cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Prophylactic Anticoagulation To Prevent Thalidomide-Related Deep Venous Thrombosis.

Abstract Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a known complication of treatment with thalidomide, occurring in up to 25% of patients. Although prophylactic anticoagulation has been recommended by some authors, there are few data available to assess whether this is beneficial. We reviewed the records of 131 patients receiving thalidomide for a variety of indications. Ninety-three patients had multiple myeloma, 12 had MDS or myelofibrosis and 26 had solid tumors. The mean and median dose of thalidomide was 200 mg/day. Fifty-five patients were prescribed warfarin with the intent of preventing DVT. Thirty-seven patients received warfarin at a dose of 1–2 mg per day (low dose) and 18 received a dose intended to raise the INR to 2–3 (high dose). Of 25 patients on single-agent thalidomide; only 4 received warfarin. Twenty-one of the 131 patients developed venous thrombosis during thalidomide treatment. All patients who developed DVT were receiving thalidomide in combination with dexamethasone or some form of chemotherapy. Only one patient who developed DVT was receiving thalidomide at more than 200 mg/day. Eighteen of the 76 patients (23.7%) who were not prescribed prophylactic anticoagulation developed DVT compared to three of the 55 patients (5.5%) who were prescribed any dose of prophylactic warfarin (p=.010). Only one of the 37 patients who received low dose warfarin developed DVT (p=.011). Bleeding complications occurred in 4 patients who were all receiving high dose warfarin. Two previous unrandomized studies suggested that low dose warfarin was not protective of DVT but both used high doses of thalidomide (250–400 mg) in combination with other agents which is no longer recommended. Our study suggests that low dose warfarin prophylaxis may be sufficient and safe for patients receiving thalidomide at a dose of 200 mg/day in combination with other agents.
Access to Developmental Pediatrics Evaluations for At-Risk Children.

ABSTRACT:Objective:To determine a national average wait time for developmental pediatric evaluations and to understand differences in access based on whether an appointment is requested by an English or Spanish-speaking caller.Methods:We conducted a mystery shopper study in which a bilingual researc
A Theoretical Study of the Oriented Reaction HBr·CO2 + hv → OH + CO + Br

This paper presents a quasiclassical trajectory study of the photoinduced intracluster reaction HBr·CO2 + hv → OH + CO + Br. In this study the potential energy surface for the photoexcited state is approximated by summing together an excited HBr potential curve, a previously developed HOCO surface, and a set of two body interactions between Br and CO2. Trajectory simulations start on this surface with either 2.6 eV or 1.9 eV of excess energy and with the Br-H---O-C-O geometry sampled from a distribution of HBr orientations relative to a linear equilibrium geometry. We find that only orientations within 15o of collinear lead to OH + CO formation, and that within this range two reaction mechanisms occur: a complex mechanism (which accounts for 70% of the reactivity) in which HOCO moves away from Br before dissociating, and a direct mechanism (30% of the reactivity) in which CO moves away from BrOH and the OH suffers several secondary encounters with Br which cause rotational relaxation before separating from it. Both mechanisms give final state distributions which are different from the bulk reaction at 1.9 eV, but at 2.6 eV only the direct mechanism is different. Neither mechanism gives OH rotational distributions which are significantly colder than in the bulk. This result disagrees with the observations of Wittig and coworkers, and it is likely that errors in the assumed potential surface are responsible for this disagreement. Estimates of HOCO lifetimes in the complex mechanism are 0.3 ps at 2.6 eV and 0.4 ps at 1.9 eV.
Genome Instability Is Promoted by the Chromatin-Binding Protein Spn1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cells expend a large amount of energy to maintain their DNA sequence. DNA repair pathways, cell cycle checkpoint activation, proofreading polymerases, and chromatin structure are ways in which the cell minimizes changes to the genome. During replication, the DNA-damage tolerance pathway allows the replication forks to bypass damage on the template strand. This avoids prolonged replication fork stalling, which can contribute to genome instability. The DNA-damage tolerance pathway includes two subpathways: translesion synthesis and template switch. Post-translational modification of PCNA and the histone tails, cell cycle phase, and local DNA structure have all been shown to influence subpathway choice. Chromatin architecture contributes to maintaining genome stability by providing physical protection of the DNA and by regulating DNA-processing pathways. As such, chromatin-binding factors have been implicated in maintaining genome stability. Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we examined the role of Spn1 (Suppresses postrecruitment gene number 1), a chromatin-binding and transcription elongation factor, in DNA-damage tolerance. Expression of a mutant allele of SPN1 results in increased resistance to the DNA-damaging agent methyl methanesulfonate, lower spontaneous and damage-induced mutation rates, along with increased chronological life span. We attribute these effects to an increased usage of the template switch branch of the DNA-damage tolerance pathway in the spn1 strain. This provides evidence for a role of wild-type Spn1 in promoting genome instability, as well as having ties to overcoming replication stress and contributing to chronological aging.
Quantitative evaluation of a dual-band spacecraft communication concept for a 1000 AU interstellar pathfinder mission

