cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hearing loss and phacoemulsification

Abstract Purpose To determine the acoustic spectra of currently used phacoemulsification units and to contrast phacoemulsification-generated acoustic spectra with representative audiograms of common types of sensorineural hearing loss. Setting Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. Methods The acoustic spectra of 3 phacoemulsification systems (Alcon Series 20,000 Legacy, Storz Millennium, and AMO Diplomax) were recorded in an acoustically soundproofed room using a Roland VS-880 Digital Studio Workstation and analyzed with a Hewlett-Packard 35660A Dynamic Signal Analyzer. Results Phacoemulsification handpiece-generated harmonic overtones produced during ultrasound mode (6.0, 12.0, and 18.8 kHz for the 20,000 Legacy and Diplomax; 7.0 and 14.2 kHz for the Millennium) were outside the range of minimal decibel loss in individuals with hearing loss. Supplemental, low-frequency, console-generated tones produced during ultrasound mode (0.4 to 2.0 kHz for the Diplomax; 0.1 to 1.5 kHz for the Millennium) were within the range of minimal decibel loss in individuals with hearing loss. Conclusion Phacoemulsification systems with console-generated, low-frequency tones were audible to ophthalmologists with common types of sensorineural hearing loss.
Evidence for Ligand-Dependent Mechanistic Changes in Nickel-Catalyzed Chain-Growth Polymerizations

The mechanisms for Ni(dppp)Cl2-catalyzed chain-growth polymerization of 4-bromo-2,5-bis(hexyloxy)phenylmagnesium chloride and 5-bromo-4-hexylthiophen-2-ylmagnesium chloride were investigated. A combination of rate and spectroscopic studies revealed that transmetalation is the rate-determining step of the catalytic cycle for both monomers. 31P NMR spectroscopic studies revealed that a Ni(II)−aryl halide and a Ni(II)−thienyl halide are the catalyst resting states. In addition, LiCl was found to alter the arene polymerization rates. These results are different than those previously obtained with an alternative catalyst (Ni(dppe)Cl2) and suggest that the ligand has a strong mechanistic influence on the polymerization.
Epitaxial Semiconductor Films Grown By Laser Photochemical Vapor Deposition

ABSTRACT Experiments in which epitaxial semiconductor films (Ge) have been grown by laser pho­ tochemical vapor deposition (LPVD) are described. The results provide a clear example of the ability of LPVD to grow epitaxial films under conditions in which growth is not attrib­ utable to substrate heating or adlayer photolysis but rather to species generated photo- chemically and in the gas phase. 1. INTRODUCTION Laser photochemical vapor deposition (LPVD) was first demonstrated in the late 1970s. A rapid survey of the literature will show that, in the intervening decade, most of the research has concentrated on the deposition of metal films by this approach. Considerably fewer examples can be found of the growth of semiconductor films by laser-assisted techniques and, in virtually all of these, transient or CW heating of the substrate and growing film played a significant or dominant role in the growth process. Furthermore, most experimental studies have been conducted in the so-called perpendicular geometry (i.e., substrate is directly illuminated by the optical source) for which it is extremely difficult to resolve the contributions of surface, adlayer and gas phase photochemical and thermal processes to film growth. The real promise of LPVD lies in the ability of a laser to produce highly non-equilibrium concentrations of gas phase species (atoms, radicals and even excited states) which thereby alter the reactor chemistry in a way favorable to the growth of epitaxial films. To our knowledge, no clear example exists in the literature of the use of a laser to photochemically produce, in the gas phase, a species which migrates to the substrate and alters the surface kinetics, resulting in the growth of epitaxial films while, in the absence of laser radiation, films of much poorer quality are grown.This paper describes the growth of epitaxial Ge films on [100] GaAs by LPVD. Upon pho- todissociating GeH4 at 193 nm in parallel geometry (i.e., laser does not irradiate the substrate), it was found that epitaxial films could be grown at substrate temperatures (Ts) as low 285°C. In the absence of laser radiation, the films were either amorphous or heavily-defected polycrystalline, depending upon Ts.The experimental apparatus has previously been discussed in detail
Dip selective 2-D multiple attenuation in the plane-wave domain

In many geological settings, strong reflections at the air‐water interface contribute to most of the multiple energy in the recorded seismograms. Here, we describe a method for free‐surface multiple attenuation using a reflection operator model of a seismic record, derived using the well‐known invariant embedding technique. We implement this method in the 2-D plane‐wave domain, where lateral variation of the geological structure of the earth is taken into account by the coupling of different ray parameters. In situations where the lateral variations are smooth, the data are well compressed in the 2-D plane‐wave domain and the resultant bandlimited matrices significantly reduce the computation cost. One important feature of the proposed method is its flexibility, which allows for the removal of multiples from selected reflections. To generate multiple free data, wave‐theory‐based multiple attenuation methods attempt to estimate either the source function or the subsurface reflectivity. Our method takes adv...
Isolated intramedullary neurosarcoidosis of the thoracic spine: case report and review of the literature

