cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Involvement of Sp1 elements in the promoter activity of genes affected in keratoconus.

PURPOSE: Keratoconus is a progressive disease that thins and scars the corneal stroma. In keratoconus corneas, levels of degradative enzymes, including lysosomal acid phosphatase (LAP) and cathepsin B, are elevated, and those of the inhibitors alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI) and alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M) are reduced, especially in the epithelial layer. An increased expression of the transcription factor Sp1 was also demonstrated. The role of Sp1 in regulation of the genes affected in keratoconus was examined in this study. METHODS: DNA segments, containing 5'-flanking promoter sequences of the alpha 1-PI, LAP, cathepsin B, and alpha 2-M genes were ligated into the secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter gene vector. These constructs, along with the pSV beta-galactosidase control vector, were transfected into cultured human corneal epithelial and stromal cells and skin fibroblasts. Cotransfection with the Sp1 expression vector was performed in parallel. SEAP and beta-galactosidase enzyme activities were assayed. RESULTS: In corneal epithelial cells, as in stromal cells, alpha 1-PI promoter activity was suppressed by cotransfection of pPacSp1. The LAP, cathepsin B, and alpha 2-M promoters were functional in corneal cells, whereas activities of these promoters were much lower in skin fibroblasts. Cotransfection experiments indicated that the up- or downregulation of LAP, cathepsin B, and alpha 2-M observed in keratoconus-affected corneas was not mediated by Sp1. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the theory that the corneal epithelium, along with the stroma, is involved in keratoconus. An upstream role of Sp1 is indicated and the Sp1-mediated downregulation of the alpha 1-PI gene may be a key event in the disease development.
Volunteer Army Rebuilds Houston After Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey's record-breaking rainfall in August 2017 devastated the Houston, Texas, area, resulting in catastrophic flooding that displaced thousands and left many homes destroyed.When Hurric...
ALPACA: a large portfolio-based alternating conditional analysis

Program analysis tools typically compute either may or must information. By accumulating both kinds of information computed with respect to different portions of a program's state space, it is possible to collect a comprehensive view of how program inputs relate to some property. This can be done using the framework of an alternating conditional analysis (ACA). In this paper, we present a toolset that instantiates an ACA to analyze C programs. The toolset, dubbed ALPACA (A Large Portfolio-based ACA), computes a sound characterization of all the ways a program either may or must satisfy some property. It does so by alternating between over- and underapproximate analyses, conditioning analyses to ignore portions of the program that have already been analyzed, and combining the results of 14 state-of-the-art analysis tools in a portfolio run in parallel. Download ALPACA at https://bitbucket.org/mgerrard/alpaca. Its video demonstration is at https://youtu.be/H2yXtvODurQ.
Magnetic behavior and spin-lattice coupling in cleavable van der Waals layered CrCl 3 crystals

Cleavable magnetic materials provide not only a means to study magnetism in the ultimate 2D limit, but also enable increased functionality for van der Waals heterostructures. Here the authors explore the layered antiferromagnet CrCl${}_{3}$. Thermodynamic measurements show ferromagnetic correlations develop before long-range order between the layers is established; van der Waals density functional calculations indicate strong coupling of the magnetism to the crystal lattice, and the authors demonstrate mechanical exfoliation of the bulk crystals into stable monolayer specimens. Together these results show CrCl${}_{3}$ to be a promising compound for studying monolayer magnetism and for integrating magnetism into heterostructures with complementary optoelectronic materials.
Efficacy of Open Textbook Adoption on Learning Performance and Course Withdrawal Rates: A Meta-Analysis:

Open textbooks have been developed in response to rising commercial textbook costs and copyright constraints. Numerous studies have been conducted to examine open textbooks with varied findings. Th...
Risk factors for ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast in the UK Biobank cohort study

Abstract Ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) is considered to be a non-obligate precursor of invasive breast cancer (IBC). This suggests that risk factors for DCIS should be a subset of those for IBC. To this end, we investigated whether demographic, lifestyle, and reproductive factors that have been linked to IBC risk are also associated with DCIS risk. This study was conducted in 263,788 women aged 40–69 years at enrolment into the UK Biobank population-based cohort. Information on demographic, reproductive and health factors was collected at baseline using computerized questionnaires, while incident DCIS was ascertained through linkage to UK cancer registries. Age-adjusted and multivariable hazard ratios were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models in the total sample and by menopausal status. During an average of 7 years of follow-up, 1,016 women developed DCIS. Multivariable analysis indicated that age, physical activity, height, family history of breast cancer, menopausal status, parity, and years between menarche and first live birth had associations with DCIS risk. Among post-menopausal women not using hormone replacement therapy, body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 was associated with increased DCIS risk. This study, the largest to date including both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women, confirms previous findings indicating correspondence between risk factors for DCIS and IBC and highlights the potential contribution to DCIS risk of anthropometric measures not previously reported to be associated with the disease, such as height and BMI amongst post-menopausal women.
Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Posterior Urethroplasty Using the da Vinci Single Port Robot

