cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone as a treatment for cancer-related fatigue: a randomized controlled study

Background Fatigue is a common and often disabling symptom for cancer patients. To date, no pharmacological interventions have shown reliable efficacy in treatment of cancer-related fatigue (CF). Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), a key regulator of homeostasis, exerts arousing and analeptic actions in instances of behavioral depression. In the present pilot, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of TRH as a treatment for CF.
Structural and seismic-reflection evidence for development of the Simpson Ridge anticline and separation of the Hanna and Carbon Basins, Carbon County, Wyoming

The eastern border of the Hanna Basin, Wyoming, is defined by Simpson Ridge anticline, a Laramide structure that separates the Hanna Basin from the more easterly Carbon Basin. New geologic mapping along with interpretation of well logs and seismic-reflection data suggest that this structural feature was created through a combination of thick- and thin-skinned deformation during the contractional Laramide orogeny. Major west-directed, basement-involved faulting occurs beneath Simpson Ridge, suggesting that this structural feature is not related to the eastvergent Elk Mountain anticline. Although major basement-involved thrusts underlie Simpson Ridge, the development of the anticline also involved thin-skinned, out-of-the-basin thrusting related to the deeply rooted basement faults by a trishear deformational zone. An unconformity between the Cretaceous–Paleocene Ferris Formation and Paleocene Hanna Formation marks initiation of fault-controlled uplift along the Simpson Ridge anticline. On the eastern side of Simpson Ridge, the Hanna Formation was faulted westward onto the Lewis Shale, thereby yielding a younger-on-older structural relationship. Palynological data suggest that the age of the Hanna Formation in the southwestern Carbon Basin is late Paleocene. These data thus provide a maximum age for later deformation along Simpson Ridge anticline and for the consequent definition of the western edge of Carbon Basin.
X-ray Diffraction Evidence for Crystalline Order and Isotropic Compression during the Shock-wave Process

WE have reported1 observing X-rays diffracted from material which was undergoing shock-wave compression. The shock wave was generated by a conventional high-explosive, plane-wave generator. The four-channel scintillation detector used in that experiment2 demonstrated that diffraction had occurred, but it lacked angular resolution. To make this technique practical, a detector system capable of greater resolution had to be devised, and we have recently constructed a film cassette capable of withstanding the effects of the blast with no appreciable destruction of the film.
A regenerating computer model of the thymus

Abstract This computer model simulates the cell population kinetics of the development and later degeneration of the thymus. Nutritional factors are taken into account by the growth of blood vessels in the simulated thymus. The stem cell population is kept at its maximum by allowing some stem cells to divide into two stem cells until the population reaches its maximum, thus regenerating the thymus after an insult such as irradiation. After a given number of population doublings the maximum allowed stem cell population is gradually decreased in order to simulate the degeneration of the thymus. Results show that the simulated thymus develops and degenerates in a pattern similar to that of the natural thymus. This simulation is used to evaluate cellular kinetic data for the thymus. The results from testing the internal consistency of available data are reported. The number of generations which most represents the natural thymus includes seven dividing generations of lymphocytes and one mature, nondividing generation of small lymphocytes. The size of the resulting developed thymus can be controlled without affecting other variables by changing the maximum stem cell population allowed. In addition, recovery from irradiation is simulated.
Building Entrepreneurship across the University: Cross-Campus Collaboration between Business and Engineering

Abstract Both Washington State University (WSU) and the state of Washington have a rich, entrepreneurial history. Seeking to capitalize on that strength, leaders at WSU sought to create cross-campus partnerships in the hopes that they could better educate and train tomorrow's entrepreneurial leaders. Perhaps the best operationalization of that vision is the Frank Institute, a partnership between the business school's Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and the College of Engineering and Architecture's Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneurship Institute. The Frank Institute selects 12 promising business and engineering students each year to undertake an invigorating yearlong program designed to teach the students how to launch new technology ventures. Now going into its fifth instantiation, the Frank program has enabled students, faculty, and university leaders to learn a great deal about the benefits of multidisciplinary teaching of technology entrepreneurship. In this case study, we discuss how cross-camp...
Kinetics of pressure-induced phase separation (PIPS) in solutions of polydimethylsiloxane in supercritical carbon dioxide: crossover from nucleation and growth to spinodal decomposition mechanism☆

