cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The growing trend for no primary surgery in colorectal cancer.

Aim In colorectal cancer (CRC), surgery of the primary site is commonly curative. Our aim was to determine estimates of 'no surgery' for primary CRC while identifying common reasons for no surgery. Method We identified all patients with a diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma from the National Cancer Database between January 2004 and December 2016. Then, we identified patients who did not undergo surgery on the primary tumour and their demographic, tumour and institutional characteristics. Kaplan-Meier and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate specific factors associated with overall survival as related to no surgery and recommendations against operative management. Results A total of 1,208,878 patients with CRC were identified, 14.5% of whom had no surgery of the primary cancer. No surgery was more common in rectal cancer than in colon cancer. Despite a steady incidence of CRC diagnoses, the likelihood of no surgery grew by 170% over the study period. Metastatic disease was noted in 53.7% of the no surgery cohort. Nine per cent of the no surgery patient cohort received a recommendation against surgery despite the absence of metastatic disease, 7.5% refused surgery and only 2% underwent palliative surgery. On multivariable analysis, patients who were not recommended to have surgery were more likely to be older, uninsured, comorbid and receive care at a single hospital. The no surgery patients had significantly lower overall survival. Conclusion A substantial proportion of patients with CRC do not have surgery. Interventions aimed at expanding access and promoting second opinions at other cancer hospitals might reduce the growing rate of no surgery in CRC.
Stroke With Valve Tissue Embolization During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Treated With Endovascular Intervention

A 78-year-old man presented with progressive dyspnea on exertion and syncope. His relevant history included coronary bypass surgery twice. Severe aortic stenosis with left ventricular ejection fraction of 65% was evident on echocardiography. Coronary angiogram showed patent left internal mammary
Dopamine's Reversal of Fortune

Dopamine transporters (DATs) are considered to be the janitors of the neurotransmission world, sucking up excess dopamine that has been released into synapses (the gaps between neurons). Not so fast, according to [Blakely][1] in his insightful Perspective. It turns out that DATs can be switched into reverse, exporting instead of importing dopamine ([ Falkenburger et al. ][2]). This switch may help in dampening down the excitability of dopaminergic neurons that have been overstimulated by the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/293/5539/2407 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/293/5539/2465
Glycopeptides of Murine Leukemia Viruses III. Glycosylation of env Precursor Glycoproteins

Abstract We have compared the glycopeptides obtained after extensive pronase digestion of the env precursors (PrENV proteins) of ecotropic, xenotropic, and dual-tropic murine leukemia viruses. Two glycopeptide size classes, having molecular weights of approximately 2,200 and 1,500, were shown to be associated with the PrENV proteins of all murine leukemia viruses studied. Glycopeptides associated with the env precursors were totally susceptible to endo-β-N-acetyglucosaminidase H. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of partial endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase H digestion products of the env precursor of dual-tropic mink cell focus-forming virus (MCF 247) revealed the presence of seven bands, suggesting that six glycosylation sites were present on the precursor molecule. The MCF 247 PrENV protein had been previously shown to be accessible to lactoperoxidase-catalyzed radioiodination on the surface of infected cells. The cell surface PrENV molecules had the same electrophoretic mobility as pulse-labeled PrENV protein, and after endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase H treatment a similar shift in electrophoretic mobility was observed for the cell surface PrENV protein and the pulse-labeled precursors, a finding which indicated that the PrENV protein located on the cell surface also possessed only mannose-rich oligosaccharides. These results indicated that the env precursor glycoproteins of dual-tropic viruses had the unusual property of migrating to the cell surface without undergoing the normal oligosaccharide processing and proteolytic cleavage events that had been observed for ecotropic and xenotropic murine leukemia virus glycoproteins.
The Institutionally Effective Audience in Flux: Social Media and the Reassessment of the Audience Commodity

Technological changes are straining traditional institutionalized conceptualization of the television audience, while at the same time providing opportunities for alternative conceptual and analytical approaches. The result is a rare point in time in which the very nature of the audience commodity is being reconsidered by industry stakeholders. This chapter addresses these developments within the specific context of the emergence of social TV analytics -- measurement systems that produce metrics of television program engagement derived from the aggregation of social media conversation.
Evaluating and reducing production impact on HVAC cooling load

Reducing the production impact on the cooling load is pertinent in minimizing overall energy usage within the manufacturing environment. This paper expands upon previous research to analyze the complex energy dynamics of the production line and evaluate the effect of the production on the cooling load for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. The radiant time series method is utilized to estimate the radiative heat load, which allows for the calculation of the cooling load caused by each individual machine on the production line. To reduce the overall cooling load, an opportunity window control scheme is employed that allows for certain machines to be turned off without affecting production. This control scheme leads to a reduction in energy consumption and cooling load for the manufacturing facility. Simulation studies are performed using Simulink/MATLAB to validate the cooling load analysis and the opportunity window control methodology.
Iatrogenic hepatic subcapsular biloma following PCNL: Diagnosis and management

