cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Outcomes by Reconstructive Strategy in Patients with Prostheses for Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency.

Background The present study compares prosthetic treatment options for proximal femoral focal deficiency in terms of gait analysis, oxygen consumption, and patient-reported outcomes. Methods Twenty-three patients who had been managed with a prosthesis for unilateral proximal femoral focal deficiency underwent gait analysis; this group included 7 patients who had received an equinus prosthesis, 6 who had received a rotationplasty prosthesis, and 10 who had undergone Syme amputation and had received an above-the-knee prosthesis. Cadence parameters, kinematic and kinetic data, and oxygen consumption were measured, and the Gait Deviation Index (GDI) was calculated. Medical records and radiographs were reviewed. The Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) was completed by the child's parent. Results Patients underwent gait analysis at a mean age of 11.6 years (range, 4 to 19 years). Proximal femoral focal deficiency classification was not predictive of the chosen treatment. Patients in the rotationplasty group had undergone more procedures than those in the Syme amputation and equinus groups (mean, 3.3, 1.8, and 0.7 procedures, respectively) (p = 0.001). Oxygen cost did not differ between groups; however, all required greater energy expenditure than normal (170%, 144%, and 159%, in the equinus, rotationplasty, and Syme amputation groups, respectively) (p = 0.427). Likewise, hip power, abductor impulse, and GDI did not differ, but all groups had GDI scores >3 standard deviations below normative values. Patients in the equinus group walked faster (97% of normal for age) than those in the rotationplasty (84%) and Syme amputation groups (83%) (p = 0.018), whereas those in the Syme amputation group had superior knee range of motion (55° from the prosthetic knee) than those in the equinus (20°) and rotationplasty groups (15° generated from the ankle) (p = 0.003). There were no differences in terms of the PODCI subscales for pain, sport/physical function, happiness, or global function. Transfer/basic mobility improved with age (r = 0.516, p = 0.017), but no other associations were found between gait variables and PODCI scores. Conclusions Rotationplasty provided no patient-reported benefit and no functional benefit in terms of gait parameters or oxygen consumption, despite requiring more surgical procedures compared with other prosthetic options. Patients with an equinus prosthesis walked the fastest, whereas treatment with a Syme amputation and prosthetic knee yielded equivalent gait parameters and oxygen consumption as compared with those for patients using an equinus prosthesis. These findings contradict those of previous reports that rotationplasty provides superior function over other proximal femoral focal deficiency prosthetic treatment options. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Polymorphism in the Sr-Bi System

Eleven examples of hexagonal and orthorhombic polymorphs of intermetallic compounds having 5:3 stoichiometry are listed in the International Crystal Structure Database. A transition temperature between them has only been determined for the Yb–Sb and Sr–Bi systems, but results on the Sr–Bi system are discrepant with those on the Yb–Sb system, in which the phase relationships are well constrained by experimental data, for example, that the lower-temperature polymorph is the prototype orthorhombic Yb5Sb3 structure (αY5Sb3) and the higher temperature polymorph (βYb5Sb3) is isostructural with hexagonal Mn5Si3, with the transformation occurring at 1280 °C. In contrast, thermodynamic modeling on the Sr–Bi system give the inverse sequence of polymorphs with increasing temperature. It appears unlikely that the hexagonal Mn5Si3 structure type can be stable at higher temperatures than the orthorhombic Yb5Sb3 structure in one system, while orthorhombic Yb5Sb3 structure is the stable phase at higher temperatures in another system. The discrepancy can be attributed to the limited experimental data used to model the phase relationships in the Sr–Bi system.
Rheumatic Mitral Valve Disease

A 21-year-old Caucasian college student was referred to our institution for management of severe mitral stenosis. His past medical history was significant for a history of acute rheumatic fever at age 12. He was then followed by his local cardiologist; yearly echocardiography found normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction without significant valvular abnormalities. He did not see a cardiologist for a few years, and his last echocardiogram was 5 years ago. He was doing well until 2 months ago, when he felt shortness of breath while playing volleyball. He went to see his cardiologist and was found to have moderate to severe mitral stenosis.
Research With Children Exposed to Partner Violence Perspectives of Service-Mandated, CPS- and Court-Involved Survivors on Research With Their Children

Rapidly growing numbers of female survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) who are the primary caregivers for their children are being mandated to services by child protective services (CPS) and/or the court system. Research is needed to better understand the experiences of these children; however, such research is hindered by the dearth of empirical evidence to guide researchers in how best to recruit and collect data about and from IPV-exposed children whose families are mandated to services. From a qualitative study with 21 CPS- and/or court-involved mothers, this article reports findings about participants' perspectives regarding research with their IPV-exposed children. Our analyses determined three key findings: (a) mothers' reasons or motivations for allowing their children to participate in research, (b) mothers' reasons for refusing consent for their children to participate, and (c) strategies for increasing research participation among this population. Based on these findings, we offer recommendations for enhancing research participation among IPV-exposed children from CPS- and/or court-involved families mandated to services, including specific recruitment and data collection strategies. These recommendations and strategies also hold value for research with other vulnerable families and children struggling with violence.
Reconstructing functional systems after lesions of cerebral cortex