The goal of a realistic interstellar mission to the nearest star recently announced by NASA as a new space exploration objective targeted for circa 2069, presents a daunting but exciting prospect for creating a pragmatic but visionary mission design. For such a long-range mission goal, mission enabling technological developments need to be developed and evaluated in precursor missions beyond the edge of the solar system. NASA is stimulating such a pathfinder mission starting this year to promote efforts that could build upon what has been accomplished by New Horizons, and for which APL can leverage heat shield technology used on the Parker Solar Probe. An academically-inspired graduate-student supported study at Johns Hopkins University reported on our progress presented at the 2018 Committee on Space Research meeting (COSPAR 2018) in assessing and evaluating several critical subsystem issues and fruitful lines of innovation to improve dual-band downlink performance for a 1000 AU (1.5 × 1011 km) mission. This work recapitulates and extends some work done much earlier at APL. We propose to quantify several critical subsystem trades essential to interstellar spacecraft communications, command and data handling, and critical guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) functions. These include the following: optimizing trajectories during transit and arrival in the targeted system, acquiring a quality mix of relevant highly-compressed scientific data, providing an accurate navigation capability at sub-relativistic speeds, insuring a robust communication system over extraordinary distances, and maintaining an effective command and data handling subsystem, while acknowledging the criticality of a survivable spacecraft bus in an illdefined, harsh and very long duration environment.
Prebiotics and probiotics for depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials.

Abstract With growing interest in the gut microbiome, prebiotics and probiotics have received considerable attention as potential treatments for depression and anxiety. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis of 34 controlled clinical trials evaluating the effects of prebiotics and probiotics on depression and anxiety. Prebiotics did not differ from placebo for depression (d = −.08, p = .51) or anxiety (d = .12, p = .11). Probiotics yielded small but significant effects for depression (d = −.24, p
Ocular Manifestations of the NAA10-Related Syndrome

The NAA10-related syndrome is a rare X-linked neurodevelopmental condition that was first described in 2011. The disorder is caused by pathogenic variants in the NAA10 gene located on chromosome X at position Xq28. Clinical features typically include severe psychomotor developmental delay, cardiac disease, dysmorphic features, postnatal growth failure, and hypotonia, although there is significant variability in the severity of the phenotype among affected individuals. We describe a 5-year-old female with the syndrome; massively parallel exome sequencing and analysis revealed the c.247C>T (p.Arg83Cys) pathogenic variant that has been previously reported in ten affected individuals. Ocular manifestations of the NAA10-related syndrome are not uncommon, although they have not been well characterized in literature reports. From a systematic review of previously published cases to date, ocular abnormalities are present in more than half of patients with the syndrome. Common ocular findings reported include astigmatism, hyperopia, cortical vision impairment, microphthalmia/anophthalmia, and hypertelorism. Our patient presented with growth restriction, dysmorphic features, and hypotonia. Ocular manifestations identified in this child include downslanting palpebral fissures, myopic astigmatism, nystagmus, and exotropia. We speculate that the type and severity of ocular defects present in individuals with the NAA10-related syndrome are dependent on the specific NAA10 pathogenic variant involved.
Physiological Genetics of the Mouse

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the physiological genetics of mouse. It reviews the effect of mutations in different organ systems of the mouse that include skeleton, integument, nervous system, pigment-forming system, blood, and developmental systems of the embryo. Mutations is discussed where an effect on enzyme systems can be demonstrated, such as those affecting pigmentation. Hemoglobin synthesis is shown to be disturbed in different hematopoietic tissues and in different phases of development by the action of mutational changes with far-reaching effects. One syndrome of abnormalities is discussed that is shown to have arisen as a result of the mutational effect on a hormone. The developmental analysis of some abnormalities of the nervous system demonstrates how the original effect of a mutation may show no direct relation to the eventual symptoms. The analysis of other mutations reveals that their effects are due to the changed rates of growth and differentiation of certain tissues.
Heme Oxygenase-1 dictates innate - adaptive immune phenotype in human liver transplantation.

Abstract Liver transplantation (LT) has become the standard of care for patients with end-stage liver disease and those with hepatic malignancies, while adaptive immune-dominated graft rejection remains a major challenge. Despite potent anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective functions of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) overexpression upon innate immune-driven hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury, its role in adaptive immune cell-driven responses remains to be elucidated. We analyzed human biopsies from LT recipients (n = 55) to determine putative association between HO-1 levels and adaptive/co-stimulatory gene expression programs in LT. HO-1 expression negatively correlated with innate (CD68, Cathepsin G, TLR4, CXCL10), adaptive (CD4, CD8, IL17) and co-stimulatory (CD28, CD80, CD86) molecules at the graft site. LT recipients with high HO-1 expression showed a trend towards improved overall survival. By demonstrating the association between graft HO-1 levels and adaptive/co-stimulatory gene programs, our study provides important insights to the role of HO-1 signaling in LT patients.
Errors and Pitfalls in Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration

