cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-like Nuclear Features (NIFTP): Report of an Institutional Experience with 86 Cases

Background : It was recently proposed that noninvasive follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) should be reclassified as â€œnoninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear featuresâ€ (NIFTP) and treated conservatively. As this is a recent definition, limited data exist about NIFTP. The objective of this study was to report our institutional experience with NIFTP. Materials and Methods : Retrospective study from 2005 to 2015 of all patients with PTCs meeting the histological criteria to be reclassified as NIFTP. We collected information regarding patient demographics, clinical presentation, ultrasound, FNA results, nodule size, multifocality, pathological stage, type and extent of surgery, radioactive iodine treatment, lymph node and systemic metastases, and follow-up. Results : Eighty-six patients (67 women and 19 men, aged 17-83 years (median: 49.5 years)) with NIFTP (median size: 2.5 cm; range: 1.0-5.5 cm) were identified, representing 13.8% of all cases formerly diagnosed as PTC. NIFTP frequently exhibited indeterminate FNA results (71.4%, including suspicious for malignancy (42.9%), follicular neoplasm (20.6%), and AUS/FLUS (7.9%)), while benign (11.3%) and malignant (6.3%) results were less common. Treatment consisted of total thyroidectomy ( n = 42), staged total thyroidectomy ( n = 33) or lobectomy ( n = 11), combined with prophylactic cervical lymph node dissection ( n = 14; all pN0) and post-operative radioactive iodine with 30 mCi ( n = 34) or 100 mCi ( n = 28). All patients were without evidence of disease after a median follow-up of 3.1 years (range 1-11 years). Conclusions : NIFTP represents a significant fraction of cases previously diagnosed histologically as PTC. They were typically diagnosed cytologically as indeterminate and managed like PTCs. None of our patients developed metastases or recurrences. The new NIFTP terminology will have significant impact on the management of patients at our Center.
An Automated Inpatient Split-dose Bowel Preparation System Improves Colonoscopy Quality and Reduces Repeat Procedures.

Background/Goals:Inpatient colonoscopy preparations are often inadequate, compromising patient safety and procedure quality, while resulting in greater hospital costs. The aims of this study were to: (1) design and implement an electronic inpatient split-dose bowel preparation order set; (2) assess
Equal Opportunity and the Family: Levelling Up the Brighouse‐Swift Thesis

Although liberal political philosophers have long recognised the tension between equal opportunity and the family, most have assumed there is little society can do to mitigate it. Brighouse and Swift argue, by contrast, that an analysis of the value of the family reveals limits on the rights of parents to benefit their children and hence points to a way to reconcile the family with equal opportunity. Their solution for resolving the tension between equal opportunity and the family, however, leads to some untenable conclusions. A better solution for promoting equal opportunity in the family is to level up the opportunities that less advantaged parents have to promote the development and wellbeing of their children so that they are on par with the opportunities of the most advantaged parents. Five strategies are outlined for achieving this goal. Once society has provided all parents with real opportunities to fulfil their fiduciary duties, Brighouse and Swift's argument for limited parental partiality can be applied without contradiction. The result is an alternate solution for mitigating the conflict between equal opportunity and the family in liberal political philosophy.
Pathogen Recognition by Toll-like Receptors

ABSTRACT Macrophages are central in orchestrating the innate immune response to infection, representing both the janitor and the security guard. While performing their normal scavenging functions in various tissues they will, at the same time, survey the tissues for pathogenic intruders. This is not a trivial task: They must be able to discriminate microbes from self, and then initiate a proper response. The discovery of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family of pattern-recognition receptors has provided a better understanding of how this can be done. TLRs are expressed on macrophages and other innate immune cells, where they collaborate to read the molecular fingerprint of different microbes and initiate inflammatory signalling pathways. It is becoming clear that the TLR family is important in infectious diseases, and there is also evidence that they may play a role in autoimmunity and degenerative diseases in the central nervous system. In this review we will give an overview of the current knowledge of pathogen recognition by TLRs.
Hemolytic Anemia in Hereditary Pyrimidine 5'-Nucleotidase Deficiency: Nucleotide Inhibition of G6PD and the Pentose Phosphate Shunt

We evaluated the erythrocytes of two patients with hereditary pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase deficiency. Significant findings included an increased reduced glutathione content, increased incubated Heinz body formation, a positive ascorbate cyanide test, and decreased intraerythrocytic pH. The pentose phosphate shunt activity of the patients' red cells as measured by the release of 14CO2 from 14C-1-glucose was decreased compared to high reticulocyte controls. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity in hemolysates from control erythrocytes was inhibited 43% by 5.5 mM cytidine 5'-triphosphate (CTP) and 50% by 5.5 mM in uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) at pH 7.1. CTP was a competitive inhibitor for G6P (Ki = 1.7 mM) and a noncompetitive inhibitor for NADP+ (Ki = 7.8 mM). Glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were not affected by these compounds. Pentose phosphate shunt activity in control red cell hemolysate at pH 7.1 was inhibited to a similar degree by 5.5 mM CTP or UTP. Since the intracellular concentrations of G6P and NADP+ are below their KmS for G6PD, these data suggest that high concentrations of pyrimidine 5'-nucleotides depress pentose phosphate shunt activity in pyrimidin 5'-nucleotidase deficiency. Thus, this impairment of the pentose phosphate pathway appears to contribute to the pathogenesis of hemolysis in pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase deficiency hemolytic anemia.
Metabolic rate estimates for a eutrophic lake from diel dissolved oxygen signals

