cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Pregnancy Termination in Early Onset Severe Preeclampsia on Maternal and Neonatal Prognosis

Objective: To investigate the effect of pregnancy termination in early onset severe preeclampsia on the perinatal out-comes,and to provide guidance for clinical practice.Methods: 135 severe pre-eclampsia patients who gave birth in our hospital from January 2008 to December 2010 were selected in the study.All patients were divided into two groups according to pregnancy termination times,group A 32 weeks,and 32 weeks ≤ group B ≤ 34 weeks.Compare the blood pressure,urine protein level,thrombocyte,eyeground changes and fetus monitor.Results: The incidence of placental abruption,eclampsia,and renal dysfunction were slightly higher in group A than group B,however,there was no significant difference(P 0.05).The incidence of asphyxia,neonatal respiratory distress syn-drome,perinatal mortality were significantly higher in group A than in group B,and the chi-square test showed the difference was signifi-cant(P 0.05).Conclusion: The time and ways for termination of pregnancy should be chosen based on the patient's condition.The moth-er and child situation should be considered whenever to terminate the pregnancy.Close monitoring was necessary to get a good outcome.
The Joy of Passion - Finding Your Calling

This is the story of how two college professors overcame life and career obstacles to reach career fulfillment in academia. These obstacles included: career disillusionment, career frustration and failure, and even dropping out of high school. The moral of the story is that one can make a good living and still enjoy what he does.
Computational Geology 13 – Geological-Mathematical Activities for College Students in the Journal of Geoscience Education, 1990–1999

(2000). Computational Geology 13 – Geological-Mathematical Activities for College Students in the Journal of Geoscience Education, 1990–1999. Journal of Geoscience Education: Vol. 48, No. 5, pp. 682-691.
Psychological Distress Mediates the Effect of Alexithymia on 2-Year Change in HIV Viral Load

Individuals with trait alexithymia (AL) display poor cognitive assimilation of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This may result in the persistence of stress, anxiety, and depressive disorders. The cumulative effect of this psychological distress is also linked clinical markers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression. This study examines the indirect effect of AL on HIV viral load as a function of baseline levels and change in psychological distress. N = 123 HIV positive adults aged 37.9 ± 9.2 years provided blood samples for HIV-1 viral RNA and CD4 T lymphocytes along with self-reported stress, anxiety, and depression every 6 months for 2 years. A second-order conditional latent growth model was used to represent baseline and 2-year change in cumulative levels of psychological distress and to test the indirect effect of baseline levels of trait AL on change in HIV-1 viral load through this latent measure. AL was associated with baseline and latent change in psychological distress. Furthermore, baseline psychological distress predicted 2-year change in HIV-1 viral RNA after controlling for viral load at baseline. Altogether, trait AL had a significant indirect effect on change in viral load (β = 0.16, p = 0.03) as a function of baseline levels of distress. Identification and communication of thoughts, feelings, and emotions are important for long-term psychological adaptation in HIV. Greater psychological distress, in turn, allows for persistence of peripheral viral replication.
A simple and robust way towards reversible mechanochromism: Using liquid crystal elastomer as a mask

Abstract Mechanochromism is color change of a material induced by external force. Recently, it has been intensively studied for its potential applications in biomimetic camouflage devices and strain sensors. In this article, we developed a simple and robust way to fabricate reversible mechanochromic trilayer system using liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) and transparent elastomers. Subjected to mechanical stretch, an opaque polydomain LCE can transform to transparent monodomain, which is used as a mask to block (without stretch) or show (with stretch) the color patterns painted on an elastomeric layer attached underneath. In this article we also demonstrated the visualization of heterogeneous strain field in the developed mechanochromic system.
Regeneration of Synapses

New synapses form readily following injury in many parts of the peripheral and central nervous system; a smaller number of new synapses may also form throughout life in uninjured animals. The sites at which new synapses form, their maturation, and their fate are all regulated by an exchange of morphogenetically important information between pre- and post-synaptic partners. Factors already known to participate in this exchange at the skeletal neuromuscular junction are activity, soluble “trophic” agents, components of the extracellular matrix, and products of nerve degeneration.
Life and Death of Industrial Ecosystems

Self-organized industrial ecosystems (SOIEs) refer to communities of firms in diverse industries that spontaneously engage in Industrial Symbiosis (IS); that is, firms independently develop bilateral and multi-lateral interactions involving material, energy, and knowledge sharing for individual and collective benefit. Like biological ecosystems, self-organized industrial ecosystems must constantly respond to external perturbations. Resilience of SOIEs, or the ability of systems to maintain structure and function in response to perturbations, has been the focus of a few recent studies. However, these studies have only examined the network characteristics for resilience of IS in a static manner. The current study contributes to this emerging literature by examining the dynamics associated with growth (life) and demise (death) of self-organized industrial ecosystems in light of changing network dynamics and external perturbations, with emphasis on material and socio-economic aspects of connectivity between firms. This research is grounded in real world cases, but expands beyond these through hypothetical network models in order to ascertain the network characteristics that lead to more resilient structures and outcomes. A key distinction is made between SOIEs that include an anchor firm versus scavenger firms. The former typically involve a scale-free network structure where new member firms preferentially connect to actors with the most connections, while the latter involve more random, fully-connected networks where new member firms connect with multiple existing actors. The results imply that resilience of SOIEs do not arise from intrinsic properties of the system alone, but from the interplay of network topology with external social and ecological constraints.
Parasagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx in Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK: Outcome of repaired fractures in 113 cases (2007–2011)

