cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding lower urinary tract function in women soon after bladder neck surgery

The aim of this work was to correlate anatomic and urodynamic measures with function following bladder neck surgery. Eighty-seven women who underwent bladder neck surgery at two tertiary academic medical centers in the southeastern U.S. were studied in this prospective outcomes analysis. Preoperative and 6-week and 6-month postoperative status was assessed with urodynamic testing, physical examination, and condition-specific quality of life instruments. Correlations of dynamic urethral obstruction (quantified by pressure transmission ratio, PTR, determinations) and urethral support (quantified by urethral axis measurements) with functional status were determined. At 6 weeks, 50% of the subjects with inadequate dynamic obstruction (PTR /= 90% (P = .00002). Of those with excessive obstruction (PTR > 110%), 32% had detrusor instability (DI) and 47% had emptying phase dysfunction (EPD) compared to 6% and 24%, respectively, of those with PTR /= 90% but </= 110%) were more likely to have normal function (no GSI, no DI, and no EPD) than those with higher or lower PTRs (59% vs. 34%, P = .04). Urethral axis measurements did not correlate with functional status at either follow-up session. The magnitude of dynamic urethral obstruction is related to function after bladder neck surgery. Excessive obstruction is associated with DI and EPD, inadequate obstruction with GSI, and optimal obstruction with normal function. Neurourol. Urodynam. 18:629-637, 1999.
CORR Insights®: Which Variables Are Associated With Patient-reported Outcomes After Discectomy? Review of SPORT Disc Herniation Studies

W hen conservative treatment fails, operative intervention can help patients with lumbar disc herniation. However, the degree to which various social and medical comorbidities affect the outcomes of nonoperative and operative care is less-defined. The authors in this review article have performed an excellent analysis of eleven papers on subgroup analysis of the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) on intervertebral disc herniation. The results of the paper are consistent with current knowledge. Results showed improvement both in surgical and nonoperatively treated patients. No subgroup analysis was associated with worsening in either group. Patients showed greater benefit if they did not have joint problems, were married, had a worsening symptom trend at baseline, and did not have diabetes. All subgroups improved more with surgery than with nonoperative treatment with the exception of worker’s compensation patients. Previous studies [1–3] have also found fewer self-reported beneficial effects of surgical procedures in workers compensation patients, but how this information is to be used remains unclear. Should surgeons withhold surgery to a patient with a workplace injury and an open claim who has clearly failed nonoperative intervention? I would argue that bonafide failure of conservative measures make worker’s compensation patients surgical candidates in the same realm as noncompensation patients.
Intrakoronare Brachytherapie : Ein Update

Restenosis following angioplasty represents a major clinical problem in the field of percutaneous coronary interventions. Intravascular brachytherapy reduces risk of restenosis following percutaneous interventions of native lesions and in-stent restenosis up to 50%-60%. This effect can be shown for at least one to two years. This novel therapeutic strategy is limited by a higher rate of target vessel reinterventions, and late coronary thrombosis, when platelet inhibiting drugs has been withdrawn or after implantation of multiple stents. Currently, intracoronary brachytherapy is mainly considered for treatment of in-stent-restenosis.
Measured and Predicted Response of a New Jetted and Grouted Precast Pile with Membranes in Cohesionless Soils

AbstractWith increased urbanization, deep foundation (bridges, signage, walls, etc.) selection is moving toward the minimization of disturbance and installation time, as well as addressing quality control and assurance issues. Unfortunately, many types of deep foundations involve noise and vibration during installation (e.g., driven piles) or integrity and reduced resistance issues (e.g., drilled shafts, both conventional and post grouted tip, continuous flight auger piles). This paper presents a new foundation type, a jetted and grouted precast pile, which uses the advantages of several proven deep foundation installation techniques. The installation of the new pile is comprised of three distinct phases: (1) pressurized water-jetting of a precast pile into the ground; (2) side grouting of the pile; and (3) tip grouting. The pile has two separate side grouting zones, each with its own grout delivery system. Each grout zone is covered with a semirigid membrane, which results in radial expansion of the soil...
The impact of temporal aggregation of land surface temperature data for surface urban heat island (SUHI) monitoring

Abstract The remotely sensed land surface temperature (LST) is widely used in studying the surface urban heat island (SUHI). Due to the influence of clouds, composite products usually are preferred; however, exactly what the impact of temporal aggregation is on LST and SUHI is still unknown. In this paper, we quantify this impact focusing on Houston, Texas and its surroundings using MODIS LST products from 2000 to 2010. The results show that 1) the SUHI values are more notably enhanced in the daytime than nighttime with an increasing trend with larger composite periods. 2) The influences of aggregation in the spring and summer are larger than autumn and winter for the daytime. 3) The temporal aggregation impacts the spatial pattern of the SUHI implying that the higher SUHI regions are more likely to have a larger gap between two composite scales and this is related to the amount and distribution of clouds.
Laparoscopic choledochojejunostomy and gastrojejunostomy in a porcine model.

