cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recombinant human thrombopoietin in myelosuppressive chemotherapy.

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) has long been established as "standard" adjuvant therapy for receptor-positive, early-stage breast cancer. Results from clinical trials suggest that after approximately 5 years, tamoxifen may lose its effectiveness and may even become harmful if not stopped. At the time of tamoxifen discontinuation, "seemingly" disease-free patients may still have residual micrometastatic tumor cells. In a proportion of such patients, these cells may still be responsive to tamoxifen and thus could grow as a result of stopping the drug. The majority of clinical information, however, suggests that by 5 years of therapy, a greater proportion of patients will have micrometastatic tumor cells that have become resistant to tamoxifen and will be stimulated by continuation of the drug for a longer time. Because in both such cases the micrometastases are hormonally sensitive, a reasonable approach--in addition to stopping tamoxifen--is to decrease the level of estrogenic stimulation by introducing an aromatase inhibitor. The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project is launching a clinical trial (NSABP B-33) to evaluate the sequential administration of 2 years of exemestane (Aromasin), a steroidal aromatase inactivator, after 5 years of tamoxifen in postmenopausal, receptor-positive patients who are disease-free at the time of tamoxifen discontinuation.
Accurate estimation of count totals using ratio estimators

Estimating the count of a large number of parts with both speed and accuracy is a typical problem in a wide range of manufacturing industries. A common method used to count a large lot of parts is with a ratio estimator in which the weight of the total ..
Photon-Mediated Energy Transfer in Coherent Microcavity Laser Arrays

Coherently coupled 2×1 vertical cavity laser arrays are shown to exhibit unchanged near-field intensity profile with unequal current injection and associated far-field beam steering. The energy transfer to maintain equal near-field intensity between the cavities is shown to be consistent with parity-time symmetry.
Improved multiparameter models of drug effects on response rate under multiple variable interval schedules: evidence from rat studies.

Abstract Rationale. The functional analysis of the behavioral effects of drugs has lagged behind more biological research approaches in elucidating how drugs influence behavior. Part of the problem is the scarcity of mathematical models of responding under standardized behavioral procedures. A two-parameter model derived from the matching law to account for response rate as a function of reinforcement rate in single response alternative procedures provides a good description of responding under multi-component multiple variable interval (mult VI) schedules of reinforcement, both in the absence of drugs and in the presence of a variety of drugs. Objective. This paper explores how well the two-parameter model and its exponentiated variant (three-parameter model) describe drug effects on responding under mult VI schedules. Methods. Data from seven published papers concerning the effects of drugs on mult VI schedules are reanalyzed. Results. The three-parameter model describes the effects of drugs on responding more accurately than does the two-parameter model. The three-parameter model also describes well the type of relation between response rates under drug and no-drug conditions that the rate dependency hypothesis is usually invoked to explain. Conclusions. The three-parameter model can be improved by adding a parameter to account for base response rate, that is, response rate when reinforcement rate is zero. The parameters of the best descriptive model could be used to devise a classification system for the behavioral effects of drugs under mult VI schedules. The parameters should be conceptualized by relating the drug-induced changes in parameter value to converging changes in measurements of brain function. This would connect the behavioral and the biological analyses of drug action to the benefit of both research fields.
Same-Day Physical Therapy Following Total Knee Arthroplasty Leads to Improved Inpatient Physical Therapy Performance and Decreased Inpatient Opioid Consumption.

Abstract Background Early ambulation with physical therapy (PT) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has demonstrated benefits in the literature. However, the impact of early PT on rehabilitation performance and opioid consumption has not been elucidated. We evaluate the effect of same-day PT on inhospital functional outcomes and opioid consumption. Methods We retrospectively identified 2 cohorts of primary TKA patients from July 2016 to December 2017: PT0 (n = 295) received PT on the day of surgery, and PT1 (n = 392) received PT on postoperative day (POD) 1. Outcomes studied included number of feet walked on POD0-3, visual analog scale pain scores, morphine equivalents (ME) consumed, length of stay, and discharge disposition. Analysis was conducted using the Student t-test and Fisher exact test. Results In comparison to the PT1 group, the PT0 group walked significantly more steps on POD1 (347.6 vs 167.4 ft, P Conclusion We observed that initiation of PT on POD0 led to better PT performance, reduced ME during hospitalization, and more patients discharged home. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective cohort study.
Phosphotungstic acid-enhanced microCT: Optimized protocols for embryonic and early postnatal mice.

