cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surgical Management of Skull Base and Spine Chordomas

Management of chordoma along the cranial-spinal axis is a major challenge for both skull base and spinal surgeons. Although chordoma remains a rare tumor, occurring in approximately 1 per 1 million individuals, its treatment poses several challenges. These tumors are generally poorly responsive to radiation and chemotherapy, leading to surgical resection as the mainstay of treatment. Due to anatomic constraints and unique challenges associated with each primary site of disease, gross total resection is often not feasible and is associated with high rates of morbidity. Additionally, chordoma is associated with high rates of recurrence due to the tumor’s aggressive biologic features, and postoperative radiation is increasingly incorporated as a treatment option for these patients. Despite these challenges, modern-day surgical techniques in both skull base and spinal surgery have facilitated improved patient outcomes. For example, endoscopic endonasal techniques have become the mainstay in resection of skull base chordomas, improving the ability to achieve gross total resection, while reducing associated morbidity of open transfacial techniques. Resection of spinal chordomas has been facilitated by emerging techniques in preoperative imaging, intraoperative navigation, spinal reconstruction, and radiotherapy. Taken collectively, the treatment of chordoma affecting the skull base and spinal requires a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists who specialize in the treatment of this challenging disease.
Contributions of women and creating a culture of inclusivity at the North American Society for Bat Research

The North American Society for Bat Research (NASBR) began in 1970 at a turning point in history for women’s rights. Participation by women in NASBR has risen steadily over the society’s history, reflecting societal shifts of reducing barriers to advancement and achievement by women in science. Gender parity has been achieved in all forms of presentation type at NASBR (general and student oral presentation and poster sessions). The 50% milestone of women participants in the general oral presentations and as session chairs was only reached in 2015, whereas women have represented the majority of participants in student sessions since the 1990s. The current culture of inclusivity and support for gender and racial diversity in the NASBR society is viewed as generally positive based on a survey of NASBR affiliates. The current Society and annual NASBR meeting have made visible efforts to offer opportunities for raising awareness and discussion around diversity, provide mentoring opportunities, and codified expectations of behavior to create a safe and inclusive conference environment for all participants. Over the past 50 years, NASBR has not only supported and advanced research on bats but has grown as a society to reflect values of inclusion and support for all people working to advance research on bats.
Competing visions for the EU’s southern strategy: Restraint, preventative engagement, and selective intervention

The most powerful European Union (EU) member states have suffered devastating terrorist attacks in the past decades and identify Islamist terrorism as one of the most pressing threats to their nati...
How Do We Believe

My first 30-odd years of research in cognitive science has been driven by an attempt to balance two facts about human thought that seem incompatible and two corresponding ways of understanding information processing. The facts are that, on one hand, human memories serve as sophisticated pattern recognition devices with great flexibility and an ability to generalize and predict as long as circumstances remain sufficiently familiar. On the other hand, we are capable of deploying an enormous variety of representational schemes that map closely onto articulable structure in the world and that support explanation even in unfamiliar circumstances. The contrasting ways of modeling such processes involve, first, more and more sophisticated associative models that capture progressively higher-order statistical structure and, second, more powerful representational languages for other sorts of structure, especially compositional and causal structure. My efforts to rectify these forces have taken me from the study of memory to induction and category knowledge to causal reasoning. In the process, I have consistently appealed to dual systems of thinking. I have come to realize that a key reason for our success as cognizers is that we rely on others for most of our information processing needs; we live in a community of knowledge. We make use of others both intuitively-by outsourcing much of our thinking without knowing we are doing it-and by deliberating with others.
An Optical Boundary-Layer Probe

The applicabilh^ of the schlieren-photomultiplier technique to obtain quantitative density measurements in the laminar boundary layer induced by a traveling shock wave in a shock tube is investigated. Tests were conducted at a Mach number of 1.58 so that the data could be compared with the exact theoretical solution tabulated by Mirels. The data obtained are in good agreement with the theory if the distance of the light beam above the floor of the shock tube is adjusted to fit the theoretical curve; this would not be necessary if a larger shock tube were used. Values of the transition Reynolds number were also determined which are slightly less than those found by Martin using an interferometer. I t is shown that this technique is sensitive enough to detect changes in density that are only 0.006 per cent of atmospheric density.
The OSU Flow-tools Package and CISCO NetFlow Logs

Many Cisco routers and switches support NetFlow services which provides a detailed source of data about network traffic. The Office of Information Technology Enterprise Networking Services group (OIT/ENS) at The Ohio State University (OSU) has written a suite of tools called flow-tools to record, filter, print and analyze flow logs derived from exports of NetFlow accounting records. We use the flow logs for general network planning, performance monitoring, usage based billing, and many security related tasks including incident response and intrusion detection. This paper describes what the flow logs contain, the tools we have written to store and process these logs, and discusses how we have used the logs and the tools to perform network management and security functions at OSU. We also discuss some related projects and our future plans at the end of the paper.
Effects of smectite to illite transformation on the frictional strength and sliding stability of intact marine mudstones

