cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advancement of photonic interconnects for spaceborne systems

Optical interconnects have long promised significant advantages over their electrical counterparts. Specific advantages include increased bandwidths at long (ten meters or more) interconnection distances, immunity to EMI effects, negligible crosstalk, reduced size, and lower weight. Optical interconnects have been developed for, and are being used in, a range of ground based and aircraft applications, however they are only now beginning to gain acceptance in spaceborne systems. In addition to the maturity demanded from components destined for ground-based applications and the wider temperature excursions characteristic of airborne applications, spaceborne components must also be able to survive the radiation environments associated with their intended applications. The additional qualification required has resulted in delayed introduction of photonic interconnects. We describe the tradeoffs involved in implementing for the first time a spaceborne fiber optic data bus with a clock speed of 1.2 Gbps. The tradeoffs include emitter, detectors, fiber, connectors and packaging. We have selected a series of commercial grade optoelectronic devices which were then qualified for use in spaceborne environments and have developed a space qualifiable packaging scheme. We have designed and implemented the optoelectronic subsystem of the data bus and have simulated its operation. We also describe recent advances in Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) for spacebourne databuses. VCSELs also offer advantages in simplicity of packaging and electronic control. We summarize available initial radiation data on these devices and project their impact on spaceborne photonic interconnects.
El legado de Platón en las interpretaciones filosóficas alemanas de la tragedia griega

El tema que desarrollare esta basado en una observacion estrictamente historica: repetidas veces los mas grandes filosofos alemanes han tratado a las tragedias griegas como si estas fueran documentos metafisicos. En Schelling, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche y Heidegger, la tragedia es interpretada como si fuera, de una manerao de otra, una introduccion a la metafisica: como si fuera una expresion de la esencia y del fundamento del ser como un todo. A pesar de lo diferentes que puedan ser sus interpretaciones de la esencia y del fundamento - identidad entre libertad y necesidad, espiritu absoluto,voluntad, verdad como aletheia (desocultamiento)- todas ellas tienen esto en comun: para todas ellas la tragedia es la voz del ser.
Ethynylphenyl carbonates and carbamates as dual-action acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and anti-inflammatory agents

Novel ethynylphenyl carbonates and carbamates containing carbon- and silicon-based choline mimics were synthesized from their respective phenol and aniline precursors and screened for anticholinesterase and anti-inflammatory activities. All molecules were micromolar inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), with IC50s of 28-86 μM; the carbamates were two-fold more potent than the carbonates. Two of the most potent AChE inhibitors suppressed 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation by 40%. Furthermore, these molecules have physicochemical properties in the range of other CNS drugs. These molecules have the potential to treat inflammation; they could also dually target Alzheimer's disease through restoration of cholinergic balance and inflammation suppression.
Endovascular therapy for acute limb ischemia.

Background Acute limb ischemia (ALI) of the lower extremities remains a challenging clinical dilemma. Treatment of ALI has shifted toward endovascular therapies. The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes in patients treated for ALI with intra-arterial thrombolysis and/or adjuvant endovascular techniques. Methods Consecutive patients with ALI of the lower extremities treated via endovascular intra-arterial methods between January 1, 2005 and September 30, 2007 were identified and reviewed. Comparisons of success, thrombolysis days, and all 30-day outcomes except mortality were performed using generalized estimating equations with logistic and proportional odds regression. Thirty-day mortality was assessed using logistic regression. Long-term patency, limb salvage, and survival were assessed using time-to-event methods, including Kaplan-Meier estimation and Cox proportional hazards models. Results The analyzed dataset included 129 limbs treated in 119 patients presenting with ALI (class I 68%, class IIa 23%, class IIb 9%). The mean follow-up was 16.8 months (range: 0-43 months). Technical success was achieved in 82% cases. The 30-day mortality rate was 6.0% with all 30-day deaths occurring in females (P = .002). One (0.76%) central nervous system hemorrhage (CNS) was noted in this cohort. Primary patency for the entire cohort at 12 and 24 months was 50.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 39.5-60.7) and 37.7% (95% CI, 26.2-49.1), respectively, while secondary patency was 74.0% (95% CI, 64.9-83.1) and 65.3% (95% CI, 54.5-76.2). Multivariable analyses identified patients presenting with femoropopliteal (hazard ratio [HR] 2.63) or tibial thrombosis (HR 2.80); graft thrombosis (vs native artery thrombosis, HR 2.57) and long-term dialysis (HR 3.66, 95% CI, 2.35-5.71, P Conclusions Endovascular therapy with thrombolysis remains an effective treatment option for patients presenting with lower extremity ALI. Thrombolysis should be limited to
Sex differences in the association between dietary restraint, insulin resistance and obesity.

