cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neural computations with mammalian infochemicals

The mammalian olfactory system is the most sensitive and discriminating molecular recognition system known, able to detect a few dozen critical molecules in the face of strong and variable background odorants. The set of information-containing volatile molecules used to transmit information within and between mammalian species shows both great molecular and informational diversity. Chemosensory neuroscientists that apply traditional reductionist methods to the analysis of information processing and computational principles in the olfactory system find great value in understanding the ecological and ethological context in which mammalian olfactory communication occurs. This review highlights a subset of the molecular armamentarium and information transmissions relevant to understanding the uses of olfactory communication by mammals in an ecological context.
Scene power spectra: the moment as an image quality merit factor

Coherent optical power spectra of random scene imagery can become a powerful image evaluation technique when properly analyzed. A normalized low order moment of power spectra is set forth as a good image quality merit factor, which also has the advantageous property of taking out the spectrum analyzer’s aperture effect. In addition to the relevant theory, experimental results with this merit factor of power spectra are given that demonstrate a high degree of correlation with subjective quality rankings, as well as the accurate assessment of optimum focus.
Broadened Far-Infrared Absorption Spectra for Hydrated and Dehydrated Myoglobin

The far-infrared absorption spectra of myoglobin powder at hydration levels between 3.6 and 42 wt % were measured with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Absorption is dominated by the water content, but even the driest specimens have a nearly continuous spectrum without identifiable sharp features. Inhomogeneous broadening plus the intrinsically high spectral density of vibrational modes in the region below 2.0 THz apparently combine to obscure the lowest frequency vibrational modes expected for protein molecules of this size. A continuous absorption spectrum for hydrated protein powders suggests that the absorption mechanisms are similar to those in liquid water, and hinders the spectroscopic identification of biomolecules in this frequency range.
Genetic deficiency of complement isoforms C4A or C4B predicts improved survival of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Autoimmune phenomena during immunotherapy are associated with favorable outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. We have reported improved survival in patients with stage IV renal cell carcinoma who carry autoimmunity associated HLA class II haplotypes. We propose that the clinical benefit is mediated by products of other autoimmunity associated genes linked to these haplotypes. A candidate gene is complement C4, which replicates as part of the RCCX module, can be present in multiple copies and exists as C4A and C4B isoforms. Deficiencies of either isoform are associated with autoimmunity. In the current study we tested the hypothesis that C4A or C4B deficiency predicts improved survival of patients with RCC.Materials and Methods: The total C4 copy number was determined by simultaneous amplification of RP1 and TNXA/RP2 to quantitate RCCX modules. C4A and C4B alleles were distinguished by PshAI restriction fragment length polymorphism.Results: Genetic complotypes were determined ...
Ten-year clinical and imaging follow-up of dural ectasia in adults with Marfan syndrome.

Abstract Background context Dural ectasia in the lumbosacral spine is a common feature of Marfan syndrome and is associated with low back pain and surgical complications, but its natural history is unknown. Purpose To evaluate the natural history of dural ectasia in adults with Marfan syndrome by determining if, over time, symptoms associated with dural ectasia worsen, dural ectasia imaging findings worsen, or spondylolisthesis/spondylolysis develops or worsens. Study design Prospective cohort study. Patient sample For our prospective follow-up study, we enrolled 20 patients with Marfan syndrome and dural ectasia who, from 1998 through 1999, had undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) of the lumbosacral spine and had completed the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire. Of the 20, five did not meet the inclusion criterion of a completed 2009 ODI questionnaire and were excluded. The remaining 15 patients (mean age, 49.6 years; mean follow-up, 10.5 years) formed our study group. Outcome measures The ODI, MRI-based qualitative and quantitative measurements, CT-based quantitative measurements. Methods We performed matched-pair analyses via Student t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test of the ODI scores (15 pairs), dural volume of L5–S2 (eight pairs), dural sac ratio (DSR) of L4–S2 (nine pairs), development/progression of spondolysthesis/spondylolysis (11 pairs), and Fattori qualitative grading of dural ectasia size (10 pairs). Significance was set at p Results We found no statistical differences in the 1998/1999 and 2009 ODI scores (25.8 vs. 22.2 points), dural volume (70.4 vs. 73.9 cm3), or DSR (0.68, 0.78, 2.04, and 58.1 vs. 0.69, 0.83, 2.30, and 70.20). There was also no development or progression of spondylolisthesis/spondylolysis and no increase in dural ectasia size. Conclusions During this 10-year period, the natural history of dural ectasia in adults with Marfan syndrome was not associated with a significant increase in ODI scores, dural ectasia size, or with the development/progression of spondylolisthesis or spondylolysis.
Cyclosporine-induced changes in glomerular filtration rate and urea excretion.

