cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Revascularization after segmental resection of lower extremity soft tissue sarcomas.

Background and Objectives Limb salvage surgery combined with vascular reconstruction has replaced amputation as the preferred treatment of soft tissue sarcomas involving major vascular structures of the extremities. We describe our experience with soft tissue sarcomas involving major vascular structures and examine outcomes according to the type of graft selected for arterial reconstruction. We also examine the effect of venous reconstruction on post-operative edema. Methods This retrospective review includes 14 patients with lower extremity soft-tissue sarcomas that encased major vessels, requiring combined limb-preserving tumor resection and revascularization with a synthetic or autogenous saphenous vein graft. Edema in patients with and without venous reconstruction was compared. The incidence of infection, wound dehiscence, and graft thrombosis were compared according to arterial graft type. Results There was no significant difference in edema in patients with venous reconstruction and those without. There was also no significant difference in infection and graft thrombosis in patients with synthetic grafts and those with autogenous saphenous vein grafts. Wound dehiscence occurred more often in patients with synthetic grafts (P = 0.029). Conclusions Although this study was small, these results suggest that further studies are needed to determine the roles that vascular graft selection and venous reconstruction play in clinical outcome. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007; 95: 455–460. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Major lipids of non-myelinated (olfactory) and myelinated (trigeminal) nerve of garfish, Lepisosteus osseus.

Abstract 1. 1. Densitometry of spots developed by thin-layer chromatography, showed the following approximate percentages of total lipids in non-myelinated olfactory nerve and in myelinated trigeminal nerve of garfish: cholesterol 14, 22; phosphatidyl choline 31, 22; phosphatidyl ethanolamine 19, 22; phosphatidyl serine 11, 12; sphingomyelin 7.5, 7.5; cerebroside 0,1; sulfatide 0,5; phosphatidyl inositol 0.7, 0.2. 2. 2. Three uncharacterized lipids were present in greater concentration in the non-myelinated than in the myelinated nerve. 3. 3. Phospholipids of the non-myelinated nerve generally ran ahead of those from the myelinated nerve. 4. 4. The densitometric method may allow subtler discriminations than phosphorus analysis for phospholipids, but discrepancies may arise because of non-identity of nerve lipids compared to standards.
Single molecule electrical transport using self-assembled-monolayers

Abstract The understanding of current flow through molecular conductors requires an interdisciplinary approach to molecular electronics. New reproducible experiments with better assembling, including more sophisticated fabrication processes and structural control as a feedback for assembling of molecular devices, and designing molecular electronic devices with pre-defined properties are essential for this goal. Any interpretation of molecular transport experimental data requires information on the number of molecular wires per device, device structure and geometry, and the nature of the molecular-electrode bonding. The lack of this knowledge is the pivotal problem in molecular electronics. We have thus embarked in developing approaches to fabricate molecular electronic devices through self-assembled-monolayer (SAM) of molecular wires and insulating molecules in solid-state solutions that enable fine structural control, along with development of spectroscopic and electrical transport tools to study these structures. We used ellipsometry and reflectance spectroscopy to verify that the SAM films can be tuned by changing the ratio, r of molecular conductors (wires, such as Me-BDT) to insulating molecules (spacers, such as PT). We used surface titration for estimating the number of molecular wires per device. The single molecule electrical transport process in the vertical sandwich configuration SAM diodes with small r-value (r −3 ) that is based on isolated molecular wires, reveals a Fowler-Nordheim type tunneling injection mechanism. However this behavior is not observed in devices fabricated with large r-values.
Grain-boundary motion in layered phases.

We study the motion of a grain boundary that separates two sets of mutually perpendicular rolls in Rayleigh-B\'enard convection above onset. The problem is treated either analytically from the corresponding amplitude equations, or numerically by solving the Swift-Hohenberg equation. We find that if the rolls are curved by a slow transversal modulation, a net translation of the boundary follows. We show analytically that although this motion is a nonlinear effect, it occurs in a time scale much shorter than that of the linear relaxation of the curved rolls. The total distance traveled by the boundary scales as ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2},$ where $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ is the reduced Rayleigh number. We obtain analytical expressions for the relaxation rate of the modulation and for the time-dependent traveling velocity of the boundary, and especially their dependence on wave number. The results agree well with direct numerical solutions of the Swift-Hohenberg equation. We finally discuss the implications of our results on the coarsening rate of an ensemble of differently oriented domains in which grain-boundary motion through curved rolls is the dominant coarsening mechanism.
Silicon nanowire active integrated optics

We employ ultranarrow silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides to demonstrate significant Raman gain using low CW pump powers from a diode laser. Starting with measurements based on spontaneous Raman scattering in nanowire SOI waveguides, we obtain the parameters necessary to develop a useful numerical modeling tool for our system. This work shows clearly the feasibility of an SOI-based low-loss, low-power, on-chip Raman amplifier in the silicon nanowire system. We have also developed a rigorous coupled wave model to examine temporal effects in our Raman system.
Axonal-ependymal associations during early regeneration of the transected spinal cord in Xenopus laevis tadpoles.