Abstract Background & aims Restrained food consumption may alter metabolic function and contribute to eventual weight gain; however, sex differences in these relationships have not been assessed. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between restrained eating and insulin resistance and the influence of body mass index and sex on this relationship in a large community sample of both men and women. We hypothesized that restrained eating would be related to insulin resistance and this relationship would be influenced by sex and body mass index. Methods In this cross-sectional, observational study, we studied 487 individuals from the community (men N = 222, women N = 265), who ranged from lean (body mass index 18.5–24.9 kg/m 2 , N = 173), overweight (body mass index 25–29.9 kg/m 2 , N = 159) to obese (body mass index > 30 kg/m 2 , N = 155) weight categories. We assessed restrained eating using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire and obtained fasting morning plasma insulin and glucose on all subjects. Results In men, but not in women, restrained eating was related to homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ( p p = 0.0006). Conclusions This study is the first to report sex differences with regard to the relationship between restrained eating and insulin resistance. Our results suggest that high restrained eating is associated with insulin resistance in men but not in women.
Channel and Analyte Dynamics in the High-Voltage Spark Discharge Using Raman, Fluorescence, and Emission Spectroscopies

An investigation was made of the use of laser light scattering and laser-induced resonance fluorescence, employed in combination with spontaneous emission, as diagnostic probes of the atmospheric-pressure high-voltage spark discharge, to elucidate information on various species. Raman scattering allowed the space- and time-resolved investigation of N2 behavior in the spark channel. Emission profiles of Al(I) and AlO were obtained to establish the temporal regions that were nonemitting for each species. Resonance fluorescence permitted observation of aluminum species in the nonemitting post-discharge torus both spatially and temporally resolved. The channel dynamics studies revealed the interaction of atmospheric nitrogen with the spark channel. Fluorescence studies on aluminum as the analyte species revealed the presence of Al(I) and AlO in the post-discharge torus region, after the discharge current has ceased, and after the Al(I) and AlO emission has ceased. This establishes that analyte material exists in more than one chemical form in the nonemitting regions of the spark discharge, and that excitation decays before all free atoms recombine into small molecules.
Civic Engagement in Relation to Outcome Expectations among African American Young Adults.

Abstract The present study examined civic engagement—volunteering and political activism—among 129 African American young adults from an urban community. The proposed model considered factors that motivate young adults to participate in civic activities as well as barriers that might inhibit involvement. Drawing upon social cognitive theory, this study highlighted the role of two related, but independent, types of civic attitudes: community and individual outcome expectations (OEs) as Bandura defines them. Results indicated that perceptions of neighborhood conditions are linked to community OEs, whereas previous involvement in political actions is linked to individual OEs. Analyses also revealed that community and individual OEs are differentially associated with young adults' intentions to engage in future civic activities. Study findings contribute to an area of research that has received limited investigation and are discussed in terms of developing strategies to support civic engagement among African American young adults in urban settings.
A PSEUDO-RIGID-BODY MODEL APPROACH FOR THE DESIGN OF COMPLIANT MECHANISM SPRINGS FOR PRESCRIBED FORCE-DEFLECTIONS

Compliant mechanism springs offer a variety of benefits for applications where nonlinear force responses are desired. Designing a compliant mechanism spring with a prescribed force response is a unique challenge with many design variables. This paper introduces a method, based on the Pseudo-Rigid-Body Model (PRBM) for large beam deflections, to synthesize three- and four-link compliant mechanisms that exhibit prescribed force-deflection responses. The designer prescribes the target force-deflection curve, the number of links the spring is to have, and bounds for the spring’s link lengths and torsional spring constants. The method uses a genetic algorithm routine to search for promising designs and a direct search method to further refine the configuration to achieve the desired force-deflection curve. Experimental results illustrate the methods ability to generate springs whose force-deflection curves approximate the target curves. The results also suggest that inclusion of more complex configurations may lead to more accurate designs. It is shown how the method can be used to design springs that closely mimic the behavior of zero-free-length springs, and a discussion of how the method can be extended to design springs that behave similarly to pre-tensioned springs is presented.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Relation of adrenal cortical steroids to antibody release.

Conclusions1. The anamnestic reaction was produced by means of subcutaneously administered adrenal cortical steroids in oil to rabbits immunized against sheep erythrocytes.2. Lymphocytes obtained from the appendix, thymus and mesenteric node of rabbits when injected intravenously into a normal rabbit circulate for a period of about 30 minutes only.3. Lymphocytes obtained from the appendix, thymus and mesenteric node of rabbits immunized against sheep erythrocytes when injected intravenously into a normal rabbit do not release antibody under the conditions of the experimental method employed.4. Adrenal cortical steroids administered to a normal rabbit which also receives lymphocytes intravenously from rabbits immunized against sheep erythrocytes do not induce a release of antibody from these cells while they are circulating according to the experimental method employed.The authors are indebted to the Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, Mich., for 40 cc of the 80 cc of Lipo-Adrenal Cortex used in the experiment.
Spermine and spermidine are non-specific inhibitors of in vitro hematopoiesis