[1] At subduction zones, earthquake nucleation and coseismic slip occur only within a limited depth range, known as the “seismogenic zone”. One leading hypothesis for the upper aseismic-seismic transition is that transformation of smectite to illite at ∼100–150°C triggers a change from rate-strengthening frictional behavior that allows only stable sliding, to rate weakening behavior considered a prerequisite for unstable slip. Previous studies on powdered gouges have shown that changes in clay mineralogy alone are unlikely to control this transition, but associated fabric and cementation developed during diagenesis remain possible candidates. We conducted shearing experiments designed specifically to evaluate this hypothesis, by using intact wafers of mudstone from Ocean Drilling Program Site 1174, offshore SW Japan, which have undergone progressive smectite transformation in situ. We sheared specimens along a sawcut in a triaxial configuration, oriented parallel to bedding, at normal stresses of ∼20–150 MPa and a pore pressure of 1 MPa. During shearing, we conducted velocity-stepping tests to measure the friction rate parameter (a-b). Friction coefficient ranges from 0.28–0.40 and values of (a-b) are uniformly positive; both are independent of clay transformation progress. Our work represents the most direct and comprehensive test of the clay transformation hypothesis to date, and suggests that neither illitization, nor accompanying fabric development and cementation, trigger a transition to unstable frictional behavior. We suggest that strain localization, in combination with precipitation of calcite and quartz, is a viable alternative that is consistent with both field observations and recent conceptual models of a heterogeneous seismogenic zone.
Incidence of and risk factors for bacteraemia in HIV-infected adults in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background HIV-infected patients have an increased risk for bacteraemia compared with HIV-negative patients. Few data exist on the incidence of and risk factors for bacteraemia across time in the current era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Methods We assessed the incidence of bacteraemia among patients followed between 2000 and 2008 at 10 HIV Research Network sites. This large multisite, multistate clinical cohort study collected demographic, clinical and therapeutic data longitudinally. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD)-9 codes were examined to identify all cases of in-patient bacteraemia. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for bacteraemia and trends over time in the odds of bacteraemia. Results A total of 39 318 patients were followed for 146 289 person-years (PY). During the study period, there were 2025 episodes of bacteraemia (incidence 13.8 events/1000 PY). The most common bacteraemia diagnosis was ‘bacteraemia, not otherwise specified (NOS)’ (51%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (16%) and Streptococcus species (6.5%). In multivariate analysis, the likelihood of bacteraemia was found to have increased in 2005–2008, compared with 2000. Other factors associated with higher odds of bacteraemia included a history of injection drug use (IDU), age ≥50 years, Black race and greater immunosuppression. Conclusions The likelihood of bacteraemia has risen slightly in recent years. Patients who are Black or have a history of IDU are at higher risk. Further research is needed to identify reasons for this increase and to evaluate programmes designed to reduce the bacteraemia risk.
T-Cells, Graft-Versus-Host Disease, and Graft-Versus-Leukemia

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is most commonly used as treatment for leukemia. Allotransplantation is associated with several interrelated immunologic processes, graft rejection, graft-vs-host disease and graft-vs-leukemia. Graft rejection can be overcome by intensive pretransplant immunosuppressive therapy. Following transplantation immunoreconstitution must occur from donor derived progenitors and graft-vs-host disease may occur from reactivity of donor derived immunocompetant cells against host tissues. In a related, but distinct process, donor immunocompetant cells may react against the recipient leukemia and recent data confirm that this GVL effect plays a critical role to prevent relapse post transplant. This report summarizes present data regarding the mechanism of these processes. A major challange is to separate the beneficial GVL effect from GVHD, the major complication of allogeneic marrow transplantation. In this report we summarize data regarding innovative approaches to modify the composition of the transplanted marrow to optimize clinical outcome as well as use of donor lymphocyte infusions as a means to induce graft-vs-leukemia post transplant. In this report we summarize data regarding innovative approaches to modify the composition of the transplanted marrow to optimize clinical outcome as well as use of donor lymphocyte infusions as a means to induce graft-vs-leukemia post transplant.
New developments in PEST shape/property hybrid descriptors

Recent investigations have shown that the inclusion of hybrid shape/property descriptors together with 2D topological descriptors increases the predictive capability of QSAR and QSPR models. Property-Encoded Surface Translator (PEST) descriptors may be computed using ab initio or semi-empirical electron density surfaces and/or electronic properties, as well as atomic fragment-based TAE/RECON property-encoded surface reconstructions. The RECON and PEST algorithms also include rapid fragment-based wavelet coefficient descriptor (WCD) computation. These descriptors enable a compact encoding of chemical information. We also briefly discuss the use of the RECON/PEST methodology in a virtual high-throughput mode, as well as the use of TAE properties for molecular surface autocorrelation analysis.
Cosmic Background Radiation Polarization Experiments

A handful of new experiments aimed at measuring the as-yet-undetected polarization of the cosmic background radiation are described, with somewhat more detail given for three experiments with which the authors are are associated.
α-Complexes of the transition metals