Errors in ultrasound (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) can occur at any stage of the procedure, from identification of the target and decision to perform a biopsy to the cytopathological interpretation. Except for errors and pitfalls related specifically to the cytopathological interpretation, most errors and pitfalls of FNA apply also to core-needle biopsy and vacuum-assisted biopsy, which are covered in separate chapters. FNA errors and pitfalls include the poor sonographic visibility of a target better seen with another modality, the presence of multiple candidates for the target, ballistic errors (misses), the aspiration of the least cellular or necrotic part of the lesion, poor aspiration technique, and nondiagnostic specimens. Solutions include the rule of concordance and teamwork.
Targeting Subsets of Mammalian Neurons.

Functional dissection of mammalian neuronal circuits depends on accurate targeting of constituent cell classes. Transgenic mice offer precise and predictable access to genetically defined cell popu...
The Association between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis

The association of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection with functional dyspepsia has been well studied. However, the data on the relationship between H. pylori infection and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are conflicting. This study aims to elucidate the association between H. pylori infection and IBS. PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and SCOPUS databases were searched to identify eligible English articles published up to December 2019. Cross-sectional studies, case–control studies and cohort studies reporting both prevalence of H. pylori infection and IBS were selected for the detailed review. The pooled odds ratio (ORs) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. A total of 7269 individuals in four cross-sectional studies and six case-control studies were included. The prevalence of H. pylori infection ranged from 12.8% to 73.4% in the control group, and 9.7% to 72.1% in the IBS group. The combined OR for H. pylori infection was 1.10 (95% CI: 0.93–1.29, I2: 37.5%). In a subgroup analysis of IBS defined according to Rome criteria, the OR for H. pylori infection was 1.10 (95% CI: 0.93–1.30, I2 = 31.7%). In this meta-analysis, H. pylori infection was not significantly associated with IBS. Well-designed studies are needed to identify the relationship between H. pylori infection and IBS.
RECENT PROGRESS IN AVIAN ENDOCRINOLOGY — CLOSING REMARKS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the progress in avian endocrinology. The investigations on western gulls have revealed a novelty in avian endocrinology. The breeding colonies on Santa Barbara Island contain significant numbers of female–female pairs, some of which occasionally rear young. No significant differences were found in the plasma levels of the testosterone and dihydrotestosterone among the homosexual females, heterosexual females, and males. The development of the field system has opened the way for field experiments. The chapter presents the experiments on the effect of males made hyper-aggressive with implants of testosterone in sylastic tubing, on the behavior and testosterone levels of males in adjacent territories and on the effect of females, hyper-estrogenized by implants of estradiol, on the behavior and testosterone levels of their mates. The median eminence of the avian hypothalamus is divided into neurohistologically distinct anterior and posterior divisions, each with its characteristic and essentially separate hyperphysical portal-capillary bed drained by the anterior and posterior groups of portal vessels that supply, respectively, the essentially separate sinus systems of the cephalic and caudal lobes of the pars distalis.
A Call to Action: A Systematic Review Examining the Failure to Include Females and Members of Minoritized Racial/Ethnic Groups in Clinical Trials of Pharmacological Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) presents a significant public health concern given the high prevalence estimates and numerous deleterious-associated consequences. The FDA currently has approved 3 pharmacological treatments for alcohol use disorder: acamprosate, naltrexone, and disulfiram. Previous research suggests that there may exist differences in the prevalence of and outcomes related to AUD across sex and racial/ethnic groups. Other work indicates that there may be differences in the efficacy of existing pharmacological treatments for AUD across demographic groups. The purpose of the present study was to examine the inclusion of women and members of minoritized racial/ethnic groups in published randomized clinical trials of pharmacological treatments for alcohol use disorder since 1994, in accordance with the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993. PubMed was systematically searched using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The initial search located 842 articles. After exclusion of ineligible articles, 102 remained for analysis. Of those included in the review, only 11.8% reported full sex and racial/ethnic characteristics of their study participants. Of the total sample, 6 articles were specifically examining 1 racial/ethnic group, and 11 were specifically examining 1 sex. Two articles (2.2%) did not report information regarding the sex breakdown of their participants, while 47 (49.0%) did not report any information regarding the racial/ethnic breakdown of their sample. Despite guidelines set forth by NIH, only 5.9% of articles conducted subgroup analyses to examine differences in treatment outcomes by sex or race/ethnicity, and only 16.7% of articles included considerations related to cultural inclusion when discussing study limitations. These results varied by medication type. Results suggest that considerably greater efforts must be put forth by the larger scientific community regarding the inclusion, analysis, and reporting of data focused on women and non-White racial and ethnic groups.
Reliability and Validity of Cognitive Workload in Older Adults