Abstract The kinetics of pressure-induced phase separation (PIPS) in solutions of polydimethylsiloxane ( M w =94 300; PDI=2.99) in supercritical carbon dioxide have been studied using time- and angle-resolved light scattering. Controlled pressure quench experiments were conducted at different polymer concentrations (0.38, 0.9, 1.9, 2.5, 3.9, 5.5% by mass) to determine both the binodal and spinodal envelopes, and the critical polymer concentration. At each concentration, a series of rapid pressure quenches with different depths of penetration into the region of immiscibility was imposed and the time evolutions of the scattered light intensities were followed to determine the pressure below which the mechanism changes from ‘nucleation and growth’ to ‘spinodal decomposition’. This crossover is identified from the characteristic fingerprint scattering patterns associated with each mechanism. The spinodal decomposition process is characterized by the formation and evolution of a spinodal ring during phase separation that leads to a maximum in the angular variation of the scattered light intensity. The nucleation and growth mechanism is characterized by the absence of such a maximum and the continual decrease of the scattered light intensities with increasing angles. The time scale of PIPS is shown to be relatively short. The late stage of phase separation is entered within seconds. For quenches leading to spinodal decomposition, the characteristic wave number q m corresponding to the scattered light intensity maximum I m is observed to be non-stationary, moving to lower wave numbers after a very short elapsed time. The growth of domain sizes is observed to follow power-law-type scaling with q m ≈t −α and I m ≈t β with β ≈2 α .
Delay minimization and technology mapping of two-level structures and implementation using clock-delayed domino logic

This paper presents a new delay minimization and technology mapping algorithm for two-level structures (TLS) implemented using clock-delayed (CD) domino logic. We take advantage of CD domino's high-speed, large fan-in NOR and OR gates to increase the speed of a circuit by partial collapsing. The algorithm is delay-driven and the delays are obtained from a characterized CD domino library. The results on eight combinational MCNC benchmark circuits show an average speed improvement of 89% for CD domino with TLS, compared to static CMOS implementations generated by Synopsys. CD domino with TLS using our tools produced on average 44% faster circuits than CD domino benchmarks minimized and mapped using Synopsys. The delay results for CD domino with TLS were on average 22% better than for standard domino.
QUETIAPINE IMPROVES VISUAL HALLUCINATIONS IN PARKINSON DISEASE BUT NOT THROUGH NORMALIZATION OF SLEEP ARCHITECTURE: RESULTS FROM A DOUBLE-BLIND CLINICAL-POLYSOMNOGRAPHY STUDY

Polysomnographic studies of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with visual hallucinations (VH) usually reveal short, fragmented rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, with lower sleep efficiency and reduced total REM sleep. Quetiapine has been demonstrated in open-label trials to be effective for the treatment of insomnia and VH in PD. To confirm quetiapine's efficacy in improving VH, and to determine whether the mechanism was due to its effect on REM sleep architecture, we performed a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Sixteen PD patients experiencing VH were recruited. Eight patients were randomized to quetiapine and eight patients to placebo. Patients underwent pre- and post-treatment polysomnography. The Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGIS), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor subscale were obtained. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the treatment arms except that the placebo group had more sleep in stage REM (74.7 min vs. 40.1 min; p < .001). Data were imputed for all patients who prematurely discontinued (four quetiapine and one placebo) in an intention-to-treat analysis. The average quetiapine dose was 58.3 mg/day. While there was no significant difference in the change in REM duration pre- vs. post-treatment in either arm, patients randomized to quetiapine improved on the CGIS (p = .03) and the hallucination item of the BPRS (p = .02). No difference was noted in the UPDRS motor scores. Despite the small sample, this is the first double-blind trial to show quetiapine's efficacy over placebo in controlling VH in the PD population. However, normalization of sleep architecture was not supported as the mechanism.
Sellar Reconstruction and Rates of Delayed Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak after Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery.

Objectives Delayed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are a complication in transsphenoidal surgery, potentially causing morbidity and longer hospital stays. Sella reconstruction can limit this complication, but is it necessary in all patients? Design Retrospective review. Setting Single-surgeon team (2005–2012) addresses this trend toward graded reconstruction. Participants A total of 264 consecutive patients with pituitary adenomas underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal resections. Sellar defects sizable to accommodate a fat graft were reconstructed. Main outcomes Delayed CSF leak and autograft harvesting. Results Overall, 235 (89%) had reconstruction with autograft (abdominal fat, septal bone/cartilage) and biological glue. Delayed CSF leak was 1.9%: 1.7%, and 3.4% for reconstructed and nonreconstructed sellar defects, respectively (p = 0.44). Complications included one reoperation for leak, two developed meningitis, and autograft harvesting resulted in abdominal hematoma in 0.9% and wound infection in 0.4%. Conclusion In our patients, delayed CSF leaks likely resulted from missed intraoperative CSF leaks or postoperative changes. Universal sellar reconstruction can preemptively treat missed leaks and provide a barrier for postoperative changes. When delayed CSF leaks occurred, sellar reconstruction often allowed for conservative treatment (i.e., lumbar drain) without repeat surgery. We found universal reconstruction provides a low risk of delayed CSF leak with minimal complications.
Selective Involvement of Superior Frontal Cortex During Working Memory for Shapes