The nature and organization of the cellular substrate supporting axonal outgrowth during early regeneration of the spinal cord following transection and/or segment removal were examined inXenopus tadpoles. Longitudinal axonal compartments, formed by radial ependymal processes in unoperated spinal cords, were maintained within the rostral and caudal stumps throughout the early post-operative period. The first neuritic sprouts to appear near the cut ends of the cord were frequently associated with these processes. Between 5 and 7 days after transection either single or multiple cellular aggregates, which consisted primarily of ependyma, began occupying the lesion zone and were encompassed by numerous small fibres. Ependymal processes subsequently extended among the neuntes within the lesion gap and re-established longitudinal axonal channels and a surrounding glia limitans. A concurrent outgrowth of fibres and ependyma from the rostral and caudal stumps was also initiated by 5–7 days following resection of the cord. Axons were seen further within the ablation gap at 10 and 12 days either coursing along the surfaces of the emerging ependyma or organized into small fascicles by the radial processes of these cells. Intermediate stages of axonal fasciculation by the underlying ependyma were also seen. In contrast with previous reports, axonal elongation beyond the cut ends of the cord did not consistently entail the formation of pre-existing ependymal channels. These observations provide additional evidence emphasizing the importance of the ependymal cell surface during axonal outgrowth in the regenerating spinal cord. Guided neuritic elongation, however, does not appear to be dependent upon the prior establishment of a specific type of cytoarchitecture.
Reply to "Comment on 'Three-body resonances in 6He, 6Li, and 6Be, and the soft dipole mode problem of neutron halo nuclei' "

In reply to the preceding Comment, I point out that the example of {sup 12}C, given by Hayes and Sterbenz, does not rule out the possibility that in certain excitation functions resonancelike structures can appear because of the sequential decay of a three-body system through its resonant two-body subsystems. In the case of {sup 6}He and {sup 11}Li, the role of this mechanism, in producing the low-lying dipole structures, could be checked experimentally.
Standing Work: Carpet vs. Concrete:

A significant part of the workforce works with the feet and legs in a relatively static standing position.In an experiment, 20 college students (mean age = 23) stood wearing 2 pairs of socks but no...
Homophobia: personality and attitudinal correlates

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether homophobia reflects a specific negative sentiment towards gay men or whether it incorporates a broader anti-feminine disposition. As such, convergent validity (i.e. masculinity, anti-feminine attitudes) and discriminant validity (i.e. alcoholism, sexual coercion, depression, and trait anxiety) were investigated. Participants were 385 heterosexual males who completed a questionnaire battery. Results offer information relative to convergent and discriminant validity of homophobia. Findings suggest that homophobia is related to heightened levels of masculinity and may develop in men who feel threatened by individuals whom they perceive to have feminine characteristics (e.g. women, gay men). Consequently, it is possible that such a threat-driven homophobic constitution may explain the increased likelihood of anti-gay and anti-women aggression.
Allopaternal Care in the Pygmy Sculpin (Cottus pygmaeus)

Male Pygmy Sculpins (Cottus pygmaeus) were found to abandon nests that contained clutches of eggs, presumably establishing new nests elsewhere. These abandoned nests were readily occupied by new males (allopaternal males) that continued paternal care of existing clutches and usually acquired new clutches. Significantly more eggs were lost to cannibalism when new males acquired nests than when the original males stayed with their own brood. The size of males that abandoned nests did not differ from that of allopaternal males. Female preference for males with nests that already contain eggs may be the selective force for the occurrence of allopaternal care in this species.
Short-range-force indicator for closed-shell ions based on orbital moments: Crystal-structure preference

We relate the dominance in the balance of short-range repulsion and van der Waals attraction between closed-shell ions to first and second orbital moments of free ions. Consequences lead to the rule that dominant van der Waals attraction (short-range repulsion) favors a small (large) number of neighbor coordination. As an example we show a coincidence of the positions of ions (Z=1,2,3) in a chart of orbital moments with crystal structures of RX-type compounds.
A simple technique of laparoscopic port closure.

