cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recurrent brisk haematochezia in a patient with quiescent Crohn’s disease

A 61-year-old man with severe Crohn’s disease presented with multiple admissions for recurrent episodes of large-volume haematochezia. He had a long history of stricturing Crohn’s disease requiring proctocolectomy with end ileostomy at age 24 and five subsequent small bowel resections. No evidence of active inflammation was visualised on an ileoscopy 2 months prior to initial presentation. The patient initially presented to the emergency department with maroon stool progressing to large-volume haematochezia from his ileostomy. There was no tenderness on abdominal exam. The patient urgently underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy and upper push enteroscopy followed by Technetium‐99 m red blood cell scintigraphy, all of which were negative. Subsequent ileoscopy showed an eroded anastomosis and proximal telangectasia, which were both successfully treated with …
Understanding interpreters’ actions in context

This article examines the organization of interpreter-mediated communication and demonstrates that interpreters, as autonomous social actors, continuously monitor and analyze the unfolding interaction and make moment-by-moment decisions about their actions. Drawing on a larger conversation-analytic study of audio- and video-recorded consultations (24 in total) between English-speaking doctors, their Russian-speaking patients, and bilingual interpreters (ad hoc and professional), I present a close examination of short segments from two such consultations and show that interpreters’ involvement is not limited to translation. The article demonstrates that interpreters’ actions are shaped by the demands of the interactional and medical activities they are engaged in. The analysis focuses on two kinds of interpreter involvement: first, their management of situations in which participants experience difficulties in understanding each other; and, second, their participation in a physical examination that requires a close coordination of bodily actions. In the first case, interpreters’ orientations to their normative responsibilities as translators may compel them to act in ways that are divergent from doing translation per se. In the second case, we see that interpreters’ participation in the interaction may be primarily constrained by the demands of the ongoing physical examination and so be only minimally responsive to the talk produced by the other parties.
Impact of intentional accessory renal artery coverage on renal outcomes after fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair.

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of intentional coverage of accessory renal arteries (ARAs) on renal outcomes after fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair (FB-EVAR) for pararenal aortic aneurysms or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. Methods We analyzed the clinical data of 296 patients enrolled in a prospective nonrandomized study to evaluate outcomes of FB-EVAR between 2013 and 2018. Patients with solitary kidneys, intraoperative loss of main renal arteries, or pre-existing stage V chronic kidney disease were excluded. Two groups were analyzed: patients with intentional ARA coverage; and controls, who had complete preservation. End points included 30-day mortality; major adverse events; acute kidney injury (AKI), defined by RIFLE criteria (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of kidney function, and End-stage renal disease); renal function deterioration (RFD), defined by >30% decline in baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate; and presence of renal infarcts. Results There were 254 patients (184 male; mean age, 75 ± 8 years) included in the study, 56 (22%) with intentional ARA coverage and 198 controls, of whom 16 had ARA preservation. ARA diameter was smaller in patients who had intentional coverage vs preservation (2.7 ± 0.9 mm vs 3.4 ± 0.2 mm; P 1 L (odds ratio, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.2-12.3; P = .03). Postoperative AKI (hazard ratio [HR], 4.4; 95% CI, 2.4-8.1; P Conclusions Intentional ARA coverage during FB-EVAR was associated with a threefold increase in AKI and with lower freedom from RFD. Factors associated with RFD included postoperative AKI, renal reinterventions for stenosis, and ARA coverage. Incorporation of ARAs during FB-EVAR, when it is technically feasible, helps decrease risk of AKI and RFD.
Stapes surgery with a persistent stapedial artery.

Abstract Purpose To review surgical outcomes of stapes surgery for otosclerosis with persistence of the stapedial artery. Materials and methods A retrospective case review of a tertiary neurotology referral center of patient with otosclerosis undergoing primary stapes surgery between 2010 and 2017 found to have a persistent stapedial artery. Stapedectomy was performed with or without cauterization of the stapedial artery. The primary outcome measures include pre- and postoperative hearing as well complications. Hearing was measured by air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC) pure-tone averages (PTA), air-bone gap (ABG), and word recognition scores (WRS). Neurologic complications, including facial nerve function, were assessed. Results Four patients out of 853 with otosclerosis undergoing stapedectomy were found to have a persistence of the stapedial artery. Mean AC PTA was 55 dB preoperatively, and 24 dB postoperatively (p = .0041), while the ABG improved on average from 31 dB to 6 dB (p = .0014). Mean follow-up time was 32 months, and there were no significant complications. Facial nerve function was preserved in all patients (House-Brackmann grade I/VI). Conclusions In the case of a persistent stapedial artery, excellent hearing outcomes are achievable for otosclerosis via stapedectomy without an apparent increased risk of neurologic complication.
A Spectral Patching Method for Direct Trajectory Optimization

