cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation on clinical efficacy of vaginal hysterectomy scar diverticulum

Objective To retrospectively analyze the treatment efficacy of the vaginal surgery on formation of uterine cesarean section scar diverticulum.Method Data of 12 patients was retrospectively analyzed with diverticulum of historical data.Results From March 2009 to September 2011 in our hospital,patients were treated for the reason of menstrual period prolonging after caesarean section operation.Among them 55 patients were found to have uterine cesarean section scar diverticulum by detecting methods of hysteroscope and B ultrasound.12 cases were successfully completed in transvaginal surgery.The average of surgery was (52 ± 10)min,the average bleeding was (15 ± 5) ml,the average length of hospital stays was (5 ± 2) d.The postoperative complications rate was 8.3％.The surgery patients were followed for 24 months.The symptom relief rate was 83.3％.Menstrual period before surgery can be reduced after the operation,10 of the 12 patients menstrual cycle became regular during 24 months after the operation,2 patients showed diverticulum by hysteroscopy.Conclusion Transvaginal uterine scar diverticulum resection for treatment of diverticulum has obvious effect.It is worth of popularizing in clinic. Key words: Cesarean section scar; Diverticulum; Transvaginal surgery
Family Behaviors as Unchanging Obstacles in End-of-Life Care: 16-Year Comparative Data.

Background Critical care nurses routinely care for dying patients. Research on obstacles in providing end-of-life care has been conducted for more than 20 years, but change in such obstacles over time has not been examined. Objective To determine whether the magnitude scores of obstacles and helpful behaviors regarding end-of-life care have changed over time. Methods In this cross-sectional survey study, questionnaires were sent to 2000 randomly selected members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Obstacle and helpful behavior items were analyzed using mean magnitude scores. Current data were compared with data gathered in 1999. Results Of the 2000 questionnaires mailed, 509 usable responses were received. Six obstacle magnitude scores increased significantly over time, of which 4 were related to family issues (not accepting the poor prognosis, intrafamily fighting, overriding the patient's end-of-life wishes, and not understanding the meaning of the term lifesaving measures). Two were related to nurse issues. Seven obstacles decreased in magnitude, including poor design of units, overly restrictive visiting hours, and physicians avoiding conversations with families. Four helpful behavior magnitude scores increased significantly over time, including physician agreement on patient care and family access to the patient. Three helpful behavior items decreased in magnitude, including intensive care unit design. Conclusions The same end-of-life care obstacles that were reported in 1999 are still present. Obstacles related to family behaviors increased significantly, whereas obstacles related to intensive care unit environment or physician behaviors decreased significantly. These results indicate a need for better end-of-life education for families and health care providers.
The adjunct underclass: How America’s colleges betrayed their faculty, their students, and their mission

The Adjunct Underclass provides an at times searing critique of modern higher education by calling specific attention to the many ways in which the system has come to rely on temporary labor to del...
Lithography-free all-optical switching from the telecom to the mid-infrared regime with transparent conducting oxides

All-optical switching of metasurfaces enables dynamic control of the amplitude, phase and the polarization of light at picosecond timescales. The large free-carrier induced permittivity changes in transparent conducting oxides enable all-optical switching at femtosecond to picosecond timescales in planar, unpatterned films, without the need for lithography. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate the wide-tuning of the optical properties of three materials to achieve fast optical switching with large modulation depth. Lithography-free designs such as Fabry-Perot cavities, metal-dielectric mirrors, and Berreman-type metasurfaces are demonstrated to showcase optical switching at powers on the order of 1 mJ/cm2. The switching speeds can vary from 50 ps in cadmium oxide, 20 ps in ZnO to 2 ps in aluminum-doped zinc oxides. Our work will pave the way to practical optical switching spanning the telecom to the mid-infrared wavelength regimes.
May political parties refuse to govern? On integrity, compromise and responsibility

After the parliamentary elections in Germany in September 2017, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU), The Greens (Bundnis90/Die Grunen) and the Free Democratic Par...
Diagnosis, Staging, and Patient Selection for Locoregional Therapy to Treat Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality and the only cancer for which the incidence and mortality are on the rise. Sensitive and specific screening and diagnostic approaches, robust staging regimens, multidisciplinary tumor boards, and patient/family education and engagement in the shared decision-making process help to identify a patient's optimal treatment options. Locoregional therapies have been the mainstay for treating intermediate-stage disease, but they are finding special applications for early and advanced disease. This review discusses the diagnosis of HCC, current accepted staging models, and treatment of HCC, with a focus on locoregional therapies.
Public Concern About Violence, Firearms, and the COVID-19 Pandemic in California.

