cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Genetic Basis of Aortic Aneurysm

Gene identification in human aortic aneurysm conditions is proceeding at a rapid pace and the integration of pathogenesis-based management strategies in clinical practice is an emerging reality. Human genetic alterations causing aneurysm involve diverse gene products including constituents of the extracellular matrix, cell surface receptors, intracellular signaling molecules, and elements of the contractile cytoskeleton. Animal modeling experiments and human genetic discoveries have extensively implicated the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) cytokine-signaling cascade in aneurysm progression, but mechanistic links between many gene products remain obscure. This chapter will integrate human genetic alterations associated with aortic aneurysm with current basic research findings in an attempt to form a reconciling if not unifying model for hereditary aortic aneurysm.
Basic Irish: A Grammar and Workbook. by STENSON, NANCY

The article reviews the books "Basic Irish: A Grammar and Workbook" and "Intermediate Irish: A Grammar and Workbook," volumes of the Routledge series of Basic and Intermediate language grammars and workbooks, both by Nancy Stenson.
Distinguishing numbers of Cartesian products of multiple complete graphs

We examine the distinguishing number of the Cartesian product of an arbitrary number of complete graphs. We show that for u 1 ≤ ... ≤ u d the distinguishing number of the Cartesian product of complete graphs of these sizes is either ⌈ u d 1/ s ⌉ or ⌈ u d 1/ s ⌉ + 1 where s = Π i = 1 d − 1 u i . In most cases, which of these values it is can be explicitly determined.
Growth-Inhibitory Effects of dl-α-Difluoromethylornithine in the Spectrum of Human Lung Carcinoma Cells in Culture

dl-α-Difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO) is a new and specific inhibitor of the first step in polyamine biosynthesis. We recently reported that DFMO profoundly diminishes cell survival in a single culture line of human small-cell lung carcinoma (SCC). In the present study, we have extended this work to ascertain: ( a ) the effects of DFMO on the spectrum of cell growth for SCC in culture; and ( b ) how the response of SCC cells to DFMO compares to that for the other three major types of human lung cancer cells. SCC cells were found to have a unique response to DFMO among the types of lung cancer; exposure of eight separate lines to the drug, during the exponential growth phase, produced an initial inhibition of cell increase followed by a progressive and complete loss of cells from the cultures. There was a heterogeneous response pattern among the SCC lines in that the time of onset for cell loss ranged from 4 days to 4 weeks. In marked contrast to SCC, two lines of human lung adenocarcinoma, one of squamous cell carcinoma and one of large cell undifferentiated carcinoma, had a more usual response to inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis. Despite a cessation of cell proliferation during DFMO treatment, no cell loss ensued over periods up to 8 weeks in these cultures. The above results with SCC and non-SCC cells suggested that the former could not live well in culture as a resting, nonproliferative cell. We further tested this hypothesis by exposing to DFMO stationary-phase 4-week-old aggregates of cultured SCC cells, in which cell proliferation and cell loss are balanced; within 2 weeks, the profound loss of cells was again manifest. We conclude that: ( a ) in culture, SCC cells, among human lung cancer types, have a unique sensitivity to inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis; ( b ) the heterogeneity for timing of SCC response to DFMO may have to be taken into account when investigating the therapeutic potential of the drug, DFMO; and ( c ) the biological differences between SCC and non-SCC cell in response to DFMO may provide a model system for establishing further the functional role of the polyamines.
Isolation of Oleanolic Acid and Saponin from Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus, var. viking)

Oleanolic acid was isolated from the alcohol extract of fresh trefoil (Lotus corniculatus, var. viking) and identified by comparison of its physical and chemical properties with authentic material. A small quantity of crude saponin was also isolated, which upon hydrolysis yielded soyasapogenol B.
Retransmission schemes for streaming internet multimedia: evaluation model and performance analysis