A spatial/nonspatial functional dissociation between the dorsal and ventral visual pathways is well established and has formed the basis of domain-specific theories of prefrontal cortex (PFC). Inconsistencies in the literature regarding prefrontal organization, however, have led to questions regarding whether the nature of the dissociations observed in PFC during working memory are equivalent to those observed in the visual pathways for perception. In particular, the dissociation between dorsal and ventral PFC during working memory for locations versus object identities has been clearly present in some studies but not in others, seemingly in part due to the type of objects used. The current study compared functional MRI activation during delayed-recognition tasks for shape or color, two object features considered to be processed by the ventral pathway for perceptual recognition. Activation for the shape-delayed recognition task was greater than that for the color task in the lateral occipital cortex, in agreement with studies of visual perception. Greater memory-delay activity was also observed, however, in the parietal and superior frontal cortices for the shape than for the color task. Activity in superior frontal cortex was associated with better performance on the shape task. Conversely, greater delay activity for color than for shape was observed in the left anterior insula and this activity was associated with better performance on the color task. These results suggest that superior frontal cortex contributes to performance on tasks requiring working memory for object identities, but it represents different information about those objects than does the ventral frontal cortex.
Triblock Copolymer Organogels as High-Performance Dielectric Elastomers

Block copolymers and nanostructured materials derived therefrom are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in a wide variety of (nano)technologies. Recently, we have demonstrated that triblock copolymer organogels composed of physically cross-linked copolymer networks swollen with a midblock-selective solvent exhibit excellent electromechanical behavior as dielectric elastomers. In-plane actuation of such organogels, collectively referred to as electroactive nanostructured polymers (ENPs) to reflect the existence of a self-organized copolymer morphology, is attributed to the development of an electric-field-induced surface-normal Maxwell stress. In this study, we examine the composition and molecular weight dependence of the electromechanical properties afforded by organogels prepared from poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene] (SEBS) triblock copolymers selectively swollen with EB-compatible aliphatic oligomers. These materials undergo ultrahigh actuation displacement at significantly reduced electri...
Inhibition of androgen receptor-dependent transcriptional activity by DDT isomers and methoxychlor in HepG2 human hepatoma cells.

Recent reports have raised new concerns that chemicals in our environment may disrupt normal reproduction and development through inhibition of androgen receptor function. This heightened concern has also increased our need for methods that allow us to characterize chemical interaction with the androgen receptor. In this report we describe an androgen receptor assay that utilizes the HepG2 human hepatoma cell line transiently transfected with the human androgen receptor and an androgen-responsive reporter. We used this assay to characterize the interaction with the androgen receptor of several steroidal and nonsteroidal chemicals, including isomers of DDT and methoxychlor. Chemicals were tested either in the absence (for determining agonist activity) or presence of 10(-7) M dihydrotestosterone (for determining antagonist activity). Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone were equally potent agonists in this assay. Estradiol and progesterone displayed partial agonist/antagonist activity. Flutamide was a complete agonist, whereas its hydroxylated metabolite, hydroxyflutamide, only partially antagonized and displayed some agonist activity at 10(-6) M and above. o,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, and p, p'-DDD all behaved as antagonists at concentrations above 10(-6) M. p,p'-DDE also showed some agonist activity at 10(-5) M. Methoxychlor was only weakly antagonistic while its hydroxylated metabolite, HPTE, was approximately 10-fold more potent. Our results demonstrate that the HepG2 assay is a sensitive and specific method for detecting chemical interaction with the androgen receptor. This reporter gene assay, which we have used to characterize interaction with both the estrogen and androgen receptors, coupled with more extensive in vivo studies, should be useful for determining the role of multiple steroid receptors in the mechanism of action of endocrine active chemicals.
Improving schedule reliability based on copulas: An application to five of the most congested US airports

Abstract This study, based Newark Liberty International, New York John F. Kennedy, New York LaGuardia, Chicago O’Hare International and San Francisco International in the US, provides a perspective on the predictability of on-time performance evaluation by applying an actuarial and financial method called copula. It is common for the percentage of on-time gate arrivals to be portrayed in daily news as an indicator of schedule reliability. However, the degree of interdependency between gate arrival delays and block delays may provide some indication of schedule reliability.
Organizational reputation and constitutional constraints: An application to religious denominations

Constitutional economics may be defined as the study of constraints chosen by cooperative groups. In this paper, the scope of constitutional economics is extended by an examination of the constitutions and rules that govern seven of the eight largest U.S. Christian denominations. This examination of church constitutions reveals constitutional provisions and church rules that protect denominational reputation by preserving doctrinal integrity and constraining the behavior of local churches, clergy, and individual members. By protecting their reputations, religious denominations may increase their appeal to current or prospective members or both.
Posthypnotic suggestion as higher-order conditioning: a methodological and experimental analysis.