Background Given the need for descriptive and increasingly mechanistic morphological analyses, contrast-enhanced microcomputed tomography (microCT) represents perhaps the best method for visualizing 3D biological soft tissues in situ. Although staining protocols using phosphotungstic acid (PTA) have been published with beautiful visualizations of soft tissue structures, these protocols are often aimed at highly specific research questions and are applicable to a limited set of model organisms, specimen ages, or tissue types. We provide detailed protocols for micro-level visualization of soft tissue structures in mice at several embryonic and early postnatal ages using PTA-enhanced microCT. Results Our protocols produce microCT scans that enable visualization and quantitative analyses of whole organisms, individual tissues, and organ systems while preserving 3D morphology and relationships with surrounding structures, with minimal soft tissue shrinkage. Of particular note, both internal and external features of the murine heart, lungs, and liver, as well as embryonic cartilage, are captured at high resolution. Conclusion These protocols have broad applicability to mouse models for a variety of diseases and conditions. Minor experimentation in the staining duration can expand this protocol to additional age groups, permitting ontogenetic studies of internal organs and soft tissue structures within their 3D in situ position.
Endoscopic devices and techniques for the management of bariatric surgical adverse events (with videos).

Background and Aims As the prevalence of obesity continues to rise, increasing numbers of patients undergo bariatric surgery. Management of adverse events of bariatric surgery may be challenging and often requires a multidisciplinary approach. Endoscopic intervention is often the first line of therapy for management of these adverse events. This document reviews technologies and techniques used for endoscopic management of adverse events of bariatric surgery, organized by surgery type. Methods The MEDLINE database was searched through May 2018 for articles related to endoscopic management of adverse events of bariatric interventions by using relevant keywords such as adverse events related to “gastric bypass,” “sleeve gastrectomy,” “laparoscopic adjustable banding,” and “vertical banded sleeve gastroplasty,” in addition to “endoscopic treatment” and “endoscopic management,” among others. Available data regarding efficacy, safety, and financial considerations are summarized. Results Common adverse events of bariatric surgery include anastomotic ulcers, luminal stenoses, fistulae/leaks, and inadequate initial weight loss or weight regain. Devices used for endoscopic management of bariatric surgical adverse events include balloon dilators (hydrostatic, pneumatic), mechanical closure devices (clips, endoscopic suturing system, endoscopic plication platform), luminal stents (covered esophageal stents, lumen-apposing metal stents, plastic stents), and thermal therapy (argon plasma coagulation, needle-knives), among others. Available data, composed mainly of case series and retrospective cohort studies, support the primary role of endoscopic management. Multiple procedures and techniques are often required to achieve clinical success, and existing management algorithms are evolving. Conclusions Endoscopy is a less invasive alternative for management of adverse events of bariatric surgery and for revisional procedures. Endoscopic procedures are frequently performed in the context of multidisciplinary management with bariatric surgeons and interventional radiologists. Treatment algorithms and standards of practice for endoscopic management will continue to be refined as new dedicated technology and data emerge.
A predictive index for health status using species-level gut microbiome profiling

Providing insight into one’s health status from a gut microbiome sample is an important clinical goal in current human microbiome research. Herein, we introduce the Gut Microbiome Health Index (GMHI), a biologically-interpretable mathematical formula for predicting the likelihood of disease independent of the clinical diagnosis. GMHI is formulated upon 50 microbial species associated with healthy gut ecosystems. These species are identified through a multi-study, integrative analysis on 4347 human stool metagenomes from 34 published studies across healthy and 12 different nonhealthy conditions, i.e., disease or abnormal bodyweight. When demonstrated on our population-scale meta-dataset, GMHI is the most robust and consistent predictor of disease presence (or absence) compared to α-diversity indices. Validation on 679 samples from 9 additional studies results in a balanced accuracy of 73.7% in distinguishing healthy from non-healthy groups. Our findings suggest that gut taxonomic signatures can predict health status, and highlight how data sharing efforts can provide broadly applicable discoveries. A biologically-interpretable and robust metric that provides insight into one’s health status from a gut microbiome sample is an important clinical goal in current human microbiome research. Herein, the authors introduce a species-level index that predicts the likelihood of having a disease.
White-Black differences in tech tilt: Support for Spearman's law and investment theories

