cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction of granule, purkinje and inferior olivary neurons in lurcher chimaeric mice. I. Qualitative studies.

Heterozygous lurcher (+/Lc) mutant mice lose 100% of their Purkinje cells (PCs), 90% of their granule cells, and 75% of their inferior olivary neurons. In order to determine the primary site of Lc gene action, lurcher↔ wild-type aggregation chimaeras were produced. The cerebella of the three chimaeras examined were intermediate or normal in size compared to +/ Lc and wild-type cerebella. The PCs were reduced in number. Using the β-glucuronidase locus ( Gus ) as a cell marker, all of the PCs present were identified as having descended from the wild-type embryo. It appears that all of the +/Lc PCs degenerated. Hence, the Lc gene acts directly on PCs to cause their degeneration. The inferior olivary nuclei of the chimaeras seemed to have fewer neurons than wild-type but more than +/ Lc animals. As revealed by β-glucuronidase histochemistry, both +/+and +/ Lc cells were present, and the ratio of genotypes was similar to the ratio seen in other regions of the brain. The evidence suggests that the death of olivary neurons in lurcher is secondary to another defect, probably the loss of PCs. β-glucuronidase is not an accutate cell marker for granule cells, and so no conclusion concerning the action of the Lc gene on granule cells could be made with these chimaeras.
Peptide synthesis by prior thiol capture—V. The scope and control of disulfide interchange during the acyl transfer step

Disulfide interchange in DMSO, during amide formation by prior thiol capture is reduced to less than 3% at low concentrations (<10 M) of substrate in the absence of air and light, and in the presence of 2.5 to 10 mole % AgNO3. The rate and selectivity of the exchange process were assessed by reacting 6 with a thiol; 7 was formed almost exclusively with a rate constant on the order of 10 to 10 M s.
Effects of Monolayer Density and Bulk Ionic Strength on Acid-Base Equilibria at the Air/Water Interface

The surface density and electrolyte concentration dependences of the pKa of CH3(CH2)21NH3+ at the air/water interface are obtained using the method of second harmonic generation. If it is assumed that the amphiphiles are uniformly distributed at the interface, the application of the Gouy−Chapman model yields pKa values ranging from 10.2 to 8.2 as the interface density varies from 100 to 22 A2/molecule. By accounting for the inhomogeneity of the interface, i.e., there are amphiphiles islands of “liquid phase” density immersed in a “gas phase” of very low-density amphiphiles, a single pKa of 10.1 ± 0.2 is obtained at all interface densities. The acidity of the long chain amine is enhanced by 3 times at the air/water interface compared with the bulk aqueous solution.
Improved Interobserver Variability and Accuracy of Echocardiographic Visual Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Assessment through a Self-Directed Learning Program Using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Images

Background Although not recommended in isolation, visual estimation of echocardiographic ejection fraction (EF) is widely applied to confirm quantitative EF. However, interobserver variability for EF estimation has been reported to be as high as 14%. The aim of this study was to determine whether self-directed education could improve the accuracy and interobserver variability of visual estimation of EF and whether a multireader estimate improves measurement precision. Methods Thirty-one participants provided single-point EF estimates for 30 echocardiograms with a spectrum of EFs, image quality, and clinical contexts in patients undergoing cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) within 48 hours. Participants received their own case-by-case variance from CMR EF, and the 10 cases with the largest reader variability were discussed along with corresponding CMR images. Self-directed learning was undertaken by side-by-side review of echocardiographic and CMR images. Two months later, 20 new cases were shown to the same 31 participants, using the same methodology. Results The baseline interobserver variability of ±0.120 improved to ±0.097 after the intervention. EF misclassification (defined as ±0.05 of CMR EF) was reduced from 56% to 47% ( P P = .0001). This improvement was most prominent for the readers with lower baseline accuracy. A combined physician-sonographer EF estimate improved the precision of EF determination by 25% compared with individual reads. Conclusions In readers with varying levels of experience, a simple, mostly self-directed intervention modestly decreased interobserver variability and improved the accuracy of EF measurements. Combined physician-sonographer EF reporting improved the precision of EF estimates.
Structural changes in astrocytes induced by seizures in a model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Injection of iron-chloride solution unilaterally into the hippocampus of albino rats induced transient seizure activity which lasted approximately 2 weeks. Frontal and parietal cortices of experimental rats, control rats which received NaCl injections, and unoperated normal rats were compared by means of a Golgi stain which demonstrated astrocytes and their processes in their entirety. Morphometric analysis showed that cortical astrocytes of rats having intermittent seizure activity over a prolonged period were significantly larger than cortical astrocytes of control rats. These findings indicate that seizure activity causes structural brain changes at anatomical sites distant from the hippocampal seizure focus. Similar phenomena may contribute to the development of psychiatric and neurological changes in the epileptic patient.
Responses to natural disasters

