cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery on Benign Resections for Solitary Pulmonary Nodules

Background Differentiating benign from malignant pulmonary lesions is an important part of surgical decision making. We reviewed our experience of resecting suspicious pulmonary nodules to test the hypothesis that the increased use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has increased the resection rate of benign lesions. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on 3,217 patients who underwent resection for focal pulmonary lesions between 1995 and 2009. Resection method, computed tomography (CT) results, positron emission tomography (PET) results, and operative and pathology reports were reviewed. Results Pulmonary resection was by thoracotomy/median sternotomy in 2,632 of 3,217 (82%) patients and by VATS in 585 of 3,217 (18%). Resections performed by VATS increased from 129 of 2,150 (6%) between 1995 and 2005 to 453 of 1,067 (42.4%) between 2006 and 2009. From 2006 to 2009, 31.4% of lobectomies and 63.9% of wedge resections were performed by VATS. Benign lesions were found in 350 of 3,217 (10.8%) patients. Between 1995 and 2005 our resection rate of benign lesions was 192 of 2,150 (8.9%). From 2006 to 2009, it increased to 158 of 1,067 (14.8%), of which 85 of 456 (20.8%) were VATS and 63 of 611(10.3%) were open procedures. The benign lesion resection rate was 91 of 237 (38.3%) for VATS wedges, 49 of 134 (36.6%) for open wedges, 4 of 219 (1.8%) for VATS lobectomies, and 14 of 477 (2.9%) for open lobectomies. 257 of 456 (52.0%) of the VATS resections were wedges compared with 134 of 611 (21.9%) of the open procedures. Conclusions There has been an increase in pulmonary resections performed by VATS. This is associated with an increase in benign lesion resections. The benign lesion resection rate for VATS was twice that of the open procedure rate. However the benign lesion resection rates for wedge resections and lobectomies were not significantly different in regard to approach. VATS has led to an increase in our overall benign lesion resection rate, which can be explained by the increased number of VATS wedge resections that are being performed.
Molecular genetics of inherited antithrombin III deficiencies.

The cloning of antithrombin III (ATIII) complementary deoxyribonucleic acids and the determination of the ATIII gene structure have permitted a systematic evaluation of the molecular basis for inherited ATIII deficiencies. Sixteen kindreds with the most common form of the deficiency, in which plasma ATIII antigen levels and activity are proportionately reduced, were studied. Two polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid markers were used to resolve parental ATIII alleles and to trace their inheritance patterns. In 15 of 16 cases, the structure of the affected ATIII allele was indistinguishable from normal, suggesting that relatively small mutations, resulting in gene inactivation, are responsible for the lower ATIII levels in these affected families. In the remaining kindred, complete deletion of one ATIII allele was seen. Also investigated was the molecular basis for a qualitative form of ATIII deficiency in a French-Canadian family with normal levels of immunoreactive protein but only half the expected levels of serine protease inhibitor activity. Using polymorphic markers, the abnormal allele was identified, cloned, and partially sequenced from the propositus. A single G → A transition was seen in the first base of codon 382, resulting in an alanine → threonine substitution in the defective protein. This mutation, together with others in this vicinity, defines a minimal length for a fully functional thrombin-binding domain.
Designing an asynchronous communications chip

Designing a low-power, infrared communications receiver chip using asynchronous techniques presented aspects that were difficult to implement asynchronously. The authors detail the methodology used to design the chip, and the asynchronous toolset created to support it. They also contrast their techniques with synchronous ones, where possible. >
Aggressive conduct disorder: a brief review

The natural history, prevalence, and correlates, both psychologic and biologic, of aggressive conduct disorder in childhood, are reviewed. The evidence suggests a valid behavioral syndrome, but is far from decisive.
The frustrating problem for four-dimensionalism

I argue that four-dimensionalism and the desire satisfaction account of well-being are incompatible. For every person whose desires are satisfied, there will be many shorter-lived individuals (‘person-stages’ or ‘subpersons’) who share the person’s desires but who do not exist long enough to see those desires satisfied; not only this, but in many cases their desires are frustrated so that the desires of the beings in whom they are embedded as proper temporal parts may be fulfilledI call this the frustrating problem for four-dimensionalism. In the first half of the paper I lay the groundwork for understanding the frustrating problem, and then in the second half, I will examine six possible responses to the frustrating problem on behalf of the four-dimensionalist, (i) the Parfit (1984) inspired claim that identity is not what matters, (ii) the personal pronoun revisionism of Noonan (Analysis 70(1):93–98, 2010), (iii) the indirect concern account of Hudson (A materialist metaphysics of the human person, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 2001), (iv) the sensible stages account of Lewis (On the plurality of worlds, Wiley Blackwell Press, Oxford, 1986), (v) a multiple-concepts account of desire satisfaction, and (vi) a No Desire View according to which subpersons have no mental states and thus no desires to frustrate. I argue that none of these solutions will help the four-dimensionalist; she does better to reject the desire satisfaction theory, while the defender of the desire satisfaction theory does better to reject four-dimensionalism.
Temperament and individuality: a study of Malay children

