cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Free Flap Survival Following Failure of the Vascular Pedicle.

Background Controversy exists regarding whether or not, or, if so, how quickly free flaps can achieve neovascularization from the surrounding tissue bed and independence from the vascular pedicle. In this paper, we document the survival of free flaps despite early vascular pedicle thrombosis and review the literature regarding the period of time believed to be required for flap autonomy to occur. Design Case series Setting Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Patients We report 3 cases in which pedicle failures occurred within 2 weeks of free flap transfer. The first patient suffered repeated leaks from the vascular anastomosis with hematoma formation occurring on postoperative days 4, 6, and 17, ultimately requiring ligation of the pedicle. The second patient developed a salivary leak and accumulation of saliva around the pedicle, which was found thrombosed on postoperative day 11. The third patient lost Doppler signals from the pedicle on postoperative day 7 and 8, each occasion necessitating a return to the operating room for anastomotic revision. However, on postoperative day 9, the signal was lost yet again and no further revisions were attempted. Results Two of the 3 flaps survived completely and the third was noted to have near complete survival. Conclusion Microvascular free flaps can survive despite complete pedicle failure as early as 10 days after surgery. The mechanism behind this may involve the process of neovascularization. We conclude that early free flap pedicle failure does not necessarily equate to complete flap loss.
Temporary and Permanent Sterilization of House Flies with Chemosterilants.

Fifteen compounds were tested for chemosterilant activity on house flies, Musca domestica L., by feeding the chemicals at levels up to 1% to recently emerged adult insects for 48 hours. At the levels fed, 9 compound had little or no effect on sterility, 2 compounds (0.10% methotrexate and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine) induced sterility with no oviposition, 3 compounds (0.01% methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil and 6-methyluracil) were only temporary sterilants, and 2 compounds (apholate and thiotepa) induced permanent sterility with oviposition. The significance of using this method of testing for chemosterilant activity, and the possible modes of action of these compounds are discussed.
Status of Research with Transgenic Farm Animals

Microinjection is the predominant method used to transfer genes into farm animals. Current research is devoted to improvement of productivity traits, enhancement of animal health, and production of biomedically useful human health products. Initial transgenic research primarily involved genes coding for growth hormone (GH), growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF), and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). More recent investigations have attempted to stimulate muscle development, to use bacterial enzymes so animals can synthesize certain essential amino acids, to induce expression of specific immunoglobulin or disease-resistance genes, and to direct expression of human proteins to the mammary gland, specific organs, or specific cells for production of useful human health products. The main limitations to progress are the lack of useful cloned genes for productivity traits and disease resistance and the insufficient knowledge of mechanisms involved in regulation of transgenes.
Analysis of Death of Circulatory System Diseases among Xiangyun Residents from 2007 to 2008

Objective:To make an anlaysis of death of circulatory system diseases among Xiangyun residents from 2007 to 2008 so as to provide evidence for the prevention and control of chronic diseases.Methods: Information related to the death was collected,classified according to the international classification of diseases(ICD-10),and analyzed by software DeathReg2005.Results: The annual average total mortality was 191.80/10 per hundred thousand.The top three were cerebrovascular disease,myocardial infarction,rheumatic;the death ratio of male to female was 1.06: 1,including cerebrovascular disease(66.27%),myocardial infarction(17.38%).With advancement of age,death of circulatory system diseases were increaing.Conclusion: Following the accelerated speed of population aging,changes in disease patterns,cardiovascular diseases are the major diseases of circulatory system diseases,thus we should prevent and control cardiovascular and chronic non-communicable disease.
Survey on Prevalences of Nutrition and Anemia Among Primary and Middle School Students in Liuzhou City

Objective To know the prevalence status of nutrition and anemia among children at primary and middle schools,and to provide the scientific evidence for making effective prevention and cure measures.Methods Physical examination was carried out in 80,036 children aged between 7 and 19 years at 135 primary and middle schools in Liuzhou City.The cyanmethemoglobin method recommended by WHO was used to detect hemoglobin,and the "Standard for Height and Body Weight of Chinese Students Aged 7～22 Years in 1995" was used to assess the nutritional status of these children.Results Prevalence of anemia in primary and middle school students was 27.17%.Anemia prevalence showed no significant difference between the girls and boys in primary schools(P0.05),but it was higher in the middle school girls than that in the middle school boys(P0.01).The detection rate of malnutrition was 35.09%,and the girls' malnutrition was higher than that of the boys both in the primary and middle schools(P0.01).The anemia prevalence and the malnutrition detection rate in middle school students were both higher than those of the pupils in the distribution of schooling period(P0.01).Conclusions The anemia prevalence and the malnutrition detection rate are higher in Liuzhou,it is necessary to make multi-aspect and multi-level preventive and therapeutic measures.
CHAPTER 2 – The Event Calculus

