cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Observational‐ and modeling‐based budget of lightning‐produced NOx in a continental thunderstorm

NO x transport and production by lightning for the 10 July 1996 Stratosphere-Troposphere Experiment-Radiation, Aerosols, and Ozone convective storm is examined using radar, in situ observations and cloud model simulations. Observations and model simulations indicate that most of the NO x produced by the storm was transported out into the anvil. The analyzed NO x flux into the anvil, combined with results from a cloud model simulation, indicate that approximately 60 percent of the NO x transported into the anvil during the observational period is produced by lightning. Lightning flash rate and channel length measurements, obtained using the Office National d'Etudes et de Recherche Arospatiales lightning interferometer, are combined with the NO x budget to give estimates of average lightning NO x production per interferometer flash and per unit flash channel length. The analysis yields production rates of approximately 43.2 moles (2.6 × 10 25 molecules) NO x per interferometer flash and 1.7 x 10 -3 moles (1.0 x 10 21 molecules) NO x per meter of flash channel. These production rates fall within the bounds of rates derived in previous studies using completely different approaches.
Pharmacist practice deviance

Abstract A study was undertaken to examine the performance of pharmacists, as measured by their regulatory records against their grades in professional school and other sociodemographic variables. In this paired-comparison study, it was found that there appeared to be no significant difference between pharmacy regulation violators and non-violators. Moreover, the deviant behavior exhibited by the violator pharmacists yielded no known rejection of these practitioners by their peers leading to the conclusion that deviance is tolerated and condoned by the norm group.
Synergistic growth of stem cell factor and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor involves kinase-dependent and -independent contributions from c-Kit.

Stem cell factor (SCF) binds and activates the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Kit, and this interaction is critical for normal hematopoiesis. SCF also synergizes with a variety of growth factors, including those binding members of the cytokine receptor superfamily. The mechanisms mediating this synergy remain to be defined. The present study investigates both structural and biochemical cross-talk between c-Kit and the receptor for granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). We have found that c-Kit forms a complex with the β-chain of the GM-CSF receptor, and this interaction involves the first part of the c-Kit kinase domain. Although inhibition of c-Kit kinase activity completely blocked SCF-induced proliferation, there was still greater than additive growth induced by SCF in combination with GM-CSF. In contrast, an inhibitory antibody against the extracellular domain of c-Kit (K-27) completely inhibited growth in response to SCF alone or in combination with GM-CSF. These results support a kinase-independent component of the synergistic growth induced by SCF and GM-CSF that may relate to interaction of these receptors. It is also clear that a significant part of the synergistic growth is dependent of c-Kit kinase activity. Although synergistic increases in phosphorylation of c-Kit and the β-chain of the GM-CSF receptor were not observed, SCF and GM-CSF in combination prolonged the duration of Erk1/2 phosphorylation in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent manner. Consistent with these findings, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is synergistically activated by SCF and GM-CSF together. Hence, c-Kit makes both kinase-independent and -dependent contributions to the proliferative synergy induced by SCF in combination with GM-CSF.
"An ignoble form of cannibalism": reflections on the Pittsburgh protocol for procuring organs from non-heart-beating cadavers.

The author discusses the ways in which she finds the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center protocol for procuring organs from "non-heart-beating cadaver donors" medically and morally questionable and irreverent. She also identifies some of the factors that contributed to the composition of this troubling protocol, and to its institutional approval.
Tumor suppressor role for myopodin in bladder cancer: loss of nuclear expression of myopodin is cell-cycle dependent and predicts clinical outcome

Myopodin is a dual compartment protein that displays actin-bundling activity and redistributes between the nucleus and the cytoplasm in a differentiation-dependent and stress-induced fashion. We evaluated myopodin expression in initiation and progression of bladder cancer. Normal urothelium expresses myopodin in the cytoplasm and nuclei. Invasive bladder tumors showed decreased nuclear myopodin expression as compared to superficial lesions. This loss of nuclear myopodin expression was significantly associated with histopathological stage, tumor grade and overall patient survival in bladder tumors contained in tissue microarrays. We identified a differential nuclear expression for myopodin among bladder cancer cell lines during cell-cycle. Myopodin was present in the nucleus during G1/S in cells derived from superficial and low-grade lesions but not in those derived from invasive tumors. Loss of nuclear myopodin expression could classify bladder tumors and bladder cancer cell lines based on their histopathology. Most importantly, patients with preserved nuclear myopodin expression showed a longer survival. Nuclear myopodin expression in the context of cell-cycle progression may prove useful for staging bladder tumors and suggest a tumor suppressor role of myopodin in bladder cancer.
Unilateral pulmonary vein atresia: Clinical and radiographic spectrum