After the first description in 1976, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) remains the treatment of choice for large renal stones. Adjacent organ injuries are rare complications, with pulmonary and colonic representing the most common, while hepatic represents one of the rarest. We describe our case of hepatic subcapsular biloma following a subcostal PCNL, conservatively managed by percutaneous drainage and endoscopic biliary stenting.
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in Endemic Burkitt's Lymphoma: Molecular Analysis of Primary Tumor Tissue

Many aspects of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and tumor biology have been studied in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL)-derived cell lines. However, in tissue culture, patterns of gene expression and CpG [corrected] methylation often change and viral strain selection may occur. In this report, 10 cases of snap-frozen endemic BL tumors are characterized in terms of viral gene expression, promoter usage, methylation, and viral strain. EBNA1 and BamHI-A rightward transcripts (BART) were detected in 7 of 7 and LMP2A transcripts in 5 of 7 tumors with well-preserved RNA. Transcripts for the other EBNAs and for LMP1 were not detected in any tumor. These tumors differ from BL cell lines in that they lack a variety of lytic cycle transcripts. This pattern of viral gene expression in endemic BL is similar to that reported in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy EBV-seropositive individuals. EBNA1 transcripts originated from the Q promoter (Qp) but not C, W, or F promoters that drive transcription of EBNA1 in other circumstances. Whereas Cp has been previously shown to be entirely CpG methylated in BL, bisulfite genomic sequencing showed virtually no methylation in Qp. Type-A EBV was detected in 6 of 10 and type B in 4 of 10 cases. A previously reported 30bp deletion variant in the carboxyl terminal of LMP1 gene was detected in 5 of 10 cases. The association with both A and B strains contrasts with EBV-associated Hodgkin's disease, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, which are much more consistently associated with A strain virus.
Fast capacitance computations for conducting structures embedded in a multilayered dielectric medium using the fast multipole algorithm and a closed form Green's function

Efficient computation of the capacitance matrices of arbitrarily-shaped three-dimensional conducting structures embedded in a multilayered dielectric medium is discussed in this paper It is shown that the fast multipole method (FMM) employed in conjunction with an iterative method and a closed-form approximation of the Green's function can speedup the computation. Time by about an order of magnitude over conventional direct and iterative methods without compromising the numerical accuracy of the results.
Methodology for I/O cell placement and checking in ASIC designs using area-array power grid

Electrical rule checking is fundamental to achieve a good I/O cell placement. This paper presents the analysis techniques used to design a robust power-grid structure, the method used to make I/O cell placement guidelines, details of the I/O cell placement process and electrical checking algorithms.
Gravity waves over porous bottoms

Abstract Water wave interactions with porous seabeds of granular material were investigated theoretically and experimentally. An assessment on the nature of the resistances in a general, unsteady, porous flow model showed that Darcy's law (linear resistance only) has a very limited application under a natural wave environment; in most cases, inertial and nonlinear resistances should be considered. The case of a linear wave system over a rigid porous bed of finite depth was solved to facilitate comparisons with the experiment. The solutions on wave damping and on wave kinematics (change of wave period or wave length) are quite different from those of available solutions. The maximum wave damping was found to occur when the dissipative resistance (velocity related) is equal to the nondissipative resistance (acceleration related). In the experiment, twelve different porous gravel beds with three water depths (a total of 36 cases) were tested under a standing wave system. The virtual mass coefficient, Ca, determined from the experiment data was 0.46 rather than zero as assumed in some publications. The predicted values of this study agree much better with the experiment data than those of the available solutions. The tests were also extended to two extreme cases: beds with thickness of a single grain size and a bed of fine sand. In both cases, the wave kinematics are only slightly affected. However, the damping characteristics are significantly altered. In the former case, the boundary layer effect apparently could no longer be ignored, whereas in the latter case the movement of sand particles caused the rate of damping to increase by several orders of magnitude.
Yang-Mills fields and stochastic parallel transport in small geodesic balls

We develop a new method to obtain stochastic characterizations of Yang–Mills fields. Our main tool is the Ito-equation for the stochastic parallel transport. We estimate the drift terms in a small ball of radius e and find that for a general connection the average rotation is of order e3 but that for a Yang–Mills connections the average rotation is of order e4. Using a Doob h-transform we give a new proof of the stochastic characterization of Yang–Mills fields by S. Stafford. Varying the starting point of the Brownian motion we obtain an unconditioned version of this result. By considering the horizontal Laplace equation we then apply our result to obtain a new analytic characterization of Yang–Mills fields.
Polarimetric backscattering behavior of ground clutter at X, Ka, and W-band