This chapter provides the foundations of the event calculus, formalism for commonsense reasoning. It reviews first-order logic and describe some notational conventions also discusses the basics of the event calculus. Furthermore, the chapter presents, axiomatizations of the event calculus (EC) and the discrete event calculus (DEC). The event calculus is based on first-order logic, which consists of a syntax, semantics, and proof theory. A language L of first-order logic is specified by disjoint sets of predicate symbols, function symbols, constants, and variables. Each predicate and function symbol has an arity. The semantics of a language L of first-order logic defines the meaning of a formula of L as the set of models of the formula or the set of structures in which the formula is true. In addition, the proof theory defines a proof of a formula π given a formula ψ as a sequence of formulas such that the last formula is π. The event calculus uses an extension of first-order logic called many-sorted first-order logic.
Interadductor Approach to Obturator Nerve Blockade for Spastic Conditions of Adductor Thigh Muscles

Backgound and Objectives. The authors describe a new approach for the management of adductor muscle spasm associated with multiple sclerosis and paraplegia. Methods. An obturator nerve block was performed by needle insertion behind the upper end of the adductor longus muscle; the needle was directed laterally, with slight upward and posterior inclination, toward the obturator canal. The obturator nerve was identified by its response to nerve stimulation. An initial diagnostic block using 5 mL of 2.0% lidocaine followed by two or three prognostic blocks using 5 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine and 1:200,000 epinephrine were performed. In the final block, 5 mL of 6.0% phenol in glycerin was injected. Results. Evaluation of the efficacy of the block was achieved in terms of its success rate, the degree of alleviation of muscle spasm, the improvement of gait in the patients with multiple sclerosis, and the facilitation of nursing hygienic care in bedridden patients. In comparison with the traditional approach, the success rate and improvements were highly significant Conclusions. The interadductor approach is a new approach based on the anatomy of the obturator nerve trunk, which, though in the obturator canal, is shielded by its osseous part from the anteroposterior perspective of the traditional approach. The interadductor approach allows needle positioning inside the obturator canal through a mediolateral perspective, thus facilitating the blockade of the obturator nerve trunk before it branches immediately outside the canal. The new approach proved to be successful, reproducible and without complications.
Infant Rabbit Colonization Competition Assays

Enteric pathogenic bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) cause life-threatening diarrheal diseases that have afflicted humans for centuries. Understanding the effectors required for intestinal colonization is very important to research on bacteria pathogenesis, and is also important to testing new therapeutics and development of the novel vaccines. Here, we describe the Infant Rabbit Colonization Competition Assay, a variant method of the powerful, nonsurgical animal model reported by Ritchie et al. (2010). In our modified assay, wild type and mutant strains are mixed together and inoculated into 2-day-old New Zealand white rabbits. The competitive index for each mutant measures the colonization capacity of the mutant relative to its wild type parental strain in the gastrointestinal tract. Compared to the traditional Sucking Mice model, the clinical and histologic signs of Vibrio cholerae (V. cholera)-induced disease of infant rabbits more closely resemble human cholera. The larger input bacteria amount of this model also facilitates high-throughput screens, such as Tn-Seq technology (Fu et al., 2013).
Emerging Construction Materials for Energy Infrastructure

This paper presents the role of emerging construction materials in the development of energy infrastructure. Recent advancements in construction materials is reviewed. Specific examples of application of high performance concretes, high performance steels, and wood composites in enhancing the efficiency of infra-structure needed for generating energy from conventional fuel sources is illustrated. In addition, application of specialized materials such as fiber reinforced composites, shape memory alloys and phase-change materials in energy installations for harnessing power from non-conventional energy sources is discussed.
Low Incidence of Dysplasia and Colorectal Cancer Observed among Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients with Prolonged Colonic Diversion.

Background In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), many scenarios call for fecal diversion, leaving behind defunctionalized bowel. The theoretical risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in this segment is frequently cited as a reason for resection. To date, no studies have characterized the incidence of neoplasia in the diverted colorectal segments of IBD patients. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted for IBD patients identified through a tertiary care center pathology database. Patients that had undergone colorectal diversion and were diverted for ≥ 1 year were included. Incidence of diverted dysplasia/CRC was calculated for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) with respect to diverted patient-years (dpy) and patient-years of disease (pyd). Results In total, 154 patients comprising 754 dpy and 1984 pyd were analyzed. Only 2 cases of diverted colorectal dysplasia (CD 1, UC 1) and 1 case of diverted CRC (UC) were observed. In the UC cohort (n = 75), the rate of diversion-associated CRC was 4.5 cases/1000 dpy (95% CI 0.11-25/1000) or 1.5 cases/1000 pyd (95% CI 0.04-8.2/1000). In the CD cohort (n = 79), no patients developed CRC, although a dysplasia rate of 1.9 cases/1000 dpy (95% CI 0.05-11/1000) or 0.77 cases/1000 pyd (95% CI 0.02-4.3/1000) was observed. All patients developing neoplasia had disease duration > 10 years and microscopic inflammation. Conclusions Diverted dysplasia occurred infrequently with rates overlapping those reported in registries for IBD-based rectal cancers. Neoplasia was undetected in patients with < 10 pyd, regardless of diversion duration, suggesting low yield for endoscopic surveillance before this time.
Synthesis-Structure-Activity Relationships in Co3O4 Catalyzed CO Oxidation.

