cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes in Chronic Hemodynamically Significant Aortic Regurgitation and Limitations of Current Guidelines

Abstract Background Few data exist on the contemporary profiles and outcomes of patients with significant aortic regurgitation (AR). Objectives This study sought to assess the benefits of aortic valve repair or replacement (AVR) and the prognostic value of left ventricular (LV) dimensions in significant AR. Methods From 2006 to 2017, consecutive patients with ≥moderate-severe chronic AR without prior heart surgery, myocardial infarction, or overt coronary artery disease were included. Results Of 748 participants (58 ± 17 years of age; 82% men), 387 (52%) were medically treated, and 361 (48%) had AVR. Of 361 patients having AVR, 334 (93%) met guideline criteria: Class I indications in 284 (79%) patients, which included symptoms in 236, and Class II indications in 50 (14%). The remaining 27 (7%) opted for surgery without Class I or II indications. At a median follow-up of 4.9 years (interquartile range: 2.3 to 8.3 years), 125 (17%) patients had died. Age, comorbidities, baseline symptoms, and higher LV end-systolic dimension index (LVESDi) were associated with all-cause mortality (all p ≤ 0.01). Compared with patients having LVESDi Conclusions Class I indications for surgery, mainly symptoms, are the most common triggers for AVR. Class II indications were associated with better post-operative outcome and thus merit more attention. LVESDi was the only LV parameter independently associated with all-cause mortality and the ideal cutoff seems to be lower than previously recommended.
Status changes in the wild bees of north‐eastern North America over 125 years revealed through museum specimens

Though recent literature highlights widespread bee declines, detailed information on local communities and individual species remains scarce. In order to accurately direct conservation initiatives and to evaluate the status of wild bees, regional long‐term data on these populations are critical. This study analysed 119 wild bee species within New Hampshire, USA, over 125 years (1891–2016) using museum data. Examining pollinator communities across regional spatial scales has the power to highlight small‐scale changes that go undetected in larger investigations. In the light of unknown effects of introduced species and cumulative range expansions of exotic taxa, monitoring wild communities closely and extensively over time is becoming increasingly important. The composition of the New Hampshire wild bee community has changed between the historical and contemporary time periods with 14 species found to be statistically significantly declining and eight species found to be statistically significantly increasing. Over half of the species found to be in statistically significant decline experienced a significant elevational or latitudinal range shift, many are regionally important crop pollinators, and all are native New Hampshire taxa. Guild affiliations were not found to be indicators of change, suggesting that the requirements and behaviour of individual species must be examined in order to evaluate the current and future stability of the wild bee community. Many of these species occur in varied landscapes, climates, and habitats; thus, monitoring changes at regional scales is critical to informing conservation recommendations broadly and focusing future research directions.
Rapid Cyclogenesis from a Mesoscale Frontal Wave on an Atmospheric River: Impacts on Forecast Skill and Predictability during Atmospheric River Landfall

AbstractMesoscale frontal waves have the potential to modify the hydrometeorological impacts of atmospheric rivers (ARs). The small scale and rapid growth of these waves pose significant forecast c...
Role of the Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor in the Central Nervous System

Aging is accompanied by a decline in the amplitude of the release of hormones, neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. These changes are associated with alterations in metabolism resulting in increases in deposition of visceral fat at the expense of muscle. My laboratory is investigating the underlying mechanism of this declining activity of the central nervous system (CNS) and related metabolic alterations. Our objective is to reverse, delay or prevent these changes. We focused on the age-dependent attenuation of pulsatile growth hormone release as a paradigm because of the known anabolic effects of GH. Accordingly, we characterized and expression cloned a new orphan G-protein coupled receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), which regulates the amplitude of GH pulsatility. In situ hybridization showed that the GHS-R was expressed in CNS regions controlling hormone release from the pituitary gland and in regions enriched in dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons, all of which are known to be involved in metabolism as well as in control of appetite. The physiological relevance of the GHS-R has been confirmed by identification of two natural ligands, ghrelin and adenosine. Interestingly, these endogenous ligands are reported to increase appetite. Besides rejuvenating the GH axis, the GHS-R ligands activate a subset of NPY neurons, and it has been speculated that this property explains the stimulation of feeding behavior. To determine how closely ghrelin mimics the properties of MK-0677, the synthetic ligand for GHS-R, we constructed site-directed mutants of the GHS-R and compared their activity when treated with the two ligands. The results showed that ghrelin occupies a different activation pocket than that occupied by MK-0677. Although administration of ghrelin mimics many of the in vivo effects of MK-0677, ghrelin appears to be less GHS-R selective, suggesting that ghrelin may act through a GHS-R subtype. Studies with GHS-R −/− and ghrelin −/− mice will establish whether ghrelin and MK-0677 act on different GHS-R subtypes and whether the metabolic and orexigenic effects are mediated through different signaling pathways.
List of practices by country

