cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low Back Pain in the Uniformed Service Member: Approach to Surgical Treatment Based on a Review of the Literature

ABSTRACTThe clinical entity of chronic low back pain is not well understood at present. Disparate spinal conditions can result in symptoms of low back pain, and various treatment options have been proposed in the literature including surgical intervention and prolonged nonoperative therapy. Low back pain, as well as lumbar degenerative disc disorders and spondylosis, is common among uniformed service members, and studies, along with treatment recommendations, regarding these entities in the civilian community are not necessarily translatable to military personnel. This literature review endeavors to review the evidence for interventions for low back pain and seeks to formulate a treatment algorithm that takes into account the unique requirements of military personnel. Ultimately, more research must be done, investigating the specific results of treatments for spinal conditions within the military community before definitive recommendations can be made.
Cost based surface mount PCB design evaluation

In today's manufacturing field there is continuous demand for product flexibility and shorter product throughput time. Production planning and cost estimating activities need to be speeded up. Consequently, the traditional gap between the designer who designs new products and the estimator who evaluates the financial consequences of the design is fading. Cost optimization is being integrated in the design process, and the designer needs to take more responsibility for the cost of the product at the design stage itself. There is a lack of tools to assist the designer in analyzing a Printed Circuit Board's (PCBs) design from a manufacturing perspective, especially from an economic aspect. This is true in Surface Mount Technology (SMT) production where the integration of the design and manufacturing functions is often hampered by the lack of sufficient, in-depth manufacturing knowledge and associated cost information. This research developed a cost estimation tool for the designer in the surface mount PCB assembly domain by integrating Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP), and cost estimation techniques using a knowledge based framework. Cost estimation can be done at two design stages. First, a rough cost estimate can be obtained from knowing the component mix, the type of boad material, and the size of board. Then, after the detailed design, a more accurate assembly cost can be obtained by generating a macro-process plan from the given CAD data. The cost module considers tangible factors including the material costs, the equipment costs, process costs, and the labor costs. The model used also considers the intangible cost in a preliminary evaluation of design costs. The cost advisor and the Design For Manufacture (DFM) environment have been developed using C++ and object oriented programming constructs under the MS Windows operating system.
Predictors of patient misperception of the diagnostic sensitivity of second trimester ultrasound

SECOND TRIMESTER ULTRASOUND JUSTIN COLLINGHAM, WILLIAM GROBMAN, STACEY PLAGA, Stanford University, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford, California, Northwestern University, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chicago, Illinois, Northwestern University, Reproductive Genetics, Chicago, Illinois OBJECTIVE: To determine what factors are associated with patient misperception of the diagnostic sensitivity of second trimester ultrasound (US). STUDY DESIGN: Women presenting for routine second trimester US were asked to complete a questionnaire. Information collected included demographic characteristics, answers to questions regarding the diagnostic sensitivity of US, and the sources of information used by patients to prepare for their US. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to assess the factors associated with patient misperception of the diagnostic sensitivity of US, defined to occur when a patient believed that US would detect all chromosomal or anatomic abnormalities. RESULTS: Of the 150 women approached for the study, 5 declined enrollment. Of the remaining 145, 47% misperceived the diagnostic sensitivity of US. Univariable analysis revealed the following factors to be more frequently associated with this misperception: younger maternal age, greater GA at US, non-Caucasian ethnicity, less education, lower annual income and the primary use of interpersonal relations (e.g., significant other, friends) to gather information about US. In logistic regression, variables that remained independently associated with misperception are presented in the table below. CONCLUSION: Almost half of patients undergoing routine second trimester US misperceive its diagnostic sensitivity. Receiving an US at a later gestational age, exposure to lesser education and gathering information about US primarily from interpersonal sources were factors independently associated with this misperception.
An unusual presentation of posterior glottic stenosis.

Ahealthy 65-year-old woman was scheduled to undergo an umbilical herniorraphy. She had no hoarseness, asthma, dyspnea, history of pneumonia, or diphtheria. She had an uneventful tonsillectomy at seven years of age. After routine induction, several attempts at intubation were unsuccessful. Direct laryngoscopy revealed a subglottic bonehard transverse shelf (Fig 1). The lesion was excised, and pathology showed dense cortical bone covered by a normal respiratory mucosa (Fig 2). This article received MedStar institutional review board approval.
Sonography in the infant with acute abdominal symptoms

The sonogram is a reliable diagnostic tool in the evaluation of acute abdomital disorders in infants and children. Portability, noninvasiveness, and ease of examination make sonography an invaluable diagnostic method. This article considers the principle acute disorders of infancy and childhood that are minimal to sonographic diagnosis. Included are pyloric stenosis, appendicitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, intussusception, as well as unexplained abdominal distention and acutely presenting masses. Although some of these entities have nonspecific sonographic appearances, consideration of age, symptoms, and laboratory results usually permits a specific diagnosis.
On LID assignment in infiniBand networks

