cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dielectric spectroscopy and electro-rotation of biological cells

Abstract The unusual dielectric properties of biological cells are discussed. These properties are distinguished by two main features, very high dielectric constants in excess of one thousand observed at low frequencies and three distinct relaxation processes characterized by time constants ranging from picoto milli-seconds. The mechanism responsible for these relaxation processes are summarized. The traditional technique to determine the dielectric properties of cells are frequency domain spectroscopy and, more recently, time domain spectroscopy (TDS). During the past few years the frequency dependence of the torque which cells experience in an rotating electrical field has become an additional valuable technique to determine dielectric cell properties. The fundamentals of the electro-rotation technique are stated. The comparative advantages and disadvantages of dielectric spectroscopy and electro-rotation are discussed.
Two Properties, One Land: Law and Space in Nineteenth-Century New Zealand

If we use the word land to refer to the physical substance, and reserve the word property for the intellectual apparatus that organizes rights to use land, we can say that in colonial New Zealand, the British and the Maori overlaid two dissimilar systems of property on the same land. That difference in legal thought structured each side's perception of what the other was doing, in ways that illustrate unusually clearly the power of law to organize our aware’ ness of phenomena before they reach the level of consciousness. Over the course of the nineteenth century, as the balance of power gradually swung to the side of the British, they were largely able to impose their property system on the Maori. The centrality of property within the thought of both peoples, however, meant that the transformation of Maori into English property rights involved much more than land. Religious belief, engagement with the market economy, political organization–all were bound up in the systems by which both peoples organized property rights in land. To anglicize the Maori property system was to revolutionize Maori life.
Nischarin, a Novel Protein That Interacts with the Integrin α5 Subunit and Inhibits Cell Migration

Integrins have been implicated in key cellular functions, including cytoskeletal organization, motility, growth, survival, and control of gene expression. The plethora of integrin α and β subunits suggests that individual integrins have unique biological roles, implying specific molecular connections between integrins and intracellular signaling or regulatory pathways. Here, we have used a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify a novel protein, termed Nischarin, that binds preferentially to the cytoplasmic domain of the integrin α5 subunit, inhibits cell motility, and alters actin filament organization. Nischarin is primarily a cytosolic protein, but clearly associates with α5β1, as demonstrated by coimmunoprecipitation. Overexpression of Nischarin markedly reduces α5β1-dependent cell migration in several cell types. Rat embryo fibroblasts transfected with Nischarin constructs have “basket-like” networks of peripheral actin filaments, rather than typical stress fibers. These observations suggest that Nischarin might affect signaling to the cytoskeleton regulated by Rho-family GTPases. In support of this, Nischarin expression reverses the effect of Rac on lamellipodia formation and selectively inhibits Rac-mediated activation of the c-fos promoter. Thus, Nischarin may play a negative role in cell migration by antagonizing the actions of Rac on cytoskeletal organization and cell movement.
Radiative transfer in finite cylindrical media using transformed integral equations

Abstract A modified direct integration method is presented to solve three-dimensional radiative transfer in emitting, absorbing and linear-anisotropic scattering finite cylindrical media. This scheme effectively avoids an integral singularity in the coupled Fredholm type integral equations of radiative transfer. The scheme leads to faster and more accurate results, which are needed in combined mode and non-gray problems. The calculated incident radiation and heat fluxes agree well with published results by discrete ordinates method. Using the transformed integral equations, the effects of boundary emission and reflection can also be easily handled.
Inductive, scaffold-based, regenerative medicine approach to reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint disk.

Purpose A device composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) was investigated as an inductive template in vivo for reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disk after discectomy. Materials and Methods A scaffold material composed of porcine-derived ECM was configured to mimic the shape and size of the TMJ. This device was implanted in a canine model of bilateral TMJ discectomy. After discectomy, 1 side was repaired with an ECM scaffold material and the contralateral side was left empty as a control. At 6 months after implantation, the joint space was opened, the joints were evaluated for signs of gross pathologic degenerative changes, and newly formed tissue was excised for histologic, biochemical, and biomechanical analysis. Results The results showed that implantation of an initially acellular material supported the formation of site-appropriate, functional host tissue that resembled that of the native TMJ disk. Furthermore, this prevented gross degenerative changes in the temporal fossa and mandibular condyle. No tissue formation and mild to severe gross pathologic changes were observed in the contralateral controls. Conclusions These results suggest that an ECM-based bioscaffold could represent an off-the-shelf solution for TMJ disk replacement.
Dynamics of the TiO 2 (110) surface and step: Onset of defects in the ordered structure

Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out on planar and stepped ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}$ (110) surfaces. The simulations focus on the development of defects in the initially ordered structure as the temperature increases. For the planar surface, bridging oxygen atoms are found to leave their equilibrium positions and subsequently roam one-dimensional lanes formed by adjacent rows of other bridging oxygen atoms, until they become stuck on a previously fivefold-coordinated titanium atom. For the stepped surface, the first defects to occur correspond to titanium-oxygen bonds breaking near the step edge.
Metal-insulator-semiconductor and metal-insulator-metal devices derived from zirconium phosphonate thin films

