cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
APOE ε4 genotype predicts memory for everyday activities

The apolipoprotein E (ApOE) e4 allele is associated with neuropathological buildup of amyloid in the brain, and with lower performance on some laboratory measures of memory in some populations. In two studies, we tested whether ApOE genotype affects memory for everyday activities. In Study 1, participants aged 20–79 years old (n = 188) watched movies of actors engaged in daily activities and completed memory tests for the activities in the movies. In Study 2, cognitively healthy and demented older adults (n = 97) watched and remembered similar movies, and also underwent structural MRI scanning. All participants provided saliva samples for genetic analysis. In both samples we found that, in older adults, ApOE e4 carriers demonstrated worse everyday memory performance than did e4 noncarriers. In Study 2, ApOE e4 carriers had smaller medial temporal lobes (MTL) volumes, and MTL volume mediated the relationship between ApOE genotype and everyday memory performance. These everyday memory tasks measure genetica...
Panoramic radiographic findings as predictors of inferior alveolar nerve exposure following third molar extraction.

Objectives The aim of this study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of panoramic radiographic findings in relation to inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) exposure after mandibular third molar (M3) extraction. Methods The study used a retrospective cohort model. The primary predictor variable was the presence or absence of ≥ 1 panoramic radiographic sign associated with an increased risk for IAN injury. The secondary predictor variable was the surgeon’s assessment of IAN exposure risk. The outcome variable was IAN exposure, defined as direct visualization of the IAN at the time of M3 extraction. Appropriate univariate and bivariate statistics were computed and the level of statistical significance was set at P ≤ .05. Results The sample was composed of 230 patients having 423 mandibular M3s evaluated and removed. Following M3 extraction, the IAN was visualized in 24 (5.7%) extraction sites. Four of the radiographic signs were statistically associated with IAN exposure (P ≤ .05). The sensitivities and specificities of the 4 radiographic findings ranged from 0.42 to 0.75 and 0.66 to 0.91. The clinician’s preoperative estimate of the likelihood of IAN exposure was statistically associated with IAN exposure after M3 extraction (P < .001; sensitivity = 0.79; specificity = 0.86). Conclusion Four radiographic findings (darkening of the tooth root, narrowing of the tooth root, interruption of the white lines, and diversion of the canal) were statistically associated with IAN exposure following M3 extraction. The surgeon’s overall estimate of risk based on the panoramic radiograph was also statistically associated with an increased risk of IAN exposure.
Computer Implementation, Accuracy, and Timing of Radiation View Factor Algorithms

The three-dimensional finite element thermal analysis of enclosure radiation problems requires the calculation of the geometric surface to surface radiation view factors. The view factors can be calculated by either area or line integration algortihms. This paper addresses the implementation, accuracy and computational time involved in using these algorithms. Additionally, an algorithm to identify shadowing surfaces and methods to adjust the calculated view factors for increased accuracy are presented.
Practice, Mechanism and Theory of Reversed Phase TLC Polymer Fractionation

Abstract The use of reversed phase TLC to determine the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(tetrahydrofuran), poly(butadiene), poly(isoprene), poly(α-methylstyrene) and poly(styrene) is demonstrated. The mechanism by which fractionation occurs and a theoretical description of the process are given and discussed.
Detection of myocardial ischemia by transesophageal echocardiographically determined changes in left ventricular area in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery

Abstract Study Objective: To evaluate left ventricular (LV) dimensions and function during myocardial ischemic episodes in anesthetized patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Design: Prospective, nonrandomized study. Setting: Large, medical school-affiliated tertiary-care medical center. Patients: 36 adults undergoing elective primary coronary artery bypass surgery. Interventions: Transesophageal atrial pacing for 3 to 5 minutes at heart rates (HRs) of 65, 70, 80, and 90 beats per minute. Measurements and Main Results: Arterial, pulmonary artery, and venous pressures, transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) determined LV end-diastolic (EDA) and end-systolic (ESA) areas, and fractional area change (FAC = [EDA-ESA]/EDA). Myocardial ischemia determined as at least 1 mm ST segment deviation at J + 60 milliseconds from 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) and TEE detected new LV regional wall motion abnormalities. Biplane TEE images were recorded on videotape, and LV EDA and ESA were determined with planimetry from images of the LV short axis. Myocardial ischemia was observed in 12 patients. In these patients, EDA and ESA were higher and FAC lower than those patients without ischemia at the same HR. There were no differences between patients with and without myocardial ischemia with regard to pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, stroke volume, or other hemodynamic variables. The positive predictive values were best for ESA (67%) and EDA (58%), and least for FAC (18%). Negative predictive values were highest for ESA (85%) and EDA (80%), and least for FAC (47%). Conclusions: In anesthetized patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, myocardial ischemia observed during atrial pacing results in increases in LV dimensions and decreases in FAC compared with values in patients without ischemia. These results support further investigations of the clinical usefulness of monitoring LV EDA and LV ESA with TEE as a method of myocardial ischemia detection.
Sinc-Galerkin estimation of diffusivity in parabolic problems

A fully Sinc-Galerkin method for the numerical recovery of spatially varying diffusion coefficients in linear partial differential equations is presented. Because the parameter recovery problems are inherently ill-posed, an output error criterion in conjunction with Tikhonov regularization is used to formulate them as infinite-dimensional minimization problems. The forward problems are discretized with a sinc basis in both the spatial and temporal domains thus yielding an approximate solution which displays an exponential convergence rate and is valid on the infinite time interval. The minimization problems are then solved via a quasi-Newton/trust region algorithm. The L-curve technique for determining an approximate value of the regularization parameter is briefly discussed, and numerical examples are given which show the applicability of the method both for problems with noise-free data as well as for those whose data contains white noise.
Finding the genes that direct mammalian development : ENU mutagenesis in the mouse.

