cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of axilla in breast cancer – The saga continues

Prospective trials investigating the accuracy of SLNB for cN0 (primary surgical therapy) and cN1 patients (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) have not utilized likelihood ratios (LR) to assess the impact of false negative SLNB. This review evaluates the evidence on accuracy of SLNB using STARD and QUADAS-2 (revised) criteria for patients undergoing primary surgical therapy and primary chemotherapy. It utilizes the: (i) Reported rates for pre-test probabilities of node positive disease from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for the cN0 patients (primary surgical therapy) for each T stage; calculates the negative LR from cumulative evidence; and uses the Bayesian nomogram to compute the post-test probability of missing the metastatic axillary node based on negative SLNB. (ii) Reported rates of complete axillary response in ACOSOG-Z1071 trial for cN1 patients to calculate the pre-test probabilities of residual nodal disease for each biological tumor sub-type; calculates the negative LR from ACOSOG-Z1071, and SENTINA trial data; and uses the Bayesian nomogram to compute the post-test probability of missing the residual metastatic axillary node based on negative SLNB. For cN0 disease, the odds of missing axillary disease based on negative SLNB for each T stage are: T1a = 0.7%; T1b = 1.5%; T1c = 3%; T2 = 7%; T3 = 18%. For cN1 disease, the odds of missing residual axillary disease based on negative SLNB for each biological subtype are: HER2neu+ = 8%; Triple negative = 15%; ER+/PR+/HER2neu- = 45%. Negative LR is more accurate and superior to false negative rate for determining the clinical utility of SLNB by taking into account the changing pre-test probability of disease.
Two medical literatures that are logically but not bibliographically connected

This study demonstrates that certain unintended logical connections within the scientific literature, connections potentially revealing of new knowledge, are unmarked by reference citations or other bibliographic clues. Specifically, 25 biomedical articles central to the argument that dietary fish oil causes certain blood changes are compared with 34 articles on how similar blood changes might ameliorate Raynaud's disease. The two groups of articles are thus connected by a chain of reasoning implicitly suggesting that dietary fish oil might benefit Raynaud patients, an hypothesis not heretofore published explicitly. By retrieving and bringing together these two literatures, that implicit, unstated, and perhaps unnoticed hypothesis becomes apparent. The more general problem is posed of whether systematic search techniques for bringing together logically connected literatures can be developed and described, in the hope of discovering other implicit, unstated hypotheses. The example analyzed shows that the problem, while solved in this case by trial-and-error search methods, may be inherently and peculiarly difficult because there are virtually no references in either literature to the other, nor are there any clues from cocitation, bibliographic coupling, or statistical association of descriptors that the two literatures are logically related. © 1987 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
MORPHOLOGY OF HUMULUS LUPULUS. I. DEVELOPMENTAL ANATOMY OF THE PRIMARY ROOT

WHILE HOPS have been cultivated for hundreds of years, the anatomy of the hop plant has never been thoroughly investigated. There have been only relatively few studies made on its structural development under field conditions. The morphology of the perennial portions of the plant is only partially understood and the information that is available has been accumulated largely through agronomic practices. Progressive research on the culture of hops demands that the anatomy and morphology of the plant be more adequately understood. Some studies on the structure of this plant have been made from time to time in the past but primarily on its gross morphology. The existent literature concerning the vegetative parts of the plant is limited as well as widely scattered. The larger part of the literature is concerned primarily with floral morphology and cytogenetics.
Attempts to Stop or Reduce Marijuana Use in Non-Treatment Seekers

Abstract Daily marijuana smokers ( n = 19) who intended to quit or reduce in the next month on their own called a phone each night for 28 nights to report marijuana use and reported intentions to change at the end of each week. Outcomes did not differ between those who initially planned to reduce vs. quit in the next month. Participants averaged three attempts to reduce and one attempt to quit during the 28 days. Participants reduced on 11% and abstained on 14% of days. Most participants were successful in reducing or abstaining on half or more of the days they attempted; however, only four participants (21%) reduced ≥50% for ≥7 consecutive days and only two (10%) abstained for that long. Abstinence or reduction did not appear to change alcohol or caffeine use. We conclude: (a) initial intentions are poor predictors of outcomes, (b) most users make multiple, short-lived attempts to change, (c) reduction was as common as abstinence, (d) many attempts to change are initially successful but few persist, and (e) other drug use does not appear to worsen with marijuana reduction or abstinence.
Effects of annealing and impurities on tensile properties of electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni

Abstract The strength of electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni increased rather than decreased after annealing for 1 h at temperatures below 150 °C, with little change in the grain sizes or detectable impurity segregation. Annealing at 200 °C can be utilized to tailor the grain size distribution for improved ductility in combination with good strength. Further annealing at above 250 °C, however, induced a transition to brittle behavior due to impurity segregation to grain boundaries concurrent with grain growth.
Development and validation of a pressure-type automated quantitative sensory testing system for point-of-care pain assessment

Quantitative sensory testing (QST) can provide useful information about the underlying mechanisms involved in chronic pain. However, currently available devices typically employed suffer from operator-dependent effects, or are too cumbersome for routine clinical care. This paper presents the design and initial validation of a novel automated pressure-pain type QST platform, termed the multi-modal automated sensory testing (MAST) system. The MAST configuration presented consists of wireless, hand-held thumbnail pressure stimulators (with circular 10 mm2 rubber tips) and graphical touch screen interface devices to manage the QST process and obtain patient feedback. Validation testing of the custom-designed force sensor showed a 1 % error for low forces increasing to 2 % error for larger loads up to 100 N (full-scale). Validation of the controller using three ramp rates (64, 248, and 496 kPa/s) and six pressures (32, 62, 124, 273, 620, and 1116 kPa) showed an overall mean error of 1.7 % for applied stimuli. Clinical evaluation revealed decreased pressure pain thresholds in chronic pain patients (98.07 ± SE 16.34 kPa) compared to pain free, healthy control subjects (259.88 ± SE 33.54 kPa, p = 0.001). The MAST system is portable and produces accurate, repeatable stimulation profiles indicating potential for point-of-care applications.
Lithium-7 NMR as a probe of monovalent cation sites at the active site of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from kidney.

Abstract Lithium-7 nuclear magnetic resonance studies are used to characterize the binding of monovalent cations and substrate analogs to the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. Li+ substitutes for K+ in the activation of the ATPase, while the longitudinal relaxation rate, 1 T 1 , of 7Li+ is increased upon binding of either Mn2+ or CrATP to the enzyme. The effects of Mn2+ are consistent with the existence of a Li+ binding site 7.2A from the single catalytically active Mn2+ site on the ATPase. Temperature effects on the observed relaxation rates indicate that exchange of Li+ at the observed site is rapid, while the effects of added Na+ and K+ suggest that the observed site is a K+-type site not previously observed by other methods. These experiments also demonstrate that Li+ should be superior to other nuclei as NMR probes of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.
The importance of sub-angstrom distances in mixed surfactant systems for technological processes

The spacing between atoms and molecules at interfaces and within materials is extremely important in determining the properties of such interfaces and materials. In surfactant monolayers at the air-water interface, it has been shown that small changes in molecular packing lead to large changes in the interfacial properties. Changes in intermolecular distance as small as 0.04 A have been attributed to the effect of mixing surfactants of different chain lengths. This paper discusses the effect of these sub-angstrom distance changes on foaming, micellar stability, melting points, bubble size, surface viscosity, lubrication, environmental remediation, enhanced oil recovery, and microemulsion stability that result from chain length compatibility.
Experimental Tests of Quasisymmetry in HSX

This paper discusses the results from experiments in HSX testing the properties of a quasisymmetric stellarator. HSX is a quasihelical stellarator with minimal toroidal curvature and a high effective transform. The high effective transform was verified from passing particle orbits as well as from the magnitude of the Pfirsch-Schluter and bootstrap currents. The passing particle orbit shift, the helical structure of the Pfirsch-Schluter current and the direction of the bootstrap current were all consistent with the lack of toroidal curvature. Good agreement was observed between data from plasma currents obtained by a set of magnetic pick-up coils and the results of the V3FIT code. Good confinement of trapped particles was observed with quasisymmetry. These particles may be responsible for a coherent global MHD mode that was detected during ECH at B = 0.5 T. It was found that the breaking of quasisymmetry increased the hollowness of the density profile and the damping of plasma flow while decreasing the core electron temperature, in good agreement with neoclassical models. At 0.5 T, anomalous transport appeared unaffected by the degree of quasisymmetry; more work is need to understand if this still holds at 1.0 T. The experimental energy confinement time and electron temperature profile could be reproduced reasonably well with a combination of neoclassical transport and a modified Weiland model for ITG/TEM turbulence.
Operational Characteristics of the NRL Gyroklystron Amplifier