Abstract Metal-insulator-semiconductor and metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structures were fabricated by layer-by-layer adsorption of zirconium alkanediylbiphosphonates, Zr(O 3 PC n H 2 n PO 3 ), n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, on silicon and gold surfaces. High frequency capacitance-voltage ( C-V ) measurements showed accumulation and depletion regions for 5–20 layer films grown on p-type silicon. Plots of layer capacitance vs . inverse thickness were linear and gave film dielectric constants of approximately 4.0. Films of thickness 25–30 nm grown on gold surfaces were also pinhole free, as evidenced by C-V and current-voltage measurements. Anomalously high values of e/e 0 for gold-metal phosphonate-gold MIM structures indicated that the evaporated gold top contact penetrated the insulating thin film to some extent.
A Classroom Investment Coordination Experiment

Abstract In this classroom experiment students represent firms that make investment decisions. They play a repeated game with each firm privately choosing its level of investment. Participating in the experiment helps students understand theories that posit coordination failure as the cause of economic fluctuations. Students see that when firms expect a recession, their resulting low levels of investment actually cause a recession. Likewise, when firms expect an expansion, their resulting high levels of investment cause an expansion. The experiment can be used in undergraduate principles or intermediate macroeconomics classes of 8–60 students. It does not require computers and takes approximately 50 minutes to run and discuss.
Can imaging technology advances drive lower inpatient stays and costs

t some point in time, most people—or their loved ones—will require diagnostic and/or therapeutic systems to assist in treatment for an illness or injury. And with the ever-increasing cost of healthcare and the pervasiveness of large capital purchases of the latest imaging technologies, there comes a point when management of any clinical or research institution asks, “Are we getting an acceptable return on investment (ROI)?” Not only does technology permeate most hospital organizations, but it has significantly increased the educational need for specialty-trained biomedical equipment technicians (BMETs) in imaging. Such training typically is done through vendors, but it also has been incorporated into a number of BMET bachelors’ programs. Thus, the cost of maintenance of these specialty machines is more expensive than most in-house equipment. What barometer, then, can be used to measure cost savings relative to the increased expense, and do the benefits outweigh the costs? The answer resides in the patient-centric cost/ benefit analysis, which not only affects the institutions that invest in these technologies, but all imaging users.
Coupling of finite element and boundary integral methods for electromagnetic scattering in a two-layered medium

Consider a time-harmonic electromagnetic plane wave incident on an inhomogeneity embedded in a two-layered medium. In this paper, a method of coupling of finite element and boundary integral equation methods is presented for the solutions of electromagnetic scattering in both transverse electric and magnetic polarization cases. The well-posedness of the continuous and discrete problems, as well as optimal error estimates for the coupled variational approximations, are obtained. Numerical results are included to illustrate the accuracy with the optimal convergence property of the proposed method and to show the wave features in a two-layered medium.
Polarized IR and DFT study of the fundamental vibrations of xanthone

Abstract The polarized infrared spectrum of xanthone embedded in a stretched polyethylene film has been measured. Orientation factors obtained from dichroic ratios have been determined for 20 transitions. Symmetry assignments derived from the polarization data are in excellent agreement with the predictions of scaled B3-LYP/6-31G(d) density functional theory calculations. The unpolarized infrared spectrum of xanthone in KBr has also been recorded. A combination of polarized and unpolarized infrared data, published Raman results, and B3-LYP/6-31G(d) predictions have been used to assign the fundamental vibrational frequencies of xanthone. These new results clarify some ambiguities found in the previous studies and have led to the reassignment of several vibrations.
Urease from Helicobacter pylori is inactivated by sulforaphane and other isothiocyanates

Infections by Helicobacter pylori are very common, causing gastroduodenal inflammation including peptic ulcers, and increasing the risk of gastric neoplasia. The isothiocyanate (ITC) sulforaphane [SF; 1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl)butane] derived from edible crucifers such as broccoli is potently bactericidal against Helicobacter, including antibiotic-resistant strains, suggesting a possible dietary therapy. Gastric H. pylori infections express high urease activity which generates ammonia, neutralizes gastric acidity, and promotes inflammation. The finding that SF inhibits (inactivates) urease (jack bean and Helicobacter) raised the issue of whether these properties might be functionally related. The rates of inactivation of urease activity depend on enzyme and SF concentrations and show first order kinetics. Treatment with SF results in time-dependent increases in the ultraviolet absorption of partially purified Helicobacter urease in the 260-320 nm region. This provides direct spectroscopic evidence for the formation of dithiocarbamates between the ITC group of SF and cysteine thiols of urease. The potencies of inactivation of Helicobacter urease by isothiocyanates structurally related to SF were surprisingly variable. Natural isothiocyanates closely related to SF, previously shown to be bactericidal (berteroin, hirsutin, phenethyl isothiocyanate, alyssin, and erucin), did not inactivate urease activity. Furthermore, SF is bactericidal against both urease positive and negative H. pylori strains. In contrast, some isothiocyanates such as benzoyl-ITC, are very potent urease inactivators, but are not bactericidal. The bactericidal effects of SF and other ITC against Helicobacter are therefore not obligatorily linked to urease inactivation, but may reduce the inflammatory component of Helicobacter infections.
SKA-31, A New Activator of KCa2 And KCa3.1 Potassium Channels, Potentiates the EDHF Response and Lowers Blood Pressure