Abstract The hypothesis that hypnosis facilitates higher-order conditioning was tested. The results supported the 3 predictions made from the hypothesis: (a) The hypnosis group (N = 43) showed greater conditioning (p < .01) than the control group (N = 42); (b) the amount of conditioning for the hypnotic group was correlated with hypnotic depth (p < .01); and (c) this conditioned response, once formed, was a strong one, as evidenced by little extinction and the phenomenon of spontaneous recovery. The dependent variable, conditioned salivation, was measured by a unique procedure which allows large numbers of Ss to be measured simultaneously. The experimental design provided several innovative means for avoiding a number of shortcomings common to hypnosis experiments, including a most insidious one-the fact that most previous indicants of hypnosis have been misleading.
The influence of maternal stress and distress on disruptive behavior problems in boys.

ABSTRACT Objective: The current study examined how self-reported maternal stress and distress are associated with child disruptive behaviors. Method: Mother and teacher ratings of child disruptive behavior problems (attention problems, aggression, and delinquency) were collected for 215 male participants, ranging in age from 9 to 12 years. Participating mothers also provided self-report data on socioeconomic status (SES), parenting stress, and distress (depression and anxiety/somatization). Results: Low SES was significantly associated with both mother- and teacher-reported child disruptive behavior problems. Regression analyses indicated a relation between parenting stress and mother-reported child disruptive behavior problems, even when controlling for SES. Results also indicated a significant relation between maternal distress and mother-reported child disruptive behavior problems (particularly attention problems), even when controlling for SES and parenting stress. Maternal stress and distress were not significantly related to teacher-reported child disruptive behavior problems. Conclusions: Although the lack of an association between teacher-reported behavior problems and maternal stress and distress could be interpreted as a rater bias by these mothers, it may be that the mothers' symptoms are associated with a stressful home environment, thus exacerbating child disruptive behavior problems and eventually leading to a reciprocal relation between symptomatology in mothers and children.
Coronary intervention in diabetes: is it different.

Diabetics are at an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as a consequence of inherent metabolic abnormalities and comorbidities. Furthermore, these patients derive less benefit from the standard therapies of coronary artery disease (CAD); the unique pathophysiological response to arterial injury has a profound effect on outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). However, as the technology, techniques and experience of operators in PCI are evolving, the understanding of revascularisation strategies and patterns of clinical practice are changing. In this review, we discuss specific issues related to cardiac intervention in diabetics. Currently, diabetes affects >180 million people worldwide. In the current era of advanced medical therapy, improved medical facilities and medical infrastructure, the term myocardial infarction (MI) equivalent might not hold true.1 However, despite improved outcomes, the gradient of increased risk of mortality and morbidity as compared with non-diabetics persists throughout the spectrum of CAD. Diabetics constitutes around one quarter of patients undergoing revascularisation. Both types of revascularisation strategies have been evaluated extensively. Preoperative mortality, repeat revascularisation and long-term mortality are the issues of concern. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance. Disturbed delicate balance of fibrinolytic system as well as abnormalities of platelet structure and function results (box 1) in a persistent prothrombotic milieu.2 (A) Metabolic factors : Hyperglycaemia include endothelial dysfunction, vascular effects of advanced glycation end products, adverse effects of circulating free fatty acids and increased systemic inflammation. (B) Vascular anatomic characters : Diabetics have more frequent diffuse disease, higher prevalence of extensive CAD, left main disease, multivessel disease and occlusions. The narrow calibred vessels are associated with impaired collateral development. (C) Adverse prothrombotic milieu and high atherosclerotic burden : Proteofibrinolytic system and platelet biology are unfavourably altered in diabetes and a state of platelet activation exists. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP …
Displacement structure approach to Chebyshev-Vandermonde and related matrices

In this paper we use the displacement structure concept to introduce a new class of matrices, designated asChebyshev-Vandermonde-like matrices, generalizing ordinary Chebyshev-Vandermonde matrices, studied earlier by different authors. Among other results the displacement structure approach allows us to give a nice explanation for the form of the Gohberg-Olshevsky formulas for the inverses of ordinary Chebyshev-Vandermonde matrices. Furthermore, the fact that the displacement structure is inherited by Schur complements leads to a fastO(n 2) implementation of Gaussian elimination withpartial pivoting for Chebyshev-Vandermonde-like matrices.
Angiocardiographic findings in pulmonary tuberculosis.

