cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-energy contact sports and cervical spine neuropraxia injuries: what are the criteria for return to participation?

Study design Clinically based systematic review. Objective To define optimal clinical care for patients after sport-related neuropraxic injuries using a systematic review supported with expert opinion. Summary of background data Athletes who participate in contact sports may experience cervical cord neuropraxia, with bilateral motor or sensory symptoms such as burning, numbness, or loss of sensation referable to the cervical spinal cord. The symptoms last from minutes to hours, but recovery is usually believed to be complete. The underlying condition is cervical spinal stenosis that predisposes the athlete to a transient compression or concussive injury to the spinal cord. Methods Focused questions on the treatment of cervical spine sport-related injuries resulting in transient neuropraxia were refined by a panel of spine traumatology surgeons consisting of fellowship-trained neurologic and orthopedic surgeons. Medical subject heading keywords were searched through MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to identify pertinent English-language abstracts and articles whose focus was human subjects. The quality of literature was rated as high, moderate, low, or very low. The proposed questions were answered using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation evidence-based review system. These treatment recommendations were rated as either strong or weak based on the quality of evidence and clinical expertise. Results The literature searches revealed low and very low quality evidence with no prospective or randomized studies. One hundred fifty-three pertinent articles were identified; these were supplemented with additional articles to form an evidentiary table with 17 original articles containing unique patient data. Conclusion Literature regarding the optimal treatment of patients with transient neuropraxia is of low quality. On the basis of expert opinion, there was a recommendation that a return to full participation in high-energy contact sports could be based on radiographic findings: patients with transient neuropraxia without stenosis could return as a strong recommendation, whereas stenotic patients could not return as a weak recommendation. Furthermore, a strong recommendation was made to permit players to return to full participation after decompression with a single-level anterior cervical fusion.
Physiological and morphological characterization of striatal neurons transplanted into the striatum of adult rats

Physiological and morphological properties of transplanted striatal neurons (TSNs) were examined in an in vitro slice preparation. Fetal striatal tissue (E13-14) was implanted as a dissociated cellular suspension into the striatum of adult rats. Intracellular records were obtained from TSNs 2-6 weeks after transplantation. TSNs exhibited biophysical, morphological, and synaptic properties characteristic of normal striatal neurons, despite the disruption involved in processing of the fetal tissue. Differences were observed, however, between the TSNs and host striatal neurons. TSNs consistently had higher input resistance values than host striatal neurons as determined by neuronal responses to intracellular current injection. Stimulation of adjacent host striatum elicited both excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in TSNs. By contrast, the same stimuli elicited only excitatory responses in host striatal neurons. Morphologically, TSNs resembled host medium-size spiny neurons as demonstrated by intracellular injection of lucifer yellow. However, the complexity of dendritic branching and the density of spines on the dendrites were less than that observed for host striatal neurons. It was concluded that during the posttransplantation period studied, TSNs possess neuronal properties expected of developmentally immature striatal neurons.
A language ideological perspective on willingness to communicate

Abstract The author argues that theoretical and empirical accounts of willingness to communicate (WTC) would benefit from consideration of the linguistic anthropological concept of language ideology. In particular, within WTC models, experiences with second language (L2) communication are conceptualized as a key aspect of L2 users' perceptions of their communicative competence, itself an important aspect of WTC. The relationship between these communicative experiences and L2 users' self-evaluations of their L2 is mediated by language ideology. This argument is supported by interview data from longitudinal case studies demonstrating participants' radically different interpretations of the same or similar communicative events mediated by two different language ideologies – deficit and lingua franca ideologies. Ideological assumptions lead participants working with a deficit ideology to interpret certain communicative events as evidence of their own linguistic deficiency suggesting negative effects for their WTC. However, the same or similar events were interpreted radically differently by one participant drawing on a lingua franca ideology. Finally, these findings suggest the need for critical pedagogical approaches to language education that interrogate deficit language ideologies in an attempt to promote WTC.
Phytoextraction of lead from firing range soil by Vetiver grass.

Abstract Phytoextraction techniques utilizing a sterile strain of Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanoides) along with soil amendments were evaluated for removing lead and other elements such as Zn, Cu, and Fe from the soil of a 50-year old active firing range at the Savannah River Site (SRS). Lead-contaminated soil (300–4500 ppm/kg) was collected, dried, placed in pots, fertilized, and used as a medium for growing transplanted Vetiver grass plants in a greenhouse. The uptake of metals by the plants was evaluated in response to various fertilization and pre-harvest treatment schemes. Baseline metal concentrations in the soil of all pots were measured prior to planting and when the plants were harvested. Plants grew better when fertilized with Osmocote® fertilizer in comparison to plants fertilized with 10-10-10 (NPK) fertilizer. Application of a chelating agent, EDTA, one week prior to harvest significantly increased the amount of lead that was phytoextracted. Lead concentrations of up to 1390–1450 ppm/kg in tissue samples were detected. Maximum Pb levels were observed in root tissues. The addition of non-lethal doses of a slow-release herbicide in combination with EDTA did not appear to further enhance phytoextraction or the translocation of Pb into shoots. The study indicated that the use of Vetiver grass coupled with the use of chelating soil amendments has considerable potential for use as a remedial strategy for lead-contaminated soils such as those associated with firing ranges.
Stress management for T helper differentiation

