0.8071 when all five properties were used and 0.8043 when three properties, equilibrium pH, MnO, and BET surface area, were used.
A Light-Scattering Method for Measuring Corrosion Rates

Abstract A description is given of an instrumental method developed for continuous observation of corroding metal specimen surfaces in water. The method involves illuminating an immersed panel with a beam of light that strikes the metal surface at a small angle and recording the produced electrical current by a phototube pickup of the light scattered by the metal surface. For this method of measurement to be useful, three conditions must be met: (1) Sample surface must be reasonably smooth at the outset, (2) Corrosive medium must be transparent, (3) Corrosion rate must be appropriate for measurement. The light-scattering method was used for measuring corrosion rates of galvanized steel surfaces in distilled water. Results were comparable with those found by stack-test failure and corrosion weight-loss measurement. The light-scattering method required less time to give quantitative results than did either of the other methods. 2.3.6
Digital generation of surface-pressure fluctuations with spiky features

Abstract The paper presents a new method for generating artificial surface-pressure time series focused on the simulation of non-Gaussian spiky fluctuation features. The method is based on the Fourier representation of time series with special selection of random Fourier phases. The unique properties of the Fourier phases are utilized for generation and control of the large-amplitude spikes which are the essential feature of surface-pressure signals typically observed around the corners and edges of a building. The synthetic time-series generation, focused on extreme-value distribution properties, are presented for a given target surface-pressure signal with skewed spiky features and non-Gaussian probability distribution.
Clinical Implications of Abnormal Thyroid Function in Heart Failure

See page [48][1]We read with interest the excellent report by Mitchell et al. [(1)][2] in this issue of JACC: Heart Failure . In brief, the investigators conducted a subset analysis of the SCD-HeFT (Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure) trial that was originally published in 2005. They looked at
Effect of Ethanol on Formation of Hippuric Acid by the Liver

SummaryThe effect of ethanol on the formation of hippuric acid was determined in studies on non-fasting human males without renal or hepatic disease after oral or intravenous administration of sodium benzoate and premedication with glycine by mouth. Ethanol, given orally or intravenously, resulted in significant decreases in urinary excretion of hippuric acid in all subjects tested. Each subject served as his own control. In similar studies, intravenous administration of sorbitol produced no significant changes in urinary excretion of hippuric acid. The results suggest that the hepatic processes that conjugate benzoate with glycine to form hippurate are impaired during oxidation of ethanol.
SU-E-T-228: Automatic Second Check of RT Treatment Record Using Event Triggered Audit

Purpose: To enhance patient safety and radiation therapy quality assurance by implementing an immediate computer‐based audit of radiation therapy treatment record. Provide an automatic second check of the RT record in a paperless environment. Replace some aspects of weekly physics chart checks with a computer‐based audit of the treatment. Method: A software agent receives signals from a system we have developed, EventNet, when sentinel events occur in the TMS. Audits are triggered when a “treatment canceled”, and one of the many “treatment complete” signals are received. The treatment canceled audit assumes the patient treatment was canceled and verifies that no treatment happened. The treatment completed audit assumes that a treatment occurred and checks the treatment history parameters and dose summary against the scheduled plans, session, daily and total doses. The agent extracts the plan(s) and the day's treatment history from the TMS with a DICOM query and sends that data to a web service that compares the history against the plan. If the audit succeeds, the agent quietly adds an entry to a log file. When it fails the agent alerts staff via pager, email, or SMS message. Results: The agent is able to catch events from the TMS and trigger one of two audit processes. Basic audits of the treatment histories works as designed. Intentional variation in treatment parameters in test cases are caught and trigger the immediate alert. Conclusion: Immediate audit of the RT record is better than waiting for weekly physics chart check to verify plan parameters. Rather than have a physicist seek out variations in treatments by checking every treated parameter, a software agent can provide a basic audit and alert the physicist if needed. This brings more focus on patient treatments that require oversight and could free up valuable time for other QA tasks.
Ethical issues in biomedical engineering: the Bjork-Shiley heart valve

The ethical issues surrounding the failure of one type of Bjork-Shiley heart valve (due to fracture of the outflow strut), and Shiley Inc.'s handling of the problem are examined. withholding of information on the part of Shiley is discussed. The consequences of this behavior (as many as 765 fractures and 480 deaths have been estimated) are described. Regulatory changes that could prevent future problems of this nature are outlined. >
A Review of: “ENGINEERING AND MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS” by Ira H. Kleinfeld. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1986. xv + 446 pp., ISBN 0-03-070346-8, List: $48.00.