Abstract Cognitive workload (mental effort) is a measure of attention allocation to a task, which can be administered through self-report or physiological measures. Cognitive workload is increasingly recognized as an important determinant of performance in cognitive tests and daily life activities. However, the reliability and validity of these measures have not been established in older adults with a wide range of cognitive ability. The aim of this study was to establish the test-retest reliability of the NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) and Index of Cognitive Activity (ICA), extracted from pupillary size. The convergent validity of these measures against event-related potentials (ERPs) was also investigated. A total of 38 individuals with scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment ranging between 17 and 30 completed a working memory test (n-back) with three levels of difficulty at baseline and two-week follow-up. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) values of the NASA-TLX ranged between 0.71 and 0.81, demonstrating good to excellent reliability. Mean ICA scores showed fair to good reliability, with ICC’s ranging between 0.56 and 0.73. Mean ICA and NASA-TLX scores showed significant and moderate correlations (Pearson r range between 0.30 and 0.33) with P3 ERP at the midline channels. We conclude that ICC and NASA-TLX are reliable measures of cognitive workload in older adults. Further research is needed in dissecting the subjective and objective constructs of cognitive workload.
Sexual victimization and intellectual disabilities among child welfare involved youth.

Abstract Background and objective Youth with intellectual disabilities involved in child welfare systems are at greater risk of sexual victimization than youth who have not been investigated for child maltreatment. This study addresses a gap in the literature regarding older youth with intellectual disabilities who are sexually victimized and pushed to engage in transactional sex while they are transitioning from child welfare systems involvement. It does so by examining risk and protective factors at the individual, micro, exo, and macro systems levels. Participants and setting This study included 334 youth ages 18–19.5 from a nationally representative sample of 5,872 child welfare–involved youth. Methods Multivariate logistic regression models were used to conduct a secondary analysis of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II to examine relationships between intellectual ability, social support, and community environment and sexual victimization and engaging in transactional sex. Results Results indicate that 2.5 % of the youth experienced sexual victimization in the past 12 months, and 3.9 % had engaged in transactional sex in the past 6 months. The mean intelligence score for these youth was one standard deviation below average (M = 84.62, SD = 19.60). Being female was associated with experiencing sexual victimization (Odds Ratio = 17.29, p = .025). Higher intellectual ability scores were associated with lower odds of engaging in paid sexual activity (Odds Ratio = 0.92, p = .002). Conclusions This study highlights the need for early identification of intellectual disabilities among child welfare–involved youth, provision of informed social supports and services, and building community connections during transition to prevent sexual victimization.
Evidence-Based Practice Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, and Use Among Respiratory Therapy Faculty and Students

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is considered a major respiratory therapy competency established by the profession and essential to the clinical decision-making process. Currently, there is a limited understanding of what factors influence the use of EBP among respiratory therapists. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors associated with the use of EBP among respiratory therapy faculty teaching in a large community college system and post-professional students enrolled in a university-based, respiratory therapy baccalaureate degree completion program. Methods: An online self-administered questionnaire was developed and administered to assess EBP knowledge, self-efficacy, learning experiences, and use in practice. Binary logistic regression was conducted to determine which independent variables were predictors of EBP use in clinical decisions. IRB approval was obtained prior to initiation of this study. Results: A total of 25 faculty and 58 post-professional students responded to the survey. Faculty and students demonstrated sufficient knowledge and understanding of introductory concepts of EBP but knowledge of specific components of the EBP process was not as strong. Self-efficacy in knowledge and use of EBP among faculty and students was varied. Faculty and students rated their self-efficacy high in assessing patients’ needs, values and treatment preferences but were less confident using the PICO technique and interpreting common statistical tests. Students viewed their previous EBP learning experiences more favorably compared to faculty. Descriptive statistics for EBP knowledge, self-efficacy, and learning experiences are presented in the table. Faculty and students searched and read the research literature more often compared to critically appraising and using the research literature. Logistic regression analysis indicated no statistcally significant relationship of knowledge, self-efficacy, and learning experiences to the use of EBP, X2 (4, N = 54) = 7.73, P = .10. Conclusions: Results of this study suggested faculty and post-professional students in this study were knowledgeable and confident regarding EBP but the frequency of using EBP in clinical decisions was limited. While the EBP knowledge, self-efficacy, and learning experiences had minimal influence on the use of EBP, the results of the study provided the foundation for future research in this area.
Development and validation of a risk prediction index for severe maternal morbidity based on preconception comorbidities among infertile patients