Abstract Tilt refers to an ability bias and is based on within subject differences between two abilities, indicating strength in one ability (e.g., math) and weakness in another ability (e.g., verbal). The current study examined tech tilt for Whites and Blacks, two groups with an average ability difference (favoring Whites) of about one standard deviation on tests of general intelligence (g). Tech tilt was based on differences in technical (mechanical, electronic) and academic (math or verbal) abilities on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. These differences produced tech tilt (tech > academic) and academic tilt (academic > tech). Tech tilt correlated negatively with math and verbal abilities on college tests (SAT, ACT, PSAT), with weaker effects for Whites. White-Black differences in relations of tech tilt with the college tests were neutralized after removing g. In addition, tech tilt predicted jobs and college majors in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). Relations of tech tilt with STEM criteria were generally larger (and more often significant) for Whites, but only for tech tilt based on technical and verbal abilities. The results are consistent with Spearman's Law of Diminishing Returns (SLODR). SLODR assumes that relations among tests should be weaker for higher ability groups (Whites compared to Blacks) and that non-g variance (related to non-ability factors such as vocational choice) should be more pronounced for higher ability groups. The negative relations of tech tilt with college tests support investment theories, which assume that investment in one ability (technical) comes at the expense of competing abilities (academic).
Impact of race on outcomes and healthcare utilization following spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Abstract Objectives Racial disparities in spine surgery have been shown to impact surgical management and postoperative complications. However, for adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) treated by posterior spinal fusion (PSF), the influence of race on postoperative outcomes remains unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the differences in baseline patient demographics, inpatient management, and postoperative complications for adolescents with AIS undergoing elective, posterior spinal surgery (≥ 4 levels). Patients and methods The Kids’ Inpatient Database year 2012 was queried. Adolescent patients (age 10–17 years old) with AIS undergoing elective, PSF (≥ 4 levels) were selected using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification coding system. Patients were divided into 4 cohorts: Black, White, Hispanic, and Other. Patient demographics, comorbidities, complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), discharge disposition and total cost were recorded. The primary outcome was the rate of intraoperative and postoperative complications and resource utilization after elective PSF intervention. RESULTS Patient demographics significantly differed between the four cohorts. While age was similar (p = 0.288), the White cohort had a greater proportion of female patients (White: 79.0%; Black: 72.1%; Hispanic: 78.2%; Other: 75.9%, p = 0.006), and the Black cohort had the largest proportion of patients in the 0–25th income quartile (White: 16.1%; Black: 43.3%; Hispanic: 28.0%; Other: 15.3%, p Conclusions Our study suggests that race may not have a significant impact on surgical outcomes after elective posterior spine surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Further studies are necessary to corroborate our findings.
Counterfactuals, Empires, and Institutions: Reflections on Walter Scheidel's Escape from Rome

This essay reviews Escape from Rome: The Failure of Empire and the Road to Prosperity by Walter Scheidel. It examines the argument that Europe's persistent fragmentation following the collapse of the Roman Empire is responsible for the origins of the modern world. First, I consider Scheidel's argument that the rise of Rome at the end of the first millennium BCE was relatively overdetermined, but that once Rome fell, it was highly unlikely for any subsequent empire to dominate Europe. Second, I examine the institutional consequences of this divergence in state building. Finally, I reflect on the role of counterfactuals in history.
Use of Inner Branches During Physician-Modified Endografting for Complex Abdominal and Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Objectives Endovascular repair of complex abdominal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms have been performed widely in an increasing number of centers, utilizing custom-manufactured or physician-modified stent grafts containing fenestrations and side-arm branches for visceral and renal artery incorporation. Alternatively, inner branch configurations may be useful in complex anatomy, where application of fenestrations or side-arm branches can be challenging. Our study aims to evaluate the incidence of target vessel instability when incorporated with inner branch configurations, and report clinical outcomes of patients who underwent fenestrated/branched endovascular aortic repairs (F-BEVAR) containing one or more inner branches. Methods We reviewed patients who underwent F-BEVAR with at least one inner branch configuration for complex abdominal or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms at Keck Hospital of University of Southern California from 2014 to 2020. Endpoints were mortality, major adverse events (MAE), technical success, and target vessel instability. Target vessel instability was assessed using follow-up computed tomography (CT) and duplex imaging. Results Out of the 175 patients who underwent F-BEVAR for complex abdominal and TAAA during the study period, 17 patients had at least one inner branch configuration. All were deemed high-risk for open repair with multiple cardiovascular and/or pulmonary comorbidities. Eight (47%) patients had extent I, II, III thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, and 10 (59%) had prior aortic repairs. A total of 68 target vessels were incorporated (mean = 4 vessels/patient, range=1~6), of which 40% were inner branch configurations, most commonly for renal arteries. Technical success was 94.1%. There was one perioperative mortality due to massive myocardial infarction, as well as one patient who needed temporary hemodialysis. No device-related mortalities were observed. At 30 days, primary inner branch patency was 100% with no target vessel instability or reintervention. At mean follow-up of 5.8 months, the overall survival was 94% with one patient who expired from unknown cause. Overall primary inner branch patency was 96.3%, due to occlusion of a long lumbar artery branch with no clinical sequelae. Conclusion Inner branch configurations can provide a safe alternative technique of branch incorporation during complex endovascular aortic repair.
Canine junctional epidermolysis bullosa due to a novel mutation in LAMA3 with severe upper respiratory involvement.

