cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scintigraphy for Brain Tumors

Parmenides said that what cannot be thought, cannot be, therefore, what can be, can be thought. So it was that ancient Greek philosophers had thought of the atoms, and particularly, the radioactive atoms we use in Nuclear Medicine. Indeed, Democritos in the sixth century bc formulated the idea of the atoms as the indestructible smaller elements of the universe that combine among themselves to form the visible world; he thought of atoms on a philosophical basis as the explanation of the changes in the environment, which occur without the perishment of matter. Rearrangements of “atoms” could explain the changes around us and inside us. Two centuries later, Epicuros, as if anticipating the discovery of the radioactive atoms, introduced the idea of the “unstable” atom, which, after a period of instability, takes its final stable form. More than 2,000 years later, when science overtook these frontiers, John Dalton knew Democritos’ Atomic Theory of Matter and used it to explain chemical experiments. If the atom (=not possible to cut) can be cut and split into parts, it is not Democritos’ fault. Today we understand that by “atoms” Democritos actually meant the “quarks” or the “strings,” or perhaps some other, yet to be discovered, elemental particles. As for Henri Beckerel and Marie Curie, who were among the first to deal with radioactivity and the “unstable” or “radioactive atoms,” it is not known if they knew that the theoretical father of Nuclear Science was Epicuros. In Nuclear Medicine, we use the “radioactive atoms,” which are the “atoms” meant by Democritos (as applied by Dalton), in their unstable form, which was anticipated by Epicuros, for imaging of tissues or diseases and for therapy of malignant or benign diseases.
Vaccinia Virus B1 Kinase Is Required for Postreplicative Stages of the Viral Life Cycle in a BAF-Independent Manner in U2OS Cells

ABSTRACT The vaccinia virus B1R gene encodes a highly conserved protein kinase that is essential for the poxviral life cycle. As demonstrated in many cell types, B1 plays a critical role during viral DNA replication when it inactivates the cellular host defense effector barrier to autointegration factor (BAF or BANF1). To better understand the role of B1 during infection, we have characterized the growth of a B1-deficient temperature-sensitive mutant virus (Cts2 virus) in U2OS osteosarcoma cells. In contrast to all other cell lines tested to date, we found that in U2OS cells, Cts2 viral DNA replication is unimpaired at the nonpermissive temperature. However, the Cts2 viral yield in these cells was reduced more than 10-fold, thus indicating that B1 is required at another stage of the vaccinia virus life cycle. Our results further suggest that the host defense function of endogenous BAF may be absent in U2OS cells but can be recovered through either overexpression of BAF or fusion of U2OS cells with mouse cells in which the antiviral function of BAF is active. Interestingly, examination of late viral proteins during Cts2 virus infection demonstrated that B1 is required for optimal processing of the L4 protein. Finally, execution point analyses as well as electron microscopy studies uncovered a role for B1 during maturation of poxviral virions. Overall, this work demonstrates that U2OS cells are a novel model system for studying the cell type-specific regulation of BAF and reveals a role for B1 beyond DNA replication during the late stages of the viral life cycle. IMPORTANCE The most well characterized role for the vaccinia virus B1 kinase is to facilitate viral DNA replication by phosphorylating and inactivating BAF, a cellular host defense responsive to foreign DNA. Additional roles for B1 later in the viral life cycle have been postulated for decades but are difficult to examine directly due to the importance of B1 during DNA replication. Here, we demonstrate that in U2OS cells, a B1 mutant virus escapes the block in DNA replication observed in other cell types and, instead, this mutant virus exhibits impaired late protein accumulation and incomplete maturation of new virions. These data provide the clearest evidence to date that B1 is needed for multiple critical junctures in the poxviral life cycle in a manner that is both dependent on and independent of BAF.
Effects of interpersonal communication, knowledge, and attitudes on pertussis vaccination in Vermont

AbstractThe United States is currently experiencing its worst pertussis outbreak in 50 years. Although pertussis is easily preventable through vaccination, many people are unaware of the severity of the disease and the need for adult booster vaccinations. This study surveyed 629 people using a statewide telephone survey to examine vaccination rates, factors affecting vaccination decisions, and the role of communication with healthcare providers, family, and friends in vaccine decision making. Findings indicate that most participants had not been vaccinated for pertussis in the last 5 years. Furthermore, there are disparate pertussis diagnoses and vaccination rates among adults. The main contribution of this study is the examination of sources of influence on adults’ decisions to receive the Tdap booster. The primary source of influence and vaccine recommendation was healthcare providers. We also found that successful vaccination recommendations were most frequently justified by claims that the booster wou...
The Warren Court's Regulatory Revolution in Criminal Procedure