(1989). A Review of: “ENGINEERING AND MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS” by Ira H. Kleinfeld. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1986. xv + 446 pp., ISBN 0-03-070346-8, List: $48.00. The Engineering Economist: Vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 265-266.
High frequency titrations of some organic functional groups

Abstract The high frequency titration of various organic acids and bases has been studied. The application of high frequency techniques in titrations of inline, oxime and other functional groups has been found useful. In general, these methods seem widely applicable in the determination of organic compounds and functional groups and can be used for the analysis of dilute systems.
Armenians in California

The Armenian‐American community, almost half of which is concentrated in California, faces problems of assimilation and discrimination and a recent past dominated by the experience of genocide.
Vaporization of a mixed precursor in chemical vapor deposition of YBCO films

Single-phase YBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7[minus][delta]] thin films with Tc values around 90 K are readily obtained by using a single-source chemical vapor deposition technique with normal precursor mass transport. The quality of the films is controlled by adjusting the carrier gas flow rate and the precursor feed rate. 3 refs., 2 figs.
Neural activation during response inhibition is associated with adolescents' frequency of risky sex and substance use.

Abstract Objective Introduction: While many have identified the important role of the developing brain in youth risk behavior, few have examined the relationship between salient cognitive factors (response inhibition) and different types of real-world adolescent health risk behaviors such as substance use and risky sex, within the same sample of youth. Methods We therefore sought to examine these relationships with 95 high-risk youth (ages 14–18; M age = 16.29 years). We examined blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) response to an fMRI-based cognitive task designed to assess response inhibition (Go/NoGo) and past month risk behavior (number of substance use days; number of unprotected sex days). Results For this sample of youth, we found significant negative correlations between past month substance use and response inhibition within the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and right insula (uncorrected p Conclusions These results suggest the particular relevance of these regions in this compelling, albeit slightly different, pattern of response for adolescent risky behaviors.
Functional and reactive hyperemia are unaltered by homocysteine in conscious dogs

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that L-homocysteine thiolactone (L-HCTL), through its reaction with adenosine to formS-adenosylhomocysteine, may modulate myocardial functional and reactive hyperemic responses. Reactive hyperemic responses to 10-sec occlusions or 400-msec diastolic occlusions of the circumflex coronary artery and functional hyperemic responses to ventricular extra-activations were studied in a chronic heart-blocked dog preparation during a control period and following L-HCTL (40 mg/kg). In two additional dogs multiple venous blood samples and left ventricular myocardial biopsies were obtained following L-HCTL to measure changes in plasma homocysteine and tissueS-adenosylhomocysteine. Despite a 75-fold increase in peak plasma homocysteine and a 26-fold increase in tissueS-adenosylhomocysteine, L-HCTL did not alter myocardial functional and reactive hyperemic responses.
Efficient synthesis of enynecarbamates and their ring-closing metathesis/[4 + 2] Diels-Alder cycloaddition: synthesis of hexahydroisoquinolines

Enynes 5a-g were prepared in moderate to good yields from 1-(triphenylphosphoranylideneaminoalkyl)benzotriazoles. Ring-closing metathesis of 5a-f afforded functionalized dienes 6a-f, respectively, which were used in a Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction in the synthesis of the corresponding hexahydroisoquinoline derivatives 7a-f.
Analogy between the uptake of heat and solutes by low-temperature thermal waters in Iceland

Abstract The highly soluble components B, Cl and CO2 appear to diffuse through interstitial fluids contained in small amounts in all ligneous rocks. An analytical/numerical investigation of the concentration of these elements in low-temperature thermal waters in Iceland compared to their concentrations in the basaltic country rock suggests that they are taken up by the water as they diffuse out of the rock surfaces into water-filled fractures. The penetration depths of the diffusive processes during activity of the thermal systems of 104 years is estimated at a few meters.
Failure to Recover to Baseline Pulmonary Function after Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Exacerbation

