cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New percutaneous ablative modalities in nephron-sparing surgery of small renal tumors

Renal tumors are increasingly detected on abdominal imaging studies. Standard treatment of small renal tumors includes partial or radical nephrectomy, done either open or laparoscopically. Several in situ ablative techniques to treat small renal lesions are currently in various phases of evolution. All involve imparting destructive energy to the tumor while minimizing injury to adjacent normal tissue. Cryotherapy (CryoT), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFUS) and high-intensity radiation (HIR) are all being evaluated as tools to ablate renal tumors. The goal with these modalities is to minimize the blood loss, tissue manipulation, and morbidity associated with excisional approaches. Animal studies have shown that large, reproducible lesions can be ablated in normal kidney tissue by these new techniques. Studies of human renal tissue response to RFA are just beginning. Ex vivo studies reveal large, reproducible controlled lesions in normal renal tissue, similar to animal studies. In vivo studies have shown no significant toxicity, while efficacy is currently under evaluation. Preliminary clinical studies in humans have revealed that renal tumors are slow to regress after treatment, but about 75% of these small renal tumors appeared well treated. Mixed responses have been observed in the remaining cases. This paper presents a concise review of efficacy, advantages and disadvantages of these new minimal invasive techniques and their possible clinical implication in the future.
Repression of the hindbrain developmental program by Cdx factors is required for the specification of the vertebrate spinal cord.

The spinal cord is a unique vertebrate feature that originates, together with the hindbrain, from the caudal neural plate. Whereas the hindbrain subdivides into rhombomeres, the spinal cord remains unsegmented. We have identified Cdx transcription factors as key determinants of the spinal cord region in zebrafish. Loss of Cdx1a and Cdx4 functions causes posterior expansion of the hindbrain at the expense of the unsegmented spinal cord. By contrast, cdx4 overexpression in the hindbrain impairs rhombomere segmentation and patterning and induces the expression of spinal cord-specific genes. Using cell transplantation, we demonstrate that Cdx factors function directly within the neural ectoderm to specify spinal cord. Overexpression of 5′ Hox genes fails to rescue hindbrain and spinal cord defects associated with cdx1a/cdx4 loss-of-function, suggesting a Hox-independent mechanism of spinal cord specification. In the absence of Cdx function, the caudal neural plate retains hindbrain characteristics and remains responsive to surrounding signals, particularly retinoic acid, in a manner similar to the native hindbrain. We propose that by preventing the posterior-most region of the neural plate from following a hindbrain developmental program, Cdx factors help determine the size of the prospective hindbrain and spinal cord territories.
A mathematical model of the sleep/wake cycle

We present a biologically-based mathematical model that accounts for several features of the human sleep/wake cycle. These features include the timing of sleep and wakefulness under normal and sleep-deprived conditions, ultradian rhythms, more frequent switching between sleep and wakefulness due to the loss of orexin and the circadian dependence of several sleep measures. The model demonstrates how these features depend on interactions between a circadian pacemaker and a sleep homeostat and provides a biological basis for the two-process model for sleep regulation. The model is based on previous "flip-flop" conceptual models for sleep/wake and REM/NREM and we explore whether the neuronal components in these flip-flop models, with the inclusion of a sleep-homeostatic process and the circadian pacemaker, are sufficient to account for the features of the sleep/wake cycle listed above. The model is minimal in the sense that, besides the sleep homeostat and constant cortical drives, the model includes only those nuclei described in the flip-flop models. Each of the cell groups is modeled by at most two differential equations for the evolution of the total population activity, and the synaptic connections are consistent with those described in the flip-flop models. A detailed analysis of the model leads to an understanding of the mathematical mechanisms, as well as insights into the biological mechanisms, underlying sleep/wake dynamics.
Measurement of the Muonium Hfs Splitting and of the Muon Moment by "Double Resonance," and a New Value ofα

We have determined the hyperfine interval $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}$ and the muon moment ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}=\frac{g_{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{}{}_{}{}^{\ensuremath{'}}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{\mathrm{B}}}{2}$ from the frequencies of the two alternative Zeeman transitions in muonium, working at that "magic" field where $\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{1}}{\ensuremath{\partial}B}=\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{2}}{\ensuremath{\partial}B}=0$. Extrapolating determinations of $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}$ in Kr and Ar to zero pressure, we obtain consistent results, yielding jointly $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}(0)=4463.3022(89)$ MHz. Assuming that ${g}_{j}(M)$ is unshifted by collisions, we obtain $\frac{{g}_{e}}{g_{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{}{}_{}{}^{\ensuremath{'}}}=206.76509(80)$, which corresponds to $\frac{{f}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}}{{f}_{p}}=3.183373(13)$. The combination of these results gives ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{-}137=0.03654(30)$ (2.1 ppm in ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$), in good agreement with the recommended value of 0.036 02(21).
Lacoea, a lower Pennsylvanian noeggerathialian cone from Illinois