Background Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is a group of congenital blistering skin diseases characterized by clefting through the lamina lucida of the basement membrane zone. Objectives To characterize the clinical and morphological features of a congenital mechanobullous disease in a litter of puppies with severe upper respiratory involvement, and to identify an associated genetic variant. Animals Five of eight puppies in an Australian cattle dog cross-bred litter showed signs of skin fragility. Three were stillborn and one died at one month of age. The two surviving puppies were presented with blistering skin disease and severe respiratory distress. Additionally, one unaffected sibling was examined and blood was obtained for genetic testing. Methods and materials Post-mortem examination, histopathological evaluation and electron microscopy were performed. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of one affected puppy was compared to a database of 522 dogs of 55 different breeds for variant analysis. Sanger sequencing of one additional affected and one unaffected sibling confirmed the variant. Results Clinically, severe mucocutaneous ulcers occurred in frictional areas with claw sloughing. Histopathological results revealed subepidermal clefts and electron microscopy confirmed the split in the lamina lucida. Post-mortem examination documented extensive pharyngeal and laryngeal lesions with granulation tissue and fibrinous exudate obscuring the airway. Moderate tracheal hypoplasia contributed. The WGS revealed a novel missense variant in the laminin α3-chain XP_537297.2p(Asp2867Val), with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Conclusions and clinical relevance A novel variant in LAMA3 caused a generalized and severe phenotype of JEB with an unique clinical presentation of upper airway obstruction.
Changing Roles for the Global South in International Collaborative Learning

International collaboration is an important contributor to learning, innovation, and competence-building systems. International collaboration in research has been growing rapidly for several decades. The implications of these emerging patterns for developing countries are a matter for debate. New opportunities could be opening up for reciprocal learning involving researchers in the global South, through more equal research relationships and ones that go beyond historical colonial ties. This paper looks for signs of that new pattern in two specific energy-related fields, biofuels and neutron science. Literature-based data indicate that several developing countries are strong players in biofuels and that international collaboration is growing faster there than in neutron scattering. However, interview data suggest that several kinds of collaboration could be involved: career-oriented, project-oriented, and sponsor-initiated. Growth in the first or last would indicate continuing asymmetric relationships, while growth in the latter would indicate growing equality. Indicators of international collaboration are probably skewed towards project-based collaboration, which appears to be dominant in instrument-intensive fields like neutron scattering. But the interesting dynamics are probably happening in fields like biofuels, where global learning relationships could in fact be shifting.
Single particle ICP-MS characterization of titanium dioxide, silver, and gold nanoparticles during drinking water treatment

One of the most direct means for human exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) released into the environment is drinking water. Therefore, it is critical to understand the occurrence and fate of NPs in drinking water systems. The objectives of this study were to develop rapid and reliable analytical methods and apply them to investigate the fate and transportation of NPs during drinking water treatments. Rapid single particle ICP-MS (SP-ICP-MS) methods were developed to characterize and quantify titanium-containing, titanium dioxide, silver, and gold NP concentration, size, size distribution, and dissolved metal element concentration in surface water and treated drinking water. The effectiveness of conventional drinking water treatments (including lime softening, alum coagulation, filtration, and disinfection) to remove NPs from surface water was evaluated using six-gang stirrer jar test simulations. The selected NPs were nearly completely (97 ± 3%) removed after lime softening and alum coagulation/activated carbon adsorption treatments. Additionally, source and drinking waters from three large drinking water treatment facilities utilizing similar treatments with the simulation test were collected and analyzed by the SP-ICP-MS methods. Ti-containing particles and dissolved Ti were present in the river water samples, but Ag and Au were not present. Treatments used at each drinking water treatment facility effectively removed over 93% of the Ti-containing particles and dissolved Ti from the source water.
Transvenous parasympathetic cardiac nerve stimulation: an approach for stable sinus rate control.

Transvenous Parasympathetic Cardiac Nerve Stimulation. Introduction: Epicardial electrical stimulation of parasympathetic nerves innervating the sinus node has been shown to decrease sinus rate. We investigated whether intravascular parasympathetic cardiac nerve stimulation (IPS) can be achieved over a relatively long-term period to slow the supraventricular rate. Methods and Results: Fifteen dogs were investigated. IPS was performed with rectangular stimuli (0.05-msec duration, 20 Hz) using a catheter with an expandable electrode basket. The catheter was positioned in the superior vena cava (SVC; n = 9) or right pulmonary artery (RPA; n = 6). The basket then was expanded to hold the catheter in place. Nonfluoroscopic identification of effective IPS sites was achieved within 5 minutes in the SVC. Increasing IPS voltage resulted in a graded response of supraventricular rate slowing. A 50% prolongation of the baseline atrial cycle length was achieved with 28 V in the SVC (1,056 ± 355 msec vs 489 ± 154 msec; P < 0.001) and 25 V in the RPA (1,181 ± 306 msec vs 518 ± 138 msec; P < 0.01). The rate slowing started immediately after IPS onset, terminated abruptly after IPS cessation, and could be maintained over 10 hours. A rate slowing effect also was observed when the sinus rate was increased by isoproterenol (SVC: 304 ± 8 msec/RPA: 341 ± 9 msec with isoproterenol vs SVC: 635 ± 12 msec with isoproterenol + IPS at 39 V/ RPA: 584 ± 16 msec with isoproterenol + IPS at 38 V; n = 6). Conclusion: IPS results in a significant supraventricular rate slowing that is stable over a relatively long period and may be applied to slow undesirable sinus tachycardia in acute ischemic syndromes or to counteract undesirable chronotropic effects of catecholamines during treatment of cardiogenic or septic shock and acute congestive heart failure.
THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF MR. BUSH : The Budget Arithmetic Test