Spermine and spermidine are non-specific inhibitors of in vitro hematopoiesis. The polyamine spermine has been reported to be the inhibitor of in vitro erythropoiesis present in uremic serum. We have employed a panel of hematopoietic colony–forming assays to evaluate the specificity of the inhibitory activity. Spermine and its precursor spermidine when added to culture inhibited mouse and human erythroid (CFU-E and BFU-E), granulocyte–macrophage, and megakaryocyte colony growth in a non-specific, dose–dependent fashion. Erythroid and non-erythroid colony growth were equally sensitive to spermine-and spermidine–induced inhibition. Increasing concentrations in culture of erythropoietin and mitogen–stimulated leukocyte–conditioned medium, a source of colony–stimulating activity, failed to overcome the in vitro inhibition. Although anemia is characteristic of chronic renal failure (CRF), leukopenia and thrombocytopenia are not. Therefore, we conclude that the non-specific inhibitory activity of spermine and spermidine, as defined by in vitro colony assays, is either of no pathophysiologic significance in the anemia of CRF, or else there are unrecognized repair mechanisms in vivo which maintain granulopoiesis and thrombopoiesis at normal levels.
Tamoxifen-treated breast carcinoma patients and the risk of acute myocardial infarction and newly-diagnosed angina.

BACKGROUND It is known that tamoxifen therapy favorably affects blood cholesterol levels and other cardiovascular disease risk factors; however, to our knowledge, few studies to date have reported a lower risk of heart disease for breast carcinoma patients who are treated with tamoxifen. METHODS A nested, matched, case–control study design was used with data from the General Practice Research Database to examine whether patients with breast carcinoma who had been treated with tamoxifen were at reduced risk of having a first acute myocardial infarction (MI) or of developing angina compared with unexposed women. All women between age 30 years and age 85 years who had been diagnosed with breast carcinoma and treated with tamoxifen, or who had been diagnosed with carcinoma of the bladder or colorectum, or nonmelanoma skin cancer between January 1991 and December 1999 were identified. From this population, all women were identified who had newly diagnosed acute MI or angina that occurred at least 1 year after their cancer diagnosis. Four female control participants were matched to each case based on age (± 1 year), date of MI or angina diagnosis (corresponding date for matched controls), and date of cancer diagnosis (± 6 months). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were generated using conditional logistic regression, controlling for the matching factors, and adjusting for important risk factors, including body mass index, use of hormone replacement therapy, smoking status, and treated hypertension. RESULTS Current users of tamoxifen had a reduced rate ratio of acute MI or angina (adjusted OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2–0.7) compared with nonusers. The effect persisted with increasing cumulative dose and length of use. CONCLUSIONS The treatment of breast carcinoma with tamoxifen was found to reduce a woman's risk of acute MI or angina during the 5 years of recommended therapy. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
The scholarship of teaching and learning: A Special Niche for Faculty at Comprehensive Universities?

We investigated the involvement of faculty members at comprehensive universities in scholarship of teaching and learning publishing activities in four disciplines. Compared to to their publishing rates in research-oriented journals, comprehensive university faculty members were more involved in publishing articles and serving on editorial boards for pedagogical journals. Over the past three decades, the relative involvement in the scholarship of teaching and learning journals by faculty members at comprehensive universities and liberal arts colleges has increased whereas participation by faculty members at research universities has declined.
Specific bleaching of phycobiliproteins from cyanobacteria and red algae at high temperature in vivo

Exposure of blue-green or red algal cells to temperatures exceeding 60–65°C for several minutes resulted in bleaching of all phycobilin absorption in the visible range, with virtually no alteration in chlorophyll or carotenoid absorption. Difference spectra of non-bleached vs bleached cells appeared identical to absorption spectra of purified phycobilisomes isolated from the same cell culture in high phosphate medium. All phycobilin chromophores were bleached at approximately the same rate during heating. There were no changes in apparent molecular weights or relative amounts of the phycobilisome apoproteins during chromophore bleaching. Phycobilisomes in cell extracts from Anacystis nidulans resisted bleaching when suspended in medium of high phosphate concentration, but were bleached at 60–65°C within a few minutes when placed in diluted medium. The results indicate that phycobilisomes in vivo are stabilized by a mechanism other than high osmotic and ionic strength. This represents a rapid and quantitative method to characterize the phycobiliprotein content of cyanobacteria and red algae in vivo.
Ventricular systolic assessment in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy by preload-adjusted maximal power: Validation and noninvasive application