Abstract This is an alphabetic list of countries and their credit practices, in so far as I could discern that from the Internet. Countries do not share data, only some share laws, and everyone starts at zero in any new country. There is quite a spectrum. On the one hand are a group of relatively modern, consumerist, credit-loving countries, with clear-cut laws and credit algorithms their citizens have mostly accepted, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. On the other end are a number of countries with very rudimentary credit apparatus, such as Russia and all of Africa apart from South Africa. In the middle are many countries of the European Union that are well off but reluctant at this time to have their citizens take on credit, for instance, Belgium and the Netherlands. China and India stand apart for the intrusive directions that credit is taking.
Data Journalism in Latin America: Community, Development and Contestation

As the emphasis of data journalism research shifts to the Global South, one region that remains relatively under researched is Latin America. Arguably a space that has pioneered data journalism practices, and that has enormous potential for social change and development, Latin America has excelled in many areas related to the field—La Nacion in Argentina has, to date, one of the most innovative and successful data journalism units in the world. Yet an absence of Latin American data journalism research from mainstream scholarship creates an opportunity to further explore the developments and evolution of data journalism in this continent, looking at the particular features that make Latin American data journalism distinct and unique. This chapter, therefore, aims at mapping data journalism practices in the four Latin American regions (Central America, the Caribbean, the Andes and the Southern Cone), to subsequently reposition it within the broadest discussions on the field, recontextualising its contribution into debates on the role of this journalistic practice in the Global South.
The Relationship Between Vestibular Migraine and Motion Sickness Susceptibility.

Objectives To determine the relationship between vestibular migraine (VM) and motion sickness (MoS) susceptibility and their comorbidity in a large student population, and to assess whether experiencing MoS is associated with higher susceptibility for VM. Methods Surveys including Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ) and questions assessing migraine-related symptoms as well as family history of motion sickness and migraine headache were distributed to the university undergraduate students through Facebook and email. Diagnosis of definite VM (dVM) was based on the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders. Results Of 277 survey responders, 148 (53%) were found to be susceptible to MoS in which 74 (50%) met the criteria for dVM. Only childhood MSSQ score was significantly higher in participants with dVM compared with those without dVM (25.78 ± 15.89 versus 20.77 ± 14.28, p = 0.04); however, its significance faded out by regression analysis. Multivariate logistic regression showed having 1st degree relative with migraine headache (p = 0.02), neck stiffness (p = 0.001), and sinus pain, facial pressure, or headache with wind exposure (p = 0.02) to be independently associated with presence of dVM in MoS subjects. Conclusions Though participants with MoS and dVM had significantly greater rates of migraine-related symptoms and family history of migraine headache compared with those with MoS only, childhood and adulthood MSSQ scores were similar. This and the high prevalence of dVM in our MoS cohort may suggest an existing association between MoS susceptibility and VM.
Modulation of ferroptosis sensitivity by TXNRD1 in pancreatic cancer cells

The selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1) plays a central role in ameliorating oxidative stress. Inhibition of TXNRD1 has been explored as a means of killing cancer cells that are thought to develop an enhanced reliance on such antioxidant proteins. In the context of ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of oxidative cell death, TXNRD1 has been proposed to cooperate with the phospholipid hydroperoxidase enzyme glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) to protect cells from the lethal accumulation of lipid peroxides. Here, we report our unexpected finding that in pancreatic cancer cells, CRISPR−Cas9-mediated loss of TXNRD1 confers protection from ferroptosis induced by small-molecule inhibition of GPX4. Insights stemming from mechanistic interrogation of this phenomenon suggest that loss of TXNRD1 results in increased levels of GPX4 protein, potentially by influencing availability of selenocysteine, a scarce amino acid required by both proteins for proper synthesis and function. Increased abundance of GPX4 protein, in turn, protects cells from the effects of small-molecule GPX4 inhibition. These findings implicate selenoprotein regulation in governing ferroptosis sensitivity. Furthermore, by delineating a relationship between GPX4 and TXNRD1 contrary to that observed in numerous other settings, our discoveries underscore the context-specific nature of ferroptosis circuitry and its modulators.
Leflunomide triggers synthetic lethality in PTEN-deficient prostate cancer

The loss of PTEN function presents in up to 50% of late-stage prostate cancers, and is therefore a potential target for therapeutics. PTEN-deficient cells depend on de novo pyrimidine synthesis, a feature that can present a vulnerability. We utilized in vitro growth assays and in vivo xenograft models to test the effect of de novo pyrimidine synthesis inhibition on prostate cell lines. Here, we demonstrate that PTEN-deficient prostate cancer cell lines are susceptible to inhibition of de novo pyrimidine synthesis by leflunomide. Tumor growth inhibition was observed in vitro and in vivo following leflunomide treatment, and is likely due to an overwhelming accumulation of DNA damage. Our work highlights that synthetic lethality arises upon the combination of PTEN loss and leflunomide treatment in prostate cancer, and may present a therapeutic opportunity for this patient population.
The Role of Oxygen in the Voltaic Pile