The high-energy physics community is considering the development of 1 TeV accelerators. Size and cost of such devices can be greatly reduced by operating at 10 GHz. Present tube technology seems incapable of meeting the power requirements at this frequency. A strong candidate for a drive tube to meet these requirements is a gyroklystron amplifier (GKA) due to its high gain, efficiency and power capabilities. The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is presently conducting GKA research to evaluate their performance characteristics. Operation of a 54 kW, 30% efficient, 4.5 GHz 3-cavity GKA is described. Experiments to evaluate the effects on the output phase of varying drive voltage, beam current, magnetic field and drive power and to examine phase-locked oscillator performance are discussed. The results of present GKA experiments serve to emphasize the applicability of the GKA to the next generation of linear accelerators.
Symmetry And Periodicity For Millimeter Wave Devices

Symmetry and periodicity is discussed as it pertains to wave propagation, with particular emphasis on Floquet's theorem and Bloch's theorem. Floquet's theorem in three dimensions is applied to a circular waveguide with screw periodicity. The resulting dispersion characteristics of the uncoupled modes are compared to those of a normal circular waveguide.
A review of the pharmacology and pharmacotherapy of colony-stimulating factors.

Abstract Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) have an established role in oncology. This article reviews the advances in the pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, and expanded indications of CSFs outside oncology and the role of the infusion nurse. New pharmacologic formulations of CSFs allow for less frequent dosing, less nursing administration time, and increased adherence. Expanded uses in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, Crohn's disease, mucositis, wound healing, chronic kidney disease, Jehovah's Witnesses, illegal use in sports, and non–drug-induced thrombocytopenia are reviewed. The role of the infusion nurse in the minimization of CSF prescribing errors, administration, monitoring, and patient education are summarized.
The experience and consequences of perceived racial discrimination: A study of African Americans.

This exploratory study investigates the link between the experience of racial discrimination and personal outcomes in a sample of African Americans. Most research on discrimination and its consequences has focused on institutional discrimination. Little attention has been given to “isolate discrimination,” an individual act of discriminatory behavior by one dominant group person directed at a member of a subordinate group. In this exploratory study, with a sample of 312 Blacks, the authors examine the experience and consequences of discrimination among African Americans from Detroit, Michigan. Consistent with prior literature, the authors hypothesize that discrimination affects the sense of mastery and creates psychological distress. The authors find that experiencing discrimination leads to lower levels of mastery and higher levels of psychological distress. These results support the authors’hypotheses. The authors discuss several implications of these results.
Altering Politics, Contesting Gender

identities, social relations and public practices. The issue thus highlights women's victories as well as persistent problems, and suggests strategies for future advances. Political transformation in southern Africa during the 1990s provided opportunities for greater autonomy in civil society, public communication and elected representation. Throughout the region, a broad range of women - urban and rural, elite and working class, and from across racial and ethnic boundaries - seized upon these opportunities to influence state policy-making, shape public opinion and renew civil society. Long engaged in neighbourhood organising, community organisations and political protest, women are also leading social movements and building coalitions. Moreover, binding, collective decision making is no longer defined by women's absence: in unprecedented numbers women are running for political office, altering institutional practices, writing legislation and constitutional law and judging their applicability.1 Women's greater presence in both informal and formal politics has created the potential to build linkages between state and civil society and end their practical exclusion from mainstream politics. One result of southern African women's greater political engagement has been to intensify the pressure on traditional gender roles in both the public and private spheres. The naturalisation of 'maleness' and 'femaleness' that continues to justify men's domination and women's subordination is being challenged, not only by women's heightened visibility and activism in public life, but also by a wide range of issues, including the onslaught of HIV/AIDS and international and regional concerns with women's rights. Throughout southern Africa, the complex processes among individual women and men, institutions, structures and cultural norms that create and reproduce gender are in crisis, and are producing dramatic innovations, controversy, violence and resistance.2 This crisis is one of the defining characteristics of transformation in the region. While we believe that an analysis of women's experiences and the workings of gender have always been critical for understanding the history and politics of southern Africa, women's energetic engagement in a wide range of political
Impact of adenotonsillectomy on behavior in children with sleep-disordered breathing.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Children with sleep-disordered breathing may experience behavioral and learning problems such as inattentiveness and hyperactivity. The aim of this study was to measure the impact of adenotonsillectomy on sleep-related adverse events and behavioral problems in children with sleep-disordered breathing. Method: This prospective and interventional study enrolled 40 sleep-disordered breathing children (mean age, 8.4 ± 1.6 years) with hypertrophic tonsils and adenoids. All patients completed two polysomnographies, tests of variables of attention (TOVAs), and Child Behavior Checklists, one at baseline and the other 6 months after adenotonsillectomy. Results: The apnea–hypopnea index (P < .001), TOVA scores (P < .001), and 8 of 9 individual domains of the Child Behavior Checklist scores (P < .05) significantly improved after surgery. However, the change in the apnea–hypopnea index was not negatively correlated with TOVA score (r = −0.17, P = .38). Conclusion: Adenotonsillectomy could significantly improve behavior (TOVA) scores, but the improvement may not simply be attributable to changes in sleep apnea events.
Analysis of Substrate Access to Active Sites in Bacterial Multicomponent Monooxygenase Hydroxylases: X-Ray Crystal Structure of Xenon-Pressurized Phenol Hydroxylase from Pseudomonas Sp Ox1