This paper presents a trace-driven simulation study of two classes of retransmission timeout (RTO) estimators in the context of real-time streaming over the Internet. We explore the viability of employing retransmission timeouts in NACK-based (i.e., rate-based) streaming applications to support multiple retransmission attempts per lost packet. The first part of our simulation is based on trace data collected during a number of real-time streaming tests between dialup clients in all 50 states in the U.S. (including 653 major U.S. cities) and a backbone video server. The second part of the study is based on streaming tests over DSL and ISDN access links. First, we define a generic performance measure for assessing the accuracy of hypothetical RTO estimators based on the samples of the round-trip delay (RTT) recorded in the trace data. Second, using this performance measure, we evaluate the class of TCP-like estimators and find the optimal estimator given our performance measure. Third, we introduce a new class of estimators based on delay jitter and show that they significantly outperform TCP-like estimators in NACK-based applications with low-frequency RTT sampling. Finally, we show that high-frequency sampling of the RTT completely changes the situation and makes the class of TCP-like estimators as accurate as the class of delay-jitter estimators.
Differential cytokine mRNA expression in human labial minor salivary glands in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Cytokines are known to be involved in a number of autoimmune conditions and are increasingly viewed as key components in numerous aspects of normal and abnormal cell functions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate possible immunopathogenic mechanisms within the labial minor salivary glands of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) by examining differential cytokine gene expression in individual cell populations (acini, ducts, or lymphoid cells). A cell-specific microdissection technique in combination with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern hybridization using 32P-labeled cytokine gene-specific probes was utilized to measure cytokine messenger RNA expression in individual cell populations of patients and healthy controls. mRNAs for interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) were detected in the epithelial cells (acini and ducts) and lymphoid cells of the labial minor salivary glands of pSS patients. The expression levels of these mRNAs in the epithelial cells were either up- or down-regulated by adjacent focal infiltrating lymphoid cells. mRNAs for all of the above cytokines, with the exception of IFN-gamma, were detected in salivary tissues of healthy volunteers. The epithelial cells in the salivary glands are active participants in the autoimmune-mediated process of pSS, as evidenced by their ability to express a high frequency and wide variety of cytokines. The presence of an infiltrating lymphoid focus within the gland appeared to modulate cytokine gene expression by the salivary epithelial cells.
Dual Threshold Voltage Organic Thin-Film Transistor Technology

A fully photolithographic dual threshold voltage (VT) organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) process suitable for flexible large-area integrated circuits is presented. The nearroom-temperature (<; 95 °C) process produces integrated dual VT pentacene-based p-channel transistors. The two VT 's are enabled by using two gate metals of low (aluminum) and high (platinum) work function. The Al and Pt gate OTFTs exhibit nominally identical current-voltage transfer curves shifted by an amount ΔVT. The availability of a high-VT device enables area-efficient zero-Vos high-output-resistance current sources, enabling high-gain inverters. We present positive noise margin inverters and rail-to-rail ring oscillators powered by a 3-V supply-one of the lowest supply voltages reported for OTFT circuits. These results show that integrating nand p-channel organic devices is not mandatory to achieve functional area-efficient low-power organic integrated circuits.
Helping or Hovering? The Effects of Helicopter Parenting on College Students’ Well-Being

Parental involvement is related to many positive child outcomes, but if not developmentally appropriate, it can be associated with higher levels of child anxiety and depression. Few studies have examined the effects of over-controlling parenting, or “helicopter parenting,” in college students. Some studies have found that college students of over-controlling parents report feeling less satisfied with family life and have lower levels of psychological well-being. This study examined self-determination theory as the potential underlying mechanism explaining this relationship. College students (N = 297) completed measures of helicopter parenting, autonomy supportive parenting, depression, anxiety, satisfaction with life, and basic psychological needs satisfaction. Students who reported having over-controlling parents reported significantly higher levels of depression and less satisfaction with life. Furthermore, the negative effects of helicopter parenting on college students’ well-being were largely explained by the perceived violation of students’ basic psychological needs for autonomy and competence.
The putative role of proteolytic pathways in the pathogenesis of Type 1 diabetes mellitus: The 'autophagy' hypothesis

Autoimmune diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders affecting different organs and tissues. New tools, such as genome-wide association studies, have provided evidence for new susceptibility loci and candidate genes in the disease process including common susceptibility genes involved in the immunological synapse and T cell activation. Close linkages have been found in a number of diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type 1 diabetes mellitus). Evidence for some association with Type 1 diabetes was previously found in the region containing 5q15/ERAP1 (endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1) (rs30187, ARTS1). Recent data suggest that in eukaryotic cells in addition to the ubiquitin/proteasome system another proteolytic pathway may have a significant role in the autoimmunity process, i.e. the autophagic pathway which constitutes the principal regulated catabolic process mediated by lysosomes. Autophagy could play a role in MHC class I and class II self-antigen presentation at the basis of the autoimmunity process. Furthermore cross-talk among different proteolytic pathways was recently highlighted i.e. components processed in the ubiquitin/proteasome system possibly engaged in autophagic pathways. T1D is an autoimmune disease characterised by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells by autoreactive T cells. Immunological abnormalities can precede months to years the initial symptoms and clinical diagnosis. Our hypothesis suggests that in the autoimmune process autophagy can intervene at different levels, during the thymic selection process of T lymphocytes causing escape of autoreactive T cells, at the initiation stage of the disease, in the preclinical period or subsequently to the disease onset having a role at the level of perpetuation of the autoimmunity process. Supporting evidence derives from the already reported discovery of polymorphisms in autophagy-related genes in patients affected by several autoimmune conditions such as Systemic Lupus Erithematosus. In addition deregulated autophagy was detected in T cells from lupus-prone mice and also found in T cells from patients. Autophagy was found activated in osteoclasts from RA patients as demonstrated by the increased expression of Atg7 and Beclin-1. Our hypothesis to be unraveled could have, if correct, relevant implications for the management of autoimmune conditions such as Type 1 diabetes. In principle, novel therapeutic approaches could be established by targeting deregulated autophagy offering novel opportunities to personalized medicine in patients affected by the disease.
Maximum entropy fracture model and its use for predicting cyclic hysteresis in solder alloys