Small-conductance (KCa2.1-2.3) and intermediate-conductance (KCa3.1) calcium-activated K+ channels are critically involved in modulating calcium-signaling cascades and membrane potential in both excitable and non-excitable cells. Activators of these channels constitute useful pharmacological tools as well as potential new drugs for the treatment of ataxia, epilepsy, and hypertension. We here used the neuroprotectant riluzole as a template for the design of KCa2/3 channel activators that are potent enough for in vivo studies. Out of a library of 55 benzothiazoles we identified two compounds, SKA-20 (anthra[2,1-d]thiazol-2-amine) and SKA-31 (naphtho[1,2-d]thiazol-2-amine), which are 10-20 times more potent than riluzole and activated KCa2.1 with EC50s of 430 nM and 2.9 μM, KCa2.2 with EC50s of 1.9 μM, KCa2.3 with EC50s of 1.2 μM and 2.9 μM, and KCa3.1 with EC50s of 115 nM and 260 nM. Likewise, SKA-20 and SKA-31 activated native KCa2.3 and KCa3.1 channels in murine endothelial cells and the more “drug-like” SKA-31 (half-life 12 hours) potentiated endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-mediated dilations of carotid arteries from KCa3.1+/+ mice but not from KCa3.1−/− mice. Administration of 10 and 30 mg/kg SKA-31 lowered mean arterial blood pressure by 4 and 6 mmHg in normotensive mice and by 12 mmHg in angiotensin-II-induced hypertension. These effects were absent in KCa3.1-deficient mice. In conclusion, with SKA-31 we have designed a new pharmacological tool to define the functional role of KCa2/3 channel activation in vivo. The blood pressure lowering effect of SKA-31 suggests KCa3.1 channel activation as a new therapeutic principle for the treatment of hypertension.
VALUE OF PREGNENINOLONE IN THE TREATMENT OF FUNCTIONAL UTERINE BLEEDING

GOOD CLINICAL RESULTS with testosterone propionate in the treatment of functional uterine bleeding have been reported from several clinics during the past 3 years (1-9). It has, however, been found by a number of investigators that the administration of this hormone resulted in the appearance of arrhenomimetic phenomena (hirsuties, hoarseness, enlargement of the clitoris) (3, 8-11). Our studies have shown that these unpleasant side-effects occur infrequently if the therapeutic dose does not exceed 300 mg. per month and if certain precautions are taken in selection of cases and the hormone administration is controlled with vaginal smears (11, 12). However, the necessity for employing these pre’ cautions detracts somewhat from the value of this form of therapy. For this reason, we attempted to find some other androgen which might possess the therapeutic properties of testosterone propionate without inducing arrhenomimetic effects. During the course of of this investigation, the endocrinologic properties of ...
Self-preserving theory of particulate systems

Abstract The similarity solution of the population balance equation for pure kinetic coagulation (coalescence) has proved to be a useful means of representing the evolution of size distributions of homogeneous particulate systems. The resulting solution is termed self-preserving since neither particle size nor time appears explicitly in the solution. In the present work similarity solutions are developed for a wide class of particulate processes that are governed by a general population balance equation for the inhomogeneous size distribution density function. The general theory has application to the analysis of size spectra of atmosphere aerosols undergoing simultaneous coagulation, turbulent diffusion, and growth by gas-to-particle condensation, to the analysis of size spectra during grinding processes, and to several other physical systems of interest.
Types of language contact and the acquisition of language

Abstract The type of contact between two speech communities speaking different: language varieties is one important factor affecting the pattern of acquisition of the varieties by sub-groups within each community. The study reported here examines the relationship between types of contact and (1) age and educational level of sub-groups of the community acquiring the language(s) of the contact community, and (2) the manner in which the language(s) is (are) acquired. The description of types of contact relies on proposed definitions of international contact language, intranational contact language, and non-contiguous language. In order to examine the relationship between types of contact and acquisition patterns, a study of multilingualism in Slovenia, one of the six republics of Yugoslavia, was conducted. The study concludes that: international contact languages tend to be acquired at school at somewhat lower educational levels than non-contiguous languages, which are also acquired at school; intranational contact languages tend to be acquired outside the school setting and are spoken by individuals at all educational levels; younger Slovenes tend to speak non-contiguous languages more than older Slovenes, who tend to speak languages of adjacent speech communities.
Rural perspectives of climate change: A study from Saurastra and Kutch of Western India:

