cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of p63 for distinction of glandular versus squamous lesions in cervicovaginal specimens.

BACKGROUND. Differentiating primary glandular from high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) that involve endocervical glands is not an uncommon diagnostic problem in liquid-based gynecological cytology. Squamous and atypical glandular cell lesions may show similar cytomorphologic features. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of p63 as a marker of basal and/or squamous cell derivation in this differential diagnosis. METHODS. Of 59,257 liquid-based cervicovaginal specimens collected over a 3-year period, 149 were diagnosed as atypical glandular cells of uncertain significance (AGUS) or adenocarcinoma and had histological follow-up. Ten cases (8AGUS and 2 adenocarcinomas) were proven to be high-grade dysplasia on cervical biopsies and the remaining cases represented glandular pathology. Slides from discrepant cases were stained with p63 antibody. In addition, the authors stained 25 control cases (10 adenocarcinomas, 10 HSIL, and 5 negative cervicovaginal specimens). RESULTS. In all 10 discrepant cases, the abnormal groups originally interpreted as glandular in origin showed a homogeneous strong nuclear staining for p63 that indicated their squamous origin. Nuclei of isolated HSIL cells and basal cells from atrophic smears were also positive for p63. Benign and malignant glandular cells were uniformly negative. Isolated metaplastic, intermediate, and superficial squamous cells were likewise negative for this antibody. CONCLUSIONS. p63 is a useful immunocytochemical marker for differentiating primary glandular pathology from HSIL in cervicovaginal specimens. It also detects isolated HSIL cells (“litigation cells”). This antibody is not expressed in AGUS, adenocarcinoma, or normal glandular cells. p63 stains basal cells and may be a diagnostic pitfall in atrophic cervicovaginal specimens. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2007 © 2006 American Cancer Society.
A sighting of orbital pseudotumor

A 39-year-old woman developed bilateral proptosis, photophobia, and pain with extraocular movements over the course of 5 days. Her findings initially were ocular pain and photophobia which progressed to periorbital edema and nasal discharge ultimately resulting in proptosis with vertical globe displacement and decreased visual acuity. She was diagnosed with corneal abrasion and sinusitis respectively during two initial emergency department visits. On her third visit to the emergency department within 4 days, she developed acute visual deficits. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with orbital pseudotumor after computed tomography scan revealed inflammation of orbital structures bilaterally.
A widely tunable active duplexing transceiver with same-channel concurrent RX/TX and 30dB RX/TX isolation

We present a widely tunable passive mixer first duplexing transceiver which employs baseband noise-canceling, duplexing LNAs. The LNAs buffer transmitted signals to the mixer while canceling those signals in receive path. The transmitted signals are up-converted by the same mixer used for receiver down-conversion. The transceiver operates over a frequency range of 0.1-1.5GHz with -18dBm transmitted power. A 33dB linear isolation between receive and transmit (separated by 135kHz) as well as suppression of transmit-induced noise and nonlinearity are achieved.
A Comparison of Ideologically-Motivated Homicides from the New Extremist Crime Database and Homicides from the Supplementary Homicide Reports Using Multiple Imputation by Chained Equations to Handle Missing Values

This study took advantage of the new open-source Extremist Crime Database (ECDB) to overcome obstacles to studying domestic far-right terrorism from a criminological perspective. In the past, exclusive definitions and inclusion criteria have limited available data on violent crimes committed by domestic far-right terrorists, and official data on violent crimes fail to capture offenders’ links to domestic far-right terrorism and ideological motivation (e.g., anti-government, anti-abortion, anti-religion). Therefore, little is known about the nature of far-right terrorist violence and how such violence is similar to and different from routine or more common forms of violence. Focusing on homicides, this study addressed why and how open-source terrorism data and official crime data can be comparatively analyzed. In doing so, we also demonstrate the utility of synthesizing terrorism and official crime data sources. Data on 108 far-right terrorist homicides were taken from the ECDB. Data on 540 common homicides (five comparison homicides for each far-right terrorist homicide) were randomly sampled from the 2000 Supplementary Homicide Reports. Using multiple imputation by chained equations and logistic regression, we imputed missing values and estimated models to compare the two homicide types on 12 different victim, offender, and event characteristics. Relative to common homicides, we found that far-right terrorist homicides were significantly more likely to have white offenders, multiple victims, multiple offenders, and to occur between strangers, and they were significantly less likely to have white victims, to be carried out with a firearm, and to occur in cities with more than 100,000 residents.
Surface Wave Detection with a Broad Band Accelerometer

WE report preliminary results of a study to determine the capability of a broad band vertical accelerometer to detect surface waves from small earthquakes. The instrument uses a quartz fibre in torsion and capacitive position sensing1. It was designed as a low noise, low drift broad band accelerometer and has produced data on Earth normal mode excitation after earthquakes (5 to 40 cycle h−1, ref. 2). For this study, the output was modified by an active filter to copy the response of Pomeroy et al.3 and Molnar et al.4. Such a response does not use the wide band aspects of this instrument and the shape was dictated primarily by the shape of the ground noise spectrum, which has a minimum in amplitude between periods of 20 and 30 s. This minimum may be inferred from the known decrease in noise amplitude with increasing period at shorter periods and seismic background noise data5. It is also shown in the data of Savino et al.6.
Quantitative ultrasonic characterization of lesion composition and remodeling in atherosclerotic rabbit aorta.