Abstract Introduction and Objective: To describe our technique and outcomes for the treatment of posterior urethral stenosis with the da Vinci Single Port (SP)® platform. Methods: We retrospectivel...
Pandemics, Quarantines, Utility, and Dignity

Medical quarantines were once common in the United States, but in the last 50 years they have been used infrequently by the government. That changed with the spread of the novel Coronavirus, and the resulting COVID-19 illness, in 2020. Cruise ships where the virus had taken hold were quarantined and passengers were prohibited from disembarking. Residents of towns in Spain, and an entire province of China, were prevented from leaving by their respective governments. This Article argues that the permissibility of coercive quarantines is best understood as an example of threshold deontology. Threshold deontology is the view that individual human dignity must prevail over the common good, but that in moments of extreme emergency, when a “threshold” has been reached, the reverse is true: the common good can trump individual rights. Part I provides a brief overview of the use of coercive quarantines to fight COVID-19 and the surprising lack of objection that these measures triggered. Part II explores the unmistakably utilitarian logic behind public health generally and quarantines specifically. Then, Part III introduces the concept of human dignity as a constraint on utilitarian public health by surveying three representative jurisdictions: The United States, German domestic law, and the European Convention on Human Rights. Part III concludes that even liberal democracies vary subtly but significantly in how strongly they protect human dignity and that these differing levels of commitment to human dignity help explain why some legal cultures have been so quick to resort to quarantines, while other communities have been reluctant. Finally, Part IV suggests that jurisdictions that are usually protective of individual rights but decide to fight COVID-19 with coercive quarantines are best understood as operating under the sway of threshold deontology. This Article does not defend threshold deontology as a moral theory but does argue that it is best understood as a covert form of indirect consequentialism. Moreover, this Article concludes that threshold deontology is the key moral battleground for debating the quarantine power during the COVID-19 era.
Impact of Genomic Mutation and Timing of Y90 Radioembolization in Colorectal Liver Metastases

To investigate timing of Yttrium-90 radioembolization (Y90) during treatment course, genomics, and other clinical factors as predictors of overall survival (OS) in colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) that have progressed on at least one line of chemotherapy. This was a retrospective study from 2013 to 2018 of patients with CRLM and genomic analysis prior to Y90 at a multihospital tertiary referral center. OS from liver metastasis diagnosis and predictors of OS were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier estimation with log-rank and Cox regression analyses. Overall, 58 patients with CRLM who progressed on at least one line of chemotherapy who had genomic analysis prior to Y90 were identified. Median OS after hepatic metastasis was 29.9 months. Of these, 16 (28%) patients received Y90 after failure of the first-line systemic chemotherapy. There was significantly prolonged OS in patients receiving Y90 immediately following failure of the first-line chemotherapy folinic acid, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin ((FOLFOX) ± bevacizumab) versus following multiple lines of chemotherapy (median OS of 46.3 vs. 26.6 months, P = 0.005). The presence of genetic mutation in tumor, MAPK pathway wild type, left-sided primary tumor, low MELD score, and non-diffuse unilobar disease were also found to be predictors prolonged survival on log-rank analysis (P’s < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, receiving Y90 after failure of the first line of chemotherapy, low baseline MELD score, and baseline ECOG performance score of 0 were all found to be independent predictors of prolonged OS from the time of metastatic disease diagnosis (P’s < 0.05). In patients with CRLM, receiving Y90 after failing the first line of chemotherapy, lack of genetic mutation, low MELD score, and lower tumor burden appear to be independent predictors of prolonged OS. Level 4, case–control study.
“Tindersluts” and “Tinderellas”: Examining the Digital Affordances Shaping the (Hetero)Sexual Scripts of Young Womxn on Tinder:

This study examines how the digital affordances of Tinder shape the (hetero)sexual scripts of young womxn. Findings indicate that while Tinder alleviates the boundaries of an on-campus hookup cultu...
Malnutrition and the microbiome as modifiers of early neurodevelopment

Malnutrition refers to a dearth, excess, or altered differential ratios of calories, macronutrients, or micronutrients. Malnutrition, particularly during early life, is a pressing global health and socioeconomic burden that is increasingly associated with neurodevelopmental impairments. Understanding how perinatal malnutrition influences brain development is crucial to uncovering fundamental mechanisms for establishing behavioral neurocircuits, with the potential to inform public policy and clinical interventions for neurodevelopmental conditions. Recent studies reveal that the gut microbiome can mediate dietary effects on host physiology and that the microbiome modulates the development and function of the nervous system. This review discusses evidence that perinatal malnutrition alters brain development and examines the maternal and neonatal microbiome as a potential contributing factor.
Growth and morphology of L-alanine crystals: influence of additive adsorption.

