cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adjuvant Chemotherapy for T4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Additional Ipsilateral Lung Nodules.

Abstract Background Adjuvant chemotherapy is indicated for patients with resectable stage II and IIIa non-small cell lung cancer. With the revised definition of T4 tumors with nodules in a different ipsilateral lobe, the survival advantage imparted by adjuvant chemotherapy has yet to be defined. We evaluated the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with T4 disease characterized by additional tumor nodules in a different ipsilateral lobe treated with surgical resection. Methods We identified patients with T4 disease and additional tumor nodules in a different ipsilateral lobe treated with surgical resection alone or with adjuvant chemotherapy in the National Cancer Database between 2010 and 2016. The primary outcome was 3-year overall survival (OS). Results A total of 920 patients with T4 tumors and additional tumor nodules in a different ipsilateral lobe were identified. We excluded patients with lymph node metastases, tumors 4 cm or greater, and local invasion. Of the remaining 373 patients, 152 received surgery and adjuvant multiagent chemotherapy whereas 221 received surgery alone. When adjusted for patient, tumor, and treatment factors, the use of adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with improved 3-year OS compared with surgery alone (hazard ratio = 0.572; 95% confidence interval, 0.348-0.940; P = .03). Conclusions Adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with T4 non-small cell lung cancer with additional tumor nodules in a different ipsilateral lobe is associated with improved 3-year OS. Accurate identification of T4 disease is important to define patients in whom adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered. Further prospective study is needed to delineate further the use of adjuvant chemotherapy for this patient population.
Simultaneous equation systems as moment structure models: With an introduction to latent variable models

Abstract An introduction to latent variable covariance structure models is provided. Estimation and testing of such models with normal and non-normal variables is reviewed, and a relatively inexpensive asymptotically distribution-free estimator is introduced. The traditional econometric simultaneous equation system is reconceptualized as a random vector structural equation model. Extensions of the model to deal with latent variables and a wider variety of structural phenomena are made via the Joreskog-Keesling-Wiley LISREL approach and a simpler approach due to Bentler and Weeks. These representation systems are extended via first and second moments about the origin of measured variables, explained in terms of the structural coefficients and the moments of explanatory variables. Citations to further literature are provided.
Halo Zel’dovich model and perturbation theory: Dark matter power spectrum and correlation function

Perturbation theory for dark matter clustering has received a lot of attention in recent years, but its convergence properties remain poorly justified and there is no successful model that works both for correlation functions and for power spectra. Here we present the halo Zel'dovich approach combined with perturbation theory, in which we use standard perturbation theory at one-loop order (SPT) at very low $k$, and connect it to a version of the halo model, for which we adopt the Zel'dovich approximation plus a Pad\'e expansion of a compensated one-halo term. This low-$k$ matching allows us to determine the one-halo term amplitude and redshift evolution, both of which are in an excellent agreement with simulations, and approximately agree with the expected value from the halo model. Our Pad\'e expansion approach of the one-halo term added to the Zel'dovich approximation identifies a typical halo scale averaged over the halo mass function, the halo radius scale of order of $1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{Mpc}/\mathrm{h}$, and a much larger halo mass compensation scale, which can be determined from SPT. The model gives better than one-percent-accurate predictions for the correlation function above $5\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{Mpc}/\mathrm{h}$ at all redshifts, without any free parameters. With three fitted Pad\'e expansion coefficients the agreement in the power spectrum is good to a percent up to $k\ensuremath{\sim}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{h}/\mathrm{Mpc}$, which can be improved to arbitrary $k$ by adding higher-order terms in the Pad\'e expansion.
NOTE ON DRIVER ADAPTATION TO MODIFIED VEHICLE STARTING ACCELERATION

Driver behavior in crossing a highway was experimentally investigated for a car with normal starting acceleration characteristics and for this same car with reduced starting acceleration capabilities. It was found that subjects driving the car with its starting acceleration capabilities reduced required a larger time headway gap in front of an on- coming car before they would cross in front of its path. However, the increase in gap required was not as great as the additional time required to clear the path of the on-coming car.
Diagnosing faults in electrical power systems of spacecraft and aircraft

Electrical power systems play a critical role in spacecraft and aircraft. This paper discusses our development of a diagnostic capability for an electrical power system testbed, ADAPT, using prohabilistic techniques. In the context of ADAPT, we present two challenges, regarding modelling and real-time performance, often encountered in real-world diagnostic applications. To meet the modelling challenge, we discuss our novel high-level specification language which supports autogeneration of Bayesian networks. To meet the real-time challenge, we compile Bayesian networks into arithmetic circuits. Arithmetic circuits typically have small footprints and are optimized for the real-time avionics systems found in spacecraft and aircraft. Using our approach, we present how Bayesian networks with over 400 nodes are auto-generated and then compiled into arithmetic circuits. Using real-world data from ADAPT as well as simulated data, we obtain average inference times smaller than one millisecond when computing diagnostic queries using arithmetic circuits that model our real-world electrical power system.
Current trends in neonatal and pediatric respiratory care: conference summary

