cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and Safety of Ablative Therapy in the Treatment of Patients with Metastatic Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma

Metastatic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are incurable neuroendocrine tumors. The goals of treatment include palliating symptoms and reducing tumor burden. Little is known about the use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoablation (CRYO), and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) to treat metastatic PPGL. We performed a retrospective study of patients age 17 years and older with metastatic PPGL who were treated with ablative therapy at Mayo Clinic, USA, between June 14, 1999 and November 14, 2017. Our outcomes measures were radiographic response, procedure-related complications, and symptomatic improvement. Thirty-one patients with metastatic PPGL had 123 lesions treated during 42 RFA, 23 CRYO, and 4 PEI procedures. The median duration of follow-up was 60 months (range, 0–163 months) for non-deceased patients. Radiographic local control was achieved in 69/80 (86%) lesions. Improvement in metastasis-related pain or symptoms of catecholamine excess was achieved in 12/13 (92%) procedures. Thirty-three (67%) procedures had no known complications. Clavien-Dindo Grade I, II, IV, and V complications occurred after 7 (14%), 7 (14%), 1 (2%), and 1 (2%) of the procedures, respectively. In patients with metastatic PPGL, ablative therapy can effectively achieve local control and palliate symptoms.
Enslaved imaginations: The [Pelagian] heresy of market fundamentalism and Christian moral discernment:

In many respects, the US economy bears little resemblance to a genuine free market system. The economic policy-making process has been captured by powerful interests, resulting in regressive arrang...
I am who I need to be: reflections on parental identity development from a father of a child with disabilities

In this article, I describe the process by which I internalized disability as a construct of my identity, as a result of my son being diagnosed with cerebral palsy. This process was focused on the ...
Expression of Stress Proteins on the Surface of Cells of the Immune System

Localization of stress proteins on plasma membranes is of fundamental biologic and immunologic interest (reviewed in Winfield and Jarjour, 1990). For example, the detection of HSP70 as a peptide-binding protein on the surface of antigen-presenting cells implies a role for at least some members of this family of stress proteins in the recognition of MHC class II/antigen peptide complexes by T cell receptors (TCRs) (Lakey etal., 1987; Vanbuskirk etal., 1989). Furthermore, surface expression of autologous stress proteins, or stress protein epitopes, can render cells susceptible to specific immunological attack (Koga etal., 1989; Ottenhof etal., 1988). Relatively little information is available concerning which stress proteins are expressed on lymphoid cells and under what circumstances, however. In this review, recent immunologic and biochemical data from our laboratories that bear on these issues are summarized briefly.
University of kentucky tracelab component similarity matrix voting merge

We present one of the University of Kentucky TraceLab components, Similarity Matrix Voting Merge. In this paper, we highlight some particularly interesting aspects of the component such as challenges faced when developing it and while implementing unit testing for the project. Finally, we provide an example of the component being used in a TraceLab experiment. A link for download of the component is provided.
Ceramides: Nutrient Signals that Drive Hepatosteatosis

Ceramides are minor components of the hepatic lipidome that have major effects on liver function. These products of lipid and protein metabolism accumulate when the energy needs of the hepatocyte have been met and its storage capacity is full, such that free fatty acids start to couple to the sphingoid backbone rather than the glycerol moiety that is the scaffold for glycerolipids (e.g., triglycerides) or the carnitine moiety that shunts them into mitochondria. As ceramides accrue, they initiate actions that protect cells from acute increases in detergent-like fatty acids; for example, they alter cellular substrate preference from glucose to lipids and they enhance triglyceride storage. When prolonged, these ceramide actions cause insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis, 2 of the underlying drivers of cardiometabolic diseases. Herein the author discusses the mechanisms linking ceramides to the development of insulin resistance, hepatosteatosis and resultant cardiometabolic disorders.
Properties and material models for construction materials post exposure to elevated temperatures

Abstract Temperature rise, as in the case of fire, severely damages the properties of construction materials and imposes temperature-induced degradations that alter their microstructure and characteristics. As such, practitioners often struggle when assessing residual state of a fire-damaged structure especially due to the lack of insights into residual (post-fire) properties of construction materials. With the hope of narrowing this knowledge gap, this study presents an approach to derive residual material models for a variety of construction materials such as normal strength concrete (NSC), high strength concrete (HSC), ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), mild steel (MS), high strength steel (HSS), cold formed steel (CFS), stainless steel (SS), glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). This approach leverages a hybrid combination of two machine learning (ML) techniques (artificial neural networks (ANN) and genetic algorithms (GA)) to derive specifically tailored material models capable of tracing the post-fire behavior of construction materials. When implemented, the proposed material models could enable proper and unified assessment of fire-damaged structures.
Leptonic Source of Dark Matter and Radiative Majorana or Dirac Neutrino Mass