Estimates of net primary production, community respiration (R'), and gross primary production (Pg) are developed and presented for the productive layers of eutrophic Onondaga Lake, NY, U.S.A., for time scales ranging from diel to several months, based on 4 months of robotic diel profiles of dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature. Metabolic rate calculations are made through application of a DO mass balance framework that also accommodates inputs and losses of DO mediated by exchange across the air–water interface and across the lower boundary of the productive layers. It is demonstrated that the dynamics of the flux across the air–water interface are important to the metabolic rate estimates, while vertical mixing-based losses to the underlying layers can be ignored. Study average estimates of R' (1.49 g O2 m−3 d−1) and Pg (1.60 g O2 m−3 d−1) obtained by this non-isolated community approach are consistent with levels reported in the literature for similar chlorophyll a concentrations, based on isolated community (bottle experiment) protocols to measure these metabolic rates. The non-isolated community approach is shown to have limited utility for quantifying day-to-day changes in these rates in this lake, apparently because of horizontal exchange with waters of different DO concentrations. However, this approach may support reliable estimates of metabolic rates at intermediate time scales; e.g., several days to a week. The DO mass balance framework is demonstrated to be valuable in resolving the relative roles of various physical and biological processes in regulating the DO pool of the productive layers.
The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters by Tom Nichols

Tom Nichols' latest book is one "must read" book for all walks of life, young and old, as the author lays out the case for why we are turning away from the experts and professionals in our lives (personal, work-related, even up to the highest levels of our governments) and the information they provide us, by living completely in our isolated "information silos." While this phenomenon is not new, the advent of the Internet has made it easier than ever for every person with access to become their own "expert" in all things, thanks to the ease with which we can all "Google" it. Nichols' book details this 'campaign against knowledge' and the areas of our lives where it can be most felt, from the halls of the academy to our own homes, day in and day out. He also wisely shares his own expertise and failures to point out the slippery slope we are sliding down if we do not stop and reverse the trend of thinking we know everything, because we can look it up in a few seconds, to the trend as it used to be: when we listened, with our full attention, to the very experts that we are no longer listening to. Wise words, with a historical and modern twist, make this book critical to understanding the information landscape as it is today, and where it will take us if we continue as we are now.
Serological Cross-Reactivity of the Novel H1N1 and Implications for Protection with a Commerical Vaccine

The recent emergence of the pandemic H1N1 viruses and their being labeled as ‘swine flu’ has had several detrimental effects on the pork industry. Novel H1N1 strains have been recently detected in swine populations in the United States and in other parts of the world. While the public health significance of these findings is unknown, it is important to determine whether existing vaccines or exposure to previously circulating strains of swine influenza will protect pigs against the novel H1N1. Using a partial two-way cross-hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, we have determined a swine H1N1 strain present in a commercial vaccine cross-reacted with antiserum specific to the novel H1N1. We have also shown that a field serum sample with a HI high titer to a ’99 H1N1 strain crossreacted strongly with the novel H1N1. Anti-sera which were specific to the non-pandemic H1N1 strains also crossreacted with the novel H1N1. Therefore, we conclude that current vaccines and circulating non-pandemic H1N1 field strains will provide at least partial protection against the novel H1N1 virus in pigs.
Morphine and phenytoin binding to plasma proteins in renal and hepatic failure

The binding of morphine and phenytoin to plasma proteins was examined in healthy subjects and in patients with renal and hepatic failure. In the uremic patients without hepatic failure, morphine binding was dependent on the concentration of total serum proteins and albumin, but not the severity of renal failure as measured by creatinine clearance. Binding of phenytoin, however, was dependent on the degree of renal failure and albumin concentration, but not on total serum protein concentration. Renal transplant in 1 patient restored the binding of both drugs to a value within the normal range. The combination of hypoalbuminemia and hyperbilirubinemia resulted in the greatest impairment to binding for both drugs. It is concluded that patients with uremia, jaundice, hypoalbuminemia, particularly in combination, are sensitive to usual clinical doses of morphine, at least in part, because of decreased binding to plasma proteins.
Extensive biliary excretion of the model opioid peptide [D-PEN2,5] enkephalin in rats.

