cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Submandibular high-flow bypass in the treatment of skull base lesions: an analysis of long-term outcome.

BACKGROUND Cerebral bypass surgery remains an integral part of the treatment of complex skull base tumors and unclippable aneurysms. OBJECTIVE The authors retrospectively analyzed a single-surgeon experience using a high-flow submandibular-infratemporal saphenous vein graft bypass technique after carotid artery sacrifice in the resection of complex skull base tumors and carotid isolation in unclippable aneurysms. METHODS Data on indications, surgical technique, bypass patency, complications, and outcome were collected for patients treated with adjunctive submandibular high-flow bypass for skull base lesions. RESULTS Eleven patients (age range, 13-77 years) were treated for various skull base lesions: 4 patients were treated for skull base tumors with resection of the internal carotid artery (ICA), 6 were treated for aneurysms not amenable to clipping, and one was treated for invasive Mucor infection. With the use of a saphenous vein graft, a high-flow bypass was created from the high cervical ICA or external carotid artery to ICA or middle cerebral artery by means of a submandibular-infratemporal route. Postoperative angiography indicated bypass patency in 10 of 11 patients. There was no operative mortality. Follow-up of up to 12 years (mean, 56 months) was achieved. CONCLUSION Direct high-flow submandibular-infratemporal interpositional saphenous vein bypass graft is an effective and durable technique for the treatment of complex skull base lesions where ICA revascularization is indicated.
Interpersonal distance and personal space: A conceptual and methodological note

Forty male and forty female subjects were led to anticipate an interaction in which they were to take control, or were to avoid being controlled by another. Both interpersonal distances and personal spaces were greater when subjects were avoiding another's control attempts. Thus, both distance and space expand reactively in response to a threat to control. In contrast to earlier research (Edney, Walker, & Jordan, 1976), we obtained no relationship between interpersonal distance and size of personal space. The pattern of results suggests that the curvilinear relationship obtained by Edney et al. was due largely to the instructions they gave subjects regarding distance and space.
An Analytic Equation for the Volume Fraction of Condensationally Grown Mixed Particles and Applications to Secondary Organic Material Produced in Continuously Mixed Flow Reactors

Secondary condensation of organic material onto primary seed particles is one pathway of particle growth in the atmosphere, and many properties of the resulting mixed particles depend on organic volume fraction. Environmental chambers can be used to simulate the production of these types of particles, and the optical, hygroscopic, and other properties of the mixed particles can be studied. In the interpretation of the measured properties, the probability density function p(ϵ;d) of volume fraction ϵ of the condensing material for particle diameter d in the outflow of the chamber is typically needed. In this article, analytic equations are derived p(ϵ;d) for condensational growth in a continuously mixed flow reactor. The equation predictions are compared to measurements for the condensation of secondary organic material on quasi-monodisperse sulfate seed particles. Equations are presented herein for discrete, Gaussian, and triangular distribution functions for the seed particle number–diameter distributions...
Self-assembly of nanostructures towards transparent, superhydrophobic surfaces

High transparency is important to the performance of optical equipment and devices, such as windows, lenses, solar panels, and safety goggles. As many of them are constantly exposed to various environmental conditions, it is highly desirable to develop a self-cleaning coating that can prevent microbial growth, fouling, corrosion and icing. One of these technologies is superhydrophobic coating. In this review, we discuss recent progress in design, synthesis and fabrication of transparent, superhydrophobic surfaces. First, we revisit different models of superhydrophobicity and present the potential challenges in the nanofabrication of transparent superhydrophobic surfaces. We then discuss the general fabrication methods, including the top-down fabrication methods and self-assembly approaches, to create roughness with a size in the sub-visible wavelength with or without post-hydrophobilization steps. While top-down fabrication offers well-defined size and shape of surface topography, self-assembly is more versatile and could enable mass-production of nano-roughness on a wide range of substrates at a lower cost. Therefore, we focus on discussion of different self-assembly methods, including sol–gel processes, microphase separation, templating, and nanoparticle assembly, to create transparent, superhydrophobic surfaces. The review concludes with perspectives on future directions and challenges in manipulation of surface nanoroughness, specifically, using nanoparticles, for both high transparency and superhydrophobicity and their potential applications.
Simulation of high-brightness electron photoinjectors

The problem of accurately modeling RF photoinjector electron sources in three dimensions with reasonable computational power remains a challenge. Development work on extensions to the Los Alamos particle tracking code PARMELA (Phase and Radial Motion in Electron Linear Accelerators) to handle fully 3-D problems including non-rotationally symmetric RF cavity and space-charge fields is discussed. Algorithms for computing the space charge forces in a point-to-point fashion including the effects of image charges on the cathode and retardation effects will be presented. A SIMD implementation of the code using the PVM (Parallel Virtual Machine) routines to perform far-reaching optimization studies is also discussed.
Is courage always a virtue? Suicide, killing, and bad courage

