cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biological response to prosthetic debris

Joint arthroplasty had revolutionized the outcome of orthopaedic surgery. Extensive and collaborative work of many innovator surgeons had led to the development of durable bearing surfaces, yet no single material is considered absolutely perfect. Generation of wear debris from any part of the prosthesis is unavoidable. Implant loosening secondary to osteolysis is the most common mode of failure of arthroplasty. Osteolysis is the resultant of complex contribution of the generated wear debris and the mechanical instability of the prosthetic components. Roughly speaking, all orthopedic biomaterials may induce a universal biologic host response to generated wear debris with little specific characteristics for each material; but some debris has been shown to be more cytotoxic than others. Prosthetic wear debris induces an extensive biological cascade of adverse cellular responses, where macrophages are the main cellular type involved in this hostile inflammatory process. Macrophages cause osteolysis indirectly by releasing numerous chemotactic inflammatory mediators, and directly by resorbing bone with their membrane microstructures. The bio-reactivity of wear particles depends on two major elements: particle characteristics (size, concentration and composition) and host characteristics. While any particle type may enhance hostile cellular reaction, cytological examination demonstrated that more than 70% of the debris burden is constituted of polyethylene particles. Comprehensive understanding of the intricate process of osteolysis is of utmost importance for future development of therapeutic modalities that may delay or prevent the disease progression.
A Testbed Emulator for Cross-Layer Studies in Mobile Ad Hoc Wireless Networks

Mobile ad hoc wireless networks have been extensively studied as they make possible various interesting future applications. However, most of the existing studies focus on showing the overall impact of mobility from topology changes and signal variations, while they do not clearly show how inter-operability among protocol layers affects the network performance. To address this issue, we developed a testbed which enables us to investigate the cross-layer interaction among protocol layers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). In this paper, we report on the testbed as well as on our experiences and findings from it.
Ultralow threshold laser using a single quantum dot and a microsphere cavity

We propose a novel semiconductor microlaser, made by capturing the light emitted from a single InAs/GaAs quantum dot in the whispering-gallery mode of a glass microsphere. We demonstrate that such an arrangement allows the laser threshold condition to be satisfied. The corresponding threshold current should be several orders of magnitude lower than is currently possible in semiconductor lasers.
Dynamic analysis for locating product features in Ada code

In this paper, we describe a Software Reconnaissance method for locating product features in code. The University of West Florida has provided a public domain Reconnaissance tool for C and C++. Characteristics of the Ada programming language present new interesting issues related to the development of a similar tool for Ada Reconnaissance, particularly its use in embedded systems, multi-tasking systems, and systems with real-time constraints. We describe our on-going efforts to develop a public domain Ada Reconnaissance tool.
ULTRASONIC STUDIES OF 4He SOLID-LIQUID INTERFACE MOBILITY

The first measurements of acoustic reflection have been carried out, together with acoustic transmission at the solid-liquid interface of 4~e and are used to determine the total relative acoustic energy absorption at the interface as a function of temperature. Based on these results a new mechanism involving vacancy generation and rearrangements is proposed for the temperature dependence of the kinetics of growth and interface mobility. Crystal growth from its liquid can be described phenomenologically by a relation v = KAp, where v is the growth rate of the solid, Av is the difference in chemical potential between the liquid and the solid, and K is a kinetic coefficient. For a classical system in which the growth process is diffusion and/or nucleation depen- dent, K increases with temperature, usually according to an Arrhenius law. For quantum solids (such as helium) Andreev and parshinl proposed that crystal growth proceeds in an entirely different way, that the solid-liquid interface has very high mobility and that at T = OK the process is continuous and reversible, i.e., without dissipation. Thus at T = O.the coefficient K is infinite; as the tempera- ture increases, thermal excitations in the liquid and in the solid interact with the solid-liquid interface and cause dissipation. Consequently, unlike in classi- cal systems, the coefficient K decreases with increasing temperature. This propos- al led to a number of experimental and theoretical investigations on helium crystal growth.*-l1 It was reali~ed,~,~ in particular, that pressure changes associated with a sound wave propagating from liquid to solid would be taken up by the advanc- ing or receding interface, where the pressure would be near or at the equilibrium melting value. Thus sound transmission between the two media would be substantial- ly reduced or even suppressed. This reduction in transmission provides a method of studying growth kinetics. Here we report results of the first measurement of the reflection of sound, as well as an extension to higher temperatures and at a higher frequency (10 MHz) of earlier results4 on transmission of sound across the He-4 liquid-solid interface. Helium crystals were grown under constant pressure condi- tions. Vertical sound transmission, liquid to solid, was monitored by measuring the received signal heights of the first transmitted signal and the two reflected signals from the fnterface. (See fig. 1). The amplitudes of the first transmitted signals (TI, in fig. 1) with solid filling 10%-50% of the cell were normalized to the liquid calibration signal by division. Corrections for signal attenuation in the solid and liquid He-4 and for any focussing effects in the solid were made by determining the effective attenuation from two different heights of solid present
Associations among dietary supplement use and dietary and activity behaviors by sex and race/ethnicity in a representative multiethnic sample of 11th-grade students in Texas.