The genetic control of mammalian embryogenesis is not well understood. N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis screens in the mouse provide a route to identify more of the genes that are required for mammalian development. The characterization of ENU-induced mutations can build on the resources provided by the mouse and human genome projects to help define the tissue interactions and signaling pathways that direct early mammalian development.
Incorporation of an artificial protease and nuclease at the HIV-1 Tat binding site of trans-activation responsive RNA.

The synthesis of a C-5 modified uridine phosphoramidite which contains a primary amino group protected with Fmoc is described. During cleavage and deprotection of chemically synthesized RNA, the Fmoc protecting group is removed to yield a free amino group at a predetermined position in the RNA sequence that can be covalently modified with any reporter group, small structural probes, and biological molecules. This modified uridine phosphoramidite was used to incorporate a reactive primary amino group at position 24 in the HIV-1 Tat binding site of a trans-activation responsive (TAR) RNA sequence during chemical syntheses. Modified RNA phosphoramidite was incorporated into RNA oligomers with more than 97% coupling efficiencies. RNA containing modified uridine was cleaved from the support, deprotected, and desalted according to standard procedures. After deprotection and gel purification, nuclease digestion and HPLC analysis were performed to confirm the incorporation of C-5-aminouridine into the RNA sequenc...
Impact of postnatal corticosteroid use on neurodevelopment at 18 to 22 months' adjusted age: effects of dose, timing, and risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely low birth weight infants.

OBJECTIVE. Postnatal steroid use decreases lung inflammation but increases impairment. We hypothesized that increased dose is associated with increased neurodevelopmental impairment, lower postmenstrual age at exposure increases impairment, and risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia modifies the effect of postnatal corticosteroid. METHODS. Steroid dose and timing of exposure beyond 7 days was assessed among 2358 extremely low birth weight infants nested in a prospective trial, with 1667 (84%) survivors examined at 18 to 22 months9 postmenstrual age. Logistic regression tested the relationship between impairment (Bayley Mental Developmental Index/Psychomotor Developmental Index of 0.5 as high risk, n = 2336 (99%) for days of life 4–7). RESULTS. Three hundred sixty-six (16%) neonates were steroid-treated (94% dexamethasone). Treated neonates were smaller and less mature; 72% of those treated were at high risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Exposure was associated with neurodevelopmental impairment/death. Impairment increased with higher dose; 71% dead or impaired at highest dose tertile. Each 1 mg/kg dose was associated with a 2.0-point reduction on the Mental Developmental Index and a 40% risk increase for disabling cerebral palsy. Older age did not mitigate the harm. Treatment after 33 weeks9 postmenstrual age was associated with greatest harm despite not receiving the highest dose. The relationship between steroid exposure and impairment was modified by the bronchopulmonary dysplasia risk, with those at highest risk experiencing less harm. CONCLUSIONS. Higher steroid dose was associated with increased neurodevelopmental impairment. There is no “safe” window for steroid use in extremely low birth weight infants. Neonates with low bronchopulmonary dysplasia risk should not be exposed. A randomized trial of steroid use in infants at highest risk is warranted.
Laparoscopic repair and groin hernia surgery

Over the past 15 years, laparoscopic herniorrhaphy has made the transition from an experimental to a proven procedure. With increasing laparoscopic skills in the surgical community, many surgeons are now faced with the question of when to recommend laparoscopic herniorrhaphy to their patients. A surgeon's best hernia repair is the one with which they have had the greatest experience. This results in the lowest recurrence and complication rate in his or her hands. Certainly, simple, unilateral hernias and bilateral hernias can be repaired with either anterior or laparoscopic techniques. Many times, laparoscopic herniorrhaphy is too much surgery for a young patient with a unilateral hernia. In such a case, repair is best performed with the patient under local anesthesia. Also, young patients in whom it is advantageous to avoid mesh should not undergo laparoscopic herniorrhaphy. The authors prefer laparoscopic TEP herniorrhaphy in patients with recurrent hernias, bilateral hernias, and unilateral hernias with a suspected contralateral hernia. There is also a consensus that patients with multiple recurrent hernias in whom a preperitoneal repair is appropriate are best served with a laparoscopic repair. Surgeons without advanced laparoscopic skills or without the time to develop the skills necessary to perform laparoscopic herniorrhaphy should consider referring patients with recurrent hernias to surgeons with experience in TEP. TEP is preferable to TAPP because of its lower complication and recurrence rates and in the authors' hands is the "best repair." TAPP should be reserved for patients with prior lower abdominal wall incisions that make the dissection of the peritoneum from the underside of the incision impossible. Patients who cannot tolerate general anesthesia or who have had extensive lower abdominal surgery should not undergo laparoscopic herniorrhaphy. Complication and recurrence rates, although initially higher than traditional repairs, have now fallen to equal or lower levels at centers experienced in laparoscopic techniques. Prospective randomized trials prove that when patients are selected properly and surgeons are adequately trained and proctored, laparoscopic herniorrhaphy can be performed with acceptably low incidences of recurrence and complications.
Highly active iron imidazolylidene catalysts for atom transfer radical polymerization