A summary of the 2-day Journal Conference on Current Trends in Neonatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care is provided. Topics included: diagnosis and management of common respiratory disorders of infants and children such as asthma, respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis, and cystic fibrosis; and common pediatric respiratory emergencies such as croup, epiglottitis, and inhalation injuries. Also discussed were developments in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, including pulmonary function testing and pulse oximetry. Evidence-based strategies for the resuscitation of critically ill newborns and subsequent ventilator management strategies were presented. Several faculty members discussed controversies regarding mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome and other causes of respiratory failure in children and infants.
A Career Interview with Bernie Galler

This article contains excerpts from a career interview with Bernard A. Galler, founding editor in chief of the “IEEE Annals of the History of Computing”, taken on 8th August 1991 by Enid H. Galler of Voice Treasures. Bernie, as his friends know him, is Professor Emeritus in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at the University of Michigan, and founder and former president of the Software Patent Institute. He tells people that he wasn't one of the “real pioneers” of computing; he came along just after them, in 1955
SYNTHESIS, ELECTRONIC AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF MOOX CLUSTERS ON AU(111)

Abstract A novel procedure for the synthesis of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles has been developed. Mo nanoparticles were prepared on Au(1 1 1) by dissociation of Mo(CO)6 molecules at 500 K. These Mo nanoparticles were found inactive towards oxygen according to results of synchrotron-based high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). There was no sign of molybdenum oxide formation after an exposure to 150 L of oxygen at 300–850 K. However, these Mo nanoparticles can be oxidized by reaction with NO2 at 500 K to form molybdenum oxides, MoO2 or MoO3. The stability of the MoO3 particles upon annealing was further investigated by PES. The fully oxidized MoO3 clusters do not react with ethylene.
Derivate des D-Glucosamins, I Über das 1-α-Brom-3.4.6-tribenzoyl-D-glucosamin-hydrobromid

Aus α.β-1.3.4.6-Tetrabenzoyl-N-carbobenzoxy-D-glucosamin wird mit Eisessig/Bromwasserstoff das 1-α-Brom-3.4.6-tribenzoyl-D-glucosamin-hydrobromid erhalten. Mit Hilfe von Natriumathylat last sich daraus die freie Base gewinnen. Durch Umsetzung des Hydrobromids wie auch der freien Base mit Alkoholen erhalt man in befriedigenden Ausbeuten die 3.4.6-Tribenzoyl-β-glucosaminid-hydrobromide.
Equilibrium compositions of solutions of biochemical species and heats of biochemical reactions.

Abstract Equilibrium compositions of solutions of biochemical species can be calculated by use of general equilibrium computer programs that minimize the Gibbs energy. The standard Gibbs energies of formation and standard enthalpies of formation of the species in a biochemical system can be calculated by Gaussian reduction of the augmented transpose of the stoichiometric number matrix for the system. The conservation matrix, which is also needed for the calculation of the equilibrium composition, can be obtained in two ways. The hydrolysis of adenosine 5'-triphosphate in solutions containing magnesium ions can be treated by considering 17 species. The equilibrium composition and enthalpy are calculated before and after adding ATPase. This makes it possible to calculate DeltapH, DeltapMg, and the heat of reaction when ATPase is added.
The ethics behind the absence of ethics in Alfred Schutz's thought

To write on Alfred Schutz's ethics seems as anomalous as to write on Kant's hedonism, Nietzsche's religious convictions, or A.J. Ayer's metaphysics. Schutz never devoted a single essay specifically to the topic of theoretical ethics. His few references to ethical theory are scattered throughout his published and unpublished works and suggest an almost studied effort to avoid this entire philosophical domain. In this paper, I shall attempt to explain this reluctance, to uncover an ethical presupposition implicitly guiding Schutz's thought, and finally to suggest in which direc? tion Schutz might have developed his implicit ethics.
The Inside-Out Mechanism of Dicers from Budding Yeasts

The Dicer ribonuclease III (RNase III) enzymes process long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that direct RNA interference. Here, we describe the structure and activity of a catalytically active fragment of Kluyveromyces polysporus Dcr1, which represents the noncanonical Dicers found in budding yeasts. The crystal structure revealed a homodimer resembling that of bacterial RNase III but extended by a unique N-terminal domain, and it identified additional catalytic residues conserved throughout eukaryotic RNase III enzymes. Biochemical analyses showed that Dcr1 dimers bind cooperatively along the dsRNA substrate such that the distance between consecutive active sites determines the length of the siRNA products. Thus, unlike canonical Dicers, which successively remove siRNA duplexes from the dsRNA termini, budding-yeast Dicers initiate processing in the interior and work outward. The distinct mechanism of budding-yeast Dicers establishes a paradigm for natural molecular rulers and imparts substrate preferences with ramifications for biological function.
Single-molecule Measurements Of DnaB