In all structurally characterized bacterial multicomponent monooxygenase (BMM) hydroxylase proteins, a series of hydrophobic cavities in the α-subunit trace a conserved path from the protein exterior to the carboxylate-bridged diiron active site. This study examines these cavities as a potential route for transport of dioxygen to the active site by crystallographic characterization of a xenon-pressurized sample of the hydroxylase component of phenol hydroxylase from Pseudomonas sp. OX1. Computational analyses of the hydrophobic cavities in the hydroxylase α-subunits of phenol hydroxylase (PHH), soluble methane monooxygenase (MMOH), and toluene/o-xylene monooxygenase (ToMOH) are also presented. The results, together with previous findings from crystallographic studies of xenon-pressurized sMMO hydroxylase, clearly identify the propensity for these cavities to bind hydrophobic gas molecules in the protein interior. This proposed functional role is supported by recent stopped flow kinetic studies of ToMOH va...
Partially Coherent Deconvolution Tomography for Reconstructing Weakly Scattering Objects

A novel algorithm is presented for reconstructing weakly scattering objects using partially coherent illumination. The method is validated using a photonic crystal fiber as a test object and will be useful for applications in biology.
An application of Bradford’s law: identification of the core journals of pediatric neurosurgery and a regional comparison of citation density

Bradford’s law describes the number of core journals in a given field or subject and has recently been applied to neurosurgery. The objective of this study was to use currently accepted formulations of Bradford’s law to identify core journals of pediatric neurosurgery. An additional analysis was completed to compare regional dependence on citation density among North American and European neurosurgeons. All original research publications from 2009 to 2013 were analyzed for the 25 top publishing pediatric neurosurgeons in North America and Europe, which were sampled to construct regional citation databases of all journal references. Regional differences were compared with each database. Egghe’s formulation and the verbal formulation of Bradford’s law were applied to create specific citation density zones and identify the core journals. Regional comparison demonstrated a preference for the Journal of Neurosurgery and Child’s Nervous System, respectively, but four of the top five journals were common to both groups. Applying the verbal formulation of Bradford’s law to the North American citation database, a pattern of citation density was identified across the first three zones. Journals residing in the most highly cited first zone are presented as the core journals. Bradford’s law can be applied to identify the core journals of neurosurgical subspecialties. While regional differences exist between the most highly cited and most frequently published in journals among North American and European pediatric neurosurgeons, there is commonality between the top five core journals in both groups.
Optimal Charging Strategy for EV Charging Stations by Two-Stage Approximate Dynamic Programming

Abstract This study targets the charging scenario for multiple chargeable vehicles at parking lots or charging stations where most vehicles have extended parking time, e.g. at the commercial buildings. All the vehicles are desired to be charged to full prior to the departure time specified, under constrained total charging capacity. A two-stage approximate dynamic programming (TSADP) framework is proposed to determine the optimal charging strategy, utilizing the predicted short-term future information and long-term estimation from historical data. The algorithm is separated into two stages, the optimization stage and approximation stage. The optimization stage is to find the optimal charging strategy for the short-term ahead time horizon. The approximation stage is to approximate the long-term time horizon charging cost, by the way of approximate dynamic programming (ADP). The whole algorithm works as a partial rollout algorithm and partial approximate dynamic programming. The TSADP framework can be integrated into stochastic programming framework, when the short-term information is uncertain with probabilities. The simulation results show that the proposed method can significantly decrease the energy cost.
Nucleation in Organic Thin Film Growth: Perylene on Al2O3/Ni3Al(111)

The molecular orientation of perylene thin films has been investigated using near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. The presence of different molecular orientations in the monolayer, ranging from flat-lying to more upright-standing molecules, has been found and related with the different sets of growth parameters used for each sample preparation. The same molecular tuning has been observed in the multilayer regime. It is shown that it is possible to explain these results by using concepts of the atomistic theory of nucleation. Regarding perylene on Al2O3/Ni3Al(111) as a model system for organic layers in, for example, organic field effect transistors, our findings raise some questions about the suitability of perylene as an active layer in a real device.
Microwave spectrum, dipole moment, structure, and internal rotation of dimethyl selenide