Abstract The notion of U(1) lepton number (which may only be softly broken) is applied to models of dark matter which interacts with leptons. Previous scotogenic models of Majorana or Dirac neutrino mass are shown to be derivable in this framework without additional symmetries. Only complete renormalizable theories are considered. A new explicit class of models with Z n ( n ≥ 5 ) lepton and dark symmetry for Dirac neutrinos is derived, as well as a new example of Z 3 dark symmetry.
Immunotherapy using tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) for PTEN knock-out spontaneous prostate cancer model

4480 Introduction and Objective: The tumor suppressor gene MMAC/PTEN located on chromosome 10q23.3 is frequently inactivated in a variety of tumors such as prostate cancer and has a dual phosphatase activity in the phosphatidylinositol 39-kinase signal pathway and inhibits Akt activation, serine-threonine kinase, which is involved in proliferative and anti-apoptotic pathway. We have now generated the treatment of PTEN deleted prostate cancer by using tumor-specific CTLs (cytotoxic T lymphocytes) which are sensitized to tumors and also traffic through tissue and can act directly as cytolytic effector cells. Methods: We injected subcutaneously irradiated PTEN-Cap8 cells which are isogenic, androgen receptor-positive prostate epithelial lines from intact conditional PTEN knock-out mice and extracted tumor-specific CTLs from spleen. In vitro the effect of tumor-specific CTLs was examined with cell proliferation assay. In vivo tumor trafficking effect of CTLs and cytotoxicity of locally administered CTLs were examined by live imaging of luciferase. To determine the treatment effect, we followed the PTEN-CaP8 subcutaneous tumor size and luciferase expression after injection of tumor-specific CTLs. Results: CTLs killed the mouse prostate cancer cells dose-dependently invitro. The effect of tumor-specific CTLs was tracked by in vivo image. Tumor size showed significant reduction of the tumor after treated with CTLs. Conclusions: Treatment with tumor-specific CTLs is effective for PTEN deleted mouse prostate cancer.
11 – Relational Languages

Publisher Summary The relational schema may be implemented in a relational database management system (RDBMS) that has plenty of data. In the relational model of data, all facts are stored in tables (or relations). New tables may be formed from existing tables by applying operations in the relational algebra. The tables resulting from these operations may be named and stored, using the relational assignment. A relational system that supports all eight table operations of the relational algebra is said to be relationally complete. The two main relational languages are SQL and QBE, with SQL being the most important. Most SQL systems are relationally complete. A system that supports all aspects of the relational model, including domains and the two basic integrity rules (entity integrity and referential integrity), is said to be “fully relational.” The relational model of data itself is evolving. In addition to relational algebra operations, relational DBMSs provide further capabilities such as sorting, arithmetic, grouping, and formatting. Most systems also provide powerful tools for creating external interfaces, report writing, and security.
Characterizing perimenstrual flares of hidradenitis suppurativa.

Abstract Background Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) predominantly affects women of childbearing age, and sex hormones are thought to play a role in HS pathogenesis. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the pattern of HS perimenstrual flares, as well as patient responses to hormone-based therapies. Objective We aimed to characterize the temporal pattern of perimenstrual flares, as well as factors associated with perimenstrual flares. We also sought to investigate responses to hormonal therapies in women with HS. Methods An anonymous web-based questionnaire was distributed to various online HS support groups in May 2020. Results A total of 283 participants met the inclusion criteria as adult women who self-reported having HS and menstrual cycles. The majority (176 of 282 women; 62.4%) reported HS worsening with menses, and 86.9% (153 of 176 women) noted that perimenstrual HS flares occurred always or often. Most women (138 of 175 women; 78.9%) reported that their HS flared in the week preceding menses. Perimenstrual HS flares were more likely in women with a family history of HS compared with those without (49.6% vs. 28.2%; p = .019). More than a third of respondents who had been treated with spironolactone reported improvement of HS symptoms, but more than a quarter of participants who used medroxyprogesterone acetate or used a hormonal intrauterine device reported worsened HS symptoms. Conclusion Female patients with HS have high rates of perimenstrual HS flares, specifically during the week preceding the onset of menses. Additional investigations on the role of sex hormones in HS pathogenesis and the efficacy of hormone-based therapies are warranted.
The set of ratios of derangements to permutations in digraphs is dense in $[0, 1/2]$

A permutation in a digraph $G=(V, E)$ is a bijection $f:V \rightarrow V$ such that for all $v \in V$ we either have that $f$ fixes $v$ or $(v, f(v)) \in E$. A derangement in $G$ is a permutation that does not fix any vertex. In [1] it is proved that in any digraph, the ratio of derangements to permutations is at most $1/2$. Answering a question posed in [1], we show that the set of possible ratios of derangements to permutations in digraphs is dense in the interval $[0, 1/2]$.
Dynamic Contrast Enhanced-MR CEST Urography: An Emerging Tool in the Diagnosis and Management of Upper Urinary Tract Obstruction