Importance Violence is a significant public health problem that has become entwined with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Objective To describe individuals’ concerns regarding violence in the context of the pandemic, experiences of pandemic-related unfair treatment, prevalence of and reasons for firearm acquisition, and changes in firearm storage practices due to the pandemic. Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study used data from the 2020 California Safety and Well-being Survey, a probability-based internet survey of California adults conducted from July 14 to 27, 2020. Respondents came from the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, an online research panel with members selected using address-based sampling methods. Responses were weighted to be representative of the adult population of California. Main Outcomes and Measures Topics included worry about violence for oneself before and during the pandemic; concern about violence for someone else due to a pandemic-related loss; experiences of unfair treatment attributed to the pandemic; firearm and ammunition acquisition due to the pandemic; and changes in firearm storage practices due to the pandemic. Results Of 5018 invited panel members, 2870 completed the survey (completion rate, 57%). Among respondents (52.3% [95% CI, 49.5%-55.0%] women; mean [SD] age, 47.9 [16.9] years; 41.9% [95% CI, 39.3%-44.6%] White individuals), self-reported worry about violence for oneself was significantly higher during the pandemic for all violence types except mass shootings, ranging from a 2.8 percentage point increase for robbery (from 65.5% [95% CI, 62.8%-68.0%] to 68.2% [95% CI, 65.6%-70.7%];P = .008) to a 5.6 percentage point increase for stray bullet shootings (from 44.5% [95% CI, 41.7%-47.3%] to 50.0% [47.3%-52.8%];P Conclusions and Relevance In this analysis of findings from the 2020 California Safety and Well-being Survey, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in self-reported worry about violence for oneself and others, increased firearm acquisition, and changes in firearm storage practices. Given the impulsive nature of many types of violence, short-term crisis interventions may be critical for reducing violence-related harm.
Defining focal brain stimulation targets for PTSD using neuroimaging

Introduction Focal brain stimulation has potential as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this review, we aim to inform selection of focal brain stimulation targets for treating PTSD by examining studies of the functional neuroanatomy of PTSD and treatment response. We first briefly review data on brain stimulation interventions for PTSD. Although published data suggest good efficacy overall, the neurobiological rationale for each stimulation target is not always clear. Methods Therefore, we assess pre- and post-treatment (predominantly psychotherapy) functional neuroimaging studies in PTSD to determine which brain changes seem critical to treatment response. Results of these studies are presented within a previously proposed functional neural systems model of PTSD. Results While not completely consistent, research suggests that downregulating the fear learning and threat and salience detection circuits (i.e., amygdala, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and insula) and upregulating the emotion regulation and executive function and contextual processing circuits (i.e., prefrontal cortical regions and hippocampus) may mediate PTSD treatment response. Conclusion This literature review provides some justification for current focal brain stimulation targets. However, the examination of treatment effects on neural networks is limited, and studies that include the stimulation targets are lacking. Further, additional targets, such as the cingulate, medial prefrontal cortex, and inferior parietal lobe, may also be worth investigation, especially when considering how to achieve network level changes. Additional research combining PTSD treatment with functional neuroimaging will help move the field forward by identifying and validating novel targets, providing better rationale for specific treatment parameters and personalizing treatment for PTSD.
Epidemiology of paediatric pain-related visits to emergency departments in the USA: a cross-sectional study.

Objective To describe the epidemiology of paediatric pain-related visits to emergency departments (EDs) across the USA. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting A representative sample of US ED visits using data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Participants Paediatric (age ≤18 years) ED visits in the 2017 NHAMCS data set. Data analysis Each visit was coded as pain-related or non-pain-related using the ‘reason for visit’ variable. Weighted proportions were calculated with 95% CIs. Logistic regression was used to compare odds of pain-related visits. Outcome measures Prevalence of pain-related visits among paediatric ED visits. Results There were an estimated 35 million paediatric ED visits in the USA in 2017, 55.6% (CI 53.3% to 57.8%) were pain related, which equates to 19.7 million annual visits. The prevalence of pain-related visits reached more than 50% of visits at age 6–7 and plateaued at relatively high proportions. Children of races other than white or black had lower odds of having a pain-related visit (OR 0.48, CI 0.29 to 0.81) than white children, as did children who were black, though the difference was not statistically significant (OR 0.88, CI 0.73 to 1.06). Relative to children covered by private insurance, children with Medicaid or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) coverage had lower odds of a pain-related visit (OR 0.75, CI 0.60 to 0.93). Injuries represented 46.5% (CI 42.0% to 51.0%) of pain-related visits. Pain scores were reported in less than 50% of pain-related visits. Conclusion Pain is the reason for visit in 55.6% of paediatric ED visits across the USA. The prevalence of pain-related visits peak before adolescence and it continues relatively high until the age 18. Injury, racial disparities in pain and poor pain score reporting should remain major topics of study in the paediatric population.
The Role of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in the Management of Knee Chondral Defects.