Abstract The microwave spectra of five isotopic species of dimethyl selenide are reported. Changes in rotational constants with isotopic substitution yield the following structural parameters: CSe 1.943 A CH 1.093 A 2θ 100°7′ where 2 θ is the angle between the symmetry axes of the methyl groups. From Stark effect measurements the dipole moment of dimethyl selenide is found to be 1.41 ± 0.02 debye. The fine structure in the ground-state rotational spectrum of all five isotopic species has been resolved and analyzed. This fine structure results from coupling of internal and overall rotation. The height of the potential barrier hindering internal rotation has been determined as 1500 ± 20 cal/mole.
Abstract C30: Four dimensional molecular analysis of pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma

Introduction: Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is a highly morbid form of pediatric brainstem glioma. Molecular characterization is limited due to lack of tissue. Recent investigations suggest possible molecular subtypes may account for the historical poor response to therapy. We previously generated protein profiles of CSF and formalin fixed DIPG tumor specimens to characterize patterns of protein expression. Here, we present the first comprehensive tissue proteome of fresh frozen DIPG tumor specimens (n=16) and normal brain tissue (n=10). We characterize differential protein expression in DIPG tumor specimens, and compare these to gene expression and DNA methylation profiles of the same tissue. Methods: Normal brain and tumor tissue was collected intraoperatively or post-mortem. Extracted total tissue protein was quantified by mass spectrometry (MS/MS) via LTQ-Orbitrap-XL and database search using the Sequest algorithm. Gene expression profiles were detected using whole-genome Human HT-4 v12 Gene Expression Bead Chips. DNA methylation profiles were characterized after bisulphite conversion using Infinium HumanMethylation 450K BeadChip arrays. Quantitative and statistical analysis was performed with Genome Studio, ProteoIQ, and Partek Genomics Suite. Functional analysis was performed using Ingenuity Pathways Analysis. Gene and protein expression was validated via western blot and immunohistochemical staining of tumor and normal brain tissue. Results: 1,918 differentially expressed genes were detected in DIPG tumor tissue (ANOVA, p 2 or 2), with differential ShH pathway (GLI1 z-score -0.626 vs. 2.254) and protein expression COL1A2, LMNA, MAP4, NES, NRCAM, STMN1, and TNC between subgroups (ANOVA, p 2 or 2). Conclusions: We present the first comprehensive protein profile of DIPG fresh frozen tumor tissue and correlate to tissue gene expression profiles, which suggest differential activity of SHh pathway. This may in part be explained by differential methylation patterns of key genes. Proteomic analysis of DIPG tumor tissue reveals protein expression profiles reflective of this differential pathway activation, and hence may be useful tool for elucidating mechanisms of brainstem gliomagenesis in what likely is a heterogeneous tumor population. Biomarkers identified through proteomic analysis may in turn serve to more accurately diagnose patients with DIPG and measure response to therapy. Citation Format: Amanda Saratsis, Sridevi Yadavilli, Madhuri Kambhampati, Eric Raabe, Suresh Magge, Javad Nazarian. Four dimensional molecular analysis of pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Third AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; Sep 18-22, 2013; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(19 Suppl):Abstract nr C30.
The Problem with Work: Feminism, Marxism, Antiwork Politics, and Postwork Imaginaries

Kathi Weeks Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2011, 287 pp In The Problem with Work: Feminism, Marxism, Antiwork Politics, and Postwork Imaginaries, Kathi Weeks convincingly argues that political ...
Atomistic mechanisms of adhesion and compression of diamond surfaces

Abstract The interactions which occur when two diamond {111} surfaces come into contact for short times have been examined via molecular dynamics. When both surfaces are hydrogen terminated these surfaces can be brought into contact, compressed, and separated with no damage to either surface. After compression and subsequent separation the surfaces and the bulk lattice regain their original geometry. The same is true if the hydrogen surface layer is totally removed from one of the lattices. In contrast, when both surfaces are partially hydrogen terminated, contact followed by compression and retraction results in the transfer of hydrogen atoms and the formation of a connective link of carbon atoms between surfaces. The formation of this connective neck of atoms and its subsequent fracture lead to significant damage to the surface and subsurface layers of the lattices.
STRAIGHT ENDS FOR SUPERCONDUCTING DIPOLE MAGNET USING "CONSTANT PERIMETER" GEOMETRY

The ends of the SSC Dipole magnets are a very critical aspect of the superconducting cable windings needed for this large project. The internal coils, where the radius at the pole is as small as 3/10 of an inch for the first turn, are difficult to form with the very stiff cable, and a high tension is needed.
Increasing Diversity in Cognitive Developmental Research: Issues and Solutions