Three cases of unilateral pulmonary vein atresia are presented to illustrate part of the clinical and radiographic spectrum of this anomaly. One patient had major associated cardiovascular abnormalities and pulmonary hypertension, one had recurrent hemoptysis, and the other patient was asymptomatic with normal pulmonary artery pressure and no associated abnormalities. In one case, serial catheterizations indicated that the pulmonary vein atresia was acquired. This report stresses the radiographic, hemodynamic, and angiographic findings in patients with unilateral severe pulmonary venous obstruction. The embryology, pathology, and surgical approach are also discussed. The diagnosis should be strongly suspected before cardiac catheterization when typical features are present on the chest radiograph and isotopic ventilation perfusion scan.
Synthesis and Characterization of Derivatives of a Hydroxymethyl Ruthenium Complex

Reaction of cis-Ru(bpy)2(CO)CH2OH+PF6- (1, bpy = 2,2‘-bipyridine) with acetic anhydride yields the corresponding acetoxymethyl derivative 2. However, reaction of 1 with a large excess of acetic acid in acetonitrile yields compound 3, containing an acetamidomethyl ligand instead of the acetoxymethyl group. Compounds 2 and 3 have been characterized by X-ray crystallography; in the crystalline state, 3 exists as a binuclear compound held together by hydrogen bonds to a single water molecule through the acetyl carbonyl groups.
The Entropy Law and the Economic Process

(1973). The Entropy Law and the Economic Process. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 475-499.
Wind erosion roughness index response to observation spacing and measurement distance

Abstract The cumulative shelter angle distribution (CSAD) is a physically-based roughness index that can be used to estimate the amount of soil surface impacted by saltating sand grains which produce wind erosion. But little is known of how observation spacing and other measurement factors affect CSAD estimates. This study was designed to determine the effect of observation spacing and range of influence (distances within which calculations are made) on CSAD parameters. Soil surface roughness measurements were made using a laser profile meter on a chiselled sandy clay loam soil after seven levels of simulated precipitation applied at four intensities. In this study, the different rainfall amounts and intensities were used only to create different roughness levels. Calculations were made on replicated plots using five observation spacings ranging from 4 to 48 mm in directions parallel and perpendicular to the tillage direction and ranges of influence of 150, 300, 400 and 600 mm. Calculations of roughness using different observation spacings and range of influence produced significant differences ( P ≤0.05) in CSAD estimates. Each observation spacing tested was different from all others. Ranges of influence of 300 mm or more produced similar CSAD parameter values. Estimates of the fraction of the soil surface susceptible to wind erosion decreased as the observation spacing decreased. When measured parallel to tillage, 92% of the soil surface was susceptible to abrasion when the observation spacing was 48 mm but 54% of the surface was susceptible when the observation spacing was 6 mm, suggesting roughness elements as small as 6 mm offer protection to the soil surface if they are nonerodible.
Do Employers Have Obligations to Pay Their Workers a Living Wage

Jeremy Snyder argues that employers have obligations to pay their workers a living wage if workers stand in relationships of dependence with their employers. I argue that Snyder’s argument for this conclusion faces a dilemma. Snyder can adopt either a descriptive or a moralized account of dependence. If Snyder adopts a descriptive account, then it is false that dependence activates obligations to pay a living wage. If Snyder endorses a moralized account of dependence, then Snyder’s argument is circular. So, Snyder’s argument fails to establish that employers have obligations to pay their workers a living wage. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING case. A multinational corporation operates an apparel factory in a poor country. This corporation wants to hire more workers. Leticia is unemployed and lives in severe poverty. The manager of the factory hires Leticia and she starts to work at the factory. The corporation does not pay Leticia enough for her to fully satisfy her basic needs, even though the corporation can reasonably Business Ethics Journal Review SCHOLARLY COMMENTS ON ACADEMIC BUSINESS ETHICS businessethicsjournalreview.com ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ Discuss this commentary at http://bejr.co/2013-0111x 1 University of Richmond. Email: jhidalgo@richmond.edu Cite as: Bus Ethics J Rev 1(11): 69–75 Edited by Chris MacDonald & Alexei Marcoux
Synthesis of human pancreatic growth hormone-releasing factor and two omission analogs by segment-coupling method in aqueous solution.

The human growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) peptides [GlyS15]-GRF-(1–15) (IV), trifluoroacetyl-GRF-(20–44) (VI), trifluoroacetyl-GRF-(18–44) (VIII), and trifluoroacetyl-GRF-(16–44) (X) were synthesized by the solid-phase method. Each of the peptides was reacted with citraconic anhydride and the trifluoroacetyl group was removed by reaction with 10% hydrazine in water. The citraconylated GRF-(1–15) peptide was coupled to the (20–44), (18–44) or (16–44) peptides by reaction with silver nitrate/N-hydroxysuccinimide to give GRF-(1–15)-(20–44) (XII), GRF-(1–15)-(18–44) (XIII), or GRF-(1–44), respectively. GRF-(1–44) was shown to stimulate the release of rat growth hormone from rat pituitary cells with an ED50= 8.8 times 10-11 M. Peptides XII and XIII were inactive, either as agonists or as antagonists of the action of GRF-(1–44).
Low-power filtering via adaptive error-cancellation