Iron(II) halides possessing highly donating imidazolylidene ligands were found to be remarkably active and efficient catalysts for the atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate.
Cyclic Temperature Stress Testing of Pharmaceuticals

AbstractIn a previous communication the present authors have commented on some aspects of stability testing (1). The objective of the present brief paper is to comment on the design and application of cyclic temperature stress testing for pharmaceuticals. We believe it to be timely to offer such comments now because of the present increased interest in this topic and because at present there is considerable variance in the design of such tests. It is our contention that there are some aspects of the design of cyclic temperature stress tests which could now, with considerable advantage to all concerned, be standardized and others which must be adjusted to meet the specific needs of individual drug products. The purpose of this communication is to distinguish between these two types of attribute.
Interictal epileptiform discharges and asystole

We describe a case of a patient with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome who had asystole and sinus bradycardia during interictal epileptiform abnormalities on EEG. Video-EEG/EKG monitoring prior to corpus callosotomy recorded consistent prolongation of the R-R interval on the EKG during bursts of epileptiform abnormalities (generalized paroxysmal fast activity), which became transiently more pronounced after surgery. These findings reveal that interictal epileptiform abnormalities may cause significant cardiac arrhythmias in some individuals.
Effects of sodium pentobarbital on release of gonadotropins in ewes immediately after ovariectomy and after treatment with gonadotropin-releas ing hormone

Two experiments were conducted with ewes 9 to 11 days after estrus to determine whether the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are controlled differentially. In experiment 1, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was injected (100 (μg/ewe) at time = 0 min into ewes in four treatment groups. The treatment groups (9 ewes/group) were: 1) periodic iv sodium pentobarbital (NaPen) vehicle from 0 min; 2) periodic iv NaPen from 0 min; 3) vehicle iv for 120 min then iv NaPen from 120 min; 4) vehicle iv for 150 min then iv NaPen from 150 min. A surgical plane of anesthesia was maintained from the initiation of NaPen injection until the experiment ended. Jugular blood was sampled at 30-min intervals from −30 to + 210 min for LH and FSH assays, and profiles of hormone concentrations were compared by time-trend analyses. GnRH released LH (P<.001) and FSH (P<.001), but NaPen did not affect the profiles of hormone concentrations; this indicated that NaPen did not reduce the ability of the pituitary to secrete gonadotropins in response to GnRH. Experiment 2 was a 2x2 factorial with ovariectomy (time = 0 hr) and NaPen as the main effects. One group of ovariectomized (n = 6) and one group of sham ovariectomized (n = 6) ewes were anesthetized only during surgery, while a group of ovariectomized (n = 7) and a group of sham ovariectomized (n = 6) ewes were kept at a surgical plane of anesthesia until 10 hr after surgery. Patterns of LH and FSH were compared in jugular blood collected hourly from 0 hr until 10 hr after surgery and in samples collected at 24 hr intervals from -24 to +72 hr of surgery. After ovariectomy, LH increased (P<.001) hourly and daily, but anesthesia suppressed (hourly, <.001 and daily, P<.005) these increases, which resulted in an interaction (hourly, P<.001 and daily, P<.01) of ovariectomy and anesthesia. FSH after ovariectomy increased hourly and daily (hourly, P<.02 and daily, P<.001), but the effect of anesthesia and interaction of ovariectomy and anesthesia were not significant. Because NaPen did not alter secretion of LH or FSH after exogenous GnRH in experiment 1 while it blocked the postovariectomy increase in LH but not FSH in experiment 2, we concluded that the postovariectomy increase in LH resulted from increased hypothalamic secretion of GnRH. The mechanisms responsible for the postovariectomy increase in FSH secretion are not identical to those for LH. The mechanisms that control the postovariectomy secretion of FSH might involve factors that are not suppressible by NaPen or, alternatively, the differences in LH and FSH release after ovariectomy might reflect the removal of ovarian factors that suppress FSH but not LH secretion in intact ewes.
Modified goodness-of-fit tests for the inverse Gaussian distribution