Background: Surgical extirpation remains the only known curative treatment for cancer of the pancreas. Because of locally advanced or metastatic tumor, up to 80% of patients are unresectable at the time of initial diagnosis [13]. Other investigators previously have suggested that laparoscopy before laparotomy aids in the diagnosis of unresectable pancreatic cancer in a fair number of patients even after negative computed tomography scans [3, 17]. Many surgeons are reluctant to incorporate laparoscopy into the workup of patients with cancer of the pancreas because of the frequent need for surgical bypass in the management of either biliary tract obstruction or gastric outlet obstruction [9, 13]. Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of laparoscopic cholecystojejunostomy combined with gastrojejunostomy in a porcine model, as well as the individual accomplishment of laparoscopic choledochojejunostomy. The purpose of this study was to document the feasibility of performing laparoscopic choledochojejunostomy with gastrojejunostomy. Methods: Under general anesthesia, seven pigs underwent laparoscopic choledochojejunostomy and gastrojejunostomy using an intracorporeal hand-sutured technique. Results: The mean operating time ranged from 150 to 450 min. All the animals recovered completely from the operation and had patent anastomoses at the time of necropsy. One pig died of gastric bleeding on postoperative day 13, and two animals had intraabdominal fluid collections discovered at the time of necropsy. Conclusions: These results suggest that synchronous laparoscopic bypass of biliary and gastric outlet obstruction is feasible, and can be performed in a manner similar to that used in open operations. We believe this lends support to the argument promoting laparoscopy in the evaluation of pancreatic cancer.
Cognitive Effects of Attitude Conflict Resolution

Interpersonal conflict usually involves conflict over attitudes as well as over scarce resources. It is hypothesized that the course of attitude conflicts will influence the subsequent view of the issue under dispute. Specifically, competitively oriented subjects will highly differentiate the opposing attitude positions while cooperatively oriented subjects will emphasize the similarity of the positions. These perceptual changes are expected to be cognitively mediated by differential weighting of the ways in which the position differ. In an experiment to test this hypothesis, pairs of subjects were assigned attitude positions on how National Health Insurance should be organized. Positions within any pair differed a great deal in some ways and less in others. Pairs then discussed the issue under either cooperative or competitive contingencies. The results of the experiment strongly confirmed the hypothesis: competition led to decreased perceived similarity between the positions and an emphasis upon those w...
Use of multidimensional, multimodal imaging and PACS to support neurological diagnoses

Technological advances in brain imaging have revolutionized diagnosis in neurology and neurological surgery. Major imaging techniques include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize structural anatomy, positron emission tomography (PET) to image metabolic function and cerebral blood flow, magnetoencephalography (MEG) to visualize the location of physiologic current sources, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure specific biochemicals. Each of these techniques studies different biomedical aspects of the brain, but there lacks an effective means to quantify and correlate the disparate imaging datasets in order to improve clinical decision making processes. This paper describes several techniques developed in a UNIX-based neurodiagnostic workstation to aid the noninvasive presurgical evaluation of epilepsy patients. These techniques include online access to the picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) multimedia archive, coregistration of multimodality image datasets, and correlation and quantitation of structural and functional information contained in the registered images. For illustration, we describe the use of these techniques in a patient case of nonlesional neocortical epilepsy. We also present out future work based on preliminary studies.
Sensitivity of post-settlement Dreissena rostriformis bugensis to UVB radiation at Earth surface intensity levels

Abstract As quagga mussels ( Dreissena rostriformis bugensis ) spread through North America, it is critical to understand environmental conditions that may affect their ability to thrive, and thus potentially lead to control measures. The sensitivity of D. r. bugensis to electromagnetic radiation in the Ultraviolet-B range (UVB) is considered through experiment. Post-settlement specimens were collected from Lake Mead (southern Nevada), acclimated to laboratory conditions, and then segregated into two size classes on the basis of length; small (6–9 mm) and large (13–19 mm). Test groups from both size classes were exposed to continuous UVB at one of three power levels (100, 300, or 500 μW/cm 2 ) chosen to be consistent with maximal Earth surface conditions. Survivorship for both size classes was found to follow a logistic model and to scale with the square root of the applied UVB intensity. This result strongly suggests that a four-fold increase in applied power is required to double the mortality rate. Results also strongly suggest that resistance to UVB increases with size/maturity. Post-mortem measurements of shell thickness and UVB transmission demonstrate that the shells impede transmission of UVB with an effectiveness that is proportional to thickness.
How the Parent Headquarters Adds Value to an MNC

Recent views of the MNC as some kind of differentiated network raise questions about the value of a parent HQ and hierarchical structure in today’s MNCs. This paper attempts to address such questions by identifying and describing three broad tasks where hierarchical structures with a parent HQ should outperform a network structure. The tasks are: developing and implementing tight coupling within MNCs, identifying and defining economies of scale and scope, and identifying and incorporating significant innovation into MNC strategy. The paper uses an information processing perspective to conceptualize the important differences between hierarchical and network structures and to evaluate how well each structure fits the specific task situations. It concludes that hierarchical structures with a parent HQ are still required in today’s MNCs.
NON‐RELATIVE REASONS AND HUMEAN THOUGHT: IF WHAT IS A REASON FOR YOU IS A REASON FOR ME, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE HUMEAN?