To realize a path in an InfiniBand network, an address, known as Local IDentifier (LID)in the InfiniBand specification, must be assigned to the destination and used in the forwarding tables of intermediate switches to direct the traffic following the path. Hence, path computation in InfiniBand networks has two tasks: (1)computing the paths, and (2 )assigning LIDs to destinations (and using the LIDs in the forwarding tables to realize the paths). We will refer to the task of computing paths as routing and the task of assigning LIDs as LID assignment Existing path computation methods for InfiniBand networks integrate these two tasks in one phase. In this paper, we propose to separate routing and LID assignment into two phases so as to achieve the best performance for both routing and LID assignment. Since the routing component has been extensively studied and is fairly well understood, this paper focuses on LID assignment whose major issue is to minimize the number of LIDs required to support a routing. We prove that the problem of realizing a routing with a minimum number of LIDs is NP-complete, develop a number of heuristics for this problem, and evaluate the performance of the heuristics through simulation. Our results demonstrate that by separating routing from LID assignment and using the schemes that are known to achieve good performance for routing and LID assignment separately, more effective path computation methods than existing ones can be developed.
Suicide and Older Adults: Risk Factors and Recommendations

The issue of suicide and older adults is examined in light of the aging of the current population. Specifically, risk factors are described and the interface between the human service professions and suicide among older adults is discussed. Implications for the field are examined, and recommendations are provided in terms of how human service providers can have an impact on what is sure to be a growing issue of concern in the United States.
Relationship of arterial wall uptake of radiolabeled liposomes to the presence of monocyte/macrophage cells in the hypertensive and atherosclerotic arterial wall

Abstract In vivo radiolabeled liposome uptake in 5 sham-operated, 7 coarctation-induced hypertensive, and 8 atherosclerotic arterial walls from New Zealand White rabbits was compared to determine the mechanism of arterial wall uptake of liposomes. Uptake between the three groups was significantly different ( P P
Continuous hemodynamic monitoring in acute stroke: an exploratory analysis

Introduction: Non-invasive, continuous hemodynamic monitoring is entering the clinical arena. The primary objective of this study was to test the feasibility of such monitoring in a pilot sample of Emergency Department (ED) stroke patients. Secondary objectives included analysis of hemodynamic variability and correlation of continuous blood pressure measurements with standard measurements. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of 7 stroke patients from a prospectively collected data set of patients that received 2 hours of hemodynamic monitoring in the ED. Stroke patients were included if hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke was confirmed by neuroimaging, and symptom onset was within 24 hours. They were excluded for the presence of a stroke mimic or transient ischemic attack. Monitoring was performed using the Nexfin device (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine CA). Results: The mean age of the cohort was 71 ± 17 years, 43% were male, and the mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 6.9 ± 5.5. Two patients had hemorrhagic stroke. We obtained 42,456 hemodynamic data points, including beat-to-beat blood pressure measurements with variability of 18 mmHg and cardiac indices ranging from 1.8 to 3.6 l/min/m2. The correlation coefficient between continuous blood pressure measurements with the Nexfin device and standard ED readings was 0.83. Conclusion: This exploratory investigation revealed that continuous, noninvasive monitoring in the ED is feasible in acute stroke. Further research is currently underway to determine how such monitoring may impact outcomes in stroke or replace the need for invasive monitoring. [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(4):345-350.]
Relationship between glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, and insulin action in non-obese individuals with varying degrees of glucose tolerance.

Plasma glucose and insulin concentration following a 75 g oral glucose challenge and glucose uptake during a hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamp study were determined in 50 non-obese individuals. The study population was divided into five groups on the basis of their glucose tolerance: normal, impaired glucose tolerance, Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus with fasting plasma glucose of less than 8 mmol/l, between 8–15 mmol/l, and more than 15 mmol/l. The plasma insulin response was significantly greater (p<0.001) than normal in those with either impaired glucose tolerance or Type 2 diabetes and a fasting plasma glucose concentration less than 8 mmol/l. In contrast, the plasma insulin response was similar to normal in the other two groups of patients with Type 2 diabetes, i.e. fasting plasma glucose concentration 8–15 mmol/l or greater than 15 mmol/l. Glucose uptake rates were significantly lower (p<0.001) than normal in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and all three groups of patients with Type 2 diabetes. Although glucose uptake rates during the glucose clamp studies were relatively similar in all four groups of glucose intolerant subjects, the values were significantly lower in those patients with Type 2 diabetes who had a fasting plasma glucose concentration greater than 8 mmol/l (p<0.01), These data indicate that a significant degree of insulin resistance exists in patients with impaired glucose tolerance or Type 2 diabetes, relatively independent of fasting plasma glucose concentration. Indeed, glucose uptake during glucose clamp studies fell 8-fold over a range in fasting plasma glucose concentration of from 4.5 to 6.5 mmol/l. In contrast, the plasma insulin response increased over the same range of fasting plasma glucose concentrations. The fact that this defect in insulin action can be seen in patients who are hyperinsulinaemic, not hypoinsulinaemic, and only modestly hyperglycaemic, is consistent with the hypothesis that resistance to insulin-stimulate glucose uptake is a basic characteristic of patients with impaired glucose tolerance or Type 2 diabetes.
Association of CBFA2 mutation with decreased platelet PKC-θ and impaired receptor-mediated activation of GPIIb-IIIa and pleckstrin phosphorylation: proteins regulated by CBFA2 play a role in GPIIb-IIIa activation