Abstract Modified Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS), Kuiper (V), Cramer-von Mises (CV), Watson (W), Anderson-Darling (AD) and sequential goodness-of-fit tests are developed for the inverse Gaussian distribution with unknown parameters. A Monte Carlo procedure is employed to generate critical values for a wide range of sample sizes and shape parameters. Power studies indicate that the W test is most effective against alternate distributions that are very similar in shape to the null inverse Gaussian distribution. Otherwise, the modified AD test generally demonstrates the highest power among single tests. To eliminate the need for extensive critical value tables, functional relationships between critical values, sample sizes, and shape parameters are reported.
Ab. Lichtenberg's Waste

While lists are often viewed as merely mechanical tools of recordkeeping, this article demonstrates how Georg Christoph Lichtenberg employs enumerative strategies in his Waste Books in order to develop invention out of inventory. This article investigates a particularly puzzling list devoted to “words with ab,” and more specifically, one item in this list, the curious neologism “abdenken.” “Abdenken,” the article argues, functions as a Denkfigur—both in the sense of a way of thinking and of a way of thinking about thinking—that is fundamental for Lichtenberg’s Waste Books project. Insofar as “abdenken” emphasizes the open-endedness and material foundation of thinking, it is reminiscent of modes of thinking commonly associated with the emergence of modernity. The article ends by suggesting that Lichtenberg’s strategy to seek innovation through the recombining and recycling of the alphabet can be linked to the project of “off-modernity” (Boym).
Minimizing earliness and tardiness costs in stochastic scheduling

Abstract We address the single-machine stochastic scheduling problem with an objective of minimizing total expected earliness and tardiness costs, assuming that processing times follow normal distributions and due dates are decisions. We develop a branch and bound algorithm to find optimal solutions to this problem and report the results of computational experiments. We also test some heuristic procedures and find that surprisingly good performance can be achieved by a list schedule followed by an adjacent pairwise interchange procedure.
Leukocyte emigration in the early stages of laminitis

The mechanisms that initiate the pathophysiologic changes in the digital laminae in equine laminitis are poorly understood. Due to the fact that (1) the horse at risk of laminitis has many similarities clinically to the human sepsis patient and (2) our recent finding of marked laminar proinflammatory cytokine expression at the developmental time point of the black walnut extract (BWE) model of laminitis, we tested the possibility that, similar to organ damage in human sepsis, leukocyte emigration is an early event in laminitis. Using immunoperoxidase methods with an anti-equine CD13 monoclonal antibody that recognizes neutrophils and monocytes, we discovered that, whereas the dermal microvasculature of the skin commonly has a marginal pool of leukocytes, the normal laminar dermal microvasculature has minimal to no perivascular leukocytes. However, increases in leukocyte numbers occurred around the dermal vasculature of both the laminae and the skin in the majority of BWE-treated horses in the developmental stage and at the onset of clinical signs of lameness in the BWE model. These findings indicate that, similar to organ failure in human sepsis, leukocyte emigration is likely to play a significant role in initiating numerous pathophysiologic mechanisms that lead to the development of laminitis.
Centrosome-Kinase Fusions Promote Oncogenic Signaling and Disrupt Centrosome Function in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Chromosomal translocations observed in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) frequently fuse genes that encode centrosome proteins and tyrosine kinases. This causes constitutive activation of the kinase resulting in aberrant, proliferative signaling. The function of centrosome proteins in these fusions is not well understood. Among others, kinase centrosome localization and constitutive kinase dimerization are possible consequences of centrosome protein-kinase fusions. To test the relative contributions of localization and dimerization on kinase signaling, we targeted inducibly dimerizable FGFR1 to the centrosome and other subcellular locations and generated a mutant of the FOP-FGFR1 MPN fusion defective in centrosome localization. Expression in mammalian cells followed by western blot analysis revealed a significant decrease in kinase signaling upon loss of FOP-FGFR1 centrosome localization. Kinase dimerization alone resulted in phosphorylation of the FGFR1 signaling target PLCγ, however levels comparable to FOP-FGFR1 required subcellular targeting in addition to kinase dimerization. Expression of MPN fusion proteins also resulted in centrosome disruption in epithelial cells and transformed patient cells. Primary human MPN cells showed masses of modified tubulin that colocalized with centrin, Smoothened (Smo), IFT88, and Arl13b. This is distinct from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, which are not associated with centrosome-kinase fusions and had normal centrosomes. Our results suggest that effective proliferative MPN signaling requires both subcellular localization and dimerization of MPN kinases, both of which may be provided by centrosome protein fusion partners. Furthermore, centrosome disruption may contribute to the MPN transformation phenotype.
Liquid to hexatic to crystalline order in Langmuir-Blodgett films

Atomic force microscope images of zinc arachidate (ZnA2) Langmuir-Blodgett films show that three- and five-layer films are "hexatic," with long-range bond-orientational order and short-range positional correlations of three to five lattice repeats. The monolayer in contact with the substrate is disordered. Films of seven or more layers of ZnA2 are crystalline. A population of dislocations, most likely originating at the substrate, disrupts the positional but not the orientational order of the lattice, leading to hexatic layers intermediate between crystal and liquid. The influence of the substrate propagates farther into ZnA2 films than into cadmium arachidate films because the molecular cohesion is much weaker in ZnA2 than in cadmium arachidate, as evidenced by a less dense molecular packing.
Modeling the Traction of a Thin Tape Guided by a Grooved Roller