The young brain is enormously resilient to early injury. This resiliency contrasts with the severe and permanent impairments that frequently accompany equivalent damage to the mature cerebrum. For example, damage to Broca's area renders the patient unable to speak, but equivalent damage early in life does not have such devastating effects. Here we review the history of the study of early lesion-induced plasticity, and delineate the features of the developing brain that permit it to overcome the effects of early cerebral lesions. We also speculate on future avenues of investigation that should help us to comprehend how young brains are naturally rebuilt after early lesions.
Human acid beta-glucosidase. Use of inhibitory and activating monoclonal antibodies to investigate the enzyme's catalytic mechanism and saposin A and C binding sites.

Abstract Of 14 identified epitopes on human GCase (acid beta-glucosidase), monoclonal antibodies (MCABs) recognizing 3 produced inhibition and 1 resulted in activation of GCase. MCABs F1 and F2 completely, and MCAB 61 partially (approximately 70%), inhibited GCase activity. Substrates and active site-directed inhibitors (specific sphingolipid and 5-amino-5-deoxyglucose derivatives) protected the enzyme from inhibition by MCAB F1 and F2, but not that by MCAB 61. Conduritol B epoxide did not protect GCase from the inhibition by these MCABs when covalently bound to the active site. These results indicated highly specific binding requirements of MCABs F1 and F2 for residues in a complex active site. In comparison, kinetic analyses using GCase transition state analogues, N-alkyl-glucosylamines, and MCAB 61 demonstrated that this MCAB "freezes" the conformation of the enzyme and inhibits GCase by preventing formation of a conformer needed for maximal catalytic rates. The activating MCAB 122 mimicked the effects of saposin C and competed with this natural activator for residues on the enzyme. Interaction of saposin A and saposin C or MCAB 122 with GCase produced a synergistic effect leading to a marked sensitization of the enzyme to these activators. No such synergism or additivity was found for the maximal catalytic rate since it could be achieved by saturating amounts of any one or combinations of these activators. In the presence of MCAB 61, only 15 to 25% of the maximal activation of GCase was obtained by saposin C or MCAB 122, indicating that the major activation effects of these effectors derived from an induction of a GCase conformational change. These results demonstrate that saposins A and C mediate their activating effects by binding to distinct sites on GCase. Furthermore, major components of the mechanisms for catalysis and saposin C activation are due to conformational changes during the transition state. These findings have implications for understanding the perturbations of GCase function due to the missense mutations which cause Gaucher disease.
Multiple-channel OSNR monitoring using integrated planar lightwave circuit and fast fourier transform techniques

In this paper, we propose multiple-channel OSNR monitoring using integrated planar lightwave circuit (PLC) and fast Fourier transform (FFT) techniques with a single detector. We experimentally demonstrated a 4-channel OSNR monitoring and accurately measured OSNR up to 20 dB. Optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) monitoring is one of the essential optical performance monitoring functions in wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) systems. Different OSNR monitoring methods have been reported. The arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) with a detector array has been widely used to monitor OSNR of WDM channels.
Rennin enzyme of Endothia parasitica.

Abstract A microbiological screening program was instituted to search for an animal rennet substitute. Among 381 bacteria and 540 fungi tested, only one organism, Endothia parasitica, yielded a suitable enzyme substitute. The fungal rennin enzyme was crystallized and some of its properties were studied. It was found to be water-soluble, nondialyzable, precipitable with (NH4)2SO4 and organic solvents (e.g., acetone and isopropanol), and destroyed by heating for 5 min at 60 C. It was determined to be most stable in water at pH 4.5 and to have an isoelectric point of pH 5.5. On acid hydrolysis, it yielded: alanine, ammonia, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, and valine. No tryptophan was detected after alkaline hydrolysis. Its molecular weight was estimated to be in the range of 34,000 to 39,000. The milk-clotting activities of the fungal and animal rennins proved to be essentially identical in milk containing various concentrations of CaCl2. Both rennins manifested comparable clotting activities in milk at pH 6.0 to 7.0.
ATSpace: a middle agent to support application oriented matchmaking and brokering services

An important problem for agents in open multiagent systems is how to find agents that match certain criteria. A number of middle agent services - such as matchmaking and brokering services - have been proposed to address this problem. However, the search capabilities of such services are relatively limited since the match criteria they use are relatively inflexible. We propose ATSpace, a model to support application-oriented matchmaking and brokering services. Application agents in ATSpace deliver their own search algorithms to a public tuple space which holds agent property data; the tuple space executes the search algorithms on this data. We show how the ATSpace model increases the dynamicity and flexibility of a middle agent service. Unfortunately, the model also introduces security threats: the data and access control restrictions in ATSpace may be compromised, and system availability may be affected. We describe some mechanisms to address these security threats.
The Anatomy of Starbursts in the Ultraviolet