The effect of L-amino acids, as additives, on the crystal growth and morphology of L-alanine crystals has been studied. The crystal growth of L-alanine is described by the spiral growth mechanism. From examining the growth rate dependence on supersaturation at constant additive concentration, it is concluded that there is no change in the growth mechanism due to the presence of the different additives. L-Alanine crystals were grown both in the absence and in the presence of additives. The crystal morphology was characterized by optical goniometry assigning the different Miller indices to the well-developed crystal faces. The addition of L-amino acids selectively inhibits the development of certain L-alanine crystal faces. L-Alanine crystals grown in the presence of nonpolar amino acids, such as L-leucine, L-phenylalanine, and L-valine, at concentrations as low as 0.20 m (0.3%, w/w) develop the {120} faces, whereas the {010}, {110}, and {210} faces are not developed. The effect of these additives on the morphology of L-alanine is explained at the molecular level based on crystallographic considerations. The molecular structure of a face will determine the availability of sites that favor the adsorption of the additives. The availability of sites and their energy, on a particular crystal face, will determine the extent of adsorption. The growth rate of a crystal face is decreased by the adsorption of the additive. The inhibitory effect of these additives can be explained by a Langmuir isotherm, assuming that the inhibition of the growth rate is proportional to the degree of surface coverage and that the crystal surface is homogeneous with respect to the energy of adsorption sites.
Researching from a Distance: Using Live Web Conferencing to Mediate Data Collection:

Advances in technology have transformed the way people learn, work, and conduct research. An increase in online university courses offers geographically separated learners a chance to work together using live videoconferencing software. Researchers, however, have little guidance on how to collect qualitative interview data in these virtual environments. This article examines how researchers used live videoconferencing software to conduct interviews with participants separated geographically in a graduate education course. The authors point out the ethical and practical challenges that arose from using this method of data collection and offer advice on overcoming these obstacles. The authors conclude live videoconferencing software has the potential to be a viable data collection tool for researchers after considering the practical and ethical concerns associated with this method. Keywords: distance learning, Elluminate Live!, interviews, live data collection, online learning, technology, videoconference Authors’ Note: This research was partially supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DUE0832026. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Signal Compensation Method for Time-Varying Adaptive Control

This paper presents a new method to improve the performance of an adaptive controller under the time-varying environment. In general, under the time-varying environment the adaptive controller will not perform satisfactorily because the estimated parameters cannot track the real parameters exactly. Consequently, the resulting closed-loop system will differ from the one we expected. In order to obtain a satisfatory performance specified in the design criteria, the command sigal should be compensated to accommodate the deviation. In the new method, the resulting closed-loop system is treated as another time-varying plant to be controlled. We then design a higher order adaptive controller according to the original design criteria to control this inner closed-loop system. The simulation results show a significant performance improvement by using the new method.
Tokamaks heated to high beta

Intense plasma heating (neutral beam, wave, alpha, …) makes high energy density tokamaks possible. This paper treats the reaction of plasma which is heated to values of beta in the range of 5–15%.
Effect of furosemide on free water excretion in edematous patients with hyponatremia.

Effect of furosemide on free water excretion in edematous patients with hyponatremia. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of intravenous furosemide on urinary dilution in patients with hyponatremia associated with edema formation due to congestive heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis or nephrotic syndrome. Despite the evidence that a major tubular effect of furosemide is to inhibit sodium reabsorption in loops of Henle where urinary dilution occurs, administration of the diuretic resulted in a net increase in free water excretion in 4 of these 7 patients. This improved ability to excrete dilute urine occurred in the absence of volume expansion and was not abolished by infusing vasopressin. We conclude that the diuretic improved the excretion of water as a result of incomplete osmotic equilibration during high rates of flow through collecting ducts. Also, since furosemide may interfere with proximal tubular reabsorption, the diuretic could result in a net increase in the volume of dilute tubular fluid generated as a result of increased delivery of tubular fluid to diluting sites unaffected by the drug.
The effect of very high magnetic fields on the reaction dynamics in bacterial reaction centers: implications for the reaction mechanism

Magnetic field effects have proven to be a powerful tool for elucidating the mechanism of the initial charge separation and recombination steps in bacterial photosynthesis. Since the first data were obtained at high magnetic field strengths, there have been difficulties reconciling the quantitative values obtained for spin-dependent radical-pair decay rate constants with other data within the framework of the conventional reaction mechanism. These difficulties are further highlighted by the recent extensions of the measurements of the triplet quantum yield and decay kinetics and delayed fluorescence to very high magnetic fields. In this paper we analyze the conventional reaction scheme and several others which have been proposed in light of all of the available data. Of the four schemes discussed in detail, three, including the one in most general use are inadequate in explaining the experimental results. The fourth scheme, postulating that the formation of the initial charge-separated state proceeds via formation of the radical-pair state in an unrelaxed form that undergoes nuclear coordinate relaxation on the nanosecond time-scale (Woodbury, N.W. and Parson, W.W. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 767, 345–361), is consistent with all data available to date. A quantitative analysis of this scheme provides some information on the nature of this early charge-separated state.
The heat of fusion of poly(4-methyl pentene-1)