Abstract purpose: Cyclosporine is the mainstay of many immunosuppressant protocols, but confers a significant risk of nephrotoxicity. We sought to clarify the effects of cyclosporine in renal function in renal transplant recipients after induction of mild intravascular volume depletion. patients and methods: Two groups of renal transplant patients with normal allograft function at least 6 months after transplantation whose immunosuppressive regimens differed only by the presence or absence of cyclosporine usage were enrolled in a 10-day in-hospital protocol. After a 3-day control period, intravascular volume depletion was produced by dietary restriction of sodium chloride for 4 days and the administration of furosemide. Creatinine and urea clearances, true glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (by radioisotope technique), and the fractional excretion of sodium were measured. The patients were subsequently given a high amount of sodium chloride by intravenous infusion (3.8 mEq/kg body weight/day) for 3 days and the studies were repeated. results: Ten patients treated with azathioprine and prednisone (azathioprine-treated) and nine patients treated with cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone (cyclosporine-treated) were enrolled. The two groups developed a similar degree of intravascular volume depletion; blood pressure did not change and urine flow rates did not differ between the groups throughout the protocol. The cyclosporine-treated patients showed significant decreases in GFR, creatinine clearance, and urea clearance, and increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and percent urea reabsorption after intravascular volume depletion; these findings resolved after challenge with the sodium chloride load. In contrast, the azathioprine-treated patients' BUN, urea clearance, GFR, and creatinine clearance did not significantly change throughout the protocol. The decrease in the fractional excretion of sodium after intravascular volume depletion was significantly greater in the cyclosporine-treated patients. conclusion: Cyclosporine predisposes to acute reversible nephrotoxicity by compromising the renal compensatory mechanisms. Proximal tubular function, as manifested by urea and sodium reabsorption, remains intact.
Imaging large arrays of supported lipid bilayers with a macroscope.

Herein, the authors present fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and two-dimensional protein saturation data acquired from spatially addressed arrays of solid supported lipid bilayers (SLBs). The SLB arrays were imaged with an epifluorescence/total internal reflection macroscope. The macroscope allowed 1× imaging and had a relatively high numerical aperture (0.4). Such powerful light gathering and large field of view capabilities make it possible to simultaneously image dozens of addressed SLBs. Three experiments have been performed. First, a 9×7 array of supported lipid bilayer was fabricated and imaged in which each bilayer element was individually addressed. Second, a FRET assay was developed between Texas Red-DHPE (1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine) and NBD-PE (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-n-(7-nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)). The concentration of dye could be varied at each address and the value of the Forster radius (7.3±0.6 nm) was easily abstracted. Third, a ligand/receptor recognition assay was designed to show the two-dimensional number density of proteins which can be bound at saturation. It was found for the streptavidin/biotin pair that the protein saturated at the interface above 3 mol % biotin concentration. This corresponded to a two-dimensional footprint of 40 nm2 for the streptavidin molecule. These results clearly open the door to using individually addressed bilayers for obtaining large amounts of biophysical data at the supported bilayer/aqueous interface. Such abilities will be crucial to obtaining sufficient data for determining the interfacial mechanisms for a variety of membrane/ protein interactions.
Greater extent of resection improves ganglioglioma recurrence-free survival in children: a volumetric analysis.

BACKGROUND Gangliogliomas are rare, low-grade, glial-neural tumors that are most often found in children. They can recur with varying frequency; yet few data are available that adequately predict such events. OBJECTIVE To review our institution's large series of gangliogliomas in children and identify clinical features that predict recurrence-free survival. METHODS Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed from 1990 to 2011. Fifty-three children were identified, and pertinent clinical features were analyzed against survival data to categorize lesions at high risk of recurrence. RESULTS Fifteen children (28%) experienced a recurrence during the study period with a median time to recurrence of 8.8 months and a mean follow-up of 4.2 years. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 70.5%, whereas the overall survival rate was 98.1%. Older age at diagnosis (P = .02), seizure history (P < .001), supratentorial tumor location (P < .001), and greater extent of surgical resection (P < .001) were all associated with improved recurrence-free survival on univariate analysis. Extent of surgical resection was the only clinical variable that retained its significance in multivariate models (P = .01). Patients who received 94% or greater volumetric extent of resection had prolonged recurrence-free survival compared with those individuals who received a less than 94% resection (P = .02). CONCLUSION Attention to specific clinical variables, most notably the extent of surgical resection, can further stratify grade I gangliogliomas into low- and high-risk groups among children. Although 100% resection should remain an operative goal for surgically accessible gangliogliomas, a thorough yet subtotal resection may improve recurrence-free survival.
Implementing the Chronic Care Model: A Statewide Focus on Improving Diabetes Care for Pennsylvania