A low-power technique for digital filtering referred to as adaptive error-cancellation (AEC) is presented in this paper. The AEC technique falls under the general class of algorithmic noise-tolerance (ANT) techniques proposed earlier for combating transient/soft errors. The proposed AEC technique exploits the correlation between the input and soft errors to estimate and cancel out the latter. In this paper, we apply AEC along with voltage overscaling (VOS), where the voltage is scaled beyond the minimum (referred to as V/sub dd-crit/) necessary for correct operation. We employ the AEC technique in the context of a frequency-division multiplexed (FDM) communication system and demonstrate that up to 71% energy reduction can be achieved over present-day voltage-scaled systems.
Identification of the thiol residues involved in modifications of pig heart lipoamide dehydrogenase by cupric ion and by iodoacetamide

Abstract The thiol residues involved in two previously described modifications of heart lipoamide dehydrogenase (NADH:lipoamide oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.4.3) have been identified by comparison of peptide maps of unmodified and modified enzymes. Two thiols and one methionine react when native enzyme is alkylated in concentrated iodoacetamide, with the accompanying loss of enzymatic activity and an NAD-binding site. NAD protects the more slowly reacting thiol from akylation, and the NAD-protected enzyme is active and retains its NAD-binding site. Loss of the binding site, and loss of activity are associated with the alkylation of two neutral thiol peptides which may represent alternative versions of a single thiol region in the enzyme. Treatment of native enzyme with cupric ion results in the rapid oxidation of two thiols to a disulfide bond and loss of NADH-lipoamide reductase activity. We have determined that thiol residues in the cationic peptide and one of the anionic peptides are involved in the disulfide bond formed by cupric ion. Since the cationic peptide contains two histidyl residues, it is proposed that it is the initial site of binding of cupric ion, prior to the oxidation of the thiol residues to a disulfide bond.
Griseofulvin in the treatment of three cases of oral erosive lichen planus.

Abstract Current therapeutic modalities for severe oral erosive lichen planus are generally unsatisfactory. Griseofulvin treatment of lichen planus has been reported in the dermatology literature, but few reports mention its efficacy for oral lesions. Three cases of severe oral erosive lichen planus that revealed dramatic response to this agent are reported. Griseofulvin was well tolerated without serious adverse effects.
Residential smoke detector performance in the United States

Abstract The National Smoke Detector Project is a large public/private partnership sponsored by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the United States Fire Administration, National Fire Protection Association, and the Congressional Fire Services Institute. The major goal of the Project is to decrease the number of residential fire deaths in the US by increasing the number of working smoke detectors in homes. In support of this effort, in 1992 the CPSC conducted a national survey of the operability of smoke detectors in homes. The purpose of the Smoke Detector Operability Survey was to determine the extent of and reasons for non-working detectors in the general population of households. Detectors that did not respond to a test with standard aerosol smoke (initially or after power was restored) along with those with no power source and with which consumers experienced problems were collected and analyzed in the CPSC Engineering Laboratory. The data gathered from this survey (and a similar study of...
Local Bandwidth Selection for Kernel Estimates

Abstract A kernel estimate of a curve that uses an adaptive procedure for local selection of the bandwidth is considered here. A two-step procedure is proposed for estimating the local bandwidth that minimizes the mean squared error (MSE) of a kernel estimator for nonparametric regression. First, a consistent estimate of the exact MSE is constructed. Then the bandwidth that minimizes the estimate of the MSE is calculated. Sufficient conditions under which this bandwidth is asymptotically optimal and normally distributed are given. The local bandwidth selection procedure was implemented on some simulated data and compared to a global bandwidth selection procedure proposed by Rice (1984b). A 68%–91% reduction in the average MSE of a kernel estimator was realized with the local bandwidth selection procedure. Such a scheme was also studied by Muller (1985) and termed a direct pilot estimator approach. Muller derived sufficient conditions similar to those presented here, under which the direct pilot estimator ...
SU-FF-J-40: Image-Guided Body Stereotactic Radiotherapy Using Cone-Beam Computer Tomography for Treatment of Spinal Tumors

Purpose: To report the technique and result of image‐guided stereotactic body radiotherapy (IG‐SBRT) for treatment of spinal tumors using a conebeam computer tomography(CT) for daily pretreatment imaging.Method and Materials: A spine phantom was first used to study the feasibility and accuracy of image‐guided stereotactic body radiotherapy using cone‐beam CT before one patient was treated with a prescription of 2700 cGy to the lesion at the level of L5 in three fractions. Planning CTs were taken using regular CT machines, and pretreatment daily CT scans were taken using the cone‐beam CT equipped on a Varian Trilogy Linac treatment machine. Pretreatment daily CTimages were first registered with the planning CTimages to find out the difference of the daily isocenter from its planning position, then shifts were made by moving the treatment couch to align the patient's daily isocenter to that of the treatment machine. A set of three reference points was used in each case to add accuracy to the localization and alignment of the daily isocenter. As final verification, the KV on‐board imaging (OBI) device was used to take orthogonal portal images to be registered with planning digitally reconstructed radiographs(DRR) before treatments were delivered. Results:Image registration found shifts of the spine phantom to be 16.4 mm laterally, 25.1 mm vertically, and 16.8 mm longitudinally. After shifting the couch accordingly, portal images showed perfect match in vertical and longitudinal directions, only 0.5 mm shift was detected in the lateral direction. For all the three treatments of the patient, daily shifts in any direction were found to be between 2–28 mm. Portal images demonstrated positioning accuracy within 1 mm. Conclusion: Phantom study and real patient treatment for IG‐SBRT of spinal tumor were successfully performed using cone‐beam CT. Satisfactory accuracy of patient positioning was achieved.
Why GIS Professional Certification Matters To All of Us