A new direct method for trajectory optimization is presented in this paper. This method is based on using global orthogonal polynomials instead of the traditional spline-integration methods to discretize the dynamical constraints. The states and controls are approximated by interpolating polynomials with unknown coefficients as the values of the functions at the collocation points. The collocation points are the Legendre-Gauss-Lobatto points which provide the smallest error in interpolation in the least-squares sense. They also provide an expression for the Lagrange interpolating polynomials used as trial functions in terms of Legendre polynomials. In order to achieve a greater freedom in the distribution of the collocation points, we present a patching method wherein the time domain may be arbitrarily divided into a few subintervals. The state equations over these subintervals are discretized by the spectral collocation method. Then, the solutions on these subintervals are “patched” by a continuity condition. In this patching method, by judiciously combining the ideas of the traditional collocation methods with global spectral methods, we achieve advantages of both methods while using neither. Results for the simplified Moon-landing problem (selected in honor of Professor Battin) show that the spectral patching method works well for just two subintervals.
Generation of a conditional mutant knock-in under the control of the natural promoter using CRISPR-Cas9 and Cre-Lox systems

Modulation of gene activity by creating mutations has contributed significantly to the understanding of protein functions. Oftentimes, however, mutational analyses use overexpression studies, in which proteins are taken out of their normal contexts and stoichiometries. In the present work, we sought to develop an approach to simultaneously use the CRISPR/Cas9 and Cre-Lox techniques to modify the endogenous SAT1 gene to introduce mutant forms of the protein while still under the control of its natural gene promoter. We cloned the C-terminal portion of wild type (WT) SAT1, through the transcriptional stop elements, and flanked by LoxP sites in front of an identical version of SAT1 containing point mutations in critical binding sites. The construct was inserted into the endogenous SAT1 locus by Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) after a CRISPR/Cas9 induced DNA double strand break. After validating that normal function of SAT1 was not altered by the insertional event, we were then able to assess the impact of point mutations by introduction of Cre recombinase. The system thus enables generation of cells in which endogenous WT SAT1 can be conditionally modified, and allow investigation of the functional consequences of site specific mutations in the context of the normal promoter and chromatin regulation.
Perspectives on Dermoscopy in the Primary Care Setting.

Introduction: Dermoscopy is a noninvasive, in vivo imaging technique that allows for the visualization of subsurface skin structures. In recent years, several education interventions have incorporated dermoscopy in the primary care setting to improve skin cancer detection. We aim to describe the perspectives, attitudes, and interest of primary care physicians (PCPs) regarding dermoscopy. Methods: PCPs associated with academic institutions completed an anonymous survey emailed to faculty and resident listservs. The survey consisted of 23 questions related to dermoscopy. Results: A total of 156 PCPs completed the questionnaire. Few PCPs reported having access to a dermatoscope (16%), using it regularly (9%), or having received training (15%). The most common reasons for not using a dermatoscope were the lack of access to the device (85%), followed by the lack of training (76%). However, the majority view dermoscopy as a valuable tool in primary care and are interested in receiving training (87%), particularly with a hands-on approach. Conclusion: Our sample of PCPs in the United States showed that although few use dermoscopy, most perceive it as a useful tool, particularly family medicine physicians. The main reported barriers preventing its use included the lack of training and poor access to dermatoscopes. The vast majority of PCPs in our sample want to be trained in dermoscopy, thereby providing an opportunity for educational initiatives that take into account the barriers and preferred learning strategies.
The Mini-Craniotomy for cSDH Revisited: New Perspectives

Background: Chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH) are increasingly prevalent worldwide with the increased aging population and anticoagulant use. Different surgical, medical, and endovascular treatments have had varying success rates. Primary neurosurgical interventions include burr hole drainage of the cSDH and mini-craniotomies/craniotomies with or without fenestration of the inner membrane. A key assessment of the success or failure of cSDH treatments has been symptomatic recurrence rates which have historically ranged from 5 to 30%. Pre-operative prediction of the inner subdural membrane by CT scan was used to guide our decision to perform mini-craniotomies. Release of the inner membrane facilitates the expansion of the brain and likely improves glymphatic flow. Methods: Consecutive mini-craniotomies (N = 34) for cSDH evacuation performed by a single neurosurgeon at a quaternary academic medical center/Level I trauma center from July 2018-September 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics [age, gender, presenting GCS, GOS, initial CTs noting the inner subdural membrane, midline shift (MLS), cSDH width, inner membrane fenestration, cSDH recurrence, post-operative seizures, infections, length of stay] were extracted from the EMR. Results: Twenty nine patients had mini-craniotomies as primary treatment of the cSDH. Mean age = 68.9 ± 19.7 years (range 22-102), mean pre-operative GCS = 14.5 ± 1.1, mean MLS = 6.75 ± 4.2 mm, and mean maximum thickness of cSDH = 17.7 ± 6.0 mm. Twenty four were unilateral, five bilateral, 34 total craniotomies were performed. Thirty three had inner membrane signs on pre-operative head CTs and an inner subdural membrane was fenestrated in all cases except for the one craniotomy that didn't show these characteristic CT findings. Mean operating time = 79.5 ± 26.0 min. Radiographic and clinical improvement occurred in all patients. Mean improvement in MLS = 3.85 ± 2.69. There were no symptomatic recurrences, re-operations, surgical site infections, or deaths during the 6 months of follow-up. One patient was treated for post-operative seizures with AEDs for 6 months. Conclusion: Pre-operative CT scans demonstrating inner subdural membranes may guide one to target the treatment to allow release of this tension band. Mini-craniotomy with careful fenestration of the inner membrane is very effective for this. Brain re-expansion and re-establishment of normal brain interstitial flow may be important in long term outcomes with cSDH and may be related to the recent interests in brain glymphatics and dural lymphatics.
Immune Therapy: What Can We Learn From Acquired Resistance?

