cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Olefinic Nature of Anacardic Acid from Indian Cashew-nut Shell Liquid

ANACARDIC acid, the major component of the liquid extracted by solvent from cashew-nut shells1, was regarded as a homogeneous chemical entity containing in its aliphatic side-chain of fifteen carbon atoms two double bonds until recently, when it was shown by Izzo and Dawson2 to be in fact a mixture of olefinic components of which they identified the mono-olefin in the form of a crystalline glycol of the methylated anacardic acid. The present communication reports the complete separation of the mixture into its several components and the determination of their olefinic structure.
Serum prostate-specific antigen after radiation therapy for clinically localized prostate cancer: Prognostic implications

Abstract Purpose : Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels following definitive radiation for prostate cancer are increasingly recognized as the most sensitive means to monitor disease status. However, beyond general agreement that patients fare poorly when posttreatment PSA levels fail to normalize, many questions relative to postirradiation PSA remain unanswered. This study evaluates the potential prognostic value of postirradiation PSA in a large cohort of patients followed with serial PSA determinations. Methods and Materials : We analyzed disease outcome in 427 patients with clinical stages T1 (122 men), T2 (147 men), T3 (152 men), and T4 (six men) prostate cancer receiving definitive external radiation as sole therapy and followed for times ranging from 9–73 months (median 30 months) with a total of 2260 posttreatment PSA values. Results : Excluding three patients who died due to intercurrent illness without a posttreatment PSA, postirradiation PSA fell in 416 of 424 men (98%). Prostate-specific antigen levels continued to fall for up to 12 months but there was no evidence of significant declines beyond that. The time to nadir PSA was: 3 months, 60 patients; 6 months, 68 patients, 9 months 148 patients; 12 months, 144 patients. Time to nadir was not a significant determinant of outcome. Prostate-specific antigen levels at 3 and 6 months and the nadir level were individually highly correlated with outcome. In multivariate analyses of posttreatment values, only the nadir value was independently significant, with increasing relapse rates as its value was higher. It retained significance when pretreatment PSA level was included in the model. Nadir values ranged from undetectable (52 patients) to 20.3 ng/ml with a median of 1.1 ng/ml. Nadir values down to 1 ng/ml were prognostic; below 1 ng/ml (182 patients) the nadir value no longer yielded prognostic information additional to that inherent in the pretreatment value. Only patients with nadir levels Conclusion : The nadir PSA value after radiation is a significant posttreatment determinant of outcome and was second only to the pretreatment value. Surprisingly low nadir values were prognostically significant. Only patients whose nadir falls below 1 ng/ml can be said to have achieved a biochemical complete remission. However, even such low nadir values do not portend durable disease control for patients with high pretreatment PSA levels.
ShorMerm transient attenuations in single-mode optical fibers due to hydrogen

A relatively short-term transient mechanism of increasing optical fiber attenuation from the presence of hydrogen (H2) has been observed in single-mode optical fibers. The attenuation increases have a distinctive pattern of spectral absorption peaks. Peaks at 1.25, 1.53, and 1.64 μm are predominantly transient, whereas peaks at 1.33, 1.38, and 1.44 μm are predominantly permanent (Fig. 1). The magnitude of attenuation increases correlation with excess absorption at 0.63 μm (Fig. 2) reflecting the number of active detect sites susceptible to the phenomenon. The product of excess absorptions1 at 0.24 and 0.63 pm is believed to be a constant. The defect sites can be in either or both the core and cladding of the fiber.
Two-Phase Well Test Analysis of Gas Condensate Reservoirs

This paper proposes a new method to interpret transient pressure data from gas condensate reservoirs. Our method models two-phase gas-condensate flow in the reservoir using traditonal solutions to flow equations for single-phase, slightly compressible liquid flow by employing a pseudopressure function and fluid properties derived from conventional laboratory experiments. The method is especially useful for well test analysis when reservoir pressure is near or below the dewpoint, where existing methods fail. Their assumption of steady-state flow yields a relation between reservoir condensate saturation and pressure that is not valid at these low pressures. In this paper, we show that an accurate relation between reservoir condensate saturation and pressure can be computed from the assumption of a three-zone radial model, in which steady-state fluid flow is assumed in the first zone, the condensate is immobile in the second zone, and only the gas phase exists in the third zone. (Whether the third zone exists or not is determined by reservoir average pressure.) The second zone becomes increasingly important at lower pressures. The essential problem in multiphase well test analysis is to establish the correct relationship between saturation and pressure needed to calculate pseudopressure. We verified our calculated relationship between reservoir condensate oil saturation and pressure by comparing our analytical results to results generated by compositional simulation. The comparison also showed that our proposed relationship between reservoir condensate saturation and pressure leads to accurate test interpretations and is much more satisfactory than previous methods. Once the correct relation between reservoir condensate oil saturation and pressure is obtained, our method can compute and correlate pseudopressure with either producing or shut-in time. Sensitivity studies for various reservoir and fluid conditions support our conclusions under a wide variety of conditions. Our test interpretation method provides good estimates of reservoir permeability and initial reservoir pressure. Mechanical skin is usually overestimated, but only modestly (typically about one unit of skin). Our method requires lab constant volume depletion (CVD) data, gas and condensate oil relative permeability, and producing GOR in addition to transient pressure data. The effects of non-Darcy flow, wellbore storage, and capillary number-dependent relative permeability are not considered. The production wells are fully penetrated.
Flap span effects on boundary-layer separation