Abstract The products obtained from deuterolysis of the reaction of benzylmagnesium chloride with chromium trichloride tristetrahydrofuranate, ratio 3:1, in diethyl ether, either alone or in the presence of dihydroanthracene or anthracene have been isolated and analyzed. The processes of hydrogen abstraction and hydrogen transfer involved in the formation of the organic products and the bis-arene-α-complex according to the evidence must all occur within the confines of intermediate organo-chromium complexes.
l-Arginine and Hypertension

Hypertension is a major healthcare problem afflicting nearly 50 million individuals in the United States. Despite its strong causal association with cardiovascular disease complications including myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke, the majority of patients with hypertension do not achieve optimal blood pressure control. The prevalence of hypertension is expected to increase with the aging population, growing obesity epidemic, and rising incidence of metabolic syndrome. Endothelial dysfunction and reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioactivity represent prominent pathophysiological abnormalities associated with hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Individuals with hypertension exhibit blunted epicardial and resistance vascular dilation to endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) agonists in the peripheral and coronary circulation that likely contributes to mechanisms of altered vascular tone in hypertension. The amino acid L-arginine serves as the principal substrate for vascular NO production. Numerous studies, though not uniformly, demonstrate a beneficial effect of acute and chronic L-arginine supplementation on EDNO production and endothelial function, and L-arginine has been shown to reduce systemic blood pressure in some forms of experimental hypertension. This brief review discusses the potential role of L-arginine in hypertension, and reviews possible mechanisms of L-arginine action including modulation of EDNO production, alteration of asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA):L-arginine balance, and possible improvement of insulin sensitivity. In view of the rising prevalence of hypertension, randomized human clinical studies investigating the potential therapeutic role of L-arginine may be warranted.
Diagnosis of metastatic neoplasms: an immunohistochemical approach.

Abstract Context.—It is important to determine the type and/or site of origin of metastatic tumors for optimal clinical management. Objective.—To summarize the use of currently available immunohistochemical markers in the evaluation of metastatic tumors. Data Sources.—Review of relevant literature on immunohistochemical evaluation of tumors and the author's personal experience. Conclusions.—Immunohistochemistry is an important ancillary technique for evaluation of metastatic tumors and should be used in the context of routine morphology and clinical information. While a single marker may be used to support a known or suspected site of origin, a carefully constructed panel is strongly recommended, particularly for tumors of morphologically uncertain lineage or origin.
The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the strain amplitude dependent internal friction in aluminum

Abstract Strain amplitude dependent internal friction in zone-refined aluminum, containing silver and copper as impurities, was measured as a function of hydrostatic pressure with cold-work as an additional parameter. Using a modification of the torsional pendulum apparatus, the measurements were conducted at room temperature under forced vibrations with a frequency of 8.3 × 10−3Hz. For a given strain amplitude the damping was found to decrease as pressure increased, the magnitude of the drop being dependent on the strain amplitude. At a strain of approximately 10−5 damping changes of the order of −10−4 kbar−1 were observed. The dislocation damping theory by Granato and Lucke, well suited to describe the strain amplitude dependence at constant pressure, is used to predict the pressure dependence of the damping. The theory predicts the observed trends of the damping changes due to pressure, if it is assumed that the pressure response of the impurity atoms is governed by the bulk modulus of the impurity material. The measured changes, however, were two to three times larger than the predicted ones. It is suggested that the lack of treatment of thermally activated depinning in the theory is a possible reason for these discrepancies. The cold-work condition of the specimens also appears to have affected the magnitudes of the changes in internal friction, but the data is not conclusive in this regard.
THE EFFECT OF 8α-SUBSTITUTION ON FLAVIN TRIPLET STATE AND SEMIQUINONE PROPERTIES AS INVESTIGATED BY FLASH PHOTOLYSIS*

— Flash photolysis techniques have been used to study the effect of 8α-substitution on flavin triplet state formation and decay and on the properties of neutral and anionic serniquinones. Compared with riboflavin, the N(1) and N(3) isomers of 8α-histidylriboflavin show a lower triplet yield (˜10%) and a faster rate of decay (˜ 4-Cfold). Acetylation of the histidyl a-amino groups and of the flavin ribityl side chain results in a 2-fold increase in triplet yield and a 2-fold slower rate of decay. The yield of neutral 8α-substituted flavin semiquinones upon flash photolysis in the presence of EDTA was approximately 50% that given by riboflavin. These substituted flavin neutral semiquinones dismutated at a rate 2–3 times slower than the corresponding unsubstituted form, although the anionic semiquinones dismutated at approximately the same rate. In the presence of oxygen, the kinetics of semiquinone decay changed from second order to pseudo-first order upon raising the pH, thus showing anionic semiquinone oxidation as seen previously with unsnbstituted flavins. The pK values for the ionization of the neutral 8α-substituted Aavin semiquinones are 1–1.5 units lower than the unsubstituted form. The anionic 8α-substituted flavin semiquinones react with oxygen at a rate 2–10 times more slowly than does the riboflavin form. Such alterations in properties probably reflect the electron-withdrawing effect of the 8α-substituents on the flavin ring system.
Placing latino civic engagement

