cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to mechanical revascularization procedures for acute ischemic stroke.

Background Mechanical revascularization procedures performed for treatment of acute ischemic stroke have increased in recent years. Data suggest association between operative volume and mortality rates. Understanding procedural allocation and patient access patterns is critical. Few studies have examined these demographics. Methods Data were collected from the 2008 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Patients hospitalized with ischemic stroke and the subset of individuals who underwent mechanical thrombectomy were characterized by race, payer source, population density, and median wealth of the patient's zip code. Demographic data among patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy procedures were examined. Stroke admission demographics were analyzed according to thrombectomy volume at admitting centers and patient demographics assessed according to the thrombectomy volume at treating centers. Results Significant allocation differences with respect to frequency of mechanical thrombectomy procedures among stroke patients existed according to race, expected payer, population density, and wealth of the patient's zip code ( P P P P P P = .0876), Hispanics ( P = .0335), and Asian/Pacific Islanders ( P Conclusions We demonstrate variances in endovascular acute stroke treatment allocation according to racial and socioeconomic factors in 2008. Efforts should be made to monitor and address potential disparities in treatment utilization.
Some partially variance balanced structurally incomplete row-column designs

Earlier results by the authors are used to provide the intrablock analysis for row-column designs that have observations at nodes of the row-column lattice, the design being structurally incomplete when some nodes are empty. Construction, properties, and intrablock analyses of some special b× b row-column designs with b empty nodes taken along the principal diagonal of the lattice are developed. The designs discussed have m > 1 associate classes and are said to be partially variance balanced. The special designs fall in two classes and are shown to be nearly optimal in a specified class of designs. A small catalog of designs constructed is provided and they should be useful when empty nodes do not represent wasted experimental units, perhaps because the row and column assignments of treatments are sequenced.
TU‐A‐218‐07: Quantifying Patient Thickness for Which an Anti‐Scatter Grid Is Unnecessary for Digital Radiographic Abdomen Exams

Purpose: Quantitatively determine the patient thickness for which the use of an anti‐scatter grid is no longer necessary for digital radiographic (DR) abdomen exams. Methods: A DR system was used with 100cm SID, 35.5cm × 33cm field size, and 80kVp, typical for adult abdomen exams. The grid ratio and line frequency were 12:1 and 70 lines/cm, respectively. Solid Water ® was used as a scatter phantom to simulate abdomens ranging from 5 to 23cm. The scatter to primary ratio (SPR) was measured using the graduated beam stop method for 23cm of phantom, determined to be the average adult abdomen thickness, with an anti‐scatter grid. Images wereacquired using AEC without beam stops, and the closest fixed mAs compared to the AEC mAs was used to acquire images with the beam stops. SPR was plotted with respect to beam stop diameter and fit to an exponential function. The extrapolated zero diameter SPR, SPRo, was used as the benchmark for determining the phantom thickness for which the same SPRo was achieved without using a grid. The experiment was repeated using smaller field sizes, 23cm × 30cm and 18cm × 21cm, for thin patients. Results: The SPRo for the 23cm phantom with a grid was 0.89. The patient thickness that most closely matched this SPRo without a grid was 5cm with SPRo of 0.92. Using a smaller field (23cm × 30cm) the closest matching thickness increased to 10 cm with SPRo of 0.95. Conclusions: Many values have been proposed for the patient thickness cut‐off for grid use. By measuring the SPR we have determined that for DR abdomen exams performed at 80kVp, SPRo is equivalent or better for patients of 10cm thickness using clinical field sizes. Further evaluation should consider reducing the kVp for smaller patients, however, reducing kVp will increase entrance dose.
Analysis of radial movement of an unconfined leaky aquifer due to well pumping and injection

Three aspects of radial motion of an aquifer solid matrix, driven by hydraulic forces due to well recharge and discharge, have been investigated mathematically. Firstly, the analytic solutions in the velocity and displacement fields were found using the definition of bulk mass flow, conservation of water and solid mass, the Darcy-Gersevanov law, and the drawdown of hydraulic head for unsteady flow. Secondly, the radial velocity and displacement of aquifer solid matrix were investigated with respect to time and location in response to three pumping-injection schemes (i.e., linear, nonlinear, and sinusoidal well flow rates). Aquifer movement was found to be more responsive to linear and nonlinear pumping rates than to constant pumpage. Aquifer movement in response to periodic well discharge and recharge was governed by an integral sinusoidal function. Finally, the potential risk of earth fissuring at a given location caused by tensile stress, in turn induced by well discharge-recharge activity, has been discussed using the analytic solution. The deformation compression and extension zones derived from analysis of the results indicated the possible occurrence of tensile stress that may cause earth fissures. Sample computations, using assumed parameters, provided a first-hand evaluation of the location of potential fissuring in relation to the well.
Polylith: An environment to support management of tool interfaces