The integrated stress response is a complex signaling pathway that regulates myriad cell processes, including protein translation, depending on the stress conditions. Primed CD4+ T helper cells may use this response system to optimize cytokine expression.
Instantaneous vertical profiling of precipitation using passive microwave radiometers

Several methods have been proposed to train microwave radiometers to retrieve precipitation rates estimated by a radar which observed the same location at the same time. These radar-trained passive-microwave algorithms differ in the quantities that are estimated: some estimate the vertically-integrated liquid water, while others estimate the near-surface precipitation. Since it is no more or less credible to estimate the rain rate at the surface than it is to estimate the rain rate at any discrete altitude, it is particularly interesting to quantify the accuracy with which vertical profiles of precipitation can be estimated from a passive microwave radiometer, what the obstacles are, and what vertical resolution would be achievable. To that end, we conducted several studies to 1) establish that the main impediment to the vertical profiling is the unknown signature of the sea surface in the non-precipitating portions of the field of view, and 2) use surfaceinsensitive principal components of the brightness temperatures to retrieve the vertical principal components of the precipitation. We report on the results of our studies in the case of mid-latitudes regions, in the case of the Atlantic Inter- Tropical Convergence Zone during May 2009 where we produced unique estimates that quantify the vertical structure of the convection in which flight AF447 disappeared, and in the case of polar precipitation where the dearth of instruments and the radiometrically cold frozen surface present additional challenges.
Self-Presentation, Representation and the Self

Chisholm held that some states of ourselves are self-presenting and provide a stopping place in the quest for justification. The justification we have for accepting that we are in those states is transparent to us in a way that enables us to answer questions about justification. Representation enables us to apprehend such self-presenting states through themselves in a representational loop. It is a loop of exemplarization wherein the state is used as an exemplar to represent the kind of state it is. The result is that the representation of the state provides the subject with a kind of representation that loops back onto itself escaping the bondage of stratified mentality. This form of representation by exemplarization is shown to resolve problems and paradoxes concerning subjectivity, consciousness and the self raised by the writings of Hume, Kierkegaard, Ferrier, Sartre and Frank Jackson.
On the consistency of certain approximate solutions to the transport equation

Abstract Several approximating techniques to finite slab problems are compared for consistency in the subcritical and critical states. It is found that certain techniques are valid throughout the subcritical range while others are only of limited applicability. These solutions are extended to the finite sphere, where similar conclusions are noted. The approximations can be conveniently divided into classes, each class being associated with a different critical condition.
The crystal structure of Na4Ni7(PO4)6

Abstract Na4Ni7(PO4)6 crystallizes in the space group Cm with a = 10.550(2), b = 13.985(5), and c = 6.398(2)A; β = 104.87(2)°. For Z = 2 the calculated density is 3.906 g/cm3 (V = 912.4 A3). Structure determination and refinement (R = 0.041, RW = 0.045) were carried out on flux (NaF) grown crystals. The structure consists of layers of nickel-containing octahedra and phosphorus-containing tetrahedra interconnected to form a pseudocentrosymmetric framework. A layer consisting of parallel tunnels which run along the a direction contains the sodium ions in a noncentrosymmetric arrangement.
Preliminary study of a phase-contrast cone-beam computed tomography system: the edge-enhancement effect in the tomographic reconstruction of in-line holographic images

A phase-contrast cone-beam computed tomography (PC CBCT) system is proposed for small-animal imaging that incorporates the in-line holography technique into CBCT system. Theoretical analysis shows that the in-line holographic image can be approximately transformed into line integrals of an object function composed of an attenuation term and a phase term. The Fresnel diffraction theory is applied to generate in-line holographic images along a circular orbit, and the Feldkamp-Davis-Kress algorithm is applied to reconstruct the object function. The proposed system was investigated using a numerical phantom, and the reconstruction was evaluated using the edge-enhancement factor and the relative reconstruction error. The reconstruction results show that all the structures in the numerical phantom are bounded with enhanced edges with negligible artifacts. These enhanced edges make the reconstruction visually sharper and clearer. The results show that while the relative reconstruction errors are very close to that of the conventional CBCT reconstruction, having a small cone angle, weak attenuation, small focal spot size, and high-resolution detector are preferred for a greater edge-enhancement effect.
Evaluation of cytochrome P450 mechanism and kinetics using kinetic deuterium isotope effects.

