cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Organizational Culture, Practices, and Patterns of Interaction that Drive the Gender Pay Gap in Medicine: Second-Generation Gender Bias and Other Complexities

Women physicians must balance implicit social expectations to be nice, caretaking, and other-focused while carrying out the requisites of being a competent clinician, researcher, educator, and/or administrative leader. Considered “second-generation gender bias,” these cultural assumptions are not intentional or overt. However, they impact how women are evaluated, promoted, and therefore compensated in the healthcare workplace. The effects of gender-based differences in performance assessments, specialty choice, burden of domestic responsibilities, penalties for childbearing and negotiation, allocation of professional resources, sponsorship, and clinical productivity and patient satisfaction measures are cumulative across a woman’s career in medicine, resulting in inequities in advancement and compensation.
α-Crystallins in the Vertebrate Eye Lens: Complex Oligomers and Molecular Chaperones

α-Crystallins are small heat-shock proteins that act as holdase chaperones. In humans, αA-crystallin is expressed only in the eye lens, while αB-crystallin is found in many tissues. α-Crystallins have a central domain flanked by flexible extensions and form dynamic, heterogeneous oligomers. Structural models show that both the C- and N-terminal extensions are important for controlling oligomerization through domain swapping. α-Crystallin prevents aggregation of damaged β- and γ-crystallins by binding to the client protein using a variety of binding modes. α-Crystallin chaperone activity can be compromised by mutation or posttranslational modifications, leading to protein aggregation and cataract. Because of their high solubility and their ability to form large, functional oligomers, α-crystallins are particularly amenable to structure determination by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and solution NMR, as well as cryo-electron microscopy.
Oral Glucose Gel for Asymptomatic Neonatal Hypoglycemia: Is It A Sweet Deal?

Background: Asymptomatic hypoglycemia is common in certain newborn infants and can require treatment with dextrose-containing intravenous fluids, resulting in transfer from newborn nurseries to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and maternal-infant separation. 40% oral glucose gel (GG) has been reported to be an effective, non-invasive treatment for asymptomatic hypoglycemia in neonates, often reducing the number of transfers to a higher level of care. Objective: To implement the use of GG to reduce NICU admissions by 20% in infants > 36 week gestation detected to have asymptomatic …
Derivation and Validation of Genome-Wide Polygenic Score for Ischemic Heart Failure.

Background Despite advances in cardiovascular disease and risk factor management, mortality from ischemic heart failure (HF) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains high. Given the p...
Antenna Pattern Aware UAV Trajectory Planning Using Artificial Potential Field

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have numerous applications in various scenarios and disciplines including wireless communications and Internet of Things (IoT). This paper studies the trajectory design and collision avoidance in both single-UAV and multiple-UAV settings. During a mission, UAVs communicate with the ground base stations (GBS). In this work, it is assumed that UAVs are equipped with antennas with different radiation patterns. These antenna patterns impact the trajectory design of the UAVs. To achieve efficient performance in UAV trajectory planning, we implement an enhanced-artificial potential field (enhanced-APF) algorithm. The implemented algorithm leads to UAV trajectory designs with collision avoidance, and enables us to identify the overall impact of the 3D antenna patterns on the UAV trajectory. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and the performance of the algorithm, resulting in a smoother trajectory path for UAVs.
De novo Evolution of a Small Choroidal Melanoma

Aim: To report the evolution of a de novo choroidal melanoma. Method: This is a case report of a 22-year-old white male patient who has been undergoing periodic examination for a choroidal ‘freckle' since 10 years of age. Results: In 2007, a fundus photograph of the left eye showed a nondescript area of choroidal hyperpigmentation temporal to the fovea. Progressive growth was observed and, by 2012, the lesion had become well circumscribed and raised. One year later, a 4.5 × 4.5 × 1.5 mm, dome-shaped, pigmented, choroidal mass with subretinal fluid and orange pigmentation was evident. The lesion was classified as a small choroidal melanoma. Six months after plaque radiotherapy, tumor regression with total resolution of the subretinal fluid was documented. Conclusion: The distinction between small choroidal melanoma and choroidal nevus is not absolute; therefore, some choroidal melanomas may initially be mislabeled as choroidal nevi because of their small size until continued growth identifies them to be small choroidal melanomas. In our case, the documented growth of the choroidal lesion on each consecutive visit and its high-risk features strongly suggest that it had been a melanoma from the beginning. To our knowledge, this is only the second documented case of a de novo evolution of a small choroidal melanoma. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
Origin of endometriosis from the mesenchyme of the celomic walls

Abstract Embryologic considerations show that endometriosis in all known locations may originate from the local tissues. The celomic walls, including epithelium and connective tissue, are in their development related to the Mullerian ducts and must therefore be regarded as possible bearers of the developmental potencies of endometrium formation. This also includes various structures arising from the celomic walls, among them the gonads and the extremities. The nonepithelial tissues of the uterus itself are in particular, closely related to the uterine epithelium, since part of their cells are given off by that epithelium (the Mullerian ducts) during embryonic life.
Web-Based Systems that Disseminate Information from Databases but Protect Confidentiality