Background Thirty years have elapsed since the last published review of outcome following fracture of the proximal phalanx in Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK and contemporary results are needed to be able to advise of expected outcome. Objectives Collect and analyse outcome data following repair of fractures of the proximal phalanx in Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK. Study design Retrospective case series. Methods Case records of all Thoroughbred racehorses admitted to Newmarket Equine Hospital for evaluation of a parasagittal fracture of the proximal phalanx during a 5 years period were reviewed. Follow-up data regarding racing careers was collected for horses that underwent repair. Following exclusion of outliers, cases with incomplete data sets and comminuted fractures, mixed effect logistic regression was used to identify variables affecting returning to racing and odds ratios and confidence intervals calculated. Results Of 113 repaired cases, fracture configurations included short incomplete parasagittal (n = 12), long incomplete parasagittal (n = 86), complete parasagittal (n = 12) and comminuted (n = 3). A total of 54 (48%) cases raced after surgery. Horses that fractured at 2 years of age had increased odds of racing following surgery than those older than 2 years of age (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.13-1.59, P = 0.002). Horses sustaining short incomplete parasagittal fractures had increased odds of racing following surgery compared with those with complete parasagittal fractures (OR 2.62; 95% CI 1.36-5.07, P = 0.006). No horses with comminuted fractures returned to racing. Main limitations Data are relevant only to Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK. Conclusions Approximately half of the cases in this series raced following surgical repair. More 2-year-old horses raced following surgery, but this likely reflects horses, specifically older horses, passing out of training from unrelated factors. Fracture configuration affects odds of racing, which is relevant to owners when deciding on treatment.
Injection of Soluble Collagen for Cosmetic Defects

Implantation of collagen is a useful means of correcting contour defects in selected patients. Proper injection technique, careful pretreatment testing, and reasonable goals for achievement and maintenance of correction are critical to successful treatment.
Tamoxifen and Raloxifene Head to Head: The STAR Trial

The toxicological concern with the potential of tamoxifen to increase the incidence of endometrial cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma mandated a new approach to chemoprevention. The SERM raloxifene does not have the toxicological concern of tamoxifen and is approved for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis but at the same time reduces breast cancer incidence. The Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) demonstrated that the two SERMs were equivalent in reducing breast cancer incidence but raloxifene had a better safety profile. However, tamoxifen can reduce breast cancer incidence during therapy for 5 years, and this is maintained for at least a decade after treatment. In contrast, raloxifene must be given continuously.
Antimicrobials for Biological Warfare Agents

Biological warfare (BW) agents also cause natural human or animal diseases. The natural forms of these agents can often be treated successfully by using specific antimicrobial agents (for example, see Table 1 and Table 2). In many cases, the antimicrobial susceptibilities and perhaps the most efficacious therapy of the resultant infections are well-documented in the scientific literature. For some agents, however, natural susceptibilities and treatments are poorly documented, as is the case for human glanders. And although the development of antimicrobial resistance is a major concern, even for naturally acquired disease, it is far more of a concern for infectious agents developed as biological warfare agents, as recent advances in genetic engineering make intentional production of multiple antibiotic-resistant strains achievable at the microbiology graduate student level.
Exploring How African American Males from an Urban Community Navigate the Interracial and Intra-Racial Dimensions of Their Experiences at an Urban Jesuit High School.

African American males from urban communities have been attending Jesuit high schools in urban spaces for many years, yet little to no literature exists that explores their experiences while attending these elite private schools. This qualitative study of 10 African American males from an urban community attending a similarly positioned Jesuit high school on the East Coast revealed their struggles with both interand intra-racial dimensions of their experiences. This paper explores their challenges with racist comments within the interracial context and their understandings of ‘acting White’ within the intra-racial context.
Chapter 8 – Calcitonin