In this work, a statistical design and analysis platform was used to develop cobalt oxide based oxidation catalysts prepared via one pot metal salt reduction. An emphasis was placed upon understanding the effects of synthesis conditions, such as heating regimen and Co2+ concentration on the metal salt reduction mechanism, the resultant nanomaterial properties (i.e. size, crystal structure, and crystal faceting), and the catalytic activity in CO oxidation. This was accomplished by carrying out XRD, TEM, and FTIR studies on synthesis intermediates and products. Additionally, high-throughput experimentation was employed to study the performance of Co3O4 oxidation catalysts over a wide range of reaction conditions using a 16-channel fixed bed reactor equipped with a parallel infrared imaging system. Specifically, Co3O4 nanomaterials of varying properties were evaluated for their performance as CO oxidation catalysts. Figure-of-merits including light-off temperatures and activation energies were measured and mapped back to the catalyst properties and synthesis conditions. Statistical analysis methods were used to elucidate significant property-activity relationships as well as the design rules relevant in the synthesis of active catalysts. It was found that CO oxidation light off temperatures could be decreased to <90°C by utilizing the discovered synthesis-structure-activity relationships.
Ant: A Debugging Framework for MPI Parallel Programs

This paper describes Ant, a debugging framework targeting MPI parallel programs. The Ant framework statically analyzes programs, marking code regions as being executed by all processes or executed by only some of the processes. The analyzed program is then instrumented with calls to an invariant violation monitoring and detection library. The analysis allows regions to be instrumented based on whether all, or less than all, processes execute the region. Ant’s instrumentation strategy allows sampled monitoring across processes in regions executed by all processes. We present a case study using Ant with C-DIDUCE (a variant of DIDUCE for C) to find violations of value invariants in parallel C/MPI programs. Ant’s instrumentation strategy reduces the overhead of monitoring by over 14 times with less impact on accuracy than a scheme that simply distributes monitoring over all processes executing the program.
Yung Wing: One Hundred Years After His Graduation

Last year I was invited to take part in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of Yale-in-China.
The impact of Babesia microti blood donation screening.

Background Babesia microti, an intraerythrocytic parasite endemic in the Northeast and upper Midwest United States, is responsible for over 200 reported cases of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB). The American Red Cross has prospectively screened donations in endemic areas for B. microti since 2012. Methods Blood donation samples from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Wisconsin were tested by arrayed fluorescence immunoassay and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Donors with reactive results by any test were deferred and invited to participate in a follow-up study. Results Screening of 506,540 donations (June 2012-May 2018) yielded 1299 reactives, 177 of which were DNA and antibody positive and 25 DNA positive only. During the same time, 23 unscreened RBC units collected in Connecticut and Massachusetts were involved in TTB cases, making the risk of transmitting the infection from an unscreened donation in these two states 15.6-times greater than from a Babesia-negative unit. B. microti screening in Connecticut and Massachusetts has been associated with a reduction in TTB cases; none reported from blood donors residing in Connecticut since 2016. The positive donor rate has also decreased in Connecticut from 0.67% in 2013 to 0.23% in 2017. Ongoing follow-up testing has shown that only 10% of antibody-positive donors serorevert within 1 year, while 94% of polymerase chain reacton-positive donors become negative within 12 months. Conclusions Blood donation screening for B. microti in endemic areas effectively mitigates TTB risk. Screening should be considered for all areas demonstrating ongoing risk defined as clinical cases or positive blood donors including those associated with TTB cases.
Enhanced flow boiling in silicon nanowire-coated manifold microchannels

Abstract An experimental study was carried out to investigate the heat transfer, pressure drop and flow instability characteristics associated with the flow pattern of deionized water during two-phase boiling in a silicon-based manifold microchannel heat sink coated with silicon nanowires (SiNWs) compared to a plain-wall device. The manifold microchannel device featured parallel transverse microchannels etched on a silicon substrate and longitudinal microchannels etched on a glass cover plate. Silicon nanowires were generated on the bottom and the sidewalls of the silicon microchannels. A closed-loop experimental system was constructed to demonstrate thermal and hydraulic performance. Experimental results were presented with mass fluxes ranging from 250 to 1250 kg/m2 s and subcooled inlet temperatures from 15 K to 65 K. Results for the SiNWs device showed an approximate 20% improvement in heat flux rejection compared to the plain-wall device under the same wall superheat conditions. A subcooled inlet temperature of 65 K associated with a mass flux of 1250 kg/m2 s is shown to be capable of dissipating an effective heat flux of 431.3 W/cm2 with a wall superheat of about 85 K. Overall, the SiNW coatings proved positive effects on enhancing the flow boiling heat transfer with slower pressure drop increase, meanwhile the three-dimensional manifold microchannel design is revealed to effectively mitigate flow instability during the entire single and two-phase flow regions. This indicates great potential in utilizing three-dimensional flows by integrating SiNWs surface structures in high heat flux cooling applications.
Survival outcomes after treatment of cancer of the oral cavity (1985-2015)