The angiocardiographic findings in 91 tuberculous patients studied during life are presented. Diminished vascularity of varying degrees was found to occur in local areas of the lung involved by tuberculosis. The degree of avascularity depended upon the amount of lung tissue involved. The more widespread the parenchymal lesion, the more marked was the avascularity. Displacement of vessels secondary to fibrosis and retraction was encountered frequently. In tuberculous fibrothorax, angiocardiography delineates the cardiac chambers and great vessels, often revealing marked distortion and displacement of these structures. By contrast visualization, hilar and mediastinal masses may be differentiated from aneurysm. In two instances tuberculous hilar and mediastinal adenopathy resulted in obstruction of major branches of the pulmonary artery. Finally, the use of angiocardiography in the detection of pericardial effusion is illustrated.
The Social Characterizations of Price: The Fool, the Faithful, the Frivolous, and the Frugal*

This article extends both Viviana Zelizer's discussion of the social meaning of money and Charles Smith's proposal that pricing is a definitional practice to the under-theorized realm of the social meanings generated in the pricing system. Individuals are attributed with calculating or not calculating whether an object or service is “worth” its price, but these attributions differ according to the individual's social location as being near to or far from a societal reference point rather than by the inherent qualities of the object or service purchased. Prices offer seemingly objective (quantitative) proof of the individual's “logic of appropriateness”—in other words, people like that pay prices such as those. This article sketches a preliminary but nonexhaustive typology of the social characterizations of individuals within the pricing system; these ideal types—the fool, the faithful, the frugal, and the frivolous—and their components offer a systematic approach to understanding prices as embedded in and...
TESTING THE FLORISTIC QUALITY ASSESSMENT INDEX AS AN INDICATOR OF WETLAND CONDITION

Biological indicators of ecosystem integrity are increasingly being sought for use in ecosystem assessment and goal-setting for restoration projects. We tested the effectiveness of a plant community-based bioassessment tool, the floristic quality assessment index (FQAI) in 20 depressional wetlands in Ohio, USA. A priori, the 20 depressional wetlands were classified by type and ranked to form a disturbance gradient according to the local landscape condition. Ranks were based on surrounding land cover characteristics, vegetated buffer characteristics, and the extent of human-induced hydrologic alteration at the wetland site. The index was negatively correlated with the disturbance rank of a wetland and with the distance to neighboring wetlands (P = 0.01). Index values were lower for wetlands surrounded by agricultural or urban land use, wetlands with less vegetation on the wetland perimeter, and wetlands with more hydrologic modification, and at sites with greater distances to other wetlands. The wetlands w...
Hurricane Sea Surface Inflow Angle and an Observation-Based Parametric Model

AbstractThis study presents an analysis of near-surface (10 m) inflow angles using wind vector data from over 1600 quality-controlled global positioning system dropwindsondes deployed by aircraft on 187 flights into 18 hurricanes. The mean inflow angle in hurricanes is found to be −22.6° ± 2.2° (95% confidence). Composite analysis results indicate little dependence of storm-relative axisymmetric inflow angle on local surface wind speed, and a weak but statistically significant dependence on the radial distance from the storm center. A small, but statistically significant dependence of the axisymmetric inflow angle on storm intensity is also found, especially well outside the eyewall. By compositing observations according to radial and azimuthal location relative to storm motion direction, significant inflow angle asymmetries are found to depend on storm motion speed, although a large amount of unexplained variability remains. Generally, the largest storm-relative inflow angles (<−50°) are found in the fas...
A position control system design

A Position Controller is a device used in many applications, such as controlling the movement of an elevator. In this paper, we examine the technological issues surrounding the development of an integrated circuit of a position control system. This system has been designed using Magic CAD software. The final estimated size after routing is expected to be approximately 9000 x 3250 lambd/sup 2/. The total number of transistors is estimated to be 4850. We are currently in the process of testing this layout with SPICE.
Facts and Values in Risk Analysis for Environmental Toxicants

The U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy describes toxic substance regulation as composed of two stages. Stage I (facts) uses empirical data and scientific judgment to characterize human exposure and risk. Stage II (values) uses social and political judgment to decide regulatory action based on significance of the risk, benefits of the agent, and costs of its control. This paper argues that such a view represents an unrealistic and unattainable goal. We present examples showing how values enter virtually every part of risk analysis, and we review work on the vagaries in human judgment concerning both facts and values. These issues indicate that U.S. regulatory policy needs reconsideration.
The Icosian Code and the $E_8$ Lattice: A New $4\,\times\,4$ Space–Time Code With Nonvanishing Determinant

This paper introduces a new rate-2, full-diversity space-time code for four transmit antennas and one receive antenna. The 4times4 codeword matrix consists of four 2times2 Alamouti blocks with entries from Q(i,radic5) , and these blocks can be viewed as quaternions which in turn represent rotations in R 3 . The Alamouti blocks that appear in a codeword are drawn from the icosian ring consisting of all linear combinations of 120 basic rotations corresponding to symmetries of the icosahedron. This algebraic structure is different from the Golden code, but the complex entries are taken from a common underlying field. The minimum determinant is bounded below by a constant that is independent of the signal constellation, and the new code admits a simple decoding scheme that makes use of a geometric correspondence between the icosian ring and the E 8 lattice.
Impact of Removal of Asymptomatic Third Molars on Periodontal Pathology