Abstract Background and objective The purpose of this study was to examine associations among dietary supplement use and dietary/activity patterns in a representative sample of adolescents by sex and race/ethnicity, a research area where extant data is limited. Design/participants Cross-sectional, multistage, probability-based sample of 11th graders in Texas during 2004-2005 (n=6,422; 48.8% white/other, 37% Hispanic, and 14.2% African American; 50.6% boys; mean age 16.7 years). Setting Classrooms. Main variables assessed Dietary supplement use, dietary/activity patterns, and anthropometrics. Statistical analyses performed Multiple logistic regression models (odds ratios [ORs] and 95% confidence intervals [CIs]). Results Dietary supplement users reported healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors overall, yet sex- and race/ethnicity-specific differences were seen in associations among specific diet/activity behaviors and supplement use. In whites/others and Hispanics, but not African Americans, supplement use was associated with higher diet quality scores (OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.74 to 4.95 for whites/others; OR 3.93, 95% CI 2.26 to 6.83 for Hispanics), and regular consumption of breakfast (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.40 to 3.66 for whites/others; OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.46 for Hispanics) and low-fat foods (OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.53 to 5.98 for whites/others; OR 3.59, 95% CI 1.11 to 11.6 for Hispanics). Supplement use was not associated with body mass index or with sedentary behaviors overall, but was associated with less television viewing only in whites/others (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.84). For physical activity, boys and whites/others showed positive associations between supplement use and all indicators examined, but girls, Hispanics and African Americans showed mixed patterns of associations. Supplement use was associated with higher weight preference only in boys (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.24 to 4.90), and vegetarian diets only in girls (OR 2.96, 95% CI 1.35 to 6.47). Conclusions Dietary and activity patterns associated with dietary supplement use may vary by sex- and racial/ethnic subpopulation, especially amongst African American youth. These findings together with further research on psychosocial and attitudinal characteristics associated with adolescent supplement use can enhance the development of targeted and tailored health communications about supplement use in adolescent subpopulations.
Acetylcholinesterase supports anchorage independence in colon cancer.

Various roles have been attributed to Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in cancer. Evidence exists for a pro-apoptotic function, consistent with a protective role of AChE. Because other reports suggested that upregulated AChE in some tumors may control cell adhesion, we tested the effects of AChE on anchorage independence (an essential component of metastasis) of colon tumor cells. Several AChE inhibitors dose-dependently suppressed colony formation of HTB-38 cells in soft agar. This effect of AChE was confirmed with HTB-38 cells stably overexpressing AChE. In contrast, cell proliferation was not altered by the effective doses of these chemical inhibitors or by transfected AChE. Protection from cell cycle arrest consecutive to cancer cell detachment may be conveyed by changes in cell–matrix interactions. Reflective of such changes, the AChE overexpressing cells adhered more strongly to Fibronectin than did the vector controls. The AChE-dependent adhesion was RGD-dependent and accompanied by increased c-Myb DNA-binding, suggesting that AChE upregulates an Integrin receptor via c-Myb. In support of these observations, we find AChE message and protein to be expressed in a large fraction of colon cancers and in all colon tumor cell lines analyzed, but only rarely in normal colon specimens. Our results imply a dual role for AChE in colon cancer. While the anti-apoptotic effects of AChE may be protective against early stages of tumorigenesis, this gene product may support the later stages of transformation by enhancing anchorage independent growth. The induction of Integrins could render the cells independent of microenvironmental cues and override cell cycle arrest after deadhesion.
Function and genetics of long versus short copulations in the cactophilic fruit fly,drosophila mojavensis (diptera: drosophilidae)

Variation in copulation duration of Drosophila mojavensisstrains was influenced by both sexes. Males maintained predominant control, as copulation duration of pairs from different strains was more similar to that of the strain from which the male was derived, but female origin also contributed significantly to the duration of copulation. Variation among strains was controlled by genes acting additively in both sexes. The size of both males and females also affected copulation duration. Small males copulated longer on average than large males, while males paired with large females copulated longer than those paired with small females. The importance of copulation duration to fitness was tested by correlation analyses with male size, female size, female remating latency, and number of eggs laid prior to female remating. Longer copulations stimulated earlier oviposition, possibly by increasing accessory gland secretions that are passed by males during copulation.
Use of an Innovative Game To Teach and Reinforce Hand Hygiene Compliance among Healthcare Workers