Upper urinary tract obstructions (UTOs) are blockages that inhibit the flow of urine through its normal course, leading to impaired kidney function. Imaging plays a significant role in the initial diagnosis of UTO, with anatomic imaging (primarily ultrasound (US) and non-contrast computed tomography (CT)) serving as screening tools for the detection of the dilation of the urinary collecting systems (i.e., hydronephrosis). Whether hydronephrosis represents UTO or a non-obstructive process is determined by functional imaging (typically nuclear medicine renal scintigraphy). If these exams reveal evidence of UTO but no discernable source, multiphase contrast enhanced CT urography and/or dynamic contrast enhanced MR urography (DCE-MRU) may be performed to delineate a cause. These are often performed in conjunction with direct ureteroscopic evaluation. While contrast-enhanced CT currently predominates, it can induce renal injury due to contrast induced nephropathy (CIN), subject patients to ionizing radiation and is limited in quantifying renal function (traditionally assessed by renal scintigraphy) and establishing the extent to which hydronephrosis is due to functional obstruction. Traditional MRI is similarly limited in its ability to quantify function. DCE-MRU presents concerns regarding nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), although decreased with newer gadolinium-based contrast agents, and regarding cumulative gadolinium deposition in the basal ganglia. DCE-MR CEST urography is a promising alternative, employing new MRI contrast agents and imaging schemes and allowing for concurrent assessment of renal anatomy and functional parameters. In this review we highlight clinical challenges in the diagnosis and management of UTO, identify key advances in imaging agents and techniques for DCE-MR CEST urography and provide perspective on how this technique may evolve in clinical importance.
Medical planning for disaster response: Identifying risk factors for developing adult respiratory distress syndrome among trauma patients.

Introduction: Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a well-described complication of critical illness. We hypothesized that rates of comorbid diseases in a population may influence the risk for developing ARDS in trauma patients. This can help plan medical responses. Methods: Patients from the 2017 National Trauma Databank were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were an injury severity score (ISS) of ≥ 2 and 1 or more documented days of mechanical ventilation. Data were analyzed using χ 2, Student’s t test, Mann–Whitney U test, or logistic regression as indicated. Results: Diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 1.33, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] 1.17-1.52), smoking (OR 1.26, 95 percent CI 1.13-1.40), transfusion (OR 1.20, 95 percent CI 1.09-1.32), ISS (OR 1.02, 95 percent CI 1.02-1.03), male gender (OR 1.22, 95 percent CI 1.10-1.35), decreasing Glasgow coma score (OR 1.04, 95 percent CI 1.03-1.05), and increasing abbreviated injury score of the thorax (OR 1.12, 95 percent CI 1.09-1.16) were associated with an increase in risk for developing ARDS. Conclusion: Diabetes and smoking are risk factors for developing ARDS after trauma. Medical response planning in countries with high rates of diabetes mellitus or smoking should take into account a greater need for intensive care and longer patient admissions to field hospitals.
Safety and efficacy of lacosamide versus phenytoin for refractory seizures in neurosurgical patients.

Background Postoperative neurosurgical patients have increased risk of seizures. Traditional anti-epileptics, such as phenytoin, are not always effective and cause adverse effects. Levetiracetam is the first-line therapy due to its similar efficacy and more favourable side effect profile. However, many patients continue to seize despite adequate dosing. Lacosamide has been used for refractory seizures and may offer similar seizure control without the negative aspects of traditional agents. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if lacosamide is as safe and effective as phenytoin in terminating seizures in neurosurgical patients already on levetiracetam. Methods This retrospective, single-centre cohort study identified neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients ≥18 years old who had received levetiracetam plus either phenytoin or lacosamide at Northwestern Memorial Hospital between 1 January 2016 and 31 August 2017. The primary endpoint was treatment failure and the secondary endpoint was safety assessed by liver function tests, blood pressure, heart rate and ECG. Results 70 patients were included in this study, 52 in the phenytoin group and 18 in the lacosamide group. Both phenytoin and lacosamide groups had similar treatment failure rates (25% vs 22% respectively, p=1). Phenytoin use resulted in a mean decrease in systolic blood pressure of 20.9 mm Hg compared with 9.8 mm Hg in the lacosamide group (p=0.019). There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of other adverse effects. Conclusions The use of lacosamide for refractory seizures in neurosurgical ICU patients was associated with similar failure rates, but fewer adverse effects when compared with phenytoin.
An Empirical Bayes Approach to Estimating Dynamic Models of Co-regulated Gene Expression