B separation due to a compression corner, i.e., a deflected flap, or an external shock impingement has been studied both theoretically and experimentally for a number of years. The impetus of the studies has been the need to obtain predictive techniques for aerodynamic properties of control surfaces, inlets, etc. Two-dimensional boundary-layer flows have normally been stressed. Departure from two-dimensional flow due to flap span effects has been studied experimentally in a few cases, e.g. Refs. 1-4, but only in the spanwise plane of symmetry of the compression corner. This Note describes results of an experimental program to determine the spanwise distribution of the beginning of the separation interaction due to a deflected flap of varying span-length.
Timing uncertainty analysis for time-of-flight systems

Time-of-flight synchronization is a new digital design methodology that eliminates all latching devices, allowing higher clock rates than alternative timing schemes. Synchronization is accomplished by precisely balancing connection delays. Many effective pipeline stages are created by pipelining combinational logic, similar in concept to wave pipelining but differing in several respects. Due to the unique flow-through nature of circuits and to the need for pulse-mode operation, time-of-flight design exposes interesting new areas for CAD timing analysis. This paper discusses how static propagation delay uncertainty limits the clock period for time-of-flight circuits built with opto-electronic devices. We present algorithms for placing a minimum set of clock gates to restore timing in feedback loops that implement memory and for propagating delay uncertainty through a circuit graph. A mixed integer program determining the minimum feasible clock period subject to pulse width and arrival time constraints is discussed. Algorithms are implemented in XHatch, a time-of-flight CAD package.
Spin-transistor action in waveguides with periodically modulated strength of the spin–orbit interaction

Abstract Spin-polarized electron transport through waveguides, in which the strength of the spin–orbit interaction (SOI) α is varied periodically, is studied using the transfer-matrix technique. In a waveguide in which the SOI exists only in one segment, the total transmission shows a sinusoidal dependence on the strength α and the segment length l. The modulated total transmission T works as the envelope of the spin-up (T+) or spin-down (T−) electron transmission in the manner T + =T cos 2 (θ/2) and T − =T sin 2 (θ/2) , where θ is a measure of the precession. In a periodically modulated waveguide, with two subunits in each unit cell of different strength, the total transmission is further modulated and gaps appear when the strength α or the length of one of the two subunits is varied, provided only one mode is allowed to propagate in the waveguide. A similar but not periodic behavior occurs as a function of the incident electron energy. The structure considered is a good candidate for the establishment of a realistic spin transistor.
Crystal Structures and Biochemical Analyses Suggest a Unique Mechanism and Role for Human Glycyl-tRNA Synthetase in Ap4A Homeostasis *

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases catalyze the attachment of amino acids to their cognate tRNAs for protein synthesis. However, the aminoacylation reaction can be diverted to produce diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A), a universal pleiotropic signaling molecule needed for cell regulation pathways. The only known mechanism for Ap4A production by a tRNA synthetase is through the aminoacylation reaction intermediate aminoacyl-AMP, thus making Ap4A synthesis amino acid-dependent. Here, we demonstrate a new mechanism for Ap4A synthesis. Crystal structures and biochemical analyses show that human glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) produces Ap4A by direct condensation of two ATPs, independent of glycine concentration. Interestingly, whereas the first ATP-binding pocket is conserved for all class II tRNA synthetases, the second ATP pocket is formed by an insertion domain that is unique to GlyRS, suggesting that GlyRS is the only tRNA synthetase catalyzing direct Ap4A synthesis. A special role for GlyRS in Ap4A homeostasis is proposed.
Technical services reorganization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: A subject-oriented approach

Until March 1989 the Central Technical Services (CTS) of the General Library System at the University of Wisconsin-Madison followed a traditional scheme of organization. The Acquisitions Department consisted of two sections, Monographs and Serials, each of which was responsible for preorder searching, ordering, receiving, and paying. Upon receipt, materials went to the MARC Department where they were searched on OCLC for cataloging copy and cataloged if usable copy was found. Items lacking copy were then sent either to an uncataloged control area, or to the original catalogers who were members of one of four broad subject cluster groups (explained below). The third department was Catalog Editing, which was responsible for maintaining integrity of the information in the online public catalog, e.g., processing items considered lost and those that had been withdrawn. Catalog Editing also included the Marking Room, responsible for adding call numbers and tattletape to each item. Three major factors led us to consider reorganization of CTS. The first was the existence of the five subject clusters. In a reorganization of library functions in the mid-19808, these groups had been formed for the humanities, area studies, social sciences, physical sciences and biological sciences. The groups, which reported to two Associate Directors, consisted of selectors (main library subject bibliographers and branch librarians) and original catalogers who had formerly been the members of the Cataloging Department. Each cluster had a coordinator elected from its members on a rotating annual basis; the coordinators were responsible for cluster meetings and liaison with CTS on technical services matters. The clusters were formed to enable selectors and original catalogers to work more closely to reach a better understanding of each other’s needs and work and to establish cataloging priorities. The second factor was that with the implementation of NOTIS in early 1987, we realized that we had an opportunity to review workflow and organization of CTS. We were no lon-
Laser transformation hardening of iron-carbon and iron- carbon- chromium steels