Since 1964, natural disasters caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or extreme weather in the form of floods, droughts, or hurricanes, have been responsible for more than 2,756,000 deaths worldwide in nations other than the United States, the Soviet Union, and the Eastern European Bloc, according to figures tabulated by the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the Agency for International Development (AID). Over 95% of these fatalities occurred in developing or third world countries. Damage resulting from these calamities has been severe but extremely difficult to estimate in monetary terms. In 1986, U.S. government and voluntary agencies spent $303 million on natural disaster assistance around the world, 79% of total world assistance. In 1985 the U.S. total was nearly $900 million, 48% of the $1.84 billion world total.
The size of the anterior spinal artery in relation to the arteria medullaris magna anterior in humans

We studied the anterior spinal artery (ASA) in 25 cadaveric human spinal cords to determine the cross-sectional area of the ASA cephalad and caudal to the entry of the arteria medullaris magna anterior (AMMA). Spinal cords were removed en bloc and latex was injected into the AMMA. The preparations were then fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin, sectioned, mounted, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The diameter and cross-sectional area of the ASA 1 cm above and 1 cm below the entry of the AMMA were measured. The mean radius of the ASA above the entry of AMMA was 0.14 ± 0.03 mm compared to 0.28 ± 0.05 mm below the entry of the AMMA (P < 0.001). According to Poiseuille's equation, the resistance to blood flow in the ASA cephalad to the AMMA would be 14.8 times greater than the resistance to blood flow caudal to the ANIMA. This resistance could affect the distribution of blood flow in the distal spinal cord whenever flow in the AMMA or distal ASA is altered. © 1995 WiIey-Liss, Inc.
Electrically tunable plasmonic absorber enabled by indium Tin Oxide

We demonstrate an optical antenna absorber with unity absorption based on gold nanostrip antenna with optical back mirror. Indium Tin Oxide is used as the active material to electrically tune the optical spectra.
Immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma.

Abstract There are two major roles for immunohistochemistry in diagnosing melanocytic lesions. The first, and presently more successful role, is that of determining the melanocytic nature of a given tumor and of excluding other non-melanocytic histologic simulants. The second role for the immunoperoxidase methodology involves helping define the potential biologic behavior of a given lesion, once its melanocytic origin has been demonstrated. This objective remains largely elusive, as will be discussed more fully below. This chapter will outline a strategy for using immunohistochemistry to characterize tumors as being of melanocytic origin, with a brief discussion of antibodies employed toward this end. Following this, antibodies directed specifically against melanoma cells, as opposed to melanocytes in general, will be discussed and evaluated.
Regional On-Road Vehicle Running Emissions Modeling and Evaluation for Conventional and Alternative Vehicle Technologies

This study presents a methodology for estimating high-resolution, regional on-road vehicle emissions and the associated reductions in air pollutant emissions from vehicles that utilize alternative fuels or propulsion technologies. The fuels considered are gasoline, diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, compressed natural gas, hydrogen, and electricity. The technologies considered are internal combustion or compression engines, hybrids, fuel cell, and electric. Road link-based emission models are developed using modal fuel use and emission rates applied to facility- and speed-specific driving cycles. For an urban case study, passenger cars were found to be the largest sources of HC, CO, and CO2 emissions, whereas trucks contributed the largest share of NOx emissions. When alternative fuel and propulsion technologies were introduced in the fleet at a modest market penetration level of 27%, their emission reductions were found to be 3−14%. Emissions for all pollutants generally decreased with an increase in the market...
Somatosensory Pulsatile Tinnitus Syndrome: Somatic Testing Identifies a Pulsatile Tinnitus Subtype That Implicates the Somatosensory System

A new tinnitus syndrome is described: high-pitched, cardiac-synchronous tinnitus, whose pulsations are suppressed by strong contractions or compressions of the neck and jaw muscles (somatic testing). 14 cases, 6 non-lateralized and 8 unilateral, are reported. In the non-lateralized cases, onset was bilateral. In the one intermittent case, while her tinnitus was absent her pulsatile tinnitus could be induced by somatic testing. No etiology was found from physical examination, imaging, or ancillary testing. Because these cases of pulsatile tinnitus can be both induced and suppressed by activation of the somatosensory system of the head or upper lateral neck, we propose that this syndrome is occurring from (a) cardiac synchronous somatosensory activation of the central auditory pathway or (b) failure of the somatosensory-auditory central nervous system interactions to suppress cardiac somatosounds.
Comparison of low doses of aged and freshly fractured silica on pulmonary inflammation and damage in the rat.

Abstract Most previous studies of silica toxicity have used relatively high exposure doses of silica. In this study, male rats received by intratracheal instillation either vehicle, aged or freshly fractured silica at a dose of either 5 μg/rat once a week for 12 weeks (total dose=60 μg) or 20 μg/rat once a week for 12 weeks (total dose=240 μg). One week after the last exposure, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was conducted and markers of pulmonary inflammation, alveolar macrophage (AM) activation and pulmonary damage were examined. For rats exposed to a total of 60 μg silica, both aged and freshly fractured silica increased polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) yield and AM activation above control to a similar degree, but no evidence of pulmonary damage, as measured by BAL fluid lactate dehydrogenase activity or albumin concentration, was detected. For rats exposed to 240 μg silica, aged or freshly fractured silica increased PMN yield and AM activation above control. However, zymosan-stimulated and l -NAME sensitive AM chemiluminescence was greater for rats exposed to freshly fractured silica compared to aged silica. Exposure to 240 μg aged or freshly fractured silica also resulted in pulmonary damage, but the extent of this damage did not differ between the two types of silica. The results suggest that exposure of rats to silica levels far lower than those previously examined can cause pulmonary inflammation. In addition, exposure to freshly fractured silica causes greater generation of reactive oxygen species from AM, measured as AM chemiluminescence, in comparison to aged silica, but there is an apparent threshold below which this difference does not occur.
Conserved temporal dynamics and vector superposition of primitives in frog wiping reflexes during spontaneous extensor deletions