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of locally advanced and advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Response to these agents can be durable, but most patients will go on to develop resistance after initial tumor regression or prolonged disease stability. In patients with ‘acquired oligo-resistance,’ in whom progression is limited to two or less disease sites, local therapy may be an effective management strategy. For those experiencing systemic progression, immunotherapy based combinations are currently under investigation. Translational work has uncovered neoantigen loss and antigen processing/presentation defects as mediators of resistance to PD-1 axis inhibitors NSCLC. In other tumor types, defects in IFN- γ signaling, upregulation of alternative immune checkpoint pathways, and various tumor genomic or epigenetic changes have been implicated. In this review, we propose clinical criteria, highlight emerging management strategies, and discuss mechanistic insights into acquired resistance to PD-1 axis inhibitors in NSCLC.
The value of employees who go the extra mile

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the concept of voluntary, helpful organizational behavior and offer a discussion of research that aims to help managers to encourage such behavior among their employees. Design/methodology/approach – This paper discusses voluntary, helpful organizational behavior based on a review of recent research, as well as findings from the authors’ research. Findings – This paper explains that voluntary, helpful organizational behavior could include, for example, taking the initiative to increase one’s knowledge about the job, technology, tools, industry, competitors and so on; making constructive suggestions; taking the initiative to help solve unexpected problems; working diligently to meet some deadlines; and volunteering to help with some tasks that are not part of one’s normal task duties. Practical implications – The authors reveal that for voluntary, helpful organizational behavior to flourish, manager or supervisor supportiveness is important; management should provide and reinforce procedural justice in the workplace; managers should help employees in attaining job satisfaction; and managers should use positive reinforcement. Social implications – A set of behaviors that can be useful not only in the work environment but also in society as a whole has been described. Originality/value – This paper points out that there is little information in practitioner journals addressing the behaviors in pragmatic terms. It also offers practical suggestions for human resource management.
Progesterone-specific protein crystals in the endometrium: An electron microscopic study

Abstract Electron microscopic examination of endometrium from castrated women and rabbits given progesterone reveals cytoplasmic crystalloid structures. The appearance of these crystalloids in human endometrium is concomitant with the formation of a nucleolar channel system. Estrogen administration without progesterone does not induce these changes.
Eta-Redexes in Partial Evaluation

Source-program modifications can make a partial evaluator yield dramatically better results. For example, eta-redexes can preserve static data flow by acting as an interface between values and contexts. This note presents a type-based explanation of what eta-expansion achieves, why it works, and how it can be automated. This leads to a unified view of various source-code improvements, including a popular transformation called "The Trick."
Employment Effects of Growth Rebalancing in China

This paper gauges the potential effects on employment of rebalancing China's export-oriented growth model toward domestic demand, particularly private consumption. Shifting to a private consumption-led growth likely means more demand for existing and new services as well as reorienting the production of tradable goods toward domestic markets. In China's case, this would also imply moving a large number of less skilled labor from the tradable sector to the non-tradable sector. The paper shows that while rebalancing China's growth toward a domestic-demand-led economy would likely raise aggregate employment and employment opportunities in the longer term, there could be employment losses in the short run as the economy moves away from the tradable sector toward the non-tradable sector. Mitigating these costs will require active labor market policies to cushion the employment impact in the transition, particularly in meeting the skills gap of associated with this transition.
La primera persona en La puta de Babilonia de Fernando Vallejo

En este trabajo analizo el uso de la primera persona en la obra de Vallejo, con enfasis en el inicio de La puta de Babilonia y en las dos versiones de su biografia de Porfirio Barba Jacob.
Why structural recursion should be taught before arrays in CS 1

The approach to teaching recursion in introductory programming courses has changed little during the transition from procedural to object-oriented languages. It is still common to present recursion late in the course and to focus on traditional, procedural examples such as calculating factorials or solving the Towers of Hanoi puzzle. In this paper, we propose that the shift to object-oriented programming techniques calls for a significant shift in our approach to teaching recursion. First, we argue that in the context of object-oriented programming students should be introduced to examples of simple recursive structures such as linked lists and methods that process them, before being introduced to traditional procedural examples. Second, we believe that this material should be presented before students are introduced to structures such as arrays. In our experience, the early presentation of recursive structures provides the opportunity to reinforce the fundamentals of defining and using classes and better prepares students to appreciate the reasons to use classes to encapsulate access to other data structures when they are presented.
Cardiovascular adaptation to orthostatic stress during vasodilator therapy