The mechanisms by which agonists activate glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa function remain unclear. We have reported data on a patient with thrombocytopenia and impaired receptor-mediated aggregation, phosphorylation of pleckstrin (a protein kinase C [PKC] substrate), and activation of the GPIIb-IIIa complex. Abnormalities in hematopoietic transcription factors have been associated with thrombocytopenia and platelet dysfunction. To define the molecular mechanisms, we amplified from patient platelet RNA exons 3 to 6 of core-binding factor A2 (CBFA2) cDNA, which encompasses the DNA-binding Runt domain; a 13-nucleotide (nt) deletion was found (796-808 nt). The gDNA revealed a heterozygous mutation (G>T) in intron 3 at the splice acceptor site for exon 4, leading to a frameshift with premature termination in the Runt domain. On immunoblotting, platelet CBFA2, PKC-θ, albumin, and IgG were decreased, but pleckstrin, PKC-α, -βI, -βII, -η, -ϵ, -δ, and -ζ, and fibrinogen were normal. Our conclusions are that (1) CBFA2 mutation is associated with not only thrombocytopenia, but also impaired platelet protein phosphorylation and GPIIb-IIIa activation; (2) proteins regulated by CBFA2 are required for inside-out signal transduction-dependent activation of GPIIb-IIIa; and (3) we have documented the first deficiency of a human PKC isozyme (PKC-θ), suggesting a major role of this isozyme in platelet production and function. (Blood. 2004;103:948-954)
Active line repair for thin-film-transistor liquid crystal displays

A new method for repairing line defects during panel fabrication is described for high-resolution thin-film-transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT/LCDs). This approach uses electronic means in conjunction with physical rewiring to supply the appropriate data signal to the undriven segment of an open data line. Active line repair is simple and inexpensive, with the capacity for repairing numerous line defects. We have successfully implemented this repair approach on 10.4-in.-diagonal, 157-dpi prototype TFT/LCDs. This method is particularly suited for lower-volume, large-area, high-resolution TFT/LCDs, which are difficult to produce with high yield.
Generation of Hawaiian post-erosional lavas by melting of a mixed lherzolite/pyroxenite source

Abstract Melting of mafic veins in a marble-cake mantle may play an important role in generating isotopic and chemical heterogeneities in mid-ocean ridge and ocean island basalts. Mafic veins have lower solidi than mantle peridotite and will be preferentially sampled during partial melting, particularly at low melt fractions. However, the abundance of mafic components in the mantle or their role during melt generation has been difficult to quantify because most isotopic systems (e.g. Rb–Sr, Sm–Nd, U–Th–Pb) are not diagnostic of the presence or absence of mafic components. The compatible behavior of Os during mantle melting combined with the incompatible behavior of Re makes the Re–Os isotopic system uniquely well suited for distinguishing mafic and ultramafic contributions to melt generation. Almost all peridotites have low 187Os/188Os (e.g. chondritic to subchondritic). In contrast, mafic rocks have much higher Re/Os than peridotites, which results in the rapid ingrowth of 187Os and the development of large isotopic contrasts between mafic and ultramafic components within the mantle. In this paper, we show that Os-isotopes in Hawaiian post-erosional lavas extend to more radiogenic values than are found in Hawaiian lherzolites, abyssal peridotites or most other ultramafic samples. Os-isotopes are not correlated with other isotopic tracers, in contrast with plume-derived Hawaiian shield-stage lavas. The lack of correlation between Os-isotopes and Sr-, Nd- or Pb-isotopes and the more ‘depleted’ or MORB-like Sr–Nd isotopic signature of the post-erosional lavas relative to other Hawaiian lavas precludes significant melt input from the Hawaiian plume. However, Os-isotopes are correlated with major and trace elements. Lavas with more radiogenic Os-isotope compositions have higher silica and alumina and lower calcium and incompatible trace element abundances than lavas with less radiogenic Os-isotopes. These correlations result from mixing of pyroxenite- and peridotite-derived melts, both likely derived from the ∼100 Ma Pacific lithospheric mantle.
Gondwana Lithostratigraphy of Peninsular India