Is it always good to be courageous? We have proposed elsewhere that the subjective nature of judging the worth of a goal may on occasion lead to bad courage: When an actor voluntarily assumes personal risk for a goal he or she believes is noble but society views as a wrong. Twenty publicly available first person written statements or transcripts made before or during a suicide attempt (n = 12) or a terrorist action or spree killing (n = 8) were coded for the presence or absence of key defining features of courage (Volition, Risk, and Value of the Goal). Volition was found in 75% of the narratives, Risk in 50%, and Value of the Goal in 80%. All three types of statements were present in 40% of narratives, providing evidence that bad courage can and does occur. Implications for courage interventions are discussed.
On Training Signal Design for Multi-User MIMO-OFDM: Performance Analysis and Tradeoffs

This paper addresses spectrally-efficient multiantenna multi-carrier uplink transmission scenarios where the users overlap in time and frequency and are separated using spatial processing at the base station. The robustness of the proposed training sequences to residual carrier frequency offset and phase noise is evaluated analytically. This analysis reveals an interesting design tradeoff between the Peak-to-Average Power Ratio of a training sequence and the increase in channel estimation mean squared error over the ideal case when these two impairments are not present.
A continuum description of dislocations in elastically nonlinear media: martensitic embryo formation

Candidate sites for heterogeneous nucleation of martensite are constructed from two dislocation structures placed in a nonlinear, nonlocal elastic continuum. The resulting static strain fields of the dislocation arrays give rise to mesoscopic embryos of the product phase, which exhibit athermal behavior as the effective temperature of the system is changed. A high-potency dislocation array gives rise to a strained classical (sharp boundary) martensitic embryo at high temperatures, corresponding to the limit of metastability for the martensitic phase. This embryo grows rapidly with decreasing temperature, interacting with the system boundary before the transformation can occur. A low-potency dislocation gives rise to a more diffuse, nonclassical structure, which increases in strain amplitude and size with decreasing effective temperature, becoming metastable before finally triggering the transformation of the full system. Transformation occurs in the low-potency case when force is 61% of the driving force at the lattice instability, and the strain embryo achieves 80% of the transformation strain.
An electron microscopic investigation of myosin and some of its aggregates.

To determine some of the characteristic parameters of the myosin molecule, specimens for electron microscopy have been prepared by the Hall shadow-transfer technique. The molecule is a rod-like structure with a globular head on one end. An analysis of measurements made on 1448 individual particles has shown the over-all length of the molecule to be 1590±165 A. The head portion of the molecule is 440±70 A long as determined from measurements on 650 particles. The diameter of the rod portion of the molecule is 20±5 A but the head diameter could not be determined with certainty. In a number of instances considerable substructure has been observed in the head region. By preparing specimens from low ionic strength solutions, rods with globules on both ends (dimers) and larger aggregates could be produced. Many of the aggregates have projections along their length which are reminiscent of both the heads on the myosin molecules and the projections from the A-band filaments in muscle. The possible relation between these aggregates and the aggregates and A-band filaments studied by H. E. Huxley is discussed.
Atomic growth mechanisms for lamellar structures

Abstract This paper will examine the role of interfacial structure in two lamellar phase transformations in solids, namely the pearlite and the discontinuous (cellular) reactions. Both transformations result in alternating plates of different composition and crystal structure. Other similarities between the two types of transformations will be noted. The relationship between the phases at the growth interface and the interlamellar interface is studied, showing that crystallography plays a significant role in interfacial structure. We have generalized the analysis developed by Van der Merwe for thin-film epitaxy in fcc:bcc for application to any interface. This allows the relative energies of different conjugate habit planes to be surveyed in one plot. Although we apply the analysis on rigid lattices, this approach can be further extended to allow for interfacial misfit strains.
Reducing the Global Burden of Ischemic Heart Disease and Stroke A Challenge for the Cardiovascular Community and the United Nations

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which include cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, diabetes mellitus, and chronic pulmonary disease, are the leading cause of global mortality accounting for 36 million (63%) of the 57 million deaths worldwide in 2008.1 Recognizing the global pandemic and burden of NCDs in a landmark decision, the United Nations has scheduled a high-level meeting on September 19 and 20, 2011 to determine priority actions and interventions in response to this crisis. The greatest increase in NCDs is in low- and middle-income countries whose resources for surveillance, prevention, and treatment are severely limited. Among NCDs, CVD is the leading cause of death, and ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke are the major contributors to CVD. Worldwide, 80% of deaths from CVD now occur in low- and middle-income countries.1 Thus, there is a special and urgent need for data and treatment strategies concerning CVD in low- and middle-income countries. Article see p 314 Although IHD and stroke are major contributors to global mortality, causing 7.2 and 5.7 million deaths, respectively, in 2004,2 and have 9 established risk factors in common,3,4 the relative contributions of stroke and IHD to mortality on a country-to-country basis and the relative contribution of the various risk factors are not well documented. In the current issue of Circulation , Kim and Johnston5 report an analysis of mortality and disability adjusted life year loss rates from stroke and IHD from 192 World Health Organization member countries, along with national estimates of risk factors and national income data from World Bank estimates. In …
Catharanthine C16 substituent effects on the biomimetic coupling with vindoline: Preparation and evaluation of a key series of vinblastine analogues