would bewilling to read? And, why have I spent so much of my time on this topic in the past fewyears? While I suspect I cannot fully answer the Þrst question, my response to the secondis simply OItOs importantO.Ten years ago, Michael Goodchild and I published an article (Goodchild and Kemp1992) to discuss what we at the time called the dreaded A-word — accreditation — thoughwe considered this broadly to include the issue of certiÞcation. It was a subject thatfrequently emerged in forums where we were discussing the recently published
Efficient boundaries of organizational decision support systems: a transaction cost model of decision support regimes

A transaction cost-based model is presented as a framework for analysis of organizational roles of information systems and, in particular, organizational decision support systems (ODSSs). Information exchange creates interdependencies which can be exploited to one organization's benefit and to another's detriment. The heuristic model of exchange provides guidance for the evaluation of these dependencies. Two factors are considered/spl minus/the asset's substitutability and the number of exchange partners. Exchanges are examined within an organizational learning model to produce a configuration of coordinating, collaborating, and communicating systems (C/sup 4/S), rather than hierarchical or contingent relationships between systems. >
Anionic ring‐opening polymerization of cyclotetrasilanes

Various cyclopolysilanes are discussed as potential monomers for the ring-opening polymerization in terms of reactivity and thermodynamic feasibility. Strained and polymerizable 1,2,3,4-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4-tetraphenylcyclotetrasilanes (1) are prepared from octaphenylcyclotetrasilane by substitution of four phenyl groups with triflate groups using triflic acid, and followed by displacement of triflate groups by methyl substituents using methylmagnesium bromide. Anionic ring-opening polymerization of a mixture of stereoisomers of (1) provides poly(methylphenylsilylene) with molecular weights up to M=100 000. Anionic polymerization of 1 was initiated by butyllithium and silylpotassium initiators with and without cryptands. Strong solvent effects on polymerization and subsequent cyclization were observed.
Erection Rehabilitation after Radical Prostatectomy: Definite Purpose, Indefinite Strategy

This provocative study by Montorsi and colleagues adds to the published body of literature examining the erection rehabilitative role of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) after radical prostatectomy (RP) [1]. The investigators are to be commended for advancing the field by contributing to only a few published studies that have rigorously addressed the question of whether a strategic scheme of PDE5-I use offers a benefit for erectile function (EF) in this clinical setting. The level of investigation in this paper was that of a randomized controlled clinical trial design with well-defined and clinically relevant inclusion criteria, assessment instruments, and clinical trial end points, thus producing rigorous level 1 evidence in support of its conclusions. In this field, convincing evidence has remained lacking to show the erection rehabilitative benefits of PDE5-Is according to rigorous controlled clinical trial design. Sildenafil and vardenafil have been subjected to this sort of investigation with conflicting results [2–4]. Notwithstanding methodological and interpretative considerations associated with prior studies, the question has remained unanswered with regard to the role of PDE5-Is for erection rehabilitation after RP. Is it conceivable that tadalafil, with a distinct pharmacokinetic profile, might show definitive advantages? Conceptual advantages of tadalafil for longterm dosing are based on its longer half-life of elimination (17.5 h) relative to other commercially available PDE5-Is. This characteristic has supported its regulatory agency– approved use for daily dosing as an alternative regimen to on-demand dosing in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) [5,6]. It would seem attractive to extend tadalafil to this application, with the unique rationale of a more
Opposing interactions between Drosophila Cut and the C/EBP encoded by Slow Border Cells direct apical constriction and epithelial invagination

Stage 10 of Drosophila oogenesis can be subdivided into stages 10A and 10B based on a change in the morphology of the centripetal follicle cells (FC) from a columnar to an apically constricted shape. This coordinated cell shape change drives epithelial cell sheet involution between the oocyte and nurse cell complex which patterns the operculum structure of the mature eggshell. We have shown previously that proper centripetal FC migration requires transient expression of the C/EBP encoded by slow border cells (slbo) at 10A, due in part to Notch activation followed by slbo autorepression (Levine et al., 2007). Here we show that decreased slbo expression in the centripetal FC coincides with increased expression of the transcription factor Cut, a Cut/Cux/CDP family member, at 10B. The 10A/10B temporal switch from Slbo to Cut expression is refined by both cross repression between Slbo and Cut, Slbo auto repression and Cut auto activation. High Cut levels are necessary and sufficient to direct polarized, supracellular accumulation of Actin, DE-cadherin and Armadillo associated with apical constriction of the centripetal FC. Separately, Slbo in the border cell rosette and Cut in the pole cells have antagonistic interactions to restrict Fas2 accumulation to the pole cells, which is important for proper border cell migration. The opposing effects of Cut and Slbo in these two tissues reflect the opposing interactions between their respective mammalian homologs CAAT Displacement Protein (CDP; now CUX1) and CAAT Enhancer Binding Protein (C/EBP) in tissue culture.
Fast parallel algorithm for all-pairs shortest path problem and its VLSI implementation