The HH and VV-polarized backscattering behavior of homogeneous ground clutter has been investigated by measuring the radar cross section per unit area of rough surface terrain. The X, Ka, and W-band behavior was investigated by analyzing ISAR imagery of 1/16th scale terrain collected in compact radar ranges operating at 160 GHz, 520 GHz, and 1.56 THz. An array of scale model ground planes was fabricated with the appropriate roughness to model relatively smooth to rough soil terrain. In addition to studying terrain backscatter as a function of surface roughness, the dependence on soil moisture content was also characterized by tailoring the dielectric constant of the scale models. The radar cross section per unit illuminated area (?0) was calculated as a function of elevation angle between 15° and 75°. The results of this work have been used in the fabrication of scale model ground planes for collection of radar imagery from scaled threat targets situated in realistic environments. Backscattering data are presented and compared to clutter data found in the literature.
A 90-nm radiation hardened clock spine

A RHBD clock distribution network is described that reliably synchronizes the flow of signals through an integrated circuit in the presence of SETs. The clock spine design controls both redundant and non-redundant hardened circuits. The design uses techniques to reduce the jitter due to SETs, as well as error detection at every clock edge, since errors may be in the clock gating enables rather than the clocks themselves. The clock spine has been fabricated and tested on both standard and a low power 90-nm test chips, and proven hard as demonstrated by both heavy ion and proton broad beam testing.
Molecular analysis of the function of the neuronal growth-associated protein GAP-43 by genetic intervention

GAP-43 is a presynaptic membrane phosphoprotein that has been implicated in both the development and the modulation of neural connections. The availability of cDNA clones for GAP-43 makes it possible to examine with greater precision its role in neuronal outgrowth and physiology. We used Northern blots andin situ hybridization with GAP-43 antisense RNA probes to show that GAP-43 is expressed selectively in associative regions of the adult brain. Immunocytochemical analyses showed alterations in the pattern of GAP-43 expression in the hippocampus during reactive synaptogenesis following lesions of the perforant pathway. Genetic intervention methodology was used to analyze the molecular nature of GAP-43 involvement in synaptic plasticity. GAP-43-transfected PC12 cells displayed an enhanced response to nerve growth factor, suggesting that GAP-43 may be directly involved in neurite extension and in the modulation of the neuronal response to extrinsic trophic factors. Studies of PC12 cell transfectants, in which the synthesis of GAP-43 was blocked by expression of GAP-43 antisense RNA, showed that evoked dopamine release was significantly attenuated in these cells. The use of gene transfer into neurons with the HSV-1 vector is presented as a method of analyzing the interaction of GAP-43 with signal transduction systems during neurotransmitter release.
A comparison of CT scan to transrectal ultrasound-measured prostate volume in untreated prostate cancer.

Abstract Purpose To compare CT and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-measured prostate volumes in patients with untreated prostate cancer. Methods and materials Between 1995 and 1999, 48 consecutive patients at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center were treated with external beam radiotherapy. In 36 of these patients, TRUS and CT measurements of the prostate volume were obtained before treatment and Results The TRUS and CT prostate volume measurements correlated strongly (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.925, 95% confidence interval 0.856–0.961, p 3 ), the CT/TRUS volume ratio was 1.7, and it was 1.4 for men whose volume was greater than the median. The CT volumes were correlated similarly with the TRUS volumes regardless of the CT slice interval. Conclusion A strong correlation was found between CT scan and TRUS measurement of the prostate volume; however, CT consistently overestimated the prostate volume by approximately 50% compared with TRUS.
Infiltration and erosion characteristics of selected tephra deposits from the 1980 eruption of Mount. St. Helens, Washington, USA

Abstract Infiltration and erosion characteristics of two tephra deposits from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington, were evaluated using a rainfall simulator and selected process models. The deposits were a 20 cm thick silty-sandy profile in the Shultz Creek drainage and a 35 cm thick profile containing a 15–20 cm pumice-gravel layer in the Clearwater Creek drainage. At Shultz Creek, infiltration was affected by surface crusting and erosion. Steady-state infiltration rates ranged from 0.21 to 0.51 cm h−1 in September 1980, and from 0.41 to 0.71 cm h−1 in August 1981. Rill erosion countered the effects of crusting by exposing the more permeable tephra and pre-emption surface. Erosion rates in 1980 decreased rapidly with successive rainfall simulations. Erosion rates in 1981 were 65–80% less than those in 1980 and were more stable. At Clearwater Creek, surface crusting was less evident and sheet erosion was dominant. The steady-state infiltration rate in 1981 was 2.92 cm h−1. The surface runoff...
Infrared absorption limits of HF and DF laser windows

The infrared absorption coefficients of NaCl, KCl, NaF, CaF2 and BaF2 have been determined by calorimetric techniques at the laser wavelengths 1.06, 2.7, and 3.8 μm. The absorption level of the best crystals can be 10−5 cm−1 or lower at l.06 μm, but no crystal with a coefficient lower than 10−4 cm−1 at 2.7 and 3.8 μm has been found. Possible reasons for these results are discussed.
pp waves in AdS gauged supergravities and supernumerary supersymmetry