Abstract Lacoea seriata is described from 2- and 3-dimensional compression fossils from the Lower Pennsylvanian (Westphalian A?-B?) strata of west-central Illinois. Stratigraphic data are given for the fossiliferous shale and siltstone which occur within basal Pennsylvanian fill in a depression within Mississippian Limestone. The six specimens studied include isolated fringed semicircular disks and a cone segment showing the arrangement of the sporophylls on the axis. Comparisons are made with Discinites, Noeggerathiostrobus, Saarodiscites, Heninia and Tongshania. Lacoea exhibits morphological characteristics of the noeggerathiales.
Transitional restorations for function and esthetics

Abstract Transitional restorations offer excellent means of treatment for teen-age patients with oligodontia. The technique of construction and problems associated wtih this restoration have been described. This treatment is within the realm of the general practitioner of dentistry and it is his responsibility to see that these patients receive an adequate dental service.
Processing Corn Distillers’ Grains to Improve Flavor: Storage Stability in Corn-Soy-Milk Blends

Fermentation flavors of corn distillers’ grains (CDG) were removed more completely by extraction with hexane:ethanol (82:18 v/v) azeotrope (HEA) than with hexane (H). Desolventizing included air drying followed by heating to 101°C for 10 min with agitated steam injection. Enriched corn-soy-milk (CSM) blends were formulated with up to 10% HEA- or H-extracted CDG. Color was slightly darker in CSM with CDG. Initial flavor of CSM with up to 7.5% HEA-extracted CDG did not differ significantly from standard CSM. After storage at 25° to 49°C, flavor and lipid stability was satisfactory in CSM with up to 7.5% extracted CDG.
Cohomology of topological groups with applications to the Weil group

We establish various properties of the definition of cohomology of topological groups given by Grothendieck, Artin and Verdier in SGA4, including a Hochschild–Serre spectral sequence and a continuity theorem for compact groups. We use these properties to compute the cohomology of the Weil group of a totally imaginary field, and of the Weil-etale topology of a number ring recently introduced by Lichtenbaum (both with integer coefficients).
Pharmacokinetics of chlorogenic acid and rutin in larvae of Heliothis zea

Abstract Studies using [3H]chlorogenic acid and [3H]rutin demonstrated that the kinetics of uptake of these plant phenolics into the haemolymph of 5th-instar Heliothis zea (Boddie) following actue oral administration is a first-order process. The total quantity of either phenolic present in the haemolymph within 1 hr amounts to 5% or less of the total ingested dose. Based on TLC analyses, 80% or more of the radioactivity in the haemolymph occurs as the parent phenolic. Retention of [3H]-chlorogenic acid or [3H]-rutin in H. zea following chronic feeding from 1st to 3rd-instar larvae is also linearly related to dietary dose. Chlorogenic acid and rutin are both equitoxic and equivalent in bioavailability to H. zea. Loss of [3H]-rutin from the haemolymph of 5th-instar larvae following injection is biphasic. One half of the injected dose is excreted in the frass in the first 6 hr after injection; the other half is thereafter eliminated at 1/20th of the initial rate. Analyses of extracts of frass by thin-layer chromatography indicate that after either chronic or acute feeding 90% of the ingested phenolic is excreted unchanged. Possible sites and modes of action of phenolics in insects are discussed in light of these findings.
The role of oxidation in the friction and wear behavior of solid solution Cu-Al alloys in reciprocating sliding contact with sapphire and D2 tool steel

Abstract The tribological behavior of dilute solid solution Cu-Al alloys in sliding contact with sapphire and D2 steel was investigated. The worn and unworn contacting surfaces and wear debris were characterized using an appropriate combination of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, optical microscopy, optical stereomicroscopy, hardness and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Wear testing was performed with a slow speed reciprocating wear tester with cylinder-on-flat geometry. The coefficient of friction (COF) was recorded for each wear cycle during run-in and periodically recorded during the steady state wear regime. Cumulative wear rates were measured for both the Cu-Al alloy flats and slider cylinders. The wear rate of the solid solution Cu-Al alloys was found to increase with increasing aluminum content. Worn alloy surfaces exhibited increasing mechanical damage and decreasing copper oxide coverage as aluminum content increased. High aluminum contents were found to promote planar slip, adhesive wear and the formation of metallic wear debris. Increased adhesion and metallic transfer resulted in a parallel increase in the COF. Surface segregation of aluminum was observed in the wear track areas for all alloy compositions. Angle-resolve XPS (ARXPS) analysis showed significant aluminum enrichment of the surface for as-polished and partially sputter-cleaned Cu-6wt.%Al alloys. For the tribosystem described, the friction and wear behavior of solid solution Cu-Al alloys is dependent on the adherence of the wear-induced copper oxide to the underlying substrate. Neither increased alloy hardness nor the ability to strain harden increased wear resistance. Instead, as aluminum content increased, a substantial increase in the adhesive wear of the Cu-Al alloy flats was observed during the run-in period. Surface segregation of aluminum resulted in the formation of an aluminum oxide layer. The incompatibility of A1 2 O 3 and the metallic substrate creates an interface susceptible to disruption by surface shear forces during the wear process. The increased interfacial adhesion results in alloy transfer to the opposing slider and an increase in wear.
Variational approach to the Davydov soliton.