This study presents survey data assessing the civic and place engagement of Latino residents of three inner-ring Latino neighborhoods in Phoenix, Miami, and Chicago. We utilize a Latino/a Studies-inspired conceptual framework to assess the civic and place engagement of Latinos on its own terms, rather than as in-transition toward a mainstream or as a variation of Black American patterns of engagement. Although we find levels of sociability and trust to be uniformly high in our study neighborhoods, these social capital building blocks do not necessarily translate into civic and place engagement. Rather, we find civic and place engagement to be high in Pilsen, low in Little Havana, and mixed in Garfield. We conclude by suggesting that Latino/a civic and place engagement is predicated on the full cultural citizenship of Latinos; in addition, we suggest that Latino cultural citizenship is a notion that must become more attentive to place-based differences.
An Experimental Test of Observational Learning under Imperfect Information

Nearly all observational learning models assume that individuals can observe all the decisions that have previously been made. In reality, such perfect information is rarely available. To explore the difference between observational learning under perfect and imperfect information, this paper takes an experimental look at a situation in which individuals learn by observing the behavior of their immediate predecessors. Our experimental design uses the procedures of Celen and Kariv [9] and is based on the theory of Celen and Kariv [10]. We find that imitation is much less frequent when subjects have imperfect information, even less frequent than the theory predicts. Further, while we find strong evidence that under perfect information a form of generalized Bayesian behavior adequately explains behavior in the laboratory, under imperfect information behavior is not consistent even with this generalization of Bayesian behavior.
Tillage Effects on Dryland Soil Physical Properties in Northeastern Montana

We evaluated the effect of no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) on soil penetration resistance (PR), bulk density (BD), gravimetric moisture content (MC), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) during the fallow phase of a spring wheat–fallow rotation. The study was conducted on two soils mapped as Williams loam at the Froid and Sidney sites. Soil measurements were made on 19 May, 23 June, and 4 August 2005 at the Froid site and on 6 June and 8 July 2005 at the Sidney site. Tillage had no effect on either soil properties except on the PR at Sidney. However, soil PR, MC, and BD varied significantly with depth regardless of tillage and location. Further, soil PR and MC varied with the date of sampling at both locations, and PR generally increased with decreased MC at all soil depths. Soil Ks was slightly influenced by tillage at both locations.
Persistent trigeminal artery: In situ thrombosis and associated perforating vessel infarction

We report a patient with progressive brainstem infarction despite medical therapy. The patient was transferred to our institution for potential angioplasty of basilar stenosis. Imaging review demonstrated persistent trigeminal artery in situ thrombosis and associated perforating vessel infarction. Persistent trigeminal arteries are commonly associated with an atretic basilar artery and interventional treatment can result in significant morbidity and mortality.
A new way of improving non-linear optical properties of side-chain non-linear optically active copolymers

Abstract A new set of side-chain non-linear optical copolymers containing two different amounts of 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline (MNA) and disperse red 1 (DR1) chromophores are reported. From this set of copolymers, it is easy to see how to optimize such key properties as glass transition temperature, maximum absorption wavelength and second harmonic signal, d33. The composition dependence of these properties is seen to vary linearly with MNA and DR1 content.
THE COMPOSITION AND PHYLOGENETIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MOUGEOTIA (CHAROPHYCEAE) CELL WALL1

The two-layered, fibrillar cell wall of Mougeotia C. Agardh sp. consisted of 63.6% non-cellulosic carbohydrates and 13.4% cellulose. The orientation of cellulose microfibrils in the native cell wall agrees with the multinet growth hypothesis, which has been employed to explain the shift in microfibril orientation from transverse (inner wall) toward axial (outer wall). Monosaccharide analysis of isolated cell walls revealed the presence of ten sugars with glucose, xylose and galactose most abundant. Methylation analysis of the acid-modified, 1 N NaOH insoluble residue fraction showed that it was composed almost exclusively of 4-linked glucose, confirming the presence of cellulose. The major hemicellulosic carbohydrate was semi-purified by DEAE Sephacel (Cl−) anion-exchange chromatography of the hot 1 N NaOH soluble fraction. This hemicellulose was a xylan consisting of a 4-xylosyl backbone and 2,4-xylosyl branch points. The major hot water soluble neutral polysaccharide was identified as a 3-linked galactan. Mougeotia cell wall composition is similar to that of (Charophyceae) and has homologies with vascular plant cell walls. Our observations support transtructural evidence which suggests that members of the Charophyceae represent the phylogenetic line that gave rise to vascular plants. Therefore, the primary cell walls of vascular plants many have evolved directly from structures typical of the filamentous green algal cell walls found in the Charophyceae.
A circadian locomotor rhythm in Aplysia Californica