Background Orthostatic hypotension is a dangerous problem in elderly patients, often exacerbated by vasodilator medications. Age- and disease-related impairments in cardioacceleration and diastolic ventricular function may make older patients particularly vulnerable to the hypotensive effects of these drugs. Therefore we aimed to determine mechanisms of postural blood pressure regulation in elderly patients with coronary artery disease and to compare the effects of isosorbide dinitrate and nicardipine hydrochloride on postural blood pressure homeostasis in these patients. Methods Twenty elderly subjects with stable coronary artery disease (age, 76 ± 4 [SD] years) underwent a baseline evaluation followed by a double-blind, randomized crossover comparison of nicardipine (20 mg by mouth t.i.d.) versus isosorbide (20 mg by mouth t.i.d.). Doppler echocardiography and a 15-minute 60-degree head-up tilt test were conducted on no study medications and then after successive 3-week treatment periods with nicardipine or isosorbide. Blood pressure, heart rate, vascular resistance, cardiac output, and spectral characteristics of heart rate and blood pressure variability were measured before and during each tilt. Results Isosorbide treatment was associated with a higher prevalence of symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion and a failure to increase systemic vascular resistance during tilt. While taking isosorbide subjects were able to preserve cardiac output and maintain upright blood pressure through enhanced cardioacceleration. During nicardipine treatment systemic vascular resistance and low-frequency blood pressure variability were reduced, but the ability to increase systemic vascular resistance during tilt was preserved. Conclusions Although nicardipine may decrease vascular responsiveness to sympathetic activation, the baroreflex-mediated vasoconstrictor response to upright tilt remains intact. In contrast, isosorbide impairs the systemic vascular response to orthostatic stress in elderly patients with stable coronary artery disease. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1996) 60, 461–471; doi:
Simultaneous assessment of myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function during transient coronary occlusion

Abstract Objectives. We used technetium-99m sestamibi imaging to evaluate the magnitude of changes in left ventricular function and perfusion and to investigate their interdependence during transient coronary occlusion. Background. Transient coronary occlusion during coronary angioplasty provides a unique opportunity for examining the effects of acute myocardial ischemia on left ventricular function and perfusion. Methods. Thirty-five patients with normal left ventricular function underwent first-pass radionuclide angiography with technetium-99m sestamibi using a multicrystal gamma camera during balloon occlusion of a coronary artery. Single-photon tomography was performed 2.1 ± 1.7 h later. Subsequently, all scans were repeated at rest. Results. The mean size ± SD of the perfusion defect during coronary occlusion was 23 ± 18%, with significantly larger defects observed for occlusions of the left anterior descending coronary artery (39 ± 20%) than for occlusions of the left circumflex (15 ± 11%) or right (15 ± 9%) coronary artery (p Conclusions. Changes in left ventricular function and perfusion develop pari passu during coronary occlusion and are more severe when the left anterior descending artery is occluded. Although a significant correlation exists between the extent of the perfusion defect and the severity of the decrease in ejection fraction, there is a substantial individual variation with respect to changes in both myocardial perfusion and ventricular function during acute coronary occlusion.
Shallow-water flow past isolated topography. Part I: Vorticity production and wake formation

Abstract The flow of a single layer of shallow water past high three-dimensional topography is studied in a nonrotating environment and in the absence of surface friction. The dimensionless parameters for this problem are the upstream Froude number, the dimensionless mountain height, and a dimensionless measure of the dissipation rate. In part I of this study, high-resolution numerical simulations are utilized to construct a regime diagram for steady left–right symmetric flow and for the domain of parameter space with subcritical upstream conditions. Three distinct regimes occur. They are characterized, respectively, by fore–aft symmetry, essentially inviscid dynamics, and entirely subcritical conditions (regime I); by transition to supercritical flow and the occurrence of a hydraulic jump over the lee slope (regime II); and by the inability of the flow to climb the mountain top resulting in flow separation (regime III). Regimes II and III are associated with a wake that entails significant potential vort...
The electrical impedance cardiogram in health and disease

Abstract 1. 1. The electrical impedance cardiogram (ICG) records continuous changes in heart shape throughout the cardiac cycle. It can be recorded on any direct writing electrocardiograph. 2. 2. Certain electrical impedance cardiograms closely resembled mechanical displacement recordings of heart motion (apexcardiograms), indicating a related origin. 3. 3. Tracings from normal subjects resembled each other, but tracings from patients with known cardiac deformities differed from the normal. 4. 4. Atrial activity was recorded selectively. 5. 5. Paradoxical bulges of the left ventricle produced characteristic abnormalities in impedance cardiograms. 6. 6. The impedance cardiogram can be used to analyze dynamic dysfunctions of the heart.
Nonlinear elastic stress response in granular packings