: A variety of strategies have been used to oppose the influential Humean thesis that all of an agent's reasons for action are provided by the agent's current wants. Among these strategies is the attempt to show that it is a conceptual truth that reasons for action are non-relative. I introduce the notion of a basic reason-giving consideration and show that the non-relativity thesis can be understood as a corollary of the more fundamental thesis that basic reason-giving considerations are generalizable. I then consider the relationship between the generalizability thesis and the Humean thesis that all of an agent's reasons for action are provided by the agent's current wants. I argue that, contrary to a common assumption, there is a subtle and clearly motivated version of the Humean thesis that does not deny, and so is not threatened by, the generalizability thesis.
Basalt-basaltic andesite mixing at Mount Baker volcano, Washington. I: Estimation of mixing conditions

Abstract The Holocene Sulphur Creek basaltic andesite, which erupted from a small cinder cone on the southern flank of Mount Baker, locally contains 1–15 cm spheroidal to tongue-shaped inclusions of high-alumina basalt. Textural and chemical relationships indicate that the basalt was mixed with and quenched within the host lava, but that there was little or no homogenization of the two magmas. Both Sulphur Creek liquids had temperatures in excess of 1000°C, and mixing probably occurred at temperatures less than 1150°C at a pressure betweeen 0.5 and 2.0 kbar. Available evidence suggests that mixing of the two magmas did not result from simultaneous flow within the Sulphur Creek conduit, but rather occurred within a density-stratified magma chamber. The initial density contrast between basaltic and basaltic andesite liquids was determined by the thermal and compositional contrast across their interface, and the oxidation state, water content, and crystallinity of the two magma columns. The bulk density of the basalt was probably only slightly greater than that of basaltic andesite due to the high crystal content of the more-differentiated liquid. The basalt would not have had to reach water-saturation in order for the densities of the two liquids to become equal. Overturning of the magma chamber could have occurred without the requirement of volatile exsolution in the lower mafic layer.
A modified urokinase plasminogen activator induces liver regeneration without bleeding.

ABSTRACT Direct retrovirus-mediated hepatic gene transfer results in permanent gene expression; however, gene transfer requires surgical hepatectomy (to stimulate cell division) and has been inefficient. We recently used recombinant adenovirus vectors that transiently expressed urokinase from mouse hepatocytes to induce hepatocellular regeneration in place of a partial hepatectomy. The adenovirus method allowed for five-fold more efficient retrovirus transduction in vivo compared to the conventional partial hepatectomy approach. The major problem with the urokinase-mediated hepatic regeneration was the transient secretion of urokinase into the bloodstream that led to hypocoagulation. To circumvent this side-effect, the urokinase protein was modified by adding amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal endoplasmic reticulum retention signals. The recombinant urokinase molecules expressed from adenoviral vectors remained in hepatocytes, were enzymatically active, and resulted in similar rates of hepatic regenerati...
Distance perception of food and the effect of food quantity on feeding behavior of Lytechinus variegatus (Lamarck) (Echinodermata: Echinoidea)

Lytechinus variegatus does not locate food items at a distance. Agar blocks containing 5% dry weight Thalassia testudinum or Gracilaria verrucosa were perceived only at 3–8 cm distance. Individuals exposed to 1% extracts of G. verrucosa changed neither their rate nor direction of movement, suggesting a lack of ortho‐ or klinokine‐tic resposes. Individuals exposed to extracts of T. testudinum moved less rapidly but did not exhibit search behavior. Unlike many carnivorous marine invertebrates, L. variegatus relies more upon random encounters than upon directed movement as a search strategy. This indicates an important difference between carnivore and herbivore feeding strategies. The frequency of feeding has no effect upon the feeding rate of large (114.5 ± 21.6 g wet weight; mean ±1 standard deviation) Lytechinus variegatus. Equivalent amounts of agarose blocks containing 5% dry weight Thalassia testudinum were consumed per feeding bout whether the echinoids were fed at daily, 3‐day, or 6‐day intervals. Sm...
TU-D-342-01: Advances in Breast Imaging