Sarcoidosis can involve the central nervous system in approximately 5–15% of cases. Any part of the nervous system can be involved, so presentation can be quite varied. Isolated disease of the spinal cord is even less common and reports are limited to single cases and small series. Although in the setting of systemic disease the diagnosis can be made with skin or lymph node biopsy, isolated disease of the spinal cord presents a diagnostic challenge. We present a case of isolated intramedullary neurosarcoidosis of the distal thoracic spinal cord presenting with posterior column dysfunction. Imaging demonstrated T2 changes in the patient’s lower thoracic cord adjacent to disc herniation. Over time, however, his symptoms progressed despite decompression, and the abnormal region began to exhibit focal contrast enhancement. The persistence of symptoms as well as the new enhancement led us to perform a spinal cord biopsy, which demonstrated histopathological findings consistent with sarcoidosis. Further workup failed to reveal any evidence of systemic disease. Intramedullary sarcoidosis without systemic sarcoidosis is extremely rare. With its variable imaging appearance and inconsistent clinical manifestations, it can be difficult to diagnose. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a mass-like intramedullary lesion with progressive symptoms. Biopsy with histopathological correlation may be the only definite management option.
A Sodium Flame Detector of Increased Stability for Phosphorus-containing Pesticides

One of the chief difficulties in analytical gas chromatography is the identification of the resolved components of a mixture» The use of selective detectors sensitive to only a limited class of compounds can simplify this problem considerably.
Collisional quenching of A 2Σ+ NO and A 2Δ CH in low pressure flames

Abstract Quenching of electronically excited CH and NO radicals in methane/air flames between 30 and 70 Torr has been studied using the time decay of laser-induced fluorescence. Rates of 0.3 and 1 μs−1 Torr−1 were determined for A 2Δ CH and A 2Σ+ NO respectively at a temperature near 1700 K. These are compared with rates calculated using previously determined bimolecular quenching cross sections. The agreement is good, within 20 to 30%. The temperature dependence of H2O quenching of CH and of N2 and CO2 quenching of NO need further investigation.
Portable programming within a message-passing model: the FFT as an example

This paper describes a portable programming environment for MIMD concurrent processors based on an object-oriented, message-passing paradigm. The basis of this environment is the Virtual Machine Loosely Synchronous Communication System (VMLSCS) which is designed to be used for loosely synchronous problems. VMLSCS is structured to make efficient use of hierarchical memory, and permits communication and calculation to be overlapped on certain concurrent processors. As an example, the use of VMLSCS in performing both one-dimensional and multi-dimensional fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) on concurrent multiprocessors is described. It is shown that all necessary interprocessor communication can be performed by a single routine, vm_index. Thus the construction of a portable concurrent FFT rests on the implementation of vm_index on the target machines. In the multi-dimensional algorithm a strip decomposition is applied to each of the directions in turn so that each of the FFTs performed in a particular direction are done in one processor. This allows fast sequential one-dimensional FFTs to be exploited. The implementation of vm_index on both homogeneous and inhomogeneous hypercubes, and shared memory multiprocessors is discussed.
Wavelength tuning of sampled-grating DBR quantum cascade lasers

We characterized the performance of sampled-grating distributed Bragg reflectors (SG DBR) quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) and demonstrated a wide wavelength tuning from 4.48 to 4.69 μm (100cm−1) by injecting current into the SGDBR sections.
Propagation of truncated Gaussian beams in multimode fiber guides

The ability to predict the light propagation characteristics in various practical multimode guiding structures is very important in optical fiber communications and in optical image transfer. The usual mode-by-mode analysis is impractical when the guiding structure is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of modes. In this study a numerical technique is described which is capable of providing useful data on the propagation characteristics of optical multimode guiding structures whose index of refraction variation may be quite arbitrary. As a specific example, the problem of infinite or truncated Gaussian beam propagation in a radially inhomogeneous fiber with parabolic index profile is solved. The numerical results for the infinite Gaussian beam case are compared with exact analytical data and they are in complete agreement.
Further Ultrasonic Tracking and Tagging Studies of Homing Cutthroat Trout (Salmo clarki) in Yellowstone Lake

Abstract Ultrasonic tracking of mature cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki) from Little Thumb Creek displaced to the open water of Yellowstone Lake in 1969 suggested, but did not conclusively demonstrate, that trout from the west side of the lake have a westward compass mechanism, similar to the eastward compass mechanism of east side trout. Anosmic trout from Clear Creek made variable movements, but some exhibited the same patterns as control trout and horned. Experimental trout and control trout from Clear Creek retained prior to ultrasonic tracking under a 6 hr early photoperiod and a normal photoperiod, respectively, exhibited similar movements, most of which were eastward or southeastward as is typical of Clear Creek trout. Either they do not use a time-compensated sun compass mechanism, or we were unsuccessful in shifting the biological clock. Cloud cover apparently did not alter fish movement patterns. Half (49.5%) of 299 mature Clear Creek trout tagged and displaced to five release points homed. One thi...
A virtual reality approach to gait training in service members with lower extremity amputations