We have combined pressure–volume–temperature measurements and high-temperature x-ray diffraction to calculate the heat of fusion of the poly(4-methyl pentene-1) crystal from the Clapeyron equation. We find ΔHf = 14.8 cal/g, only about half as large as several literature values. The new value of the heat of fusion leads to increased degrees of crystallinity, in agreement with the highly crystalline appearance of the x-ray patterns of typical samples, in particular oriented fibers. The new entropy of fusion at constant pressure of 2.46 cal/deg per mole of monomer units is significantly lower than the values for polypropylene, polybutene-1, and polypentene-1, indicating possible ordering in the melt of this polymer.
Model for measuring excitation temperatures on a relative basis without transition probabilities

Abstract A variation of the conventional slope or two-line method is proposed for determining excitation temperature ( T exc ) by atomic emission. T exc is measured relative to some known reference value, which can be derived either from the emission source itself or from some reference line source of known temperature. Measurement of T exc with a relative error of 1–10% should be possible for reasonable experimental uncertainties in T ref and the measured line intensities. The proposed method is useful for some interesting and important experiments with emission lines for which the transition probabilities are either unknown or of questionable accuracy. Such experiments include measuring the dependence of T exc on observation position or operating parameters, determining whether or not different emitting species have the same T exc , and identifying possible deviations from a Boltzmann distribution of excited state populations within a particular emitting species.
Evaluation of a Health Careers Program for Asian American and Pacific Islander High School Students

The authors evaluated a health careers program in a U.S. urban public high school. After small subgroups of the original sample were removed, participants included 162 Asian American and Pacific Islander students. Analyses of covariance indicated that, compared with the comparison group, the treatment group reported significantly higher levels of social support, school engagement, interest in learning, vocational expectations, and ethnic identity. Implications for multicultural counseling in schools are discussed. Los autores evaluaron un programa de carreras sanitarias en una escuela secundaria publica de Estados Unidos. Tras la eliminacion de pequenos subgrupos de la muestra original, los participantes incluyeron 162 estudiantes Asiatico-Americanos e Islenos del Pacifico. Los analisis de covarianza indicaron que, comparado con el grupo de comparacion, el grupo de tratamiento expreso unos niveles significativamente mayores de apoyo social, participacion escolar, interes en el aprendizaje, expectativas vocacionales e identidad etnica. Se discuten las implicaciones para la consejeria multicultural en escuelas.
High Performance Diode Lasers Emitting at 780-820 nm

High power 780-820 nm diode lasers have been developed for pumping and material processing systems. This paper presents recent progress in the development of such devices for use in high performance industrial applications. A newly released laser design in this wavelength range demonstrates thermally limited >25W CW power without catastrophic optical mirror damage (COMD), with peak wallplug efficiency ~65%. Ongoing accelerated lifetesting projects a time to 5% failure of ~10 years at 5 and 8 W operating powers for 95 and 200 μm emitter widths, respectively. Preliminary results indicate the presence and competition of a random and wear-out failure mode. Fiber-coupled modules based on arrays of these devices support >100W reliable operation, with a high 56% peak efficiency (ex-fiber) and improved brightness/reliability.
Scavenging of aerosol by a falling water droplet. Effect of particle size

Abstract A water droplet with radius 2.54 mm falls freely through a silver chloride aerosol consisting of submicron particles of narrow distribution. The droplet accelerated for a distance of 30 cm prior to entering the 130 cm aerosol chamber. The collection efficiency was correlated by E = 76.8 P e − 2 3 over the particle radius range 0.20 to 0.53 × 10−4 cm.
Superconductivity and flux pinning in Nd/sub 1+x/Ba/sub 2-x/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7+ delta /

The substitution of Nd/sup +3/ for Ba/sup +2/ in Nd/sub 1+x/Ba/sub 2-x/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/ (Nd123ss) increases the occupation of O(5) sites. For x>0.1 there is a significant depression of T/sub c/, and for x >
Lessons learned from Katrina: one department's perspective.

Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on Monday, August 29, 2005, causing multiple breaches in a fragile levee system, which resulted in massive flooding. The School of Medicine at Tulane University, Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, the Medical Center of Louisiana, New Orleans, and many of our other affiliate institutions were among the casualties of the flood. No disaster plan for such a devastating event had been formulated and, thus, the University, as well as individual departments, was left to develop onsite plans to address such needs as location of personnel (faculty, staff, and trainees), remote education of medical students, and treatment of displaced patients. The Department of Psychiatry and Neurology set up headquarters at the state hospital in Jackson and began to pull the department back together again through Yahoo group forums and departmental meetings (with teleconference accessibility) held in Baton Rouge and Jackson. Faculty were assigned to shelters, as well as health and mental health clinics where needed in Louisiana and Houston. Students and residents were reassigned to Baylor and the University of Texas medical schools until academic and clinical facilities could be reopened in New Orleans. With the loss of clinical revenue came the most painful piece of the survival process: cuts in faculty (25 total) and staff (24 total). All 25 faculty members from our department who were separated from the University were given separation packages and clinical (volunteer) faculty appointments with the hope that they will continue to actively support the academic and research missions of the department. We hope to recruit and rebuild once the clinical facilities are fully functional again. The significant lesson learned in the aftermath of this tragedy is “Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint!”
Radar Remote Sensing of Planetary Surfaces