Abstract We use spontaneous motor pattern deletions in spinal frogs to test a computational theory of movement construction. We hypothesize that at the spinal level, operating in isolation from the brain, the forces driving movements are constructed from summation of force-field primitives of fixed temporal dynamics, which can be expressed in the form F(r, r ,t)= ∑ i A i a(t+τ i )φ i (r, r ) where Ai is a scaling parameter, a(t) is a common timing dynamics for each primitive, time shifted for each by ti and φ(r, r ) are functions of limb state. In deletions, the force amplitudes, force directions and patterns behave as predicted by this model of movement construction based on summation of force-field primitives.
Time- and Dose-Related Biphasic Effects of Synthetic Bovine Parathyroid Hormone Fragment 1–34 on Urinary Cation Excretion*

The reported effects of PTH on urinary excretion of cations are highly variable. We investigated dose and time relationships for urinary clearance of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) after infusions of synthetic bovine PTH fragment 1-34 [bPTH-(1-34)] in seven normal subjects. The bPTH-(1-34) was given over 15 min on widely separated days at doses of 10, 30, 75, 150, and 300 U/70 kg. The 75, 150, and 300 U/70 kg doses produced a biphasic excretory pattern for all four ions, with increased clearance from 0-30 min and enhanced reabsorption at 60-120 min. Lower doses produced only retention of Ca, Mg, and Na, but even 10 U bPTH-(1-34)/70 kg caused a marked biphasic excretory pattern of K. These data explain why in previous studies PTH increased, decreased, or had no effect on the excretion of divalent and monovalent cations and emphasize the importance of short, clearly defined urine collection intervals for in vivo studies of PTH action of the kidney.
The Endangered Science Journal Collection in a Medium-Sized Academic Library: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract A 1991–2001 comparative analysis of science journal cancellations in a medium-sized academic library provides data different from a national “Annual Periodical Price Survey Report” (APPSR). After canceling 50.3 percent of Booth Library's most expensive STM (scientific, technical, and medical) journals, data show that the average cost of a science journal in the library at Eastern Illinois University is more than what the average cost should be for a medium-sized academic library. If cost determines the academic nature of a scholarly journal and its appropriateness for types of libraries, then this analysis means that some medium-sized academic libraries, such as Booth, subscribe to STM titles that are more suitable for large research libraries. Serials Review 2002; 28:102–107.
Paleomagnetism of Middle Proterozoic mafic intrusions and Upper Proterozoic (Nankoweap) red beds from the Lower Grand Canyon Supergroup, Arizona

Abstract Paleomagnetic data from lavas and dikes of the Unkar igneous suite (16 sites) and sedimentary rocks of the Nankoweap Formation (7 sites), Grand Canyon Supergroup (GCSG), Arizona, provide two primary paleomagnetic poles for Laurentia for the latest Middle Proterozoic (ca. 1090 Ma) at 32°N, 185°E (dp=6.8°, dm=9.3°) and early Late Proterozoic (ca. 850–900 Ma) at 10°S, 163°E (dp=3.5°, dm=7.0°). A new 40Ar/39Ar age determination from an Unkar dike gives an interpreted intrusion age of about 1090 Ma, similar to previously reported geochronologic data for the Cardenas Basalts and associated intrusions. The paleomagnetic data show no evidence of any younger, middle Late Proterozoic tectonothermal event such as has been revealed in previous geochronologic studies of the Unkar igneous suite. The pole position for the Unkar Group Cardenas Basalts and related intrusions is in good agreement with other ca. 1100 Ma paleomagnetic poles from the Keweenawan midcontinent rift deposits and other SW Laurentia diabase intrusions. The close agreement in age and position of the Unkar intrusion (UI) pole with poles derived from rift related rocks from elsewhere in Laurentia indicates that mafic magmatism was essentially synchronous and widespread throughout Laurentia at ca. 1100 Ma, suggesting a large-scale continental magmatic event. The pole position for the Nankoweap Formation, which plots south of the Unkar mafic rocks, is consistent with a younger age of deposition, at about 900 to 850 Ma, than had previously been proposed. Consequently, the inferred ∼200 Ma difference in age between the Cardenas Basalts and overlying Nankoweap Formation provides evidence for a third major unconformity within the Grand Canyon sequence.
The family of residue fields of a zero-dimensional commutative ring

Abstract Given a zero-dimensional commutative ring R, we investigate the structure of the family F (R) of residue fields of R. We show that if a family F of fields contains a finite subset {F1,…,Fn} such that every field in F contains an isomorphic copy of at least one of the Fi, then there exists a zero-dimensional reduced ring R such that F = F (R). If every residue field of R is a finite field, or is a finite-dimensional vector space over a fixed field K, we prove, conversely, that the family F (R) has, to within isomorphism, finitely many minimal elements.
Do Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Quality and Patient Experience within Medicare Plans Generalize across Measures and Racial/Ethnic Groups?