Purely gravitational pp waves in AdS backgrounds are described by the generalized Kaigorodov metrics, and they generically preserve (1/4) of the maximum supersymmetry allowed by the AdS spacetimes. We obtain (1/2) supersymmetric purely gravitational pp-wave solutions, in which the Kaigorodov component is set to zero. We construct pp waves in AdS gauged supergravities supported by a vector field. We find that the solutions in D=4 and D=5 can then preserve (1/2) of the supersymmetry. Like those in ungauged supergravities, the supernumerary supersymmetry imposes additional constraints on the harmonic function associated with the pp waves. These new backgrounds provide interesting novel features of the supersymmetry enhancement for the dual conformal field theory in the infinite-momentum frame.
Bringing the Patient to the Center: Implementing an Interdisciplinary Rounding Approach in the Labor and Delivery Setting

Professional Issues Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program To create an interdisciplinary approach to care in a busy labor and delivery unit that keeps the patient at the center of the care provided. Proposed Change To create a standardized approach to care in which staff from obstetrics, nursing, neonatology, and anesthesia have the opportunity to meet and discuss the plan of care for each patient in the labor and delivery unit at designated times during the day. In addition, the patient has the opportunity to meet the team who will care for her and her infant in the upcoming shift. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation By using performance improvement methodologies, an interdisciplinary team was assembled to identify why previous attempts at an interdisciplinary approach to care in this setting was unsuccessful, to work with their respective disciplines to bring the voice of the patient to the table, and to identify what elements of care were identified as the most important to share with the team and receive from the team during the actual interdisciplinary rounds. The team chose a huddle format where the interdisciplinary team would assemble at least twice a day in the labor and delivery unit, walk room‐to‐room to discuss each patient, and devise a plan of care that the entire team was aware of. The outcomes identified an increased culture of safety in the labor and delivery unit. Two specific Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) survey questions that highlight teamwork within the unit were distributed and transitions/handoffs are anticipated to be increased. The initial AHRQ survey was conducted approximately 1 year before the implementation of the interdisciplinary rounds. We will repeat the safety culture survey 6 months after implementation to see if there is an increase in the domains that have already been identified. Implications for Nursing Practice Successful implementation will allow the work of the nurse to be more streamlined, bring the voice of the patient to the discussion, and allow the nurse to fulfill her accountability of being the patient's primary advocate.
Changing Roles and Professional Challenges for Human Performance Technology

From its roots in behavioral science and instructional systems design, the field of human performance technology has broadened significantly during the past three decades in terms of its interventions and the backgrounds and skills areas of its practitioners. This development brings with it many questions as to the field's definition, theoretical underpinnings, and future developments in research and practice. A brief review of the history of HPT, a survey of some of its leaders, and a model of the roots and branches of the field are presented.
Autosomal dominant cataracts of the fetus: early detection by transvaginal ultrasound

Cataracts are lens opacities that account for approximately 10% of blindness in children. We report on four consecutive pregnancies in a woman at risk for recurrent autosomal dominant cataracts in which extensive ultrasound studies were helpful in establishing the correct diagnosis. The normal appearance of the fetal lens is that of a ring with a central sonolucency, but in cases of cataracts the lens appears hyperechogenic to various degrees. In the first pregnancy, normal lenses were seen at 15 postmenstrual weeks and, at birth, the baby girl had normal lenses. In the second pregnancy, the male fetus was affected by a left-sided cataract and a right-sided anophthalmia which were diagnosed at 16 postmenstrual weeks. The histological examination of the specimen from the aborted fetus correlated with the sonographic diagnosis. The third pregnancy, also a male fetus, had bilateral cataracts suspected at 14 weeks, but the final diagnosis was made at 19 weeks and confirmed at 21 weeks. The couple opted to terminate the pregnancy and the histology confirmed the presence of congenital cataracts. In the fourth pregnancy, we diagnosed asymmetry of the orbital sizes and bilateral cataracts at 15 weeks. In conclusion, the diagnosis of fetal cataract from the second trimester of pregnancy is possible and imaging of the fetal lenses should be part of the routine anatomical survey. Since the exact onset of fetal cataracts is uncertain at present, in cases at risk, serial sonograms may be indicated.
Group identity‐based self‐protective strategies: the stigma of race, gender, and garlic

We examine the importance of group membership in stigma and its role in the effectiveness of self-protective cognitions in three experiments. In Experiment 1, men are asked to interact with an attractive female who will judge their value as a potential date, and either eat a mint or a clove of raw garlic prior to the interview. Although the stigmatized-by-garlic men discounted negative feedback and attributed it to their garlic breath, discounting and attributions were negatively correlated with self-esteem. In Experiment 2, White participants were evaluated positively or negatively by a bogus partner who the participants believed had been told that the participant was either White or Black. Although participants receiving negative feedback engaged in several self-protective cognitions, including attributing their negative feedback to racism, the strategies were uncorrelated with self-esteem. In Experiment 3, women prepared to interact via computer with a partner who expressed sexist or non-sexist beliefs. In the absence of feedback, self-esteem increased when their partner was sexist. In contrast with the first two experiments, perceiving the partner as prejudiced was significantly and positively correlated with self-esteem. Together, these experiments suggest that self-protective cognitions find their effectiveness when stigma has a basis in group membership. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An efficient algorithm to compute the posterior genotypic distribution for every member of a pedigree without loops