Background Laparoscopic and robotic surgery is widely practiced in modern medicine. The operative procedure is not complete until the port sites are closed with a fascial suture. We report a simple new technique that is easy, cost-effective, and quick to apply using 2 S-retractors for suture placement under direct visualization to secure the abdominal wall fascia and peritoneum. Materials and methods As a prospective consecutive case series, this technique was used for fascial closure after laparoscopy ports > 8 mm using 2 S-retractors. One S-retractor is used as a barrier protecting the contents of the abdominal cavity, reducing the risk of visceral injuries. The second S-retractor allows us to directly visualize the different layers, exposing the needle tip during its course through the fascia. Results This method was used in 100 patients with no intraoperative incidents, additional operative time, or need to access costly instruments. Currently, this technique is also used by many surgeons in our institution without any difficulty. No bowel injuries or port-site hernias were reported during a mean follow-up of 6 wk postoperation and 12-mo annual follow-up. Conclusion The procedure is simple, easy, cost-effective, and quick to apply.
Cardiospheres Recapitulate a Niche-Like Microenvironment Rich in Stemness and Cell-Matrix Interactions, Rationalizing Their Enhanced Functional Potency for Myocardial Repair†‡§

Cardiac stem cells (CSCs) are promising candidates for use in myocardial regenerative therapy. We test the hypothesis that growing cardiac-derived cells as three-dimensional cardiospheres may recapitulate a stem cell niche-like microenvironment, favoring cell survival and enhancing functional benefit after transplantation into the injured heart. CSCs and supporting cells from human endomyocardial biopsies were grown as cardiospheres and compared with cells cultured under traditional monolayer condition or dissociated from cardiospheres. Cardiospheres self-assembled into stem cell niche-like structures in vitro in suspension culture, while exhibiting greater proportions of c-kit(+) cells and upregulated expression of SOX2 and Nanog. Pathway-focused polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array, quantitative real-time PCR, and immunostaining revealed enhanced expression of stem cell-relevant factors and adhesion/extracellular-matrix molecules (ECM) in cardiospheres including IGF-1, histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), Tert, integrin-α(2), laminin-β(1), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Implantation of cardiospheres in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse hearts with acute infarction disproportionately improved cell engraftment and myocardial function, relative to monolayer-cultured cells. Dissociation of cardiospheres into single cells decreased the expression of ECM and adhesion molecules and undermined resistance to oxidative stress, negating the improved cell engraftment and functional benefit in vivo. Growth of cardiac-derived cells as cardiospheres mimics stem cell niche properties with enhanced "stemness" and expression of ECM and adhesion molecules. These changes underlie an increase in cell survival and more potent augmentation of global function following implantation into the infarcted heart.
The changing contexts for training in group therapy

This is a review of my experiences watching the group therapy scene in the Boston area. I entered the field over 43 years ago, grew along with it, saw it change, participated in promoting it, heard about it in supervision and consultation, and heard about it from my patients whom I was treating, who were group therapists. This is not a scientific survey, but it is perhaps more convincing because it is a personal, clinical finding. In reviewing these past 43 years of experience, I shall try to describe the context within which training occurs, the role of the trainer in group therapy, and the role of the trainees. During this time, the context has shifted from the freedom to experiment to specific predetermined programs, from an analytic context to a biological context, and these shifts have had their impact on how group therapy is done, experienced, and learned. I did not choose group therapy and had not heard about it when I entered my psychiatric residency. I stumbled across it in 1948 when I started residency training. I never even thought of treating psychotics, but I ended up in a hospital where my chief teacher, Elvin Semrad, was interested in psychoanalysis, the psychoanalytic psychotherapy of psychoses, and group therapy, which he had learned during his days in the army. My first exposure for training people for group therapy did not occur in a training group. I never was a member of a training group. We lived in a training group, all 18 medical staff as well as the psychologists and social workers who participated in this program. Every lunchtime and dinnertime was part of the group experience. Every staff meeting was conducted as a group. No matter what we were discussing, Semrad (Semrad & Day, 1971) focused on the underlying group dynamics as well as on the specific issues. He welcomed everybody's disagreements and agression, smiled, and encouraged us to work harder. I have not found many other chairmen or directors interested in doing that. People would come in and complain, rage, smash their fists on his desk, shout, do the sort of thing that would get one thrown out of any faculty nowadays, or surely would get one sent off to another psychiatrist, and Semrad welcomed it and then encouraged people to work harder. He encouraged everybody to write papers and wrote along with them. We were then the lords of a kingdom of 3,000 chronically sick people. We were encouraged to try any approach that we wanted.
The Uncontrollable Afterlives of Ethnography: Lessons from ‘salvage colonialism’ in the German overseas empire

How does the work of ethnographers contribute to policies they did not anticipate, policies they may even abhor? This article explores the ways 19th-century Europeans who would never have considere...
Case report: Intradural extramedullary bronchogenic cyst

Department of Radiology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Ram Nagar, Doiwala, IndiaCCorrespondence: orrespondence: Dr. Rajendra Kumar Srivastava, Department of Radiology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Ram Nagar, Doiwala, Dehradun, India. E-mail: rajendraradiologist@yahoo.com
Machaerina and Uncinia (Cyperaceae) on Rapa, Austral Islands. – Pacific plant studies 41

Machaerina involuta sp. nov., and Uncinia rapaensis sp. nov. (Cyperaceae) are described from Rapa Island, Austral Islands, South Pacific Ocean, based on morphology.
Validating Chemistry Faculty Members’ Self-Reported Familiarity with Assessment Terminology