We have previously shown that high-frequency, high-resolution ultrasound can characterize the acoustic properties and composition of fatty plaques in cholesterol-fed rabbits. To determine whether quantitative ultrasound can delineate the regression of atherosclerotic lesions by detecting a change in their composition from fatty to fibrous types induced by alterations in dietary regimen, we fed six New Zealand White rabbits a 2% cholesterol diet for 3 months, followed by a standard diet for 3 additional months to promote the development of fibrous intimal lesions. Segments of aortas were excised, and backscattered radiofrequency data were acquired from 400 to 600 independent sites in each specimen with an acoustic microscope operated at 50 MHz. Control data were provided by measuring backscatter from adjacent portions of the aortas devoid of lesions. Histological and immunocytochemical analyses of the fibrous intimal lesions confirmed the presence of smooth muscle cells and abundant connective tissue with little appreciable lipid. Backscatter from normal aortic segments (-30.7 +/- 1.0 dB) was approximately 10-fold greater than that from fibrous lesions (-42.4 +/- 1.0 dB; P < .05). We previously reported that integrated backscatter from fatty lesions was -50.6 +/- 0.7 dB, or approximately 10-fold less than that from fibrous lesions (P < .05). Values for integrated backscatter from the media of each tissue type were approximately equal (-30.0 +/- 1.7 versus -30.7 +/- 1.6 versus -33.4 +/- 0.8 dB for normal versus fibrous versus fatty tissues, respectively; P = not significant).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A New Adaptive Wavelet Networks for ECG Recognition

Recognition of electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important area in intensive care. Automatic detection & classification of cardiac arrhythmias is important for diagnosis of cardiac abnormalities. Based on the wavelet transform theory, the wavelet networks have been wildly used for signal representation and classification. In this article, a new adaptive wavelet networks with one perceptron has been introduced for ECG signal recognition. An improved initialization approach was introduced and the relation between the number of the hidden layers and the astringency of the network also has been found. The network has been used for distinction between the normal beats and the premature ventricular contractions and has obtained high performance. In present work the ECG data are taken from MIT- BIH Arrhythmia database
Ensemble Models for Dependency Parsing: Cheap and Good?

Previous work on dependency parsing used various kinds of combination models but a systematic analysis and comparison of these approaches is lacking. In this paper we implemented such a study for English dependency parsing and find several non-obvious facts: (a) the diversity of base parsers is more important than complex models for learning (e.g., stacking, supervised meta-classification), (b) approximate, linear-time re-parsing algorithms guarantee well-formed dependency trees without significant performance loss, and (c) the simplest scoring model for re-parsing (unweighted voting) performs essentially as well as other more complex models. This study proves that fast and accurate ensemble parsers can be built with minimal effort.
The Most Widely Publicized Gender Problem in Human Genetics

In two-child families containing at least one boy, the expected probability that such a family has two boys is 1/3, provided that the boy/girl (B/G) ratio is 1.0 and the population to which they belong has a binomial distribution of BB, (BG + GB), and GG families. It is commonly known that in most human populations the sex ratio at birth (i.e., the ratio of the number of boys to the number of girls) is greater than 1.0. Teachers and textbook writers seldom discuss the more realistic expected distributions in populations where the sex ratio is greater than 1.0. We present data from two federal surveys with sex ratios greater than 1.0 and find that the observed proportions of two boys in families of size 2 with at least one boy range from 0.3335 to 0.3941. It has been reported in the literature that the probability (p) of a male birth is subject to both within-sibship variation (Poisson variation), for which our data are suggestive, and possibly also between-sibship variation (Lexis variation). These deviations (biases) from the assumptions of a simple binomial distribution are involved in the calculation of values of p and standard 95% confidence intervals, thereby foiling attempts to make reliable statistical inferences from the data. Analysis of the data is also complicated by family planning that falsifies the assumption of randomness in the binomial gender distribution model. Families of size 2 (and their sex composition) are often discussed in a wider context. Overpopulation in some parts of the world has caused mass starvation and threatens to do the same worldwide unless the birth rate drops to agriculturally sustainable levels. Even if every woman of fertile age has only two children on average from now on, the world's population is predicted to continue growing toward 9 billion people by 2050. Other sociological problems are bound to follow. Although the birth rate in China has recently dropped, the average age of the population has risen, so that by 2035 it is projected that for each person over age 65 there will be just three working-age people. Furthermore, China's one-child policy has already led to a sex imbalance where there is a large excess of men for whom marriage and parentage is denied.
Dosage effect of the short arm of chromosome 1 of rye on root morphology and anatomy in bread wheat