This paper describes a non-iterative, recursive method to compute the likelihood for a pedigree without loops, and hence an efficient way to compute genotype probabilities for every member of the pedigree. The method can be used with multiple mates and large sibships. Scaling is used in calculations to avoid numerical problems in working with large pedigrees.
The management of superior sulcus tumors

Lung cancers arising from the extreme apex of the lung-superior sulcus tumors (SST)-have distinct symptoms and signs at presentation and a characteristic appearance on imaging. However, in their early stages, these tumors are often missed by traditional anterior/posterior chest X-rays. Recent advances in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have made selection of patients with potentially resectable of SST more accurate. If mediastinoscopy reveals no mediastinal lymph nodes involved, the patient can be treated with surgery followed by radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy. If mediastinoscopy reveals microscopic mediastinal lymph node involvement, the patient can be treated with induction radiation therapy and concurrent chemotherapy followed by surgery. If mediastinoscopy reveals gross mediastinal lymph node involvement (N2), or if CT reveals N3 or T4 lesions, the patient can be treated with concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy to relieve symptoms; the outcome of such treatment appears to be better than that of sequential chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. Whenever possible, to enhance the patient's quality of life, surgery should be considered to improve function and relieve pain.
Effect of hypophysectomy of cholesteryl ester synthesis and hydrolysis in testes and on serum lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity in rats.

Studies are reported of the effect of hypophysectomy on cholesterol esterase activity of testicular tissue and serum lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LC AT) activity in rats. The testes of male Sprague-Dawley rats of 200–255 g were excised from animals sacrificed at 3, 7, and 15 days after hypophysectomy. Assays for cholesterol-esterifying and hydrolytic activities of the testicular tissues of these animals, compared to control animals, showed that hypophysectomy decreased both cholesteryl ester synthesis and hydrolysis. Hydrolytic activity was affected to a greater extent than esterifying activity. LCAT activity was significantly decreased by hypophysectomy compared to that of control animals. Although serum LCAT and testicular cholesterol esterase activities were decreased, the overall effect of hypophysectomy produced an increase in the level of serum cholesterol and cholesteryl esters. It is suggested that the role of essential fatty acids (EFA) in testicular function is related to the utilizatio...
14. Immunologic rheumatic disorders.

We provide the basics for clinicians who might be called on to consider the diagnosis of diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in their practice. We will emphasize clinical recognition and first-line laboratory testing. Only characteristics of the classic rheumatic inflammatory diseases (ie, RA, seronegative spondyloarthropathy, SLE, antiphospholipid syndrome, Sjogren syndrome, scleroderma, and polymyositis/dermatomyositis) will be covered. In the past decade, treatment for RA and seronegative spondyloarthropathy has substantially improved. Their treatment has been revolutionized by the use of methotrexate and, more recently, TNF inhibitors, T-cell costimulation modulators, and B-cell depletion. The goal of RA treatment today is to induce a complete remission as early as possible in the disease process, with the mantra being "elimination of synovitis equals elimination of joint destruction." The hope is that if the major mediators of Sjogren syndrome, SLE, or scleroderma can be identified and then blocked, as in the example of TNF inhibitors in patients with RA, more specific treatments will become available. Thus RA has become an excellent model of this evolving paradigm. Through the identification of major mediators in its pathogenesis, novel and highly efficacious therapeutic agents have been developed.
Seeking Inclusivity in English Language Learning Web Sites

This article contributes to research on critical perspectives in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and on evaluative frameworks for English language learning (ELL) Web sites. The research addressed the following questions: (a) To what extent do ELL Web sites depict diverse representations of gender, race, socioeconomic status, sexuality, and postcolonial identities? (b) Are there additional elements of identity that are legitimized or subjugated either because they are presented as default characteristics of English speakers or because they are excluded from site materials? To help answer these questions, two public Web sites (http://eslcafe.com and http://a4esl.org) were examined for evidence of diverse representations of gender, race, socioeconomic status, sexuality, and postcolonial identities. Results showed some evidence of socioeconomic and gender inclusivity; site materials were less inclusive of diverse racial, nonheterosexual, and postcolonial identities. The article also su...
Rational points on K3 surfaces: A new canonical height