Publisher Summary Calcitonin is produced by the C (or calcitonin-producing) cells of the thyroid gland. The active principle was subsequently shown to be a 32 amino acid peptide, released in response to an increase in the plasma calcium concentration. The calcitonin gene family includes at least four separate genes. The first (CALC I or CGRP a) encodes calcitonin and a second peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Primary RNA transcript of second gene is processed to produce only CGRPb. The third is a pseudogene and is not expressed. The fourth encodes the peptide, amylin. Based on primary structure, the CTs can be divided into three groups: artiodactyl, including porcine, bovine, and ovine, which differ by four amino acids; primate/rodent, including human and rat calcitonins, which differ by two amino acids; and teleost/avian, including salmon, eel, goldfish, and chicken calcitonins, which differ by three amino acids. Calcitonin secretion is regulated by the extracellular calcium concentration. Increasing the extracellular calcium concentration results in increased secretion of CT. This effect is mediated by the interaction of calcium with the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR), a G-protein-coupled receptor expressed in high levels on the thyroidal C cell. In contrast to the parathyroid cell, where increasing calcium concentration activates the CaR and links to pathways that inhibit parathyroid hormone secretion, activation of this same receptor in the C cell causes increased secretion of CT. Calcitonin and its related peptides (CGRPa, CGRPb amylin, and adrenomedullin) are small peptides that exert their biological effect by binding to and activating a family of G-protein-coupled receptors. This receptor is expressed on osteoclasts, renal tubular cells, neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system, and other cell types. Several different isoforms of the CT receptor are produced by alternative RNA processing, which couple differently to downstream transduction pathways.
Redefining the Pedagogy: Service-Learning in Libraries and Archives

Service-learning has become an established pedagogy in higher education classrooms. With a push in recent years to offer classroom experiences that offer more than static lectures, service-learning incorporates three main elements into its model; experiential learning, contribution to the community, and reflection which merges theory with practice for a unique learning experience. Service-learning can also be found in early models of library science education. This article will highlight service-learning projects in both libraries and archives that used innovative methods to create partnerships in the community. It will also argue that both libraries and archives should not be overlooked when considering these projects and can be valuable resources for successful service-learning partnerships.
Patient Flow Analysis Using Real-Time Locating System Data: A Case Study in an Outpatient Oncology Center.

PURPOSE:Electronic health records (EHRs) have been mainly used to analyze bottlenecks in care processes of outpatient oncology clinics. However, EHR data lead to some limitations in understanding p...
Empirical Local Hazard Models for Bolide Explosions

AbstractBolide explosions are a natural hazard associated with meteoroids or asteroids entering Earth’s atmosphere. Existing hazard models for predicting the frequencies, return periods, and occurr...
Code Division Multiple Access Wireless Power Transfer for Energy Sharing in Heterogenous Robot Swarms

Energy is one of the key enablers for robotic swarms. The feasibility of heterogeneous swarms to perform complex missions depends upon the energy stored in the robot batteries. Allowing multiple access energy transfer (MAET) in robot swarms provides more flexibility to accomodate uncertain missions. In this paper, we present a MAET solution for heterogeneous swarms using code division multiple access wireless power transfer (CDMA-WPT). CDMA-WPT allows robots in heterogeneous swarms to exchange energy while in motion, allows faster charging rates by enabling multiple robots to exchange energy, is easily scalable, offers power flow selectivity to enable energy encryption, and does not require a centralized controller. The encoding scheme, power flow model, and code construction algorithm for a particular implementation of CDMA-WPT is presented. The proof of concept is verified using a hardware implementation for a heterogeneous swarm of four robots. Finally, the application of CDMA-WPT to a heterogeneous swarm with 30 robots is presented.
Imaging Acoustic Waves by Microwave Microscopy: Microwave Impedance Microscopy for Visualizing Gigahertz Acoustic Waves

Atoms in all materials are constantly shaking, which is largely responsible for the transfer of heat and sound. In a uniform crystalline solid, the motion of the lattice can be decomposed into just a handful of normal modes of vibration or, in the language of quantum mechanics, a set of quantized eigenmodes of the elastic structure known as phonons [1]. In the frequency ( f ) regime of interest for microwave engineers, there exist three (one longitudinal, two shear) branches of vibrational modes with long wavelengths-"long" when compared with the atomic spacing. Their frequencies, which represent the energy of each quantum, are linearly proportional to the inverse wavelengths, which represent the momentum of each quantum. The ratio between the two is typically several kilometers per second. In good crystals with few imperfections, these vibrations travel a very long distance-"long" when compared with the wavelength-with little decay of the amplitude under the ambient temperature and pressure. At audio frequencies, these sound waves can propagate in solids. They are commonly known as acoustic waves (see "Nomenclature Used Throughout").
Monitoring Ravulizumab effect on complement assays.