Purpose. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the enzymatically stable opioid peptide, [D-pen2,5] enkephalin (DPDPE), is excreted extensively into bile.
Simultaneous stress and mass change measurements arising from laser induced detuning of a quartz crystal microbalance

We report a study of the frequency response of AT and BT cut Quartz Crystal Microbalances (QCMs) to laser illumination. AT and BT cut QCMs have a similar response to mass adsorption but the opposite frequency response to stress levels, allowing the individual contributions to stress and mass desorption induced by the laser light to be quantitatively investigated. A detailed analysis of the transient thermal behaviors in the quartz crystals has also been performed, which yields stress levels that are consistent with the observed results. Our results quantitatively confirm previous suggestions that radial compressive stress is a dominant contributor to the response of the QCM to laser illumination. They also establish a theoretical framework for the analysis of the transient phenomenon to infer temperature shifts and radial stress levels in the system irrespective of whether both AT and BT cut crystals are utilized.
Victim Impact Statements and Ancillary Harm: The American Perspective

A recent article by Julian Roberts and Marie Manikis argues that the concept of “ancillary harm” explains why victim impact statements are useful at sentencing. Drawing on a recent decision from the Quebec Court of Appeals, they contend that impact statements help a judge assess foreseeable harm caused to a victim’s family member and others – “ancillary harm” – for which the defendant is properly held accountable under conventional retributive principles. In this response, we bring an American perspective to bear on these issues, finding much in the American crime victims’ literature and court decisions to support the Robert-Manikis thesis. For example, at the recent sentencing of Bernie Madoff, the sentencing judge referenced ancillary harm as an important factor. A number of cases have reached similar conclusions. While not using the phrase “ancillary harm” to justify their actions, the court decisions make clear that foreseeable harm to others is an important consideration at sentencing. The American cases also support a crime victim having a right to deliver a victim impact statement not only in writing, but also orally at the sentencing hearing itself. Crime victims, however, should not be cross-examined when delivering their statement. Instead, the court should insure the reliability of information contained in a victim impact statement in other ways, as a number of decisions recognize.
Influence of a Cereal Rye Cover Crop and Conservation Tillage on the Critical Period for Weed Control in Cotton

Cover crops are being increasingly recommended as an integrated approach to controlling glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth and other troublesome weeds. Thus, a field experiment was conducted in 2010 through 2012 to evaluate the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in cotton as affected by a cereal rye cover crop and tillage. The management systems evaluated included conventional tillage following winter fallow, conservation tillage (CT) following winter fallow, and CT following a cereal rye cover crop managed for maximum biomass. Throughout most of the growing season, weed biomass in cereal rye cover crop plots was less than the CT winter-fallow system in both years and less than both CT winter fallow and conventional tillage in 2012. The CPWC was shortest in 2010 following conventional tillage; however, in 2012, production system influences on CPWC were less. The presence of the rye cover crop delayed the critical timing for weed removal (CTWR) approximately 8 d compared with fallow treatment both years, while conventional tillage delayed CTWR about 2 wk compared with winter fallow. Relative yield losses in both years did not reach the 5% threshold limit until about 2 wk after planting (WAP) for CT following winter fallow, 3 WAP for CT following a cover crop, and 3.5 WAP following conventional tillage. Thus, CT following winter fallow should be avoided to minimize cotton yield loss.
Predicting near-term variability in ocean carbon uptake

Abstract. Interannual variations in air–sea fluxes of carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) impact the global carbon cycle and climate system, and previous studies suggest that these variations may be predictable in the near term (from a year to a decade in advance). Here, we quantify and understand the sources of near-term predictability and predictive skill in air–sea CO2 flux on global and regional scales by analyzing output from a novel set of retrospective decadal forecasts of an Earth system model. These forecasts exhibit the potential to predict year-to-year variations in the globally integrated air–sea CO2 flux several years in advance, as indicated by the high correlation of the forecasts with a model reconstruction of past CO2 flux evolution. This potential predictability exceeds that obtained solely from foreknowledge of variations in external forcing or a simple persistence forecast, with the longest-lasting forecast enhancement in the subantarctic Southern Ocean and the northern North Atlantic. Potential predictability in CO2 flux variations is largely driven by predictability in the surface ocean partial pressure of CO2 , which itself is a function of predictability in surface ocean dissolved inorganic carbon and alkalinity. The potential predictability, however, is not realized as predictive skill, as indicated by the moderate to low correlation of the forecasts with an observationally based CO2 flux product. Nevertheless, our results suggest that year-to-year variations in ocean carbon uptake have the potential to be predicted well in advance and establish a precedent for forecasting air–sea CO2 flux in the near future.
Selective Cytotoxic Activities of Leaf Essential Oils from Monteverde, Costa Rica:

The leaf essential oils of Eugenia cartagensis, Myrcia sp. nov. “fuzzy leaf”, Ocotea veraguensis, O. whitei, and Persea americana, have been obtained by hydrodistillation and the essential oil comp...
The dark side of the Moon—and science

Of the 1586 craters on the Moon named after individuals, only 28 are named after women—a fact that undoubtedly reveals more about the history of women in science than lunar topography. The Women of the Moon chronicles the lives and scientific work of these 28 women.
E-cigarettes and Smoking Cessation in Smokers With Chronic Conditions