Gait training is an essential part of the rehabilitation process for those with lower extremity (LE) amputations. For service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) allows virtual reality to be incorporated into gait training as an adjunct to conventional therapies. This retrospective case series examines the self-selected velocities achieved in two different virtual environments (VE) by 11 service members with LE amputations. These VEs allowed participants to progress from level walking to more challenging terrain. Over periods of four to eight weeks, all participants were found to increase their self-selected velocities; progression appears to be individual. The preliminary results obtained indicate that further investigation is warranted.
Heuristic algorithms for finding reliable lightpath under multiple failures

In this work, we study the NP-hard problem of maximizing lightpath reliability in optical mesh networks against simultaneous failures of multiple fiber links. The fiber links belong to shared risk link groups (SRLGs) that have arbitrary failure probabilities. We study three heuristic algorithms and evaluate their performance through simulations.
Heterologous Expression of an Entamoeba histolytica Chitin Synthase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Chitin in the cyst wall of Entamoeba histolytica is made by two chitin synthases (Chs), one of which is unique (EhCHS-1) and one of which resembles those of insects and nematodes (EhCHS-2). EhCHS-1 is deposited chitin in the lateral wall of transformed Saccharomyces cerevisiae Chs mutants, independent of accessory proteins (Chs4p to Chs7p) required by yeast Chs3p.
Neutrophil-bead collision assay: pharmacologically induced changes in membrane mechanics regulate the PSGL-1/P-selectin adhesion lifetime.

Visualization of flowing neutrophils colliding with adherent 1-mm-diameter beads presenting P-selectin allowed the simultaneous measurement of collision efficiency (e), membrane tethering fraction (f), membrane tether growth dynamics, and PSGL-1/P-selectin binding lifetime. For 1391 collisions analyzed over venous wall shear rates from 25 to 200 s � 1 , e decreased from 0.17 to 0.004, whereas f increased from 0.15 to 0.70, and the average projected membrane tether length, L m ; increased from 0.35 m mt o;2.0 mm over this shear range. At all shear rates tested, adhesive collisions lacking membrane tethers had average bond lifetimes less than those observed for collisions with tethers. For adhesive collisions that failed to form membrane tethers, the regressed Bell parameters (consistent with single bond Monte Carlo simulation) were zero-stress off- rate, koff(0) ¼ 0.56 s � 1 and reactive compliance, r ¼ 0.10 nm, similar to published atomic force microscopy (AFM) mea- surements. For all adhesion events (6 tethers), the bond lifetime distributions were more similar to those obtained by rolling assay and best simulated by Monte Carlo with the above Bell parameters and an average of 1.48 bonds (n ¼ 1 bond (67%), n ¼ 2 (22%), and n ¼ 3-5 (11%)). For collisions at 100 s � 1 , pretreatment of neutrophils with actin depolymerizing agents, latrunculin or cytochalasin D, had no effect on e, but increased L m by 1.74- or 2.65-fold and prolonged the average tether lifetime by 1.41- or 1.65-fold, respectively. Jasplakinolide, an actin polymerizing agent known to cause blebbing, yielded results similar to the depolymerizing agents. Conversely, cholesterol-depletion with methyl-b-cyclodextrin or formaldehyde fixation had no effect on e, but reduced L m by 66% or 97% and reduced the average tether lifetime by 30% or 42%, respectively. The neutrophil- bead collision assay combines advantages of atomic force microscopy (small contact zone), aggregometry (discrete interac- tions), micropipette manipulation (tether visualization), and rolling assays (physiologic flow loading). Membrane tether growth can be enhanced or reduced pharmacologically with consequent effects on PSGL-1/P-selectin lifetimes.
The underlying event model for approximating probabilistic dependence among binary events

This paper presents a model for approximating positive probabilistic dependence among binary (success/failure) events in decision, economic evaluation, and risk analysis problems. It is not always feasible to obtain the probabilities needed to completely specify the joint probability structure among the binary events in real-world problems, so simplifying assumptions such as independence that require only the marginal probabilities are frequently employed. The proposed model requires the assessment of only one conditional probability in addition to the marginal probabilities. Extensive numerical studies show that it produces more accurate joint outcome probabilities, expected values, and certainty equivalents than commonly used approximations. Binary events are important in a variety of practical problems, such as exploring geologically related petroleum exploration prospects, conducting related R&D projects, or pursuing related lawsuits. The proposed model addresses a practical need for better modeling of dependence in such problems, and it is operational.
Local dependency, land use attitudes, and economic development: Comparisons between seasonal and permanent residents