The Internet provides an efficient mechanism for Federal agencies to distribute their data to the public. However, it is imperative that such data servers have built-in mechanisms to ensure that confidentiality of the data, and the privacy of individuals or establishments represented in the data, are not violated. We describe a prototype dissemination system developed for the National Agricultural Statistics Service that uses aggregation of adjacent geographical units as a confidentiality-preserving technique. We also outline a Bayesian approach to statistical analysis of the aggregated data.
A Puzzle About Responsibility A Problem And Its Contextualist Solution

This paper presents a puzzle about moral responsibility. The problem is based upon the indeterminacy of relevant reference classes as applied to action. After discussing and rejecting a very tempting response I propose moral contextualism instead, that is, the idea that the truth value of judgments of the form “S is morally responsible for x” depends on and varies with the context of the attributor who makes that judgment. Even if this reply should not do all the expected work it is a first step.
Simultaneous microscopic description of 16O( gamma,n) and 16O( gamma,p) including Delta degrees of freedom.

The photonuclear reactions $^{16}\mathrm{O}$(\ensuremath{\gamma},n${)}^{15}$O and $^{16}\mathrm{O}$(\ensuremath{\gamma},p${)}^{15}$N are simultaneously described within a coupled channels framework based on a continuum shell model formulation that includes all nonlocalities arising from antisymmetrization. This large-scale conventional many-body calculation provides a good description of the medium energy data. The inclusion of \ensuremath{\Delta}(1232) degrees of freedom further, but slightly, improves the description of the available data. Complete quantitative agreement, however, is still lacking.
The Future of Insurgency

What are key historical trends in insurgencies? And what do these finding suggest about the future of insurgency? We examine four aspects: causes of insurgency, outside support, strategies, and tactics. Based on an examination of quantitative and qualitative data, we make several arguments about the future. China could become increasingly involved in supporting insurgencies and counterinsurgencies if its economic and military power continues to increase and its global interest expands. In addition, insurgent groups will likely require less time to achieve high levels of sophistication for improvised explosive devices and other asymmetric tactics, which we expect they will use against more powerful mechanized counterinsurgent forces. We also expect that insurgent groups may take advantage of commercially-available technology to communicate, distribute propaganda, and recruit individuals. In addition, insurgents will likely make further use of encryption, anonymizing services, location-masking tools, and ot...
The conventional technique of in-situ split-liver transplantation

Split-liver transplantation are innovative surgical techniques of graft creation that expand the cadaver donor pool and decrease reliance upon living-donation. To date, split-liver transplantation has been principally applied to pediatric recipients with excellent outcomes. Significant decreases in pediatric wait-list times, wait-list morbidity, and lower utilization of living-donation at centers that routinely implement split-liver transplantation have led to renewed interest in expanding these techniques to include two adult recipients from one adult cadaver donor. This article details technical considerations of the conventional in situ split procedure for the creation of a pediatric left lateral segment graft and an adult trisegment graft, and summarizes current outcomes.
mediation: R Package for Causal Mediation Analysis

In this paper, we describe the R package mediation for conducting causal mediation analysis in applied empirical research. In many scientific disciplines, the goal of researchers is not only estimating causal effects of a treatment but also understanding the process in which the treatment causally affects the outcome. Causal mediation analysis is frequently used to assess potential causal mechanisms. The mediation package implements a comprehensive suite of statistical tools for conducting such an analysis. The package is organized into two distinct approaches. Using the model-based approach, researchers can estimate causal mediation effects and conduct sensitivity analysis under the standard research design. Furthermore, the design-based approach provides several analysis tools that are applicable under different experimental designs. This approach requires weaker assumptions than the model-based approach. We also implement a statistical method for dealing with multiple (causally dependent) mediators, which are often encountered in practice. Finally, the package also offers a methodology for assessing causal mediation in the presence of treatment noncompliance, a common problem in randomized trials.
Prospects for Monitoring Cotton Crop Maturity with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) producers monitor crop maturity during the season to determine when to terminate inputs and to defoliate. COTMAN monitors crop maturity based on time for plants to reach five nodes above white flower (NAWF = 5). Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) estimates crop biomass and condition from canopy reflectance of near-infrared and visible radiation. We conducted a 4-yr study at Jackson, TN to evaluate the suitability of NDVI for monitoring cotton crop maturity, relative to COTMAN. Maturity was altered by combinations of winter cover crop and N fertilization. Flowering was monitored to determine the date of NAWF = 5 for COTMAN, which predicted later maturity with higher N rates. Relative to zero N, boll opening was delayed by 100 kg N ha ―1 in 3 yr. Cover crop effects on NAWF = 5 and maturity were inconsistent. Canopy NDVI data were collected weekly after mid-bloom with a hand-held GreenSeeker red/near-infrared sensor. Significant date x treatment interactions for NDVI indicated the potential to detect maturity differences with NDVI. However, dissimilar time courses of NDVI were obtained in different years, complicating efforts to develop an empirical model of NDVI attenuation with crop maturity. Late-season NDVI was correlated with degree-days to open boll in 3 yr, but differences in NDVI corresponding to crop maturity differences occurred later in the season than NAWF = 5 used by COTMAN. Relationships between changes in NDVI and crop maturity did not provide a simple basis for predicting readiness for defoliation similar to COTMAN. Improved multispectral sensors are needed for monitoring row crop condition and maturity.
The L - MM Auger spectra of Na and Mg