In this paper two hypotheses are tested: (i) the active oxygen species is similar in energetics for all cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and (ii) linear free-energy relationships can be used to evaluate the mechanism of the reaction of these enzymes. A series of intramolecular isotope effects were determined and compared for CYPs 1A2, 2B1, 2C9, 2E1, and P450cam. The results indicate that the isotope effects are very similar for each of these isoforms of P450 and that the first hypothesis is likely to be true. Attempts to establish a linear free-energy relationship were only moderately successful: log Vmax = 0.11σ+p + 1.73; r2 = 0.588. It was determined, through the use of intermolecular isotope effects, that the rates of hydrogen atom abstraction are masked. Thus, the second hypothesis is found to be false. This is likely to be a general result for CYP reactions, and linear free-energy relationships can only be used to determine the mechanism under very special circumstances. In all cases, the rate-limitin...
Clientelism, Credibility, and the Policy Choices of Young Democracies

This article identifies for the first time systematic performance differences between younger and older democracies and argues that these are driven by the inability of political competitors to make broadly credible preelectoral promises to voters. Younger democracies are more corrupt; exhibit less rule of law, lower levels of bureaucratic quality and secondary school enrollment, and more restrictions on the media; and spend more on public investment and government workers. This pattern is exactly consistent with the predictions of Keefer and Vlaicu (n.d.). The inability of political competitors to make credible promises to citizens leads them to prefer clientelist policies: to underprovide nontargeted goods, to overprovide targeted transfers to narrow groups of voters, and to engage in excessive rent seeking. Other differences that young democracies exhibit, including different political and electoral institutions, greater exposure to political violence, and greater social fragmentation, do not explain, either theoretically or empirically, these policy choices.
Interaction of Polycrystalline Silver with Oxygen, Water, Carbon Dioxide, Ethylene, and Methanol: In Situ Raman and Catalytic Studies

In situ Raman spectroscopy was used to study the interaction of polycrystalline silver with 16O2, 18O2, H2O, D2O, CO2, C2H4, and CH3OH at atmospheric pressure and temperatures between 25 and 500 °C. Raman bands at 956 and 800 cm-1 were observed upon exposure of silver to 16O2, and replacement of 16O2 with 18O2 shifted these bands to 931 and 778 cm-1, respectively. The 956 cm-1 Raman band was assigned to the stretching vibration of surface atomic oxygen with a AgO double bond, which sits on top of a Ag atom. This species is stable up to 250 °C and does not appear to interact with water, carbon dioxide, ethylene, or methanol. The 800 cm-1 Raman band was assigned to the stretching vibration of surface atomic oxygen with bridging Ag−O−Ag bonds, which sits on the interstices of three Ag atoms. This oxygen species is desorbed above 300 °C and interacts with water, ethylene, and methanol. Upon exposure of preoxidized silver to H2O and D2O, a new major Raman band at 866 cm-1 was observed, which was also assigned ...
Quantifying Anecdotes: Google Search Data and Political Developments in Egypt

The events of 2011 transformed the politics of the Arab world. In just under 12 months, dictators fell in three countries: Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. In Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria, protests and violence continued throughout 2012 to shake what were once assumed to be the solid foundations of long-standing autocratic regimes. Although it is too soon to assess the outcome of these events, one immediate consequence is clear: the empowerment of public opinion in Arab politics. For the first time in more than 50 years, the voices of average Tunisians, Egyptians, and Libyans can directly influence political outcomes. This shift may yet prove to be temporary, but its importance in driving current events cannot be discounted.
Simplified Medium Scale FEM Numerical Models of Magnetic Nanoparticle Heating: Study of Thermal Boundary Condition Effects

Magnetic nanoparticles are currently under intense investigation as a heating strategy for hyperthermia cancer treatment because they are promising as a means to target the heating specifically to the tumor.[1–4] Currently, our ability to create practical and useful numerical models in dimensional spaces similar to ordinary small tumors is severely hampered by the multiple orders of magnitude of the relative scales: nm to mm. Consequently, the preponderance of literature on the topic describes experimental studies only. Detailed individual nanoparticle model spaces with moderate dimensions up to mm would be nearly intractably computationally intensive, requiring peta-scale computing resources. It would advance the state of the art to be able to apply practical computing machinery to analyze realistic medium scale in vivo systems. Such a tool could be reasonably applied in experimental analysis, and potentially in treatment planning and assessment.© 2013 ASME
Distribution Decisions for Public Services

