cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rationale and Study Design of a Randomized Clinical Trial of Metformin to Prevent Frailty in Older Adults With Prediabetes.

Background Frailty is a geriatric syndrome that leads to poor health outcomes with aging. Previous studies have demonstrated that insulin resistance and inflammation predict frailty onset. Metformin is a widely used, well-tolerated drug that improves insulin sensitivity and displays anti-inflammatory properties. It is also known to prevent diabetes onset in adults with prediabetes. We hypothesize that metformin in older adults with prediabetes will promote healthy aging and prevent frailty. Here we describe an ongoing placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial of metformin for the prevention of frailty in older adults with prediabetes. Methods Older adults aged more than 65 years are randomized to metformin or placebo and are followed for 2 years. Prediabetes, required for inclusion, is assessed by 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test. Exclusion criteria are baseline frailty (Fried criteria), diabetes, dementia, untreated depression, active malignancy, or severe cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurologic diseases. Primary outcome is frailty; secondary outcomes are physical function (Short Physical Performance Battery), systemic and skeletal muscle tissue inflammation, muscle insulin signaling, insulin sensitivity (insulin clamp), glucose tolerance (oral glucose tolerance test), and body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). Subjects are followed every 3 months for safety assessments and every 6 months for frailty assessment (Fried criteria) and oral glucose tolerance test, and every 12 or 24 months for secondary outcomes. Enrollment of 120 subjects (completers) will take place over a 2-year period. Conclusion Metformin is being examined in this study as a potential therapeutic agent to prevent frailty in older adults with prediabetes. Findings from this trial may have future implications for the screening and potential treatment of prediabetes in older patients with metformin for the prevention of frailty.
Reliability, Validity, Epidemiology, and Cultural Variation of the Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS) and the Scale of Psychosis-Risk Symptoms (SOPS)

The Structured Interview for Psychosis-risk Syndromes (SIPS) has been one of most commonly used instruments worldwide for diagnosing and evaluating subjects with a clinical high-risk (CHR) syndrome for psychosis. Early papers, book chapters, and monographs on the SIPS had been cited more than 1500 unduplicated times by June of 2018, including citations from 30 countries. Included within the SIPS diagnostic instrument is a 19-item severity scale, the Scale of Psychosis-risk Symptoms (SOPS), with 5 positive, 6 negative, 4 disorganization, and 4 general items, each scored 0–6. Approximately 95% of CHR cases meet SIPS criteria for the attenuated positive symptoms subtype. The median SOPS total score across CHR samples was 35.9 and across healthy subject samples 2.3. The median inter-rater reliability of the SIPS diagnosis across 16 samples reporting kappa was excellent at 0.89. SOPS reliabilities were comparable. Evidence for predictive, convergent, and discriminant validity was generally strong. Median CHR prevalence among 9 general epidemiology studies was 3.3% and in 11 clinical samples 20.3%. These favorable psychometric properties seemed to hold across culture.
'Introduction,' to John Witte, Jr. and Eliza Ellison, eds., Covenant Marriage in Comparative Perspective

The doctrine of covenant has reemerged in a number of contemporary Jewish, Christian, and Islamic circles as a common trope to map and measure the higher (or spiritual dimensions) of the marital union. The doctrine of covenant has also reemerged separately in a number of recent American states as a convenient means of strengthening marital formation and dissolution requirements. This article is the Introduction to a volume that analyzes the covenant theology and law of marriage in the past and the present. After analyzing the modern covenant marriage movement, the authors demonstrate that Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike view marriage both as a contract and as a covenant.
In-water fiber-optic evanescent wave sensing in the mid-infrared

Water is always at risk of accidental or intentional pollution that would consist of introducing a harmful chemical into a drinking water reservoir. Fiber-optics evanescent wave sensing has been shown to be an efficient sensor scheme for direct in-water sensing. Here we demonstrate a system for the detection of chemicals dissolved in water by using quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) coupled into a silver halide fiber. The study was performed over two frequency ranges: short wavelength (i.e. 3µm and 5µm) and long wavelength (between 8µm and 10µm) and using two different types of QCL source: pulsed and continuous wave.
Coding and Synchronization–The Signal Design Problem

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the problems associated with signal designing in terms of coding and synchronization. In digital communication system, the task is to determine the form of the signal to be transmitted over the channel. The goal is to choose the signal so as to minimize the transmitter power required to provide the desired synchronization accuracy in the presence of additive Gaussian noise. It is apparent that the amount of power needed will be an increasing function of N. The whole synchronization problem is severely complicated by the physical impossibility of realizing a square-wave correlation function. To increase the slope at the zero crossing and thereby decrease the tracking error, it is necessary to reduce the period of the correlation function. It is argued that the best search algorithm, in general, involves a sequential decision at each step, the required reliability of these decisions depending upon the signal being used. The synchronization signal, in turn, should be chosen, ideally, so as to produce a square-wave correlation function. In some cases, the clock channel and the synchronization channel can be combined into one channel, that is, they need not require separate subcarriers.
Prevalence of Coronary Artery Calcification on Pre-Atrial Fibrillation Ablation CT Pulmonary Venograms and its Impact on Selection for Statin Therapy