Objective To examine how similar racial/ethnic disparities in clinical quality (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set [HEDIS]) and patient experience (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems [CAHPS]) measures are for different measures within Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Data Sources/Study Setting 5.7 million/492,495 MA beneficiaries with 2008–2009 HEDIS/CAHPS data. Study Design Binomial (HEDIS) and linear (CAHPS) hierarchical mixed models generated contract estimates for HEDIS/CAHPS measures for Hispanics, blacks, Asian-Pacific Islanders, and whites. We examine the correlation of within-plan disparities for HEDIS and CAHPS measures across measures. Principal Findings Plans with disparities for a given minority group (vs. whites) for a particular measure have a moderate tendency for similar disparities for other measures of the same type (mean r = 0.51/.21 and 53/34 percent positive and statistically significant for CAHPS/HEDIS). This pattern holds to a lesser extent for correlations of CAHPS disparities and HEDIS disparities (mean r = 0.05/0.14/0.23 and 4.4/5.6/4.4 percent) positive and statistically significant for blacks/Hispanics/API. Conclusions Similarities in CAHPS and HEDIS disparities across measures might reflect common structural factors, such as language services or provider incentives, affecting several measures simultaneously. Health plan structural changes might reduce disparities across multiple measures.
Randomized, Controlled Trial of Amitriptyline Versus Placebo for Adolescents With “Treatment-Resistant” Major Depression

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the response to a serotonergic/noradrenergic tricyclic antidepressant, amitriptyline (AMI), in a group of adolescents with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD). Method Twenty-seven depressed adolescents admitted to a state hospital underwent a 10-week randomized, controlled trial with a flexible dose of AMI or placebo. Results There were no differences between patients taking AMI ( n = 13) and placebo ( n = 14). Both treatment groups showed approximately 70% to 80% improvement on the clinical outcome measurements, and 65% to 70% showed functional improvement. At the end of the protocol, 30% of patients still fulfilled criteria for MDD and had impaired functioning. Patients taking AMI experienced significantly more dry mouth and tachycardia. The final AMI dose was 173.1 mg/day · 56.3 mg/day; blood levels were 226.2 ng/mL · 80.8 ng/mL. Conclusions No significant differences were found between AMI and placebo, in part because of the high placebo response rate. Although both treatment groups showed substantial response, at the end of treatment a substantial proportion of patients still had MDD or subsyndromal symptoms of depression. This and other studies of tricyclic antidepressants question the use of this medication as first-line treatment for youths with MDD.
FFT and cone-beam CT reconstruction on graphics hardware

Graphics processing units (GPUs) are increasingly used for general purpose calculations. Their pipelined architecture can be exploited to accelerate various parallelizable algorithms. Medical imaging applications are inherently well suited to benefit from the development of GPU-based computational platforms. We evaluate in this work the potential of GPUs to improve the execution speed of two common medical imaging tasks, namely Fourier transforms and tomographic reconstructions. A two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm was GPU-implemented and compared, in terms of execution speed, to two popular CPU-based FFT routines. Similarly, the Feldkamp, David and Kress (FDK) algorithm for cone-beam tomographic reconstruction was implemented on the GPU and its performance compared to a CPU version. Different reconstruction strategies were employed to assess the performance of various GPU memory layouts. For the specific hardware used, GPU implementations of the FFT were up to 20 times faster than their CPU counterparts, but slower than highly optimized CPU versions of the algorithm. Tomographic reconstructions were faster on the GPU by a factor up to 30, allowing 256 3 voxel reconstructions of 256 projections in about 20 seconds. Overall, GPUs are an attractive alternative to other imaging-dedicated computing hardware like application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) in terms of cost, simplicity and versatility. With the development of simpler language extensions and programming interfaces, GPUs are likely to become essential tools in medical imaging.
Pilot study of transperineal injection of dehydrated ethanol in the treatment of prostatic obstruction.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of a new approach for treatment of prostatic obstruction involving transperineal injection of dehydrated ethanol into the prostate using transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). Methods Dehydrated ethanol was injected transperineally into 11 patients with prostatic obstruction due to hyperplasia or carcinoma. Injections were performed under TRUS surveillance at bilateral sites of the prostate for an overall amount of 2 to 8 mL of ethanol for each patient. Results There were no intraoperative complications, but postoperative urinary retention occurred in 1 patient who received catheterization for 3 days. The mean symptom score decreased from 17.7 ± 6.0 (median 23) to 8.5 ± 1.1 (median 3.5) at 3 months postoperatively ( P P P Conclusions Our preliminary data suggest that this technique can be performed as an outpatient procedure. It is considered an alternative treatment for prostatic obstruction due to benign hyperplasia or carcinoma, especially when there is a high operative risk.
Interaction of Ancymidol and benzyladenine in control of growth of juvenile Hedera helix