A systematic approach formulating public sector distribution decisions is suggested. The approach starts with an audit to identify who is getting how much of a service. When the existing allocation pattern is known, then objectives are set which amend or perpetuate this pattern in accordance with the agency's preferred distribution model. A distribution strategy plan is developed which establishes what will be done to implement the objectives. The plan consists of the following four main sets of decisions: (1) the channel of distribution; (2) intensity of distribution; (3) selection of site locations; and (4) schedule of service delivery.
Modular gating channel and Cole-Moore effect: next-neighbor (Hill-Chen) versus nonrestricted aggregation

Abstract When the principle of aggregation is applied to electrically gated channels, the fundamental differences between an aggregation process that is limited to next-neighbor interactions and one that is not can become decisive for the viability of an hypothesis. This is demonstrated for the case of the Cole-Moore criteria for induction and superposition.
Phylogeny of Opsanus spp. (Batrachoididae) inferred from multiple mitochondrial-DNA sequences

Species of the toadfish genus Opsanus are increasingly used as experimental organisms in biomedicine and evolutionary/ecological physiology. Despite their importance, little is known of the phylogenetic relationships among Opsanus species. DNA sequence data for portions of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA, cytochrome oxidase I and cytochrome b genes were generated and analyzed from the four recognized Opsanus species and three outgroup taxa. Results of these analyses indicate an evolutionarily rapid divergence of three lineages within the genus. O. beta and O. pardus were resolved within the same lineage, and could not be distinguished with these mitochondrial sequence data. These data and paleoclimatic theory support a hypothesis of speciation based on the formation of allopatric populations during periods of elevated water temperature in the northern Caribbean.
Binocular summation in normal and stereoblind humans.

Abstract Monocular and binocular contrast thresholds were measured over a range of spatial frequencies in normal and stereoblind observers. Unlike normal individuals, whose binocular thresholds were consistently lower than monocular, stereoblind individuals were no better with two eyes than with one. These results suggest that stereopsis and binocular summation are mediated by a common neural mechanism.
Drying of an Initially Saturated Fractured Volcanic Tuff

The isothermal drying of an initially saturated welded tuffaceous rock was studied experimentally. Gamma-beam densitometry was used to measure the material`s effective porosity distribution prior to the drying experiment. It was then used to measure liquid saturation distributions during a 1400 hour drying period. The core selected for study was taken from the Busted Butte outcrop at the Nevada Test Site, part of the Topopah Spring Member of Paintbrush tuff. This specimen contained several microfractures transversely oriented to the direction of the water or vapor migration. These fractures were found to be regions of rapid dryout or low saturation even though they were displaced from the surface over which dry nitrogen was flowing. An imbibition experiment was performed earlier on the same core. In the imbibition experiment the presence of most of these microfractures was detected by discontinuities in the measured saturation curves, which indicated a delay in liquid transport past the microfractures. The mechanism for this inside out drying is believed to be capillary action that removes water from the larger-pore fracture zone. Vapor pressure lowering in the fine pore region, which would result in transport by evaporation, diffusion and condensation, is thought not to be important at roommore » temperatures. Modeling of this dryout experiment reproduced some of the overall features of the experiment but underpredicted the saturation near the drying surfaces. 8 refs., 11 figs.« less
Deciphering Fur transcriptional regulatory network highlights its complex role beyond iron metabolism in Escherichia coli

The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) plays a critical role in the transcriptional regulation of iron metabolism. However, the full regulatory potential of Fur remains undefined. Here we comprehensively reconstruct the Fur transcriptional regulatory network in Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 in response to iron availability using genome-wide measurements. Integrative data analysis reveals that a total of 81 genes in 42 transcription units are directly regulated by three different modes of Fur regulation, including apo- and holo-Fur activation and holo-Fur repression. We show that Fur connects iron transport and utilization enzymes with negative-feedback loop pairs for iron homeostasis. In addition, direct involvement of Fur in the regulation of DNA synthesis, energy metabolism and biofilm development is found. These results show how Fur exhibits a comprehensive regulatory role affecting many fundamental cellular processes linked to iron metabolism in order to coordinate the overall response of E. coli to iron availability.
Application of Risk Theory to Interpretation of Stochastic Cash-Flow-Testing Results

Abstract This paper offers practical guidance to actuaries who are seeking ways to evaluate and manage the output from the stochastic cash-flow-testing process. A commonly expressed opinion about the stochastic approach is that almost all the results are successes, whereas the adverse scenarios are arguably the ones of major interest. This paper responds to the following question: “Given that I have run a large number of stochastic cash-flow-testing scenarios resulting in only a very small number of scenarios landing in the adverse area, or “ruin tail,” how can I use the results of the entire set of observations to better estimate the area under the ruin tail? We begin the paper with a discussion of the types of variables that could be investigated by using the output from typical simulation models. The choice of variable worth examining appears flexible and could include the accumulated surplus at the end of the time horizon of the scenario, the present value of the accumulated surplus discounted to the ...
Finite-element simulation of closed loop vibration control of a smart plate under transient loading