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Hand hygiene (HH) is the most important method for prevention of infection transmission in healthcare. However, compliance with this simple technique continues to be sub-optimal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a novel game called SPLAT! to teach healthcare workers about the indications for HH, and to promote HH compliance. METHODS: This study was conducted in four intensive care units (ICUs) of an academic medical center in New York City. ICUs were randomized to play as multi-disciplinary teams or individuals. Indications for HH were printed onto business cards and given to all players. Players received stickers with their team color or random colors for the units with individual players. Players were instructed to observe others in the course of their day, and to SPLAT! them by placing a sticker on their shirt when they failed to perform HH as indicated on the card. Players in teams were told to remind teammates who failed to perform HH with no consequence, and to SPLAT! members of the opposing team for failure to perform HH. Each round of the game lasted for one shift. HH observations were conducted before and after SPLAT! to measure rates of compliance. Staff completed evaluations about the acceptability of SPLAT! as an educational tool. RESULTS: SPLAT! was played a total of 6 times. Three rounds were played on days, and three on nights. HH compliance rose significantly from 37% before SPLAT! to 52% (p = 0.025) overall after staff played SPLAT! This included significant increases in 3 of the 4 individual participating ICUs. Staff members' comments on evaluations indicated that playing this game successfully focused their attention on HH compliance. CONCLUSIONS: This study explored an innovative method for teaching healthcare workers about the indications for HH and the frequency with which it is required. The materials needed to play SPLAT! are simple, making it feasible for most healthcare settings. SPLAT! was accepted by most healthcare workers. Comments from players pointed to a unique aspect of SPLAT! in highlighting the multiple times that HH is indicated, and the activities of care in which HH is frequently missed. HH compliance is a complex behavior that is difficult to improve. SPLAT! helped to increase compliance in this study, possibly by illustrating the multiple indications for HH in every day practice. This study was supported by an unrestricted educational grant. GOJO Industries
A Desert Island Reference Collection

“If you were stranded on a desert island and had to create a reference/information service with only ten sources, which ten would you choose?” The question posed by an editor of this journal provokes a cartoon vision of a tiny islet, one palm tree, and a sinking ship in the distance. A much more pleasant image to build upon would be a large, well‐equiped island, with a home ready for occupancy by our family—my wife and me plus our two sons, who still live with us. The house would have all the appropriate amenities, shelving for a couple thousand volumes, and of course, room for the ten reference sources that we would be bringing ashore.
The Cube System As A 3D Medical Workstation

The Cube system is a 3D graphics system centered around a large cubic frame-buffer of voxels with several processors that input, manipulate, view, and render both medical and synthetic 3D images. A software prototype has been integrated on a Sun workstation with a 6D Polhemus input device. The physician interacts directly with the medical images, the synthetic objects, and their transformations, employing inherent 3D interaction tools. The system supports the reconstruction, manipulation, analysis, and display of 3D volumetric medical images. The Cube medical system is applicable to diagnostic, planning, therapeutic, surgical, instructional, and research purposes. A case study of a CT reconstruction and display of the cervical region is presented.
Osteotropic cancer diagnosis by an osteocalcin inspired molecular imaging mimetic.

Background Although microcalcifications of hydroxyapatite can be found in both benign and malignant osteotropic tumors, they are mostly seen in proliferative lesions, including carcinoma. The aim of this present study is to develop a molecular imaging contrast agent for selective identification of hydroxyapatite calcification in human osteotropic tumor tissues ex vivo and in human osteosarcoma cells in vitro.
Gastrointestinal and liver side effects of drugs in elderly patients

It is expected that the percentage of people >60 years of age will be 22% worldwide by the year 2050. Multi-morbidity and poly-pharmacy are common in individuals during old age, while adverse drug reactions are at least twice as common in the elderly compared to younger adults. Publications related to drug side effects are rather rare in this age group since most clinical trials exclude patients >75-80 years of age. Gastrointestinal adverse drug reactions studied in the elderly include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anticoagulant-induced gastrointestinal tract mucosal injuries. Malabsorption, diarrhoea and constipation are common side effects of laxatives, antibiotics, anticholinergics and calcium channel blockers. Drug (amoxycilin/clavulanic acid, isoniazide, nitrofurantoin, diclifenac and methotrexate)-induced hepatotoxicity in the elderly is four times more common than in younger adults and may simulate almost all known liver disorders. Further clinical studies are needed to investigate gastrointestinal and hepatic side effects of drugs in elderly patients.
The transcriptional co-activator p/CIP (NCoA-3) is up-regulated by STAT6 and serves as a positive regulator of transcriptional activation by STAT6