The growth of the juvenile form of Hedera helix L. was greatly suppressed by soil drench treatment with the growth retardant, Ancymidol. Treated plants were smaller in stature, had fewer nodes and shorter internodes, accumulated less dry weight, had reduced leaf area, and lowered shoot: root ratios than untreated plants. In contrast, shoot tip application of the cytokinin, benzyladenine, increased stem diameter and shoot:root ratio over that of controls. When Ancymidol and benzyladenine were applied together, reductions in plant growth were not evident – plants appeared as the untreated controls. The implications of this interaction are discussed.
The Effect of Glisson’s Capsule on the Superficial Elasticity Measurements of the Liver

In the past decade, novel tools for surgical planning and disease diagnosis have been developed to detect the liver's mechanical properties. Some tools utilize superficial indentation type measurements to determine the elasticity of the liver parenchyma and to assume material homogeneity. In fact, the liver is a soft tissue covered with a connective sheathing that is called Glisson's capsule. This article quantifies the effect of this capsule on the measured or "effective" elastic modulus obtained by indentation with a spherical geometry. Two sets of parametric computational studies in which the Glisson capsule thickness and elasticity were varied, demonstrated the relationship between the measured elastic response and the underlying parenchymal elastic response. Previously reported in vivo indentation data on the human liver were utilized to determine the elasticity of its parenchyma. The results indicated a linear relationship between the effective (measured) elastic response and the underlying parenchyma for the Glisson capsule thicknesses considered. When previously published human liver indentation data were analyzed, the measured elastic modulus was nearly 6.9% greater than the underlying parenchyma elastic modulus. Although the analyzed data were obtained from a single liver and yet displayed a significant variation, the Glisson capsule elasticity induced a significant but systematic error as well. The Glisson capsule thickness error was negligible for capsule parameters associated with a normal liver. Based on this work, an emphasis on the Glisson capsule's contribution to the mechanical response of the liver would enhance the clinical potential of indentation-based novel tools for liver care.
The cytoplasmic NPM mutant induces myeloproliferation in a transgenic mouse model

Although NPM1 gene mutations leading to aberrant cytoplasmic expression of nucleophosmin (NPMc(+)) are the most frequent genetic lesions in acute myeloid leukemia, there is yet no experimental model demonstrating their oncogenicity in vivo. We report the generation and characterization of a transgenic mouse model expressing the most frequent human NPMc(+) mutation driven by the myeloid-specific human MRP8 promoter (hMRP8-NPMc(+)). In parallel, we generated a similar wild-type NPM trans-genic model (hMRP8-NPM). Interestingly, hMRP8-NPMc(+) transgenic mice developed myeloproliferation in bone marrow and spleen, whereas nontransgenic littermates and hMRP8-NPM transgenic mice remained disease free. These findings provide the first in vivo evidence indicating that NPMc(+) confers a proliferative advantage in the myeloid lineage. No spontaneous acute myeloid leukemia was found in hMPR8-NPMc(+) or hMRP8-NPM mice. This model will also aid in the development of therapeutic regimens that specifically target NPMc(+).
Initial treatment for prostate carcinoma in relation to comorbidity and symptoms

BACKGROUND Evidence suggests the type of treatment received for prostate carcinoma is associated with comorbidity, but little information is available on associations with specific comorbid disease or symptoms. The authors examined the relations between treatment and comorbidity, specific comorbid disease, and symptoms. METHODS Medical records were abstracted for 1054 male members of the Kaiser Permanente medical care program diagnosed with prostate carcinoma from 1975 to 1987. Information was obtained on demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, symptoms, tumor stage and grade, and treatment. Logistic regression was used to determine the significant predictors of treatment (radiation vs. nonaggressive treatment and surgery vs. nonaggressive treatment). RESULTS Compared to nonaggressive treatment, radiation treatment was less likely among men who had prior cancer (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09–0.90) or cerebrovascular disease (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.13–0.83). There was a significant interaction between race and myocardial infarction (P = 0.02). Surgery, compared to nonaggressive treatment, was less common among men with a prior cancer (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.07–0.63) or congestive heart failure (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.09–0.90). Significant interactions were observed between race and myocardial infarction (P = 0.01), diabetes and dysuria or hematuria (P = 0.02), and para- or hemiplegia and urinary frequency or nocturia (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Specific symptoms and comorbidity appear to influence treatment for prostate carcinoma. More research is needed on treatment differences by race. Cancer 2002;95:2308–15. Published 2002 by the American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10926
Effects of Necessary, Sufficient, and Indirect Causation on Judgments of Criminal Liability

When has one essentially committed a crime? When are one's actions necessary for its occurrence or sufficient to bring it about under normal circumstances? Participants assigned punishments to 17 scenarios that varied as to the necessity and sufficiency of a perpetrator's actions in bringing about a murder; in some instances abnormal circumstances prevented the crime from coming about. The perpetrator's perceived contribution to the outcome was the strongest predictor of assigned liability, but perceived necessity and sufficiency were also predictors. All three measures mediated assignments of liability when relevant to a given case. In contrast to the stance taken in the Model Penal Code, liability assignments for sufficient cause scenarios were higher than those assigned to attempt scenarios, revealing that people regard actions that are ordinarily sufficient to bring about murder as requiring more punishment than less complete attempts.
Toward a discursive ontology of media