Introduction Many smokers with chronic medical conditions use e-cigarettes. This study assessed the association between e-cigarette use and subsequent smoking-cessation efforts in adult smokers with and without chronic medical conditions. Methods This was a longitudinal cohort study of adult cigarette smokers using Waves 1 and 2 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (2013–2015), analyzed in 2018‒2019. The exposure was the initiation of e-cigarette use by Wave 2. The outcomes at Wave 2 were: (1) past 12-month attempts to quit, (2) cigarette abstinence, (3) ≥50% reduction in cigarette use, and (4) past 12–month use of evidence-based smoking-cessation treatment. Results E-cigarette use initiation was associated with increased odds of attempting to quit smoking at Wave 2 among smokers with any chronic medical condition (AOR=1.92, 95% CI=1.42, 2.59) and without chronic medical conditions (AOR=1.81, 95% CI=1.50, 2.18). E-cigarette use initiation was also significantly associated with Wave 2 smoking abstinence in smokers with (AOR=1.95, 95% CI=1.11, 3.43) and without chronic medical conditions (AOR=1.63, 95% CI=1.17, 2.28). Conclusions At a population level, e-cigarette use by smokers with chronic medical conditions is associated with more quitting activity and smoking abstinence. Future studies are needed to assess e-cigarette safety and efficacy to determine whether they may provide an alternative smoking-cessation or harm-reduction strategy for adults with smoking-sensitive disease who cannot achieve these goals with other methods.
From Data to Value: How Artificial Intelligence Augments the Radiology Business to Create Value

The radiology practice has access to a wealth of data in the radiologist information system, dictation reports, and electronic health records. Although many artificial intelligence applications in radiology have focused on computer vision and the interpretive use cases, many opportunities exist to enhance the radiologist's value proposition through business analytics. This article explores how AI lends an analytical lens to the radiology practice to create value.
Detecting anomalous packets in network transfers: investigations using PCA, autoencoder and isolation forest in TCP

Large-scale scientific workflows rely heavily on high-performance file transfers. These transfers require strict quality parameters such as guaranteed bandwidth, no packet loss or data duplication. To have successful file transfers, methods such as predetermined thresholds and statistical analysis need to be done to determine abnormal patterns. Network administrators routinely monitor and analyze network data for diagnosing and alleviating these, making decisions based on their experience. However, as networks grow and become complex, monitoring large data files and quickly processing them, makes it improbable to identify errors and rectify these. Abnormal file transfers have been classified by simply setting alert thresholds, via tools such as PerfSonar and TCP statistics (Tstat). This paper investigates the feasibility of unsupervised feature extraction methods for identifying network anomaly patterns with three unsupervised classification methods—principal component analysis, autoencoder and isolation forest. We collect file transfer statistics from two experiment sets—synthetic iPerf generated traffic and 1000 Genome workflow runs, with synthetically introduced anomalies. Our results show that while PCA and a simple autoencoder finds it difficult to detect clusters, the tree-variant isolation forest is able to identify anomalous packets by breaking down TCP traces into tree classes early.
Optimal design as a real time AI problem

We introduce a methodology for solving optimal design problems within an Intelligent Real Time Problem Solving (IRTPS) framework. Information value theory is used to estimate the value of information gathering actions that promise expectations of an improved design. This value may then be compared with the expense of the actions in terms of increased design process cost, such as the designer’s time or computational costs, to arrive at an appropriate problem solving strategy. An optimal parametric design example is presented to clarify the theory.
Multiscale pore structure determination of cement paste via simulation and experiment: The case of alkali-activated metakaolin

Abstract Alkali-activated metakaolin (AAMK) is a type of aluminosilicate-rich material often regarded as a potential alternative to ordinary Portland cement due to a smaller carbon footprint. However, the multiscale pore structure of AAMK, and how it is influenced by availability of free silica from the activator, remains largely unknown. Here, a Monte Carlo simulation approach is employed to generate the pore structure of AAMKs with different activator silicate moduli (SiO2/Na2O ratio). The simulation-derived pore size distributions are compared with experimental data obtained using nitrogen sorption (NAD) to assess the validity of the simulation results where qualitative agreement is obtained. The larger length scale pores in AAMKs are characterized using NAD and mercury intrusion porosimetry. This study stresses the importance of using complementary pore characterization techniques when investigating materials with multiscale pore structures, and shows the promise of the simulation approach to predict key transport properties of AAMKs and other cementitious materials.
Do Graduating Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery Residents Feel Confident in Practicing the Full Scope of the Specialty?