We have obtained Hubble Space Telescope ultraviolet (UV; λc = 2320 A) images of nine starburst galaxies using the FOC, with the aim of characterizing the anatomy of starbursts with ~pc resolution at a wavelength where hot massive stars dominate the luminosity output. The images have been analysed in detail, and full results can be found in Meurer et al. (1995).
Superiority of in vitro over in vivo calibrations of BCECF in vascular smooth muscle cells

We measured intracellular pH (pHi) in single vascular smooth muscle cells (VSM) cultured from rabbit abdominal aorta, using 2',7'-biscarboxyethyl-5(6)carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) on a microscope-based fluorimetric system. We previously found substantial errors introduced by using high K+/nigericin to calibrate intracellular BCECF (1). We also previously demonstrated that the necessary correction (pHcor) to the high K+/nigericin-calibrated pHi was linearly dependent on pHi, increasing with increasing pHi (2). When the nigericin calibration data were corrected using this pHcor, the new corrected calibration was similar to the result of calibrating BCECF in vitro (higher Rmax, lower Rmin, and lower pK). Therefore, in this study the possibility is considered that in vitro calibrations might provide better estimates of pHi. Our best estimate for the absolute level of pHi derives from a null method for bracketing steady-state pHi. In VSM cells, using only in vitro calibrations to estimate steady-state pHi leads t...
Ubiquitin ligase Siah2 regulates RevErbα degradation and the mammalian circadian clock

Regulated degradation of proteins by the proteasome is often critical to their function in dynamic cellular pathways. The molecular clock underlying mammalian circadian rhythms relies on the rhythmic expression and degradation of its core components. However, because the tools available for identifying the mechanisms underlying the degradation of a specific protein are limited, the mechanisms regulating clock protein degradation are only beginning to be elucidated. Here we describe a cell-based functional screening approach designed to quickly identify the ubiquitin E3 ligases that induce the degradation of potentially any protein of interest. We screened the nuclear hormone receptor RevErbα (Nr1d1), a key constituent of the mammalian circadian clock, for E3 ligases that regulate its stability and found Seven in absentia2 (Siah2) to be a key regulator of RevErbα stability. Previously implicated in hypoxia signaling, Siah2 overexpression destabilizes RevErbα/β, and siRNA depletion of Siah2 stabilizes endogenous RevErbα. Moreover, Siah2 depletion delays circadian degradation of RevErbα and lengthens period length. These results demonstrate the utility of functional screening approaches for identifying regulators of protein stability and reveal Siah2 as a previously unidentified circadian clockwork regulator that mediates circadian RevErbα turnover.
Derivative spectroscopy with HICO

The Hyperspectral Imager of the Coastal Ocean - HIC®- is a visible and near-IR grating spectrometer currently in orbit on the International Space State (ISS) [1]. HICO's 5.7 nm (binned) spectral resolution permits the application of derivative spectroscopy to the identification of remotely sensed water constituents. We examine applications of derivative spectroscopy to complex coastal waters with riverine inputs such as the Columbia and Yangtze rivers.
Total cross sections for the scattering of low-energy electrons by excited sodium atoms in the 3 /sup 2/P/sub 3/2/, m/sub J/= +- 3/2 state

The authors have measured the absolute total cross section for low-energy electrons scattered by sodium atoms in the $3^{2}P_{\frac{3}{2}}$, ${m}_{J}=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}\frac{3}{2}$ state using a modified atomic-beam-recoil technique. A single-mode tunable dye laser is used to excite these states selectively, and their populations are determined by using the atomic recoil in resonant photon interactions to separate excited from nonexcited beams spatially. Total cross sections have been measured at seven electron energies between 0.84 and 6.0 eV.
Liver fibrosis: insights into migration of hepatic stellate cells in response to extracellular matrix and growth factors.