This research reports on rural people's beliefs and understandings of climate change in the Saurastra/ Kutch region of Western India. Results suggest that although most rural respondents have not heard about the scientific concept of climate change, they have detected changes in the climate. They appear to hold divergent understandings about climate change and have different priorities for causes and solutions. Many respondents appear to base their understandings of climate change upon a mix of ideas drawn from various sources and rely on different kinds of reasoning in relation to both causes of and solutions to climate change to those used by scientists. Environmental conditions were found to influence individuals' understanding of climate change, while demographic factors were not. The results suggest a need to learn more about people's conceptual models and understandings of climate change and a need to include local climate research in communication efforts.
Differences in catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase and β-adrenergic receptor binding between fast-twitch and slow-twitch skeletal muscle membranes

Abstract Catecholamines known to be active at the β-adrenergic receptor stimulated the adenylate cyclase in a plasmalemmal fraction of slow-twitch soleus muscle 3-fold, while they enhanced the enzyme activity in a similar fraction of fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle by only 0.6-fold. In contrast, the β-adrenergic receptors, as revealed by [ 3 H] dihydroalprenolol binding to plasmalemmal fraction were 30–60% greater in EDL than in soleus. It is suggested that the enzyme and receptor are independent entities.
Construing in a crowd: The effects of social crowding on mental construal

Abstract How does social crowdedness shape the way people mentally represent objects in the environment? Building on research suggesting that motivational intensity can serve to influence the span of conceptual scope, we demonstrate that individuals in socially crowded environments tend to rely on concrete low-level construals, while those in less crowded environments utilize more abstract high-level construals. We further demonstrate that these effects are mediated by a social crowding induced avoidance motivation, and are moderated by the composition of the crowd.
MARKET PREFERENCES TOWARD FARM-RAISED STURGEON IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES: A CONJOINT ANALYSIS

Finfish culturists face relatively low profit margins due to high investment and production costs, prompting farmers to seek higher value species. Sturgeon is viewed as an excellent candidate for culture due to its high quality meat, high value caviar, fast growth rate, excellent feed conversion and hardiness, although little is known concerning buyer demand for sturgeon products. This study employed a mail survey of southeastern U.S. seafood restaurants and retailers, including a conjoint analysis experiment to quantify the utility value and relative importance of key farmer-controllable sturgeon product features. Almost 90% of respondents were not familiar with sturgeon, suggesting the need for industry educational programs. Twenty-one percent of restaurants and 31% of retailers would buy sturgeon products if they were readily available. Conjoint results indicate that a fresh sturgeon fillet is strongly preferred by both market segments; price and seasonal availability are relatively unimportant, especi...
Neonatal 6-Hydroxydopamine Lesioning Enhances Quinpirole-Induced Vertical Jumping in Rats that were Quinpirole Primed During Postnatal Ontogeny

Quinpirole-induced vertical jumping is a phenomenon first observed in rats treated from birth, once a day for 21 days or more, with the dopamine D2 receptor agonist quinpirole. This quinpirole-induced behavioral sensitization is known as a priming process. To determine whether dopaminergic innervation influenced this priming phenomenon, groups of rats were lesioned at 3 days after birth with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA; 67 μg in each lateral ventricle; desipramine pretreatment, 20 mg/kg ip, 1 h). Rats were additionally treated daily from birth with quinpirole HCl (3.0 mg/kg ip, salt form). Controls received saline vehicle in place of 6-OHDA and/or quinpirole. When rats were placed in individual observation cages (1 h acclimation) starting at 20 days after birth, acute quinpirole treatment produced vertical jumping in the quinpirole-primed group; and the effect persisted through the twenty-ninth day. In rats additionally lesioned with 6-OHDA, vertical jumping was enhanced at 20, 24, 26/27, and 28/29 day—with there being as much as a 32-fold increase in vertical jumping versus the group that was primed with quinpirole, but not lesioned with 6-OHDA. This finding indicates that an ontogenetic 6-OHDA lesion enhances quinpirole-induced vertical jumping in rats and that dopaminergic innervation may normally exert a suppressive effect on vertical jumping.
Characterization of Failed Surface of Ti and Imidex (PI) Film for Different Inter-layer Thicknesses of Ti Film

For miniaturized biomedical devices, laser joining of dissimilar materials offers excellent potential to make precise joints. An important system for consideration is titanium (Ti) coated glass joined with biocompatible imidex polyimide (PI). Metallic Ti with various thicknesses was deposited on top of pyrex 7740 borosilicate glass by using DC-magnetron sputtering deposition method. Effect of bond strength between Ti coated glass and imidex polyimide (PI), due to thickness variation of sputtered Ti coating was studied. Three different Ti inter-layer thicknesses were considered, 50, 200, and 400 nm. Tests results indicated that the thinner film produced lower shear strength and higher thickness produced higher shear strength. It has been observed that thicker film (200 and 400 nm) enhanced considerably the bond strength with enhancing the film roughness as well. Higher roughness resulted in more contact area at the interface, results higher number of chemical bonds and increased mechanical interlocking; which in turn increase the laser joint strength. For stronger bond with higher thickness, mixed mode failure was observed which included cohesive failure of polymer, interface failure of Ti/glass and failure on the glass itself. On the other hand, for weak bond with thinner film, mostly interface failure was observed for this system of Ti coated glass/imidex. For thicker film, chemical bond of Ti-C and Ti-O were observed. The role of both surface characteristics and chemical bonding for laser joints were investigated by using advanced techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy.
Feasibility and Contributions of Functional Behavioral Assessment in Schools.