The replicative helicase of E. coli, DnaB, is a ring-shaped hexameric motor protein capable of unwinding double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) at a fork. It is thought to do this through “steric occlusion,” in which DnaB encircles and translocates along one single strand of DNA (ssDNA), forcing the other single strand (the occluded strand) to pass outside the ring. Using magnetic tweezers, we have performed single-molecule measurements of the unwinding activity of DnaB in which the dsDNA is destabilized by force applied to either the occluded or encircled strand. Based on measurements of the velocity of the motor as a function of force applied to the occluded strand, we conclude that DnaB does not unwind dsDNA with a “passive” mechanism, i.e. it does not simply rely on thermal fluctuations to open proximal basepairs before stepping. We also present preliminary data of DnaB activity with force applied to the encircled strand, which probes DnaB's possible mechanisms for binding and translocation along ssDNA. Finally, we will report on the effects of the helicase loader DnaC and the primase DnaG on DnaB activity.
Maternal serum ferritin and fetal growth.

Abstract Objective: To determine the relationship between maternal serum ferritin and concentrations and specific types of fetal growth restriction (FGR). Methods: Serum ferritin concentrations were measured at approximately 25 and 36 weeks’ gestation in 480 multiparas with singleton fetuses who participated in a study of risk factors for repeated FGR. Asymmetric FGR was defined by low birth weight for gestational age criteria and a ponderal index less than 2.32, and symmetric FGR was defined by the same birth weight for gestational age criteria and a ponderal index of at least 2.32. Results: Among 480 infants, 370 were appropriate for gestational age (AGA), 58 had asymmetric FGR, and 52 had symmetric FGR. Higher ferritin concentrations were associated with black race, maternal age 25 years or older, and smoking. Mothers of asymmetric-FGR infants had higher mean ferritin levels than mothers of AGA infants at 25 weeks’ (38.0 versus 20.2 μg/L, P Conclusion: High maternal serum ferritin levels are associated with asymmetric FGR, whereas low serum ferritin levels are associated with symmetric FGR.
Background contributions to sound waves at the liquid-helium λ transition

The noncritical contributions to the sound near T/sub lambda/(P) in /sup 4/He liquid are analyzed quantitatively in terms of the dynamic scaling theory of Ferrell and Bhattacherjee. By using as background the thermodynamic velocity in a zero-height sample, an excellent agreement is found between the theoretical predictions and the experimental data for the dispersion of the velocity. In contrast, the observed background attenuation does not seem to be explained by a simply additive hydrodynamic contribution.
Synthesis and Characterization of the Polyhydroxyamide/Polymethoxyamide Family of Polymers:

The poly(hydroxy-amide) [PHA] family of polymers possess not only high temperature stability, but also form a more thermally stable polymer (polybenzoxazole) [PBO] during thermal decomposition. The synthesis occurs in solution at low temperature, preventing premature ring cyclization to PBO. The molecular structure was confirmed from 1H-, 13C-NMR, and elemental analysis. One drawback for the highly aromatic PHA is the lack of a softening temperature before the onset of ring closure to PBO. Thus, poly(methoxy-amide) [PMeOA] and random copolymers of PHA and PMeOA have been synthesized and characterized. From microcalorimetry, the peak heat release capacity values for the copolymers is typically higher than that of the pure PHA (while still much lower than most other polymers); however, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis has shown glass transition temperatures to as low as 151°C for the copolymers. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) displays a three-step degradation associated with two ring clos...
Dependence of magnetic properties on the growth conditions of MnGaN grown by rf N plasma molecular beam epitaxy

MnGaN has been grown by radio frequency N plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. MnGaN samples were grown on MOCVD GaN(0001)/sapphire(0001) at substrate temperature of 550 °C under different Ga/N flux ratios leading to 4 different growth regimes: N-rich, slight metal-rich, metal-rich, and Ga-rich. It is found that in the case of MnGaN, Mn incorporation and hence magnetic properties clearly depend on the growth conditions. Briefly, it is found that the N-rich conditions give a sample with much larger magnetization compared to the other samples. Slight metal-rich and metal-rich grown samples have very little magnetization. Finally, Ga-rich grown samples have intermediate level of magnetization. Possible origins of the magnetization are discussed. Ga-rich magnetization is attributed to accumulates, but N-rich magnetization is attributed to carrier-mediated ferromagnetism and/or ferromagnetism due to clusters.
Evaluation of noninvasive hemoglobin measurements in trauma patients