Present a new parallel algorithm to solve the all-pairs shortest path problem in a given graph which is considerably faster than the most recently published algorithm (B.P. Sinha et al. IEEE Trans. Comput. vol.C-35, no.11, p.1000-4, 1986) for the same problem. Next the authors propose a suitable VLSI systolic architecture to map the algorithm and evaluate the performance of the proposed architecture in terms of execution time and interprocessor communication time. They show that the implementation has O(log/sup 2/ n) execution time (compare-exchange time) and O(n log n) communication time compared to O(n log n) and O(n/sup 2/) in B.P. Sinha et al.'s implementation.
Effectiveness of short-term specialized inpatient treatment for war-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a role for adventure-based counseling and psychodrama.

Psychological tests were administered to 24 participants of an inpatient posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment program both immediately before and following completion of treatment. Responses were compared to a treatment/wait list comparison group composed of 24 subjects awaiting entry into the program. All treatment/wait list comparison group subjects received weekly PTSD outpatient group therapy. Significant improvements were found in the inpatient treatment group in areas of hopelessness, feelings of guilt and shame, loneliness, and emotional expressiveness. Other indices of psychological functioning, including interpersonal skills, gender role stress, anxiety, anger, and PTSD symptomatology did not change significantly in response to treatment. No positive changes in any area of psychological function occurred in the treatment/wait list comparison group. Implications for treatment of PTSD and areas of future research are discussed.
Brain-Targeted Delivery of Docetaxel by Glutathione-Coated Nanoparticles for Brain Cancer

Gliomas are some of the most aggressive types of cancers but the blood–brain barrier acts as an obstacle to therapeutic intervention in brain-related diseases. The blood–brain barrier blocks the permeation of potentially toxic compounds into neural tissue through the interactions of brain endothelial cells with glial cells (astrocytes and pericytes) which induce the formation of tight junctions in endothelial cells lining the blood capillaries. In the present study, we characterize a glutathione-coated docetaxel-loaded PEG-PLGA nanoparticle, show its in vitro drug release data along with cytotoxicity data in C6 and RG2 cells, and investigate its trans-blood–brain barrier permeation through the establishment of a Transwell cellular co-culture. We show that the docetaxel-loaded nanoparticle’s size enables its trans-blood–brain barrier permeation; the nanoparticle exhibits a steady, sustained release of docetaxel; the drug is able to induce cell death in glioma models; and the glutathione-coated nanoparticle is able to permeate through the Transwell in vitro blood–brain barrier model.
A cohort incidence study of workers exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

Objectives Determine if perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is associated with an incident disease in an occupational cohort. Methods We interviewed 3713 workers or their next of kin in 2008–2011, and sought medical records for self-reported disease. These workers were a subset of a previously studied cohort of 32 254 community residents and workers. We estimated historical PFOA serum levels via a job-exposure matrix based on over 2000 serum measurements. Non-occupational exposure from drinking water was also estimated. Lifetime serum cumulative dose (combining occupational and non-occupational exposure) was our exposure metric. We studied 17 disease outcomes with more than 20 validated cases. Results The median measured serum level was 113 ng/mL in 2005 (n=1881), compared with 4 ng/mL in the US. Ulcerative colitis (10-year lag) showed a significant trend (p≤0.05) with increasing dose (quartile rate ratios (RRs)=1.00, 3.00, 3.26, 6.57, n=28, p for trend=0.05), similar to earlier findings in the community study. Rheumatoid arthritis (no lag) showed a positive trend in a categorical trend test (RRs=1.00, 2.11, 4.08, 4.45, n=23, p for trend=0.04). Positive non-significant trends were also observed for prostate cancer, non-hepatitis liver disease and male hypothyroidism, which have been implicated in other studies. A significant negative trend was found for bladder cancer and asthma with medication. No marked trends were seen for high cholesterol, which had been seen in the community study. Conclusions Ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis were positively linked to PFOA exposure among workers. Data were limited by small numbers, under-representation of hard-to-trace decedents and few low-exposed referents.
Pleural effusion on transthoracic echocardiogram.