Appropriate constitutive, damage accumulation and fracture models are critical to accurate life predictions. In our recent research we developed the maximum entropy fracture model, a thermodynamically consistent and information theory inspired (non-empirical) damage accumulation theory for ductile solids, validated on both area array and peripheral array packages. The model uses a single damage accumulation parameter to relate the probability of fracture to accumulated entropic dissipation. We demonstrate the ability of the Anand model and the above mentioned damage accumulation model to non-empirically predict the softening phenomena during cyclic fatigue testing of Sn3.0Ag0.5Cu solder alloy. A custom-built microscale mechanical tester capable of submicron displacement resolution was utilized to carryout isothermal cycling fatigue tests on specially designed assemblies. The resultant relationship between load drop and accumulated inelastic dissipation was used to extract the temperature and geometry-independent damage accumulation parameter of the maximum entropy fracture model for each alloy. The damage accumulation relationship is input into the Anand viscoplastic constitutive model, allowing prediction of the stress-strain hysteresis and cyclic load drop. This approach allows for a non-empirical prediction of both constitutive and fracture behavior of packages of different geometries under thermo-mechanical fatigue.
Valence bond multiple excitation RVB calculations on the singlet ground states of some carbon fullerenes Cn with 20⩽n⩽60

Abstract A detailed analysis of the nature of the π-VB singlet ground state in terms of multiply excited resonance valence bond (RVB) wavefunctions is presented for some carbon fullerenes in the range from 20 to 60 atoms by comparison to exact solutions of the Heisenberg model for fullerenes of up to 30 atoms. It is found that singlet pair excitations over an odd number of bonds are more important than those over even ones. By far the most important contributions to the ground-state energies besides the non-excited Kekule RVB space come from those RVB functions containing singlet pair excitations over three carbon bonds.
The Cardiovascular Effects of Halothane in Man during Spontaneous Ventilation

The effects of duration of anesthesia on the cardiovascular responses to halothane in eight healthy male volunteers were studied during spontaneous ventilation and CO2 challenge. We compared these results with those obtained in a previous study of another group of volunteers during controlled respiration. Spontaneous ventilation lessened the depression of the cardiovascular system associated with halothane anesthesia. Cardiac output, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, left ventricular work, IJ-wave amplitude, and muscle blood flow were all greater during spontaneous than during controlled ventilation. Cardiovascular stimulation also occurred with duration of anesthesia in the presence of spontaneous ventilation. Cardiac output, heart rate, left ventricular minute work, and myocardial function increased 20 to 40 per cent in the course of five hours of halothane anesthesia, while total peripheral resistance and mean right atrial pressure decreased. Finally, halothane (like Forane, fluroxene, ether, and cyclopropane) depressed the cardiovascular responsiveness to carbon dioxide challenge. However, at twice MAC, the depression of the cardiac output and arterial pressure responses was more with halothane than with fluroxene or ether.
Proctectomy with coloanal anastomosis.

Surgical management tends to evolve over time as a result of contributions from multiple physicians. The management of carcinoma of the rectum is a good example of this. Developments in understanding of the pathology and spread of the tumor, combined with technical advances, have altered significantly the surgical approach, from radical ablative surgery at the start of the twentieth century to restorative sphincter-preserving surgery at the start of the twenty-first century [1]. This is combined with increased awareness of the value of functional outcome and oncologic outcome. In 1908, radicality was considered the key, and Ernest Miles proposed abdominoperineal resection (APER) as the appropriate approach to rectal cancer, based on Halstead’s principles of radical surgery to excise potential areas of lymph node spread, which he considered to be proximal and distal to the tumor [2]. Despite high morbidity and mortality associated with APER, the procedure was supported by William Mayo [3], who believed that sphincter preservation increased morbidity. APER remained the approach of choice for the next 30 years and replaced the posterior approach to rectal tumors that had been advocated by Kraske [4]. Restorative resection for rectal cancer was first performed in the United States by Balfour in 1910 but gained increasing popularity from the 1940s onwards. It was initially applied only to rectosigmoid tumors, with some units still performing APER for rectal tumors into the 1960s. Developments in pathology with respect to the limits of distal rectal cancer spread supported reduction of resection margin distal to the tumor. Because of the need for a permanent colostomy with APER, along with genitourinary dysfunction, numerous techniques for colorectal and coloanal anastomosis were described during the twentieth century. The pull-through
Efficient and Effective Screening for Hydroxychloroquine Toxicity