➤ Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a subset of progenitor cells that help to promote tissue healing and regeneration through the secretion of various cytokines and growth factors. Although technically pluripotent, MSCs in vivo rarely repair damaged tissue through direct differentiation and engraftment. ➤ Augmentation of traditional marrow stimulation techniques with MSCs has been theorized to improve repair tissue quality and defect fill. Clinical trials evaluating this technique are limited but have shown modest improvements compared with isolated marrow stimulation. ➤ Various scaffolds also have been utilized in combination with MSCs to treat focal chondral defects. Although the techniques described are heterogeneous, many have shown promising early clinical outcomes. ➤ Newer techniques involving 3-dimensional bioprinted scaffolds seeded with MSCs allow for the recreation of complex architecture, more closely resembling articular cartilage. These techniques are evolving and have not yet been studied in human clinical trials.
The Bacteriorhodopsin Puzzle

Bacteriorhodopsin is an integral membrane protein found in the purple membrane of halobacterium halobium. Since electron microscopy data (Henderson and Unwin, 1975) established that the membrane- imbedded part of bacteriorhodopsin consists of seven closely packed α-helices there has been much interest in learning what parts of the amino acid sequence these helices correspond to and how the helices interact. An arrangement of amino acid residues in the seven helices which is consistent with electron and neutron scattering data and general postulates of protein structure is proposed. Fourier transforms of hydrophobicity indexed over the protein sequence suggests possible modes of interaction between helices.
Aruler and segment-transporter constructive axiomatization of plane hyperbolic geometry

We formulate a universal axiom system for plane hyperbolic geometry in a first-order language with one sort of individual variables, points (lower-case), containing three individual constants, , , , standing for three non-collinear points, with , one quaternary operation symbol , with to be interpreted as ` is the point of intersection of lines and , provided that lines and are distinct and have a point of intersection, an arbitrary point, otherwise', and two ternary operation symbols, and , with (for to be interpreted as ` and are two distinct points on line such that , provided that , an arbitrary point, otherwise'.
Symmetry-enhanced remeshing of surfaces

While existing methods for 3D surface approximation use local geometric properties, we propose that more intuitive results can be obtained by considering global shape properties such as symmetry. We modify the Variational Shape Approximation technique to consider the symmetries, near-symmetries, and partial symmetries of the input mesh. This has the effect of preserving and even enhancing symmetries in the output model, if doing so does not increase the error substantially. We demonstrate that using symmetry produces results that are more aesthetically appealing and correspond more closely to human expectations, especially when simplifying to very few polygons.
Laser therapy of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia

Abstract Laser therapy of gynecologic neoplasia is relatively new and there is minimal experience with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. Fifteen unselected patients with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasla were treated primarily with the carbon dioxide laser. The average follow-up is 15 months. At this time there have been two failures and two patients are currently being treated. Eleven patients treated with the laser have no evidence of disease. are discussed.
Finding Most Sustainable Paths in Networks with Time-Dependent Edge Reliabilities

In this paper, we formalize the problem of finding a routing path for the streaming of continuous media (e.g., video or audio files) that maximizes the probability that the streaming is successful, over a network with nonuniform edge delays and capacities, and arbitrary timedependent edge reliabilities. We call such a problem the most sustainable path (MSP) problem. We address the MSP problem in two network routing models: the wormhole and the circuit-switching routing models. We present fully-distributed polynomial-time algorithms for the streaming of constant-size data in the wormhole model, and for arbitrary-size data in the circuit-switching model. Our algorithms are simple and assume only local knowledge of the network topology at each node. The algorithms evolved from a variation of the classical Bellman-Ford shortest-path algorithm. One of the main contributions of this paper was to show how to extend the ideas in the Bellman-Ford algorithm to account for arbitrary time-dependent edge reliabilities.
Laser-Induced Predissociation of Diatomic and Polyatomic Molecules by the Photo-Catalytic Effect

Diatomic and polyatomic molecules in bound vibrational states of a stable electronic state may make transitions to the continuum vibrational (or dissociative) states of another less stable electronic state. This leads to dissociation of the bound molecule before reaching over the dissociation limit of the initial electronic state. Such predissociation processes occur in diatomic molecules and more frequently in polyatomic molecules [1]. See Fig. a for illustration of a configuration of potential curves leading to predissociation of molecules in rovibronic level Ev.
The Ideological Explorations of Chinese Communist Party and Chinese Kuomintang on Peacefully and Democratically Founding a New China

During the old Political Consultative Conference, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) both raised the idea of peacefully and democratically founding a new China, that is, under the condition of peace, to draw up the draft constitution, determine the principle of universal suffrage, hold a national people’s conference, and eventually establish a democratic constitutional coalition government; however, on the specific procedures, the two parties had quite different founding ideologies. The old Political Consultative Conference is a judgment to the political wisdom of both sides. Therefore, the CCP delegation has conducted a fierce political contest with the KMT delegation in the outline of peacefully founding the country, government organization plan, National Conference plan, Draft Constitution and other founding ideological aspects, made the Political Consultative Conference enact the agreement in favor of the people, which brought about a profound impact to China’s politics in the future.
Near-Optimal Allocation of VMs from IaaS Providers by SaaS Providers