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) shares many risk factors with atrial fibrillation (AF). Obtaining computed tomography images of the pulmonary veins (CTPV) before AF ablation procedures is common and can incidentally detect coronary artery calcification (CAC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of CAC on pre-ablation CTPV, the frequency of CAC reporting on CTPV reports, and its impact on statin therapy among patients hospitalized for AF procedures. We retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients undergoing CTPV and AF procedures from October 2016 to December 2017 in a single-center tertiary hospital. The patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed. The CAC presence on CTPV was visually assessed. The severity was classified qualitatively. The statin therapy status was evaluated using the patient’s admission and discharge medication lists. A total of 638 subjects were included in our study, with 34.5% female. The mean age was 63.3 ± 10.8 years. CAC was detected in 70.1% of all patients, and in 58.1% of patients without a history of ASCVD. When present, CAC was documented in 92.6% of the clinical CTPV reports. While coronary artery atherosclerosis was present in a majority of AF patients, and its presence was widely reported, it was not associated with increased statin therapy at discharge.
Confidence Intervals for Ratios of Means and Medians

In studies where the response variable is measured on a ratio scale, a ratio of means or medians provides a standardized measure of effect size that is an alternative to the popular standardized me...
Collaborative Learning in Sociology Research Methods Courses: Does Race Matter?.

Students often identify research methods classes as one of the most difficult and intimidating classes of their academic career. The objectives of this study were twofold. The first was to ascertai...
SEVERE ACUTE POISONING OF CHILDREN IN A TERTIARY PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: REPORT OF A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Objective To describe the demographic characteristics, clinical course, and outcome of children with acute severe poisoning (SAP) leading to PICU admission. Methods A retrospective study of all cases of children admitted to a tertiary PICU for poisoning between 1998 and 2007 was performed. Circumstances of poisoning, clinical charts and outcome of patients were reviewed. Results 108 patients with SAP (3% of total admission) were admitted. Median age was 6 years (7 days–14 years) and 66.6% occurred between 2 and 6 years. SAP was due to drug ingestion in 55.5% of cases. Salicylate was the most frequent drug resulting in SAP (28%). Domestic and agricultural products were identified in 42% of cases and organophosphate was the most frequent cause (29.6%). The most common route of exposure was oral ingestion (93.5%). Therapeutic errors was noted in 3.7%. Indications for PICU admission were: coma (48%), respiratory failure (37%), and potentially SAP (18.5%). Gastrointestinal decontamination was used in 79.6% of patients, with activated charcoal in 77.7%. Three patients died, one from carbon monoxide poisoning and two from Atractylis gummifera. Median length of stay in survival patients was 2 days (1–12). Conclusions Drugs and organophosphate ingestion was the major cause of SAP with a maximal risk between 2 and 6 years old children. Mortality is low and seems to be related to the cause of PAS.
Bridging Psychology and Engineering: Undergraduate Conceptions of Human Systems Engineering:

Instruction and coursework that link engineering and psychology may enable future engineers to better understand the people they are engineering for (e.g., users and clients) and themselves as engi...
Trust but Verify: What Governments Can Do to Solve the COVID-19 Problem Immediately (Revised December 15, 2020 to Correct Typos and Include Vaccine Updates)

Many governments have done an incredible job of slowing down the spread of COVID-19, saving lives. However, there is still no cure for the disease. The vaccines being introduced can prevent COVID-19 in some people but there is no approved cure for the disease, and little relief for survivors suffering from long-term effects of the infection. In this paper, I provide two steps that governments can take to immediately find a superior solution to CVOID-19. Governments should (1) look beyond drug makers to find substances that cure or prevent COVID-19 and (2) aggregate and make public the scientific evidence from all substances with the potential to cure or prevent COVID-19. If governments took these two steps, it would become clear––from the scientific evidence––that high-dose Vitamin D (a hormone) is a superior COVID-19 solution than the drugs (including vaccines) on which governments presently hang their hopes. Evidence-based medicine is rooted in scientific evidence. That scientific evidence clearly shows that high-dose Vitamin D is superior to other preventers (e.g., vaccines) and cures for COVID-19. Just as important, COVID-19 is only the tip of the iceberg of the problems that high-dose Vitamin D can solve. Drug makers' excuse for not pursuing high-dose Vitamin D is that the hormone does not make money for them. What is your government’s own excuse for not helping your people use high-dose Vitamin D to fight COVID-19 and numerous other health problems?
A pandemic’s reminder: The public service vocation is at the heart of our field