Abstract Locomotor activity in Aplysia was studied by means of both time-lapse cinematography and a mechanical recorder. Tactile stimulation tended to inhibit locomotion. Animals placed on a schedule of 12 hr of dark and 12 hr of light were primarily active during the light period. This circadian activity rhythm persisted in a reduced form during a 48 hr period of constant dark.
Current Challenges Towards the Development of a Blood Test for Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson' disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide. To date, there is no disease-modifying agent, and current medical treatment only provides symptomatic benefits. Early diagnosis of PD would be useful in clinical practice to identify patients for clinical trials, test potential drugs and neuroprotective agents and track their therapeutic effect. Considerable progress has been made in the discovery and validation of diagnostic biomarkers for PD. In particular, blood-based biomarkers have shown promise in identifying PD patients in samples from independent clinical trials. Evaluation of these biomarkers in de novo patients and individuals at risk for PD remains a top priority. Here, we review the current advances and challenges toward the clinical translation of these biomarkers into a blood-based test for PD.
Complete and sustained remission of spondyloarthritis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for myelodysplastic syndrome.

Joint Bone Spine - In Press.Proof corrected by the author Available online since samedi 27 decembre 2014
Abstract B188: Inhibition of Notch signaling for the treatment of cancer

The Notch pathway is a highly conserved signaling system that plays an important role in development and tissue homeostasis. While Notch mutations are well characterized and implicated in hematological malignancies such as T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, in solid tumors ligand or receptor over‐expression may lead to enhanced/sustained Notch function, triggering increased tumor cell proliferation/survival, angiogenesis and tumor formation. In order to delineate an oncogenic role of activated Notch in tumors of epithelial origin, we carried out a series of in‐vitro and in‐vivo studies. We demonstrated that the activated Notch1 receptor (a ‐ secretase‐dependent Notch1 E with the transmembrane domain and a‐secretase‐independent constitutively activated Notch1 intracellular fragment) can transform normal rat cells, RK3E. These transformed cells formed colonies in soft agar, confirming their anchorage‐independent growth potential, and when implanted subcutaneously, formed tumors in athymic nude mice. Inhibition of Notch signaling through a small molecule inhibitor of ‐secretase, a key regulator of Notch processing, may provide an attractive targeted cancer therapeutic strategy. We have identified and characterized a novel small molecule that is an exquisitely potent inhibitor of Notch signaling in tumor cell lines and endothelial cells with an IC 50 ranging from 0.005 nM to 20 nM. The Notch inhibitor meets all pharmacokinetic criteria in pre‐clinical species. In a xenograft tumor model, the novel compound inhibited Notch cleavage in a dose‐dependent manner at 6 hours after a single oral dose. This inhibition of Notch cleavage resulted in the induction of apoptosis (as measured by activated caspase‐3 levels) that was statistically significant at 24 hours after a single oral dose of 3 mg/kg. Analysis of tumors from animals treated with the Notch inhibitor revealed inhibition of angiogenesis through formation of leaky vasculature which may also contribute to observed anti‐tumor activity. Furthermore, Notch inhibition produced tumor regression in the Notch‐dependent tumor models. Anti‐tumor activity was also observed in several human xenograft tumors of epithelial origin. To mitigate mucoid gasteroentropathy due to Notch inhibition, PK/PD data were incorporated in devising dosing strategies that identified an optimal intermittent dosing schedule without negatively impacting efficacy. Furthermore, the mucoid gastroentropathy was also mitigated by the prophylactic administration of dexamethasone without negatively impacting Notch inhibitor mediated efficacy. In summary, we have characterized an orally bio‐available small molecule Notch inhibitor that may provide therapeutic benefit to cancer patients. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):B188.
Mixed-type neurothekeoma presenting with an unusual clinical appearance of multiple satellite lesions on the back.

Background. Neurothekeoma is a rare cutaneous neoplasm, often occurring as a nondescript cutaneous nodule on the central face, shoulders, and upper extremities. Objective. To present a patient with mixed-type neurothekeoma with an unusual clinical presentation. Methods. We report a 29-year-old female who developed an asymptomatic, red, dermal nodule with satellite papules on the back over a period of 6 months. Results. The coalescing papules on the back were excised, and the histopathology and immunohistochemical study revealed a mixed-type neurothekeoma. Conclusion. Neurothekeoma usually presents with a small, solitary, and slow-growing nodule or papule on the upper body. The case is interesting because of the unusual clinical manifestation of one dermal tumor with several satellite lesions.
Laparoscopic single-port colectomy for sigmoid cancer.