For many rural communities in the United States, tourists and retirees make a major contribution to the local economy. The role of recreational home ownership in these communities is not well understood. We examine the attitudes toward land use controls and local economic development among seasonal and permanent residents. We compare growth machine and local dependency theory explanations for support of land use controls and growth activities. Based on focus groups and survey data collected from seasonal and permanent residents of a northern Wisconsin county, we find that full-time (permanent) residents are much more supportive of local economic development activities and less likely to favor land use planning than are seasonal residents. Socioeconomic differences between seasonal and permanent residents do not explain away the variation between the two groups in these attitudes. Among seasonal residents, support for land use controls declines as they spend more time at their lake homes. The results tend to support Cox and Mair's local dependency thesis.
Endocardial Unipolar Voltage Mapping to Detect Epicardial Ventricular Tachycardia Substrate in Patients With Nonischemic Left Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

Background— Patients with nonischemic left ventricular cardiomyopathy (LVCM) and ventricular tachycardia (Vt) have complex 3-dimensional substrate with variable involvement of the endocardium (ENDO) and epicardium (EPI). The purpose of this study was to determine whether ENDO unipolar (UNI) mapping with a larger electric field of view could identify EPI low bipolar (BIP) voltage regions in patients with LVCM undergoing Vt ablation. Methods and Results— The reference value for normal ENDO unipolar voltage was determined from 6 patients without structural heart disease. Consecutive patients undergoing Vt ablation over an 8-year period with detailed (>100 points) LV ENDO and EPI mapping and normal LV ENDO BIP voltage were identified. From this cohort, we compared patients with structurally normal hearts and normal EPI BIP voltage (EPI−, group 1) with patients with LVCM and low LV EPI BIP voltage regions present (EPI+, group 2). Confluent regions of ENDO UNI and EPI BIP low voltage (>2 cm2) were measured. The normal signal amplitude was >8.27 mV for LV ENDO UNI electrograms. Detailed LV ENDO-EPI maps in 5 EPI− patients were compared with 11 EPI+ patients. Confluent ENDO UNI low-voltage regions were seen in 9 of 11 (82%) of the EPI+ (group 2) patients compared with none of 5 EPI− (group 1) patients ( P <0.001). In all 9 patients with ENDO UNI low voltage, the ENDO UNI low-voltage regions were directly opposite to an area of EPI BIP low voltage (61% ENDO UNI-EPI BIP low-voltage area overlap). Conclusions— EPI arrhythmia substrate can be reliably identified in most patients with LVCM using ENDO UNI voltage mapping in the absence of ENDO BIP abnormalities.
Initial evaluation of cyberknife technology for extracorporeal renal tissue ablation

Abstract Objectives To determine whether Cyberknife technology can be applied to renal tissue safely and effectively. The goal was to achieve the high efficacy of a surgical treatment, with the low morbidity of a noninvasive intervention. Methods The Cyberknife is a frameless, image-guided radiosurgical device. This innovative extracorporeal treatment combines a linear accelerator mounted on a highly maneuverable robotic arm. The Cyberknife is unique in that it divides the high-dose radiation necessary to ablate the lesion completely into up to 1200 beams. Each one of these beams of radiation has a significantly reduced dose. Therefore, the individual dose of each beam is essentially benign to the pathway and surrounding tissue. However, at the focal point of these beams, the dose is additive, and the desired ablative dose is attained. Predetermined “lesions” in 16 kidneys were treated in vivo in the porcine model. Complete treatment was accomplished in one session per animal, with no complications. Gross and histologic evaluations were completed at 4, 6, or 8 weeks. Results The degree of radiation changes correlated with longer treatment intervals. After 8 weeks, the lesions showed complete fibrosis. The zones of complete fibrosis were characterized by dense, paucicellular connective tissue completely devoid of all normal kidney elements, including tubules and glomeruli. Conclusions This initial preclinical evaluation of the Cyberknife for extracorporeal renal tissue ablation appears to be very promising and demonstrated its ability to ablate a targeted area precisely and completely with relative sparing of the surrounding tissue. This innovative technology introduces an exciting approach as a potential treatment option of renal masses in the future.
Establishment of neurovascular congruency in the mouse whisker system by an independent patterning mechanism.

Summary Nerves and vessels often run parallel to one another, a phenomenon that reflects their functional interdependency. Previous studies have suggested that neurovascular congruency in planar tissues such as skin is established through a "one-patterns-the-other" model, in which either the nervous system or the vascular system precedes developmentally and then instructs the other system to form using its established architecture as a template. Here, we find that, in tissues with complex three-dimensional structures such as the mouse whisker system, neurovascular congruency does not follow the previous model but rather is established via a mechanism in which nerves and vessels are patterned independently. Given the diversity of neurovascular structures in different tissues, guidance signals emanating from a central organizer in the specific target tissue may act as an important mechanism to establish neurovascular congruency patterns that facilitate unique target tissue function.
Parallel Discrete-Event Simulation (PDES): a case study in design, development, and performance using SPEEDES

Can parallel simulations efficiently exploit a network of workstations? Why haven't PDES models followed standard modeling methodologies? Will the field of PDES survive, and if so, in what form? Researchers in the PDES field have addressed these questions and others in a series of papers published in the last few years [1,2,3,4]. The purpose of this paper is to shed light on these questions, by documenting an actual case study of the development of an optimistically synchronized PDES application on a network of workstations. This paper is unique in that its focus is not necessarily on performance, but on the whole process of developing a model, from the physical system being simulated, through its conceptual design, validation, implementation, and, of course, its performance. This paper also presents the first reported performance results indicating the impact of risk on performance. The results suggest that the optimal value of risk is sensitive to the latency parameters of the communications network.
Effect of freezing plasma at -20°C for 2 weeks on prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, dilute Russell viper venom time, activated protein C resistance, and D-dimer levels.