Abstract Objectives To present treatment results of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) at a tertiary cancer care center from 1985 to 2015. Materials and methods A total of 2082 patients were eligible for this study. Main outcomes measured were overall survival (OS) and disease specific survival (DSS). Prognostic variables were identified with bivariate analyses using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank testing for comparison. A p-value Results The 5-year OS and DSS were 64.4% and 79.3%, respectively. Age, comorbidities, margin status, vascular invasion, perineural invasion, AJCC 8th edition pT, and pN were independent prognostic factors of OS (p Conclusion pN stage is the most powerful and consistent predictor of outcome in patients with OSCC treated with primary surgery and appropriate adjuvant therapy.
On rank awareness, thresholding, and MUSIC for joint sparse recovery

Abstract This letter establishes sufficient conditions for the sparse multiple measurement vector (MMV) or row-sparse matrix approximation problem for the Rank Aware Row Thresholding (RART) algorithm. Using the rank aware selection operator to define RART results in discrete MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC) from array signal processing. When the sensing matrix is drawn from the random Gaussian matrix ensemble, we establish that the rank of the row-sparse measurement matrix in the noiseless row-sparse recovery problem allows RART (MUSIC) to reduce the effect of the log ⁡ ( n ) penalty term that is present in traditional compressed sensing results and simultaneously provides a row-rank deficient recovery result for MUSIC. Empirical evidence shows that Thresholding closely matches RART in successful row-sparse approximation. The theoretical and empirical evidence provides further support for the conjecture that the thresholding operator in more sophisticated greedy algorithms is the source of their observed rank awareness.
Case 17-1977: Diarrhea, Severe Hypokalemia and Ventricular Irritability in a Hypertensive Woman

Presentation of Case A 68-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of diarrhea. One year earlier she came to this hospital because of episodes of weakness and was found to have ventricul...
Impact of an oncology urgent care clinic on emergency department rates.

6615Background: Oncology-specific urgent care clinics (UCC) may play a key role in reducing unscheduled emergency department (ED) visits among patients with cancer. We sought to determine if establ...
U.S. public support for the international criminal court: do constitutional considerations matter?

ABSTRACTPublic opinion studies concerning the International Criminal Court show that a majority of the U.S. public supports the ICC and U.S. participation with the Court. Yet, such studies provide ...
On the usage of recursive function calls in C/C++ general purpose software systems

An empirical study that examines the pervasiveness, presence, and distribution of recursive function calls that are known to affect the parallelizability and analyzability of the source code in C/C++ software systems is presented. A case study is conducted on seven general purpose open source software systems, comprising several million lines of code. The systems were statically analyzed using a software tool to detect, determine, and tabulate all recursive invocations to programmer-defined functions. The preliminary findings show that recursion (direct and indirect) is still being used by the developers of the studied systems. As the complexity and analysis challenges imposed and caused by those recursive calls and functions are growing, from a software engineering perspective, our findings can be used to develop effective programs and methods that help educate software developers on more maintainable, parallelizable, and analyzable coding practices that can eliminate the challenges caused by those recursive algorithms and functions. A historical investigation revealed an increase in recursion usage, thus making the studied systems less analyzable and less maintainable, creating more roadblocks towards completing the typical software evolution tasks required as software systems evolve over time.
Bee Stings and Beer: The Significance of Food in Alabamian POW Newspapers

Christine Rinne’s chapter “Bee Stings and Beer: the Significance of Food in Alabamian POW Newspapers” explores the function of food in two newspapers written by German soldiers held during the end of the Second World War, Der Zaungast and POW-Oase. These POWs enjoyed abundant food while held in the USA, unlike during fighting or when initially captured. Rinne argues that the descriptions of food cultivation, preparation and consumption, in both fiction and non-fiction pieces, serve to reinforce a connection to the homeland through shared imagery and traditions; establish distinctions between themselves and their captors based on perceptions of artificiality and superficiality; express the soldiers’ fears about uncertain cultural changes during their absence; and forge a moral universe to guide them on their way home.
The Unexpected Hand Patient.

Objective Physicians should be aware of patients trying to obtain a diagnosis for secondary gain. Malingering is a diagnosis that should be suspected when objective findings do not support the subjective symptoms and there is secondary gain. Methods A series of 21 cases are presented that support this position. The charts of 21 patients with a diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (chronic regional pain syndrome) and nonanatomic findings were evaluated. Results The patients in this series were found to be malingering based on discrepancies between subjective symptoms and objective findings. Conclusions The diagnosis of malingering should be based on thorough history, physical examination, electrodiagnostic studies, imaging studies, and evaluation of all medical records.
Low Power Unsupervised Anomaly Detection by Nonparametric Modeling of Sensor Statistics

