cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Built on Emptiness: Śūnyatā as a Basis for Mahāyāna Ethics, With References to Śāntideva’s Bodhicaryāvatāra

In a 1968 conference, Luis O. Gomez acknowledged that the Buddhist conception of emptiness (śūnyatā) presents a challenge to the Western tradition of philosophical ethics and has given rise to charges of nihilism, even in Buddhism’s ancient setting. However, Gomez argues, that, far from leading adherents to an ethical nihilism, these doctrines provide a unique lens through which to see the motivations of Buddhist ethics. Beginning with the essay that followed from his presentation and continuing with the works of other Buddhist ethicists (Stephen A. Evans, Barbara A. Clayton, Jay Garfield, Stephen E. Harris, for instance), this paper analyzes and illustrates the ways that śūnyatā shapes a Mahāyāna Buddhist systematic ethic. After examining the ontological grounding which these conceptions illustrate, this paper then asks toward what kind of ethical issues are adherents oriented and what kinds of ethical responses are compelled. Finally, this paper addresses the ways that śūnyatā provides a basis for prioritizing ethical responses when conflicts are apparent. While several of the writers analyzed point out that developing such a systemic understanding of Buddhist ethics has not been a priority for the tradition, this paper agrees with those who assert that doing so is helpful less for the tradition itself and more for the cross-cultural conversations that facilitated by a shared vocabulary. Such common ground allows for a constructive cross- cultural comparison that may lead to better understandings of the ways that ethical systems are derived and operative.
Improved Sleep Quality Improves Blood Pressure Control among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Pilot Study

Background Despite the abundance of data documenting the consequences of poor sleep quality on blood pressure (BP), no previous study to our knowledge has addressed the impact of sleep improvement on resistant hypertension among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether improved sleep quality and duration will improve BP control in patients with resistant hypertension and CKD. It was a prospective single-center cohort study that involved 30 hypertensive subjects with CKD presenting with primary resistant hypertension and poor sleep quality or duration Results African American patients represented 50% of the cohort. All patients had evidence of CKD with GFR ≤60 mL/min and were obese with 40% having type 2 diabetes mellitus. The primary endpoint of change in clinic SBP and DBP was significantly reduced at 3 months, baseline 156 ± 15/88 ± 8 vs. 3 months 125 ± 14/73 ± 7 (p 6 h/night, that is, gaining an extra 3-4 h' sleep duration, home; R2 = 0.66, p Conclusion Optimizing sleep quality and duration to >6 h/night improved BP control and was associated with a significant delta change in SBP within 3 months of follow-up. Physicians should obtain a sleep history in patients with CKD who present with resistant hypertension.
The Early Effects of Coronavirus-Related Social Distancing Restrictions on Brands

This paper presents some of the first evidence on the effect of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the US on retail footfall traffic. The paper uses granular visit data from cell-phone tracking to estimate the shift in visits to different types of restaurants as coronavirus spread in the USA across the first three weeks of March 2020. The descriptive empirical work provides three useful insights. First, the precise level of coronavirus spread in the state or the timing of any in-person dining ban in the state has had far smaller effects than the pronounced nationwide overall collapse in demand. Second, there is little evidence of substitution towards restaurants focused on delivery as a result of the bans. Though dine-in restaurants suffered the largest drop in customers as a result of state-imposed restaurant bans, quick-service restaurants experienced a steep decline. Last, the biggest individual effects of these state-specific bans appears to have been top-ranked brands focusing on full service dining. Both top and non top-ranked brands suffered drops for restaurants not focused on dining in, with top brands suffering a slightly smaller decline.
XROMM and diceCT reveal a hydraulic mechanism of tongue base retraction in swallowing

During primate swallowing, tongue base retraction (TBR) drives the food bolus across the oropharynx towards the esophagus and flips the epiglottis over the laryngeal inlet, protecting against penetration and aspiration of food into the airway. Despite the importance of TBR for swallowing performance, the mechanics of TBR are poorly understood. Using biplanar videoradiography (XROMM) of four macaque monkeys, we tested the extrinsic muscle shortening hypothesis, which posits that shortening of the hyoglossus and styloglossus muscles pulls the tongue base posteriorly, and the muscular hydrostat or intrinsic tongue muscle hypothesis, which suggests that, because the tongue is composed of incompressible fluid, intrinsic muscle shortening increases tongue length and displaces the tongue base posteriorly. Our data falsify these hypotheses. Instead we suggest a novel hydraulic mechanism of TBR: shortening and rotation of suprahyoid muscles compresses the tongue between the hard palate, hyoid and mouth floor, squeezing the midline tongue base and food bolus back into the oropharynx. Our hydraulic mechanism is consistent with available data on human tongue swallowing kinematics. Rehabilitation for poor tongue base retraction might benefit from including suprahyoid muscle exercises during treatment.
Aging-associated skeletal muscle defects in HER2/Neu transgenic mammary tumor model.

