cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Image-Guided Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumors - Current Practice and Future Outlooks

Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) under white light cystoscopy (WLC) is the cornerstone for the diagnosis, removal and local staging of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Despite technological improvements over the decades, significant shortcomings remain with WLC for tumor detection, thereby impacting the surgical quality and contributing to tumor recurrence and progression. Enhanced cystoscopy modalities such as blue light cystoscopy (BLC) and narrow band imaging (NBI) aid resections by highlighting tumors that might be missed on WLC. Optical biopsy technologies such as confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) characterize tissue in real-time to ensure a more thorough resection. New resection techniques, particularly en bloc resection, are actively under investigation to improve the overall quality of resections and aid pathologic interpretation. Moreover, new image processing computer algorithms may improve perioperative planning and longitudinal follow-up. Clinical translation of molecular imaging agents is also on the horizon to improve optical diagnosis of bladder cancer. This review focuses on emerging technologies that can impact the quality of TURBT to improve the overall management of NMIBC.
Clinical value of triage lactate in risk stratifying trauma patients using interval likelihood ratios.

Abstract Emergency physicians face the challenge of rapidly identifying high-risk trauma patients. Lactate (LAC) is widely used as a surrogate of tissue hypoperfusion. However, clinically important values for LAC as a predictor of mortality are not well defined. Objectives: 1. To assess the value of triage LAC in predicting mortality after trauma. 2. To compute interval likelihood ratios (LR) for LAC. Methods Retrospective chart review of trauma patients with a significant injury mechanism that warranted labs at an urban trauma center. Outcome: In-hospital mortality. Data are presented as median and quartiles or percentages with 95% confidence intervals. Groups (lived vs. died) were compared with Man-Whitney-U or Fisher's-exact test. Multivariate analysis was used to measure the association of the independent variables and mortality. The interval likelihood ratios were calculated for all LAC observed values. Results 10,575 patients; median age: 38 [25–57]; 69% male; 76% blunt; 1.1% [ n = 119] mortality. LAC was statistically different between groups in univariate (2.3 [1.6,3.0] vs 2.8 [1.6,4.8], p = 0.008) and multivariate analyses (odds ratio: 1.14 [1.08–1.21], p = 0.0001). Interval ratios for LR- ranged from 0.6–1.0. Increasing LAC increased LR +. However, LR + for LAC reached 5 with LAC > 9 mmol/L and passed 10 (moderate and conclusive increase in disease probability, respectively) with LAC > 18 mmol/L. Conclusions In a cohort of trauma patients with a wide spectrum of characteristics triage LAC was statistically able to identify patients at high risk of mortality. However, clinically meaningful contribution to decision-making occurred only at LAC > 9. LAC was not useful at excluding those with a low risk of mortality.
NARCOTRÁFICO, VIOLENCIA POLÍTICA Y POLÍTICA EXTERIOR DE ESTADOS UNIDOS HACIA COLOMBIA EN LOS NOVENTA*

El presente ensayo examina el impacto de las politicas de control de drogas de los gobiernos de Estados Unidos y Colombia en la evolucion del cultivo de drogas, el narcotrafico y la violencia politica en Colombia durante los anos noventa. La tesis central radica en que la guerra contra las drogas librada por Washington y Bogota durante esta decada no solamente fracaso en dar freno al crecimiento del trafico de drogas y a la consecuente corrupcion, sino que, de hecho, fue contraproducente. Entre sus consecuencias involuntarias mas importantes estan la expansion acelerada de las actividades de cultivo y produccion de drogas, la dispersion y proliferacion del crimen organizado y la intensificacion de la violencia politica y la lucha guerrillera en el pais. Como resultado, a inicios del 2000 Colombia enfrento mas amenazas serias a su seguridad nacional y a su estabilidad politica que en 1990. En el ensayo se concluye que el escalamiento masivo de las estrategias defectuosas contra las drogas de la decada anterior propuestas por la administracion Clinton, en enero del 2000, tienden mas a empeorar los actuales problemas de violencia y de inseguridad en Colombia que a resolverlos. CULTIVO Y PRODUCCION DE DROGAS EN COLOMBIA
Elucidation of dose-dependent transcriptional events immediately following ionizing radiation exposure

Long duration space missions expose astronauts to ionizing radiation events associated with highly energetic and charged heavy particles. Such exposure can result in chromosomal aberrations increasing the likelihood of the development of cancer. Early detection and mitigation of these events is critical in providing positive outcomes. In order to aid in the development of portable devices used to measure radiation exposure, we constructed a genome-wide screen to detect transcriptional changes in peripheral blood lymphocytes shortly after (approximately 1 hour) radiation exposure at low (0.3 Gy), medium (1.5 Gy) and high (3.0 Gy) doses compared to control (0.0 Gy) using Affymetrix® Human Gene 1.0 ST v1 microarrays. Our results indicate a number of sensitive and specific transcriptional profiles induced by radiation exposure that can potentially be implemented as biomarkers for radiation exposure as well as dose effect. For overall immediate radiation exposure, KDELC1, MRPS30, RARS, and HEXIM1 were determined to be effective biomarkers while PRDM9, CHST4, and SLC26A10 were determined to be biomarkers specific to 0.3 Gy exposure; RPH, CCDC96, WDYHV1, and IFNA16 were identified for 1.5 Gy exposure; and CWC15, CHCHD7, and DNAAF2 were determined to be sensitive and specific to 3.0 Gy exposure. The resulting raw and analyzed data are publicly available through NCBI's Gene Expression Ominibus via accession GSE64375.
Valuing Our Communities: Ethical Considerations for Economic Evaluation of Community-Based Prevention.