Over the last decade, there have been tremendous advances in breast imaging. As many facilities make the transition from film screen to digital mammography, it is appropriate to examine the accomplishments of the past and to acknowledge current technological limitations. In addition, we should carefully study evolving technologies in breast imaging with the goal of developing highly sensitive and highly specific techniques. This presentation will examine recent progress in digital mammography, including contrast‐enhanced imaging,tomosynthesis, and breast CT, from a breast imager's perspective. Randomized clinical trials and meta‐analyses have shown that screening mammography results in a decrease in breast cancer mortality. Although mammography is efficacious in most women, we know that mammography is not a perfect test, epecially in women with radiographically dense breasts. Furthermore, false positive and false negative mammograms are difficult to eliminate. As digital mammography replaces film screen mammography in many practice settings, cancer detection rates may rise slightly and call back rates may decrease slightly. Overlapping densities and areas of dense tissue often make interpretation of film screen mammograms difficult.. Overlapping parenchyma and dense tissue hinder digital mammography less than film screen mammography, but these overlying structures are not eliminated with digital mammography. Major efforts have been made in digital tomosynthesis and breast CT in order to advance beyond projection imaging.Tomosynthesis involves the acquisition of tomographic images in the digital mammography unit, while breast CT is based on a volumetric acquisition with the patient positioned prone in a machine that is similar to a unit used for stereotactic biopsies. Conventional digital mammography, digital tomosynthesis, and breast CT may be combined with the injection of iodinated contrast material in order to visualize tumor vascularity and increase the conspicuity of breast tumors. These techniques may also be used to monitor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Over the next decade, tomosynthesis and breast CT will transition from research applications to clinical realities. Further studies are needed in order to determine how to use these emerging tools in an effective, efficacious manner. Educational Objectives: 1. To review advances in breast imaging over the last decade. 2. To understand the strengths and weaknesses of film screen and digital mammography. 3. To appreciate the potential roles of digital tomosynthesis and breast CT. 4. To understand the application of iodinated contrast material in digital mammography,tomosynthesis, and breast CT.
Correlations between flaw tolerance and reliability in zirconia

Interrelations between flaw tolerance and reliability in Y-TZP, Ce-TZP and Mg-PSZ ceramics are investigated. Indentation-strength tests indicate an enhanced flaw tolerance with increasing R-curve behaviour from tetragonal → martensite transformation. The Weibull modulus of unindented specimens increases with the enhanced tolerance. However, even the most tolerant zirconias show persistent scatter in strength, implying that variability in material microstructure may be as important a factor in reliability evaluation in these materials as variability in flaw size.
Comparison of cervical cancer screening strategies: Cox et al

See related article, page 184 Screening programs based on cervical cytology have markedly reduced moridity and mortality from cervical cancer, et it remains an important public health roblem; 12,170 diagnoses of the disease ere estimated for 2012, along with 4200 eaths. The availability of molecular diagostics that detect high-risk human apillomavirus (HPV) DNA, the cause of ll cervical cancers, has fundamentally hanged the screening landscape. Likeise, widespread administration of the PV vaccine may alter the epidemiology f the disease. Screening algorithms will ave to evolve concurrently in order to reain effective.
T cell receptor-negative thymocytes from SCID mice can be induced to enter the CD4/CD8 differentiation pathway.

In order to investigate the role of T cell receptor (TcR) expression in thymocyte maturation, we have analyzed thymocytes from C.B-17/SCID mice, which are unable to productively rearrange their antigen receptor genes and fail to express TcR. Despite this defect, SCID thymocytes are functional as they produce lymphokines and proliferate in response to a variety of stimuli. Phenotypic analysis revealed that thymocyte populations from young adult SCID mice resemble thymocyte populations from normal embryonic mice in that they are large, Thy-1.2+, CD4-, CD8-, TcR- and enriched in CD5lo, IL2R+ and Pgp1+ cells. However, other TcR- populations normally present in adult mice (i.e., CD4-CD8+ cells and CD4+CD8+ cells) are absent from the thymus of TcR- adult SCID mice. To understand the basis of the developmental arrest of TcR- SCID thymocytes at the CD4-CD8- stage of differentiation, we analyzed thymi from the occasional "leaky" SCID mouse which possesses small numbers of TcR+ thymocytes. We found that the presence of TcR+ cells within a SCID thymus was invariably associated with the presence of CD4+ and/or CD8+ SCID thymocytes. Interestingly, however, the CD4+/CD8+ SCID thymocytes were not themselves necessarily TcR+. That is, emergence of SCID thymocytes expressing CD4/CD8 was tightly linked to the presence of TcR+ cells within that SCID thymus, but the SCID thymocytes that expressed CD4/CD8 were not necessarily the same cells that expressed TcR. Finally, we found that the introduction into TcR- SCID mice of normal bone marrow cells that give rise to TcR+ cells within the SCID thymus promoted the differentiation of SCID thymocytes into CD4-CD8+ and CD4+CD8+ TcR- cells. These data indicate that TcR+ cells within the thymic milieu provide critical signals which promote entry of CD4-CD8-TcR- precursor T cells into the CD4/CD8 differentiation pathway. When applied to differentiation of normal thymocytes, these findings may imply a critical role for early appearing CD4-CD8- TcR (gamma/delta)+ cells in initiating normal thymic ontogeny.
Rate of axoplasmic transport in the dystrophic chicken