Two types of analysis were used to examine the feasibility and utility of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) in a general education middle school. The authors used a descriptive analysis to ass...
Actigraphy-Based Scratch Detection Using Logistic Regression

Incessant scratching as a result of diseases such as atopic dermatitis causes skin break down, poor sleep quality, and reduced quality of life for affected individuals. In order to develop more effective therapies, there is a need for objective measures to detect scratching. Wrist actigraphy, which detects wrist movements over time using microaccelerometers, has shown great promise in detecting scratch because it is lightweight, usable in the home environment, can record longitudinally, and does not require any wires. However, current actigraphy-based scratch-detection methods are limited in their ability to discriminate scratch from other nighttime activities. Our previous work demonstrated the separability of scratch from both walking and restless sleep using a clustering technique which employed four features derived from the actigraphic data: number of accelerations above 0.01 g's, epoch variance, peak frequency, and autocorrelation value at one lag. In this paper, we extended these results by employing these same features as independent variables in a logistic regression model. This allows us to directly estimate the conditional probability of scratching for each epoch. Our approach outperforms competing actigraphy-based approaches and has both high sensitivity (0.96) and specificity (0.92) for identifying scratch as validated on experimental data collected from 12 healthy subjects. The model must still be fully validated on clinical data, but shows promise for applications to clinical trials and longitudinal studies of scratch.
Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of resin-bound chlorotriazines

Abstract To introduce the biaryl structure as a triazine functionality, we have developed a new synthetic route via the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of resin-bound chlorotriazines. The Suzuki cross-coupling reaction was achieved using various arylboronic acids, Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 , Cs 2 CO 3 , and dioxane. With the integration of this chemistry and our previous orthogonal methodology, the triazine library is greatly expanded to a biaryl scaffold.
Electronic g Factors of the Low Levels of Ni I

Electronic $g$ factors have been obtained for the seven lowest levels in Ni i by means of the atomic-beam magnetic-resonance technique. The results, in order of increasing excitation energy, are $^{3}F_{4}$, 1.24968(3); $^{3}F_{3}$, 1.08285(3); $^{3}F_{2}$, 0.66954(3); $^{3}D_{3}$, 1.33358(3); $^{3}D_{2}$, 1.15106(3); $^{3}D_{1}$, 0.49804(2); and $^{1}D_{2}$, 1.01297(7). A re-analysis of the atomic spectrum involving configuration interaction with intermediate coupling has resulted in an improved set of parameters. The $g$ values so computed are compared with the experimental results.
Effect of selenium on food and water intake in the rat.

Verabreichung von Selen verandert das Stoffwechselgleichgewicht bei 21-Tage alten Ratten, bei denen der Wasserverbrauch proportional zur Nahrungsaufnahme erfolgt, ebenso besonders die freiwillige Futter- und Wasseraufnahme. Diese Befunde sind bei der Untersuchung der Wirkung von Selen auf die Zahnkaries im Rattenversuch zu berucksichtigen.
Long-term clinical outcomes of a phase I trial of intravesical docetaxel in the management of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer refractory to standard intravesical therapy.

OBJECTIVES To report the long-term clinical outcomes and durability of response after treatment with induction intravesical docetaxel. Most novel agents used to treat bacillus Calmette-Guerin refractory high-grade non-muscle-invasive (NMI) bladder cancer are evaluated only after short follow-up periods. Our previously published phase I trial demonstrated that docetaxel is a safe agent for intravesical therapy with minimal toxicity and no detectable systemic absorption. We sought to determine long-term clinical outcomes after treatment with intravesical docetaxel. METHODS Eighteen patients with recurrent Ta (n = 7), T1 (n = 5), and Tis (n = 6) transitional cell carcinoma who experienced treatment failure with at least 1 prior intravesical therapy completed the phase I trial. Docetaxel was administered as 6 weekly intravesical instillations using a dose-escalation model terminated at 0.75 mg/mL. Efficacy was evaluated by interval cystoscopy with biopsies when indicated, cytology, and computed tomography imaging. Follow-up consisted of quarterly cystoscopy, cytology, computed tomography, and biopsy when indicated. RESULTS With a median follow-up of 48.3 months, 4 patients (22%) have demonstrated a complete durable response and currently remain disease-free without further treatment. Three patients (17%) had a partial response, defined as a single NMI recurrence with no further therapy for bladder cancer. Eleven patients (61%) failed treatment, and required another intervention. One patient developed stage progression. No delayed toxicities were noted. The median disease-free survival time was 13.3 months. CONCLUSIONS After 4 years of follow-up without maintenance therapy, intravesical docetaxel has demonstrated the ability to prevent recurrence in a select number of patients with refractory NMI bladder cancer and warrants further investigation.
Orthotopic Cardiac Transplantation in Patients with Large Donor/Recipient Atrial Size Mismatch: Surgical Technique