Objective To develop and validate a preconception risk prediction index for severe maternal morbidity (SMM), defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as indicators of a life-threatening complication, among infertile patients. Design Retrospective analysis of live births and stillbirths from 2007 to 2017 among infertile women. Setting National commercial claims database. Patient(s) Infertile women identified on the basis of diagnosis, testing, or treatment codes. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) The primary outcome was SMM, identified as any indicator from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Index except blood transfusion alone, which was found to overestimate cases. Twenty preconception comorbidities associated with a risk of SMM were selected from prior literature. Targeted ensemble learning methods were used to rank the importance of comorbidities as potential risk factors for SMM. The independent strength of the association between each comorbidity and SMM was then used to define each comorbidity’s risk score. Result(s) Among 94,097 infertile women with a delivery, 2.3% (n = 2,181) experienced an SMM event. The highest risk of SMM was conferred by pulmonary hypertension, hematologic disorders, renal disease, and cardiac disease. Associated significant risks were lowest for substance abuse disorders, prior cesarean section, age ≥40 years, gastrointestinal disease, anemia, mental health disorders, and asthma. The receiver operating characteristic area under the curve for the developed comorbidity score was 0.66. Calibration plots showed good concordance between the predicted and actual risk of SMM. Conclusion(s) We developed and validated an index to predict the probability of SMM on the basis of preconception comorbidities in patients with infertility. This tool may inform preconception counseling of infertile women and support maternal health research initiatives.
Comparing Biofeedback Types for Children With Residual /ɹ/ Errors in American English: A Single-Case Randomization Design.

Purpose Research comparing different biofeedback types could lead to individualized treatments for those with residual speech errors. This study examines within-treatment response to ultrasound and...
Are masks effective as source control in index influenza patients? A Systematic Review

Abstract Background The use of facemasks for infection prevention has become widely accepted. Current recommendations include influenza patients wearing a mask in a medical setting. Here we systematically reviewed randomized control trials on mask efficacy in index influenza patients to prevent transmission. Methods PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were searched and articles were included if they fit the criteria of 1) randomized control trial, 2) influenza, 3) mask efficacy, 4) influenza patients with masks for source control, 5) in vivo, and 6) article was in English. Results The results point to no difference in influenza transmission between medical mask and control groups. However, there have been several attempts at explaining this finding. Conclusion This review found there were few studies and weak supporting evidence for mask recommendations. We hope for larger, randomized control trials in the hospital setting that evaluate the efficacy of masks as a means of source control in influenza infected patients.
Viral DNA in transformed cells. II. A study of the sequences of adenovirus 2 DNA IN NINE LINES OF TRANSFORMED RAT CELLS USING SPECIFIC FRAGMENTS OF THE VIRAL GENOME

32P-labeled adenovirus 2 DNA was treated with restricting endonuclease from Escherichia coli strain RY-13 (Yoshimori, 1972) (EcoRI) or restricting endonuclease from Hemophilus parainfluenzae (Hpa I) and the resulting fragments of DNA were separated by gel electrophoresis. The kinetics of renaturation of each of the fragments and of complete adenovirus 2 DNA were measured in the presence of DNA extracted from nine lines of adenovirus 2-transformed rat cells and from control cells. Six of the transformed cell lines contained viral DNA sequences homologous to two of the seven Hpa I§ fragments and to part of one of the six EcoRI fragments. From the order of the fragments formed by EcoRI and Hpa I on the adenovirus 2 map we conclude that these cell lines contain only the segment of viral DNA that stretches from the left-hand end to a point about 14% along the viral genome. Thus, any viral function expressed in transformed cells must be coded by this small section of viral DNA. The three remaining lines of adenovirus 2-transformed rat cells are more complicated and contain not only the sequences from the left-hand end of the viral DNA, but also other segments of the viral genome. However, no adenovirus 2-transformed rat cell contained DNA sequences homologous to the complete viral genome.
Uniform object management

Most real-world applications require a capability for both general-purpose programming and database transactions on persistent data. Unfortunately, the implementation techniques for these capabilities are notoriously incompatible. Programming languages stress memory-resident transient data with a rich collection of data types, while database systems stress disk-resident persistent data with a limited collection of data types. Even in object-oriented database systems, combining these capabilities is traditionally done using a two-level storage model in which storage formats are quite different. This approach suffers from the performance overhead required to translate data between these two levels.
Jennifer L. Bevan, The Communication of Jealousy

Jealousy is a perennial challenge in close relationships, such that St. Augustine noted, “He who is not jealous is no lover” (trans. 2006, p. 195). From ancient times, art and literature illustrate...
The depth of the prostatic apex is an independent predictor of positive apical margins at radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of a deep and narrow pelvis on apical positive surgical margins (PSM) at radical prostatectomy (RP), controlling for other clinical and pathological variables and surgical approach, i.e. open retropubic (RRP) vs laparoscopic (LRP), as apical dissection is expected to be more challenging at RP with a prostate situated deep in a narrow pelvis. PATIENTS AND METHODS From July 2003 to January 2005, 512 consecutive patients with preoperative prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) underwent RRP or LRP with no previous radio- or hormonal therapy. An additional 74 patients with preoperative MRI undergoing RP from December 2001 to June 2007 who had an apical PSM were also included, with 586 patients comprising the study population. Bony and soft-tissue pelvic dimensions, including interspinous distance (ISD), bony (BFW) and soft tissue (SW) pelvic width, apical prostate depth (AD) and symphysis pubis angle, were measured on preoperative MRI. The pelvic dimension index (PDI), bony width index (BWI) and soft-tissue width index (SWI) were defined as ISD/AD, BFW/AD and SW/AD, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the effect of pelvic dimensions on apical PSM, controlling for surgical approach and clinical and pathological variables. RESULTS There was no significant difference in ISD, BFW, SW or symphysis angle between patients with and without apical PSM. The AD was significantly greater in men with an apical PSM and consequently PDI, BWI and SWI were significantly lower in men with an apical PSM. Each of PDI, AD, BWI and SWI was a significant independent predictor of apical PSM, independent of surgical approach, and other clinicopathological variables. The main limitations of the study were that it was retrospective, and the relatively few patients with apical PSM. CONCLUSIONS Apical prostate depth is an independent risk factor for apical PSM at RP. MRI pelvimetry might allow for preoperative planning of the approach to RP.
Finite rank, relatively bounded perturbations of semi-groups generators

