cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Being with others and feeling happy: Emotional expressivity in everyday life

An experience sampling study assessed the relation between psychological functioning in daily life and emotional expressivity as measured by the emotional expressivity scale (EES). Four hundred and twenty-nine participants carried personal digital assistants that signaled them 8 times daily to complete questionnaires assessing affect, activities, and social contact. As predicted, participants high in emotional expressivity were more likely to have elevated state positive affect, but not negative affect. These participants were also less likely to be alone and more likely to demonstrate better social functioning when with others. Cross-level interactions indicated that emotional expressivity moderated the association of social context and functioning in the moment. The findings support the validity of the EES as a measure of emotional expressivity and demonstrate the utility of experience sampling for describing personality traits in daily life.
On the energy-momentum tensor in gauge field theories

Abstract The energy-momentum tensor in spontaneously broken non-Abelian gauge field theories is studied. The motivation is to show that recent results on the finiteness and gauge independence of S -matrix elements in gauge theories extends to observable amplitudes for transitions in a gravitational field. Path integral methods and dimensional regularization are used throughout. Green's functions Γ μν ( j ) ( q ; p 1 ,…, p j ) involving the energy-momentum tensor and j particle fields are proved finite to all orders in perturbation theory to zero and first order in q , and finite to one loop order for general q . Amputated Green's functions of the energy momentum tensor are proved to be gauge independent on mass shell.
Models of partially open magnetospheres with and without magnetodisks

This paper presents a large class of analytic solutions describing partially open magnetic fields in static equilibrium outside a central object, which may be taken to be a planet or a star. The problem for a potential magnetic field is first treated in axisymmetric geometry, with an equatorial, stress-free electric current sheet whose presence results in part of the magnetic flux opening to infinity. The solutions can be linearly superposed to construct idealized models of the solar coronal magnetic field in a partially open configuration. These solutions are further developed to allow for stresses in the current sheet and three-dimensionality, in that order of complexity. The stresses can be balanced in equilibrium by introducing gravitational and centrifugal forces acting on dense matter confined in the electric current sheet. Explicit solutions are presented to illustrate magnetic topologies of magnetospheres having rotating and nonrotating magnetodisks. A simple physical illustration is given to estimate the total mass in the Jovian magnetodisk from the observed macroscopic parameters of the disk electric current. 21 references.
Reprint of: Renal and visceral protection in thoracoabdominal aortic surgery

Objectives Open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair traditionally carries substantial perioperative morbidity and mortality, primarily from distal aortic ischemia. Advances in surgical techniques, adjuncts, and strategies have greatly improved outcomes. Methods We analyzed outcomes of 1267 open consecutive TAAA repairs between January 2005 and September 2013. We provided cold crystalloid renal perfusion whenever the renal ostia were accessible; according to extent of repair, we selectively used left heart bypass and provided isothermic blood to the celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery. Repair was extensive (Crawford extent I and II) in 717 cases (57%). Left heart bypass was used in 645 (51%) cases, cold crystalloid renal perfusion in 987 (78%), and isothermic visceral perfusion in 318 (25%). Additional patient-specific surgical adjuncts included endarterectomy of renal or visceral vessels, open stent placement within these vessels, or use of both techniques; at least one was used in 447 repairs (35%). Results Thirty-day survival was 95% (1198/1267); overall operative mortality was 8% (104/1267). Acute renal dysfunction occurred in 155 (12%), renal failure requiring hemodialysis at hospital discharge in 84 (7%), and bowel ischemia in 9 ( Conclusions Contemporary protective strategies allow open TAAA repair with substantially fewer renal and visceral ischemic complications. Although bowel ischemia is uncommon, renal failure remains a concern, especially in extent II and extent III TAAA repairs. Additional studies are needed to identify and improve renal protection strategies.
Enzymatic oxidation of methane.

Methane monooxygenases (MMOs) are enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of methane to methanol in methanotrophic bacteria. As potential targets for new gas-to-liquid methane bioconversion processes, MMOs have attracted intense attention in recent years. There are two distinct types of MMO, a soluble, cytoplasmic MMO (sMMO) and a membrane-bound, particulate MMO (pMMO). Both oxidize methane at metal centers within a complex, multisubunit scaffold, but the structures, active sites, and chemical mechanisms are completely different. This Current Topic review article focuses on the overall architectures, active site structures, substrate reactivities, protein–protein interactions, and chemical mechanisms of both MMOs, with an emphasis on fundamental aspects. In addition, recent advances, including new details of interactions between the sMMO components, characterization of sMMO intermediates, and progress toward understanding the pMMO metal centers are highlighted. The work summarized here provides a guide for th...
THE VARIATION OF VEGETATION FROM PLACE TO PLACE

(1968). THE VARIATION OF VEGETATION FROM PLACE TO PLACE. The Professional Geographer: Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 107-111.
Stability of dystrophin STR fragments in relation to junction helicity