With the increasing emphasis placed upon chemistry instructors and departments to assess and evaluate their courses and curricula, understanding the structure of chemistry faculty members’ knowledge and use of assessment terms and concepts can shed light on potential areas for targeted professional development. Survey research that might accomplish this objective often relies on self-reported responses from the target audience, and such information is sometimes difficult to assess in terms of validity. As an example of an internal mechanism to help establish validity, it is possible to include an “internal standard” item early in the survey. For the sake of understanding faculty members’ familiarity with assessment terminology, an item that asked participants to identify analogous pairs of terms comparing assessment measures (assessment validity and assessment reliability) to laboratory measures (accuracy and precision) served this purpose. Using ordered logistic regression, participants who answered the ...
Saturated pool nucleate boiling mechanisms at high heat fluxes

Abstract A new model has been developed where the coupled transient two-dimensional conduction equation is solved for the heater and the liquid macrolayer, while allowing for the time-wise thinning of the macrolayer. The major conclusions are: (1) dominant evaporation occurs at the liquid-vapor-solid contact point (triple point) and is required to match boiling curve behavior quantitatively; (2) evaporation at the stem interface and bubble-macrolayer interface is negligible (except near critical heat flux); and (3) the results are sensitive to closure relationships, especially to the active site-density correlation.
Update on umbilical cord blood transplantation.

Purpose of review2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the first use of umbilical cord blood (UCB) as a source of donor cells for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In those early days, there was great doubt and skepticism about the utility of UCB as a source of hematopoietic stem cells. Doubts a
The Future of Drug Courts

Tiger, R. (2013). Drug courts and coercion in the justice system: Judging addicts. New York: New York University Press. 198 pp., $22.00 (paper). Criminal justice systems continue to seek effective ...
Prevention of anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are very common and burdensome conditions with early onsets. Thus, there has recently been increasing interest in preventing these illnesses. In this article we review recent prevention studies targeting populations at varying levels of risk and conclude that prevention using cognitive-behavioural interventions is promising, though establishing longer-term effects and the cost-effectiveness of such interventions are important next steps for the field. We discuss conceptual and practical issues with regard to prevention of anxiety disorders and note that theory-based models of prevention which are based on identified risk and protective factors, address the optimal timing of intervention delivery, and articulate specific mechanisms of action are greatly needed.
Auditory capacities in fishes: threshold variability in the blue-striped grunt, Haemulon sciurus.

Abstract Auditory thresholds in the blue-striped grunt, Haemulon sciurus (Pisces, Family Pomadasyidae) were determined by the use of avoidance conditioning. A total of 421 threshold determinations on 23 subjects showed both intra-and inter-individual variability. The thresholds from 50 c.p.s. to 200 c.p.s. averaged about 20 db below one microbar, and from 300 c.p.s. the threshold curve rose along an exponential curve to a maximum of 39 db above one microbar at 1,000 c.p.s. The accuracy of the obtained thresholds was about ±2·5 db taking both equipment and testing errors into account. Repeated tests of the same animals at the same frequencies resulted in progressively lower thresholds, and three successive tests were generally required to determine the lowest threshold. This variation was greatest at frequencies below 300 c.p.s. Individual differences in auditory sensitivity among the several animals were distinct, with variations over 10 db at some frequencies. These individual differences were most apparent at frequencies below 300 c.p.s. The latency of response to the signal rose as the threshold was approached, but the frequency of intertrial crossings decreased significantly. The testing method was based on the “staircase” technique, and both 2 db and 5 db steps were used. No significant difference in threshold was observed for the two step sizes.
Infusing Mentoring and Technology within Graduate Courses: Reflections in practice

This article provides an overview of relevant connections that can be used to strengthen an instructor's mentoring abilities, specifically those connections between adult development, technological interaction elements, use of course management software, and corresponding mentoring practices. From a context supported by literature within adult development and computer-mediated communication, the authors examined a series of courses at a large university and how mentoring and instruction were infused. In this article, mentoring refers to a collective process that guides and facilitates a learner's educational growth. The unique nature of adult learners and their educational needs emphasises the need for a facilitative rather than a didactic approach in technology-supported courses. Various facets of interactions and the concept of transactional distance provide an additional framework from which to examine professional practice. The authors recommend further refinement and development of the mentoring prac...
Crystal Structure of the VHS and FYVE Tandem Domains of Hrs, a Protein Involved in Membrane Trafficking and Signal Transduction

Abstract We have determined the 2 A X-ray structure of the 219-residue N-terminal VHS and FYVE tandem domain unit of Drosophila Hrs. The unit assumes a pyramidal structure in which the much larger VHS domain (residues 1–153) forms a rectangular base and the FYVE domain occupies the apical end. The VHS domain is comprised of an unusual "superhelix" of eight α helices, and the FYVE domain is mainly built of loops, two double-stranded antiparallel sheets, and a helix stabilized by two tetrahedrally coordinated zinc atoms. The two-domain structure forms an exact 2-fold-related homodimer through antiparallel association of mainly FYVE domains. Dimerization creates two identical pockets designed for binding ligands with multiple negative charges such as citrate or phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate.
Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 single nucleotide polymorphisms do not confer susceptibility for the development of adult onset polymyositis/dermatomyositis in UK Caucasians.