BACKGROUNDNoninvasive cardiac-specific analysis of contractile function in patients with dilated heart failure remains problematic. This study tests whether maximal power divided by the square of end-diastolic volume (PWRmx/EDV2, or preload-adjusted PWRmx) can provide such assessment.METHODS AND RESULTSTo validate the load insensitivity of the PWRmx index and determine its response to contractile change, 24 subjects with chronic dilated cardiomyopathy underwent invasive pressure-volume catheterization study using the conductance catheter technique. Preload was transiently reduced by 30% using balloon occlusion of the inferior vena cava, and afterload impedance was lowered by 50%, induced by a bolus injection of nitroglycerin. Contractile state was varied by intravenous dobutamine, verapamil, or esmolol. PWRmx was calculated from the simultaneous product of ventricular pressure and rate of volume change (dV/dt), the latter derived from the volume catheter signal. PWRmx varied directly with preload but was ...
Transitivity in the Big Ten

Football outcomes are often used to illustrate violations of transitivity because, if team A beats team B, and if team B beats team C, there is no guarantee that team C will not beat team A. In the Big Ten Conference, every team played every other team in 1983, providing a complete test of transitivity of the football teams. The conference was very nearly transitive in 1983, with only one violation involving adjacent teams with weak records.
ECG-optimized phase contrast line-scanned MR angiography

We describe a rapid phase contrast line scan MR angiographic imaging technique. A projection angiogram is obtained by sequentially imaging a series of thin slices oriented perpendicular to the primary flow direction. Bipolar gradient subtraction is employed to suppress signal from static tissues, which in turn allows elimination of phase encoding in the depth dimension. The sequence is cardiac gated to improve image quality and to allow observation of hemodynamics. To further improve image quality, the amplitude of the bipolar gradient is altered throughout the cardiac cycle to provide maximum vessel signal at all cardiac phases. The ECG-gated phase contrast line scan sequence has been used to image regions where cardiac pulsatility and respiratory motion compromise the quality of images obtained using standard spin warp angiographic methods. © 1992 Academic Press, Inc.
ACTH and cortisol response to critical illness in term and late preterm newborns

To determine cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) responses to critical illness in term and late preterm newborns and examine the relationship of these values to measures of clinical illness, including markers of cardiovascular dysfunction. In this prospective observational study, we measured ACTH, baseline cortisol and ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentrations in mechanically ventilated infants ⩾34 weeks gestational age and <5 postnatal days. ACTH-stimulated cortisol concentrations were also measured in a comparison group of non-critically ill, non-mechanically ventilated infants. The relationship of these values to measures of severity of illness including SNAP (score for neonatal acute physiology) scores, blood pressure and vasopressor initiation was examined. Concentrations are presented as median (25th to 75th percentile). Baseline cortisol values in critically ill infants (n=35) were 4.6 μg per 100 ml (3.0 to 16.2); 26 (74%) of these were <15 μg per 100 ml. ACTH-stimulated cortisol values were not significantly different from the comparison group (41 μg per 100 ml (30.3 to 51.8) vs 34.2 μg per 100 ml (25.2 to 43.3)). ACTH concentrations in ill infants (n=10) were 12 pgml−1 (5.5 to 19.2). None of baseline cortisol, stimulated cortisol and ACTH increased significantly with increasing severity of illness. Of the ill infants, 71% received vasopressor therapy for hypotension. Cortisol concentrations in these infants were similar to those infants who did not receive vasopressor therapy. The majority of these critically ill newborns had very low cortisol and ACTH values without the expected increase in response to critical illness; however, their response to exogenous ACTH was normal. These results demonstrate that the inadequate response to critical illness in these newborns does not result from adrenal dysfunction. We therefore hypothesize that this is a secondary insufficiency arising from inadequate stimulation of the adrenal gland.
Magnetic susceptibility investigations of the La2NiO4+δ system

Magnetic susceptibility studies were performed on La/sub 2/NiO/sub 4+{delta}/ in the temperature range between 300 {Kappa} and 1100 {Kappa} as a function of composition, {delta}. Samples with nearly ideal stoichiometric ratios ({delta} = .002) show a previously unreported transition to antigferromagnetic order which occurs in the same temperature range as the semiconductor-metal transition. An increase in {delta} leads to a suppression of the magnetic ordering temperature while the transition in resistivity remains unaltered. This result is interpreted in terms of an oxygen interstitial defect mechanism and the quasi-two-dimensional structure of the material.
Change on the range?: Policy reforms and agenda control

The principal research objective in this article was to analyze efforts to bring about change in federal rangeland policies from 1960 to the present. A key question was whether advocates of range reform could overcome entrenched systems of limited participation established under the venerable Taylor Grazing Act of 1934. The authors found that the subgovernmental participants managed to hold their political base fairly well by retaining substantial representation of western legislators on U.S. House and Senate Interior Committees and the crucial Public Lands Subcommittee and keeping sole possession of program jurisdiction within committee hands. Thus, environmentalists and other would‐be reformers have been unable to alter the basic structure of the grazing subsidy program. They did, however, push for programs requiring multiple‐use management of public rangelands by the Bureau of Land Management and for range improvement funding through the expansion of a reformist advocacy coalition within the range poli...
Investigations on the Trajectory of Large Sandbags in Open Channel Flow