The spontaneous translocation of the short arm of chromosome 1 of rye (1RS) in bread wheat is associated with higher root biomass and grain yield. Recent studies have confirmed the presence of QTL for different root morphological traits on the 1RS arm in bread wheat. This study was conducted to address two questions in wheat root genetics. First, does the presence of the 1RS arm in bread wheat affect its root anatomy? Second, how does root morphology and anatomy of bread wheat respond to different dosages of 1RS? Near-isogenic plants with a different number (0 to 4 dosages) of 1RS translocations were studied for root morphology and anatomy. The F(1) hybrid, with single doses of the 1RS and 1AS arms, showed heterosis for root and shoot biomass. In other genotypes, with 0, 2, or 4 doses of 1RS, root biomass was incremental with the increase in the dosage of 1RS in bread wheat. This study also provided evidence of the presence of gene(s) influencing root xylem vessel number, size, and distribution in bread wheat. It was found that root vasculature follows a specific developmental pattern along the length of the tap root and 1RS dosage tends to affect the transitions differentially in different positions. This study indicated that the inherent differences in root morphology and anatomy of different 1RS lines may be advantageous compared to normal bread wheat to survive under stress conditions.
Bacterial community dynamics in high and low bioavailability soils following laboratory exposure to a range of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine concentrations.

Few studies have examined the potential long-term effects of high concentrations of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triaxine (RDX) on bacterial communities in soil. In the present study, a sandy loam soil and a silt loam soil (high and low bioavailability, respectively) were artificially contaminated with RDX (0, 50, 500, 1,500, 5,000, 10,000, and 15,000 mg/kg soil). Bacterial communities from each treatment were monitored over 63 d to characterize the effects of RDX exposure on bacterial activity, biomass, functional diversity (Biolog microtiter plates), and structural diversity (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rDNA). Bacterial communities native to the high bioavailability soil were inherently different than bacterial communities native to the silt loam soil, not only in terms of bacterial activity and biomass, but also in terms of bacterial community functional and structural diversity. Soil RDX contamination was correlated with decreased bacterial biomass in the silt loam soil treatments and with decreased bacterial activity in the sandy loam soil treatments on day 7. Soil RDX contamination did not cause a significant shift in the functional diversity of the bacterial communities native to the silt loam soil, but was correlated with a shift in identities of substrates used by bacterial communities native to the sandy loam soil on day 7. Bacterial community structure was insensitive to the gradient of RDX concentrations at the beginning of the incubation. However, the identities of carbon substrates used by bacterial communities in both soil types were affected by long-term incubation with RDX. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:38–44. © 2009 SETAC
Effects of Forest Patch Characteristics on Small Mammal Species Composition, Grand Sable Dunes, Michigan

ABSTRACT: Species inventory is considered an important component of natural resource management in National Park System units. We trapped small mammals in forested patches in the Grand Sable Dunes, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan, during 2007 and 2009 to inventory species occurrences and test predictions of island biogeography theory in a terrestrial landscape. We captured 538 individuals representing nine small mammal species. Fewer species were present in isolated patches than those closer to the mainland or another patch (F1, 11 = 5.752, P = 0.035), as predicted. Contrary to predictions, there was no relationship between species richness and patch area, proportion of patch edge, or other isolation metrics. We documented range expansion of a southern species, the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque), into the Grand Sable Dunes. White-footed mice were more likely to be captured in less isolated patches (Omnibus χ21 = 9.684, Nagelkerke R2 = 0.605, P = 0.002). Our results provide...
Finite time stability under perturbing forces and on product spaces

This paper continues the development of a qualitative theory of stability, recently initiated by the authors, for systems operating over finite time intervals. The theory is motivated by 1) the need for a more practical concept of stability than is provided by the classical theory; and 2) the search for methods for investigating stability of a system trajectory (either analytically or numerically given) without the necessity of performing complicated transformations of the differential equations involved. The systems studied in this paper are nonautonomous, i.e., they are under the influence of external forces, and the concept of finite time stability (precisely defined in the paper) in this case involves the bounding of trajectories within specified regions of the state space during a given finite time interval. (The input is assumed to be bounded by a known quantity during this time interval.) Sufficient conditions are given for various types of finite time stability of a system under the influence of perturbing forces which enter the system equations linearly. These conditions take the form of existence of "Liapunov-like" functions whose properties differ significantly from those of classical Liapunov functions. In particular, there is no requirement of definiteness on such functions or their derivative. The remainder of the paper deals with the problem of determining finite time stability properties of a system from knowledge of the finite time stability properties of lower-order subsystems which, when appropriately coupled, form the original system. An example is given which illustrates some of the concepts discussed in the paper.
Petty Tyranny in Organizations