Abstract The rate of axoplasmic transport in the radial nerves of the New Hampshire strain of chicken showing signs of dystrophy was found to be similar to that of normal controls. The rates found in the dystrophic nerves when scaled to a temperature of 38°C, was 388 to 400 mm/day using [ 3 H]leucine and [ 3 H]fucose to assess the downflow of proteins and glycoproteins. In control chicken nerves the corresponding rates were 389 to 405 mm/day. The overall amounts of fast transported materials were also generally similar as judged by their crest heights. Subcellular fractionation showed the labeled proteins in the various fractions of normal and dystrophic nerves to be similar. The muscles innervated by the radial nerve of the dystrophic animals showed signs characteristic of dystrophy. If the neurogenic theory is to be maintained, the defect would appear to lie in the quality of materials transported. It does not reside in a gross defect of the axoplasmic transport mechanism per se.
Molt increment, molt cycle duration, and tissue growth in Palaemonetes pugio Holthuis larvae

Abstract Growth in larvae of the shrimp Palaemonetes pugio Holthuis was examined to find if growth of the dorsal carapace (molt increment, MI), epidermis and muscle growth was dependent on the molt cycle duration (MCD). The dorsal carapace grew by 9–25 % at each molt through eight larval and one postlarval instars. Variation in carapace length (CL) decreased with larval age. Larvae reared individually through the first three instars demonstrated different trends in molt increment for each instar. Although half of the larvae underwent a continuous increase or decrease in MI (compared to the preceding MI), other larvae demonstrated an increase followed by a decrease, or vice versa, in MI. There was an inverse relationship between CL and MI for instar I, but not for instar II and III larvae. Growth of the epidermis and muscle was studied in instar II larvae. The epidermis in the posterior dorsal carapace increased in cell density during the 1st day of the molt cycle. At ecdysis to instar III, the cell density returned to a level equivalent to that of Day 1, instar II. The increase in cell density during instar II was proportional to the increase in area of the cuticle at ecdysis (= square of MI for CL) and could be used to predict the size of instar III larvae. The lateral thoraco-abdominal extensor muscle grew in length and width throughout the larval period and muscle size was highly correlated with CL. The MCD was inversely related to temperature in larvae reared at 15, 20, 25 or 30 °C. The MI was greatest at 20 and 25 °C. The MI, epidermal growth, and muscle growth, however, were independent of MCD. Exposure to 20-hydroxyecdysone (20HE) significantly shortened the intermolt period (A-C) in instar II larvae but did not decrease the MCD. There was no difference in MI or growth of the epidermis or muscle in 20HE-treated larvae. The results show that, during the first three larval instars, MI is independent of MCD and that tissue growth is not affected by the duration of the molt cycle. Growth and molting appear to be regulated in a coordinated but separate manner.
Laboratory Methods for Determining Corrosion Rates Under Heat Flux Conditions

Abstract Laboratory techniques for testing the effect of heat flux and skin temperatures upon corrosion rates of 316 stainless steel, steel and cast iron in various environments are described. Adva...
Aerobic versus anaerobic metabolism of halogenated anilines by aParacoccus sp.

AParacoccus sp. which transforms aniline and different halogen-substituted derivatives under aerobic and anaerobic conditions was isolated from the soil. In experiments with14C-ring-labeled 4-chloroaniline, approximately 60% of the radioactive material disappeared from the growth medium after incubation under anaerobiosis within 48 hr, but under aerobic conditions no decrease of radioactivity in the growth medium was observed, although 4-chloroaniline was completely metabolized. Acetylation appears to constitute, especially under aerobic conditions, a major transformation mechanism by the bacterium, since almost 50% of the acetylated compound could be detected and identified if aniline, 2-, 3-, and 4-chloroaniline served as substrate. The formation of different metabolites under aerobic and anaerobic conditions clearly indicates the existence of two separate pathways in the metabolism of aniline compounds depending on the oxygen status of the environment.
Pushing the limits of organic substrate technology

The requirement for smaller devices with more functionality has driven substrate technology developers to implement ever increasing circuit densities and layer numbers whilst utilising decreasing substrate thicknesses and reduced substrate sizes. Organic substrates remain the most popular materials for producing advanced interconnects that allow components to communicate in an effective and economic manner. This paper describes the practical work undertaken in the design, development, simulation, manufacture and reliability assessment of SLC™ technology to meet an extremely complex requirement in which all leading‐edge features were integrated. The key to finding a satisfactory conclusion to such a complex challenge lies in the ability to design and simulate candidates from which the best solution can be identified and manufactured within market price expectations. SLC™ technology has been manufactured within IBM for over a decade with applications covering the majority of market segments. The example described here is a telecommunications application with constraints such as weight, thickness, size, complexity and cost. All of these were key considerations influencing the appropriate technology selection.
Building social support for restorative justice through the media: is taking the victim perspective the most appropriate strategy?