This article presents anomaly detection by examining sensor stream statistics (AEGIS), a novel mixed-signal framework for real-time AEGIS. AEGIS utilizes kernel density estimation (KDE)-based nonparametric density estimation to generate a real-time statistical model of the sensor data stream. The likelihood estimate of the sensor data point can be obtained based on the generated statistical model to detect outliers. We present CMOS Gilbert Gaussian cell-based design to realize Gaussian kernels for KDE. For outlier detection, the decision boundary is defined in terms of kernel standard deviation ( $\sigma _{\mathrm{ Kernel}}$ ) and likelihood threshold ( $P_{\mathrm{ Thres}}$ ). We adopt a sliding window to update the detection model in real time. We use time-series data set provided from Yahoo to benchmark the performance of AEGIS. A ${f}$ 1-score higher than 0.87 is achieved by optimizing parameters such as length of the sliding window and decision thresholds which are programmable in AEGIS. Discussed architecture is designed using 45-nm technology node and our approach on average consumes ~75- $\mu \text{W}$ power at a sampling rate of 2 MHz while using ten recent inlier samples for density estimation.
Racial Injustice and Neuroethics: Time for Action.

As a member of the BRAIN Neuroethics Subgroup, which drafted the Neuroethics Roadmap, I am proud of our work. The Roadmap is the result of many hours of thoughtful discussion, and reflects strong l...
Case of an Obese Adolescent with Back Pain: Studies Normal

Low back pain is a common problem among children and adolescents; however, permanent or catastrophic outcomes are rare. Radiologic, anatomic causes of back pain are infrequent, though incidental findings and false-positives are common. Treatment for nonspecific low back pain should be focused on physical rehabilitation and lifestyle changes. Imaging should be reserved for specific concerning findings, which might alter management.
Meaningful Engagement in the Nursing Home

Throughout her career, Rosalie Kane made a major impact in her efforts to improve quality of life for persons living in nursing homes. Near the end of her career, she suggested that it was time to "re-imagine long term care and to produce livable age-friendly nursing homes." This brief review focuses on the role of meaningful engagement and person-centered care as the next step in enhancing nursing home care. The importance of activities that strengthen cognitive and/or physical function is stressed, as well as improving socialization to reduce loneliness.
From 95 to 59 millimetres: a new active acoustic tag size guideline for salmon

Two laboratory studies evaluated small Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) (36–99 mm fork length (FL), 0.7%–26.7% tag burden) survival, tag retention, and growth (n = 539) and critical swimmi...
Asian place, Filipino nation: a global intellectual history of the Philippine revolution, 1887-1912: by Nicole CuUnjieng Aboitiz, New York, Columbia University Press, 2020, 272 pages, $35.00/₤30.00 (paperback), ISBN: 9780231192156

With Asian Place, Filipino Nation, Nicole CuUnjieng Aboitiz provides a careful, revealing and important account of Asian contexts, connections, and aspirations of the Philippine Revolution. The Phi...
BRAFV600E frequency and impact on outcomes in adults with langerhans cell histiocytosis.

7050Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an inflammatory myeloid neoplasm manifesting as unifocal, multifocal, multisystem (MS) or pulmonary LCH (smoking-related). In pediatric LCH, s...
Exploring Screen Time Habits and the Life Empowerment Divide at an Hbcu

College students at a historically black university used their social media accounts to recruit 1,232 of their peers to take an online survey that explored digital screen time and social media habits at this HBCU. The study revealed that 51% devoted daily screen time to academic empowerment, 31% devoted it to leisure, and 11% devoted it to life empowerment. Sixty-six percent said they spent too much screen time on leisure and not enough on life empowerment, i.e., using resources in the digital world to improve their lives. The paper explored the divide, its implications, and how to narrow it.
Ring- and diffuse-porous species exhibit a spectrum of hydraulic behaviors from isohydry to anisohydry in a temperate deciduous forest

Diffuse-porous Acer saccharum and ring-porous Carya ovata exhibit opposing isohydry and anisohydry, respectively, but physiological responses of four other species indicate a spectrum of hydraulic behaviors among co-existing mature temperate trees. Temperate forests maintain a high species abundance, yet we do not fully understand how co-existing temperate tree species differentially respond to water stress. The iso/anisohydric spectrum provides a framework for contextualizing and comparing hydraulic behavior. Using this framework, we wanted to understand how hydraulic behavior differs between several mature canopy-dominant tree species in a temperate deciduous forest. We assessed multiple hydraulic parameters across the 2019 growing season in three diffuse-porous species (Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, and Platanus occidentalis) and three ring-porous species (Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, and Carya ovata). We measured sap flux and leaf water potential, along with soil moisture and vapor pressure deficit over the growing season. We also collected pre-dawn leaf water potential measurements in July in addition to the mid-day measurements. Our data reveal a range of hydraulic behaviors from isohydric Acer saccharum at one end of the continuum, to anisohydric Carya ovata at the other end, with the other four species exhibiting intermediate hydraulic behaviors between these two “extremes”. The range of hydraulic behaviors exhibited among co-existing temperate tree species suggests multiple strategies for coping with water stress within a single forest. Defining species-specific strategies will be important for predicting how the structure and composition of temperate forests may respond to changes in climate, particularly water availability.
Mineral binding capacity of dephytinized insoluble fiber from extruded wheat, oat and rice brans

