cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The accuracy of a novel sonographic scanning and reporting protocol to survey for soft tissue sarcoma local recurrence

This study aims to determine the accuracy of a novel ultrasonography (US) scanning and reporting protocol to detect recurrences. The secondary aim is to compare US and MRI accuracy and agreement. In this IRB-approved prospective study, consecutive patients presenting for MRI surveillance after resection were enrolled and underwent same-day US. Blinded to clinical information and the MRI, the US scanner characterized lesions using a proposed novel lexicon. Outcome was defined either by histology or a subsequent MRI scan confirming the presence or absence of recurrence. Fisher’s exact test and Kappa test were performed to assess of the significance and agreement between US, MRI, and outcome. A total of 68 US scans were performed on 55 patients. The overall accuracy to diagnose recurrence was the same for US and MRI (92.6%) while US was less sensitive (75.0% vs. 91.7%) but more specific (97.6% vs. 92.9%) than MRI. The two lesions missed by US but not MRI were an entirely intraosseous metastasis and a subcentimeter skin nodule. There was strong agreement between US and MRI with outcome (k = 0.787 and 0.801, respectively). These pilot data suggest the accuracy of this novel US local recurrence surveillance method is comparable to MRI. A multi-institutional prospective trial would increase power and determine reproducibility.
Appropriate patient selection facilitates safe discharge from the PACU after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: an analysis of the AHSQC database

The postoperative management of patients undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (VHR) remains relatively unknown. The purpose of our study was to determine if patient and hernia-specific factors could be used to predict the likelihood of hospital admission following laparoscopic VHR using the Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative (AHSQC) database. All patients who underwent elective, laparoscopic VHR with mesh placement from October 2015 through April 2019 were identified within the AHSQC database. Patients without clean wounds, those with chronic liver disease, and those without 30-day follow-up data were excluded from our analysis. Patient and hernia-specific variables were compared between patients who were discharged from the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and patients who required hospital admission. Comparisons were also made between the two groups with respect to 30-day morbidity and mortality events. A total of 1609 patients met inclusion criteria; 901 (56%) patients were discharged from the PACU. The proportion of patients discharged from the PACU increased with each subsequent year. Several patient comorbidities and hernia-specific factors were found to be associated with postoperative hospital admission, including older age, repair of a recurrent hernia, a larger hernia width, longer operative time, drain placement, and use of mechanical bowel preparation. Patients who required hospital admission were more likely than those discharged from the PACU to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days (4% vs. 2%, respectively) and to experience a 30-day morbidity event (18% vs. 8%, respectively). Patient- and hernia-specific factors can be used to identify patients who can be safely discharged from the PACU following laparoscopic VHR. Additional studies are needed to determine if appropriate patient selection for discharge from the PACU leads to decreased healthcare costs for laparoscopic VHR over the long-term.
Strange particle production mechanisms in proton—Proton collisions at RHIC

We present data on strange particle production in elementary proton-proton collisions at RHIC energies. Comparison to leading order and next-to-leading order (NLO) calculations shows that the fragmentation process is flavor dependent and that higher order corrections are needed to describe all spectra, in particular at these collision energies, which are modest compared to those at the Tevatron. A model (EPOS) which takes into account multiple scattering between projectile constituents seems to describe the data best.
Customary governance of artisanal and small-scale mining in Guinea: Social and environmental practices and outcomes⋆

Abstract In Guinea, attempts are underway by international donors, development practitioners, and the national government to bring artisanal and small-scale diamond mining in line with a formal regulation and parcel allocation system. This formalization initiative in Guinea—along with similar reforms aimed at land tenure regularization across Africa—attempt to superimpose modern legal institutions onto community institutions. Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Guinea’s Forecariah and Kindia regions is currently governed by customary governance structures and deeply rooted customary institutions for land and property rights management. Thus far, formal structures have failed to replace or integrate with customary institutions. Identifying how to achieve complementarity between informal and formal systems that are defined by deep cultural and structural tensions requires a solid understanding of customary institutions (Ensminger, 1997). This paper analyzes social and environmental practices and ASM outcomes in an area with a history of strong informal customary governance. The study has three research objectives. First, the study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the customary institutions and systems governing ASM in Guinea’s Forecariah and Kindia regions. Second, the paper draws on empirical analysis of village level quantitative and qualitative data to identify whether and how customary governance and institutional factors affect social and environmental outcomes in the context of ASM. Based on these findings, the paper closes with concrete policy recommendations for promoting greater complementarity between the formal and informal systems. Given the scale and scope of quantitative and qualitative data sources applied to the analysis, this study utilizes the most comprehensive empirical data to-date on ASM in a customary context. As such, this paper presents a unique contribution to the literature around customary governance, resource contestations, and land governance for mining communities and the ASM sector in sub-Saharan Africa.
Corporate Reporting on the Internet