The current article discusses the importance of increasing racial-ethnic and socioeconomic diversity in cognitive developmental research. It begins with discussion of the implications of the underrepresentation of ethnic minority children in cognitive developmental research. It goes on to suggest reasons underlying these omissions, such as the cost of effective recruitment methods, fear of committing cultural faux pas, and lack of expertise interacting with such populations. Finally, recommendations for addressing such limitations are provided via examples of successful and innovative methodological techniques used in prior research with ethnic minority children.
On the treatment of heterogeneous interfaces in soil

[1] At the interface between two dissimilar soils there are typically discontinuities in the water-content and the gradients of both the flux and the soil matric potential (SMP). As the equation of motion for water depends on the gradient of flux, care must be taken to insure that the solution at such an interface obeys the relevant physical conditions. When a SMP-based nodal average scheme is applied to a heterogeneous interface, a fundamental assumption (smoothness in the SMP profile) is violated, which typically leads to poor water balance and/or slow convergence with respect to grid size. We solve the water-content based form of Richards' Equation using continuity in flux and soil matric potential as boundary conditions. Our scheme builds in excellent water balance and typically converges as fast as water-content based schemes for homogeneous soils. We show results for infiltration into a dry, stratified soil.
Polymorph patents; how strong they are really?

Pharmaceuticals can exist in various solid forms include ‘true polymorphs’, solvates, desolvates and amorphous solids. Screening of pharmaceuticals early on in drug discovery to find out all possible solid forms has significant connotations. Any inadvertent production of the ‘wrong’ polymorph at the crystallisation stage or any transformations of one form to another during dosage form processing, storage and scale-up can result in pharmaceutical dosage forms, which are either ineffective or toxic. The second-generation patent filed by pioneer companies generally claim newer crystal forms as an important aspect in maintaining favourable intellectual property position thereby delaying the generic entry. There are numerous instances where innovator companies have acquired patents on particular polymorphic form, which extend beyond the expiry of basic molecule’s patent. In such instances, allows filing of ANDA with paragraph IV certification, provided the solid form discovered by the generic manufacturer bypasses innovator’s patent. Successful paragraph IV filing provides exclusive marketing rights for 180 days to the generic manufacturer, and a healthy market share. This article provides in depth analysis of polymorph patents with case examples evaluating that whether these polymorphic patents are really important in qualitative terms or just a ploy to stifle the generic entry.
On importance of nose for face tracking

Human nose, while being in many cases the only facial feature clearly visible during the head motion, seems to be very undervalued in face tracking technology. This paper shows theoretically and by experiments conducted with ordinary USB cameras that, by properly defining nose as an extremum of the 3D curvature of the nose surface, nose becomes the most robust feature which can be seen for almost any position of the head and which can be tracked very precisely, even with low resolution cameras.
One hundred million years of competitive interactions between bryozoan clades: asymmetrical but not escalating

Abstract Direct evidence of competition is seldom available from the fossil record. Overgrowth relationships of encrusting marine organisms constitute an exception but have previously been reported in only temporally and geographically local occurrences. Results of overgrowths between members of two bryozoan clades, the Cyclostomata and the Cheilostomata, have been compiled for faunas distributed through the past 100 Myr. The cheilostomes have consistently out-competed the cyclostomes, with approximately 66% overgrowth success through the entire interval. This difference in success in direct interactions along with the Mid-Cretaceous rapid radiation of cheilostomes is interpreted as a factor in the Mid- to Late Cretaceous reversal from the previous diversification to stasis or gradual decline of cyclostome diversity.
Numerical stability of nonorthogonal FDTD methods

In this paper, a sufficient test for the numerical stability of generalized grid finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) schemes is presented. It is shown that the projection operators of such schemes must be symmetric positive definite. Without this property, such schemes can exhibit late-time instabilities. The origin and the characteristics of these late-time instabilities are also uncovered. Based on this study, nonorthogonal grid FDTD schemes (NFDTD) and the generalized Yee (GY) methods are proposed that are numerically stable in the late time for quadrilateral prism elements, allowing these methods to be extended to problems requiring very long-time simulations. The study of numerical stability that is presented is very general and can be applied to most solutions of Maxwell's equations based on explicit time-domain schemes.
Magnetic Resonance Neurography–Guided Nerve Blocks for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Magnetic resonance (MR) neurography - guided nerve blocks and injections describe a techniques for selective percutaneous drug delivery, in which limited MR neurography and interventional MR imaging are used jointly to map and target specific pelvic nerves or muscles, navigate needles to the target, visualize the injected drug and detect spread to confounding structures. The procedures described, specifically include nerve blocks of the obturator nerve, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, pudendal nerve, posterior femoral cutaneous nerve, sciatic nerve, ganglion impar, sacral spinal nerve, and injection into the piriformis muscle.
Current Status of Isolated Hepatic Perfusion With or Without Tumor Necrosis Factor for the Treatment of Unresectable Cancers Confined to Liver