Abstract The examination of the catharanthine C16 substituent effects on the Fe(III)-promoted biomimetic coupling reaction with vindoline is detailed, confirming the importance of the presence of a C16 electron-withdrawing substituent, and establishing an unanticipated unique role (>10-fold) that the C16 methyl ester plays in the expression of the natural product properties. Thus, replacement of the vinblastine C16′ methyl ester with an ethyl ester (10-fold), a cyano group (100-fold), an aldehyde (100-fold), a hydroxymethyl group (1000-fold) or a primary carboxamide (>1000-fold) led to surprisingly large reductions in cytotoxic activity.
AFM: a valid reference tool?

To first order, the use of AFM as a reference tool potentially offers a large improvement over pre'ious techniques for matching and calibration of on-line CL)-SEMs. However, the utility of this approach depends on the validity of the assumption that AFM precision and accuracy are relatively constant with sample type. A fullfactorial design using analysis of variations (ANOVA) has been employed in order to gauge the precision of a non-contact mode CD AFM over multiple sample types and instrument conditions. 'The effects of material layer, pattern geometry, feature shape, and tip size on AFM precision viill he presented.
Aspects of circulatory physiology of montane and lowland birds.

Abstract o 1. Weights of body, heart, and lungs, tarsometatarsal lengths, and several hematological parameters (red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit) were measured in closely related birds at four montane and lowland locations. 2. Lung and heart weights of highland birds average 37 and 11% higher, respectively, than those of lowland individuals of similar size. Average hematological parameters are 23% (red blood cell count), 17% (hemoglobin concentration), and 7% (hematocrit) higher in the former animals than in the latter. 3. Pine siskins (Spinus pinus) captured in midwinter in Michigan are the only birds that have significantly elevated blood properties over those of their montane relatives. A comparison of blood values of American goldfinches (S. tristis) during summer and winter in Michigan reveals an increase in blood characteristics of winter individuals similar in extent to that of winter pine siskins. This raises the possibility that the blood parameters of high altitude birds reflect adjustments in oxygen carrying capacity to meet the thermogenic demands as well as hypoxia characterizing cold montane habitats. 4. Birds that migrate seasonally between high and low altitude do not differ in any of the morphological or vascular characteristics analyzed from those of individuals residing continuously in the mountains. 5. Since the physiological characteristics of montane birds probably reflect responses to multiple demands of the physical environment, identification of the responses specific to hypoxia associated with the altitudes at which these birds live will require further study.
Supersymmetric grand unified theories and global fits to low energy data

Abstract We present a self-consistent χ 2 analysis of several supersymmetric (SUSY) grand unified theories recently discussed in the literature. We obtain global fits to low energy data, including gauge couplings, fermion masses and mixing angles, gauge boson masses and BR ( b → sγ ). One of the models studied provides an excellent fit to the low energy data with χ 2 ∼ 1 for 3 degrees of freedom, in a large region of the experimentally allowed SUSY parameter space. We also discuss the consequences of our work for a general MSSM analysis at the Z scale.
A magnetic aftereffect in dilute h.c.p. Co-C alloys

Abstract A magnetic disaccommodation in dilute h.c.p. Co-C alloys has been observed around 90°C. The thermally activated process giving rise to the disaccommodation is characterized by an activation energy of 26 kcal mole −1 and an attack frequency on the order of 10 +13 sec −1 . An application of the selection rules shows that the disaccommodation cannot be caused by the redistribution of tetrahedral or octahedral interstitials or any nearest neighbor interstitial pairs as long as the defects interact linearly with the internal magnetic field.
Uveal metastasis from breast cancer in 264 patients