Despite the encouraging results of public opinion assessments on restorative justice, people are not likely to spontaneously suggest restorative measures after a crime. Restorative justice thus see...
3D Volume Assessment of a Cornual Heterotopic Double Anembryonic Gestation and Response to Methotrexate Treatment

A pregnancy developing in the cornu is rare and accounts for less than 1% to 4% of ectopic pregnancies. This case describes a cornual heterotopic gestation occurring as a first pregnancy where both...
Simultaneous Track-to-Track Association and Bias Removal Using Multistart Local Search

A fundamental problem in multisensor data fusion is associating data from different sensor systems in the presence of sensor bias, random errors, false alarms, and missed detections. In this paper, we address the problem of simultaneously performing track-to-track association and bias estimation. We describe a polynomial-time multistart local search heuristic for quickly generating a number of high quality bias-assignment hypotheses. Computational results are presented to illustrate our findings and to compare our proposed algorithm to its competitors. Numerous test cases suggest that our multistart heuristic is suitable for real-time application and offers a practical and important "middle ground" for this problem by balancing performance and computation time.
Oligomeric Poly(ethylene oxide)-Functionalized Silsesquioxanes: Interfacial Effects on Tg, Tm, and ΔHm

Polyethyene oxide (PEO) oligomers (CH3−(O−CH2CH2)n−, where n = 2, 4, 〈8〉, and 〈12.5〉, and the brackets denote Mn averages) have been attached to Q8M8H silsesquioxanes to form Q8M8PEO(n). The effect of the inorganic interface is to raise the glass transition temperature, Tg, and suppress the crystallization of the PEO oligomers. With increasing n, Tg increases, and the PEO becomes semicrystalline, suggesting that PEO segments close to the interface remain amorphous.
Implication of CD44 in adhesion‐mediated overproduction of TGF‐β and IL‐1 in monocytes from patients with bone marrow fibrosis

Abstract Myelofibrosis (MF) is characterized by bone marrow (BM) fibrosis and excessive deposits of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins which include fibronectin (FN), collagen type I and hyaluronic acid (HA). We have previously reported that adhesion to polystyrene over-activates MF monocytes. We now confirm their activation by increased CD25 expression and tyrosine phosphorylation. We hypothesize that ECM protein-adhesion molecule interactions induce overproduction of fibrogenic cytokines in MF monocytes leading to BM fibrosis. In this study we found that FN, collagen type I and HA induce 2-3-fold more TGF-beta and 6-9 fold more interleukin (IL)-1 in MF monocytes than normal controls (NC). Since CD44 can function as the natural ligand for these proteins, its role was studied. We found that CD44 mediated most of the TGF-beta and IL-1 produced. Immunoprecipitation of CD44 revealed three proteins at approximately 11 kD in MF monocytes and one in NC. Our results indicated that adhesion is important in overproduction of TGF-beta and IL-1, and that their production is at least partly mediated by adhesion molecule-ECM protein interactions. These results implicate at least one adhesion molecule, CD44, in the pathophysiology of the BM fibrosis.
Stranski–Krastanov growth of InGaN quantum dots emitting in green spectra

Self-assembled InGaN quantum dots (QDs) were grown on GaN templates by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. 2D–3D growth mode transition through Stranski–Krastanov mode was observed via atomic force microscopy. The critical thickness for In0.67Ga0.33N QDs was determined to be four monolayers. The effects of growth temperature, deposition thickness, and V/III ratio on QD formation were examined. The capping of InGaN QDs with GaN was analyzed. Optimized InGaN quantum dots emitted in green spectra at room temperature.
Satellite potential in an ionized atmosphere

A self-consistent field theory involving the Vlasov equation and the Poisson equation is applied to the study of the potential field around a spherical satellite, the Coulomb drag, and its wake trails in an ionized atmosphere. It is considered that undisturbed particles have a Maxwellian distribution of speeds with large mean free paths in comparison with the Debye length. In the vicinity of the sphere, both the incident and the reflected distribution functions are considered. It is found that the electrical potential around a rapidly moving satellite is not in the form of spherical symmetry, which is a new and essential contribution to the existing state of knowledge on this subject. From this nonspherical potential field, the Coulomb drag is easily formulated, and the characteristics of the wakes behind the satellite are readily predicted. The theoretical value as computed for Explorer VIII satellite leads to a potential of —0.156 v, which is in close agreement with the actual observed measurement of — 0.15 v. This analysis also presents a method of obtaining results from the nonlinear self-consistent set of Vlasov-Poisson equations.
The structural water of fibrin molecules measured by heat drying and compared with derivations from electron microscopic molecular models.