Metastatic or primary unresectable cancers confined to the liver are the sole or life-limiting component of disease for many patients with colorectal cancer, ocular melanoma, neuroendocrine tumors or primary colangio- or hepatocellular carcinomas. A number of regional treatment strategies including infusional chemotherapy and local ablative therapy are under clinical development and attest to the difficulty in adequately treating this condition. Isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) was first clinically applied over 40 years ago, but because of its technical complexity, the attendant potential morbidity, and the lack of documented efficacy, it has not gained widespread application. In light of the remarkable antitumor activity with isolated limb perfusion with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and melphalan in patients with unresectable extremity sarcoma or in transit melanoma, this regimen has been administered via IHP at several centers worldwide for unresectable liver cancers. IHP with TNF and melphalan can result in significant regression of advanced refractory cancers confined to the liver and, with additional clinical development, will most likely be a more routinely considered option for patients with this condition. The Oncologist 2000;5:416-424
Diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in high-risk patients prior to hip fracture.

Purpose:Hip fractures in older adults are common and serious events. Patients who sustain fragility hip fractures are defined as having osteoporosis. Patients with dementia or a history of a prior ...
Tumor Necrosis Factor-Receptor–associated Factor-4 Is a Positive Regulator of Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling That Affects Neural Crest Formation

The transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, migration, and development. Canonical TGFbeta signals are transduced to the nucleus via Smads in both major signaling branches, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) or Activin/Nodal/TGFbeta. Smurf ubiquitin (Ub) ligases attenuate these pathways by targeting Smads and other signaling components for degradation by the 26S proteasome. Here, we identify tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-receptor-associated factor-4 (TRAF4) as a new target of Smurf1, which polyubiquitylates TRAF4 to trigger its proteasomal destruction. Unlike other TRAF family members, which mediate signal transduction by TNF, interleukin, or Toll-like receptors, we find that TRAF4 potentiates BMP and Nodal signaling. In the frog Xenopus laevis, TRAF4 mRNA is stored maternally in the egg animal pole, and in the embryo it is expressed in the gastrula marginal zone, neural plate, and cranial and trunk neural crest. Knockdown of embryonic TRAF4 impairs signaling, neural crest development and neural folding, whereas TRAF4 overexpression boosts signaling and expands the neural crest. In human embryonic kidney 293 cells, small interfering RNA knockdown of Smurf1 elevates TRAF4 levels, indicating endogenous regulation of TRAF4 by Smurf1. Our results uncover new functions for TRAF4 as a Smurf1-regulated mediator of BMP and Nodal signaling that are essential for neural crest development and neural plate morphogenesis.
Prediction of fully developed turbulent convection with minimal explicit empiricism

From a purely theoretical analogy between energy and momentum transfer in fully developed turbulent Convection, an expression without explicit empiricism, and which appears to be applicable for all channels, all modes of heating on the surface(s), all values of Re in the turbulent regime, and all moderate and large values of Pr, was deduced for Nu. An analogous complementaly expression for small values of Pr has the same generality, but incorporates one explicit empirical exponent. The numerical implementation of these two expressions for Nu for specific values of Re and Pr introduces some empiricism, but the resulting uncertainty in Nu, including that associated with the aforementioned exponent, is truly negligible. Because of their accuracy and generality, these two expressions, together with several supplementaly relationships, appear to be superior to all existing ones for design calculations. Because of their simple and fundamental structure, they appear to be equally superior for educational purposes.
Gravitational Lenses in Generalized Einstein-Aether theory: The Bullet Cluster

We study the lensing properties of an asymmetric mass distribution and vector field in generalized Einstein-aether (GEA) theory. As vector-field fluctuations are responsible in GEA for seeding baryonic structure formation, vector-field concentrations can exist independently of baryonic matter. Such concentrations would not be expected to be tied to baryonic matter except gravitationally, and so, like dark matter halos, would become separated from baryonic matter in interacting systems such as the bullet cluster. These vector-field concentrations cause metric deviations that affect weak lensing. Therefore, the distribution of weak lensing deviates from that which would be inferred from the luminous mass distribution, in a way that numerical calculations demonstrate can be consistent with observations. This suggests that MOND-inspired theories can reproduce weak lensing observations, but makes clear the price: the existence of a coherent large-scale fluctuation of a field(s) weakly tied to the baryonic matter, not completely dissimilar to a dark matter halo.
Interleukin-4 induces expression of the CD45RA antigen on human thymocyte subpopulations