Abstract The controversy regarding the stratigraphic interpretation of the Indian Gondwana succession in the Peninsular Basins has continued for more than a century, with the exception of the Damodar and Satpura Basins. While the stratigraphic reconstruction in Damodar and Satpur was based on the order of superposition of strata, elsewhere the relative ages were based on paleontological evidence that disregarded various physical criteria including the order of superposition. Overlying the Precambrian crystalline basement, the Gondwana succession of late Permian to early Jurassic age can be classified into four sedimentary facies; a glaciogenic facies (Facies A), a coal-bearing facies (Facies B), a red shale-sandstone facies (Facies C) and a hill-forming coarse sandstone-conglomeratic facies (Facies D). The stratigraphic order of these four facies in ascending order from Facies A at the bottom to Facies D at the top is well established in the Damodar and Satpura regions. In both areas, Facies D overlies the underlying older sediments as well as the crystalline basement with a pronounced unconformity. However, in the Pranhita-Godavari and Son Basins (and elsewhere) the stratigraphic relations between Facies B, Facies C and Facies D are controversial. One such enigma is where the sequence of Facies C and Facies D are repeated several times in the geological column. This interpretation contrasts with the supposed genesis of climatically controlled lithic fill in Gondwana Basins. Overturning the standard stratigraphic relation between Facies C and Facies D was based on fragmentary fossil evidence where the Lower Gondwana flora seems to be present in Upper Gondwana rocks. Turning the stratigraphy upside down was done without establishing the order of superposition between strata. Throughout the 20 th century, most stratigraphers working in the Pranhita-Godavari and Son Basins worked within a fossil-based stratigraphic paradigm. This resulted in still more confusion, the magnitude of which can be appreciated as one browses through various interpretations presented in innumerable publications. In this paper, we attempt to offer a lithostratigraphic interpretation of the Peninsular Gondwana Basins based only on physical criteria such as lithological association, their petrographical characteristics and the most fundamental tool of stratigraphy, “the order of superposition”.
What’s in a name? A Geography of Heritage revisited

This article is a comment on: Tubridge et al., 2012. Decennial reflections on a ‘geography of heritage’ (2000). International Journal of Heritage Studies, DOI: 10.1080/13527258.2012.695038
Physio-Chemical and Ecological Modeling the Fate of Toxic Substances in Natural Water Systems

Abstract A basic framework for the modeling of the fate of chemicals in natural water systems is presented. Both the physical/chemical and ecological fate of the substance are considered. The fully time variable equations do not present any significant insight into the general behavior of chemical fate. However, under a steady state assumption and including bottom sediment interactions, relatively simple formulations result that permit rapid calculation of the maximum concentrations that might be expected. It is shown that for a completely mixed lake the ratio of the areal loading rate of the toxicant to the water column concentration is determined by the hydraulic overflow rate and the net loss rate of the toxicant from the water column. Thus, cT = WTa/q + wT for cT as the total toxicant concentration, WTa as the areal loading rate of the chemical, q as the hydraulic overflow rate, and wT the net loss of the chemical. The net loss rate wT is a function of all water column and sediment decay rates and interactions. The steady state food chain model of the accumulation of a toxic chemical from both water and food sources is shown to be a means for estimating the parameters of loss and sediment interaction for a lake. The steady state case of the discharge of a chemical into a stream provides a simple means for estimating net loss rates under some reasonable assumptions. Also coupling the food chain model to the physio-chemical model permits the use of chemical concentrations in the fish to estimate the net loss of toxicant in a stream. Application is made to metals concentrations in Lakes Ontario and Michigan and to 1,4 dichlorobenzene in Lake Zurich. The theory indicates that under zero decay of the chemical in the sediment and equal partition coefficients in the sediment and the water column that the chemical in particulates form in the sediment should equal that in the water column. Metals data for Lake Ontario appears to confirm this result at least to order of magnitude. For streams, application is made to a) cadmium in the Sajo River in Hungary where a net loss rate of about 0.12 m/d is estimated, and b) PCBs in the fish and sediment of the South Branch of the Shiawassee River in Michigan where net loss rates of about 3/day are estimated.
A Presentation for the Chow Ring of

We give a presentation for the Chow ring of the moduli space of degree 2 stable maps from 2-pointed rational curves to the projective line. Also, integrals of all degree 4 monomials in the hyperplane pullbacks and boundary divisors of this ring are computed using equivariant intersection theory. Finally, the presentation is used to give a new computation of the (previously known) values of the genus zero, degree 2, 2-pointed gravitational correlators of the projective line.
Efficient Second Harmonic Generation Of A Diode-Pumped Cw Nd:YAG Laser Using An Externally Resonant Cavity

Diode-pumped solid state lasers are efficient and compact sources of coherent IR radiation, but for many applications short wavelength visible sources are desired. Intracavity frequency doubling is a proven method of efficient conversion of these lasers to the visible, but generally results in deeply amplitude modulated output. An alternative approach is external cavity frequency doubling to provide stable single-axial-mode output at the second harmonic. We have used external cavity frequency doubling to generate 56% second harmonic conversion efficiency of a 53 mW, cw, diode-laser-pumped Nd:YAG oscillator. A monolithic cavity of MgO:LiNb0 3 resonant at the fundamental was used to generate the 30 mW of single axial mode 532 nm radiation.
Isolated splenic vein thrombosis