Over 200 years ago, Alessandro Volta published his observations of a steady voltage when a piece of electrolyte-soaked cardboard was sandwiched between two dissimilar metals. This observation initiated a century of argument as to the origin of voltaic electricity (contact vs chemical) and catalyzed practical advances, such as the first demonstration of water electrolysis by William Nicholson and Anthony Carlisle within a few months of Volta’s announcement. A deep dive into the literature demonstrates that practitioners at the time were disadvantaged in their quest for a detailed understanding of the pile. For instance, the idea of salt dissociation into charged ions and the discovery of the electron did not come to light until nearly an entire century after the pile made its first debut. A thorough survey of the literature also indicates that original piles, which were composed of silver or copper as the cathode and zinc as the anode, operated by the dissolution of zinc at the anode and the reduction of some species at the cathode. A cathodic reaction commonly implicated is the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, we demonstrate that the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) contributes to the cathodic half-reaction from pH 0 to 14, suggesting that the true mechanism of the voltaic pile depends on the mixed potential set by the HER/ORR and zinc oxidation. While the main point of this article is to implicate dissolved oxygen, we end the article with suggestions for experimental modifications to promote hands-on learning.
The pivotal role of PFO in paradoxical embolism following venous sclerotherapy: a unique case report with pathological correlations

Background Vein sclerosing therapy for varicose veins remains an extremely popular procedure. Cerebrovascular accidents can be a serious complication. A patent foramen ovale (PFO) can act as a conduit to the arterial circulation, which could explain the adverse neurologic consequence of this procedure. This case provides pathologic evidence of this concept. Case summary A 66-year-old female presented with syncope after undergoing varicose vein sclerotherapy. A computed tomography angiography of the head and neck in the emergency room revealed an occluded right distal M1 middle cerebral artery. Clot retrieval was performed with final pathology revealing amorphous material consistent with an exogenous agent, polidocanol foam, which was used for the patient's vein sclerotherapy. A transthoracic echocardiogram and transoesophageal echocardiogram showed a PFO, which was ultimately closed percutaneously. Discussion In a quarter of the population, lack of closure of the intrauterine interatrial shunt leads to the existence of a PFO. This direct communication between the atria provides an anatomical conduit for paradoxical emboli and eventually infarction of affected tissues. While a paradoxical embolism is an uncommon cause of acute arterial occlusion, it can have catastrophic sequelae. Historically, the presence of an arterial thrombus from the venous circulation has been difficult to establish unless the thrombus is visualized in transit through a PFO. Complications from vein sclerotherapy have been reported in the literature and include transient ischaemic attacks and strokes, however, this is the first case to provide pathological proof of a paradoxical embolism, which ultimately resulted in percutaneous closure of the PFO.
MAUD Rietveld Refinement Software for Neutron Diffraction Texture Studies of Single- and Dual-Phase Materials

This work presents a detailed instructional demonstration using the Rietveld refinement software MAUD for evaluating the crystallographic texture of single- and dual-phase materials, as applied to High-Pressure-Preferred-Orientation (HIPPO) neutron diffraction data obtained at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) pole figures on Ti–6Al–4V produced by additive manufacturing. This work addresses a number of hidden challenges intrinsic to Rietveld refinement and operation of the software to improve users’ experiences when using MAUD. A systematic evaluation of each step in the MAUD refinement process is described, focusing on devising a consistent refinement process for any version of MAUD and any material system, while also calling out required updates to previously developed processes. A number of possible issues users may encounter are documented and explained, along with a multilayered assessment for validating when a MAUD refinement procedure is finished for any dataset. A brief discussion on appropriate sample symmetries is also included to highlight possible oversimplifications of the texture data extracted from MAUD. Included in the appendix of this work are two systematic walkthroughs applying the process described. Files for these walkthroughs can be found at the data repository located at: https://doi.org/10.18434/mds2-2400 .
Reactive Power Allocation of PV Inverters for Voltage Support in Power Systems Based on Transactive Energy Approach

Reactive power support is a part of ancillary services that is becoming more important due to an increase of distributed energy resources (DERs) in today’s power systems. The intermittent nature of the DERs also increases the challenges of voltage management in power systems, and limitations of power system reinforcement are becoming a bottleneck to improving reliability of power systems. Thus, cooperation of existing equipment, including utility-owned and nonutility-owned assets, can be utilized to achieve higher reliability of the system. A transactive energy approach is proposed to coordinate the nonutility DERs to participate in reactive power support. Voltage sensitivity is used to determine the impact of DERs at different locations that will simultaneously participate in a reactive power market. The modified DERs’ supply curve is constructed to evaluate the impact of DERs’ locations based on the transactive energy approach. The performance of the proposed method is validated by comparing to other location-based and non-location-based reactive power dispatch methods. An implementation of the modified DER’s supply curve can successfully improve the voltage at the target location by an amount that is specified by the system.
Effect of hatch spacing and laser power on microstructure, texture, and thermomechanical properties of laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additively manufactured NiTi