Restricted public budgets and increasing efforts to link the impact of community interventions to public savings have increased the use of economic evaluation. While this type of evaluation can be important for program planning, it also raises important ethical issues about how we value the time of local stakeholders who support community interventions. In particular, researchers have to navigate issues of scientific accuracy, institutional inequality and research utility in their pursuit of even basic cost estimates. We provide an example of how we confronted these issues when estimating the costs of a large-scale community-based intervention. Principles for valuing community members’ time and conducting economic evaluations of community programs are discussed.
Molecular regulation of MCU: Implications in physiology and disease.

Abstract Ca2+ flux across the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) regulates cellular bioenergetics, intra-cellular cytoplasmic Ca2+ signals, and various cell death pathways. Ca2+ entry into the mitochondria occurs due to the highly negative membrane potential (ΔΨm) through a selective inward rectifying MCU channel. In addition to being regulated by various mitochondrial matrix resident proteins such as MICUs, MCUb, MCUR1 and EMRE, the channel is transcriptionally regulated by upstream Ca2+ cascade, post transnational modification and by divalent cations. The mode of regulation either inhibits or enhances MCU channel activity and thus regulates mitochondrial metabolism and cell fate.
Extraperitoneal Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: Simulating the Gold Standard

While open prostatectomy is routinely performed in the extraperitoneal space, the newer methods of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) are instead more commonly performed transabdominally. The familiar laparoscopic transperitoneal anatomy and larger working area have made it the preferred approach for the majority of surgeons performing these procedures laparoscopically or using robot assistance. Herein the procedure and the arguments for the extraperitoneal robot-assisted radical prostatectomy technique, which has been my preferred approach in nearly 2,000 cases, are presented.
Chemoprevention of human cancer: a reasonable strategy?

The field of chemoprevention of cancer in humans is at a teenage level of maturity. There is anticipation and energy, and some promising results have come in, but it’s unclear whether the entire enterprise is worth the effort. Reflecting on the status of the organism and where we are in its developmental history is therefore an important exercise at this time. Empirical and philosophical perspectives are offered for several key questions: Why prevent Cancer? What is the preclinical evidence that chemoprevention of cancer in humans should work? What is the clinical evidence that chemoprevention agents work? What is the clinical evidence that chemoprevention agent don’t work? What is the status of ongoing randomized phase III/IV chemoprevention trials? The answers to each of these questions provide a part of the scaffold for a logical platform for the launching of the chemoprevention imperative as an integral part of our approach to the overall management of human cancer.
Liapunov functions and monotonicity in the Navier-Stokes equation

Here u = u(t): R'" --+ R'" is the velocity field; v is the kinematic viscosity; B =grad; and P denotes the projection operator onto solenoidal (= divergence free) vectors along gradients (so that the pressure term has been eliminated). It is the purpose of this note to show that (1.1) has a large number of Liapunov functions, which decrease monotonically in time for every solution with small L'" (Rm)_ norm. It is known (see [3]) that if ¢> E L'"; then a unique strong solution u(t) with u(O) = ¢> exists for short time, and that it exists for all time if v-111¢>llm is small. (II lip denotes the LP-norm.) For this reason, we may call R[u] = v-1llullm a Reynolds number for the flow u, Of course other Reynolds numbers exist with a similar property, but it seems that R[u] is the simplest among them. For m = 3, it appears already in Leray's paper (see [5, p.231). Actually it turns out that if R[¢>] is small, then R[u(t)] decreases in t monotonically. Therefore it may also be called a Liapunov function for (1.1). It seems that such a monotone decay has so far been known only for Ilu112' In fact we shall show that there are many other Liapunov functions. They include the Ilull"p = 11(1-6)'/2ullp for certain sand p. All p E (1,00) are allowed if s = O. In particular, the Reynolds number R[u] = Ilulim is at the same time a Liapunov function. It is obvious that if L.:[u] is a Liapunov function, then so is (L.:[u]) for any monotone increasing function . To illustrate the situation in the simplest case, let us recall the L 2 -theory for (1.1) given some time ago [2]. If one works in the Hilbert space H = L2(Rm;Rm), -6 is a nonnegative selfadjoint operator, and P becomes an orthogonal projection of H onto the subspace H" consisting of solenoidal vectors. -6 is reduced by H", so that its part A in H" is nonnegative selfadjoint, and (1.1) can be regarded as an abstract equation
Imaging features of triple-negative breast cancers according to androgen receptor status