Malay parents of 40 infants and preschool children were interviewed using translations of temperament questionnaires by Thomas and Chess, and by Carey. Similarities and differences between Malay children and previously studied American children are discussed, and relationships suggested among temperament ratings and Malay child-rearing practices and values.
Spectroscopic Study of Nitric Acid and Water Adsorption on Oxide Particles: Enhanced Nitric Acid Uptake Kinetics in the Presence of Adsorbed Water

In this study, the heterogeneous reactivity of nitric acid on oxide particles of some of the most abundant crustal elements is investigated at 296 K. The oxide particles are used as models for mineral dust aerosol found in the atmosphere. Transmission FT-IR spectroscopy is used to probe changes in the spectrum of the oxide particle surface following adsorption of HNO3 on SiO2, α-Al2O3, TiO2, γ-Fe2O3, CaO, and MgO. It is found that HNO3 molecularly and reversibly adsorbs on SiO2. For the other oxides investigated, HNO3 dissociatively and irreversibly adsorbs to form surface nitrate. There is also a small amount of molecularly adsorbed nitric acid (<10% of the adsorbed nitrate) on the oxide particle surface in the presence of gas-phase nitric acid. Because adsorbed water may play a role in the heterogeneous uptake of nitric acid in the atmosphere, transmission FT-IR spectroscopy is used to investigate H2O adsorption on SiO2, α-Al2O3, TiO2, γ-Fe2O3, CaO, and MgO particles as well. Uptake of water on the oxid...
Breast fat and breast cancer.

There is a well-established association between high mammographic density and risk of breast cancer. We recently observed, somewhat to our surprise, a strong inverse association between the nondense area on a mammogram and risk of breast cancer [1]. In this paper, we briefly discuss this finding in the context of previous studies of mammographic density and breast cancer risk, as well as in context of prior findings of the association between excess body weight and breast cancer risk. We suggest that the notion that breast fat plays a protective role in breast carcinogenesis, at least during the premenopausal years, should be considered.
The impact of electronic journals on interlibrary lending : A longitudinal study of statewide interlibrary loan article sharing in illinois

Interlibrary loan (ILL) article sharing data from the 26 largest libraries in Illinois were collected in 1995/96, 1999/00, and most recently in 2002/03. The OCLC Management Statistics Service supplied the data with the permission of the participating libraries. Longitudinal data analysis focused on the changes that have taken place in article sharing over the past eight years within the state, offering insights into the impact of access to electronic journals. Results show a decline in the number of ILL article requests among the 26 largest libraries in Illinois: a near 26% drop in overall article requests took place between these libraries from 1999/00 to 2002/03, a much larger decline than was expected. The data provide answers to frequently posed questions concerning the impact of electronic journal packages on ILL article sharing and offer some insight concerning the future of ILL in the age of full-text online article availability.
Estimating the Patient's Price of Privacy in Liver Transplantation

In the United States, patients with end-stage liver disease must join a waiting list to be eligible for cadaveric liver transplantation. Due to privacy concerns, the details of the composition of this waiting list are not publicly available. This paper considers the benefits associated with creating a more transparent waiting list. We study these benefits by modeling the organ accept/reject decision faced by these patients as a Markov decision process in which the state of the process is described by patient health, quality of the offered liver, and a measure of the rank of the patient in the waiting list. We prove conditions under which there exist structured optimal solutions, such as monotone value functions and control-limit optimal policies. We define the concept of the patient's price of privacy, namely, the number of expected life days lost due to the lack of complete waiting list information. We conduct extensive numerical studies based on clinical data, which indicate that this price of privacy is typically on the order of 5% of the optimal solution value.
Stand-off Raman detection using dispersive and tunable filter based systems

Small, transportable Raman systems are being developed for stand-off Raman measurements at intermediate ranges (e.g. <20 m) for planetary measurements. Four variations of stand-off Raman systems are described that use a small telescope for light collection that is either fiber-optic or lens-coupled to a detection system. The performance of an acousto-optic tunable filter for wavelength selection and spectral imaging is tested by comparing signal-to-noise ratio and throughput to similar measurements using a conventional spectrograph, and by measuring a variety of organic and inorganic mineral samples at distances up to 15 m. We also determine optimal ICCD gate widths for acquiring remote Raman spectra under high ambient light conditions.
Characterization of an amorphous–crystalline Mg-based composite