Abstract This study systematically evaluates the effects of laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (L-PBF-AM) parameters (hatch spacing and laser power) on the thermomechanical behavior and microstructure of Ni50.8Ti49.2 shape memory alloy. The samples were fabricated with hatch spacings from 40 to 240 µm and laser powers of 50 and 100 W at a constant scanning speed of 125 mm/s, resulting in parts with volumetric energy density levels from 55 to 666 J/mm3 and two sets of linear energy densities of 0.4 and 0.8 J/mm. The results showed a reduced melt pool size and discontinuity of scan tracks with decreased laser power. Additionally, the porosity level was increased with larger hatch spacing and lower laser power. More notably, the transformation temperatures increased, and the critical stress, recoverable strain, and functional stability of samples improved with lower hatch spacing, where the recovery ratio of up to 90% was observed, regardless of the employed laser power. This study also discussed the relationship between the fabrication process and texture formation in the L-PBF-AM process. The advantage of L-PBF-AM was revealed in tailoring the microstructure from highly textured samples in [1 1 1] or [0 0 1] direction when hatch spacing lower than laser beam focused was employed, to the appearance of equiaxed solidification front with island grains and random orientations.
Andrew Small The China-Pakistan Axis: Asia's New Geopolitics New York, NY: Oxford University Press 288 pp., $50.00 cloth ISBN: 9780190210755 Publication Date: February 2015

Andrew Small's timely book provides a detailed and scholarly analysis of the Beijing-Islamabad axis, which has grown only stronger since the book's publication. In fact, on April 20–21, 2015, Chine...
Methodological Problems in Clinical Diagnosis

Clinical diagnosis in all the health-related disciplines is indeed a matter of importance. It is also obvious that as new knowledge is secured and new theories are developed, diagnoses and diagnostic approaches are modified, with new diagnoses added and old ones discarded. In some instances, the symptomatic pattern of the disorder remains, but its designation or clinical diagnosis changes as a result of newer conceptualizations and points of view. Clinical diagnoses, therefore, are not invariant, and problems in this area have been topics of discussion and controversy over the years. Disagreements have stemmed from differences in disciplinary orientation, theoretical considerations, and interpretations of research data concerning the reliability and validity of clinical diagnosis.
Diffusion and trapping of oxygen in refractory metal alloys

Abstract The diffusion coefficient of oxygen has been measured in niobium, vanadium and several dilute substitutional niobium alloys. Measurements were made over the range of 600–1150°C (873–1423 K) using a solid electrolytic cell technique. Oxygen diffusivity in the alloys was found to be less than in pure niobium. This is interpreted as being due to trapping of oxygen atoms by the substitutional solute atoms. The estimated substitutional-oxygen binding or ‘trap’ energies (in eV) for the solutes investigated are: Ta, 0.3 ± 0.1; V, 0.55 ± 0.05; Ti, 0.7 ±0.1; Zr, 0.7 ± 0.05.
Australian manufacturing exports to ASEAN: linking country, customer and enterprise risk in method of payment choice

In international trade transactions one of the primary concerns of exporters is payment for goods sold to foreign buyers. Country risk and customer risk are two components of the exporter’s overall credit risk. One effective means of reducing these risks is through the choice of an appropriate method of payment. There are four traditional methods of payment: prepayment; letter of credit (L/C); bill of exchange; and open account. It is commonly accepted that L/C provide the most secure method of payment, where the buyer’s credit risk is substituted with that of their bank. The L/C issuing bank provides a conditional guarantee of payment that relies on the presentation of specified data contents on identified documents, to trigger payment. Focusing on firms’ internal processes and based on data gathered from voluntary survey and semi-structured interviews, this paper discusses how Australian manufacturers exporting to ASEAN determine the method of payment of choice, and to what degree L/C are used, in the context of country risk and customer risk assessment. The paper concludes that most firms have a potentially higher risk exposure as, in the majority of cases, enterprise risk management principles are not adopted in the choice of a method of payment.
Effects of toxicity, aeration, and reductant supply on trichloroethylene transformation by a mixed methanotrophic culture

The trichloroethylene (TCE) transformation rate and capacity of a mixed methanotrophic culture at room temperature were measured to determine the effects of time without methane (resting), use of an alternative energy source (formate), aeration, and toxicity of TCE and its transformation products. The initial specific TCE transformation rate of resting cells was 0.6 mg of TCE per mg of cells per day, and they had a finite TCE transformation capacity of 0.036 mg of TCE per mg of cells. Formate addition resulted in increased initial specific TCE transformation rates (2.1 mg/mg of cells per day) and elevated transformation capacity (0.073 mg of TCE per mg of cells). Significant declines in methane conversion rates following exposure to TCE were observed for both resting and formate-fed cells, suggesting toxic effects caused by TCE or its transformation products. TCE transformation and methane consumption rates of resting cells decreased with time much more rapidly when cells were shaken and aerated than when they remained dormant, suggesting that the transformation ability of methanotrophs is best preserved by storage under anoxic conditions.
Thermodynamic parameters for Eu(III) binding to Datura innoxia root material