A plate structure with integrated piezoelectric patches is modeled using the finite-element method which is based on a combination of three-dimensional piezoelectric, flat shell and transition elements. Constant velocity and constant displacement feedback control algorithms are used to actively control the dynamic response of the integrated smart structure through closed loop control. A modal superposition technique coupled with a direct integration method (α-method) is used in the numerical simulation to calculate the dynamic response of the system. In this work, the performance of the active controller for vibration suppression is demonstrated for a clamped plate with piezoelectric patches glued in pairs on both sides of the plate. By using strategically located sensor/actuator pairs, several modes of a clamped square plate are successfully controlled. The control effectiveness of the actuators is maximized by locating them at points of maximum strain in the frequency and time domains. We conclude that discrete sensor/actuator devices are to be preferred over distributed piezoelectric films to realize lower weight and effective control authority for modest values of actuator voltages for active vibration control of practical structures.
Diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: prevention and treatment

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) secondary to diabetes mellitus have a much higher dialysis-associated mortality rate than similar non-diabetic patients (1). They also have higher morbidity rates, particularly with respect to vascular complications. These results have been described as abysmal for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (2) and have focused attention on interventions that might decrease the development and progression of nephropathy.
Sum frequency generation of sodium resonance radiation

We have generated pulsed, high power, sodium resonance radiation by sum frequency mixing the 1.06 μm and 1.32 μm outputs of two Nd:YAG lasers with an average power conversion efficiency of 30%. The wavelength of the sum radiation was tuned across the full Doppler width of the sodium-vapor D2 absorption by tuning the wavelength of either Nd:YAG laser with intracavity etalons. The wavelength of the 1.32 μm Nd:YAG laser was also tuned by injection seeding with a GaInAsP/InP diode laser. We have used this sodium resonance radiation for the lidar observation of the earth’s naturally occurring atomic–sodium layer at 90 km altitude.
A concentrated suspension model for the couette rheology of blood

A "simple" cell method for concentrated suspnsions has been used to construct a model for the rheological behavior of blood. The model includes the physical properties of the suspending medium, red cell membrane and red cell fluid content. Predictions of the gross viscosity of red cell suspensions are found to agree very well with experiment in the cases of hardened red cells (or normal red cells at very low shear rate) and of normal red cells in the asymptotic limit of high shear rates. The behavior at intermediate shear rates requires a knowledge of the viscoplastic properties of the membrane and a number of membrane models are investigated. Of particular interest is plastic membrane which employs a membrane yield stress obtained from other experiments and whose results are qualitatively in agreement with the viscometric data at these intermediate shear rates.
Sizing and Desizing Polyester / Cotton Blend Yarns Using Liquid Carbon Dioxide

We report a preliminary investigation of nonaqueous sizing and desizing where liquid carbon dioxide is the solvent. New size formulations are required for this process because traditional size materials are not directly soluble in liquid carbon dioxide. Candidate size compounds are first tested for solubility, and those found to be soluble are then applied to polyester/cotton yarns using two methods: immersing the yarn in a size-saturated carbon dioxide solution and drawing the yarn through a hot melt of the compound. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of the sized yarns are deter mined. Complete removal of the size compounds from the treated yarns by means of liquid carbon dioxide extraction is demonstrated.
Prokaryote taxonomy of the 20th century and the impact of studies on the genus Pseudomonas: a personal view

The taxonomic studies on the genus Pseudomonas performed in the Department of Bacteriology of the University of California at Berkeley played a significant role in the development of modern prokaryote taxonomy, which started in the 1960s. This impact was due to a revival of the method of den Dooren de Jong for the nutritional analysis of chemoorganotrophic organisms and, mostly, to the introduction of the determination of rRNA as a method of taxonomic analysis. While the introduction of the nutritional studies facilitated the characterization of Pseudomonas and other chemoorganotrophs, the applicability of the rRNA studies extended to all prokaryotes.
Digital flexor tendon sheath: An anatomic study

The flexor sheath of 72 fresh human cadaver digits was examined under the operating microscope utilizing fiberoptic and polarizing light sources. Magnifications of eight to 25 times were used during the dissection. The vascular system was injected with latex material, and longitudinal and cross sections of the tissues were studied histologically. The flexor sheath is seen to be a contained bursal environment with specialized anatomy to provide for flexion and extension. The formerly perplexing pulley system is now seen to be an orderly repeating system of proximal and distal pulleys. The anatomic relationships of the vessels to the proximal cul-de-sac and vincular system are described.
Factors determining the persistence or recurrence of well-differentiated thyroid cancer treated by thyroidectomy and/or radioiodine in the Boston, Massachusetts area: A retrospective chart review