In this paper, we examine firms' use of the Internet to enhance the relevance of their financial reporting. We define a firm as practicing Internet Financial Reporting (IFR) when it provides in its web site either (1) a comprehensive set of financial statements (including footnotes and the auditors' report), (2) a link to its annual report elsewhere on the Internet or (3) a link to the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system. While 70 percent of the firms in our sample engage in IFR, we find substantial variation in the quality of firms' IFR practices. Specifically, the variations in quality pertain to the timeliness and therefore, the usefulness of firms' financial reporting on the Internet. We find that some firms provide more timely financial disclosures via the Internet (e.g., monthly sales) while other firms report outdated financial data (e.g., two‐year old annual reports). We also observe that the usefulness of firms' financial ...
Learning to Stop with Surprisingly Few Samples

We consider a discounted infinite horizon optimal stopping problem. If the underlying distribution is known a priori, the solution of this problem is obtained via dynamic programming (DP) and is given by a well known threshold rule. When information on this distribution is lacking, a natural (though naive) approach is "explore-then-exploit," whereby the unknown distribution or its parameters are estimated over an initial exploration phase, and this estimate is then used in the DP to determine actions over the residual exploitation phase. We show: (i) with proper tuning, this approach leads to performance comparable to the full information DP solution; and (ii) despite common wisdom on the sensitivity of such "plug in" approaches in DP due to propagation of estimation errors, a surprisingly "short" (logarithmic in the horizon) exploration horizon suffices to obtain said performance. In cases where the underlying distribution is heavy-tailed, these observations are even more pronounced: a ${\it single \, sample}$ exploration phase suffices.
Biological Phase Separation and Biomolecular Condensates in Plants.

A surge in research focused on understanding the physical principles governing the formation, properties, and function of membraneless compartments has occurred over the past decade. Compartments s...
The influence of alfalfa-switchgrass intercropping on microbial community structure and function

The use of nitrogen fertilizer on bioenergy crops such as switchgrass results in increased costs, nitrogen leaching and emissions of N2 O, a potent greenhouse gas. Intercropping with nitrogen-fixing alfalfa has been proposed as an environmentally sustainable alternative, but the effects of synthetic fertilizer versus intercropping on soil microbial community functionality remain uncharacterized. We analysed 24 metagenomes from the upper soil layer of agricultural fields from Prosser, WA over two growing seasons and representing three agricultural practices: unfertilized switchgrass (control), fertilized switchgrass and switchgrass intercropped with alfalfa. The synthetic fertilization and intercropping did not result in major shifts of microbial community taxonomic and functional composition compared with the control plots, but a few significant changes were noted. Most notably, mycorrhizal fungi, ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria increased in abundance with intercropping and fertilization. However, only betaproteobacterial ammonia-oxidizing bacteria abundance in fertilized plots significantly correlated to N2 O emission and companion qPCR data. Collectively, a short period of intercropping elicits minor but significant changes in the soil microbial community toward nitrogen preservation and that intercropping may be a viable alternative to synthetic fertilization.
Review: Privacy-Preservation in the Context of Natural Language Processing

Data privacy is one of the highly discussed issues in recent years as we encounter data breaches and privacy scandals often. This raises a lot of concerns about the ways the data is acquired and the potential information leaks. Especially in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the widely using of AI models aggravates the vulnerability of user privacy because a considerable portion of user data that AI models used is represented in natural language. In the past few years, many researchers have proposed NLP-based methods to address these data privacy challenges. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first interdisciplinary review discussing privacy preservation in the context of NLP. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of previous research conducted to gather techniques and challenges of building and testing privacy-preserving systems in the context of Natural Language Processing (NLP). We group the different works under four categories: 1) Data privacy in the medical domain, 2) Privacy preservation in the technology domain, 3) Analysis of privacy policies, and 4) Privacy leaks detection in the text representation. This review compares the contributions and pitfalls of the various privacy violation detection and prevention works done using NLP techniques to help guide a path ahead.
Bringing down the barriers to mammography: A review of current research and interventions

Although mammography screening is effective in reducing breast cancer mortality, major challenges still remain in increasing rates of initial mammography and in improving subsequent adherence to mammography screening. Behavioral science theories offer insights into the potential for individual, organizational, community, and population-level interventions to address these challenges. In this review, we draw on social ecological approaches to health promotion to suggest a conceptual framework for such interventions. After discussing theories of who is and is not screened regularly, and why, we consider selected barriers to mammography and corresponding interventions to overcome them. We conclude with an illustration of the North Carolina Breast Cancer Screening Program (NC-BCSP), a series of interventions informed by the social ecological perspective.
Husbandry and growth rates of neonate epaulette sharks, Hemiscyllium ocellatum in captivity.