We study the nonlinear elastic response of a two-dimensional material to a localized boundary force, with the particular goal of understanding the differences observed between isotropic granular materials and those with hexagonal anisotropy. Corrections to the classical Boussinesq result for the stresses in an infinite half space of a linear, isotropic material are developed in a power series in inverse distance from the point of application of the force. The breakdown of continuum theory on scales of order of the grain size is modeled with phenomenological parameters characterizing the strengths of induced multipoles near the point of application of the external force. We find that the data of Geng et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 035506 (2001)] on isotropic and hexagonal packings of photoelastic grains can be fitted within this framework. Fitting the hexagonal packings requires a choice of elastic coefficients with hexagonal anisotropy stronger than that of a simple ball-and-spring model. For both the isotropic and hexagonal cases, induced dipole and quadrupole terms produce propagation of stresses away from the vertical direction over short distances. The scale over which such propagation occurs is significantly enhanced by the nonlinearities that generate hexagonal anisotropy.
Bcl-2 expression correlates with apoptosis induction but not tumor growth delay in transplantable murine lymphomas treated with different chemotherapy drugs

Purpose: Previously, we have reported that the bcl-2-expressing murine lymphoma cell line LY-ar is resistant to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis when compared to the non-bcl-2-expressing LY-as cell line. The intent of the present study was to determine whether this relationship extends to lymphomas produced from these cell lines in syngeneic mice, after treatment with the same chemotherapy agents. Methods: LY-ar and LY-as tumors were grown in the hind legs of syngeneic mice. They were subsequently exposed to graded doses of cisplatin (CP), etoposide (VP-16), Adriamycin (ADR), cytarabine (ara-C), cyclophosphamide (CY), or camptothecin (CAM). Apoptotic bodies were scored in histological sections of tumors that had been stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Tumor growth delay was determined on tumors that were treated when they were 8 mm in diameter. Thereafter, tumor diameter was measured daily with a vernier caliper until they had grown to a maximum of 16 mm in diameter. Results: When transplanted into host animals, tumors derived from these two cell lines and treated in vivo with CP, VP-16, ADR, ara-C, CY, and CAM displayed apoptotic propensities similar to those seen in the same cell lines when treated in vitro. Generally, for all the drugs tested, apoptotic indices in LY-as tumors were significantly higher than in LY-ar tumors. However, tumor growth delay measurements could not be predicted with any accuracy from the apoptotic indices. For some drugs LY-ar tumors were more sensitive than LY-as tumors (CP, Vp-16, ADR, ara-C), yet LY-ar tumors were more resistant to CY. Conclusions: Despite considerable interest in using apoptotic indices as predictors of treatment outcome, the data presented here suggest that these relationships are very complex. This may be especially true for chemotherapy agents for which effects in vivo are complicated by pharmacokinetics, host effects, and tumor cell heterogeneity.
Life cycle of a budding and appendaged bacterium belonging to morphotype IV of theBlastocaulis-Planctomyces group

The budding process of cell division in a bacterial strain (ICPB 4232) belonging to morphotype IV of theBlastocaulis-Planctomyces group was followed in aerobic slide cultures. Under the conditions employed, 3 h elapsed from the appearance of the earliest discernible stage of daughter cell formation to the separation of the mature ovoid bud. Budding invariably occurred at the broader pole of the ovoid, nonmotile mother cell. The separated daughter cell (bud), a motile swarmer, locomoted by means of an ensheathed flagellum attached at its broader pole. Approximately 30 h were required for the swarmer to develop into a sessile mother cell and initiate a new budding cycle. A mother cell was capable of producing an individual bud repeatedly at the same budding site. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to determine ultrastructural details regarding the single ensheathed flagellum, the polarly distributed crateriform structures and numerous pili, the excreted holdfast, the multifibrillar major appendage (a fascicle), and daughter cell (bud) formation.
Sagittal plane hip motion reversals during walking are associated with disease severity and poorer function in subjects with hip osteoarthritis

A midstance reversal of sagittal plane hip motion during walking, or motion discontinuity (MD), has previously been observed in subjects with endstage hip osteoarthritis (OA) and in patients with femoroacetabular impingement. The goal of the present study was to evaluate whether this gait pattern is a marker of OA presence or radiographic severity by analyzing a large IRB approved motion analysis data repository. We also hypothesized that subjects with the MD would show more substantial gait impairments than those with normal hip motion. We identified 150 subjects with symptomatic unilateral hip OA and Kellgren-Lawrence OA severity data on file, and a control group of 159 asymptomatic subjects whose ages fell within 2 standard deviations of the mean OA group age. From the gait data, the MD was defined as a reversal in the slope of the hip flexion angle curve during midstance. Logistic regressions and general linear models were used to test the association between the MD and OA presence, OA severity and, other gait variables. 53% of OA subjects compared to 7.5% of controls had the MD (p<0.001); occurrence of the MD was associated with OA severity (p=0.009). Within the OA subject group, subjects with the MD had reduced dynamic range of motion, peak, extension, and internal rotation moments compared to those who did not (MANCOVA p ≤ 0.042) after controlling for walking speed. We concluded that sagittal plane motion reversals are indeed associated with OA presence and severity, and with more severe gait abnormalities in subjects with hip OA.
Noise sources and noise suppression in CMOS imagers