A petty tyrant is defined as one who lords his or her power over others. Preliminary empirical work suggests that tyrannical behaviors include arbitrariness and self-aggrandizement, belittling others, lack of consideration, a forcing style of conflict resolution, discouraging initiative, and noncontingent punishment. A model of the antecedents of tyrannical management and the effects of tyranny on subordinates is presented. Petty tyranny is argued to be the product of interactions between individual predispositions (beliefs about the organization, subordinates, and self, and preferences for action) and situational facilitators (institutionalized values and norms, power, and stressors). Tyrannical management is argued to cause low self-esteem, performance, work unit cohesiveness, and leader endorsement, and high frustration, stress, reactance, helplessness, and work alienation among subordinates. It is further argued that these effects may trigger a vicious circle which sustains the tyrannical behavior. Re...
Amyloid beta dimers/trimers potently induce cofilin-actin rods that are inhibited by maintaining cofilin-phosphorylation

Background Previously we reported 1 μM synthetic human amyloid beta1-42 oligomers induced cofilin dephosphorylation (activation) and formation of cofilin-actin rods within rat hippocampal neurons primarily localized to the dentate gyrus.
Solid Phase-Supported Thymine Dimers for the Construction of Dimer-Containing DNA by Combined Chemical and Enzymatic Synthesis: A Potentially General Method for the Efficient Incorporation of Modified Nucleotides into DNA

The ability to study the structure-activity relationships of the cis-syn thymine dimer, the major photoproduct of DNA, has been greatly aided by the availability of a building block suitable for its sequence-specific incorporation into oligonucleotides by standard automated DNA synthesis. Unfortunately, its usefulness is compromised by the fact that it takes six steps to synthesize in low overall yield and, as with all phosphoramidite building blocks, has to be used in great excess over the support in standard automated synthesis. To extend the usefulness of this building block, we have directly coupled it to standard A, C, G and T long chain alkylamine-linked controlled pore glass supports to yield a solid phase-supported dimer. We then demonstrate that 13mers containing a 3'-terminal d(T[cis-syn]TN) group synthesized with this support at 0.2 micromol scale can be efficiently incorporated into longer oligonucleotides by both primer extension with 3'-->5'exonuclease-deficient Klenow fragment or T4 polymerase and dNTPs or by enzymatic ligation with T4 DNA ligase to another oligonucleotide opposite a complementary template. The site specificity and integrity of the cis-syn thymine dimer after both primer extension and ligation was confirmed by cis-syn dimer-specific cleavage with T4 denV endonuclease V. This general approach should be applicable to the synthesis of many types of site-specific nucleic acid modifications and would be of particular use for those for which the required building blocks are expensive or difficult to make.
Robust and gain-scheduled H/sub 2/ synthesis for LFT parameter-dependent systems

In this paper, we solve the robust H/sub 2/ synthesis problem for linear fractional transformation (LFF) systems affected by white noise disturbances. Using an intermediate matrix, we develop robust and gain-scheduling control synthesis conditions in linear matrix inequality (LMI) forms. The newly proposed robust H/sub 2/ control approach has been applied to several examples, and demonstrated less conservative performance than other control designs based on robust H/sub /spl infin// method.
Iron depletion results in Src kinase inhibition with associated cell cycle arrest in neuroblastoma cells

Iron is required for cellular proliferation. Recently, using systematic time studies of neuroblastoma cell growth, we better defined the G1 arrest caused by iron chelation to a point in mid-G1, where cyclin E protein is present, but the cyclin E/CDK2 complex kinase activity is inhibited. In this study, we again used the neuroblastoma SKNSH cells lines to pinpoint the mechanism responsible for this G1 block. Initial studies showed in the presence of DFO, these cells have high levels of p27 and after reversal of iron chelation p27 is degraded allowing for CDK2 kinase activity. The initial activation of CDK2 kinase allows cells to exit G1 and enter S phase. Furthermore, we found that inhibition of p27 degradation by DFO is directly associated with inhibition of Src kinase activity measured by lack of phosphorylation of Src at the 416 residue. Activation of Src kinase occurs very early after reversal from the DFO G1 block and is temporally associated with initiation of cellular proliferation associated with entry into S phase. For the first time therefore we show that iron chelation inhibits Src kinase activity and this activity is a requirement for cellular proliferation.
Arresting amphiphilic self-assembly

Amphiphilic self-assembly has become the basis for a wide gamut of materials and commercial product applications. In many situations however, the best use of self-assembling complex fluids comes when their microstructures can be made permanent. The impetus for a static microstructure can often be such that an alternative non-aqueous media is preferable. Highlighted here is a new approach to capturing self-assembly through replacement of water in traditional complex fluids with sugars to form room temperature complex glasses. Combining solid and liquid properties at the nanoscale, complex glasses have broad potential applications in encapsulation and materials template synthesis.
Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Stem Cells: A Dangerously Dynamic Duo in Breast Cancer Progression