A successful surgical technique is described that overcomes the problem of severe size mismatch between the recipient's atrial remnants and the donor heart atria in patients undergoing orthotopic cardiac transplantation. The circumferences of the atria are reduced by plicating the atrial remnants until the appropriate sizes are obtained.
Harmonic Rhythm in Bach's Ritornellos

(2003). Harmonic Rhythm in Bach's Ritornellos. Journal of Musicological Research: Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 183-222.
Total pancreatectomy: indications, operative technique, and postoperative sequelae.

Total pancreatectomy has been used to treat both benign and malignant disease of the pancreas, but its use has been limited by concerns about management of the apancreatic state with its attendant total endocrine and exocrine insufficiency. Here, we review the indications for total pancreatectomy, operative technique, and improvements in the postoperative management of patients. Total pancreatectomy remains a viable option in the treatment of intractable pain associated with chronic pancreatitis, multicentric or extensive neuroendocrine tumors, patients with familial pancreatic cancer with premalignant lesions, and in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia with diffuse ductal involvement or invasive disease. Improvements in postoperative management include auto-islet cell transplantation, advances in insulin formulations, and the use of glucagon rescue therapy which allow much tighter control of blood glucose than previously possible. This markedly lessens the risk of life-threatening hypoglycemia and decreases the risk of long-term complications, resulting in improved quality of life for these patients.
Asymptomatic Bacteriospermia in Infertile Men

The aerobic and anaerobic flora of the semen was examined in 109 men visiting our infertility clinic. Not one specimen was sterile and 107 specimens contained two or more different bacterial species. Anaerobic organisms were found in 63.3% of specimens. We were able to isolate various organisms that have been shown to be spermicidal in vitro (viridans and hemolytic streptococci, Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli) from a large number of samples. If the presence of microorganisms in the semen is associated with infertility, it is likely that only certain organisms are involved or that the numbers of organisms must be high for an effect to be seen. The presence of organisms in the semen may also be related to gynecologic infections.
Secrets of a double agent: CDK7 in cell-cycle control and transcription

In metazoans, cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) has essential roles in both the cell-division cycle and transcription, as a CDK-activating kinase (CAK) and as a component of the general transcription factor TFIIH, respectively. Controversy over its double duty has been resolved, but questions remain. First, how does CDK7 achieve the dual substrate specificity necessary to perform both roles? Second, is there a deeper connection implied by the dichotomy of CDK7 function, for example similar mechanisms controlling cell division and gene expression, and/or actual coordination of the two processes? Enzymological studies have revealed solutions to the unusual substrate recognition problem, and there is evidence that the distinct functions of CDK7 can be regulated independently. Finally, despite divergence in their wiring, the CAK-CDK networks of budding yeast, fission yeast and metazoans all link transcriptional regulation with operation of the cell-cycle machinery. This connection might help to ensure that mRNAs encoding effectors of cell division are expressed at the right time in the cycle.
Financial Modeling, Actuarial Valuation and Solvency in Insurance

The proliferation of books and articles describing quantitative financial models from a theoretical perspective creates a niche for authors like Mario Wuthrich and Michael Merz (WM) to explain a su...
The electronic medical record, safety, and critical care

The goal of this article is to introduce the elements of the Electronic Medical Record as they pertain to critical care medicine including order communications and decision support.
Multi-static networked 3D ladar for surveillance and access control

A theoretical design and simulation of a 3D ladar system concept for surveillance, intrusion detection, and access control is described. It is a non-conventional system architecture that consists of: i) multi-static configuration with an arbitrarily scalable number of transmitters (Tx's) and receivers (Rx's) that form an optical wireless code-division-multiple-access (CDMA) network, and ii) flexible system architecture with modular plug-and-play components that can be deployed for any facility with arbitrary topology. Affordability is a driving consideration; and a key feature for low cost is an asymmetric use of many inexpensive Rx's in conjunction with fewer Tx's, which are generally more expensive. The Rx's are spatially distributed close to the surveyed area for large coverage, and capable of receiving signals from multiple Tx's with moderate laser power. The system produces sensing information that scales as NxM , where N, M are the number of Tx's and Rx's, as opposed to linear scaling ~N in non-network system. Also, for target positioning, besides laser pointing direction and time-of-flight, the algorithm includes multiple point-of-view image fusion and triangulation for enhanced accuracy, which is not applicable to non-networked monostatic ladars. Simulation and scaled model experiments on some aspects of this concept are discussed.
Clinical evaluation of suspected deep vein thrombosis guides the decision to anticoagulate prophylactically but does not impact the decision to perform after hours duplex venous scanning or increase its yield.