Abstract Objective Different molecular subtypes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) have previously been identified through analysis of gene expression profiles. The luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype has been shown to have a lower rate of pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy than other TNBC subtypes. The purpose of this study was to determine if the imaging features of TNBCs differ by AR (androgen receptor) status, which is a surrogate immunohistochemical (IHC) marker for the chemoresistant LAR subtype of TNBC. Materials and methods This sub-study was part of a clinical trial in patients with stage I-III TNBC who were prospectively monitored for response while receiving neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST) at a single comprehensive cancer center. This interim imaging analysis included 144 patients with known AR status measured by IHC. AR-positive (AR+) tumors were defined as those in which at least 10% of tumor cells had positive nuclear AR staining. Two experienced, fellowship-trained breast radiologists who were blinded to the IHC results retrospectively reviewed and reached consensus on all imaging studies for the index lesion (i.e., mammogram, ultrasound, and breast magnetic resonance imaging). The index lesion for each patient was reviewed and described according to the fifth edition of the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System lexicon. Logistic regression modeling was used to identify imaging features predictive of AR status. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Univariate logistic regression models for AR status showed that AR+ TNBC was significantly associated with heterogeneously dense breast composition on mammography (p = 0.02), mass with calcifications (p = 0.05), irregular mass shape on mammography (p = 0.03), and irregular mass shape on sonography (p = 0.003). Multivariate logistic regression models for AR status showed that AR+ TNBC was significantly associated with heterogeneously dense breast composition on mammography (p = 0.01), high mass density on mammography (p = 0.003), and irregular mass shape on sonography (p = 0.0004). Conclusion The imaging features of TNBCs differ by AR status. Multimodality breast imaging may help identify the LAR subtype of TNBC, which has been shown to be a subtype that is relatively resistant to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Muscle Stem Cell Biology and Implications in Gene Therapy

As the most abundant tissue in the body, skeletal muscle is a challenging target for the would-be gene therapist, particularly in the context of a severe disease such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), where the bulk of tissue is simultaneously being destroyed and regenerated. Such instability poses the problem of maintaining any potential therapeutic expression construct or genetically corrected nuclear information but offers the compensation of the prospect of using the repair mechanism itself as a vector for genetic material. The best-attested myogenic stem cell is the skeletal muscle satellite cell, a Pax7+ve cell, sandwiched between the muscle fibre plasmalemma and the overlying basement membrane. However other cell types capable of myogenesis have been identified, lying outside the muscle basement membrane and, in the dormant state, not expressing Pax7; their place in muscle development and maintenance has yet to be definitively established. Two major unresolved problems for the strategy of direct intramuscular transplantation of muscle precursor cells are the massive necrotic loss of such cells when grafted into muscle and their poor migration within the recipient muscles. The main alternative approach involves grafting cells derived from pericytes or CD133-expressing cells isolated from muscle, which are shown to be distributable via the blood to widespread muscles where they extravasate, adopt a myogenic phenotype and repair diseased and damaged muscle fibres. This approach is subject to the problems that the cells are incompletely characterized, and their property of being distributable via the vasculature has not been widely reproduced.
Genome-wide mutagenesis resulting from topoisomerase 1-processing of unrepaired ribonucleotides in DNA

Ribonucleotides are the most common non-canonical nucleotides incorporated into DNA during replication, and their processing leads to mutations and genome instability. Yeast mutation reporter systems demonstrate that 2-5 base pair deletions (Δ2-5bp) in repetitive DNA are a signature of unrepaired ribonucleotides, and that these events are initiated by topoisomerase 1 (Top1) cleavage. However, a detailed understanding of the frequency and locations of ribonucleotide-dependent mutational events across the genome has been lacking. Here we present the results of genome-wide mutational analysis of yeast strains deficient in Ribonucleotide Excision Repair (RER). We identified mutations that accumulated over thousands of generations in strains expressing either wild-type or variant replicase alleles (M644G Pol e, L612M Pol δ, L868M Pol α) that confer increased ribonucleotide incorporation into DNA. Using a custom-designed mutation-calling pipeline called muver (for mutationes verificatae), we observe a number of surprising mutagenic features. This includes a 24-fold preferential elevation of AG and AC relative to AT dinucleotide deletions in the absence of RER, suggesting specificity for Top1-initiated deletion mutagenesis. Moreover, deletion rates in di- and trinucleotide repeat tracts increase exponentially with tract length. Consistent with biochemical and reporter gene mutational analysis, these deletions are no longer observed upon deletion of TOP1. Taken together, results from these analyses demonstrate the global impact of genomic ribonucleotide processing by Top1 on genome integrity.
N-terminal autoprocessing and acetylation of MARTX Makes-Caterpillars Floppy-like effector is stimulated by ADP-Ribosylation Factor 1 in advance of Golgi fragmentation