Polylith is the name of a set of enhanced execution time system services along with development tools and an interfacing methodology.1 As a system, Polylith supports the reliable union of many component tools, addressing the problems of data interchange and synchronization between these tools. It facilitates reuse of code, and promotes the notion that construction of large programs should be viewed instead as orchestration of services. The Polylith is visible as a grammar in which instances of environments2 are precisely and rapidly specified; it is, through compilation and execution of assertions in that language, a medium through which many programs and tools can be united with impunity.This paper presents an overview of the Polylith architecture, along with some brief remarks on the requirements analysis leading to Project Polylith at the University of Illinois. Section 2 presents this architecture, summarizing language and data transformation issues. Simple examples are included. Section 3 introduces one particular instance of an environment specified within Polylith called Minion. It is presented as an extended example, showing how the Polylith is utilized to construct an enthusiastic assistant for mathematical problem solving. The closing section contains some evaluation of how Polylith affects the task of environment development.
Reducible DNA nanoparticles enhance in vitro gene transfer via an extracellular mechanism.

We developed polylysine based DNA nanoparticles (DNA NPs) that contain disulfide linkage in the carrier and demonstrated that this reducible DNA NP enhances in vitro gene transfer via an extracellular mechanism. Polylysine was conjugated through an N-terminal cysteine to a polyethylene glycol chain (PEG) by either a disulfide bond (SS) or a thioether bond (CS), and the resulting PEG–peptide conjugates were used to compact plasmid DNA into reducible SS-DNA NPs or non-reducible CS-DNA NPs with identical physical properties. SS-DNA NPs mediated more than 10-fold higher in vitro gene transfer. Others have suggested that disulfide bonds in synthetic gene carriers undergo cleavage in the reducing environment inside the cell, allowing increased intracellular DNA release. In this study, however, both higher cellular uptake of SS-DNA NPs and inhibition of SS-DNA NP mediated in vitro gene transfer by blocking extracellular free thiols suggested an extracellular mechanism. DePEGylation of SS-DNA NPs by extracellular thiols caused aggregation which might lead to higher cellular uptake and higher transgene expression. A series of SS-DNA NPs prepared with stabilized disulfide bonds survived the extracellular environment without aggregation but lost the superior gene transfer ability, indicating that, in our system, intracellular mechanisms are not involved. These results provided further insight into the mechanisms of in vitro gene transfer enhancement by introducing reducible linkages, contributing to the rational design of more efficient non-viral gene delivery systems.
VAGINAL CYTOLOGY OF FEMALE CHILDREN

Summary On cytologic material of 212 normal newborn and female children in early childhood, 146 premenarche individuals whose actual onset of menstruation was ascertained by their available menstrual history, and of 922 adolescent patients with various disturbances of their menstrual cycles, the authors examined the cytologic patterns found. The study emphasizes the usefulness of cytologic examination of the young female individual for the evaluation of her endocrinologic condition.
Reactivity of Pd(II) complexes with electrophilic chlorinating reagents: isolation of Pd(IV) products and observation of C-Cl bond-forming reductive elimination.

This communication describes the reactions of PhICl2 and N-chlorosuccinimide with PdII(phpy)2 (phpy = 2-phenylpyridine) to afford the novel PdIV oxidative addition products PdIV(phpy)2(Cl)2 and PdIV(phpy)2(Cl)(succinimide), respectively. These PdIV species are remarkably stable at room temperature. However, upon thermolysis at 80 °C, they undergo competing C−Cl, C−C, and C−N bond-forming reductive elimination reactions. Both the accessibility and the observed reactivity of these complexes provide support for a PdII/IV mechanism in Pd-catalyzed halogenation reactions.
Ecological Influences on School Achievement in a Diverse Youth Sample: The Mediating Role of Substance Use

This study's purpose was to examine the extent to which closeness to family, peers, and school was associated with substance use and school achievement, based on the integrative model of ecological theory, social attachment theory, and social learning theory. A secondary data analysis was conducted on the first wave of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The final sample yielded 3,147 boys and 3,356 girls. A structural equation model was employed to test a hypothesized model. School closeness was found to be a primary ecological factor that significantly influenced school achievement while substance use emerged as a critical mediator of this relationship. Family closeness was negatively associated with school achievement. Also, substance use did not have a mediating function in the relationship between peer closeness and school achievement. No gender difference was found, except the relationship between family closeness and school achievement, in that family closeness had a ...
Two male transsexuals in one family

A family is reported in which two sons became transsexual (not merely homosexual or males with varying amounts of effeminacy). Both children were similar in that they were perceived by their mother at birth and in infancy as being beautiful; in both cases, the mother established and maintained a very close physical relationship lasting for years, while the father, who might have interrupted the symbiosis and served as an object for masculine identification, was absent. This unique relationship is like those reported in the past for but one male child per family and leading to male transsexualism.
Intrinsic variability in nano-CMOS design and beyond

It is widely recognized that process variations will have profound impact on nearly all aspects of future IC design. Depending on their sources, they are often categorized into two types: intrinsic variations and process-induced variations [1][2]. Process-induced variations are caused by the imperfection in silicon fabrication, varying from foundries to foundries. On the other side, intrinsic variations, induced by atom-level charge and geometry fluctuations, are inherent to the device structure. They are limited by fundamental physics, posing one of the ultimate barriers to continual technology scaling. Examples of intrinsic variations include random dopant fluctuation (RDF), line edge roughness (LER), and oxide thickness fluctuation (OTF) [2]. Their importance is rapidly increasing as device feature size approaches the atom dimension.
Molecular Characterization and Distribution of the Opioid Growth Factor Receptor (OGFr) in Mouse