Radar has been recognized as a practical tool for Earth and planetary science for more than 30 years. In recent years, radar images from orbiting platforms have provided spectacular views of features as diverse as volcanoes in Guatemala, buried river channels in the Egyptian desert, and the surface of Venus. Each of these features is commonly obscured by clouds or dust and had been difficult or impossible to see with other methods.
The configuration of stendomycidine.

The absolute configuration of stendomycidine (I), a constituent of the peptide antibiotic stendomycin, was determined. Optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) measurements showed the configuration at the α-carbon atom to be that of an L-amino acid. Degradation of stendomycidine with N-bromosuccinimide yielded 2-methylimino-3-methyl-hexahydropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid (II), a compound with only one center of asymmetry. A comparison of the ORD spectrum of compound II with that of 2-imino-hexahydropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid (III), prepared from authentic L-α, γ-diaminobutyric acid, showed that the second center of asymmetry also has the L-configuration. Hence, the L-erythro configuration was assigned to stendomycidine. Comparison of the nmr spectra of stendomycidine and capreomycidine added some additional support to the above assignment.
Perspectives on the Technology of Service Operations

Processes and outcomes in manufacturing goods are different from those involved in producing services. These differences necessitate modifications in the theory of sealing off the technical core when applied to the services. Although it is difficult to buffer service operations from customer-induced uncertain ties, it is possible to insulate them from administrative sectors of the organization.
US National Security and Foreign Direct Investment

This article examines US foreign investment policy in the historical and current security contexts and provides an analytical discussion on the trends in foreign investment review on national security grounds. It finds that the concept of national security has been gradually broadened to include economic security, critical infrastructure, and homeland security as components of national security. This has allowed the foreign investment review process to become highly politicized. The article concludes that national security is far too important to be mixed with domestic political debates on economic and social concerns from foreign takeovers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multi-Channel Microstrip Transceiver Arrays Using Harmonics for High Field MR Imaging in Humans

Radio-frequency (RF) transceiver array design using primary and higher order harmonics for in vivo parallel magnetic resonance imaging imaging (MRI) and spectroscopic imaging is proposed. The improved electromagnetic decoupling performance, unique magnetic field distributions and high-frequency operation capabilities of higher-order harmonics of resonators would benefit transceiver arrays for parallel MRI, especially for ultrahigh field parallel MRI. To demonstrate this technique, microstrip transceiver arrays using first and second harmonic resonators were developed for human head parallel imaging at 7T. Phantom and human head images were acquired and evaluated using the GRAPPA reconstruction algorithm. The higher-order harmonic transceiver array design technique was also assessed numerically using FDTD simulation. Compared with regular primary-resonance transceiver designs, the proposed higher-order harmonic technique provided an improved g-factor and increased decoupling among resonant elements without using dedicated decoupling circuits, which would potentially lead to a better parallel imaging performance and ultimately faster and higher quality imaging. The proposed technique is particularly suitable for densely spaced transceiver array design where the increased mutual inductance among the elements becomes problematic. In addition, it also provides a simple approach to readily upgrade the channels of a conventional primary resonator microstrip array to a larger number for faster imaging.
The morbidity and mortality of fusions from the thoracic spine to the pelvis in the adult population.

Study design A retrospective analysis. Objective To quantify the risks of surgery and explore the associations of early perioperative complications with patient demographics and surgical variables. Summary of background data Long fusions extending from the thoracic spine to the pelvis in adults are increasingly common. Currently, there are few studies detailing the overall risks of such comprehensive reconstructions or how preoperative demographics may be associated with potential complications. Methods A retrospective study was performed at two tertiary referral institutions. Preoperative patient demographics and intraoperative surgical variables were analyzed to explore the potential association with outcomes. The outcomes recorded were death, length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, discharge to a rehabilitation facility, major medical complications, neurologic deficits, and the additional unplanned surgeries that patients subsequently underwent. Results One hundred three consecutive patients underwent a fusion extending from the thoracic spine to the pelvis for degenerative conditions from 2003 to 2007. There was a 4% mortality rate. The mean hospital stay and mean ICU stay was 12 ± 7 and 2.7 ± 4 days, respectively. Fifty-eight percent of patients were discharged to a rehabilitation facility. Twelve percent of patients experience at least one major medical complication. Seventeen percent of patients had a documented new persistent neurologic deficit that was still present at the final clinic visit. Thirty-five percent of patients underwent at least one unplanned return to the operating theater. There were no perioperative demographics or surgical variables that had a statistically significant association with mortality. Major medical complications were associated with the American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) score (P = 0.030) and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (P = 0.028) but not age (P = 0.273). Conclusion Complex spine reconstruction involving fusions from the thoracic spine to the pelvis continues to be a high-risk procedure in spite of more advanced surgical and perioperative techniques.
Partially Integrated Electronically Tuned Millimeter-Wave (33-75 GHz) Gunn Oscillators