This paper is motivated by, and ultimately directed to, boundary feedback partial differential equations of both parabolic and hyperbolic type, defined on a bounded domain. It is written, however, in abstract form. It centers on the (feedback) operator AF=A+P; A the infinitesimal generator of a s.c. semigroup on H; P an Abounded, one dimensional range operator (typically nondissipative), so that P=(A·, a)b, for a, b ∈ H. While Part I studied the question of generation of a s.c. semigroup on H by AF and lack thereof, the present Part II focuses on the following topics: (i) spectrum assignment of AF, given A and a ∈ H, via a suitable vector b ∈ H; alternatively, given A, via a suitable pair of vectors a, b ∈ H; (ii) spectrality of AF—and lack thereof—when A is assumed spectral (constructive counterexamples include the case where P is bounded but the eigenvalues of A have zero gap, as well as the case where P is genuinely Abounded). The main result gives a set of sufficient conditions on the eigenvalues {λn} of A, the given vector a ∈ H and a given suitable sequence {en} of nonzero complex numbers, which guarantee the existence of a suitable vector b ∈ H such that AF possesses the following two desirable properties: (i) the eigenvalues of AF are precisely equal to λn+en; (ii) the corresponding eigenvectors of AF form a Riesz basis (a fortiori, AF is spectral). While finitely many en′s can be preassigned arbitrarily, it must be however that en → 0 « sufficiently fast ». Applications include various types of boundary feedback stabilization problems for both parabolic and hyperbolic partial differential equations. An illustration to the damped wave equation is also included.
Universal Jurisdiction and the Crime of Aggression

In June 2010 in Kampala, Uganda, the states that are party to the Statute of the International Criminal Court agreed to amend the ICC Statute to add the crime of aggression to the Court’s jurisdiction. One of the key compromises that made this possible was the adoption of a U.S.-proposed “understanding” which provided that the aggression amendment should not be interpreted as creating a right for national courts to prosecute the crime of aggression under universal jurisdiction. If, however, national courts already possess the right to do so under customary international law, stemming from the Nuremberg precedent, then the understanding will end up failing to protect U.S. officials from the specter of potential prosecution for the crime of aggression in foreign courts around the globe. To answer that question, this Article re-examines the historic sources and analyzes the subsequent developments to discern whether Nuremberg established aggression as a universal jurisdiction crime under customary international law.
Concurrent product/process design with multiple representations of parts

The need for concurrency in design and manufacturing is supported in a sheet metal design system by doing preliminary process design at the detail product design stage. This design with features approach represents the evolving part form to the designer in multiple process domains and at multiple stages of a sequential process. Each part of part form representations defines the conceptualized process which transforms it from one to the other. At this modeling level, processes are reversible so that design activity can take place in any of the domains and be transferred to the others. This concept is fully implemented in a sheet metal design/manufacturing system in which preliminary process design occurs concurrently with product design and the normal representation ambiguities of wireframe and flat panel models are eliminated. >
IL-12 Promotes Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Recruitment and Bacterial Persistence during Staphylococcus aureus Orthopedic Implant Infection

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of human prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) typified by biofilm formation. We recently identified a critical role for myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in S. aureus biofilm persistence. Proinflammatory signals induce MDSC recruitment and activation in tumor models; however, the mechanisms responsible for MDSC homing to sites of biofilm infection are unknown. In this study, we report that several cytokines (IL-12p40, IL-1β, TNF-α, and G-CSF) and chemokines (CXCL2, CCL5) were significantly elevated in a mouse model of S. aureus PJI. This coincided with significantly increased MDSC infiltrates concomitant with reduced monocyte, macrophage, and T cell influx compared with uninfected animals. Of the cytokines detected, IL-12 was of particular interest based on its ability to possess either pro- or anti-inflammatory effects mediated through p35-p40 heterodimers or p40 homodimers, respectively. MDSC recruitment was significantly reduced in both p40 and p35 knockout mice, which resulted in enhanced monocyte and neutrophil influx and bacterial clearance. Adoptive transfer of wild-type MDSCs into infected p40 knockout animals worsened disease outcome, as evidenced by the return of S. aureus burdens to levels typical of wild-type mice. Tissues obtained from patients undergoing revision surgery for PJI revealed similar patterns of immune cell influx, with increased MDSC-like cells and significantly fewer T cells compared with aseptic revisions. These findings reveal a critical role for IL-12 in shaping the anti-inflammatory biofilm milieu by promoting MDSC recruitment.
INTRARENAL ARTERIAL COLLATERALS SIMULATING MALIGNANT TUMOR IN TRAUMATIC ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULA

Abstract A case of intrarenal arterial collaterals responsible for pelvicalyceal notching is presented. These resulted from a large traumatic arteriovenous fistula without any identifiable renal artery obstruction. It is possible that they indicated a vasodilatory response to ischemia. The bizzare malignant neovascularity and early venous filling were significantly absent, distinguishing them from carcinoma and arteriovenous malformation.
Four alternative patterns of the Hilbert curve

The second pattern of the Hilbert curve was shown by Moore in 1900. In this article, we present four more patterns. These patterns, together with Hilbert's original pattern and Moore's pattern, comprise a complete set of the Hilbert curve.
Dioxygen Activation by a Low-Valent Cobalt Complex Employing a Flexible Tripodal N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand

The novel versatile cobalt(I) tris-carbene complex [(TIMENxyl)Co]Cl (1) (where TIMEN = (tris[2-(3-arylimidazol-2-ylidene)ethyl]amine) reacts with CO, one-electron oxidizers such as CH2Cl2, and O2 to yield the cobalt complexes [(TIMENxyl)Co(CO)]Cl (2), [(TIMENxyl)Co(Cl)]Cl (3), and peroxo species [(TIMENxyl)Co(O2)](BPh4) (5). All new complexes were fully characterized by 1H NMR, UV/vis, and IR spectroscopy as well as superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetization measurements and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The nucleophilic character of the η2-bound dioxygen ligand in 5 was confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) studies and allows for oxygen-transfer reactions with electron-deficient organic substrates, such as benzoyl chloride.
What is Geyi, After All?

The term geyi is often rendered as ‘matching concepts’ and held to be a key means for the transmission of Buddhism from India to China. It is said to be a translation technique whereby Buddhists borrowed Taoist terms to express Indian ideas in Chinese. This study thoroughly debunks that notion, demonstrating that geyi was actually a very short-lived attempt to deal with numbered lists that came to China from India in great profusion during the early medieval period, and that the current misunderstanding of the true nature of geyi is purely a matter of modern scholarship.
Proline-directed phosphorylation of the dopamine transporter N-terminal domain.

Phosphorylation of the dopamine transporter (DAT) on N-terminal serines and unidentified threonines occurs concomitantly with PKC- and substrate-induced alterations in transporter activity, subcellular distribution, and dopamine efflux, but the residues phosphorylated and identities of protein kinases and phosphatases involved are not known. As one approach to investigating these issues we recombinantly expressed the N-terminal tail of rat DAT (NDAT) and examined its phosphorylation and dephosphorylation properties in vitro. We found that NDAT could be phosphorylated to significant levels by PKCα, PKA, PKG, and CaMKII, which catalyzed serine phosphorylation, and ERK1, JNK, and p38, which catalyzed threonine phosphorylation. We identified Thr53, present in a membrane proximal proline-directed kinase motif as the NDAT site phosphorylated in vitro by ERK1, JNK and p38, and confirmed by peptide mapping and mutagenesis that Thr53 is phosphorylated in vivo. Dephosphorylation studies showed that protein phosphatase 1 catalyzed near-complete in vitro dephosphorylation of PKCα-phosphorylated NDAT, similar to its in vivo and in vitro effects on native DAT. These findings demonstrate the ability of multiple enzymes to directly recognize the DAT N-terminal domain and for kinases to act at multiple distinct sites. The strong correspondence between NDAT and rDAT phosphorylation characteristics suggests the potential for the enzymes that are active on NDAT in vitro to act on DAT in vivo and indicates the usefulness of NDAT for guiding future DAT phosphorylation analyses.
Developing Dialogic Argumentation Skills: A 3-year Intervention Study

Argumentation is increasingly recognized as a fundamental intellectual skill, but evidence suggests that few adolescents or adults are skilled arguers. This article reports on an extended (3-year, twice weekly) intervention designed to afford dense practice in dialogic argumentation to middle-school students from traditionally academically disadvantaged backgrounds, with the goal of supporting development of argumentation skills. Students collaborated with peers who shared their positions on a series of social issues, both in small-group argument-building and reflective activities and in electronic dialogues with a succession of opposing-side peers. Annual assessments of individual argumentative skills on new topics showed students gaining in argumentative discourse skills across all 3 years of the intervention. Continued gains during the 3rd year, however, were concentrated among students who began with the least skill, highlighting the potentially equalizing role of such an intervention.
Greater China: The Next Superpower? Edited by David Shambaugh. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. ix, 310 pp. $24.00.