Background & Aims: In liver fibrosis, alterations within the space of Disse microenvironment occur and facilitate further progression of chronic liver disease. The normal basement membrane–like matrix present within the space of Disse converts to a matrix rich in fibril-forming collagens during fibrosis. Methods: To further understand the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, we modified an in vitro Boyden chamber system to partially mimic in vivo conditions of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) during health and disease. Results: Stimulation of HSCs with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and/or epithelial growth factor (EGF) resulted in an increase in their migratory capacity and up-regulated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity. Migration induced by PDGF-BB was associated with increased proliferation, whereas TGF-β1/EGF–induced migration was proliferation independent. COL-3, an inhibitor of MMP-2 and MMP-9, inhibited migration of HSCs induced by direct activation of PDGF-BB or TGF-β1 but had no effect on migration induced by chemotactic stimuli without direct contact, suggesting 2 distinct MMP-dependent and MMP-independent mechanisms of PDGF-BB– or TGF-β1–induced migration. Additionally, we show that type I collagen by itself induced migration of HSCs. Migration induced by PDGF-BB, TGF-β1, and collagen I could be inhibited by α1- and/or α2-integrin blocking antibodies, collectively suggesting an integrin-dependent, MMP-2–mediated migration of HSCs. Conclusions: Basement membrane matrix integrity, composition, and cell-matrix interactions play an important role in anchoring HSCs and preventing them from spreading within the space of Disse and potentially elsewhere in the liver. Additionally, our data provide strong evidence for MMPs in regulation of HSCs migration. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2003;124:147-159
Interactions of Amino Acid Side Chain Analogs within Membrane Environments

The interactions among four amino acid analog pairs (Asn, Ser, Phe, and Val) within the membrane environment were investigated using umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulations. The results confirm generally expected qualitative trends of preferential association of polar compounds inside the membrane vs preferential interaction of hydrophobic compounds outside the membrane. Furthermore, correlations between amino acid interactions, membrane insertion, and membrane deformations are discussed and a detailed analysis of pair interaction energies is presented. A comparison of the energetics obtained from explicit lipid simulations with those from implicit membrane models reveals significant deviations and an improved parametrization of the heterogeneous dielectric generalized Born implicit model is provided that partially corrects for deficiencies in the implicit membrane model when compared with the new reference data from this study.
Probing the SU(2) Gauge Higgs System With Fermions

Quenched fermion calculations are carried out on the βg = 2.3 line of the lattice SU(2) gauge-Higgs system. Chiral symmetry is always broken on the confinement side of the Higgs transition. For l = 12 fermions the symmetry is restored the moment one enters the Higgs region. However, for l = 1 fermions it is possible to have both chirally broken and chirally symmetric Higgs regions. These conclusions follow from evaluations of a3〈ΨΨ〉l and from spectrum calculations in the pseudoscalar meson and the fermion-scalar bound-state channels.
Monoclonal antibodies specific for thiophosphorylated proteins recognize Xenopus MPF

Abstract Maturation promoting factor, (MPF), is a crucial regulatory component of the eukaryotic cell cycle. Though it is ubiquitous, MPF has been difficult to purify to homogeneity, and little is known about its physical properties or composition. In an attempt to further characterize and purify this protein, we have isolated five monoclonal antibodies that immunoadsorb MPF activity, and inhibit the activity in solution. However, all the antibodies recognize many proteins in partially purified MPF. We have shown that antibody binding is dependent on previous exposure of the preparation to ATPγS. This suggests that the antibodies specifically recognize thiophosphoproteins, although not all thiophosphorylated proteins in MPF are immunoprecipitated. Using one antibody, MPF was partially purified by immunoadsorption chromatography. These experiments provide the first evidence that MPF from Xenopus is a phosphoprotein that becomes thiophosphorylated upon addition of ATPγS.
Modeling of compact Pd coated VCSELs for hydrogen sensing

We report on designs for compact VCSEL sensors for use in hydrogen gas detection. We discuss 980nm VCSELs coated with Pd, which has been proven to react with hydrogen. During this reaction, the device undergoes hydrogen induced lattice expansion (HILE) which causes two distinct effects that can be detected at the output. These two effects are a red-shift in the emission wavelength and a decrease in the output power. The compact VCSELs will be positioned into a 2D array with varying mesa diameters and palladium thickness in order to distinguish and track the specific level of hydrogen present in the atmosphere.
Attributes of Stachybotrys chartarum and its association with human disease

Mold contamination and toxicities are not limited to crops and animals; they are also a concern in human health. Molds occur in outdoor and indoor environments, and water-damaged buildings harbor and provide substrate for several mold species. Of these, Stachybotrys chartarum poses a particular threat to occupants. Patients with building-related symptoms and infant idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage often have histories of living in moldy, water-damaged buildings. Although a causal connection is far from being unequivocally proven, S chartarum has been associated with such clinical conditions. These illnesses could be attributed in part to mycotoxins released by S chartarum. Recently, a hemolysin released by this mold was found to be hemolytic in vitro and in vivo. In addition, allergenic proteins have been characterized from S chartarum. The exact mechanism of S chartarum pathogenesis has not yet been defined. Moreover, a causality-effect relation is not yet established. This review summarizes available information on the pathogenic attributes of S chartarum and calls for well-controlled objective studies.
Dynamic hierarchical dictionary design for multi-page binary document image compression

The JBIG2 standard is widely used for binary document image compression primarily because it achieves much higher compression ratios than conventional facsimile encoding standards. In this paper, we propose a dynamic hierarchical dictionary design method (DH) for multi-page binary document image compression with JBIG2. Our DH method outperforms other methods for multi-page compression by utilizing the information redundancy among pages with the following technologies. First, we build a hierarchical dictionary to keep more information per page for future usage. Second, we dynamically update the dictionary in memory to keep as much information as possible subject to the memory constraint. Third, we incorporate our conditional entropy estimation algorithm to utilize the saved information more effectively. Our experimental results show that the compression ratio improvement by our DH method is about 15% compared to the best existing multi-page encoding method.
The Effectiveness of Crime Analysis for Crime Reduction: Cure or Diagnosis?