The soliton states suggested by Davydov as approximate solutions to the Schr\"odinger equation for one-dimensional systems are examined from the standpoint of the variational principle. We show that the correct equations of motion are, in general, different from those proposed by Davydov. In addition, we comment on the time evolution of these states.
Prostaglandin E1 inhibitis platelet aggregation by a pathway independent of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate

Aggregation of human blood platelets induced by adenosine diphosphate or 1-epinephrine was inhibited when the platelets were suspended in plasma which had been previously exposed to an insolubilized omega-aminohexylagarose derivative of prostaglandin E1. This decrease of platelet aggregation was not accompanied by a change in the concentration of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in platelets. The results demonstrate the existence of an alternative pathway independent of cyclic AMP for the inhibition of platelet aggregation by plasma.
A revised protocol for efficient regeneration of somatic embryos and acclimatization of plantlets in pecan, Carya illinoensis

Abstract Methods were established to increase the frequency of plant regeneration and greenhouse establishment of pecan somatic embryos. Somatic embryos were derived from immature zygotic embryo explants maintained on basal woody plant medium (WPM). The isolation and culture of 3–4-mm long somatic embryos on fresh medium promoted enlargement and increased the number of uniformly sized somatic embryos for cold and desiccation treatments. Incorporation of silver nitrate, an ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor, in WPM germination medium and application of 6-benzylaminopurine on shoot apices appreciably increased shoot regeneration frequency. Wide variations in plant conversion rates were observed among different culture lines. Nonetheless, the overall frequency of plantlet conversion averaged 20%, up to a maximum of 71%. The regenerated plants were grown in perlite: vermiculite followed by stepwise hardening. From 70 to 80% of the regenerated plants reached the hardening stage; >99% of the hardened plants were successfully established in the greenhouse.
Ultimate choice between two attractive goals: Predictions from a model

A mathematical model for two-choice behavior in situations where both choices are desirable is discussed. According to the model, one or the other choice is ultimately preferred, and a functional equation is given for the fraction of the population ultimately preferring a given choice. The solution depends upon the learning rates and upon the initial probabilities of the choices. Several techniques for approximating the solution of this functional equation are described. One of these leads to an explicit formula that gives good accuracy. This solution can be generalized to the two-armed bandit problem with partial reinforcement in each arm, or the equivalent T-maze problem. Another suggests good ways to program the calculations for a high-speed computer.
Efficacy and safety of outpatient cardiac catheterization

Outpatient cardiac catheterization has become the standard in our laboratory. The only exclusion for outpatient study is current hospitalization for cardiac symptoms. Thus, any patient well enough to be at home is studied on an outpatient basis. We reviewed our experience on 4,094 diagnostic studies of which 3,537 (86%) were done on a same-day basis. The complication rates were generally lower than in published series with a mortality of 0.05%. There were no admissions for late bleeding. Ninety-seven percent of the procedures were done by the percutaneous technique utilizing 7-French catheters. Patients were heparinized, and protamine was not used. The low complication rate is to a large extent due to meticulous postoperative care by critical care nurses in an outpatient observation unit contiguous to the laboratory. Outpatient cardiac catheterization is a safe, cost-saving approach applicable to a large majority of cardiac patients.
Temperature dependence of the dissociation rate constants for 8 S, 4 S, and meroreceptor forms of the estrogen receptor from rat uterus

Abstract Conversion of a steroid receptor complex from the 8 S to the 4 S form results in new interactions between the steroid and the receptor and/or formation of new intraprotein bonds within the receptor molecule itself. These bonds must be broken before the steroid is released. In order to localize these newly formed interactions, the dissociation kinetics of meroreceptors derived from 4 S and 8 S (molybdate-stabilized) receptor complexes were examined. At temperatures betwen 6 and 30 °C, no differences in the rates of dissociation were observed for the meroreceptors derived from the two forms of estrogen receptor, whereas approximately a twofold difference in dissociation rates for 4 S intact receptor versus 8 S intact receptor was detected. These findings indicate that the new interactions accompanying this conversion are likely to occur in regions of the receptor molecule other than the C-terminal portion of the steroid-binding site. The thermodynamic parameters of the dissociation reaction for the intact 4 S, and 8 S, and meroreceptor forms, respectively, were: Δ H ‡ = 26.2 ± 1.3, 19.7 ± 1.7, and 23.2 ± 1.0 kcal/mol ; +TΔ S ‡ = 9.4 ± 1.2, 3.2 ± 1.7 and 6.6 ± 0.9 kcal/mol ( at 25 ° C ); and ΔG‡ = 16.8 ± 2.5, 16.5 ± 3.4, and 16.7 ± 1.9 kcal/mol . As is the case for other steroid receptors, an increase in the enthalpy of steroid-receptor interaction after this conversion reflects the stability of the 4 S estrogen receptor complex.
PATTERNS OF CERAMIC EXCHANGE DURING THE CLASSIC AND HISTORIC PERIODS IN THE JEMEZ AREA: EVIDENCE FROM EARLY EXCAVATIONS AT AMOXIUMQUA AND GIUSEWA