Standard clots of bovine fibrin collapsed in the highly humid air stream of a laboratory device. Their residual water, determined by heat drying at 105°C, resulted in a time dependent curve composed of 3 distinct phases. Electron micrographs show that during the first phase free water is released causing a collapse of the fibrous framework of the clot, during the third phase structural water is lost causing a breakdown of the molecular protein. The clot of the second phase consists of space fillingly packed fibrin molecules, whose directly determined structural water is approximately 5.25 g/g dry wt., but whose height (approximately 180 μm) results in the most probable value 6.25 g structural water/g protein. If this amount is compared with respective theoretical values of electron microscopic molecular models of fibrin, the clot consisting of space fillingly packed pentagon dodecahedron models yields approximately 8 g structural water/g fibrin, closely to the experimental value. In contrast to other models, this model explains simultaneously the shape of the curve, mass and volume relationships and morphology of clot and molecule. The remainding difference between the most probable experimental and this theoretical value can easily be attributed to experimental errors and impurities contained in the volume of the molecule. Consequently, the general structure of the fibrinogen and fibrin molecule is represented by the pentagon dodecahedron model.
Tracking the Archean-Proterozoic suture zone in the northeastern Great Basin, Nevada and Utah

It is important to know whether major mining districts in north-central Nevada are underlain by crust of the Archean Wyoming craton, known to contain major orogenic gold deposits or, alternatively, by accreted crust of the Paleoproterozoic Mojave province. Determining the location and orientation of the Archean-Proterozoic suture zone between these provinces is also important because it may influence subsequent patterns of sedimentation, deformation, magmatism, and hydrothermal activity. The suture zone is exposed in northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming and exhibits a southwest strike. In the Great Basin, the suture zone strike is poorly constrained because it is largely concealed below a Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic miogeocline and Cenozoic basin fill. Two-dimensional resistivity modeling of three regional north-south magnetotelluric sounding profiles in western Utah, north-central Nevada, and northeastern Nevada, and one east-west profile in northeastern Nevada, reveals a deeply penetrating (>10 km depth), broad (tens of kilometers) conductor (1–20 ohm-meters) that may be the Archean-Pro-terozoic suture zone, which formed during Early Proterozoic rifting of the continent and subsequent Proterozoic accretion. This major crustal conductor changes strike direction from southwest in Utah to northwest in eastern Nevada, where it broadens to ∼100 km width that correlates with early Paleozoic rifting of the continent. Our results suggest that the major gold belts may be over-isolated blocks of Archean crust, so Phanerozoic mineral deposits in this region may be produced, at least in part, from recycled Archean gold. Future mineral exploration to the east may yield large gold tonnages.
Transanal delivery of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor prevents colonic fibrosis in a mouse colitis model: development of a unique mode of treatment

Background We have previously shown that angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitor (ACE-I) improved colonic inflammation and apoptosis in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis model. This study attempted to determine whether ACE-I could prevent the development of colonic fibrosis. Methods Colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice with 2.5% DSS water for 7 days, followed by 7 days without DSS (fibrosis development). Study groups: Control (naive or non-treated), DSS+Placebo (polyethylene glycol (PEG), and DSS+ACE-I (using enalaprilat and PEG which are not absorbed through intact mucosa). Placebo and ACE-I were delivered daily via transanal route. Colonic mucosal fibrosis and inflammation were evaluated based on histological findings and cytokine expression. Results Transanal administration of ACE-I/PEG dose-dependently decreased the severity of fibrosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. We next investigated if ACE-I acted on the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway as a mechanism of this anti-fibrosis action. Results showed a significant down-regulation of TGF-β1 expression; as well, downstream signaling of the Smad family, known to mediate fibrosis, showed a decline in Smad 3 and 4 expression with ACE-I/PEG. Conclusion ACE-I/PEG is effective in preventing colonic fibrosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in a DSS colitis model, most likely by down-regulating the TGF-β signaling pathway. ACE-I/PEG may be a potential new option for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
Visual analytics for neuroscience-inspired dynamic architectures

We introduce a visual analytics tool for neuroscience-inspired dynamic architectures (NIDA), a network type that has been previously shown to perform well on control, anomaly detection, and classification tasks. NIDA networks are a type of spiking neural network, a non-traditional network type that captures dynamics throughout the network. We demonstrate the utility of our visualization tool in exploring and understanding the structure and activity of NIDA networks. Finally, we describe several extensions to the visual analytics tool that will further aid in the development and improvement of NIDA networks and their associated design method.
Transcription of the his3 gene region in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract In exponentially growing cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , approximately 85% of a 10.1 × 10 3 base region of DNA that includes the his3 gene is transcribed into discrete messenger RNA species. These species map at five or six non-overlapping regions on the cloned DNA, and presumably represent the transcriptional products of five or six genes. The spacing between the RNA coding regions ranges between 300 and 600 base-pairs. The steady-state levels of these RNAs average about one to three molecules per cell. Under a condition in which a yeast strain carrying the rna1 -ts1 mutation accumulates transfer RNA precursors and fails to transport RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, the mRNA species homologous to this 10.1 × 10 3 base region appear unaltered in size. The smallest mRNA species (0.7 × 10 3 bases in length) maps to the same location as the his3 gene determined by complementation patterns in yeast and in Escherichia coli of physically defined derivatives of the cloned his3 gene. The 5′-end of this transcript maps within 50 base-pairs of the sequence that is recognized as a promoter necessary for his3 expression in E. coli . S 1 nuclease mapping of this transcript strongly suggests that the his3 gene does not contain intervening sequences. The steady-state level of the his 3 mRNA is about ten times higher in cells starved of histidine; the levels of the other mRNA species are unaffected by this physiological condition.
Developmental Patterns of Pituitary and Plasma TSH in the Normal and Hypothyroid Female Rat1