Abstract Ravulizumab is a new C5 inhibitor therapeutic monoclonal antibody with a longer half-life than eculizumab. Monitoring complete complement blockade by eculizumab has allowed personalized therapy in specific settings. Similar action is expected with ravulizumab. Ravulizumab has 4 different amino acids from eculizumab, which allow greater affinity for the FcRn immunoglobulin receptor and change the affinity of the molecule for C5. Here we investigate if clinical lab tests traditionally used to monitor complement blockade for eculizumab are appropriate for monitoring complement blockade caused by ravulizumab. De-identified serum samples with known normal complement activity were spiked with increasing amounts of ravulizumab, from zero to 1000 μg/mL. Measurement of classical pathway function (CH50) and C5 function using a liposome method (Wako Diagnostics) showed >50% complement inhibition starting with 50 μg/mL of ravulizumab, but inhibition >95% of complement activity was not achieved, with residual measurements of 11% at 700 μg/mL. In contrast, measurement of alternative pathway function using an ELISA (AH50, Wieslab) showed alternative pathway function inhibition of 80% at 50 μg/mL of ravulizumab and > 95% at 200 μg/mL, which is consistent with expected therapeutic concentrations of ravulizumab >175 μg/mL. If replicated in patient sera, AH50 could be a suitable therapeutic monitoring tool.
A Framework for Ethics in Cyber-Physical-Human Systems

Abstract This paper proposes a conceptual framework for consideration of ethical issues in the emerging category of smart cyber-physical systems. Cyber-physical systems (CPS) that bring together controls, communications, computing, and physical systems are being developed in a wide variety of application domains ranging from transportation, energy, and manufacturing, to biomedical and agriculture. Smart CPS are already being and will increasingly be deployed to work with humans, in workplaces, homes, or public spaces, resulting in the creation of cyber-physical human systems (CPHS). Ethical issues in smart CPS and CPHS can be examined within the larger frameworks of ethics of technology and ethics of artificial intelligence. We begin with a description of trends and visions for the future development of smart CPS. We next outline fundamental theories of ethics that offer foundations for thinking about ethical issues in smart CPHS. We argue that it is necessary to fight the tendency toward technological determinism. We argue that in analyzing ethics of smart CPHS, we need to anticipate increasing capabilities and the future deployment of such systems. Ultimately, if these systems are widely deployed in society, they will have a very significant impact, including possible negative consequences, on individuals, communities, nations, and the world. Our framework has two main dimensions: (i) stage of development of CPHS domain from early stage research to mature technologies; and (ii) locus of decision making: individual, corporate, and government settings. We illustrate the framework with some specific examples.
Effect of Overpressure on Acoustic Emissions and Treated Tissue Histology in ex Vivo Bulk Ultrasound Ablation.

Abstract Bulk ultrasound ablation is a thermal therapy approach in which tissue is heated by unfocused or weakly focused sonication (average intensities on the order of 100 W/cm2) to achieve coagulative necrosis within a few minutes exposure time. Assessing the role of bubble activity, including acoustic cavitation and tissue vaporization, in bulk ultrasound ablation may help in making bulk ultrasound ablation safer and more effective for clinical applications. Here, two series of ex vivo ablation trials were conducted to investigate the role of bubble activity and tissue vaporization in bulk ultrasound ablation. Fresh bovine liver tissue was ablated with unfocused, continuous-wave ultrasound using ultrasound image-ablate arrays sonicating at 31 W/cm2 (0.9 MPa amplitude) for either 20 min at a frequency of 3.1 MHz or 10 min at 4.8 MHz. Tissue specimens were maintained at a static overpressure of either 0.52 or 1.2 MPa to suppress bubble activity and tissue vaporization or at atmospheric pressure for control groups. A passive cavitation detector was used to record subharmonic (1.55 or 2.4 MHz), broadband (1.2–1.5 MHz) and low-frequency (5–20 kHz) acoustic emissions. Treated tissue was stained with 2% triphenyl tetrazolium chloride to evaluate thermal lesion dimensions. Subharmonic emissions were significantly reduced in overpressure groups compared with control groups. Correlations observed between acoustic emissions and lesion dimensions were significant and positive for the 3.1-MHz series, but significant and negative for the 4.8-MHz series. The results indicate that for bulk ultrasound ablation, where both acoustic cavitation and tissue vaporization are possible, bubble activity can enhance ablation in the absence of tissue vaporization, but can reduce thermal lesion dimensions in the presence of vaporization.
Outcome and Immune Correlates of a Phase II Trial of High-Dose Interleukin-2 and Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Purpose: This phase II clinical trial evaluated whether the addition of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SAbR), which may promote tumor antigen presentation, improves the overall response rate (ORR) to high-dose IL2 (HD IL2) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Patients and Methods: Patients with pathologic evidence of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and radiographic evidence of metastasis were enrolled in this single-arm trial and were treated with SAbR, followed by HD IL2. ORR was assessed based on nonirradiated metastases. Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), toxicity, and treatment-related tumor-specific immune response. Correlative studies involved whole-exome and transcriptome sequencing, T-cell receptor sequencing, cytokine analysis, and mass cytometry on patient samples. Results: Thirty ethnically diverse mRCC patients were enrolled. A median of two metastases were treated with SAbR. Among 25 patients evaluable by RECIST v1.1, ORR was 16% with 8% complete responses. Median OS was 37 months. Treatment-related adverse events (AE) included 22 grade ≥3 events that were not dissimilar from HD IL2 alone. There were no grade 5 AEs. A correlation was observed between SAbR to lung metastases and improved PFS (P = 0.0165). Clinical benefit correlated with frameshift mutational load, mast cell tumor infiltration, decreased circulating tumor-associated T-cell clones, and T-cell clonal expansion. Higher regulatory/CD8+ T-cell ratios at baseline in the tumor and periphery correlated with no clinical benefit. Conclusions: Adding SAbR did not improve the response rate to HD IL2 in patients with mRCC in this study. Tissue analyses suggest a possible correlation between frameshift mutation load as well as tumor immune infiltrates and clinical outcomes.
Efficient Electrochemical CO2 Conversion Powered by Renewable Energy