Abstract An amorphous–crystalline Mg-based composite with the nominal composition of Mg65Cu20Zn5Y10 has been formed by casting. X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, backscatter electron imaging, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis were used to characterize the structure of the composite, which is linked to the hardness, modulus, and fracture toughness obtained by Vickers and nanoindentation. Comparisons of the structure–property relationships are also made to composite materials of a similar composition. The effects of the crystalline microstructure on localized deformation through shear banding are discussed and related to the hardness and toughness results.
How much neighborhood parks contribute to local residents' physical activity in the City of Los Angeles: A meta-analysis

Objective To quantify the contribution of neighborhood parks to population-level, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
Processing Ti-Al-Nb Composite Sheet Materials Using Cold Roll Bonding and Reaction Annealing

Multi-layered composite sheet materials with nominal composition of Ti-46Al-9Nb (at.%) were successfully processed from Ti, Al and Nb elemental foils using the cold roll bonding technique. To promote the formation of intermetallic compounds in these composites, annealing at 600°C was employed for specimens subjected to various amounts of reduction. The microstructures and phases that formed after cold rolling, the first annealing stage, and the second annealing stage were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Good bonding was achieved for all rolled samples with a threshold reduction in thickness of about 35% in the first rolling pass. No new phases were formed in the cold rolling stage. Annealing stage did promote the formation of the TiAl3 and NbAl3 phases at the interfaces.
Electricity Bill Capping for Cloud-Scale Data Centers that Impact the Power Markets

Minimizing the energy consumption of data centers has been researched extensively. However, much less attention is given to a related but different research topic: minimizing the electricity bill of a network of data centers by leveraging different electricity prices in different geographical locations to distribute workloads among those locations. Initial solutions to this problem are oversimplified with an unrealistic assumption that the huge power demands of data centers have no impact on electricity prices. As a result, they cannot be applied to cloud-scale Internet data centers that are expected to grow rapidly in the near future and can draw tens to hundreds of megawatts of power at peak. In addition, existing solutions focus only on server power consumption without considering cooling systems and networking devices, which account for up to 50% of the power consumption of a data center. In this paper, we propose a novel electricity bill capping algorithm that not only minimizes the electricity cost, but also enforces a cost budget on the monthly bill for cloud-scale data centers. Our solution first explicitly models the impacts of the power demands induced by cloud-scale data centers on electricity prices and the power consumption of cooling and networking in the minimization of electricity bill. In the second step, if the electricity cost exceeds a desired monthly budget due to unexpectedly high workloads, our solution guarantees the quality of service for premium customers and trades off the request throughput of ordinary customers. We formulate electricity bill capping as two related constrained optimization problems and propose efficient algorithms based on mixed integer programming. Extensive results show that our solution outperforms the state-of-the-art solutions by having lower electricity bills and achieves desired bill capping with maximized request throughput.
Spherical Shells Like Hexagons: Cylinders Prefer Diamonds—Part 1

Abstract : The purpose of the paper is to describe the initial postbuckling behavior of cylindrical shells under axial compression. Multiple scale techniques are employed to investigate the dynamic interaction and evolution of competing diamond patterns to investigate the dynamic interaction and evolution of competing diamon patterns and the propagation of spatial inhomogeneities. It is shown that if no substanital bias is present in either the initial imperfections or initial conditions a natural selection mechanism exists which favors the square diamond configuration. Numerical results are included which support the findings of the analytical investigation. (Author)
Implementation as a Focus of Consultation to Evaluate Academic Tutoring Services in an Urban School District: A Case Study Example.

This article describes a multiagency initiative to evaluate academic tutoring services by focusing on the processes that contribute to effective program implementation. Community-based tutoring service providers serving students in the Cincinnati Public Schools (OH) partnered to initiate a “Seal of Approval” process for promoting evidence-based practices among tutoring providers, assigning merit to effective programs, and eliminating or remediating ineffective practices. The consultant-driven process evaluation was designed to be fair and equitable among an array of tutoring service providers. This case example has implications for consultants, tutoring program directors, and school district administrators seeking to establish an accountability system for tutoring service providers.
Why do “Women’s jobs” have low pay for their educational level?

Jobs held largely by women have low pay for the amount of education they require. Why is this? One hypothesis is that employers prefer to hire men, and all workers prefer better jobs, so that women can get in only when a job's rewards (relative to its skill requirements) are low enough that men no longer want the job. Thus, wages affect sex composition. Others see the causal arrow to run the other way. In this view, the sex composition of jobs affects the wage that employers offer; employers' biased perceptions lead them to see jobs as less important and less payworthy if they are filled largely by women. These explanations are not mutually exclusive; the causal arrow may run both ways (or neither way). In this paper we use CPS data from 1984 to 1991 and a cross-lag panel model to examine these effects. Jobs are defined with a detailed occupational category within a specific broad industry category. We find that jobs with a higher percentage of females at one point have slower wage growth (or steeper wage decline) for both men and women in the ensuing years. But we find no effect of earlier wage rate on later sex composition. For those interested in reducing gender inequality in earnings, these findings suggest the utility of “comparable worth” policies.
Steroid hormone secretion in insects comes of age.