Many researchers and police chiefs have asked the question, “Does crime analysis reduce crime?” This question is a difficult one is because the link between crime analysis and crime reduction is no...
Design of Group Sequential Clinical Trials with Multiple Endpoints

Abstract Group sequential testing for randomized clinical trials designed with multiple endpoints is considered. Previously computed tables for single endpoints are still useful, with a change in interpretation of certain parameters. The advantage in setting sample size based on multiple endpoints is that the sample size required when a trial is designed using more than one endpoint is smaller than the sample size based on any single endpoint, if the two calculations are undertaken using matching significance levels and powers. An example is provided, and possible extensions of the work are discussed.
Opioid receptor upregulation and supersensitivity in mice: effect of morphine sensitivity.

Abstract Mice of the Swiss-Webster strain obtained from two suppliers (Taconic, Charles River) were found to differ in their sensitivity to morphine. Mice from Taconic were approximately two-fold more sensitive to the analgesic and lethal effects of morphine compared to the Charles River mice. In a third strain, C3H/HEN, morphine was found to be more than 2.5 times more potent in producing analgesia than in the Charles River mice. Binding studies showed that the Taconic mice and C3H/HEN mice had approximately 40% and 60%, respectively, more specific [3H]naloxone binding sites in brain than did the less sensitive Charles River mice. When treated with chronic naltrexone for 8 days the analgesic potency of morphine was increased by approximately 90% for both Swiss-Webster mice and by 20% for the C3H/HENs. [3H]Naloxone binding was increased by 45–50% in the Swiss-Webster strains, but by only 33% in C3H/HEN mice. These data indicate that receptor upregulation is directly related to increases in morphine potency. Further, these findings suggest that initial sensitivity to morphine can determine the degree of functional supersensitivity and relative receptor upregulation produced by chronic opioid antagonist treatment.
Additives for Bottom-up Copper Plating from an Alkaline Complexed Electrolyte

Copper (Cu) electrodeposition in the presence of appropriate additives enables void-free bottom-up plating of sub-micron vias and trenchesindual-damascenemetallization. 1 Thisprocessisnowwidely practiced for fabricating interconnects in advanced microprocessors at sub-50 nm technology nodes. 2 However, as interconnect dimensions become smaller, scaling the aforementioned interconnect metallization process to narrower geometries becomes increasingly difficult. This is primarily due to the preceding non-conformal PVD-Cu seed layer process, which develops ‘overhang’ at the feature opening leading to pinch-off. 3 To circumvent this, an alternative metallization process based on direct Cu electrodeposition onto conformal diffusion-barriers, such as ruthenium or cobalt, has been proposed. 4 The shift in diffusion-barrier technology requires novel electrodeposition chemistries to enable adequate Cu nucleation and uniform depositionon300mmresistivewafers.Inthiscontext,alkalinecomplexedCu electrolytes have been developed to achieve high Cu nucleation densityanduniformplating. 5‐8 Inadditiontotheirapplicationindirect Cu plating, these electrolytes are advantageous even in conventional interconnect metallization due to the lower susceptibility for seed layer dissolution in an alkaline medium. 9 ProposedintegrationschemesfordirectCuplatingrelyontwoprocesssteps:(i)aCunucleationstep,utilizinganalkalinecomplexed-Cu electrolyte; and (ii) a bottom-upfill step, utilizing a conventional acidCuelectrolytewithadditives.However,foreaseofprocessintegration, a single-step Cu plating process providing bottom-up fill from an alkaline complexed-Cu electrolyte is highly desired. We have described earlier an alkaline tartrate-complexed Cu plating process which provides high nucleation density on ruthenium. 5 We have shown that the tartrate serves to complex the cupric ions in solution, increase the electrode polarization, enhance the plating nucleation density, as well as improve bath stability. In the present work, we identify additives that function as ‘suppressors’ and ‘anti-suppressors’ in this alkaline tartrate-complexed electrolyte. In analogy to additives in an acid-Cu electrolyte, 10 these additives interact with the copper plating process providing the sought after bottom-up fill in sub-micron features from the alkaline complexed electrolyte.
Observations of z-dependent microbunching harmonic intensities using COTR in a SASE FEL ☆