To assess the impact of preanalytical variables of time and temperature on prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), dilute Russell viper venom time (DRVVT), activated pr...
Physiology and behavior of pigs before and after castration: effects of two topical anesthetics.

Surgical castration of male piglets is a common management practice conducted on commercial swine farms to prevent the occurrence of boar taint and aggressive behavior. However, the procedure of surgical castration causes acute pain-induced distress, which is an animal welfare concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of two topical anesthetics to alleviate the pain caused by castration in piglets as measured by physiological and behavior indices of stress. At 3 days of age, 40 weight-matched piglets were allocated to one of four treatment groups. Treatments included: (i) sham castration (CON), (ii) surgical castration (CAS), (iii) castration and short-acting local anesthetic applied topically to the castration wound (SHORT) and (iv) castration and long-acting local anesthetic applied topically to the castration wound (LONG). Blood samples were collected from piglets before and 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after castration to measure leukocyte and differential counts and cortisol concentrations. The above experiment was repeated without blood collection and behavior was recorded for 30 min before and 180 min after castration or handling. Stress vocalizations were recorded during castration and handling. All piglets were weighed before and 24 h after castration and wound healing was recorded daily for the first 14 days after castration. Leukocyte counts and differentials did not differ (P > 0.05) among any of the treatments. Cortisol concentrations were elevated (P 0.05) among treatments 24 h after castration or control handling and wound healing scores were greater (P < 0.05) in SHORT compared with CAS and LONG piglets 9 to 14 days after castration. In this study, the use of a short- or long-acting topical anesthetic was not effective in reducing the pain-induced distress caused by castration in piglets. Further research is needed to evaluate alternative practical methods to reduce the pain caused by the on-farm castration of piglets.
Combination therapy in peripheral vascular disease: the rationale of using both thrombolytic and antiplatelet drugs.

Local thrombolysis is a well-established technique to treat arterial and venous thromboembolic disease and graft occlusions, but the utility of this approach continues to be limited by both the dose and duration of treatment required for effective clot lysis. In addition, thrombolytic therapy necessitates costly intensive care monitoring and exposing patients to the risk of bleeding. Attempts to improve the speed and efficacy of thrombolytic therapy by changing infusion protocols and catheter configurations have met with varied success. Many investigators have added mechanical thrombectomy to accelerate thrombolysis, but these methods continue to be limited by events of distal embolization; the inability to remove clot at the capillary level; and the induction of endothelial damage, which may compromise the longterm patency of treated vessels. The main elements of thrombus include fibrin, thrombin, and platelets. Current techniques to dissolve clot focus on the fibrin and thrombin components but fail to address the important effects of platelets. Our understanding of the role of the platelet in acute vascular events—including those associated with thrombolysis— has dramatically increased in the last decade. Thrombolysis may dissolve the fibrin component of the clot but may have no effect on the platelet portion. A new class of drugs has been developed that blocks the final common pathway of platelet aggregation, the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet receptor. Because there is little published experience with these drugs in peripheral vascular thrombolysis, much of the rationale for using these drugs in the periphery has been extrapolated from the experience in the coronary literature when used in combination with the currently used lytic agents for thrombolysis including recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) alteplase (Activase, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA) or recombinant activator (r-PA) reteplase (Retavase, Centocor, Malvern, PA).
Bayesian imaging using Good's roughness measure-implementation on a massively parallel processor

A constrained maximum-likelihood estimator is derived by incorporating a rotationally invariant roughness penalty proposed by I.J. Good (1981) into the likelihood functional. This leads to a set of nonlinear differential equations the solution of which is a spline-smoothing of the data. The nonlinear partial differential equations are mapped onto a grid via finite differences, and it is shown that the resulting computations possess a high degree of parallelism as well as locality in the data-passage, which allows an efficient implementation on a 48-by-48 mesh-connected array of NCR GAPP processors. The smooth reconstruction of the intensity functions of Poisson point processes is demonstrated in two dimensions. >
Salvage radiotherapy for palpable, locally recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy

Abstract Purpose A retrospective study to evaluate the outcome of salvage radiotherapy (RT) for clinically apparent, palpable prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods and materials Forty-two patients underwent RT for clinically apparent recurrent prostate cancer after RP between 1993 and 1999. The end points and treatment variables of biochemical disease-free survival were evaluated statistically. Results The median follow-up was 4.3 years. All 42 patients experienced resolution of clinically detectable recurrence within 1 year after RT. The 5-year biochemical disease-free survival, local control, freedom from distant metastases, and overall survival rate was 27%, 94%, 82%, and 78%, respectively. The initial pathologic stage (T3 or T4; p = 0.04) and interval ( p = 0.01) were independent predictors of biochemical failure, and RT simulation without contrast ( p = 0.05) was nearly significant on multivariate analysis. Three patients (7%) experienced chronic Grade 3 or 4 RT-related toxicity. Conclusion Salvage prostate bed RT for clinically apparent locally recurrent prostate cancer after RP provides effective local tumor control with modest durable biochemical control. Patients irradiated with a better simulation technique were found to have a more favorable outcome. A consensus on a definition of biochemical disease-free survival after salvage RT is critical for meaningful comparison of the available data and to future progress in treating this disease process.
A New Solution to the Puzzle of Simplicity

Explaining the connection, if any, between simplicity and truth is among the deepest problems facing the philosophy of science, statistics, and machine learning. Say that an efficient truth finding method minimizes worst case costs en route to converging to the true answer to a theory choice problem. Let the costs considered include the number of times a false answer is selected, the number of times opinion is reversed, and the times at which the reversals occur. It is demonstrated that (1) always choosing the simplest theory compatible with experience, and (2) hanging onto it while it remains simplest, is both necessary and sufficient for efficiency.
The Culture of Objectivity: Quantification, Uncertainty, and the Evaluation of Risk at NASA

For over three decades social studies of science have investigated ‘objectivity’ as a central, socially constructed assumption in scientific and engineering work. This literature has seldom been utilized in the study of organizations despite the fact that knowledge production and knowledge use in scientific and engineering organizations are presumed to be objective or independent of individual and social influences. In this article, the social studies of science literature as it conceptualizes and understands objectivity is reviewed. An analysis of the data on decision-making at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during the years preceding the explosion of Challenger is carried out using concepts from this literature. Data on decision-making at NASA during the years preceding the explosion of Columbia are also analyzed. It is shown that the culture of objectivity at NASA interacted with time pressures to produce a misunderstanding of flight risk. This misunderstanding resulted from t...
Actions of glucocorticosteroids on ischemic-reperfused muscle and cutaneous tissue

Ischemia-reperfusion injury represents a complex series of vascular and cellular events that resembles an acute inflammatory reaction within the reperfused tissue. This article provides an overview of glucocorticosteroid effects on cells and tissues involved in inflammatory reaction following ischemia-reperfusion of muscle and cutaneous tissue. Glucocorticosteroids exert a variety of effects that influence the microcirculation. These effects include leukocyte recruitment, reduction of vascular permeability, inhibition of formation of cytokines or other mediators, and modulation of enzyme systems involved in inflammation. The current view is that glucocorticosteroids act through cytoplasmic receptors by controlling the transcription of certain genes encoding regulatory proteins, but the exact mechanisms of glucocorticoid action on ischemia-reperfusion are not completely understood. Potential mechanisms may involve modulation of neutrophil and endothelial function, inhibition of formation of arachidonic acid products, and attenuation of lipid peroxidation of biological membranes through membrane stabilization and scavenging of toxic free radicals.
Physics and chemistry of plasma-assisted combustion.

There are several mechanisms that affect a gas when using discharge plasma to initiate combustion or to stabilize a flame. There are two thermal mechanisms—the homogeneous and inhomogeneous heating of the gas due to ‘hot’ atom thermalization and vibrational and electronic energy relaxation. The homogeneous heating causes the acceleration of the chemical reactions. The inhomogeneous heating generates flow perturbations, which promote increased turbulence and mixing. Non-thermal mechanisms include the ionic wind effect (the momentum transfer from an electric field to the gas due to the space charge), ion and electron drift (which can lead to additional fluxes of active radicals in the gradient flows in the electric field) and the excitation, dissociation and ionization of the gas by e-impact, which leads to non-equilibrium radical production and changes the kinetic mechanisms of ignition and combustion. These mechanisms, either together or separately, can provide additional combustion control which is necessary for ultra-lean flames, high-speed flows, cold low-pressure conditions of high-altitude gas turbine engine relight, detonation initiation in pulsed detonation engines and distributed ignition control in homogeneous charge-compression ignition engines, among others. Despite the lack of knowledge in mechanism details, non-equilibrium plasma demonstrates great potential for controlling ultra-lean, ultra-fast, low-temperature flames and is extremely promising technology for a very wide range of applications.
Cytochalasin B modulation of Caco-2 tight junction barrier: role of myosin light chain kinase.