Background Loss of skeletal muscle volume and resulting in functional limitations are poor prognostic markers in breast cancer patients. Several molecular defects in skeletal muscle including reduced MyoD levels and increased protein turn over due to enhanced proteosomal activity have been suggested as causes of skeletal muscle loss in cancer patients. However, it is unknown whether molecular defects in skeletal muscle are dependent on tumor etiology. Methods We characterized functional and molecular defects of skeletal muscle in MMTV-Neu (Neu+) mice (n= 6-12), an animal model that represents HER2+ human breast cancer, and compared the results with well-characterized luminal B breast cancer model MMTV-PyMT (PyMT+). Functional studies such as grip strength, rotarod performance, and ex vivo muscle contraction were performed to measure the effects of cancer on skeletal muscle. Expression of muscle-enriched genes and microRNAs as well as circulating cytokines/chemokines were measured. Since NF-κB pathway plays a significant role in skeletal muscle defects, the ability of NF-κB inhibitor dimethylaminoparthenolide (DMAPT) to reverse skeletal muscle defects was examined. Results Neu+ mice showed skeletal muscle defects similar to accelerated aging. Compared to age and sex-matched wild type mice, Neu+ tumor-bearing mice had lower grip strength (202±6.9 vs. 179±6.8 g grip force, p=0.0069) and impaired rotarod performance (108±12.1 vs. 30±3.9 seconds, P<0.0001), which was consistent with reduced muscle contractibility (p<0.0001). Skeletal muscle of Neu+ mice (n=6) contained lower levels of CD82+ (16.2±2.9 vs 9.0±1.6) and CD54+ (3.8±0.5 vs 2.4±0.4) muscle stem and progenitor cells (p<0.05), suggesting impaired capacity of muscle regeneration, which was accompanied by decreased MyoD, p53 and miR-486 expression in muscles (p<0.05). Unlike PyMT+ mice, which showed skeletal muscle mitochondrial defects including reduced mitochondria levels and Pgc1β, Neu+ mice displayed accelerated aging-associated changes including muscle fiber shrinkage and increased extracellular matrix deposition. Circulating "aging factor" and cachexia and fibromyalgia-associated chemokine Ccl11 was elevated in Neu+ mice (1439.56±514 vs. 1950±345 pg/ml, p<0.05). Treatment of Neu+ mice with DMAPT significantly restored grip strength (205±6 g force), rotarod performance (74±8.5 seconds), reversed molecular alterations associated with skeletal muscle aging, reduced circulating Ccl11 (1083.26 ±478 pg/ml), and improved animal survival. Conclusions These results suggest that breast cancer subtype has a specific impact on the type of molecular and structure changes in skeletal muscle, which needs to be taken into consideration while designing therapies to reduce breast cancer-induced skeletal muscle loss and functional limitations.
Critical Review and Meta-Analysis of Postoperative Sedation after Adult Cardiac Surgery: Dexmedetomidine Versus Propofol.

Objective To evaluate reports from the published literature of all randomized clinical trials (RCT) comparing postoperative sedation with dexmedetomidine versus propofol in adult patients, after open cardiac surgery. Design A computerized search on Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality databases was completed through June 2020. Meta-analysis of all published RCT comparing dexmedetomidine versus propofol utilization in the postoperative phase, using the standard Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. Setting Assemblage and critical discussion of 11 RCTs comparing postoperative sedation from standard published reports from 2003 to 2019. Participants The study comprised 1,184 patients and analyzed critical discussion of time-based parameters (time to extubation, intensive care unit length of stay, and hospital length of stay) and nontime-dependent factors (delirium, bradycardia, and hypotension). Measurements and Main Results Time to extubation was significantly reduced in the dexmedetomidine group (standardized mean difference [SMD] = –0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] –0.98 to –0.42, p Conclusions Despite the ICU time advantages afforded by dexmedetomidine over propofol, the former did not seem to contribute to an overall reduction in hospital length of stay or improvement in postoperative outcomes of heart valve surgery and CABG patients.
Delayed Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction in a Sickle Cell Disease Patient: A Case Report.

Alloimmunization has been reported in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) is one of the complications of alloimmunization. DHTR is of particular clinical significance in this patient population as it may pose a diagnostic and management challenge to most healthcare providers. Symptoms of DHTR are often misinterpreted as pain crisis or worsening of baseline anemia. Furthermore, DHTR may take a turn for the worse in patients with SCD, thereby leading to worsening anemia and hyper-hemolytic crisis. In this report, we discuss the case of a 33-year-old African female, with hemoglobin SS (Hb SS) SCD and a history of multiple blood transfusions in her home country of Nigeria, who presented to the emergency department with generalized body pain, which was typical of her prior vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). The trigger of her crisis was an acute onset of sepsis secondary to Escherichia coli (E. coli)-associated pyelonephritis. Owing to a worsening of her VOC and a significant drop in her steady-state Hb levels, she required a blood transfusion of one unit of packed red blood cells (PRBC), which was later complicated by a delayed hemolytic reaction and worsening anemia.
Maternal High-Fat Diet Induces Long-Lasting Defects in Bone Structure in Rat Offspring Through Enhanced Osteoclastogenesis