The nonlinear generation of harmonics in a self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) free-electron laser (FEL) continues to be of interest. Complementary to such studies is the search for information on the electron beam microbunching harmonic components, which are revealed by coherent optical transition radiation (COTR) experiments. An initial z-dependent set of data has been obtained with the fundamental at 530 nm and the second harmonic at 265 nm. The latter data were collected after every other undulator in a nine-undulator string. These results are compared to estimates based on GINGER and an analytical model for nonlinear harmonic generation.
Gastroparesis: pathogenesis, diagnosis and management

Gastroparesis is a prevalent condition that produces symptoms of delayed gastric emptying in the absence of physical blockage. The most common etiologies of gastroparesis are idiopathic, diabetic, and postsurgical disease, although some cases stem from autoimmune, paraneoplastic, neurologic or other conditions. Histologic examination of gastric tissues from patients with severe gastroparesis reveals heterogeneous and inconsistent defects in the morphology of enteric neurons, smooth muscle and interstitial cells of Cajal, and increased levels of inflammatory cells. Diagnosis is most commonly made by gastric emptying scintigraphy; however, wireless motility capsules and nonradioactive isotope breath tests have also been validated. A range of treatments have been used for gastroparesis including dietary modifications and nutritional supplements, gastric motor stimulatory or antiemetic medications, endoscopic or surgical procedures, and psychological interventions. Most treatments have not been subjected to controlled testing in patients with gastroparesis. The natural history of this condition is poorly understood. Active ongoing research is providing important insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of this disease.
Tantalum—A bioactive metal for implants

Metallic biomaterials currently in use for load-bearing orthopedic applications are mostly bioinert and therefore lack sufficient osseointegration. Although bioactive ceramics such as hydroxyapatite (HA) can spontaneously bond to living bone tissue, low fracture toughness of HA limits their use as a bone substitute for load-bearing applications. Surface modification techniques such as HA coating on metals are current options to improve osseointegration in load-bearing metal implants. Over the last few decades researchers have attempted to find a bioactive metal with high mechanical strength and excellent fatigue resistance that can bond chemically with surrounding bone for orthopedic applications. Recent in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies demonstrated that tantalum is a promising metal that is bioactive. However, tantalum applications in biomedical devices have been limited by processing challenges rather than biological performances. In this article, we provide an overview of processing aspects and biological properties of tantalum for load-bearing orthopedic applications.
Structure and dynamics of the Cu(001) surface investigated by medium-energy ion scattering.

The structural and vibrational properties of the Cu(001) surface at temperatures between 107 and 685 K have been determined by medium-energy ion scattering (MEIS). At \ensuremath{\le}305 K, a top-layer contraction (\ensuremath{\Delta}${\mathit{d}}_{12}$) of -2.0% is found. Above 520 K the contraction may be slightly larger at -2.3%. Small second-layer expansions (\ensuremath{\simeq}+1%) exist. Monte Carlo modeling of the data shows that the vibrations of the Cu(001) surface atoms are strongly enhanced over those of the bulk, with ratios of surface to bulk vibrational amplitudes increasing from \ensuremath{\sim}1.6 at 107 K to more than 2.0 at 685 K. Analysis of multiple-scattering geometries which preferentially probe either the in-plane or the near-perpendicular vibrational amplitudes shows anisotropic surface vibrations at all temperatures examined. Lattice vibration correlation effects have been included in the analysis. The in-plane vibrational amplitude changes from 11% to 37% larger than the perpendicular vibrational amplitude over the temperature range studied. The effect on the results of isolated, diffusing Cu adatoms on the surface at high temperature is considered. Due to the influence of the methods of data reduction upon the results, an analysis of the ion energy loss in the high-resolution MEIS energy spectra is presented.
Page-query compaction of secondary memory auxiliary databases

Prestoring redundant data in secondary memory auxiliary databases is an idea that can often yield improved retrieval performance through better clustering of related data. The clusters can be based on either whole query results or, as this paper indicates, on more specialized units called page-queries. The deliberate redundancy introduced by the designer is typically accompanied by much unnecessary redundancy among the elements of the auxiliary database. This paper presents algorithms for efficiently removing unwanted redundancy in auxiliary databases organized into page-query units. The algorithms presented here extend prior work done for secondary memory compaction in two respects: First, since it is generally not possible to remove all unwanted redundancies, the paper shows how can the compaction be done to remove the most undesirable redundancy from a system performance point-of-view. For example, among the factors considered in determining the worst redundancies are the update behavior and the effects of a particular compaction scheme on memory utilization. Second, unlike traditional approaches for database compaction which aim merely at reducing the storage space, this paper considers the paging characteristics in deciding on an optimal compaction scheme. This is done through the use of page-queries. Simulation results are presented and indicate that page-query compaction results in less storage requirements and more time savings than could be obtained by standard non-page-query compaction.
Patient Information, Nursing Home Care, and the Non-Medical Costs of Caregiving: One Librarian's Perspective