Abstract Background Reliable, accurate, noninvasive, and continuous determination of hemoglobin would be an important advance in the care of trauma patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of the Masimo Radical 7 device in severely injured trauma patients. Methods Highest level trauma activation patients were enrolled over a 1-year period. Laboratory hemoglobin values were compared with Masimo hemoglobin values using Bland-Altman analysis. Results A total of 525 patients were enrolled in the study. Comparison of 861 paired values from 418 patients showed a variance of 3.89 to −3.84 g/dL, showing a nonsignificant correlation between Masimo hemoglobin and laboratory hemoglobin values. Conclusions The Masimo Radical 7 system evaluated in this study holds promise, but it is not ready to be used as an initial noninvasive evaluation tool in the acute treatment of severely injured trauma patients. There was a poor correlation between Masimo hemoglobin and laboratory hemoglobin and large numbers of missing data. On the basis of the poor correlation, the Masimo Radical 7 device cannot currently be used to guide transfusion therapy.
Manufacturing experience in reducing environmentally induced failure of laser diodes

Packaged life testing of laser diodes revealed a dramatic degradation of product lifetime. Failure analysis revealed the presence of carbon based compounds deposited on the emission regime causing catastrophic failure. This phenomenon was limited to packaged product. Testing was begun to identify the source, understand the mechanism, and initiate corrective action. Analysis revealed that the epoxy used in assembly was the dominate source of carbon. Contaminated epoxy had been introduced into production by a material batch change at the vendor. It was also learned that deposition only occurred in the dry, oxygen free atmosphere of a hermetically sealed package. It was necessary to develop incoming test procedures and process monitoring to ensure that material of acceptable quality was used. This paper will discuss test methods and results obtained in controlling this failure mechanism.
Effect of deep convection on the regulation of tropical sea surface temperature

THE distribution of tropical sea surface temperatures (SSTs) is negatively skewed: a 'warm pool' with SSTs greater than 300.5 K covers roughly half the tropical oceans (15° N to 15° S), whereas SSTs as low as 293 K are observed in regions of equatorial and coastal upwelling and persistent stratus cloud cover1. SSTs are thus within 2–3 K of the highest values over a large area of the tropical ocean, leading some authors to suggest that some physical process may act to limit SSTs to below about 303 K. Ramanathan and Collins2 have proposed a 'thermostat' mechanism in which ocean warming produces enhanced deep convection, leading to the formation of extensive cirrus cloud canopies which shield the troposphere and ocean surface from incoming solar radiation. Here I suggest that a mechanism of this sort may not be required to explain the SST distribution. I argue that large-scale dynamical processes will act to maintain uniform tropical tropospheric temperatures to within about 2 K, and that, in the absence of horizontal temperature contrasts in the atmosphere, a negatively skewed SST frequency distribution is bound to develop through equilibration between the atmosphere and spatially varying SSTs. In addition, although cirrus clouds reduce the solar insolation at the Earth's surface in regions of deep convection, they would not necessarily prevent SSTs from exceeding 305 K in the face of extensive greenhouse warming.
Social class, Mexican culture, and fatalism: Their effects on psychological distress

We examine the causes and consequences of fatalism in a cross-cultural setting, focusing on the ways in which a fatalistic world view may mediate the effects of social class and Mexican ethnic identity on psychological distress. We find that persons in the lower social classes and Mexicans tend to be more fatalistic than persons in the upper classes and Anglos, and that fatalism, in turn, increases psychological distress. We attempt to integrate research on the social and cultural determinants of cognitive orientations with studies of the effects of social class and Mexican culture on distress.
Regulation of the expression of the histidine operon in Salmonella typhimurium

A positive factor enhancing the expression of this operon binds at the promoter, but exerts its effect downstream on a DNA region which acts as an attenuator of transcription.
Maximum power-point extraction of small switched-inductor piezoelectric harvesters

Piezoelectric harvesters are popular today because they typically draw more power from kinetic energy in motion than electrostatic and electromagnetic systems. Still, tiny transducers only derive a small fraction of what is available. Thankfully, raising the damping force with which transducers draw power increases that fraction, except overinvesting battery energy for that purpose can overdamp the system. This is why harvesters monitor output power, and current, which normally requires fast and accurate circuits that consume substantial power. This paper, however, presents a low-loss alternative. The idea is to sense how output power changes by monitoring the time that the switched inductor requires to drain its energy. This way, with readily available parameters, a piezoelectric harvester can estimate the investment that will keep the system within 2.5% of its maximum power point.
LVIII.—On three new species of Hydroids and one new to Britain

(1898). LVIII.—On three new species of Hydroids and one new to Britain. Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Vol. 1, No. 5, pp. 362-366.
Nurse-Led School-Based Child Obesity Prevention

School-based childhood obesity prevention programs have grown in response to reductions in child physical activity (PA), increased sedentariness, poor diet, and soaring child obesity rates. Multiple systematic reviews indicate school-based obesity prevention/treatment interventions are effective, yet few studies have examined the school nurse role in obesity interventions. Building on a previous study, this study examines a refined health messaging (Let's Go 5-2-1-0) program delivered to fourth and fifth graders (n = 72) by a school nurse with reinforcement on-site health coaching by senior nursing students. Two nursing schools and two elementary schools participated. Measures of PA, body mass index percentile, and self-reported health habits were collected at baseline (School A, September 2009 and School B, January 2010) and end of year (April 2010 for both schools). Findings included statistically significant increases in PA levels and improvements in child-reported health habits. School nurses can influence obesity prevention. Further research on adoption of school nurse-led obesity interventions is warranted.
Exploring Potential for Information Technology Innovation in Nonprofit Organizations