Mechanisms for noise coupling in CMOS imagers are complex, since unlike a CCD, a CMOS imager has to be considered as a full digital-system-on-a-chip, with a highly sensitive front-end. In this paper, we analyze the noise sources in a photodiode CMOS imager, and model their propagation through the signal chain to determine the nature and magnitude of noise coupling. We present methods for reduction of noise, and present measured data to show their viability. For temporal read noise reduction, we present pixel signal chain design techniques to achieve near 2 electrons read noise. We model the front-end reset noise both for conventional photodiode and CTIA type of pixels. For the suppression of reset noise, we present a column feedback-reset method to reduce reset noise below 6 electrons. For spatial noise reduction, we present the design of column signal chain that suppresses both spatial noise and power supply coupling noise. We conclude by identifying problems in low-noise design caused by dark current spatial distribution.
Line broadening effects in X-ray powder diffraction analysis of particulate ammonium sulfate☆

Abstract Measurements of the FWHM profile widths for the 〈200〉 X-ray powder diffraction line of synthetic (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 samples have shown that the FWHM contribution due to particle size is dominated by instrumental factors for the size range considered, 5.0 μm down to 0.1 μm. Given the size distributions typically observed in urban aerosol, particle size effects should not cause troublesome smearing of the X-ray powder diffraction lines unless the particles are formed from component single crystal domains of size substantially below 0.1 μm. Measurements performed on ambient sulfate aerosols exhibited negligible line broadening.
Does affective valence during and immediately following a 10-min walk predict concurrent and future physical activity?

Background Affect may be important for understanding physical activity behavior. Purpose To examine whether affective valence (i.e., good/ bad feelings) during and immediately following a brief walk predicts concurrent and future physical activity. Methods At months 6 and 12 of a 12-month physical activity promotion trial, healthy low-active adults (N0146) reported affective valence during and immediately following a 10-min treadmill walk. Dependent variables were self-reported minutes/week oflifestylephysicalactivityatmonths6and12. Results Affect reported during the treadmill walk was cross-sectionally (month 6: β028.6, p00.008; month 12: β026.6, p00.021) and longitudinally (β014.8, p00.030) associated with minutes/week of physical activity. Affect reported during a 2-min cool down was cross-sectionally (month 6: β021.1, p00.034; month 12: β030.3, p<0.001), but not longitudinally associated with minutes/week of physical activity. Affect reported during a postcool-down seated rest was not associated with physical activity. Conclusions During-behavior affect is predictive of concurrent and future physical activity behavior.
In vitro micronucleus assay for cigarette smoke using a whole smoke exposure system: a comparison of smoking regimens.

Abstract Previous studies on the biological assessment of cigarette smoke (CS) mainly focused on the total particulate matter (TPM) collected using a Cambridge filter or gas vapor phase (GVP) bubbled through phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). To study the effects of native CS in vitro, direct exposure methods have been developed. Meanwhile, in vitro micronucleus (MN) assays have been reported to evaluate the mutagenicity of CS. The objective of this research is to investigate the MN-inducing activity of whole smoke (WS) and GVP using a whole smoke exposure system, CULTEX®, which allows direct exposure of cultured cells to native CS at the air/liquid interface (ALI). CS was generated according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO; 35 ml, 2 s, once per 60 s) or the Health Canada Intensive (HCI; 55 ml, 2 s, once per 30 s, with complete ventilation block) regimens and Chinese hamster lung (CHL/IU) cells were then exposed to this smoke. Dosages were adjusted according to the amount of smoke entering the actual exposure position. Under both smoking regimens, WS and GVP from 2R4F reference cigarettes induced MN responses. The concept of the dosage and similar dose–response relationships between theoretical and monitored dosage values under the two regimens enabled us to compare the MN-inducing activities of cigarettes in the direct exposure assay, even in the case of various experimental settings or different TPM amounts. MN-inducing activities of 2R4F under the ISO regimen seemed to be higher than those under HCI estimated by the TPM equivalent calculated values.
Intratesticular Islet Xenograft Survival in Relation to Tissue Cyclosporine Levels