T HEARTICLE IN THIS ISSUE BY BROWNING EXAMINING the impact of the revised American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) guidelines for hydroxychloroquine screening raises important points with respect to the goals, cost effectiveness, and present effectiveness of screening practice. However, I take issue with the conclusion that objective screening tests (such as spectral-domain optical coherence tomography [SD OCT], multifocal electroretinography [mfERG], or fundus autofluorescence) are neither needed nor cost effective. The AAO document illustrates how subjective visual field changes can be misread or ignored in early hydroxychloroquine toxicity, and Browning’s examples actually confirm this concern. This is why objective testing was recommended. However, I agree that we may be able to screen more efficiently while still following the basic principles of the AAO recommendations. The most important AAO message may be to add additional tests for verification in the case of suspicious findings. Effective screening not only should detect early toxicity, it also should ensure that patients continue a very good drug with low systemic toxicity. Browning implies that fields alone are sufficient for the diagnosis of toxicity, but his patients really make the opposite point. Patient 1 may not be toxic at all, because the 24–2 field defects illustrated are far outside the typical 2to 6-degree eccentricity range for hydroxychloroquine damage. The mfERG image shown for verification is of very poor quality (unreadable in my laboratory). An SDOCT image in fact is desperately needed for verification, as is a 10–2 field. Patient 2 showed sensitivity losses on white 10–2 pattern deviation plots that mostly are at the margins (usually artifact). The mfERG image is ambiguous, and Browning discusses changes that are well outside the region of hydroxychloroquine toxicity. The OCT findings are subtle, and we are not given cube thickness values that may confirm early parafoveal thinning. Red field
How much of the recent decline in rheumatic heart disease in China can be explained by changes in cardiovascular risk factors

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) used to be the most common heart disease in China [1]. Indeed, when I was an intern in a Shanghai hospital in the late 1940s, children with rheumatic fever (RF) occupiedmany of the beds in the pediatric wards, and adults with RHD occupied many of the beds in the adult medical wards. But both RF and RHD have declined progressively over the past 6 decades from 50% of the total hospital cardiac admissions in Shanghai, China in 1948–1957, to 44% in 1958–1968, 30% in 1969–1979, 24% in 1980– 1989, 10% in 1990–1999 [2], and finally to 2% in 2000–2005 (Fig. 1). As amatter of fact, during several ofmy recent visits to China, I discovered that many of the young Chinese physicians have never seen a patient with RF. None could tell me what the Jones criteria [3] for the diagnosis of RFwere.What happened? Just as RF has virtually disappeared in the United States [4], so it almost did in China. Although the reason for the declining incidence of RHD in developing countries – changing virulence of group A streptococci versus changing living conditions – was debated recently in the New England Journal of Medicine [5,6], the explanation is obvious in China. In China, the most populous country in the world and also the most advanced developing country in the world, the striking decline in rheumatic heart disease in recent years is definitely due to improvement in living conditions. Although improved medical care and widespread use of penicillin prophylaxis of streptococcal infections play a role, the decline in RF morbidity and mortality in the developed world began before anti-streptococcal agents became available [4]. Rheumatic fever is a disease of poverty [7]. With
Review of Research: Promoting Empathy Development in the Early Childhood and Elementary Classroom

“Some people think only intellect counts: knowing how to solve problems, knowing how to get by. … But the functions of intellect are insufficient without courage, love, friendship, compassion, and ...
Dirt depreciation of compact fluorescent lamp downlights

An experimental protocol and apparatus were developed to assess the relative differences in dirt depreciation between vented and unvented compact fluorescent lamp downlights under simulated conditions. A simulated plenum/ceiling chamber is designed to expose both vented and unvented fixtures simultaneously to a controlled dust environment over an extended period of time. Experimental data show that the unvented fixture depreciated faster over time due to dust exposure than the vented fixture. The convection patterns tend to reduce dirt depreciation by removing particulate matter from the lamp compartment. This conclusion is important in the development and acceptance of convective venting strategies to minimize the thermal losses with constricted thermal environments for compact fluorescent lamps. >
Effects of Endotoxin on Mixed Function Oxidase Activity

Over the last several years there has been considerable effort channeled toward development of immunotherapeutic agents. Great strides have been made in the understanding of the immune system, and the elaboration of a multitude of mediators elicited by stimulation of the various cellular components in response to various immunomodulators. However, it is also appreciated that these immunomodulators or the mediators elicited by them may possess activity on cellular systems other than those of the immune network. Understanding these non-immune effects is of major importance for the future clinical application of these agents.
Defibrotide for the treatment of severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome: evidence for clinical benefit