Maternal stressors during the prenatal and perinatal periods are associated with increased susceptibility for and severity of chronic disease phenotypes in adult offspring. In this study, we used a rat model of maternal high-fat diet (HFD) exposure during pregnancy and lactation to investigate the impact on skeletal homeostasis in offspring. In the distal femur, young male and female offspring (up to 3 weeks of age) from dams fed a HFD exhibited marked increases in trabecular bone volume relative to offspring from dams fed a chow diet, but this was followed by sustained bone loss. By 15 weeks of age, male offspring of HFD fed dams exhibited a 33% reduction in trabecular bone volume fraction that histomorphometric analyses revealed was due to a nearly threefold increase in the abundance of bone-resorbing osteoclasts, while there were no differences between female control and HFD offspring by 15 weeks of age. The osteoblastic differentiation of male offspring-derived bone marrow stromal cells was not affected by maternal diet. However, osteoclastic precursors isolated from the male offspring of HFD fed dams exhibited enhanced differentiation in vitro, forming larger osteoclasts with higher expression of the fusion marker DC-STAMP. This effect appears to be mediated by a cell autonomous increase in the sensitivity of precursors to RANKL. Taken together, these results suggest that maternal stressors like HFD exposure have persistent consequences for the skeletal health of offspring that may ultimately lead to a predisposition for osteopenia/osteoporosis.
Mauvine’s unfading history

A review of Carolyn Cobbold’s book A Rainbow Palate, which looks at the history of the use of chemical dyes in food.
Long-term gene-culture coevolution and the human evolutionary transition

It has been suggested that the human species may be undergoing an evolutionary transition in individuality (ETI). But there is disagreement about how to apply the ETI framework to our species, and whether culture is implicated as either cause or consequence. Long-term gene-culture coevolution (GCC) is also poorly understood. Some have argued that culture steers human evolution, while others proposed that genes hold culture on a leash. We review the literature and evidence on long-term GCC in humans and find a set of common themes. First, culture appears to hold greater adaptive potential than genetic inheritance and is probably driving human evolution. The evolutionary impact of culture occurs mainly through culturally organized groups, which have come to dominate human affairs in recent millennia. Second, the role of culture appears to be growing, increasingly bypassing genetic evolution and weakening genetic adaptive potential. Taken together, these findings suggest that human long-term GCC is characterized by an evolutionary transition in inheritance (from genes to culture) which entails a transition in individuality (from genetic individual to cultural group). Thus, research on GCC should focus on the possibility of an ongoing transition in the human inheritance system.
Protein stability in preserved biological remains: II. Modification and aggregation of proteins in an 8-year-old sample of dried blood

Abstract 1. 1. The surviving proteins in an 8-year-old sample of dried human blood were examined by physical and chemical techniques and shown to be modified. 2. 2. Ultracentrifugation and gel filtration experiments showed that the surviving proteins existed in aggregated as well as native states; the presence of enzymatic activity in the insoluble fraction of the dried blood suggested that the modifications produced a progression from soluble native states to soluble aggregates to insoluble material. 3. 3. Covalent intermolecular cross-links were implicated in this progression by solubility studies, gel filtration, and viscosity determinations in dissociating solvents; both disulphide and non-disulphide cross-links appear to be involved. 4. 4. Chemical analyses suggested that reaction of glucose and lysine amino groups may be involved in modification or aggregation phenomena. 5. 5. Limited protein breakdown was shown to have occurred in the dried blood.
Periconceptional supplementation with folic acid. Does it prevent neural tube defects

There has been considerable controversy in recent years concerning the benefit of periconceptional vitamin supplementation in the prevention of neural tube defects. Recent reports of a successful randomized clinical trial have prompted official recommendations for folic acid supplementation in women with a history of an affected pregnancy. Periconceptional supplementation of low-risk women remains controversial.
La naturaleza del enlace químico 2013 ¡No existe tal cosa llamada orbital!

Despite the fact that the chemical bond is a fiction, although convenient and nearly harmless, it plays an enormous role in the thinking, and especially the education, of chemists at all levels. Much further fiction has accumulated during the past 85 years; although, when the ideas about bonds, orbitals, hybridization and related topics originated and became widely known, largely through the verbal and written efforts of Pauling, they seemed plausible and helpful, the powerful experiments and calculations now available show those efforts and concepts to lack a firm foundation. Their continued promulgation is counterproductive to a profound understanding and communication of chemical knowledge. In this essay we discuss the origin and amplification of various ideas and terms that are common in textbooks of chemistry and in the lessons of instructors of chemistry but that are no longer acceptable as scientific truth.
Radioactive measurement of 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase activity in the central and peripheral nervous system and in extraneural tissue