The control of molting and metamorphosis in insects first captured the attention of physiologists in the 1920s, when the Polish physiologist Stephan Kopec showed that the brain stimulated molting in larvae of the gypsy moth (1). However, 70 years elapsed before the hormone from the brain, prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH), was finally sequenced by groups led by H. Ishizaki and A. Suzuki (2). During the interim, it was shown that the brain’s role in causing molting was not direct but was mediated through its action on paired endocrine glands in the thorax, the prothoracic glands (PGs), that then secreted a steroid molting hormone, ecdysone. Circulating PTTH acts on these glands to stimulate steroidogenesis via calcium entry and cAMP generation (3) in a manner similar to that seen in some vertebrate steroidogenic systems. Although the control of ecdysone secretion by a circulating tropic hormone has been a central concept in comparative endocrinology for >40 years, a series of recent articles have revealed that negative factors are also at play (4–6). The article by Yamanaka et al . (7) in a recent issue of PNAS described some novel peptides that exert inhibitory control on the PGs and showed that the pathway by which they exert their effects is through the direct innervation of the glands. The simple picture of PG control in insects arose from the simplicity of the system first used to elucidate the brain–PG axis. Pioneering work by Carroll Williams (8) exploited diapausing pupae of the giant silkmoth, Hyalophora cecropia , whose development shuts down early in metamorphosis to deal with the rigors of winter. To then activate adult differentiation in the spring, the dormant PGs required PTTH released from the brain, and diapausing pupae whose brains were surgically removed never resumed development, although they survived for months (8 … *E-mail: jwt{at}u.washington.edu
An expanded V2 receptor retention signal

Following ligand-promoted internalization the human type 2 vasopressin receptor (hV2R) is not recycled to the cell surface after removal of the agonist. A retention motif consisting of a serine triplet present in the cytoplasmic tail was previously found to require for retention, but serine 357, and threonines 359, 360 located upstream were not examined. Evidence is now presented that substitution of these amino acids did not change V2 internalization although it reduced the levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced phosphorylation as compared to the wild type (WT). Contrary to the WT hV2R, these mutant receptors were recycled to the cell surface after a 2 h incubation in the absence of AVP identifying these changed residues as additional members of the retention motif of the hV2R.
The dynamical balance of leading singular vectors in a primitive-equation model

The dynamical balance of singular vectors (SVs) determined with respect to an energy norm for a primitive-equation atmospheric model is investigated. Partitioning between balanced and unbalanced components is primarily performed in terms of geostrophic and ageostrophic normal modes. Results indicate that if linearized effects of moist convection are not considered, the initial structure of the leading (most rapidly growing) SV is primarily geostrophic, although the ageostrophic part is significant. At the concluding time, however, the structure is almost totally geostrophic. The initially uncorrelated geostrophic and ageostrophic portions of the SV separately evolve into highly correlated structures. These two separately evolved portions therefore reinforce each other, so that the sum of the concluding total perturbation energies of the two portions is less than the corresponding energy of the non-partitioned SV. The high correlations also suggest that the inverse of the tangent linear model would be ill-suited for estimating an initial perturbation given an imperfectly known final one. There is no hint of significant high-frequency inertial gravity-wave activity.
Definite descriptions are ambiguous

1. The problem Keith Donnellan (1966) contrasted two uses of definite descriptions, the referential and the attributive. In using a definite description referentially the speaker communicates content about a particular object in mind, whereas in using the same description attributively the speaker communicates content about whatever object uniquely satisfies the description. Assuming that definite descriptions have a quantificational attributive meaning, the main problem raised by Donnellan’s contrast between uses is whether descriptions also have a referential meaning. If they do, it is plausible to think that the definite article is ambiguous between a referential and an attributive meaning. In what follows, I will call this thesis `Ambiguity’. For ease of exposition, I will take it as a thesis about English. The most influential arguments against Ambiguity invoke the independently motivated Gricean distinction between what a speaker means and what he or she says (Grice 1989). According to these arguments, we do not need to postulate a referential meaning for definite descriptions to account for referential uses. We can account for such uses in terms of what a speaker means but does not literally say. Thus, in using a definite description referentially the speaker means or communicates content about a particular object in mind, but what the speaker literally says is determined by the description’s quantificational attributive meaning. We are then told that on the grounds of parsimony this account of referential uses is superior to Ambiguity (see Grice 1969; Kripke 1977; Bach 1981; Neale 1990). I think all such arguments against Ambiguity have been seriously weakened in the face of the following points: (a) definite descriptions are regularly used referentially, and this shows that there is no prima facie reason to deny that referential uses are literal; actually, this usage regularity strongly suggests that referential uses are literal, just as literal as attributive uses (Devitt 1997; Reimer 1998; compare Neale 2004); (b) complex demonstratives and referentially used definite descriptions are used similarly in a wide variety of situations, and this strongly suggests that both expressions have a similar referential meaning (Devitt 2004) (e.g. `That/the concert last night was great, wasn’t it?’); (c) referentially used `incomplete’ descriptions may be used to express truths even when speakers cannot provide completions for them, and this also strongly suggests that descriptions have a referential meaning (e.g. `the tall kid who used to sit in the front row in first grade was born in Rio de Janeiro’) (Wilson 1991; Devitt 2004; compare Wettstein 1981; Schiffer 2005). Thus, not only do I think that the Gricean arguments above do not succeed in undermining Ambiguity. I also think there is a strong case for Ambiguity.
Place-Based Education: What is Its Place in the Social Studies Classroom?