Isolated splenic vein thrombosis is being recognized more frequently as a complication of pancreatic disease and as the cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients without liver disease. The increased incidence reflects advances in diagnostic radiology and a higher index of suspicion for the diagnosis.
Early reproductive success of western bluebirds and ash-throated flycatchers: a landscape-contaminant perspective

Eggshell quality, clutch size, sex ratio, and hatching success of western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) and ash-throated flycatchers (Myiarchus cinerascens) were studied on a landscape-soil contaminant gradient at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico from 1997 to 1999. A variety of contaminants (heavy metals, chemicals, insecticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorines, and radioactive isotopes) range across different spatial scales and concentrations on LANL land. This study is an example of a monitoring program over a large area with varying degree of contamination that is used to highlight locations of concern for future research. There were two locations where the flycatcher had a lower hatching success. The bluebirds at Sandia wetland, a location of concern for PCBs, had a thinner eggshell thickness index (RATCLIFFE) and the eggs were smaller than at other locations. The flycatcher had thinner eggshells than bluebirds, which could add to sensitivity to exposure to contaminants. There was no variation in clutch size or sex ratio between locations or areas closer to contaminant release sites for both species. Percent females in the clutch ranged from 0 to 100% in the WEBL and from 33 to 67% for ATFL.
Bone Marrow-Derived Cathepsin K Cleaves SPARC in Bone Metastasis

Bone metastasis is a hallmark of advanced prostate and breast cancers, yet the critical factors behind attraction of tumors to the skeleton have not been validated. Here, we investigated the involvement of cathepsin K in the progression of prostate tumors in the bone, which occurs both by direct degradation of bone matrix collagen I and by cleavage of other factors in the bone microenvironment. Our results demonstrated that bone marrow-derived cathepsin K is capable of processing and thereby modulating SPARC, a protein implicated in bone metastasis and inflammation. The coincident up-regulation of SPARC and cathepsin K occurred both in vivo in experimental prostate bone tumors, and in vitro in co-cultures of bone marrow stromal cells with PC3 prostate carcinoma cells. PC3-bone marrow stromal cell interaction increased secretion and processing of SPARC, as did co-cultures of bone marrow stromal cells with two other cancer cell lines. In addition, bone marrow stromal cells that were either deficient in cathepsin K or treated with cathepsin K inhibitors had significantly reduced secretion and cleavage of SPARC. Increases in secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (ie, interleukin-6, -8) coincident with overexpression of cathepsin K suggest possible mechanisms by which this enzyme contributes to tumor progression in the bone. This is the first study implicating bone marrow cathepsin K in regulation of biological activity of SPARC in bone metastasis.
Inhibition of nitrification in soil by gaseous hydrocarbons

Recent work has shown that gaseous hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, and ethylene are competitive inhibitors of the monooxygenase enzyme responsible for oxidation of ammonia by chemoautotrophic nitrifying microorganisms such as Nitrosomonas europaea. Because methane, ethane, and ethylene are produced by microbial activity in soil, we studied the possibility that they may inhibit oxidation of ammonia by the nitrifying soil microorganisms. We found that all three of these gaseous hydrocarbons inhibited nitrification in soil and that their ability to inhibit nitrification decreased in the order: ethylene > ethane > methane. Ethylene was much more effective than ethane or methane for inhibiting nitrification of ammonium in soil, but it was much less effective than acetylene, and it seems unlikely that the amounts of ethylene produced in soils will be sufficient to cause significant inhibition of nitrification by soil microorganisms.
The impact of state regulations on nursing home care practices

This article assesses the effect of the minimum quality standards of deficiencies and nurse staffing requirements on the nursing home care practices of physical restraint, indwelling urinary catheter, and feeding tube use. National longitudinal data on nursing homes reveal that the effect of specific deficiency citations on care practice use depends on the clinical complementarity or substitutability of the deficiency and the specific care practice, while a high number of deficiencies can lead to a greater use of each care practice. Higher direct care staffing requirements increased the use of physical restraints and decreased the use of feeding tubes. Increases in licensed nursing staff requirements had no effect on the care practices studied. Regulators should be aware that using minimum quality standards when quality is multidimensional creates incentives for offsetting quality improvement practices.
Tissue distribution of tritium-labeled dehydroretronecine.

Summary When [ 3 H]dehydroretronecine was administered to rats at a dose of 65 mg/kg, over 3/4 of the dose was eliminated in the urine within 24 h. Specific activity of the stomach mucosa was approximately ten times that of the kidney and liver throughout the 2-week period of examination. Radioactivity in the liver was greatest in the microsomal fraction. The development of gastric hemorrhage and ulceration and inhibited protein synthesis in the liver that had previously been reported is undoubtedly related to the localization of the pyrrole metabolite in the affected organ and subcellular liver fraction.
Current recommendations for delaying renal transplantation after localized prostate cancer treatment: are they still appropriate?