This article investigated user perceptions of innovative information technology. A qualitative analysis of information technology innovation award applications submitted by a variety of nonprofits was conducted to explore two research questions: (a) in what areas of organizational functioning can information technology innovations be implemented, and (b) what are the expected benefits associated with the implementation of those information technology innovations? The results showed that technological innovations can occur in administrative, service, and marketing areas; and that the applicants believed that those innovations have a potential to provide numerous positive benefits. Those benefits were associated with clients and programs, internal and external functioning, fundraising and financial aspects, and public image and relationships with stakeholders. Human service organizations proposed the highest numbers of IT innovations in the administrative and technological areas.
Learning the hard way: masculinity, place, and the gender gap in education

Many researchers have promoted the idea of the ‘boy crisis’, that girls outperform boys academically because schools privilege girls’ learning style and disadvantage boys who are unable to tolerate...
Educational Programs of American Geological Institute: ABSTRACT

The American Geological Institute sponsors more than a dozen educational programs which are aimed at everyone from grade-school children to professional geologists. Among these are the Encylopaedia Britannica Film project, a program which is developing an extensive set of films and film strips on aspects of geology and the other earth sciences; the Geology and Earth Science Sourcebook, designed as an aid to teachers on earth science; the Earth Science Curriculum Project for secondary school students, A.G.I.'s most extensive educational project; the Visiting Geological Scientist Program which has sent between 45 and 65 visitors to an average of 100 college departments every year since 1959; the International Field Institute which provides opportunities for college geology eachers to visit foreign areas of classic or unusual interest under the guidance of distinguished geologists; 3-day short courses held just before national meetings of the G.S.A. and designed to update professional geologists in some specific area of competence; and the Council on Education in the Geological Sciences whose purpose is to help improve geological education in American colleges and universities through publications, materials development, and by other means. In addition to these major projects, A.G.I. publishes two career books--one for high school and one for college students; answers more than 3,000 letters a year on careers; provides a job-placement service for those seeking jobs of a temporary nature; and is putting out a basic bibliography of books, maps, and references essential for an undergraduate geology library. End_of_Article - Last_Page 482------------
The Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Genistein Increases Endogenous Dopamine Release from Normal and Weaver Mutant Mouse Striatal Slices

Protein tyrosine kinases that are known to have major roles in the control of cell growth and transformation are abundant and have numerous phosphoprotein substrates in the adult CNS. Although less well characterized than serine/threonine kinases, tyrosine kinases are also concentrated in the synapse. The effect of genistein, a selective inhibitor of tyrosine kinase activity, was examined on the in vitro release of endogenous dopamine (DA) from superfused mouse striatal slices. Fractional release of DA was significantly increased over basal release levels by genistein (100 and 200 microM). The effect was concentration dependent and rapidly reversible on washout of the kinase inhibitor. No significant change from basal release levels was observed with two structural analogues of genistein that do not inhibit tyrosine kinase activity at the same concentration. We have previously described alterations in basal and evoked DA release from the striatum of the weaver (wv/wv) mutant mouse, and genotypic differences in fractional release were also observed with genistein stimulation. The total evoked release was 25-50% greater from the wv/wv striatum. These results suggest a modulatory role for tyrosine kinase activity in neurotransmitter release and perhaps an alteration of kinase-regulated mechanisms in the DA-deficient wv/wv striatum.
Radio emission from AM Herculis-type binaries

A VLA search for 4.9 GHz radiation from the magnetic cataclysmic variable AM Her, along with the similar EF Eri binary, has led to the discovery of AM Her radio emission having a flux density of 0.67 + or - 0.052 mJy, where 1 mJy is equal to 10 to the -29th W/sq m per Hz. Neither AM Her circular polarization nor EF Eri were detected. The AM Her data are shown to be consistent with a model in which radiation is due to geosynchrotron emission from electrons of energies of a few hundred keV, which are trapped in the magnetosphere of the white dwarf element of the cataclysmic variable.
Use of N-acetylcysteine to reduce post-cardiothoracic surgery complications: a meta-analysis