The native opioid growth factor (OGF), [Met(5)]-enkephalin, is a tonic inhibitory peptide that modulates cell proliferation and tissue organization during development, cancer, cellular renewal, wound healing, and angiogenesis. OGF action is mediated by a receptor mechanism. The receptor for OGF, OGFr, has been cloned and sequenced in humans and rats. Using primers based on the rat OGFr cDNA, and a mouse embryo expressed sequence tag, the full-length 2.1 kb mouse OGFr cDNA was sequenced. The open reading frame was found to encode a protein of 634 amino acids, and 14 imperfect repeats of 9 amino acids each were a prominent feature. The molecular weight of OGFr was calculated as 70679, and the isoelectric point was 4.5. Northern blot analysis revealed a 2.1 kb OGFr mRNA transcript in adult mouse brain, heart, lung, liver, kidney, and triceps surae muscle. The amino acids for mouse and rat OGFr were 93% similar and 91% identical, but the mouse and human shared only a 70% similarity and a 58% identity. These results emphasize the molecular validity of OGFr, and explain the interaction of OGF with respect to normal and abnormal growth in mouse cells and tissues.
RELATION OF SCORES ON WISC-III and WRAT-3 FOR A SAMPLE OF REFERRED CHILDREN AND YOUTH

This investigation compared the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III with the Wide Range Achievement Test-3 for a sample of 60 children and youth who were referred for special education services. Pearson product-moment correlations for the criterion measures for the WRAT-3 showed a significant positive association with the WISC-III scores. Implications for concurrent validity between the tests are discussed.
Expression of retinoid X receptors in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells and embryonic stem cells.

Abstract The pluripotent mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line P19 provides an excellent model system to study the mechanisms by which retinoic acid (RA) exerts its biological effects. When aggregated and exposed to low concentrations of RA, P19 cells differentiate into neuron- and glial-like cells. The diverse biological effects of RA are mediated by two families of receptors localized in the cell nucleus, the retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and the retinoid X receptors (RXRs). Each family consists of three members designated α, β and γ. While the patterns of expression of the RARs have been studied in P19 cells, similar data for the RXRs have not been available. We demonstrate here that these receptors are expressed in P19 and are regulated during RA-induced differentiation. We also show that pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells express the RXRs as well.
Maintenance of pregnancy in dairy cattle after treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin or gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

Abstract The objectives were to determine whether a single injection of either human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or GnRH would: 1) increase ancillary formation of new luteal structures, 2) increase serum concentrations of progesterone, and 3) increase pregnancy survival in dairy females treated once between 26 and 71 d of pregnancy. A total of 421 cows were enrolled between January and November 2001, with 92, 106, and 223 females (included 68 nulliparous heifers at 1 location) treated at the 3 locations. Upon diagnosis of pregnancy, females were allocated randomly to receive 100μg of GnRH, 1,000 IU of hCG, or 2mL of saline. Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, and 4 wk after treatment, and pregnancy status was reassessed at 1, 2, and 4 wk. New luteal structures were formed in 23.8% of cattle, with hCG (50%) and GnRH (26%) being more effective than saline (7%). Treatment had no effect on the proportion of females forming 2 new luteal structures (7.6%), and 36.2% of all induced structures regressed during the 4-wk study period. Pregnancy losses were unaffected by treatment, stage of pregnancy, or number of induced luteal structures but were nearly 9-fold greater in females in which induced luteal structures regressed. No loss occurred in females having 2 new luteal structures. Pregnancy losses decreased quadratically from 30 to 42 d. Serum progesterone did not differ among treatments, but among females forming new luteal structures, progesterone was greater at 1 (7.2±0.3 vs. 6.3±0.2 ng/ mL) and 2 wk (7.0±0.3 vs. 6.1±0.2 ng/mL) after treatment. Progesterone at the first pregnancy diagnosis was predictive of imminent pregnancy loss; the lower the initial progesterone, the sooner subsequent loss was observed. The right ovary was dominant in the location of new luteal structures. Regression of new luteal structures occurred more often on the left ovary and contra-lateral to the corpus luteum of pregnancy (53.2 vs. 22%). In conclusion, treatment of dairy cattle with either GnRH or hCG failed to prevent pregnancy loss, but concentrations of progesterone were predictive of subsequent pregnancy loss.
Vitamin D and calcium dysregulation in the polycystic ovarian syndrome