Abstract Dystrophin is a rod shaped protein consisting of amino- and carboxy-terminal binding domains linked by a large central rod composed of 24 homologous copies of the STR motif and 4 non-homologous regions termed hinges. These hinges are proposed to confer local flexibility; conversely, the tacit implication is that the STR regions away from the hinges are comparatively rigid. This, and the repeating nature of this rod, has contributed to the view that the STR region of the rod is uniform and monolithic. However, we have produced various 2 STR fragments, chosen to have high and low α-helix content at their junctions with each other, and show that they exhibit markedly different stabilities. In contrast to a related protein, spectrin, these differences are not correlated with the calculated helicity, but appear to be an intrinsic property of the motifs themselves. A full understanding of how these properties vary along the length of the rod has implications for the engineering of these rods regions in exon skipping and minidystrophin therapies.
A Martian analog in Kansas: Comparing Martian strata with Permian acid saline lake deposits

An important result of the Mars Exploration Rover’s (MER) mission has been the images of sedimentary structures and diagenetic features in the Burns Formation at Meridiani Planum. Bedding, cross-bedding, ripple marks, mud cracks, displacive evaporite crystal molds, and hematite concretions are contained in these Martian strata. Together, these features are evidence of past saline groundwater and ephemeral shallow surface waters on Mars. Geochemical analyses of these Martian outcrops have established the presence of sulfates, iron oxides, and jarosite, which strongly suggests that these waters were also acidic. The same assemblage of sedimentary structures and diagenetic features is found in the salt-bearing terrestrial red sandstones and shales of the middle Permian (ca. 270 Ma) Nippewalla Group of Kansas, which were deposited in and around acid saline ephemeral lakes. These striking sedimentological and mineralogical similarities make these Permian red beds and evaporites the best-known terrestrial analog for the Martian sedimentary rocks at Meridiani Planum.
Effect of X-ray Irradiation on the Chemical and Physical Properties of a Semifluorinated Self-Assembled Monolayer

The effect of X-ray irradiation on the chemical and physical properties of a semifluorinated self-assembled monolayer (CF-SAM) derived from 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol (CF3(CF2)7(CH2)2SH) adsorbed on gold and copper substrates was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. During the initial period of irradiation, the effects of electron-stimulated C−F, C−C, and S−X (X = Au, Cu) bond breaking are responsible for changes in the chemical composition of the CF-SAM. Furthermore, the evolution of the C(1s) X-ray photoelectron spectral region indicates that C−F rather than C−C bond cleavage dominates desorption within the CF-SAM. Except for fluorine desorption, irradiation-induced changes to the chemical and structural properties of the CF-SAM were most pronounced during the initial stages of irradiation, prior to the development of a highly cross-linked carbonaceous overlayer. X-ray irradiation of CF-SAMs adsorbed on Au also resulted in the production of new irradiation-induced sulfur species. A comp...
β-catenin gets jaded and von Hippel-Lindau is to blame

Numerous studies have pointed to interactions between the tumor suppressor von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) and the oncogenic Wnt–β-catenin signaling cascade; however, the mechanism of this crosstalk has remained elusive. Among other roles, VHL can promote the stabilization of Jade-1. Now, recent findings provide compelling evidence that Jade-1 ubiquitylates β-catenin, leading to its degradation. Thus, the loss of VHL, as seen in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, could lead to tumor formation through β-catenin de-repression.
Optical and chemical properties of aerosols transported to Mount Bachelor during spring 2010

[1] We report on springtime 2010 observations of aerosol optical properties and size-resolved elemental composition from Mount Bachelor Observatory (MBO; 2763 meters above sea level). Observations included multiwavelength aerosol scattering and absorption, made with a nephelometer and a particle soot absorption photometer, and size-resolved composition, made using a rotating DRUM impactor with substrates analyzed by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence. Our main tool for investigating variability in composition was empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. In April, dust and sulfate explained 96% of the variance in the observed fine composition and accounted for the majority of the fine mode scattering. Three coincident Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation overpasses also identified aerosol layers classified as dust or polluted dust over MBO. Later in the spring, we deduce that organics and nitrate comprised more than 50% of the submicrometer aerosol mass. We used the EOF analysis to identify systematic relationships between composition and optical properties. We observed dust accompanied by anthropogenic pollutants including sulfate. When present, dust aerosol controlled ∼30% of the variability in the wavelength dependence of fine mode scattering. Many of the samples containing sulfate had absorption Angstrom exponents near 1, suggesting black carbon was also present. Most of the sulfate was in the fine mode, but sulfate was also observed on coarse aerosols, and we inferred that much of the coarse sulfur was coated on the dust or had formed CaSO4 during transport. The relationships between Fe, Ca, Al, and Si observed at MBO were consistent with previous observations of Asian dust transported to North America.
Interval Newton/generalized bisection when there are singularities near roots