The standard story describing the Warren Court’s criminal procedure “rights revolution,” claims that the Court, motivated by liberal egalitarianism, engaged in a rights-expanding jurisprudence that made it harder for the police to search, seize, and interrogate criminal defendants. Frightened by the popular backlash against high crime rates, a cowed Court in Terry v. Ohio shifted from its rights-expanding to a rights-constricting phase, making it easier for the police to search and seize criminal suspects. Measured by this rights revolution, there were in fact two Warren Courts, a liberal and a more conservative one, emblematically separated by Terry.The standard story is wrong. The Warren Court’s Fourth Amendment jurisprudence cannot be separated into rights-expanding and contracting phases. Rather than introducing a privacy right, the Warren Court, from the early 1960s onwards, mounted a consistent attack on pre-existing versions of the right to privacy. Rather than a privacy-protecting rights regime, the central Fourth Amendment right under the Warren Court was personal security. Extending security into areas hitherto unregulated by the law was a major concern of the Terry Court: an expansionist Terry cannot be squared with a Court in retreat in response to public outcry over crime rates.Worse, the story produced a barren doctrinal and political account of the Fourth Amendment. Focusing on equality, anti-discrimination, and privacy too easily paints law enforcement as a repressive force whose power and numbers should be severely limited. This narrow liberalism has turned progressive attention away from the vital and difficult task of generating a doctrinal and political account of policing: its justification, intrinsic limits, and proper means of regulation.
Intraseasonal Sea Surface Temperature Variability across the Indonesian Seas

AbstractSea surface temperature (SST) variability at intraseasonal time scales across the Indonesian Seas during January 1998–mid-2012 is examined. The intraseasonal variability is most energetic in the Banda and Timor Seas, with a standard deviation of 0.4°–0.5°C, representing 55%–60% of total nonseasonal SST variance. A slab ocean model demonstrates that intraseasonal air–sea heat flux variability, largely attributed to the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), accounts for 69%–78% intraseasonal SST variability in the Banda and Timor Seas. While the slab ocean model accurately reproduces the observed intraseasonal SST variations during the northern winter months, it underestimates the summer variability. The authors posit that this is a consequence of a more vigorous cooling effect induced by ocean processes during the summer. Two strong MJO cycles occurred in late 2007–early 2008, and their imprints were clearly evident in the SST of the Banda and Timor Seas. The passive phase of the MJO [enhanced outgoing ...
Functionalization of polypropylene by the combination of metallocene catalysts and reactive comonomers

This paper summarizes a functionalization approach that can prepare functional PP with desirable molecular structures, including functional groups, microstructures, high molecular weight, and narrow molecular weight and composition distributions. A newly-developed catalysis technology with several designed “reactive” comonomers to circumvent the inevitable deactivation of the transition metal cationic active site by functional groups in the direct polymerization process has been applied. The reactive comonomers, containing organoborane, benzylic protons (ϕ-CH3), and styrene moieties exhibit three essential properties, including (a) stability with the active site, (b) solubility in the polymerization media, and (c) versatility for interconversion to desirable functional groups under mild reaction conditions. With proper choice of metallocene catalysts, they resemble to high a-olefin monomers and can be effectively incorporated into the PP structure. In addition to the interconversion of the incorporated reactive sites to the desirable functional groups in PP copolymers, some reactive sites have been also transformed into “living” radical or anionic initiators to initiate graft-from polymerization of polar monomers to obtain PP graft copolymers.
Anthropogenic islands in the arid west: comparing the richness and diversity of insect communities in cultivated fields and neighboring wildlands.

The interface between cultivated fields and wildlands has become a central focus for conservation biology, particularly as previously uncultivated lands worldwide are converted to agriculture at an escalating pace. Although research in some parts of the world has highlighted the potential value of agricultural lands for managing and preserving native animals, we know comparatively little about native animals spanning the cultivated/wildlands interface in North America. The study reported here investigated insect communities at three sets of paired sites (cultivated alfalfa fields and native, sagebrush areas) on the western edge of the Great Basin. Two hundred ninety-nine morphospecies were sorted from a collection of >9,000 insects: 221 morphospecies were found in cultivated fields, and 143 were found in the native areas. Insect communities in alfalfa fields were higher in species richness and abundance than communities in adjacent, native fields. However, communities in the cultivated habitat were relatively more homogenous: species composition was more similar among cultivated fields than among native fields. Considering the number of individual insects and morphospecies found in the cultivated habitat, and the relatively small number of species that overlap the two habitat types, the potential ecological consequences of the widespread, anthropogenic habitat are discussed.
Relationship between blood mercury levels and components of male song in Nelson’s sparrows (Ammodramus nelsoni)

Mercury (Hg) adversely affects the health and behavior of exposed wildlife; however, behavioral effects remain largely unknown. Changes in avian singing behavior may affect a male’s fitness because song reveals male quality and thus influences female mate choice and male territory-holding ability. Nelson’s sparrows (Ammodramus nelsoni) live exclusively on salt marshes and risk high levels of Hg exposure and bioaccumulation. We recorded songs of male Nelson’s sparrows at two locations with different Hg exposure to determine if total blood Hg concentration was related to song characteristics, as previously reported for other species. Males with higher blood Hg levels sang at higher maximum tonal frequency, but blood Hg and site location did not influence low tonal frequency and bout duration, contrary to predictions based on other species. Within the contaminated site, Hg levels were related to bouts per minute and gap duration, such that males at that site sang faster songs. Hg influences hormones and alters brain development, raising questions about specific effects on the brains and singing behavior of male Nelson’s sparrows.
Reply to ``Comments on the amplification of intrinsic fluctuations by chaotic dynamics''