Single-port laparoscopic surgery can be performed via one incision hidden in the umbilicus. Herein, we report a patient with a sigmoid colon cancer undergoing single-port laparoscopic sigmoid colectomy. Laparoscopic single-port sigmoid colectomy through a 3-cm umbilical incision was performed on a patient with a diagnosis of sigmoid cancer. Patient was 54-year-old female with a body mass index of 25.8 kg/m2. Preoperatively, a CAT scan in the metastasis evaluation did not show any lesion. The total operative time was 198 min. Estimated blood loss was 300 ml. Length of hospital stay was 3 days. Patient had no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Examination of pathological specimen showed a specimen containing a circumferential lesion measuring 5 cm × 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm with adequate surgical margins (10 and 5.5 cm), and no regional lymph node metastases in 14 lymph nodes collected. Patient did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. Colonoscopy performed 1 year after surgery showed no neoplasm or polyp identified. Abdomen and pelvis CT also found no evidence of recurrence or metastatic disease. Single-port laparoscopic surgery may allow common benign procedures via an incision in the umbilicus. It can also be performed with good surgical and oncologic results in selected patients with a colorectal cancer.
Technology in pediatric home care: Issues in monitoring for quality

This article provides information for consumers regarding standards for the use of tech nology in the home health care pediatric program. The authors describe studies and the experience of one state agency. They provide questions and arguments that can be uti lized by hospital discharge planners, case managers, home health care service providers, and families.
Operational efficiency in banking: An international comparison Reply to the comment

Abstract To avoid problems associated with Jensen's inequality, we use a corrected inefficiency measure to compare the estimate of inefficiency obtained using the distribution free (DF) method with the estimate obtained using the stochastic cost frontier (SCF). The results of the paper are unchanged. The DF method yields measures of inefficiency that are significantly higher than measures obtained using the SCF.
Some surface phenomena of ice

Abstract Two new phenomena are described which would indicate directly two mechanisms of mass transfer along an ice surface. One is the neck formation observed between an ice sphere and a plane placed cose to but not in contact with it in an ice-saturated atmosphere. This indicates that mass transfer through the atmosphere is the major mechanism of sintering. Growth from both the ice sphere and plane were observed. The growth rate is of the same order as the calculation based on the theory of Hobbs and Mason. The other phenomenon is particle migration, without rolling, on a subliming ice surface. Glass beads, shards, clusters, or other particles scattered on a subliming ice surface migrate randomly. This seems to indicate the existence of mass flow in a relatively thick layer. Some possible mechanisms are discussed.
Rock Physics AVO Depth Trends: Implications For Exploration In Saudi Arabia

Summary: To properly characterize the Z Sandstone reservoir in Saudi Arabia it is imperative to determine how depth trends affect the amplitude variation with offset (AVO) signature. Rock physics using Hertz-Mindlin theory and the Modified Upper and Lower Hashin-Shtrikman bounds is used to model the effects of mechanical (uncemented) and chemical (cemented) compaction. Uncemented sands portray a Class IV AVO anomaly while cemented sands exhibit a Class III anomaly. The transition depth from uncemented to cemented sands is controlled by the regional geothermal gradient. The presence of cement stiffens the rock, which reduces the porosity, and therefore increasing the velocity. On the AI-Vp/Vs ratio crossplot, the onset of cementation substantially diminishes our ability to discriminate between brine and gas saturated Z Sands. This is caused by the shift in the Vp/Vs ratio for brine filled sands to values similar to gas bearing sands. Zones that are affected only by mechanical compaction (uncemented) exhibit a clearer separation in the Vp/Vs ratio for different pore fluids. Due to the complexity and heterogeneity of the Z Sands, these depth dependent AVO trends are used to constrain amplitude variation with angle (AVA) simultaneous inversion, thus reducing the ambiguity in interpreting the inversion results.
Energetics and Structures of Adamantane and the 1- and 2-Adamantyl Radicals, Cations, and Anions

Equilibrium structures and harmonic vibrational frequencies were computed for adamantane (Ad), the 1- and 2-adamantyl radicals (1-Ad•, 2-Ad•), cations (1-Ad+, 2-Ad+), and anions (1-Ad-, 2-Ad-). Ionization potentials and electron affinities of Ad, 1-Ad• and 2-Ad• have been predicted using four different density functional and hybrid Hartree−Fock/density functional methods. The equilibrium structure of adamantane (Td symmetry) is in excellent agreement with electron diffraction experiments. 1-Ad• and 1-Ad- are predicted to lie about 4 kJ mol-1 below their 2-isomers, while 1-Ad+ is predicted to lie 47 kJ mol-1 below 2-Ad+. For 1-Ad•, 1-Ad+, and 1-Ad-, C3v structures are found to be the minima, while a Cs structure lies lowest for 2-Ad•, 2-Ad+, and 2-Ad-. The final predicted adiabatic ionization potentials for the radicals are 6.22 (1-Ad•) and 6.70 eV (2-Ad•). The vertical radical ionization potentials are necessarily larger: 6.85 (1-Ad•) and 7.08 eV (2-Ad•). The predicted adiabatic electron affinities are a...
METAL-CERAMIC BONDING BY PULSED LASER PROCESSING

ABSTRACT Excimer lasers are able to deliver an intense and localized energy to the workpiece. Materials processing with this type of laser can be performed at high speed, excellent reproducibility and process control, and without the need of high vacuum. A XeCl excimer laser was used to treat copper films sputter-deposited onto sapphire and fused silica substrates and nickel films deposited onto sapphire substrates. For these metal-ceramic systems the film-substrate bond is very weak in the as-deposited condition. It was found that laser processing strongly enhances the adhesion of the metallic films to the ceramic substrates. Melting of the film and a thin substrate layer, as well as mixing of both liquids, take place during laser processing. Rapid solidification of unmixed and the mixed liquids take place after the laser pulse. Due to the rapid quenching (109 °C/8) an intermediate compound forms in the mixed region. This intermediate layer bonds film to substrate.
Effect of ammoniation on the toxicity of corn artificially contaminated with aflatoxin B1.