Insoluble fiber fractions from raw and extruded oat, rice and wheat brans were isolated and phytate removed. In vitro mineral binding studies were performed utilizing copper (Cu2+), calcium (Ca2+) and zinc (Zn2+) ions, which were added individually to enzymatically treated (Prosky et al., 1985), acid washed insoluble fiber residues from oat, rice and wheat brans. The enzymatic digestion step with alpha-amylase, protease and amyloglucosidase served to remove protein and starch from the samples. Mineral binding studies were performed on the insoluble fiber residue. Mineral content was determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. Raw brans served as controls. A twin-screw extruder Model DNDG-62/20D, manufactured by Buhlerag (CH-9240, Uzwil, Switzerland) was utilized. The objectives of the study were to determine the total Cu2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+binding capacity of the dephytinized insoluble fiber from each bran; and to determine if extrusion screw speed affected the brans' insoluble fiber mineral binding capacity. Although dephytinized, the brans' insoluble fiber fraction bound Cu2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+ions. Oat bran bound more Cu2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+ than wheat bran, which bound more than rice bran. Extrusion processing did not affect the brans' insoluble fiber binding capacity to bind Cu2+. However, it increased the binding capacity of Ca2+ and Zn2+ of the insoluble fiber fraction from rice and oat brans.
Finasteride Decreases the Risk of Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Purpose: High grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia is likely a premalignant lesion of the prostate. Decreasing the frequency of high grade PIN may decrease the risk of prostate cancer. In the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial we evaluated the impact of finasteride on the risk of a needle biopsy diagnosis of high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.Materials and Methods: The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial was a randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial that enrolled 18,882 men without evidence of prostate cancer, prostate specific antigen less than 3.0 ng/ml and normal digital rectal examination, and randomized them to 5 mg finasteride daily or placebo. Subjects were followed for 7 years with biopsy recommended for prostate specific antigen greater than 4.0 ng/ml, adjusted in the finasteride group to achieve an equal number of biopsy recommendations or for abnormal digital rectal examination. All cancer-free subjects were recommended to undergo biopsy after 7 years on study. We evaluated th...
Hyaluronan Oligosaccharides Induce Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 via Transcriptional Activation of NFκB and p38 MAP Kinase in Articular Chondrocytes

Hyaluronan exerts a variety of biological effects on cells including changes in cell migration, proliferation, and matrix metabolism. However, the signaling pathways associated with the action of hyaluronan on cells have not been clearly defined. In some cells, signaling is induced by the loss of cell-hyaluronan interactions. The goal of this study was to use hyaluronan oligosaccharides as a molecular tool to explore the effects of changes in cell-hyaluronan interactions and determine the underlying molecular events that become activated. In this study, hyaluronan oligosaccharides induced the loss of extracellular matrix proteoglycan and collagen from cultured slices of normal adult human articular cartilage. This loss was coincident with an increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13. MMP-13 expression was also induced in articular chondrocytes by hyaluronan (HA) hexasaccharides but not by HA tetrasaccharides nor high molecular weight hyaluronan. MMP-13 promoter-reporter constructs in CD44-null COS-7 cells revealed that both CD44-dependent and CD44-independent events mediate the induction of MMP-13 by hyaluronan oligosaccharides. Electromobility gel shift assays demonstrated the activation of chondrocyte NFκB by hyaluronan oligosaccharides. NFκB activation was also documented in C-28/I2 immortalized human chondrocytes by luciferase promoter assays and phosphorylation of IKK-α/β. The link between activation of NFκB and MMP-13 induction by HA oligosaccharides was further confirmed through the use of the NFκB inhibitor helenalin. Inhibition of MAP kinases also demonstrated the involvement of p38 MAP kinase in the hyaluronan oligosaccharide induction of MMP-13. Our findings suggest that hyaluronan-CD44 interactions affect matrix metabolism via activation of NFκB and p38 MAP kinase.
Surgical strategies for synchronous colorectal liver metastases in 156 consecutive patients: classic, combined or reverse strategy?

Background An increasing number of patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases (CLM) are candidates for resection. The optimal treatment sequence in these patients has not been defined. Study Design Data on 156 consecutive patients with synchronous resectable CLM and intact primary were reviewed. Surgical strategies were defined as combined (combined resection of primary and liver), classic (primary before liver), and reverse (liver before primary) after preoperative chemotherapy. Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates and overall survival were analyzed. Results One hundred forty-two patients (83%) had resection of all disease. Seventy-two patients underwent classic, 43 combined, and 27 reverse strategies. Median numbers of CLMs per patient were 1 in the combined, 3 in the classic, and 4 in the reverse strategy group (p = 0.01 classic vs reverse; p 3 cm (hazard ratio [HR] 2.72, 95% CI 1.52 to 4.88) and cumulative postoperative morbidity (HR 1.8, 95% CI 1.03 to 3.19) were independently associated with overall survival after surgery. Conclusions The classic, combined, or reverse surgical strategies in patients with synchronous presentation of CLM are associated with similar outcomes. The reverse strategy can be considered as an alternative option in patients with advanced CLM and an asymptomatic primary.
Nonlinear double-diffusive convection with local heat and solute sources