The intracellular mechanisms that mediate cytochalasin-induced increase in intestinal epithelial tight junction (TJ) permeability are unclear. In this study, we examined the involvement of myosin l...
WHAT'S GLOBALIZATION GOT TO DO WITH IT? POLITICAL ACTION AND PEASANT PRODUCERS IN GUERRERO, MEXICO

AbstractThis article explores the relationship between globalization and Mexico’s rural producers movement by comparing the trajectories of two peasant organizations that emerged from this movement in the southern state of Guerrero. Using ethnographic materials, it highlights how producer organizations with similar economic goals, ideological orientation, and ethnic composition developed distinct approaches to political empowerment. Although both organizations mobilized indigenous farmers to market local commodities internationally, one struggled to achieve regional self-governance whereas the other lobbied for campesino interests via electoral politics. I attribute this divergence to the economic obstacles and opportunities that these organizations encountered on the road to market integration. This analysis of the variable economic “opportunity structures” that underlie collective action suggests a useful framework for conceptualizing how globalization impacts popular movements in Latin America.
Foundations of Infrastructure-CPS

Cyber-physical systems are now becoming increasingly prevalent and possibly even mainstream. Infrastructures have been around as long as urban centers, supporting a society's needs for its planning, operation, and safety. As we move deeper into the 21st century, these infrastructures are becoming smart - they monitor themselves through sensor-networks, communicate through a layered architecture, and most importantly self-govern through multiple agents, resulting in a complex integration and interaction between cyber and physical components. With the basics of CPS in place, such as stability, robustness, and reliability properties at a systems level, and hybrid, switched, and event-triggered properties at a network level, we believe that the time is right to go to the next step, of the analysis and synthesis of cyber-physical systems that are present in an infrastructure. We denote such systems as Infrastructure-CPS, which form the focus of the proposed tutorial. We discuss three different foundations of Infrastructure-CPS, (i) Human Empowerment, (ii) Transactive Control, and (iii) Resilience. This will be followed by two examples, one on the nexus between power and communication infrastructure, and the other between natural gas and electricity, both of which have been investigated extensively of late, and are emerging to be apt illustrations of Infrastructure-CPS.
Moving away from globalization and the “flattening” of Social Work: Preserving Context in International Efforts

Contextual awareness has been a professional trademark and has differentiated social work intervention from other professions. Context in social work has traditionally included tangible and intangible factors such as an intimate understanding of the cultural milieu, familiarity with local history, languages, traditions, and sensibilities. The current concern is that given the forces of globalization and managerialism, social work practice and education in many countries have distanced themselves from addressing context in curriculum building and have become mechanistic in program design and delivery. This paper contrasts the concepts of internationalization and globalization. The authors concur with the perspective that the movement to globalize society was the result of economic forces and unfortunately spread into culturally embedded fields such as social work. They propose that globalization in social work has changed the direction of former efforts at internationalization, which were designed primaril...
Use of electromyographic biofeedback during the acute phase of spinal cord injury: a case report.

Current estimates indicate that 150,000 Americans sustained spinal cord injuries between 1974 and 1979.1 Functional restoration of the spinal cord after damage has yet to be demonstrated in man. Medical and allied health professionals must seek new methods to improve such injured patient's neuromuscular status and his ability to function in everyday life. One relatively new modality having direct application for use with the patient with incomplete spinal cord injury is surface EMG biofeedback. Past reports describe biofeedback treatment regimens that have dealt with patients with chronic spinal cord injuries.2–4 Protocols from these studies emphasize the use of EMG biofeedback for relaxation or strengthening programs, but do not address uses or training strategies for patients with acute spinal cord injuries. The purpose of the following case study is to describe uses for EMG biofeedback for a patient with an acute incomplete spinal cord lesion.…
A model for the solid3He magnet

The magnetic phase transition in solid3He is described as a first-order transition induced by a spin-lattice coupling. The magnetic ground state has both a spin density wave and a lattice distortion.
Glycolysis in Trypanosoma equiperdum.

ConclusionsOur experiments indicate that glucose is degraded into pyruvic acid through phosphorylative processes in a blood-free preparation of lysed Trypanosoma equiperdum.
Grant Application Writing

Doing fieldwork costs money. It’s cheap in comparison to some types of research, but there are still expenses to consider. This chapter describes the process of applying for fieldwork research grants, including what applica­tions usually contain, the chronology of an application and budgets.
Social Media: Social Intelligence Training Module

Abstract Introduction Physicians’ posts on social media have the potential to impact the patient-physician relationship, interpersonal relationships at work, institutions’ reputations, and the publ...
'Law &' Meets 'Law As': The Handbook of Law and Society