Plants offer the potential for selective removal and sequestration of toxic heavy metals from contaminated soil. Phytoextraction of metal ions involve their transport through the plant’s root system and into its shoots and leaves. This study investigates the thermodynamics of Eu(III) ion chemical interactions with Datura innoxia plant root materials under solution conditions of pH 4.0 and 5.0. Both changes in enthalpies (∆H) and entropies (∆S) of metal binding were elucidated from isotherms collected under varied temperature conditions using regularized regression data analysis and conditional affinity spectra. ∆H values for binding to root materials at pH 4.0 and 5.0 were each calculated to be +30 kJ/mol. Values of ΔS for these same materials were found to be +170 and +153 J/mol K for solution conditions of pH 4.0 and 5.0, respectively. These results suggest binding to the root material to be entropically driven (∆S° > 0 and ΔH > 0) through possible displacement of waters of solvation.
On Probabilities in Bridge

Abstract In the game of bridge, the probability of a successful finesse, or a favorable “break” in a suit, depends not only upon the original deal, but also upon all the bids and plays which have been made by one's opponents. The widely quoted a priori probabilities, based solely upon the deal, are not generally correct, and are often misleading, after play has begun. This paper shows that the evaluation of probabilities during the course of play of bridge requires the use of the Bayes formula. Two examples are given to illustrate the proper application of that formula to the measurement of probabilities in typical situations arising in bridge.
Solubilization of Weakly Acidic and Basic Drugs by Aqueous Solutions of Polysorbate 80

The relationship of apparent solubility of weakly acidic and basic drugs to pH and surfactant concentration has been established. Equations are presented which enable calculation of the total solubility of such drugs as represented by methyl-prednisolone hemiesters and procaine. The fraction of drug in the various solvated states can be computed readily.
Phytotoxicity and some interactions of the essential trace metals iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, copper, and boron

Abstract The essential trace elements Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and B in high concentrations can produce phytotoxicities. Iron toxicity resulted from 5 × 10‐4 M and 10‐3 M FeSO4, but not from equivalent amounts of FeEDDHA (ferric ethylenediamine di (o‐hydroxyphenylacetic acid) ). Leaf concentrations in bush beans of 465 μg Mn/g, 291 μg B/g, and 321 μg Zn/g all on the dry weight basis resulted in 27%, 45%, and 34% reduction in yields of leaves, respectively. Zinc was concentrated in roots while Mn and B concentrated in leaves. Solution concentrations of MnS04 of 10‐3 and 10‐2 M depressed leaf yields of bush beans by 63% and 83%, respectively, with 5140 and 10780 μg Mn/g dry weight of leaves. Copper concentrations were simultaneously increased and those of Ca were decreased. Bush bean plants grown in Yolo loam soil with 200 μg Cu/g soil had a depression in leaf yield of 26% (with 28. 8 μg Cu/g leaf); plants failed to grow with 500 μg Cu/g soil. A level of 10‐3 M H2MoO4 was toxic to bush beans grown in solution cultur...
Alternative strategies for the use of infliximab in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

Infliximab is approved for the induction and 1-year maintenance of remission in pediatric Crohn’s disease unresponsive to conventional therapy. Despite significant experience with the use of this agent in children and adolescents who have inflammatory bowel disease, many questions about its optimal use remain. Recent safety concerns raised debate over the common practice of using infliximab in combination with conventional immunomodulatory agents. Additionally, although regularly scheduled administration maintains remission more effectively than episodic therapy, it is not known whether all patients who start infliximab must continue it for maintenance. Some patients may be able to use infliximab for induction and another agent for maintenance. Finally, the optimal placement of infliximab in the algorithm for the medical treatment of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease remains an open question.
Stem cell reconstitution of autoimmune T cell repertoires

Maintenance of T cell memory in autoimmune disease may be complex because the unending renewable supply of self provides an inherent high antigen load that effectively precludes clearance, and because the broad array of potential immunogenic targets provides extensive self-recognition plasticity. Autoimmunity is characterized by a dynamic self-recognition process in which the primary autoreactivity initiating disease is soon followed and often displaced by secondary neoautoreactivities, or epitope spreading, that emerge as a result of endogenous self-priming. Here we show that the autoimmune disease process involves a tertiary phase of self recognition characterized by stem cell reconstitution of autoreactive T cells that recapitulates the myelin self recognition process involved in disease initiation and spreading during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Our study indicates that sustained autoimmune memory may not simply be due to the persistence of long-lived memory T cells, but may also involve bone marrow regeneration and replacement of the autoreactive T cell repertoire.
The Belle Silicon Vertex Detector Trigger