Studies have successfully elucidated the mechanism of action of several effector domains that comprise the MARTX toxins of Vibrio vulnificus. However, the biochemical linkage between the cysteine proteolytic activity of Makes Caterpillars Floppy-like (MCF) effector and its cellular effects remains unknown. In this study, we identify the host cell factors that activate in vivo and in vitro MCF autoprocessing as ADP Ribosylation Factor 1 (ARF1) and ADP-ribosylation Factor 3 (ARF3). Autoprocessing activity is enhanced when ARF1 is in its active (GTP-bound) form compared to the inactive (GDP-bound) form. Subsequent to auto-cleavage, MCF is acetylated on its exposed N-terminal glycine residue. Acetylation apparently does not dictate subcellular localization, as MCF is found localized throughout the cell. However, the cleaved form of MCF gains the ability to bind to the specialized lipid phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate enriched in Golgi and other membranes necessary for endocytic trafficking, suggesting a fraction of MCF may be subcellular localized. Traditional thin section electron microscopy, high resolution cryoAPEX localization, and fluorescent microscopy show that MCF causes Golgi dispersal resulting in extensive vesiculation. In addition, host mitochondria are disrupted and fragmented. Surprisingly, ARF1 is not itself processed or post-translationally modified by MCF. Further, only catalytically inactive MCF stably associates with ARF1, thus serving as a substrate trap. Our data indicate that ARF1 is a cross-kingdom activator of MCF, but reveal that MCF mediates cytotoxicity likely by directly targeting another yet to be identified protein. This study begins to elucidate the biochemical activity of this important domain and gives insight into how it may promote disease progression.
Nutritional Management of Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome

This chapter provides an overview of nutrition goals for infants and children with food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES). Two case studies are discussed to illustrate various presentations of the syndrome from a growth and nutrition perspective, as well as examples of appropriate nutrition guidance and interventions. Topics discussed include key nutrients to consider, breastfeeding and the maternal diet, feeding progression and prevention of feeding issues, choosing and trialing novel foods and beverages, and transitioning from an infant to toddler feeding pattern.
Contextual Fairness: A Legal and Policy Analysis of Algorithmic Fairness

To date, all stakeholders are working intensively on policy design for artificial intelligence. All initiatives center around the requirement that AI algorithms should be fair. But what exactly does it mean? And how algorithmic fairness can be translated to legal and policy terms? These are the main questions that this paper aims to explore. Each discipline approaches those questions differently. While computer scientists may favor one notion of fairness over others across the board, this paper argues in favor of a case-by-case analysis and application of the relevant fairness notion. The paper discusses the legal limitations of the computer science (CS) notions of fairness and suggests a typology of matching each CS notions to its corresponding legal mechanism. The paper concludes that fairness is contextual. The fact that each notion, or a group of notions correspond with a different legal mechanism, make them suitable for a certain policy domain more than others. Thus, throughout the paper, examples for possible applicability of the CS notions to some policy domains will be introduced. In addition, the paper will highlight for both developers and policy makers the practical steps that need to be taken in order to better address algorithmic fairness. In some instances, notions of fairness that seem, on their face, unproductive from a technical perspective, could in fact be quite helpful from a legal perspective. In other instances, desirable notions in the eye of computer scientists could be challenging to implement in the legal regime, due to the need to determine complex moral and legal questions. Thus, the article emphasizes, a one-size-fits-all solution is not applicable for algorithmic fairness. Rather, an approach that demonstrates a deep understanding of the specific context that a certain algorithm is operating in can guarantee a fairer outcome.
Nanocarbon Interconnects - from 1D to 3D

Continuous downward scaling in silicon integrated circuit technology into the sub-20 nm regime has created critical challenges in chip manufacturing, among them, reliability and performance of on-chip interconnects. Current interconnect materials, Cu and W, face increased reliability challenges in the nanoscale as a result of electromigration failures at high current densities. Materials such as nanocarbons, metal silicides, cobalt, ruthenium, and metallic nanowires are being considered as potential replacements for Cu and W. In particular, due to its superior electrical and mechanical properties as well as much higher current-carrying capacities, carbon nanotube (CNT) has been demonstrated to be a serious contender in on-chip interconnect vias. However, the main challenge to functionalizing CNT vias is the metal-CNT contact resistance. To mitigate such challenge, a seamless three-dimensional all-carbon interconnect structure is conceived and fabricated by growing CNTs directly on one or few layers of graphene (MLG). This 3D structure can potentially yield low resistance due to the strong C-C sp2 bonding in CNT and graphene and across the CNTgraphene interface. While such growth has been demonstrated, the CNT/graphene interfacial nanostructure and how it impacts the electrical properties of the 3D structure are far from being understood.
Countering Threats in Space Through International Cooperation