AbstractThe dynamic period that spans the Classic to the Historic in the Jemez Area is documented in the sites of Amoxiumqua and Giusewa. Based on re-evaluations of maps, notes, and pottery collections from the 1910–1911 excavations of these sites, held at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, different spheres of interaction, as they are represented in the ceramic record, are revealed. Both sites share similar architecture, are within the Jemez culture area, are occupied during the same time periods, and their pottery assemblages are dominated by Jemez Black on White. Even with these many similarities, distinct patterns emerge through time in the nonlocal pottery types present revealing different networks of interaction. Giusewa has an extended network that, although fluctuating through time, is consistently more diverse than that of Amoxiumqua. The non-local pottery of Amoxiumqua is not only less diverse, but continually restricted to the directly adjacent Rio Grande Glaze Ware area. Thi...
Co-Scheduling Parallel Electronic Structure Calculations in SMP Cluster Environments

The general atomic and molecular electronic structure system (GAMESS) is a program for ab initio molecular quantum chemistry calculations. This work presents a modification to the integration model of network information conveyer and application notification (NICAN) into GAMESS for the concurrent execution of sequential GAMESS jobs. In the work presented here, NICAN acts as an application-level co-scheduler in distributed SMP environments. The primary goal of such a co-scheduler is to increase throughput of parallel GAMESS calculations
Are children who steal different from those who are aggressive

Data on 2181 children referred to a child psychiatry service were analyzed to determine if there were specific correlates for aggressive behavior and for stealing behavior. Compared with stealers, aggressive children tended to be younger and more immature males, and to come from stressed families with a history of mental illness. These findings support the notion that there are biological and reactive components to aggression.
Conjugated linoleic acid isomers' roles in the regulation of PPAR-γ and NF-κB DNA binding and subsequent expression of antioxidant enzymes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Abstract Objective Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers have shown health benefits. Because CLA isomers may act as activators for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and may induce antioxidant enzymes, this study was conducted to examine the effects of CLA isomers on the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, and catalase in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with graded concentrations of the 9-cis, 11-trans or the 10-trans, 12-cis-CLA isomer for 24 h. Results The 9-cis, 11-trans-CLA treatments resulted in increases in transcription factor DNA binding activities and expression of antioxidant enzymes at 0–25 μmol/L and an increase in lipid peroxidation only at the lowest concentrations (5 μmol/L). The 10-trans, 12-cis-CLA treatments resulted in increases in transcription factor DNA binding activities at 0–25 μmol/L and highest levels of mRNA of both antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase protein, and lipid peroxidation only at the lowest concentrations (5 μmol/L). The 9-cis, 11-trans-CLA treatments produced expression of antioxidant enzymes, except catalase protein, that were positively correlated with lipid peroxidation. Positive correlations were found between expression of antioxidant enzymes, except catalase protein, and lipid peroxidation for 10-trans, 12-cis-CLA treatments. Although CLA isomers exhibit mostly stimulatory effects in expression of antioxidant enzymes, interestingly, the lowest concentrations of both CLA isomers resulted in increases in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels. Conclusion An understanding of the optimal concentrations of CLA isomers, which stimulate the benefits of antioxidant enzyme induction, may require careful CLA titration to determine predictable and dependable therapeutic strategies against adverse effects, such as pro-oxidants.
Modeling the efficiency of Förster resonant energy transfer from energy relay dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells.

Forster resonant energy transfer can improve the spectral breadth, absorption and energy conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells. In this design, unattached relay dyes absorb the high energy photons and transfer the excitation to sensitizing dye molecules by Forster resonant energy transfer. We use an analytic theory to calculate the excitation transfer efficiency from the relay dye to the sensitizing dye accounting for dynamic quenching and relay dye diffusion. We present calculations for pores of cylindrical and spherical geometry and examine the effects of the Forster radius, the pore size, sensitizing dye surface concentration, collisional quenching rate, and relay dye lifetime. We find that the excitation transfer efficiency can easily exceed 90% for appropriately chosen dyes and propose two different strategies for selecting dyes to achieve record power conversion efficiencies.
Evolution of transoral approaches, endoscopic endonasal approaches, and reduction strategies for treatment of craniovertebral junction pathology: a treatment algorithm update