C hronic diseases represent a significant public health burden by decreasing quality of life and causing death and disability at great economic cost. In Pennsylvania, chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability and account for 80% of all health care costs. About half of all Pennsylvanians have a chronic disease, including diabetes, asthma, heart conditions, and others.1 These chronic conditions are exacerbated by obesity, an older population, smoking, and other factors that are hardly unique to the state but statistically more prevalent. Unfortunately, reports also show that only 56% of patients in the state receive the kind of care recommended for chronic disease.2. The primary care system, through which most of chronic care is provided, is insufficiently oriented toward the management and maintenance of the chronically ill.3 Overburdened clinicians do not have ready access to information about their patients or time to meet all of their patients' needs. Furthermore, there is a lack of care coordination and follow-up, and patients often are inadequately trained to manage their disease.3 Primary care practices are also poorly compensated by insurers and government payers under existing reimbursement models. The potential consequences of poor management are grave, and much of the costs would be unnecessary if patients received evidence-based care in a setting in which multiple practitioners can communicate and collaborate. The number of people with diabetes is expected to increase alarmingly in the coming decades. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that more than 250 million people around the world have diabetes. This total is expected to rise to 380 million within 20 years. Each year, an additional 7 million people develop diabetes.4 In the United States, the incidence of diabetes is also growing and nearly doubled between 1995 and 2006 to 7.4% of the population. …
Pharmacogenetics of cyclic guanylate, antioxidants, and antioxidant enzymes in nuerospora

Abstract Previous studies indicate that antioxidant enzyme regulatory gene mutants ( Age − ) of Neurospora are defective in cellular longevity and development, numerous antioxienzymes, and cAMP, and that dietary cGMP confers normal longevity. Here it is shown that cGMP also phenotypically cures the developmental and enzymatic defects. At least of the 12 known antioxidant enyzme deficiencies are normalized by cGMP. cGMP-mediated enzyme induction apparently requires gene transcription: actinomycin D is inhibitory. The mutants' inferior growth and development are stimulated by feeding cGMP, the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitor theophylline, antioxidant enzymes, and antioxidants or by omission of both ferrous and cupric ions normally added to the culture medium. Tha analysis indicates that the inferior growth and development probably is a consequence of the formation of toxic hydroxyl radicals. The mutants are rather specific, conditional cGMP auxotrophs and responsd to physiological concentrations of that nucleotide: cAMP tends to be ineffective. The observations indicate that: i) genetic regulation of antioxidant enzymes is a determinant of not only cellular longevity, but also normal growth and development; and ii) the enzymes do indeed provide defense against free radical/oxidant toxicity. The hypothesis that cGMP is a second messenger in regulation of the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes is consistent with experimental data, but remains to be verified.
Non-Bulk-Like Solvent Behavior in the Ribosome Exit Tunnel

As nascent proteins are synthesized by the ribosome, they depart via an exit tunnel running through the center of the large subunit. The exit tunnel likely plays an important part in various aspects of translation. Although water plays a key role in many bio-molecular processes, the nature of water confined to the exit tunnel has remained unknown. Furthermore, solvent in biological cavities has traditionally been characterized as either a continuous dielectric fluid, or a discrete tightly bound molecule. Using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, we predict that the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of water confined within the ribosome exit tunnel are quite different from this simple two-state model. We find that the tunnel creates a complex microenvironment for the solvent resulting in perturbed rotational dynamics and heterogenous dielectric behavior. This gives rise to a very rugged solvation landscape and significantly retarded solvent diffusion. We discuss how this non-bulk-like solvent is likely to affect important biophysical processes such as sequence dependent stalling, co-translational folding, and antibiotic binding. We conclude with a discussion of the general applicability of these results to other biological cavities.
A general class of branch-and-bound methods in global optimization with some new approaches for concave minimization

Based on a review of existing algorithms, a general branch-and-bound concept in global optimization is presented. A sufficient and necessary convergence condition is established, and a broad class of realizations is derived that include existing and several new approaches for concave minimization problems.
Biodegradation and Biotransformation of Dicamba under Different Reducing Conditions

We examined the anaerobic biodegradability and transformation of dicamba under denitrifying, iron Fe(III) reducing, sulfate reducing, and methanogenic conditions. Anaerobic microcosms were establis...
Large strains in cemented granular aggregates: Elastic-plastic cement

Abstract We describe large-strain behavior of cemented geomaterials by modeling the deformation of a random pack of identical cemented spheres. In this model we assume that the grains are elastic but that the intergranular cement becomes partly plastic as local stresses meet a plasticity condition. This plasticity condition for a thin elastic-plastic cement layer is derived based on the von Mises criterion. Next we solve the problems of large-strain deformation of two cemented spheres in compression and in shear. This solution allows for calculation of the normal and shear strain-dependent stiffnesses of two cemented grains. Finally, we derive effective stress-strain laws for an aggregate of cemented spheres where grain-to-grain contact stiffnesses are strain-dependent. These theoretical stress-strain laws are close to the relations typically observed in clay-cemented sands. An important result is that an initially isotropic aggregate may become anisotropic if the stress field is non-hydrostatic. This stress-induced anisotropy may lead to an up to 10% error in estimating, for example, an apparent isotropic bulk modulus from a uniaxial-strain experiment.
6–34 GHz offset phase-locking of Nd:YAG 1319 nm nonplanar ring lasers

We report offset phase-locking of two Nd:YAG nonplanar ring lasers by electronic feedback. The difference frequency is continuously tunable in three bands from 6 to 34 GHz and exhibits a hold-in range and linewidth of 82 MHz and <1 mHz, respectively.
Role of Vascular Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Liver Disease

In this article, the appearance of the normal hepatic vasculature is first described, followed by a review of the pathologic changes that can be observed with ultrasound in the setting of cirrhosis and portal hypertension, portal vein thrombosis, portal vein abnormalities and hepatic vein thrombosis, and Budd-Chiari syndrome. Finally, the contribution of color and duplex Doppler ultrasound in the evaluation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts and liver transplantation is addressed.
Comparison of four nondestructive techniques for estimating standing crop in shortgrass plains.