Abstract Effects of local heat and solute sources on nonlinear double diffusive convection has been investigated. These sources introduce three new parameters. Dependence of the horizontal cells' size, critical solute Rayleigh number, and heat and solute fluxes on these new parameters is determined. In particular, it is found that local sources can significantly reduce the horizontal cells' size. For the case where the strength of the local solute source is insignificant, the preferred horizontal flow cross-section pattern is found to be squares. On the other hand, if the strength of the local solute source is significant, then hexagons become the preferred pattern when flow amplitude ϵ exceeds a critical value. However, both squares and hexagons can be stable for an even higher value of ϵ. The convective motion is upward at the center of the hexagonal cells if a solute sink acts on the flow. When a solute source acts on the flow, downward motion at the cells' center will occur. Furthermore, the local solute source is also found to be able to provide finite amplitude instability.
Electromyographic feedback training and tension headache: preliminary observations.

Abstract Five female Ss diagnosed by neurologists as chronic headache cases and who had failed to respond to a variety of other treatment procedures (e.g., psychotherapy, medication, etc.) were trained to relax their frontalis area with EMG feedback. Ss receiving contingent EMG feedback reduced the frequency and intensity of headache activity but Ss who received non-contingent, but non-frustrative EMG feedback did not reduce headache activity.
Period doubling and the onset of turbulence: An analytic estimate of the Feigenbaum ratio

Abstract The dynamical behaviour of many first-order difference equations exhibits a sequence of bifurcations, giving rise to a cascade of stable cycles with periods 2n (n = 0, 1, 2, …). Feigenbaum has shown that, for such equations, the ratio between the ranges of parameter values in which successive cycles appear and then become unstable asymptotically approaches a universal value, δ; this period-doubling phenomenon may explain some features of the onset spectrum of turbulence. Here, we derive analytic approximation, δ ≈ 2(1 + 2 ) , which is within 3% of the exact value δ = 4.669… determined numerically by Feigenbaum.
Somatostatin limits rise in glomerular filtration rate after a protein meal.

To evaluate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) response to a protein meal in patients with diabetes and to study the role of glucagon and growth hormone, we studied inulin clearance for three 30-minute periods before and 3 hours after an 80 g protein meal in seven healthy volunteers and 10 patients with diabetes. Patients with diabetes were chosen because their renal response to such a meal has been reported to be abnormal. All had an increase in GFR and plasma glucagon levels after the protein meal. The peak rise in GFR occurred from 1 to 2½ hours after the meal (mean±SEM, Δ 26±5 mL/min/m 2 , controls; Δ22±7 mL/min/m 2 , patients with diabetes), with the mean time to normal rise in GFR occurring at 2 hours after the meal. Similarly, plasma glucagon values peaked at different times in individual patients (Δ769±532 pg/mL, controls; Δ267±69 pg/mL, patients with diabetes), with the mean plasma glucagon rise occurring 1 hours after the meal. Premeal growth hormone levels tended to be higher in the patients with diabetes (7.6±1.4 vs 2.1±0.4 ng/mL), and did not change after the meal. To allow study of the contribution of the increased plasma glucagon to the rise in GFR, eight of these patients (five with diabetes) volunteered to undergo a second GFR response test with a simultaneous infusion of somatostatin. The glucagon response was significantly lowered at all time periods during the infusion (P 2 ; with the somatostatin, peak increase in GFR was 6.0±1.8 mL/min/m 2 (P
Training in Internal Medicine: Time to Retool the Factory?

Excerpt Elsewhere in this issue, Schroeder and colleagues (1) suggest certain alterations may be needed in the content of graduate education for internists. Others have already recommended or predi...
Conductivity as a Tool for Evaluating the Homogeneity of Sintered Discs of Transition Metal Oxides.

Abstract Sintered discs can be prepared and made conducting for a number of transition metal oxides. It can be shown that room temperature resistivity measurements are an important tool in determining reproducibility for such materials. Several transition metal oxide systems have been chosen to illustrate the importance of these measurements.
High-Resolution, High-Throughput, Positive-Tone Patterning of Poly(ethylene glycol) by Helium Beam Exposure through Stencil Masks