Abstract Purpose Breast cancer is an increasingly important health problem in women and is the most common tumor to metastasize to the uvea. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical features, management, and prognosis of patients with uveal metastasis from breast cancer. Design Retrospective interventional case series. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 264 consecutive patients with uveal metastasis from breast cancer. We assessed the clinical features of the patient and tumor at the time of presentation, management, and prognosis. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used to analyze the probability of death as a function of time. Results Uveal metastasis was the initial manifestation of breast cancer in seven patients (3%) and the first systemic metastatic site of previously diagnosed breast cancer in 43 (16%). Associated with uveal metastasis, optic disk metastasis was found in 13 patients (5%), eyelid metastasis in one patient (1%), and conjunctival and orbital in one patient ( Conclusions Patients with uveal metastasis from breast cancer presented to ophthalmologists with visual symptoms in 93% of cases. However, asymptomatic metastases were commonly detected in the fellow eye. Local ocular tumor control was excellent with current therapies. However, systemic prognosis for all patients, including those who had been treated with different management options, was poor with survival rates of 65% at 1-year and 24% at 5-year follow-up.
Compression of chemical process data by functional approximation and feature extraction

Effective utilization of measured process data requires efficient techniques for their compact storage and retrieval, as well as for extracting information on the process operation. Techniques for the on-line compression of process data were developed based on their contribution in time and in frequency using the theory of wavelets. Existing techniques for compression via wavelets and wavelet packets are inconvenient for on-line compression and are best suited for stationary signals. These methods were extended to the on-line decomposition and compression of nonstationary signals via time-varying wavelet packets. Various criteria for the selection of the best time-varying wavelet packet coefficients are derived. Explicit relationships among the compression ratio, local and global errors of approximation, and features in the signal were derived and used for efficient compression. Extensive case studies on industrial data demonstrate the superior performance of wavelet-based techniques as compared to existing piecewise linear techniques.
Patterns of fish diversity in a mainstem Missouri River reservoir and associated delta in South Dakota and Nebraska, USA

There is an expansive and expanding delta at the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers in the Lewis and Clark Reservoir. The delta provides diverse aquatic habitat that is somewhat similar to the historic Missouri River and to remnant river habitats. As such, the delta may have relatively high fish species diversity compared to lentic reservoir habitats. To compare patterns of fish diversity between the delta and reservoir habitats, we collected fish in several nursery habitats in both areas using four gear types (seine, gill net, electrofisher and fyke net) on three occasions (July, August and September) in 2005. Species richness was higher in the delta (n = 34) than the reservoir (n = 22). Thirteen species composed more than 1% of delta collections while only four species composed more than 1% of reservoir collections. Species diversity (Fisher's α) was also significantly higher in the delta. Higher species diversity in the delta may be explained by higher habitat diversity. These results suggest that newly forming deltas have the potential to protect and restore fish species diversity, because they retain natural river functions such as sediment transport and habitat formation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measurements of water characteristics at depths greater than 10 km in the Marianas Trench

Abstract Measurements of the temperature, salinity, oxygen, and nutrients have been made at depths of 9978 and 10,933 m in the Challenger Deep of the Marianas Trench by means of free-vehicle hydrographic casts. At depths below about 6000 m the deep appears to be filled with a uniform water type characteristic of that at the sill depth. The relations of salinity, oxygen, and silicate to potential temperature in the abyssal waters are not significantly different from those north of the Marshall Islands, about 2000 km to the east, except that the various ridges along the westward path prevent the densest waters from reaching the Marianas Trench.
Comments on "Are the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) justified?"

In “Are the Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Justified?” the authors conclude that the benefits delivered by the GSEs (as structured prior to conservatorship) are minimal and do not exceed their costs. While many of the arguments made in the article have merit and raise serious questions about the structure of the GSEs prior to 2008, the article overlooks several important benefits and costs. More significantly, no one is arguing for a return of the GSEs as they were structured prior to conservatorship. Rather than debate the merits of a model that has already been rejected by policymakers, we argue that the far more important question is what the housing finance market should look like in the future.
Methanol oxidation on (2×1)Pt(110): does the C–O or O–H bond break first?

Abstract Recently, there has been some controversy over whether the first step in methanol oxidation on platinum is the transfer of a hydrogen i.e.: 13 CH 3 16 OH ( ad ) + 18 O ( ad ) → 13 CH 3 16 O ( ad ) + 18 O ( ad ) H or a methyl group i.e.: 13 CH 3 16 OH ( ad ) + 18 O ( ad ) → 16 OH ( ad ) + 13 CH 3 18 O ( ad ) . In this paper, we use isotopic substitutions to show that the O–H bond breaks rather than the C–O bond, even though in the gas phase, the O–H bond is 20 kcal mol−1 stronger than the C–O bond. These results are consistent with our understanding of intrinsic barriers.
Host-derived suppression of nematode reproductive and fitness genes decreases fecundity of Heterodera glycines Ichinohe