As the COVID-19 pandemic threatens American lives and disrupts daily routines, we continue to see front-line public servants step forward to battle the virus with persistence. Given the increasingl...
Constructivist Podcasting Strategies in the 8th Grade Social Studies Classroom: “StudyCasts” Support Motivation and Learning Outcomes

This qualitative case study explored an eighth-grade social studies classroom where the teacher uses StudyCasts as an instructional strategy with his students. Teacher-led StudyCasts were utilized ...
Efficient One-Shot Technique for Adjoint-Based Unsteady Optimization

A computationally efficient one-shot approach with a low memory footprint is presented for unsteady optimization. The proposed technique is based on a novel and unique approach that combines local-...
A randomized, blinded, clinical investigation of breath odor reduction efficacy of a stabilized chlorine-dioxide containing flavored mouthwash.

PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy of a flavored, non-fluoridated, alcohol-free mouthwash containing 0.1% chlorine dioxide in reducing oral malodor. METHODS This was a randomized, 8-week, single site, double blind, crossover design with a 2-week washout period between crossover phases. Fifty subjects with clinically diagnosed intrinsic oral malodor were enrolled according to inclusion/exclusion criteria and randomized to one of two groups. Washout period initiated at end of Phase I and crossover design implemented prior to Phase II. Calibration for organoleptic judges performed at baseline for both phases. RESULTS 48 subjects completed the study. No significant differences in intensity scores at baseline were found for both groups during both phases (P> 0.05). Within group comparisons for placebo revealed no significant differences with organoleptic intensity scores for all visits during both phases (P> 0.05). During Phase I, the mean changes in organoleptic scores for the test group were significantly different from the baseline at each visit: Weeks 1 to 3 (P< 0.05). After crossover, significant differences were found for the last two visits: Weeks 7 and 8 (P< 0.05). No adverse effects to oral tissues were observed or reported. This product is safe to use for up to 3 weeks and resulted in a decrease in oral malodor. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Results suggested that twice-daily use of a 0.1% chlorine dioxide-containing flavored mouthwash, in conjunction with normal oral hygiene care, provided clinically relevant improvements in oral malodor for up to 3 weeks.
Impact of a relationship-centered care communication curriculum on pediatric residents’ practice, perspectives, and opportunities to Develop expertise

Abstract Objectives To investigate the impacts of a Relationship-Centered Care (RCC) communication curriculum with coaching on pediatric residents 1) self-reported use of RCC strategies and perspectives, and 2) opportunities to develop adaptive expertise. Methods Residents (n = 77) completed a 4 h RCC training and shared resultant RCC goals with Coaches (n = 15). Data included resident surveys and reflections immediately post-training, and resident and coach surveys 6-months later. Reported use of RCC strategies were compared over time with paired t-tests. Qualitative data were analyzed using open coding guided by sensitizing principles from the RCC framework and adaptive expertise. Results Pediatric residents reported significant increases (p Conclusion Residents had significant increases in reported use of key RCC strategies after a training combined with coaching and demonstrated opportunities to develop adaptive expertise. Practice implications Residency programs should include RCC training with an emphasis on the new and challenging strategies and provide opportunities to practice and receive coaching.
Automated Detection and Localization of Genome Inversions using Principal Component Analysis

Inversions occur when sections of a chromosome (DNA molecule) are completely reversed end-to-end. Large inversions (multiple megabases in length) can be detected, localized, and genotyped using principal component analysis (PCA) of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, detection and localization tasks are performed and interpreted manually. We propose a novel pipeline for the detection and localization tasks in an automated manner. We compare our results with manual analysis for localization and show that our algorithm can achieve a similarity score of 0.95 on average. For the classification task, we achieve an accuracy of 0.88 as compared to manual classification. Our results suggest that our proposed methods are fast and accurate for these tasks and can be used as tools for detection and localization.
Mothers at Work: Effects on Children's Well-Being

Preface 1. Introduction and review of the literature 2. Methodology 3. Children's daily lives: the after-school day interview 4. The husband-wife relationship 5. The mother's well-being 6. Childrearing 7. Maternal employment and child outcomes: the direct relationships 8. The father's role, gender attitudes, and academic outcomes 9. The mother's well-being and child outcomes 10. Childrearing patterns and child outcomes 11. Nonmaternal care and supervision: prevalence and effects of child-care arrangement on child well-being 12. Summary and overview.
Application: Combinatorial Designs