The craniovertebral junction (CVJ), or the craniocervical junction (CCJ) as it is otherwise known, houses the crossroads of the CNS and is composed of the occipital bone that surrounds the foramen magnum, the atlas vertebrae, the axis vertebrae, and their associated ligaments and musculature. The musculoskeletal organization of the CVJ is unique and complex, resulting in a wide range of congenital, developmental, and acquired pathology. The refinements of the transoral approach to the CVJ by the senior author (A.H.M.) in the late 1970s revolutionized the treatment of CVJ pathology. At the same time, a physiological approach to CVJ management was adopted at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 1977 based on the stability and motion dynamics of the CVJ and the site of encroachment, incorporating the transoral approach for irreducible ventral CVJ pathology. Since then, approaches and techniques to treat ventral CVJ lesions have evolved. In the last 40 years at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, multiple approaches to the CVJ have evolved and a better understanding of CVJ pathology has been established. In addition, new reduction strategies that have diminished the need to perform ventral decompressive approaches have been developed and implemented. In this era of surgical subspecialization, to properly treat complex CVJ pathology, the CVJ specialist must be trained in skull base transoral and endoscopic endonasal approaches, pediatric and adult CVJ spine surgery, and must understand and be able to treat the complex CSF dynamics present in CVJ pathology to provide the appropriate, optimal, and tailored treatment strategy for each individual patient, both child and adult. This is a comprehensive review of the history and evolution of the transoral approaches, extended transoral approaches, endoscopie assisted transoral approaches, endoscopie endonasal approaches, and CVJ reduction strategies. Incorporating these advancements, the authors update the initial algorithm for the treatment of CVJ abnormalities first published in 1980 by the senior author.
Electron transport pathways in spinach chloroplasts. Reduction of the primary acceptor of Photosystem II by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in the dark

Abstract Addition of NADPH to osmotically lysed spinach chloroplasts results in a reduction of the primary acceptor (Q) of Photosystem II. This reduction of Q reaches a maximum of 50% in chloroplasts maintained under weak illumination and requires added ferredoxin and Mg 2+ . The reaction is inhibited by (i) an antibody to ferredoxin-NADP + reductase (EC 1.6.7.1), (ii) treatment of chloroplasts with N -ethylmaleimide in the presence of NADPH, (iii) disulfodisalicylidenepropanediamine, (iv) antimycin, and (v) acceptors of non-cyclic electron transport. Uncouplers of phosphorylation do not affect NADPH-driven reduction of Q. It is proposed that electron flow from NADPH to Q may occur in the dark by a pathway utilising portions of the normal cyclic and non-cyclic electron carrier sequences. The possible in vivo role for such a pathway in redox poising of cyclic electron transport and hence in controlling the ATP/NADPH supply ratio is discussed.
Persistent planetary scale circulation patterns and their relationship with cold air outbreak activity over the Eastern United States

Previous work has shown that the intensity of cold air outbreaks over the south-eastern US displays a stronger relationship with planetary scale circulation anomalies than with the synoptic scale anomalies that are directly associated with the outbreak. In this study, these planetary scale circulations are identified over three temporal scales and related to outbreak intensity. To carry this out, standardized 5, 10, and 15 day surface pressure and 500 mb heights over North America are used to identify a sample of 57 circulation periods. From this sample, the circulation anomalies identified on the three scales are related to the intensity of current and incipient (i.e. 1–2 weeks later) outbreak activity over the south-eastern US. Correlation maps are constructed to portray the patterns of correlation between the circulation anomalies and outbreak intensity. In order to investigate regional variability in the nature of the relationships, comparisons are made with outbreak activity over the north-eastern US. The majority of the circulation features show stronger relationships with outbreak intensity when the 10- and 15-day mean circulations are considered. This implies that persistent, lower frequency modes of circulation play a relatively greater role in controlling the intensity of cold air outbreaks over the eastern US. © 1998 Royal Meteorological Society
Surgical Repair of Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries with Cardiac Anomalies: A Report of Fifty-Three Cases

Between February 1964 and June 1994, we operated on 53 patients with corrected transposition of the great arteries associated with cardiac anomalies. Their ages ranged from 2.5 to 37 years (mean 15.9 years). There were 36 patients with type SLL and 17 with type IDD. Forty-three patients had ventricular septal defect with pulmonary stenosis, 7 had VSD with pulmonary hypertension and only 3 patients had atrioventricular valve incompetence without ventricular septal defect. Atrial septal defects were found in 13 cases and patent ductus arteriosus in 2. The main operative procedures were closure of ventricular septal defect (49), closure of atrial septal defect (13), resection of pulmonary stenosis (43) and pulmonary annulus enlargement (3). Additional procedures were bypass between the morphological left ventricle and the pulmonary artery using valved external conduit (4), tricuspid valve repair (4), tricuspid valve replacement (4) and one Fontan operation. Nine patients died (17%) within 30 days of operatio...
The Benefits of Teaching a Course on Hospitality and Tourism Sales and Service via Active Learning

In 1997 the decision was made to teach an undergraduate course on hospitality and tourism sales and service via active learning. The detailed procedures that have been used to prepare the students to complete a semester long sales project, which is the principal active learning assignment in the course, are first presented. The extraordinary benefits that have been derived by the students who have taken the course, student organizations that have sponsored it, the department, and the community are next presented which validates the efficacy of the pedagogy.
Testing of a gamma ray imaging system at Omega