Introduction: Veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (VOD/SOS), characterized by hepatic sinusoidal endothelial damage and liver dysfunction, is an unpredictable and potentially life-threatening complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation that occurs in an estimated 14% of these patients (range 0 – 62.3%). VOD/SOS typically occurs following high-dose radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy as conditioning. Although mild/moderate VOD/SOS may not progress in some patients and may resolve at an early stage (i.e., within 2 or 3 weeks), in others it develops into severe VOD/SOS, commonly identified by the presence of multi-organ failure (defined by pulmonary and/or renal dysfunction), which, in turn, is associated with mortality rates >80%.Areas covered: This review of severe hepatic VOD/SOS discusses the disease characteristics, diagnostic criteria, prevalence, pathogenesis and current treatment guidelines for VOD/SOS, as well as prophylactic measures. The clinical trial evidence for asso...
Innovative technology development for Arctic Exploration

The US Arctic and sub-Arctic regions are rapidly changing, creating potentially large impacts to marine ecosystems and ecosystem services. However, much of the current observing technology is ill suited to fully quantify these dynamic changes. The harsh, remote environment, expansive area, and extremely fine scale features present clear barriers to the efficient collection of effective environmental intelligence. In order to meet these challenges, NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, with support from Ocean and Atmospheric Research Division, has created the Innovative Technology for Arctic Exploration (ITAE) program to facilitate the development of new autonomous platforms and highresolution sensing technologies that may be able to address this critical gap in mission capabilities. During the program's primary field testing year, ITAE successfully completed two large-scale research missions in the Bering and Chukchi Seas involving multiple new Arctic-capable platforms, including the Saildrone unmanned autonomous surface vehicle (Saildrone, Inc.), the Profiling Crawler (PRAWLER; NOAA-PMEL), a moored instrument drastically improving vertical resolution of data collection; and the Expendable Ice Tracking (EXIT) Floats, which allow for under-ice data collection (NOAA-PMEL). Through these platforms, ITAE also tested a variety of novel sensing technologies, such as the recently developed microfluidic nitrate sensor, the Lab-on-a-Chip (National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton). Together, these developments helped to assess important and previously inaccessible aspects of the sea ice melt season. However, important technical challenges remain, including autonomous ecosystem assessment tools that could effectively monitor and aid management of the region's multi-billion dollar annual commercial and subsistence fishing industries.
Near Net Shaping of Mechanically alloyed Fe-48at%Cr Powder by Pulsed Current Sintering Process

Fe-48at%Cr powder was synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) of elemental Fe (99.8mass%Fe) powder and Cr (99.9mass%Cr) powder using a planetary ball milling for 180 ks. The X-ray diffraction profile of the obtained MA powder showed Fe-Cr solid solution. The powder was consolidated using a pulsed current sintering (PCS) method at 1073 K for 0.3 ks. The structure of the consolidated bulk material was consisted of Fe-Cr solid solution with the grain size of approximately 1μm. This bulk material showed 869 MPa in tensile strength and 20% in elongation at room temperature. The mechanically alloyed Fe-48at%Cr powder was formed into the product with a complicated shape by controlling the forming condition such as an applied pressure or a cooling rate in PCS.
Explaining the Current Financial Crisis

turn, challenges the explanatory value of an analytic opposition between (genuine) sci ence and politics. It suggests that, instead of tying ourselves in knots to establish the autonomy or relative autonomy of a scientific project, we might be better off abandoning the concept of autonomy altogether and focusing on the complex ways in which sci entific and political culture support and inflect one another.
The Assault on Arms Control

(2000). The Assault on Arms Control. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 56, Test Ban Debacle, pp. 32-36.
Efficient Screening Methods for the Sampling of Geographically Clustered Special Populations

Special populations for which no complete lists exist require screening, and screening costs may be large if the population is rare. If the population is geographically clustered, costs can be redu...
Serological Comparisons between Infectious Canine Hepatitis Virus and Human Adenovirus Types.

SummaryAntigenic relationships between infectious canine hepatitis virus (ICHV) and certain human adenoviruses have been confirmed by complement-fixation, indirect hemagglutination and gel-diffusion precipitin tests. The serological relationship was unilateral, since antisera against human adenoviruses react in various tests with ICHV antigen, while specific antisera to ICHV failed to react with group-reactive human adenovirus antigens (types 2 and 4). There was no specific cross-neutralization between ICHV and the adenovirus types examined. Certain biologic properties shared by ICHV and the human adenoviruses have been compared, and these suggest that ICHV should be included taxonomically within the adenovirus group.
A retrospective review of the economic impact of the food and drug administration's proposed egg rule

Using novel 1998–2008 data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on foodborne illnesses and outbreaks, we test using a difference-in-differences approach whether the Food and Drug Administration's proposed rule entitled “Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production” decreased the number of Salmonella illnesses associated with the consumption of shell eggs. We find that this rule led to a reduction in the number of Salmonella illnesses of between 308 and 434 illnesses per year, which we attribute to a reduction in the number of outbreaks associated with egg-containing products rather than a reduction in the average number of illnesses reported in each outbreak.
Ultrasound evaluation of the prostate after abdominoperineal resection.