We believe that the criticisms of Nicolis and Balakrishnan [preceding Comment, Phys. Rev. A 46, 3569 (1992)] reflect a misunderstanding of the basis of our claims. Here, we repeat a number of points already made in our papers [Phys. Rev. A 43, 1709 (1991); 42, 1946 (1990); Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 249 (1990)] in order to dispel ambiguity and misunderstanding.
Run-time prediction of parallel applications on shared environments

Application run-time is a fundamental component in application and job scheduling. However, accurate predictions of run times are difficult to achieve for parallel applications running in shared environments where resource capacities can change dynamically over time. In this paper, we propose a run-time prediction technique for parallel applications that uses regression methods and filtering techniques to derive the application execution time without using standard performance models. The experimental results show that our use of regression models delivers tolerable prediction accuracy and that we can improve the accuracy dramatically by using appropriate filters.
ENLARGING BILATERAL FEMORAL CONDYLAR BONE CYSTS WITHOUT SCINTIGRAPHIC UPTAKE IN A YEARLING FOAL

Bilateral subchondral bone cysts of the femoral condyles were diagnosed by conventional radiography in a 14 month old Appaloosa colt. Surgical debridement was performed, and over the next 18 months the appearance of the cysts was evaluated with radiography and bone scintigraphy. On the preoperative scintigrams, increased radiopharmaceutical uptake was associated with the cysts. Despite continued radiographic enlargement, the cysts did not demonstrate increased radiopharmaceutical uptake post-operatively.
Evaluation and Treatment of Urethral Stricture Disease

Any process causing trauma to the urethral tissue or underlying corpus spongiosum can lead to urethral stricture disease. The traditional treatment algorithm for urethral strictures, also known as the reconstructive ladder, begins with minimally invasive interventions, including urethral dilation and endoscopic urethrotomy. Inevitably, endoscopic incision and dilation fails, resulting in stricture recurrence. After the expenditure of valuable time and resources, physician and patient frustration finally leads to tertiary center referral with reconstructive urologic expertise. With dramatic advances in urethral surgery, many experts are abandoning the once-favored reconstructive ladder. In light of the excellent success rates for urethroplasty, the controversy continues, as reconstructive specialists now support open surgical treatment over endoscopic management for most urethral strictures.
The joint line balancing and material supply problem

Abstract In production systems of automobile manufacturers multi-variant products are assembled on paced mixed-model assembly lines, which have to be supplied by a lean in-house logistic with containers of different sizes, alternative supply policies and different number of parts. The assignment of operations to workplaces within the assembly line balancing problem and the assignment of containers to supply policies within the material supply problem determine the operational cost of a work system. Up to now in the literature and real-world both problems are solved successively. We analyze the interdependence of the line balancing and material supply problem in depth and reveal potential productivity gains through simultaneous planning. We set up a practice-oriented assembly line balancing model, which is extended to cover several important logistical constraints of the material supply problem, and solved it with a flexible heuristic on the general assembly line balancing problem, we developed in an earlier paper. In a computational experiment, we determine cost savings through simultaneous planning and show the applicability of our approach within a practice-oriented experiment.
On Postmodernism, Pragmatism, and Plasterers: Some Interactionist Thoughts and Queries

Postmodernism is assessed as inherently flawed and largely irrelevant to interactionist work. It is suggested that the stage approach used by postmodernists, in which they define themselves as representing the next, superior stage after modernism, be replaced with a lineage approach in order to assess the possible merits of postmodernism. It is argued that such an approach would reveal postmodernism as a weak approximation of interactionist and pragmatist thought.
The effects of smoking on ovarian function and fertility during assisted reproduction cycles

Objective To investigate the effects of cigarette smoking on ovarian function and fertility in women undergoing assisted reproduction cycles. Methods We assessed the effects of smoking on ovarian function and fertility in a cohort of 499 women. Questionnaires were designed to quantify past smoking exposure and to determine whether the woman was smoking during the treatment cycle. Ovarian function characteristics and pregnancy rates were compared among current smokers, past smokers, and nonsmokers. Results Compared with nonsmokers, both current and past smokers have reduced gonadotropin-stimulated ovarian function. A history of increasing tobacco exposure was associated with decreasing serum estradiol concentrations, numbers of retrieved oocytes, and numbers of embryos. On average, for every 10 pack-years of cigarette smoking, 2.5 fewer mature oocytes and 2.0 fewer embryos were obtained. Women who smoked during their treatment cycle had approximately a 50% reduction in implantation rate and ongoing pregnancy rate compared with women who had never smoked. Women who quit smoking before their treatment cycle had the same pregnancy rate as nonsmokers. Conclusion Cigarette smoking is associated with a prolonged and dose-dependent adverse effect on ovarian function. Smoking appears to have a more transient toxic effect on fertility, because current smokers, but not past smokers, had a markedly reduced pregnancy rate after treatment cycles compared with nonsmokers. Women should quit smoking before assisted reproduction cycles.
Length scale for configurational entropy in microemulsions