A fundamental tenet of Diophantine Geometry is that the geometric properties of an algebraic variety should determine its basic arithmetic properties. This is certainly true for curves, where the sign of the Euler characteristic of C determines whether the set of rational points on C is finite (X (C) 0). For higher dimensional varieties there are some precise conjectures due to Bombieri, Lang, and Vojta [15] which predict when the rational points on a variety should be finite or degenerate (i.e. not Zariski dense), and some conjectures of Manin et al. [-2, 5] on the distribution of rational points in those cases when they are Zariski dense. But except for abelian varieties, their subvarieties, and some Fano varieties (varieties for which the anticanonical bundle is ample), there are very few general theorems. In this paper we will study the rational points on a certain class of K 3 surfaces defined over a number field K. The moduli space of marked algebraic K3 surfaces is a countable union of 19 dimensional quasi-projective varieties. We are going to look at the 18 dimensional family studied by Wehler 1-17]. Wehler's family consists of K3 surfaces S whose automorphism group Aut(S) contains a subgroup d isomorphic to the free product 7/,2"~ 2 of two cyclic groups of order 2. We will use the geometric information provided by this infinite automorphism group to study the K-rat ional points on S. For any point PeS, we can look at the orbit of P under the action of d,
Electrical mixing laws for composites with conducting and insulating discs by impedance spectroscopy

Composites made with conducting or insulating discs (right cylinders) in a cementitious matrix were tested by AC impedance spectroscopy. The dual-arc (conducting discs) and single-arc (insulating discs) behaviors were analyzed for conductivity vs. the volume fraction of discs. The resulting mixing laws are in excellent agreement with equations derived from existing mixing laws for the semi-dilute regime, once suitably modified for differences in shape (right cylinders vs. oblate spheroids) and alignment (random vs. aligned). Deviations from random dispersion were readily detected by conductivities in x, y, and z directions, suggesting that AC-IS is sensitive to any anisotropy of discs orientation in such composites. These results are completely general, with potential application for composites involving disc-shaped inclusions (e.g., flakes or cracks).
Ultrasonically-assisted electrocatalytic dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls

Commercial mixtures of PCB's (Aroclors) were dechlorinated to biphenyl by ultrasonically-assisted electroreduction with and without soluble catalysts. Ultrasound increased the rate of electrolysis at stirred-mercury-pool electrodes by 2- to 3-fold.
Mental health issues among migrant workers in Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Literature review and case illustrations

More than 15 million non-nationals are currently living and working in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The majority are blue-collar or domestic workers coming from the Indian Subcontinent or South East Asia. They often work under very harsh conditions. There are reports of a high rate of psychosis and suicide among these people but no reliable data are available. To address this issue we conducted a literature search both in English and in Arabic to review the available articles on the psychological well-being of this population. Very few articles were found. We hereby review the available literature and contribute by presenting several brief vignettes to illustrate the various clinical aspects of this at risk population. We also discuss possible reasons for underreporting and underscore the need for more research in this area.
Impact of a Dedicated Neurocritical Care Team in Treating Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Intensivist staffing of intensive care units (ICUs) has been associated with a reduction in in-hospital mortality. These improvements in patient outcomes have been extended to neurointensivist staffing of neuroscience ICUs for patients with intracranial hemorrhage and traumatic brain injury. The primary objective of this study is to determine if hospital outcomes (measured by discharge status) for patients admitted with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage changed after the introduction of a neurointensivist-led multidisciplinary neurocritical care team. The authors retrospectively identified 703 patients admitted to the neuroscience ICU with a diagnosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage at a single academic tertiary care hospital between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2002. It was compared with discharge outcomes for those patients treated prior to and following the development of a multidisciplinary neurocritical care team. Patients treated after the introduction of a neurocritical care team were significantly more likely to be discharged to home (25.2% vs. 36.5%) and less likely to be discharged to a rehab facility (25.2% vs. 36.5%). Patients treated after introduction of a neurocritical care team were also more likely to receive definitive aneurysm treatment (10.9% vs. 18%). The implementation of a neurointensivist-led neurocritical care team is associated with improved hospital discharge disposition for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Non-Peptide GPIIb/IIIa Inhibitors. 20. Centrally Constrained Thienothiophene α-Sulfonamides Are Potent, Long Acting in Vivo Inhibitors of Platelet Aggregation

The synthesis and pharmacology of 4, a potent thienothiophene non-peptide fibrinogen receptor antagonist, are reported. Compound 4 inhibited the aggregation of human gel-filtered platelets with an IC50 of 8 nM and demonstrated an 8-fold improvement in affinity for isolated GPIIb/IIIa receptors over analogues possessing an isoindolinone backbone. Flow cytometry studies revealed that the binding of 4 to resting platelets is a diffusion-controlled process (kon = 3.3 x 10(6) M-1 s-1) and that 4 binds to dog and human platelets with comparable affinity (Kd = 0.04 and 0.07 nM, respectively). Ex vivo platelet aggregation in dogs was completely inhibited by an iv dose of 5 microg/kg [corrected], and an oral dose of 50-90 microg/kg [corrected] followed by low daily doses of 10 microg/kg [corrected] was sufficient to maintain approximately 80% inhibition of ex vivo platelet aggregation over several days. Inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation in anesthetized dogs at 77 +/- 7% resulted in a moderate 2.5-fold increase in bleeding time, while complete inhibition (100%) resulted in an approximately 10-min bleeding time. Additional doses were required to increase the bleeding time to the maximum time allowed in the protocol (15 min), thus indicating a potentially useful and safe separation of efficacy and bleeding time.
f-Element/crown ether complexes. 16. Synthesis, crystallization and crystal structure of [Dy(OH2)8]Cl3·18-crown-6·4H2O