Time-course gene expression datasets provide insight into the dynamics of complex biological processes, such as immune response and organ development. It is of interest to identify genes with similar temporal expression patterns because such genes are often biologically related. However, this task is challenging due to the high dimensionality of such datasets and the nonlinearity of gene expression time dynamics. We propose an empirical Bayes approach to estimating ordinary differential equation (ODE) models of gene expression, from which we derive similarity metrics that can be used to identify groups of genes with co-moving or time-delayed expression patterns. These metrics, which we call the Bayesian lead-lag R2 values, can be used to construct clusters or networks of functionally-related genes. A key feature of this method is that it leverages biological databases that document known interactions between genes. This information is automatically used to define informative prior distributions on the ODE model9s parameters. We then derive data-driven shrinkage parameters from Stein9s unbiased risk estimate that optimally balance the ODE model9s fit to both the data and external biological information. Using real gene expression data, we demonstrate that our biologically-informed similarity metrics allow us to recover sparse, interpretable gene networks. These networks reveal new insights about the dynamics of biological systems.
A Search for Analogs of KIC 8462852 (Boyajian's Star): A Second List of Candidates

In data from the Kepler mission, the normal F3V star KIC 8462852 (Boyajian's star) was observed to exhibit infrequent dips in brightness that have not been satisfactorily explained. A previous paper reported the first results of a search for other similar stars in a limited region of the sky around the Kepler field. This paper expands on that search to cover the entire sky between declinations of +22 degrees and +68 degrees. Fifteen new candidates with low rates of dipping, referred to as "slow dippers" in Paper I, have been identified. The dippers occupy a limited region of the HR diagram and an apparent clustering in space is found. This latter feature suggests that these stars are attractive targets for SETI searches.
Trends in Hospital Costs and Levels of Services Provided for Children With Bronchiolitis Treated in Children’s Hospitals

Importance Increasing hospital costs for bronchiolitis have been associated with increasing patient complexity and mechanical ventilation. However, the associations of illness severity and diagnostic coding practices with bronchiolitis hospitalization costs have not been examined. Objective To investigate the association of patient complexity, illness severity, and diagnostic coding practices with bronchiolitis hospitalization costs. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cross-sectional study included 385 883 infants aged 24 months or younger who were hospitalized with bronchiolitis at 39 hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System database from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019. Exposure Hospitalization for bronchiolitis. Main Outcomes and Measures Inflation-adjusted standardized unit cost (expressed in dollar units) per hospitalization over time. A nested subgroup analysis was performed to further examine factors associated with changes in cost. Results A total of 385 883 bronchiolitis hospitalizations were studied; the patients had a mean (SD) age of 7.5 (6.4) months and included 227 309 of 385 883 boys (58.9%) and 253 870 of 385 883 publicly insured patients (65.8%). Among patients hospitalized with bronchiolitis, the median standardized unit cost per hospitalization increased significantly during the study period (from $5636 [95% CI, $5558-$5714] in 2010 to $6973 [95% CI, $6915-$7030] in 2019;P Conclusions and Relevance This cross-sectional study suggests that hospitalized children with bronchiolitis are receiving costlier and more intensive care without objective evidence of increasing severity of illness. Changes in coding practices may complicate efforts to study trends in the use of health care resources using administrative data.
Algebras and Coalgebras

In this chapter we introduce algebras and coalgebras. We begin by generalizing the construction of the tensor product to define the tensor product of a finite collection of R-modules, where R is a commutative ring with unity.
The Derivation Of Sub-canopy Surface Terrain Models Of Coastal Forests Using Synthetic Aperture Radar

Radar data acquired by the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B mission covering a portion of the Mouths of the Ganges forests were used to create a terrain model for use in determining tidal flow and eventual nutrient transport from the forest to the marine habitat. Results show that good digital topographic terrain models of wet coastal forests can be generated using multiple sets of L-band SAR and ancillary tide elevation data. The dominance of the interaction phenomenon in the radar backscatter of flooded forests can be used to create sub-canopy inundation maps which when merged with tide surface data can be used to generate reasonable topographic models. Ideally models could be improved by using multiple sets of data at a constant incidence angle over the total tide range. The optimal angle for the SAR depends upon the characteristics of the forest. The range of 46 to 57 deg seems applicable to the 12.5 m tall closed canopy in this example. Such models can be an extremely valuable tool for studying and mapping the mangal ecosystem.
Using abstraction barriers to motivate the teaching of object-oriented concepts

The introductory concepts that are covered when students are introduced to the object-oriented paradigm can be taught from the perspective of abstraction barriers. The relationships between information hiding, encapsulation, and message passing can be more visible with the use of abstraction barriers. This paper proposes the use of abstraction barriers as a vehicle for introducing and reinforcing these topics in conjunction with the introduction to the object-oriented paradigm.
Cross-layer Design for Cooperative Wireless Sensor Networks with Multiple Optimizations