AbstractInvestigations undertaken to understand the mechanics of the motion of large sandbags and to compute their trajectories are reported in this paper, along with the details of the experimental setup and procedures. The motion of sandbags is recorded from the side of a flume by a high-definition charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, and the digital particle tracking velocimetry (DPTV) technique is used to track the motion of the bags. An equation is developed for the normalized maximum horizontal settling distance from the experimental data. It is found that the particle velocity normal to the flow depends mainly on the characteristic diameter of the particle and the Froude number of the flow, whereas the particle velocity in the streamwise direction shows lower dependency on the Froude number. Analysis of the particle tumbling shows that the Magnus force may be neglected for the purpose of modeling the trajectories of sandbags in uniform flows. A model of particle motion is developed by solving the La...
Implications of abnormal right ventricular thallium uptake in acute myocardial infarction

Abstract The correlates of abnormal right ventricular (RV) thallium uptake were examined in 116 patients with documented acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent predischarge thallium-201 scintigraphy at rest, radionuclide angiography and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography. The patients were separated into 2 groups: patients group 1 (n = 31) had increased RV thallium uptake and those in group 2 (n = 85) had no such uptake. The 2 groups were comparable in age, type and site of AMI, peak creatine kinase level, systolic blood pressure and heart rate. However, compared with group 2, group 1 had a lower mean left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (33 ± 15% vs 39 ± 14%, p
Biomechanical Effect of Triquetral and Scaphoid Excision on Simulated Midcarpal Arthrodesis in Cadavers

Purpose To examine the biomechanical effects of triquetral and scaphoid excision on wrist motion and radiolunate contact characteristics in a cadaveric model after simulated 4-corner arthrodesis with rigid internal fixation. Methods Ten fresh-frozen cadaveric upper extremities were studied. For all surgical manipulations, the motion was measured and contact characteristics were assessed using ultralow prescale pressure-sensitive film. Results Compared with the intact specimen, simple 4-corner arthrodesis with scaphoid retention led to a significant decrease in flexion (–23%), extension (–69%), radial deviation (–129%), and ulnar deviation (–25%), but no significant change in radiolunate contact characteristics. After 4-corner arthrodesis with scaphoid excision, there was a significant increase in radial deviation (+213%) without significant change in radiolunate contact characteristics, but average radial deviation was still less than in the intact specimen. After further excision of the triquetrum, radial deviation increased significantly (+238%), to a mean value 5% greater than that of the intact state, but at the cost of a significant increase in mean radiolunate contact pressure (+44% compared to the intact state). Conclusions When performing 4-corner arthrodesis, scaphoid and triquetrum excision may improve motion at the cost of increased mean radiolunate contact pressure.
TargetRNA: a tool for predicting targets of small RNA action in bacteria

Many small RNA (sRNA) genes in bacteria act as posttranscriptional regulators of target messenger RNAs. Here, we present TargetRNA, a web tool for predicting mRNA targets of sRNA action in bacteria. TargetRNA takes as input a genomic sequence that may correspond to an sRNA gene. TargetRNA then uses a dynamic programming algorithm to search each annotated message in a specified genome for mRNAs that evince basepair-binding potential to the input sRNA sequence. Based on the calculated basepair-binding potential of each message with the given sRNA regulator, TargetRNA outputs a ranked list of candidate mRNA targets along with the predicted basepairing interaction of each target to the sRNA. The predictive performance of TargetRNA has been validated experimentally in several bacterial organisms. TargetRNA is freely available at http://snowwhite.wellesley.edu/targetRNA.
The EEG in centenarians

1. The EEGs of ten centenarians were described. 2. In most healthy centenarians, posterior dominant rhythms are within the lower part of the alpha range (average 8.62 c/sec). 3. Although slowing of the posterior dominant rhythm at age 100 is greater than in younger groups, there is no evidence in this study of a progressive decrease in frequency during the two decades between 80 and 100 years. 4. Most records of centenarians contained other abnormalities, either of diffuse slowing or of slow wave foci, the latter most often in the left temporal area. 5. The relationship of the observed EEG changes to the process of aging as distinct from reduced cerebral metabolism and blood flow resulting from disease is discussed.
Effects of Within Part Variation on Measurement System Analysis

Inherent variation of the measurement system, part-to-part variation and variation arising due to the operator are considered to be the most common sources of variation in a measurement system analysis (MSA). Often errors due to within part variation are overlooked, or even worse, are assumed to be from the inherent variation of the measurement system. Understanding the sources of variation in a measurement system is important for all measurement applications. It becomes even more critical when the part used to evaluate a gage has a significant within part variation. This is an important source of measurement system error that the current procedures followed for MSA studies do not clearly or adequately address. The primary reason for this is a lack of awareness, and there are no clear guidelines on conducting a MSA study under these circumstances. A detailed analysis of the effects of within part variation on MSA is described in this paper. An improved method for conducting the MSA under these circumstances is also presented. This improved and more effective MSA takes all sources of variations into consideration.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The importance of documenting the appearance and status of breast implants at time of explantation.