Objective The utility of after-hours duplex venous scanning (DVS) for suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in emergency department (ED) patients has been debated. Availability of safe prophylactic low molecular weight heparin, cost containment efforts, and retention of scarce sonographers have to be balanced against 24/7 demand for services. We determined the incidence of DVT in DVS ordered after-hours, correlation between Wells' score and prophylactic anticoagulation as well as urgently performed DVS, and complications of delaying DVS until regular hours. Methods Records of all ED encounters between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 associated with a DVS ordered after-hours were reviewed. The decisions to prophylactically anticoagulate and whether to perform DVS urgently or delayed until regular hours were at the discretion of the ED physician and a vascular surgeon. DVS findings, number of urgent and delayed studies, Wells' scores, D-dimers, and outcomes were recorded. Results DVT was found in 12% (22) of 181 DVS ordered after-hours. DVT was found in 19% of 42 DVS done urgently and in 10% of 139 DVS delayed an average 10 hours 17 minutes ( P = NS). All patients had Wells' scores and 43 had D-dimers. Furthermore, 76% of patients with a Wells' score ≥3 had prophylactic anticoagulation whereas only 39% of patients with a Wells' score P = .0001). In contrast, 36% of patients with a Wells' score ≥3 had urgent DVS and 20% of patients with a Wells' score P = NS). Prophylactic anticoagulation was given to 86% of patients eventually found to have DVT vs 40% of patients eventually found to have no DVT ( P Conclusions The incidence of DVT in ED patients who had urgent after-hours DVS was no different than in those whose DVS was delayed until regular hours. High pretest probability can be achieved with clinical evaluation prior to DVS, and this guided the decision to prophylactically anticoagulate but did not impact the decision to perform urgent DVS. Most patients eventually found to have DVT did receive prophylactic anticoagulation, and delay of DVS did not result in complications. We believe that most patients in whom there is high clinical suspicion for DVT can safely get prophylactic anticoagulation and delayed DVS. Patients in whom there is low clinical suspicion should not get urgent DVS.
Historical Analogies and the Definition of Interests: The Iranian Hostage Crisis and Ronald Reagan’s Policy Toward the Hostages in Lebanon

Students of political psychology have long shown an interest in exploring how analogical reasoning affects decision-making. However, the existing literature on analogical reasoning has remained within the rationalist explanatory framework by assuming that an actor's interests can be deduced from that actor's position in a certain material structure, thus treating those interests as unaffected by the process of analogical reasoning. This assumption unduly restricts the role that analogies may play. Analogies can do more than simply allow decision-makers to figure out what specific policies will advance their preexisting interests—they can also determine the interests themselves. To demonstrate the benefits of moving the analogical literature beyond rationalism, this article explores the Reagan administration's policy toward American hostages in Lebanon, which culminated in the Iran-Contra scandal.
ELECTRODE-CANNULAS FOR ELECTRICAL OR CHEMICAL TREATMENT OF MULTIPLE BRAIN SITES.

Abstract This paper describes a combination electrode and cannula that can be implanted at a number of closely adjacent brain sites. Techniques for its construction, insulation, adaptation to stereotaxic instrument and application are provided. Appreciation is expressed to Dr. Philip Teitelbaum for his valuable suggestions and to Dr. A.N. Epstein who designed the dual cannula from which the electrode-cannula was developed.
The hazards of synthetic (anthropogenic) chemicals

Abstract Currently, there is a highly politicized debate on the comparative risks of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals. Since humans are often exposed to complex mixtures of both classes of chemicals, the real-world value of this debate is unclear. However, in any such comparison, it is important to realize that some naturally occurring substances—such as lead or tobacco—have been so altered or disturbed by human activity that they are best considered as products of human activity, or anthropogenic. Reasons for concern over synthetic and anthropogenic chemicals include: persistence and propensity for long-term storage in biota and the environment; structural similarity to endogenous biomolecules; and additivity to natural hazards.
GYKI 52466, a 2,3-benzodiazepine, is a highly selective, noncompetitive antagonist of AMPA/kainate receptor responses

In whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from cultured rat hippocampal neurons, the 2,3-benzodiazepine GYKI 52466 was a potent antagonist of kainate- and AMPA-activated currents (IC50 values, 7.5 and 11 microM, respectively), but was inactive against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or gamma-aminobutyric acid responses. The block produced by GYKI 52466 occurred in a noncompetitive fashion, was voltage independent, and failed to show use dependence, indicating an allosteric blocking mechanism. In kinetic experiments with kainate as the agonist, the GYKI 52466 binding and unbinding rates were 1.6 x 10(5) M-1 s-1 and 3.2 s-1, respectively. GYKI 52466 also suppressed non-NMDA receptor-mediated spontaneous synaptic currents via a postsynaptic action. Non-competitive AMPA/kainate antagonists such as GYKI 52466 could offer advantages over competitive antagonists in the treatment of glutamate-associated neurological disorders, particularly under conditions in which high levels of the amino acid would render the competitive antagonists relatively ineffective. Moreover, the results demonstrate the existence of a novel recognition site for an atypical benzodiazepine on non-NMDA receptors.
Experimental measurements of estimator bias and the signal-to-noise ratio for deconvolution from wave-front sensing.