Objectives. Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) form part of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). The chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) is expressed at sites of the T cell inflammatory response in the IIMs. We thus investigate whether genetic markers in the MCP-1 gene confer disease susceptibility for the development of PM and DM. Methods. DNA samples were analysed from a group of 195 UK Caucasian IIM patients, comprising 103 PM and 92 DM. Their results were compared with those of 162 ethnically matched controls. The polymorphic positions of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and one insertion-deletion sequence within regions coding for MCP-1 were tested. The SNPs examined were located in intron 1 (rs2857657, C/G), exon 2 (rs4586, A/G) and the 3 ' untranslated region (rs13900, C/T). The insertion-deletion sequence was located in intron 1 (rs3917887, AGCTCCTCCTTCTC/-). Each SNP was tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and allelic/genotypic associations. Haplotype frequencies were estimated using the Expectation/Maximization algorithm. Results. There was strong linkage disequilibrium present between three out of these four markers. The majority of controls were in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium. No allelic, genotypic or haplotypic associations were detected when comparing PM or DM cases to controls, or when PM and DM were compared with each other. Conclusions. Genetic markers in the MCP-1 gene do not demonstrate significant genetic associations with the IIMs, and do not discriminate PM from DM in a UK Caucasian population.
Patterning of hyperbranched polymer films.

This Review describes new methods for patterning functional hyperbranched poly(acrylic acid) thin polymer films. “Hyperbranched polymer” is a generic term used to describe a wide variety of polymeric materials that contain a high percentage of functional groups, that are highly branched, and that are irregular in structure. Hyperbranched polymer films (HPFs) are prepared by an iterative three-step process: activation of an acid functionalized surface, surface grafting of amine-terminated poly(tert-butyl acrylate), and hydrolysis to regenerate the acid surface. The resulting materials have a high density of acid groups, which can be functionalized with moieties that introduce interesting optical, electrochemical, biological, and mechanical properties to the films. HPFs can be patterned with micron-scale resolution using either a template-based approach or photolithography. Templates consist of self-assembled monolayers prepared by microcontact printing, whereas photolithographic patterning relies on selective hydrolysis using photoacids. Biocompatibility can be introduced by grafting a conformal layer of poly(ethylene glycol) atop the HPFs. Such patterns serve as templates for spatially segregating viable mammalian and bacterial cells. In addition to the PAA HPFs, another family of patternable HPFs consisting of dendrimers and an active anhydride copolymer is described.
Threshold effect in the throughput of large clustered ad hoc networks

The performance of an ad hoc network that contains many nodes within circular clusters with fixed node density is studied. These clusters lie within a finite square area, and the space between clusters is filled with nodes such that the density of nodes is much smaller than the density of nodes in the clusters. We obtain an upper bound on the throughput and investigate the achievability of the upper bound. Through these studies, the effect of clustering on throughput is uncovered. The impact of changing the finite square area, in which the system resides, called the system size, becomes evident. In particular, we show that in clustered networks, the size of the network is important, and in particular, the behavior of the network changes greatly for small and large networks
Doing Institutional Analysis Digging Deeper Than Markets and Hierarchies

A major problem in understanding institutions relates to the complexity and diversity of contemporary life and the resulting specialization that has occurred within the social sciences. The central aim of the social sciences is to explain human behavior. But what kind of human behavior? Within which kinds of institutional settings?
Gap junctions in isolated rat aorta: evidence for contractile responses that exhibit a differential dependence on intercellular communication.

Connexin43 (Cx43) is a major gap junction protein present in the Fischer-344 rat aorta. Previous studies have identified conditions under which selective disruption of intercellular communication with heptanol caused a significant, readily reversible and time-dependent diminution in the magnitude of a1-adrenergic contractions in isolated rat aorta. These observations have indentified a significant role for gap junctions in modulating vascular smooth muscle tone. The goal of these steady-state studies was to utilize isolated rat aortic rings to further evaluate the contribution of intercellular junctions to contractions elicited by cellular activation in response to several other vascular spasmogens. The effects of heptanol were examined (0.2-2.0 mM) on equivalent submaximal (»75% of the phenylephrine maximum) aortic contractions elicited by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 1-2 µM), prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a; 1 µM) and endothelin-1 (ET-1; 20 nM). Statistical analysis revealed that 200 µM and 500 µM heptanol diminished the maximal amplitude of the steady-state contractile responses for 5-HT from a control response of 75 ± 6% (N = 26 rings) to 57 ± 7% (N = 26 rings) and 34.9 ± 6% (N = 13 rings), respectively (P<0.05), and for PGF2a from a control response of 75 ± 10% (N = 16 rings) to 52 ± 8% (N = 19 rings) and 25.9 ± 6% (N = 18 rings), respectively (P<0.05). In contrast, 200 µM and 500 µM heptanol had no detectable effect on the magnitude of ET-1-induced contractile responses, which were 76 ± 5.0% for the control response (N = 38 rings), 59 ± 6.0% in the presence of 200 µM heptanol (N = 17 rings), and 70 ± 6.0% in the presence of 500 µM heptanol (N = 23 rings) (P<0.13). Increasing the heptanol concentration to 1 mM was associated with a significant decrease in the magnitude of the steady-state ET-1-induced contractile response to 32 ± 5% (21 rings; P<0.01); further increasing the heptanol concentration to 2 mM had no additional effect. In rat aorta then, junctional modulation of tissue contractility appears to be agonist-dependent.
EEG Activity during Relaxation and Food Imagery