The catalytic conversion of CO2 into industrially relevant chemicals is one strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Along these lines, electrochemical CO2 conversion technologies are attractive because they can operate with high reaction rates at ambient conditions. However, electrochemical systems require electricity, and CO2 conversion processes must integrate with carbon-free, renewable-energy sources to be viable on larger scales. We utilize Au25 nanoclusters as renewably powered CO2 conversion electrocatalysts with CO2 → CO reaction rates between 400 and 800 L of CO2 per gram of catalytic metal per hour and product selectivities between 80 and 95%. These performance metrics correspond to conversion rates approaching 0.8–1.6 kg of CO2 per gram of catalytic metal per hour. We also present data showing CO2 conversion rates and product selectivity strongly depend on catalyst loading. Optimized systems demonstrate stable operation and reaction turnover numbers (TONs) approaching 6 × 106 molCO2 m...
Geometry of Smooth Bol and Moufang Loops

The aim of this Chapter is to prove that any local Ck smooth (k ≥ 3) Bol loop can be considered as a geodesic loop of a certain affinely connected manifold with zero curvature (with absolute parallelism). Further, the techniques of differential geometry is used to prove the main structure theorem in the theory of local analytic Bol loops. the affine connection in the question is a generalization of the Cartan connection with zero curvature on Lie groups.
POSTCRACKING COMPLIANCE ANALYSIS OF RC BEAMS

An analytical model for postcracking compliance of rectangular reinforced concrete beams under combined torsion, bending, and transverse shear is established using the skew bending theory. The case of small transverse shear and the case of large transverse shear are treated separately based on widely accepted failure modes. Expressions for small transverse shear are identical to those obtained in a previous work using a space truss model which assumed zero transverse shear. These expressions show good agreement with tests. The interaction between torsion and large transverse shear predicted by the proposed model is verified by available experimental results.
The synchronization of short packets

The energy associated with synchronization becomes very significant when the total number of bits in a message is short. Short packets, i.e., small codes, also prevent a communications system from operating anywhere near channel capacity, even if perfect, zero energy synchronization were available. Since the power associated with synchronization is best measured as a fraction of the power required to send the information, the author begins by presenting a numerical evaluation of the sphere packing bound for the Gaussian channel. This bound places a lower limit on the energy per information bit as a function of the required error rate and block length. The author then goes on to present a maximum likelihood algorithm for estimating the parameters of a polynomially drifting sine wave in the presence of Gaussian noise.
Robotic Unclamped “Minimal-margin” Partial Nephrectomy: Ongoing Refinement of the Anatomic Zero-ischemia Concept

Abstract Background Anatomic partial nephrectomy (PN) techniques aim to decrease or eliminate global renal ischemia. Objective To report the technical feasibility of completely unclamped "minimal-margin" robotic PN. We also illustrate the stepwise evolution of anatomic PN surgery with related outcomes data. Design, setting, and participants This study was a retrospective analysis of 179 contemporary patients undergoing anatomic PN at a tertiary academic institution between October 2009 and February 2013. Consecutive consented patients were grouped into three cohorts: group 1, with superselective clamping and developmental-curve experience ( n = 70); group 2, with superselective clamping and mature experience ( n = 60); and group 3, which had completely unclamped, minimal-margin PN ( n = 49). Surgical procedure Patients in groups 1 and 2 underwent superselective tumor-specific devascularization, whereas patients in group 3 underwent completely unclamped minimal-margin PN adjacent to the tumor edge, a technique that takes advantage of the radially oriented intrarenal architecture and anatomy. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Primary outcomes assessed the technical feasibility of robotic, completely unclamped, minimal-margin PN; short-term changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); and development of new-onset chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage >3. Secondary outcome measures included perioperative variables, 30-d complications, and histopathologic outcomes. Results and limitations Demographic data were similar among groups. For similarly sized tumors ( p = 0.13), percentage of kidney preserved was greater ( p = 0.047) and margin width was narrower ( p = 0.0004) in group 3. In addition, group 3 had less blood loss (200, 225, and 150ml; p = 0.04), lower transfusion rates (21%, 23%, and 4%; p = 0.008), and shorter hospital stay ( p = 0.006), whereas operative time and 30-d complication rates were similar. At 1-mo postoperatively, median percentage reduction in eGFR was similar (7.6%, 0%, and 3.0%; p = 0.53); however, new-onset CKD stage >3 occurred less frequently in group 3 (23%, 10%, and 2%; p = 0.003). Study limitations included retrospective analysis, small sample size, and short follow-up. Conclusions We developed an anatomically based technique of robotic, unclamped, minimal-margin PN. This evolution from selective clamped to unclamped PN may further optimize functional outcomes but requires external validation and longer follow-up. Patient summary The technical evolution of partial nephrectomy surgery is aimed at eliminating global renal damage from the cessation of blood flow. An unclamped minimal-margin technique is described and may offer renal functional advantage but requires long-term follow-up and validation at other institutions.
Future of Appellate Sentencing Review: Booker in the States, The Symposium: Criminal Appeals: Sentencing Appeals