Calculations, including spin-orbit interaction, were performed for the ${(2p)}^{5}(3s)(\mathrm{nl})$ Auger spectra of Na and Mg, and compared with recent measurements. For these elements it was found that spin-orbit interaction cannot be neglected, that the statistical hypothesis for the population of terms involving inner-shell vacancies arising in ion-atom collisions is poor in relating terms of different configurations, and erratic for terms in a single configuration, and that, while some terms are calculated to have an Auger yield significantly less than unity, the available experimental data lack sufficient resolution to address this question. In comparing calculations and experiment for the Auger spectra resulting from protons incident on Na, agreement was found only by postulating a ${(2s)}^{1}{(2p)}^{6}{(4s)}^{1}$ configuration at 79.0 eV and a ${(2s)}^{2}{(2p)}^{4}{(3s)}^{2}^{1}S$ term at 81.1 eV above the ground state in Na.
Composition of various ribonucleic acid fractions from micro-organisms of different deoxyribonucleic acid composition.

THE ratio of guanine plus cytosine to adenine plus thymine (GC/AT) in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of a given species of a micro-organism is constant, but the GC/AT ratio of different kinds of microorganisms can vary by a factor of as much as five times1. The ratio of GC content to AU (uracil) content of cell ribonucleic acid (RNA) varies only slightly from one organism to another; but this ratio tends to be slightly higher in organisms the DNA ratio of which is high2. These facts raise a question as to whether all the RNA of a cell has the same composition or whether perhaps a small RNA sub-fraction has the same base ratios as its corresponding DNA (uracil being equivalent to thymine). Recent experiments have demonstrated an RNA sub-fraction in yeast which does have a composition almost identical to the corresponding DNA (ref. 3). The present work is concerned with analysing the nucleotide ratios in sub-fractions of the RNA from organisms with varying GC/AT ratios in the DNA.
Strain-induced crystallization and reversible phenomena in transpolyisoprene. II. X-Ray studies

Abstract The results of wide- and small-angle X-ray studies on bulk oriented transpolyisoprenes are presented here. Variables investigated include thermal history, degree and temperature of elongation, cross-linking, and annealing temperature. At room temperature, discrete X-ray peaks occur at small angles. Upon heating the oriented specimens, the small-angle X-ray long period, as determined by Bragg's law, continuously increases from about 150 A at 26°C to about 250 A at ∼70°C; and it decreases continuously upon cooling and reaches a value of about 170 A at 26°C. The small-angle X-ray peak intensity also exhibits significant thermal reversibility in the same temperature range. These results in conjunction with electron microscopy data (Part I) are discussed in light of current concepts concerning long period reversibility in bulk polymers. It is concluded that the present results again indicate recrystallization by refolding as the most plausible mechanism for the various reversible phenomena observed in...
An empirical expression for total scattering cross sections of normal hydrocarbons, and experimental total cross sections of C2H2 and C3H4

Abstract The total electron scattering cross sections (TCS) of C 2 H 2 and C 3 H 4 have been obtained for 200–4500 eV electrons by measuring the attenuation of the electron beam through a gas cell. An empirical expression is deduced to express the TCS of normal hydrocarbons as a function of the number of atomic constituencies in the hydrocarbon and the electron energy.
Fabrication and electrical characterization of Au/p-Si/STO/Au contact

Abstract Au/STO / p-Si/Au structure is fabricated using pulsed laser deposition technique at room temperature. The current–voltage ( I – V ) characteristics of the device show rectification behavior. Various junction parameters such as ideality factor, barrier height and series resistance is determined using conventional forward bias I – V characteristics, Cheung method and Norde’s function. Au/STO/p-Si/Au structure shows non-ideal diode characteristics with the value of ideality factor of ∼5.1 and barrier height of ∼0.40 eV.
Inflation Tax and Substitution Between Domestic and Foreign Assets: Evidence from Central-Eastern Europe

Dominant factors in determining real money holdings in Poland, Hungary, and Slovenia during a transition period characterized by high inflation are analyzed. Two hypotheses are tested. Cagan’s model suggests that inflation-adjusted money balances are influenced almost exclusively by inflationary expectations. A competing model suggests that under highly inflationary conditions there is an incentive for agents to substitute foreign for domestic assets in their portfolios because of the higher expected return. Inflation expectation is a dominant factor in Poland. The expected return to holding foreign assets dominates in Hungary. Both factors have played important roles in Slovenia.
Effects of triploidy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection on in vitro fertilization cycle outcome