Critical studies of communication have tended to assume a discursive ontology for all elements of the communication process except media, which are assumed to have a positivist ontology. Following McLuhan, this study argues that mediation is extension of the self along paths of social practice, discourse, and technology. The study argues that communication should be studied from that perspective, which is more consistent with the everyday experience of communication. This theory is illustrated with an analysis of the empowerment and disempowerment of men and women through watching televised football.
Effect of hemodialyzer reuse: Dissociation between clearances of small and large solutes

Dialyzers are reused in approximately three quarters of the dialysis units in the United States, but the effect of reprocessing on dialyzer performance has not been extensively evaluated. In a crossover study of six chronic hemodialysis patients, we determined urea, creatinine, phosphate, and beta2-microglobulin clearances and dialysate protein loss for two types of low-flux and two types of high-flux dialyzers during use numbers 1, 2, 5, and 15. Dialyzers were reprocessed by an automated machine using Renalin (Renal Systems, Plymouth, MN) as the germicide. Dialyzer arterial and venous blood and dialysate outflow samples were obtained at 5 and 180 minutes of each dialysis session to evaluate solute clearances. Urea, creatinine, and phosphate clearances were calculated using dialysate concentrations, whereas beta2-microglobulin clearance was calculated using plasma concentrations to include its removal by adsorption to the dialysis membrane. There was a trend for urea, creatinine, and phosphate clearances to decrease with reuse for both low-flux and high-flux dialyzers, but these differences were not statistically significant. The clearance of beta2-microglobulin and dialysate total protein concentration was small for low-flux dialyzers; these values were not dependent on reuse. There was a trend for beta2-microglobulin clearance and dialysate total protein concentration to decrease during a dialysis treatment using high-flux dialyzers. More significantly, beta2-microglobulin clearance and dialysate total protein concentration decreased substantially with the reuse of high-flux dialyzers. These observations show that the maintenance of small solute clearances during reuse of high-flux dialyzers does not ensure the maintenance of large solute clearances.
Results after lumbar decompression with and without discectomy: comparison of the transspinous and conventional approaches.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the transspinous approach compared with the conventional approach in single-level lumbar laminotomies with and without discectomies. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients underwent single-level lumbar decompression with or without a discectomy. The first 20 patients underwent surgery by the conventional approach (11 with discectomy and 9 without), and the transspinous approach was used in the remaining 20 patients (11 with discectomy and 9 without). Results between the groups were assessed by comparing the following measures: length of inpatient hospital stay, postoperative pain and analgesia use, estimated blood loss, rate of postoperative disability and complications, and incision length. RESULTS: The groups did not differ significantly with respect to age, level of pathology, insurance status, or type of analgesia used. The primary outcome was physical disability, measured using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. The secondary outcome was pain intensity, measured using the Brief Pain Inventory. Patients who underwent the transspinous approach had better outcomes across all measures with significance appreciated in those who underwent transspinous decompression with discectomies. Other statistically significant differences were identified in incision length and postoperative analgesia use at the end of 1 week. No statistically significant differences were identified in the rates of complications, estimated blood loss, inpatient narcotic analgesia use, or length of inpatient hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent single-level lumbar decompression with or without discectomy had similar outcomes as those who underwent the conventional approach. Although of modest clinical significance, the transspinous approach may afford early mobilization and reduced postoperative pain while providing a satisfactory neurological and functional outcome.
Electroactive Polymer Fiber Separators for Stable and Reversible Overcharge Protection in Rechargeable Lithium Batteries

As the battery industry moves toward higher energy density cells and larger packs for vehicular and aviation applications, there is a great need to address the safety hazards associated with cell overcharge/overdischarge. A variety of conditions may be responsible for overcharging in secondary lithium batteries, including charging at normal rates but beyond rated capacity, overvoltage excursions for varying periods, charging at a rate too high for one electrode without exceeding the maximum voltage, and other more complex scenarios. 1 The effectiveness of overcharge protection by the commonly used redox shuttle method 2 is limited by its rate capability, stability, and operating voltage window. Most of the studies performed so far were
Thioesterase superfamily member 2 (Them2)/acyl-CoA thioesterase 13 (Acot13): a homotetrameric hotdog fold thioesterase with selectivity for long-chain fatty acyl-CoAs.