To assess predictors of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) persistence/recurrence. This was a retrospective chart review of thyroid carcinoma patients seen 1979-2007 in a Boston, Massachusetts-area multispecialty group. Of 1,025 patients, 431 met eligibility criteria. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess predictors (gender, age, ethnicity, tumor size, surgical histology) of WDTC persistence/recurrence (elevated thyroglobulin levels with negative thyroglobulin-antibodies; or positive imaging). Local extension of disease and lymph node involvement could not be assessed. Mean age at initial surgery (n = 431, 74% women, 79% Caucasian) was 45.8 ± 13.5(SD) years. Mean tumor (papillary, 91%; follicular, 5%; Hurthle cell, 2%; ≥1 type, 2%) size was 2.5 ± 1.6(SD) cm. Most tumors were unifocal (57%) and ≥1 cm (89%). Over 2,600 person-years of follow-up, persistence/recurrence occurred in 52 patients (12%) 4.3 years (median; range 0.2-23.2 years) after surgery. Gender, ethnicity, tumor size, multifocality, and histology were not predictive of persistence/recurrence, while older age was predictive in some models. In WDTC patients treated by total and near total thyroidectomy and radioiodine and analyzed without consideration of local, locoregional, and distant extent of disease, neither size of tumor nor male gender contribute to disease persistence/recurrence. Age at diagnosis seems to have some positive prognostic value even if only patients older than 21 years at diagnosis are considered. Due to the rare occurrence of follicular (also oxyphilic) histotype, this conclusion refers mainly to patients with papillary thyroid cancer.
A control volume mixed finite element formulation for tetrahedral elements

Summary The control-volume mixed finite element method is formulated for and applied to a computational domain consisting of a tetrahedral partitioning to solve the steady groundwater flow equations. Test functions consistent with piecewise constant and piecewise linear pressure distributions are used in the formulation. Comparisons are made with a standard mixed finite element formulation using lowest-order Raviart Thomas basis functions. Results suggest that the control-volume based formulation is a viable alternative to the standard formulation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The circuitry of cargo flux in the ESCRT pathway.

The endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) complexes sort ubiquitinated membrane proteins into multivesicular bodies, which is a key step in the lysosomal degradation pathway. Shields et al. (Shields, S.B., A.J. Oestreich, S. Winistorfer, D. Nguyen, J.A. Payne, D.J. Katzmann, and R. Piper. 2009. J. Cell Biol. 185:213–224) identify a new ubiquitin-binding site in ESCRT-I and provide evidence that the upstream ESCRT-I and -II complexes sort cargo in parallel rather than in series.
CLUSTER MORPHOLOGIES AND MODEL-INDEPENDENT Y SZ ESTIMATES FROM BOLOCAM SUNYAEV-ZEL'DOVICH IMAGES

We present initial results from our ongoing program to image the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect in galaxy clusters at 143 GHz using Bolocam; five clusters and one blank field are described in this manuscript. The images have a resolution of 58 arcsec and a radius of ≃ 6-7 arcmin, which is approximately r_(500)-2r_(500) for these clusters. We effectively high-pass filter our data in order to subtract noise sourced by atmospheric fluctuations, but we are able to obtain unbiased images of the clusters by deconvolving the effects of this filter. The beam-smoothed rms is ≃ 10 μK_(CMB) in these images; with this sensitivity, we are able to detect the SZ signal to beyond r_(500) in binned radial profiles. We have fit our images to beta and Nagai models, fixing spherical symmetry or allowing for ellipticity in the plane of the sky, and we find that the best-fit parameter values are in general consistent with those obtained from other X-ray and SZ data. Our data show no clear preference for the Nagai model or the beta model due to the limited spatial dynamic range of our images. However, our data show a definitive preference for elliptical models over spherical models, quantified by an F ratio of ≃ 20 for the two models. The weighted mean ellipticity of the five clusters is ϵ = 0.27 ± 0.03, consistent with results from X-ray data. Additionally, we obtain model-independent estimates of Y_(500), the integrated SZ y-parameter over the cluster face to a radius of r_(500), with systematics-dominated uncertainties of ≃ 10%. Our Y_(500) values, which are free from the biases associated with model-derived Y_(500) values, scale with cluster mass in a way that is consistent with both self-similar predictions and expectations of a ≃ 10% intrinsic scatter.
Conference program generator software: a program that links desktop publishing and data base technology