In this work, a collimated helium beam was used to activate a thiol-poly(ethylene glycol) (SH-PEG) monolayer on gold to selectively capture proteins in the exposed regions. Protein patterns were formed at high throughput by exposing a stencil mask placed in proximity to the PEG-coated surface to a broad beam of helium particles, followed by incubation in a protein solution. Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR) spectra showed that SH-PEG molecules remain attached to gold after exposure to beam doses of 1.5–60 µC/cm2 and incubation in PBS buffer for one hour, as evidenced by the presence of characteristic ether and methoxy peaks at 1120 cm−1 and 2870 cm−1, respectively. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) spectra showed that increasing beam doses destroy ether (C–O) bonds in PEG molecules as evidenced by the decrease in carbon C1s peak at 286.6 eV and increased alkyl (C–C) signal at 284.6 eV. XPS spectra also demonstrated protein capture on beam-exposed PEG regions through the appearance of a nitrogen N1s peak at 400 eV and carbon C1s peak at 288 eV binding energies, while the unexposed PEG areas remained protein-free. The characteristic activities of avidin and horseradish peroxidase were preserved after attachment on beam-exposed regions. Protein patterns created using a 35 µm mesh mask were visualized by localized formation of insoluble diformazan precipitates by alkaline phosphatase conversion of its substrate bromochloroindoyl phosphate-nitroblue tetrazolium (BCIP-NBT) and by avidin binding of biotinylated antibodies conjugated on 100 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNP). Patterns created using a mask with smaller 300 nm openings were detected by specific binding of 40 nm AuNP probes and by localized HRP-mediated deposition of silver nanoparticles. Corresponding BSA-passivated negative controls showed very few bound AuNP probes and little to no enzymatic formation of diformazan precipitates or silver nanoparticles.
Schistosoma japonicum soluble egg antigens: Separation by con a chromatography and immunoaffinity purification

Abstract A crude soluble egg antigen (SEA) preparation from Schistosoma japonicum eggs was used for immunoabsorbent fractionation of anti-SEA antibody. Anti-SEA antibodies were isolated from serum pooled from mice infected with S. japonicum for 7 weeks and from mice infected for 12 weeks. These anti-SEA immunoglobulins were then used for immunoabsorbent fractionation of specific SEA antigens. Crude SEA was also partially purified by Con A chromatography. Crude SEA, the Con A fraction, an antigen isolated with 7 week infection serum, and antigens isolated with 12 week infection serum were analysed by immunoprecipitation and SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Hypothalamic knife-cut hyperphagia and obesity in weanling rats.

Abstract In previous reports weanling female rats fed a high-fat diet had a delayed response to hypothalamic knife cuts. In the present report similar cuts in similar rats fed a standard low fat diet became overweight without delay, suggesting that dietary fat is a critical variable in juvenile onset obesity. Adult rats given knife-cuts comparable to those in the weanlings gained weight far more rapidly and achieved higher weights than did those cut as weanlings, suggesting that appetite modulating axons can develop after weaning. Finally, group vs single housing did not influence the age of onset or the magnitude of knife-cut obesity.
Implicit Shock-Fitting Scheme for Unsteady Transonic Flow Computations

The alternating-direction implicit scheme developed by NASA Ames for unsteady transonic flows has been modified to include a shock-fitting algorithm as well as an analytically stretched coordinate system. The shock-fitting procedure treats shock waves as discontinuities normal to the free stream. Improvements in shock position and the unsteady pressure distributions are obtained by this modification. The various types of shock motion observed experimentally by Tijdeman are well simulated in calculations using the modified computational scheme. The method of detecting shock wave formation and the procedure for fitting a moving shock wave are illustrated. Results for a pulsating parabolic arc airfoil and for an NACA 64A006 airfoil with oscillating quarter-chord flap are presented and discussed.
A framework for the analysis of error in global illumination algorithms

In this paper we identify sources of error in global illumination algorithms and derive bounds for each distinct category. Errors arise from three sources: inaccuracies in the boundary data, discretization, and computation. Boundary data consists of surface geometry, reflectance functions, and emission functions, all of which may be perturbed by errors in measurement or simulation, or by simplifications made for computational efficiency. Discretization error is introduced by replacing the continuous radiative transfer equation with a finite-dimensional linear system, usually by means of boundary elements and a corresponding projection method. Finally, computational errors perturb the finite-dimensional linear system through imprecise form factors, inner products, visibility, etc., as well as by halting iterative solvers after a finite number of steps. Using the error taxonomy introduced in the paper we examine existing global illumination algorithms and suggest new avenues of research.
Communication comforting strategies and social bereavement: Verbal and nonverbal planning and appropriateness

Abstract Based on Applegate's (1980) hierarchy of comforting strategies, this study assessed the effects of verbal planning (e.g., Berger & Bell, 1988; Infante, 1980) and nonverbal planning on the perceived appropriateness of comforting communication. Participants indicated their verbal and nonverbal communication strategies in response to a hypothetical bereavement scenario, and these strategies were coded into Apple-gate's (1980) hierarchy. Bereavement counselors also rated the appropriateness of each respondent's comforting message strategies. Results are discussed in terms of reflection-enhancing relational strategies and the bereavement counselors' perspectives of the effects on surviving family members.
DIFFERENTIAL QUADRATURE AND RAYLEIGH–RITZ METHODS TO DETERMINE THE FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCIES OF SIMPLY SUPPORTED RECTANGULAR PLATES WITH LINEARLY VARYING THICKNESS

Abstract In this paper, differential quadrature and Rayleigh–Ritz methods are presented for computation of the fundamental frequency of simply supported, homogeneous, isotropic, thin rectangular plates with the thickness tapering linearly in one direction. The complete analytical formulation and solution procedure is presented for both methods. Results obtained by these two methods are compared with available results in the literature and by the finite element method. Effects of the level of discretization, aspect and taper ratios are also presented.