Interval Newton methods in conjunction with generalized bisection are important elemetns of algorithms which find theglobal optimum within a specified box X ⊂ ℝn of an objective function ϕ whose critical points are solutions to the system of nonlinear equationsF(X)=0with mathematical certainty, even in finite presision arithmetic. The overall efficiency of such a scheme depends on the power of the interval Newton method to reduce the widths of the coordinate intervals of the box. Thus, though the generalized bisection method will still converge in a box which contains a critical point at which the Jacobian matrix is singular, the process is much more costly in that case. Here, we propose modifications which make the generalized bisection method isolate singular solutions more efficiently. These modifications are based on an observation about the verification property of interval Newton methods and on techniques for detecting the singularity and removing the region containing it. The modifications assume no special structure forF. Additionally, one of the observations should also make the algorithm more efficient when finding nonsingular solutions. We present results of computational experiments.
Dimer-vacancy-dimer-vacancy interaction on the Si(001) surface: The nature of the 2 x n structure.

An increase of dimer vacancies on the Si(001)-2{times}1 surface after radiation quenching from high temperatures has been observed using STM. After further quenches, vacancies nucleate into chains running perpendicular to the dimer rows. These vacancy chains then connect and develop into vacancy lines (VL`s) that extend for many thousands of A. Each VL consists of mainly two types of dimer vacancies: a divacancy and the combination of a single vacancy and a divacancy separated by an isolated dimer. All the VL`s together with the dimer rows form a 2{times}{ital n} structure with 6{le}{ital n}{le}12. Calculations using the Stillinger-Weber potential have been performed to examine the ordering mechanism of dimer vacancies.
Shunted piezoelectrics for passive control of turbomachine blading flow-induced vibrations

The application of shunted piezoelectric elements to provide passive structural damping is investigated by means of a series of experiments performed in the Purdue Annular Cascade Research Facility. An array of piezoelectric elements is bonded to an airfoil in the stator row. This airfoil is excited in a chordwise bending mode by the wakes generated by an upstream rotor. As the wakes drive the airfoil vibrations, the piezoelectrics experience a strain and in response produce an electric field. Tuned electrical circuits connected to the piezoelectrics as shunts dissipate this electrical energy, with multiple shunting techniques utilized. This electrical energy dissipation and the corresponding reduction in the airfoil mechanical energy result in a reduction in the magnitude of the resonant vibrations.
Does coffee raise cholesterol

Asking whether coffee raises cholesterol invariably leads to conflicting answers. Some studies say that it does, some studies say that it doesn’t, while other studies say that it depends on what type of coffee you drink. Hopefully the following will help to clarify the confusion. Coffee is made from the seed of a cherry from an evergreen tree that grows in subtropical regions which lie along the equator between the tropic of Cancer and Capricorn, including Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Caribbean Islands, Indonesia and Latin America. The cherry contains two seeds, what we know as coffee beans. There are hundreds of different species of coffee, with Coffea arabica and Coffea robusta being the most common and commercially important. The Arabica plant grows at high altitudes (3000–6500 feet) mainly in the America’s and east Africa, and produces beans with a smooth and elegant flavor with slightly less caffeine than Robusta; a harder plant that grows in lower altitudes, mostly in west Africa and Asia, and produces beans with a harsher flavor.
Safety of exercise testing in the chest pain unit: 31-mm ST elevation in variant angina

We discuss a patient who presented with symptoms classic for variant angina with dramatic 31-mm ST elevation secondary to exercise testing in the chest pain unit, in whom neither myocardial infarction nor severe arrhythmia resulted. Although exercise testing is deemed generally safe, it has not been studied for safety per se in patients with variant angina. Further studies are needed to determine if the magnitude of ST elevation during exercise testing carries prognostic significance.
Applying role based access control and genetic algorithms to insider threat detection

An insider threat is caused by authorized users potentially performing unsanctioned or inappropriate actions that endanger the computer security of an organization. This paper describes a novel approach that employs the ideas of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to initiate role-action mapping rules in line with organization specific security policies. These rules can be refined by genetic algorithms (GAs) to identify discrepancies between user roles and processes.
K2 the changing role of test in semiconductor manufacturing

Test has traditionally played the role of arbiter of quality, determining as quickly as possible which devices “pass” and which are defective. However, as the gulf widens between IC design and manufacturing, and as manufacturing variability becomes more prevalent, test is being seen more as a source of valuable product data than as just a simple screening mechanism. In this talk we will examine some of the ways in which test is forming a stronger link between VLSI design and manufacturing.
Predictors of Children’s Subjective Well-Being in Rural Communities of the United States