Software as a Service (SaaS) allows companies and individuals to use software, hosted and managed by a SaaS provider, on a pay-per-use basis instead of paying for the entire upfront cost. SaaS providers can lease their computing infrastructure to instantiate VMs that run their software services from Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) providers on a pay per use basis. SaaS customers can subscribe to and unsubscribe from a software service at anytime. Thus, the SaaS cloud provider should dynamically determine the number of needed VMs to run software services as a function of the demand in a way that minimizes the SaaS cost of using VMs from an IaaS but at the same time guaranteeing an agreed upon Quality of Service (QoS) to the SaaS customers. This paper presents a heuristic technique based on hill-climbing that can be used by SaaS providers to determine the type and quantity of VMs to be leased in order to best satisfy customer demands for sofware services. The hill-climbing approach yields a near optimal solution within 2% of the minimum cost in most cases by visiting around 10-4 of the search space.
Contagion Entrepreneurship: Institutional Support, Strategic Incoherence, and the Social Costs of Over-Entry

Existing literature on the legitimizing role of institutions tilts toward a “more is better” perspective, proffering the notion that the liabilities of smallness and newness can be mitigated throug...
Lifetime Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Suicide Attempts in Diverse Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations

Past studies have reported little about variability in mental disorders among lesbians, gay men, and bisexual individuals. We assessed the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in 388 lesbian, gay, and bisexual Black, Latino, and White individuals. Black lesbians, gay men, and bisexual individuals had lower prevalence of all disorders than did Latino and White individuals; younger cohorts had fewer mood disorders than did older cohorts; bisexual persons had more substance use disorders than did gay men and lesbians; and Latino respondents attempted suicide more often than did White respondents.
Asymptotic formula for the capacitance of two oppositely charged discs

Asymptotic formulae for the capacitances of two oppositely charged, identical, circular, coaxial discs and two identical, infinite parallel strips separated by dielectric slabs are derived from the dual integral equations approach. The formulation in terms of dual integral equations using transforms gives rise to relatively simple Green's functions in the transformed space and renders the derivation of the asymptotic formulae relatively easy. The solution near the edge of the plates, a two-dimensional problem previously thought not solvable by the Wiener-Hopf technique, is solved indirectly using the method. Solution of the Helmholtz wave equation is first sought, and the solution to Laplace's equation is obtained by letting the wavenumber go to zero. The solution away from the edge is obtained by solving the dual integral equations approximately. The total charge on the plate is obtained by matching the solution near the edge and away from the edge giving the capacitance.
Exhaustive Enumeration of Kinetic Model Topologies for the Analysis of Time-Resolved RNA Folding

Unlike protein folding, the process by which a large RNA molecule adopts a functionally active conformation remains poorly understood. Chemical mapping techniques, such as Hydroxyl Radical (·OH) footprinting report on local structural changes in an RNA as it folds with single nucleotide resolution. The analysis and interpretation of this kinetic data requires the identification and subsequent optimization of a kinetic model and its parameters. We detail our approach to this problem, specifically focusing on a novel strategy to overcome a factorial explosion in the number of possible models that need to be tested to identify the best fitting model. Previously, smaller systems (less than three intermediates) were computationally tractable using a distributed computing approach. However, for larger systems with three or more intermediates, the problem became computationally intractable. With our new enumeration strategy, we are able to significantly reduce the number of models that need to be tested using non-linear least squares optimization, allowing us to study systems with up to five intermediates. Furthermore, two intermediate systems can now be analyzed on a desktop computer, which eliminates the need for a distributed computing solution for most mediumsized data sets. Our new approach also allows us to study potential degeneracy in kinetic model selection, elucidating the limits of the method when working with large systems. This work establishes clear criteria for determining if experimental ·OH data is sufficient to determine the underlying kinetic model, or if other experimental modalities are required to resolve any degeneracy.
Solvent deuterium isotope effects on phosphodiester cleavage catalyzed by an extraordinarily active Zn(II) complex.

The effect of increasing pL on the extraordinary catalytic activity of a dinuclear Zn2+ complex toward cleavage of uridine 3‘-4-nitrophenyl phosphate (UpPNP) in H2O and D2O was determined. This change from H2O to D2O causes an increase from 7.8 to 8.4 in the apparent pKa of a catalytic functional group, but has little effect on the activity of the active form of the catalyst toward cleavage of UpPNP, so that there is no primary kinetic SDIE on the cleavage reaction from movement of a proton at the rate-determining transition state. It is concluded that essentially all of the rate acceleration for this catalyst is due to electrostatic stabilization of the transition state by interactions between opposing cationic and anionic charges.
Polymorphism and solvolysis of 2-cyano-3-[4-(N,N-diethylamino)phenyl]prop-2-enethioamide.