Objective To evaluate the impact on the rates of clinical pregnancy and live birth of polyploidy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting University-based IVF center. Patient(s) One hundred forty-three patients undergoing their first IVF–embryo transfer cycle requiring ICSI. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the proportion of post-ICSI triploid fertilization that was observed at the time of fertilization assessment: group 1 included patients with ≤20% three-pronuclear (3PN) zygotes, and group 2 included patients with >20% 3PN zygotes. The primary outcomes compared between groups were pregnancy and implantation rates; secondary outcome measures included clinical-pregnancy rate and live-birth rate per embryo transfer. Result(s) Pregnancy, implantation, clinical-pregnancy, and live-birth rates were significantly higher in the cohort of patients who had ≤20% of embryos appearing triploid, compared with the group who had >20% of zygotes appearing triploid (relative risk [RR] for pregnancy, 2.4 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.22–4.77]; RR for implantation, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.17–5.56]; RR for clinical pregnancy, 2.8 [95% CI, 1.16–6.85]; and RR for live birth, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.06–6.38]). The proportion of 3PN zygotes after ICSI had a statistically significant inverse relationship to clinical-pregnancy rate. Conclusion(s) The proportion of triploid zygotes after ICSI serves as a negative prognostic indicator for IVF cycle outcome. This finding suggests that triploidy proportion is a surrogate marker of oocyte competence that represents the integrity of the oocytes in the entire recruited cohort. Such findings therefore may influence recommendations for embryo transfer number and freezing of supernumerary embryos.
Least squares approach in measurement-dependent filtering for selective medical images

An image-processing method called measurement-dependent filtering has been introduced to improve the SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) of selective images produced by various medical imaging systems. The basic algorithm involves the combination of the low-frequency information of the selective image with the high-frequency information of a nonselective image. A spatially variant control function modulates the amount of high frequency to be added at each point. A least-mean-square (LMS) control function formed from two basis images, namely the high-passed versions of the nonselective image (M/sub b/) and the selective image (S/sub b/), is introduced. The original algorithm is now viewed as a two-stage filtering method, including the low-pass filtering noise reduction and least squares filtering for the edge restoration. An appropriate linear transformation is used to convert the original basis images M/sub b/ and S/sub b/ into a new pair with orthogonal noise. This allows the implementation of the LMS and control function with practically obtainable a priori knowledge. >
Role of HIV-1 Vpr in AIDS pathogenesis: relevance and implications of intravirion, intracellular and free Vpr

Vpr, a 14-kDa, 96 amino acid protein, is conserved among the primate lentiviruses HIV-1, HIV-2 and Simian Immunodeficiency virus supporting the notion that it plays an important role in virus life cycle in vivo. Vpr appears to have several functions including cell cycle arrest at G2 stage, apoptosis, nuclear localization, nuclear import of the pre-integration complex, cation selective channel activity and transcriptionally activate HIV-1 LTR and other heterologous promoters. Over the years, we have addressed several issues pertaining to Vpr including the amount of Vpr present in the virus particles and structure-function relationship of Vpr. Here, we have reviewed the sources of Vpr that may potentially contribute to the cytopathic features observed in the context of HIV-1 infection. There are three different sources of Vpr available in the infected individuals to initiate the pathogenic effects. These include cell-associated, virion-associated (infectious, infectious-non productive, and non-infectious defective viruses) and free Vpr (cell-free and virus-free). A potential role of Vpr in neuropathogenesis of HIV infection in CNS was also suggested by early studies demonstrating neurotoxicity of recombinant Vpr protein. Interestingly, free Vpr (cell-free and virus-free) has been demonstrated in the serum of HIV-1 infected individuals and in the CSF of AIDS patients with neurological dysfunctions. Based on the toxic effects of extra-cellular Vpr on cells noted in several studies, it is likely that free Vpr could contribute to the bystander cell depletion in lymphoid tissues, peripheral blood, and the CNS. These results led us to propose a model for the role of Vpr in AIDS pathogenesis.
Less Thought, More Punishment: Need for Cognition Predicts Support for Punitive Responses to Crime

Three studies examined the relationship between need for cognition and support for punitive responses to crime. The results of Study 1 (N = 110) indicated that individuals high in need for cognition were less supportive of punitive measures than their low need for cognition counterparts. This finding was replicated in Study 2 (N = 1,807), which employed a nationally representative probability sample and included a more extensive battery of control variables. The purpose of Study 3 (N = 255) was to identify a third variable that might explain this relationship. This final study’s results suggest that attributional complexity mediates the relationship between need for cognition and punitiveness. High need for cognition individuals are less supportive of punitive measures because they endorse more complex attributions for human behavior than their low need for cognition peers.
Refractories based on fused pe riclase — Chromite material for vacuum steel refining plants