The Bush administration's fiscal policies have put the budget on an unsustainable path, jeopardizing the entirety of federal domestic programs. Two economists show how politically untouched options--tax increases, restraint in spending on defense and health care, and abandonment of balanced budget rhetoric--will become inescapable choices when financial markets reject the extent of prospective federal borrowing implied by current policies.
COMPOSITION OF FOWLPOX VIRUS AND INCLUSION MATRIX.

Randall, Charles C. (University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson), Lanelle G. Gafford, Robert W. Darlington, and James M. Hyde. Composition of fowlpox virus and inclusion matrix. J. Bacteriol. 87:939–944. 1964.—Inclusion bodies of fowlpox virus infection are especially favorable starting material for the isolation of virus and inclusion matrix. Electron micrographs of viral particles and matrix indicated a high degree of purification. Density-gradient centrifugation of virus in cesium chloride and potassium tartrate was unsatisfactory because of inactivation, and clumping or disintegration. Chemical analyses of virus and matrix revealed significant amounts of lipid, protein, and deoxyribonucleic acid, but no ribonucleic acid or carbohydrate. Approximately 47% of the weight of the virus and 83% of the matrix were extractable in chloroform-methanol. The lipid partitions of the petroleum ether extracts were similar, except that the phospholipid content of the matrix was 2.2 times that of the virus. Viral particles were sensitive to diethyl ether and chloroform.
Endoscopic Balloon Dilation of Esophageal Strictures in 9 Horses.

Background: Medical treatment of esophageal strictures in horses is limited and the use of balloon dilatation is described in few cases. Long-term follow up after balloon dilatation and the use of intralesional corticosteroids has not been evaluated. Objectives: To describe the use of endoscopic guided, esophageal balloon dilatation in horses for cervical and thoracic esophageal strictures and administration of intralesional corticosteroids at the time of dilatation. Animals: Nine horses from the hospital population with benign esophageal strictures. Methods: Retrospective study: Medical records were reviewed from horses presented to the William R. Pritchard, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis from 2002 to 2013. Records were searched using the key words: equine, horse, balloon dilatation, bougienage, and esophageal stricture. Results: Nine horses with esophageal strictures were treated with esophageal balloon dilatation. Five horses survived (survival at writing ranged from 2 to 11 years after discharge) and all nonsurvivors were <1 year of age and presented with concurrent problems or developed complications including megaesophagus, unresolved esophageal obstruction requiring esophagostomy, or severe aspiration pneumonia. Four horses were treated with intralesional corticosteroids with no adverse effects noted in the survivors (n = 3). Four horses available for long-term follow up were alive at 2, 5, 6, and 11 years after presentation and 3 of these horses were being fed a hay-based diet. Conclusions: Resolution of esophageal strictures in the horse can be performed successfully, safely, and under standing
Enhancing Pediatric Fellows' Research Training: Development of an Office of Pediatric Clinical Fellowships.

Training fellows, the next generation of academic pediatricians, is challenging in rapidly changing and expanding clinical and research environments. Research methods and techniques are revolutionizing both translational and basic research. Investigators who can seamlessly transfer research from bench-to-bedside have become a critical asset. This bench-to-bedside approach has benefited greatly from more rigorous research in quality improvement and education,1-3 shifting from process to focus on patient outcomes.4-6 Academic institutions, their faculty, and fellowship programs must be equipped to effectively train fellows in these research methodologies, employing collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to foster team science and allow all programs to utilize the array of institutional resources.
Distribution of the full rank in residue classes for odd moduli

The distribution of values of the full ranks of marked Durfee symbols is examined in prime and nonprime arithmetic progressions. The relative populations of different residues for the same modulus are determined: the primary result is that k-marked Durfee symbols of n equally populate the residue classes a and bmod2k+1 if gcd(a,2k+1)=gcd(b,2k+1). These are used to construct a few congruences. The general procedure is illustrated with a particular theorem on 4-marked symbols for multiples of 3.
The Adoption of Technological Innovations By Municipal Governments