Two new polymorph forms, (Ia) and (Ib), of the title compound, C14H17N3S, and its solvate with aceto­nitrile, C14H17N3S·0.25C2H3N, (Ic), have been investigated. Crystals of the two polymorphs were grown from different solvents, viz. ethanol and N,N-di­methyl­form­amide, respectively. The polymorphs have different orientations of the thio­amide group relative to the CN substituent, with s-cis and s-trans geometry of the C=C—C=S diene fragment, respectively. Compound (Ic) contains two independent mol­ecules, A and B, with s-cis geometry, and the solvate mol­ecule lies on a twofold axis. The core of each mol­ecule is slightly non-planar; the dihedral angles between the conjugated C=C—CN linkage and the phenyl ring, and between this linkage and the thio­amide group are 13.4 (2) and 12.0 (2)° in (Ia), 14.0 (2) and 18.2 (2)° in (Ib), 2.3 (3) and 12.7 (4)° in molecule A of (Ic), and 23.2 (3) and 8.1 (4)° in molecule B of (Ic). As a result of strong conjugation between donor and acceptor parts, the substituted phenyl rings have noticeable quinoid character. In (Ib), there exists a very strong intramolecular steric interaction (H⋯H = 1.95 A) between the bridging and thio­amide parts of the mol­ecule, which makes such a form less stable. In the crystal structure of (Ia), intermolecular N—H⋯N and N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds link mol­ecules into infinite tapes along the [1\overline 10] direction. In (Ib), such intermolecular hydrogen bonds link mol­ecules into infinite (101) planes. In (Ic), intermolecular N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link mol­ecules A and B into dimers, which are connected via N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds and form infinite chains along the c direction.
Pressure dependence of the dielectric properties of SbSI

Abstract The Curie point of SbSI decreases linearly with hydrostatic pressure with slope = −37.0 ± 2.0 o C/ kbar . This is the largest value yet reported for any ferroelectric.
Humidity levels in the nests of incubating canaries (Serinus canarius)

Abstract 1. 1. Vapor pressure in the nest cups (PN) of common canaries Serinus canarius averaged 12 torr, but varied considerably both between and within nests during 4–6 consecutive days of incubation. 2. 2. Much of this variation (73–95%) could be accounted for by concurrent variations in ambient humidity (P1) around the nest. 3. 3. The estimated amount of water (12.6% of the egg's initial mass) lost by canary eggs during 13 days of incubation under conditions of PN that existed in this experiment is not significantly different from the amount (18.8%) that would be lost if PN = P1. 4. 4. These data indicate that canaries do not keep the PN constant by ventilating the nest cup while incubating.
Regulation of posterior lateral hypothalamic arousal related neuronal discharge by preoptic anterior hypothalamic warming

The posterior lateral hypothalamus (PLH) is a brain region involved in cortical activation and maintenance of behavioral arousal. Spontaneous and evoked neuronal activities were recorded in the PLH of cats before and during local warming of the preoptic-anterior hypothalamus (POAH). Forty-six percent of PLH neurons recorded in awake cats decreased spontaneous discharge during POAH warming. In the absence of POAH warming, these same cells exhibited significantly lower discharge rates in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep compared to waking. Responses of PLH neurons to POAH warming were also investigated in sleeping cats to determine whether hypothalamic thermosensitive neurons modulated sleep-wake regulation across arousal states. POAH warming had no influence on spontaneous activities of PLH neurons during NREM sleep, but suppressed activity of a small subset of neurons during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Thus, during wakefulness or REM sleep, hypothalamic thermosensitive neurons may modulate behavioral state via inhibition or disfacilitation of arousal systems.
Tension ball valve mucus plug in asthma

This report describes a patient with status asthmaticus and respiratory failure in whom profound hypoxemia developed during mechanical ventilation. During the hypoxemic episode, breath sounds were absent over the left lung, and chest radiography revealed a hyperlucent left hemithorax with tension shift of the mediastinum to the right. The presence of lung markings in the left lung on radiography eliminated the possibility of tension pneumothorax and led to the diagnosis of tension mediastinal shift secondary to a ball valve obstruction by a central mucus plug. Bronchoscopic lung lavage removed the mucus plug, thereby correcting the hypoxemia. Recognition of this previously undescribed acute complication of mechanical ventilation in status asthmaticus is essential so that confusion with tension pneumothorax is avoided and appropriate therapy instituted.
Chronic rhinosinusitis in congenital craniofacial malformations.

Summary Objectives To review developmental abnormalities and iatrogenic alterations in sinus anatomy that may predispose patients with congenital craniofacial malformations to chronic rhinosinusitis. Study design Retrospective study. Methods Seven patients with craniofacial malformations who were surgically treated by the senior author were included in the study. All were diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis refractory to medical management. Four patients had undergone previous corrective craniofacial surgery, and three of these patients developed iatrogenic sinus disease. Demographic data, diagnoses and anatomical abnormalities were included. Results Abnormal sinus anatomy was present in all patients, most commonly skull base abnormalities and dehiscent lamina papyracea. All patients underwent successful endoscopic surgical management (n = 7) for their chronic rhinosinusitis. Two patients had adjuvant external procedures. There were no complications and no recurrences after a mean follow up time of 15 months. Conclusions Otolaryngologists should be aware of the possibility of chronic rhinosinusitis in patients with craniofacial malformations. Careful preoperative evaluation of radiographic studies should be performed as most of these patients will have abnormal sinus anatomy. In addition, patients who undergo surgery to correct their craniofacial malformations are susceptible to altered sinus anatomy that may predispose them to the development of iatrogenic chronic rhinosinusitis.
Multiscale Observations of Hurricane Dennis (2005): The Effects of Hot Towers on Rapid Intensification