To control Heterodera glycines Ichinohe (soybean cyst nematode) in Glycine max (L.) Merr. (soybean), we evaluated the use of producing transgenic soybean seedlings expressing small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against specific H. glycines genes. Gene fragments of three genes related to nematode reproduction or fitness (Cpn-1, Y25 and Prp-17) were PCR-amplified using specific primers and independently cloned into the pANDA35HK RNAi vector using a Gateway cloning strategy. Soybean roots were transformed with these constructions using a composite plant system. Confirmation of transformation was attained by PCR and Southern blot analysis. Transgene expression was detected using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and expression of siRNAs was confirmed in transgenic plants using northern blot analysis. Bioassays performed on transgenic composite plants expressing double-stranded RNA fragments of Cpn-1, Y25 and Prp-17 genes resulted in a 95, 81 and 79% reduction for eggs g(-1) root, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrated a significant reduction in transcript levels of the Y25 and Prp-17 genes of the nematodes feeding on the transgenic roots via real-time RT-PCR whereas the expression of non-target genes were not affected. The results of this study demonstrate that over-expression of RNA interference constructs of nematode reproduction or fitness-related genes can effectively control H. glycines infection with levels of suppression comparable to conventional resistance.
Air Pollution from Secondary Aluminum Production: Determining the Applicability of MACT Requirements

EPA's Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule for secondary aluminum production is intended to substantially reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants. It may also impose significant costs on affected facilities. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comparisons of Bone Mineral Density Between Recreational and Trained Male Road Cyclists.

OBJECTIVE:: To compare measures of training, performance, body composition, and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) between age-matched recreational and competitively trained male road cyclists. DESIGN:: Cross-sectional. SETTING:: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS:: Male cyclists (N = 28) aged 21-54 years riding more than 3 hours per week. ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS:: Men who train at high (≥8 h/wk) and moderate volumes (3-8 h/wk). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: Areal bone mineral density assessments by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of the whole body, lumbar spine (L1-L4), right and left hips, maximal oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max), and training history. RESULTS:: Trained cyclists had higher power to weight (5.3 ± 0.4 vs 4.7 ± 0.3 W/kg, P = 0.001), V[Combining Dot Above]O2max (57.2 ± 4.5 vs 53.0 ± 6.1 mL·kg·min, P = 0.049) and training volume (10.6 ± 2.1 vs 6.3 ± 0.9 h/wk, P CONCLUSIONS:: Areal bone mineral density is lower in trained male road cyclists compared with recreational, specifically at the hips. Lumbar aBMD is low in both trained and recreational cyclists. Research is needed to determine the chronic effects of cycling on aBMD and interventions that improve aBMD in this population. CLINICAL RELEVANCE:: This study suggests road cycling may compromise aBMD and potentially increase the likelihood of low-trauma fractures; health care professionals should consider this exposure when exercise prescriptions are designed for patients at-risk for osteopenia/osteoporosis, for example, women and older adults. Language: en
Instrumental techniques for infrared and Raman vibrational optical activity

Vibrational optical activity has evolved to a sophisticated level over the past twenty years. For infrared vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), instrumental techniques involving dispersive and Fourier transform spectrometers became well established before the development of satisfactory theoretical methods. In Raman optical activity (ROA), there has been a revolution recently in instrumental techniques and a broadening of the theoretical basis for describing ROA intensities. In this paper we will describe the instrumental basis for the measurement of VCD and ROA and discuss the potential of vibrational optical activity for applications in process analysis.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dissecting RNA recombination in vitro: role of RNA sequences and the viral replicase.

Molecular mechanisms of RNA recombination were studied in turnip crinkle carmovirus (TCV), which has a uniquely high recombination frequency and nonrandom crossover site distribution among the recombining TCV-associated satellite RNAs. To test the previously proposed replicase-driven template-switching mechanism for recombination, a partially purified TCV replicase preparation (RdRp) was programed with RNAs resembling the putative in vivo recombination intermediates. Analysis of the in vitro RdRp products revealed efficient generation of 39-terminal extension products. Initiation of 39-terminal extension occurred at or close to the base of a hairpin that was a recombination hotspot in vivo. Efficient generation of the 39-terminal extension products depended on two factors: (i) a hairpin structure in the acceptor RNA region and (ii) a short base-paired region formed between the acceptor RNA and the nascent RNA synthesized from the donor RNA template. The hairpin structure bound to the RdRp, and thus is probably involved in its recruitment. The probable role of the base-paired region is to hold the 39 terminus near the RdRp bound to the hairpin structure to facilitate 39terminal extension. These regions were also required for in vivo RNA recombination between TCV-associated sat-RNA C and sat-RNA D, giving crucial and direct support for a replicase-driven template-switching mechanism of RNA recombination.
Serum CA-125 Levels in Women with Uterine Leiomyomata And A Review of The Literature