In this paper we study the length scale that must be used in evaluating the mixing entropy in a microemulsion. The central idea involves the choice of a length scale in configuration space that is consistent with the physical definition of entropy in phase space. We show that this scale may be sensitive to the model employed in the description of a microemulsion, but that in most cases it is of the order of the cube root of the average molecular volume in the system. We also show that other much larger length scales used by workers in the field can be partially reconciled with the fundamental scale through a consideration of the constraints to which the microemulsion is subject. We have attempted to perform the analysis in as rigorous a manner as possible. Many interesting features appear and the importance of using the correct length scale as well as methods (some of which are extensions of current theory) for incorporating it into theories of microemulsions are discussed.
Supersymmetry Searches at the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) Experiment, 2011

The discovery/exclusion of Supersymmetric models for fundamental interactions of particles is one of the milestones targeted by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), and in particular comprises of a large part of the physics program of the CMS experiment. Since the initial measurements using the 36 pb−1 of integrated luminosity delivered by the LHC in 2010, presently available results utilize about one fifth of the data delivered in 2011, i.e. in the ballpark of 1 fb−1 , significantly extending the world limits placed on gluino and squark production signals. An overview of these analyses is presented, highlighting four that had been newly made public as of the date of this conference. The evidence for Supersymmetry (SUSY) is still elusive, and a discussion follows as to where current searches have not yet probed, also pointing out where they might have difficulty ever probing without dedicated arrangements.
Aspects of image reconstruction from nonuniform samples

Recovery of an image from a finite set of irregularly spaced samples is considered. A method of ranking the quality of such sampling sets described by Chen and Alleback is extended to the case of unequal numbers of samples. Calculations provide information on the relative effects of sample number, density and nonuniformity on reconstruction error.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Platelet function defects in adolescents with heavy menstrual bleeding

Platelet function defects (PFD) are reported to occur frequently in adult women with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). Few studies on adolescent HMB report varying incidence rates (2-44%) for PFD. We reviewed our institutional experience in detecting and managing PFD in adolescent HMB. Postmenarchial girls and adolescents with HMB seen at our institution undergo a comprehensive bleeding disorder work-up by paediatric haematology and paediatric gynaecology providers. Whole blood platelet aggregometry (WBPA) is performed as a second tier test after excluding thrombocytopaenia, coagulation factor deficiencies and Von Willebrand disease (VWD). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of adolescents with HMB seen between June 2009 and November 2010, as approved by the Institutional Review Board. Patient demographics, clinical features, laboratory results, therapy details and patient outcome information were analysed. Overall, 114 postmenarchial girls and adolescents with HMB were evaluated; 68 patients (59%) had WBPA study performed. Nineteen patients (28%) had at least one aggregation or secretion defect; 12 (18%) had two or more such defects. Treatment included hormonal therapy (13/19; 68%), antifibrinolytic agents (8/19; 42%) and intra-nasal DDAVP (3/19; 16%). Thirteen patients (81%) had improved outcome (median follow-up--15.6 months; range of 1-66 months). In this study, PFD were identified in nearly one-third of girls with HMB, with the majority of these having two or more defects as identified by WBPA. Further prospective studies are needed to better define the prevalence and address appropriate management of HMB and other bleeding complications of PFD in adolescents.
Fretting fatigue crack initiation mechanism in Ti–6Al–4V

r Fretting fatigue crack initiation in titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-4V, was investigated experimentally and analytically by using finite element analysis (FEA). Various types of fretting pads were used in order to determine the effects of contact geometries. Crack initiation location and crack angle orientation along the contact surface were determined by using microscopy. Finite element analysis was used in order to obtain stress state for the experimental conditions used during fretting fatigue tests. These were then used in order to investigate several critical plane based multiaxial fatigue parameters. These parameters were evaluated based on their ability to predict crack initiation location, crack orientation angle along the contact surface and the number of cycles to fretting fatigue crack initiation independent of geometry of fretting pad. These predictions were compared with their experimental counterparts in order to characterize the role of normal and shear stresses on fretting fatigue crack initiation. From these comparisons, fretting fatigue crack initiation mechanism in the tested titanium alloy appears to be governed by shear stress on the critical plane. However, normal stress on the critical plane also seems to play a role in fretting fatigue life. At present, the individual contributions/importance of shear and normal stresses in the crack initiation appears to be unclear; however, it is clear that any critical plane describing fretting fatigue crack initiation behaviour independent of geometry needs to include components of both shear and normal stresses.
Benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide covalently binds to deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine in DNA