Place-based education is a growing trend in education. This article defines place-based education and briefly examines its use across the disciplines. So as to better understand the wider concept, meanings of the geographical term place are analyzed. Place-based education in a social studies classroom is examined using two hypothetical scenarios, demonstrating that place-based education is indeed appropriate in the social studies.
Effect of local background anatomical patterns on the detection of subtle lung nodules in chest radiographs

Anatomical noise in chest radiography, created by the projection of anatomical features in the thorax such as ribs and pulmonary vessels, greatly influences the detection of subtle lung nodules in chest radiographs. Detection may be hindered by 1) the 'global' statistical characteristics of the background in relation to the signal associated withthe nodule, and/or 2) the interference of the 'local' background pattern with the nodule signal. This investigation aimed at assessing the influence of the latter process in the detection of subtle lung nodules. Six 8 X 8 cm images were extracted from the lung regions o six digital chest radiographs of normal patients from our clinic. Simulated nodules emulating the radiographic characteristics of subtle tissue-equivalent lesions ranging in size from 3.2 to 6.4 mm were numerically superimposed on the images. For each of the six lung images, a set of thirty-one processed images were produced, six containing no nodule, and the remaining 25 containing single nodules of five different sizes placed at five different locations within 6 mm of the center. The variation in location allowed different local background patterns to overlay the nodules. An observer detection study was then performed using 14 experienced radiologists. The observer data were analyzed to determine the variation in detectability with nodule location for all five sizes of the nodules. The preliminary results indicate that the variation in detectability of a nodule due to the influence of its local background surroundings is equivalent to that caused by changing its CD product by a factor of 4.45.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Does this patient have Barrett’s esophagus? the utility of predicting Barrett’s esophagus at the index endoscopy

Does this patient have Barrett's esophagus? the utility of predicting Barrett's esophagus at the index endoscopy
Reliability of copper reduction methods for quantitation of glucosuria

In the present study we evaluated the reliability of the ‘2-drop’ Clinitest method in determining the 24-h glucose spill of a diabetic patient. The urine glucose content over the 33 day study period was also measured with a Beckman glucose analyzer that employed a glucose oxidase method. There was no statistical difference between the glucose content determined by the two methods. There was a mean error of + 4.4 ± 3.6% between the values obtained with the ‘2-drop’ method and the values obtained with the glucose analyzer. The mean coefficient of variation for determining the glucose content of urine with the ‘2-drop’ method was 19%. In a group of 10 normal volunteers we found that there was a falsely elevated glucose value in urines with osmolality of less than 295 mosm/kg when the ‘5-drop’ method was used. The ‘2-drop’ Clinitest and the Beckman analyzer could accurately determine glucose concentration even in these dilute urines. The ‘2-drop’ Clinitest method is a useful and reasonably reliable method for evaluating 24-h glucosuria.
Maximum stress in a tensile strip with a large hole

Measurements were made to decide between two solutions of the title problem. In question was the limiting value of the stress-concentration factor at the edge of a large hole in a tensile strip as the hole diameter approached the strip width. The results indicate that the stress-concentration factor is near two and support one of the solutions with a minor qualification.
Stable spiral structures and their interaction in two-dimensional excitable media.

We study properties and interactions of stable spiral structures in two-dimensional excitable media modeled by equations of FitzHugh-Nagumo type. The presented results rely on the media ability to support unexcited spiral cores. Comparative frequency and dynamics analysis is done for a single spiral, an oppositely charged bound pair, and multiarmed spirals. Higher-frequency structures can attract, repel, or break up structures with lower frequencies. All pairwise reactions are described. A three-armed spiral and a two-armed spiral of opposite charge can form a stable ``molecule.'' A system with high initial vortex concentration evolves according to the described reactions and exhibits three levels of self-organization. In our simulations such evolution led to formation and domination of persistent three-armed spirals.
An interactive procedure for minimizing makespan on parallel processors