For much of our nation‘s history, appellate courts played almost no role in criminal sentencing. With trial judges possessing almost unfettered sentencing discretion, there was little for appellate courts to review. That began to change in the 1970s. States started to develop more structured sentencing systems, and appellate courts were called on to ensure that trial judges complied with the new regulations. But in a string of cases starting in 2000, the United States Supreme Court upended many of these sentencing reforms ―like[] . . . a legal earthquake, a forty-car pileup, a bombshell, and a bull in a china shop,‖ including the ability of appellate courts to police compliance. 1 At first, the Supreme Court‘s decisions (culminating in Blakely v. Washington 2 ) appeared to confine appellate review to one narrow space, but later cases (in particular United States v. Booker 3 ) have awkwardly attempted to reintroduce it more widely. The result: complete confusion, confusion that continues to pervade sentencing throughout the country. In this Article, I look at the theoretical implications of the Court‘s recent contradictory sentencing cases, and I then examine how they are playing out in practice at the state level. Though Booker purports to follow, not repudiate, Blakely, its view of the role of appellate courts is wholly inconsistent with Blakely‘s view. Many states have sidestepped this contradiction by simply following Blakely and ignoring the option laid out in Booker. But at least three states have chosen to pass through the door opened by Booker. Their experiences allow us to examine the implications of Booker and Blakely for state sentencing outcomes and for appellate review in a post-Booker world more generally. The results indicate that, by and large, Booker is a failure. Despite its drafters‘ intentions, Booker does not meaningfully revitalize
A knockout may not always be a knockout.

To the Editor: In a recent issue of Circulation , Hoorntje et al1 presented data on a family with a duplication in exon 4 of HERG. A consanguineous marriage resulted in 2 homozygous offspring: one died before birth and the other had a severe cardiac phenotype characterized by arrhythmias and conduction defects. The importance of these findings regarding the role of HERG in the heart is clear. The authors conclude that these homozygous individuals will lack functional IKr and that HERG likely plays no critical roles in other organs. Various laboratories have reported the existence of alternate HERG isoforms.2 3 One …
Global Energy Transitions and the Future of Systemic Leadership

A hallmark of political-economic leadership in the world economy is ample and privileged access to sources of energy. A relatively inexpensive energy source is critical to literally fueling technological and economic growth that outpaces, for a time, the rest of the world. The Dutch had peat, the British had coal, and the United States had petroleum. What should we expect next? The question is particularly compelling if we are in the early days of a political-economic transition with China possibly surpassing the United States at some point in the century. Or will the United States preserve its lead with the aid of the advent of a newly heralded period of energy independence? The potential compounding of transitions – both energy and political-economic – draw attention to energy supply and access questions. Answers about energy transitions may provide major clues to the future shape of systemic leadership transitions.
A protease draws first blood

Foreign proteins in a cell are chopped up and presented to the immune system by molecules of the major histocompatibility complex. What enzymes are responsible for making these cuts? The enzyme that delivers the initial blow specifically to the tetanus toxin has now been identified as asparaginyl endopeptidase.
Chronic partial bladder outlet obstruction does not impair erectile function in male rats.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate, in a well-controlled study, the effect of surgically induced partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) on male erectile function in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS PBOO was created in 17 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by partial ligation of the proximal urethra. Sham-operated and PBOO rats were evaluated for urodynamic and erectile function at 4–8 weeks after surgery. Erectile responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) to the major pelvic ganglion, and to erectogenic agents (1,1-diethyl-2-hydroxy-2-nitroso-hydrazine, DEA-NO, and Y-27632) were evaluated and the area under the curve (AUC, a product of the intracavernous pressure and duration) was used to denote the erectile response. RESULTS Experimental PBOO in rats significantly increased the mean (sem) bladder weight, to 256 (25) mg in PBOO rats vs 123 (24) mg in sham controls, and the voiding frequency to 1.01 (0.1) voids/min vs 0.72 (0.14) voids/min in sham controls (P 0.05); or to the erectogenic agents, the AUC for DEA-NO being 9000 (975) in PBOO rats vs 13 201 (2756) in sham controls, and the AUC for Y-27 632 being 44 915 (2462) and 45 907 (7408), respectively (P > 0.05). There was greater immunoreactivity to RhoA in bladder and penile tissues of PBOO than control rats. CONCLUSION PBOO does not affect erectile function in rats. Additional mechanisms or pathways might be involved in lower urinary tract symptom-related erectile dysfunction in humans.
Charge Transfer Reaction Dynamics in Solutions