Transcriptional activation by signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) has been shown to require the direct interaction not only with co-activators such as p300 and cAMP-responsive element-binding protein-binding protein (CBP) but also with nuclear co-activator 1, a member of the p160/steroid receptor co-activator family. Among the p160/steroid receptor co-activators, only p/CIP (nuclear co-activator 3) has been shown to be up-regulated by interleukin (IL)-4 in B cells through a STAT-6-dependent mechanism using Gene-Chip analysis. In this study, we have investigated the function of p/CIP in the transcriptional activation by STAT6. We found that p/CIP indirectly interacted with STAT6 via p300, and overexpression of the CBP-interacting domain of p/CIP (p/CIP947–1084) prevented the interaction of p/CIP with STAT6 by blocking the binding of p/CIP to p300. Whereas expression of p/CIP947–1084 resulted in a marked reduction of STAT6-mediated transactivation, overexpression of wild type p/CIP resulted in significant enhancement of it. In addition, p/CIP947–1084 markedly reduced CD23 expression on B cells stimulated with IL-4, whereas overexpression of wild type p/CIP enhanced it. Chromatin immunoprecipitations demonstrate that IL-4 increases the interaction of p/CIP with the murine immunoglobulin heavy chain germ line epsilon promoter in B cells. These results suggest that p/CIP positively regulates STAT6 transcriptional activation through formation of a STAT6, p300/CBP, and p/CIP complex.
Spatial and temporal variations in terrestrially-derived organic matter from sediments of the Delaware estuary

Terrestrially-derived organic matter in sediments of the Delaware Estuary originates from riverine transport of soils and fresh litter, sewage and industrial wastes, and marsh export of organic matter. The quantity, composition, and spatial distribution of terrigenous organic matter in sediments was determined by elemental (C and N), lignin, and stable carbon isotope analyses. Sediments in the upper Delaware Estuary had low organic carbon content and high lignin content. In contrast, sediments in the lower Delaware Estuary had high organic carbon content and low lignin content. There was a slight decrease in the proportion of syringyl and cinnamyl phenols relative to vanillyl phenols between the upper estuary and lower estuary. Differences in lignin and stable carbon isotope compositions between sediments of the Delaware Estuary and sediments of the Broadkill River estuary (an adjoining salt-marsh estuary) supported previous observations that marshes do not export substantial quantities of organic matter to estuaries. Additional results suggested that lignin-rich sediments were concentrated in the upper estuary, most likely in the zone of high turbidity. Furthermore, algal material diluted lignin-rich sediments, particularly in the lower estuary. The weaker algal signal in bottom sediments compared to that in suspended particulate matter suggested algal material was decomposed either in the water column or at the sediment-water interface. Physical sorting of sediments prior to deposition was also indicated by observations of compositional differences between the upper and lower estuary bottom sediments. Finally, seasonal variations in primary productivity strongly influenced the relative abundance of terrestrial organic matter. In fall, however, the proportion of lignin was greatest because of a combination of greater inputs of terrestrially-derived organic matter, lower river discharge, and a decrease in algal biomass.
An Empirical Evaluation of Repeatable Testing as a Technique for Improving Management Education

The article presents information on a study that investigated an empirical evaluation of repeatable testing as a means of improving management education. Repeatable testing gives students the oppor...
Graduate education at berkeley

The Berkeley Department of Sociology has a distinctive training program that encourages the student to pursue an independent course of inquiry. While clearly still within the U.S. orbit, when arrayed along a continuum, the program leans more toward the European than the American tradition of postgraduate education. The Berkeley doctoral student substantially creates his or her own mix and is also most likely the principal architect of the research design and the sole collector of primary data for the dissertation. This article briefly explains the history and describes the current program.
Infrared library search on principal-component-analyzed Fourier-transformed absorption spectra

Fourier-transformed infrared absorption spectra are compressed by principal-component analysis. Searches using the compressed data demonstrate the success of the compression. A search technique utilizing principal components in a prefilter selection produces the most efficient infrared library search method.
Pyrolysis in Waste to Energy Conversion (WEC)

Solid waste (SW), mostly now wasted biomass, could fuel approximately ten times more of USA’s increasing energy needs than it currently does. At the same time it would create good non-exportable jobs, and local industries. Twenty four examples of wasted or under-utilized solids that contain appreciable organic matter are listed. Estimates of their sustainable tonnage lead to a total SW exceeding 2 billion dry tons. Now usually disposal problems, most of these SW’s, can be pyrolyzed into substitutes for or supplements to expensive natural gas. The large proportion of biomass (carbon dioxide neutral plant matter) in the list reduces Greenhouse problems. Pyrolysis converts such solid waste into a medium heating value gaseous fuel usually with a small energy expenditure. With advanced gas cleaning technologies the pyrogas can be used in high efficiency gas turbines or fuel cells systems. This approach has important environmental and efficiency advantages with respect to direct combustion in boilers and even air blown or oxygen blown partial combustion gasifiers. Since pyrolysis is still not a predictive science the CCTL has used an analytical semi-empirical model (ASEM) to organize experimental measurements of the yields of various product {Ca Hb Oc } yields vs temperature (T) for r dry ash, nitrogen and sulfur free (DANSF) feedstock having various weight % of oxygen [O] and hydrogen [H]. With this ASEM each product is assigned 5 parameters (W, T0 , D, p, q) in a robust analytical Y(T) expression to represent yields vs. temperature of any specific product from any specified feedstock. Patterns in the dependence of these parameters upon [O], [H], a, b, and c suggest that there is some order in pyrolysis yields that might be useful in optimize the throughput of particular pyrolysis systems used for waste to energy conversion (WEC). An analytical cost estimation (ACE) model is used to calculate the cost of electricity (COE) vs the cost of fuel (COF) for a SW pyrogas fired combined cycle (CC) system for comparison with the COE vs COF for a natural gas fired CC system. It shows that high natural gas prices solid waste can be changed from a disposal cost item to a valuable asset. Comparing COEs when using other SW capable technologies are also facilitated by the ACE method. Implications of this work for programs that combine conservation with waste to energy conversion in efforts to reach Zero Waste are discussed.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Are the reluctant warriors out of control? Why the U.S. military is averse to responding to post‐cold war low‐level threats