This study examined children’s subjective well-being in a rural Midwestern United States sample of children (N = 1,286). Fifth grade (M age = 10.66, SD = .55, range 10–12 years) and 7th grade (M age = 12.63, SD = .55, range 12–14 years) children completed an adapted version of the previously tested Children’s Worlds survey, measuring children’s subjective well-being. Surveys included individual factors (age, gender, number of residences), contextual factors of home and family (home environment, family relationships, parent involvement), life and neighborhood (financial resources, life stress, neighborhood quality), school (teacher relationships, school climate, school satisfaction), and peers (peer relationships), and subjective well-being measures for life satisfaction, mental health, and self-image. Though children’s subjective well-being was predicted by a number of individual, home and family, life and neighborhood, school, and peer variables, the strongest predictors of child well-being were relationships, school, and gender (males had higher scores). The reliability of the regression models were assessed by bootstrap resampling. Results are discussed in the context of an ecological, relationship-based framework of child well-being.
Extending resist-etch-back planarization to 0.5-μm logic and ASIC circuits

This work demonstrates the extendability of a resist etch back (REB) planarization technique for use with 0.5 micrometers logic technologies. This new technique compensates for loading effects during etch back. It provides sufficient local and regional planarity for fine line patterning with i-line resists. The new REB planarization is characterized in terms of oxide thicknesses over packed and isolated lines and step heights over packed and isolated spaces. Results of the new process are compared to those of chemical-mechanical polishing in terms of metal serpentine resistances and shorts between interdigitated metal combs. The new process was integrated with collimated sputtered titanium and CVD tungsten providing high aspect ratio contacts and vias with low resistances. Sufficient photolithographic margins were obtained with REB. Together these processes meet the requirements for 0.5 micrometers logic integrated circuits with stacked vias and contacts with up to four levels of metal.
Selective Inhibition of USP7

The deubiquitinating enzyme USP7 is an emerging oncology and antiviral target. Reverdy et al., in this issue of Chemistry & Biology, disclose the first small-molecule inhibitor selective for USP7, which recapitulates its knockdown in cancer cells and hence demonstrates the therapeutic feasibility of USP7 inhibitors.
Neurophysiological indices of speech and nonspeech stimulus processing.

Auditory event-related potentials (mismatch negativity and P300) and behavioral discrimination were measured to synthetically generated consonant-vowel (CV) speech and nonspeech contrasts in 10 you...
PRESTEADY-STATE CURRENTS OF THE RABBIT NA+/GLUCOSE COTRANSPORTER (SGLT1)

The rabbit Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) exhibits a presteady-state current after step changes in membrane voltage in the absence of sugar. These currents reflect voltage-dependent processes involved in cotransport, and provide insight on the partial reactions of the transport cycle. SGLT1 presteady-state currents were studied as a function of external Na+, membrane voltage V m , phlorizin and temperature. Step changes in membrane voltage—from the holding V h to test values, elicited transient currents that rose rapidly to a peak (at 3–4 msec), before decaying to the steady state, with time constants τ≈4–20 msec, and were blocked by phlorizin (K i ≈30 μm). The total charge Q was equal for the application of the voltage pulse and the subsequent removal, and was a function of V m . The Q-V curves obeyed the Boltzmann relation: the maximal charge Q max was 4–120 nC; V 0.5, the voltage for 50% Q max was −5 to +30 mV; and z, the apparent valence of the moveable charge, was 1. Q max and z were independent of V h (between 0 and −100 mV) and temperature (20–30°C), while increasing temperature shifted V 0.5 towards more negative values. Decreasing [Na+] o decreased Q max, and shifted V 0.5 to more negative voltages 9by −100 mV per 10-fold decrease in [Na+] o ). The time constant τ was voltage dependent: the τ-V relations were bell-shaped, with maximal τmax 8–20 msec. Decreasing [Na+] o decreased τmax, and shifted the τ-V curves towards more negative voltages. Increasing temperature also shifted the τ-V curves, but did not affect τmax. The maximum temperature coefficient Q 10 for τ was 3–4, and corresponds to an activation energy of 25 kcal/mole. Simulations of a 6-state ordered kinetic model for rabbit Na+/glucose cotransport indicate that charge-movements are due to Na+-binding/dissociation and a conformational change of the empty transporter. The model predicts that (i) transient currents rise to a peak before decay to steady-state; (ii) the τ-V relations are bell-shaped, and shift towards more negative voltages as [Na+] o is reduced; (iii) τmax is decreased with decreasing [Na+] o ; and (iv) the Q-V relations are shifted towards negative voltages as [Na+] o is reduced. In general, the kinetic properties of the presteady-state currents are qualitatively predicted by the model.
Temperature and concentration behavior of anomalous microwave resonances in DNA.