The installation of the new Belle Silicon Vertex Detector SVD 2 during the summer of 2003 will bring some substantial improvements in the tracking and triggering capabilities of the Belle detector (Nucl. Instr. Meth. A 479 (2002) 117). A trigger part is included in the front-end readout electronics and a new hardware trigger Level 1.5 is introduced. Both improvements are essential in dealing with the increasing peak luminosities of the KEKB machine.
Passive Temperature Stabilization of Silicon Photonic Devices Using Liquid Crystals

In this work we explore the negative thermo-optic properties of liquid crystal claddings for passive temperature stabilization of silicon photonic integrated circuits. Photonic circuits are playing an increasing role in communications and computing, but they suffer from temperature dependent performance variation. Most existing techniques aimed at compensation of thermal effects rely on power hungry Joule heating. We show that integrating a liquid crystal cladding helps to minimize the effects of a temperature dependent drift. The advantage of liquid crystals lies in their high negative thermo-optic coefficients in addition to low absorption at the infrared wavelengths.
Effects of progesterone on the synthesis of ribonucleic acids in the uterus

Abstract The effects of progesterone stimulation on the synthesis of different species of RNA in the uterus were studied. Rates of synthesis of total RNA, rRNA and tRNA were determined at 48 h after the first of two daily injections of 6.7 ng of 17β-estradiol plus 0.33 mg of progesterone. Control mice received equivalent injections of 6.7 ng of 17β-estradiol only. The rate of synthesis of total RNA was 1.47 (nmoles of UMP incorporated into RNA/min per uterus) in control uteri, and increased to 3.10 in uteri stimulated by progesterone. Rates of synthesis of rRNA and tRNA were only about 0.6–1.3% of those for total RNA. The rate for 28-S rRNA increased from 12.8 (pmoles of UMP/min per uterus) in control mice to 24.3 in mice which received progesterone, and for tRNA synthesis from 12.3 (pmoles of UMP/min per uterus) in control uteri to only 17.6 in progesterone-stimulated uteri. It was concluded that progesterone treatment caused increases in the synthesis of all classes of uterine RNA, and did not preferentially stimulate the synthesis of rRNA or tRNA.
Education and training of diesel-electric locomotive maintenance personnel

Widespread use of diesel-electric locomotives on American Railroads has created an unprecedented demand for personnel trained in the operation, inspection, and maintenance of many types of electric equipment. The locomotive builders and the railroads, working together, have developed successful programs for training such personnel. Contributing vendors and the trade press have ably seconded these efforts. The application of basic principles of education has served to develop teaching techniques which are producing personnel capable of coping with the problems of this new era in railroading.
Diluters for Bovine Semen. VI. The Effect of Cysteine Hydrochloride on the Livability of Bull Spermatozoa in Unheated Skimmilk

Summary The addition of 1mg. of cysteine HCl per milliliter of unheated skimmilk resulted in a semen diluent which maintained the livability of bull spermatozoa stored at 4° C. equally as well as did skimmilk heated at 92° C. for 10 minutes. Cysteine HCl levels of 0.5 and 2.0mg. per milliliter were almost as effective in supporting livability as was 1.0mg. per milliliter; 0.25 and 4.0mg. per milliliter were definitely inferior to the optimum level. Gluthathione also was shown to be effective in supporting spermatozoan livability in unheated skimmilk, but methionine was found to be ineffective, indicating that the beneficial effect was due to the sulfhydryl groups. When cysteine HCl was added to protein-free milk serum for use as a diluter, no improvement in spermatozoan livability was obtained, indicating that the sulfhydryl compound exerted its effect by acting on the nondialyzable portion of the unheated skimmilk rather than by acting directly on the spermatozoa.
Molecular fields in chainlike metamagnets

Abstract A two-sublattice metamagnet is formed of ferromagnetic Ising chains which interact ferromagnetically and antiferromagnetically. The intrachain coupling is strong compared to the interchain ones, as is observed in CoTAC. We treat the chains exactly and describe interchain interactions with molecular fields. The Neel temperature and tricritical point differ qualitatively from conventional molecular field results.
Thermal modulation of photoisomerization in double-azobenzene-chain liposomes

Cationic double-azobenzene-chain lipid 5 undergoes efficient trans →cis photoisomerization in MeCN solution and in 1:9 coliposomes with bisether lipid 2 at temperatures above 20 °C. However, in 1:1 5/2 coaggregates, or in pure liposomal 5, the extent of photoisomerization is very sensitive to temperature; for example, it is limited to ≤10% below 40 °C. Dispersed 1:9 coliposomes of 5 and 2 spontaneously segregate into domains rich in the individual lipids. Thermal cis → trans isomerization of 5 in MeCN solution and in 1:9 5/2 coliposomes proceeds readily between 20 and 60 °C with activation energies of 19-20 kcal/mol. The photoisomerization of 5 in pure liposomes or in 1:1 5/2 coliposomes is less efficient than that of its single-azobenzene-chain analogue, 1, under comparable conditions.
Swimming Endurance of Bull Trout, Lake Trout, Arctic Char, and Rainbow Trout following Challenge with Renibacterium salmoninarum