CHEMICAL carcinogens, for example, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), are metabolised to reactive intermediates which bind covalently to cellular macromolecules1–3 and the extent of binding seems to correlate with the carcinogenic potency of the hydrocarbons1. Through various mutagenicity, metabolism and binding studies, the intermediate which undergoes formation of a stable covalent complex with DNA has been identified as 7β,8α-dihydroxy-9α,10α-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo [a]pyrene (BaP diol epoxide)4–9. The structure of a covalent adduct formed between this hydrocarbon and poly(G) has also been established6–9. We report here the identity of several adducts obtained by reacting (±)BaP diol epoxide with tritium-labelled DNA. Four differently labelled lots of DNA were synthesised in vitro with DNA polymerase I by incorporating in each case three unlabelled and one tritium labelled nucleoside triphosphate. Through the use of this unambiguous labelling technique we have demonstrated that activated BaP forms two adducts with deoxyguanosine, two with deoxyadenosine and possibly one wtih deoxycytidine, while reaction with deoxy-thymidine was not detected. This approach also allowed the relative percentage of each adduct to be calculated. The deoxyguanosine adducts predominated and constituted 92% of the total stable covalent adducts formed.
Atrial Septal Hematoma After Mitral Valve and Left Coronary Artery Surgery in a Child

Atrial septal hematoma (ASH) has been reported mostly in adult patients to occur after spontaneous ascending aortic dissection (Circulation 46(3):537–545, 1972) and after surgery for coronary artery (Anesthesiology 83(3):620–621, 1995), mitral valve, and aortic valve (Rev Esp Cardiol 55(8):867–871, 2002). ASH in the pediatric age group is rare, and to our knowledge only two cases have been published (Am J Perinatol 27(6):481–483, 2010; J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1087–1089, 1998). We report a case of ASH diagnosed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in a 28-month-old child who underwent mitral valvuloplasty and left main coronary arterioplasty for anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from pulmonary artery. ASH subsided on its own within 24 h.
Non-random spatial distribution of mitoses in proliferating rat uterine epithelium.

A non-random spatial distribution of mitoses in proliferating rat endometrium was found by means of a quantitative microscopic technique. Nulliparous Lewis/Mai rats, 60–90 days of age, were given an intraperitoneal injection of colchicine (1 mg/kg) five hours prior to death, to arrest mitosis at metaphase. The middle one-third of the right uterine horn was removed and fixed in Bouin's fixative for 24 hours. Several 5-μm microtome sections were cut from dehydrated, paraffin-embedded uterine tissue from each rat and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Microtome sections of uterine horn which showed high endometrial mitotic activity, i.e., those obtained from rats killed in the metestrus phase of the estrous cycle, were selected for microscopic analysis. Using a binocular microscope equipped with an eye-piece graticle, maps of uterine horn cross-sections (3 non-adjacent microtome sections/rat) showing the spatial distribution of mitoses along the surface of the uterine lumen were prepared. Data collected from the mitotic maps were: (a) the frequency of graticle squares containing mitoses and bounded on either side by graticle squares without mitoses; (b) the frequency of sequences of two or more adjacent graticle squares with mitoses; and (c) the frequency distribution of mitotically-inactive intervals (number of graticle squares) between graticle squares enclosing mitoses. The observed frequency distribution of adjacent graticle squares with mitoses and the observed frequency distribution of spacing intervals between graticle squares with mitoses were examined for non-randomness by generating from these data the Poisson frequency distributions expected assuming a random distribution. Goodness of fit between observed and expected distributions was tested using Chi-square analysis. These analyses revealed, in each case, a significant deviation from randomness. Our data support a non-random spatial distribution of mitoses in uterine epithelium and indicate that mitotic activity in rat endometrium occurs in localized spatial regions separated by relatively long regions of mitotically inactive endometrium. Possible mechanisms of production of a non-random tissue distribution of mitoses are discussed.
Single-Port Laparoscopic Surgery in Urology: Initial Experience

OBJECTIVES To present our initial experience with single-port laparoscopic urologic surgery using the Uni-X Single Port Access Laparoscopic System, a single port, multichannel cannula, with specially designed curved laparoscopic instrumentation. METHODS We performed single-port laparoscopic surgery in 10 patients, including renal cryotherapy in 4, wedge kidney biopsy in 1, radical nephrectomy in 1, and abdominal sacrocolpopexy in 4. For the transperitoneal approach, the multichannel port was inserted transumbilically, and for retroperitoneoscopy, the port was inserted at the tip of the 12th rib. Data were collected prospectively into our institutional review board-approved data registry. RESULTS Since September 25, 2007, a total of 10 patients have undergone single-port laparoscopic surgery for various upper abdominal and pelvic pathologic findings. All cases were completed successfully, without conversion to a standard laparoscopic approach. The total operative time for the various kidney procedures was 2.5 hours (range 2 to 3.2) and was 2.5 hours (range 2 to 3) for sacrocolpopexy. The mean blood loss was 100 mL for the renal procedures and 90 mL for sacrocolpopexy. The hospital stay was 2.8 days (range 1 to 8) for the kidney procedures and 2 days for sacrocolpopexy. One complication occurred in a patient with baseline congestive heart failure who underwent cryoablation and required oxygen mask ventilation postoperatively that delayed her hospital discharge for 1 week. The same patient, who was anemic preoperatively, was transfused with 3 U of packed red blood cells, although the postoperative computed tomography scan revealed a small perinephric hematoma. CONCLUSIONS Single-port laparoscopic renal cryotherapy, wedge kidney biopsy, radical nephrectomy, and abdominal sacrocolpopexy are safe and feasible. Additional experience and continued investigation are warranted.
Ty1 Defect in Proteolysis at High Temperature