In virtual MIMO technology, distributed single-antenna radio systems cooperate on information transmission and reception as a multiple-antenna MIMO radio system. In this paper, a cooperative transmission scheme, virtual MIMO network formation and reconfiguration algorithms, and a cooperative routing backbone are cross-layered designed for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to jointly achieve required reliability, energy efficiency and delay reduction. The proposed cooperative transmission scheme minimizes the number of intra communications among cooperative nodes. It can save energy and reduces latency at transmission links even when the distance between cooperative nodes is large. In the proposed routing backbone, energy consumption and latency are optimized simultaneously along the route which leverages the MIMO advantages from local transmission links into the whole network. In order to apply the virtual MIMO technology to a general WSN, the number of the cooperative nodes and the length of transmission links are allowed to have heterogeneity. The proposed virtual MIMO radio network can be formed for any underlying WSN with low reconfiguration cost. The performance evaluation shows that the proposed design can fully realize the potential of the virtual MIMO technology and largely improve reliability, latency and energy consumption in a WSN.
Vagus Nerve Section for Relief of Intractible Abdominal Pain in a Case of Gastric Carcinoma

The subject of vagus neurectomy has been extensively studied but we are able to find only one brief mention of its effect in the relief of pain in carcinoma of the stomach1• 2• The authors have observed a patient in whom prompt relief of epigastric pain was afforded by subdiaphragmatic section of the vagus nerves. The relief was dramatic and extremely gratifying to the patient. This case is reported to record added clinical results of the effects of vagus nerve section.
Model-based calibration for sensor networks

Calibration is the process of mapping raw sensor readings into corrected values by identifying and correcting systematic bias. Calibration is important from both off-line and on-line perspectives. Major objectives of calibration procedure include accuracy, resiliency against random errors, ability to be applied in various scenarios, and to address a variety of error models. In addition, a compact mapping function is attractive in terms of both storage and robustness. We start by introducing the nonparametric statistical approach for conducting off-line calibration. After that, we present the non-parametric statistical percentile method for establishing the confidence interval for a particular mapping function. Furthermore, we propose the first model-based on-line procedure for calibration. The calibration problem is formulated as an instance of nonlinear function minimization and solved using the standard conjugate gradient approach. A number of trade-offs between the effectiveness of calibration and noise level, latency, size of network and the complexity of phenomena are analyzed in a quantitative way. As a demonstration example, we use a system consisting of photovoltaic optical sensors.
Catalysis by Solid Acids

This article is an introduction to catalysis by solid acids, with an emphasis on principles and a selection of industrially important examples chosen to illustrate them. Acid catalysts often provide a proton to a reactant to initiate a catalytic cycle, but often the chemistry is more complex. Bronsted acid sites (usually surface OH groups) and Lewis acid sites (such as Al3+ ions at a surface) are often important, and other groups, such as metals and redox groups on the catalyst surface, may also play a role, for example, in initiation of catalysis. Subtleties in the catalytic chemistry are associated with various acid–base interactions, such as adsorption of a basic product on the proton donors that are catalytic sites. The best-understood solid acid catalysts are those with the simplest structures, crystalline solids such as zeolites. Methods are available for counting the proton-donor sites in them. In one example of catalysis by an acidic zeolite, catalytic cracking of an alkane, there is a clear linear dependence of the catalytic activity on the number of proton-donor groups in the zeolite. Theory is beginning to have an impact on the understanding of the simplest catalytic reactions catalyzed by solid acids. Mass transfer effects may be important, as in shape-selective catalysis by some zeolites, and other phenomena related to the catalyst pore structure may be important, as in restricted transition state shape-selective catalysis of alkane cracking in some zeolites. Keywords: acids; acid–base catalysis; Hammet acidity function; shape-selective catalysis; superacids; solid acids; zeolites
Shape of the dark halo of polar ring galaxy NGC 4650A.

Polar ring galaxies, which have an optical ring outside and perpendicular to the plane of their central disks, provide a unique opportunity to probe the gravitational potential of a galaxy in two perpendicular planes. We place limits on the flattening of the dark matter halo of NGC 4650A by fitting the rotation curves of its central disk and polar ring with models consisting of a bulge, disk, axisymmetric dark halo and massive polar ring. Our results indicate that the data are consistent with a range of halo flattening from spherical to quite possibly as flat as E6.
The Enduring Quality of an Alluring Mistake: Why One Person’s Intentions Cannot—And Never Could—Be Evidence of Another Person’s Conduct

For over a century, some courts -- relying upon the landmark Supreme Court opinion in Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York v. Hillmon -- have admitted one person's intention as evidence of what another person did. But Hillmon is wrong. The Supreme Court made an analytical error in its analysis. This Article seeks to expose and explain the error and therefore demonstrate that the state of mind exception to the general rule of exclusion of hearsay evidence should never support admission of one person's stated intentions as evidence of what another person later did.
Signs of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction in Spinal Cord Injured Patients Wearing Halo Braces: A Clinical Report