How is a discipline built? More specifically, how does a scholarly movement based on the interdisciplinary study of law build and share knowledge and yet retain an identity of its own? In The Handbook of Law and Society, editors Austin Sarat and Patricia Ewick have collected twenty-eight essays to describe the elephant we know as the “Law and Society movement.” Published fifty years after the creation of the Law and Society Association (LSA) in 1964, the Handbook looks back, marks the “emerging maturity” of the movement, and forecasts its future. Unlike the elephant being described by blind observers who touch only its front or its back, the Law and Society movement is captured here by editors and authors familiar with its whole, present and past.As the Handbook describes it, the movement became a collective body whose work could be assessed through the conferences, workshops, and other activities of the LSA and the articles published in the Law & Society Review. Initially, the movement brought together sociologists and law professors who described their purposes neutrally, as academic rather than political. The goal of the LSA, according to its first president, was to bring about “more rigorous and formal interdisciplinary training” in law and sociology. The purpose of the Review was to respond to “a growing need on the part of social scientists and lawyers for a forum in which to carry on an interdisciplinary dialogue.” Similar to the LSA, the Legal Writing Institute was established (in 1984) to foster teaching and scholarship in order to improve legal communication. Like the Review, the disciplinary journals in our field responded to the need to build and disseminate the discipline’s knowledge base. Hearing echoes in these origin stories, I read the Handbook with a specific purpose in mind: How might the evolution of these related and relatively new scholarly fields inform one another?
Predicting Domain-Specific Health-Related Quality of Life Using Acute Infarct Volume

Background and Purpose— Limited data exist on the relationship between acute infarct volume and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures after ischemic stroke. We evaluated whether acute infarct volume predicts domain-specific Neuro-Quality of Life scores at 3 months after stroke. Methods— Between 2012 and 2014, we prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with ischemic stroke and calculated infarct volume. Outcome scores at 3 months included modified Rankin Scale and Neuro-Quality of Life T scores. We evaluated whether volume organized by quartiles predicted modified Rankin Scale and HRQOL scores at 3 months using logistic and linear regression as appropriate, adjusting for relevant covariates. We calculated variance accounted for ( R 2 ) overall and by volume for each domain of HRQOL. Results— Among 490 patients (mean age 64.2±15.86 years; 51.2% male; 63.3% White) included for analysis, 58 (11.8%) were disabled (modified Rankin Scale score of >2) at 3 months. In unadjusted analysis, the highest volume quartile remained a significant predictor of 1 HRQOL domain, applied cognition–general concerns ( R 2 =0.06; P R 2 =0.32), lower extremity ( R 2 =0.51), executive function ( R 2 =0.45), and general concerns ( R 2 =0.34). Conclusions— Acute infarct volume is a poor predictor of HRQOL domains after ischemic stroke, with the exception of the cognitive domain. Overall, clinical and imaging variables explained
Subclinical slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Relationship to osteoarthrosis of the hip

We examined the femora of 2665 adult human skeletons from an osteological collection to determine the prevalence of post-slip morphology termed femoral head-tilt deformity by Murray and pistol-grip deformity by Stulberg et al. The hypothesis was that primary osteoarthrosis of the hip is a secondary manifestation of a subclinical developmental disorder of the hip. The prevalence of post-slip morphology was 8 per cent (215 of 2665 skeletons). Severe osteoarthrosis was more prevalent in association with post-slip morphology (116 [38 per cent] of 306 hips) than in the matched controls (seventy-nine [26 per cent] of 306 hips) (p < 0.005). In the skeletons that had unilateral post-slip morphology, severe osteoarthrosis was more prevalent in the involved hips (thirty-one [37 per cent] of eighty-three) than in the contralateral, normal hips (eighteen [22 per cent] of eighty-three) (p < 0.05). Post-slip morphology, which was unrelated to age, was found to be a major risk factor for the development of high-grade osteoarthrosis. We noted evidence of high-grade osteoarthrosis in sixty-three (68 per cent) of the ninety-three hips with minimum post-slip morphology in skeletons from individuals who had been fifty-six years old or more at the time of death compared with forty-five (48 per cent) of the ninety-three control hips. With the numbers available, this difference was not found to be significant (p < 0.025). The osteoarthrosis in the hips with post-slip morphology was distinctly characterized by anterior flattening of the acetabulum, cystic degeneration in the anterior metaphyseal-epiphyseal region, and progression to global osteoarthrosis of the hip.
Cellular Aspects of C 4 Leaf Metabolism

The discovery of C4 photosynthesis heralded the beginning of a new understanding of cellular specialization among the leaf cells of higher plants. The essence of C4 photosynthesis and of this new understanding of leaf metabolism can be stated simply: two green cell types are always found in a C4 plant; and these cells do not have a fixed morphological or anatomical arrangement but share, in an interdependent manner, the tasks of photosynthetic energy capture, storage, and utilization. By taking this view of the C4 plant, we will describe photosynthetic metabolism in C4 leaf cells as a cooperative activity between the mesophyll cells, which trap atmospheric CO2 as readily transportable (but nevertheless reactive) four-carbon acids, and the bundle sheath cells, which decarboxylate the acids and refix the CO2 via the C3 cycle. This character of interdependence among leaf cells in which cell type has several required roles to complete a metabolic cycle is not a characteristic of C3 photosynthesis plants.
The Interpretation of Interrogative Phrases

The semantics of questions adopted in this work is that of Karttunen (1977). According to Karttunen, a question denotes the set of propositions that jointly constitute a true and complete answer. For instance, the yes-no question in (la) will have its denotation represented as in (lb):