Abstract A synthesis of remote sensing and in situ observations throughout the life cycle of Hurricane Dennis (2005) during the NASA Tropical Cloud Systems and Processes (TCSP) experiment is presented. Measurements from the ER-2 Doppler radar (EDOP), the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU), airborne radiometer, and flight-level instruments are used to provide a multiscale examination of the storm. The main focus is an episode of deep convective bursts (“hot towers”) occurring during a mature stage of the storm and preceding a period of rapid intensification (11-hPa pressure drop in 1 h 35 min). The vigorous hot towers penetrated to 16-km height, had maximum updrafts of 20 m s−1 at 12–14-km height, and possessed a strong transverse circulation through the core of the convection. Significant downdrafts (maximum of 10–12 m s−1) on the flanks of the updrafts were observed, with their cumulative effects hypothesized to result in the observed increases in the warm core. In one ER-2 overpass, subsidence was ...
The role of P2Y(14) and other P2Y receptors in degranulation of human LAD2 mast cells.

Mast cell degranulation affects many conditions, e.g., asthma and urticaria. We explored the potential role of the P2Y14 receptor (P2Y14R) and other P2Y subtypes in degranulation of human LAD2 mast cells. All eight P2YRs were expressed at variable levels in LAD2 cells (quantitative real-time RT-PCR). Gene expression levels of ADP receptors, P2Y1R, P2Y12R, and P2Y13R, were similar, and P2Y11R and P2Y4R were highly expressed at 5.8- and 3.8-fold of P2Y1R, respectively. Least expressed P2Y2R was 40-fold lower than P2Y1R, and P2Y6R and P2Y14R were ≤50 % of P2Y1R. None of the native P2YR agonists alone induced β-hexosaminidase (β-Hex) release, but some nucleotides significantly enhanced β-Hex release induced by C3a or antigen, with a rank efficacy order of ATP > UDPG ≥ ADP >> UDP, UTP. Although P2Y11R and P2Y4R are highly expressed, they did not seem to play a major role in degranulation as neither P2Y4R agonist UTP nor P2Y11R agonists ATPγS and NF546 had a substantial effect. P2Y1R-selective agonist MRS2365 enhanced degranulation, but ~1,000-fold weaker compared to its P2Y1R potency, and the effect of P2Y6R agonist 3-phenacyl-UDP was negligible. The enhancement by ADP and ATP appears mediated via multiple receptors. Both UDPG and a synthetic agonist of the P2Y14R, MRS2690, enhanced C3a-induced β-Hex release, which was inhibited by a P2Y14R antagonist, specific P2Y14R siRNA and pertussis toxin, suggesting a role of P2Y14R activation in promoting human mast cell degranulation.
Acidity of Frozen Electrolyte Solutions

Ice is selectively intolerant to impurities. A preponderance of implanted anions or cations generates electrical imbalances in ice grown from electrolyte solutions. Since the excess charges are ultimately neutralized via interfacial (H^+/HO^-) transport, the acidity of the unfrozen portion can change significantly and permanently. This insufficiently recognized phenomenon should critically affect rates and equilibria in frozen media. Here we report the effective 19F NMR chemical shift of 3-fluorobenzoic acid as in situ probe of the acidity of extensively frozen electrolyte solutions. The sign and magnitude of the acidity changes associated with freezing are largely determined by specific ion combinations, but depend also on solute concentration and/or the extent of supercooling. NaCl solutions become more basic, those of (NH_4)_2SO_4 or Na_2SO_4 become more acidic, while solutions of the 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid zwitterion barely change their acidity upon freezing. We discuss how acidity scales based on solid-state NMR measurements could be used to assess the degree of ionization of weak acids and bases in frozen media.
Measurements of surface diffusivity and coarsening during pulsed laser deposition.

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) of homoepitaxial ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}⟨001⟩$ was studied with in situ x-ray specular reflectivity and surface diffuse x-ray scattering. Unlike prior reflecivity-based studies, these measurements access both time and length scales of the evolution of the surface morphology during growth. In particular, we show that this technique allows direct measurements of the diffusivity for both inter- and intralayer transport. Our results explicitly limit the possible role of island breakup, demonstrate the key roles played by nucleation and coarsening in PLD, and place an upper bound on the Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier for downhill interlayer diffusion.
Does the APC/C Mark MIWI and piRNAs for a Final Farewell?

Recently in Developmental Cell , Zhao et al. (2013) reported a mechanism for the directed turnover of the mouse Piwi protein MIWI during sperm maturation. This study implicates the anaphase-promoting complex as a mediator of MIWI ubiquitination and expands the avenues for regulating small RNA processes.
The Politics of Oligarchy: Institutional Choice in Imperial Japan

List of tables and figure Series editors' preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. The collapse of oligarchy: failed attempts at cartel-maintenance 3. Concession or facade: the Meiji constitution 4. Electoral rules and party competition: the struggle for political survival 5. The bureaucracy: who ruled whom? 6. The courts: who monitored whom? 7. The military: master of its own fate 8. Financial politics 9. Railroad politics 10. Cotton politics 11. Conclusion: institutions and political control Notes References Index.
Casting spells: database concepts for event history analysis.