Informally, a combinatorial design is a way of selecting subsets such that certain conditions are satisfied. The goal in studying combinatorial designs is not to determine how many ways the conditions can be satisfied. Rather, the principal question is “Can the conditions be satisfied?” This being the case, it is often desirable to provide an explicit construction that satisfies the design. In this chapter, we will give only a brief treatment of this area.
The Day the Air Was on Fire

schist cairns studding the highest stretches we knelt and touched late gentian corollas, still half bud. "How long till first snow?" Days, not weeks. But with outcrops insisting the last word should be stone, then flaking and falling away from that, we noticed how each tuft put them to use improvising soil from palmfuls of grit, saying "If not this season, the next? perhaps the one after," and coming on very small, coming on uphill, against everything.
Statistical dynamics of crystalline diffusion: Part I. Exchange mechanism

Abstract The path probability method for irreversible cooperative phenomena proposed by the author is applied to atomic diffusion in crystals. A binary alloy of body-centered cubic structure with the concentration gradient along a [100] direction is discussed, with the direct exchange mechanism for atomic migration assumed. The path probability g for change of state during a short time inrerval is written in terms of the path parameters {Yij} using the pair approximation of the cluster-variation method. The most probable path is determined by maximizing g with respect to {Yij}. The system is isothermal and a flow of atoms is maintained by two particle reservoirs of different chemical potentials placed at the two ends of the system. When there is no chemical potential gradient, the system is in an equilibrium state identical to that obtained by the pair approximation, which is equivalent to Bethe's approximation or the quasi-chemical approximation. The diffusion coefficient is obtained from the stationary state by expanding the state parameters in terms of the concentration gradient. The expression of the diffusion coefficient is given for an arbitrary value of the concentration, and is written in terms of a probability parameter for a unit interchange of atoms.
Implementation of Live Video Transmission in MPEG-4 3D Scene

This paper discusses the implementation of live video transmission in MPEG-4 3D scene. A captured video stream is packetized and time-stamped in MPEG-4 synchronization layer (SL) and transmitted on the channel created by DMIF remote instance. The primary method is to parse the MP4 file and utilize the characteristics of elementary stream (ES) descriptor. The SL configuration and SL header are designed for the live video such that the live media can be properly transmitted and combined with other objects in the original 3D scene. The implemented system has been well verified with the integration version of IM1 3D player and UBC's DMIF.
Silence from the United States Supreme Court and Disagreement among Lower Courts Suggest an Uncertain Future for Class-Wide Arbitration

With growth in the area of arbitration agreements relating to employment, credit cards, loans, and other form agreements, the issue of class-wide arbitration has become an area of significant judicial activity. However, increased judicial activity has not resulted in increased clarity; to the dismay of those parties seeking to pursue or avoid class-wide arbitration, the law on this issue has become unpredictable from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The United States Supreme Court has expressed the importance of the class-action as a valuable device for vindicating plaintiffs' rights. Additionally, the Supreme Court has recognized arbitration as a valuable form of dispute resolution. In contrast, when the class-action and arbitration are found in the form of class-wide arbitration, the Supreme Court has been less than swift in establishing binding precedent for the lower courts to follow. Although the Bazzle decision was concerned primarily with whether silent agreements preclude class-wide arbitration, this casenote will address class-wide arbitration in general, and the manner in which the Supreme Court treated the issue in Bazzle.
THE SILVER STAINING OF RETICULAR FIBERS BY ELECTROPHORESIS.

In this technique reticulin is stained black with silver by the electrophoretic method. Use Zenker or formalin (10%) fixed tissue, but mordant the latter in Zenker stock for one hour or longer‥ Carry paraffin sections to water; mordant, if necessary; wash well in tap water; transfer to distilled water; place slide in tray containing the ammoniacal silver solution; turn voltage regulator to a potential of 70 v; manipulate the electrodes by passing the negative one back and forth over the section and about 5 mm above it, one minute or less; both electrodes are of 20 gauge copper wire; dip in distilled water; reduce in 5% formalin, three minutes or more; rinse in tap water; to AuCl3, 1–5 minute rinse in tap water; into 5% Na2S2O3. 5 H2O, two minutes; dehydrate, clear, and mount in synthetic resin. This method was used on tissues obtained from human autopsies (liver, lung, scrotum, ovary, esophagus and suprarenal).
A Reform Agenda Premised Upon the Reciprocal Relationship Between Anti-LGBT Bias in Role Model Occupations and the Bullying of LGBT Youth