The laser transformation hardening response of Fe-0.5C-0.8Mn and Fe-0.5C-0.8Mn-0.8Cr steels was examined. A 2 kW CO2 laser was used to scan the steel surfaces at various rates. Complete transformation of pearlite to austenite, and hence to martensite, occurred in the laser heated surface layer of the Fe-C-Mn steel. During equivalent heat treatment of the Fe-C-Mn-Cr steel, incomplete austenitization of the pearlite colonies left the cementite plates largely undissolved. However, the maximum surface hardness was approximately the same for both alloys. Comparison of calculated and measured hardened depths yielded values of the effective coupling coefficient of the laser beam to the steel which varied as a function of beam interaction time. Modeling the process allowed a dis-tinction to be made between the effects of alloying elements and of pearlite spacing upon the depth of complete austenitization. In this case, the effect of the difference in pearlite spacing between the two steels was negligible. In the alloy steel, Cr and Mn were strongly partitioned to the cementite before heat treatment, and remained so after laser processing. Incomplete austenitization of that steel is attributed to partitioning of alloying elements to the cementite and their retarding influence on the diffusion controlled dissolution kinetics of the alloyed carbide.
Experiments in object impedance control for flexible objects

This paper presents a control strategy for manipulation of flexible objects by multiple robot arms. The control policy developed in this paper for flexible objects is based on a controller developed previously for rigid objects: the object impedance controller. The controller compensates for the dynamics of both the arms and the object and responds to environmental forces with a fully programmable impedance relationship. For a class of flexible objects, the required extensions to object impedance control are outlined in this paper. The paper presents experimental results for a dual arm robotic system manipulating an object with a single flexible degree of freedom in both free-space and environmental contact tasks. >
Reaction of OH-Al polymers with smectites and vermiculites

Five montmorillonites, one hectorite, and two vermiculites were treated with OH-AI solutions containing rapid- and slow-reacting polymers of similar concentrations. With all smectites, both rapid- and slow-reacting OH-A1 polymers were much more preferentially adsorbed than monomeric species. Relatively slow-reacting OH-AI polymers were more preferentially adsorbed than rapid-reacting ones. The average basicity of the adsorbed A1 was 2.46, which was close to that of the OH-AI polymers in the original solution. The OH-AI polymers that enter the interlayer resemble those in original solutions. With vermiculites, the solution concentration of rapid-reacting OH-A1 polymers was much reduced after reaction. The average basicity of the adsorbed A1 was 1.99, which was considerably lower than that in the original solution. It is postulated that OH-AI polymers break to monomeric Al ions and then enter the clay. The monomeric Al species that enter the clay interlayers hydrolyze and polymerize in situ and become fixed. The H ~ ions released from hydrolysis convert the rapid-reacting OH-AI polymers to monomeric Al in solution. Limited amounts of slow-reacting polymers were adsorbed because of their resistance to acid depolymerization.
A Class of Labeled Posets and the Shi Arrangement of Hyperplanes

We consider the class Pnof labeled posets onnelements which avoid certain three-element induced subposets. We show that the number of posets in Pnis (n+1)n?1by exploiting a bijection between Pnand the set of regions of the arrangement of hyperplanes in Rnof the formxi?xj=0 or 1 for 1?i
A multichannel, wireless telemetric microsystem for small animal studies

Conventional means of collecting biophysiological parameters in small animals often involve cumbersome direct wiring and/or restraint of the animal. At present, there is no system for very small animals that can provide multichannel monitoring of biopotentials without restraining the animal or small enough in size or light enough in weight for studies with smaller animals. For larger animals, such as monkeys or larger rodents, systems have been proposed where the transmitter of the system has dimensions such as 2.5/spl times/2.5/spl times/1.3 cm/sup 3/ and the weight is 9 g; this is far too high for smaller animals. Also, the battery life of that system is relatively short (/spl sim/10 h). In this study, a multichannel wireless telemetric microsystem for biopotential monitoring in small animals, such as mice or rats, has been designed, fabricated, and evaluated. This microsystem has four input channels with one calibration channel. There are 8 channels on the chip, of which five, the four electroencephalogram (EEG)/electromyogram (EMG) channels, and the calibration channel, are now in use. The system can also be expanded to more than eight input channels, if desired. In that case, a larger ASIC chip and larger circuit substrate might be required, depending on the type of biopotentials being measured. The amount of ASIC and circuit substrate space consumption is larger for biopotentials such as EEG or EMG than for others such as temperature or pressure. However, the same clocking-demodulation system could be retained up to /spl sim/128 channels. The multichannel telemetric chip for the present embodiment is approximately 2/spl times/2 mm, and the overall size of the microsystem is approximately 10/spl times/10/spl times/5 mm, including the enclosure package and battery, with a total weight of 1 g. The power consumed by this four-channel version, where two channels are EEG and two are EMG, is /spl sim/0.41 mW, and the fabrication process is AMI/spl I.bar/ABN. There is a magnetic on/off provision. The microsystem has been used to monitor EEG, Theta activity, and nuchal EMG in mice with excellent results. This wireless telemetric microsystem can be effectively used to record multiple biopotentials from freely moving small animals. This platform microsystem can be extended to include other physiological parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and biological parameters.
The Branch Point Enzyme of the Mevalonate Pathway for Protein Prenylation Is Overexpressed in the ob/ob Mouse and Induced by Adipogenesis