Nondestructive standing crop estimators are important for efficient monitoring of native and agronomic systems. This study evaluated plot and pasture estimates of standing crop using LAI-2000, visual obstruction, canopy height, and weighted plate measurements. Research was conducted in Lubbock County, Texas, in 1999 on areas dominated by Amarillo fine sandy loam (fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Aridic Paleustalfs). Five hundred plot estimation samples were collected for each method along 25 transects, and each transect mean was used for the pasture estimation trials. Coefficients of determination improved as we moved from plot (0.34, 0.85, 0.37, and 0.70) to pasture (0.67, 0.87, 0.59, and 0.83) estimation for LAI-2000, visual obstruction, canopy height, and weighted plate measurements, respectively. The LAI-2000 was the only purchased instrument ($4800), whereas the visual obstruction ($6), canopy height ($14), and weighted plate ($14) instruments were constructed from readily available materials. Each instrument provided fast measurements, especially when considering the time required to hand clip the respective measurement areas. Pasture estimation root mean square errors (RMSE) indicated the weighted plate and visual obstruction were the most accurate models (445 and 446 kg ha 1 ) followed by LAI-2000 and canopy height models (613 and 691 kg ha -1 ). Visual obstruction and weighted plate instruments both provided fast, inexpensive measurements with acceptable accuracy. We recommend visual obstruction for estimating standing crop (SC) in shortgrass plains because it is rapid, inexpensive, and accurate.
Oligoarthritis im Kindes- und Jugendalter

Die fruhkindliche Oligoarthritis ist die haufigste Ursache der chronischen Arthritis im Kindes- und Jugendalter. Sie betrifft meist Madchen kurz nach dem Laufenlernen. Die Diagnose wird klinisch gestellt, Laborwerte konnen vollig unauffallig sein. Die Therapie besteht in der Aufklarung der Eltern, Krankengymnastik und Pharmakotherapie. Neben nichtsteroidalen Antirheumatika kommt der intraartikularen Steroidtherapie grose Bedeutung zu. Die Prognose ist gunstig, wenn die Therapie konsequent durchgefuhrt wird und sich keine Polyarthritis oder chronische Iridozyklitis entwickelt. Die Therapie chronischer Arthritiden hat in den vergangenen 10 Jahren einen erheblichen Wandel erfahren, der zu einer berechtigterweise erhohten Erwartungshaltung der Patienten bzw. ihrer Eltern und zu hoheren Anspruchen an die Qualifikation der Therapeuten gefuhrt hat. Die fruhkindliche Oligoarthritis gehort mit anderen chronischen Arthritiden zur Krankheitsgruppe der juvenilen idiopathischen Arthritis. Die betroffenen Patienten sind bei Beginn der Arthritis 16 Jahre oder junger und hatten mindestens 6 Wochen ununterbrochen Arthritis. Auch bei anderen Erkrankungen wie der Psoriasisarthritis und der juvenilen Spondylarthropathie konnen Oligoarthritiden, also der Befall von 4 oder weniger Gelenken, auftreten. Die Klassifikation chronischer Arthritiden ist widerspruchlich, und Anderungen sind zu erwarten.
The Promises And Pitfalls Of Evidence-Based Medicine

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) aims to address the persistent problem of clinical practice variation with the help of various tools, including standardized practice guidelines. While advocates welcome the stronger scientific foundation of such guidelines, critics fear that they will lead to “cookbook medicine.” Studies show, however, that few guidelines lead to consistent changes in provider behavior. The hopes, fears, and mixed record of EBM are rooted in the traditional professional perspective of the clinician as sole decisionmaker. Multifaceted implementation strategies that take the collaborative nature of medical work into consideration promise more effective changes in clinical practice.
Hemodynamics of Postmyocardial Revascularization Hypertension