The Stribeck effect describes the velocity dependence of the friction coefficient between moving components [9]. In the case of an axially translating tape, supported by a roller, air entrainment can cause reduction in the contact pressure, and hence in the tractive capacity of the interface [5]. Grooved rollers are used to prevent excessive built-up of air pressure [6,7,8,1,2]. In this work, tribology and mechanics of a tape-grooved-roller interface is modeled in order to investigate the traction as a function of tape speed, tension and groove size.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Large-range large-aperture MEMS micromirrors for biomedical imaging applications

Micromirrors with large scan ranges, large aperture sizes, fast speeds, low voltages and low cost are needed for optical switching, displays and biomedical imaging, but it is very challenging to simultaneously meet all the requirements. This paper introduces electrothermal bimorph based micromirrors that can overcome the challenge. For example, a large-vertical-displacement (LVD) micromirror scans 0.7 mm vertically at less than 25 Vdc. A lateral-shift-free (LSF) LVD generates a piston motion of 0.6 mm and scans more than 30° about two axes at less than 8 Vdc. An inverted-series-connected (ISC) micromirror scans ±30° about two axes with no rotation axis shifts. All these mirrors have an optical aperture of 1 mm. Their resonant frequencies range from 300 Hz to 2 kHz. Some of these micromirrors have been applied in biomedical imaging applications.
A multi-faceted approach to FPGA-based Trojan circuit detection

Three general approaches to detecting Trojans embedded in FPGA circuits were explored in the context of the 2012 CSAW Embedded Systems Challenge: functional testing, power analysis, and direct analysis of the bitfile. These tests were used to classify a set of 32 bitfiles which include Trojans of an unknown nature. The project is a step towards developing a framework for Trojan-detection which leverages the strengths of a variety of testing techniques.
Discretionary hospitalization of nursing home residents with and without Alzheimer's disease: a multilevel analysis.

This study analyzes facility variations in hospital admission rates of nursing home (NH) residents with and without Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or related dementia with the aim of better understanding how facility-level contextual factors differentially affect hospitalization risks. Method: The sample population consists of 19,217 and 18,399 Medicaid residents with and without AD, respectively, from 546 NHs in Massachusetts between 1991 and 1993. Hospital use is measured as annual nonpsychiatric discretionary hospital admissions to short-term general hospitals. Multilevel estimation methods are used to obtain facility and market area parameter estimates. Results: There was greater interfacility variation in discretionary hospital admission rates of AD residents than residents without AD, particularly among more vulnerable subgroups of AD residents. Discussion: The findings underscore the importance of licensed nursing personnel in reducing discretionary hospitalizations among NH residents with AD.
Forearc Deformation and Great Subduction Earthquakes: Implications for Cascadia Offshore Earthquake Potential

The maximum size of thrust earthquakes at the world's subduction zones appears to be limited by anelastic deformation of the overriding plate. Anelastic strain in weak forearcs and roughness of the plate interface produced by faults cutting the forearc may limit the size of thrust earthquakes by inhibiting the buildup of elastic strain energy or slip propagation or both. Recently discovered active strike-slip faults in the submarine forearc of the Cascadia subduction zone show that the upper plate there deforms rapidly in response to arc-parallel shear. Thus, Cascadia, as a result of its weak, deforming upper plate, may be the type of subduction zone at which great (moment magnitude approximately 9) thrust earthquakes do not occur.
Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors Development in Cardiovascular Medicine

At the end of September 2004, Merck & Co announced the voluntary withdrawal of rofecoxib (Vioxx) worldwide because of an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Since its approval in 1999, Vioxx, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, has been Merck & Co’s leading drug for control of acute pain and chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and menstruation. Last year, worldwide sales of rofecoxib reached US $2.5 billion, and it is estimated that the drug was prescribed ≈10 million times per month in the United States.1 Thus, given the number of patients involved and the serious nature of the side effects, the withdrawal raised serious concerns about the safety of other selective COX-2 inhibitors, collectively called coxibs, that are on the market and those currently under development. Celecoxib (Celebrex) and rofecoxib were the first 2 coxibs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and launched in 1999 by Pfizer and Merck & Co, respectively. Since then, a second generation of these drugs has emerged onto the market. Valdecoxib (Bextra) was approved by the FDA and launched in 2002. In that same year, the European regulatory authority approved 2 other coxibs: etoricoxib (Arcoxia) and parecoxib sodium (Dynastat), the prodrug of valdecoxib. Today, etoricoxib and a fifth coxib, lumiracoxib (Prexige), are under consideration for FDA approval. In view of the rapid development in this area, the main concern is whether the reported cardiovascular effects of rofecoxib are a class effect applicable to all coxibs that were initially designed to reduce the gastric toxicity of nonselective COX inhibitors. Although most of the data accumulated so far would suggest a class effect related to the general mode of action of all coxibs and the physiological role of COX-2, recent in vitro data would theoretically support the hypothesis that the cardiovascular side …
High Resolution Electron Microscope Study of CdTe-Cd 0.6 Mn 0.4 Te Superlattices