Experimental results are presented for varactor tuned GaAs Gunn-effect oscillators at millimeter-wave (33-75 GHz) frequencies for both microstrip and suspended substrate configuration. An electronic tuning range of almost 2 GHz with an output power of +20 dBm ±0.65 dB has been achieved at 41 GHz using a novel radial disc geometry for the microstrip oscillator. The tuning element was an IMPATT diode. A hyperabrupt tuning varactor, in this circuit, increased the tuning range to 2.5 GHz at 42 GHz with modest decrease in power to +18 dBm ±0.8 dB. Corresponding results for a suspended substrate oscillator configuration were +23.5 dBm ±0.75 dB power output with approximately 1 GHz electronic tuning. Preliminary results at V-Band (50-75 GHz) yielded an electronic tuning bandwidth of 2 GHz with a minimum output power, across the band, of +13 dBm.
Zosteriform metastasis: case presentation and review of the literature.

. In contrast to benign tumors, malignant tumors, by definition, are characterized by the potential of giving rise to metastases. Albeit infrequently, skin metastases do occur, and their clinical appearance varies over a wide morphologic spectrum. We present the case of a 65-year-old male with zosteriform metastasis secondary to bronchogenic adenocarcinoma. A review of cutaneous metastasis is presented with emphasis on dermatomal distribution and possible mechanisms of dissemination.
A new look at the classical key exchange system based on amplified Johnson noise

A classical key exchange system based on the amplified Johnson noise has been proposed and demonstrated recently. In this Letter, a modified system is presented. By using circulator and feedback, the new system can be compatible with traditional analog and digital communications systems using carrier waves. Results of circuit simulations, however, indicate that the signal transit time poses a serious risk. Because of delay and multiple reflections, there is always a difference between two parties communicating. The eavesdropper can exploit this difference. By choosing impedance and delay time, the difference can be reduced. Nevertheless, the system is far from being secure except when two parties are collocated.
Three-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Waveguides and Resonators by Unit Cell Size Modulation

The Cu-based interconnect is a major bottleneck for sustaining technological advances in semiconductor integrated circuits. Matured optics technology may be able to resolve this challenge. Optics can provide high-speed, wavelengthdivision- multiplexing signals with the capability of interfacing optics with electronics through EO and OE conversion- directly-modulated laser, external modulator, and photodiode. An optical waveguide is a major building block for optical interconnects technology. A three-dimensional photonic crystal may provide single-mode, low-loss, group-velocitydispersionless, and compact waveguides. We report designs of double-heterojunction optical waveguides in a threedimensional photonic crystal. Compact optical waveguide modes are induced by modulating unit cells onedimensionally or two-dimensionally. One way to do this is to modulate the unit cell size. A well-type waveguide structure is formed by modulating the lattice constant of woodpile in one direction. For some 1D double-heterojunction geometries, light propagation becomes non-dispersive in the space domain, i.e. light is self-collimated along certain directions within the well plane. Next, two-dimensional unit-cell-modulation is applied to a 3D photonic crystal for exciting wire-type waveguide modes, for which light propagates along the horizontal or vertical wire. As a result, light may be guided in the same level or into different levels. The propagation properties, such as group velocity, and waveguide group velocity dispersion, are also analyzed in this work.
Carborane-containing liquid crystals: synthesis and structural, conformational, thermal, and spectroscopic characterization of diheptyl and diheptynyl derivatives of p-carboranes.

Molecular and electronic structures for four p-carborane derivatives were studied in the context of their liquid crystalline properties. Thus molecular and crystal structures of diheptyl and diheptynyl derivatives of 10- and 12-vertex bi-p-carboranes were determined by X-ray crystallography and compared to the results of ab initio calculations at the HF/6-31G* level of theory. Experimentally observed significant positional disorder of one of the substituents in the 10-vertex derivatives, 2[2]a and 2[2]b, was related to conformational properties of the alkyl−carborane bond. Experimental and theoretical studies of the electronic structures were conducted for the four compounds using UV and NMR spectroscopies. The nature of the unique long wavelength absorption band at 232 nm in the diheptynyl derivative 2[2]b was explained using INDO/2//HF/6-31G* analysis. The complete assignment of the 13C signals was accomplished using a long-range coupling technique and was supported by the calculated (HF/6-31G*) isotrop...
An obstruction to sliceness via contact geometry and “classical” gauge theory