This clinical report was completed in response to the observations of physical therapists at the spinal cord injury (SCI) center of Jackson Memorial Hospital (Miami, Fla) and at other SCI centers that halo-braced spinal cord injured patients may develop symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. This report describes the assessment of TMJ mobility and the occurrence of symptoms of TMJ dysfunction in four halo-braced subjects with SCI. The results of these assessments indicate that patients with SCI may have some limitations in mandibular mobility early on and may complain of some symptoms associated with TMJ dysfunction. Reasons for the possibility of TMJ dysfunction occurring in this population and the importance of this occurrence to physical therapists are discussed. The author proposes that physical therapists treating halo-braced spinal cord injured patients should be aware of symptoms indicating TMJ dysfunction and that assessment may be indicated. Additionally, ideas for further clinical research are suggested.
Time-reversal imaging of distant targets in shallow water channel

Summary form only given. Time-reversal imaging (TRI) is analogous to matched-field processing, although TRI is typically very wideband and it affords the potential of target classification (in addition to localization). In this paper we apply TRI to mine-like targets situated in shallow water, as well as to submarine-like targets at long range. We present TRI results on both measured and simulated scattering data, for both target classes. In addition to the imaging, we explore extraction of features from the time-reversal image, with these applied to target classification. Time-reversal implementation requires a fast forward model, with that implemented here via a modal as well as a parabolic-equation algorithm. In this talk we discuss the underlying theory of TRI, feature extraction and detection/classification, with several example results presented.
Understanding knowledge management practices for early design activity and its implications for reuse

Prior knowledge is a critical resource for design, especially when designers are striving to generate new ideas for complex problems. Systems that improve access to relevant prior knowledge and promote reuse can improve design efficiency and outcomes. Unfortunately, such systems have not been widely adopted indicating that user needs in this area have not been adequately understood. In this paper, we report the results of a contextual inquiry into the practices of and attitudes toward knowledge management and reuse during early design. The study consisted of interviews and surveys with professional designers in the creative domains. A novel aspect of our work is the focus on early design, which differs from but complements prior works' focus on knowledge reuse during later design and implementation phases. Our study yielded new findings and implications that, if applied, will help bring the benefits of knowledge management systems and reuse into early design activity.
Comparison of the Acceleration and Velocity of Shortening of the Ventricular Radius: Their Potential Applicability for Noninvasive Measurements of Ventricular Performance

The maximal rate and maximal acceleration of shortening of the radius of the minor axis of the ventricle were correlated with various indices of ventricular performance in 20 patients with angina. The maximal acceleration of shortening showed a closer correlation with the ejection fraction, rate of change of flow, and ejection rate of change of power than did the maximal rate of shortening. It also distinguished more sharply between patients with normal and abnormal values of these indices, showing no overlap of values. The maximal rate of shortening showed a less distinct separation. These observations suggest that the acceleration of shortening of the ventricular radius reflects ventricular performance more closely than does the rate of shortening of the radius. These results are relevant in regard to potential applications of these indices by noninvasive techniques, particularly echocardiography.
An experimental study of helicopter rotor rotational noise in a wind tunnel

The rotational noise of model helicopter rotors in forward flight was studied in an anechoic wind tunnel. The parameters under study were the rotor thrust (blade loading), blade number and advance ratio. The separate effects of each parameter were identified with the other parameters being held constant. The directivity of the noise was also measured. Twelve sets of data for rotational noise as a function of frequency were compared with the theory of Lowson and Ollerhead. In general, the agreement is reasonably good, except for the cases of (1) low and high disk loadings, (2) the four bladed rotor, and (3) low advance ratios. The theory always under-estimates the rotational noise at high harmonics.
"Collection of a lifetime: A practical approach to developing a longitudinal collection of women's healthcare biological samples" $

Abstract Objective The objective is to develop a biorepository of samples that represent all stages of a women's life. Importantly, our goal is to collect longitudinal physical specimens as well as the associated short and long-term clinical information. Study design The Women's Health Tissue Repository was established to encompass four tissue banks: Well Women Tissue Bank, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Tissue Bank, Maternal Fetal Tissue Bank, and the long-established Gynecologic Malignancies Tissue Bank. Based on their health status, women being seen in Women's Health at the University of Iowa are recruited to contribute samples and grant access to their electronic medical record to the biorepository. Samples are coded, processed, and stored for use by investigators. Results The Maternal Fetal Tissue Bank was the first expansion of our department's biobanking efforts. Approximately 75% of the women approached consent to participate in the Maternal Fetal Tissue Bank. Enrollment has steadily increased. Samples have been used for over 20 projects in the first 3 years and are critical to 7 funded grants and 3 patent applications. Conclusion Patient samples with corresponding clinical data are initially important to women's health research. Our model demonstrates that many research projects by faculty, fellows, and residents have benefited from the existence of the Women's Health Tissue Repository. While challenging to achieve, longitudinal sampling allows for the greatest opportunity to study normal and pathological changes throughout all phases of a women's life, including pregnancy. This bank facilitates and accelerates the development of novel research, technologies, and possible therapeutic options in women's health. The establishment of more longitudinal biorepositories based on our model would enhance women's health research.
Effects of O+ irradiation on infrared sensing characteristics of modified PZT ceramic