Employment discrimination in role model occupations on the basis of LGBT status has long been used systematically to define negatively the LGBT identity and to reinforce the associations between the non-LGBT majority and certain positive qualities, values, and institutions. This Article argues that a reciprocal relationship exists between such discrimination and the bullying of LGBT youth. This Article then proposes a reform agenda to combat anti-LGBT bias in role model occupations grounded in an understanding of the nature of this reciprocal relationship. Part I demonstrates that anti-LGBT discrimination in role model occupations has been employed systematically to disassociate LGBT people from certain positive qualities and values and to maintain and strengthen the associations between these positive qualities and values and the non-LGBT majority as well as the institutions that the non-LGBT majority holds dear. One effect of such discrimination, as intended, is that known LGBT role models are removed from public visibility. This exclusion makes it more likely that young people will come to devalue LGBT people which, in turn, is likely to increase the prevalence of the bullying of LGBT youth. Part II reviews recent empirical studies that evidence that the bullying of LGBT youth is a widespread problem and that the consequences of this bullying can be profound and tragic. This Part also reviews empirical evidence that bullying in the workplace is a significant problem and that much of this workplace bullying targets LGBT people. This hostile environment, in turn, encourages LGBT workers to conceal their sexual orientation or gender identity. Thus, bullying is not only a consequence of the intentional exclusion of known LGBT people from role model occupations; bullying also furthers this exclusionary project. Finally, Part III considers in greater detail the mutually reinforcing relationship between employment discrimination against known LGBT role models and the bullying of LGBT youth, focusing on their common genesis and effects. This Part then proposes a reform agenda grounded in an understanding of the interconnections between such discrimination and the bullying of LGBT youth.
Clicking for friendship: social network sites and the medium of personhood

Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook depend on familiar social resources, including language, reading/writing and established semantic constructs such as personhood, privacy and friends. However, the use of computers, the Web 2.0 platform, and the latest networking software are revolutionising how “personhood” and “friendship” are produced by communication. We refer to the media theory of Niklas Luhmann to identify specific differences in how communication is organised and reproduced on networking sites. The electronic medium appears to be changing the way participants selectively construct and bind expectations of personhood and communicative ties to themselves and others. Using software available on the Web, users confront each other as digital bodies, as participants in communication, available for friendship within a new “ether of interactivity”.
Computer-Controlled Transducer Systems: the "Unspecia1ized" Approach to Component Testing

Several computer-controlled test stands had been designed and built to monitor and contral life and performance tests on most of the control components which are used in major laundry appliances today. In the process, some of the problems associated with using a real-time process control computer for approval testing were solved while still taking full advantage of the computer's inherent capability to perform complex logical operations quickly and effectively. Most of the computer-controlled component test stands were designed specifically for testing components used on the clothes dryer, but the concept of designing a generalized system of control hardware to interface with the computer is applicable to other products. The resulting test stands, therefore, can be used to test automatic washer timers, solenoids, water valves, and switches as well as the relays, switches, and gas valves commonly used on the dryer. In designing the test stands the functions performed by the various components were identified, and components requiring similar control hardware were grouped together. From this grouping it was apparent that only three different types of computer-controlled test stands had to be constructed, one test stand to control thermally actuated components, one to control impulse or step actuated components, and one to test rotary actuated components. The problems associated with obtaining and conditioning the analog and digital signals being transmitted to the computer, and the means by which low-level control signals from the computer are used to control the functioning of the test stand are discussed.
Reducing-End Modification of N-Linked Oligosaccharides with Tyrosine

Abstract The N-linked oligosaccharides from bovine fetuin were purified using newly developed preparative purification methodology. N-linked oligosaccharides were released from tryptic glycopeptides utilizing N-glycosidase F on the 5-g scale. Selective desialylation with neuraminidase from Clostridium perfringens resulted in the formation of a mono-sialyl-oligosaccharide and asialo-oligosaccharides. The reducing ends of the oligosaccharides were converted to the glycosylamine and reacted with the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of Boctyrosine. The tyrosinated oligosaccharides were resolved into individual peaks on RP-HPLC and then characterized by proton NMR and FAB-MS. A single asialo-triantennary, an asialo-biantennary, and a mono-sialyl-triantennary oligosaccharide were recovered in good yield. Each product contained a single BocTyr residue attached to the reducing-end GlcNAc residue through a β-glycosylamide linkage. The procedure was utilized to isolate multi-micromole quantities of oligosaccharides from gram quantities of glycoprotein, thus providing a new route to purify large quantities of N-linked oligosaccharides which contain a terminal tyrosine residue. The tyrosinated oligosaccharides are valuable glycoconjugate ligands which contain a chromophore that absorbs at 280 nm and has sufficient hydrophobicity to facilitate RP-HPLC separations. Furthermore, this group can be deprotected by removal of Hoc to reveal a primary amine suitable for further derivatization and can also be radioiodinated for tracking during biological experiments.
The evolution of tolerance to deer herbivory: modifications caused by the abundance of insect herbivores

Although recent evidence indicates that coevolutionary interactions between species often vary on a biogeographical scale, little consideration has been given to the processes responsible for producing this pattern. One potential explanation is that changes in the community composition alter the coevolutionary interactions between species, but little evidence exists regarding the occurrence of such changes. Here we present evidence that the pattern of natural selection on plant defence traits, and the probable response to that selection, are critically dependent on the composition of the biotic community. The evolutionary trajectory of defence traits against mammalian herbivory in the Ivyleaf morning glory (Ipomoea hederacea), and which defence traits are likely to respond to selection, are both dependent on the presence or absence of insect herbivores. These results indicate that variation in community composition may be a driving force in generating geographical mosaics.
Immune response by the mouse to orally administered actinophage.