EEG activity was recorded in nine volunteer subjects while they engaged in eight cognitive tasks. The tasks involved mental arithmetic, relaxation imagery, food imagery and imagery related to “neut...
The progesterone challenge: steroid hormone changes following a simulated territorial intrusion in female Peromyscus californicus

There is a growing body of evidence that the rapid but transient increase in male androgens, particularly testosterone (T), following a single social encounter such as a territorial intrusion occurs in a wide array of vertebrate taxa. Yet, this phenomenon, often called the Challenge Hypothesis, has rarely been investigated in females. Moreover, when studying male challenge effects, researchers have rarely investigated other hormones that can be important to the expression of aggression, such as progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2). We conducted 10-min aggression trials using the resident-intruder paradigm in cycling female California mice, Peromyscus californicus, a species in which both sexes show territorial behavior. By comparing the hormone levels of test females to control females, we found a decrease in P(4) and the P4/T ratio, but no change in T, E2, corticosterone, E2/P4, or E2/T. Interestingly, these hormone changes were observed even when the resident was not aggressive toward the intruder, suggesting that the stimulus cueing the hormone changes was the mere presence of the intruder and not the amount of aggression displayed by the resident. Generally, T has a positive relationship with aggression, whereas P4 inhibits male and nonmaternal female aggression. Thus, decreasing the P4/T ratio following an encounter may serve to increase future aggression in females. These results suggest that females may use different hormonal mechanisms than do males to mediate aggression in a challenge situation.
Neptune's Cloud Structure and Activity: Ground-Based Monitoring with Adaptive Optics

Abstract Since August 1995, near-infrared images of Neptune have regularly been obtained with the University-of-Hawaii telescope. These images reveal Neptune's cloud structure with an angular resolution reaching 0.12″ in the H band.
Phacoanaphylactoid Reaction in Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous

Three cases of persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) showing a ruptured lens capsule and a phacoanaphylactoid reaction are presented. In two cases, there was evidence that the lens had been clinically clear in the presence of a ruptured capsule and posterior cortical granulomatous reaction. The capsular rupture and granulomatous reaction can begin in utero, as shown by the third case, a premature who died at one day of age. It is suggested that a phacoanaphylactoid reaction can contribute to the lens swelling, cataract, and anterior chamber narrowing which often initiate the downhill course in eyes with PHPV. The immunological implications of this reaction are discussed.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and organochlorine pesticides in human breast milk from Massachusetts, USA

Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs; DDTs, HCHs, CHLs, and HCB) were measured in human breast milk samples collected across Massachusetts, USA, in 2004. Seventeen PBDE congeners were found in the samples, ranging in concentration from 0.06 to 1910 ng g−1 lipid wt. BDE-47 (2,2′,4,4′-tetraBDE), BDE-99 (2,2′,4,4′,5-pentaBDE), and BDE-100 (2,2′,4,4′,6-pentaBDE) were the major congeners detected in breast milk samples. Overall mean (±SD) concentrations of DDTs, HCHs, CHLs, and HCB were 64.5 ± 75, 18.9 ± 19, 32.4 ± 36, and 2.3 ± 2.2 ng g−1 lipid wt, respectively. Concentrations of PBDEs were strongly correlated with concentrations of OCPs in the samples. Based on the concentrations of organohalogens and the intake rates of breast milk by infants in the United States, daily ingestion rates of contaminants were calculated. The median ingestion rates for PBDEs, HCHs, DDTs, CHLs, and HCB were 4.0, 212, 141, 44, and 5.79 ng kg−1 body wt day−1, respectively. The estimated daily intake of organohalogens by infants was compared with threshold reference values suggested by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), for calculation of hazard quotients (HQs). HQs for individual organohalogens and the sum of HQ for all organohalogens were calculated as HQ indices (HQI). The results suggest that one or more of the contaminants analyzed in this study exceeded the threshold reference values in at least 26% of the breast milk samples.
Emerging applications for OCT in the head and neck