Aberrant activation of a latent embryonic program - known as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) - can endow cancer cells with the migratory and invasive capabilities associated with metastatic competence. The induction of EMT entails the loss of epithelial characteristics and the de novo acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype. In breast cancer, the EMT state has been associated with cancer stem cell properties including expression of the stem cell-associated CD44+/CD24-/low antigenic profile, self-renewal capabilities and resistance to conventional therapies. Intriguingly, EMT features are also associated with stem cells isolated from the normal mouse mammary gland and human breast reduction tissues as well as the highly aggressive metaplastic and claudin-low breast tumor subtypes. This has implications for the origin of these breast tumors as it remains unclear whether they derive from cells that have undergone EMT or whether they represent an expansion of a pre-existing stem cell population that expresses EMT-associated markers to begin with. In the present review, we consider the current evidence connecting EMT and stem cell attributes and discuss the ramifications of these newly recognized links for our understanding of the emergence of distinct breast cancer subtypes and breast cancer progression.
Atomistic modeling of carbon nanotube-based mechanical sensors

This article provides an overview of our recent studies on single-walled carbon nanotube-based sensors for measuring mass, strain, pressure, and temperature at the nanoscale. The carbon nanotube in a cantilevered or bridged configuration is simulated by an atomistic modeling, the molecular structural mechanics method. The principle of sensing is based on the resonant frequency shift of a carbon nanotube resonator when it is subjected to changes in attached mass, external loading, or temperature. The results indicate that a logarithmically linear relationship exists between the resonant frequency and the attached mass when the mass is larger than 10 20 g. The resonant frequency shifts are shown to be linearly dependent on the applied axial strain and the applied pressure, and approximate linearity exists between the resonant frequency shift and temperature. The sensing capability of carbon nanotube-based sensors far exceeds that of current microsensors and the sensitivities can be enhanced with the use of ...
Neer Award 1999: Overuse activity injures the supraspinatus tendon in an animal model: A histologic and biomechanical study

Overuse activity has been implicated as an etiologic factor in injury to the rotator cuff and to the supraspinatus tendon in particular. Due in part to the lack of an appropriate animal model, expex85ental studies have not addressed this issue. With the use of a rat model, we measured the effects of an overuse running regimen on 36 Sprague-Dawley rats after 4 (n = 12), 8 (n = 12), or 16 (n = 12) weeks of exercise and compared them with a control group of rats (n = 10) who were allowed normal cage activity. The histologic characteristics, the gross morphologic characteristics, and the mechanical properties of the tendon tissue were evaluated. The supraspinatus tendons in the exercised animals demonstrated significant changes as a result of overuse at all time points compared with the normal group. There was an increase in cellularity and a loss of the normal collagen fiber organization consistent with what has been seen in human tendinopathy. The tendons from the exercise groups were larger than normal in cross-sectional analysis at 4 weeks (129% of control, P < .01) and continued to increase in size with time to 16 weeks (164% of control, P = .01). The mechanical properties of the tendons deteriorated in response to overuse exercise with a decreased modulus of elasticity ranging from 52% to 61% of control (P = .07 at 4 weeks, P < .05 at 8 and 16 weeks) and a decreased maximum stress of failure ranging from 51% to 63% of control (P < .007). These findings support overuse activity as an etiologic factor in the development of supraspinatus tendinopathy and begin to describe the changes in the tendons as a result of such activity. This model can now be used to study the effect of various treatment modalities on these injuries.
Insulation Resistance Degradation in Ni–BaTiO 3 Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors

Insulation resistance (IR) degradation in Ni–BaTiO3 multilayer ceramic capacitors has been characterized by the measurement of both time to failure (TTF) and direct current leakage as a function of stress time under highly accelerated life test conditions. The measured leakage current-time dependence data fit well to an exponential form, and a characteristic growth time $\tau _{\rm SD}$ can be determined. A greater value of $\tau _{\rm SD}$ represents a slower IR degradation process. Oxygen vacancy migration and localization at the grain boundary region results in the reduction of the Schottky barrier height and has been found to be the main reason for IR degradation in Ni–BaTiO3 capacitors. The reduction of barrier height as a function of time follows an exponential relation of $ \phi ( t )=\phi (0){e}^{{-2{K}t}}$ , where the degradation rate constant ${K=K}_{0}e^{(-{E_{k}}/{kT})}$ is inversely proportional to the mean TTF (MTTF) and can be determined using an Arrhenius plot. For oxygen vacancy electromigration, a lower barrier height $\phi (0)$ will favor a slow IR degradation process, but a lower $ \phi (0)$ will also promote electronic carrier conduction across the barrier and decrease the IR. As a result, a moderate barrier height $ \phi (0)$ (and therefore a moderate IR value) with a longer MTTF (smaller degradation rate constant $K$ ) will result in a minimized IR degradation process and the most improved reliability in Ni–BaTiO3 multilayer ceramic capacitors.
The Use of Renal Parenchymal Area in Children With High Grade Vesicoureteral Reflux