A4-year-old girl with tetralogy of Fallot had complete repair by open-heart surgery with patch closure of the ventricular septal defect, resection of the pulmonary valve, and placement of a transannular pericardial patch to enlarge the right ventricular outflow tract. On the day of discharge, a 2D echocardiogram revealed a small anterior pericardial effusion and a large pleural …
BRAF V600E mutation analysis simplifies the testing algorithm for Lynch syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate our experience of adding reflex BRAF mutation analysis following mismatch repair (MMR) protein staining in the test algorithm for Lynch syndrome (LS), the most common inherited predisposition to colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Since January 1, 2009, BRAF V600E mutation analysis has been performed at our institution for all newly diagnosed CRCs with absent MLH1 and PMS2 proteins. Results: Ninety (22%) of 412 patients with CRC had at least 1 MMR absent (65 had MLH1 and PMS2 absent and 25 had other stain(s) absent). BRAF mutation was found in 36 (55%) of 65. Fifty-four (13%) of 412 patients required follow-up after addition of BRAF analysis compared with 90 who would have required follow-up without BRAF analysis. Conclusions: The addition of reflex BRAF mutation testing in CRCs with absent MLH1 and PMS2 reduced the number of patient contacts by 40% and simplified the genetic testing for LS, leading to cost and time savings.
Diltiazem does not protect the ear from noise-induced hearing loss in Mongolian gerbils

Recent data suggest that diltiazem reduces noise-induced hearing loss. Our study was designed to replicate and extend the results of Maurer et al. by using the gerbil as a model. In experiment A, subjects received diltiazem (30 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally) or saline for 3 days. After peripheral thresholds were measured, each subject was exposed to a 4-kHz tone (90-dB sound pressure level) for 20 minutes. Similar amounts of temporary threshold shifts (TTS) were measured in the saline and diltiazem groups. In experiment B, subjects were given saline or diltiazem (30 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally) for 3 days and then exposed to an octave band of noise centered at 4 kHz for 5 days, during which time the subjects continued to receive the drug or saline. The TTS and permanent threshold shifts were similar in the two groups. Measures of cochlear nonlinearities also showed no effect of diltiazem, suggesting that diltiazem does not protect the ear from the effects of noise.
Juvenile hormone mediates sexual dimorphism in horned beetles.

The causes and consequences of sexual dimorphism are major themes in biology. Here we explore the endocrine regulation of sexual dimorphism in horned beetles. Specifically, we explore the role of juvenile hormone (JH) in regulating horn expression in females of two species with regular sexual dimorphism for pronotal horns (females have much shorter horns than males) and a third species with a rare reversed sexual dimorphism for both pronotal and head horns (females have much larger horns in both body regions compared with males). Applications of the JH analog methoprene caused females of the two more typical species to grow significantly shorter pronotal horns than control females, whereas no consistent effect on pronotal horn development was detected in the third, sex-reversed species. Instead, females in this species showed an unexpected and significant increase in head horn expression in response to methoprene treatment. Lastly, horn shape was also affected in females of one of the regularly sexually dimorphic species, but in the opposite direction than horn lenght. Although methoprene exerted a feminizing effect on female horn length in this species, it significantly masculinized horn shape by inducing a peculiar shape change observed naturally only in males. Our results suggest that JH influences both overall size and shape of female horns, but does so flexibly and as a function of species, sex and horn location. We use our results to review current models on the role of endocrine mechanisms in development and evolution of horned beetle diversity. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 308B, 2007. r 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. How to cite this article: Shelby JA, Madewell R, Moczek AP. 2007. Juvenile hormone mediates sexual dimorphism in horned beetles. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 308B: (page range).
Spectroscopic diagnostics of plasma during laser processing of aluminium

The role of the plasma in laser–metal interaction is of considerable interest due to its influence in the energy transfer mechanism in industrial laser materials processing. A 10 kW CO2 laser was used to study its interaction with aluminium under an argon environment. The objective was to determine the absorption and refraction of the laser beam through the plasma during the processing of aluminium. Laser processing of aluminium is becoming an important topic for many industries, including the automobile industry. The spectroscopic relative line to continuum method was used to determine the electron temperature distribution within the plasma by investigating the 4158 A Ar I line emission and the continuum adjacent to it. The plasmas are induced in 1.0 atm pure Ar environment over a translating Al target, using f/7 and 10 kW CO2 laser. Spectroscopic data indicated that the plasma composition and behaviour were Ar-dominated. Experimental results indicated the plasma core temperature to be 14 000–15 300 K over the incident range of laser powers investigated from 5 to 7 kW. It was found that 7.5–29% of the incident laser power was absorbed by the plasma. Cross-section analysis of the melt pools from the Al samples revealed the absence of any key-hole formation and confirmed that the energy transfer mechanism in the targets was conduction dominated for the reported range of experimental data.
Epidemiology, etiology, and diagnosis of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, a major public health problem, is becoming increasingly prevalent with the aging of the world population. Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength, which predisposes the individual to an increased risk of fractures of the hip, spine, and other skeletal sites. The clinical consequences and economic burden of this disease call for measures to assess individuals who are at high risk to allow for appropriate intervention. Many risk factors are associated with osteoporotic fracture, including low peak bone mass, hormonal factors, the use of certain drugs (eg, glucocorticoids), cigarette smoking, low physical activity, low intake of calcium and vitamin D, race, small body size, and a personal or a family history of fracture. All of these factors should be taken into account when assessing the risk of fracture and determining whether further treatment is required. Because osteoporotic fracture risk is higher in older women than in older men, all postmenopausal women should be evaluated for signs of osteoporosis during routine physical examinations. Radiologic laboratory assessments of bone mineral density generally should be reserved for patients at highest risk, including all women over the age of 65, younger postmenopausal women with risk factors, and all postmenopausal women with a history of fractures. The evaluation of biochemical markers of bone turnover has been useful in clinical research. However, the predictive factor of these measurements is not defined clearly, and these findings should not be used as a replacement for bone density testing. Together, clinical assessment of osteoporotic risk factors and objective measures of bone mineral density can help to identify patients who will benefit from intervention and, thus, can potentially reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with osteoporosis-associated fractures in this population.
Induction of Probabilistic Synchronous Tree-Insertion Grammars for Machine Translation