Consider scheduling n independent, single operation jobs, all available at time zero, on m identical processors. Further, assume that each job must be processed by exactly one of these processors, and it is desired to minimize makespan. This paper reports a computationally efficient procedure for treating this problem, which utilizes human ingenuity to improve on a traditional solution procedure. Computational experience with the procedure indicates that good solutions to large problems are easily obtained; in fact out of 240 test problems, the optimal solution was found in every case. The entire procedure is simple enough for a shop foreman to be able to solve large problems by hand.
Boyle’s teleological mechanism and the myth of immanent teleology

Abstract According to recent commentators, medieval natural philosophers endorsed immanent teleology, the view that natural agents possess immanent active powers to achieve certain ends. Moreover, some scholars have argued that Robert Boyle, despite his intentions, failed to eliminate immanent teleology from his natural philosophy. I argue in this paper that it is not at all clear that immanent teleology was widely endorsed in the medieval period. Moreover, I argue that a proper understanding of immanent teleology, and why it was rejected by mainstream medieval natural philosophers, reveals that Boyle did not fail to eliminate immanent teleology from his natural philosophy. I conclude that any attempt to describe the break between medieval and early modern natural philosophy in terms of a break with immanent teleology is likely not on target.
Cystic Fibrosis Mutations and Genetic Predisposition to Idiopathic Chronic Pancreatitis

Idiopathic chronic pancreatitis is a leading cause of chronic pancreatitis. Work from this and other groups has shown that idiopathic chronic pancreatitis is associated with mutations of the cystic fibrosis gene (CFTR). Many idiopathic pancreatitis patients have compound heterozygote genotypes in which both copies of the CFTR gene are abnormal. In these patients, the pancreatic disease can be viewed as a mild variant of cystic fibrosis, in which there is sufficient residual CFTR function to prevent lung disease. This article summarizes the evidence associating these abnormal CFTR genotypes with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis and reviews the implications of this association for the pathogenesis, classification, and prevention of pancreatitis.
Absences, presences and sufficient conditions

Psychological externalism entails that certain concepts, and hence certain thoughts, are world-dependent. Gabriel Segal (2000) has argued against such a view on the following grounds.1 Let us suppose there is a place, Dry Earth, type-identical to Earth except in the following two crucial respects: first, on Dry Earth there is no watery liquid; but, second, things nevertheless appear to the inhabitants of Dry Earth exactly as they appear to the inhabitants of Earth, presumably as a result of pervasive delusions. On the assumption that the expression 'water' as used on Dry Earth expresses a concept at all, according to Segal the very same concept will be expressed by 'water' as used on Earth. If this identity claim can be established, internalism follows: supposedly world-dependent concepts turn out to be world-independent. Segal's argument for the identity claim turns on the fact that psychological properties, even according to the externalist, are supervenient properties. That is, the externalist will agree that there is a set of physical conditions on Dry Earth which suffices for possession of the concept expressed by 'water' on Dry Earth. Segal's further, and crucial, claim is that this set of physical conditions is duplicated on Earth, since everything present on Dry Earth is present on Earth. (We can grant for the moment the simplifying assumption that the only difference between the worlds is the addition of water on Earth.) It seems to follow directly that the concept expressed by 'water' on Earth is identical to the concept expressed by 'water' on Dry Earth. In my (2003) I argued that the conditions sufficient for possession of the concept expressed by 'water' on Dry Earth are not in fact duplicated on Earth. I expressed this by saying that absences themselves feature in sets of sufficient conditions. The absence of water on Dry Earth is to be counted among the conditions which suffice for possession of the concept expressed by 'water' on Dry Earth, and this absence is not duplicated on Earth; hence the conditions sufficient for possession of the concept expressed by 'water' on Dry Earth are not in fact duplicated on Earth. Harold Noonan wants to resist my argument on the grounds that it is 'the first step on a road that leads to ontological insanity' (2004: 92). Specifically, he rejects the claim that thoughts are absence-dependent, even if he accepts the notion of an absence-dependent thought as coherent. However, Noonan misconstrues, and hence fails to address, my argument. To show
Failure of Defibrillator Paddle as Mimic for Subcutaneous Patch Lead During Nonthoracotomy Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Lead Configuration Assessment

It is a common, although virtually unsubstantiated, practice to assess the efficacy of nonthoracotomy lead systems for implantable cardioverter defibrillators using a defibrillator paddle as mimic for the subcutaneous patch lead. We report a case in which an adequate defibrillation threshold was documented with the nonthoracotomy lead system using a defibrillator paddle but not following implantation of the true subcutaneous patch lead. This case suggests that the substitution of a defibrillator paddle for the subcutaneous patch lead during nonthoracotomy lead system evaluation may have significant limitations in assessing lead configuration efficacy.
The economic costs of early stage prostate cancer.