Little literature exists about how health sciences librarians use their training for caregiving. In line with the aims of this column, this piece summarizes predominantly personal experience gained from caring for an aging parent from September 2009 until April 2011. Health information written for consumers and patients may not adequately address complex health care circumstances, and the health sciences librarian may need to find and apply more granular information than typically provided in patient-oriented literature. Families and caregivers may need to brainstorm about additional questions and information needs as they emerge.
Government policies and graft in an economy with endogenous labor supply

Abstract This paper is an extension of Marcouiller and Young's [Am. Econ. Rev. 85 (1995) 630] paper which shows that in a two-good economy with constant labor supply, the government can always increase graft by squeezing the formal sector out of existence. In this paper, we find that if individuals choose the amount of labor they supply, the government can increase graft by eliminating formal production in relatively rare cases.
Modified phonon confinement model for Raman spectroscopy of nanostructured materials

This work describes further development of the confinement theory used for fitting of the Raman-spectroscopy signal obtained from nanostructured materials. We present a simple algebraic method for the incorporation of an anisotropic phonon-dispersion function into the phonon confinement model. The anisotropy is shown to have particular effects on low-dimensional systems, of sizes below $\ensuremath{\sim}15\text{ }\text{nm}$, even for systems with low anisotropy such as Ge. Experimental verification of the model is provided by fitting the Raman signal from Ge nanowires grown on quartz substrates. The interplay between the temperature change due to Raman laser heating and the size of the nanostructures is discussed.
Implementing bit-addressing with specialization

General media-processing programs are easily expressed with bit-addressing and variable-sized bit-fields. But the natural implementation of bit-addressing relies on dynamic shift offsets and repeated loads, resulting in slow execution. If the code is specialized to the alignment of the data against word boundaries, the offsets become static and many repeated loads can be removed. We show how introducing modular arithmetic into an automatic compiler generator enables the transformation of a program that uses bit-addressing into a synthesizes of fast specialized programs.In partiai-evaluation jargon we say: modular arithmetic is supported by extending the binding time lattice used by the static analysis in a polyvariant compiler generator. The new binding time Cyclic functions like a partially static integer.A software cache combined with a fast, optimistic sharing analysis built into the compilers eliminates repeated loads and stores. The utility of the transformation is demonstrated with a collection of examples and benchmark data. The examples include vector arithmetic, audio synthesis, image processing, and a base-64 codec.
Compressed sensing technique for high-resolution radar imaging

Compressed sensing (CS) has recently attracted much interest because of its important offerings and versatility. High-resolution radar imaging applications such as through-the-wall radar (TWR) imaging or inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) are two key application areas that can greatly benefit from CS. Both applications require probing targets using radar signals with large bandwidth for collecting, and then processing, a large number of data samples for achieving high resolution imaging. These applications are also characterized by sparse imaging where targets of interest are few and have larger cross-section than clutter objects. Reducing the number of samples without compromising the imaging quality reduces the acquisition time and saves signal bandwidth. This reduction is important when surveillance is performed within small time window and when targets are required to remain stationary without translation or rotation motions, to avoid blurring and smearing of images. In this paper, we discuss applicability of compressed sensing to indoor radar imaging, using synthesized TWR data.
Reversible, Light-Screening Pigment of Elasmobranch Eyes: Chemical Identity with Melanin

There lies directly beneath the tapetum lucidum, in the eyes of many elasmobranch fishes, a layer of darkly pigmented choroid cells which, in bright light, extend individual strands that aggregate to form a dark, compound curtain which shields the reflecting tapetal cells. This process is reversed in dim light or in darkness; the tapetum is exposed and visual sensitivity presumably Increased. The black choroid pigment has been isolated, analyzed, and shown to possess the properties of melanin.
Image Retrieval using Canonical Cyclic String Representation of Polygons

In image retrieval applications one of the boundary-dependent approaches is matching contours with their polygonal representation. We introduce (1) a new polygonal shape representation, (2) an efficient algorithm to compute a unique representation of a polygon to handle orientation and (3) a matching method that is invariant to rigid and affine transformation. In the method, polygons are represented by a sequence of distance vectors ordered in a predefined cyclic way. Each vector is composed of two primitives which are radial distance from the centroid to a vertex and the following edge distance in a specified direction. Matching of polygons is achieved by bitwise comparison of their string code. The algorithm has a computational complexity of O(n log n), hence it has advantage for practical use.
Role of γ+γ-->e + +e - +e + +e - in the High-Energy Cross Section for γ+Z-->Z+e + +e - +e + +e -

We discuss the possibility that the interesting large, high-energy cross section for γ+γ→e++e−+e++e− can be indirectly tested via the reaction γ+Z→Z+e++e−+e++e−. As a by-product, the background caused by the former process in the Primakoff-Stodolsky method for measuring the total photon-photon cross section into hadrons is shown to be substantially reduced beyond naive expectations.
The secreted factors responsible for pre-metastatic niche formation: old sayings and new thoughts