In recent work (beginning with [8]) Kronheimer and Mrowka have developed the formidable machinery of "gauge theory for embedded surfaces", and deployed it against a host of problems of the general form, "What is the least genus of a smooth surface representing a specified homology class in a given 4-manifold?" One of their results (the "local Thom Conjecture") can be used [19] to derive a lower bound (the "slice-Bennequin inequality", hereinafter sBi) for the Murasuoi (or slice) genus of a knot K c S3--that is, the smallest genus of a smooth, oriented surface in D 4 with boundary K. A knot is slice if it has Murasugi genus 0, so in particular sBi provides an obstruction to sliceness. Though Bennequin originally conjectured sBi in the context [1] of an investigation into 3-dimensional contact geometry, to date sBi has not been proved using exclusively 3-dimensional methods. (Such methods did success- fully establish [1] the "Bennequin inequality" pure and simple, which sBi generalizes. It appears they can also be used [I 1] to answer the "question of Milnor" on unknotting number, achieved 4-dimensionally - using the local Thom Conjecture - in [8].) The following corollary of sBi will be proved in w independently of sBi, by combining ideas from dimensions 3 (contact geometry) and 4 ("classical" gauge theory [4], earlier and comparatively simpler than [8]): ifa knot K has non-negative maximal Thurston-Bennequin invariant TB(K), then K is not slice. Though TB (K) is defined analytically, an alternative combinatorial definition (recalled in w allows one to show TB(K) > 0 (and sometimes to calculate TB(K)) for many interesting knots K; in particular, results of [19] on non- sliceness of certain iterated doubled knots are recovered quickly and easily. Research partially supported by CNRS.
A new proof of Belyiʼs Theorem

Abstract A new proof of Belyiʼs Theorem is given. While Belyiʼs two proofs use different methods to first reduce the branch locus from Q ¯ to Q and then from Q to { 0 , 1 , ∞ } , our argument uses a single, new method to reduce directly from Q ¯ to { 0 , 1 , ∞ } .
Oxidation of Zircaloy-4 by oxygen and the production of water

Abstract The interaction of isotopic oxygen (18O2) with Zircaloy-4 (Zry-4) at 150 and 300 K has been studied using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) methods. AES reveals the oxidation of the Zry-4 surface, reflected in shifts of the Zr(MNV) and Zr(MNN) features by about 5.5 and 3.0 eV, respectively, for both adsorption temperatures. The O(KLL)/Zr(MNN) Auger peak-to-peak height ratios as a function of exposure show the same trends at both temperatures. Following 18O2 adsorption at 150 or 300 K, TPD experiments show hydrogen desorption near 400 K that is attributed to the presence of a surface-stabilized form of hydrogen. Additionally, water (H218O and H216O) desorption below 200 K and above 700 K is observed after 150 K oxygen adsorption. However, after oxygen adsorption at 300 K the only significant desorption features are from isotopic water (H218O). These findings indicate that mass transport involving the near-surface region contributes to the observed desorption, and that this behavior is dependent on the original adsorption temperature. Charging experiments using D2 prior to and after 18O2 adsorption were also performed and support our conclusions about the role of surface–subsurface mass transport in this system.
CACTI: Free, Open-Source Software for the Sequential Coding of Behavioral Interactions

The sequential analysis of client and clinician speech in psychotherapy sessions can help to identify and characterize potential mechanisms of treatment and behavior change. Previous studies required coding systems that were time-consuming, expensive, and error-prone. Existing software can be expensive and inflexible, and furthermore, no single package allows for pre-parsing, sequential coding, and assignment of global ratings. We developed a free, open-source, and adaptable program to meet these needs: The CASAA Application for Coding Treatment Interactions (CACTI). Without transcripts, CACTI facilitates the real-time sequential coding of behavioral interactions using WAV-format audio files. Most elements of the interface are user-modifiable through a simple XML file, and can be further adapted using Java through the terms of the GNU Public License. Coding with this software yields interrater reliabilities comparable to previous methods, but at greatly reduced time and expense. CACTI is a flexible research tool that can simplify psychotherapy process research, and has the potential to contribute to the improvement of treatment content and delivery.
Assessment of a new transurethral balloon dilation catheter in the treatment of urethral stricture disease.

Abstract Objectives. To assess a newly designed balloon dilation catheter for the treatment of urethral stricture disease. The dilating capability of the catheter, the tolerability and safety of the procedure, and its short-term efficacy were evaluated. Methods. Fifty-one patients with urethral strictures underwent dilation with the UrethraMax or a coude tip balloon dilation catheter. Efficacy parameters included measurement of the American Urological Association symptom score and maximum urinary flow rate 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. The adequacy of dilation and the degree of mucosal trauma and hematuria were assessed endoscopically, and patient pain was measured using a visual analog scale. Results. Forty-three patients (84.3%) were successfully dilated, achieving a urethral caliber of 20F or greater. Dilation resulted in statistically significant improvements in both the mean American Urological Association symptom score and mean maximum urinary flow rate at 3 and 6 months. Mucosal trauma was mild in all but 4 cases, and no patient developed significant hematuria. The mean visual analog pain score was 3.9 (range 0.1 to 9.4). Conclusions. Balloon dilation is a safe, well-tolerated, office-based procedure that theoretically offers several advantages over sequential rigid dilation and internal urethrotomy. It is associated with minimal complications, and its short-term efficacy is acceptable. We regard this as the dilation procedure of choice and first-line therapy for most strictures.
Clerical Employees' Perceptions of Intraorganizational Career Opportunities