The Importance of Documenting the Appearance and Status of Breast Implants at Time of Explantation
Does positron emission tomography prevent nontherapeutic pulmonary resections for clinical stage IA lung cancer

Background The American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) Z0050 trial demonstrated that positron emission tomography (PET) prevents nontherapeutic thoracotomies in a substantial fraction of patients with known or suspected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the benefit of PET in clinical stage IA patients has been questioned due to the lower prevalence of metastases and poor ability to discriminate benign from malignant lung lesions. This study evaluates whether PET prevents nontherapeutic pulmonary resections in clinical stage IA patients by finding advanced disease or by declaring a nodule as benign. Methods We reanalyzed all patients with clinical stage IA NSCLC from ACOSOG Z0050. The clinical, PET, and pathologic stages were compared for this prospective cohort. Results One hundred twenty- two clinical stage IA patients were evaluated and 78.7% (96 of 122; 95% confidence interval [CI], 70.4 to 85.6) were eventually shown to have cancer. PET correctly showed 7.4% (9 of 122; 95% CI, 3.4 to 13.5) of patients to have advanced disease (stages IIIA to IV). However, due to a high false positive rate, the positive predictive value for advanced disease was only 33.3% (9 of 27; 95% CI, 16.5 to 54.0). The negative predictive value of PET to predict benign lesions was only 57% (16 of 28; 95% CI, 37.2 to 75.5). Thus, 43% (12 of 28; 95% CI, 24.5 to 62.8) of patients with a PET negative primary lesion actually had cancer, and all of these had resectable disease (stages IA to IIB). Conclusions In clinical stage IA lung cancer patients, PET prevents nontherapeutic pulmonary resections less than 10% of the time. If a strategy of no surgery and serial computed tomographic scans is chosen for PET negative lesions, over 40% of patients with NSCLC will have surgery delayed. A prospective trial comparing PET versus resection for clinical stage IA lesions would clarify the value of PET for these patients.
STUDIES IN HISTOCHEMISTRY: EFFECTS OF STRESS CONDITIONS, ACTH, CORTISONE, DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE AND HYPOPHYSECTOMY ON THE QUANTITATIVE HISTOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PHENOLSULFATASE AND ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE IN THE RAT ADRENAL

THE quantitative histological distribution of phenolsulfatase (Glick, Stccklein and Malmstrom, 1955) and acetylcholinesterase (Antopol and Glick, 1940) in the adrenal gland of various species was reported earlier. The greatest phenolsulfatase activity was found in the fascicular and reticular zones of the rat, rabbit and hog adrenal and in the fascicular zone of the dog adrenal, but negligible activity was demonstrated in all regions of the cow and monkey gland. Considerable acetylcholinesterase activity was observed in the medulla of bovine, pig and rabbit adrenals but little activity was found in any cortical zone in any of the species. The effects of stress conditions, hormonal treatments and hypophysectomy on the adrenal have been studied more extensively in the rat than in other laboratory animals, and consequently the rat adrenal was used in the present investigation to permit comparisons. For the phenolsulfatase work the rats were subjected to chilling, turpentine abscesses, hypophysectomy and inje...
Is there a threshold for mental rotation

A threshold-like nonlinearity was found in a mental rotation experiment designed for relatively heavy sampling of small angular disparities. The value of the threshold in this experiment appeared to be around 15°. Results of a control experiment were that subjects easily discriminated orientations differing by as little as 6° using the same stimulus materials. A threshold hypothesis represents one way to think about the flexibility and limitations of mental rotation performance.
Potential use of wind power for pumping irrigation water

Abstract The potential energy savings from three types of wind powered irrigation pumping plants were determined for selected areas of the U.S.A. The wind systems analyzed were: wind assist combustion engines; wind assist electric motors, with and without the sale of surplus electricity; and a stand-alone turbine with a reservoir for water storage. Because of the reduced wind power available and the relatively short time span during the irrigation season, the wind assist turbines will only provide between 6 and 31% of the required energy for pumping water. In all regions, the amount of electrical energy available for sale from the wind assist system is greater than the energy saved. The stand alone turbines can provide all the energy required for pumping the irrigation water; however, their use will require the installation of a reservoir for water storage. Thus, the stand-alone systems are suitable only in locations where surface irrigation systems can be used or where other energy sources can be used to pressurize the water distribution system. The size distribution of the on-farm irrigation pumping plants in the U.S. for zones of similar average wind power during the principal irrigation season is presented. The mid and southern Great Plains areas which have the largest potential wind power during the primary irrigation season account for over 32% of the nation's pumping units.
Contrast‐induced Kidney Injury: Focus on Modifiable Risk Factors and Prophylactic Strategies