Purpose Laskin (2008) suggested that the core of oral and maxillofacial surgery could be divided into 3 levels: 1) areas of expertise, such as oral pathology, oral medicine, dentoalveolar surgery, preprosthetic surgery, and maxillofacial traumatology; 2) areas of competence, including orthognathic surgery, temporomandibular joint surgery, and local reconstructive surgery; and 3) areas of familiarity that include cleft lip and palate surgery, craniofacial surgery, regional reconstructive surgery, oncologic surgery, and cosmetic surgery. The purpose of this study is to assess residents' confidence in practicing the full scope of oral-maxillofacial surgery and their perception of gaps existing in their training. The investigators hypothesized that graduating residents' confidence in practicing the full scope of oral-maxillofacial surgery falls within the suggested levels by Laskin. Methods The investigators implemented a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was designed, and a link to a Partners REDCap (Nashville, TN) survey was electronically mailed to 252 chief residents in the final month (July 2018) of their program. The questionnaire included resident demographic characteristics, program demographic characteristics, and residents' perceived preparedness, level of proficiency, comfort, and experience for each area. Results The sample was composed of 78 graduating residents, with a response rate of 31%. Analyses included univariate statistics and a Wilcoxon signed rank test. Significance was set at P Conclusions Residents perceived that their training in orthognathic surgery was at the level of expertise, higher than expected. They also perceived a training deficit in oral medicine. Training proficiency in dentoalveolar surgery was found to be at a level higher than any other area.
Developing a Voice through Literature. An Analysis of Pandemic Writing

Literature during a pandemic provides meaning to the reader by using storytelling to shape the way that we understand and experience illness, disease, and health. Narratives are an attempt to bring closure to what is meaningless. During the void that is found during a pandemic, literature is able to serve a purpose and make sense of plagues. Pandemic literature exists not only to be analyzed, but also to tell stories. It is used as a reminder that sense still exists somewhere within society. Literature gives readers an escape outside of quarantine through invented stories. It is a reclamation against what illness represents, that the world is not our own. Literature and writing are necessary in the aftermath of a pandemic. It is through literature and writing, which has the ability to teach readers about the effects of the deadly manifestations on humanity, and how they shape what it means to be human.
Metabolism and Body Temperature during Circadian Sleep and Torpor in the Fed and Fasting Pigeon

Shallow torpor is utilized by many small-to-medium sized birds and mammals to extend their limited energy reserves by minimizing energy expenditure when food is scarce and/or ambient temperatures are low. In some of these animals circadian torpor also occurs as an endogenous rhythm under constant conditions. In rodents, the duration of circadian torpor increases proportionally to decreases in body weight as energy reserves decline (Tucker, 1966; Brown and Bartholomew, 1969; Wolff and Bateman, 1978) while depth of torpor remains relatively constant (Walker et al., 1979; Harris et al., 1984). However, in birds the depth of circadian torpor is inversely proportional to their body weight while the duration of torpor is generally constant and restricted to the dark portion of the light-dark cycle. A characteristic pattern of progressively larger nocturnal decreases in body temperature (Tb) and metabolic rate (MR) and a daily return to euthermic levels accompanies body weight loss in the tiny willow tit (Reinertsen and Haftorn, 1984), white-crowned sparrow (Ketterson and King, 1977) and larger kestrel (Shapiro and Weathers, 1981). Declining energy reserves in these diurnally active birds are thus followed by increasing nocturnal energy conservation during the inactive portion of the circadian rhythm, which in ringed turtle doves was shown to be characterized predominantly by slow wave sleep (SWS; Walker et al., 1983).
Whole blood transfusion reduces overall component transfusion in cases of placenta accreta spectrum: a pilot program.

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a group of placental invasion pathologies associated with significant morbidity to both mother and fetus. The majority of patients with PAS will require a blood t...
Gertrude Bell’s Persian Pictures and Fin-de-Siècle Decadence

This article uncovers the first publication of Gertrude Bell, known in the early twentieth century for her exploration, archaeological work, and diplomacy in the Middle East. Examining her 1894 tra...
Normalized Datasets of Harnack’s Reconstruction of Marcion’s Gospel

These two datasets are the first born-digital, normalized, peer-reviewed datasets of Harnack’s classic reconstruction of Marcion’s Gospel. The first consists of human-readable postclassical Greek, the second of lemmatized and morphologically tagged text following the openly licensed BibleWorks Greek Morphology schema. The recent deluge of critical editions of Marcion’s Gospel makes Harnack’s public domain work even more relevant as scholars turn from theology- to text-based approaches to restore Marcion’s Gospel and account for its place in the editorial history of early canonical and non-canonical Gospels. These datasets resource Marcion’s Gospel becoming a major topic of interest in Computational Linguistics research.
Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty with a Porous-Coated Acetabular Component. A Concise Follow-up, at a Minimum of Twenty Years, of Previous Reports

We previously reported the seven and fifteen-year results of the use of a porous-coated acetabular metal shell inserted without cement in a consecutive series of 204 primary total hip arthroplasties. In the present study, we evaluated the longer-term outcomes of these arthroplasties at a minimum follow-up time of twenty years. One hundred and fourteen (92%) of the 124 hips available for study had retained the original acetabular metal shell. A total of five acetabular components had been revised for aseptic loosening or had radiographic evidence of definite loosening. Fourteen hips with well-fixed acetabular shells required a change of the modular acetabular liner because of excessive wear and/or for the treatment of osteolysis, and liner changes have been recommended for another eight hips. The twenty-year rate of survival of the metal shell, with failure defined as revision because of loosening or radiographic evidence of loosening, was 96% (95% confidence interval, 94% to 98%). Cementless acetabular reconstruction continues to provide durable fixation at twenty years postoperatively. Wear-related complications continue to be the major mode of failure.
Imaging micro-spectrometer with adaptive space-variant dispersion