Metastasis is a multistep process that requires acquisition of malignant cell phenotypes which allow tumor cells to escape from the primary tumor site. Each of the steps during metastatic progression involves co-evolution of the tumor and its microenvironment. Although tumor cells are the driving force of metastasis, new findings suggest that the host cells within the tumor microenvironment play a key role in influencing metastatic behavior. Many of these contributing cells are derived from the bone marrow; in particular, recruited bone marrow progenitor cells generate the "pre-metastatic niche" to which the tumor cells metastasize. Analysis of the molecular mechanisms involved in pre-metastatic niche formation has revealed that secreted soluble factors are key players in bone marrow cell mobilization during metastasis. In addition, membrane vesicles derived from both tumor and host cells have recently been recognized as new candidates with important roles in the promotion of tumor growth and metastasis. This review describes old ideas and presents new insights into the role of tumor and bone marrow-derived microvesicles and exosomes in pre-metastatic niche formation and metastasis.
Engineering Design of the AGS Fast Beam Extraction System

The equipment described deflects the accelerated beam of the AGS into a tangential pipe, providing an external beam with essentially the same structure and intensity as the original.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Pediatric Knee

In pediatric patients, the high resolution and excellent soft-tissue contrast of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging allows for complete evaluation of osseous and soft-tissue structures around the knee joint, and its lack of ionizing radiation makes it a preferred modality for advanced imaging. Older children and adolescents are most commonly imaged to evaluate athletic and traumatic injuries, whereas in infants and school age children MR imaging is used to evaluate developmental conditions such as Blount disease or assess for causes of atraumatic pain such as infection or inflammatory arthritis. A thorough understanding of normal skeletal development is necessary to avoid misdiagnoses.
Pathway-based identification of a smoking associated 6-gene signature predictive of lung cancer risk and survival

ObjectiveSmoking is a prominent risk factor for lung cancer. However, it is not an established prognostic factor for lung cancer in clinics. To date, no gene test is available for diagnostic screening of lung cancer risk or prognostication of clinical outcome in smokers. This study sought to identify a smoking associated gene signature in order to provide a more precise diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer in smokers. Methods and materialsAn implication network based methodology was used to identify biomarkers by modeling crosstalk with major lung cancer signaling pathways. Specifically, the methodology contains the following steps: (1) identifying genes significantly associated with lung cancer survival; (2) selecting candidate genes which are differentially expressed in smokers versus non-smokers from the survival genes identified in Step 1; (3) from these candidate genes, constructing gene coexpression networks based on prediction logic for the smoker group and the non-smoker group, respectively; (4) identifying smoking-mediated differential components, i.e., the unique gene coexpression patterns specific to each group; and (5) from the differential components, identifying genes directly co-expressed with major lung cancer signaling hallmarks. ResultsA smoking-associated 6-gene signature was identified for prognosis of lung cancer from a training cohort (n=256). The 6-gene signature could separate lung cancer patients into two risk groups with distinct post-operative survival (log-rank P<0.04, Kaplan-Meier analyses) in three independent cohorts (n=427). The expression-defined prognostic prediction is strongly related to smoking association and smoking cessation (P<0.02; Pearson's Chi-squared tests). The 6-gene signature is an accurate prognostic factor (hazard ratio=1.89, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.43]) compared to common clinical covariates in multivariate Cox analysis. The 6-gene signature also provides an accurate diagnosis of lung cancer with an overall accuracy of 73% in a cohort of smokers (n=164). The coexpression patterns derived from the implication networks were validated with interactions reported in the literature retrieved with STRING8, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, and Pathway Studio. ConclusionsThe pathway-based approach identified a smoking-associated 6-gene signature that predicts lung cancer risk and survival. This gene signature has potential clinical implications in the diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer in smokers.
VM-26 and cytosine arabinoside combination chemotherapy for initial induction failures in childhood lymphocytic leukemia

Combination chemotherapy with VM-26 and ara-C was given to 14 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia who had not responded to initial treatment with prednisone, vincristine, daunomycin, and asparaginase. Nine of these patients had also received ara-C. At diagnosis, five children were classified as having standard prognostic features and nine as being at high risk for treatment failure. The drug combination was administered by vein twice a week for four weeks at dosages of 165 mg/m2 for VM-26 and 300 mg/m2 for araC. Nine complete remissions, five in patients with high-risk leukemia, were induced with acceptable toxicity; all 9 subsequently were given continuation therapy with oral mercaptopurine and methotrexate. Four of the 9 patients have relapsed at 2--21 months. All treatment was stopped in 2 patients after 30 months of complete remission. Combinations of VM-26 and ara-C represent an alternative remission induction treatment for patients who fail to attain initial remission with agents of established effectiveness. These agents may especially benefit patients with prognostic features indicating a high risk of treatment failure.