Abstract This paper describes a new, sensitive, and reproducible method for the determination of 2′,3′-cyclic-nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.37) activity in both central and peripheral nervous system tissue, as well as in extraneural tissue. Radioactive [8- 3 H]adenosine 2′,3′-cyclic monophosphate was used as the substrate. The [8- 3 H]2′-AMP product formed was isolated by thin-layer chromatography, or, alternatively, the reaction was coupled with an excess of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase, and the [8- 3 H]adenosine formed was isolated by column chromatography on AG 1-X2 resin. The values obtained by the two methods were compared with those obtained using a spectrophotometric method. Hydrolysis rates of 0.50 nmol/min could be reproducibly measured in 18-day fetal rat spinal cord.
The Effect of Neuromuscular Stimulation of the Genioglossus on the Hypopharyngeal Airway

Objectives To determine the effects of neuromuscular stimulation (NS) of the genioglossus muscle on hypopharyngeal airway size. Study Design Fourteen consecutively recruited healthy volunteers underwent percutaneous electrical NS of the genioglossus muscle. Methods Bipolar hooked wires were inserted percutaneously into the genioglossus muscle and used for NS. The anterior–posterior diameter of the hypopharynx was measured at the level of the superior edge of the epiglottis at baseline and during NS from recorded video endoscopic examinations. Results NS of the genioglossus muscle resulted in a significant increase in the diameter of the hypopharyngeal airway (P = .002) compared with baseline, ranging from a 33% to 284% increase in airway diameter. Three of the 14 patients demonstrated modest decreases in airway diameter, likely the result of faulty electrode placement in surrounding tongue retrusive muscles. Conclusions NS of the genioglossus muscle was effective in increasing the hypopharyngeal airway and may provide a useful alternative to direct stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve with a nerve cuff electrode in the development of neuroprosthetic treatments for obstructive sleep apnea.
Monte-Carlo Simulation for the Fracture Process And Energy Release Rate of Unidirectional Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers at Different Temperatures

This paper presents an analytical approach that combines the modified shear-lag model and the Monte-Carlo simulation technique to simulate the fracture behavior, including the failure process and energy release rate, for unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites with an initial crack at different temperatures. The simulated results, based on a unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced polymeric (CFRP) composite, were compared with existing experimental observations and measurements. Good agreement exists between the simulation and experimental results. It is found that the critical energy release rate of the unidirectional CFRP composite increases with a decrease in temperature. This increase is primarily due to the temperature-dependence of the composite constituents rather than the residual stresses caused by the change in temperature.
Long-wavelength sound propagation in superfluid-filled porous media with novel geometries

The acoustic-scattering corrections of several types of superleaks have been measured, providing information about inertial drag effects in the flow of superfluid /sup 4/He. The porous media which have been studied include Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ packed powder, Grafoil, and Grafoil foam. The frequency dependence of the acoustic-scattering correction was measured for the Grafoil media.
A simple route to Δ2-butenolides from conjugated aldehydes

Abstract A variety of Δ2-butenolides may be synthesized by oxidation of the O-trimethylsilylcyanohydrins of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes using pyridinium dichromate in dimethylformamide.
Supporting the Language Development of Limited English Proficient Students through Arts Integration in the Primary Grades

This article looks at how arts integration can boost the language development of limited English proficient students in kindergarten through second grade. I first review existing research on how young children learn and describe the special challenges faced by children who must learn in an unfamiliar language. I then identify arts-based mechanisms that boost the language development of limited English proficient students and examine strategies used by a successful urban arts-and-literacy program to enhance the language development of English language learners in the primary grades.
Evidence for two insulin receptor populations on human erythrocytes.

Human erythrocytes specifically bind 125I-insulin in a manner similar to cells in which insulin exerts a physiological response1. In addition, erythrocytes are of practical value for correlating in vitro insulin binding with in vivo carbohydrate intolerance2,3. The competitive binding of labelled and unlabelled insulin to erythrocyte receptors is typically curvilinear when plotted according to Scatchard4. The curvilinear nature of the Scatchard plot describing insulin binding to membrane receptors, although originally attributed to heterogeneous sites5, has been more recently interpreted as negative cooperativity between homogeneous sites6. Evidence reported here, however, suggests that there are two populations of insulin receptors on erythrocytes. Specific concentrations of concanavalin A (Con A), a lectin which mimics insulin activity7, are shown here to inhibit one population of receptors leaving another population unaffected.
An Eclectic Atlantic Ocean Circulation Model. Part I: The Meridional Flux of Heat

Abstract A model of the Atlantic has been formulated that combines ordinary quasi-geostrophic constraints (based upon the dynamic method and Ekman layer) with a great variety of additional information available about the time-average ocean circulation. The goal is to combine very diverse data types and beliefs and to be able to test for compatibility and incremental usefulness as a way around the paucity of conventional data, a lack of which otherwise greatly hinders determination of the circulation. The approach is axiomatic. Such a model is based here upon the use of linear inequality constraints, which permit the combination of the dynamic method with “core layer”-like constraints, as well as observations of deep water velocities, overflow transports and the like. The model is then exploited to find absolute bounds (maxima and minima) upon the annual mean and seasonal meridional fluxes of heat and the maximum rate of tropical near-surface upwelling. Some latitudes of nearly vanishing mean meridional he...
Comparison of computer software packages for developing simulation models