ABSTRACT A study of the comparative survival of islet xenografts using a combination of treatment modalities was carried out in the spontaneously diabetic BB/Wor rat. Islets were isolated from hamster donors, and after 4 to 6 days of incubation the cells were injected either into the immunologically privileged abdominal testis or into the nonimmunologically favored renal subcapsular space. Postoperatively the rats were given cyclosporine at two different dose schedules. The results showed that islets injected into the abdominal testis of nonimmunosuppressed rats caused the induction of normoglycemia with a mean duration of 8.3 ±1.3 days. A significant prolongation of normoglycemia to a mean of 36.1 ± 4.5 days occurred in rats that were given abdominal, intratesticular islet xenografts and cyclosporine for 30 days. The longest average survival in excess of a mean of 90.1 ± 6.5 days was achieved in rats that were given abdominal, intratesticular islet xenografts and cyclosporine continuously, every other day. All of the grafted rats reverted to diabetes upon the cessation of cyclosporine. A similar cyclosporine regimen failed to prolong islet xenograft survival for longer than a mean of 9.0 ± 2.2 days in rats that were given islet xenografts injected into the renal subcapsular space. Extended survival of abdominal, intratesticular islet xenografts corresponded with trough plasma and testis cyclosporine levels of 457 ± 46 ng/mL and 643 ± 45 ng/g, of wet weight, respectively. It is concluded that islet xenografts are protected against immune destruction in the BB/Wor rat with type 1 diabetes only as long as the cells are injected into an immunologically privileged site and the host is continuously immunosuppressed with cyclosporine.
Quantization of higher-spin fields with indefinite metric

Quantization of fields of spins $\frac{3}{2}$ and 2 is carried out by decomposing them into simpler fields and using an indefinite metric. In the resulting ghost-field formalism, nonphysical states are eliminated by means of supplementary conditions, and the consistency of these conditions in the presence of interaction is established.
Are there electrochemical aspects of cancer

Szent-Gyorgyi first suggested that electron transfer in the bulk of biological materials could be significant. Recent evidence in favor of this concept is cited. Electron transfer processes occur at interfaces involving glass, cellulosic, and biological membranes. Electron transfer controls the rate of redox processes at some interfaces. Biological cells can be represented in terms of fuel cell concepts. They adhere and divide, depending upon their surface charge. If the charge is too high, division leads to metastasis. The surface electrical charge in biological cells is affected in two ways, corresponding to the electrochemical description of interfaces as polarizable and nonpolarizable. At polarizable interfaces, concepts of adsorption determine the surface charge for a given condition. In non-polarizable interfaces, electrode-kinetic concepts (i.e., the rates of the reactions) are directly related to the surface charge. Cancer, it is suggested, occurs when the charge is sufficiently repuslive. Carcinogenic substances adsorb upon the cell substances and affect primarily the electrode kinetics, or charge density. The role of DNA is to create genes which produce substances which act as scavengers for materials which adsorb upon and, thus, affect the electrical state of the cell surface.
Modeling and analysis of leakage induced damping effect in low voltage LSIs

Although there has been extensive research on controlling leakage power, the fact that leaky transistors can act as a damping element for supply noise has been long ignored or unnoticed in the design community. This paper investigates the leakage induced damping effect that helps suppress the supply noise. By developing physics-based impedance models for active and leakage currents, we show that leakage, particularly gate tunneling leakage, provides more damping than strong-inversion current. Simulations were performed in a 32nm CMOS technology to validate our models under PVT variations and to explore the voltage dependent behavior of this phenomenon. Design example utilizing leakage induced damping such as decap assignment is discussed with results showing 15.6% saving in decap area.
Oxygen order and electronic structure at Cu(1) sites in Y1−xPrxBa2(Cu0.9957Fe0.01)3Oy and Y(Ba1−xSrx)2(Cu0.9957Fe0.01)3Oy

Abstract Mossbauer effect measurements have been made at 57 Fe nuclei in Pr x Y 1− x Ba 2 (Cu 0.99 57 Fe 0.01 ) 3 O y and in Y( Ba 1− x Sr x ) 2 (Cu 0.99 57 Fe 0.01 ) 3 O y as a function of x . For all Pr concentrations (0⩽ x ⩽0.7) studied, the Mossbauer spectra are nearly identical in character and comparison of Mossbauer shift and of quadrupole splitting E Q with composition indicates that oxygen order and electronic structure at the Cul site are virtually unaffected by changing the relative Y to Pr composition. Hence, the rapid depression of T c with increasing x is inferred to be due to electronic changes caused by changes in the Pr bonding to the Cu2-O plane. In contrast to the behaviour of compounds with Pr substituted for Y, Mossbauer spectra for Y( Ba 1− x Sr x ) 2 (Cu 0.99 57 Fe 0.01 ) 3 O y show systematic pattern changes similar to those observed upon Fe substitutions for Cul in YBa 2 ( Cu 1− x Fe x ) 3 O 7+δ . That is, oxygen order and stoichiometry are strongly affected by Sr substitution for Ba.
E-commerce regulation: New game, new rules?