The evolution of hemodynamic variables during the development of postcoronary bypass hypertension was investigated with use of serial cardiac output determination (indocyanine green dye) in 17 patients. Seven of the 17 patients remained normotensive (Group I) during the follow-up period of 4 to 6 hours after operation, whereas 10 (Group II) had a steady increase in blood pressure (173/101 mm Hg +/- 5.9/2.4 [mean +/- standard error] from 132/78 +/- 4.0/2.5 mm Hg immediately postoperatively, P less than 0.001) during the same time interval. Patients in Group I had no significant change in cardiac output, total peripheral resistance or heart rate. In contrast, patients who became hypertensive had a significant increase in total peripheral resistance (47 +/- 2.9 units/m2 from an initial level of 38 +/- 2.5 units/m2, P less than 0.001) with no significant change in cardiac index (2.73 +/- 0.17 versus 2.66 +/- 0.25 liters/min per m2, P greater than 0.10). Their heart rate, which was rapid initially (102 +/- 3.7 beats/min), remained unchanged during the hypertensive episode (103 +/- 3.0 beats/min). The mean rate of left ventricular ejection was not reduced by the increase in pressure and even tended to increase further in all but one patient. Central venous pressure (measured in all patients) and left atrial pressure (measured in eight patients) remained constant throughout the study in both Groups I and II. The results suggest that the mechanism underlying this type of hypertension is a generalized hemodynamic disturbance possibly related to overall sympathetic overdrive rather than the result of improved cardiac performance induced by myocardial revascularization.
TLR4 and LPS hyporesponsiveness in humans

Asthma is a complex genetic disorder that is caused by a number of unique gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. The search for asthma susceptibility genes has been complicated by the broad clinical phenotype of asthma, the polygenic inheritance pattern of this disease, and the substantial role of environmental exposures in the development and progression of asthma. Inhaled environmental agents induce several biologic responses in asthmatics; including the induction of acquired and innate immunity that leads to acute and chronic forms of airway inflammation and airway remodeling. Acquired immune responses to protein antigens, such as house dust mite allergen, often induce type 2 T lymphocyte-driven responses (Th2) which appear to be important in atopic asthma. Recent studies by our group and others demonstrate that innate immunity, initiated by inhalation of bacterial and viral pathogens, organic dusts, endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), air pollution particulate matter, and ozone, can also cause acute and chronic forms of airflow obstruction, airway inflammation, and even airway remodeling. Emerging evidence indicates that both acquired and innate immune responses in the lung may be influenced by polymorphic genes. For instance, functional polymorphisms in the IL-4 receptor gene are thought to preferentially stimulate acquired Th2 immune responses to inhaled allergens, and we have recently shown that common co-segregating mutations in TLR4 (a transmembrane receptor for LPS) are associated with diminished airway responsiveness to inhaled LPS. These observations suggest that environmental challenges can be used to narrow the phenotype of asthma and allow scientists to investigate unique gene-environment interactions that are involved in the development of biologically specific forms of asthma.
Aspiration of Human Neutrophils: Effects of Shear Thinning and Cortical Dissipation

It is generally accepted that the human neutrophil can be mechanically represented as a droplet of polymeric fluid enclosed by some sort of thin slippery viscoelastic cortex. Many questions remain however about the detailed rheology and chemistry of the interior fluid and the cortex. To address these quantitative issues, we have used a finite element method to simulate the dynamics of neutrophils during micropipet aspiration using various plausible assumptions. The results were then systematically compared with aspiration experiments conducted at eight different combinations of pipet size and pressure. Models in which the cytoplasm was represented by a simple Newtonian fluid (i.e., models without shear thinning) were grossly incapable of accounting for the effects of pressure on the general time scale of neutrophil aspiration. Likewise, models in which the cortex was purely elastic (i.e., models without surface viscosity) were unable to explain the effects of pipet size on the general aspiration rate. Such models also failed to explain the rapid acceleration of the aspiration rate during the final phase of aspiration nor could they account for the geometry of the neutrophil during various phases of aspiration. Thus, our results indicate that a minimal mechanical model of the neutrophil needs to incorporate both shear thinning and surface viscosity to remain valid over a reasonable range of conditions. At low shear rates, the surface dilatation viscosity of the neutrophil was found to be on the order of 100 poise-cm, whereas the viscosity of the interior cytoplasm was on the order of 1000 poise. Both the surface viscosity and the interior viscosity seem to decrease in a similar fashion when the shear rate exceeds approximately 0.05 s(-1). Unfortunately, even models with both surface viscosity and shear thinning studied are still not sufficient to fully explain all the features of neutrophil aspiration. In particular, the very high rate of aspiration during the initial moments after ramping of pressure remains mysterious.
Long-term follow-up of endoscopically treated upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma

Abstract Objectives This report focuses on the long-term follow-up of patients with endoscopically treated upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) to determine the effectiveness of endoscopic therapy. Methods From May 1983 to April 1994, 44 patients with TCC of the upper urinary tract underwent conservative endourologic treatment with either electrocautery fulguration or neodymium:yttrium-aluminumgarnet laser at our institution. The mean follow-up period was 5 years (range, 3 months to 11 years). Results Renal pelvic tumor sizes ranged from 0.4 to 4.0 cm (mean, 1.5) and ureteral tumors from 0.2 to 1.0 cm (mean, 0.5). The majority of tumors were of pathologic grade 3 or less, and all were Stage T2 or less. Seventeen of 44 patients (38.6%) had local tumor recurrence (mean time to recurrence, 12.8 months; range 1.5 to 64). Mean recurrence time was 7.3 months for renal pelvic tumors and 17.8 months for ureteral tumors. Nineteen of 44 patients (43.2%) developed bladder tumors. The overall 5-year disease-free rate was 57%. No recurrent tumor was shown to have increased in grade, and one recurrent tumor was proved to have progressed in stage. Six patients (14%) ultimately required a nephroureterectomy for recurrence. There were no major complications as a result of endoscopic therapy. Six patients (14%) died of the effects of metastatic TCC, 5 of whom had known muscle invasive bladder TCC. Conclusions Endourologic techniques and the conservative treatment of upper urinary tract TCC is an evolving field and can be safely and effectively used as a first-line treatment for upper tract TCC in selected patients.
Motion fields generated by the oscillatory motion of a circular cylinder in a linearly stratified fluid

The motion field generated by either the horizontal or the vertical finite-amplitude oscillation of a long right circular cylinder in a linearly stratified fluid is investigated by a series of laboratory experiments; the oscillation frequencies considered cover a range both less than and greater than the bouyancy frequency. The governing parameters are shown to be the oscillation amplitude to cylinder diameter ratio a/D, the oscillation frequency to bouyancy frequency ratio ω/N, and the viscous to bouyancy time-scale ratio Tvb = ND2/v (or the Stokes number β = ωD2/v), where v is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid. Flow regime diagrams are deeeloped as functions of a/D and ω/N for a fixed Tvb. The characteristic flow types for the horizontal oscillation case include weakly detached flow, localized mixing, layering, and single intrusion, whereas the vertical oscillation leads to weakly detached flow, localized mixing, and single and double intrusions. Both oscillation directions lead to propagating internal waves when ω/N < 1; the direction of the group velocity is observed to be given by the angle sin−1(ω/N) to the horizontal axis, in accord with linear theory. A nondiffusive numerical model is developed to investigate the flow behavior during the initial stages of the cylinder oscillations. The large-scale motion features obtained from the numerical model for the early flow development of the various flow regimes are found to compare well with those of the laboratory experiments.
Introductory statement: methodologic issues in population planning.

The three papers in this section explore the current status of methodologies in population planning as they are being developed and applied at three operational levels: policy formation, program planning, and program implementation. A common theme which emerges from these papers concerns the substantial limitation in the methodologies for providing a rational basis for guiding policy formation, program planning, and implementation. The deficiencies in current methodologies are best reflected in the debates and wide variations of opinions expressed throughout this volume on fundamental issues of population policy and programming, issues that could be examined critically and analytically if the methodologies were adequately developed.
Transverse polarizability of an aligned assembly of charged rods.

The low-field transverse polarizability of the counterions condensed on an isolated charged rod is small. We show that it can be much larger if the rod is a member of an assembly of aligned rods. The polarization free energy of the assembly of rods in a transverse field is then similar to its polarization free energy in a field parallel to the rods. The polarization free energy of the assembly in a transverse field becomes lower than in a parallel field if the extent of the assembly (as measured, for example, by the diameter of a cylindrical assembly) is larger than the length of the individual rods. We suggest that this model may provide a reasonable explanation for the occurrence of “anomalous” birefringence in systems of interacting charged rodlike particles.
Automated complexity analysis of Nuprl extracted programs

This paper describes the Automated Complexity Analysis Prototype (ACAp) system for automated complexity analysis of functional programs synthesized with the Nuprl proof development system. We define a simple abstract cost model for NUPRL's term language based on the current call-by-name evaluator. The framework uses abstract functions and abstract lists to facilitate reasoning about primitive recursive programs with first-order functions, lazy lists and a subclass of higher-order functions. The ACAp system automatically derives upper bounds on the time complexity of NUPRL extracts relative to a given profiling semantics. Analysis proceeds by abstract interpretation of the extract, where symbolic evaluation rules extend standard evaluation to terms with free variables. Symbolic evaluation of recursive programs generates systems of multi-variable difference equations, which are solved using the MATHEMATICA computer algebra system. The use of the system is exemplified by analyzing a proof extract that computes the maximum segment sum of a list and a functional program that determines the minimum of a list via sorting. For both results, we compare call-by-name to call-by-value evaluation.
Distribution of Bean Pod Mottle Virus in Arkansas Soybean as Related to the Bean Leaf Beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata, (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Population

Population densities of the bean leaf beetle (BLB), Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster), and the portion of the BLB population transmitting bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) were monitored in a soybean field in Lafayette County, Ark., in 1980 and 1981. The spatial and temporal distribution of BPMV-infected soybean plants in two plots within the field also was examined. A peak in the BLB's ability to transmit BPMV occurred between the second and third population density peaks and ca. 12 weeks after planting. The largest increase of BPMV infection level within the plots occurred after the second BLB density peak in the field. Distribution of BPMV-infected plants within the plots was random at infection levels of 40%.
A Look at the Relationship between Service Failures, Guest Satisfaction, and Repeat-Patronage Intentions of Casual Dining Guests