Computer simulation models have been proposed as teaching tools to enhance the teaching-learning process. Several software packages are now available for developing simulation models for classroom use. In this paper, the following computer software packages are compared: a spreadsheet package (Excel™), two equation processing packages (TKSolver™ and Mathcad™), and a dynamic simulation package (Extend™). In contrast to the conventional approach of using computer languages, these packages enable faculty and students to develop models of varying complexity with minimal programming skills at a fraction of the time. Some of the distinct features and the limitations of these packages are illustrated and compared in this paper using a sample problem which is governed by a first order ordinary differential equation.
MycoCosm portal: gearing up for 1000 fungal genomes

MycoCosm is a fungal genomics portal (http://jgi.doe.gov/fungi), developed by the US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute to support integration, analysis and dissemination of fungal genome sequences and other 'omics' data by providing interactive web-based tools. MycoCosm also promotes and facilitates user community participation through the nomination of new species of fungi for sequencing, and the annotation and analysis of resulting data. By efficiently filling gaps in the Fungal Tree of Life, MycoCosm will help address important problems associated with energy and the environment, taking advantage of growing fungal genomics resources.
Taking our Time: Chronic Illness and Time-Based Objects in Families

This study examined the use of time-based objects by patients and their families to manage chronic illnesses at home. Calendar systems and medication containers, the main types of time-based objects studied, were used as part of two family-based collaborative work practices: 1) prompting health management activities, and 2) safeguarding these activities. Additionally, these artifacts were part of two social interaction patterns that managed emotional intimacy: 1) expressing support, and 2) hiding and disguising illness. Accordingly, home-based illness management may be more collaborative than previously recognized. Moreover, through their interactive incorporation into family life, time-based objects are laden with psychosocial significance. Breakdowns in temporal support were also evident, and were accompanied by: missed medication events; rationing of medications; medication errors; and difficulties with preparation for medical appointments. We propose novel artifact designs to better support patients and their families in managing the temporal aspects of chronic illness together.
Corporate Social Responsibility: Its Economic Impact and Link to the Bullwhip Effect

This paper examines the economic impact of implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the supply chain operations of multinational corporations (MNC). Because they have global supply chains in emerging markets, MNCs face certain operational challenges. For example, unethical operations often result in a huge loss to MNCs in the long run, even though their initial cost seems to be low. In this paper, we extend the Bullwhip Effect theory in supply chain management to the ethical operations context, and define and evaluate a special Bullwhip Effect due to Unethical Operations (BEUO). Using economic data from various sources including Ford, Toyota, and GM in the auto industry, we first estimate the indices of BEUO for the three companies and demonstrate the economic necessity for MNCs to incorporate CSR with supply chain operations. We then propose a coherent approach, blending what we term the bottom-up and proactive methods, to achieve such an outcome. The bottom-up approach requires MNCs to switch their focus on stakeholders, shifting from shareholders to consumers and workers, and on decision levels from public relationships to supply chain operations. The proactive approach recommends initializing specific CSR operations to mitigate the negative impact of BEUO. Both theoretical analysis and case studies are conducted to evaluate our developed propositions that MNCs adopting the proposed CSR operations will in the long run achieve better economic performance. Recommended actions for implementation, based on best practices, are also presented.
Fred L. Hackney, m.d., d.d.s., and joseph m. Gryskiewicz, m.d., f.a.C.s.

I want to thank Dr. Fred L. Hackney and Dr. Joseph M. Gryskiewicz for responding to the challenge of being guest editors for this issue of Seminars in Plastic Surgery dedicated to dorsal augmentation in rhinoplasty. I would also like to thank the contributing authors for sharing their knowledge and experience in the field of dorsal augmentation. After graduating from the University of Alabama Medical School, Dr. Hackney completed training first in oral and maxillofacial surgery and then in plastic surgery, graduating from the University of Texas at Southwestern program in Dallas. Since that time, he has developed an extensive experience in rhinoplasty and contributed much to our understanding of this difficult operation. Dr. Hackney is also a noted author, a respected lecturer, and a member of numerous professional organizations. He is coauthor of several chapters in prominent plastic surgery textbooks including Dallas Rhinoplasty, Surgery by the Masters. He is also a member of the Clinical Faculty of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Perhaps most importantly, though, he was the senior resident during my plastic surgery training and always the steady confident voice in the midst of my frequent confusion. For this I will be forever indebted to him. Dr. Gryskiewicz graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1978. His postgraduate medical training included 7 years at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in general and plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Gryskiewicz also completed a hand surgery rotation at Northwestern University in Chicago. Dr. Gryskiewicz is an international speaker on nose surgery and has published numerous articles on that topic in medical journals. He is also a guest reviewer for Aesthetic Surgery Journal and Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is an active board member in the rhinoplasty society. Although he has extensive training in all aspects of cosmetic and plastic surgery, Dr. Gryskiewicz's special medical interests are breast augmentation, nasal surgery, facial plastic surgery, and body contouring. He is a clinical professor at the University of Minnesota Cleft Palate Clinics School of Dentistry and also maintains a private practice in Edina and Burnsville, Minnesota.
Using biomarkers prospectively in adaptive clinical trials