Post-cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) complications (e.g. myocardial injury, renal dysfunction, atrial fibrillation) may occur as a result of enhanced systemic inflammation, perhaps provoked by an oxidative stress response. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a free radical scavenger antioxidant agent that may attenuate this physiologic response and reduce post-CTS complications. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to help characterize the potential beneficial effects of perioperative NAC administration in patients undergoing CTS. A systematic literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library was conducted through April 2008. A search strategy using medical subject headings and text keywords was performed. Results are reported as odds ratios or weighted mean differences with accompanying 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Studies were pooled using a fixed-effect model. The primary outcomes included atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, acute kidney injury (AKI), need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality and total hospital length-of-stay (LOS). Upon meta-analysis of 13 trials (n=1338 subjects), the use of NAC appeared to statistically significantly lower the odds of developing post-CTS AF by 36% (95%CI 2-58%) (n=6 studies). This corresponded to an 8% (1-15%) pooled risk difference and a number-needed-to-treat of 13. NAC did not appear to significantly alter any of the other meta-analysis endpoints. The exclusion of the study utilizing only oral NAC therapy and the study with lower internal validity did not affect the overall conclusions of our meta-analysis. Currently, the most compelling data for using NAC in CTS patients is in post-CTS AF prevention. However, additional, larger randomized controlled trials evaluating this and other postoperative complication endpoints are needed.
Respiratory Failure or Impairment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

•Respiratory complications account for the majority of deaths occurring in patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Patients normally succumb to their illness within an average of 3 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis from complications such as hypoventilation, hypoxemia, hypercarbia, aspiration, and other pneumonia and pulmonary emboli [1]. Although invariably disabling, ALS need not be fatal if respiratory involvement is detected early, which will allow sufficient time to discuss and implement treatment options. The recently published American Academy of Neurology guidelines for the management of ALS recommends the following: •Serial measures of pulmonary function to guide management and determine prognosis. •Noninvasive ventilatory support—an effective initial therapy for symptomatic chronic hypoventilation and prolonged survival. •Invasive ventilatory support when long-term survival is the goal and noninvasive support is no longer sufficient. •Physicians respect the right of the patient to choose, refuse, or withdraw ventilatory support. •Liberal use of opiates and anxiolytics to relieve dyspnea and anxiety when ventilatory support is refused or withdrawn.
Retinal vascular occlusions occur more frequently in the more affected eye in exfoliation syndrome

Retinal vascular occlusions occur more frequently in the more affected eye in exfoliation syndrome
Optical photometry with the Kuiper Airborne Observatory

The properties of optical photometric data obtainable with the 0.9-meter telescope of the Kuiper Airborne Observatory are described. The major differences between airborne and ground-based data are the absence of scintillation and the increased cosmic-ray background in the airborne data and the large size and vibration of the airborne images. The underlying cause of the large airborne images in not known although refraction in the turbulent boundary layer of the aircraft is suspected to be the major factor.
Are there Racial Differences in Attitudes Toward Hospice Care? A Study of Hospice-Eligible Patients at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York:

Research on African American and white attitudes, perceptions, and knowledge of hospice care has focused predominantly on patients and providers in institutions and community-based care settings. Little is known about patients receiving home health services, despite growing trends toward noninstitutional care in the United States. This study of home health clients who are eligible for hospice, but not currently receiving it, found few differences between racial groups with regard to attitudes about end-of-life care. An alarming proportion of African American and white home health clients held erroneous ideas about hospice care and had not discussed this option with their providers. These findings suggest that increased referrals to home-based hospice care among home health clients depend on the availability and professional dissemination of accurate, spiritually sensitive information.
Radioprobing of a RecA-three-stranded DNA complex with iodine 125: evidence for recognition of homology in the major groove of the target duplex.

A fundamental problem in homologous recombination is how homology between DNAs is recognized. In all current models, a recombination protein loads onto a single strand of DNA and scans another duplex for homology. When homology is found, a synaptic complex is formed, leading to strand exchange and a heteroduplex. A novel technique based on strand cleavage by the Auger radiodecay of iodine 125, allows us to determine the distances between (125)I on the incoming strand and the target sugars of the duplex DNA strands in an Escherichia coli RecA protein-mediated synaptic complex. Analysis of these distances shows that the complex represents a post-strand exchange intermediate in which the heteroduplex is located in the center, while the outgoing strand forms a relatively wide helix intertwined with the heteroduplex and located in its minor groove. The structure implies that homology is recognized in the major groove of the duplex.
Acceleration of convergence and spectrum transformation of implicit finite difference operators associated with Navier-Stokes equations

Implicit difference operator spectra are presently computed by applying eigensystem analysis techniques to finite-difference formulations of 2D Euler and Navier-Stokes equations, and attention is given to these iterative methods' convergence and stability characteristics by taking into account the effects of grid geometry, time-step, numerical viscosity, and boundary conditions. On the basis of the eigenvalue distributions for various flow configurations, the feasibility of applying such convergence-acceleration techniques as eigenvalue annihilation and relaxation is discussed. Spectrum-shifting is applied to NASA-Ames' ARC2D flow code, achieving a 20-33 percent efficiency.
Scale effects on cavitating flows due to surface roughness and laminar separation