Abstract The U.S. military's dependence on inherently vulnerable space assets creates an incentive for its adversaries to target U.S. space systems. Establishing mission assurance through resilience and reconstitution is a critical challenge for the United States. One of the U.S. approaches to strengthening resilience and reconstituting space systems is to engage in international cooperation with its allies. Such cooperation can effectively improve three elements of resilience: disaggregation, distribution, and diversification. International joint development of satellites with allies would also improve the reconstitution of U.S. space systems, which involves rebuilding these systems after damage by adversaries. These efforts could benefit both the United States and its allies through imposing quantitative and political costs on adversaries for attacking U.S. space systems. Several issues prevent close cooperation. Considering these benefits and obstacles, establishing space systems, especially an SSA(Space Situational Awareness) satellite constellation, with allies could be an effective undertaking for the United States. The United States has an advantage compared with its adversaries as it possesses a number of strong allies and partners; thus, the United States should maximize this advantage to improve the resilience and reconstitution of space systems.
The Šilov Boundary

Let X be a compact space and ℱ an algebra of continous complex-valued functions on X which separates the points of X.
Gain Enhancement of On-Chip Antenna at 60 GHz Using an Artificial Magnetic Conductor

Wireless data communication within and between CMOS chips at 60GHz is very attractive for short range wireless transmission. The objective of the work is to enhance antenna gain and improve the radiation efficiency with the use of the Jerusalem-Cross Artificial Magnetic Conductor (AMC) to mitigate the effects of the silicon and improve data transmission within and between chips. The Yagi is optimized for an endfire radiation in the plane of the chip. Its performance is studied when it is placed in the center of the chip and along the edge, with the AMC layer extending only below the feed system and then compared when it extends over the entire chip. The results show that the AMC layer improves the gain by 2.5 dB and radiation efficiency by a few percent. All simulations are performed using ANSYS HFSS.
Sample processing and single cell RNA-sequencing of peripheral blood immune cells from COVID-19 patients.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of PBMCs allows in-depth assessment of transcriptional changes in immune cells of COVID-19 patients. However, collecting, processing, and analyzing samples from COVID-19 patients pose many challenges because blood samples may contain infectious virus, identification of immune cell subtypes can be difficult, and biological interpretation of analytical results is complex. To address these issues, we describe a protocol for sample processing, sorting, methanol fixation and scRNA-seq analysis of PBMCs from frozen buffy coat samples from COVID-19 patients.
Genome-wide survey and expression analysis of NIN-like Protein (NLP) genes reveals its potential roles in the response to nitrate signaling in tomato.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most important horticultural crops, with a marked preference for nitrate as an inorganic nitrogen source. The molecular mechanisms of nitrate uptake and assimilation are poorly understood in tomato. NIN-like proteins (NLPs) are conserved, plant-specific transcription factors that play crucial roles in nitrate signaling. In this study, genome-wide analysis identified six NLP members in tomato genome. These members were clustered into three clades in a phylogenetic tree. Comparative genomic analysis showed that SlNLP genes exhibited collinear relationships to NLPs in Arabidopsis, canola, maize and rice, and that the expansion of the SlNLP family mainly resulted from segmental duplications in the tomato genome. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that one of the close homologs of AtNLP6/7, SlNLP3, was strongly expressed in roots during both the seedling and flowering stages, that SlNLP4 and SlNLP6 exhibited preferential expression in stems and leaves and that SlNLP6 was expressed at high levels in fruits. Furthermore, the nitrate uptake in tomato roots and the expression patterns of SlNLP genes were measured under nitrogen deficiency and nitrate resupply conditions. Four SlNLPs, SlNLP1, SlNLP2, SlNLP4 and SlNLP6, were upregulated after nitrogen starvation. And SlNLP1 and SlNLP5 were induced rapidly and temporally by nitrate. These results provide significant insights into the potential diverse functions of SlNLPs to regulate nitrate uptake.
Nontraumatic hemoabdomen and pancytopenia secondary to myelolipoma in a cat.

OBJECTIVE (1) To report an unusual etiology for nontraumatic hemoabdomen in cats, and (2) to describe onset and recovery from severe, unexpected pancytopenia seen after surgical removal of a large intra-abdominal myelolipoma. CASE SUMMARY A 14-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented for emergent treatment of suspected nontraumatic hemoabdomen. A hyperechoic mass, with ultrasonographic echogenicity similar to fat, was found in the right cranial abdomen and believed to be associated with the mesentery. Cytological examination of abdominal fluid identified marked extramedullary hematopoiesis within the hemorrhagic effusion. Exploratory laparotomy identified a hepatic mass, which was resected, and revealed to be a hepatic myelolipoma on histopathological examination. The patient's initial recovery was uneventful. However, continued hyporexia resulted in readmission 4 days postoperatively, at which time the patient was found to have a profound, tri-lineage pancytopenia, and cytological evidence indicative of bone marrow recovery. The pancytopenia resolved with continued medical management and supportive care. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED Ruptured myelolipoma is not a commonly considered differential for nontraumatic hemoabdomen in cats. Furthermore, severe pancytopenia is unexpected following surgical resection of a myelolipoma. This case provides a unique clinical presentation of both nontraumatic hemoabdomen and bone marrow recovery.
Designing With High Performance Asics