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether benign uterine leiomyomata results in an elevation of serum CA-125, and whether the weight of the uterine specimen affects CA-125 levels. Study Design: This study was an institutional review board–approved retrospective chart review. The patients ages ranged from 18 to 75 years, and patients were identified as they presented with a large pelvic mass. A serum CA-125 level was drawn as part of the preoperative workup for this study. A Pearson's linear correlation coefficient was calculated for the uterine weight versus the CA-125 level. Results: Forty-five (45) of 77 patients had only leiomyomata at surgery and pathologic exam, and they were the subjects who participated in this study. The patients′ mean uterine weight was 928 g (standard deviation [SD]±691), the mean CA-125 was 17.7 (SD±11.0), and mean patient age was 43 years (SD±8.3). Four (4) of 45 women (8.9%) had an elevated CA-125. The correlation coefficient for uterine weight versus CA-125 l...
Congenital Heart Disease: Impact on the Fetus, Pregnancy, Neonate, and Family

Dr. Wernovsky would like to thank all of the contributors to this issue of Clinics in Perinatology, and the medical and nursing staffs of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for their ongoing support and daily challenge to improve the outcomes for our patients. I would also like to acknowledge the tolerance and love from my wife Lauren (who really gets all the work done) and my children Simon and Jenna; without them, nothing would ever be accomplished. Finally, the editors wish to thank Carin Davis, Donald Mumford, and the staff at Elvesier for putting together yet another terrific issue of Clinics in Perinatology and for their tireless work on the project. With tremendous gratitude, Dr. Berger would like to thank his colleagues at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin for their contributions to this issue of the Clinics in Perinatology and for the great care and hard work that they put forth on a daily basis. It is that hard work—along with a cooperative, multidisciplinary team approach to our complex patients—that allows for the advancement of knowledge and progressive improvement in outcomes that we have realized and will continue to realize. This team approach includes all who are involved in the care of the fetus, neonate, child, adolescent, and adult with congenital heart disease. In addition, I would like to thank and acknowledge the coeditors of this issue, Drs. Wernovsky and
Expression of pit-1 messenger ribonucleic acid and protein in the human placenta.

It is well established that the human placenta produces a wide range of hormones similar to those secreted by the pituitary and hypothalamus. However, the physiological role and regulation of placental hormone synthesis and release are still largely unknown. GH (GH-N) is expressed in the pituitary, where it requires the tissue-specific transcription factor Pit-1. Chorionic somatomammotropin A (CS-A) and CS-B as well as the placental GH variant (GH-V), which also belong to the GH gene family and are located in the same chromosomal cluster, are expressed in the placental syncytiotrophoblast. The presence of Pit-1-binding sites in the CS-A and GH-V promoter regions predicts that Pit-1 may be expressed in the placenta. However, this has not yet been demonstrated. To examine possible similarities in the regulation of these genes in the pituitary and placenta, we studied the expression of pit-1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in the human placenta, transformed human placental cells, and the JEG-3 choriocarcin...
TISSUE CULTURE STUDIES OF CILIATED RESPIRATORY EPITHELIUM.

Abstract Several methods are described for obtaining and growing ciliated respiratory epithelium in tissue culture. The addition of specific antigens to mucosa obtained from allergic patients and sensitized animals did not cause any detectable alterations in the frequency or coordination of the ciliary beat. Patients with chronic bronchitis and intrinsic (nonallergic) bronchial asthma generally had poor ciliary activity.
EARLY MOTOR ASSESSMENT OF THE |[le]| 1,200 GM PREMATURE

The Bayley Scales are widely used to measure both mental and motor development of high-risk premature infants, but vary dramatically between ages in the comprehensiveness of assessment. Our follow-up of 75 ≤1,200 gm infants has employed both the Bayley and the Milani-Comparetti to improve our definition of the specific motor deficits of premature infants with a history of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Thirty-five (46.7%) of our infants experienced ICH originating in the germinal layer, with 27 of the 35 showing no further extension of the hemorrhage. Motor assessments performed during the first 2 years revealed persistent motor delay in the ICH group beginning at 4 mo. of age. Gross motor skills were primarily affected, with delayed postural reactions and walking in the ICH group. Differences seen at 1 yr persisted through the second year. Infants at highest risk were those who showed persistent ventriculomegaly (VM) or abnormal periventricular morphology (APM) through term gestational age, but this finding was at least partially determined by the nature of the assessment scale. ICH per se, without associated VM or APM, conferred no special risk after 4 mo. on the Bayley Scales, but was associated with significantly poorer postural reactions on the Milani-Comparetti at 12 mo. corrected age. Both scales agreed, however, in showing poorest outcome for ICH infants with VM or APM diagnosed by ultrasound at term gestational age.
Efficient realization of nonzero spectra by polynomial matrices

A theorem of Boyle and Handelman gives necessary and sufficient conditions for an n-tuple of nonzero complex numbers to be the nonzero spectrum of some matrix with nonnegative entries, but is not constructive and puts no bound on the necessary dimension of the matrix. Working with polynomial matrices, we constructively reprove this theorem in a special case, with a bound on the size of the polynomial matrix required to realize a given polynomial.
Method for determining the composition and orientation of III–V {001} semiconductor surfaces