AbstractPurpose: We sought to apply 2-dimensional sonographic measurements of renal parenchymal area in children with high grade vesicoureteral reflux to assess reliability and accuracy in estimating differential renal function, and in predicting clinical outcome compared to traditional 1-dimensional sonographic measurements.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 121 sonograms from 30 patients with a grade 4 or 5 primary vesicoureteral reflux, including 14 who underwent ureteral reimplantation during followup and 16 who were followed on prophylactic antibiotic therapy. One-dimensional sonographic measurements of longitudinal length and bipolar thickness were determined in refluxing and contralateral kidneys, as were 2-dimensional measurements of longitudinal parenchymal area using computer planimetry. Renal length, bipolar thickness and parenchymal area were compared to renal function data determined by nuclear renography. Renal length and area was also represented as a percent of age adjuste...
Involvement of the Abdominal Wall by Tumor

In cancer surgery, resection of the full thickness of the abdominal wall muscle layers is occasionally required because of their involvement by a tumor. The synthetic graft that may be placed to repair the abdominal wall defect will be in contact with bowel loops. Contact between loops of bowel and the undersurface of mesh may lead to the development of an enterocutaneous fistula, as shown in the reconstruction of full-thickness musculoaponeurotic abdominal wall defects.
Ellen R. Grass Guest Lecture: Challenges and Changes: Practicing Clinical Neurophysiology in the 21st Century

Clinical neurophysiology has expanded significantly in the past 50 years, with continued scientific discovery, improved technologies, and new applications for both diagnosis and treatment of nervous system dysfunction. The challenge in today's marketplace is to continue to provide excellent service while being mindful of expense. Influencing public policy to assure the continued success of the field of clinical neurophysiology relies on the collaboration of many groups involved in various aspects of the field. Medicare data provide a useful measure of past changes in the practice of clinical neurophysiology, and can point to useful future directions.
The Gaussian ansatz and beyond

Through the Schrodinger picture on lattice, we analyse theφ4 theory. Our results confirm the validity of the Gaussian ansatz used in the variational approximation. The vacuum structure is unambiguous in our approach.
Phake: the deadly world of falsified and substandard medicines, by Roger Bate, Washington DC, The AEI Press, 2012, 455 pp., US$49.95 (hardcover), ISBN 978-0-8447-7232-5

Roger Bate’s Phake: The Deadly World of Falsified and Substandard Medicines takes the reader through a critical analysis of counterfeit medicine and discusses potential unintended consequences of s...
Concerted evolution of the tandem array encoding primate U2 snRNA occurs in situ, without changing the cytological context of the RNU2 locus.

In primates, the tandemly repeated genes encoding U2 small nuclear RNA evolve concertedly, i.e. the sequence of the U2 repeat unit is essentially homogeneous within each species but differs somewhat between species. Using chromosome painting and the NGFR gene as an outside marker, we show that the U2 tandem array (RNU2) has remained at the same chromosomal locus (equivalent to human 17q21) through multiple speciation events over > 35 million years leading to the Old World monkey and hominoid lineages. The data suggest that the U2 tandem repeat, once established in the primate lineage, contained sequence elements favoring perpetuation and concerted evolution of the array in situ, despite a pericentric inversion in chimpanzee, a reciprocal translocation in gorilla and a paracentric inversion in orang utan. Comparison of the 11 kb U2 repeat unit found in baboon and other Old World monkeys with the 6 kb U2 repeat unit in humans and other hominids revealed that an ancestral U2 repeat unit was expanded by insertion of a 5 kb retrovirus bearing 1 kb long terminal repeats (LTRs). Subsequent excision of the provirus by homologous recombination between the LTRs generated a 6 kb U2 repeat unit containing a solo LTR. Remarkably, both junctions between the human U2 tandem array and flanking chromosomal DNA at 17q21 fall within the solo LTR sequence, suggesting a role for the LTR in the origin or maintenance of the primate U2 array.
DISCHARGE ST2 PREDICTS HEART FAILURE READMISSIONS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE DECOMPENSATED HEART FAILURE

Heart failure readmissions portend worst outcomes in patients with heart failure and impose a heavy burden on the healthcare system. We investigated ST2 (soluble IL33 receptor) as a predictor of heart failure readmissions. We prospectively identified patients that were admitted to our hospital with
Toward High-Performance Digital Logic Technology With Carbon Nanotubes

The slow-down in traditional silicon complementary metal-oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) scaling (Moore’s law) has created an opportunity for a disruptive innovation to bring the semiconductor industry into a postsilicon era. Due to their ultrathin body and ballistic transport, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have the intrinsic transport and scaling properties to usher in this new era. The remaining challenges are largely materials-related and include obtaining purity levels suitable for logic technology, placement of CNTs at very tight (∼5 nm) pitch to allow for density scaling and source/drain contact scaling. This review examines the potential performance advantages of a CNT-based computing technology, outlines the remaining challenges, and describes the recent progress on these fronts. Although overcoming these issues will be challenging and will require a large, sustained effort from both industry and academia, the recent progress in the field is a cause for optimism that these materials can have an impact on fut...
Regulation of Cell Adhesion and Proliferation by Physicochemical Surface Modification and Protein Enhancement Due to Mechanotransduction