Background Since the advent of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer (PC) have localized disease, which is curable with surgery or radiation therapy. Current policy for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and PC recommends waiting 5 years after primary therapy before enrollment on the transplant waiting list. The risk of dying during 5 years of dialysis is approximately 59%, whereas the risk of PC recurrence after surgery is generally much lower. Prognostic tools called nomograms can accurately assess a patient's probability of PC recurrence. This prompted the authors to reexamine current transplantation policy for patients with PC. Methods The authors reviewed the Sloan-Kettering PC database to identify patients on dialysis undergoing radical prostatectomy. Clinical and pathologic features were analyzed to determine the likelihood of disease recurrence. Results The authors identified two patients with ESRD in their PC database. Both men had elevated serum PSA detected during routine pretransplantation evaluation, and biopsy confirmed the PC. Both opted for surgery, with pathologic analysis revealing organ-confined disease and negative surgical margins. The postoperative nomogram predicted 7-year progression-free probabilities of 95% and 98%. Given the high likelihood of cure of their PC, immediate consideration for renal transplantation seemed appropriate for both patients. Conclusions PSA-based screening of the dialysis population has ensured earlier detection of PC. Given that nomograms will accurately predict the risk of PC recurrence, the time a patient must wait for a transplant should be based on this individualized risk assessment rather than on a general rule.
Plugs in Viscometric Flows of Simple Semi-liquids

In 1966, Coleman, Markovitz and Noll published a book entitled Viscometric Flows of Non-Newtonian Fluids. The analysis presented there is based on the concept of an incompressible simple fluid (simple liquid), which Walter Noll had introduced in 1958. About 5 years ago he introduced the concept of a simple semi-liquid. It turns out that the analysis given in the book mentioned above can be extended to simple semi-liquids. The behavior of simple liquids in viscometric flows is characterized by three functions: the shear-stress function and two normal stress functions. This remains true for simple semi-liquids, but now the limits of these functions as the rate of shear goes to zero need not be zero but may approach critical non-zero values. This fact allows the existence of plugs. This paper gives explicit procedures for determining the size of plugs for the entire variety of viscometric flows analyzed in the book mentioned above.
A United Network for Organ Sharing analysis of heart transplantation in adults with congenital heart disease: outcomes and factors associated with mortality and retransplantation.

Objectives Heart transplantation in patients with adult congenital heart disease is increasing, yet no large studies have defined how this subgroup differs from other adult recipients. We investigated outcomes and risk factors for mortality and retransplantation among patients with adult congenital heart disease compared with adult recipients. Methods A review was performed of 18- to 45-year-old patients undergoing heart transplantation from 1990–2008 reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing database. Trends were compared between 2 eras: era 1 (1990–1998) and era 2 (1999–2008). Multivariable semiparametric hazard models identified factors associated with time-related death and retransplantation. Results Of 8496 patients identified, 575 had adult congenital heart disease. The prevalence of heart transplantation among adult recipients decreased by 28% over time ( P P P = .02). Steroid maintenance was less in patients with adult congenital heart disease (92%) compared with that seen in adult recipients (97%, P P = .02) but not among patients with adult congenital heart disease ( P = .81). Overall post–heart transplantation mortality ( P = .006) and retransplantation ( P = .03) were significantly higher for patients with adult congenital heart disease than for adult recipients, mainly because of an early hazard phase. Adult congenital heart disease was a risk factor for both death ( P P = .04). Any induction therapy and steroid maintenance was associated with improved survival for all recipients ( P = .001). Conclusions Adult congenital heart disease represent an increasing proportion of heart transplant recipients. Compared with adult recipients, patients with adult congenital heart disease experience higher post–heart transplantation mortality and retransplantation. Immunosuppression differs among patients with adult congenital heart disease and adult recipients. Further studies should investigate whether post–heart transplantation outcomes would be improved by more aggressive induction therapy or judicious steroid tapers.
Entering the 21st century: the challenges for development.

By many people, the 20th century will be remembered as an era of great achievement in human endeavour, and of enormous economic growth and prosperity. Achievements in medical research, from eradicating infectious diseases to laser surgery; in engineering, from the transistor to space exploration; and in economic development have all contributed to greater well being in the world at the end of the 20th century. Among the challenges to development identified by the World Bank in the coming decades will be managing the twin processes of globalization and localization, as well as post-conflict reconstruction. These will form the backdrop of the Bank's main focus of creating a world free of poverty.
Induction of lymphotoxin-α by interleukin-12 p40 homodimer, the so-called biologically inactive molecule, but not IL-12 p70