Abstract A method for determining the composition and orientation of III–V {001} semiconductor surfaces is presented and applications are described. The information is obtained from the techniques of time-of-flight scattering and recoiling spectrometry (TOF-SARS), using the composition from azimuth-specific elemental accessibilities (CASEA) method, and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). The azimuth-specific elemental accessibilities (ASEA) are measured experimentally and calculated from the number of accessible atoms in the unit cell and from three-dimensional trajectory simulations using the SARIC program. The in situ analyses identify the 1st-layer elemental species and determine the orientation of the reconstructed surface symmetry elements with respect to the bulk crystallographic directions. This is demonstrated for the III–V {001} compound semiconductor surfaces of GaAs and InAs in the (4 × 2) and (4 × 2) phases and InP in the (4 × 2) phase. The analyses confirm the missing-row-dimer (MRD) structure for GaAs and InAs in which the missing row direction is parallel to the direction of the 1st-layer multimers (dimers) and the missing-row-trimer-dimer (MRTD) structure for InP in which the missing row direction is perpendicular to the direction of the 1st-layer multimers (trimers).
Lock bypassing: an efficient algorithm for concurrently accessing priority heaps

The heap representation of priority queues is one of the most widely used data structures in the design of parallel algorithms. Efficiently exploiting the parallelism of a priority heap has significant influence on the efficiency of a wide range of applications and parallel algorithms. In this paper, we propose an aggressive priority heap operating algorithm, called the lock bypassing algorithm (LB) on shared memory systems. This algorithm minimizes interference of concurrent enqueue and dequeue operations on priority heaps while keeping the strict priority property: a dequeue always returns the minimum of a heap. The unique idea that distinguishes the LB algorithm from previous concurrent algorithms on priority heaps is the use of locking-on-demand and lock-bypassing techniques to minimize locking granularity and to maximize parallelism. The LB algorithm allows an enqueue operation to bypass the locks along its insertion path until it reaches a possible place where it can perform the insertion. Meanwhile a dequeue operation also makes its locking range and locking period as small as possible by carefully tuning its execution procedure. The LB algorithm is shown to be correct in terms of deadlock freedom and heap consistency. The performance of the LB algorithm was evaluated analytically and experimentally in comparison with previous algorithms. Analytical results show that the LB algorithm reduces by half the number of locks waited for in the worst case by previous algorithms. The experimental results show that the LB algorithm outperforms previously designed algorithms by up to a factor of 2 in hold time.
Parametric study of fracture treatment parameters for ultra-tight gas reservoirs

Tight gas reservoirs are expected to contribute significantly to the gas and energy supply all over the world. However, the productivity of tight gas wells, especially in the ultra-tight formations, is often lower than expected. One of the needed improvements in reservoir stimulation technology is in the advancement of fracturing fluids and techniques that can help create long and highly conductive fractures and reduce phase trapping at the face of the fracture. Introduction of aqueous-based fluids in ultralow permeability sands during hydraulic fracturing decreases the effective gas permeability and ultimate gas recovery. Unfortunately most fracture fluids currently deployed are aqueous based owing to their ease of preparation and low cost. This article aims to investigate the effect of different fracture fluid systems and fracture treatment parameters and then determine the one that achieves a balance of minimal fluid retention, optimal fracture geometry and low cost for ultra-tight gas reservoirs. In this article, a dataset of reservoir properties, petrophysical properties, and fracture treatment parameters has been developed based on a complete review of published geological and engineering data of ultra-tight gas reservoir. Then based on numerical parametric studies, the effect of pertinent design factors on hydraulic fracture propagation and geometry is quantified with a fracture simulator. The factors investigated include volumetric injection rate, gel loading and proppant size. Parametric variations of seven different injection rates, seven different fracture fluids, and three different proppants were studied. A final fracture treatment that achieves maximum fracture length, fracture width and proppant conductivity is determined to be optimal. Results of simulations show that optimal fracture geometry and fracture conductivity based on pumping limitations are obtained at an injection rate of 100 barrels per minute, a gel loading of 50 pounds per thousand gallons of linear gel and a proppant size of 20/40 mesh sand. This article brings new understanding of fracture behavior in ultra-tight gas reservoirs and serves as a guide for improved hydraulic fracturing practices in ultra-tight gas basins throughout the USA. The new knowledge obtained will help engineers design better fracture treatments and production strategies in the future.
A relationship between ovarian and genital tract eosinophilic granulated cells.