A standard approach to biomarker research is to retrospectively examine interactions between biomarkers and treatment effects. An alternative approach of examining such interactions prospectively has advantages. First, if the biomarker information is required for randomization then eliminates missing biomarker information. Another is that nonresponding biomarker subtypes in a multiarmed trial that do not respond to a particular arm can be excluded from that arm, perhaps gradually, using adaptive randomization. A consequence of adaptively excluding nonresponders is the potential to have a smaller, more focused trial. There are limitations to such an approach. One is that the biomarker has to be available to enable adapting to the accumulating evidence. Another is that the outcome database must be updated in a reasonably timing fashion, and it must be connected it to the patient assignment algorithm. In addition, the design, although fully prospective, is complicated to convey to investigators, patients, and IRBs, IECs, and other regulators. A third possible design is to restrict trial eligibility to the population that is the drug’s target. This is efficient, but it relies on knowing the target. This design gives no information about biomarker by treatment interactions. And it inhibits learning about the roles of other biomarkers. The adaptive approach is a compromise between the first and third approaches: Start with all-comers but restrict to the responding population as the trial results accumulate. The approaches I describe employ randomization. All have an adaptive aspect in which accumulating trial results are analyzed frequently with the possibility of modifying the trial’s future course. Many treatment arms are possible, including combination therapies. So it is possible to learn about the way treatments interact with each other as well as the way they interact with biomarkers. Having multiple biomarkers and multiple treatment arms increases the false-positive rate. Therefore it is essential to prospectively build some level of confirmation into the design. False-positive rates and statistical power can be evaluated by simulation and controlled. Taking an adaptive approach is fruitless without information to which to adapt. There is little information available when the endpoints are long-term. However, early markers of therapeutic effect (longitudinal biomarkers, measurements of tumor burden, etc.) can be correlated with long-term clinical outcome. I will give an example (called I-SPY 2) of an adaptive biomarker-driven trial in neoadjuvant breast cancer. The goal is to efficiently identify biomarker signatures for a variety of agents and combinations being considered simultaneously.
Real-Time Vehicle Classification Using Inductive Loop Signature Data:

Vehicle class is an important characteristic of traffic measurement, and classification information can contribute to many important applications in various transportation fields. For instance, vehicle classification is helpful in monitoring heavy vehicle traffic for road maintenance and safety, modeling traffic flow, and obtaining performance measurements based on each vehicle class for traffic surveillance. A real-time vehicle classification model was introduced. A heuristic method combined with decision tree and K-means clustering approaches was proposed to develop the vehicle classification model. The features used in the proposed model were extracted from piecewise slope rate values, which were obtained from single-loop inductive signature data. Three vehicle classification schemes—FHWA, FHWA-I, and Real-time Traffic Performance Measurement System—and a data set obtained from square single-loop detectors were used for model development. A data set obtained from round single-loop detectors was applied...
Durable Knockdown and Protection From HIV Transmission in Humanized Mice Treated With Gel-formulated CD4 Aptamer-siRNA Chimeras

The continued spread of HIV underscores the need to interrupt transmission. One attractive strategy, in the absence of an effective vaccine, is a topical microbicide, but the need for application around the time of sexual intercourse leads to poor patient compliance. Intravaginal (IVAG) application of CD4 aptamer-siRNA chimeras (CD4-AsiCs) targeting the HIV coreceptor CCR5, gag, and vif protected humanized mice from sexual transmission. In non-dividing cells and tissue, RNAi-mediated gene knockdown lasts for several weeks, providing an opportunity for infrequent dosing not temporally linked to sexual intercourse, when compliance is challenging. Here, we investigate the durability of gene knockdown and viral inhibition, protection afforded by CCR5 or HIV gene knockdown on their own, and effectiveness of CD4-AsiCs formulated in a gel in polarized human cervicovaginal explants and in humanized mice. CD4-AsiC–mediated gene knockdown persisted for several weeks. Cell-specific gene knockdown and protection were comparable in a hydroxyethylcellulose gel formulation. CD4-AsiCs against CCR5 or gag/vif performed as well as a cocktail in humanized mice. Transmission was completely blocked by CCR5 CD4-AsiCs applied 2 days before challenge. Significant, but incomplete, protection also occurred when exposure was delayed for 4 or 6 days. CD4-AsiCs targeting gag/vif provided some protection when administered only after exposure. These data suggest that CD4-AsiCs are a promising approach for developing an HIV microbicide.
Soviet proposals on the militarization of space