We have recently reported that skeletal muscle of the ob/ob mouse, an animal model of genetic obesity with extreme insulin resistance, exhibits alterations in the expression of multiple genes. Analysis and cloning of a full-length cDNA of one of the overexpressed mRNAs revealed a 300-amino-acid protein that could be identified as the mouse geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPP synthase) based on its homology to proteins cloned from yeast and fungus. GGPP synthase catalyzes the synthesis of all-trans-geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP), an isoprenoid used for protein isoprenylation in animal cells, and is a branch point enzyme in the mevalonic acid pathway. Three mRNAs for GGPP synthase of 4.3, 3.2, and 1.7 kb were detected in Northern blot analysis. Western blot analysis of tissue homogenates using specific antipeptide antibodies revealed a single band of 34.8 kDa. Expression level of this protein in different tissues correlated with expression of the 4.3- and 3.2-kb mRNAs. GGPP synthase mRNA expression was increased 5- to 20-fold in skeletal muscle, liver, and fat of ob/ob mice by Northern blot analysis. Western blot analysis also showed a twofold overexpression of the protein in muscle and fat but not in liver, where the dominant isoform is encoded by the 1.7-kb mRNA. Differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipocytes induced GGPP synthase expression more than 20-fold. Using the immunoprecipitated protein, we found that mammalian GGPP synthase synthesizes not only GGPP but also its metabolic precursor farnesyl diphosphate. Thus, the expression of GGPP synthase is regulated in multiple tissues in obesity and is induced during adipocyte differentiation. Altered regulation in the synthesis of isoprenoids for protein prenylation in obesity might be a factor determining the ability of the cells to respond to hormonal stimulation requiring both Ras-related small GTPases and trimeric G protein-coupled receptors.
A rewriting approach to the design and evolution of object-oriented languages

Rewriting logic semantics provides an environment for defining new and existing languages. These language definitions are formal and executable, providing language interpreters almost for free while also providing a framework for building analysis tools, such as type checkers, model checkers, and abstract interpreters. Large subsets of several existing object-oriented languages have been defined, while a new research language, KOOL, has been created as a platform for experimenting with language features and type systems. At the same time, new tools and formalisms aimed specifically at programming languages are being developed.
Case series report of a linezolid-containing regimen for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Objective To determine whether linezolid is safe and well tolerated in the treatment of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). Materials and methods The was conducted in a specialized tuberculosis ward for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) on the Chest Service of Bellevue Hospital Center, which is a 768-bed public hospital in New York City. Seven patients with confirmed MDR-TB or XDR-TB who were still culture positive despite appropriate directly observed therapy were treated with a regimen containing linezolid and at least one other active agent. Results The linezolid-containing regimen led to sustained negative conversion of sputum cultures and radiographic improvement in all patients. Long-term therapy (longest duration of therapy, 28 months) was well tolerated in most patients. Neutropenia developed in three patients, but was reversible, and peripheral neuropathy developed in two patients. Conclusions Linezolid remains a promising possible addition to our therapeutic armamentarium against XDR-TB. Linezolid is associated with side effects that can be adequately managed. Further studies to define the mechanism of action and optimum dose should be performed.
GPU-based object-order ray-casting for large datasets

We propose a GPU-based object-order ray-casting algorithm for the rendering of large volumetric datasets, such as the Visible Human CT datasets. A volumetric dataset is decomposed into small sub-volumes, which are then organized using a min-max octree structure. The small sub-volumes are stored in the leaf nodes of the min-max octree, which are also called cells. The cells are classified using a transfer function, and the visible cells are then loaded into the video memory or the AGP memory. The cells are sorted and projected onto the image plane front to back. The cell projection is implemented using a volumetric ray-casting algorithm on the GPU. In order to make the cell projection more efficient, we devise a propagation method to sort cells into layers. The cells within the same layer are projected at the same time. We demonstrate the efficiency of our algorithm using the visible human datasets and a segmented photographic brain dataset on commodity PCs.
Numerical Analysis of Heaving Flexible Airfoils in a Viscous Flow