AbstractProstate evaluation after abdominoperineal resection is hampered by the inability of the physician to perform digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasound. Laboratory evaluation alone is not specific, and computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are costly while yielding unclear results. We evaluated 23 men with prostate specific antigen, prostatic acid phosphatase and transperineal ultrasound of the prostate, using an elevated prostate specific antigen level and/or hypoechoic focus as indications for biopsy. Ten men underwent transperineal biopsy of the prostate and in 2 biopsies revealed prostate carcinoma. Transperineal ultrasound allows for accurate evaluation of the prostate in men following abdominoperineal resection as well as accurate biopsy when indicated.
The Attainment of Immortality: From Nāathas in India to Buddhists in Tibet

A number of Indian religious traditions have passed to Tibet that cannot be comfortably classified as either Buddhist or non-Buddhist. Such traditions challenge assumptions about the variety of religious complexes that passed from the Indic plains to the Tibetan highlands, and about what can be defined as “Buddhist” in Tibet. The teachings known as Amr . tasiddhi, or the Attainment of Immortality, are one instance of this. They have been claimed at times by Buddhists and at times by Nāthas, foremost proponents of hat .ha or “forceful” yoga, and stand as witnesses to a long period of variegated and multi-traditional transHimalayan cultural exchange. That Buddhists and Nāthas participated in shared religious practices in India from as early the twelfth century onward has been well known for some time, and more recently scholars have begun to investigate the travels and teachings of Indian Nāthas in Tibet.1 The Attainment of Immortality teachings played no small role in this process of transmission, but have, as it were, been lurking in the corner, in footnotes or untraceable quotations.2 We are now in a position to begin to integrate them into our discussion of the relations between these two religious groups and the history of religion in Tibet. Recently a unique bilingual manuscript was located containing a work entitled Amr . tasiddhi. 3 The work was authored by one Avadhūtacandra, a name known elsewhere only from one single-folio work on the man. d. ala ritual for permission to practice the Amr. tasiddhi teachings, which exists only in Tibetan translation.4 This manuscript of the Amr . tasiddhi raises several issues: First, the manuscript is worthy of study in and of itself for what it can begin to show about the development of reading, writing and translation practices in Tibet, for it is a rare example of a bilingual Sanskrit and Tibetan text in two scripts, Newāri and Tibetan. Secondly, Avadhūtacandra’s work can be located within a larger corpus of works devoted to Amr . tasiddhi, all part of a religious tradition that traces itself back to one Virūpāks.anātha. Avadhūtacandra’s work is part of a hybrid tradition of yogic theory and practice. It shares its vocabulary primarily with the hat .hayoga teachings of the Nātha Siddhas, and yet it is presented in its Tibetan manifestation as a teaching of Buddhist origins. The work thus embodies the shared traditions of praxis and teaching
High-performance, 1.55 [micro sign]m AlGaAsSb/AlGaSb pin photodetectors

Results obtained from the fabrication and characterisation of double heterostructure AlGaAsSb/AlGaSb pin photodetectors designed for 1.55 µm wavelength are reported. The photodetectors were fabricated using a customised inductively coupled plasma etching process, and exhibited high external quantum efficiency and record speed characteristics (3 dB bandwidth of 10 GHz).
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Artificial Fish Habitat Designs in Turbid Reservoirs Using Sonar Imagery

AbstractArtificial fish habitats have been widely deployed by fisheries managers to increase the concentration of fish at known locations, often without any validation of how well they meet management goals. This study used an innovative sampling method, sonar imagery, to visually evaluate artificial fish habitat designs and their effectiveness in concentrating fish in two turbid North Carolina Piedmont reservoirs. Habitats encompassed equal volumes, but materials and general designs varied; cube habitats were constructed from PVC pipes, plastic barrels, and corrugated plastic pipes, a commercially available product called Porcupine, or evergreen trees. We found that all habitats held significantly more fish than the control sites that were lacking vertical structure. Among artificial habitats, the cubed, corrugated pipe design concentrated significantly more fish than the other designs, and the biodegradability of habitat provided by bundled evergreen trees was reflected in reduced concentrations of fish...
Effects of ionizing radiation on DNA methylation: from experimental biology to clinical applications

AbstractPurpose: Ionizing radiation (IR) is a ubiquitous environmental stressor with genotoxic and epigenotoxic capabilities. Terrestrial IR, predominantly a low-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, is being widely utilized in medicine, as well as in multiple industrial applications. Additionally, an interest in understanding the effects of high-LET irradiation is emerging due to the potential of exposure during space missions and the growing utilization of high-LET radiation in medicine.Conclusions: In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the effects of IR on DNA methylation, a key epigenetic mechanism regulating the expression of genetic information. We discuss global, repetitive elements and gene-specific DNA methylation in light of exposure to high and low doses of high- or low-LET IR, fractionated IR exposure, and bystander effects. Finally, we describe the mechanisms of IR-induced alterations to DNA methylation and discuss ways in which that understanding can be applied clinically, ...
Resumption of Warfarin After Hospitalization for Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Mortality Benefits