Abstract The USSR has submitted several proposals to the United Nations in recent years which are aimed at avoiding the militarization of outer space. This article examines three of the proposals and evaluates them in the context of existing treaties, to see whether or not they could resolve the political and legal problems which might arise. The reactions of the United Nations General Assembly and individual nations are also considered. The author concludes that several questions regarding the military aspects of space activity are left unresolved by the Soviet proposals.
Elevated protease activities in human amnion and chorion correlate with preterm premature rupture of membranes

Abstract OBJECTIVES: The mechanism(s) of preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes resulting in preterm birth remains unknown. Studies suggest that fetal membranes are susceptible to weakening by protease attack and that collagenases may be active at the site of rupture. In this study fetal membranes from women delivered after preterm premature rupture of membranes were compared with control membranes and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively for protease activities. STUDY DESIGN: Fourteen membranes from women with preterm premature rupture of membranes and nine membranes from women delivered preterm without premature rupture of membranes or otherwise normal women delivered at term vaginally or by cesarean section were studied. Zymogram gel electrophoresis with gelatin incorporation was used to assess the number and apparent molecular weights of protease activities. Functional and quantitative studies of protease activity were measured by fluorescent substrate cleavage. RESULTS: Zymogram gel electrophoresis studies demonstrated the presence of five to seven different protease bands in preterm premature rupture of membranes samples, whereas control membranes demonstrated only one to three protease bands. Fluorescent studies of protease activity demonstrated a 10- to 40-fold increase in activity in membranes from women with preterm premature rupture of membranes compared with normal control membranes. Studies with protease inhibitors suggest that most of the activity is due to metalloproteinases. CONCLUSION: In membranes from women with preterm premature rupture of membranes there appears to be a general increase in the amount of protease activity and increased numbers of putatively different proteases. Increased activity or deregulated protease control may mediate preterm permature rupture of membranes and be a potentially remediable cause of preterm birth.
Urban sprawl and risk for being overweight or obese.

Objectives. I examined the association between urban sprawl and the risk for being overweight or obese among US adults. Methods. A measure of urban sprawl in metropolitan areas was derived from the 2000 US Census; individual-level data were obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. I used multilevel analysis to assess the association between urban sprawl and obesity. Results. After I controlled for gender, age, race/ethnicity, income, and education, for each 1-point rise in the urban sprawl index (0–100 scale), the risk for being overweight increased by 0.2% and the risk for being obese increased by 0.5%. Conclusions. The current obesity epidemic has many causes, but there is an association between urban sprawl and obesity.
Equilibrium transport in amorphous semiconductors

Abstract We present a model in which equilibrium transport in amorphous semiconductors is ordinarily dominated by contributions from localized states in the band tails, independent of the position of the Fermi energy. This results in carrier mobilities that appear to be thermally activated, due to the temperature dependence of the energy at which most of the transport occurs. The model resolves the problem of the observed differences between the activation energies of the electrical conductivity and the thermoelectric power in a natural way.
Off-Energy-Shell Effects in the Triton with the Boundary-Condition Interaction

The boundary-condition model of the two-nucleon interaction due to Feshbach and Lomon is used without an external potential tail to determine the ground-state properties of the three-nucleon system for the purpose of studying the off-energy-shell properties of the two-body $T$ matrix. Calculations are performed using an average singlet-triplet $s$-wave interaction giving a completely symmetric triton wave function. The $T$ matrix is separable and depends on three energy-independent parameters \char22{} the boundary radius ${r}_{0}$ and the boundary condition $f$ at ${r}_{0}+\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ which are determined from the two-nucleon phase shifts, and the boundary condition $b$ at ${r}_{0}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ which is specifically an off-shell parameter that does not appear in the on-shell $T$ matrix. With $f=0.11$ and ${r}_{0}=0.95$ F, the Faddeev equations are solved for the triton energy eigenvalues and spectator functions for several values of $b$. It is found that the binding energy varies from 3.9 to 19.4 MeV for $b$ between 0.5 and 0.6, with a value of 8.5 MeV at $r=0.537$. The average kinetic energy and charge form factor are determined as a function of $b$, and qualitative agreement of the charge radius with experiment is obtained for $b=0.5\ensuremath{-}0.6$. The charge form factor, compared with experiment, does not drop off rapidly enough with ${q}^{2}$, indicating the presence of relatively too much large $q$ component in the spectator functions. The changes to be expected from the inclusion of tensor coupling in the boundary parameters are discussed.
On the application of the Hutchinson-Tvergaard shear localization equations in plane strain

Abstract Methods of determining theoretical critical strains for surface instability and bulk shear band formation in plane-strain conditions from the equations of Hutchinson and Tvergaard are discussed. The existing data on spheroidized AISI 1090 steel, Q & T AISI 1045 steel and a maraging steel are shown to be based on an approximate solution, the accuracy of which varies considerably from case to case. The accurate results obtained from a re-analysis help eliminate the excessive scatter of some published results and indicate that the quantitative disagreement between the observed critical strains and those predicted by the theory grows continuously with increasing yield strength.
Optical spectral weight and the physics of correlated electron systems

Abstract The theory of the optical conductivity of ‘correlated electron systems’ (mainly transition metal oxides with narrow, d-derived conduction bands) is reviewed, with emphasis on effective models and on a restricted sum rule that enables the extraction of the electron kinetic energy from optical data.
The growth rate of bronchogenic carcinoma: Is it constant?