A numerical model for two-dimensional unsteady viscous fluid flow around flexible bodies is used to analyze the effectofchordwise flexibilityonheavingairfoils.Flexibleairfoilsprovedtobemoreefficientthantherigidones.Both the output power and the input power increase in the flexible cases. The gain in efficiency is realized as a result of the output power increasing more than the input power. The density of the airfoils was shown to be a key factor in determining efficiency and power. In the parameter range analyzed, heavier airfoils are shown to generate less output power and to require proportionately less input power. Thus, heavier airfoils are more efficient than lighter airfoils. In the numerical model the bodies are represented by a distributed body force in the Navier–Stokes equations. The main advantage of this method is that the computations can be effected on a Cartesian grid, without having to fit the grid to the body surface. This approach is particularly useful when applied to the case of multiple bodies moving relative to each other, as well as flexible bodies, in which case the surface of the object changes dynamically.
Transporting children in wheelchairs in passenger vehicles: a comparison of best practice to observed and reported practice in a pilot sample

OBJECTIVE: We compared observed and reported practice among children with special health care needs transported in wheelchairs with the recommendations from the American National Standards Institute/Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America Committee on Wheelchairs and Transportation voluntary standards for best practice for using wheelchairs in vehicles. METHOD: A convenience sample of vehicles exiting the garage of a children's hospital was observed. Certified child passenger safety technicians gathered driver demographics and the child's reported medical condition, weight, age, clinic visited, and relation to the driver. Technicians observed how the wheelchair and occupant were secured. RESULTS: A sample of 20 vehicles showed that 90% used four-point tie-down systems to secure the wheelchairs. A total of 88% of drivers tied the wheelchairs down correctly; only 20% used a separate lap-shoulder belts to secure the occupants. Twenty-five percent used lap trays, which are not recommended. Fifteen participants traveled with medical equipment secured inappropriately. CONCLUSION: Many deviations from best practice were observed and highlight areas for increased awareness, education, and resources for caregivers. Language: en
Science, Not Blame: Pediatric Obesity Update

With the global increase in obesity, pediatric nurses should identify children who are at risk and provide advice when a child becomes overweight. Many health care providers believe that they are experts on the topic of obesity; it is “common knowledge” that those who are obese are overeaters who have made poor choices. Dogma colored with blame is quickly detected by children and their parents (Teachman & Brownell, 2001) and does not foster a compassionate and effective interaction.While excess caloric intake and lack of activity are the primary reasons for most obesity today, this is a simplification of a complex problem. This paper provides an update of factors associated with the development of obesity—epigenetics, endocrine disruptors, and gut microbes (Fleisch, Wright, & Baccarelli, 2012). Current knowledge is essential in providing the thoughtful care and advice that children and their families require and reducing a culture of blame.
Dynamic mapping in energy constrained heterogeneous computing systems

An ad hoc grid is a wireless heterogeneous computing environment without a fixed infrastructure. The wireless devices have different capabilities, have limited battery capacity, support dynamic voltage scaling, and are expected to be used for eight hours at a time and then recharged. To maximize the performance of the system, it is essential to assign resources to tasks (match) and order the execution of tasks on each resource (schedule) in a manner that exploits the heterogeneity of the resources and tasks while considering the energy constraints of the devices. In the single-hop ad hoc grid heterogeneous environment considered in this study, tasks arrive unpredictably, are independent (i.e., no precedent constraints for tasks), and have priorities and deadlines. The problem is to map (match and schedule) tasks onto devices such that the number of highest priority tasks completed by their deadlines during eight hours is maximized while efficiently utilizing the overall system energy. A model for dynamically mapping tasks onto wireless devices is introduced. Seven dynamic mapping heuristics for this environment are designed and compared to each other and to a mathematical bound.
Intraoperative Hyperglycemia Augments Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Renal Transplantation: A Prospective Study

Background. Diabetes is a risk factor for delayed graft function in kidney transplantation, and hyperglycemia increases ischemia reperfusion injury in animal models. Methods. To explore the role of perioperative hyperglycemia in ischemia reperfusion injury, we conducted a prospective study of 40 patients undergoing living donor renal transplantation. Blood glucose levels were monitored intraoperatively, and serum samples were obtained at the time anesthesia was induced and one hour after allograft reperfusion. The percentage change in neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a protein whose expression is increased with renal ischemia, was then used to determine the extent of injury. Results. In a multivariate model including recipient, donor, and transplant factors, recipient blood glucose >160 mg/dL at the time of allograft reperfusion (β 0.19, P-value 30 minutes (β 0.11, P-value 0.13), and recipient age (β 0.05, P-value 0.05) were associated with percentage change in NGAL. These same predictors were associated with the percentage change in creatinine on postoperative day 2. Conclusions. Hyperglycemia is associated with increased ischemic injury in renal transplantation. Both creatinine and NGAL, a marker of ischemic injury and renal function, fall less rapidly in patients with elevated blood glucose.
Endonasal Placement of Spreader Grafts: Experience in 41 Consecutive Patients