ASIC design interfaces ASIC testing design synchronous logic design principles ASIC timing and delay principles ASIC clock distribution principles CMOS ASIC design guidelines ASIC packaging guidelines special topics/technology update.
Accuracy of Gradient Reconstruction on Grids with High Aspect Ratio

Gradient approximation methods commonly used in unstructured-grid finite-volume schemes intended for solutions of high Reynolds number flow equations are studied comprehensively. The accuracy of gradients within cells and within faces is evaluated systematically for both node-centered and cell-centered formulations. Computational and analytical evaluations are made on a series of high-aspect-ratio grids with different primal elements, including quadrilateral, triangular, and mixed element grids, with and without random perturbations to the mesh. Both rectangular and cylindrical geometries are considered; the latter serves to study the effects of geometric curvature. The study shows that the accuracy of gradient reconstruction on high-aspect-ratio grids is determined by a combination of the grid and the solution. The contributors to the error are identified and approaches to reduce errors are given, including the addition of higher-order terms in the direction of larger mesh spacing. A parameter GAMMA characterizing accuracy on curved high-aspect-ratio grids is discussed and an approximate-mapped-least-square method using a commonly-available distance function is presented; the method provides accurate gradient reconstruction on general grids. The study is intended to be a reference guide accompanying the construction of accurate and efficient methods for high Reynolds number applications
Recent Developments in Neuropsychological Assessment of the Elderly and Individuals with Severe Dementia

The United States is experiencing a demographic revolution in which individuals 65 years of age and older are comprising a larger percentage of the general population. Indeed, although 12% of the population is now considered elderly (defined as 65 and older), this number will increase to approximately 20% by the year 2030 (La Rue, 1992). The “baby boom generation,” which represents 76 million individuals, will begin to turn 65 years of age in the year 2010. The demographic revolution will place tremendous pressure on the health care system, something we are not prepared to address at the current time.
Treatment of a Child with Tourette Syndrome

In this chapter, we provide a brief overview of Tourette syndrome (TS) and tic disorders, including diagnostic information, prevalence, course, and associated features. We then provide a brief summary of evidence-based treatment with a focus on comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT). Following this background overview, we then describe the use of CBIT to treat tics in an 11-year-old boy with TS and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We describe, in detail, evidence-based assessment, case conceptualization, and detailed information on intervention techniques. Specifically, we discuss managing comorbidity in CBIT, implementation, and relevant modification of interventions and patient clinical response. Complicating factors and their impact on treatment are discussed. Conclusions and a brief list of key practice points are provided.
Pathobiology and Optical Molecular Imaging of Calcific Aortic Valve Disease

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and given its association with age, the prevalence of CAVD is expected to rise with an increase in worldwide life expectancy. Currently, no therapies exist for the treatment or prevention of CAVD. Much of our understanding of the progression of CAVD has originated from preclinical data using optical molecular imaging of animal models. Through these studies we now know that CAVD is an inflammatory disease with a fibrocalcific endpoint. In this chapter, we will review the preclinical molecular imaging data that have shaped our current understanding of CAVD, and we will discuss the future role that molecular imaging technologies may play in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Erythrocyte Membrane Disorders

Erythrocyte membrane disorders, such as hereditary spherocytosis and elliptocytosis, usually present with abnormal red cell shapes, hemolysis and anemia. Recent genomic research has shown that defects in proteins that constitute the erythrocyte membrane skeleton are often the causes of these disorders. Keywords: spherocytosis; elliptocytosis; pyropoikilocytosis; spectrin; ankyrin
Statistical Analysis of Data

A statistic is a number that describes some characteristic of a set of data. Descriptive statistics, such as means and standard deviations, summarize sets of data collected under the same experimental condition. Inferential statistics, such as t-tests and F-ratios, summarize differences in sets of data collected under different experimental conditions. A wide range of descriptive and inferential statistics are available, and no attempt will be made to discuss them here. Instead, this chapter considers the general functions of descriptive and inferential statistics and offers eight practical suggestions for the appropriate use of statistics in behavior analytic research.
3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase : expression and isolation of the recombinant human enzyme and investigation of a mechanism for regulation of enzyme activity

cDNA encoding the mature form of human hydroxy-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) lyase, a mitochondrial matrix protein, has been used to prepare expression plasmids appropriate for production of this protein in Escherichia coli. Using a T7 RNA polymerase-based pET system, HMG-CoA lyase was overexpressed but largely recovered in an insoluble, catalytically inactive form. In contrast, an expression plasmid (pTrcHL-1), derived from pTrc99a, supported production of soluble, active enzyme. A synthetic oligonucleotide cassette was employed to produce an enzyme variant in which cysteine was replaced by serine at position 323. Both wild-type and C323S HMG-CoA lyases were isolated in homogeneous form and characterized. The function of Cys-323 in influencing catalytic activity in vitro has been investigated by comparing the response of wild-type and C323S lyases to oxidation and reduction. Additionally, the consequences of treatment of these enzymes with the sulfhydryl-directed bifunctional reagent, o-phenylenedimaleimide have been determined. The results support the hypothesis that a thiol/disulfide exchange mechanism affects enzyme activity in vitro and indicate that Cys-323 residues on adjacent subunits of the homodimeric native enzyme are suitably positioned to form an intersubunit cross-link upon oxidative inactivation and disulfide formation.
Motion Planning and Reconfiguration for Systems of Multiple Objects