Data on the adoption of 43 technological innovations in four service delivery fields (fire fighting, solid waste collection and disposal, traffic control, and air polution control) were obtained from nationally representative samples of municipal governments. Principal findings are that the adoption path for many technologies corresponds to traditional S-shaped diffusion curves, the rate and extent of adoption varies within and across functional fields, prevailing views of the "archaic" nature of the technologies in use in municipal agencies are overstated, and there has been a pronounced acceleration in the rate of adoption of technological innovations in all but the solid waste field. Alternative theoretical explanations for the observed patterns of adoption are considered. A number of variables are identified, each of which has some limited empirical support. It is proposed that future studies focus on the characteristics of innovations in relation to the performance needs and operating characterisitcs...
Combined Stereotactic Thalamotomy and Posteroventral Pallidotomy for Parkinson's Disease

Stereotactic thalamotomy has traditionally provided good relief of tremor for patients with intractable tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease. However, bradykinesia, dyskinesia, and rigidity are often less reliably treated with this technique. Although posteroventral pallidotomy (PVP) can alleviate dyskinesias, appendicular bradykinesia, and rigidity, tremor may not be completely ameliorated. We have combined Vim/VOp junction thalamotomy and PVP in 29 patients with severe tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia.Patients underwent unilateral Vim thalamotomy followed at the same sitting by PVP. The distinct physiological consequences of each procedure were documented by intraoperative electromyography (EMG) and video recording, revealing the effects on both tremor and agonist/antagonist co-contraction. Lack of reciprocal inhibition of antagonistic muscle groups often remained following thalamotomy but was eliminated by subsequent PVP.The complementary therapeutic effects of PVP and Vim thalamotomy may be due to th...
German missile accelerometers

Range control accurate to one mile in 200 and lateral guidance accurate to three yards in 20 miles were achieved with German-developed V-2 rockets by using electric, mechanical, and electrochemical devices. This article reviews declassified information on the single-, double-, and triple-integrating accelerometers which were mounted on stabilized platforms in the rockets for this purpose.
Identification of groups of epsilon -coherent generators

It is observed that for a power system after a disturbance certain groups of generators have similar waveforms for their rotor-angle response curves. We define generators to be coherent if the waveforms of the rotor-angle curves are identical. In practice, however, they may be very close but not identical. We say that generators are \epsilon -coherent if the maximum of the difference of their angle curves is less than \epsilon . We present necessary and sufficient conditions for a group of generators to be \epsilon -coherent under a set of disturbances. The condition is expressed in terms of the controllability Grammian of the model. Singular-value decomposition (SVD) of the Grammian is used to provide insights to the results. We also derive an approximate expression for the Grammian and suggest a method for identifying groups of \epsilon -coherent generators.
Utility of Positron Emission Tomography Compared With Mediastinoscopy for Delineating Involved Lymph Nodes in Stage III Lung Cancer: Insights for Radiotherapy Planning From a Surgical Cohort

Purpose Mediastinoscopy is routinely carried out on the majority of nonmetastatic, non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in our institution. We used the results of mediastinoscopy from a Stage III NSCLC cohort to assess the reliability of positron emission tomography (PET) scans at identifying involved mediastinal lymph nodes (MLN) when used during radiotherapy planning. Methods and Materials Mediastinoscopy was the gold standard. Characteristics of PET were calculated for nodal sensitivity. To compare the impact on contouring, theoretical nodal targets (NTs) containing involved MLNs were generated using PET and mediastinoscopy. We determined whether the NT derived from PET (NT-P) was equivalent to, greater than, or less than that seen with the mediastinoscopy (NT-M). Results Data for 122 patients with Stage III NSCLC, treated between 2000 and 2004, were analyzed. After exclusions, 87 patients with Stage III disease by mediastinoscopy were analyzed. Overall PET sensitivity was 61% and positive predictive value was 94%. Of the 87 patients, 33 (38%) had no abnormal MLN findings by PET. Of 36 Stage IIIA cancer patients, 18 (50%) had NT-P equivalent to NT-M, 10 (28%) had smaller NT-Ps, and 8 (22%) had larger NT-Ps compared with NT-Ms. Of 18 Stage IIIB cancer patients, NTs were equivalent in 6 (34%); in 1 patient (5%) NT-P was larger than the corresponding NT-M, and in 11 (61%) smaller than the corresponding NT-M. Conclusions In this study PET had modest sensitivity to detect MLN involvement and underestimated the extent of involved nodes for target definition. The role of PET in mediastinal contouring needs to be evaluated prospectively and ideally correlated with a pathology standard.
The X-ray microcalorimeter instruments on the Astro-E2 and Constellation-X X-ray observatories

Abstract X-ray microcalorimeter arrays are well suited to address key problems in high-energy astrophysics. The Japan/US Astro-E2 mission will deploy a 32-pixel array of microcalorimeters with 6 eV resolution. This mission is scheduled for launch in 2005. Beyond Astro-E2, NASA is formulating the Constellation-X mission to provide a dramatic increase in collecting area with four separate spacecraft each with large area optics and 1 k-pixel calorimeter arrays providing an energy resolution of 2–4 eV.We will describe the microcalorimeter instrumentation on these missions and mention some of their scientific objectives.
Water-benzene interactions: an effective fragment potential and correlated quantum chemistry study.