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) p70 (p40:p35) is a bioactive cytokine and its biological functions are becoming clear. On the other hand, the IL-12 p40 homodimer (p40(2)) was considered an inactive or inhibitory molecule and its functions are poorly understood. It has been reported that increased expression of lymphotoxin-alpha (Lt-alpha) in the central nervous system as well as in peripheral immune cells is associated with multiple sclerosis and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Here we describe that p40(2) induces the expression of Lt-alpha in primary mouse and human microglia, BV-2 microglial cells, splenic macrophages, RAW 264.7 cells and splenic T cells. Interestingly, IL-12 p70 was either unable to induce Lt-alpha or was a very weak inducer of Lt-alpha in these cell types. Consistently, p40(2), but not p70, induced Lt-alpha promoter-driven luciferase activity in microglial cells. Among various stimuli tested, p40(2) emerged as the most potent followed by IL-16, lipopolyaccharide and double-stranded RNA in inducing the activation of Lt-alpha promoter in microglial cells. Furthermore, an increase in Lt-alpha messenger RNA expression by overexpression of p40, but not p35, complementary DNA and induction of Lt-alpha expression by p40(2) in microglia isolated from IL-12p35(-/-) mice confirm that p40, but not p35, is responsible for the induction of Lt-alpha. Finally, by using primary microglia from IUL-12 receptor beta1 deficient (IL-12Rbeta1(-/-)) and IL-12Rbeta2(-/-) mice, we demonstrate that p40(2) induced the expression of Lt-alpha in microglia and macrophages via IL-12Rbeta1, but not IL-12Rbeta2. These studies delineate a novel biological function of p40(2) that is absent in IL-12.
Modernism and the Issue of Periodization

In his paper, "Modernism and the Issue of Periodization," Leonard Orr describes how literary theorists, historians, and anthology editors have put forward many conflicting models for literary periodization, while simultaneously expressing their doubts about the categories they have created. They are caught between intellectual despair and pragmatic necessity, scholarly journals and presses and academic departments imagine they are working at the cutting edge of thinking about their subjects but period concepts remain in place, even while every article focused on the subject expresses strong objections to the terms. Orr traces in his paper these problems and issues through the twentieth century, including the post-modern and post-structuralist responses to the question. Theorists have attempted to narrow the issue by dealing solely with form, techniques and stylistic practices, mere temporal boundaries. In addition to these "splitters," there are "lumpers," who would deny the many different boundary lines that have been made and deny the existence of "postmodernism" or "early modernism" and think of the master-narrative category of "modernism" for the twentieth century. While this essay is focused on modernism, it notes the way parallel questions exist for all of the other periods which are the basis for departments, journals, anthologies, and curricula. Leonard Orr, "Modernism and the Issue of Periodization" page 2 of 7 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 7.1 (2005):
Polyunsaturated fatty-acid-like trans-enoyl reductases utilized in polyketide biosynthesis

Polyketide biosynthesis is typically directed by cis-acting catalytic domains. In the case of the Bacillus subtilis secondary metabolite dihydrobacillaene, the cis-acting domains are not sufficient to generate the saturated C14'-C15' bond. In this communication, we identify PksE as a trans-acting enoyl reductase utilized in the biosynthesis of this portion of dihydrobacillaene. PksE is homologous to the enzymes predicted to serve as enoyl reductases in polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthesis, and we confirmed this functional assignment in vitro. These results suggest a general enoyl reduction pathway in polyketide biosynthesis and a means by which PUFA-like biosynthetic machinery can modulate small-molecule function.
Dimension reduction, generalized deformable models and the development of ocularity and orientation

Abstract It has been proposed that the spatial organization of cells in visual cortex satisfies an abstract optimization criteria based on a smooth mapping criterion. We apply this criteria to the development of ocularity and show that it can be expressed in terms of a generalized deformable model. From this model we can derive two alternative algorithms, one being an elastic net and the other being of Hebbian form. This shows a surprising mathematical relation between the models of Goodhill and Willshaw (1990, Network, 1, 41–59) and Miller et al. (1989, Science, 245, 605–615), even though their motivations are very different. Applying the same techniques to the development of orientation shows mathematically that a variant of the dimension reduction criterion (Durbin & Mitchison, 1990, Nature, 343, 644–647) can be closely approximated by an elastic net.
Atrial Electrophysiologic Remodeling in Canine Heart Failure: Modulation by Atrial Fibrillation

Background Heart failure (HF) is a common antecedent to atrial fibrillation (AF). Concomitant HF and AF increases morbidity and mortality over that of either disease alone. AF- and HF-induced atrial electrophysiologic remodeling is known to favor the progression of AF. AF results in accelerated repolarization and reductions in multiple ion currents, including transient outward K + current (I to ), changes associated with AF maintenance. Methods Dogs had tachypacing-induced HF for 10 weeks and then were assigned to 6 weeks of atrial tachypacing (60 seconds of pacing at 10 Hz, repeated every 70 seconds) until sustained AF/atrial flutter was induced (HF+AF, n=3), or continued right ventricular tachypacing (n = 6). Baseline LVFS was reduced ( P to were made at 35° ± 0.5°C. Results HF significantly increased I to vs control, whereas HF+AF significantly reduced I to vs control and HF (Figure A). At 2 Hz, HF shortened action potential durations at 50% repolarization (APD 50 ); HF+AF lengthened APD 50 vs HF alone, and did not differ from control (Figure B). HF shortened APD at 90% repolarization (APD 90 ) vs controls, whereas HF+AF had similar shortening of APD 90 . Conclusions Chronic HF results in increased I to and faster repolarization of left atrial appendage myocytes. The addition of AF to chronic HF reduced I to and lengthened APD 50 without changing APD 90 . The effects of chronic HF and chronic HF+AF on I to and APD morphology are variable, suggesting complex disease-induced effects on the substrate for AF.
Potent Inhibition of Ribonuclease A by Oligo(vinylsulfonic Acid)