In this report, I describe husbandry techniques that are used to successfully hatch and raise epaulette sharks, Hemiscyllium ocellatum, in captivity. Egg cases and hatchlings were held in floating baskets within a 1,306-L tank, at water temperatures of 24.4–25.5°C. From 56 egg cases, 27 neonates successfully hatched, and 22 survived. Based on seven tagged egg cases, the average gestation time was 140.3 ± 4.6 days with a range of 134 and 148 days. Upon hatching, neonate length was 16.2 ± 0.522 cm, with a range of 15.24–17.30 cm, and weight was 19.9 ± 2.06 g, with a range of 16.50–24.5 g. Growth rates of four individuals were recorded over time. Finely chopped capelin, Mallotus villosus, fillets, supplemented with a multivitamin were the primary food items accepted by neonates. The success in rearing H. ocellatum can likely be attributed to a low stress environment, limited disruption, an easy to consume diet, multivitamin supplementation, and excellent water quality. Zoo Biol 31:718-724, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Parallel algorithms for multi-indexed recurrence relations with applications to DPCM image compression

Summary form only given. DPCM decoding is essentially the computation of a 2-indexed scalar recurrence relation; the two indices are: the row and column positions of the pixels. Although several logarithmic-time parallel algorithms for solving 1-indexed recurrence relations have been designed, no work has been reported on multi-indexed recurrence relations. Considering the importance of fast DPCM decoding of imagery, parallel algorithms for solving multi-indexed recurrence relations merit serious study. We designed novel parallel algorithms for solving 2-indexed recurrence relations, and identified the parallel architectures best suited for them. We developed three approaches: index sequencing, index decoupling, and dimension shifting. To solve a 2-indexed relation in DPCM decoding of an n/spl times/n image, index sequencing breaks down the relation into a sequence of n 1-indexed scalar recurrence relations that must be solved one after another. Each relation is then solved by a parallel O(nlogn) time algorithm on an n-processor hypercube or partitionable bus. Thus, the n equations take O(nlogn) time on n processors. Index decoupling, applicable in a common case of DPCM, breaks the 2-indexed relation into n independent 1-indexed recurrence relations, which are then solved simultaneously in O(logn) parallel time, using n/sup 2/ processors configured as a hypercube or a mesh of partitionable buses.
Clays and Other Layered Materials

Clays are layered silicate-based materials that are used as binders, supports, and catalysts. The aluminosilicate compositions exhibit Bronsted acidity, when the counterions are replaced with protons, that fall between amorphous aluminosilicates and zeolites. These clays are versatile acid catalysts for organic reactions in the gas as well as solution phase. Propping up the spacing between the layers increases the surface area and allows improved access to the acid sites. Both the pillars and the layers of these clays can be unstable at high temperature and high steam content and are not feasible substitutes for the zeolite cracking catalysts under the severe conditions needed for petroleum refining. In solution phase, the use of the acid clays can substantially impact the organic reaction mechanism. It is in the regime of organic synthesis that clays as solid catalysts have found utility. Keywords: clay; layered silicate; pillared clay; smectite; montmorillonite; acid catalysis; Bronsted acidity; aluminosilicate catalyst; organic synthesis
Culdoscopy : a new method in the diagnosis of pelvic disease-preliminary-report

Abstract A new procedure for pelvic visualization termed culdoscopy is described. Culdoscopy is found superior to peritonescopy in the diagnosis of pelvic disease and the study of physiology. The procedure is invaluable in the investigation of pelvic tumors, small ovarian disease, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy and especially helpful in the detailed study of primary and secondary sterility in females.
Near-Surface Turbulence

Physical processes that determine the character and magnitude of turbulence in the upper ocean are surveyed and the challenges of studying near-surface turbulence are revealed. The free-surface boundary layer has some specifics, which distinguish it from the classic wall layer. The wall layer analogy is, however, still useful for understanding the near-surface turbulence. The major problem in studying the near-surface turbulence is obtaining reliable data in the wave-disturbed layer. A substantial part of the kinetic energy is dissipated by the breaking waves that are saturated with air bubbles, while most of the available ocean sensor technologies do not provide useful data in this environment. Methodological requirements are followed by examples of turbulence data obtained with a free-rising profiler and bow-mounted sensors in comparison with other results. The field data provide context for discussion of models of wave-enhanced turbulence. As a transition to Chap. 4, the effects of thermohaline stratification on the near-surface turbulence regime and the parameterization of these effects are considered.
Chalcohalide glasses. III. Vibrational spectra of GeSI glasses

Abstract Interpretation of the Raman and infrared spectra of GeSI glasses suggested that the addition of iodine to binary GeS glasses resulted in GeI bond formation substituting for GeS bonds present in the network structure of binary glasses. As an increasing number of GeI bonds are formed with the addition of iodine, sulfur atoms isolated from GeS 4 tetrahedra formed sulfur rings and chains. Vibrational spectra of GeSI glasses in conjunction with other from similar systems such as GeSBr suggested the structure of these glasses of GeI x S 4− x groups with a solid solution of S 8 rings dispersed. throughout the network structure.
Antenatal Exposure to Hypoxia Results in Increased Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) in the Rat Carotid Body (CB) ♦ 253