Abstract Perovskite ceramics of modified lead zirconate–titanate (PZT) type have been extensively studied because of their excellent dielectric, electro-optical, piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. Oxygen ions with 200 keV energy and doses of 1.0 × 1016 ions/cm2 were irradiated onto a commercially available modified PZT sample having good pyroelectric properties for use in infrared detectors. Its response was studied in terms of dielectric and pyroelectric properties before and after irradiation; a decrease in dielectric constants (e′, e″) and pyroelectric coefficient is observed. Results are explained on the basis of structural defects such as oxygen vacancies, radiation-induced charges trapped at structural defects and domain dynamics. The material figure-of-merits for their use in infrared sensing devices are calculated and compared with un-irradiated sample.
Female sexual swellings in the Asian colobine Simias concolor

During a preliminary study of pig-tailed langurs (Simias concolor) in the Pagai Islands, Indonesia, it was discovered that females exhibited conspicuous swelling of the urogenital triangle. The pig-tailed langur is the first Asiatic colobine found to have prominent sexual swellings and the only colobine with sexual swellings that lives in one-male groups. Because all anthropoids with conspicuous sex skin typically live in groups having female-biased adult sex ratios, it is possible that females might compete amongst themselves for the male in one-male groups, or the best males in multimale groups. Sexual swellings may therefore have resulted from sexual selection for signals attractive to males in female-female competition, as suggested earlier by Bercovitch (California Anthropologist 8:9-12, 1978). Prolonged observation of recognizable individuals will be required to test this hypothesis in the pig-tailed langur and other species.
Base ionization and ligand binding: how small ribozymes and riboswitches gain a foothold in a protein world

Genome sequencing has produced thousands of nonprotein coding (nc)RNA sequences including new ribozymes and riboswitches. Such RNAs are notable for their extraordinary functionality, which entails exquisite folding that culminates in biocatalytic or ligand-binding capabilities. Here we discuss advances in relating ncRNA form to function with an emphasis on base pK(a) shifting by the hairpin and hepatitis delta virus ribozymes. We then describe ligand binding by the two smallest riboswitches, which target preQ(1) and S-adenosyl-(l)-homocysteine, followed by an analysis of a second-messenger riboswitch that binds cyclic-di-GMP. Each riboswitch is then compared to a protein that binds the same ligand to contrast binding properties. The results showcase the breadth of functionality attainable from ncRNAs, as well as molecular features notable for antibacterial design.
The Liberal Paradox: A generalisation

A largely unsolved problem in economics is what criteria should an economic policy satisfy to be desirable. The Pareto principle is the most widely used normative criterion in economics. Some recent criticisms have suggested that it is not compatible with other objectives of economic policy, most significantly that the Pareto principle conflicts with the respect of individual rights. This paper argues that the Pareto principle is not a significant cause of this conflict. Our argument is based upon a simple generalisation of the Liberal Paradox.
Photoresponsive azobenzene photonic crystals

We demonstrate azobenzene photochemically driven diffraction switching of a photonic crystal consisting of a crystalline colloidal array (CCA) polymerized within a hydrogel matrix. A novel azobenzene derivative that has a large ground-state activation barrier between the cis and trans forms in water is used. The system is actuated by excitation with UV light (wavelength of 365 nm), which photoisomerizes the azobenzene trans state to the cis ground state. The increased dipole moment of the cis state increases the free energy of mixing, causing a hydrogel swelling, which red-shifts the embedded CCA diffraction. Excitation with visible light photoisomerizes the cis state to the trans state, which resets the diffraction. This material acts as a memory storage material. Information is recorded and erased by exciting the photonic crystal in the UV or visible spectral region. The written information is read out completely and nondestructively by the wavelength of the Bragg diffraction (in this case, in the red).
On the origin of the term "stem cell"

Stem cells have fascinated both biologists and clinicians for over a century. Here, we discuss the origin of the term "stem cell," which can be traced back to the late 19th century. The term stem cell originated in the context of two major embryological questions of that time: the continuity of the germ-plasm and the origin of the hematopoietic system. Theodor Boveri and Valentin Hacker used the term stem cell to describe cells committed to give rise to the germline. In parallel, Artur Pappenheim, Alexander Maximow, Ernst Neumann, and others used it to describe a proposed progenitor of the blood system. The original meanings of the term stem cell, rather than being historical relics, continue to capture important aspects of the biology of stem cells as we see them today.
Water Management Decisions Using Multiple Hydrologic Models within the San Juan River Basin under Changing Climate Conditions