Ribonuclease A (RNase A) can make multiple contacts with an RNA substrate. In particular, the enzymatic active site and adjacent subsites bind sequential phosphoryl groups in the RNA backbone through Coulombic interactions. Here, oligomers of vinylsulfonic acid (OVS) are shown to be potent inhibitors of RNase A that exploit these interactions. Inhibition is competitive with substrate and has Ki = 11 pm in assays at low salt concentration. The effect of salt concentration on inhibition indicates that nearly eight favorable Coulombic interactions occur in the RNase A.OVS complex. The phosphonic acid and sulfuric acid analogs of OVS are also potent inhibitors although slightly less effective. OVS is also shown to be a contaminant of MES and other buffers that contain sulfonylethyl groups. Oligomers greater than nine units in length can be isolated from commercial MES buffer. Inhibition by contaminating OVS is responsible for the apparent decrease in catalytic activity that has been observed in assays of RNase A at low salt concentration. Thus, OVS is both a useful inhibitor of RNase A and a potential bane to chemists and biochemists who use ethanesulfonic acid buffers.
Professional Educators as Communications Consultants

This article describes techniques for finding and for preparing for consulting work in communications. It explores procedures essential to workshops, in-plant and extension seminars, free-lance and staff-writing and editing, scientific and medical journalism, reviewing and abstracting and translating services, and several of the communication links established by new federal legislation.
Three-Dimensional Real-Time Through-the-Wall Radar Imaging With Diffraction Tomographic Algorithm

In this paper, a 3-D diffraction tomographic algorithm is proposed for real-time through-the-wall radar imaging (TWRI). The spectral expansion of the three-layered medium dyadic Green's function is employed to derive a linear relationship between the spatial Fourier transforms of the image and the scattered field under Born approximation. Then, the image can be efficiently reconstructed with inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT). The linearization of the inversion scheme and the easy implementation of the algorithm with FFT/IFFT make the diffraction tomographic TWRI algorithm suitable for on-site applications. The 3-D polarimetric TWRI is investigated using the proposed algorithm for the enhanced target detection and feature extraction as well as mitigation of the wall effect in the cross-polarization. Numerical and experimental results are presented to show the effectiveness and high efficiency of the proposed algorithm for 3-D real-time TWRI.
Small gas-phase dianions produced by sputtering and gas flooding.

We have extended our previous experiment [Schauer et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 625 (1990)] where we had produced small gas-phase dianion clusters of Cn2−(n⩾7) by means of sputtering a graphite surface by Cs+ ion bombardment. Our detection sensitivity for small Cn2− could now be increased by a factor of about 50 for odd n. Nevertheless, a search for the elusive pentamer dianion of C52− was not successful. As an upper limit, the sputtered flux of C52− must be at least a factor of 5000 lower than that of C72−, provided that the lifetime of C52− is sufficiently long to allow its detection by mass spectrometry. When oxygen gas (flooding with either O2 or with N2O) was supplied to the Cs+-bombarded graphite surface, small dianions of OCn2−(5⩽n⩽14) and O2C72− were observed in addition to Cn2−(n⩾7). Similarly, Cs+ sputtering of graphite with simultaneous SF6 gas flooding produced SCn2−(6⩽n⩽18). Mixed nitrogen-carbon or fluorine-carbon dianion clusters could not be observed by these means. Attempts to detect mixed...
Association Between Race and Survival of Patients With Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer in the United States Veterans Affairs Population

Abstract Background Racial disparities in outcomes of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in the United States are well documented. A retrospective analysis of patients in the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry was conducted to determine whether similar disparities exist in a population with a single-payer, accessible health care system. Patients and Methods Demographic data of patients diagnosed with NSCLC between January 1995 and February 2009 were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test or the χ 2 test. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to compare survival among races. Results Of the 82,414 patients, 98% were male, 82% had a smoking history, and 81% were Caucasian. Caucasian individuals had better prognostic features compared with African-American individuals (stage I/II [24% vs. 21%]; Grade I/II [21% vs. 17%]). A larger proportion of Caucasian compared with African-American individuals received stage-appropriate treatment (surgery for stage I [48% vs. 41%; P P = .003]). African-American individuals had a lower risk of mortality compared with Caucasian individuals (hazard ratio, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.92-0.96). Conclusion Although African-American patients had a higher stage and grade of NSCLC, they had a better overall survival than Caucasian patients. In a single-payer system with accessible health care, previously described racial differences in lung cancer outcomes were not observed.