Objectives: To describe the current and promising new applications of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) as a helpful tool when imaging the different sites in the head and neck. We used the OCT Niris system, which is the first commercially available OCT device for applications outside the field of ophthalmology. Methods: OCT images were obtained of normal, benign, premalignant and malignant lesions in different areas of the head and neck. The OCT imaging system has a tissue penetration depth of approximately 1-2mm, a scanning range of 2mm and a spatial depth resolution of approximately 10-20μm. Imaging was performed using a flexible probe in two different settings, the outpatient clinic and the operating room. Results: High-resolution cross-sectional images from the larynx were obtained with the patient awake, without the need for general anesthesia, under direct visualization with a flexible fiberoptic endoscope. The OCT probe was inserted through the nasal cavity and placed in slight contact with the laryngeal tissue. In the ears, cholesteatoma was differentiated from inflamed middle ear mucosa by the different hyperintensity. In the neck, normal as well as different pathologies of the thyroid were identified. Conclusions: This system is non invasive and easy to incorporate into the operating room setting as well as the outpatient clinic. It requires minimal set-up and only one person is required to operate the system. OCT has the distinctive capability to obtain highresolution images, and the microanatomy of different sites can be observed. OCT technology has the potential to offer a quick, efficient and reliable imaging method to help the surgeon not only in the operating room but also in the clinical setting to guide surgical biopsies and aid in clinical decision making of different head and neck pathologies, especially those arising form the larynx.
Hierarchical reconfiguration of VLSI/WSI arrays

We present a reconfiguration algorithm for yield enhancement of VLSI/WSI arrays. Our algorithm, is based on row/column elimination. We introduce the notion of element-bypass and use it to eliminate partial row(s) and partial column(s). In doing so we enhance the harvest greatly. Experimentally we are able to attain harvest which is many folds better than that reported in comparable studies. Our method has no hardware overhead and compares well with other methods that have substantial hardware overhead. >
Nasal tip ulceration from infection and extrusion of a nasal alloplastic implant.

Abstract Nasal augmentation rhinoplasty is a common cosmetic procedure. Alloplastic or synthetic materials are frequently used with Silastic, the most commonly used type worldwide. In the Orient, this common procedure has a low complication rate. However, infection and extrusion of the implant through the skin may occur and patients may be reluctant to report the augmentation procedure to the dermatologist. Therefore, the dermatologist needs to be highly suspicious and include this complication in the differential of ulcerated nasal tip nodules. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:362-4.)
Building Highly-Coordinated Visualizations in Improvise

Improvise is a fully-implemented system in which users build and browse multiview visualizations interactively using a simple shared-object coordination mechanism coupled with a flexible, expression-based visual abstraction language. By coupling visual abstraction with coordination, users gain precise control over how navigation and selection in the visualization affects the appearance of data in individual views. As a result, it is practical to build visualizations with more views and richer coordination in Improvise than in other visualization systems. Building and browsing activities are integrated in a single, live user interface that lets users alter visualizations quickly and incrementally during data exploration
Dynamical considerations for life in multihabitable planetary systems

Inspired by the close-proximity pair of planets in the Kepler-36 system, we consider two effects that may have important ramifications for the development of life in similar systems where a pair of planets may reside entirely in the habitable zone of the hosting star. Specifically, we run numerical simulations to determine whether strong, resonant (or non-resonant) planet-planet interactions can cause large variations in planet obliquity---thereby inducing large variations in climate. We also determine whether or not resonant interactions affect the rate of lithopanspermia between the planet pair---which could facilitate the growth and maintenance of life on both planets. We find that first-order resonances do not cause larger obliquity variations compared with non-resonant cases. We also find that resonant interactions are not a primary consideration in lithopanspermia. Lithopanspermia is enhanced significantly as the planet orbits come closer together---reaching nearly the same rate as ejected material falling back to the surface of the originating planet (assuming that the ejected material makes it out to the location of our initial conditions). Thus, in both cases our results indicate that close-proximity planet pairs in multihabitable systems are conducive to life in the system.
Phylogenetic analysis of the genera of endemic Hawaiian sap beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) based on morphology with redescription and key to the genera of endemic Hawaiian Nitidulidae