Deconvolution from wave-front sensing (DWFS) has been proposed as a method for achieving high-resolution images of astronomical objects from ground-based telescopes. The technique consists of the simultaneous measurement of a short-exposure focal-plane speckled image, as well as the wave front, by use of a Shack–Hartmann sensor placed at the pupil plane. In early studies it was suspected that some problems would occur in poor seeing conditions; however, it was usually assumed that the technique would work well as long as the wave-front sensor subaperture spacing was less than r0 (L/ r0 < 1). Atmosphere-induced phase errors in the pupil of a telescope imaging system produce both phase errors and magnitude errors in the effective short-exposure optical transfer function (OTF) of the system. Recently it has been shown that the commonly used estimator for this technique produces biased estimates of the magnitude errors. The significance of this bias problem is that one cannot properly estimate or correct for the frame-to-frame fluctuations in the magnitude of the OTF but can do so only for fluctuations in the phase. An auxiliary estimate must also be used to correct for the mean value of the magnitude error. The inability to compensate for the magnitude fluctuations results in a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that is less favorable for the technique than was previously thought. In some situations simpler techniques, such as the Knox-Thompson and bispectrum methods, which require only speckle gram data from the focal plane of the imaging system, can produce better results. We present experimental measurements based on observations of bright stars and the Jovian moon Ganymede that confirm previous theoretical predictions.
Gold-Aluminum Bond Failure Mechanism

The degradation of Au/Al contacts on semiconductor devices as a function of process parameters and environment has been studied. Test samples were bonded under variable conditions of temperature and pressure and tested in atmospheres of N2, O2, Air, H2O at 200°C and 300°C. Bond strengths and bond degradation were evaluated by bond pull tests and metallographic and SEM techniques. The two major failure modes are found to be ball lift-off at the pad and wire break immediately above the ball. The effect of process parameters, especially temperature and pressure are evident after exposure to 200°C and 300°C bakes. The effects of environment can be qualitatively correlated with the bond process. To define the failure mechanism precisely is difficult. The role oxygen may play in enhancing aluminum-gold bond degradation is argumentative at best. The presumably simple oxidation of a metal such as iron or aluminum is actually not that simple. It consists of several steps with intermediate stages as metal to metal bonds are disrupted and the oxygen molecule itself is disassociated. It may well be that during this oxidation sequence when aluminum-aluminum bonds are disrupted, intermetallic formation with gold is accelerated. If such an accelerating mechanism does exist, a nitrogen ambient would not show the sane effect. However, it is quite probable that smrall amounts of water vapor would act similarly to oxygen.
Public Disclosure to Improve Physical Education in an Urban School District: Results From a 2-Year Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND Many elementary schools have policies requiring a minimum amount of physical education (PE). However, few schools comply with local/state PE policy and little is known about how to improve adherence. We evaluated changes in PE among 5th-grade classes, following participatory action research efforts to improve PE quantity and policy compliance that focused on publically disclosing PE data.
Use of effective core potentials for ab initio calculations on molecular siloxanes and silicates

A series of ab initio electronic structure calculations have been performed on the (H3Si)2O molecule using a range of basis sets. The accuracy of these calculations was evaluated by comparison with several experimental measurements. These calculations support earlier results indicating that polarization functions on the bridging oxygen atom are usually required to obtain a bent geometry for the Si-O-Si linkage in disiloxane. It was found that ab initio calculations utilizing effective core potentials and a double-ζ valence description augmented with polarization functions (CEP-31G*) provide results comparable in quality to those obtained using the all-electron 6-31G* basis set. To demonstrate the general utility of these effective core potential basis sets for theoretical studies of molecular silicates, calculations were performed on the (HO)3SiOSi(OH)3 molecule. The results obtained are in excellent agreement with previous experimental and ab initio calculations using all-electron basis sets. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Genetic analysis on the incompatibility system of Ajellomyces dermatitidis.

Analysis of mating types of numerous single ascospore isolates obtained from crosses between various strains of Arthroderma dermatitidis showed a 1:1 ratio of +vs - type. From this and the similar results from mating type tests, using 22 fresh clinical isolates, it was concluded that mating in A. dermatitidis is controlled by a bipolar incompatibility.Fruiting competence of the perfect state is found to be directly related to the formation of buff to yellowish-brown pigment in each strain and is independent of the mating factors. All the yellowish brown strains of single-ascospore isolates or fresh clinical isolates produced cleistothecia in single cultures that were devoid of ascospores (pseudocleistothecia). The majority of deep buff strains also produced such structures when paired with the same mating type, but fertile cleistothecia with the opposite mating type. White strains never produced pseudocleistothecia in single cultures and were sterile or poorly fertile when paired with the opposite mating ...