We have calculated the expected absorption of microwave radiation in the gigaHertz frequency range by fixed-length DNA polymer molecules dissolved in saline solution. While the effects of counterions and solvent dynamics have been accounted for in detail, the features of the absorption are completely dominated by the interaction between the charged polymer and the so-called first hydration layer, that is, the nearest layer of solvent water molecules not actually bonded to the polymer. The relevant parameters of the interaction are the strength of the water-to-polymer coupling and the average persistence time of the individual water-to-polymer bonds. These are presumably hydrogen bonds to the oxygen atoms of the backbone phosphate structure. Using a given parameterization we can obtain the structured absorption corresponding to compressional wave phonon excitations on the polymer, organ pipe modes, such as have been claimed to be seen by Edwards, Davis, Swicord, and Saffer. While further studies have not confirmed these resonances, at some frequency and hydration these modes must become visible because of the high relaxation time measured by Lindsay, the existence of the resonances in relatively dry fibers and films of DNA, and the existence of underdamped modes in the ir spectrum of DNA in solution.more » We have examined the effects of varying salt concentration and the system temperature.« less
The power functions of the likelihood ratio tests for a simple tree ordering in normal means: unequal weights

Likelihood ratio tests are considered for two testing situations; testing for the homogeneity of k normal means against the alternative restricted by a simple tree ordering trend and testing the null hypothesis that the means satisfy the trend against all alternatives. Exact expressions are given for the power functions for k = 3 and 4 and unequal sample sizes, both for the case of known and unknown population variances, and approximations are discussed for larger k. Also, Bartholomew’s conjectures concerning minimal and maximal powers are investigated for the case of equal and unequal sample sizes. The power formulas are used to compute powers for a numerical example.
Morbidity and Mortality in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Undergoing Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Thirty-two patients with coronary artery disease who underwent liver transplantation between 1990 and 1994 were identified. Coronary artery disease was managed medically (n = 9), by angioplasty (n = 1), or surgically (n = 22) prior to liver transplantation. Two patients underwent simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting and liver transplantation. Complete preoperative cardiac evaluation was performed in all patients. Perioperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality were retrospectively determined. Overall mortality was 50%, whereas morbidity was 81%. Follow-up was between 1 and 3 years after liver transplantation. Subgroup analysis revealed that medically managed patients had a 56% mortality and a 100% morbidity. The patient who underwent angioplasty survived without morbidity. One patient who underwent simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting and liver transplantation died intraoperatively. The second patient survived but required pacemaker insertion and inotropic agents postoperatively. The 20 patients with prior coronary artery bypass grafting had a 50% mortality and 80% morbidity. Further, analysis by United Network for Organ Sharing functional status revealed a higher than expected mortality in all groups. The morbidity and mortality associated with liver transplantation is significantly increased in patients with coronary artery disease and is equally high in medically and surgically treated patients. By comparison, patients without coronary artery disease have a 3-year survival of 55.4% (status I) to 79.7% (status III and IV). The increased intraoperative and postoperative risk in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing liver transplantation should be considered when determining the candidacy of these patients as well as when providing informed consent.
Glutaric aciduria: biochemical and morphologic considerations.

Biochemical and morphologic studies on a patient with glutaric aciduria are presented. Generalized aminoaciduria, α-aminoadipic aciduria, and saccharopinuria were noted just prior to death, as well as glutaconic aciduria greater than β-hydroxyglutaric aciduria. Mutant liver mitochondria did not oxidize glutaryl-CoA to glutaconyl-CoA, indicating deficiency of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase. Autopsy revealed cerebral edema, ischemic neuronal changes, and striatal degeneration in the brain with fatty changes in liver, kidney, and myocardium.
Flow cytometry of low stage bladder tumors: Correlation with cytologic and cystoscopic diagnosis

Flow cytometry examinations (FCM) were carried out on 110 bladder irrigation specimens from 84 urologic outpatients who had had prior conservative treatment for low stage bladder tumors. The specimens were easily obtained, and adequately cellular in all cases. Of 60 examinations on patients with no cytoscopic abnormalities, FCM and conventional cytology were both negative in 30 and both positive in 12 instances; there were 18 with positive FCM and negative cytology. Of 15 instances with cystoscopically benign appearing papillary lesions, FCM and cytology were both negative in three and both positive in three cases; FCM was positive and cytology negative in nine. Of 35 instances with suspicious cystoscopic findings, FCM and cytology were both positive in 19 and both negative in four; FCM was positive and cytology negative in 12. There were no examples of positive conventional cytology and negative FCM. These findings indicate that, after conservative treatment of low stage tumors, FCM of bladder irrigation specimens may be a more sensitive measure of cytologic abnormalities than is conventional cytology. Specimen collection is feasible as part of the routine urologic examination in an outpatient clinic.
Locating facilities on the Manhattan metric with arbitrarily shaped barriers and convex forbidden regions

This paper considers two planar facility location problems while employing the Manhattan travel metric. We first consider the p-median problem in the presence of arbitrarily shaped barriers and convex forbidden regions. For this problem we establish that the search for an optimal solution can be restricted to a finite set of easily identifiable points. Next, we consider the stochastic queue median problem in the presence of arbitrarily shaped barriers. A procedure to obtain a global optimum solution for this problem is established. The results of the paper are illustrated via numerical examples. Finally, we comment on a connection between network location problems and planar location problems which use the Manhattan travel metric.
Management of small unilateral renal cell carcinomas: radical versus nephron-sparing surgery.