Successful images of hard x-rays were taken at the OMEGA Laser at the Laboratory for Laser energetics ant he University of Rochester. This facility served as a surrogate for the National Ignition Facility for which this system was designed. Eleven plastic shells filled with 3 He pellets were imploded producing soft and hard x-rays. As the system was designed to image 4.44MeV gammas the hard x-rays were of particular interest. These bremsstrahlung x-rays were emitted for the outer plastic shell and imaged using the gamma ray imaging system 13 meters away. A number of filtering arrangements were used to do transmission radiography of the source providing spectrum information. A 200-micron pinhole aperture was used to image the source. These shots provide information critical in characterizing the performance of the system
Novo teste para diagnóstico das afasias

Um novo teste para diagnostico e controle do tratamento das diferentes formas de afasia, especialmente adaptado para a lingua portuguesa, e apresentado e descrito em detalhe. O teste, que sera de valor para clinicos e psicologos interessados no tratamento e reabilitacao de pacientes afasicos, se executa em cerca de 30 minutos, interpreta-se facilmente e fornece os elementos necessarios para o planejamento da reeducacao da linguagem. Alem disso, a repeticao do teste de tempos em tempos indicara os progressos do paciente e sugerira modificacoes do plano de tratamento no momento oportuno.
Activity of Stereoisomers of Serricornin, Sex Pheromone of the Cigarette Beetle ( Lasioderma serricorne F.)

(1984). Activity of Stereoisomers of Serricornin, Sex Pheromone of the Cigarette Beetle ( Lasioderma serricorne F.) Agricultural and Biological Chemistry: Vol. 48, No. 11, pp. 2833-2834.
Prediction of Long-Term Facial Nerve Outcomes with Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring

Objective:Evaluate the utility of a statistical equation using two independent intraoperative monitoring parameters in predicting long-term facial nerve function.Study Design:Retrospective case review.Setting:Tertiary care hospital.Patients:Sixty patients undergoing resection of vestibular schwannom
Pitfalls in the characterization of small intestinal lymphocytes.

Abstract The morphological characteristics of human intestinal lymphocytes may vary depending upon whether they are examined in tissue sections or after isolation. This study uncovered some causes of these discrepancies. The majority of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) are of the same size and granularity as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), negating the idea that most IEL are large granular lymphocytes. LPL were previously shown to express markers of early activation by flow cytometry but not by immunohistochemistry. This study shows that it is the low density of surface antigen expression that explains this discrepancy: only the highly sensitive flow cytometric analysis can detect such low-density expression. Previous reports of intestinal macrophage and B cell numbers and functions vary markedly. This may be due to variable amounts of contamination with epithelial cells (EC) that lose their characteristic columnar appearance and cytoplasmic mucin upon isolation. They share many features of macrophages (such as morphology and binding to plastic and latex beads) but lack phagocytic ability and superoxide generation, explaining, perhaps, the wide variation in the reported functions of presumed intestinal macrophages. In addition, a large fraction of EC non-specifically stain with anti-immunoglobulin antibodies. Their contamination of intestinal lymphocyte preparations accounts for the discrepancy in B cell numbers identified by surface immunoglobulin expression versus B cell markers. Intestinal lymphocytes do indeed differ in many ways from circulating lymphocytes, but investigators must be attentive to factors that may artifactually alter their results.
Revisiting the relationship between managed care and hospital consolidation.

During the 1990s, managed care displaced indemnity insurance to become the dominant form of health insurance in the private sector (Glied 2000). Over the same period, a wave of hospital mergers, acquisitions, and hospital system expansions occurred. In 1990, the mean, population weighted, hospital concentration, measured with the Herfindahl–Hirschman index (HHI)1 in Health Services Areas (HSA) was 0.1913. By 2000, it had risen to 0.2596. Over 90 percent of the increase in concentration is a consequence of mergers, acquisitions, and hospital system expansions.2 Understanding the determinants of hospital market power allows the development of policies to manage hospital market power, which is important because hospital market power increases, this has negative effects on markets. First, as hospital market power improves hospitals' bargaining position with payers and increases the cost of hospital care for the privately insured population (Dranove and Satterthwaite 2000; Gaynor and Vogt 2000, provide excellent reviews of the literature studying this effect). Second, hospital market power is also associated with decreased hospital quality (Kessler and McClellan 2000; Gowrisankaran and Town 2003). Finally, there is some evidence that hospital market power decreases access to health services for underserved populations (Aizer, Currie, and Morretti 2004). It is conventional wisdom that the rise of managed care precipitated the hospital consolidations and concentration in the 1990s.3 Graphical analysis is consistent with conventional wisdom. Figure 1 graphs the mean, population-weighted levels of hospital HHI and HMO penetration across all HSAs.4 Hospital concentration and HMO penetration share a common, upward trend throughout most of the 1990s. In the late 1990s there was a break in the relationship, as HMO penetration declined while hospital concentration continued to increase. While suggestive, the correlation does not prove that there is a causal link between HMO penetration and hospital concentration. Figure 1 Mean, Population Weighted Hospital Concentration, and HMO Penetration, 1990–2000 This paper tests whether there is a causal relationship, examining the proposition that the rise of managed care caused hospitals to consolidate in the 1990s. Our models explicitly account for the possibility that markets are systematically heterogeneous and this heterogeneity may bias cross-sectional estimates of the parameters of interest. Our estimates indicate that the rise in managed care did not cause the increase in hospital concentration. In every specification we estimated, the coefficients on managed care penetration are not different from zero at traditional levels of confidence. Furthermore, our data analysis fails to suggest other possible cause(s) of the hospital consolidation wave. The next section discusses some of the reasons why managed care might lead to hospital consolidation. The following sections present the methods, data, results, and discussion of our findings.
Parents’ Decisions About HPV Vaccine for Sons: The Importance of Protecting Sons’ Future Female Partners