Purpose This study assessed the impact of third molar removal on periodontal pathology in subjects with third molars asymptomatic at enrollment. Patients and Methods Subjects in whom at least 2 third molars were removed were a subsample of healthy young subjects enrolled with 4 asymptomatic third molars in an institutional review board-approved longitudinal study. Full-mouth periodontal probing (PD) data, 6 sites per tooth, were obtained as a measure of periodontal status at each of 3 visits: enrollment, before removal of third molars, and after removal of third molars. Data were aggregated to subject and jaw levels. The oral cavity was divided by jaw into segments: the third molar region including the third molar (12 probing sites), distal to the second molar (4 probing sites), and non-third molars (80 probing sites). A PD ≥4 mm was considered an indicator variable for periodontal pathology. The number and percent of sites with a PD ≥4 mm were calculated from the total number of probing sites across all subjects. The frequency of subjects with at least one PD ≥4 mm and all third molars removed were compared with the frequency of subjects retaining at least 1 mandibular third molar using Fisher's exact test, with significance set at 0.05. Results Sixty-nine subjects had third molars removed: 57% were female, and 77% were Caucasian. The median age at surgery was 26.3 years (interquartile range, 23.3-31.5 yr). The median interval from enrollment to surgery was 2.4 years (interquartile range, 1.5-4.2 yr). The median follow-up after surgery was 9 months (interquartile range, 6.7-15.4 mo). All third molars were removed in 56 subjects; 13 retained at least 1 mandibular third molar. More subjects had at least 1 PD ≥4 mm around their mandibular third molars before surgery compared with enrollment (52% vs 45%, respectively). Of the total possible mandibular third molar probing sites, 18% had PD ≥4 mm presurgery compared with 12% at enrollment. Significantly fewer subjects who had all third molars removed had a PD ≥4 mm on the distal of their mandibular second molars after surgery, compared with those retaining at least 1 mandibular third molar (20% vs 69%, respectively, P = .001). The number of PDs ≥4 mm in the mandible was less after surgery if all third molars had been removed (1.4% vs 6.6%, respectively). Conclusion Removal of the mandibular third molars significantly improved the periodontal status on the distal of second molars, positively affecting overall periodontal health.
Mechanistic Study of Continuous Reactive Aromatic Organothiol Adsorption onto Silver Nanoparticles

Organothiol (R-SH) (OT) adsorption onto silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in water was studied for a series of aromatic OTs including p-methylbenzenethiol (p-MBT), p-benzenedithiol (p-BDT), and 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (2-MBI). Unlike the common view that OT forms monolayer adsorption on AgNPs, we found that these aromatic OTs continuously reacted with AgNPs through formation of RS–Ag complexes until complete OT or AgNP consumption occurred. The RS–Ag complex can remain on the AgNP surface, converting the AgNPs into core–shell structures. The OT adsorption onto AgNPs occurs predominately through reaction with silver oxide present on the AgNP surfaces before the OT addition or formed from environmental oxygen in the presence of OT. The RS–H protons are completely released when both p-MBT and 2-MBI reacted with AgNP, Ag2O, and AgNO3. However, a substantial fraction of S–H bonds remained intact when p-BDT, the only dithiol used in this work, is adsorbed on AgNPs or reacted independently with Ag2O and AgNO3. The ne...
Personality Correlates of Jones' Three-Dimensional Model of Career Indecision

Jones recently developed the Career Decision Profile (CDP; 1989). The CDP assesses career indecision, how comfortable individuals are with their career-decision status, and reasons for career indecision. According to Jones' vocational decision-status model, the CDP can be used to categorize individuals into four subtypes: decided-comfortable, decided-uncomfortable, undecided-comfortable, and undecided-uncomfortable. This study investigated the personality correlates of the CDP and the utility of Jones' scale for identifying the career subtypes. The CDP subscales correlated with several personality variables in the expected directions, and results indicated some support using the CDP to categorize individuals into the four decidedness-comfort subtypes.
Synthesis of a tetraimidazole containing macrocycle: a new ligand class

The first member of a new imidazole containing macrocycle,1 (2), has been prepared and spectrally characterized. Macrocyclization is achieved concurrently with imidazole ring construction, utilizing the parent reaction of benzyylamines with 2-oximino-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.
BION™ system for distributed neural prosthetic interfaces

We have developed the first in a planned series of neural prosthetic interfaces that allow multichannel systems to be assembled from single-channel micromodules called BIONs (BIOnic Neurons). Multiple BION implants can be injected directly into the sites requiring stimulating or sensing channels, where they receive power and digital commands by inductive coupling to an externally generated radio-frequency magnetic field. This article describes some of the novel technology required to achieve the required microminiaturization, hermeticity, power efficiency and clinical performance. The BION1 implants are now being used to electrically exercise paralyzed and weak muscles to prevent or reverse disuse atrophy. This modular, wireless approach to interfacing with the peripheral nervous system should facilitate the development of progressively more complex systems required to address a growing range of clinical applications, leading ultimately to synthesizing complete voluntary functions such as reach and grasp.
What is the basis of sequence-directed curvature in DNAs containing A tracts?