In this survey we discuss three related reconfiguration problems for systems of multiple objects. (I) Consider a set of n pairwise disjoint objects in the plane that need to be brought from a given start (initial) configuration S into a desired goal (target) configuration T. The motion planning problem for such a system is that of computing a sequence of object motions (schedule) that achieves this task. If such a sequence of motions exists, we say that the problem is feasible and say that it is infeasible otherwise. The problem is a simplified version of a multi-robot motion planning problem [23], in which a system of robots, whose footprints are, say disks, are operating in a common workplace. They have to move from their initial positions to a set of specified target positions. No obstacles other than the robots themselves are assumed to be present in the workplace; in particular, the workspace is assumed to extend throughout the entire plane. In many applications, the robots are indistinguishable so any of them can occupy any of the specified target positions; that is, the disks are unlabeled. Another application which permits the same abstraction is moving around large sets of heavy objects in a warehouse. Typically, one is interested in minimizing the number of moves and designing efficient algorithms for carrying out the motion plan. There are several types of moves, such as sliding or lifting, which lead to different models that will be discussed in Section 2. (II) A different kind of reconfiguration problem appears in connection to so-called selfreconfigurable or metamorphic modular systems. A modular robotic system consists of a number of identical robotic modules that can connect to, disconnect from, and relocate relative to adjacent modules, see examples in [15, 11, 26, 27, 28, 32, 34, 35, 36, 39]. Typically, the modules have a regular symmetry so that they can be packed densely, with small gaps between them. Various practical realizations are under way at different sites. Such a system can be viewed as a large swarm of physically connected robotic modules that behave collectively as a single entity.
Electron Correlations in Two Dimensions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the electron correlations in two dimensions. It has been revealed that 2-D electrons show very interesting and unusual properties, some of which are unique, whereas others are shared by electrons in bulk. The chapter reviews some of the work on their important properties. It has been found that electrons can be trapped two-dimensionally by image forces near the surface of liquid helium. The surface of liquid helium presents a barrier V0 of more than 1 eV to electron transmission into the liquid, while the image potential attracts the electron to the interface. Another 2-D electron system has been realized in the interface between two semiconductors. By computerized molecular-beam epitaxy, alternating thin layers of two semiconductors can form a sandwiched structure, known as a quantum well, or a one-dimensional periodic structure, called a super lattice that has periodicity larger than that of the original lattices.
Rethinking Japanese Public Opinion and Security: From Pacifism to Realism? by, Paul Midford: Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2011. Pp. xviii. 250. US$75 (cloth), US$24.95 (paperback), US$24.95 (ebook).

Abe Shinzo's selection as Prime Minister of Japan in 2006 was greeted by hawkish Japan-watchers and alliance managers in Washington as a signal that Japan was finally about to become a ‘normal stat...
Cellular Metabolic Responses in Endotoxemia, and a Hypothesis for the Mechanism of Hepatic Failure in Endotoxic Shock

Sepsis is a commonly encountered pathophysiologic state whose mortality rate has changed little during the last several decades, in spite of the availability of numerous antibiotics. The presence of either gram-negative bacteria or endotoxins in the blood is known to elicit multiple cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine and immunologic changes. A thorough understanding of the etiology of these alterations is still lacking. In the hypermetabolic phase of sepsis, especially in the absence of nutritional intervention, lipids become increasingly important substrates for energy metabolism, both in patients and in experimental animals (Lang et al., 1983; Frayn, 1986; Spitzer et al., 1988). However, the metabolism of carbohydrates during sepsis also deserves careful attention because: a) both the central nervous system and the cells involved in the host-defense system, as well as wound and granulation tissue, are obligatory users of carbohydrates; and b) the storage of carbohydrates is limited in the body, and reserves are virtually depleted during the first 24 h of food deprivation.
Reply: Facial Dermal Fillers

Dr. Dayan responds Drs. Fitzgerald, Vleggaar, and Burgess have made very valid points. Sculptra is a product that is used by many of my most respected colleagues and with great success. My article …
Diel patterns of soil respiration in a tropical forest after Hurricane Wilma