Estrogen secretion by the ovary, as estimated by changes in genital tract tissues, can be directly correlated with the appearance of eosinophilic granulated cells within the ovarian tissues. Ovarian eosinophilia and development of the genital tract of the gilt are prominent from the eleventh to fifteenth days of the estrous cycle, between the twenty-fourth and forty-fourth, and after the eighty-sixth days of pregnancy. It is suggested that the appearance of eosinophilic granulated cells in ovarian tissues is a direct effect of ovarian estrogens, as is the appearance of genital tract eosinophilic granulated cells subsequent to estrogen release from the ovaries. The appearance of eosinophilic granulated cells in ovarian tissues provides a means whereby the portion of the ovary involved in estrogen secretion can be identified. Eosinophilic granulated cells were observed in thecal layers of secondary, tertiary and atretic follicles and in the connective tissues surrounding and penetrating recently formed corpora lutea. Ovarian eosinophilic granulated cells are not of immediate blood origin, but arise from undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. In the process of accumulation of eosinophilic granules and modification of nuclear chromatin to bi- or multinucleated forms, cellular death occurs and the granules and chromatin particles are released in the tissues.
Spontaneous rupture of the unscarred uterus

Abstract Objective: By presentation of cases of spontaneous (nontraumatic) ruptures of previously intact uteri, we sought to emphasize important aspects of this rare and dangerous event. Study design: Two case presentations of oxytocin-associated unscarred uterine rupture and review of pertinent literature are used to study risk factors and accompanying clinical characteristics. Results: Both spontaneous ruptures of previous unscarred uteri were associated with low-dose oxytocin augmentation, bradycardia, and uterine hyperstimulation monitor patterns and occurred at the onset of the second stage of labor. Conclusion: Because of its rarity, further investigation of spontaneous uterine rupture will depend on case presentations where the associated events listed are noted and uterine hyperstimulation, fetal bradycardia, and second-stage onset are proved or disproved as valid clinical associations.
Structure and Hemimethylated CpG Binding of the SRA Domain from Human UHRF1.

Human UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like PHD and RING finger 1) functions to maintain CpG DNA methylation patterns through DNA replication by co-localizing with the DNA methyltransferase DNMT1 at chromatin in mammals. Recent studies show that UHRF1 binds selectively to hemimethylated CpG via its conserved SRA (SET- and RING finger-associated) domain. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is not known. Here, we report a 1.95 A resolution crystal structure of the SRA domain of human UHRF1. Using NMR structure-guided mutagenesis, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and fluorescence anisotropy analysis, we determined key amino acid residues for methyl-DNA binding that are conserved in the SRA domain.
Advanced glycation end products induce the expression of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 by receptor for advanced glycation end product-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-κB in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes

Objective. To investigate whether advanced glycation end products (AGEs) induce the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 through the receptor for AGEs (RAGE)-activated pathways in human OA chondrocytes. Methods. OA chondrocytes were stimulated with AGE-modified BSA (AGE-BSA). Gene expression of IL-6 and IL-8 was quantified by TaqMan assays and the production was determined using ELISAs. Immunoblotting was used to analyse the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the degradation of IκBα. Activation of NF-κB was determined using an ELISA. Pharmacological studies to elucidate the involved pathways were executed using transfection with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), inhibitors of MAPKs and NF-κB. Results. AGE-BSA induced the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 in OA chondrocytes, which was inhibited by pre-treatment with soluble RAGE (sRAGE) or RAGE knockdown by siRNAs. Treatment with SB202190 (p38-MAPK inhibitor) or PD98059 (ERK inhibitor) inhibited AGE-BSA-induced IL-6 and IL-8 expression. However, SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) had no effect on AGE-BSA-induced IL-6 expression but inhibited the expression of IL-8. Treatment with NF-κB inhibitors suppressed AGE-BSA-induced IL-6 and IL-8 expression. Conclusions. This is the first study to demonstrate that AGEs induce the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 in OA chondrocytes. A novel finding of our studies is that in OA chondrocytes, AGE-BSA-induced expression of IL-6, but not of IL-8, was independent of the JNK pathway. Activation of NF-κB was an absolute requirement for both IL-6 and IL-8 expression. These results demonstrate that AGE-BSA-induced expression of IL-6 and IL-8 via RAGE is mediated through different MAPK signalling pathways in OA and possibly in other degenerative diseases.
A simple method for enhancing paclitaxel release from Taxus canadensis cell suspension cultures utilizing cell wall digesting enzymes

Paclitaxel storage in Taxus suspension cell cultures was studied through the simple use of cell wall digesting enzymes. The application of cellulase (1%) and pectolyase (0.1%) to Taxus canadensis suspension cultures induced a significant increase in the paclitaxel present in the extracellular medium while maintaining membrane integrity, suggesting that paclitaxel is stored in the cell wall. The addition of cell wall digesting enzymes to a cell culture bioprocess may be an effective way of enhancing paclitaxel release to the extracellular medium and hence simplify product recovery.