In the conventional Transition State Theory of the rate of heavy particle charge transfer reactions in polar solvents, it is assumed that the solvent is always in equilibrium at each stage of the reaction coordinate for the reacting system. We discuss the breakdown of this assumption for a model SN2 reaction in water via analytic theory and Molecular Dynamics computer simulation. We also discuss a theory for the role of the solvent in intramolecular proton transfers.
Heme Oxygenase-2 Is a Hemoprotein and Binds Heme through Heme Regulatory Motifs That Are Not Involved in Heme Catalysis

The heme oxygenase (HO) system degrades heme to biliverdin and CO and releases chelated iron. In the primary sequence of the constitutive form, HO-2, there are three potential heme binding sites: two heme regulatory motifs (HRMs) with the absolutely conserved Cys-Pro pair, and a conserved 24-residue heme catalytic pocket with a histidine residue, His151 in rat HO-2. The visible and pyridine hemochromogen spectra suggest that the Escherichia coli expressed purified HO-2 is a hemoprotein. The absorption spectrum, heme fluorescence quenching, and heme titration analysis of the wild-type protein versus those of purified double cysteine mutant (Cys264/Cys281 --> Ala/Ala) suggest a role of the HRMs in heme binding. While the His151 --> Ala mutation inactivates HO-2, Cys264 --> Ala and Cys281 --> Ala mutations individually or together (HO-2 mut) do not decrease HO activity. Also, Pro265 --> Ala or Pro282 --> Ala mutation does not alter HO-2 activity. Northern blot analysis of ptk cells indicates that HO-2 mRNA is not regulated by heme. The findings, together with other salient features of HO-2 and the ability of heme-protein complexes to generate oxygen radicals, are consistent with HO-2, like five other HRM-containing proteins, having a regulatory function in the cell.
Spectral functions for real symmetric Toeplitz matrices

We derive separate spectral functions for the even and odd spectra of a real symmetric Toeplitz matrix, which are given by the roots of those functions. These are rational functions, also commonly referred to as secular functions. Two applications are considered: spectral evolution as a function of one parameter and the computation of eigenvalues.
Electromyographic study of the obturator muscles in non-human primates: implications for interpreting the obturator externus groove of the femur

Abstract The development of an obturator externus groove on the posterior aspect of the femoral neck of certain fossil hominids led Day (1969) and subsequent observers to suggest that the habitual stance and gait of these hominids included full extension and/or hyperextension of the hip joints as part of an adaptation to upright bipedalism. However, assessment of the role played by active contraction of the obturator externus muscle in producing an obturator externus groove is prevented by the complete absence of knowledge about when the obturator muscles are used during any behavior in any animal. Therefore, we undertook a telemetered electromyographic study of these muscles in the spider monkey, gibbon, chimpanzee and orang-utan. The two muscles were found to have separate and distinct roles in both voluntary movements and locomotion. All previous speculation that these muscles maintain hip stability and integrity, or that they act more or less continuously to regulate femoral position, were unsupported. In all subjects, vertical climbing recruited obturator externus in the first half of swing phase to effect the lateral rotation of the thigh accompanying its flexion. In bipedal walking, the muscle acted at lift-off and during the early part of swing phase, probably to counteract the medial rotatory effect of the anterior adductor muscles. Because in all of our subjects the obturator externus acts at that point in the bipedal step cycle when the thigh is most extended, we believe that use of obturator externus at this time is a potential repetitive source of active pressure on the posterior aspect of the femoral neck. If bipedalism was the habitual mode of terrestrial progression in a fossil hominid, this alone was probably sufficient to induce development of an obturator externus groove. There is no reason to assert that the degree of hip extension must have been comparable to that of modern humans.
Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula

Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a rare complication after postintubation tracheal injury or esophagectomy. It is associated with significant morbidity and the risk of mortality. Contrast esophagography and direct endoscopic examination are the keys to prompt diagnosis, in addition to a high index of suspicion. While conservative and endoscopic management are essential initially, operative management is the only definitive treatment available. Direct surgical repair of the fistula, which on occasion requires tracheal reconstruction, and buttressing of the repair with muscle is effective. Most patients are able to resume oral alimentation and are free from tracheal appliances.
Commercial applications of inertial confinement fusion technology

One of the primary motivations for inertial confinement fusion has always been the production of clean energy with a boundless supply of fuel. As research marchs closer and closer to this goal it is also important to note the useful spinoffs of laser fusion technology, a technology that encompasses the development of megajoule glass lasers, incredibly sensitive and time-resolved diagnostics, sophisticated transient electronics and superb computer codes for simulating laser-matter interactions.
The Effect of Endogenous Health Inputs on the Relationship between Health and Education