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of placing spreader grafts via an endonasal approach and to examine the immediate and long-term functional results. METHODS A retrospective review was performed of 41 consecutive cases involving adult patients who underwent nasal valve reconstruction. Medical history and clinical examination established the cause of nasal obstruction, with internal valve dysfunction confirmed through endoscopic evaluation and the modified Cottle maneuver. Surgical correction involved a spreader graft harvested from autologous cartilage and placed endonasally. Comparison and evaluation of preoperative vs postoperative symptom severity, photographs, and patient self-assessment were used to quantify the results of the operation. RESULTS Our study included 22 women and 19 men with a mean age (range) of 32 (19-56) years. Twenty-seven patients (66%) were Asian, 12 (29%) were white, and 2 (5%) were Hispanic. Thirty of 41 patients (73%) expressed strong concern regarding the presence of a transcolumellar scar. Among our patients with confirmed internal nasal valve dysfunction, 25 (61%) reported significant improvement, 15 (37%) noted some improvement, and 1 (2%) described no change; none reported a worsening of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The endonasal approach to placement of spreader grafts for nasal valve reconstruction is effective at relieving nasal obstruction due to internal nasal valve dysfunction. Paramount to the success of the procedure is appropriate patient selection and careful attention to surgical technique.
Genetic evidence that Neisseria gonorrhoeae produces specific receptors for transferrin and lactoferrin.

Transferrin (TF)andlactoferrin (LF) areprobably themajor sourcesofiron(Fe)forNeisseria gonorrhoeae invivo. We isolated mutantsofN.gonorrhoeae FAl9that were unable togrow withFeboundtoeither TF (TF-) orLF(LF-) ortobothTFandLF([TFLF]-). TheamountofFeinternalized byeachofthemutants was reduced tobackground levels fromtherelevant ironsource(s). Thewild-type parentstrain exhibited saturable specific binding ofTFandLF;receptor activity was induced byFestarvation. TheTF--specific or LF--specific mutants were almost completely lacking inreceptor activity forTF or LF,respectively, whereas the[TFLF]-mutantsboundbothTFandLFaswell asthewild-type strain. AUmutantsutilized citrate and hemenormally asFesources.Theseresults demonstrate that ability tobindTForLFisessential forgonococci toscavengeappreciable amountsofFefromthese sourcesinvitro. Inaddition, theTFandLFFeacquisition pathways arelinked bythemutual useofa nonreceptor geneproduct thatisessential toFescavenging from bothofthese sources;this geneproduct isnotrequired forFeacquisition fromother sources. Iron(Fe)isanessential nutrient forthegrowth ofalmost allmicroorganisms. Mostbacteria produce siderophores (low-molecular-weight iron chelators) tocompete withexistingFe-binding compounds, ortosolubilize Fe,whichforms highly insoluble complexes inaerobic aqueous environments (18-20). Thesebacteria subsequently acquire thesiderophore-bound Fethrough areceptor-mediated pathway. Most siderophore-producing bacteria areabletoexist bothin inanimate environments inwhichallFeisintheformof insoluble complexes andinenvironments inwhichFeis boundtosoluble Fechelators. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is relatively unusual initsapparent absence ofsiderophore production (22, 36,37)andinthatitisfoundnaturally only inhumans, anenvironment inwhichFeissequestered bya variety ofsoluble Fe-carrying glycoproteins orhemecompounds. Perhaps forthese reasons gonococci haveevolved mechanisms forobtaining Fewhicharequite different from those utilized bysiderophore-producing bacteria. TheFesources available togonococci varydepending on thesite ofinfection. Lactoferrin (LF)isprobably themajor Fesource during localized infections onthemucosal surfaces oftheurogenital tract, rectum, pharynx, andeye(3, 13),whereas transferrin (TF)isprobably themajorFe source during invasive infections ofthebloodstream, synovial fluid, andcerebrospinal fluid (35). Allgonococcal strains utilize TFasanFesource (16) andmostgonococcal strains areable toutilize LF,heme,hemin, hemoglobin, and certain hydroxamate siderophores produced byother bacteria(15, 16,36,38). However, because sources other thanTF
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma with the t(2;13): Cytogenetic findings and clinicopathologic correlations

We describe here the clinical and pathologic features associated with a specific translocation, t(2;13), in alveolar rhabdomyo-sarcoma. Tumor specimens from 14 patients with a t(2;13)-positive alveolar rhabdomyo-sarcoma were studied for cytogenetic-clinicopathologic correlations. Three patients had occult primary tumors; nine patients had primary tumors of the trunk (mediastinal, pelvic, or rectal). The presence of the t(2;13) was ascertained from examination of tumor involved bone marrow in ten patients who had widespread metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Marrow involvement was so extensive in three cases that they were initially diagnosed as acute leukemia. Response to therapy was poor, with only five patients achieving a complete response. Twelve patients have died of their disease at a median survival time of 6 months from diagnosis and one is living with recurrent disease; only one patient survives free of disease. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Could Dirty Air Cause Diabetes