An increasing number of demographic researchers have recently developed an interest in using the group of techniques often referred to as "Event History Analysis" (see for example Allison 1984). After several years of using these methods ourselves we have come to the conclusion that the event history approach requires data organized and conceptualized rather differently than that used in many other demographic or social scientific applications. This article is about some of the issues at work in understanding event history data and ways of understanding how to make use of them in the statistical analysis of event histories. This calls for a thorough knowledge of the data needed for event history analysis and of the ways in which those data must be transformed to make the analysis possible. (excerpt)
Hazard assessment of chemical carcinogens: the impact of hormesis.

The recent report of reductions in the number and area of preneoplastic hepatic lesions in response to low doses of the tumor promoter phenobarbital provides important new support for the existence of hormetic responses to carcinogens. The presence of hormetic responses to carcinogenic agents and the corollary that beneficial doses of these compounds can be determined have several implications for the bioassay and hazard assessment of carcinogens as well as for public policy regulating exposure to these agents. To be adequately sensitive to detect and quantify hormetic or other non-linear dose-response functions, current study designs must be modified to include lower doses and sufficiently large numbers of animals. Short- or medium-term animal studies are a cost-effective means of addressing these needs and have been used recently to describe a classical hormetic response to the non-genotoxic carcinogen phenobarbital. These basic changes should be supported by a continuing emphasis on mechanistic research and the development of biologically based quantitative models of toxicant action. Linking these models with physiologically based pharmacokinetic model descriptions of target dose holds the greatest promise for improving the description of the dose-response curve at low doses. These approaches are generally encouraged by the USEPA in the form of The 1996 Proposed Carcinogen Risk Assessment Guidelines. However, there remain substantial questions regarding integration of the concept of hormesis into hazard testing and public policy that require careful consideration. Herein, we explore the issues that surround testing for hormetic responses and the implications for public policy.
Changes in conjunctival lymphocyte populations induced by oral immunization with Chlamydia trachomatis.

The populations of lymphocyte subsets in the conjunctiva were assessed in monkeys enterically immunized with different preparations of Chlamydia trachomatis prior to ocular challenge. Subsets were identified in immunohistochemical studies employing cross-reactive anti-human monoclonal and polyclonal reagents. Ocular challenge of orally immunized animals resulted in more equal numbers of T-helper and T suppressor/cytotoxic cells, compared to the higher proportion of TS seen in naive monkeys. TH:TS/CTL ratios of 1.0-2.0 and 0.1-0.5 respectively were observed. Orally immunized monkeys also showed proportionately more IgA- and IgG-bearing cells and less IgM-bearing cells. B cells of each class were commonly seen immediately under the epithelial basement membrane. Although oral immunization induced a number of changes in the proportions and distribution of lymphocyte subsets which subsequently appeared in the conjunctiva, these changes were not correlated with disease outcome, except for the appearance of incr...
Approximation by holomorphic functions on pseudoconvex domains with isolated degeneracies

Let D be a bounded domain with smooth boundary which is strictly pseudoconvex except at a finite number of points. It is shown that functions continuous on ¯D and holomorphic on D can be approximated uniformly on D by functions holomorphic on ¯D.
Longitudinal Lipid Screening and Use of Lipid-Lowering Medications in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes

Objective Because cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and dyslipidemia is an important CVD risk factor, we investigated dyslipidemia and its treatment in children with T1D. Study design Subjects had T1D (n = 360), repeated lipid measurements (n = 1095; mean, 3.04 ± 0.94; range, 2 to 11), and were seen between 1994 and 2004. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL) were categorized on the basis of published guidelines. Age, diabetes duration, sex, body mass index, HbA1c, and lipid-lowering medication use were recorded. Predictors of TC, HDL, and non-HDL were determined. Results Sustained abnormalities existed for TC ≥200 mg/dL (16.9%); HDL Conclusions In this retrospective, longitudinal study of pediatric patients with T1D with repeated lipid measurements, sustained abnormal levels for TC, HDL, and non-HDL were present. Prospective longitudinal data for dyslipidemia in youth with T1D are needed.
Estradiol may limit lipid oxidation via Cpt 1 expression and hormonal mechanisms.