Over the past 30 years, numerous studies in invertebrates and vertebrates have established a role of calcium in oocyte maturation as well as in the resumption and progression of follicular development. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCO) is characterized by hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation, theca cell hyperplasia, and arrested follicular development. The aim of this observational study was to determine whether vitamin D and calcium dysregulation contribute to the development of follicular arrest in women with PCO, resulting in reproductive and menstrual dysfunction. Thirteen premenopausal women (mean age 31 +/- 7.9 years) with documented chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism were evaluated. Four women were amenorrheic and nine had a history oligomenorrhea, two of whom had dysfunctional bleeding. Nine had abnormal pelvic sonograms with multiple ovarian follicular cysts. All were hirsute, two had alopecia, and five had acanthosis nigricans. The mean 25 hydrovitamin D was 11.2 +/- 6.9 ng/ml [normal (nl): 9-52], and the mean 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D was 45.8 +/- 18 pg/ml. with one woman with a 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D <5 pg/ml (nl: 15-60). The mean intact parathyroid hormone level was 47 +/- 19 pg/ml (nl: 10-65), with five women with abnormally elevated parathyroid hormone levels. All were normocalcemic (9.3 +/- 0.4 mg/dl). Vitamin D repletion with calcium therapy resulted in normalized menstrual cycles within 2 months for seven women, with two experiencing resolution of their dysfunctional bleeding. Two became pregnant, and the other four patients maintained normal menstrual cycles. These data suggest that abnormalities in calcium homeostasis may be responsible, in part, for the arrested follicular development in women with PCO and may contribute to the pathogenesis of PCO.
Sudden onset of headache, proptosis, and roaring tinnitus in a hypertensive 60-year-old woman

History A mildly hypertensive 60-year-old woman experienced an acute throbbing right frontal headache, right partial ptosis, and an audible roar centered at the right ear. During the next 12 hours, the eye became red and proptotic and finally closed. The patient gave no history of trauma. On physical examination, BP was 120/70 mm Hg and the pulse rate was 60 beats per minute and regular. Vision was normal in the right eye, but ptosis, subconjunctival hemorrhage, and chemosis were present. The right pupil was dilated and nonreactive to light. A complete third-nerve palsy was noted. Ophthalmoscopic examination gave normal findings. A roaring bruit was heard over the right side of the skull; it was best heard at the right orbit. Cerebral angiography was performed on the day of admission (Fig 1, top and bottom left), and definitive treatment was instituted six days later. Diagnosis Spontaneous carotid-cavernous fistula. The diagnosis was
Intraoperative Communication of Residents with Faculty: Perception versus Reality

Abstract Introduction. During a surgical procedure, an attending may propose a surgical treatment that a resident believes is not the standard of care based on previous readings, discussions with other faculty, or experience. We hypothesized that resident disagreements over intraoperative management are common and are handled differently by residents than faculty members perceive. Methods. Surveys were sent to 68 residents (82% response) and 45 faculty (91% response) in general surgery and seven subspecialties. Questions were asked to determine the frequency of disagreements and the differences in perceptions of how residents should act when they have disagreements over the intraoperative decisions of attendings. Significance was defined using Fisher's exact test at P Results. Residents reported having major disagreements with faculty over intraoperative decisions as often as monthly (41%) or two to three times per year (37%). Estimates of the frequency of major resident disagreements did not differ between attendings and residents. Fewer residents felt comfortable asking the faculty to discuss their intraoperative decisions than was perceived by faculty members (41% vs 78%, P Conclusion. Residents frequently have disagreements with faculty over intraoperative management. Education to improve preoperative and intraoperative communication between surgical residents and faculty is needed.
Discussion: We Need to Change Our Paradigm

Dransfield, Fischer and Vogel (DFV) are to be congratulated on a provocative and timely paper. They touch on several issues which are critical to the future of our profession, such as integration of statistical thinking with statistical methods per se, and expanding our influence beyond "operational" activities, such as conducting a census or producing products on a factory floor, to higher-level activities, such as managing an organization, or conducting strategic planning. I am in total agreement with the vast majority of their conclusions, although I will focus my commentary on points where I may have a different viewpoint. After a brief discussion of statistical paradigms, I would like to focus my commentary on DFV's discussion of the Operational-Tactical-Strategic levels of work, and how statistics and statistical methods can be applied to each. I believe this distinction has been generally overlooked by our profession, with the result that we have significantly limited our influence and impact. This can and should be our primary "growth area" for application of both statistics and statistical thinking.
Clinical Experience With Radiation Therapy in the Management of Neurofibromatosis-Associated Central Nervous System Tumors