Abstract We tested the swimming endurance of juvenile bull trout Salvelinus confluentus, lake trout S. namaycush, Arctic char S. alpinus, and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss at 9°C and 15°C to determine whether sublethal infection from a moderate challenge of Renibacterium salmoninarum administered months before testing affected the length of time fish could maintain a swimming speed of 5–6 body lengths per second in an experimental flume. Rainbow trout and Arctic char swam longer in trials than did bull trout or lake trout, regardless of challenge treatment. When we tested fish 14–23 weeks postchallenge, we found no measurable effect of R. salmoninarum on the swimming endurance of the study species except for bull trout, which showed a mixed response. We conducted additional trials with bull trout 5–8 weeks postchallenge to determine whether increasing the challenge dose would affect swimming endurance and hematocrit. In those tests, bull trout with clinical signs of disease and those exposed to the hi...
Nephrotoxicity of Bence Jones proteins in the rat: Importance of protein isoelectric point

Bence Jones proteins (BJP) were isolated from the urine of 12 patients with multiple myeloma and various degrees of renal dysfunction. Proteins were characterized as to type (six type lambda and five type kappa), isoelectric point (pI), and secondary structure by circular dichroism (CD). Clinical renal function was more impaired with type-lambda proteins and with proteins of pI greater than 5.7. CD studies distinguished kappa from lambda proteins in most cases but did not correlate with nephrotoxicity. Protein dimer preparations were tested for nephrotoxicity in aciduric, hydropenic, female, Sprague Dawley rats by following renal function and morphology over 6 hours after injection i.p. of 300 mg of protein. Twelve rats of urine pH less than 5.5 injected with four BJP of pI less than 5.7 showed a mean rise in SUN of 5.3 mg/dl and in creatinine of 0.06 mg/dl, compared with a mean rise of 28.0 mg/dl (SUN) and 0.75 mg/dl (creatinine) in 21 rats injected with seven BJP of pI greater than 5.7 (P less than 0.01). Seven sodium-bicarbonate-fed rats of urine pH greater than 8 injected with a BJP of pI 6.2 showed mean rise in SUN of 1.8 mg/dl and in creatinine of 0.01 mg/dl, compared with 19.3 mg/dl (SUN) and 0.55 mg/dl (creatinine) in 7 aciduric rats injected with the same BJP (P = 0.009). Morphologic and immunohistologic studies showed distal cast formation in 9 rats with acute deterioration in renal function. It is concluded that BJP of pI greater than urine pH are acutely nephrotoxic in the rat by a mechanism that may involve a charge interaction in the distal nephron.
Characterization of a method for profiling gene expression in cells recovered from intact human prostate tissue using RNA linear amplification

Coupling array technology to laser capture microdissection (LCM) has the potential to yield gene expression profiles of specific cell populations within tissue. However, remaining problems with linear amplification preclude accurate expression profiling when using the low nanogram amounts of RNA recovered after LCM of human tissue. We describe a novel robust method to reliably amplify RNA after LCM, allowing direct probing of 12K gene arrays. The fidelity of amplification was demonstrated by comparing the ability of amplified RNA (aRNA) versus that of native RNA to identify differentially expressed genes between two different cell lines, demonstrating a 99.3% concordance between observations. Array findings were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of a randomly selected subset of 32 genes. Using LCM to recover normal (N=5 subjects) or cancer (N=3) cell populations from intact human prostate tissue, three differentially expressed genes were identified. Independent investigators have previously identified differential expression of two of these three genes, hepsin and beta-microseminoprotein, in prostate cancer. Taken together, the current study demonstrates that accurate gene expression profiling can readily be performed on specific cell populations present within complex tissue. It also demonstrates that this approach efficiently identifies biologically relevant genes.
Meta-analysis of incidence, clinical characteristics and implications of stent fracture.