The developmental pattern of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was examined in female Long-Evans rats by radioimmunoassay of pituitary and plasma from 5 through 80 days of age. The effects of hypothyroidism on normal TSH levels were examined in animals radiothyroidectomized at birth. Control animals showed a peak in circulating TSH levels at day 12 followed by lower levels through day 30, and even lower levels at day 80 when values were those of adult animals. Hypothyroid females had higher plasma TSH levels than controls from days 10 through 30 with no distinct peak at day 12. Pituitary content reached a peak at day 18 and was always higher in control than hypothyroid animals.(Endocrinology 97: 237, 1975)
On the Information in a Microphotograph

The information concentration of a legible microphotograph made at a reduction ratio of 1200 is computed to be over 2 × 106 bits/mm2. Reasons are adduced for using a mosaic of squares having sides equal to the reciprocal of the resolving power, each being capable of assuming one of two density ranges, as a model of a high contrast material for the computation of information capacity. It follows that the information capacity is equal to the square of the resolving power. This relation gives values of information capacity in good accord with the values computed by the Jones theory. The information capacity of a Kodak High Resolution Plate is computed to be 3.25 × 106 bits/mm2. That the product of reduction ratio times quality index equals the product of resolving power times the height of the lower case e in type to be copied is verified at the high reduction ratio, and this relationship is considered useful for engineering computations involving the copying of commonly used styles of type. The use of literal charts designed on the basis of information theory is suggested for the evaluation of microcopying systems.
Nonrenormalizability of Einstein-Yang-Mills interactions at the one-loop level

Abstract The interactions between the quantized Einstein and quantized Yang-Mills fields are one-loop nonrenormalizable.
Growth and cytodifferentiation of embryonic chick lens epithelial cells in vitro.

Abstract Cytodifferentiation, mitotic activity, tritiated thymidine binding and cell migration were studied in 297 6-day embryonic chick lens epithelia explanted into defined medium alone (UM) or into defined medium supplemented with serum (SM). Lens epithelial cells explanted into UM alone did not undergo significant cytodifferentiation nor cellular proliferation. Cells explanted directly into SM rapidly differentiated into short prospective lens fibers and failed to show significant proliferative activity. If the lens epithelial cells were precultured for 12 to 24 h in UM before transfer to SM, the cells rapidly lost their capacity to differentiate under these experimental conditions. As the ability to form short fibers was lost, the explanted cells showed greatly enhanced mitotic and migratory activity when stimulated by the addition of serum containing medium. The possibility is discussed that the rapidly lost capacity of lens epithelial cells to form fibers is due to the loss or inactivation of a cell component or components involved in the synthesis of tissue-specific proteins, and, being unable to differentiate under these experimental conditions, the cells are stimulated to proliferate and to migrate by the addition of serum.
Role of E-cadherins in development of lymphatic tumor emboli.

BACKGROUND E-cadherin (E-cad) is a cell adhesion molecule that is expressed in normal breast tissue. While loss of E-cad expression is a characteristic feature of lobular carcinoma, it also is observed in infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC). The presence of peritumoral intralymphatic emboli also is a poor prognostic feature in IDC. Invasive lobular carcinoma rarely is associated with intralymphatic emboli. In the current study, the authors assessed E-cad expression in cases of IDC with and without intralymphatic tumor emboli to examine the potential role played by these molecules in the development of lymphatic emboli. METHODS Fifty patients with high-grade invasive ductal carcinoma—25 with prominent lymphatic invasion (LVI) and intralymphatic tumor emboli and 25 without LVI—were tested for expression of E-cad. For both groups, the intensity and frequency of E-cad expression was evaluated in tumor cells and lymphatic emboli; normal lobules were used as internal controls. RESULTS Membranous expression of E-cad was observed in normal lobules and tumor cells in all patients, with the tumor cells exhibiting varying degrees of loss of expression. In the 25 LVI-positive patients, the majority of tumor cells (including intralymphatic emboli) expressed E-cad with an intensity and distribution similar to what was seen in normal lobules. In the LVI-negative patients, the intensity and the distribution of E-cad staining varied significantly. Tumor cells at the tumor-stroma interface showed a greater frequency and intensity of E-cad expression than did cells in the central region of the tumor. CONCLUSIONS Strong expression of E-cad was observed in LVI-positive patients with high-grade IDC but not in LVI-negative patients. Emboli also exhibited high-intensity expression. These findings, taken in conjunction with the knowledge that intralymphatic tumor emboli in lobular carcinoma (which is E-cad-negative) are rare, suggest that E-cad plays an important role in tumor development and growth within the lymphatics. Cancer 2003;97:2341–7. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11332