Purpose Patients with neurofibromatosis (NF) develop tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Radiation therapy (RT) is used to treat these lesions. To better define the efficacy of RT in these patients, we reviewed our 20-year experience. Methods and Materials Eighteen patients with NF with CNS tumors were treated from 1986 to 2007. Median follow-up was 48 months. Progression was defined as growth or recurrence of an irradiated tumor on serial imaging. Progression-free survival (PFS) was measured from the date of RT completion to the date of last follow-up imaging study. Actuarial rates of overall survival (OS) and PFS were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Eighty-two tumors in 18 patients were irradiated, with an average of five tumors/patient. Median age at treatment was 25 years (range, 4.3–64 years). Tumor types included acoustic neuroma (16%), ependymoma (6%), low-grade glioma (11%), meningioma (60%), and schwanomma/neurofibroma (7%). The most common indication for treatment was growth on serial imaging. Most patients (67%) received stereotactic radiosurgery (median dose, 1,200 cGy; range, 1,000–2,400 cGy). The OS rate at 5 years was 94%. Five-year PFS rates were 75% (acoustic neuroma), 100% (ependymoma), 75% (low-grade glioma), 86% (meningioma), and 100% (schwanomma/neurofibroma). Thirteen acoustic neuromas had a local control rate of 94% with a 50% hearing preservation rate. Conclusions RT provided local control, OS, and PFS rates similar to or better than published data for tumors in non-NF patients. Radiation therapy should be considered in NF patients with imaging progression of CNS tumors.
The Assembly-Inducing Laulimalide/Peloruside A Binding Site on Tubulin: Molecular Modeling and Biochemical Studies with [3H]Peloruside A

We used synthetic peloruside A for the commercial preparation of [3H]peloruside A. The radiolabeled compound bound to preformed tubulin polymer in amounts stoichiometric with the polymer’s tubulin content, with an apparent Kd value of 0.35 μM. A less active peloruside A analogue, (11-R)-peloruside A and laulimalide acted as competitive inhibitors of the binding of the [3H]peloruside A, with apparent Ki values of 9.3 and 0.25 μM, respectively. Paclitaxel, epothilone B, and discodermolide had essentially no ability to inhibit [3H]peloruside A binding, confirming that these compounds bind to a different site on tubulin polymer. We modeled both laulimalide and peloruside A into the binding site on β-tubulin that was identified by Huzil et al. (J. Mol. Biol. 2008, 378, 1016−1030), but our model provides a more reasonable structural basis for the protein−ligand interaction. There is a more complete desolvation of the peloruside A ligand and a greater array of favorable hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions...
Aza-BODIPY: improved synthesis and interaction with soluble Aβ1-42 oligomers

Dye-binding assays that are used to evaluate anti-aggregation ability of small molecule inhibitors towards amyloids are known to be prone to false-positive effects due to spectral overlaps between the dye and the inhibitor. Aza-BODIPY dye, which has both excitation and emission maxima above 600nm, exhibits a significant increase in its fluorescence intensity in the presence of soluble oligomers of Aβ1-42. These results indicate that aza-BODIPY could serve as a near-IR probe for detecting conformational changes of Aβ1-42 soluble oligomers in vitro, and it should eliminate false-positive effects that are associated with currently utilized thioflavin T-based dyes. In addition, a facile synthesis of aza-BODIPY has been developed, which might further expand the applications of this dye.
Aligning strategic objectives with organisational processes: a methodology for virtual enterprise implementation

This paper addresses the regulatory, policy and organizational issues that must be pre-engineered into business processes before a virtual relationship can exist between potential partners. Our research is centered on two crucial concepts: (1) the development of a strategic Operational Virtual Enterprise Methodology that facilitates the rapid formation and reconfiguration (realignment) of organizational processes in response to an external order that necessitates the formation of a virtual organization, and (2) the implementation and validation of the Operational Virtual Enterprise Methodology in a manufacturing environment.
DNA Damage during Reoxygenation Elicits a Chk2-Dependent Checkpoint Response

Due to the abnormal vasculature of solid tumors, tumor cell oxygenation can change rapidly with the opening and closing of blood vessels, leading to the activation of both hypoxic response pathways and oxidative stress pathways upon reoxygenation. Here, we report that ataxia telangiectasia mutated-dependent phosphorylation and activation of Chk2 occur in the absence of DNA damage during hypoxia and are maintained during reoxygenation in response to DNA damage. Our studies involving oxidative damage show that Chk2 is required for G2 arrest. Following exposure to both hypoxia and reoxygenation, Chk2-/- cells exhibit an attenuated G2 arrest, increased apoptosis, reduced clonogenic survival, and deficient phosphorylation of downstream targets. These studies indicate that the combination of hypoxia and reoxygenation results in a G2 checkpoint response that is dependent on the tumor suppressor Chk2 and that this checkpoint response is essential for tumor cell adaptation to changes that result from the cycling nature of hypoxia and reoxygenation found in solid tumors.
The study of coupled transfer of heat, moisture and air in respirable walls

In this paper, we aim at studying the laws of heat, moisture and air transfer in the respirable walls. We developed a coupled unstable equation system of the heat, air and moisture transfer in the respirable walls with the third boundary condition. Because equal equation systems are a series of non-linearity equations, which include differential items, finite difference is adopted to solve the equation systems. The temperature, pressure and moisture distribution is given. Our study provides the science theoretic foundation for computation of coupled heat, moisture and air transfer in respirable walls.
Initial implant position determines the magnitude of crestal bone remodeling.