Six patients with bronchogenic carcinomas presenting as solitary nodules had from seven to nine serial chest roentgenograms which permitted measurement of tumor diameters in the absence of definitive therapy. Growth curves were plotted simultaneously on semilogarithmic and arithmetic coordinates to determine whether growth rates were constant. The findings suggested exponential growth in three of the six cancers, but the curves for the other three cases did not provide evidence for constancy of growth rate. The sparse data in this series and in the literature are insufficient to permit generalization on the shape of growth curves for bronchogenic carcinoma.
Applying fuzzy adaptive network to fuzzy regression analysis

Abstract A fuzzy inference system based on the Sugeno inference model is first formulated for fuzzy regression analysis. This system is then represented by a fuzzy adaptive network. This approach combines the power of representation of fuzzy inference system with the ability of learning of the neural network. Numerical examples are trained and solved to illustrate the approach. The results are compared with other approaches.
Treatment of intrathyroidal papillary carcinoma of the thyroid

Among 237 patients with grossly noninvasive (intrathyroidal) papillary carcinoma of the thyroid treated by surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital and followed for a median of 14 years, no patient had tumor recurrence either in the thyroid bed or opposite lobe. There were 12 metastatic recurrences with risks of recurrence 4.0% and 6.9% at 10 years and 20 years respectively. Eight of these recurrences were restricted to cervical lymph nodes and did not herald the development of more serious recurrent disease. The remaining recurrences were lung metastases in four patients, two of whom died, accounting for the only deaths from thyroid carcinoma in this series. Factors that influenced the risk of recurrence included lymph node metastases at initial surgery, large tumor size, and to a lesser extent, male sex. The majority of patients (176) had subtotal thyroidectomies, mostly lobectomy (131 patients). There was no evidence that the 61 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy fared better than those with similar patient and tumor characteristics on whom subtotal procedures were performed. The overall findings of this study strongly support the concept that intrathyroidal thyroid carcinoma can be successfully treated by conservative surgery.
SU-E-T-210: An Investigation for the Use of OSLDs for in Vivo Patient-Specific Quality Assurance for Patients Requiring Bolus

Purpose: For treatments that require addition of bolus, dose to the skin and superficial regions must be known for adequate plan evaluation. Dose calculation inaccuracies in these regions may occur because they are in the build‐up region, as well as a Results of the IMRT/VMAT optimization algorithm ignoring the bolus during optimization. In this study, we evaluated the routine use of optically‐stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs) as a means of in vivo quality assurance for superficial dosimetry in patients requiring bolus during treatment. Methods: Landauer nanoDot OSLDs were used to perform measurements on 11 patients (total 13 sites) including head and neck, anal, groin, and breast. Treatment techniques included RapidArc, IMRT, and 3D‐CRT. All patients were treated with nominal energy 6MV. One OSLD was placed on the patient's skin, under the prescribed bolus, for one fraction. Bolus thickness was 0.5 cm. Each OSLD was read using the Landauer MicroStar reader, which operates in cw mode with a 1‐s read period, and corrected for sensitivity. Three readings were taken and the average calculated. Readings that were out of tolerance (15 percent) were repeated. OSLD readings were compared with TPS(Eclipse) calculations at a depth of 4mm (corresponding to the inherent OSLD build‐up). Results: 10 sites passed with less than 10 percent deviation (measurement accuracy of standard nanoDot). 6 Sites showed less than 3 percent deviation, 8 sites showed less than 5 percent deviation. 1 Site showed greater than 13 percent deviation. 2 sites showed greater than 25 percent deviation, and upon repetition, yielded similar results. Large deviations correlated to treatment sites with irregular surfaces (tracheotomy, skin creases). Conclusion: OSLDs are a quick and efficient way to perform in vivo quality assurance of doses in the superficial regions in patients requiring bolus for treatments. For simple geometries studied, TPS calculations show sufficient accuracy.
Structural changes in nanocrystalline mackinawite (FeS) at high pressure

The high-pressure behavior of nanocrystalline mackinawite (FeS) with particle sizes of 6, 7 and 8 nm has been investigated by high-energy X-ray total scattering and pair distribution function analysis. An irreversible first-order structural phase transition from tetragonal mackinawite to orthorhombic FeS-II was observed at about 3 GPa. The transition is induced by the closure of the van der Waals gap in the layered mackinawite structure. A grain size effect on the transition pressure and the compressibility was observed.