This paper extends the analysis of the relationship between health and schooling by examining the impact of education on the choice of medical care inputs and the subsequent relationship between these inputs and overall health. In particular, we examine the productive effects of education on health as well as the allocative effects of education on the consumption of curative and preventive medical care and other lifestyle choices. In addition to the significant positive productive influence of education on health, we find that the allocative efficiency of education is significantly positive. Unlike most work in this area, we model illness during the consumption period to obtain more accurate estimates of demand for medical care and, consequently, health. Additionally, controlling for unobserved heterogeneity, a possi- bility accounted for in few previous studies, has a substantial impact on the estimates. ( JEL I1) © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy: nonuniform IgE distributions on planar membranes

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is useful for detecting and characterizing molecular clusters that are smaller than or approximately equal to optical resolution in size. Here, we report the development of an approach in which the pixel-to-pixel fluorescence fluctuations from a single fluorescence image are spatially autocorrelated. In these measurements, tetramethylrhodamine-labeled, anti-trinitrophenyl IgE antibodies were specifically bound to substrate-supported planar membranes composed of trinitrophenyl-aminocaproyldipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine. The antibody-coated membranes were illuminated with the evanescent field from a totally internally reflected laser beam, and the fluorescence arising from the IgE-coated membranes was recorded with a cooled CCD camera. The image was corrected for the elliptical Gaussian shape of the evanescent illumination after background subtraction. The spatial autocorrelation functions of the resulting images generated two useful parameters: the extrapolated initial values, which were related to the average cluster intensity and density; and the correlation distances, which were related to the average cluster size. These parameters varied with the IgE density, and unlabeled polyclonal anti-IgE enhanced the nonuniform IgE distributions. The autocorrelation functions calculated from images of planar membranes containing fluorescently labeled lipids rather than bound, labeled IgE demonstrated that the spatial nonuniformities were prominent only in the presence of IgE. Fluorescent beads were used to demonstrate the principles and the methods.
Factors influencing the transport of sea water cations across the ectoderm of Fundulus heteroclitus.

IN 1913 George G. Scott reviewed the then existing literature and added experiments of his own on the remarkable ability of adult Fundulus heteroclitus to withstand wide variations in the osmotic pressure of their environment1. The significance of his conclusions is retold in the easily observed hardiness of these teleosts. The survivors of such changes appear to function adequately to gross observations. Similarly the Fundulus embryos, although less than 2 mm. in diameter, and with tissues that are readily torn with sharp glass needles, will develop in extremes of distilled water and sea water with salts or sucrose added up to twice the normal osmotic pressure.
The respiratory metabolism of tsetse flies, Glossina spp., in relation to temperature, blood-meal size and pregnancy cycle.

. The respiratory metabolism of laboratory-reared and wild-caught Glossina morsitans and wild-caught G. pallidipes males is described in relation to temperature. A common Q10 response to differences in temperature was shown by all groups. The effect of in utero larval development on the respiration of G. morsitans females was measured. Pregnancy caused a considerable rise in respiration at the L1 stage, and this high level was maintained until larviposition. Continuous respiration measurements of G. morsitans for several days after a blood-meal (using a continuously recording respirometer) suggest a higher energy cost of digestion than previously reported, and a direct relationship between blood-meal size and respiration.
Quantitative Determination of the Serum Antibody Response to the Capsular Polysaccharide of Bacteroides fragilis subspecies fragilis in Women with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

The antibody response to the capsular polysaccharide of Bacteroides fragilis subspecies fragilis in women with acute pelvic inflammatory disease was quantitated using a sensitive radioactive antigen-binding assay. Antibody detected by this technique correlated highly with antibody measured by quantitative precipitin analysis (r = 0.99). Paired acute- and convalescent-phase sera obtained from women from whom B. fragilis subspecies fragilis was isolated by culdocentesis showed significantly greater changes in antibody concentration than corresponding sera obtained from women with gonococcal or nongonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease when B. fragilis subspecies fragilis was not isolated from the cul-de-sac. These data indicate that the steady state of immunity to this capsular antigen is perturbed in patients with acute nongonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease from whom this organism can be cultured. This finding may indicate that B. fragilis can play a significant role in acute pelvic inflammatory disease and can be involved early in the infectious process.
Chromatic dispersion measurements on long fibre lengths using LEDs

The chromatic dispersion of 50.7 km of single-mode fibre has been measured with a single edge-emitting LED using the phase-shift technique. For a 15 s measurement time the zero of chromatic dispersion is obtained with a standard deviation of 0.7 nm for a 50.7 km fibre length and 0.25 nm for a 38.0 km length.
Q-switched operation of a Nd:SGGM laser

Abstract A simmered Xe-gas filled flashlamp has been used to pump Nd3+ ions doped in a SGGM rod in the free running, as well as Q-swiched, modes of operation for the first time. Laser output energies at 1.06 μm have been measured in the input energy range of 1–15 J. In the Q-switched mode of operation, the pulsed width has been measured to be about 50 ns (FWHM).