Rat carotid bodies contain eNOS which is postulated to contribute to CB inhibition in response to hypoxia. We hypothesised that chronic antenatal hypoxia would cause an elevation of this inhibitory enzyme. Three rat dams were exposed to 21% O2 (control) and three to 12% O2 (chronic hypoxia) beginning in the midsecond trimester (10 days prior to delivery). No dam delivered prematurely. There were no abortuses or stillbirths and no pups had congenital malformations. The exposures were continued postnatally. On postnatal days 2 and 6, pups (n=31) were weighed sacrificed, and the carotid bodies excised. CB tissue levels of eNOS were analyzed by quantitative immunofluorescent histochemistry. Body weights were lower and growth was attenuated in the hypoxic animals (p<0.05). On day 2, eNOS levels in the hypoxic animals were significantly higher than in controls by an average of 126% (p=0.007). While eNOS levels declined in the hypoxic animals by day 6, they remained elevated above control by an average of 34% (p=.005). We conclude that antenatal hypoxia results in enhanced inhibition of the carotid chemoreceptors through upregulation of eNOS. This enzyme may act both intra- and extravascularly on the chemoreceptor mechanism to limit the carotid afferent activity in response to hypoxia.
Differential activity of enantiomers of amphetamine in rats

Abstract Administration of single doses of d-amphetamine (0.5–4.0 mg/kg i.p.) to adult, male rats produced the expected dose-related increases in spontaneous motor activity. This effect was reduced by pretreatment with α-methylparatyrosine (αMT) and virtually unaffected by pretreatment with pargyline or parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA). Single doses of l-amphetamine (0.25–8.0 mg/kg) evoked an initial decrease in activity followed by increased activity of smaller magnitude than that caused by the d-isomer. The depressant effects of the l-isomer were prolonged by pretreatment with αMT, and abolished by pretreatment with pargyline or PCPA.
Oromandibular-limb hypogenesis spectrum and maternal lithium use.

A female is described with oromandibular-limb hypogenesis spectrum. The mother had taken lithium during the pregnancy.
The design of clinical trials in psoriasis: lessons for clinical practice

Understanding the process by which drugs are approved gives clinicians a better understanding of the medications they prescribe and how these medications are best used to care for patients. The development of new drugs in the United States proceeds through a series of studies culminating in well-designed, large-scale human trials. These studies result from a coordinated collaboration between industry and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The results of these studies determine whether drugs are approved for use or not. They also determine the labeling and marketing of products and guide (but do not fully determine) physicians' use of the drug. This article follows a hypothetical drug for use in psoriasis through the approval process, in order to illustrate the process and its implications for clinical practice.
Inversion of dynamical indicators in quantitative basin analysis models. II. Synthetic tests and a case history using dynamical indicator tomography

The dynamical evolution of sediments in basins, and their compaction, is the underpinning keystone on which rests the ability to model thermal history of the basin and hydrocarbon generation, migration, and accumulation histories. A presentation is given of the dynamical tomography method, which inverts dynamical indicators to evaluate the parameters in a 1-D fluid-flow/compaction model, including values dealing with geological events as well as values dealing with intrinsic, or assumed, lithologic equations of state. Synthetic tests illustrate the operation of the system. Using observed downhole quantities: total depth, formation thicknesses, variation of porosity, permeability, and total fluid pressure with depth from the Navarin Basin COST No. 1 well, Bering Sea, Alaska, the numerical algorithm was tested and found to be effective in a nonlinear inverse sense to determine and/or constrain the parameters entering quantitative models of dynamical sedimentary evolution. The predictions of present day total depth, formation thicknesses, porosity, permeability, and fluid pressure with depth are close to the measured data. The minimization provides the uncertainty in each parameter and so the geohistory of a well can be defined better.
Massive cerebral edema after recanalization post-thrombolysis.

Background. Intravenous thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator is an approved and effective therapy for acute ischemic stroke within the first 3 hours from onset. In addition to the risk of hemorrhage, there is a risk of postrecanalization cerebral edema. The authors present the case of a patient with an ischemic stroke treated successfully with intra-arterial thrombolysis who subsequently developed massive brain edema in the face of clinical improvement. Case. An 81-year-old man presented within 1 hour of developing a full right middle cerebral artery (MCA) syndrome. Computed tomography (CT) was normal. A cerebral angiogram demonstrated an occlusion of the M1 segment of the right MCA. The patient was treated with intra-arterial urokinase 750,000 units. He recovered during the procedure. Serial CT scans demonstrated progressive edema with mass effect in the right MCA distribution. The patient remained asymptomatic except for a mild sensory deficit. Discussion. Postrecanalization cerebral edema is an uncommon but potentially lethal complication of thrombolysis. It is postulated that the edema is due to ischemic injury aggravated by reperfusion with vasogenic edema. The presence of this massive edema is usually associated with clinical worsening. The present case illustrates that this disorder can be associated with good outcome.
Voltage Distribution among the Coils and Turns of a Form Wound AC Rotating Machine Exposed to Impulse Voltage