Diabetes is a growing epidemic, and it has become arguably one of the biggest health challenges of our time. Currently, more than 23 million Americans have diabetes, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that in the last 15 years, the number of people in the United States with diabetes has more than doubled. Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate in Europe as well, and it is fast becoming a major health threat in developing countries such as India and China. Despite its high prevalence, however, diabetes remains somewhat of a mystery. Although type 1 diabetes mellitus could be attributed to insufficient insulin release by the β-cells of the pancreas, the origins of type 2 diabetes mellitus (which accounts for >90% of the cases of diabetes) remain obscure. Insulin resistance is a cardinal feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, it is not clear how whole-body insulin resistance develops, which specific tissues are affected first and which ones later, and how metabolic changes in individual tissues contribute to the overall development of the disease and its many secondary complications. Article p 538 The origin of diabetes is equally complex. Although diabetes develops in genetically susceptible individuals, it is a complex trait and does not show simple mendelian inheritance. Because the rates of diabetes change with the environment in several population groups, it has been suggested that modifiable environmental factors and lifestyle choices account for more than 90% of adult-onset diabetes.1 Nevertheless, our understanding of the environmental causes of diabetes has remained rather rudimentary, being limited mostly to the impact of physical inactivity or unhealthy dietary choices. In this context, the study by Sun and coworkers published in the present issue of Circulation 2 is interesting because it provides new evidence showing that exposure to particulate air …
Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Core Is an Intrinsically Disordered Protein That Binds RNA

Pestiviruses, including bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), are important animal pathogens and close relatives of hepatitis C virus. Pestivirus particles are composed of an RNA genome, a host-derived lipid envelope, and four virion-encoded structural proteins, core (C), Erns, E1, and E2. Core is a small, highly basic polypeptide that is processed by three enzymatic cleavages before its incorporation into virions. Little is known about its biological properties or its role in virion assembly and structure. We have purified BVDV core protein and characterized it biochemically. We have determined that the processed form of core lacks significant secondary structure and is instead intrinsically disordered. Consistent with its highly basic sequence, we observed that core binds to RNA, although with low affinity and little discernible specificity. We found that BVDV core protein was able to functionally replace the nonspecific RNA binding and condensing region of an unrelated viral capsid protein. Together these results suggest that the in vitro properties of core may reflect its mechanism of action in RNA packaging and virion morphogenesis.
Nocturnal Interactions between Community Elders and Caregivers, as Measured by Cross-correlation of Their Motor Activity:

As the U.S. population ages, families must assume increasing responsibility for the care of elderly members. Disruptive nocturnal behaviors (DNBs) of elders, such as complaining and demanding help, may result in interactions with caregivers that threaten such arrangements. This study aimed to quantify such interactions by cross-correlating motor activity that was simultaneously recorded from the elders and caregivers. Forty-four elder-caregiver pairs reporting DNBs simultaneously kept sleep logs and wore activity recorders for 6 to 8 days. Day and night activity data were analyzed separately, because circadian variations would otherwise have overshadowed the elder-caregiver covariations of interest. An autoregressive model was fitted to each day and night data segment, and the data-model differences were used to calculate a cross-correlation function. Maximum significant values of the cross-correlation functions (rmax) exceeded .300 in 10 pairs of subjects. The unprocessed motor activity of these pairs looked so similar that rmax was interpreted as a measure of the subjects' interactions. The rmax was significantly larger for nighttime activity, especially in pairs who shared the same bed. It was smaller in pairs whose elders had high depression scores and in those with Parkinson's disease or related disorders. It was not affected by the presence of dementia. Analysis of the lags corresponding to significant values of rmax showed that, in cohabiting pairs, it was mainly the elders who initiated interactions. The findings provide unique, objective evidence that the night is a time of special difficulty for many caregivers of older Americans.
Bedside Sonography for Detection of Postprocedure Pneumothorax

Background Bedside ultrasonography in the diagnosis of pneumothorax has been well described in emergency and trauma medicine literature. Its role in detection of iatrogenic pneumothoraces has not been studied. We describe the performance of bedside ultrasonography in detection of procedure related pneumothoraces and highlight some limitations.
РЕгулируЕмыЕ приводЫ VOITH В электростанцияХ кОмбинирОваннОгО типА И магистральныХ газопроводаХ

VOITH є найбільшим виробником гідродинамічних регульованих приводів. Гідромуфти та планетарні передачі VORECON добре відомі в країнах СНД та здатні забеспечувати надійну роботу приводів потужністю до 50000 кВт зі швидкістю обертання до 20000 об/хв.
Military/avionics: Design decisions for a head-up display: This F-14 fighter optics retrofit case history is a prime example of analyzing and selecting design options