Contrast-induced nephropathy, also known as contrast-induced acute kidney injury, is associated with rapid and often irreversible decline in kidney function following the administration of iodinated contrast agents. Contrast-induced nephropathy is the third leading cause of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients, and substantially increases mortality, morbidity, and length of hospitalization. Contrast-induced nephropathy follows a predictable time of onset and is potentially preventable. It has been the subject of numerous studies addressing characteristics of the populations at risk and prophylactic strategies. This evidence-based review summarizes recent literature and provides a nephrologists' perspective on contrast-induced nephropathy, focusing on: the pathophysiology of contrast-induced nephropathy; identification of populations at risk; correlation between contrast-induced nephropathy and the type of contrast agent used; and finally, measures to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy, including intravenous fluids, sodium bicarbonate, N-acetylcysteine, and hemofiltration/hemodialysis.
Nearest neighbor imputation of species-level, plot-scale forest structure attributes from LiDAR data

Meaningful relationships between forest structure attributes measured in representative field plots on the ground and remotely sensed data measured comprehensively across the same forested landscape facilitate the production of maps of forest attributes such as basal area (BA) and tree density (TD). Because imputation methods can efficiently predict multiple response variables simultaneously, they may be usefully applied to map several structural attributes at the species-level. We compared several approaches for imputing the response variables BA and TD, aggregated at the plot-scale and species-level, from topographic and canopy structure predictor variables derived from discrete-return airborne LiDAR data. The predictor and response variables were associated using imputation techniques based on normalized and unnormalized Euclidean distance, Mahalanobis distance, Independent Component Analysis (ICA), Canonical Correlation Analysis (aka Most Similar Neighbor, or MSN), Canonical Correspondence Analysis (aka Gradient Nearest Neighbor, or GNN), and Random Forest (RF). To compare and evaluate these approaches, we computed a scaled Root Mean Square Distance (RMSD) between observed and imputed plot-level BA and TD for 11 conifer species sampled in north-central Idaho. We found that RF produced the best results overall, especially after reducing the number of response variables to the most important species in each plot with regard to BA and TD. We concluded that RF was the most robust and flexible among the imputation methods we tested. We also concluded that canopy structure and topographic metrics derived from LiDAR surveys can be very useful for species-level imputation.
Absence of excited triplets in the EPR of the high Tc superconductors and the antiferromagnetic insulator CuO

Abstract We have been unable to observe electron paramagnetic resonance signals at temperatures of up to ∼ 570K from either the S = 1 2 Cu 2+ ions or the S = 1 excited states of the Cu2+ - Cu2+ pairs in the new Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox (2212) high Tc ∼80K superconductors, in the YBa2Cu3Ox (123) high Tc∼90K superconductors, or in the antiferromagnetic insulator CuO with TN∼ 230K. No present theory of the finite spin susceptibility in the paramagnetic state is compatible with the absence of EPR. Short-range resonating-valence-bond (RVB) theory gives zero spin susceptibility at low temperatures, but the absence of the S = 1 excited states of pairs appears to eliminate that theory as well.
Electrophoretic dynamics of large DNA stars in polymer solutions and gels

We have developed a procedure for synthesizing large stable branched DNA structures that enables visualization via fluorescence microscopy. Using this procedure we have synthesized large DNA stars and observed their electrophoretic behavior in polymer solutions and gels. In dilute polyacrylamide solutions, the DNA stars move as random coils and appear to experience only brief collisions with the polymer chains in solution. The effect of polymer solution concentration on the electrophoretic mobility of stars in the dilute regime is found to be in good accord with predictions of the transient entanglement coupling (TEC) model. In semidilute polymer solutions, the star arms extend in the field direction and drag the core through the matrix. The star arms form several U-shaped conformations as they collide and engage with polyacrylamide chains. The U-shaped conformations occasionally evolve into J-shaped conformations as the star arms slide off the matrix chains they engage during electrophoretic migration. In concentrated polymer solutions, the arms of the star extend and form V-shaped structures with the core as the apex. The arms then pull the core through the matrix. These V-shaped conformations are much longer-lived than U-shaped ones and, unlike the latter, do not transform to J-shaped conformations. In polyacrylamide and agarose gels, where matrix entanglements are fixed, DNA stars become trapped when entanglements with matrix molecules prevent the core from being pulled through the matrix by the extended arms. This trapping was observed at all gel concentrations and electric fields studied.
Trends in antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial pathogens of the respiratory tract