(1996). Are the reluctant warriors out of control? Why the U.S. military is averse to responding to post‐cold war low‐level threats. Security Studies: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 51-90.
VIRAL-MEDIATED GENE TRANSFER IN THE COCHLEA

Abstract Gene transfer is an exciting new tool in medical therapy and scientific investigation, but only very recently has it begun to be developed in the auditory system. This paper describes in vivo and ex vivo experiments using an adenoviral vector (Ad. RSVntlacZ), which is a replication-deficient virus based on a human adenoviral (serotype 5[ genomic backbone. The in vivo experiments demonstrate successful gene transfer into multiple types of cochlear cells. We observed a relatively efficient transduction, several weeks of sustained transgene expression and an absence of major lethal cytotoxicity in spiral ganglion and epithelial cells of the cochlea in adult animals. The ex vivo experiments were performed using fibroblasts transduced in vitro with Ad. RSVntlacZ. Two weeks after inoculation of the fibroblasts into the perilymph, we observed transplanted fibroblasts, which were adherent to the lining of the perilymphatic spaces, and were expressing the lacZ transgene. We speculate that, as the genetic basis of degenerative cochlear diseases is characterized on a mutational level, transgene expression will allow us to test hypotheses regarding the effects of specific genes on cochlear cell biology. Gene transfer will not only increase our understanding of the pathophysiology of hearing loss, but also may provide gene therapy for disease.
Emergency Determination of Decision-making Capacity: Balancing Autonomy and Beneficence in the Emergency Department

The determination of decision-making capacity (DMC) is an essential component of securing voluntary informed consent, for either treatment or refusal of care. Decision-making capacity should be determined on some level during each patient encounter. Decision-making capacity includes the ability to receive, process, and understand information, the ability to deliberate, the ability to make choices, and the ability to communicate those preferences. For patients in whom DMC may be uncertain, a more explicit approach to determination of DMC is recommended. However, DMC determination must neither compromise patient safety nor delay needed care. When DMC determination is challenging, or when the ramifications of a decision are serious, the assistance of a third party (such as a surrogate, a consultant, or another clinician) may be valuable in discerning the most appropriate action. In addition to the obvious clinical utility of DMC assessment, the steps taken in the very establishment of DMC may promote patient trust, professionalism, and humanistic clinical practice. While DMC may be conditional, the compassion and respect we have for our patients must be unconditional.
Regulation of protein abundance in pluripotent cells undergoing commitment to the neural lineage

The P19 cell line is a widely studied model of neural differentiation. When pluripotent P19 cells are cultured as aggregates in the presence of retinoic acid for 4 days, the cells commit to the neural fate, but have not yet undergone overt differentiation. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to analyze cellular protein expression during this induction. Approximately 500 abundant polypeptides were analyzed. Seventeen polypeptides were upregulated during induction; several of these were significantly regulated 48 h after the addition of retinoic acid. No downregulations were observed. Fifteen of the 17 polypeptides continued to be expressed throughout terminal differentiation. The upregulation of 14 of the 17 polypeptides requires both retinoic acid and aggregation, which alone do not induce neural differentiation. Furthermore, these regulated polypeptides are expressed in neural tissue, suggesting they are associated with neural function in vivo. Embryonic stem cells, a totipotent line, also neurally differentiate in response to retinoic acid and aggregation. Comparison of embryonic stem cells to P19 cells shows that the two systems regulate a similar set of polypeptides and are thus likely to utilize a similar pathway. These studies are a step toward determining the full extent of regulation involved in the commitment of pluripotent cells to the neural fate. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Microscale plasma-initiated patterning of electrospun polymer scaffolds

Microscale plasma-initiated patterning (μPIP) is a novel micropatterning technique used to create biomolecular micropatterns on polymer surfaces. The patterning method uses a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp to selectively protect regions of an underlying substrate from oxygen plasma treatment resulting in hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. Preferential adsorption of the biomolecules onto either the plasma-exposed (hydrophilic) or plasma-protected (hydrophobic) regions leads to the biomolecular micropatterns. In the current work, laminin-1 was applied to an electrospun polyamide nanofibrillar matrix following plasma treatment. Radial glial clones (neural precursors) selectively adhered to these patterned matrices following the contours of proteins on the surface. This work demonstrates that textured surfaces, such as nanofibrillar scaffolds, can be micropatterned to provide external chemical cues for cellular organization.
Lingual flap retraction for third molar removal.