This study investigated the determinants of perceived ease of movement within an organization among two groups of clerical employees. It also investigated the relationship between perceived ease of...
A solid state reaction for hydroquinone

Abstract A reaction which has been known for almost 50 years and which has been rein-vestigated 25 years ago was reviewed on the basis of microanalytical experimentation. The sensitivity of the reaction for detecting hydroquinone was lowered to the microgram scale. Other reagents for the reaction were suggested and found unique and useful. The selectivity of the test for hydroquinone was explored by comparing the same with hydroquinone derivatives.
Hydrolysis of silicon–hydride bonds catalyzed by ferromagnetic cobalt nanoparticles

Ferromagnetic cobalt nanoparticles with average diameter of 9.5 nm, used for the purpose of magnetic catalyst recovery, were shown to catalyze the hydrolysis of silicon–hydride bonds for a range of hydrosilanes. The highest turnover frequencies (220–311 moles silane/moles Co/h) were observed for the dialkylsilanes (R2SiH2), which were hydrolyzed to give the corresponding dialkylsilanediols. The monoalkylsilanes (RSiH3) reacted more slowly (2–20 moles silane/moles Co/h) and gave an oligomeric product. Trialkylsilanes (R3SiH) required elevated temperatures in order to observe trace activity.
Differential Interaction of the Cyclin-dependent Kinase (Cdk) Inhibitor p27Kip1 with Cyclin A-Cdk2 and Cyclin D2-Cdk4

Although p27Kip1 has been considered a general inhibitor of G1 and S phase cyclin-dependent kinases, we report that the interaction of p27 with two such kinases, cyclin A-Cdk2 and cyclin D-Cdk4, is different. In Mv1Lu cells containing a p27 inducible system, a 6-fold increase over the basal p27 level completely inhibited Cdk2 and cell cycle progression. In contrast, the same or a larger increase in p27 levels did not inhibit Cdk4 or its homologue Cdk6, despite extensive binding to these kinases. A p27-cyclin A-Cdk2 complex formed in vitro was essentially inactive, whereas a p27-cyclin D2-Cdk4 complex was active as a retinoblastoma kinase and served as a substrate for the Cdk-activating kinase Cak. High concentrations of p27 inhibited cyclin D2-Cdk4, apparently by conversion of active complexes into inactive ones by the binding of additional p27 molecules. In contrast to their differential interaction, cyclin A-Cdk2 and cyclin D2-Cdk4 were similarly inhibited by bound p21Cip1/Waf1. Roles of cyclin A-Cdk2 as a p27 target and cyclin D2-Cdk4 as a p27 reservoir may result from the differential ability of bound p27 to inhibit the kinase subunit in these complexes.
Papillomavirus capsid protein expression in Escherichia coli: purification and assembly of HPV11 and HPV16 L1.

Abstract The L1 major capsid proteins of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 11 and 16 were purified and analyzed for structural integrity and in vitro self-assembly. Proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli as glutathione- S -transferase-L1 (GST-L1) fusions and purified to near homogeneity as pentamers (equivalent to viral capsomeres), after thrombin cleavage from the GST moiety and removal of tightly associated GroEL protein. Sequences at the amino and carboxy termini contributing to formation of L1 pentamers and to in vitro capsid assembly were identified by deletion analysis. For both HPV11 and HPV16 L1, up to at least ten residues could be deleted from the amino terminus (ΔN10) and 30 residues from the carboxy terminus (ΔC30) without affecting pentamer formation. The HPV16 pentamers assembled into relatively regular, 72-pentamer shells (“virus-like particles” or VLPs) at low pH, with the exception of HPV16 L1 ΔN10, which assembled into a 12-pentamer, T = 1 capsid (small VLP) under all conditions tested. The production of large quantities of assembly-competent L1, using the expression and purification protocol described here, has been useful for crystallographic analysis, and will be valuable for studies of virus-receptor interactions and potentially for vaccine design.
Why Are Nitrenes More Stable than Carbenes? An Ab Initio Study

High level ab initio calculations find that nitrenes are more stable than carbenes, as indicated by the computed enthalpy differences of 25−26 kcal/mol between triplet phenylnitrene and the isomeric triplet pyridylcarbenes. More generally, the greater thermodynamic stability of nitrenes manifests itself in the finding that the N−H bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of aminyl radicals are approximately 20 kcal/mol lower than the C−H BDEs of analogous alkyl radicals. The greater thermodynamic stability of nitrenes, relative to carbenes, is attributed to the large amount of 2s character in the orbital that is occupied by the lone pair of electrons in nitrenes.