Issues in desktop publishing are discussed as they relate to the use of computer databases. The design and development of software to automate the production of conference programs by linking databases to a desktop publishing system is described. The discussion covers: the redesign of the existing conference program; specifying styles in Ventura Publisher; setting up dBASE II databases; writing the conference program generator software; and using Ventura Publisher to produce camera-ready copy. >
Importance of the natural history of benign prostatic hyperplasia in the evaluation of pharmacologic intervention

The variable natural history of untreated symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and the fact that therapeutic intervention is based more on subjective than objective criteria of progressive disease have important consequences for appropriately evaluating the effects of pharmacologic intervention on clinical BPH. To evaluate accurately the success of drug therapy for symptomatic BPH, any trial must include a placebo treatment arm for comparison. However, for such a placebo control to be legitimate, it must not affect the natural history of BPH. To evaluate the effect of placebo treatment on BPH, a large body of data following the natural history of untreated clinical BPH from a variety of independent studies was combined and compared to those from a large variety of independent studies in which a placebo-treated group of patients with clinical BPH also followed. These comparisons demonstrate that 1) placebo treatment does not affect the natural history of the disease; 2) spontaneous improvement usually occurs within the first 6 months of initial presentation of symptoms, if it is to occur at all; and 3) 3-6 months of follow-up are needed to determine if a patient is going to get worse. Thus, to evaluate accurately the potential benefit of any medical intervention for symptomatic BPH, placebo-controlled clinical trials will be required and should be of at least 6 month's duration.
The mammography controversy.

The Oncologist 2002;7:174-176 www.TheOncologist.com Correspondence: Colin B. Begg, Ph.D., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA. Telephone: 212-639-7573; Fax: 212-717-3803; e-mail: beggc@mskcc.org Received April 4, 2002; accepted for publication April 8, 2002. ©AlphaMed Press 1083-7159/2002/$5.00/0 The appropriateness of screening mammography has emerged once again as a contentious issue. This report brings readers up-to-date with the latest developments in this long-running controversy.
Quo Vadis the fumigants

Fumigation is the most widely used procedure to control stored product pests to prevent economic and quality losses by providing various application methods and penetration capability into the treated commodity. However, most of the available fumigants have limitations in use due to various reasons. Methyl bromide (MB), according to Montreal Protocol, is scheduled to be phased out worldwide by 2015. Sulphuryl fluoride (SF) is known to have limited efficiency on egg stages of insects. Reportedly, it also contributes to the greenhouse effects, which may jeopardize its future use. Currently, phosphine (PH 3 ) is the most widely used fumigant worldwide due to its low cost and ease of application, though resistance observed in major pest species threatens the continued use of PH 3 . Recent studies in beetles reveal that phosphine resistance is governed through two genes on separate autosomal chromosomes. Research on new fumigants continue to be restricted due to concerns over the adverse effects of fumigant residues in food and the environment that led regulatory agencies to take actions by imposing strict limitations on fumigant registration. On the other hand the phase out of MB and resistance to PH 3 has stimulated significant interest on development of alternatives like modified atmospheres (MAs), thermal disinfestation and irradiation. In Turkey, MAs applications are preferred for the treatment of organic food products and are performed mostly in transportable PVC structures (Cocoons or Volcani Cubes). In museums high nitrogen or SF applications are the only procedures to eradicate structural pests. Under the given constraints of registration of new fumigants, it is anticipated that more attention will be devoted to develop novel alternative treatments that are economically feasible, sustainable, user friendly and environmentally benign. Keywords : Fumigants, Modified atmospheres, Insect resistance, Stored products pests, Fumigant alternatives
Should axillary artery to coronary artery bypass be part of the cardiac surgeon's armamentarium?

Background: Theaxillaryarteryhasbeenusedasanalternateinflowsourceforrevascularizationofthelowerextremitiesforfourdecades.Since 1997, there have been several reports of axillary artery to coronary artery bypass. Methods: All cases of axillary artery to coronary artery bypass at ourinstitutionfrom1997through2003werereviewed.PubMedwasqueriedforpublicationsonthissubjectandallpertinentreportswerereviewed. Results: Thirty-eight patients underwent axillary artery to coronary artery bypass at our hospital. Most (34) of the operations were performed withoutcardiopulmonarybypass.Saphenousvein(37)orradialartery(1)graftswereplacedtooneormorecoronaryarteriesfromeithertheleft(36) orright (2)axillary artery. Twenty patientsunderwentsternotomy, and18hadeither aleft(16)orright(2) minimallyinvasivedirectcoronaryartery bypass (MIDCAB) procedure performed. Most of the sternotomies were for primary myocardial revascularization and most of the MIDCABs were reoperations. There were three deaths—all from non-cardiac causes, one myocardial infarction, and one transient brachial plexus injury. Doppler ultrasound,angiographic,andclinicalfollow-upwerelimited,butgraftpatencyhasbeendemonstratedupto9years.Conclusion:Axillaryarteryto coronary artery bypass should be part of the armamentarium of surgeons who perform myocardial revascularization operations. # 2007 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Integration of preoperative anatomic and metabolic physiologic imaging of newly diagnosed glioma