SummaryActinophage added to the drinking water of adult BALB mice appeared in the blood within minutes; continued oral exposure to phage elicited production of phage neutralizing antibody. The initial immune response was 19S globulin; later both 7S and 19S globulins were present. Injection of antigen into mice previously fed phage elicited an enhanced response, but oral administration of phage to mice previously immunized by one injection of antigen did not cause an increase in antibody titer.
Orthopaedic nuclear medicine: The pelvis and hip

Bone scintigraphy is a sensitive method useful in the diagnosis of specific skeletal problems encountered in orthopaedic and sports medicine. Often, in these situations, routine radiographic evaluation may provide negative or questionable information. Bone scintigraphy is also useful in the evaluation of patients with ill-defined or persistent bone pain not satisfactorily explained by positive radiologic evaluation. In these situations, because of its ability to image the whole body, bone scintigraphy may reveal additional unsuspected traumatic pathology. Finally, nuclear medicine physicians need to be prepared to properly interpret findings unrelated to trauma and to direct the evaluation of patients toward the correct diagnosis and subsequent management. These goals can be achieved by using optimal imaging technique, by becoming familiar with the patient's clinical presentation, by understanding the biomechanics and pathophysiology of the entities encountered, by proper use of alternative diagnostic procedures, and by establishing good rapport with referring physicians.
Mitotic arrest by melatonin

Abstract We are testing the hypothesis that migration of the newly formed mouth (i.e., oral membranellar band) in stentor is homologous to mitotic chromosomal movement and that both types of movement within single cells depend directly on microtubule elongation. The following compounds synchronously delay the migration of the oral membranellar band as an exponential function of concentration: Colcemid, podophyllotoxin, β-peltatin and vinblastine. Delay for these compounds can be described by the equation, y = kxn, where y is delay in hours and x is concentration of mitotic spindle inhibitor in moles/l. We discovered that the animal pineal gland hormone, melatonin (5-methoxy n-acetyl tryptamine), also specifically and reproducibly delays oral band regeneration according to an equation of this form. Thus we predicted that melatonin would arrest mitosis. We report here a colchicine-type disruption of the mitotic apparatus in onion root tips by melatonin. Two closely related tryptamine derivatives, n-acetyl serotonin and serotonin were inactive in both the stentor and onion assays: they neither delayed band migration in stentor as an exponential function nor induced mitotic arrest in onion.
Lack of association between amplification of her-2 and response to preoperative taxanes in patients with breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The objective of the current study was to determine whether her-2 amplification was associated with a pathologic response to preoperative chemotherapy with taxanes in patients with early-stage breast carcinoma. METHODS The authors evaluated 71 patients treated for AJCC Stage II and III breast carcinoma with preoperative taxanes whose tissue specimens were still available. Fifty-seven patients (80%) had received paclitaxel and 14 (20%) had received docetaxel (4 cycles of either drug). Amplification of the her-2 gene was determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization. RESULTS The median patient age was 49 years (range, 21–70 years). Forty-eight patients (68%) had Stage II breast carcinoma and 23 (32%) had Stage III disease. her-2 gene amplification was detected in 19 tumor specimens (28%). Hormone receptors (estrogen and/or progesterone) were detected in 11 her-2–positive tumor specimens (58%) and in 31 her-2–negative tumor specimens (85%). Eight pathologic complete responses (pCR; breast and axillary lymph nodes) occurred, 3 (16%) in patients with her-2–positive tumor specimens and five (10%) in patients with her-2–negative tumor specimens (P = 0.68). Twelve patients achieved pCR in the breast, 5 (26%) in patients with her-2–positive tumors and 7 (15%) in patients with her-2–negative tumors (P = 0.3). At a median follow-up of 61 months, none of the patients with a pCR developed recurrent disease, regardless of their her-2 status. The progression-free and overall survival rates were similar in both HER-2–positive and her-2–negative groups (P = 0.45 and P = 0.14, respectively). CONCLUSIONS her-2 gene amplification was not found to be predictive of a pathologic response to preoperative taxanes in patients with early-stage breast carcinoma. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Guidelines for the care of East Asian paintings: Display, storage and handling