Abstract Policy makers face many challenges to lay the foundations of a sound regulatory environment for e-commerce. These challenges reflect not only the large variety of policies that can influence e-commerce, but also the emergence of new governance issues that require international coordination. Moreover, the rapid expansion of networks has increased the potential for cross-border disputes in this area. This paper argues that competition among national regulatory regimes is unlikely to promote regulatory harmonization in the near future. The negotiation of a new set of rules at multilateral level, however, is bound to proceed at a slower pace than what would be desirable from the perspective of e-commerce firms. The paper points out that the WTO – as an obvious organization to advance the agenda of multilateral disciplines – is not in a position to deliver quick results with respect to e-commerce. The main contribution that the WTO can offer at this stage concerns the expansion of commitments under the GATS, fostering national treatment and broader market access, particularly, in telecommunications and computer-related services.
Evolution of convection during tropical cyclogenesis

[1] Central to tropical cyclogenesis is the changing behavior of moist convection as the cyclone evolves. Based on a cumulus ensemble model run in weak temperature gradient mode, we suggest that the mid-level vortex created by early-stage convection stabilizes the environment in way that favors further development. In particular, modeled convection occurring in the more stable environment produces heavy rainfall and concentrated inflow at low levels. Such inflow is needed for the development of the low-level vortex characteristic of warm-core tropical cyclones. The increase in humidity which is typical of developing cyclones also increases convective rainfall, but it does not act to concentrate the inflow at low levels.
Morphological algorithm for detecting dominant points on digital curves

A new parallel algorithm for detecting corners of planar curves or shapes is proposed in this paper. This algorithm is based on the morphological residue and corner characteristics analysis. The relationship between curvature radii and structuring elements is investigated. The location of the corners is detected based on the morphological residue set and the curvature extrema support region analysis. Noise influence is suppressed through the smoothing property of the algorithm. The algorithm works simultaneously on curves and shapes of multiple objects. The approach is different from chain-code based corner detection algorithms which need floating point computation for a curvature. For multiple objects, traditional algorithms deal with each curve individually, therefore, for multiply connected shapes or curves with intersection, coding and curvature computation are difficult and costly. The proposed algorithm deals with a whole image as a single object, therefore the computation complexity is significantly reduced. Our experiment demonstrates that the algorithm is fast and effective to execute on an SIMD parallel computer. This paper also presents a new parallel filling algorithm: a boundary-constrained morphological method for filling closed curves into shapes for corner detection.
Strong hydrogen bonding between atmospheric nucleation precursors and common organics

Abstract While atmospheric aerosols are known to contain a significant fraction of organic substances, the influence of organics on the formation of H 2 SO 4 –H 2 O clusters and subsequent nucleation in the atmosphere is poorly understood. In the present Letter, bonding among formic and acetic acids, sulfuric acid, ammonia and water is studied using density functional theory at PW91PW91/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level. The stabilizing effect of formic and acetic acids is found to be close that of ammonia that indicates that the common organic substances may efficiently stabilize small H 2 SO 4 –H 2 O clusters and their involvement, alongside with or without ammonia, in the atmospheric nucleation should be studied further.
S.O.S.

The concept that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can be reversed with an intestinal operation is counterintuitive. How could our costliest disease be forced into full, durable, and safe remission with the bypass of a few inches of intestine? Counterintuitive or not, it’s true. Accordingly, we take notice when Sjostrom and colleagues (1) in the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study, the longest and most complete bariatric surgery outcome study in the world, document in this issue that bariatric surgery reduces the incidence of heart attacks. The SOS is a prospective, nonrandomized, controlled interventional trial on the effect of bariatric surgery on mortality and morbidity compared with conventional treatment that enrolled 4,047 obese individuals from 1 September 1987 to 31 January 2001. Of these, 2,010 underwent bariatric surgery, and a contemporary matched group of 2,037 did not. The current report compared the 345 diabetic patients who underwent bariatric surgery with the 262 who did not. The authors found that “bariatric surgery was associated with a reduced myocardial infarction incidence” (38/345 \[11.0%] in the surgery vs. control group 43/262 [16.4%\] \[ P = 0.017\]). The effect was stronger in individuals with higher serum cholesterol and triglycerides at baseline. Not surprising, since the bariatric surgery was associated with significant decreases in body weight, blood glucose, serum triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and an increase in HDL-cholesterol. Others have reported similar benefits of bariatric surgery on cardiovascular disease and mortality. Johnson et al. (2) mined the data in the South Carolina UB92 Inpatient Hospitalization Database and Death Records and concluded that in a cohort study of 349 bariatric surgical patients and 903 control subjects that “adjusting for age, comorbidities, and …
Neutron and X-Ray Diffraction Study of the Low-Temperature Chemical and Magnetic Structure of Alpha-Manganese

The low-temperature chemical and magnetic structures of antiferromagnetic $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-manganese have been investigated. High-resolution neutron powder data indicate that the chemical and the magnetic unit cell are identical in size. An x-ray powder study of 60 reflections at 77 and 4 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K indicates no significant changes at low temperature in the atomic coordinates. Fourteen independent magnetic reflections measured at 77, 50, and 4 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K were used to determine the signs and magnitudes of the four magnetic moments for a collinear spin model. At 4 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, they are 1.72\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.19, 1.46\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.08, 1.11\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04, and 0.02\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 in units of ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ for atoms I, II, III, and IV, respectively. The fit of the observed and calculated magnetic intensities indicates the need for a less restricted model for the magnetic structure. These results are compared with those of other experiments.