The economic costs of early stage prostate cancer are significant, and will likely increase as the proportion of older men grows in the population of industrialised nations. In the US, total costs have been estimated to range from $US1.72 billion to $US4.75 billion annually (1990 costs). Costs related to early stage prostate cancer arise from screening, staging and treatment. Cost-effectiveness models of population-based prostate cancer screening indicate that such screening could result in as much as $US27.9 billion (1988 values) in charges to the US healthcare system. Evidence-based cancer-staging strategies would result in significant reduction of wasted expense. Rational allocation of healthcare dollars for prostate cancer screening and treatment may ultimately depend on data from randomised controlled trials.
Investigation of electronically excited indole relaxation dynamics via photoionization and fragmentation pump-probe spectroscopy.

The studies herein investigate the involvement of the low-lying 1La and 1Lb states with 1ππ* character and the 1πσ* state in the deactivation process of indole following photoexcitation at 201 nm. Three gas-phase, pump-probe spectroscopic techniques are employed: (1) Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TR-PES), (2) hydrogen atom (H-atom) time-resolved kinetic energy release (TR-KER), and (3) time-resolved ion yield (TR-IY). Each technique provides complementary information specific to the photophysical processes in the indole molecule. In conjunction, a thorough examination of the electronically excited states in the relaxation process, with particular focus on the involvement of the 1πσ* state, is afforded. Through an extensive analysis of the TR-PES data presented here, it is deduced that the initial excitation of the 1Bb state decays to the 1La state on a timescale beyond the resolution of the current experimental setup. Relaxation proceeds on the 1La state with an ultrafast decay constant (<100 femtoseconds (fs)) to the lower-lying 1Lb state, which is found to possess a relatively long lifetime of 23 ± 5 picoseconds (ps) before regressing to the ground state. These studies also manifest an additional component with a relaxation time of 405 ± 76 fs, which is correlated with activity along the 1πσ* state. TR-KER and TR-IY experiments, both specifically probing 1πσ* dynamics, exhibit similar decay constants, further validating these observations.
The Aging Thyroid: I. A Description of Lesions and an Analysis of Their Age and Sex Distribution

Two types of follicular change in the thyroid are described. The first represents an involutional change in which colloid cysts (macrofollicles) are often found. The second represents a hyperplastic-dysplastic (microfollicular) lesion. Two types of change in calcitonin (C) cells are also described, one of which may represent an involutional process, although this is not certain. The second is a hyperplastic (micronodular) lesion, but without evidence of dysplasia. An infiltration of lymphocytes is also commonly encountered. Only about 15% of cases after age 60 are free of the follicular and lymphoid lesions. Both the macro- and microfollicular lesions show a statistically significant increase with age, as do the lymphoid lesion and its derivative Hashimoto's thyroiditis. C cell micronodules also appear to increase with age, but there are too few such cases for a reliable statistical analysis. An analysis of combinations of the follicular and lymphoid lesions show a particularly frequent association of the microfollicular and lymphoid lesions. Evidence is presented suggesting that many microfollicular lesions may represent clones of mutated cells, and that the lymphocytes may be targeted to these microfollicles. Lymphocytes were rarely found in association with C cell micronodules. Within individual thyroids there is considerable variation in the proportion of each lesion when combinations are present. Thus with advancing age there is. an increasing heterogeneity of thyroid structure that may confound attempts to correlate structural and physiological changes with age. J Am Geriatr Soc 35:843–854, 1987
Dynamic Space for Rent: Using Commercial Web Hosting to Develop a Web 2.0 Intranet

The explosion of Web 2.0 into libraries has left many smaller academic libraries (and other libraries with limited computing resources or support) to work in the cloud using free Web applications. The use of commercial Web hosting is an innovative approach to the problem of inadequate local resources. While the idea of insourcing IT will seem daunting to some, the process of setting up and administering hosting and applications is remarkably accessible to staff with basic word processing and Web skills. This article demonstrates the degree to which recent advances in commercial Web hosting and open-source applications have reduced the process of administering Web services, once time consuming and technically demanding, to near point-and-click simplicity. This article reports on the Kraemer Family Library's use of commercial Web hosting to develop and host a Web 2.0 staff intranet. The staff of 9.5 full-time equivalent librarians and 21.5 full-time equivalent staff serve 8,000 students and 700 faculty and ...
Exercise and body image: A meta-analysis

This review applied meta-analytic procedures to integrate research findings examining the impact of exercise on body image. We performed extensive literature searching strategies and located 121 published and unpublished studies that examined the impact of exercise on body image. Primary study results were coded, and meta-analytic procedures were conducted. Studies were grouped into intervention (i.e., exercise vs nonexercise group post-exercise intervention body-image scores), single group (i.e., pre vs post exercise intervention body-image scores), and correlational (i.e., exercisers vs nonexercisers body-image scores) effect sizes. Small effect sizes (that were weighted by sample size), that were significantly different from zero, indicated that: (a) exercisers had a more positive body image than nonexercisers; (b) exercise intervention participants reported a more positive body image post intervention compared to the nonexercising control participants; and (c) exercisers had a significant improvement ...
Development and Demonstration of a GIS-Based Cumulative Effectiveness Approach to Buffer Design and Evaluation