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a multifunctional lymphokine which promotes the growth and/or maturation of multiple cell types. We have examined the ability of IL-4 to promote the phenotypic maturation of subsets of human thymocytes. When cultured in serum-free medium supplemented with recombinant IL-4, a subset of immature CD3-CD45RA- human thymocytes ceased to express the CD1 common thymocyte antigen and acquired phenotypic features characteristic of relatively mature thymocytes, such as high-density expression of the CD3 antigen and de novo expression of the CD45RA isoform of the common leukocyte antigen family. These changes, which were not seen in cells cultured in medium alone, occurred over an 8-9 day period and were accompanied by a significant increase in cell size. The CD45RA+ cells that derived from these immature CD3-CD45RA- precursors were mainly CD4-CD8- or CD8+ cells, and a significant proportion of these cells expressed the T cell receptor delta chain. IL-4 also increased expression of the CD45RA antigen on the more mature CD3+ thymocyte population. However, the CD45RA+ cells derived from IL-4 stimulated CD3+ thymocyte precursors expressed either the CD4 or the CD8 antigen, and virtually all expressed alpha/beta TCR chains. Studies of cell viability and cell growth indicated that these findings were due to direct changes in the phenotype of responsive cells rather than the growth or selective survival of a small number of mature thymocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Decentralized control design for sensitivity minimization and disturbance decoupling

We present an input-output point of view for the problem of sensitivity minimization of stable plants when a decentralized structure and a disturbance decoupling property are imposed on the controller. We show that this problem is convex and present approaches to its solution in the non-trivial case, that is when the block off-diagonal terms of the plant have more columns than rows.
Sonographic Evaluation of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is one of the most common abnormalities of mineral metabolism in patients with chronic kidney disease. This case study is a report of a patient referred for sonography based on computed tomography findings of multiple supraclavicular lymph nodes. Sonography was able to localize two enlarged parathyroid glands (adenomas) and to guide fine-needle aspiration for histopathologic tissue diagnosis in this patient with SHPT.
Corporate Governance In An Emerging Market: A Perspective On Pakistan

Corporate governance in Pakistan has significantly improved over the past few years although much remains to be done. In 2002, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan promulgated Pakistan's first Code of Corporate Governance. This Code, along with the Companies Ordinance of 1984, forms the legal basis for corporate governance in the country. The majority of corporations in Pakistan are family-controlled. Although there is a trend towards establishing good corporate governance, most of these corporations still prefer to retain their family structure that disfavors the minority investor. Moreover, the equity culture has been slow to develop, the market remains shallow and is skewed towards a few major companies. The Code is a "comply or explain" regime that applies only to listed companies. Listed companies are encouraged to have independent directors but are not required to do so. Many unlisted companies have voluntarily complied with the Code to become more successful. Some listed companies, however, have de-listed after the Code came into effect because they found the new requirements burdensome. State-owned enterprises do not comply with the Code. A corporate governance code targeted specifically towards these enterprises was scheduled to be released in Summer 2006. The government is aggressively privatizing state-owned enterprises, including some major companies such as Pakistan Telecommunications Ltd. that now has a major foreign shareholder. Unfortunately, obstacles to good corporate governance remain. Some of these include the lack of penal provisions in the Code, a passive financial press, the lack of active monitoring by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, an overburdened court system, inadequate remuneration of directors, and a fragmented corporate governance law. However, several factors demonstrate that corporate governance is taking hold in Pakistan - minority shareholders may exit at a favorable share price during a merger, education and training in corporate governance is improving, the government is supporting corporate governance initiatives and many companies are voluntarily complying with the Code. Furthermore, the New York Convention has been ratified and arbitration is increasingly used as a method of settling disputes. Proactive changes in the Code as demonstrated by an upcoming corporate governance code for state-owned enterprises and anti-corruption measures are also encouraging prospects for corporate governance.
Impact of CLSI Breakpoint Changes on Microbiology Laboratories and Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs

In 2010, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) lowered the MIC breakpoints for many beta-lactam antibiotics to enhance detection of known resistance amongEnterobacteriaceae The decision to implement these new breakpoints, including the changes announced in both 2010 and 2014, can have a significant impact on both microbiology laboratories and antimicrobial stewardship programs. In this commentary, we discuss the changes and how implementation of these updated CLSI breakpoints requires partnership between antimicrobial stewardship programs and the microbiology laboratory, including data on the impact that the changes had on antibiotic usage at our own institution.