Rates of antimicrobial resistance have been increasing in bacteria responsible for community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections in the United States. Nearly 100% of clinical isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis now produce β-lactamase, an enzyme that renders this pathogen resistant to such agents as penicillin, ampicillin, and amoxicillin. However, this organism remains nearly uniformly susceptible to alternative oral antimicrobials, such as cephalosporins, macrolides, tetracyclines, β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, and the combination of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The susceptibility of M. catarrhalis to these agents is not expected to change markedly in the next four ears. A linear increase in the prevalence of β-lactamase-mediated ampicillin resistance has been evident among isolates of entypeable Haemophilus influenzae during the past decade in the United States. By the year 2000, 45–50% of isolates are likely to produce βlactamase. Although the susceptibility of this organism to alternative oral antimicrobials varies, rates of resistance to cefuroxime axetil, cefpodoxime, cefixime, azithromycin, and perhaps clarithromycin remain Streptococcus pneumoniae , which has increased steadily in recent years, currently stands at approximately 25% in the United States and will likely reach 40–50% during the next 5–10 years. Because of cross-resistance, in general all β-lactam antimicrobials have reduced activity against pencillin-resistant strains of S. pneumoniae . A 1994–1995 survey found that 3.4% of S. pneumoniae isolates were highly resistant to cefotaxime, and 4–8% were resistant to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and the macrolides. Resistance to these antimicrobials has usually followed the emergence of penicillin resistance in other countries. Therefore, S. pneumoniae resistance to these drugs is expected to increase markedly during the next few years in the United States.
Observed Environmental Features and the Physical Activity of Adolescent Males

Background It has recently been reported that adult physical activity was associated with environmental features. The aim of this study was to determine whether environmental features were associated with physical activity among male adolescents. Methods Physical activity levels of 210 Boy Scouts were assessed for 3 days by accelerometry during 2003 and 2004. Mean minutes of sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity were calculated. Environmental features within a 400-meter radius of each participant’s home address were assessed by direct observation using the Systematic Pedestrian and Cycling Environmental Scan (SPACES) instrument. Principal component factor analysis reduced the 35 SPACES items to four factors. Hierarchical and spatial regressions were conducted with physical activity as the dependent variable and environmental factors, age, body mass index, and ethnicity as independent variables. Results Four factors were obtained: walking/cycling ease, tidiness, sidewalk characteristics, and street access and condition. Sidewalk characteristics were negatively associated with minutes of sedentary behavior while age was positively associated. Sidewalk characteristics were positively associated with minutes of light-intensity physical activity and age negatively associated. No environmental factor correlated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Conclusions A sidewalk characteristics factor, composed of sidewalk location, sidewalk material, presence of streetlights, and number and height of trees, was positively associated with light-intensity physical activity among male adolescents.
Transmission electron microscope observations of porosity in coal

Abstract Samples of a high-volatile bituminous coal (HVab) were examined by means of transmis sion electron microscopy in a high-voltage electron microscope (1 MeV). The porosity observed within the exinite and inertinite constituents of this coal falls primarily into the mesopore size range (2–50 nm). Small particles (≈25 nm in diameter) were seen in a majority of the exinite pores and are believed to have acted as catalysts in the pore formation.
The effect of pH on gel structures produced using protein–polysaccharide phase separation and network inversion

Abstract Forming heat-induced gels through combined effects of micro-phase separation of whey protein isolate (WPI; 5%, w/v, 100 m m NaCl) by pH change (5.5, 6.0, and 6.5), and addition of κ-carrageenan (0–0.3%, w/w), were evaluated. The microstructure of WPI gels was homogeneous at pH 6.0 and 6.5 and micro-phase separated at pH 5.5. Addition of 0.075% κ-carrageenan to WPI solutions caused the microstructure of the gel to switch from homogeneous (pH 6.0 and 6.5) to micro-phase separated; and higher concentrations led to inversion of the continuous network from protein to κ-carrageenan. Protein solutions containing 0.075% (w/w) κ-carrageenan produced gels with increased storage modulus (G′) at pH 6.5 and decreased G′ at pH 5.5. All gels containing 0.3% (w/w) κ-carrageenan had κ-carrageenan-continuous networks. It was shown that microstructural and rheological changes were different in WPI and κ-carrageenan mixed gels when micro-phase separation was caused by pH rather than ionic strength.
Myocardial protection during surgical coronary reperfusion

Reperfusion injury in the surgical setting is defined as those metabolic, functional and structural consequences of restoring coronary flow (that is, aortic unclamping and revascularization) that can be avoided or reversed by modification of the conditions of reperfusion by the operating surgeon. The potential for reperfusion damage exists during cardiac surgery because temporary myocardial ischemia (that is, aortic clamping) is needed to produce a quiet, bloodless surgical field. Cold cardioplegia techniques have decreased the risks of ischemic myocardial damage during aortic clamping, but reperfusion damage can still occur when there is poor car-dioplegic distribution (that is, coronary artery disease) or in hearts that have suffered ischemic damage before extracorporeal circulation is started (such as extending myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock and the like). The surgical setting affords the ideal opportunity for reperfusate modification because the components and conditions of the reperfusate are in the surgeon9s control. This study reviews present understanding of the nature of reperfusion damage in the surgical setting and summarizes studies over the past 6 years which suggest that much of reperfusion damage can be avoided or reversed by adjusting the temperature, pressure and composition of reperfusate blood.