Structures of CdTe-Cd0.6Mn0.4Te superlattices which are caused by the lattice mismatch between superlattice layers have been studied by high resolution electron microscopy (HREM). In thin-layer superlattices, the crystal lattice in each layer is elastically distorted, resulting in the change of the crystal symmetry from cubic to rhombohedral. The presence of the small rhombohedral distrotion has been confirmed through a phase contrast effect in HREM images. In a thick-layer superlattice, the lattice mismatch is accommodated by dissociated misfit dislocations. Burgers vectors of partial misfit dislocations have been identified from the shift of lattice fringes in HREM images.
An interdigital-line radiator

A brief discussion of an interdigital-line radiator is presented. The structure, initially called an interdigital array antenna, has its unique radiation characteristic at some proper frequency range. A broadside or an endfire radiation can be accomplished by rearranging the feed point of the structure. A fairly broad-band operation was observed.
The annular glow discharge: a small-scale plasma for solution analysis

A recent trend in plasma spectrochemistry, and in analytical chemistry in general, has been towards miniaturization. Miniaturized plasma sources often have properties leading to low cost, potential portability, and simplified integration with separation instrumentation such as chromatographs. However, these discharges have not often performed well with solution samples. To address this shortcoming, we have developed a new, small-scale (5 × 2 mm) plasma, maintained in atmospheric-pressure helium between a tubular cathode and a rod-shaped anode (both made of steel). The discharge extends between the two electrodes and an annular glow is visible within the cathode tube. An aerosol is introduced into the plasma through the cathode, and atomic emission is observed in the near-cathode region. In this study, we observe the effects of solvent addition on the plasma in terms of its electrical and spectroscopic characteristics and how they change with solution flow rate. Given that even a robust source such as the inductively coupled plasma is different under wet and dry conditions, it is not surprising that the discharge introduced here is affected by the presence of an aerosol. However, the discharge is stable even with significant solvent loading. In this preliminary investigation, flow injection has been used to establish detection limits for several metals between 7 ppb (0.7 ng absolute) for Cd and 111 ppb (11 ng absolute) for Cu.
Case Studies on Delay Testing

This chapter addresses the motivation behind subjecting a VLSI design to delay testing. The need for delay testing can best be demonstrated by experimental data on real designs. Therefore, this chapter will focus on several case studies of delay testing conducted by research groups in industry and academia [12, 13, 21, 107, 108, 109, 147].
A single-matrix Whitney element time-domain method for two-dimensional problems

The authors present an explicit Whitney element time-domain method for 2-D problems. A single-matrix formulation is derived to optimize both the CPU time and computer memory requirement. They have also shown that the additional resources required by the Whitney technique are only a third of those required by the rectangular FDTD. The superior modeling flexibility provided by the Whitney FDTD, however, outweighs the slight increases in CPU and memory requirements.
Pulmonary thromboembolism : spectrum of findings on CT

CT has emerged as a potentially important diagnostic technique in pulmonary thromboembolism that can provide direct visualization of the obstructing embolus and its associated vascular and pleuroparenchymal sequelae. Although the role of contrast-enhanced CT in the diagnostic algorithm of pulmonary embolism has not been defined, patients at risk for pulmonary embolism frequently undergo thoracic CT as part of the assessment for other cardiopulmonary conditions. As such, CT may provide the first indication of clinically significant pulmonary embolic disease. This essay reviews the vascular, pleural, and parenchymal features of pulmonary thromboembolism observed on CT scans, describes the limitations of CT, and discusses the imaging features of pulmonary embolism that overlap other clinical conditions.
EVALUATION OF PROTEIN FUNCTIONALITY IN ALKALI AND NONALKALI SURIMI PROCESSED MECHANICALLY DEBONED CHICKEN MEAT

Studies were conducted on aqueous washing of mechanically deboned chicken meat (MDCM) with a 0.5% sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) solution (alkaline washing, pH 8.4) or a 0.1 M sodium chloride (NaCl) solution (nonalkaline washing, pH 7.0). Decreased enthalpy in myosin transitional temperature was observed in the NaHCO3-washed meat. Higher expressible water and lower shear values were also observed in heat induced gels from NaHCO3-washed meat as compared to those from NaCl-washed samples. Scanning electron microscopy showed more unfolding of myofibrillar proteins of heat induced gels from NaCl washed MDCM as compared to NaHCO3-washed MDCM. The results suggest that a 0.5% NaHCO3 washing solution provides better heme pigment extraction and results in a whiter meat, but may adversely affect protein functionality.
COCORP profiling across the Rocky Mountain Front in southern Wyoming, Part 2: Precambrian basement structure and its influence on Laramide deformation