The endemic Hawaiian sap beetles were originally placed in 13 genera in 1908; Apetasimus , Apetinus , Cillaeopeplus , Cyrtostolus , Eunitidula , Eupetinus , Gonioryctus , Goniothorax , Nesapterus , Nesopeplus , Nesopetinus , Notopeplus , and Orthostolus . Apetasimus , Cyrtostolus , Eunitidula , and Notopeplus were described for single species, with additional species later described for Apetasimus and three undescribed species known for Eunitidula from Oahu, Molokai, and West Maui. Nesopeplus and Nesopetinus have been previously shown to be junior synonyms of Prosopeus . The monophyly of the genera is tested using morphological characters, primarily of the male copulatory sac, in a parsimony framework. The results provide the rationale for reducing the number of endemic genera to six; Apetasimus (= Cyrtostolus + Orthostolus in part), Cillaeopeplus (= Notopeplus ), Eupetinus (= Apetinus ), Gonioryctus (= Eunitidula + Goniothorax + Nesapterus ), Orthostolus s . s ., and Prosopeus . Brachypeplus (= Cillaeopeplus ) gracilis , a species endemic to Guam, was placed in the formerly Hawaiian endemic Cillaeopeplus in 1962. Examination of the types of all species of Cillaeopeplus shows no direct connection between B . gracilis and the Hawaiian taxa comprising the remainder of Cillaeopeplus . Brachypeplus gracilis is placed incertae sedis in Brachypeplus herein. The position of the endemic Hawaiian sap beetles within the nit idulid subfamily Cillaeinae is surveyed using exemplar species from 22 of 27 genera placed in Cillaeinae. Undescribed species from eastern Polynesia allied with Brachypeplus subgenus Selis are proposed as the closest relatives of the Hawaiian endemic sap beetles based on internal and external morphology.
PLACENTAL PERMEABILITY IN A TOXEMIA-SUSCEPTIBLE STRAIN OF GUINEA PIGS.

Abstract The ability of trypan blue to cross the uteroplacental barrier has been compared in a toxemia-susceptible and a non-toxemiasusceptible strain of guinea pigs. While the subcutaneously injected dye reaches the uterus in about equal concentration in the 2 strains, considerably higher concentrations of dye are found in the placenta, fetal membranes, and fetuses in the toxemia-susceptible group than in those from the normal group.
Comparison of coupon and full-scale determination of energy release rate for bonded composite repairs of pressure equipment

Abstract Bonded composite repairs of pressure equipment intended to rehabilitate a through-wall defect are governed by the fracture resistance of interface between the composite and the substrate. This fracture-dominated failure mode requires a detailed understanding of the fracture energy of the composite–substrate interface. Current approaches for measuring this interfacial fracture energy use simulated repairs on small-scale pressure vessels. In this paper we describe a simple coupon-based test using a width-tapered-double-cantilevered beam specimen. Fracture energies determined using the coupon-based approach were in close agreement with values back calculated from full-scale testing performed on simulated through-wall defects.
Post-Communist Nostalgia

Post-Communist Nostalgia, edited by Maria Todorova and Zsuzsa Gille, New York and Oxford: Berghahn Books, 2010, viii + 299 pp. + illustrations, US$90.00 (hardcover), ISBN 978-1845456719, US$34.95 (...
Clinical Utility of Multidetector Computed Tomography in Redo Valve Procedures

BACKGROUND Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is recommended for diagnosis in patients suspected of prosthetic valve dysfunction, but could be limited in its ability to identify the etiology of these dysfunctions and to assess extracardiac structures. Our objective is to examine the usefulness of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in establishing the etiology of the dysfunctions and its clinical utility in preoperative assessment in these patients. METHODS Twenty-two prosthetic heart valves from 20 consecutive patients who had a preoperative MDCT and underwent redo prosthetic valve procedures from December 2008 to February 2013 were examined retrospectively. Results from MDCT and TEE were compared to intraoperative findings. Extravalvular MDCT findings including coronary artery/bypass graft, high-risk features for reoperative cardiac surgery, and extracardiac findings were also assessed. RESULTS MDCT correctly identified 15 valve regurgitation and seven valve obstructions compared to intraoperative findings. Both TEE and MDCT were able to correctly identify the etiologies in 93% (14/15) of regurgitant valves. However, MDCT was better able to identify the etiology of obstructive valves than TEE (86% [6/7] vs. 43% [3/7]) compared to intraoperative findings. In patients who had preoperative invasive angiography, MDCT correctly identified two patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) and ruled out 11 without significant CAD. Furthermore, MDCT detected five high-risk features for postoperative complications and eight clinically relevant extracardiac findings. CONCLUSIONS MDCT displayed comparable or better diagnostic performance than TEE for identifying the type of dysfunction and its etiology, as well as providing additional coronary and other extravalvular evaluations useful for preoperative planning.
Bernard de Mandeville and the Shaping of Conjectural History

This paper argues that Bernard Mandeville’s Fable of the Bees, Part II (1729), is the first work to bring together all the elements of conjectural history, a form that rose to prominence in the Enlightenment, between 1750 and 1800. Conjectural history builds on the natural law tradition of Hobbes and Locke, but it is non-contractual and considers a longer span of history. In both these respects, Pufendorf’s account of early society opens a way that is taken by later conjectural historians. Of these, Mandeville’s Fable, Part II, is the earliest to present a naturalistic, non-contractual narrative of the early stages of civil society. Although Vico’s New Science exhibits some of these features, it remains tied to a providential and cyclical view of history.