The relevant technology was developed and production has started of high-quality refractories based on a high-density fused periclase —chromite material. The refractories are characterized by a low content in silica and silicates, well-developed direct bonds between the high-refractoriness minerals, and high indices for density, cold-crushing strength, thermal strength, refractoriness under a load, and in-vacuo stability to the action of slag and steel melts and the gases. The most favorable combination of properties was achieved when using starting materials of high-purity, fused periclase-chromite with a maximum grain size of 5 mm, batches with a low content of fine-ground components, high specific molding pressures, high firing temperatures, and long holding times at the peak temperature. The refractories are designed for the lining of the pipe, bottom, and walls of the chamber of equipment for vacuum steel refining and can be used with good results in the lining of converters, electric-arc and plasma furnaces, and other installations for melting high-temperature materials.
Multimedia conferencing in the Etherphone environment

The latest extension of the Etherphone project is described. It creates a powerful conferencing system that lets users control their participation in multiple conferences across multimedia networks. The emphasis is on the software mechanisms that support its new features: first, a Sparcstation facility called Phoenix that extends the Etherphone software architecture to permit more flexible conferencing and to control Sparcstation-based Ethernet audio transmission, and, second, the integration of the Phoenix capabilities with Macaw, the earlier video extensions. Also described is a multicast packet protocol for audio transmission, which reimplements and extends the earlier special-purpose protocols, adding per-channel volume control and full support for the extended conferencing modes. >
The personalized cueing method: from the laboratory to the clinic.

Purpose The personalized cueing method is a novel procedure for treating naming deficits of persons with aphasia that is relatively unfamiliar to most speech-language pathologists. The goal of this article is to introduce the personalized cueing method to clinicians so that it might be expanded and improved upon. It is also hoped that this article will promote further research in the treatment of naming deficits of clients with aphasia. Method This clinical focus article (a) describes the origins of the personalized cueing method, the steps involved in creating personalized cues, and training and assessment procedures used with the personalized cueing method; (b) summarizes the published research supporting the use of the personalized cueing method; and (c) highlights some of the clinical advantages of this novel naming treatment for clients and clinicians. Results Research with the personalized cueing method indicates that durability (long-term naming accuracy) for items trained with the personalized cue...
A reply to Herbert Penzl's “Historiographie und Sprachgeschichte: Zur Beschreibung des ahd. i −Umlauts”

Two incompatible theories of OHG i −umlaut are briefly described—the one proposed by Twaddell in 1938, the other by Voyles in 1991. Five arguments recently adduced by Penzl in defense of the Twaddellian theory are discussed. These five points are critiqued in some detail because they are crucial for understanding and evaluating the two theories.
Water vapour 18O/16O isotope ratio in surface air in New England, USA

In this paper, we report the results of the analysis of two high-resolution time-series of water vapour 18 O/ 16 O ratio (δ v ) in surface air observed in Connecticut, USA. On an annual time-scale, δ v is a linear function of ln w , where w is water vapour mixing ratio, and is approximated by a Rayleigh distillation model with partial (80%) rainout. On time scales a few days, δ v shows considerable variations, often exceeding 20 per mil, and is higher in the wetting phase than in the drying phase of a weather cycle. In precipitation events, the vapour in the surface layer is in general brought to state of equilibrium with falling raindrops but not with snowflakes. On a diurnal time-scale, a peak-to-peak variation of 1–2 per mil is observed at a coastal site. At an interior site, evidence of a diurnal pattern is present only on days of low humidity. Our results suggest that the intercept parameter of the Keeling plot is an ambiguous quantity and should not be interpreted as being equivalent to the isotopic signature of evapotranspiration. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.2006.00191.x
A formula and an algorithm for continued fraction inversion

A formula and an iterative algorithm are given for converting a continued fraction into a rational function.
External beam radiotherapy dose response of prostate cancer

Purpose To determine the external beam radiotherapy dose response of palpable Stage T1-T4, mostly Nx, patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Methods and materials There were 938 men consecutively treated between 1987 and 1995 who had pretreatment prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. Posttreatment failure was defined as disease recurrence and/or two elevations in PSA on consecutive follow-up visits. The radiotherapy technique consisted of a four-field box with a small four-field reduction after 46 Gy in 844 patients (total dose of 60-70 Gy) or with a six-field conformal boost after 46 Gy in 94 patients (total dose of 74-78 Gy). Neoadjuvant or adjuvant androgen ablation was not used in any patient. Median follow-up was 40 months. Results The mean and median radiotherapy doses for the entire group were 67.8 +/- 13.3 Gy (+/-SEM) and 66 Gy. The mean radiotherapy dose was higher in those who had Stage T3/T4 disease, Gleason scores of 8-10, or pretreatment PSAs of > 4 ng/ml. In general, patients with more aggressive pretreatment prognostic features were treated to higher doses; yet, those that relapsed or had a rising PSA were treated to significantly lower doses. Actuarial analyses were facilitated by dividing patients into three dose groups: 67-77, and > 77 Gy. The actuarial freedom from failure rates at 3 years were 61, 74, and 96% for the low, intermediate, and high dose groups. Stratification of the patients by pretreatment PSA revealed that dose was a significant correlate of freedom from relapse or a rising PSA for those with PSAs > 4-10, > 10-20, and > 20 ng/ml. The only patients in which an improvement in outcome was not related to higher doses were those with a pretreatment PSA Conclusion This retrospective review strongly indicates that radiotherapy dose to the prostate is critical to the cure of prostate cancer, even for favorable patients with pretreatment PSAs of > 4-10 ng/ml, Stages T1/T2, or Gleason scores of 2-6. Final confirmation awaits the results of our randomized trial.
Assessment of pregnancy-associated, within-woman change in uterine length.