The influence of Precambrian basement structures on subsequent deformation is of considerable relevance to studies of continental evolution. COCORP deep seismic-reflection profiles were recently recorded in southeastern Wyoming, where several major, but temporally separated, tectonic elements of the western United States are superimposed. Of these, a fundamental boundary between Archean and Proterozoic basements and the eastern front of Laramide deformation were the principal targets of the reflection survey. The former may represent an ancient Proterozoic plate boundary; the latter is a prominent physiographic feature that signifies crustal deformation far within the North American craton, more than 1,500 km from the nearest coeval plate margin. The major crustal feature controlling a lateral, north-south variation in Laramide tectonic style appears to be the Archean-Proterozoic crustal boundary, known in the nearby Medicine. Bow Mountains as the Mullen Creek-Nash Fork shear zone. COCORP data in the Laramie Mountains and the Laramie Basin suggest that this shear zone dips ∼ 55° to the southeast. Northwest of the shear zone, the seismic basement is also characterized by southeast-dipping events, suggesting that the early Proterozoic tectonics that produced the shear zone were distributed over a wide region. Complex reflections down to 15-km depth or more under the Laramie Basin may correspond to structures or erosional truncations in metasediments overlying the Archean basement complex. Deep crustal events (between 35 and 40 km) north of the shear zone are short and discontinuous, in contrast with flat, laterally continuous reflections south of the shear zone at about 48-km depth which are interpreted as the crust-mantle transition. Thus, COCORP data and published results of regional refraction and gravity surveys suggest that the crust is significantly thinner in the Archean basement terrane northwest of the shear zone than it is in the Proterozoic province to the southeast. Differences in crustal thickness may be partly responsible for the difference between Laramide structures in Wyoming and Colorado, and a thin crust may also have facilitated Laramide deformation farther east in the Black Hills, located north of the shear zone.
Effects of phase noise in heavily beam loaded storage rings

Synchrotron oscillations in a storage ring can be driven by noise in the storage ring RF system. For phase noise in the master oscillator, which falls off exponentially with frequency, we show that beam oscillations can become significant in cases of moderate to heavy beam loading. We derive the transfer function for generator phase to beam phase and calculate the beam motion using the measured phase noise in several master oscillator sources. This is compared with measurements of the beam noise made at the Advanced Light Source, a 1.5-1.9 GeV electron storage ring.
Model Composition Contracts

The state-of-the-art in aspect-oriented programming and modeling provides flexible querying and composition mechanisms that allow virtually unrestricted modifications to base code or models using static or dynamic weaving. There is, however, a lack of support for specifying and controlling the permitted effects of compositions with respect to the base models involved. We present model composition contracts, which govern access to the base models via aspects; in essence, the contracts control how aspect compositions may or may not access and change the models, or the underlying code reflected by models. The composition contracts define constraints in terms of pre- and post-conditions restricting the eligibility for composition. We argue that composition contracts improve reliability of model composition in software engineering, and evaluate their effects on model designs and implementations using a case study. We support the approach with a prototype tool for specifying and checking contracts.
Attachment of bacteria to model solid surfaces: oligo(ethylene glycol) surfaces inhibit bacterial attachment

Bacterial cell attachment to the surfaces of self-assembled monolayers formed by the adsorption of omega-substituted alkanethiols on transparent gold films has been studied under defined bacterial culture and flow conditions. Phase contrast microscopy was used to quantify the attachment of two organisms, one of medical (Staphylococcus epidermidis) and one of marine (Deleya marina) importance. Self-assembled monolayers terminated with hexa(ethylene glycol), methyl, carboxylic acid and fluorocarbon groups were investigated. Over the range of experimental conditions, self-assembled monolayers formed from HS(CH2)11(OCH2CH2)6OH were found to be uniformly resistant to bacterial attachment, with a 99.7% reduction of attachment for both organisms when compared to the most fouled surface for each organism. On other surfaces, S. epidermidis and D. marina were shown to exhibit very different attachment responses to the wettability of the substratum. While the attachment of S. epidermidis correlated positively with surface hydrophilicity, D. marina showed a preference for hydrophobic surfaces. This study suggests that surfaces incorporating high densities of oligo(ethylene glycol) are good candidates for surfaces that interact minimally with bacteria.
Nucleus basalis and thalamic control of neocortical activity in the freely moving rat

EEG and single-unit techniques have been used to study the EEG correlates of cellular firing in the neocortex, n. reticularis (RT) and “specific” thalamic nuclei, and the cholinergic forebrain area (nucleus basalis, NB). Neuronal firing was related to the ongoing behavior of the rat. In addition, using a 16-channel neocortical recording/mapping system, we studied the effects of ibotenic acid lesion of NB, RT, and other thalamic nuclei on the patterns and spatial distribution of neocortical electrical activity. The majority of neurons in neocortex, NB, and RT increased their firing rates during walking, as compared to during immobility, with concurrent decrease of delta power in the neocortical EEG. During immobility, high-voltage spindles (HVS; greater than 1 mV) were occasionally recorded from the neocortex. Depth profiles of HVS and slow delta waves were different in the neocortex. Neocortical cells decreased their discharge frequency during the positive portion of delta waves recorded in layers V and VI. All cells in the neocortex and specific thalamic nuclei fired rhythmically and phase-locked to the spike component of HVS. RT neurons showed an opposite phase relationship and fired mainly during the wave component of HVS. Half of the NB neurons also showed phasic modulation with HVS. Circumscribed lesion of RT and extensive damage of other thalamic regions, including the intralaminar nuclei, suppressed HVS but had no effect on the neocortical EEG correlates of behavior. In sharp contrast, damage to the NB resulted in a dramatic increase of slow delta waves on the side of the lesion, mimicking the effect of scopolamine administration. We suggest that the NB plays a key role in neocortical arousal by directly activating the neocortex and by suppressing the rhythm generation in the RT-thalamocortical circuitry. We further suggest that the NB system may serve as a structural basis for the concept of the generalized ascending activation of Moruzzi and Magoun (1949).
Prognostic implications of isolated tumor cells and micrometastases in sentinel nodes of patients with invasive breast cancer: 10-year analysis of patients enrolled in the prospective East Carolina University/Anne Arundel Medical Center Sentinel Node Multicenter Study.