Service recovery is essential to maintaining guest satisfaction in the event of a service failure. However, restaurateurs must approach service recovery in the appropriate context, because guests give differential consideration to different types of problems. Without doubt, a restaurant’s failure to serve food correctly is viewed as the most serious type of failure, and a food problem coupled with a servicet failure makes matters even worse. However, service failures by themselves are soon forgiven if the recovery is properly handled. Oddly, the least important type of failure, that of atmosphere (e.g., design, noise level), is most likely to cause a guest never to return, even if the restaurant makes a proper recovery. This study of more than eight hundred restaurant patrons found a positive and significant association between guests’ reported satisfaction with the outcome of their complaint and their repeat patronage intentions. The study’s findings highlight the importance of adequately resolving guest...
Heidegger and Post-Cartesian Psychoanalysis: A Book Discussion of Robert Stolorow's “World, Affectivity, Trauma: Heidegger and Post-Cartesian Psychoanalysis”

In his important new book, Stolorow brings his acumen, training, and insight to bear on the fundamental interaction between psychoanalytic practice and theoretical reflection. As a psychoanalyst an...
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS FOR NOSOCOMIAL PNUEMONIA: Emphasis on Prevention

Nosocomial pneumonia (NP) is the leading cause of death from hospital-acquired infections. 42 , 175 The estimated prevalence of NP within the hospital setting ranges from 10% to 65%, with case fatality rates greater than 25% in most studies. 40 , 127 , 146 , 223 Recent investigations also suggest that NP has become the most common nosocomial infection among critically ill patients. 138 , 234 Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) specifically refers to NP developing in mechanically ventilated patients later than 48 hours after intubation (i.e., with no clinical evidence suggesting the presence or likely development of pneumonia at the time of intubation). 185 VAP occurring within 48 hours of intubation is often the result of aspiration complicating the intubation process, and therefore frequently is caused by community-acquired pathogens (oxacillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus [OSSA], Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae). It is usually associated with a better prognosis than late-onset VAP. 139 , 185 , 198 This difference in patient outcomes is at least partly attributed to the greater incidence of infection with antibiotic-resistant bacteria (oxacillin-resistant S. aureus [ORSA], Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp) in patients with late-onset VAP. 139 , 198 The overall clinical importance of VAP on patient outcomes is also suggested by several investigations demonstrating that its occurrence is an independent determinant of mortality for critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation. 71 , 197 This article briefly summarizes the current understanding of the epidemiology of VAP and the risk factors thought to play an important role in the acquisition of this infection. More importantly, it emphasizes the role of preventive strategies aimed at reducing the occurrence of these risk factors in order to decrease the incidence of VAP.
Radical resection for T1b gallbladder cancer: a decision analysis.

Abstract Background Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract. Radical surgery (including liver resection and regional lymphadenectomy) is applied for some gallbladder cancers, but the benefits of these procedures are unproven. For patients with T1b cancers discovered incidentally on cholecystectomy specimens, the utility of radical surgery remains debated. Methods A decision analytic Markov model was created to estimate and compare life expectancy associated with management strategies for a simulated cohort of patients with incidentally discovered T1b gallbladder cancer after routine cholecystectomy. In one strategy, patients were treated with no additional surgery; in another, patients were treated with radical resection. The primary (base-case) analysis was calculated based on a cohort of 71-year-old females and incorporated best available input estimates of survival and surgical mortality from the literature. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the effects of model uncertainty on outcomes. Results In the base-case analysis, radical resection was favoured over no further surgical resection, providing a survival benefit of 3.43 years for patients undergoing radical resection vs. simple cholecystectomy alone. Sensitivity analysis on the age at diagnosis demonstrated that the greatest benefit in gained life-years was achieved for the youngest ages having radical resection, with this benefit gradually decreasing with increasing age of the patient. High peri-operative mortality rates (≥36%) led to a change in the preferred strategy to simple cholecystectomy alone. Conclusions Decision analysis demonstrates that radical resection is associated with increased survival for most patients with T1b gallbladder cancer.
Mining collective local knowledge from Google MyMaps

The emerging popularity of location-aware devices and location-based services has generated a growing archive of digital traces of people's activities and opinions in physical space. In this study, we leverage geo-referenced user-generated content from Google MyMaps to discover collective local knowledge and understand the differing perceptions of urban space. Working with the large collection of publicly available, annotation-rich MyMaps data, we propose a highly parallelizable approach in order to merge identical places, discover landmarks, and recommend places. Additionally, we conduct interviews with New York City residents/visitors to validate the quantitative findings.
Cloning, expression, and functional characterization of the von Willebrand factor–cleaving protease (ADAMTS13)