Cell adhesion and proliferation and protein expression on surfaces possessing different topographies and chemical characteristics are examined in the presence of mechanical stress. Results from earlier studies illustrate the significance of surface roughness and chemistry modification on endothelial cell adhesion and spreading on untreated and plasma-treated polyethylene surfaces. Furthermore, changes in the friction characteristics of bovine articular cartilage resulting from mechanotransduction are correlated with variations in the near-surface expression of a glycoprotein secreted from the chondrocytes in the superficial layer of the cartilage. Recent work indicates that this glycoprotein plays a crucial role in the formation of a sacrificial boundary layer that effectively lubricates the cartilage surface, protecting it from mechanical wear.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Peroxidative Oxidation of Lignin and a Lignin Model Compound by a Manganese SALEN Derivative

The manganese catalyst, (1R,2R)-(−)-[1,2-cyclohexanediamino-N,N′-bis(3,5-di-t-butylsalicylidene)]manganese(III) chloride, was used to activate H2O2 to oxidize organosolv lignin and a lignin model compound. Oxidation of the β-O-4 lignin model substrate 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)propane-1,3-diol (320.3 m/z) and poplar organosolv lignin resulted in both fragmentation and polymerization processes, likely via phenoxy radical formation. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) of the reaction products from the β-O-4 model substrate showed oligomers of the substrate with masses of 661.192, 979.355, and 1297.466 m/z that correspond to a dimer, trimer, and tetramer of the β-O-4 model substrate, respectively. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) shows the formation of 5–5 diphenyl and 4-O-5 linkages in the β-O-4 model substrate oxidation products. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) detected three peaks, corresponding to the β-O-4 model subs...
CHANGES--STRESS OR BENEFIT?

(1964). Changes—Stress or Benefit? American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal: Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 207-212.
Enhancement of human sperm motility and velocity in vitro: effects of calcium and creatine phosphate *

Because of their roles in motility regulation and energy transport, calcium and creatine phosphate were examined for their effects on sperm motility and velocity in specimens of normal donors. Semen or migrated sperm fractions were incubated with of 1 mmol of calcium, 5 mmol magnesium, and 10 mmol of creatine phosphate (n = 28) or in the presence of 4 mumol of Verapamil, calcium, and creatine phosphate (n = 10). The samples were subjected to multiple exposure photography (four picture frames of two different drops) at 0, 1, 4, or 5 and at 10 hours and sperm motility and velocity were analyzed. In both calcium and calcium-creatine phosphate conditions, sperm motility and velocity were significantly increased, compared with control values (P = between less than 0.001 and 0.05). Sperm motility declined following Verapamil exposure, but the motility values remained at the level of the control in the presence of additional calcium or creatine phosphate. The effects of calcium and creatine phosphate take place rapidly; within 1 minute all improvements in sperm velocity and motility are fully achieved. There is no loading effect of calcium, and when the sperm is transferred into media without the additional calcium, the velocity decreased to that of the initial control value. Magnesium alone had no effect on motility or velocity. These experiments indicate that calcium or creatine phosphate can support sperm motility and velocity at a significantly increased level. Thus the addition of calcium or creatine phosphate to the insemination media may enhance the fertilizing capacity of sperm during in vitro fertilization or gamete intrafallopian transfer procedures.
Evaluation of pharmacist management of streptococcal throat infections in a health maintenance organization

A program within a health maintenance organization in which pharmacists were delegated the responsibility of treating and managing adult patients whose throat culture results were positive for group A, beta-hemolytic Streptococcus was evaluated. Results of 50 patients who received diagnostic throat cultures and treatment from internists, physician's assistants and nurse practitioners were compared with results of 58 patients treated and managed by pharmacists who followed procedures defined by physicians. Six hypotheses were tested with respect to the pharmacy program: (1) provider time is saved; (2) the time between throat culture and therapy initiation is shortened; (3) there are fewer return sick visits; (4) there are more reculture follow-up visits; (5) the medication regimen which exhibits a higher rate of cure (oral vs injection) is used more often; and (6) cost savings are realized. Hypotheses 1, 2 and 6 were supported by the results, 3 and 4 were possibly supported, and 5 was not testable. Pharmacists appeared to be as effective as the other practitioners in the management and treatment of streptococcal sore throat.
Intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring II. Multifactorial analysis of intrapartum fetal heart rate tracings

The first 30 minutes and the last 30 minutes of 1,996 intrapartum FHR tracings were analyzed for baseline FHR, variability (amplitude and frequency of oscillations), accelerations, and decelerations. A modified FHR scoring system incorporating these FHR features was employed. According to the association between various FHR scores and the incidence of low Apgar scores, FHR patterns were grouped into three basic categories with distinct prognostic significance: (1) normal FHR patterns, (2) compensated distress patterns, and (3) decompensated distress patterns. It is concluded that the prognostic significance of FHR tracings is increased by incorporating several FHR monitoring criteria in the analysis.
Analysis of the aging effects on the viscoelasticity of alginate gels.