In modern high-speed aircraft it is vital that primary flight control information be clearly and unobstrusively presented to the pilot. The head-up display (HUD) meets this requirement by providing relevant scales, alphanumerics, symbology, gunsight reticle, etc., superimposed on the pilot's forward field of view. With most HUD designs, the information is calligraphically presented on a high-brightness cathode-ray tube and projected through a collimating lens to a combiner (partially silvered glass) located between the pilot and the aircraft's windshield. Making the HUD concept an even more valuable aid for military aircraft pilots was the task of Grumman engineers retrofitting the US Navy's F-14 Fighter cockpit with an improved HUD design. In this discussion, the progress of the project is traced through difficult, often conflicting, engineering problems to its present form, which is-according to US Navy pilots-a substantial advance in the state of the art.
Simultaneous Observations and Analysis of Severe Storms Using Polarimetric X-Band SAR and Ground-Based Weather Radar

Recent advances in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology have revived meteorological applications with this type of radar. SARs are designed for surface imaging, but now that several X-band multipolarization SAR satellites are in orbit, the attenuation and backscatter caused by precipitation can be better studied. The results presented here demonstrate some of the possibilities by analyzing observations from dual-polarization (HH, VV) TerraSAR-X (TSX) acquisitions over central Florida surrounding severe storms in August 2008. Simultaneous to the SAR acquisitions, WSR-88D ground weather radars in Melbourne and Tampa Bay, FL, collected reflectivity and radial velocity data; the observed strong precipitation cells from convective storms are colocated with severe attenuation in the corresponding SAR images. The observations from SAR measurements are explained quantitatively by converting ground radar reflectivity into spaceborne radar attenuation via a theoretical model. In addition, polarization analysis comparing the SAR image to two additional TSX acquisitions 11 days apart and without rain provides an indication of storm-induced propagation effects on X-band SAR. Specifically, the copolar ratio Z_dr and the copolar correlation differences exhibit behavior that is better explained by the precipitation impact versus surface changes. Multiple regions with varying ground cover, including urban, and storm characteristics are analyzed to highlight the complexity of meteorological research using SAR while revealing a potential use of the technology to investigate the storm structure.
Effect of resistance exercise training on cortical and cancellous bone in mature male rats

Westerlind, Kim C., James D. Fluckey, Scott E. Gordon, William J. Kraemer, Peter A. Farrell, and Russell T. Turner.Effect of resistance exercise training on cortical and cancellous bone in mature m...
Come let us chat together: simultaneous typed-chat in computer-supported collaborative dialogue

This paper describes people chatting at the same time in COMPS group collaborative exercises. Simultaneous typed-chat, students seeing others' typing in real time, is a feature of COMPS. In verbal interaction cooperative dialogue requires turn-taking. People cannot talk simultaneously except for fractions of a second and still conduct dialogue. This paper documents qualitatively that simultaneous chat is happening in the keyboard domain, that students are interactively responding to each other, and that collaborative behaviors occur in this context. COMPS also will incorporate computer recognition of the degree of interactive behavior. This paper also shows evidence that conventionally extracted dialogue turns and features that are used for training text classifiers do not work when applied to simultaneous chat.
113th Congress Addresses Arctic Maritime Transportation Needs

In 2014, Congress enacted several pieces of legislation addressing the U.S. maritime Arctic. This article examines Title V of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, which is devoted to Arctic maritime transportation. It consists of six sections addressing Arctic maritime transportation and domain awareness, the IMO Polar Code, forward operating facilities in the Arctic, icebreakers and icebreaking in polar regions.
Traumatic Brain Injury Upregulates Phosphodiesterase Expression in the Hippocampus

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in significant impairments in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. A molecule critically involved in hippocampal synaptic plasticity, 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate, is downregulated in the hippocampus after TBI, but the mechanism that underlies this decrease is unknown. To address this question, we determined whether phosphodiesterase (PDE) expression in the hippocampus is altered by TBI. Young adult male Sprague Dawley rats received sham surgery or moderate parasagittal fluid-percussion brain injury. Animals were analyzed by western blotting for changes in PDE expression levels in the hippocampus. We found that PDE1A levels were significantly increased at 30 min, 1 h and 6 h after TBI. PDE4B2 and 4D2 were also significantly increased at 1, 6, and 24 h after TBI. Additionally, phosphorylation of PDE4A was significantly increased at 6 and 24 h after TBI. No significant changes were observed in levels of PDE1B, 1C, 3A, 8A, or 8B between 30 min to 7 days after TBI. To determine the spatial profile of these increases, we used immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry at 24 h after TBI. PDE1A and phospho-PDE4A localized to neuronal cell bodies. PDE4B2 was expressed in neuronal dendrites, microglia and infiltrating CD11b(+) immune cells. PDE4D was predominantly found in microglia and infiltrating CD11b(+) immune cells. To determine if inhibition of PDE4 would improve hippocampal synaptic plasticity deficits after TBI, we treated hippocampal slices with rolipram, a pan-PDE4 inhibitor. Rolipram partially rescued the depression in basal synaptic transmission and converted a decaying form of long-term potentiation (LTP) into long-lasting LTP. Overall, these results identify several possible PDE targets for reducing hippocampal synaptic plasticity deficits and improving cognitive function acutely after TBI.