Summary Traditional East Asian paintings evolved over centuries into physically and aesthetically sophisticated objects. Made with delicate materials and time-honoured methods, East Asian scrolls, screens, and albums are complex, laminate mounting structures that are easily damaged by mishandling and unstable environmental conditions. In the East, customary practices for display, storage, and connoisseurship have been essential for long-term preservation. For East Asian paintings housed in the West, concerns have arisen about appropriate measures for care and maintenance in modern museum environments. Based on experience as a traditionally trained East Asian painting conservator and informed by Western preventive conservation practices, the author presents relevant traditional methods and modem innovations for the safe display, storage and handling of scrolls, screens and albums. Broken into three sections, the article introduces guidelines and practical suggestions to determine suitable environmental par...
The Upregulation of Cognate and Inducible Heat Shock Proteins in the Anoxic Turtle Brain

Because heat shock proteins (HSPs) have an important protective function against ischemia/anoxia in mammalian brain, the authors investigated the expression of Hsp72 and Hsc73 in the anoxia-surviving turtle brain. Unlike the mammalian brain, high levels of Hsp72 were found in the normoxic turtle brain. Hsp72 levels were significantly increased by 4 hours of anoxia, remained constant until 8 hours, and then decreased to baseline at 12 hours. By contrast, Hsc73 was progressively increased throughout 12 hours of anoxia. This differential expression suggests different protective roles: Hsp72 in the initial downregulatory transition phase, and Hsc73 in maintaining neural network integrity during the long-term hypometabolic phase.
Gas chromatography as an aid in fermentation studies.

Abstract A gas chromatographic method for the determination of fermentation products has been developed. The method has been applied to a Clostridium butylicum fermentation. The method permits greater speed and simplicity of analysis than conventional methods.
Network languages for concurrent multiagent systems

Abstract This paper reports new results in the development of Linguistic Geometry towards concurrent multiagent aerospace systems. This formal theory is intended to discover the inner properties of human expert heuristics, which have been successful in a certain class of complex control systems, and apply them to different systems. The Linguistic Geometry relies on the formalization of search heuristics of the highly-skilled human experts, which allow for the decomposition of a complex system into a dynamic hierarchy of subsystems, and thus solve intractable problems by reducing the search dramatically. In this paper, we consider briefly the Linguistic Geometry tools and their application to multiagent systems represented 2D optimization problems for autonomous robotic vehicles in aerospace environment. First, we consider only serial motions, then we relax these constraints by allowing the cooperating agents move simultaneously if necessary while the motions of opposing agents alternate. Next we relax these constraints completely by allowing all the agents move simultaneously if necessary. A comparison of the searches for serial and concurrent cases shows that search reduction achieved in all types of problems with concurrent motions is even more dramatic than it was in the serial one.
Stereotactic radiosurgical treatment of brain metastasis of primary tumors that rarely metastasize to the central nervous system

We evaluated the local control of gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKSRS) in the treatment of cerebral metastases from primary tumors that rarely metastasize to the central nervous system (CNS). There is little published data on this subject with very few series on specific primary tumors. We present our experience treating these lesions with GKSRS combined with a review of the salient literature. A retrospective study of 36 patients who collectively underwent 44 GKSRS procedures for CNS metastatic disease was undertaken. Our series includes four patients with sarcoma, two with prostate cancer, three with thyroid cancer, five with endometrial cancer, seven with ovarian cancer, two with cervical cancer, six with esophageal cancer, two with bladder cancer, one with liver cancer, one with pancreatic cancer, and three with testicular cancer. With 44 gamma knife sessions treating 74 tumors, 63 tumors showed no radiographic evidence of progression, and 13 tumors demonstrated radiographic progression between one and 12 months after gamma knife treatment. In six patients in the population, further treatment with GKSRS was necessary due to enlargement of untreated lesions or new metastatic disease. GKSRS for uncommon CNS metastases is appears to be efficacious in controlling the treated tumor. The majority of tumors treated in our study did not progress post gamma knife.
HETEROTOPIC BONE FORMATION IN THE URINARY TRACT

A 9-year-old boy underwent computerized tomography (CT) after flank trauma during a football game. Urinalysis demonstrated microscopic hematuria. Physical examination was normal. He had no history of urinary tract infection. CT showed a 3 cm. calcification in the lower pole of a hydrocalyx (fig. 1). Careful radiographic evaluation revealed that the renal calcification extended outside the renal parenchyma. He underwent lower pole partial nephrectomy. Histological examination indicated normal renal parenchyma and bone formation in the calculus (fig. 2).
Programmed stimulation in the evaluation of life-threatening or potentially life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias

In conclusion, programmed stimulation is an excellent and appropriate method to guide thrapy for life-threatening and potentially life-threatening arrhythmias that occur infrequently and with unpredictable timing.The sensitivity and specificity of programmed stimulation is excellent in patients whose clinical presentation is by sustained uniform ventricular tachycardia and cardiac arrest. In contrast, such parameters are substantially less in patients with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia and in those who present wit syncope. The predictive accuracy of therapy guided by programmed electrical stimulation in cohorts with cardiac artest and sustained uniform ventricular tachycardia cohorts is reasonably well established and appears to be very good. Although no large randomized controlled comparative study of noninvasive versus PES-guided therapy has yet been completed, preliminary evidence suggests that there is a decreased incidence of arrhythmia recurrence and sudden cardiac death when therapy is guided by PES. In the minority of patients with syncope in whom sustained uniform ventricular tachycardia is induced during PES, therapy may be effectively guided by this modality. PES appears to be of benefit in managing patients with coronary artery disease who present with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia and depressed ejection fraction thereby defining a high risk subset for a subsequent arrhythmic event. However, we have not found electrophysiologic testing postmyocardial infarction to be prognostically useful.
Advanced glycation end products in diabetic cardiomyopathy: an alternative hypothesis.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are chemically heterogeneous structures and include such specific forms as carboxy (methyl)lysine, pentosidine and others, and were previously measured in heart failure patients as serum AGE, skin AGE, and AGE in cardiomyocytes and vascular cells within the heart. The study by Nozynski et al.1 adds to this body of knowledge as it examines AGE expression directly in explanted hearts: 22 with cardiomyopathy (CMP) and diabetes (DM), 114 with CMP without DM, 20 healthy heart donors, and 14 with DM without CMP. One of the main findings in this study was equally increased AGE accumulation in intramyocardial veins, arterioles and venules in diabetic subjects with and without CMP. This is an unexpected finding, since it is believed that AGE may contribute to mechanical (stiffness) as well as molecular (inflammation) changes contributing to myocardial dysfunction. However, we would like to offer a hypothesis for this unexpected result not raised by the authors. The diabetic cohort without CMP consists of patients who died in the first 24 hours after admission to the intensive care unit due to cerebral injury, and therefore represent a very sick cohort. It is well established that trauma is associated with a high burden of systemic inflammation, oxidative stress and for instance serum myeloperoxidase activity is highest in the first 6 hours in non-surviving patients with head trauma2. Moreover, inflammation, reactive oxygen species and myeloperoxidase enzymatic activity promotes protein glycation and AGE formation as rapidly as in 60 minutes3. AGE formation in human tissue is a dynamic process as recently demonstrated by the rapid decline of AGEs in myeloperoxidase-positive inflammatory cells in carotid endarterectomy tissue after treatment with simvastatin prior to surgery4. We speculate that the increased accumulation of AGE in the heart of diabetic subjects without CMP found in the study by Nozynski et al. may be largely explained by the circumstances of this study. The authors cannot exclude the possibility of rapid AGEs formation as a result of enhanced oxidative stress and myeloperoxidase activity associated with lethal trauma in this diabetic control group without CMP. Further studies examining AGE in cardiac tissue are needed to dissect the role of AGE in heart failure. Most importantly, more in-depth analysis of the specific AGEs and their concentrations in these tissues must be performed. Indeed, the concept of the heterogeneous nature of AGEs is underscored in Nyzynski’s study population and design.
Your Memory Is Now a Vendor Service

We no longer provide the context for anything we do, so the systems we deal with provide it for us. This implies that they know more about us and we have less privacy.
Patch definition in metapopulation analysis: a graph theory approach to solve the mega-patch problem

The manner in which patches are delineated in spatially realistic metapopulation models will influence the size, connectivity, and extinction and recolonization dynamics of those patches. Most commonly used patch-definition methods focus on identifying discrete, contiguous patches of habitat from a single temporal observation of species occurrence or from a model of habitat suitability. However, these approaches are not suitable for many metapopulation systems where entire patches may not be fully colonized at a given time. For these metapopulation systems, a single large patch of habitat may actually support multiple, interacting subpopulations. The interactions among these subpopulations will be ignored if the patch is treated as a single unit, a situation we term the "mega-patch problem." Mega-patches are characterized by variable intra-patch synchrony, artificially low inter-patch connectivity, and low extinction rates. One way to detect this problem is by using time series data to calculate demographic synchrony within mega-patches. We present a framework for identifying subpopulations in mega-patches using a combination of spatial autocorrelation and graph theory analyses. We apply our approach to southern California giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forests using a new, long-term (27 years), satellite-based data set of giant kelp canopy biomass. We define metapopulation patches using our method as well as several other commonly used patch delineation methodologies and examine the colonization and extinction dynamics of the metapopulation under each approach. We find that the relationships between patch characteristics such as area and connectivity and the demographic processes of colonizations and extinctions vary among the different patch-definition methods. Our spatial-analysis/graph-theoretic framework produces results that match theoretical expectations better than the other methods. This approach can be used to identify subpopulations in metapopulations where the distributions of organisms do not always reflect the distribution of suitable habitat.