D. Shambaugh: Introduction: The Emergence of Greater China. 1: H. Harding: The Concept of Greater China. 2: M. Yahuda: The Foreign Relations of Greater China. 3: R. Ash and Y. Y. Kueh: Economic Integration within Greater China. 4: Q. Luo and C. Howe: Direct Investment and Economic Integraton in the Asia Pacific. 5: C.-P. Lin: Beijing and Taipei: Interactions in the Post-Tiananmen Period. 6: B. Hook: Political Change in Hong Kong. 7: H. Baker: Social Change in Hong Kong. 8: R. Edmonds: Macau and Greater China. 9: T. Gold: Hong Kong and Taiwan Popular Culture in Greater China. 10: W. Gungwu: Greater China and the Chinese Overseas. 11: R. Scalapino: China in the late Leninist Era
Precipitation of Food Gums by Thiazine, Oxazine, Azine and Other Cationic Dyes: Specificity of the Methylene Blue Carrageenan Reaction

SUMMARY Several dyes of the thiazine, azine, azo and other classes were mixed with carrageenan, furcellaran, fucoidan and other hydrocolloids and the nature of the precipitates formed was carefully observed. The results obtained indicate that the antigen-antibody-like specificity ascribed to the methylene blue-carrageenan reaction is much less rigid than previously thought. Dyes bearing the thiazine, phenazine, azine, oxazine or azo core structure will give the typical methylene blue-carrageenan stringy precipitate when mixed with the hydrocolloids mentioned above. The sulfated polygalactose moiety is an essential for the formation of such a precipitate. Salts, at concentrations above certain threshold levels, inhibit formation of the stringy precipitate and, at low pH levels of the medium, the strings are considerably shortened. It is postulated that formation of the stringy precipitate results from the tendency of the linear macromolecules of carrageenan to agglomerate into fibers on precipitation from solutions.
Popillia japonica : Simulation of Temperature-Dependent Development of the Immatures, and Prediction of Adult Emergence

The temperature-dependent development of the immature stages of the Japanese beetle is described. The effect of temperature on the development of overwintered 3rd-instar grubs and the reproductive maturation period of the adults are quantified. Emergence of adults was not affected by soil moisture. Data from simulations of immature development and adult emergence compared favorably with field data.
Trophic State in Voyageurs National Park Lakes before and after Implementation of a Revised Water-Level Management Plan

We compiled Secchi depth, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a (Chla) data from Voyageurs National Park lakes and compared datasets before and after a new water-level management plan was implemented in January 2000. Average Secchi depth transparency improved (from 1.9 to 2.1 m, p = 0.020) between 1977-1999 and 2000-2011 in Kabetogama Lake for August samples only and remained unchanged in Rainy, Namakan, and Sand Point Lakes, and Black Bay in Rainy Lake. Average open-water season Chla concentration decreased in Black Bay (from an average of 13 to 6.0 μg/l, p = 0.001) and Kabetogama Lake (from 9.9 to 6.2 μg/l, p = 0.006) between 1977-1999 and 2000-2011. Trophic state index decreased significantly in Black Bay from 59 to 51 (p = 0.006) and in Kabetogama Lake from 57 to 50 (p = 0.006) between 1977-1999 and 2000-2011. Trophic state indices based on Chla indicated that after 2000, Sand Point, Namakan, and Rainy Lakes remained oligotrophic, whereas eutrophication has decreased in Kabetogama Lake and Black Bay. Although nutrient inputs from inflows and internal sources are still sufficient to produce annual cyanobacterial blooms and may inhibit designated water uses, trophic state has decreased for Kabetogama Lake and Black Bay and there has been no decline in lake ecosystem health since the implementation of the revised water-level management plan.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway—Targeted Therapy as Initial Systemic Treatment of Patients with Renal Cancer

Abstract Advanced renal cancer is known to be largely refractory to traditional DNA- and DNA repair—targeted chemotherapy. Until recently, immunotherapy had been the mainstay for the treatment; however, it is effective in only a small proportion of patients. Advances in the understanding of the association between the von Hippel—Lindau pathway and angiogenesis and their role in the development of renal cancer has led to the development of highly effective vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway—targeted inhibitors. Several such novel agents have demonstrated increased clinical benefit, progression-free survival, and superior quality of life in large, randomized phase III clinical trials, and additional VEGF pathway inhibitors are currently being studied. This review will summarize the major clinical trials and practical recommendations for the most studied VEGF inhibitors, including sunitinib, sorafenib, and bevacizumab; introduce novel VEGF inhibitor agents; outline side effects and toxicities; and discuss sequential and combination therapy with these agents.
Exciton Dynamics in Bundled and Unbundled (6,5) Carbon Nanotubes

We present a pump-probe study of exciton dynamics in semiconducting (6,5) single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Optical transients from individual tubes and small bundles (n<8) shed new light onto the dynamics of singlet and triplet excitons.