Deficient von Willebrand factor (VWF) degradation has been associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). In hereditary TTP, the specific VWF-cleaving protease (VWF-cp) is absent or functionally defective, whereas in the nonfamilial, acquired form of TTP, an autoantibody inhibiting VWF-cp activity is found transiently in most patients. The gene encoding for VWF-cp has recently been identified as a member of the metalloprotease family and designated ADAMTS13, but the functional activity of the ADAMTS13 gene product has not been verified. To establish the functional activity of recombinant VWF-cp, we cloned the complete cDNA sequence in a eukaryotic expression vector and transiently expressed the encoded recombinant ADAMTS13 in HEK 293 cells. The expressed protein degraded VWF multimers and proteolytically cleaved VWF to the same fragments as those generated by plasma VWF-cp. Furthermore, recombinant ADAMTS13-mediated degradation of VWF multimers was entirely inhibited in the presence of plasma from a patient with acquired TTP. These data show that ADAMTS13 is responsible for the physiologic proteolytic degradation of VWF multimers.
A test of Fisher's theory of dominance.

Abstract One of the first patterns noticed by geneticists was that mutations are almost always recessive to their wild-type alleles. Several explanations of this striking pattern have been offered. The two most influential are Fisher's theory--which argues that dominance results from natural selection against recurring deleterious mutations--and Wright's theory--which argues that dominance results from the physiology of gene action. The debate over which of these theories is correct represents one of the most protracted controversies in the history of evolutionary biology. Here I test Fisher's theory by assessing the dominance of mutations in an organism that is typically haploid, the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The results show that mutations are recessive just as often among haploid as among diploid species. This result falsifies Fisher's theory of dominance and provides strong support for the alternative physiological theory.
Single-machine scheduling problems with past-sequence-dependent delivery times

Abstract We consider single-machine scheduling problems with past-sequence-dependent (p-s-d) job delivery times. The p-s-d delivery time is needed to remove any waiting time-induced adverse effects on the job's condition (prior to delivering the job to the customer) and it is therefore proportional to the job's waiting time. We show that single-machine scheduling problems with p-s-d delivery times and with either completion time-related criteria (such as the makespan or the total job completion time) or due date related criteria (such as the maximum lateness or the number of tardy jobs) can be solved by simple polynomial-time algorithms.
Progressive resistance training reduces myosin heavy chain coexpression in single muscle fibers from older men

The purpose of this study was to examine myosin heavy chain (MHC) and myosin light chain (MLC) isoforms following 12 wk of progressive resistance training (PRT). A needle biopsy was taken from the ...
Thermodynamic interactions in blends of poly(4‐tert‐butyl styrene) and polyisoprene by small‐angle neutron scattering

The thermodynamic interactions between poly(4-tert-butyl styrene) (P(4tBS)) and 1,4-polyisoprene (PI; both hydrogenous) were obtained as functions of the temperature, PI molecular weight, and blend composition through the examination of miscible ternary blends of these two components with a common miscible labeled polymer (90% 1,2-deuterated polybutadiene (dPBD)) with small-angle neutron scatter- ing. The thermodynamic interaction parameters between P(4tBS) and dPBD and be- tween P(4tBS) and PI increased with increasing temperature and were consistent with lower critical solution temperature behavior. Although the binary blends of P(4tBS) and dPBD exhibited phase separation at elevated temperatures, the thermodynamic inter- action parameters between P(4tBS) and PI remained large and negative and indepen- dent of the PI molecular weight. Finally, the thermodynamic interactions for PI and P(4tBS) depended strongly on the ratio of PI to P(4tBS) and were also sensitive to the amount of dPBD present in the ternary blend. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3204 -3217, 2004
THE ALGAE OF WAIMANGU CAULDRON (NEW ZEALAND): DISTRIBUTION IN RELATION TO pH1

SUMMARY The pH of the main body of thermal water and of the outlet of Waimangu Cauldron (Frying Pan Lake) is 3.8, whereas hot springs flowing into this lake are alkaline, pH 8.2–8.7. Where these waters meet there are pH gradients, and it is possible to find a series of habitats differing in pH but having approximately the same temperature (54–56 C). Where the pH is above 4.8 the blue-green alga Mastigocladus laminosus is present, and where the pH is below this value the eucaryotic alga Cyanidium caldarium is the sole photosynthetic microorganism at temperatures less than 55 C. Rocks resting on the bottom of Waimangu Cauldron surrounded by water of pH 3.8 have Mastigocladus laminosus growing on them, but measurements of pH directly in these algal mats showed that the microenvironment of the alga was actually above pH 4.8. A simple experiment showed that it is probably the rock, per se, that initiates a tiny island of alkalinity in the acid lake, permitting M. laminosus to become established. The outlet of Waimangu Cauldron is a hot acid stream which becomes progressively alkaline as it descends through Waimangu Valley, due to inflow of alkaline water from springs and a cold stream. Blue-green algae were found in this stream when the pH was greater than 5.0 and C. caldarium when the pH was less than 4.0. In one region where the pH was between 4.0 and 5.0, both blue-green algae and C. caldarium were seen, although in moribund state. These data, provide further information on the lowest pH values at which blue-green algae are able to grow.