Roughness and viscous scale effects are an important consideration when using model data to predict limited cavitation on a prototype, since in many cases the limited cavitation number of a model is different from that of the prototype. In this paper it is shown that fixed patch cavitation, which is observed on axisymmetric headforms and sheet cavitation observed on hydrofoils, may be controlled by surface roughness. An analysis predicts the same general characteristics as that shown by the experimental data; namely, the cavitation number increases with Reynolds number Re for a given size and increases with decreasing size for a given value of Re. The results of a theoretical analysis of bubble-ring cavitation on a hemispherical nose are also presented. The analysis, which indicates that both Reynolds number and Weber number are important scaling parameters, is employed in an attempt to correlate extensive experimental data.
The Dirty Physician: Necessary Dishonor and Fleshly Solidarity in Tertullian's Writings

This article examines Tertullian's multifaceted notion of physician and his views of illness and redemptive healing, particularly his arresting re-appropriation of dirt and dishonor as the basis for restoration against Marcion's alleged conception of a pure and spiritual salvation. Tertullian inverts the dominant value paradigm by rendering the shameful and dishonorable circumstances of the flesh as the necessary signifiers of truth and redemption. His creative reconfiguration of healing through filth and shame redraws early Christian discourse on embodiment and corrects facile typologies about purity and impurity, body and soul, incarnation and salvation, and individual and society.
Minimum acceptable laboratory procedures for satisfactory fixed partial dentures

Diagnostic casts should be made of hydrocal stone poured into the impressions. Dies may be copper-plated (if the impressions are in compound), or they may be made of improved stone, or silver-plated (if the impressions are made of an elastic material) or they may be made of silver amalgam or epoxy resin. Working casts should be made of hydrocal stone after the dies are properly placed, if full plaster impressions have been supplied. When castings are placed in the impression, they are treated to permit the use of low-fusing metal in them and hydrocal stone is poured in the remainder of the impression to form the cast. Impressions made in elastic materials may be silver-plated or hydrocal stone can be poured directly into them. The cast of the opposing arch may be poured in stone, or a combination of low-fusing metal can be used in the imprints of the teeth, and the remainder of the cast can be made of hydrocal stone. Casts should be poured immediately after impressions made in alginate (irreversible colloid) and agar (reversible hydrocolloid) in]pression materials are removed from the mouth. Thiokol and silicone rubber impressions should have casts poured in them within two hours after removal from the mouth. Casts made of hydrocal stone should be placed in a humidor until the set is complete (see manufacturer’s directions).
Relative importance of intracellular glutathione peroxidase and catalase in vivo for prevention of peroxidation to the heart.

The relative importance in vivo of catalase and the selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase for protection against peroxidation was assessed in the rat heart. Each of these enzymes was modulated by feeding animals a low selenium diet either unsupplemented or supplemented with 0.5 parts per million of selenium, with or without the catalase inhibitor, 3-amino-l,2,4-triazole, in their drinking water. After 8 weeks, selenium deficient rats had 88% reductions in cytosolic and mitochondrial glutathione peroxidase activities. These reductions were accompanied by increased peroxidation in heart homogenates and mitochondrial suspensions. Since increased mitochondrial peroxidation only occurred when both the cytosolic and mitochondrial glutathione peroxidase activities were compromised, these selenoenzymes appear to work in tandem and reductions in both are a prerequisite for increased peroxidation in this organ. Peroxidation did not occur in aminotriazole treated animals even though cytosolic catalase activity was inhibited by 65–80%. Moreover, inhibition of catalase activity did not exacerbate the level of peroxidation in selenium deficient animals depleted of glutathione peroxidase activity. Because increased peroxidation was only associated with reductions in glutathione peroxidase activity irrespective of catalase activity, the selenoenzyme appears to be more important for detoxification of hydrogen peroxide in the heart.
n-Port Rectangular-Shaped Distributed RC Networks

Necessary and sufficient condition derived for generating rational functions of n-port rectangular structure for distributed RC networks
Large angle pair production

The absolute energy spectium of positrons emitted from gold and tin targets at 90° with respect to the incident X-ray beam of the Iowa State University 75 MeV synchrotron has been measured for positron energies between 0.1 and 1.4 MeV. A discrepancy of more than one order of magnitude is found between the experimental results and the theory as represented by calculations to lowest order in αZ.
Automatic design of morphological operators

A central paradigm in mathematical morphology is the decomposition (representation) of complete lattice operators (mappings) in terms of four classes of elementary operators: dilations, erosions, anti-dilations and anti-erosions. The rules for performing these representations can be described as a formal language, the morphological language [4]. The vocabulary of this language is composed of the four classes of elementary operators and the lattice operations of intersection and union. A phrase of the morphological language is called a morphological operator.
A Machine Learning Approach for the Identification of Protein Secondary Structure Elements from Electron Cryo-Microscopy Density Maps†