Background: The ability to predict the amount of bone remodeling around implants is important for a stable and predictable esthetic result. The purpose of this study was to investigate the amount of radiographic bone remodeling that occurs over time using a one-piece implant system. Methods: Twenty-seven patients receiving implants in the maxilla and 15 receiving implants in the mandible were included in the study. All implants were placed with a non-submerged surgical technique with varying locations of the rough-smooth border with respect to the alveolar crest. Clinical exams and radiographs were taken on the day of implant placement, at 6 months, and annually up to 5 years. Linear measurements from digitized radiographs were made from the implant shoulder to the first boneto- implant contact at all time points. Results: A significant amount of bone remodeling compared to baseline occurred for all implants at the 6-month follow-up visit (1.10 mm), with the remaining time points showing virtually no chan...
Using Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimating Equations: Clinical and Laboratory Considerations

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)3 estimating equations, infrequently used just a decade ago, are now recommended for the evaluation of kidney function for routine clinical care and are routinely reported by the vast majority of clinical laboratories (1). Current clinical guidelines recommend estimated GFR (eGFR) based on serum creatinine (eGFRCr) as the initial diagnostic test, and either a measured clearance or estimated GFR based on serum cystatin C or the combination of serum cystatin C and creatinine (eGFRCys and eGFRCr-Cys, respectively) as a confirmatory test (2, 3). These recommendations apply to all adults, irrespective of geographic region or clinical presentation. According to the guidelines, measurement of serum concentrations of creatinine and cystatin C should use assays traceable to international reference measurement procedures and materials, and estimation of GFR should use equations developed by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI), specifically the 2009 creatinine equation and the 2012 cystatin C and creatinine–cystatin C equations, unless other equations have been found to be more accurate in the population of interest (Table 1) (4–6). The rationale for these recommendations is as follows. View this table: Table 1. Endogenous filtration markers and CKD-EPI GFR estimation equations recommended by 2012 KDIGO guidelines for use in adults. First, serum creatinine concentration is routinely measured in clinical practice, and most commercial creatinine measurement procedures are now well standardized; thus eGFRCr is available for use as an initial diagnostic test in most clinical encounters in adults. On the other hand, the international reference standard for cystatin C has been developed only recently, and not all commercial assays are sufficiently well standardized for routine clinical use (7, 8). Second, the CKD-EPI equations can be computed from variables that are generally available in clinical and laboratory information systems (age and sex in addition to serum …
Error back-propagation learning using polynomial energy function

The authors derived a gradient descent weight update law using a polynomial energy function for supervised error backpropagation learning for feedforward artificial neural networks (FFANNs). The polynomial energy function used in this study is a combination of the L/sub 1/ and the L/sub 2/ norms of the errors in the output of the network. It is shown analytically that the learning performance may improve if the polynomial energy function is used instead of the sum-of-the-squared energy function. The XOR problem was used for the simulation evidence to support the above analysis. The analysis indicates that the polynomial learning dynamics is faster at each point in the weight space. On the other hand, the simulations on the XOR problem seem to support a much stronger and desirable viewpoint; the polynomial learning dynamics is faster along each trajectory in weight space as compared to the sum-of-the-squared learning dynamics. >
Fire ant venom alkaloids: Their contribution to chemosystematics and biochemical evolution

Abstract Studies on the chemistry of the 2,6-dialkylpiperidines in the venom of various fire ant species have shown that these alkaloids have practical value as chemotaxonomic characters. In addition, the finding that variations exist in the distribution of the geometric isomers between species and castes has led to a hypothetical construct for the biochemical evolution of these compounds. These various results, obtained previously, are integrated here as a coherent whole.
Excitation of skinned muscle fibers by imposed ion gradients. III. Distribution of permeant ions in unstimulated and stimulated fibers.

Ion gradients imposed across an internal membrane system stimulate skinned muscle fibers; to evaluate the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) as the primary target site, SR polarization under resting and stimulatory conditions was assessed from fiber uptake of permeant probe ions. Solvent spaces were estimated from simultaneous [14C]urea (U) or [3H]deoxyglucose (DOG) uptake in segments of fibers from bullfrog semitendinosus muscle, skinned by microdissection. The distribution spaces, i.e., virtual solvent volumes at bath concentrations (Vu and VDOG), of these uncharged probes correlated well with the protein content of the same segments, which validated the tracer methodology for volume normalization. The membrane-bounded volume fraction (Vm), derived from the difference between total solvent volume (Vs) and the non-membrane-bounded solvent volume (Vc), was sufficient to detect appreciable SR ion accumulation. The Vm estimated from the difference between VU and VDOG assayed simultaneously with 2 or 5-6 min exposures was 10-11%, which is consistent with the morphometric volume fraction (mostly SR) in frog fibers; however, the change in this difference after membrane permeabilization corresponded to Vm only 5%. The change in permeant ion distribution space caused by member permeabilization was used to assess SR membrane polarization, assuming the free ions distribute across the intact membrane according to the Nernst ratio. Resting polarization (SR lumen positive) was assessed from [14C]SCN- or [14C]propionate- distribution spaces in unstimulated fibers, expressed relative to VDOG (assayed simultaneously). The ratios for (a) [14C]SCN- space (carrier 2 mM) and (b) [14C]propionate- space (carrier 120 mM) were not decreased by membrane permeabilization. This indicated that anion distribution was independent of membrane integrity and did not reflect an SR transmembrane potential, although a was more and b was less than 1. Polarization under stimulatory conditions (lumen negative) was assessed from 86Rb+ distribution, before and after an imposed ion gradient (choline Cl replacement of K methanesulfonate (KMes) at constant [K+] [Cl-]) that theoretically could generate a 48-fold transmembrane cation ratio; Ca release was minimized by EGTA. The ratio of 86Rb+ space to VU, greater than 1 in KMes (120 mM K, the effective carrier), was higher in choline Cl (2.5 mM K) but not decreased by membrane permeabilization; this indicated that 86Rb+ distribution did not reflect an SR transmembrane potential. Similar results in the presence of valinomycin ruled out the possibility of inadequate 86Rb+ equilibration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Interface stoichiometry and structure in anodic niobium pentoxide.