Structures and binding in small water−benzene complexes (1−8 water molecules and 1−2 benzene molecules) are studied using the general effective fragment potential (EFP) method. The lowest energy conformers of the clusters were found using a Monte Carlo technique. The binding energies in the smallest clusters (dimers, trimers, and tetramers) were also evaluated with second order perturbation theory (MP2) and coupled cluster theory (CCSD(T)). The EFP method accurately predicts structures and binding energies in the water−benzene complexes. Benzene is polarizable and consequently participates in hydrogen bond networking of water. Since the water−benzene interactions are only slightly weaker than water−water interactions, structures with different numbers of water−water, benzene−water, and benzene−benzene bonds often have very similar binding energies. This is a challenge for computational methods.
The wingless signaling pathway is directly involved in Drosophila heart development.

Heart development in both vertebrates andDrosophilais initiated by bilaterally symmetrical primordia that may be of equivalent embryological origin: the anterior lateral plate mesoderm in vertebrates and the dorsal-most mesoderm in arthropods. These mesodermal progenitors then merge into a heart tube at the ventral midline (vertebrates) or the dorsal midline (Drosophila). These observations suggest that there may be similarities between vertebrate and invertebrate heart development. The homeobox gene,tinman,is required for heart as well as visceral mesoderm formation inDrosophila,and at least one of several vertebrate genes with similarities in protein sequence and cardiac expression totinmanis crucial for heart development in vertebrates. Inductive signals are also required forDrosophilaheart development: The secreted gene product ofwingless(wg) is critical for heart development during a time period distinct from its function in segmentation and neurogenesis. Here, we show thatwgis epistatic to hedgehog (hh), another secreted segmentation gene product, in its requirement for heart formation. We also provide evidence show that downstream ofwgin the signal transduction cascade,dishevelled(dsh,a pioneer protein) andarmadillo(arm, β-catenin homolog) are mediating the cardiogenic Wg signal. In particular, overexpression ofdshcan restore heart formation in the absence ofwgfunction. We discuss the possibility that Wg signaling is part of a combinatorial mechanism to specify the cardiac mesoderm.
Efficient statistics: Extracting information from IID observations

In this paper, we study how information can be conveyed through a noisy channel and extracted efficiently, under the scenarios and applications, where the observing order of the symbols does not carry any useful information. In such cases, the information-carrying objects are the empirical distributions of the transmitted and received symbol sequences. We develop a local geometric structure and a new coordinate system for the space of distributions. With this approach, we can decompose the computation of the posterior distribution of the data into a sequence of score functions, with decreasing information volumes. Thus, when our goal is not to recover the entire data, but only to detect certain features of the data, we only need to compute the first few scores, which greatly simplifies the problem. We demonstrate the use of our technique with some image processing examples based on graphical models.
Childhood Association, Sexual Attraction, and the Incest Taboo: A Chinese Case1

Whereas most sociological and biological explanations of the incest taboo assume that intimate childhood association enhances sexual attraction, most psychological explanations assume that such association depresses it. In northern Taiwan one of several forms of marriage involves the introduction of the bride into her future husband's home as an infant; bride and groom are then raised as members of the same family, experiencing a prolonged period of intimate association. The responses of these couples to marriage and sexual relations support the psychological new of the effects of intimate association on sexual attraction and thereby challenge the basis of most sociological and biological explanations of the incest taboo.
Concepts of Social Justice as a Cultural Consensus: Starting Points for College Students of Different Political Persuasions

Promoting social justice is popular in American colleges, though the specific concepts and values associated with social justice tend to be inconsistently articulated. Noting that diverse possible definitions for social justice seem to underlie some controversies surrounding the concept, the authors conducted a study that employs a version of cultural consensus analysis to investigate actual college student definitions of conditions and actions they associate with social justice. Comparing students who identify as liberal politically with students who identify as conservative politically demonstrates more similarities than differences, with most students putting particular emphasis on equal rights, basic needs, education, and community service. At the same time, students who identify as liberal politically tended to put more emphasis on environmental issues while students who identify as conservative tended to put more emphasis on charity and just policy. Recognizing these commonalities and differences ha...
Coordinating a large multicentered HIV research project

Coordinating a large multicentered pediatric HIV clinical research study is particularly challenging for nurses. The cohort of patients and their families face multiple stressors, which make recruitment and compliance difficult. Additionally, when many departments within the institution are involved, coordination is often problematic. Ethical issues sometimes arise. Nurses must find ways to adapt what they learn from the study to their nursing practice. The nurse coordinators of the Pediatric Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Complications of Vertically Transmitted HIV (P 2 C 2 HIV) study discuss the unique challenges of such a project and the various strategies for successful completion.
Analogical transfer: from schematic pictures to problem solving.