The accuracy of the secondary structure element (SSE) identification from volumetric protein density maps is critical for de-novo backbone structure derivation in electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM). It is still challenging to detect the SSE automatically and accurately from the density maps at medium resolutions (∼5–10 A). We present a machine learning approach, SSELearner, to automatically identify helices and β-sheets by using the knowledge from existing volumetric maps in the Electron Microscopy Data Bank. We tested our approach using 10 simulated density maps. The averaged specificity and sensitivity for the helix detection are 94.9% and 95.8%, respectively, and those for the β-sheet detection are 86.7% and 96.4%, respectively. We have developed a secondary structure annotator, SSID, to predict the helices and β-strands from the backbone Cα trace. With the help of SSID, we tested our SSELearner using 13 experimentally derived cryo-EM density maps. The machine learning approach shows the specificity and sensitivity of 91.8% and 74.5%, respectively, for the helix detection and 85.2% and 86.5% respectively for the β-sheet detection in cryoEM maps of Electron Microscopy Data Bank. The reduced detection accuracy reveals the challenges in SSE detection when the cryoEM maps are used instead of the simulated maps. Our results suggest that it is effective to use one cryoEM map for learning to detect the SSE in another cryoEM map of similar quality. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 97: 698–708, 2012.
Depth-First Worst-Fit Search based multipath routing for data center networks

Modern data center networks (DCNs) often use multi-rooted topologies, which offer multipath capability, for increased bandwidth and fault tolerance. However, traditional routing algorithms for the Internet have no or limited support for multipath routing, and cannot fully utilize available bandwidth in such DCNs. In this paper, we study the multipath routing problem for DCNs. We first formulate the problem as an integer linear program, but it is not suitable for fast on-the-fly route calculation. For a practical solution, we propose the Depth-First Worst-Fit Search based multipath routing algorithm. The main idea is to use depth-first search to find a sequence of worst-fit links to connect the source and destination of a flow. Since DCN topologies are usually hierarchical, our algorithm uses depth-first search to quickly traverse between hierarchical layers to find a path. When there are multiple links to a neighboring layer, the worst-fit link selection criterion enables the algorithm to make the selection decision with constant time complexity by leveraging the max-heap data structure, and use a small number of selections to find all the links of a path. Further, worst-fit also achieves load balancing, and thus generates low queueing delay, which is a major component of the end-to-end delay. We have evaluated the proposed algorithm by extensive simulations, and compared its average number of link selections and average end-to-end delay with competing solutions. The simulation results fully demonstrate the superiority of our algorithm and validate the effectiveness of our designs.
Nanophase mixed-valence iron minerals in meteorites identified by cryogenic Mössbauer spectroscopy

Determination of oxidation states and the crystal chemistry of iron-bearing minerals in carbonaceous chondrites by Mossbauer spectroscopy is complicated by thermally-induced electron-hopping in cronstedtite, superparamagnetism of hydrous ferric oxides and ill-defined contributions from an incommensurate layered iron sulfide phase believed to be tochilinite. Mossbauer spectra measurements at 30 K of several terrestrial cronstedtite and tochilinite specimens have enables modal proportions of these minerals, as well as Fe3+/Fe2+ ratios, to be determined quantitatively in a suite of CM-type meteorites.
The phorbol ester TPA enhances A23187 - but not carbachol- and high K+-induced catecholamine secretion from cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

The effect of the phorbol ester TPA on catecholamine secretion was studied in cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The pretreatment of chromaffin cells with TPA caused the enhancement of catecholamine secretion induced by the calcium ionophore, A23187. By contrast, neither carbachol- nor high K+-induced secretion was changed by TPA pretreatment. These results support the concept that protein kinase C plays an important role as a factor transducing the Ca2+ signal to the exocytotic process of catecholamine secretion in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.
Anion driven ionic liquid crystals: The effect of the connecting group in [closo-1-CB9H10]- derivatives on mesogenic properties

Replacement of the connecting CH2 group in ionic liquid crystal 1a[Pyr] with an oxygen atom in 1b[Pyr] resulted in significant destabilisation of the nematic and, to a greater extent, smectic A (SmA) phases, as established from binary mixture studies in 2a[Pyr]. Density functional theory (DFT) modelling of both anions suggests that the destabilisation results from the difference in charge distribution rather than conformational changes. Binary mixture studies demonstrated that all three ionic liquid crystals are compatible with a non-ionic benzoate nematic host 3a.
Imaging of Coronary Inflammation with FDG-PET: Feasibility and Clinical Hurdles

Conventional algorithms and noninvasive imaging tests for the identification of stable, hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease offer little insight into the detection of potentially vulnerable and inflamed coronary plaques, those most likely to rupture and cause acute coronary syndromes. Positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) serves as a potential novel modality for the identification of plaque inflammation, as initial studies in animal and human studies have demonstrated that FDG uptake correlates with macrophage accumulation and inflammation. Therapy with anti-inflammatory agents has also been demonstrated in the arterial vasculature to reduce plaque FDG uptake. Although imaging of coronary inflammation with FDG-PET holds tremendous promise, several hurdles remain to be surmounted prior to widespread clinical application.
A note on asymptotic distribution of permutation statistics from mixing processes

The permutation statistics from a-mixing processes with random, symmetric weights are studied The asymptotic distribution of the permutation statistics is derived.