GOWER, BARBARA A., TIM R. NAGY, MATTHEW L. BLAYLOCK, CHENXI WANG, AND LARA NYMAN. Estradiol may limit lipid oxidation via Cpt 1 expression and hormonal mechanisms. Obes Res. 2002;10:167–172. Objective: Evidence indicates that estrogen depresses hepatic lipid oxidation. We tested the hypothesis that estradiol (E2) treatment depresses transcription of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (Cpt 1) mRNA and increases adiposity. Research Methods and Procedures: Six ovariectomized female rats were given a subcutaneous pellet of E2 (5 mg/d), and six were given placebo. Rats were pair-fed by group for 18 days. Body composition was assessed chemically: mRNA for liver Cpt 1, adipose tissue uncoupling protein-2 (Ucp 2), and quadriceps Ucp 3 by Northern analysis; serum glucose, triglycerides (TGs), and free fatty acids by standard techniques; and serum insulin and glucagon by radioimmunoassay. Results: E2-treated rats lost more weight than placebotreated rats (37.3 6.0 vs. 16.2 2.6 g, p 0.01), but did not differ in final carcass composition (adjusted for eviscerated body mass). E2-treated rats had lower liver Cpt 1 (p 0.001) and skeletal muscle Ucp 3 (p 0.05) mRNA and lower concentrations of glucose, glucagon, and free fatty acids (p 0.05). E2-treated rats tended to have higher insulin (p 0.067) and TG (p 0.097). TG tended to be correlated with Cpt 1 mRNA (r 0.56 and p 0.07). Discussion: These results suggest that, although E2 is likely to suppress lipid oxidation and promote TG synthesis, these effects are not manifested in a relative increase in carcass adiposity after 18 days of treatment, at least under conditions of negative energy balance. The possible role of E 2 mediated changes in insulin and glucagon secretion on hepatic substrate metabolism warrants further study.
Trapping, conduction, and dielectric breakdown in Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ films on as-deposition rugged polysilicon

Rugged polysilicon stacked capacitors recently emerged as the storage structures of choice for the manufacture of advanced DRAMs. The authors present the charge-trapping characteristics of such capacitors showing a capacitance increase of more than 50%. It is observed that electron trapping is dominant on rugged structures, whereas hole trapping is observed on smooth structures. Conduction and breakdown properties are also reported. Measurements show that rugged polysilicon capacitors provide the low leakage current, the sharp breakdown distributions, and the trapping characteristics needed for advanced DRAM applications. >
Family history, dust mite exposure in early childhood, and risk for pediatric atopy and asthma

Abstract Background Dust mite allergen exposure is considered a major determinant of sensitization to these allergens during childhood and a risk factor for pediatric asthma. Objective By using a birth cohort in a setting with a substantial burden of dust mite allergen, we evaluated exposure and risk for outcomes related to allergy and asthma. Methods We collected dust from the bedrooms of 428 children born from 1987 to 1989 and measured Der f 1 and Der p 1 (μg/g dust, combined). Follow-up at 6 to 7 years of age included clinical examination, skin prick testing, specific serum IgE measurement, and methacholine challenge. Results No overall association was evident for any outcome except bronchial hyperresponsiveness (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.38-1.00; P P 10 μg/g, respectively). With a parental history of allergy and asthma, there was an association between a positive dust mite skin test (OR, 2.09; CI, 0.93-4.73; P 10 μg/g. The inverse was true for children without a parental history. Dust mite exposure of >10 μg/g was associated with a decreased risk of current atopic asthma among children with a parental history (OR, 0.39; CI, 0.05-3.13; P P Conclusion Parental history is an important independent variable in the relationship between early dust mite exposure and atopic outcomes. Increased exposure during infancy is associated with a higher risk for sensitization in the presence of a positive parental history, but is protective among children of parents without a history of atopic disease.
SIRT1 histone deacetylase expression is associated with microsatellite instability and CpG island methylator phenotype in colorectal cancer

The class III histone deacetylase SIRT1 (sir2) is important in epigenetic gene silencing. Inhibition of SIRT1 reactivates silenced genes, suggesting a possible therapeutic approach of targeted reversal of aberrantly silenced genes. In addition, SIRT1 may be involved in the well-known link between obesity, cellular energy balance and cancer. However, a comprehensive study of SIRT1 using human cancer tissue with clinical outcome data is currently lacking, and its prognostic significance is uncertain. Using the database of 485 colorectal cancers in two independent prospective cohort studies, we detected SIRT1 overexpression in 180 (37%) tumors by immunohistochemistry. We examined its relationship to the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), related molecular events, clinical features including body mass index, and patient survival. We quantified DNA methylation in eight CIMP-specific promoters (CACNA1G, CDKN2A, CRABP1, IGF2, MLH1, NEUROG1, RUNX3, and SOCS1) and eight other CpG islands (CHFR, HIC1, IGFBP3, MGMT, MINT1, MINT31, p14, and WRN) by MethyLight. SIRT1 overexpression was associated with CIMP-high (> or =6 of 8 methylated CIMP-specific promoters, P=0.002) and microsatellite instability (MSI)-high phenotype (P<0.0001). In both univariate and multivariate analyses, SIRT1 overexpression was significantly associated with the CIMP-high MSI-high phenotype (multivariate odds ratio, 3.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.35-7.59; P=0.008). In addition, mucinous component (P=0.01), high tumor grade (P=0.02), and fatty acid synthase overexpression (P=0.04) were significantly associated with SIRT positivity in multivariate analysis. SIRT1 was not significantly related with age, sex, tumor location, stage, signet ring cells, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), LINE-1 hypomethylation, KRAS, BRAF, BMI, PIK3CA, HDAC, p53, beta-catenin, COX-2, or patient prognosis. In conclusion, SIRT1 expression is associated with CIMP-high MSI-high colon cancer, suggesting involvement of SIRT1 in gene silencing in this unique tumor subtype.