A space-variant variable-dispersion imaging micro-spectrometer is described. An array of MEMs mirrors is used to select different optical paths through the spectrometer, permitting dynamically adjustable grating dispersion on a pixel-by-pixel basis across the image. Diffraction-limited performance is achieved across the 500-1000 nm wavelength range; and spectral resolutions ranging from 5 to 20 nm
A Theoretician's View of Fault Tolerant Distributed Computing

The theory of distributed systems so far lacks the cohesiveness that can only come with further development. In the future, we hope to see work on a greater variety of problems and on better models with the goal of eventually obtaining greater generality, sharper results, and better insight.
How to manage medications in the setting of liver disease with the application of six questions

Summary Objective: Reviewing the current literature to guide clinicians managing medications in the setting of liver disease. Literature sources: Using the terms liver disease, medication management, and therapeutic monitoring, a literature review was conducted to identify peer-reviewed articles in MEDLINE (1966–April 2009). Reference citations were reviewed as an additional resource. Published English-language literatures, articles and trials were reviewed. Emphasis was placed on prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Question synthesis: An informed decision on how to manage medications in the setting of liver disease should account for changes that transpire in a medication’s first-pass metabolism, protein binding, volume of distribution, clearance and pharmacodynamic interactions. To incorporate these issues within one’s thought process, clinicians can utilise the following six questions to evaluate a medication use: (i) Is the patient experiencing acute or chronic liver failure? (ii) Does the drug have high hepatic first-pass metabolism? (iii) Is the medication highly protein-bound? (iv) Is there a change in the volume of distribution for the medication? (v) Is the clearance of the medication significantly altered? and (vi) Is there a pharmacodynamic interaction with the medication? Conclusions: The introduction and use of six clinically relevant questions in the setting of liver disease can serve as a guide to clinicians who manage patients with liver disease.
Contractile proteins. Major components of nuclear and chromosome non-histone proteins.

Abstract Two of the major non-histone proteins from Physarum polycephalum have been isolated under nondenaturing conditions and identified as actin and myosin. A third protein has been purified from crude nuclear actomyosin and from residual nonhistone fractions and found to bind actomyosin in the presence of Mg 2+ . In Physarum these proteins are not components of the nuclear membrane. Based on sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, similar proteins are also present in nuclei of HeLa cells and mouse embryo fibroblasts. Isolated metaphase chromosomes from Physarum show a several-fold enrichment in myosin and an altered ratio of actin to the Mg 2+ -dependent actomyosin binding protein as compared to interphase nuclei. When non-proliferative states are induced in any of these cells, the Mg 2+ -dependent actomyosin binding protein decreases while actin increases several fold in intranuclear concentration; concomitantly, there is a generalized condensation and inactivation of chromatin. Experiments with added purified radioactive nuclear actomyosin; comparative studies on nuclear protein during stepwise nuclear purification; and studies on isolated metaphase chromosomes indicate that these proteins exist in nuclei in vivo. These observations suggest that contractile proteins may function in the structural interconversions of chromatin and in the regulation of cell proliferation.
The effects of feeding irradiated flour to dogs. II. Reproduction and pathology.

Abstract Groups of two male and two female beagle dogs were fed a complete ration of which 35% of the total solids was nonirradiated flour (FO) or flour irradiated with 37,200 (FX) or 74,400 (F2X) rads. The dogs were fed the rations during a 104-week period. There was no statistically significant difference in the initial weight, weight gained, or feed consumed between the dogs fed irradiated flour and those fed nonirradiated flour. All the females and males were fertile. The bitches whelped 21, 13, and 16 pups and weaned 9, 1, and 5 pups in the FO, FX, and F2X groups, respectively. Including irradiated flour in a ration fed to dogs had no apparent effect on the blood level of hemoglobin, nor on red blood cell, white blood cell, or differential white blood cell counts as compared to the blood values of the dogs fed nonirradiated flour. Thyroid lesions increased with increasing level of irradiation, but the data are too few to achieve statistical significance. Flour irradiated with 74,400 rads is wholesome since including it in a ration fed to dogs had no significant detrimental effect on the basis of the criteria used in this experiment.
Canonical microRNAs in thymic epithelial cells promote central tolerance.

Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) facilitate the deletion of developing self-reactive T cells by displaying a diverse repertoire of tissue-specific antigens, a process which largely depends on the expression of the autoimmune regulator (Aire) gene. Mature microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally are generated in a multistep process. The microprocessor complex, including DGCR8, cleaves canonical miRNAs, but alternative DGCR8-independent miRNA biogenesis pathways exist as well. In order to study the role of canonical miRNAs in thymic epithelial cells (TECs), we ablated Dgcr8 using a FoxN1-Cre transgene. We report that DGCR8-deficient TECs are unable to maintain proper thymic architecture and exhibit a dramatic loss of thymic cellularity. Importantly, DGCR8-deficient TECs develop a severe loss of Aire+ mTECs. Using a novel immunization approach to amplify and detect self-reactive T cells within a polyclonal TCR repertoire, we demonstrate a link between the loss of Aire expression in DGCR8-deficient TECs and the breakdown of negative selection in the thymus. Thus, DGCR8 and canonical miRNAs are important in TECs for supporting central tolerance.
Absence of Interference During High-Multiplicity Infection by Clonally Purified Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

Stocks of vesicular stomatitis virus free of defective interfering particles were produced by serial clonal isolation. High-multiplicity infections with these stocks led to no interference or formation of defective interfering particles. Defective interfering particles were generated by three successive passages at high multiplicity.
Quando durar é recomeçar: a narrativa de vida como intuição do presente.

O presente artigo propoe a nocao de “intuicao do instante” como instrumento de analise de narrativas de vida enquanto testemunhos do presente. Para tanto, formula-se discussao conceitual sobre a tematica da duracao sob as perspectivas de Gaston Bachelard e de Henri Bergson visando a afirmar o carater dramatico do instante como condicao de inteligibilidade do presente. A fim de ampliar a potencialidade analitica desse ponto de vista, a relacao intima entre memoria individual e memoria coletiva e abordada segundo os estudos de Maurice Halbwachs. Finalmente, para demonstrar a dupla potencialidade da intuicao do instante como fonte de pesquisa antropologica e historica, estuda-se a narrativa de vida de uma idosa institucionalizada enquanto depoimento sobre as formas pelas quais os diferentes determinantes culturais, economicos e politicos organizam as experiencias de vida a partir do presente. Palavras-chave : Intuicao do instante; Narrativa de vida; Memoria coletiva; Tempo; Duracao. When to endure is to restart: the narrative of life as an intuition of the present Abstract This article proposes the concept of "instant’s intuition" as an instrument of analysis of life narratives as testimonials of the present. To do so, a conceptual discussion on the subject of duration from the perspectives of Gaston Bachelard and Henri Bergson is formulated in order to affirm the dramatics aspects of the instant as a condition of intelligibility of the present. In order to expand the analytical capability of this point of view, the close relationship between individual memory and collective memory is discussed according to the studies of Maurice Halbwachs. Finally, to demonstrate the dual capability of instant’s intuition as a source of historical and anthropological research, we study the life narrative of an aged women living in a institution as evidence about the ways in which different cultural determinants, economic and political organize the experiences of life from the present. Key-words : Instant’s intuition. Life narratives. Collective memory. Time. Duratio.
Endogenous MicroRNAs in Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells Regulate mRNAs Encoded by Hypertension-Related Genes

The goal of this study was to systematically identify endogenous microRNAs (miRNAs) in endothelial cells that regulate mRNAs encoded by genes relevant to hypertension. Small RNA deep sequencing was performed in cultured human microvascular endothelial cells. Of the 50 most abundant miRNAs identified, 30 had predicted target mRNAs encoded by genes with known involvement in hypertension or blood pressure regulation. The cells were transfected with anti-miR oligonucleotides to inhibit each of the 30 miRNAs and the mRNA abundance of predicted targets was examined. Of 95 miRNA-target pairs examined, the target mRNAs were significantly upregulated in 35 pairs and paradoxically downregulated in 8 pairs. The result indicated significant suppression of the abundance of mRNA encoded by ADM by endogenous miR-181a-5p, ATP2B1 by the miR-27 family, FURIN by miR-125a-5p, FGF5 by the let-7 family, GOSR2 by miR-27a-3p, JAG1 by miR-21-5p, SH2B3 by miR-30a-5p, miR-98, miR-181a-5p, and the miR-125 family, TBX3 by the miR-92 family, ADRA1B by miR-22-3p, ADRA2A by miR-30a-5p and miR-30e-5p, ADRA2B by miR-30e-5p, ADRB1 by the let-7 family and miR-98, EDNRB by the miR-92 family, and NOX4 by the miR-92 family, miR-100-5p, and miR-99b-5p (n=3-9; P<0.05 versus scrambled anti-miR). Treatment with anti-miR-21 decreased blood pressure in mice fed a 4% NaCl diet. Inhibition of the miRNAs targeting NOX4 mRNA increased H2O2 release from endothelial cells. The findings indicate widespread, tonic control of mRNAs encoded by genes relevant to blood pressure regulation by endothelial miRNAs and provide a novel and uniquely informative basis for studying the role of miRNAs in hypertension.
Relative Resistance of Ornamental Flowering Bulbs to Feeding Damage by Voles