Abstract Objectives. There is controversy concerning the management of small unilateral renal cell carcinomas. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the relative efficacy of radial nephrectomy versus nephron-sparing surgery in such patients. Methods. Patients with a single, small (less than 4 cm), localized, unilateral, sporadic renal cell carcinoma (IRCC) were identified from an institutional registry. From 1975 to 1992, 88 patients fulfilling these criteria were treated with either radical nephrectomy (n = 42) or nephron-sparing surgery (n = 46). The mean postoperative follow-up interval is 48 ± 29 months. Results. The radical and nephron-sparing surgical groups were well matched for patient age, sex, renal function, diabetes, hypertension, tumor size, tumor location, and tumor stage. All patients in both groups had low pathologic stage RCC. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of the mean hospital stay, the requirement for blood transfusions, or the occurrence of surgical complications. There was no difference in the mean preoperative and postoperative serum creatinine levels for patients in the nephron-sparing surgery group. However, the mean postoperative serum creatinine levels were significantly higher than the mean preoperative levels for patients in the radical nephrectomy group (P Conclusions. Radical nephrectomy and nephron-sparing surgery each provide safe and effective curative treatment for patients with a single, small, unilateral localized RCC. The long-term renal functional advantage of nephron-sparing surgery in this setting is not established.
Coupled Fatigue Crack Initiation and Propagation Model Utilizing a Single Blunt Notch Compact Tension Specimen

Many power generation facilities equipped with turbomachinery are designed to provide electric energy on an as-needed basis and, as a consequence, impart a mixture of fatigue and creep damage to high-value components at elevated temperatures. Cracks are often initiated on free surfaces of these parts near stress-raising features and propagate under thermal-mechanical cycling until the component is removed from service. Whether the emphasis is on creep or fatigue failure, most conventional structural life prediction approaches decouple crack initiation from crack propagation. Turbine designers are in need of approaches that span the full life cycle of components in which both initiation and propagation are the consequences of a variety of mechanical failure modes. Although recent fracture mechanics methods have been developed to account for fatigue- and creep-crack growth, a tacit assumption is that a precrack exists. Another main limitation of these approaches is the small scale yielding assumption, associated with linear elastic fracture mechanics, in which extensive plasticity invalidates such analyses. In this study, utilizing a blunt notch compact tensile specimen, experimental routines involving crack initiation and propagation within a single specimen at elevated temperatures with plastic-inducing loads and hold periods were conducted. Founded on existing elastic and elastic-plastic fracture mechanics (EPFM), a coupled crack initiation and propagation model is presented. Through the use of the EPFM parameter J, the proposed models are observed to accurately predict crack initiation and replicate crack propagation rates based on the imposed experimental conditions. The model is demonstrated on an austenitic stainless steel, type 304, subjected to moderate temperatures in air. Mechanical testing, metallurgical analysis, and analytical modeling allow for a simplified phenomenological life prediction model capable of predicting crack initiation and propagation at elevated temperatures. Consequently, structural analysis of critical locations of components can span the gamut of crack initiation, crack growth, and instability (i.e., total life assessment).
The organization and financing of graduate medical education in Canada.

IN THE mid-1970s, US government officials and other health policymakers began expressing concerns about the impact of physician maldistribution, both by specialty and by location, on the provision of medical care. 1-3 Government committees were established to study the problem and determine how the organization and financing of the nation's graduate medical education (GME) system was a contributing factor. 4,5 Stimulated by the government's interest, professional organizations and foundations sponsored independent studies of the relation between physicians' choice of specialty and location and the organization of GME. In general, these groups concluded that the policymakers' concerns were legitimate and the imbalances could not be effectively redressed without changing the way GME is organized and financed. 6-8 Although many in the medical profession agree that the policymakers' concerns are legitimate, there is still no concensus within the profession as to how the GME system should be reformed to improve physician specialty
Astrovirus, reovirus, and rotavirus concomitant infection causes decreased weight gain in broad-breasted white poults.

Abstract Turkey astrovirus type-2 (TAstV-2), turkey rotavirus (TRotV), and turkey reovirus (TReoV) have been implicated as possible causes of enteric diseases and poor production in turkeys; however, numerous studies with each individual virus have failed to reproduce the disease as observed in the field. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the pathogenesis of all possible combinations of one, two, or three viruses in comparison to sham inoculates in 3-day-old turkey poults. Body weights were recorded at 2, 4, 7, 10, and 14 days postinoculation (PI) and were decreased in virus-infected turkeys throughout the experiment as compared to sham inoculates. Although not significantly different from the other virus-exposed groups, the poults exposed to all three viruses had the lowest body weights throughout the experiment. Clinical signs, including huddling, diarrhea, and agitation, were only observed in groups exposed to TAstV-2 and/or TRotV. At 4 days PI, birds from each treatment group were necropsied, and ...
β-Radiation to Reduce Restenosis Too Little, Too Soon?