AbstractA modified version of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) long-term planning model, Colorado River Simulation System (CRSS), is used to evaluate whether hydrologic model choice has an impact on critical decision variables within the San Juan River Basin when evaluating potential effects of climate change through 2099. The distributed variable infiltration capacity (VIC) model and the lumped National Weather Service (NWS) River Forecast System (RFS) were each used to project future streamflow; these projections of streamflow were then used to force Reclamation’s CRSS model over the San Juan River Basin. Both hydrologic models were compared to evaluate whether or not uncertainty in climatic input generated from general circulation models outweighed differences between the hydrologic models. Differences in methodologies employed by each hydrologic model had a significant effect on projected streamflow within the basin. Both models project decreased water availability under changing climate c...
Future spacecraft propulsion

Propulsion requirements for launch vehicles, upper stages, satellites and platforms, and planetary spacecraft are described from a functional perspective and compared on an energy basis. Mission velocity requirements for a range of missions are presented. A simple model relating optimum exhaust velocity and maximum system delta-V as a function of system-specific energy is developed, which provides insight into the relationship between system performance and various power and propulsion subsystem characteristics. Based on this model, various advanced propulsion options, e.g., the solid-core nuclear rocket and nuclear electric propulsion, are evaluated, and the implications of this analysis for propulsion and power system technology development programs are discussed. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of future propulsion requirements for the nonspecialist.
Relations on the period mapping giving extensions of mixed hodge structures on compact Riemann surfaces

We consider a period map Ψ from Teichmuller space to $$\mathcal{H}om(\mathcal{K}_2 {\text{,}}\mathcal{H}^1 {\text{)}}_\mathbb{R} $$ , which is a real vector bundle over the Siegel upper half space. This map lifts the Torelli map. We study the action of the mapping class group on this period map. We show that the period map from Teichmuller space modulo the Johnson kernel is generically injective. We derive relations that the quadratic periods must satisfy. These identities are generalizations of the symmetry of the Riemann period matrix. Using these higher bilinear relations, we show that the period map factors through a translation of the subbundle $$( \wedge ^3 \mathcal{H}_{\text{1}} )_\mathbb{R} $$ and is completely determined by the purely holomorphic quadratic periods. We apply this result to strengthen some theorems in the literature. One application is that the quadratic periods, along with the abelian periods, determine a generic marked compact Riemann surface up to an element of the kernel of Johnson's homomorphism. Another application is that we compute the cocycle that exhibits the mapping class group modulo the Johnson kernel as an extension of the group SP g (ℤ) by the group $$( \wedge ^3 \mathcal{H}_{\text{1}} )_\mathbb{Z} $$ .
A Linguistic Program At Hesquiat

Hesquiat, British Columbia, was the site of an interesting educational linguistics project developed during the summer of 1978.
Comparison of the carbohydrate and amino acid composition of normal and S-variant α-1-antitrypsin

Abstract α-1-Antitrypsin has been isolated and purified from the serum of an individual with the Pi S phenotype whose serum contains only 50–60% as much α-1-antitrypsin as normal M-type serum. The preparation was homogeneous by the criteria of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation. When analyzed in the ultracentrifuge, the S-type α-1-antitrypsin exhibited a molecular weight of 47500 which was essentially the same as that of the M-type (47300) and the Z-type (47500) α-1-antitrypsin. The S-type α-1-antitrypsin contains 15.2% carbohydrate consisting of 16.4 residues/mol of N -acetylglucosamine, 7.8 residues/mol of mannose. 6.7 residues/mol of galactose and 7.1 residues/mol of sialic acid which is essentially the same as the carbohydrate composition of the M-type α-1-antitrypsin. In addition, M- and S-type α-1-antitrypsin have very similar amino acid compositions.
A Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonist Prevents Loss of Retinal Ganglion Cells in a Glaucoma Model

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to analyze the neuroprotective effect of an α7 nAChR agonist, PNU-282987, using an in vivo model of glaucoma in Long Evans rats.
Intramedullary cisplatin chemotherapy: Experience in four dogs with osteosarcoma

Single-agent intramedullary cisplatin chemotherapy provided effective localised control in two of four dogs with advanced stage osteosarcoma unable to withstand an amputation or limb-sparing surgery. Complete remission of the local neoplasm was observed in one of the four dogs, partial remission of the local neoplasm in one dog and progressive disease in the other two. Limb function was preserved in one dog for seven months and that dog was found to be tumour-free when euthanased due to unrelated causes. These preliminary results warrant further investigation into the use of intramedullary cisplatin chemotherapy in the localised management of canine appendicular osteosarcoma. It is possible that this mode of treatment may be combined with other treatments to maximise the survival (i.e., systemic control) in other dogs affected with appendicular osteosarcoma.
HATs off to PIC assembly

There are many regulated steps in the assembly of a transcription preinitiation complex (PIC). In this issue of Molecular Cell , Black et al. (2006) reveal a catalytic switch mechanism in which autoacetylation of the HAT p300 triggers its dissociation from a promoter in a manner that is coupled to TFIID association.