Abstract Purpose Lingual nerve damage following lower third molar surgery remains a clinical problem. The traditional approach in the United States has been a buccal approach avoiding exposure or surgery on the lingual side of the crest of the ridge. An alternative technique is to deliberately expose the lingual tissues and retract the lingual nerve lingually before tooth removal. This study reports a trial of this technique. Materials and methods Patients had removal of their lower third molars carried out using a technique that raises a lingual flap in addition to a buccal flap and places a specially designed lingual retractor to ensure that the lingual nerve is held out of the surgical field. This technique was used in cases where the crown of the tooth had to be sectioned or when distal bone needed to be removed. Results Two hundred fifty patients were treated by this method. There were 4 cases of transient lingual paresthesia, presumably caused by traction pressure from the retractor. Three of these cases were mild and resolved within 3 weeks. The fourth case had more profound paresthesia, but still resolved within 2 months. There were no cases of permanent nerve damage, and in many cases removal of the third molar was simplified by the superior access. Conclusion Lingual retraction for third molar removal improves access to the surgical site and can simplify third molar removal. In this prospective study there were no cases of permanent lingual nerve injury.
Vanishing distortion and shrinking cells

We establish an asymptotic connection between vanishing rth-power distortion and shrinking cell diameters for vector quantizers with convex cells. As a consequence, a number of shrinking cell conditions may be easily verified by showing that the quantizers in question have distortion tending to zero. This also plays an important role in the asymptotic analysis of a common greedy growing scheme for tree-structured vector quantizers.
Novel ferroelectric materials for phased array antennas

Various composites of barium strontium titanium oxide (BSTO) combined with other nonelectrically active oxide ceramics have been formulated for application in phased array antennas. In general, the composites have adjustable electronic properties which can be tailored for use in phased array antennas and other phase shifting devices. The dielectric constant and the loss tangents have been reduced to enhance the overall impedance matching and thereby lowering the insertion loss of the device. In addition, the overall tunability, the change in the dielectric constant with applied voltage, is maintained at a sufficiently high level. In order to address a broad frequency range in the microwave region, the composites have been fabricated in bulk ceramic, thick film, and thin film form. This article discusses the processing, material characterization, and electronic properties of the composites in MHz and GHz frequencies.
Comorbidity in heart failure in the elderly.

Heart failure occurs principally in the geriatric population and often is associated with severe comorbidity. Comorbid conditions that occur in the geriatric population at a prevalence equal to or greater than that of heart failure itself include the brain failure syndromes (i.e., delirium and dementia), depression, falls, postural hypotension, urinary incontinence, undernutrition, frailty, sensory deprivation, polypharmacy, and lack of social support. The effect of major geriatric comorbidities on the management of patients with heart failure is reviewed.
Antiviral drug ganciclovir is a potent inhibitor of microglial proliferation and neuroinflammation

Aberrant microglial responses contribute to neuroinflammation in many neurodegenerative diseases, but no current therapies target pathogenic microglia. We discovered unexpectedly that the antiviral drug ganciclovir (GCV) inhibits the proliferation of microglia in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model for multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as in kainic acid–induced excitotoxicity. In EAE, GCV largely prevented infiltration of T lymphocytes into the central nervous system (CNS) and drastically reduced disease incidence and severity when delivered before the onset of disease. In contrast, GCV treatment had minimal effects on peripheral leukocyte distribution in EAE and did not inhibit generation of antibodies after immunization with ovalbumin. Additionally, a radiolabeled analogue of penciclovir, [18F]FHBG, which is similar in structure to GCV, was retained in areas of CNS inflammation in EAE, but not in naive control mice, consistent with the observed therapeutic effects. Our experiments suggest GCV may have beneficial effects in the CNS beyond its antiviral properties.
Role of Electron-Electron Interaction in the Theory of Positron Annihilation in Metals