The more expressive and flexible a base formalism for machine translation is, the less efficient parsing of it will be. However, even among formalisms with the same parse complexity, some formalisms better realize the desired characteristics for machine translation formalisms than others. We introduce a particular formalism, probabilistic synchronous treeinsertion grammar (PSTIG) that we argue satisfies the desiderata optimally within the class of formalisms that can be parsed no less efficiently than context-free grammars and demonstrate that it outperforms state-of-the-art word-based and phrasebased finite-state translation models on training and test data taken from the EuroParl corpus (Koehn, 2005). We then argue that a higher level of translation quality can be achieved by hybridizing our induced model with elementary structures produced using supervised techniques such as those of Groves et al. (2004).
Some Chemical and Microbiological Observations in the Pacific Ocean off the Hawaiian ISLANDS1

Simultaneous chemical and microbial analyses of the water column were made at 33 stations off the leeward Hawaiian Islands. The overall distribution of oxygen, nitrate, and pH was similar at all stations located more than 5 km offshore. These parameters were closely correlated and also correlated with nitrifying and nitrate-reducing activity in the water column. The distribution of nitrite and ammonium did not correlate with the oxygen distribution. A nitrite band was consistently found in the lower portion of the photic zone and appeared to have originated from reduction of nitrate rather than from oxidation of ammonium. The distribution of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria was regulated by the amount of available organic nutrients and not by the oxygen concentration.
L² semigroup and linear stability for Riemann solutions of conservation laws

Riemann solutions for the systems of conservation laws u +f(u) = 0 are self-similar solutions of the form u = u( = ). Using the change of vari- ables x = = ; t = ln( ), Riemann solutions become stationary to the system ut + (Df(u) xI)ux = 0. For the linear variational system around the Rie- mann solution with n-Lax shocks, we introduce a semigroup in the Hilbert space with weighted L 2 norm. We show that (A) the region consists of normal points only. (B) Eigenvalues of the linear system correspond to zeros of the determinant of a transcendental matrix. They lie on vertical lines in the complex plane. There can be resonance values where the response of the system to forcing terms can be arbitrarily large, see Denition 6.2. Resonance values also lie on vertical lines in the complex plane. (C) Solutions of the linear system are O(e t) for any constant that is greater than the largest real parts of the eigenvalues and the coordinates of resonance lines. This work can be applied to the linear and nonlinear stability of Riemann solutions of conserva- tion laws and the stability of nearby solutions of the Dafermos regularizations ut + (Df(u) xI)ux = u xx.
Bus Architectures for Safety-Critical Embedded Systems

Embedded systems for safety-critical applications often integrate multiple "functions" and must generally be fault-tolerant. These requirements lead to a need for mechanisms and services that provide protection against fault propagation and ease the construction of distributed fault-tolerant applications.A number of bus architectures have been developed to satisfy this need. This paper reviews the requirements on these architectures, the mechanisms employed, and the services provided. Four representative architectures (SAFEbusTM, SPIDER,TTA, and FlexRay) are briefly described.
Bush path to self-destruction: Charles Taylor and the Revolutionary United Front

This article explains the demise of Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebellion. It argues that the main cause of this fate was the group's relationship with its primary sponsor, Charles Taylor. The RUF's dependency on Taylor's patronage, coupled with the rebellion's weak organisational endowments harmed the group's prospects of success. Based on original research, the article shows how Taylor used the RUF as a strategic instrument for his own regional interests, which led to the group's unravelling. More broadly, the article speaks about proxy warfare in Africa and how the relationship between resource flows and rebellion are not always beneficial to rebels as one might expect.
A Novel and Personalized Rehabilitation Program for Obese Kidney Transplant Recipients