Hurricanes are infrequent disturbances that affect tropical ecosystems and cause obvious damage on aboveground variables, but their impact on soil respiration is unclear. This study is the first attempt to continuously measure soil CO2 concentrations in a seasonally dry tropical forest to describe diel patterns of soil CO2 and respiration. Here we used solid-state CO2 sensors and the gradient flux method to calculate soil respiration following the unexpected pass of hurricaneWilma at the Yucata´n Peninsula, Mexico. Mean annual soil respiration for the year following the hurricane was 10.4 mmol CO2m-2 s-1 with a cumulative soil respiration of 3821 g CO2 m-2 a-1. Soil CO2 concentrations returned to prehurricane levels after 6 months at 16 cm depth, however, soil CO2 remained higher at 2 and 16 cm depth 1 year after the event. Contrary to previous studies, our results showed that soil respiration was 18% higher 1 year after the hurricane than during the same dates before the event. Diel patterns of soil respiration were decoupled from soil temperature with higher values at night between 2400 and 0600 h. Between 67 and 70% of total soil respiration was produced in the 2–8 cm layer, and this contribution was relatively constant across the sampled year and before the hurricane.We found seasonal shifts in the amplitude and shape and of diel hysteresis effects of soil respiration suggesting that other biophysical mechanisms regulate daily patterns of soil respiration other than soil temperature alone in this tropical forest.
Random Effects in Planar Arrays of Thin-Wire Dipoles

The effects of random errors in the voltage excitation of a planar array of thin-wire dipoles are analyzed. Mutuals are taken fully into account. The method of moments is applied iteratively in conjunction with a random-sampling process, to obtain mean far-field beam patterns and their expected variation, as well as several "expected-gain" quantities. Sinusoidal expansion and weighting functions are used. Block-Toeplitz impedance redundancies and the zeros of the excitation matrix are utilized in an efficient solution routine. Separate array analysis at fundamental and harmonic frequencies yields expected ratios of harmonic to fundamental levels. The theory is outlined and typical results of computation are presented. There is a tendency, due to mutuals, to point the beam near broadside even when the phase is completely random. Significant gain degradation is predicted at harmonic frequencies.
A decoupled approach for optimal estimation of transfer function parameters from input-output data

A theoretical and algorithmic framework is proposed for optimal identification of rational transfer function parameters of discrete-time linear systems from input-output (IO) data. The nonlinear criterion is theoretically decoupled into a purely linear problem for estimating the optimal numerator and a nonlinear problem for the optimal denominator. The proposed decoupled approach has reduced computational requirements when compared with existing algorithms that estimate the parameters simultaneously. >
Equilibration and Dynamic Phase Transitions of a Driven Vortex Lattice

We report on the observation of two types of current driven transitions in metastable vortex lattices. The metastable states, which are missed in usual slow transport measurements, are detected with a fast transport technique in the vortex lattice of undoped $2H\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{NbSe}}_{2}$. The transitions are seen by following the evolution of these states when driven by a current. At low currents we observe an equilibration transition from a metastable to a stable state, followed by a dynamic crystallization transition at high currents.
A computer method for the acquisition and analysis of patch-clamp single-channel currents.

Abstract The method we present instructs the computer to deliver sets of programmed membrane voltages and allows the acquisition of large amounts of digitized data, compact storage, ready identification of records and rapid, interactive analysis of channel current data. A typical cycle of analysis including amplitude determination and kinetic measurements for 10 s of continuous data digitized at 5 kHz requires 5–20 min depending on the complexity of the observed channel activity. This procedure is compatible with such storage protocols as that described by Bezanilla [Biophys. J., 47 (1985) 437–441], although there are obvious benefits to using standard computer storage devices such as hard disks, floppy disks, and Bernoulli Boxes. The programs described in this report are available from the authors.
Why Study Foreign Languages

T HE other day, as I was mounting Bascom Hill in the slow-moving traffic, I overheard a remnant of a conversation between two very earnest young ladies. They were apparently discussing the dubious merits of a foreign language course to which they were being exposed. "But what I'd like to know," one of them was saying, with some vehemence, "what I'd like to know is this: what's in it for me? Just what will it get me?" There was almost a note of desperation in her voice. Her friend seemed at a loss for an answer. Then, after a long moment of reflection, she ventured timidly: "I don't know what it'll get you. ... An education, I suppose ...." Most of you, I am sure, find it neither expedient nor profitable to discuss such vital matters as you climb the Hill each morning, but surely, at some time or other, you have asked yourselves this question, with regard to every subject you are studying: "What will it get me?" And generally, what you really mean is this: What is the practical value of the subject in question; what is its "bread-and-butter," "dollar-and-cents" value, to you personally, and how and to what extent will it prepare you for the career or profession you have chosen or are about to choose. Now this is a legitimate question and I shall try to answer it as carefully as I can, although, as I shall point out later, it is a question which is frequently related to an imperfect comprehension of the ideals of a liberal education and of the purposes and functions of a University. The study of modern foreign languages does have certain immediate, practical, "dollars-and-cents" values and there are numerous opportunities of good jobs for properly qualified linguists. Our country's emergence from the war as one of the two greatest powers-militarily, politically, economically-has brought with it responsibilities and obligations which make it imperative for our Government, particularly the State Department and the armed services, to maintain large staffs of trained linguists. At the outbreak of the last war, the Army and Navy became acutely conscious of the grave shortage of men with specialized training in foreign languages and they were obliged to set up, hurriedly and at great expense, a large training program to supply this desperate need. Today our government recognizes that it is of prime necessity to know the languages of our enemies or our potential enemies as well as those of our friends and allies. "Waging the peace," or as some would have it, "fighting the cold war,"