Many plants have mechanisms of physical or chemical resistance that protect them from herbivores in their environment. Vertebrates such as meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) cause significant damage to ornamental plantings and home gardens. Our goal was to identify flowering bulbs that could be used to design more herbivore-resistant home landscapes. Single-choice feeding trials with captive prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) were used to assess the relative resistance of 30 bulb varieties to deter rodents from consuming fresh plant material and freeze-dried, powdered bulb mixed with a preferred food (applesauce). Each fresh bulb and dried-bulb/applesauce mix was offered twice to 12 to 15 pairs of adult prairie voles. Bulb varieties that resulted in the lowest mean consumption were assumed to be the most resistant to feeding activity. With fresh bulbs, only tulips (Tulipa spp.) exhibited no resistance to prairie vole feeding. Dried-bulb/applesauce mixes containing hyacinth (Hyacinth spp.), crocus (Crocus spp.), corn leaf iris (Iris bucharica), dutch and dwarf iris (Iris reticulata), onion (Allium spp.), and squill (Scilla siberica) were also readily consumed, and thus, these bulbs could be damaged at sites with high rodent activity. Daffodil (Narcissus spp.), painted arum (Arum italicum), camass (Camassia leichtlinii), glory-of-the-snow (Chinodoxa forbesii), autumn crocus (Colchicum spp.), crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis), persian fritillaria (Fritillaria persica), snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), and grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) bulbs were resistant to prairie vole feeding in both forms (fresh bulbs and dried-bulb/applesauce mixes). Consequently, all of the specialty flower bulbs tested, except tulip, exhibited some resistance to prairie vole feeding in their fresh form, and could be suitable for designing herbivore-resistant landscapes.
TRPV4 channel activation improves the tensile properties of self-assembled articular cartilage constructs.

Abstract A persistent hurdle in the field of tissue regeneration is to produce tissues with biochemical and biomechanical properties robust enough to meet the aggressive physiological demands of the native milieu. In an effort to improve these properties tissues grown in vitro are often subjected to mechanical stimuli that aim to recapitulate the in vivo physiology. These mechanical stimuli are thought to produce downstream alterations in intracellular ion concentrations, which ultimately give rise to increased biosynthesis. There is mounting evidence that these perturbations in the cellular microenvironment are regulated by the Ca 2+ -permeable transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel. In this study we examined the effects of targeted TRPV4 activation on self-assembled articular cartilage constructs. The objectives of this study were: (i) to determine whether TRPV4 activation would enhance self-assembled constructs; (ii) to identify an optimal treatment time window for TRPV4 activation; and (iii) to compare TRPV4 activation which Na + /K + pump inhibition, which has previously been shown to improve the construct tensile properties. This study employed a two phase approach. In Phase I self-assembled constructs were grown for 4 weeks and subjected to treatment with the TRPV4 agonist 4α-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (4α-PDD) during three treatment time windows: t = 6–10, t = 10–14, and t = 14–18 days. Treatment for t = 10–14 days produced an 88% increase in collagen and a 153% increase in tensile stiffness. This treatment window was carried forward to Phase II. In Phase II we performed a head to head comparison between TRPV4 activation using 4α-PDD and Na + /K + pump inhibition using ouabain. Treatment with 4α-PDD produced improvements on a par with ouabain (91–107% increases in tensile stiffness). The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of ion channel modulation as a strategy for improving engineered tissues. To our knowledge this is the first study to examine TRPV4 channel activation in tissue engineering.
Radiation geometry in the measurement and interpretation of radiation balance

Abstract The amount of radiation incident upon a radiometer depends on the shape of the radiometer surface, its orientation with respect to the sources of radiation, the distance between sources and radiometer, and other factors. The geometric factor describing the ratio of radiation received by the radiometer emanating from a particular source, to the total received from all sources (assumed to be radiating at the same rate) is the view factor. An intuitive approach is made to the development of the view factor, based on a presentation by Nusselt (1928). The view factor for a radiometer viewing the ground surface is shown graphically as an aid to determining appropriate heights for exposing instruments. Finally, a comparison of the short-wave radiation balance on a spherical and flatplate radiometer is made.
Mothers generalized beliefs about adolescents: links to expectations for a specific child.

Mothers’ generalized beliefs about adolescents were used to predict a mother’s expectations for her own child’s adolescent years. Participants were 75 mothers of children in either sixth grade or seventh grade. Generalized beliefs about adolescents predicted the mother’s expectations for her own young adolescent even after accounting for the young adolescent’s current attributes (e.g. depressed mood closeness to mother). For example the more likely a mother was to believe that adolescents as a group are conforming risk-taking and rebellious or internalizing the more likely she was to expect adolescence to be difficult for her own child. Greater beliefs that adolescents are upstanding/ prosocial predicted greater expectations for a closer parent/child relationship during the child’s adolescence. The link between a mother’s generalized beliefs and her expectations for her young adolescent did not vary by the child’s pubertal development or gender. Potential implications of parental beliefs concerning adolescence for parenting and parent/child relationships are discussed. (authors)
Legal liability in the use of ultrasound by office-based obstetricians

Ultrasound has proved to be a valuable diagnostic tool in the practice of obstetrics. Its rapidly increasing use by the office-based obstetrician, however, has opened a potential new area of legal vulnerability. The malpractice liability that may arise from its use is reviewed and practical ways to avoid it are considered.