Abstract A variety of solution and gel experiments show that DNAs containing tracts of 4–8 A's repeated in phase with the helix repeat are curved. Several independent analyses of these experiments argue that curvature resides in the A tracts themselves. In x-ray crystallographic studies of several DNAs containing A tracts, however, the A tracts are uncurved, leading to models in which curvature resides in the non-A tracts. This “curved general sequence model” has several problems, in our view. We review those, and we describe recent experiments that show that the dehydrating agents commonly used in x-ray crystallography markedly reduce curvature in gels and in solution, calling into question the ability of crystallography to determine the structural basis of DNA curvature. Finally, we discuss the critical role of hydration in curved DNAs and suggest new experiments that we hope could finally determine exactly which sequences are responsible for curvature.
Temperature Control in Continuous Furnace by Structural Diagram Method

In this paper, the fundamentals of the structural diagram method [1] for Distributed Parameter Systems (DPS) are presented and reviewed. An example is given to illustrate the application of this method for control design.
Whole-Genome Positive Selection and Habitat-Driven Evolution in a Shallow and a Deep-Sea Urchin

Comparisons of genomic sequence between divergent species can provide insight into the action of natural selection across many distinct classes of proteins. Here, we examine the extent of positive selection as a function of tissue-specific and stage-specific gene expression in two closely-related sea urchins, the shallow-water Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and the deep-sea Allocentrotus fragilis, which have diverged greatly in their adult but not larval habitats. Genes that are expressed specifically in adult somatic tissue have significantly higher dN/dS ratios than the genome-wide average, whereas those in larvae are indistinguishable from the genome-wide average. Testis-specific genes have the highest dN/dS values, whereas ovary-specific have the lowest. Branch-site models involving the outgroup S. franciscanus indicate greater selection (ωFG) along the A. fragilis branch than along the S. purpuratus branch. The A. fragilis branch also shows a higher proportion of genes under positive selection, including those involved in skeletal development, endocytosis, and sulfur metabolism. Both lineages are approximately equal in enrichment for positive selection of genes involved in immunity, development, and cell–cell communication. The branch-site models further suggest that adult-specific genes have experienced greater positive selection than those expressed in larvae and that ovary-specific genes are more conserved (i.e., experienced greater negative selection) than those expressed specifically in adult somatic tissues and testis. Our results chart the patterns of protein change that have occurred after habitat divergence in these two species and show that the developmental or functional context in which a gene acts can play an important role in how divergent species adapt to new environments.
Translating genomic information into clinical medicine: Lung cancer as a paradigm

We are currently in an era of rapidly expanding knowledge about the genetic landscape and architectural blueprints of various cancers. These discoveries have led to a new taxonomy of malignant diseases based upon clinically relevant molecular alterations in addition to histology or tissue of origin. The new molecularly based classification holds the promise of rational rather than empiric approaches for the treatment of cancer patients. However, the accelerated pace of discovery and the expanding number of targeted anti-cancer therapies present a significant challenge for healthcare practitioners to remain informed and up-to-date on how to apply cutting-edge discoveries into daily clinical practice. In this Perspective, we use lung cancer as a paradigm to discuss challenges related to translating genomic information into the clinic, and we present one approach we took at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center to address these challenges.
Development of Primary Axosomatic Endings in the Anteroventral Cochlear Nucleus of Mice

The endbulb of Held is a large synaptic ending that arises from the myelinated auditory nerve fibers. Endbulbs exhibit an elaborate pattern of terminal branching and produce extensive contact with the postsynaptic cell body. These structural features appear to underlie the tight coupling between presynaptic activity and postsynaptic spike discharges. As a first step toward understanding the relationship between environmental sounds and the development of these neural elements, we examined the age-related changes in the morphology of endbulbs of Held in CBA/J mice, a strain known to retain good hearing throughout life. Neurobiotin was injected into the modiolus of the cochlea in CBA/J mice ranging in age from postnatal day 1 to 7 months. Light microscopic analyses suggest that endbulbs of the CBA/J mice develop from small bouton endings at birth into large, highly branched structures in adults. This increase in structural complexity occurs mostly during the second through eighth postnatal weeks, and general stages of development can be defined. In addition, we compared endbulb structure between adult CBA/J mice and adult shaker-2 mice (Myo15sh2/sh2 ) and heterozygous littermates (Myo15+/sh2 ). The shaker-2 mouse carries a mutated myosin 15 gene that results in congenital deafness, presumably due to abnormally short stereocilia in hair cell receptors. Neurobiotin was injected into the modiolus of adult CBA/J, Myo15sh2/sh2 , and Myo15+/sh2 mice. Endbulbs of deaf adult Myo15sh2/sh2 mice exhibited a striking reduction in terminal branching compared with those of CBA/J and Myo15+/sh2 mice. Notably, the abnormal endbulbs of Myo15sh2/sh2 mice do not resemble immature endbulbs of normal-hearing mice, suggesting that deafness does not simply arrest development.
Sensitivity of superficial cultures in lower extremity wounds.