In our previous paper with the above title an equation of motion for the electron-positron pair was derived with some approximations; here a modified equation for the pair is derived. This has the feature that in "RPA" the "reduced vertex functions" appear in a symmetrical way. We also derive an expression for the positron self-energy and explicitly show that the electron-positron bound state channel does not appear in the positron self-energy and so the renormalization due to the bound state, if it exists, is not as dramatic as in the problems where the two-particle bound state channel occurs in the one-particle self-energy (e. g. superconductivity). Recently 1 )' 2 ) we derived an equation for positronium formation in a many­ electron system using a technique due to Martin and Schwinger. 3 ) In this deri­ vation the step from expression ( 4 · 9) to the expression ( 4 ·10) of I involved inversion of a complicated operator and ( 4 ·10) was arrived at by the simplest approximation to this inverse. By generalizing an identity given by Martin and Schwinger, 3 ) we here evaluate this inverse and after some approximations similar to the one given by Martin and Schwinger, we derive an equation which is more general than that given by ( 4 ·10) of I. This derivation has two features. The vertex functions occur in a symmetrical way in the most general form. Secondly, when further approximations corresponding to RPA are made for the vertex functions, the "reduced vertex functions" for the electrons and positrons appear along with the one-electron and one-positron Green's functions in the kernel ( 4 ·12); this is more accurate than the one given by ( 4 ·12) because under certain conditions, one expects some cancellation of the one-particle wave function renormalizations by an appeal to Ward identities. 4 ) Of course ( 4 ·12) is a special case of the equation that will be derived here when the reduced vertex functions are replaced by the leading terms in the equations they obey. The analysis of our second paper 2 ) ·was for this special case and the conclusions reached there are thus unaltered. We will also explicitly display the appearance of the two-particle electron-positron Green's function in the positron self-energy. In particular we recover the self-energy of the positron given by (6 · 2) of I from this expression. In conclusion, we will make a few general remarks con
Synthesis of a tert-butyl substituted bis(silirane) and comparison with its methyl and phenyl analogs

The detailed syntheses of a series of substituted bis(silirane)s (Me 4 C 2 SiR) 2 {R = Me ( 1a ), Ph ( 1b ), tert -butyl ( 1c )} are reported. The tert -butyl derivative ( 1c ) shows steric congestion which results in conformational rigidity in solution with respect to Si–Si bond rotation. This contrasts with the methyl ( 1a ) and phenyl ( 1b ) analogs. The rotational barriers of all three bis(silirane)s were examined by Density Functional Theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G∗ level. The calculated rotational barriers were 4.1 and 4.7 kcal/mol for 1a and 1b , respectively, but significantly higher for 1c , 29.9 kcal/mol. The thermolysis of 1c at 145 °C in the presence of bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene gave 1,4-di- tert -butyl-2,2,3,3-tetramethyl-5,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-disilabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-ene ( A ) resulting from the [2 + 2] cycloaddition of bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene with a 1,2-disilacyclobut-1-ene intermediate ( B ). The 1,2-disilacyclobut-1-ene ( B ) presumably originates from the rearrangement of a transient siliranylsilylene produced by loss of tetramethylethylene from 1c . Purification of the 1,4-disilabicyclo[2.2.0]hex-5-ene ( A ) by column chromatography resulted in its reaction with air to afford a stable 1,4-di- tert -butyl-2,2,3,3-tetramethyl-5,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)-7-oxa-1,4-disilabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene ( C ). Figure options Download full-size image Download as PowerPoint slide
The geoid constraint in global geodynamics: viscosity structure, mantle heterogeneity models and boundary conditions

SUMMARY The Earth's non-hydrostatic gravity field, or geoid, provides a first-order constraint on mantle density structure and dynamics. Geodynamic models for the geoid have proliferated since the advent of seismic mapping of mantle heterogeneity structure (tomography) because the geoid offers perhaps the best-measured independent constraint on mantle density heterogeneity. However, dynamic geoid models involve a number of questionable physical assumptions and uncertainties whose effects need to be evaluated before geodynamic inferences based upon the geoid can be considered sound. Troubling issues include the appropriate surface boundary conditions (free-slip, no-slip, plates?) and parametrization of radial viscosity variations (how many layers can be resolved?), in addition to lateral viscosity variations, possible chemical layering of the mantle, phase transitions, etc. There are also uncertainties in the density heterogeneity models used as ‘input’ to dynamic geoid models, most of which are derived from seismic tomography and require weakly constrained, empirical conversion factors to go from seismic velocity variations to density variations. Here we address several of the most straightforward problems inherent in geoid modelling, namely the issues of viscosity structure resolution, uncertainties in appropriate boundary conditions, and differences among mantle heterogeneity models. A robust feature of all models is a lower-mantle viscosity at least a factor of 30 greater than that of the upper mantle, but there is little resolution with regard to finer details such as lithospheric or uppermost mantle (‘low-viscosity zone’) viscosity. Ironically, free-slip boundary conditions result in the best fits to the geoid in all cases, but all boundary conditions exhibit predictable trade-offs with the uppermost-mantle viscosity. Models with a single viscosity layer representing the lower mantle yield similar dynamic topography estimates of the order of 700–1000 m in amplitude, regardless of the finer details of upper-mantle viscosity structure, boundary conditions or input heterogeneity models. Comparing mantle heterogeneity models based on two independent seismological determinations (Harvard and Berkeley models) and on the history of subduction, we find that these models are virtually indistinguishable regarding inferences of mantle viscosity structure and amplitude of dynamic topography, and in terms of the effects of different boundary conditions. Uncertainties concerning which type of boundary condition is appropriate are much more important than which mantle heterogeneity model is chosen. Given other uncertainties in modelling the geoid, particularly the strong effects due to lateral viscosity variations for intermediate (<10 000 km) wavelengths, we conclude that the class of dynamic geoid models explored so far cannot reliably elucidate the details of upper-mantle viscosity structure.
Column Stability and Minimum Lateral Bracing: Effects of Shear Deformations