Rationale: Patients with cystic fibrosis periodically experience pulmonary exacerbations. Previous studies have noted that some patients' lung function (FEV1) does not improve with treatment.Objectives: To determine the proportion of patients treated for a pulmonary exacerbation that does not recover to spirometric baseline, and to identify factors associated with the failure to recover to spirometric baseline.Methods: Cohort study using the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry from 2003–2006. We randomly selected one pulmonary exacerbation treated with intravenous antibiotics per patient and compared the best FEV1 in the 3 months after treatment with the best FEV1 in the 6 months before treatment. Recovery to baseline was defined as any FEV1 in the 3 months after treatment that was greater than or equal to 90% of the baseline FEV1. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate associations with the failure to recover to baseline FEV1.Measurements and Main Results: Of 8,479 pulmonary exace...
Regeneration‐blocked mdx muscle: in vivo model for testing treatments

We have refined the mdx mouse as a clinical model for Duchenne dystrophy. Our power estimates, primary measures, regular sacrifice intervals, and quality checks constitute a high-speed, low-cost system for preclinically testing therapies designed to slow muscle destruction in Duchenne dystrophy. Irradiated (18 Gy) and contralateral shielded anterior tibial muscles were studied in 21-day-old mdx and normal mice at the time of irradiation and 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks thereafter. Regeneration-blocked mdx (irradiated) muscle expressed muscular dystrophy as progressive wasting after a brief (4 week) period of growth. Regeneration-blocked normal muscle showed stunted growth but neither progressive wasting nor microscopic pathological changes.
Using the latency insertion method (LIM) to generate X parameters

X parameters have been shown to have a wide array of applications in the modeling of nonlinear devices and systems. In this work, the polyharmonic distortion (PHD) model and the latency insertion method (LIM) are combined to generate X parameters describing the nonlinear relationship between power waves. This technique leverages the speed and convergence advantages of the LIM simulation method to generate frequency-domain models. Results are compared with those of other methods.
Biomarker Development for Musculoskeletal Diseases

Abstract More than one in 4 Americans has a musculoskeletal (MSK) disorder that requires medical diagnosis and treatment. Imaging tools are able to demonstrate structural changes but cannot reflect the disease activity or symptom severity of MSK conditions. This is of paramount concern in the aging population, in which imaging findings have poor correlation with symptoms, and multiple pain generators frequently coexist. Because levels of inflammatory and matrix breakdown products address disease activity, evaluation of biomarkers has the potential to provide assessment of active pain generators above and beyond the changes observable on imaging studies. This fact has stimulated research interest in the search for novel biomarkers of disease activity and response to treatment in body fluids. The goal is to develop panels of multi-biomarkers, which could be used independently or in conjunction with the imaging tools, for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment validation in MSK diseases. The current review of MSK biomarkers is organized into 3 mechanistic categories: the metabolites of extracellular matrix of MSK tissues; inflammatory cytokines and chemokines; and pain-related neuropeptides and/or chemicals. Although some representative biomarkers could be used alone, the fact that MSK diseases are multi-tissue disorders that involve the muscles, bones, cartilage, and nerves suggests that panels of biomarkers may have greater potential than any single biomarker used in isolation. As advances in biotechnology make this a reality, multi-biomarker panels that include all 3 categories of biomarkers, used either alone or in combination with imaging tools, has the potential to revolutionize the clinical approach to MSK diseases.
Global Sea Level Trend in the Past Century

Data derived from tide-gauge stations throughout the world indicate that the mean sea level rose by about 12 centimeters in the past century. The sea level change has a high correlation with the trend of global surface air temperature. A large part of the sea level rise can be accounted for in terms of the thermal expansion of the upper layers of the ocean. The results also represent weak indirect evidence for a net melting of the continental ice sheets.
Project Gustav: immersive digital painting

Project Gustav is a digital painting system that enables artists to become immersed in the digital painting experience. It achieves interactivity and realism by leveraging the GPU to implement our novel art media modeling and brush simulation algorithms.Compared with current digital painting packages, there are two main advances over state-of-the-art. The first is a highly efficient, data-driven 3D deformable brush simulation [Baxter and Govindaraju 2010]. The second is paint modeling algorithms for oil and pastel that preserve stroke details as paints are smeared and mixed [Chu et al. 2010]. Together these allow digital painting in a manner much closer to the real-world experience. This not only makes it possible to paint digitally with very little training but also respects the skills artists have acquired in real life. We further combine our painting simulation with the latest touch and pen input technology to make Project Gustav even more enjoyable to use. Together, these features provide a responsive and realistic digital painting experience never before attained.