BACKGROUND: Superficial wound cultures are routinely used to guide therapy, despite a lack of clear supporting evidence. PURPOSE: To conduct a systematic review of the correlation between superficial wound cultures and the etiology of skin and soft tissue infections. DATA SOURCES: Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus. STUDY SELECTION: Articles published between January 1960 and August 2009 involving superficial wound cultures and deeper comparison cultures. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers independently searched for abstracted information pertaining to the microbiology of lower extremity wounds sufficient to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of superficial wound cultures versus comparison cultures. DATA SYNTHESIS: Data pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis model. RESULTS: Of 9032 unique citations, 8 studies met all inclusion criteria. Inter-rater reliability was substantial (Kappa = 0.78). Pooled test sensitivity for superficial wound swabs was 49% (95% confidence interval [CI], 37-61%], and specificity was 62% (95% CI, 51-74%). The pooled positive and negative likelihood ratios (LRs) were 1.1 (95% CI, 0.71-1.5) and 0.67 (95% CI, 0.52-0.82). The median number of isolates for surface cultures (2.7, interquartile range [IQR] 1.8-3.2) was not significantly different than that for comparison cultures, (2.2, IQR 1.7-2.9) (P = 0.75). CONCLUSION: Few studies show a strong relationship between superficial wound swabs and deep tissue cultures, and the current data demonstrate poor overall sensitivity and specificity. The positive and negative LRs were found to provide minimal utility in influencing pretest probabilities. Results of this analysis show that wound cultures should not be used in lieu of local antibiograms to guide initial antibiotic therapies. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010;5:415–420. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Flocking for Heterogeneous Robot Swarms: A Military Convoy Scenario

In this paper we apply a popular flocking control algorithm to a heterogeneous swarm of robots. The flocking controller contains separation, cohesion and velocity matching terms and has been shown to converge properly in the case of homogeneous swarms. The swarm models a military convoy unit with supply vehicles, defenders, and attackers. Each class of vehicle possesses different maneuvering capabilities and different objectives. In each case we modify the controller accordingly and analyze the emergent behavior of the swarm.
Sentencing Outcomes of Convicted Child Sex Offenders

This research examines the sentencing outcomes of convicted child sexual offenders from data collected over an eight year period. Multiple regression and nominal log linear regression are used to examine length of prison sentence, length of probation sentence, and whether the convicted offender is actually sent to prison or to probation. While many independent variables appear to be related to sentence outcome, they fall into three categories: characteristics of the offender, characteristics of the victim, and characteristics of the crime. Additionally, while many variables appear related at the bivariate level, when multivariate analysis is applied, fewer variables remain significant, and these are mostly from the characteristics of the offense.
Fuzzy classification of Earth terrain covers using multi-look polarimetric SAR image data

The conventional approach of terrain image classification which assigns a specific class for each pixel is inadequate because the area covered by each pixel may embrace more than a single class. Fuzzy set theory which has been developed to deal with imprecise information can provide a more appropriate solution to this problem. In the paper, the authors used the fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm for the segmentation of a polarimetric SAR image. The distance measure utilized in the algorithm was derived from the complex Wishart distribution of the pixel data presented in the covariance matrix format. The algorithm computes the feature covariance matrix for each class and generates a fuzzy partition of the whole image. Classification of the image is achieved using a defuzzification criterion. The results are similar to those of supervised statistical methods. NASA/JPL AIRSAR data is used to substantiate this fuzzy classification algorithm. >
Metallothionein transfers zinc to mitochondrial aconitase through a direct interaction in mouse hearts

Previous studies have shown that in a cell-free system, metallothionein (MT) releases zinc when the environment becomes oxidized and the released zinc is transferred to a zinc-binding protein if such a protein is present. However, it is unknown whether and how zinc transfers from MT to other proteins in vivo. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that if zinc transfer from MT to other proteins occurs in vivo, the transfer would proceed through a direct interaction between MT and a specific group of proteins. The heart extract obtained from MT-null mice was incubated with 65Zn-MT or 65ZnCl2 and the proteins receiving 65Zn were separated by blue-native PAGE (BN-PAGE) or sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE (SDS-PAGE), and detected by autoradiography. A unique 65Zn-binding band was observed from the 65Zn-MT-incubated, but not the 65ZnCl2-incubated preparation. The analysis using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry revealed that mitochondrial aconitase (m-aconitase) was among the proteins accepting Zn directly from Zn-MT. The m-aconitase, not the cytosolic aconitase (c-aconitase), was co-immunoprecipitated with MT. This study demonstrates that MT transfers zinc to m-aconitase through a direct interaction.