Parents' decisions about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for sons may be influenced by potentially protecting sons' future female partners from HPV. We sought to identify characteristics of parents likely to consider future partner protection in vaccine decisions, and to determine if parents likely to consider future partners in vaccine decisions had greater intention to vaccinate. We performed a cross-sectional survey of parents with sons in a pediatric clinic in 2010. We used Fisher's exact tests to identify demographics associated with consideration of future female partners in vaccine decisions. We used adjusted logistic regression to determine if parents likely to consider future partner protection in vaccine decisions had greater intention to vaccinate sons. Most parents (76 %, 187/246) reported vaccine decisions for sons were likely to be influenced by preventing HPV transmission from sons to their female partners. Parents 40 years and older, White and Black parents (vs other race), non-Hispanic, and college-educated parents were significantly more likely to indicate female partner protection may influence vaccine decisions (p < 0.05). Parents likely to be influenced by female partner protection in vaccine decisions had greater intention to vaccinate sons than their counterparts (adjusted odds ratio 2.54, 95 % CI 1.22, 5.28). Overall, many parents were likely to consider sons' female partners in vaccine decisions. Because parents likely to consider female partners had increased intention to vaccinate sons, future efforts to improve vaccine uptake in boys should explore the benefits of highlighting potential female partner protection, as this concept may resonate with many parents.
Nitrogen Leaching Losses from Irrigated Orchardgrass on Sandy Soils

Irrigated pasture may provide an alternative forage source for live-stock producers in Nebraska's Sandhills. As with any heavily fertilized crop, there is a significant potential for groundwater contamination by nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 -N) leached from the crop root zone. A 3-yr experiment was conducted in West Central Nebraska to evaluate water and nitrate (NO 3 − ) leaching losses from irrigated orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) seeded on a Valentine fine sand (Typic Ustipsamments)
When Best Theories Go Bad

It is common for contemporary metaphysical realists to adopt Quine’s criterion of ontological commitment while at the same time repudiating his ontological pragmatism.2 Drawing heavily from the work of others—especially Joseph Melia and Stephen Yablo—I will argue that the resulting approach to meta-ontology is unstable. In particular, if we are metaphysical realists, we need not accept ontological commitment to whatever is quantified over by our best first-order theories.
Parallel Implementations of Word Alignment Tool

Training word alignment models on large corpora is a very time-consuming processes. This paper describes two parallel implementations of GIZA++ that accelerate this word alignment process. One of the implementations runs on computer clusters, the other runs on multi-processor system using multi-threading technology. Results show a near-linear speed-up according to the number of CPUs used, and alignment quality is preserved.
Effects of papaverine and calcium-free medium on salivary gland morphogenesis

Abstract Papaverine reversibly inhibits morphogenesis of cultured mouse salivary glands. The drug does not alter the morphology of epithelial cell microfilament systems or other organelles. Incubation in calcium-free medium also reversibly inhibits morphogenesis, though effects upon tissue integrity are possible.
Why Ductile Fracture Mechanics

Until recently, the engineering application of fracture mechanics has been specific to a description of macroscopic fracture behavior in components and structural parts which remain nominally elastic under loading. While this approach, termed linear elastic fracture mechanics, has been found to be invaluable for the continuum analysis of crack growth in brittle and high strength materials, it is clearly inappropriate for characterizing failure in lower strength ductile alloys where extensive inelastic deformation precedes and accompanies crack initiation and subsequent propagation. Accordingly, much effort has been devoted in recent years toward the development of nonlinear or ductile fracture mechanics methodology to characterize fracture behavior under elastic/plastic conditions; an effort which has been principally motivated by problems in nuclear industry. In this paper, the concepts of ductile (elastic/plastic) fracture mechanics are introduced and applied to the problem of both stationary and nonstationary cracks. Specifically, the limitations inherent in this approach are defined, together with a description of the microstructural considerations and applications relevant to the failure of ductile materials by fracture, fatigue, and creep.
1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol stimulates differentiation of HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells to macrophage-like cells