Goals To evaluate whether resumption of warfarin after hospitalization for lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is associated with improved 90-day and 6-month survival. Background LGIB is a common complication for patients on warfarin. There is limited data to guide clinicians on the optimal management of warfarin following hospitalization for LGIB. Study We identified patients hospitalized with LGIB while on warfarin using a validated, machine-learning algorithm. Patients were classified as those who had warfarin resumed at discharge and those who did not. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards were used to determine whether resuming warfarin was associated with improved 90-day and 6-month mortality. Results In total, 607 patients were admitted with warfarin-associated LGIB. A total of 403 (66.4%) patients had warfarin held at discharge. Discontinuation of warfarin was associated with an increased 90-day and 6-month mortality on univariate analysis [hazard ratio (HR), 2.07, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-4.58, P=0.04; HR, 1.78, 95% CI, 1.02-3.27, P=0.04]. On multivariate regression adjusting for age, comorbidities, and transfusion requirement, only a higher Charlson Index was associated with increased 90-day mortality (HR, 1.18, 95% CI, 1.07-1.29, P=
The wing pattern of Moerarchis Durrant, 1914 (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) clarifies transitions between predictive models

The evolution of wing pattern in Lepidoptera is a popular area of inquiry but few studies have examined microlepidoptera, with fewer still focusing on intraspecific variation. The tineid genus Moer...
A Survey of Neurologists on Postconcussion Syndrome

Background and objectives Postconcussion syndrome (PCS) has been controversial for more than 150 years. As there have not been any surveys of PCS among neurologists in the United States since 1992, another was performed using most of the prior items to assess current opinions and practices and whether there have been any changes since 1992. Methods Two hundred and eighty-nine neurologists attending the Texas Neurological Society 20th Annual Winter Conference continuing medical education meeting in 2017 were supplied the survey instrument with registration materials. The 25 item instrument (including 7 new items) contained items on demographics, definitions, causation, prognosis, medicolegal aspects, testing, and treatment. Forty percent of attendees completed the survey. Results The majority of respondents agree with the following: PCS is a clearly defined syndrome with a solid basis for determining prognosis with an organic basis; accept the authenticity of patients' reports of symptoms; effective treatment is available for headaches lasting 3 months or more; headaches persist in over 20% 1 year after injury; and cognitive rehabilitation is effective. The majority of the respondents do not agree with the following: symptoms improve in a relatively short period of time and quickly resolve once litigation is settled; effective treatment is available for PCS; and return to play guidelines are strongly evidence based. 68.4% disagree with the following: I would support my son or grandson (or if you do not have one, relative's or friend's) playing football. [Correction added on February 9, 2018, after first online publication: "One year after injury" deleted.] CONCLUSIONS: There has been growing acceptance of the organicity of PCS among neurologists in the last 25 years. There is significant concern over the long-term sequelae of concussion as most respondents would not recommend that their son or grandson play football.
Rapid synthesis of maleimide functionalized fluorine-18 labeled prosthetic group using "radio-fluorination on the Sep-Pak" method.

Following our recently published fluorine-18 labeling method, "Radio-fluorination on the Sep-Pak", we have successfully synthesized 6-[18 F]fluoronicotinaldehyde by passing a solution (1:4 acetonitrile: t-butanol) of its quaternary ammonium salt precursor, 6-(N,N,N-trimethylamino)nicotinaldehyde trifluoromethanesulfonate (2), through a fluorine-18 containing anion exchange cartridge (PS-HCO3 ). Over 80% radiochemical conversion was observed using 10 mg of precursor within 1 minute. The [18 F]fluoronicotinaldehyde ([18 F]5) was then conjugated with 1-(6-(aminooxy)hexyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione to prepare the fluorine-18 labeled maleimide functionalized prosthetic group, 6-[18 F]fluoronicotinaldehyde O-(6-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)hexyl) oxime, 6-[18 F]FPyMHO ([18 F]6). The current Sep-Pak method not only improves the overall radiochemical yield (50 ± 9%, decay-corrected, n = 9) but also significantly reduces the synthesis time (from 60-90 minutes to 30 minutes) when compared with literature methods for the synthesis of similar prosthetic groups.
Framework vs. side-chain amphidynamic behaviour in oligo-(ethylene oxide) functionalised covalent-organic frameworks