This paper describes a method of calculating voltage distribution in a stator winding exposed to impulse voltage. In this method, the voltage distribution in an equivalent-circuit representation of the stator winding is calculated. The winding is treated as an infinite number of identical coils connected in series, with each coil represented by an equivalent circuit including inductance, turn-to-ground capacitance and conductance, and with mutual inductance, capacitance, and conductance between turns. The impulse voltage is approximated by a Fourier series of components. The voltage distribution for each component is calculated, and the complete voltage distribution is obtained by summing the voltages due to each component. The complete calculating procedure, including the calculation of the equivalent circuit parameters has bee programmed in Basic language for computer calculation. Examples of the coil and turn voltages distributions calculated by this program and a comparison of calculated data with test data for a particular stator winding are included.
The low-potential cytochrome c of cyanobacteria and algae.

A waters-soluble, low-potential cytochrome c -550 is found in some cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae and has regions of sequence similarity to cytochrome c 6 . This cytochrome appears to be involved in a fermentation that sustains the organisms during prolonged periods of dark, anaerobic conditions.
Electron scattering from vibrational nuclei

We present electron scattering form factors for the ground states and several low energy quadrupole excitations of the nuclei /sup 52/Cr, /sup 110/Pd, /sup 114/Cd, and /sup 116/Sn. For /sup 116/Sn we also present the form factor for the lowest octupole excitation. From these data we derive ground state charge distribution parameters as well as B(EL) values. We attempt to interpret the observed 2/sup +/ states as the one- and two-phonon states of an anharmonic vibrational model. Predictions are made for the electromagnetic decay branching ratios and excited state electric quadrupole moments. (AIP)
Coastal access and public policy: a selective annotated bibliography

Coastal access has been, and continues to be, a controversial issue with both beachgoers and adjoining property owners having equally compelling legal rights to use and enjoy the shore. Federal, state and local governments have tried to provide for the high demand for recreational coastal access while accommodating the shorefront property owners through legislation, regulation, land use planning programs, and technical assistance. Budget cuts and reduction of resources experienced by most governments require that they create or adapt low cost and effective public access programs. This selective annotated bibliography highlights a variety of resources that describe or advocate successful public coastal access policies and programs which may be utilized by government entities or other public policy making bodies in implementing their own access programs.
Substituent effects in the 13C NMR spectra of iron carbonyl complexes with organic π-donors

Abstract The carbon spectra of nine tetracarbonylallyliron cations and seven acyclic dieneiron tricarbonyl complexes have been obtained. The effects of alkyl substituents (particularly methyl groups) on the chemical shift positions of ligand carbon atoms are described. The CO resonance signals for the cations are not averaged at ambient temperature thus indicating a high barrier to site exchange of these groups.
Thoracoscopic Limited Pericardial Resection With an Ultrasonic Scalpel

We employed an ultrasonic scalpel, the Harmonic Scalpel (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH), for thoracoscopic limited pericardial resection in consecutive 10 patients with massive pericardial effusion or pericarditis. The mean operative time was 27 minutes for pericardial effusion. No dangerous arrhythmias were induced even in the patient with dense pericardial adhesions. There were no operation-related complications or deaths. The thoracoscopic ultrasonic scalpel technique can be an efficacious minimally invasive alternative for pericardial window.
Specific modulation of the intracellular pH of rabbit neutrophils by chemotactic factors

Abstract We have monitored the intracellular pH of rabbit neutrophils by following the distribution of the weak acid, 5,5-Dimethyloxazolidine-2, 4-dione. The synthetic formyl-methionyl chemotactic factors were found to induce complex and specific changes in the intracellular pH of the neutrophils, a rapid drop followed by a slower and more sustained rise. These effects are receptor mediated. The relationship of these events to the physiology of the neutrophils is discussed.
A molecular orbital study of tissue selectivity in ß-adrenoceptor blocking agents

A molecular orbital study has been made on a group of eight s-adrenoceptor blocking agents using CNDO/2 type calculations. Of the group, two are relatively selective for cardiac receptors, two for vascular receptors and four are non-selective. Comparison of the net charges on the s-hydroxyl group oxygens and onium group nitrogens, as well as the O-N distances, reveals small differences. In the traditional view of adrenoceptor agent molecular geometry, the onium group and the aromatic part of the molecule are near the trans-configuration for the low energy conformation of all eight molecules. However, when the relation of a primary side chain feature, such as the O-N axis, and the plane of the aromatic ring is examined, noticeable steric differences between the various agents are evident.
Recent advancements in optical DNA biosensors: Exploiting the plasmonic effects of metal nanoparticles