AbstractObjective: To evaluate how absolute uterine length changes as a result of pregnancy.Methods: Longitudinal repeated-measures study of all women presenting to a university-affiliated clinic for uterine sounding prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF) who went on to deliver at term and return for repeat measurement from 2002 to 2012. Change in uterine length was assessed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.Results: Among 495 women, mean pregnancy-associated change in uterine length was 0.0 cm (SD ± 0.7, p = 0.84), with 31% of women experiencing no change and 75% of women experiencing a change ≤0.5 cm. Mean uterine lengths at pre-cycle and repeat measurement were 7.2 cm (SD ± 0.7) and 7.2 cm (SD ± 0.7) with medians of 7.0 cm (IQR 7.0–7.5) and 7.0 cm (IQR 6.8–7.8), respectively. Change in uterine length did not vary by gestational number or within time interval between measurements (all p > 0.5).Conclusions: There was no difference in uterine length before and after term pregnancy. The finding of minimal va...
Revisiting mGMSB in light of a 125 GeV Higgs

Abstract We explore the implications of a 124–126 GeV CP-even Higgs boson on the fundamental parameter space and sparticle spectroscopy of the minimal gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking (mGMSB) scenario. The above mass for the Higgs boson yields stringent lower bounds on the sparticle masses in this class of models. The lightest neutralino and stau masses lie close to 1.5 TeV and 800 GeV respectively, while the majority of the sparticle masses are in the several to multi-TeV range. We show that with a single pair of 5 + 5 ¯ SU(5) messenger multiplets, the lower limit on the gravitino mass is ∼ 360 eV . This is reduced to about 60 eV if five pairs of 5 + 5 ¯ messenger fields are introduced. Non-standard cosmology and non-standard gravitino production mechanisms are required in order to satisfy cosmological observations.
Rapid Assay for Polystyrene Surface Oxidation

Polystyrene surfaces are often corona-discharge or plasma treated to oxidize the surface, which enhances the wettability. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which requires time and an ultra-high vacuum, is generally used to measure this surface oxidation. A rapid, simple method for measuring polystyrene surface oxidation is described. The surface is soaked in a solution of Azure A dye, which adsorbs only to oxidized sites on the polystyrene. The excess dye is flushed away and the bound dye is desorbed with a detergent; an absorbance measurement at 635 nm is used to determine the quantity of desorbed dye. This value correlates with the polystyrene surface oxygen concentration and gives r2 = 0.93.
Homogeneous metal-catalyzed oxidations by O2

A. Introduction 185 B. Classes of metal-catalyzed reactions I87 (i) Class I: metal-bound 0, 187 (ii) Class II: metal 0x0 via dioxygen 189 (iii) Class III: metal 0x0 via peroxides 194 (iv) Class IV: metal peroxo systems I98 (a) Metal-catalyzed peroxide decomposition 199 (b) Nucleophilic attack on peroxo and alkylperoxo complexes 201 (c) Other reactions of metal peroxo intermediates 204 (v) Class V: metal-centered oxidizing agents 205 C. How to classify reactions 207 D.Summary 209 Acknowledgements 210 References 210
A orcadian response to 5‐HTP inhibition of locomotion in the earthworm, lumbricus terrestris

Abstract The effect of DL‐p‐chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) and 5‐hydroxy‐L‐tryptophan (5‐HTP), which influence serotonin levels, were studied with respect to locomotion rates in earthworms, Lumbricus terrestris. The drugs were dissolved in .65% saline and injected into the coelom, and then the rate of locomotion was determined 6 hours later. PCPA, which inhibits serotonin synthesis, increased the rate of locomotion across a distance of 10 cm (19.07 ± 1.07 seconds) as compared to the rate of saline‐injected controls (28.56 ± .96 seconds). In general, saline‐injected earthworms crawled faster than 5‐HTP‐injected earthworms (Student's t test P value less than .0005). Earthworms injected with saline at one of four times of the day crawled fastest at 2400 following injections at 1800 and the responses showed a circadian rhythm (ANOVA P value less than .005 and Cosinor P value less than .001). Earthworms injected 6 hours previously with 5‐HTP crawled slowest at 2400 as compared to the 2400 controls. Among the four ...
Comparative study of noise performance of microwave photonic filters based on coherent and incoherent multi-wavelength light sources