We present a family of covalent organic frameworks that have been functionalized with oligo-(ethylene oxide) chains of varying lengths. Because of the open structure of the COFs, the side chains do not interfere with their crystallization obtaining materials with predictable crystal structure. The difference in length of the side-chains allowed for the determination of amphidynamic behaviour with the use of 13C solid-state NMR relaxation methods. Computational calculations further contribute to understanding the atomistic dynamic behaviour of the different atoms. This study demonstrates the ability to design complex behaviour in organic crystals.
Archimedes Brought to Light

Just over 100 years ago in the summer of 1906, a Danish scholar called Johan Ludvig Heiberg travelled to the famous Metochion library of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Constantinople. He had got wind of an intriguing medieval prayer book that had recently been found at the library, and which contained a series of Christian prayers written on parchment recycled from older books. But underneath the scrawlings of a 13th-century medieval monk, the battered manuscript also appeared to contain some strange Greek writing as well as mysterious drawings and mathematical symbols. When Heiberg saw the book, he soon realized that the hidden material in fact contained the thoughts of Archimedes of Syracuse (287–212 BC) – one of the greatest thinkers of the ancient world.
Preparation and Microstructure of Organometallic Polymer Derived A1N-BN Composites

The reaction of tris-ethylaminoborane with diethyl aluminum amide was used to obtain a precursor containing B, Al, and N. Heating of the precursor to 1000 °C under ammonia yields a homogeneous composite of turbostratic boron nitride and crystalline aluminum nitride. This material was studied by TEM, X-ray diffraction, IR, solid state NMR, and elemental analysis. The characterization of intermediates during the pyrolysis process is also discussed.
Model Management in Decision Support Systems

Models are a key component in most decision making processes. Systems developed to effectively support the decision making process must accomodate the models that give focus to the decision making motifs of the individual decision maker. The model management process is examined and the objectives of such as system for computer-aided support of model management is described. Alternative forms of knowledge representation in model representation are considered. Abstractions are singled as a robust model representation form. The model management system must facilitate the definition and maintenance of models and data as a resource in decision-making support. A prototype Decision Support System to support model management involving econometric modeling in the planning process is briefly described. The prototype system incorporates reference and user databases containing time-series data, model database of equations, a global directory to facilitate distribution and control, and a control program providing flexible user interface.
Agent-Based Search and Retrieval in Virtual World Environments

Virtual world and other 3D Web content has been treated as a separate domain from the traditional 2D Web, but is increasingly being integrated with broader web content. However, search engines do not have the ability to crawl virtual world content directly, making it difficult for users to find relevant content. We present an intelligent agent crawler designed to collect user-generated content in the Second Life and related virtual worlds. The agents navigate autonomously through the world to discover regions, parcels of land within regions, user-created objects, and other users. The agents also interact with objects through movement or ‘touch’ to trigger scripts that present dynamic content in the form of note cards, chat text, landmark links, and web URLs. The collection service includes a focused HTML crawler for collecting linked web content. The experiments we performed are the first which focus on the content of a large virtual world. Our results show that virtual worlds can be effectively crawled using autonomous agent crawlers that emulate normal user behavior. Additionally, we find that the collection of interactive content enhances our ability to identify dynamic, immersive environments within the world.
The relationship between pore density and outflow facility in human eyes.

The inner wall (IW) endothelial lining of Schlemm's canal was examined in six normal human eyes and four eyes with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Outflow facility was measured using constant pressure perfusion at 15 mmHg, eyes were fixed at 15 mmHg, and the IW endothelial lining was isolated and examined by scanning electron microscopy. Pore density, pore diameter, and bulge density were recorded by quadrant, and pore size and density were used to estimate IW endothelial facility, resistance, and hydraulic conductivity (facility per unit area). In POAG eyes, pores were less common (489 +/- 172 vs 1437 +/- 423 pores/mm2; P less than .005) and appeared to be more unevenly distributed than in normal eyes. A regional analysis of pore density (by quadrant) failed to detect a significant difference between quadrants of normal or POAG eyes. Pore density was correlated with measured outflow facility in normal eyes alone (P less than .02) and when normal eyes were pooled with POAG eyes (P less than .001). The percentage of total resistance attributed to the IW endothelium was 5.8% in normals compared to 9.5% in POAG eyes. This indicates there is a greater pressure drop across the IW endothelium in POAG eyes, suggesting that an intrinsic difference in IW endothelial function exists between normal and glaucomatous eyes. However, this difference alone does not account for the decreased outflow facility in POAG eyes. IW endothelial hydraulic conductivity is markedly higher than that of other vascular endothelia. We hypothesize that this may protect the IW endothelial lining of Schlemm's canal from mechanical stress induced by the relatively high rate of transcellular fluid flow.
Women are Different: Women Physicians’ Way of Healing

Let’s face it, women are different. There is a tremendous amount of sociological literature that shows how women are different from men. For example, women think differently (Belenky, Gilligan), have different bodies, conduct their lives differently, and have less position power. Differences between individual men and women may be more or less, but the groups as a whole show marked differences.