The emerging field of plasmonics, the study of electromagnetic responses of metal nanostructures, has revealed many novel signal enhancing phenomena. As applied to the development of label-free optical DNA biosensors, it is now well established that plasmon-based surface enhanced spectroscopies on nanostructured metal surfaces or metal nanoparticles can markedly improve the sensitivity of optical biosensors, with some showing great promise for single molecule detection. In this review, we first summarize the basic concepts of plasmonics in metal nanostructures, as well as the characteristic optical phenomena to which plasmons give rise. We will then describe recent advances in optical DNA biosensing systems enabled by metal nanoparticle-derived plasmonic effects, including the use of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), colorimetric methods, "scanometric" processes, and metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF).
Martian atmospheric and indigenous components of xenon and nitrogen in the Shergotty, Nakhla, and Chassigny group meteorites

— In a study of the isotopic signatures of trapped Xe in shock-produced glass of shergottites and in ALH 84001, we observe three components: (1) modern Martian atmospheric Xe that is isotopically mass fractionated relative to solar Xe, favoring the heavy isotopes, (2) solar-like Xe, as previously observed in Chassigny, and (3) an isotopically fractionated (possibly ancient) component with little or no radiogenic 129Xerad. In situ-produced fission and spallation components are observed predominantly in the high-temperature steps. Heavy N signatures in ALH 84001, EET 79001 and Zagami reveal Martian atmospheric components. The low-temperature release of ALH 84001 shows evidence for the presence of a light N component (δ15N ≤ -21%), which is consistent with the component observed in the other Shergotty, Nakhla and Chassigny (SNC) group meteorites. The highest observed 129Xe/130Xe ratio of 15.60 in Zagami and EET 79001 is used here to represent the present Martian atmospheric component, and the isotopic composition of this component is compared with other solar system Xe signatures. The 129Xe/130Xe ratios in ALH 84001 are lower but appear to reflect varying mixing ratios with other components. The consistently high 129Xe/130Xe ratios in rocks of different radiometric ages suggest that Martian atmospheric Xe evolved early on. As already concluded in earlier work, only a small fission component is observed in the Martian atmospheric component. Assuming that a chondritic 244Pu/129I initial ratio applies to Mars, this implies that either Pu-derived fission Xe is retained in the solid planet (in fact, in situ-produced fission Xe is observed in ALH 84001) or may reflect a very particular degassing history of the planet.
Elderly Women Have Lower Rates of Stroke, Cardiovascular Events, and Mortality After Hospitalization for Transient Ischemic Attack

Background and Purpose— Patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) are at increased risk for stroke, cardiovascular events, and death, yet little is known about whether these risks differ for men and women. We determined whether there are sex-based differences in these outcomes 30 days and 1 year after TIA using a national sample of elderly patients. Methods— Rates of 30-day and 1-year hospitalization for TIA (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision Code 435), stroke (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision Codes 433, 434, and 436), coronary artery disease (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision Codes 410 to 414), all-cause readmission, and mortality were determined for fee-for-service Medicare patients ≥65 years of age discharged with a TIA in 2002. Cox proportional hazards models and random-effects logistic models compared outcomes with risk adjustment for demographics, medical history, comorbidities, and prior hospitalizations. Results— The study include...
Use of light-polymerizing restorative materials in diagnostic cast modification procedures

During the treatment-planning phase and before provisional restorations are made for the partially edentulous patient, it is often necessary to complete diagnostic cast modification procedures. Traditionally wax has been used for this purpose; therefore, it is necessary to duplicate the modified cast before fabrication of a vacuum-formed matrix. The cast duplication procedure can be eliminated by the use of light-polymerizing provisional restorative materials for cast modification instead of wax. Diagnostic casts for two patients are presented in this article, where techniques for using such a light-polymerizing material are described.
Quantitative assessment of articular cartilage morphology via EPIC-μCT

Summary Objective The objective of the present study was to validate the ability of Equilibrium Partitioning of an Ionic Contrast agent via microcomputed tomography (EPIC-μCT) to nondestructively assess cartilage morphology in the rat model. Design An appropriate contrast agent (Hexabrix) concentration and incubation time for equilibration were determined for reproducible segmentation of femoral articular cartilage from contrast-enhanced μCT scans. Reproducibility was evaluated by triplicate scans of six femora, and the measured articular cartilage thickness was independently compared to thickness determined from needle probe testing and histology. The validated technique was then applied to quantify age-related differences in articular cartilage morphology between 4, 8, and 16-week-old ( n =5 each) male Wistar rats. Results A 40% Hexabrix/60% phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution with 30min incubation was optimal for segmenting cartilage from the underlying bone tissue and other soft tissues in the rat model. High reproducibility was indicated by the low coefficient of variation (1.7–2.5%) in cartilage volume, thickness and surface area. EPIC-μCT evaluation of thickness showed a strong linear relationship and good agreement with both needle probing ( r 2 =0.95, slope=0.81, P n =43) and histology ( r 2 =0.99, slope=0.97, P n =30). Cartilage volume and thickness significantly decreased with age while surface area significantly increased. Conclusion EPIC-μCT imaging has the ability to nondestructively evaluate three-dimensional articular cartilage morphology with high precision and accuracy in a small animal model.
PCV16 Smoking Related Costs in the United States