Abstract The effect of an aqueous ammonia treatment of aflatoxin B 1 -containing corn was determined on toxicity of the corn administered orally to male Fischer rats. Corn was contaminated with aflatoxin B 1 (5 mg/g corn) and administered per se (2.0 or 4.0 g corn/kg) or after treatment with ammonium hydroxide. Body weight changes, liver weight, hexobarbital sleeping times, hepatic microsomal concentrations of protein and cytochromes P -450 and b 5 , and mortality were determined 72 hr after dosing with corn, and serum alkaline phosphatase activity was determined 96 hr after dosing. The ammonia treatment of contaminated corn prevented the changes in these parameters caused by aflatoxin B 1 . Ammoniation of corn free of aflatoxin had no adverse effect on the parameters, although ammoniation per se did raise the concentrations of hepatic microsomal protein. The results of the study indicate that ammoniation may prevent acute aflatoxicosis produced by aflatoxin-contaminated corn.
Seismic Testing of Two-Story Woodframe House: Influence of Wall Finish Materials

A two-story, single-family woodframe house, designed according to current engineered code seismic design requirements, was tested on a uniaxial shake table. The main objectives of this experimental...
Elevated Epidermal Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity Suppresses Contact Hypersensitivity

Previous reports have shown that elevated polyamine biosynthesis is sufficient to promote skin tumorigenesis in susceptible mouse strains. We hypothesized that increased activity of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key regulatory enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, may suppress the cutaneous immune response in addition to stimulating proliferation. Using an ODCER transgenic mouse model in which ODC is targeted to the epidermis, we examined the effect of ODC overexpression in keratinocytes on a classic contact hypersensitivity (CHS) response. Compared with normal littermate mice, ODCER transgenic mice showed reduced ear swelling, reduced neutrophil infiltration, and decreased migration of fluorescein isothiocyanate-loaded dendritic cells (DCs) to draining lymph nodes following hapten elicitation of CHS. In addition, elevated epidermal ODC activity suppressed the levels of cytokines keratinocyte-derived chemokine, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-10. Adoptive transfer of lymphocytes from sensitized ODCER transgenic or normal littermate mice to naive ODCER transgenic or wild-type mice indicated that elevated epidermal ODC activity suppresses both the sensitization and elicitation phases of CHS. The specific ODC inhibitor, α-difluoromethylornithine, abrogated all suppressive effects of ODC in CHS reactions. Collectively, these data suggest that the immunosuppression promoted by increased epidermal ODC is mediated by a reduction in cytokine levels, which suppresses DC migration and reduces immune cell infiltration to the site of hapten application.
Methods for exploiting the relationship between buildings and their shadows in aerial imagery

The authors describe computational techniques for utilizing the relationship between shadows and man-made structures to aid in the automatic extraction of man-made structures from aerial imagery. Four methods are described that perform the prediction of structure shape, grouping of related structures, verification of individual structures, and structure height estimation. In each method the relationship between the structure and the shadows cast is exploited in a unique fashion. Key issues involve the accurate localization of the structure/shadow boundary and the shadow edge and attribution of shadow segments to structure hypothesis. Several examples are presented that show how each method is used within the task of building detection, delineation, and height estimation. >
The Stability of School Effectiveness Indices Across Grade Levels and Subject Areas

School effectiveness indices (SEIs) based on regressing achievement test performance onto earlier test performance and a socioeconomic status (SES) measure were obtained for eight subject–grade level combinations for a large sample of elementary schools. School means based on longitudinally matched student scores comprised the data set used in the analysis. The resulting SEIs were found to be somewhat unstable across subject areas (reading and mathematics) and very unstable across grade levels (1 through 4). Grade-to-grade correlations of the SEIs measuring mathematics performance, although small, tended to be statistically significant, whereas those measuring reading performance were generally nonsignificant. Thus, school effects may be more readily discernible in some subject areas than in others. Implications for research on effective schools and for the design of school recognition programs based on student test performance are discussed.
Tuberculosis case-finding survey in penal and correctional institutions in Ohio.