Retrotransposition of the Ty1 element of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is temperature sensitive. Transposition activity of Ty1 is abolished at temperatures above 34°C. In this report, we show that the major block to transposition at high temperature is the inhibition of processing of the Gag-Pol-p199 polyprotein and the concomitant reduction of reverse transcriptase (RT) activity. Expression of a Ty1 protease construct in Escherichia coli shows that protease enzymatic activity is inherently temperature sensitive. In yeast, Gag processing is only partially inhibited at high temperature, while cleavage of the Gag-Pol polyprotein is completely inhibited. Sites of proteolytic processing are differentially susceptible to cleavage during growth at high temperature. Overall levels of the Gag-Pol polyprotein are reduced at high temperature, although the efficiency of the requisite +1 frameshifting event appears to be increased. RT activity is inherently relatively temperature resistant, yet no cDNA is made at high temperature and the amount of RT activity is greatly reduced in virus-like particles formed at high temperature. Taken together, these results suggest that alterations in Ty1 proteins that occur at high temperature affect both protease activity and RT activity, such that Ty1 transposition is abolished.
Propagation of Optical Pulses in Dynamic Media: A Time Transformation Method

A novel time transformation method is presented and applied to study the propagation of optical pulses through dynamic linear and nonlinear media whose refractive indices change with time.
Renovation prepares staff for critical services disaster recovery plan

User Services staff at the University of Delaware are located in the basement of Smith Hall, which was constructed in 1970. The heating and cooling system has not been optimal over the years, but we were surprised to learn in December 2007 that we would need to relocate our services and staff in the spring of 2008 because a major heating and ventilation renovation was scheduled. Planning to relocate staff, equipment, and services brought to the forefront the need for a contingency plan for emergency preparation.In the process, we discovered the crucial aspects of relocating critical services without any major downtime. This process has helped us identify areas where we needed to realign our coverage of critical services and also prepare for day-to-day "emergencies" that may occur.We will outline the planning process we developed to relocate our services and the steps involved to coordinate with other departments to implement the move without major disruption to our users.
A New Interaction Integral Method for Mesh-Free Analysis of Cracks in Functionally Graded Materials

This paper presents a Galerkin-based meshless method for calculating stress-intensity factors (SIFs) for a stationary crack in two-dimensional functionally graded materials of arbitrary geometry. The method involves an element-free Galerkin method (EFGM), where the material properties are smooth functions of spatial co-ordinates and two newly developed interaction integrals for mixed-mode fracture analysis. These integrals can also be implemented in conjunction with other numerical methods, such as the finite element method (FEM). Five numerical examples including both mode-I and mixed-mode problems are presented to evaluate the accuracy of SIFs calculated by the proposed EFGM. Comparisons have been made between the SIFs predicted by EFGM and available reference solutions in the literature, generated either analytically or by FEM using various other fracture integrals or analyses. A good agreement is obtained between the results of the proposed meshless method and the reference solutions.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
High-dose curcuminoids are efficacious in the reduction in symptoms and signs of oral lichen planus.

Background Curcuminoids are components of turmeric (Curcuma longa) that possess anti-inflammatory properties. Objective We sought to study the efficacy of curcuminoids in controlling the signs and symptoms of oral lichen planus, at doses of 6000 mg/d (3 divided doses), and their safety at this dose. Methods Twenty consecutive, eligible patients who consented were enrolled into this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 2007 through 2008. Measurement of symptoms and signs of oral lichen planus using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and the Modified Oral Mucositis Index (MOMI), respectively; complete blood counts; liver enzymes; C-reactive protein; and interleukin-6 levels was done at baseline and day 14. Two-sided P values are reported. Results In the placebo group, the percentage changes from baseline in NRS (median [interquartile range] = 0.00 [−29 to 16.7], P > .99), erythema (0.00 [−10 to 16.7], P = .98), ulceration (0.00 [0.00 to 26.7], P = .63), and total MOMI scores (−3.2 [−13 to 9.09], P = .95) were not statistically significant, whereas they were statistically significant in the curcuminoids group: NRS (−22 [−33 to −14], P = .0078); erythema (−17 [−29 to −8.3], P = .0078), ulceration (−14 [−60 to 0.00], P = .063), MOMI (−24 [−38 to −11], P = .0039). The curcuminoids group showed a greater reduction in clinical signs and symptoms as compared with the placebo group, measured by percentage change in erythema ( P = .05) and total MOMI score ( P = .03), and proportion showing improvement in NRS (0.8 vs 0.3, P = .02) and total MOMI score (0.9 vs 0.5, P = .05). Adverse effects were uncommon in both groups. Limitations The small sample size resulted in limited power, particularly for multivariate analyses. Conclusions Curcuminoids at doses of 6000 mg/d in 3 divided doses are well tolerated and may prove efficacious in controlling signs and symptoms of oral lichen planus.
Two Rare and Closely Related Aphids from Australia and China (Hemiptera, Aphididae)