We provide a comparative study of the noise performance of microwave photonic filtered links implemented with two different multi-wavelength sources: an optical frequency comb generator and a spectrally sliced optical source. The evaluation is based on bit-error-rate measurements of transmitted data as well as radio-frequency spectrum analysis of clock signals distributed through the link. Our results show that optical frequency comb generators not only provide a better noise performance, but they make a much better use of the available optical bandwidth, which translates into a potential further reach in the microwave link. These results add to the list of beneficial attributes of opto-electronic frequency comb generators for microwave photonic signal processing.
Minimum control power for VTOL aircraft stability augmentation

VTOL aircraft stability augmentation system design based on control theory state variable methods, using minimum power levels
Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism to study APP function

The brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients show an increased number of senile plaques compared with normal patients. The major component of the plaques is the β-amyloid peptide, a cleavage product of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Although the processing of APP has been well-described, the physiological functions of APP and its cleavage products remain unclear. This article reviews the multifunctional roles of an APP orthologue, the C. elegans APL-1. Understanding the function of APL-1 may provide insights into the functions and signaling pathways of human APP. In addition, the physiological effects of introducing human β-amyloid peptide into C. elegans are also reviewed. The C. elegans system provides a powerful genetic model to identify genes regulating the molecular mechanisms underlying intracellular β-amyloid peptide accumulation.
Damage and threshold shift resulting from cochlear exposure to Paraquat-generated superoxide

Superoxide has been implicated as a contributing factor to cochlear pathology from a number of sources, including noise and ototoxic drugs. The effects of NADPH oxidase-dependent superoxide on the cochlea were investigated in the current study using paraquat (PQ). PQ is a toxic herbicide that causes tissue damage by generating superoxide through reduction of molecular oxygen in a reaction catalyzed by NADPH oxidase. The current study examined the effects of round window PQ administration on inferior colliculus (IC) evoked potential thresholds (EVP) and hair cell damage. Using implanted IC electrodes, chinchillas were tested for IC EVP thresholds before and after PQ exposure. Ears were exposed to PQ at one of four concentrations: 10, 5, 3 mM, and vehicle control. Thresholds were increased in a dose-dependent manner, and peaked between one and seven days post-exposure. Thresholds then showed a small amount of recovery before reaching PTS by Day 22. Outer and inner hair cell losses were consistent with PTS. The similarities between PQ ototoxicity and noise-induced hearing loss suggest the possibility of similar biochemical pathways involving superoxide.
Soot and char molecular representations generated directly from HRTEM lattice fringe images using Fringe3D

Abstract Char and soot are complex carbonaceous structures that are important in traditional energy generation, reactivity, biomass combustion, pollution, climate change, and human health. HRTEM lattice fringe images have significantly improved how we “see” these complex structures. Yet our attempts to use molecular modeling to explore the structure behavior relationships are hampered by the complexity and difficulty in capturing the alignment, graphene to polyaromatic “hydrocarbon” stacks, any symmetry, and more importantly the distribution of structural features. It is the structural detail, which often controls the behavior of soots and chars that are otherwise similar in bulk properties. As a consequence, modeling efforts are often highly simplistic or highly complex with considerable expense being utilized in obtaining structures that do not capture all these structural details. Here we attempt a new approach: Fringe3D to directly generate the lattice fringe images in molecular space from HRTEM lattice fringe images. Image analysis determines the Cartesian coordinates, fringe length, orientation, and more importantly the distributions of those parameters. A Perl script populates the model space with a centroid representing the center of each fringe. From calibration files, either a known molecule or selected number of carbon atoms in the desired catenation style, molecules are constructed for each fringe around each centroid. The molecules are pitched to match fringe orientation. In this manner the: symmetry, stacking, orientation, and structural distributions are retained along with fine-structural details. The approach is demonstrated, with a bituminous coal char and a primary diesel soot particle, to produce initially simplistic atomistic representations of the aromatic carbon structure with greater ease, and far more rapidly than existing approaches.
Early post-operative morbidity of total prostatectomy.

Complications were analysed in a contemporary series of 100 total prostatectomies performed, for carcinoma of the prostate, under the supervision of one surgeon. There were 7 major complications including 1 death. No patient had a rectal injury. Minor complications occurred in 33 patients. Severe stress incontinence persisted in only 2 patients and 12 had minor stress incontinence
Comparison of proton and neutron spectra: The extended Griffin model, pairing and isospin

The energy spectra of protons and neutrons emitted in proton induced reactions on the targets103Rh,159Tb, and169Tm were measured at a bombarding energy of 18 MeV and at a variety of emission angles. Angle-integrated emission spectra were calculated and compared with preequilibrium model predictions. The general validity of the extended Griffin model with a systematic empirical set of model parameter values was verified. Evidence was obtained for the conservation (partial or complete) of isospin as a quantum number and for the possible utility of including a pairing energy shift in the calculations.
Why do bacterial protoplasts burst in hypotonic solutions