Smoking is a high-risk behavior that affects the health and economic welfare of society. Thus, it is important to quantify the economic burden smoking places on social institutions in the United States. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review paper is to analyze smoking cost studies and to provide estimates that represent the economic costs of smoking from different perspectives of society, and as a whole. METHODS: Current Contents (1996–), Health Star (1970–), and Medline (1966–) databases were searched through the use of pertinent subject headings and key words: tobacco use, smoking, cost, and economics. The internet was utilized to identify potential sources of epidemiological and cost information on smoking. Recent cost-of-illness studies using different methodologies: human capital, incidence, and prevalence were chosen for review based on their relevance. RESULTS: Preliminary results indicate that the published cost studies available underestimate the “true” costs of smoking. The most current articles approximate annual direct medical costs to health care payers of $50 billion (1993); inflating to 1997 equals $59 billion or $1,200 per smoker. Although the latest cost studies do not attempt to estimate indirect costs, past studies have found indirect costs to be 1.5–2 times the direct costs. Therefore, using direct and indirect costs we estimate total smoking costs to be $150 billion (1993); inflating to 1997 equals $176 billion or $3,500 per smoker. CONCLUSION: Quantifying the cost of smoking is a difficult task due to tobacco use infiltrating many aspects of life and the dependency of cost on perspective. Cost-of-illness studies provide cost estimation data which can be useful in aiding decision-makers who are allocating health care resources.
Photophosphorylation as a function of light intensity

Abstract 1. If there is a critical light intensity below which photophosphorylation cannot occur, it is much lower than heretofore reported. At exceedingly low light intensities phosphorylation does not increase in a linear manner with increasing light intensity. This non-linearity seems to be a property of the electron transport-dependent phosphorylation reaction and not a property of the electron transport itself. The very slight non-linearity is independent of the H + concentration of the medium between pH 7.0 and 10.0. The quantum efficiency of photophosphorylation is highest at pH 9 although proton accumulation at this pH is extremely inefficient. 2. Photophosphorylation remains an almost linear function of light intensity in the presence of uncouplers such as methylamine, atebrin, Triton X-100 or Ag + . On the other hand uncouplers such as carbonylcyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), 2,4-dinitrophenol, gramicidin and valinomycin inhibit phosphorylation much more severely at very low light intensities. The marked decrease in the quantum efficiency of phosphorylation with CCCP and 2,4-dinitrophenol at low light intensities is associated with some decrease in the quantum efficiency of electron transport. Nevertheless a part of the decrease in efficiency is probably attributable to the weakness with which very low rates of electron transport are coupled to phosphorylation.
Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor Antagonist AM251 Inhibits Cocaine-Primed Relapse in Rats: Role of Glutamate in the Nucleus Accumbens

Blockade of cannabinoid CB1 receptors has been reported to inhibit cocaine- or cocaine cue-induced reinstatement of drug seeking. However, the mechanisms underlying this action are poorly understood. Given the importance of dopamine, glutamate, and GABA in cocaine reward and relapse, we studied the effects of AM251 [N-(piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-iodophonyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide], a novel highly selective CB1 receptor antagonist, on cocaine-primed reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior and on cocaine-induced changes in extracellular DA, glutamate, and GABA in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) under reinstatement conditions. We found that systemic administration of AM251 selectively inhibited cocaine-induced, but not sucrose plus sucrose cue-induced, reinstatement of reward-seeking behavior. AM251 alone did not trigger reinstatement. Local perfusion of AM251 into the NAc or the dorsal striatum also inhibited cocaine-triggered reinstatement. AM251 alone dose dependently elevated NAc glutamate in a voltage-dependent Na+ channel-dependent manner. AM251 did not affect NAc DA or GABA. Pretreatment with AM251 dose dependently inhibited cocaine-induced increases in NAc glutamate but not in DA. Blockade of NAc metabotropic glutamate mGluR2/3 receptors by LY341495 [(2S)-2-amino-2-[(1S,2S)-2-carboxycycloprop-1-yl]-3-(xanth-9-yl) propanoic acid] slightly facilitated cocaine-enhanced glutamate release but blocked the antagonism of cocaine-induced reinstatement by AM251. These data suggest the following: (1) CB1 receptors exert tonic inhibition over NAc glutamate release under cocaine-extinction conditions; (2) blockade of CB1 receptors by AM251 inhibits cocaine-enhanced NAc glutamate release and cocaine-triggered reinstatement; and (3) these effects appear to be mediated by activation of presynaptic mGluR2/3 autoreceptors secondary to AM251-induced increase (disinhibition) of NAc glutamate release.
Synthetic aperture radar interferometry capability now available to universities