AbstractA methodology for incorporating site-specific landscape characteristics into vegetated stream buffer design has been developed. This methodology consists of calculations within a geographic information system format, and applies a sequential accumulation of the contribution of individual pixels of buffer width to overall performance. A demonstration of the application of the methodology to a watershed expecting development is presented here and implications for decision making are discussed. Information layers derived from landscape data layers and used in buffer-performance calculations are displayed. Specific calculations performed in the demonstration are buffer delineation, with implications related to the potential impact of variable versus fixed width buffers, to the impact of assumptions with respect to the type of sediment needing to be settled out, and to the need to mandate wider buffer widths adjacent to lower order streams. Sediment-trapping efficiency calculations can be used to set p...
A Linearization Method for Nondegenerate Variational Conditions

We employ recent results about constraint nondegeneracy in variational conditions to design and justify a linearization algorithm for solving such problems. The algorithm solves a sequence of affine variational inequalities, but the variational condition itself need not be a variational inequality: that is, its underlying set need not be convex. However, that set must be given by systems of differentiable nonlinear equations with additional polyhedral constraints. We show that if the variational condition has a solution satisfying nondegeneracy and a standard regularity condition, and if the linearization algorithm is started sufficiently close to that solution, the algorithm will produce a well defined sequence that converges Q-superlinearly to the solution.
Impact of buoyancy on vortex ring development in the near field

The development of a buoyant vortex ring in the near field was examined experimentally, and the findings were compared with those of a non-buoyant ring with a similar Reynolds number. The experiments were performed in a water tank, and the vortices were produced by a cylindrical tube of aspect ratio 2. Laser sheet flow visualization and PIV measurements were carried out. In the near field, the initial column of the buoyant fluid breaks down due to the presence of Rayleigh–Taylor instability at the buoyant fluid interface. Subsequently, a large diameter vortex ring with a large spreading rate, compared with the non-buoyant ring, emerges. The celerity of buoyant vortex continued to decrease throughout the range examined, in contrast to the constant celerity of the non-buoyant ring. The vorticity in the core of buoyant and non-buoyant vortex rings is symmetric and has a Gaussian distribution. However, the buoyant vortex ring evolves into a thin core ring, whereas the non-buoyant ring becomes a thick core ring shortly after the ring formation. This difference is brought on by the rapid entrainment and the significant growth of the buoyant ring following the breakup of the initial formation.
Characterization of a human bladder cancer cell line selected for resistance to mitomycin C.

This study describes characteristics of a human bladder cancer cell line J82/MMC that is 6-fold more resistant to mitomycin C (MMC) than the parental cells. The J82/MMC sub line was isolated by repeated continuous exposures of the J82/WT cells to increasing concentrations of MMC. The J82/MMC cell line showed (1) collateral sensitivity to taxol, 5-FU and topoisomerase II inhibitors; and (2) cross-resistance to cisplatin, melphalan and MMC analogues BMY 25282 and BMY 25067. Levels of two key MMC activation enzymes, NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase and DT-diaphorase, were significantly lower in J82/MMC cells compared with J82/WT, suggesting that lower sensitivity of J82/MMC cells to MMC may result from deficient drug activation. Further support is indicated by: 1) reduction in the differential in toxicity between the 2 cell lines by BMY 25282; and 2) a higher effect of DT-diaphorase inhibitor dicumarol on the wild-type cells compared with J82/MMC. Although glutathione (GSH) levels did not differ in these cells, a small but significant increase in GSH transferase (GST) activity was noticed in J82/MMC cells. GST inhibitor ethacrynic acid significantly enhanced MMC cytotoxicity in the J82/MMC cell line. A small but significant increase in the level of anti-oxidative enzyme catalase, but not GSH peroxidase, was also observed in J82/MMC cell line compared with J82/WT. Thus, the possibility that relatively lower sensitivity of J82/MMC cells to MMC may result from reduced oxygen radical generation cannot be ruled out. MMC-induced DNA interstrand cross-linking was markedly lower in the J82/MMC cell line compared with J82/WT. Our results suggest that the MMC resistance in the J82/MMC cell line may be multifactorial.
Resonances in electromagnetic penetration of deep slots

The author discusses the influence of depth on the transmission of narrow slots and presents curves of calculated and measured transmission that exhibit depth resonances. The measurements are made by illuminating the front face of an aluminum box that is 50 cm on each side. At these resonances, the transmission is shown to be much higher than predicted by zero-depth models. >