With almost 1 million procedures undertaken worldwide each year, coronary angioplasty is flourishing. This elegant technique, however, continues to be plagued by a restenosis rate of 30% to 60%.1 Efforts to reduce restenosis have been herculean. Literally, scores of pharmaceutical agents have been tested in clinical trials.2 3 4 Despite initial promising results in experiments with animals, each clinical trial has been a disappointment. Coronary stents stand alone as the only intervention that has been proved to decrease restenosis. In the STRESS and BENESTENT trials, the implantation of a single Palmaz-Schatz coronary stent was associated with a 30% reduction in restenosis rates.5 6 The impact of stents on restenosis, however, is purely mechanical.7 8 Stent implantation expands the vessel lumen further than the use of balloon angioplasty alone. This larger lumen creates more space for the still ubiquitous intimal proliferation. Stents do not diminish the cellular response to injury. In fact, the proliferative response, as measured on the basis of late loss after the procedure, is actually increased by the use of stents. Stents decrease restenosis by simply increasing the capacity of the artery to tolerate intimal proliferation. Despite extensive clinical testing, no agent has been shown to inhibit the proliferative component of restenosis. Radiotherapy is the latest in a long line of potential antiproliferative agents to be enthusiastically tested as an adjunct to angioplasty. There is much to recommend the use of radiotherapy in the fight against restenosis. In more than 100 years of clinical experience, radiotherapy has proved to be highly effective in inhibiting cellular proliferation, in both malignant and benign disease. Examples of benign hyperplastic entities that have been effectively treated with radiotherapy include the exuberant fibroblastic activity of keloid scar formation, heterotopic ossification, desmoid/aggressive fibromatosis, Peyronie's disease, and pterygium.9 10 11 …
Methodology for Managing the Effect of Uncertainty in Simulation-Based Design

Simulation-based design has become an inherent part of multidisciplinary design as simulation tools provide designers with a e exible and computationally efe cient means to explore the interrelationships among various disciplines. Complicationsarisewhen thesimulation programsmay havedeviationsassociated with inputparameters (external uncertainties ), as well as internal uncertainties due to the inaccuracies of the simulation tools or system models. Theseuncertainties will have a great ine uenceon design negotiationsbetween variousdisciplines and may force designers to make conservative decisions. An integrated methodology for propagating and mitigating the effect of uncertainties is proposed. Two approaches, namely, the extreme condition approach and the statistical approach, are developed to propagate the effect of uncertainties across a design system comprising interrelated subsystem analyses. Using the extreme condition approach, an interval of the output from a chain of simulations is obtained, whereas the statistical approach provides statistical estimates of the output. An uncertainty mitigation strategy based on the principles of robust design is proposed. The methodology is presented using an illustrative simulation chain and is verie ed using the case study of a six-link function-generator linkage design.
The S-n-propyl analogue of S-adenosylmethionine

A special strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae responded to a supplement of S-n-propyl-L-homocysteine in the culture medium by synthesizing S-adenosyl-(S-n-propyl)L-homocysteine, the S-n-propyl analogue of S-adenosylmethionine. S-n-Butyl-L-homocysteine reacted sparingly with this strain, but S-isopropyl-L-homocysteine failed to form detectable quantities of the corresponding S-adenosylsulfonium compound. The S-n-propyl compound was isolated by extraction of the cells, followed by ion-exchange chromatography, which separated it from endogenous S-adenosylmethionine. The structure was determined by hydrolytic procedures leading to overlapping fragments of known structure, 5'-n-propylthioadenosine and S-n-propyl-L-homocysteine. The new sulfonium compound was examined for its activity as n-propyl donor by substituting it for S-adenosylmethionine in methyltransferase systems. Enzymatic transpropylation was observed with S-adenosylmethionine : L-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.10). Its rate was low in the S-adenosylmethionine : N-acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase system (EC 2.1.1.4), and below recognition with S-adenosylmethionine : guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.2) and S-adenosylmethionine : histamine N-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.8).
Development of charge in low conductivity liquids flowing past surfaces: A theory of the phenomenon in tubes

Abstract The phenomenon of charge generation in low conductivity liquids as they flow past surfaces is described. A brief review and critique of theories previously proposed to explain the observations is given. A new, general formulation which may be particularized to specific situations is developed for the phenomenon in tubes. The equations developed are solved for the special case of uniform velocity profile and the solution is compared with previous theories. It is shown to be the same as the solution for very low conductivity and agrees in form with reported experimental observations. Several predictions are able to be made for higher conductivities from the equations, and these are shown to agree with observation.
Effect of glycerol and intracarotid phenoxybenzamine on cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Abstract The effect of glycerol and phenoxybenzamine on cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism was studied in monkeys in which subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) had been induced 24–48 hr earlier. Intravenous infusion of 10% glycerol caused a temporary increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in spite of a progressive decrease in intracranial pressure. Intracarotid injection of phenoxybenzamine caused a significant decrease in MABP, but CBF and CMR O 2 increased. When MABP was increased slightly by intravenous infusion of saline, CBF and CMR O 2 increased significantly. The value of phenoxybenzamine in alleviating arterial spasm in patients with SAH due to ruptured aneurysm is discussed, and the importance of the sympathetic nervous system in the production of cerebral arterial spasm is described.
Estimating reference ranges from stratified two-stage samples