Alate parthenogenetic viviparous female. —Ground color probably greenish overlaid with black pigmented areas and shiny black thoracic muscular region. Body normal in shape with small spatulate setae and a few hairs posteriorly. Length, 1.75 mm. Head, normal, dusky. Ocelli raised on short cones. Compound eyes with tubercle, the median ocellus distant from the other two. Rostrum slender, extends to third coxae. Antennae short, dark, 5-segmented, with few short knobbed hairs lying almost flat against surface; imbricated; secondary sensoria circular; distributed as follows: III, 5—8 on the apical half; IV, 12014;4. Permanent sensory compound as illustrated. Lengths of segments: I, 0.17 mm.; II, 0.21 mm.; III, 0.30 mm.; IV, 0.16 mm.; V, 0.25 mm. (base, 0.15 mm. + spur, 0.10 mm.). Prothoracic tubercles prominent, cone-shaped. Legs normal with few hairs. Wings with clouded veins. Primary pair longer than body, 2.27 mm.; secondary pair, 0.73 mm.; radial sector only slightly curved; media 1-branched; cubitus and anal as usual; stigma distinct. Hind wings poorly developed, not extending to the tip of the anal of the forewing; with only radial sector; hamuli well developed. Abdomen marked with black spots, and irregular patches. Setae short, spatulate or knobbed and arising from dark areas. A light transverse band in front of cornicles and other non-pigmented areas as indicated in the figure. Spiracles on tubercles. Cornicles unique, except in the related genus Anomalosiphum described elsewhere in this article. They are black, relatively short, 0.17 mm. in length, cylindrical, enlarged just before and then sharply constricted to the flanged opening. At the largest diameter there are 4 prominent curved spines which may be enlarged apically in the nymphs. The apical constricted area is somewhat reticulated. On the dorsal median areas of abdominal segments VII and VIII, and posterior to the cornicles, are two pairs of prominent, black, slender imbricated and pointed tubercles—the shorter pair directly anterior to the larger hind pair. These tubercles may attain a length of 0.32 mm. They terminate in slender knobbed or hand-like enlargements which are specially prominent in the nymphs and apterous forms. The cauda is shallow, crescentshaped, broad and supports curved hairs.
Infrared spectra and normal coordinate calculation of crystalline formic acid

Abstract Infrared spectra from 3000 to 70 cm−1 have been obtained on the β-polymorphs of (HCOOH)n, (DCOOH)n, and (HCOOI))n crystals. All of the observed absorption bands were assigned on the basis of an infinite hydrogen bonded chain having a factor group isomorphous to C3v. In order to verify the assignment, normal coordinate calculations were carried out for (HCOOH)n with a set of force constants obtained from the observed frequencies. These force constants were successfully used to predict the frequencies of (DCOOH)n and (HCOOI)n. Both the potential energy distribution and Cartesian displacements were calculated in order to accurately determine the modes of the vibrations, including the hydrogen bond vibrations. This represents the first sucessful calculation for a hydrogen bonded polymeric molecule in which the modes of the hydrogen bond vibration have been reasonably determined.
The Static Clock and the Old Manchild: Temporality in Twentieth‐Century African Literature

This essay provides an overview of critical trends in the study of time in twentieth-century African and Diasporic African fiction. The pervasive tendency in Western historiography to treat Africa as occupying a space outside the narrative of historical progress and development has produced a critical counter-reaction which celebrates the unique cultural rhythms and incommensurable experiences of African temporality. According to this influential critical model, most notably expressed by Bonnie J. Barthold in her 1981 study, Black Time, the project of African fiction is to attack the telos-driven linearity of Western time, and to explore culturally indigenous temporal models of cyclicality, myth, and ritual which are fundamentally incomprehensible to the Western worldview. This critical model has been surprisingly inattentive, however, to competing tendencies in Diasporic African fiction which have insisted upon the pitfalls of temporal difference. Beginning with a survey of the ways in which theories of a uniquely African temporality have been both inherited and interrogated by contemporary critics, I turn to criticism of Ayi Kwei Armah's 1968 novel, The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born, as a case study of a text that is particularly disserved by the prevailing critical paradigm.
Advances in decentralized state estimation for power systems

Distributed learning via network diffusion is a popular trend in signal processing, which addresses the need of obtaining scalable analytics from networked sensor systems. This paper describes relevant advances in distributed power system state estimation (PSSE) via diffusion. Considering a hybrid sensor measurements system, we show that the Gauss-Newton approach, typically favored in PSSE, can be used as a primitive to derive a gossip-based algorithm that outperforms first order diffusion methods proposed in the literature. We also study analytically and numerically the dependency between measurement placement, grid topology and physical parameters, communication network and the performance of the decentralized PSSE.
An Intensional Interpretation of Truth-Values