A series of experiments was conducted to explore whether individuals can solve problems by transferring conceptual information gained from schematic pictures and to examine the mechanisms involved in this transfer process. Subjects viewed a schematic picture and then attempted to solve an insight problem to which the conceptual information from the picture could be applied. The results indicate that the degree of similarity—specifically, superficial and procedural similarity—between a source schematic picture and the target problem determined transfer performance. Discussion focuses on the relationship between these two types of similarity and the two key cognitive components involved in transferring pictorial analogies to solve problems: accessing the pictorial analogues and executing the solutions. Portions of this research were presented at the 33rd meeting of the Psychonomic Society in St. Louis, November 1992.
Next Generation Optical Communication Technologies for Realizing Bandwidth Abundant Networking Capability

This paper describes the evolution history of the Photonic Network, and highlights our recent research activities on Photonic Multi-Protocol Label Switching and ultra-wideband transmission technologies. The Photonic Multi-protocol Label Switching technology, one of the hottest research area, can be extended to provide optical burst-by-burst data switching. The novel optical modulation technology and multi-optical carrier generation technology based on Supercontinuum light sources will be the key to create bandwidth abundant ultra-large capacity wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) transmission.
Integration of Early Physiological Responses Predicts Later Illness Severity in Preterm Infants

Physiological data are routinely recorded in intensive care, but their use for rapid assessment of illness severity or long-term morbidity prediction has been limited. We developed a physiological assessment score for preterm newborns, akin to an electronic Apgar score, based on standard signals recorded noninvasively on admission to a neonatal intensive care unit. We were able to accurately and reliably estimate the probability of an individual preterm infant’s risk of severe morbidity on the basis of noninvasive measurements. This prediction algorithm was developed with electronically captured physiological time series data from the first 3 hours of life in preterm infants (≤34 weeks gestation, birth weight ≤2000 g). Extraction and integration of the data with stateof-the-art machine learning methods produced a probability score for illness severity, the PhysiScore. PhysiScore was validated on 138 infants with the leave-one-out method to prospectively identify infants at risk of short- and long-term morbidity. PhysiScore provided higher accuracy prediction of overall morbidity (86% sensitive at 96% specificity) than other neonatal scoring systems, including the standard Apgar score. PhysiScore was particularly accurate at identifying infants with high morbidity related to specific complications (infection: 90% at 100%; cardiopulmonary: 96% at 100%). Physiological parameters, particularly short-term variability in respiratory and heart rates, contributed more to morbidity prediction than invasive laboratory studies. Our flexible methodology of individual risk prediction based on automated, rapid, noninvasive measurements can be easily applied to a range of prediction tasks to improve patient care and resource allocation.
Advances in fetal and neonatal surgery for gastrointestinal anomalies and disease

The last decade has seen considerable improvement in the understanding and treatment of neonatal surgical disorders. Translation of basic molecular biology research to clinical practice has directly improved the understanding and treatment of a number of congenital, developmental disorders, such as Hirschsprung's disease and congenital hyperinsulinism. Miniaturized instruments and improved optics have permitted increased use of videoscopic and minimally invasive techniques to even the smallest infants. Continued improvements in prenatal imaging will permit enhanced understanding of the prenatal natural history of congenital structural disorders and the development of more specific therapies. Finally, rigorous clinical research tools have begun to be applied to rare pediatric surgical disorders with the use of organized multicenter trials. It is an exciting time for all involved in the care of neonates.
Use of physiological connectivity in solving renal concentrating mechanism equations

Fluid flow networks arise in modeling the kidney concentrating mechanism. Realistic and comprehensive models involve a large number of tubes with several solutes in each tube. The axial and transmural flows are described by nonlinear differential equations. These equations have to be solved numerically. This involves discretization, which leads to several hundred nonlinear algebraic equations. We have developed mathematical theory and algorithms that make use of the physiological connectivity of the tubes in the kidney to solve such systems very efficiently. This has lead to considerable savings in computer storage and run times. The total system is expressed as a function of a reasonably small subset of variables (called basic, e.g., interstitial and boundary values). A carefully chosen subset of the equations is associated with these basic variables. The rest of the equations - which become block bidiagonal - are then solved (in parallel if desired) for assumed values of basic variables. This procedure enables us to express the remaining variables as functions of the variables labeled as basic. The basic equations are solved with quasi-newton type methods. A new hybrid quasi-Newton type method is presented.