Summary The human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 can be differentiated to cells resembling either neutrophils or mononuclear phagocytes by a diverse group of stimuli. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We report that 1- O -hexadecyl-2-acetyl- sn -glycerol inhibits the growth of HL-60 cells and induces differentiation to cells resembling mononuclear phagocytes. HL-60 cultures incubated for 6 days with 1- O -hexadecyl-2-acetyl- sn -glycerol (5 μg/ml) demonstrated a ten-fold increase in nonspecific esterase activity, and produced cells with morphological features similar to those of monocytes and macrophages. Higher concentrations of 1- O -hexadecyl-2-acetyl- sn -glycerol significantly inhibited the growth of HL-60 cells and resulted in the virtual absence of cells resembling the original HL-60 line. 1- O -Oleoyl-2-acetyl- rac -glycerol added under the same conditions did not induce cell differentiation or inhibit cell growth.
Carcinogenesis by methylbenzylnitrosamine near the squamocolumnar junction and methylamylnitrosamine metabolism in the mouse forestomach

We repeated and extended a 1973 study by Sander and Schweinsberg on forestomach tumorigenesis in mice by methyl-benzylnitrosamine (MBZN). Groups of 80 adult CD-1 mice of both sexes received 96 mg/kg of MBZN subdivided into 24 doses of 4 mg/kg, 12 doses of 8 mg/kg or 6 doses of 16 mg/kg (groups 1–3, respectively). The mice were injected i.p. twice weekly with MBZN in 30% dimethylsulfoxide and 6–8 mice/group were killed every 4 weeks up to 40 weeks. Ten untreated control mice did not develop forestomach tumors. Forestomach papillomas occurred in 35–53% of the treated mice, with the highest incidence and shortest latency (mostly <24 weeks) in group 3. Squamous carcinomas of the forestomach were found in 31% of group 1 and 4–6% of groups 2 and 3. Ninety-two percent of the carcinomas and 94% of the papillomas in the 8mm wide forestomach occurred ≤1 mm from the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) with the glandular stomach. This is interesting in view of the rising incidence of human adenocarcinoma near the gastroesophageal SCJ. Methyl-n-amylnitrosamine (MNAN) yields 2-, 3- and 4-hydroxy-MNAN (HO-MNAN) in a 1:3:2 ratio when incubated with rodent tissues for which MNAN is carcinogenic. This metabolism may be due to a cytochrome P450 isoform believed responsible for MNAN and, probably, MBZN activation. When freshly excised mouse forestomach and esophagus were incubated for 2 h with 23 μM MNAN, total HO-MNAN yields were 0.79 ± 0.05 and 1.81 ± 0.08 nmol/100 mg tissue per h (mean ± SE), respectively, with about 1:3:2 ratios between 2-, 3- and 4-HO-MNAN. This compares with published mean HO-MNAN yields in nmol/100 mg per h of 1.2 for rat esophagus (where MNAN and MBZN are strongly carcinogenic) and <0.1 for rat forestomach. These findings may explain why MNAN and MBZN induce forestomach tumors in mice but not in rats and why MNAN induces esophageal tumors in mice, but does not explain why MBZN given i.p. fails to induce esophageal tumors in mice. Three sections of the mouse forestomach (closest-to to furthest-from the SCJ) showed total HO-MNAN yields from MNAN of 0.61 ± 0.05, 0.38 ± 0.03 and 0.48 ± 0.02 nmol/100 mg per h (mean ± SE), respectively. This may help explain why the MBZN-induced forestomach tumors were non-centrated near the SCJ.
“Paraprogramming” manufacturing information systems

Abstract Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) is creating unexpected problems for a growing number of manufacturing companies. Manufacturers are finding it especially difficult to attract programmers who are both willing and able to develop the highly complex software that integrates existing accounting, sales, production, engineering, and quality control information subsystems. Consequently, many companies abdicate their responsibility for manufacturing information systems and seek third party support ranging from consulting assistance to a total takeover of the company's information resources and operations. Companies that “give away” their internal information system capabilities to third parties will ultimately lose control of their enterprise information, a danger to be avoided. Off-the-shelf software for desktop computers has become sufficiently powerful to help solve a major portion of this serious problem. We hypothesize that manufacturing engineers (and others) can be trained to use packaged software to leverage their company's systems programming capabilities. In effect they would become “paraprogrammers” who would help design, develop, and maintain manufacturing information systems. This new type of professional would not require a computer science or similar educational background, but could be trained to satisfy many specialized programming needs in a manner similar to how paramedics and paralegals are trained and used in the medical and legal professions, respectively. This paper reports on the early stages of research to determine whether or not product design engineers can use a desktop relational database management system and its various command languages to develop a master bill of material information system (BOMIS). The purpose of the research is to evaluate the amount of programming complexity reduction and increased operational effectiveness that can be achieved through paraprogramming by manufacturing engineers.
The nature of the deconfining phase transition in SU(3) lattice gauge theory

Abstract Monte Carlo calculations on lattices with large spatial volume with N S 3 = 16 3 , 20 3 , 24 3 , and N T = 4 and 6 show that the SU (3) deconfining phase transition is more weakly first order than previously thought. The 24 3 × 4 calculations show a first order phase transition with the latent heat, δϵ / T 4 , of 2.54±0.12. The 24 3 × 6 calculations are less clear, but suggest that δϵ / T 4 = 2.48±0.24.