Purpose To integrate standard anatomic magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with uniformly acquired physiologic imaging biomarkers of untreated glioma with different histological grades with the goal of generating an algorithm that can be applied for patient management. Methods A total of 143 patients with previously untreated glioma were scanned immediately before surgical resection using conventional anatomical MR imaging, and with uniform acquisition of perfusion-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and proton MR spectroscopic imaging. Regions of interest corresponding to anatomic and metabolic lesions were identified to assess tumor burden. MR parameters that had been found to be predictive of survival in patients with grade IV glioma were evaluated as a function of tumor grade and histological sub-type. Based on these finding both anatomic and physiologic imaging parameters were then integrated to generate an algorithm for management of patients with newly diagnosed presumed glioma. Results Histological analysis indicated that the population comprised 56 patients with grade II, 31 with grade III, and 56 with grade IV glioma. Based on standard anatomic imaging, the presence of hypointense necrotic regions in post-Gadolinium T1-weighted images and the percentage of the T2 hyperintense lesion that was either enhancing or necrotic were effective in identifying patients with grade IV glioma. The individual parameters of diffusion and perfusion parameters were significantly different for patients with grade II astrocytoma versus oligodendroglioma sub-types. All tumors had regions with elevated choline to N-acetylasparate index (CNI). Lactate was higher for grade III and grade IV glioma and lipid was significantly elevated for grade IV glioma. These results were integrated into a proposed management algorithm for newly diagnosed glioma that will need to be prospectively tested in future studies. Conclusion Metabolic and physiologic imaging characteristics provide information about tumor heterogeneity that may be important for assisting the surgeon to ensure acquisition of representative histology. Correlation of these integrated MR parameters with clinical features will need to be assessed with respect to their role in predicting outcome and stratifying patients into risk groups for clinical trials. Future studies will use image directed tissue sampling to confirm the biological interpretation of these parameters and to assess how they change in response to therapy.
Investigation of the behavior of a ventilated supercavity

The topic of supercavitation is of considerable interest to drag reduction and/or speed augmentation in marine vehicles. Supercavitating vehicles need to be supplied with an artificial cavity through ventilation until they accelerate to conditions at which a natural supercavity can be sustained. A study has been carried out in the high-speed water tunnel at St. Anthony Falls Laboratory to investigate some aspects of the flow physics of such a supercavitating vehicle. During the present experimental work, the ventilated supercavity formed behind a sharp-edged disk was investigated utilizing several different configurations. Results regarding cavity shape, cavity closure and ventilation requirements versus cavitation number and Froude number are presented. Additionally, effects related to flow choking in a water tunnel test section are discussed. Results obtained are similar in character to previously reported results, but differ significantly in measured values. Cavity shape, particularly aft of the maximum cavity diameter, is found to be a strong function of the model support scheme chosen.
Regenerative Heat Exchanger Theory

Regenerator theory deals with the physical equations defining the thermal and fluid flow fields that exist in a regenerator. These equations describe the temperature distributions in the matrix material and fluid as functions of both space and time and lead to a complex set of differential equations for which no closed-form solutions exist. In the following sections we explore the different types of regenerator designs commonly used in cryogenic devices and develop both the thermal and fluid dynamic equations that define their performance.
The color of mass culture: spectral characteristics of a shallow water column through shade‐limited algal growth dynamics1

It is envisioned that mass algal cultivation for commercial biofuels production will entail the use of large raceway pond systems, which typically have shade-limited photosynthetic growth within depths of 20-30 cm. The attenuation of light and spectral qualities of red, green, and blue wavelengths in a 20-cm water column as a function of Chl-a concentration during exponential and linear phases of growth dynamics for the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana was examined under laboratory conditions. While photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) was in excess throughout the water column during the phase of exponential growth, PAR became rate limiting differently for red, green, and blue wavelengths during the phase of linear growth. The transition from exponential to linear growth occurred at 1-2 mg Chl-a · L-1, whereby a scalar ~5 μmol photons · m-2 · s-1 at 20-cm depth was found to occur as would be anticipated having the compensation point for where rates of photosynthesis and respiration are equal. During the phase of linear growth, red wavelengths became increasingly dominant at depth as Chl-a concentrations increased, being contrary to the optical conditions for those natural bodies of water that forced the evolution of phytoplankton photosynthesis. It is hypothesized this dramatic difference in water column optics between natural and synthetic environments could influence a variety of biological reactions, importantly non-photochemical quenching capacities, which could negatively impact crop yield.