Stability equations that evaluate the elastic critical load of columns in any type of construction with sidesway uninhibited, partially inhibited, and totally inhibited including the effects of bending and shear deformations are derived in a classical manner. The “modified” shear equation proposed by Timoshenko and Gere is utilized in the derived equations which can be applied to the stability of frames (“unbraced,” “partially braced,” and “totally braced”) with rigid, semirigid, and simple connections. The complete column classification and the corresponding three stability equations overcome the limitations of current methods. Simple criteria are presented that define the concept of minimum lateral bracing required by columns and plane frames to achieve nonsway buckling mode. Four examples are presented that demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed stability equations and the importance of shear deformations in columns with relatively low shear stiffness AsG such as in built-up metal c...
Capital Cost Reimbursement to Community Hospitals Under Federal Health Insurance Programs

Issues in current capital cost reimbursement to community hospitals by Medicare and Medicaid are described, and options for change analyzed. Major reforms in the way the federal government pays for capital costs--in particular substitution of other methods of payment for existing depreciation reimbursement--could have significant impact on the structure of the health care system and on government expenditures. While such reforms are likely to engender substantial political opposition, they may be facilitated by broader changes in the reimbursement system.
Application-aware prioritization mechanisms for on-chip networks

Network-on-Chips (NoCs) are likely to become a critical shared resource in future many-core processors. The challenge is to develop policies and mechanisms that enable multiple applications to efficiently and fairly share the network, to improve system performance. Existing local packet scheduling policies in the routers fail to fully achieve this goal, because they treat every packet equally, regardless of which application issued the packet. This paper proposes prioritization policies and architectural extensions to NoC routers that improve the overall application-level throughput, while ensuring fairness in the network. Our prioritization policies are application-aware, distinguishing applications based on the stall-time criticality of their packets. The idea is to divide processor execution time into phases, rank applications within a phase based on stall-time criticality, and have all routers in the network prioritize packets based on their applications' ranks. Our scheme also includes techniques that ensure starvation freedom and enable the enforcement of system-level application priorities. We evaluate the proposed prioritization policies on a 64-core CMP with an 8x8 mesh NoC, using a suite of 35 diverse applications. For a representative set of case studies, our proposed policy increases average system throughput by 25.6% over age-based arbitration and 18.4% over round-robin arbitration. Averaged over 96 randomly-generated multiprogrammed workload mixes, the proposed policy improves system throughput by 9.1% over the best existing prioritization policy, while also reducing application-level unfairness.
Quantum Gravity and Phenomenological Philosophy

The central thesis of this paper is that contemporary theoretical physics is grounded in philosophical presuppositions that make it difficult to effectively address the problems of subject-object interaction and discontinuity inherent to quantum gravity. The core objectivist assumption implicit in relativity theory and quantum mechanics is uncovered and we see that, in string theory, this assumption leads into contradiction. To address this challenge, a new philosophical foundation is proposed based on the phenomenology of Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Martin Heidegger. Then, through the application of qualitative topology and hypernumbers, phenomenological ideas about space, time, and dimension are brought into focus so as to provide specific solutions to the problems of force-field generation and unification. The phenomenological string theory that results speaks to the inconclusiveness of conventional string theory and resolves its core contradiction.
MirrorFugue: communicating hand gesture in remote piano collaboration

Playing a musical instrument involves a complex set of continuous gestures, both to play the notes and to convey expression. To learn an instrument, a student must learn not only the music itself but also how to perform these bodily gestures. We present MirrorFugue, a set of three interfaces on a piano keyboard designed to visualize hand gesture of a remote collaborator. Based their spatial configurations, we call our interfaces Shadow, Reflection, and Organ. We describe the configurations and detail studies of our designs on synchronous, remote collaboration, focusing specifically on remote lessons for beginners. Based on our evaluations, we conclude that displaying the to-scale hand gestures of a teacher at the locus of interaction can improve remote piano learning for novices.
Dinosaur eggshell study using scanning electron microscopy

Visualization and analysis of structural features in fossil dinosaur eggs by scanning electron microscopy augment information from traditional petrographic light microscopy. Comparison of characteristics in fossil and modern eggshells allows inferences to be made regarding dinosaur reproductive biology, physiology, and evolutionary relationships. Assessment of diagenetic alteration of primary eggshell calcite structure that occurs during fossilization provides important information necessary for taxonomic identification and paleoenvironmental interpretations.