1) A photofluorographic survey conducted in two penal and two correctional institutions in Ohio revealed 237 cases of suspected tuberculosis among 7,123 inmates screened or an incidence of 3.3 per cent. Among 640 employees x-rayed there were 15 individuals with suspected disease or an incidence of 2.3 per cent. 2) Fifty-three and one-tenth per cent of suspected disease detected in inmates was in the minimal stage, while 26.7 per cent of suspected disease in employees was in this stage. Presumably advanced tuberculosis was noted in 35.5 per cent of suspected tuberculous inmates and 26.7 per cent of suspected tuberculous employees. Thirteen and two-tenths per cent of cases among employees were classified as reinfection, stage unknown and 6.3 per cent of cases among inmates were so classified. 3) Prison wards of the state have reason to expect and should receive good preventive and curative medical care. Employees of state penal and correctional institutions are entitled to a reasonably healthful working environment. 4) A program of tuberculosis control should be inaugurated in the penal and correctional institutions which shall include physical examination, chest x-ray films and tuberculin testing of all new admissions and new employees. Annual chest x-ray examination of the entire institutional personnel should be made a part of the medical service routine. 6) A central hospital facility should be constructed for the care and treatment of active cases of tuberculosis from the penal and correctional institutions. Observation pavilions for isolation and diagnostic follow-up of questionably active cases should be established in each institution.
Estrogen and progesterone receptors in the prediction of response of breast cancer to endocrine therapy.

This review presents our experience with the use of (ER) estrogen receptors and (PgR) progesterone receptors in the prediction of response to endocrine therapy in stage 4 breast cancer. Presence of ER (>3 fmol/mg cytosol protein) significantly predicted response to the antiestrogen tamoxifen and to hypophysectomy. ER- patients did not respond to either modality of therapy in our series. The absolute amount of ER did not significantly improve our ability to predict response to hormone treatment. In our experience limited to a small number of patients the presence of PgR in addition to ER did not increase the probability of response to endocrine therapy. Our findings underscore the usefulness of ER measurement in the prediction of response to either antiestrogen therapy or hypophysectomy in metastatic breast cancer. (Authors modified)
Acetylcholinesterases of the mosquito, Culex Tarsalis coquillett

Abstract 1. The number and distribution of acetylcholinesterase isozymes were determined for the mosquito, Culex tarsalis . 2. Two isozymes were identified: One with an isoelectric point of 5.5 was predominantly ganglionic, while the second with an isoelectric point of 4.6 was extraganglionic. 3. The original acetylthiocholine hydrolysis method of Karnovsky & Roots (1964) was modified by elevation of the pH to 7.2 and substitution of Hanker-Yates reagent (Hanker et al. , 1977) for ammonium sulfide. 4. The modifications greatly enhance the sensitivity of the detection of this mosquito's acetylcholinesterases.
XLI. Observations on a remarkable exudation of ice from the stems of vegetables, and on a singular protrusion of icy columns from certain kinds of earth during frosty weather

(1850). XLI. Observations on a remarkable exudation of ice from the stems of vegetables, and on a singular protrusion of icy columns from certain kinds of earth during frosty weather. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 36, No. 244, pp. 329-342.
Longitudinal Imaging of Cancer Cell Metastases in Two Preclinical Models: A Correlation of Noninvasive Imaging to Histopathology

Metastatic spread is the leading cause of death from cancer. Early detection of cancer at primary and metastatic sites by noninvasive imaging modalities would be beneficial for both therapeutic intervention and disease management. Noninvasive imaging modalities such as bioluminescence (optical), positron emission tomography (PET)/X-ray computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide complementary information and accurately measure tumor growth as confirmed by histopathology. Methods. We validated two metastatic tumor models, MDA-MD-231-Luc and B16-F10-Luc intravenously injected, and 4T1-Luc cells orthotopically implanted into the mammary fat pad. Longitudinal whole body bioluminescence imaging (BLI) evaluated metastasis, and tumor burden of the melanoma cell line (B16-F10-Luc) was correlated with (PET)/CT and MRI. In addition, ex vivo imaging evaluated metastasis in relevant organs and histopathological analysis was used to confirm imaging. Results. BLI revealed successful colonization of cancer cells in both metastatic tumor models over a 4-week period. Furthermore, lung metastasis of B16-F10-Luc cells imaged by PET/CT at week four showed a strong correlation (R (2) = 0.9) with histopathology. The presence and degree of metastasis as determined by imaging correlated (R (2) = 0.7) well with histopathology findings. Conclusions. We validated two metastatic tumor models by longitudinal noninvasive imaging with good histopathology correlation.
Immunological distinction between ribonuclease H activity of α and αβ forms of avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) DNA polymerase

Abstract The reverse transcriptase of avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) exists either as a dimer of two polypeptides or as a single polypeptide, designated αβ and α, respectively. Both the α and αβ forms of the enzyme possess DNA polymerase and RNase H activities (EC 3.1.4.34). Antisera raised in rabbits against the α and αβ forms inhibit the DNA polymerase activity of both forms but only the RNase H activity of the enzyme form used as immunogen. Antibody specifically inhibitory for αβ RNase H activity can be absorbed by purified α, and antibody specifically inhibitory for α RNase H activity can be absorbed by purified αβ. These data indicate that antibodies against α and αβ forms of AMV reverse transcriptase recognize distinct antigenic determinants present on α and that the α and αβ forms differ in the steric relationship of these determinants to the RNase H active site. These results are consistent with possible functional differences between the RNase H activity of the α and αβ forms of AMV reverse transcriptase.