Abstract When crystals of [Dy(OH 2 ) 7 (OHMe)] [DyCl(OH 2 ) 2 (18- crown-6)] 2 Cl 7 ·2H 2 O [1] are allowed to warm from 5 °C to ambient temperature (22 °C) under the original solvent mixture (1:3 CH 3 OH: CH 3 CN), they redissolve and the title complex can be isolated by slow evaporation of the resulting solution. The crystal structure of this complex, [Dy(OH 2 ) 8 ]Cl 3 ·18-crown- 6 ·4H 2 O, has been determined. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group, P 2 1 / c , with a = 10.395(1), b = 18.684(1), c = 16.259- (3) A, β= 102.56(1)°, and D calc = 1.61 g cm −3 for Z = 4. A final conventional R value of 0.041 was obtained by least-squares refinement using 3453 independent observed [F o ⩾5σ(F o )] reflections. The [Dy(OH 2 ) 8 ] 3+ cations and crown ether molecules are hydrogen bonded in a polymeric chain with the crown molecules separating the cations and a total of seven DyOH 2 ···O(crown ether) hydrogen bonds. The chains are connected by a hydrogen bonding network consisting of the cations, chloride ions, and uncoordinated water molecules. The geometry of the cation is best described as a bicapped trigonal prism with distortions on the reaction pathway toward dodecahedral symmetry. The two capping atoms average 2.41(1) A from Dy, the remaining DyO distances average 2.38(2) A. The 18-crown-6 molecule has the D 3 d conformation normally observed except for a distortion of one OCCO unit containing the oxygen atom accepting two hydrogen bonds.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide regulation of granulomatous inflammation in murine Schistosomiasis mansoni

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease in which focal inflammatory responses called granulomas develop in the liver and intestines. The inflammatory cells within these granulomas produce authentic vasoactive intestine peptide (VIP). VIP acts as an immune modulator. In the schistosome granuloma, VIP can suppress T cell proliferation and T lymphocyte IL-2 production. Also, it can enhance IL-5 production from granuloma T cells. The granuloma T cells bear authentic VIP receptors of both the VIPr1 and VIPr2 subclasses. It is probable that the expression of these receptors is subject to immunoregulation, which is the topic of current investigation. Moreover, differences in the structure of VIPr1 and VIPr2 suggest that each may have unique immunoregulatory functions in inflammation.
Living floor area and marital residence: a replication

Melvin Ember (1973) suggests that the living floor area of the average house in a society is a good archeological indicator of patrilocal versus matrilocal residence. This study successfully replicates his findings and suggests the sociological factors that may favor larger households and hence larger living floor areas in matrilocal societies.
Laparoscopy and unsuspected intraabdominal malignancy with rapid peritoneal spread

Use of the laparoscopic approach for intra-abdominal malignancy remains controversial because there have been multiple reports of tumor metastases at port sites after laparoscopy. Although several randomized trials have documented no difference in recurrence rates between laparoscopic and open surgery, there are still many questions about the behavior of tumor cells in laparoscopic conditions. The speed of tumor spread and time to recurrence appear to be variable. Abdominal insufflation and other effects of laparoscopy are only now being delineated. It is not clear whether tumor characteristics, preoperative tumor stage, or the laparoscopic milieu itself affect tumor spread during and after laparoscopic surgery. We present an unusual case of very rapid tumor dissemination in a young patient who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy.
Field observations of regional and urban impacts on NO2, ozone, UVB, and nitrate radical production rates in the Phoenix air basin

Abstract In the May and June of 1998, field measurements were taken at a site near the Usery Pass Recreation Area, ∼27 miles from the downtown Phoenix area, overlooking Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona. This site was selected to examine the impacts of the Phoenix urban plume on the Usery Pass Recreation Area and surrounding regions. Data were obtained for ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation, nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), ozone (O 3 ), and carbon monoxide (CO). Nocturnal plumes of NO 2 (in tens of ppb), observed near midnight, were correlated with CO and anti-correlated with O 3 . This behavior was consistent with the titration of locally generated NO by boundary layer O 3 to form the nighttime NO 2 plumes that were subsequently transported into the Usery Pass Recreation area. Nitrate radical (NO 3 ) production rates were calculated to be very high on the edges of these nocturnal plumes. Examination of O 3 and PAN data also indicates that Phoenix is being affected by long-range transport of pollutants from the Los Angeles to San Diego areas. A regional smoke episode was observed in May, accompanied by a decrease in UVB of factor of two and a decrease in O 3 and an increase in methyl chloride. Low level back trajectories and chemical evidence confirm that the smoke event originated in northern Mexico and that the reduced O 3 levels observed at Usery Pass could be partially due to reduced photolysis rates caused by carbonaceous soot aerosols transported in the smoke plume. The results are discussed with regard to potential effects of local pollution transport from the Phoenix air basin as well as an assessment of the contributions from long-range transport of pollutants to the background levels in the Phoenix-Usery Pass area.
SOCIAL CONSENSUS IN PERSUASIVE COMMUNICATION