Background Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a more sensitive and accurate nodal staging procedure than axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Because of increased pathologic evaluation in the sentinel node era, more nodal micrometastases (MIC) (> 0.2 mm to 2 mm) and isolated tumor cells (ITC; ≤ 0.2 mm) have been identified. We present the 10-year analysis of our prospective SLN study, focusing on regional axillary node status and distant metastases in patients with nodal ITC and MIC. Study Design From 1996 to 2005, breast cancer patients were enrolled in an Institutional Review Board-approved, multicenter study. SLNs were examined at multiple levels by hematoxylin and eosin; most (85%) hematoxylin and eosin-negative SLNs were also examined by cytokeratin immunohistochemistry. Data from 1,259 patients with invasive breast cancer and in whom an SLN was found were reviewed for this analysis. Results Of the 1,259 patients, 893 (71%) had negative SLNs, 25 (2%) had ITCs, 57 (5%) had MIC, and 284 (23%) had positive SLNs. None of the 13 patients with ITCs who underwent an ALND had additional positive nodes, compared with 27% (11 of 41) of patients with MIC. At a mean followup of 4.9 years, the distant recurrence rates for SLN-negative, ITC, MIC, and SLN-positive groups were 6%, 8%, 14%, and 21%, respectively. The presence of MIC in the SLN was associated with a significantly shorter disease-free interval than was SLN negativity (p Conclusions This prospective breast cancer study found that sentinel node MIC, but not ITCs, were associated with additional positive nodes and with distant recurrence. These data suggest that ALND may be unnecessary in patients with ITCs. But ALND and more aggressive adjuvant therapy should be considered in patients with SLN micrometastases.
Contribution of Hip Abductor Strength to Physical Function in Patients With Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background Investigating modifiable factors that contribute to functional limitations in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may guide changes in rehabilitation protocols and improve functional outcomes. Whereas quadriceps muscle weakness has been demonstrated to contribute to functional limitations in TKA, the role of hip abductor weakness has not received attention. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether hip abductor strength (force-generating capacity) contributes to physical function beyond what can be explained by quadriceps muscle strength in patients after a TKA. Design A cross-sectional design was used in the study. Setting The study was conducted in a clinical laboratory at an academic center. Patients Thirty-one people with TKA (74% female; mean age=68 years, SD=8; mean body mass index=31 kg/m2, SD=5) participated in the study. Measurements Strength of quadriceps muscles and hip abductors was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Performance-based physical function was assessed with 4 measures: self-selected walking speed, the Figure-of-8 Walk Test, the Stair Ascend/Descend Test, and the 5-Chair Rise Test. Self-reported physical function was assessed with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Physical Function Subscale. Results In hierarchical regression models, after accounting for demographic and anthropometric factors, quadriceps muscle strength was associated with performance on the Stair Ascend/Descend Test. After accounting for demographic, anthropometric, and quadriceps strength, hip abductor strength was associated with performance on the Stair Ascend/Descend Test, the Figure-of-8 Walk Test, and the 5-Chair Rise Test. Limitations The study design precluded ascertainment of causal relationships. Conclusions After TKA, hip abductor strength influenced physical function in participants more than did demographic or anthropometric measures or quadriceps strength. Longitudinal studies with larger samples are warranted. If findings are replicated, they will justify targeting the hip abductors during rehabilitation after TKA.
Triple Rule Out CTA Scans or the Right Test for the Right Patient.

In this issue of iJACC , Burris et al. [(1)][1] used a statewide registry to compare the diagnostic yield of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) with that of triple rule out (TRO) CTA scans and found that although there were slightly higher diagnostic yields for aortic dissection and
Depression, Eating Behaviors, Self-Esteem and Early Body Image Concerns after Bariatric Surgery.

ANOVA showed significant difference between the three groups. The participants with substantial decrease in snacking behavior perceived more triggers like food cues/being bored, social meals and hunger compared to the patients showing an increase or no change. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that although bariatric surgery restricts eating, difficulty in changing unhealthy eating behavior postoperatively can be related to different food triggers. That negative emotions were not related to unhealthy eating was quite unexpected and needs to be further explored. There is an increasing need for post-operative assessment of eating behavior and development of more tailored interventions in order to prevent individuals from regaining weight post surgery.