The effect of aging on the mechanical behaviour of ionically cross-linked alginate gels is studied in detail. Relaxation experiments upon both unconfined compression and torsion are performed on samples at different aging times. The elastic moduli of the gel are found to increase with the aging time, whereas the internal (constitutive) mechanism of the relaxation of the solid component of the gel is found to be unaffected by aging. It is demonstrated that the Linear Visco-Elastic Stress/Diffusion Coupling model [D. Larobina, F. Greco, J. Chem. Phys., 2012, 136, 134904], recently developed by two of the present authors, is able to quantitatively reproduce the experimental data for differently aged samples, at early-to-intermediate relaxation times. Moreover, it is shown that the gel always undergoes a spontaneous expulsion of water (syneresis) and some spontaneous deformation for a sufficiently long observation time, even in the absence of any externally imposed strain. The latter phenomenology progressively slows down with increasing of the gel age. By proper time shifting of the late relaxation decays, i.e., by properly defining an “effective time”, master curves can be obtained in all cases, with all data pertaining to differently aged samples collapsing on a single relaxation law for each deformation history. The dependence of the shift factors on the aging time is found to follow a power law behavior, with an exponent of 1.39.
Two anaphylactic deaths after chemonucleolysis.

Prior to the early 1960s, treatment of low back pain ascribed to discogenic disease was a choice between a conservative, nonsurgical regime of rest, physiotherapy, and supportive measures, or laminectomy. In 1963, Smith began to inject the drug chymopapain into lumbar disks in patients with low back pain and sciatica [1]. This procedure is now called chemonucleolysis. The purpose of such injections is to depolymerize the cementing protein of the chondromucoprotein complex, reducing the molecular size and viscosity of the nucleus pulposus, thus chemically decompressing the disk space [2]. Anaphylaxis after the injection of chymopapain has been reported [3–6]. The two cases herein reported, however, are the only known deaths due to anaphylaxis.
Selective CO2 Sequestration with Monolithic Bimodal Micro/Macroporous Carbon Aerogels Derived from Stepwise Pyrolytic Decomposition of Polyamide-Polyimide-Polyurea Random Copolymers

Polymeric aerogels (PA-xx) were synthesized via room-temperature reaction of an aromatic triisocyanate (tris(4-isocyanatophenyl) methane) with pyromellitic acid. Using solid-state CPMAS 13C and 15N NMR, it was found that the skeletal framework of PA-xx was a statistical copolymer of polyamide, polyurea, polyimide, and of the primary condensation product of the two reactants, a carbamic–anhydride adduct. Stepwise pyrolytic decomposition of those components yielded carbon aerogels with both open and closed microporosity. The open micropore surface area increased from <15 m2 g–1 in PA-xx to 340 m2 g–1 in the carbons. Next, reactive etching at 1,000 °C with CO2 opened access to the closed pores and the micropore area increased by almost 4× to 1150 m2 g–1 (out of 1750 m2 g–1 of a total BET surface area). At 0 °C, etched carbon aerogels demonstrated a good balance of adsorption capacity for CO2 (up to 4.9 mmol g–1), and selectivity toward other gases (via Henry’s law). The selectivity for CO2 versus H2 (up to 9...
The Self-Effacing Buddhist: No(t)-Self in Early Buddhism and Contemplative Neuroscience

AbstractOne of the core teachings of Buddhism is the doctrine of anattā. I argue that there is good evidence that anattā as understood in early Buddhism should be viewed less as a doctrine and a metaphysical pronouncement (‘no-Self’) than as a soteriological claim (‘not-self’) – an appeal and a method to achieve, or move progressively closer to, liberation. This view opens up anattā to empirical scrutiny – does un-selfing, as an act, lead to liberation? Neuroimaging data collected on Buddhist or Buddhism-inspired meditators show interesting correspondences with this view of not-self as a possibly soteriological strategy. First, meditation leads to a quieting of the narrative self. Second, this quieting of the narrative self seems to lead to at least momentary increases in well-being. Third, this process can be learned, and seems to be already underway after a mere 40 hours of experience. Finally, very highly accomplished meditators seem to be able to tune down even the core self and truly experience anatt...
Differentiating Radiation Changes from Local Recurrence after SBRT for Lung Cancer: The Need for Better Decision Guidelines

Radiographic lung changes and fibrosis are near ubiquitous observations on CT imaging following the treatment of non small cell lung cancer with stereotactic body radiation therapy SBRT The distinction between these radiographic changes and a local cancer recurrence in a timely and accurate fashion is critical for successful salvage therapy as well as to avoid potentially detrimental overtreatment Nonetheless an adequate widely accepted and validated approach for post treatment surveillance and identification of recurrences is unavailable This article relates a case wherein the failure of close follow up imaging and uncertainty in the interpretation of imaging resulted in overtreatment It also identifies some of the shortcomings in the current attempts to develop an appropriate post SBRT follow up schedule examines the physiological and radiographic post SBRT radiation changes and reviews the pertinent literature