A communicator consensus technique for quantitative variation of communicator credibility was developed. 80 Ss were exposed to persuasive arguments advocated by “all the experts” (high-consensus) a...
Antenatal antecedents of a small head circumference at age 24-months post-term equivalent in a sample of infants born before the 28th post-menstrual week

Background Little is known about the antecedents of microcephaly in early childhood among children born at extremely low gestational age.
Cloze probability and completion norms for 498 sentences: behavioral and neural validation using event-related potentials.

Three decades after their publication, Bloom and Fischler’s (1980) sentence completion norms continue to demonstrate widespread utility. The aim of the present study was to extend this contribution by expanding the existing database of high-constraint, high cloze probability sentences. Using the criteria established by Bloom and Fischler, we constructed 398 new sentences and presented these along with 100 sentences from their original list to be normed using a sample of 400 participants. Of the 498 sentences presented, 400 met criteria for high cloze probability—that is, .67 or higher probability of being completed by a specific single word. Of these, 321 sentences were from the new set and an additional 79 were from Bloom and Fischler’s set. A high degree of correspondence was observed between responses obtained by Bloom and Fischler for their high-constraint set. A second experiment utilized an N400 event-related potential paradigm to provide further validation of the contextual constraint for the newly generated set. As expected, N400 amplitude was greater for sentences that violated contextual expectancy by ending in a word other than the newly established completion norm. Sentence completion norms are frequently used in cognitive research, and this larger database of high cloze probability sentences is expected to be of benefit to the research community for many years to come. The full set of stimuli and sentence completion norms from this study may be downloaded from http://brm.psychonomic-journals.org/ content/supplemental.
Kinetic analysis of the mineral metabolism of teeth in the growing rat.

Abstract The growth and mineralization of incisor and molar teeth in rat is described, mathematically, by considering dental tissues as a heterogeneous population of elementary volumes. Solution of the theoretical analysis is based on chemical and radiochemical measurements in blood, and in specific gravity fractions separated by density gradient. A series of functions describe the evolution of the population of volumes as a whole, and define the rate of formation, the rate of destruction and the resulting rate of growth. At the level of the elementary volume, the function of calcification, which describes how a volume calcifies as it ages was found, as in bone, to be independent of the age of the animal.
Food deprivation, shock stress and stomach lesions in the rat.

Abstract Different groups of rats were food deprived for periods ranging from 1–12 days. Rumenal ulcers were observed in some rats after 3 days fasting and in all rats fasted 5 or more days. In Experiment 2, rats were either fasted, or fasted plus subjected to grid shock stress for 1–5 days. The addition of shock stress to the fasting schedule did not increase ulcer incidence.
STUDIES ON LYMPHOID ACTIVITY V. RELATION BETWEEN THE TIME AND EXTENT OF LYMPHOID STIMULATION INDUCED BY PHYSICAL AGENTS AND THE DEGREE OF RESISTANCE TO CANCER IN MICE.

It has been shown that resistance to transplanted cancer follows stimulation of the lymphoid tissue when the stimulation is induced by either heat or small doses of x-rays. In this paper we have attempted to determine whether the degree of immunity had a quantitative relation to the amount of the stimulation. Fortunately, the two methods at our disposal give stimulation of markedly different characters. The small dose of x-rays gives a sluggish lymphoid cell reaction of short duration with a definite latent period between the treatment and the evidence of marked stimulation, while after heat a short period of depression is followed by a sharp stimulation continuing over a much longer period. The cancer inoculation into groups of mice made immediately after exposure to x-rays shows little resistance, while the inoculation made at the height of the stimulation phase shows a definite increase in the immunity. Animals inoculated with cancer immediately after the heat treatment exhibit a pronounced immunity, but not so marked as that shown when the inoculation is made at the height of the stimulation. The amount of resistance shown when the cancer inoculation is made at the height of the moderately stimulating effect following exposure to x-rays, is much less than that seen when the inoculation is made at the height of the heat effect when the degree of stimulation is much greater. When the lymphocytosis sets in after the tumor graft is established only a slight effect is noted. All these results together are taken to indicate that the degree of immunity is dependent on the amount of lymphoid stimulation existing either at the time of or following soon after the cancer inoculation.