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) were performed on electrochemically anodized niobium and niobium oxide. Sintered anodes of Nb and NbO powders were anodized in 0.1 wt% H3PO4 at 10, 20, and 65 V to form surface Nb2O5 layers with an average anodization constant of 3.6 ± 0.2 nm/V. The anode/dielectric interfaces were continuous and the dielectric layers were amorphous except for occurrences of plate-like, orthorhombic pentoxide crystallites in both anodes formed at 65 V. Using EELS stoichiometry quantification and relative chemical shifts of the Nb M4,5 ionization edge, a suboxide transition layer at the amorphous pentoxide interface on the order of 5 nm was detected in the Nb anodes, whereas no interfacial suboxide layers were detected in the NbO anodes.
Epicardial macro-reentrant ventricular tachycardia exhibiting an endocardial centrifugal activation pattern in a case with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Macro-Reentrant ARVC epi-VT with a Focal Endo-Activation. A 55-year-old man with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy underwent catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) with left bundle branch block and left superior axis QRS morphology with an early precordial transition. Endocardial mapping during the VT revealed a focal activation pattern from a small region of low voltage in the left ventricular (LV) septum. Despite earliest endocardial activation in the LV septum, epicardial mapping demonstrated a macro-reentrant circuit with successful catheter ablation at an inferior peritricuspid annular site. Activation from the reentrant circuit propagated through the scar area in the epicardial right ventricle to the remote endocardial LV breakout site.
Common Bacterial Blight of Bean

Bacterial blight of bean is a typical leaf spot and leaf blight disease. At first, the lesions on leaves are small, translucent, water-soaked spots which later develop dry brown centers and narrow yellow halos. Lesions coalesce into irregularly-shaped areas which may include the whole leaflet. Lesions on stems and pods tend to be more restricted and sunken (Fig. 7-1A). Those on the pods frequently turn from red to brown with age. With continued development, the vascular system may also turn brown and surface cankers form on the stem.
Precise measurements of Kα x-ray linewidths in Eu, Tm, and Ta

The widths of Kα1 and Kα2 x rays in Eu, Tm, and Ta have been measured to an accuracy of (2-4)% with a high-resolution spectrometer by means of third- and fourth-order diffraction from the (111) crystalline planes of a bent silicon crystal. The measured values confirm the results from calculations of the radiative, Auger, and Coster-Kronig widths. Possible effects from hyperfine interaction, Coulomb exchange interaction, and chemical shift are discussed.
14,15-Epoxyeicosa-5,8,11-trienoic Acid (14,15-EET) Surrogates: Carboxylate Modifications

The cytochrome P450 eicosanoid 14,15-epoxyeicosa-5,8,11-trienoic acid (14,15-EET) is a powerful endogenous autacoid that has been ascribed an impressive array of physiologic functions including regulation of blood pressure. Because 14,15-EET is chemically and metabolically labile, structurally related surrogates containing epoxide bioisosteres were introduced and have become useful in vitro pharmacologic tools but are not suitable for in vivo applications. A new generation of EET mimics incorporating modifications to the carboxylate were prepared and evaluated for vasorelaxation and inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Tetrazole 19 (ED50 0.18 μM) and oxadiazole-5-thione 25 (ED50 0.36 μM) were 12- and 6-fold more potent, respectively, than 14,15-EET as vasorelaxants; on the other hand, their ability to block sEH differed substantially, i.e., 11 vs >500 nM. These data will expedite the development of potent and specific in vivo drug candidates.
Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) improves biomarkers of glycemic control in patients with non-insulin-dependent type II diabetes mellitus for up to 3 months following treatment

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the potential clinical benefits of EECP on glycemic parameters [fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial glucose (PPG120), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)] in patients with a clinical diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Thirty subjects (60.7 ± 1.9 years) with T2DM were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio) to receive either 35 1-h sessions of EECP (n = 20) or time-matched control of standard care (n = 10). FPG, PPG120, and HbA1c were evaluated before and at 48 h, 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months following EECP treatment or time-matched control. EECP significantly decreased FPG (−14.6 and −12.0 %), PPG120 (−14.6 and −13.5 %), and HbA1c (−11.5 and −19.6 %) 48 h following EECP and 2 weeks following EECP, respectively. HbA1c remained significantly reduced at 3 months following EECP (−14.3 %). The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (−31.1 %) and whole-body composite insulin sensitivity index (+54.2 %) were significantly improved 48 h following EECP. Nitrite/nitrate (NO x ) was significantly increased 48 h following EECP (+48.4 %) and 2 weeks (+51.9 %) following EECP treatment. Our findings provide novel evidence that EECP improves glycemic control in patients with T2DM that persist for up to 3 months following treatment.
Simulation analysis on flux leakage of YIG-tuned device