Abstract A study of the relative effectiveness of sugars, of short peptides and of amino acids as osmotic stabilizers for nonrespiring Bacillus megaterium protoplasts indicated that the protoplast membrane could act as a porous differential dialysis membrane in much the same manner as cellophane membranes do and that its effective porosity increased when it was stretched during osmotic swelling. The protoplast membrane also behaved as a highly extensible structure, in contrast to membranes such as those of erythrocytes and enormous protoplasts could be prepared by slowly dialyzing stabilizing solutes from protoplast suspensions. In effect, osmotic bursting of bacterial protoplasts could not be related to the ultimate tensile strength of maximally extended membranes. Rather, it appeared that when protoplasts swelled in hypotonic solutions, their surface membranes might become sufficiently stretched so that they admit stabilizing solutes. There would be then a rapid influx of solutes and water resulting in rapid stretching of the membrane and rupture due to a process of brittle fracture. Thus, bursting generally occurs without the membrane becoming fully extended. We also found that urea and glycerol induced mechanical relaxation of protoplast membranes. This finding, together with our other findings concerning mechanical properties of protoplast membranes and the strengthening effect of formaldehyde treatment, suggests that the mechanically important membrane component is protein, possibly in the form of a microfibrillar array.
Prospective evaluation of autonomic dysfunction in aggressive management of diabetic microangiopathy.

Twenty-six type I diabetic nephropathy patients in a rigorous schedule for glucose control to preserve kidney function were studied to determine autonomic functional changes during 18 months. Intercurrent and nonrelated acute illness, withdrawal from the study for personal reasons, or failure to undergo testing on schedule resulted in complete data at 1 year for 26 of the original 41 patients enrolled, 24 patients completing a further 6 months. Glycohemoglobin A1c dropped for the total group from 9.0 to 7.9 at 6 months, 8.0 at 12 months, and 8.1 at 18 months (P >1.20). Valsalva heart rate variations for the total group were 1.27, 1.30, 1.255, and 1.35 (normal > >1.50). Assumption of upright posture-related heart rate variations for the total group were 1.10, 1.07, 1.07, and 1.06 (normal >1.20). Mean arterial pressure day/night ratios for the total group were 1.04, 1.05, 1.05, and 1.08 (normal >1.10). Group analysis based on differences in insulin treatment programs, levels of blood pressure, and levels of renal function revealed no significant differences from the total group or companion groups during 18 months. Patients with a glycohemoglobin A1c of 8.0%. We conclude that aggressive glucose control in diabetic patients with proteinuria for a period of 18 months resulted in a reproducible pattern of autonomic function tests during that period of time with neither worsening nor improvement. The restoration of day/night mean arterial pressure variation in a minority of patients should be studied with a larger cohort. Am J Hypertens 1999;12:1135‐1139 © 1999 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.
A heterozygous IDH1R132H/WT mutation induces genome-wide alterations in DNA methylation

Monoallelic point mutations of the NADP(+)-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenases IDH1 and IDH2 occur frequently in gliomas, acute myeloid leukemias, and chondromas, and display robust association with specific DNA hypermethylation signatures. Here we show that heterozygous expression of the IDH1(R132H) allele is sufficient to induce the genome-wide alterations in DNA methylation characteristic of these tumors. Using a gene-targeting approach, we knocked-in a single copy of the most frequently observed IDH1 mutation, R132H, into a human cancer cell line and profiled changes in DNA methylation at over 27,000 CpG dinucleotides relative to wild-type parental cells. We find that IDH1(R132H/WT) mutation induces widespread alterations in DNA methylation, including hypermethylation of 2010 and hypomethylation of 842 CpG loci. We demonstrate that many of these alterations are consistent with those observed in IDH1-mutant and G-CIMP+ primary gliomas and can segregate IDH wild-type and mutated tumors as well as those exhibiting the G-CIMP phenotype in unsupervised analysis of two primary glioma cohorts. Further, we show that the direction of IDH1(R132H/WT)-mediated DNA methylation change is largely dependent upon preexisting DNA methylation levels, resulting in depletion of moderately methylated loci. Additionally, whereas the levels of multiple histone H3 and H4 methylation modifications were globally increased, consistent with broad inhibition of histone demethylation, hypermethylation at H3K9 in particular accompanied locus-specific DNA hypermethylation at several genes down-regulated in IDH1(R132H/WT) knock-in cells. These data provide insight on epigenetic alterations induced by IDH1 mutations and support a causal role for IDH1(R132H/WT) mutants in driving epigenetic instability in human cancer cells.
Treating substance abuse as a consequence of conflict and displacement: a call for a more inclusive global mental health

In settings of conflict and displacement, the provision of appropriate mental health services is essential. While most mental health research has focused on identifying rates of post-traumatic stress and other common disorders in post-conflict settings, there has been little recognition of substance abuse as both a cause and consequence of mental health problems. Problems that arise when people begin to abuse substances to cope with the severe stress of emergency situations include the depletion of finite family and community resources, violence, exploitation, neglect of children and other protection threats. As a case in point, refugee camps on the Thai–Burma border have become a fertile breeding ground for drug and alcohol addiction. A more inclusive view of global mental health—one that addresses the problems of substance use in post-conflict and displacement contexts—will better enable health professionals to make meaningful contributions to conflict resolution and longer term peace-building processes.