Following rapidly on the success of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to measure crustal deformation has come a quantum leap in our ability to measure ground deformation, in the form of the Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (lSAR) technique. Building upon earlier work by Zebker and Goldstein [1986, 1988] at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, Massonet et 01. [1993] used SAR interferometry from ERS-1 to reconstruct, with unprecedented detail, the displacement field arising from the June 28,1992, Landers, California, earthquake.
Block diagonal smoothing splines

Abstract Algorithms for generalized cross validation are modified to handle stratified nonparametric problems and generalized additive models. This is particularly useful when the smoothness penalties can be combined additively with only one tuning constant to determine. Specific changes are suggested to the package GCVPACK (Bates et al., 1987, Comm. Statist. B) for implementation.
Orbital and cranial nerve presentations and sequelae are hallmarks of invasive fungal sinusitis caused by Mucor in contrast to Aspergillus.

Background Acute fulminant invasive fungal sinusitis (IFS) is a rapidly progressing, destructive process almost exclusively affecting immunocompromised patients. Outcome differences have been found in patients with Mucor and Aspergillus. We performed this study to compare the presenting symptoms and long-term morbidity with IFS caused by Mucor versus Aspergillus species. Methods Retrospective chart review was performed of 48 patients with 49 cases of acute fulminant IFS over a 19-year period. Presenting symptoms and long-term morbidity related to the orbits and cranial nerves were evaluated. Results Mucor was found in 22 cases and Aspergillus was found in 27 cases. Orbital (proptosis, periorbital edema, and ophthalmoplegia) and cranial nerve symptoms were seen at presentation more often in Mucor (6 [27%] and 9 [41%]) than in Aspergillus patients (3 [11%] and 7 [26%]; p=0.079). Long-term orbital and cranial nerve sequelae occurred in 16 (72%) Mucor cases and 10 (37%) Aspergillus cases (p=0.0210). The IFS-related mortality was 32% (7) in the Mucor group and 11% (3) in the Aspergillus group (p=0.089). Conclusion Patients with acute fulminant IFS present with similar sinus symptoms; however, there is a trend toward a greater prevalence of orbital and neurological symptoms in patients with Mucor versus Aspergillus. Long-term orbital and neurological morbidity is more prevalent in patients with Mucor compared with Aspergillus. These data suggest that the presence of orbital and neurological symptoms at presentation warrants more aggressive surgical intervention because of the likelihood of Mucor.
Promoting Political Expression: The Import of Three Constitutional Provisions

(1989). Promoting Political Expression: The Import of Three Constitutional Provisions. Free Speech Yearbook: Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 1-32.
A high efficiency graphite-moderated neutron counter

Abstract A high-efficiency neutron counter has been built, consisting of 40 1.5-m 10 BF 3 proportional counters imbedded in a graphite cylinder 1.83 m long and 1.53 m in dia. The system is surrounded by 0.6 m of water on all sides to act as a reflector and shield, and is operated with the neutron sources placed at the center. The basic design was dictated by the requirements for an energy independent, high neutron efficiency for weak neutron sources in the presence of high γ-ray activity. This ruled out moderators having a high neutron absorption cross section or low photo-neutron threshold. The configuration design was based upon diffusion studies and extensive Monte-Carlo calculations. The resulting configuration consisted of a hexagonal matrix of individual counters forming five rings parallel to the cylindrical axis. The measured total efficiency was found to be about 60% and nearly independent of energy, although the relative efficiency among rings was energy dependent.
Comparison of the intravenous and intraperitoneal routes of administration of tritiated thymidine in studies of cell production in the gastrointestinal tract of the rat

Incorporation of3H-Thymidine into DNA-synthesizing cells of the gastrointestinal tract of the rat was examined following administration of the isotope by intraperitoneal and intravenous routes. Estimates of whole tissue incorporation expressed as DPM/mg dry weight and of proliferating cells expressed as DPM/crypt or gland in the different segments of the gut indicated no differences in the degree of3H-TdR uptake into DNA following intraperitoneal or intravenous routes of administration. The possibility of misdirected I.P. injections was examined following injection of3H-TdR into the cecum or bladder. DPM/mg wet weight of gastrointestinal tissues indicated reduction in the uptake of3H-TdR into DNA of intestinal tissues following intracecal and intrabladder administration of3H-Tdr. The intraperitoneal route of administration of3H-TdR appears to be equally effective in the distribution of the isotope into different segments of the gut when compared to the intravenous route and is a more convenient method in studies of cell production in the gastrointestinal tract of the rat.
The Invalidity of the Distinction Between Inherent and Noninherent Ethical Concerns

In a thoughtful and well-argued target article about the bioethics of deep brain stimulation (DBS), Johansson and colleagues (2014) argued that it is not sufficient to consider present-day technolo...