Them2 (thioesterase superfamily member 2) is a 140-amino-acid protein of unknown biological function that comprises a single hotdog fold thioesterase domain. On the basis of its putative association with mitochondria, accentuated expression in oxidative tissues and interaction with StarD2 (also known as phosphatidylcholine-transfer protein, PC-TP), a regulator of fatty acid metabolism, we explored whether Them2 functions as a physiologically relevant fatty acyl-CoA thioesterase. In solution, Them2 formed a stable homotetramer, which denatured in a single transition at 59.3 °C. Them2 exhibited thioesterase activity for medium- and long-chain acyl-CoAs, with K m values that decreased exponentially as a function of increasing acyl chain length. Steady-state kinetic parameters for Them2 were characteristic of long-chain mammalian acyl-CoA thioesterases, with minimal values of K m and maximal values of k cat / K m observed for myristoyl-CoA and palmitoyl-CoA. For these acyl-CoAs, substrate inhibition was observed when concentrations approached their critical micellar concentrations. The acyl-CoA thioesterase activity of Them2 was optimized at physiological temperature, ionic strength and pH. For both myristoyl-CoA and palmitoyl-CoA, the addition of StarD2 increased the k cat of Them2. Enzymatic activity was decreased by the addition of phosphatidic acid/phosphatidylcholine small unilamellar vesicles. Them2 expression, which was most pronounced in mouse heart, was associated with mitochondria and was induced by activation of PPARα (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor α). We conclude that, under biological conditions, Them2 probably functions as a homotetrameric long-chain acyl-CoA thioesterase. Accordingly, Them2 has been designated as the 13th member of the mammalian acyl-CoA thioesterase family, Acot13.
Unintentional drownings among New York State residents, 1988-1994

OBJECTIVE: This study examines situations in which drownings occur (environmental risk factors) and the victims' personal risk factors (age, gender, use of personal flotation device, medical condition, alcohol or drug use) to provide guidance for future drowning prevention efforts. METHODS: The authors investigated 883 non-bathtub drownings among New York State residents for the years 1988 to 1994 using medical examiner, coroner, police, and/or hospital records in addition to death certificate data. RESULTS: Males, children ages 0-4 years, and African American males ages 5-14 years residing in New York State outside New York City experienced the highest rates of drowning. The majority of drownings occurred in a natural body of water for all age groups, with the exception of children ages 0-4 years. Most drownings among children ages 0-4 years occurred in residential swimming pools. The child usually gained access to the pool via inadequate fencing, an open or ineffective gate, or a ladder (to an above-ground pool) left in the "down" position. Less than 10% of victims of watercraft-related drownings were wearing personal flotation devices. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) tests were positive for 44% of 250 persons 15 years of age and older for whom valid toxicology results were provided; 30% had BACs of 100 mg/dl or more. CONCLUSIONS: Suggested prevention efforts include stricter enforcement of fencing requirements for residential swimming pools and drowning prevention education stressing personal flotation device use while boating and the danger of mixing alcohol and water-related activities.
Excitation system for a synchrotron

THE EXCITATION of a 70 mega-electron volt synchrotron magnet involves single-phase supply of loss energy to a tuned circuit, usually resonant at 60 cycles, wherein approximately 3,000 kva are circulating. This resonant circuit has a X L /R ratio or Q of approximately 100, thus the frequency sensitivity of the circuit is quite great, and it usually is considered necessary that the input frequency be held within ±0.3 cycle of the magnet circuit resonant frequency.
The Evolution of the Anti-Washington Consensus Debate: From 'Post-Washington Consensus' to 'After the Washington Consensus'

Abstract The term 'Washington Consensus', as Williamson the father of the term conceived it, in 1989, was a set of reforms for economic development that he judged 'Washington' could agree were required in Latin America. However, the Washington Consensus has been identified as a neoliberal manifesto and as a consequence an anti-Washington Consensus was initiated, as calls were made for the establishment of a different set of policies, such as the 'Post-Washington Consensus', 'Washington Contentious' and 'After Neoliberalism'. Lately, even Williamson has come up with a new set of policies, 'After the Washington Consensus'. The aim of this paper is to investigate the different interpretations and alternatives of this controversial set of policies, and to reveal that the evolution of the debate conceptualizes the evolution of economic thought regarding the required policies for economic development.
Supporting transcontinental collaborative work in persistent virtual environments

One long-term goal at the University of Illinois at Chicago's Electronic Visualization Laboratory is to create a persistent virtual environment enabling transcontinental collaboration over high-speed and high-bandwidth networks connected to heterogeneous supercomputing resources and large data stores. Our focus is on researching techniques required to support general collaboration in persistent virtual environments. These techniques include the representation of virtual co-presence, video and audio teleconferencing, virtual reality (VR) interfaces, and database technology for sustaining persistence in virtual worlds. These techniques are used in a collaborative design laboratory called Calvin (Collaborative Architecture Via Immersive Navigation). Calvin was designed to run in the Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE).
Adaptive Kalman Filtering Scheme for the Simulation of Benzene in Subsurface Environment

AbstractAccurate information about contaminant plume migration in the subsurface plays an important role in risk assessment and emergency response during site remediation. Rapid emergency response during severe soil contamination can help to reduce the extent of damage and the risk of groundwater contamination. The use of subsurface contaminant transport models, coupled with stochastic data assimilation schemes, can provide accurate prediction of contaminant transport to enhance the reliability of risk assessment in the area of environmental remediation. In this study, a two-dimensional deterministic model is used to simulate the advective and diffusive transport of benzene in the subsurface. A robust adaptive Kalman filter (AKF) is constructed as a stochastic data assimilation scheme to improve the prediction of the benzene contaminant plume. The AKF has been proposed to overcome the limitations of the conventional Kalman filter (KF) by reducing the uncertainties associated with the process and observati...
Development of HBT structure to minimize parasitic elements