Abstract Introduction Physical rehabilitation programs for kidney transplant recipients are not routinely personalized to patients' physical and emotional health, which could result in a potentially limited health impact, shorter-term participation, and an overall low success rate. Materials and Methods We conducted an internal review board–approved randomized prospective study involving a 12-month supervised multidisciplinary rehabilitation program (GH method) initiated after kidney transplantation in obese recipients (body mass index >30). The new method incorporates 3 major components: physical exercise, behavioral interventions, and nutritional guidance. We compared 9 patients who underwent supervised rehabilitation with 8 patients who underwent standard care. Patients were followed up after the start of the intervention, and multiple assessments were performed. Results The adherence to training and follow-up was 100% in the intervention group, compared with 25% at 12 months in the control group. There was a trend for a higher glomerular filtration rate in the intervention group compared with the control group (55.5 ± 18.6 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs 38.8 ± 18.9 mL/min/1.73 m2, P = .06). The quality of life (SF-36) mean score improved more in the intervention group compared with the control group (583 ± 13 vs 436 ± 22, P = .008). There was a significantly higher employment rate in the intervention group, 77.7% at 12 months compared with 12.5% in the control group (P = .02). Conclusions Our preliminary results suggest that this comprehensive approach to physical rehabilitation can improve adherence, kidney function, quality of life, and employment rate for obese patients after kidney transplantation.
Transport of hexoses, potassium and neutral amino acids into capillaries isolated from bovine retina

Abstract Capillaries were isolated from bovine retina by homogenization and glass bead filtration in order to study their ability to transport certain solutes. Viability of the microvessels was demonstrated by their ability to maintain linear rates of substrate oxidation for more than two hours. Hexose uptake (measured using 3- o -methyl- d -glucose) could be inhibited by cytochalasin B, phloretin and phlorizin, but not by 2,4-dinitrophenol or ouabain. d -Glucose, 2-deoxy- d -glucose, d -mannose, d -galactose and d -xylose inhibited 3- o -methyl- d -glucose uptake, while l -glucose, d -ribose and d -fructose did not. When incubated at 37°C with 5 m m-d -glucose, the microvessels contained much more free d -glucose than d -glucose metabolites. Thus, transport was not rate limiting for metabolism. l -Glucose entered capillaries more slowly than other hexoses and served as a marker for simple diffusion of sugars into the cells. 86 Rb + was used as an indicator of K + transport activity. Uptake of 86 Rb + was temperature sensitive and markedly inhibited by I m m ouabain, thus indicating the presence of an active K + transport system. Na + -dependent amino acid transport was demonstrated using α-(methylamino)isobutyric acid as a model substrate. Capillary uptake of this neutral amino acid analogue was inhibited after abolishing the Na + gradient with 1 m m -ouabain. Uptake of the organic anion p -aminohippuric acid (PAH) was slightly greater than uptake of the extracellular marker sucrose. There was a small inhibition of PAH uptake by fluorescein and penicillin but not by probenicid. Our results indicate the presence of several transport processes in retinal capillary endothelial cells which may be important for the maintenance of homeostasis within the retina.
Nrf2 protects against diquat-induced liver and lung injury

Diquat is an herbicide that generates superoxide anions through redox cycling. Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2- like 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that up-regulates cytoprotective genes in response to oxidative stress. To investigate the protective effect of Nrf2 against diquat-induced toxicity, wild-type, Nrf2-null and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-knockdown (Keap1-KD) mice with enhanced Nrf2 activity were treated with diquat dibromide (125 mg/kg, i.p.). Blood and tissues were collected at 1, 2, 4 and 6 hours after treatment. Administration of diquat resulted in lipid peroxidation and lethality in wild-type mice, which were more in Nrf2-null mice and less in Keap1-KD mice. Diquat produced liver injury in Nrf2-null mice, as evidenced by increased serum ALT activity and extensive hepatic necrosis, but not in wild-type and Keap1-KD mice. Diquat produced more severe lung injury in Nrf2-null than in wild-type mice, as evidenced by increased lung weight and alveolar collapse. In contrast, Keap1-KD mice had attenuated lung edema and no histopathological alterations. To further investigate the mechanism of the protective effects of Nrf2, lung and liver glutathione (GSH) concentrations were quantified. Diquat decreased GSH in lung and liver in wild-type mice, and the decrease was more in Nrf2-null mice, and less in Keap1-KD mice. After diquat treatment, the mRNA of the GSH synthesis enzyme Gclc was increased in Keap1-KD, but not in Nrf2-null mice. Collectively, Nrf2 plays an important role in preventing diquat-induced liver and lung injury, and this protective effect results from Nrf2-regulated elevation of cellular GSH and expression of GSH synthetic genes.
Hybrid attitude estimation for laparoscopic surgical tools: A preliminary study

Laparoscopic surgery poses a challenging problem for a real-time navigation system: how to keep tracking the surgical tools inside the human body intraoperatively. This paper proposes a sensor fusion method for a hybrid tracking system that incorporates a miniature inertial measurement unit and an electromagnetic navigation system, in order to obtain continuous orientation information, even in the presence of metal objects. The sensor fusion algorithm employs an extended Kalman filter to integrate the data from the two sensor streams, based on a quaternion formulation of the system dynamics. The preliminary experimental results show that the integration of low-cost inertial measurement is able to compensate the distortion of EM tracking.