In a profound and seminal paper of 1956 ‘Begrundung einer strengen Implikation’, JSL), Wilhelm Ackermann laid the foundation for what may reasonably be called intensional logics, characterized by the presence of an intensional ‘if… then —’ connective which demands (for provability) relevance of antecedent to consequent, in a sense amenable to treatment by the tools of mathematical logic. The growing body of literature devoted to the philosophical and mathematical analysis of these systems jeopardizes a prejudice which has been an important article of faith among extensionally-minded logicians, ever since Goodman and Quine got it into the mob that no decently reared Christian gentleman of respectable ancestry would consort with propositions, or others of intensional ilk. Among the banned notions is that of relevance, and the credo reads as follows (if memory serves): “this conception, like others in the theory of meaning, is too vague, uncertain, unsettled, indefinite, visionary, undetermined, unsure, casual, doubtful, dubious, indeterminate, undefined, confused, obscure, enigmatic, problematic, questionable, unreliable, provisional, dim, muddy, nebulous, indistinct, loose, ambiguous, and mysterious to be the subject of careful logical scrutiny.”
My Student, the Purist: A Lament1

(1968). My Student, the Purist: A Lament. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 29-34.
Mathematical models for carboxyhemoglobin

Abstract This paper describes a non-linear model for blood COHb fraction as a function of a subject's activity level, individual physiological parameters, and individual time-variable exposure to carbon monoxide. The computer solution of the model fits data on smokers and non-smokers. The simpler models of Ott and Mage (1978) and Venkatram and Louch (1979) are shown to have the correct form in low-stress environments, but the simpler models do not allow assessment of health effects for sensitive or high-risk subpopulations. Their postulated constant time-scale of 2.49 h may lead to substantial underestimation of COHb buildup.
Ultrasound velocimetry of ferrofluid spin-up flow measurements using a spherical coil assembly to impose a uniform rotating magnetic field

Abstract Ferrofluid spin-up flow is studied within a sphere subjected to a uniform rotating magnetic field from two surrounding spherical coils carrying sinusoidally varying currents at right angles and 90° phase difference. Ultrasound velocimetry measurements in a full sphere of ferrofluid shows no measureable flow. There is significant bulk flow in a partially filled sphere (1–14 mm/s) of ferrofluid or a finite height cylinder of ferrofluid with no cover (1–4 mm/s) placed in the spherical coil apparatus. The flow is due to free surface effects and the non-uniform magnetic field associated with the shape demagnetizing effects. Flow is also observed in the fully filled ferrofluid sphere (1–20 mm/s) when the field is made non-uniform by adding a permanent magnet or a DC or AC excited small solenoidal coil. This confirms that a non-uniform magnetic field or a non-uniform distribution of magnetization due to a non-uniform magnetic field are causes of spin-up flow in ferrofluids with no free surface, while tangential magnetic surface stress contributes to flow in the presence of a free surface. Recent work has fitted velocity flow measurements of ferrofluid filled finite height cylinders with no free surface, subjected to uniform rotating magnetic fields, neglecting the container shape effects which cause non-uniform demagnetizing fields, and resulting in much larger non-physical effective values of spin viscosity η ′∼10 −8 −10 −12 N s than those obtained from theoretical spin diffusion analysis where η ′≤10 −18 N s. COMSOL Multiphysics finite element computer simulations of spherical geometry in a uniform rotating magnetic field using non-physically large experimental fit values of spin viscosity η ′∼10 −8 −10 −12 N s with a zero spin-velocity boundary condition at the outer wall predicts measureable flow, while simulations setting spin viscosity to zero ( η ′ = 0) results in negligible flow, in agreement with the ultrasound velocimetry measurements. COMSOL simulations also confirm that a non-uniform rotating magnetic field or a uniform rotating magnetic field with a non-uniform distribution of magnetization due to an external magnet or a current carrying coil can drive a measureable flow in an infinitely long ferrofluid cylinder with zero spin viscosity ( η ′ = 0).
Influence of phosphorus and sulfur nutrition on composition ofClitoria ternatea L.

A greenhouse experiment on a silt loam surface soil (Typic Hapludult) was done to investigate effects of P and S on yield, quality aspects and sugar reserves in the tropical forage legumeClitoria ternatea L. Four levels of P and two N treatments (NH4NO3vs symbiotic) were arranged in a factorial design with four replications. After the first cutting two levels of S were imposed on this design.
Modified embedded-atom potentials for cubic materials and impurities

In a comprehensive study, the modified embedded-atom method is extended to a variety of cubic materials and impurities. In this extension, all functions are analytic and computationally simple. The basic equations of the method are developed and applied to 26 elements: ten fcc, ten bcc, three diamond cubic, and three gaseous materials. The materials modeled include metals, semiconductors, and diatomic gases, all of which exhibit different types of bonding. Properties of these materials, including equation of state, elastic moduli, structural energies and lattice constants, simple defects, and surfaces, are calculated. The formalism for applying the method to combinations of these elements is developed and applied to the calculation of dilute heats of solution. In all cases, comparison is made to experiment or higher-level calculations when possible.
A Closed-Form Numerical Method for Calculating the Steady-State Dynamic Response of Rigid-Body Machine Systems

Solutions numeriques en forme close pour le calcul de la reponse dynamique en regime permanent d'un systeme mecanique forme d'elements rigides