Abstract Several approaches to decrease the parasitic base-emitter and base-collector capacitances, and parasitic extrinsic base resistance, of III–V HBTs are reviewed. Base-emitter depletion capacitance reduction is achieved through modifications of the epitaxial layer structure to reduce doping in the emitter. A doping dipole is introduced in order to compensate for effects of conduction band offset that can adversely affect current gain and transconductance in AlGaAs GaAs HBTs. Base-collector capacitance reduction is achieved with compensating implants of hydrogen and helium into the collector and subcollector regions (through the base layer), which decrease the extrinsic portion of the capacitance to a fringe component. Finally, to reduce extrinsic base resistance and to allow base-emitter capacitance reduction, a new structure is presented that allows HBT lateral scaling without excessive emitter edge recombination. This structure is based on multiple epitaxial growths, using GaInP, GaAs and InGaAs selective-area regrowth in the emitter region of the HBT. Concepts and initial experimental results for these approaches are discussed.
Alluvial storage and the long‐term stability of sediment yields

Several recent studies have shown general consistency of £uvial denudation rates over long time periods, or historical and contemporary sediment yields of the same general magnitude as sediment yields or accumulation rates over geologic time.This consistency of £uvial sediment export from some drainage basins, despite substantial climate, hydrological, ecological, base level, and other environmental changes, suggests that long-term sediment yields may be controlled by factors that are independent of and overwhelm environmental changes (e.g. tectonics), or that the £uvial sediment system is at some level dynamically stable.The latter is explored via a model based on the notion that all debris produced by weathering within a drainage basin over any time period is either retained as part of the regolith, transported out of the basin as solid or dissolved sediment yield, or stored as alluvium within the £uvial system.This system is dynamically stable if alluvium is always potentially available for transport; e.g. to be converted to yield, and if regolith development exerts a negative feedback on weathering rates.This supports the argument that the long-term consistency of sediment yields (where it exists) may be attributable to the storage and remobilization of alluvium, which buiers the system against environmental change. Environmental changes are manifested primarily in reorganizations within the £uvial sediment system, such as variations between net increases and decreases in alluvial storage, and changes in the spatial locus of deposition.These ideas are illustrated and tested using data from the lowerTrinity River in southeast Texas.
Cluster-to-metal magnetic coupling: synthesis and characterization of 25-electron [Re6-nOsnSe8(CN)6](5-n)-(n = 1, 2) clusters and (Re6-nOsnSe8[CNCu(Me6tren)]6)9+(n = 0, 1, 2) assemblies.

The first face-capped octahedral clusters with 25 metal-based valence electrons are shown to provide versatile building units capable of engaging in magnetic exchange coupling. Reactions of [Re5OsSe8Cl6]3- and [Re4Os2Se8Cl6]2- with NaCN in a melt of NaNO3 or KCF3SO3 afford the 24-electron clusters [Re5OsSe8(CN)6]3- and [Re4Os2Se8(CN)6]2-. The 13C NMR spectrum of a 13C-labeled version of the latter species indicates a 1:2 mixture of cis and trans isomers. Cyclic voltammograms of the clusters in acetonitrile display reversible [Re5OsSe8(CN)6]3-/4-, cis-[Re4Os2Se8(CN)6]2-/3-, and trans-[Re4Os2Se8(CN)6]2-/3- couples at E1/2 = −1.843, −0.760, and −1.031 V vs FeCp20/+, respectively, in addition to other redox processes. Accordingly, reduction of [Re5OsSe8(CN)6]3- with sodium amalgam and [Re4Os2Se8(CN)6]2- with cobaltocene produces the 25-electron clusters [Re5OsSe8(CN)6]4- and [Re4Os2Se8(CN)6]3-. EPR spectra of these S = 1/2 species in frozen DMF solutions exhibit isotropic signals with g = 1.46 for the monoosm...
Covalent binding of photo-oxidized benz[a]anthracene and related carcinogenic hydrocarbons to protein

Abstract Carcinogenic hydrocarbons benz[ a ]anthracene (BA), 7,12-dimethyl-BA (DMBA) and 3-methylcholanthrene (MC), bound non-covalently to bovine serum albumin (BSA), are photo-oxidized and become covalently bound to the protein as a result of irradiation at 365 nm. BSA with covalently-bound hydrocarbon photoproducts can be isolated by SDS-gel filtration after repeated ether extraction. In this photo-oxidation, BA and DMBA are converted apparently to phenanthrene-type products together with some other photoproduct in the case of BA, whereas MC produced a naphthalene-like photoproduct and an intact molecule bound to BSA. Our findings suggest that these hydrocarbons can undergo photo-activation and macro-molecular binding as in metabolic activation.
Theory of two-photon entanglement in type-II optical parametric down-conversion.

The theory of the two-photon state generated by type-II optical parametric down-conversion is studied with emphasis on the space-time and polarization entanglement of the photons. Several experiments are reviewed that demonstrate various aspects of the quantum nature of this state. The theory of a different type of two-photon interferometer is presented.