A meta-analysis of published studies was conducted to evaluate the incidence, predictors, and clinical outcomes of stent fractures. Eight studies with 108 stent fractures in 5,321 patients were analyzed using the Bayesian method. Study end points included in-stent restenosis (ISR) and target lesion revascularization (TLR). The mean incidence of stent fracture per patient was 4.0% (95% confidence interval 0.4% to 16.3%). All cases, except 1, were reported with sirolimus-eluting stents. The incidence of stent fracture was 30.4% in the left anterior descending coronary artery, 10.9% in the left circumflex coronary artery, 56.4% in the right coronary artery,
Human insufficiency in Shinran and Kierkegaard

Abstract Shinran (1173–1263), the founder of the Jōdoshinshū of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism, and Soren Kierkegaard (1813–1855), the Danish father of Christian existentialism, belong to very different eras, cultures, and religious traditions. Yet there are striking similarities between their religious philosophies, especially in how both offer theistic views emphasising faith and grace that see the person as radically insufficient to attain complete self‐transformation. Both claim that the human person is so radically insufficient that no one can attain Buddhist enlightenment or Christian salvation through his or her own power, but only through divine power. I will argue against some commentators that although the Deity accepts and transforms this insufficiency, even the power of the Deity does not eradicate human insufficiency in this life for the person of faith. I will also argue that Shinran and Kierkegaard differ significantly about the role of human freedom in faith, and that this difference expresse...
Outcomes and predictors of improved survival after gamma knife radiosurgery for metastatic brain tumors originated from breast carcinoma

Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has emerged as a possible treatment option for metastasis brain tumor (MBTs) originated from breast cancer. However, the intermediate or long-term outcome of GKRS on MBTs originated from breast carcinoma is not well defined. The outcome of GKRS on MBTs derived from breast carcinoma was reviewed in our institution’s case series. We performed a retrospective review (2000–2013) of 50 patients with MBTs originated from breast cancer who received GKRS. Out of 50 patients, 11 patients had recurrent tumors after microsurgical resection and the other 39 patients received GKRS alone. The study population was followed clinically and radiographically after GKRS treatment. GKRS on MBTs metastasized from breast cancer showed significant variations in tumor growth control (decreased in 14 (31.9 %) patients, arrested growth in 17 (38.6 %) patients, and progressed tumor in 13 (29.5 %) patients). The overall median survival in this case series was 33 months. In our case series, overall survival rate after 5 years was 20 %, whereas progression-free survival rate after 5 years was 30 %. The prognostic factors for improving survival in the patients with MBTs from breast cancer were recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class I (p = 0.014), age ≤65 years (p = 0.025), controlled primary tumor (p = 0.04), and single number of MBTs (p = 0.022). Recent follow-up revealed that GKRS offers good overall survival period in both new and recurrent patients with MBTs originated from breast carcinoma. Thus, GKRS is a therapeutic option for new and recurrent patients with MBTs derived from breast cancer.
The surgical management of medullary thyroid cancer

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), accounts for approximately 5% to 10% of all thyroid cancers. Significant advances in the understanding of the biology and clinical outcomes of MTC have been made over the last decade, culminating most recently in the publication of treatment guidelines by the American Thyroid Association that follow an evidence-based approach that is summarized in this presentation. Prognosis, genetic testing, surgical technique, and re-operation are also discussed.
A Minor's Consent to Treatment: () An Ethical Dilemma ()

As nurses assume more responsibility in advanced practice roles, they will find themselves confronted with situations that are new and unfamiliar. For those in- volved in the care of the critically or terminally ill p~- tient, the practitioner may eventually be faced with an ethical dilemma. The following case study is used to illustrate issues surrounding a dilemma involving a ter- minally ill child who is of minor age. M. is a 16-year-old Latin American female who was diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma. The tumor involved the soft-tissue structures and musculature of her left upper arm and axilla. She began treatment, but in 2 months the disease had progressed and involved the chest wall. Although M. did not want further treatment, her parents refused hospice care and wanted each and every complaint evaluated and treated fully. M. was subjected to multiple procedures in the end-stage of her disease, instead of remaining at home where she desired to be. care will be provided? Which desires prevail, those of the patient or those of the parents? Who decides when the patient is a minor? It is apparent that the issue of children's consent to treatment is complicated by many factors. The fights and desires of the parents are impor- tant considerations, because the patient is a minor. However, if the nurse considers the American Nurses Association code for nurses with interpretive statements (1985), which states that the respect for human dignity and support of the patient's fights to self-determination are an integral part of nursing practice, then these ques- tions are not easily answered.
Trace element effects on precipitation in Al-Cu-Mg-(Ag, Si) alloys: a computational analysis

Abstract In order to optimize mechanical properties of age-hardenable Al–Cu–Mg–(Ag, Si) alloys, the nucleation of the strengthening precipitate Ω must be enhanced while competing phases such as S and θ (or θ″/θ ′ ) must be suppressed. One strategy is to promote the formation of the precursors, i.e. , certain solute clusters that aid in Ω nucleation, using trace element additions such as Ag, and/or the elimination of deleterious impurities, e.g. , Si. This paper describes the use of computational analysis tools to identify those elements that are either helpful or harmful. Using a multi-component quasi-chemical model, short-range-order parameters were calculated based on CALPHAD databases to indicate cluster formation in Al–Cu–Mg–(Ag, Si) solid solutions. To anticipate the orientation of the plate-like clusters that controls the habit-plane selection of the subsequent precipitates, the anisotropy of the associated strain was considered using the second order elastic tensors obtained from first principle total energy calculations.