We present methodology for estimating age-specific reference ranges by using data from two-stage samples. On the basis of the information obtained in the first stage, the initial sample is stratified and random subsamples are drawn from each stratum, where the selection probabilities in this second-stage sampling may be different across strata in the population. The variable for which the reference ranges are to be established is measured at the second phase. The approach involves maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of the age-specific distributions and separate estimation of the population stratum probabilities. These are combined to yield estimates of the quantiles of interest. The issue of variance estimation for the estimated quantiles is also addressed. The methodology is applied to the estimation of reference ranges for a cognitive test score in a study of non-demented older Japanese-Americans.
Ultra wide band impulse switching protocols for event and target tracking applications

This paper presents a novel energy-efficient pulse switching protocol for ultra light-weight wireless network applications. The key idea is to abstract a single pulse, as opposed to multi-bit packets, as the information exchange mechanism. Pulse switching is shown to be sufficient for event and target tracking applications with binary sensing. Target tracking with conventional packet transport can be prohibitively energy-inefficient due to the communication, processing, and buffering overheads of the large number of bits within a packet's data, header, and preambles. The paper presents a joint MAC and Routing architecture for pulse switching with a novel hop-angular event localization. Through analytical modeling and simulation experiments, it is shown that pulse switching can be an effective means for event based networking, which can potentially replace the packet transport when the information to be transported is binary in nature.
Adaptive Mutations Producing Efficient Replication of Genotype 1a Hepatitis C Virus RNA in Normal Huh7 Cells

Despite recent successes in generating subgenomic RNA replicons derived from genotype 1b strains of hepatitis C virus (HCV) that replicate efficiently in cultured cells, it has proven difficult to generate efficiently replicating RNAs from any other genotype of HCV. This includes genotype 1a, even though it is closely related to genotype 1b. We show here that an important restriction to replication of the genotype 1a H77c strain RNA in normal Huh7 cells resides within the amino-terminal 75 residues of the NS3 protease. We identified adaptive mutations located within this NS3 domain and within NS4A, in close proximity to the essential protease cofactor sequence, that act cooperative to substantially enhance the replication of this genotype 1a RNA in Huh7 cells. These and additional adaptive mutations, identified through a series of iterative transfections and the selection of G418-resistant cell clones, form two groups associating with distinct nonstructural protein domains: the NS3/4A protease and NS5A. A combination of mutations from both groups led to robust replication of otherwise unmodified H77c genomic RNA that was readily detectable by northern analysis within 4 days of transfection into Huh7 cells. We speculate that these adaptive mutations favorably influence assembly of the replicase complex with host cell-specific proteins, or alternatively promote interactions of NS3/4A and/or NS5A with cellular proteins involved in host cell antiviral defenses.
Three-dimensional imaging and reconstruction of skin lesions.

Abstract An optical instrument called a “nevoscope” is used to image skin lesions by transillumination with visible light. The lesion is transilluminated by a' fiber-optic annular ring light source that directs light into the skin area surrounding the lesion, forming a virtual source just beneath the lesion. Mirrors uniformly spaced around the lesion and tilted at various angles provide orthographic projections of the skin lesion. Additional views are obtained by rotating the mirror assembly. These multiple views are used in a direct three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the lesion using a filtered backprojection method. In this paper, we discuss the methodology of direct 3D reconstruction from 2D views of a transilluminated skin lesion as obtained using the new prototype nevoscope. We present the results of direct 3D reconstruction of a simulated phantom and a test object imaged using the nevoscope. In addition, a skin lesion was scanned in situ using the new prototype nevoscope. Results of the reconstruction of this lesion are also presented.
Communicating at the End of Life: Finding Magic in the Mundane

As humans, we will inevitably confront our own mortality and the mortality of those we know and love. Death is a part of life, but it can provoke feelings of uncertainty, loss, discomfort, and fear...
Collectivities as Actors: Consistency of Collective Choices

This article concerns the nature of “collective” preferences, when preferences inhere only in individuals. Economists (e.g., Arrow) have concluded that there is no reasonable way to combine individual preferences. Nevertheless, sociologists routinely treat collectivities (e.g., small groups, organizations, social classes, or ethnic groups) as entities with consistent preferences. This article suggests that consistency of collective choices arises from the social context. Specifically, many collective choices are matters of “judgment,” rather than matters of purely personal “preference.” In matters of judgment, natural groups tend to have shared standards that are used by individuals in determining their own preferences. Under such conditions, even when many individuals “get it wrong,” the group majorities tend to “get it right.” Social philosophers have suggested that when individuals attend to the public good, group majorities tend to accurately reflect the collective interest (Durkheim's “collective con...