YIG-tuned devices is widely used in modern electronic countermeasures system, but their flux leakage characteristic is seldom reported. In this paper,modeling and simulation is given for flux leakage distribution of YIG-tuned device by Maxwell 3D softwere, providing a quantitative analysis of field leakage distribution. The analysis result supplies a design reference for anti-flux-leakage disturbance in engineering applications of YIG-tuned devices.Additionally, this research is of guidance for degrading the flux leakage disturbance of YIG-tuned device, and resultantly improving the performance of overall unit related to the YIG-tuned devices.
Individual variations in the fibrinolytic response during and after cardiopulmonary bypass

The purpose of this study was to determine whether individual patients show different patterns of fibrinolytic response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and whether preoperative or intraoperative parameters were predictive of these different patterns. Active t-PA, active PAI-1 and total t-PA antigen were measured in plasma samples obtained from 38 subjects, age 32 to 85 (median 69 years), before, during and after CPB. Four patterns of fibrinolytic response were noted: 1) 40% of patients showed the "typical" response, a rapid rise in active and total t-PA during CPB followed postoperatively by elevated PAI-1 and reduced t-PA, 2) 10% showed no change in t-PA or PAI-1 during or after CPB, 3) 24% showed no change in t-PA with an increase in PAI-1 postoperatively, and 4) 26% showed an increase in t-PA during CPB with no change in PAI-1 postoperatively. When present, the t-PA response was rapid, occurring within the first 30 min of CPB and was more common in patients undergoing valve surgery than in coronary artery bypass grafting (p < 0.005). Increased levels of PAI-1 postoperatively were associated with ischemic times greater than 70 min (p = 0.003) but not with the total length of CPB. Age, sex, CPB temperature, total CPB time and preoperative levels of t-PA and PAI-1 were not associated in the intra- or postoperative fibrinolytic response pattern. We conclude that the fibrinolytic response to CPB is heterogeneous. Further studies will be needed to determine whether different response patterns are clinically significant.
Penetration of zona-free hamster ova and bovine cervical mucus by fresh and frozen human spermatozoa.

Semen samples from 25 fertile donors and 34 infertility patients were analyzed and evaluated both fresh and frozen with the zona-free hamster egg penetration test (EPT) and the bovine cervical mucus penetration test (MPT). Cryopreserved sperm penetrated 47.2% (average) of the hamster eggs, and fresh sperm penetrated 55.9%. Frozen sperm retained 86% of the fresh EPT values ( P , not significant), but only 38% of the fresh MPT values ( P The use of cryopreserved sperm simplifies the procedure and should enable more laboratories to utilize the EPT, but the poor results with the MPT preclude utilization of cryopreserved sperm for routine fertility evaluation with the MPT.
The peculiar difficulties of therapeutic trials for multiple sclerosis.

What should the concerned physician do when asked by a desperate patient with multiple sclerosis to try the newest treatment? We review the palliative treatment of multiple sclerosis with immunosuppressive regimens used because the immune response appears important in causing signs and symptoms. We conclude "pulse" methylprednisolone has the best risk/benefit ratio and is the current treatment of choice. Other treatments still in trial suggest that we shall have more effective and safer treatments in the future.
The search for linguistic equality

Five papers from the symposium on language and equality, held in New York in 2014 and organized by the Working Group on Language and the United Nations, make up this special issue of Language Problems and Language Planning. The symposium highlighted the difficulty of defining the nature of language equality, the many instances in which it is abandoned in favor of some apparently more practical goal (for example, the expansion of English in higher education, or the assimilation of immigrants into the United States), efforts in the past to achieve such equality (notably the Esperanto experiment), and the apparent sidelining of language as a variable in the planning of United Nations activities and goals.
Macromolecular Correlates of Cellular Senescence and Cancer

Human diploid fibroblasts undergo a passage-dependent amplification of the H-ras proto-oncogene, accompanied by a coordinate increase in H-ras mRNA level and in the 21 kd H-ras protein. Other genes, including α-hCG and N-myc, are not amplified in these cells. Methylation of cytosines in the γ-globin and a-hCG gene regions, assessed in fibroblast mass cultures and in derived clonal lineages, declined in a site-specific and clone-specific pattern. The consequence of both processes is increasing heterogeneity of the cell population, in its DNA structure and potential for gene expression. Such heterogeneity may underlie the age-dependent incidence of clonal-origin diseases such as cancer.
Posterior Fossa Abnormalities in Infantile Autism

Previously published cerebellar vermis measures of 78 autistic patients from 4 separate MRI studies have been reanalysed at the Neurosciences Department, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA.