cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: the Columbia Presbyterian experience.

Background: The Maze III procedure is an effective surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is not widely applied due to its complexity, increased operative times, and the risk of bleeding. Various energy sources have been introduced to simplify the traditional “cut and sew” approach. Methods: This study involves patients undergoing surgical atrial fibrillation ablation (SAFA) at a single institution from 1999 to 2005. Type of concomitant procedures, preoperative clinical characteristics, and chronicity of AF were evaluated in overall patient population. Parameters including surgical approach, lesion pattern, and energy source used were collected intraoperatively. Clinical outcomes examined were postoperative rhythm success, stroke, early mortality, and long-term survival. Results: Three hundred thirty-nine patients were identified. Three hundred twenty-eight (96.8%) patients had associated cardiac disease and underwent concomitant procedures; 75.8% of patients had persistent AF. Energy sources used were microwave (49.8%), radiofrequency (42.2%), and laser (8.0%). In 41.9% of cases a pulmonary vein encircling lesion was the only lesion created. Combination lesion sets were performed in the remaining cases. Rhythm success rates at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months were 74.1%, 68.2%, 74.5%, and 71.1%, respectively. Patients who underwent surgical removal of left atrial appendage by means of stapling or simple excision had no early postoperative stroke. Early mortality was 4.9%. Postoperative survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 89.6%, 83.1%, and 78.0%. Conclusions: Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation is a safe and effective procedure in restoring sinus rhythm with excellent postoperative survival rates. Further advancements in the field will eventually result in minimally invasive procedures with higher success rates.
Dynamic Conformation Fluctuations of λ-Phage DNA in an Optical Trap

Dynamic fluctuations in the conformation of λ-phage DNA have been observed in a fiber optic based light trap. The light force is used to confine a polystyrene bead (diameter, 0.5μm - 2.8μm) in three dimensions at a fixed distance from a flat surface coated with anti-digoxygenin antibody. The DNA is fixed to this bead through a biotin - streptavidin linkage on the 3′end, whereas a digoxygenin label is present on the opposing 5′. Through this simple assay, the dynamics of the free ends have been quantified for various times and separation distances. The dynamics have been observed using a high frame rate camera and the intercalating fluorophore, YOYO-1. In contrast to a conventional optical trap, this trap lacks a highly focused beam, greatly reducing localized heating and the associated risk to the biological specimen which could potentially cause error in this type of measurement.
Undergraduates' personal academic information management and the consideration of time and task-urgency

Young undergraduate college students are often described as “digital natives,” presumed to prefer living and working in completely digital information environments. In reality, their world is part-paper/part-digital, in constant transition among successive forms of digital storage and communication devices. Studying for a degree is the daily work of these young people, and effective management of paper and digital academic materials and resources contributes crucially to their success in life. Students must also constantly manage their work against deadlines to meet their course and university requirements. This study, following the “Personal Information Management” (PIM) paradigm, examines student academic information management under these various constraints and pressures. A total of 41 18- to 22-year-old students were interviewed and observed regarding the content, structure, and uses of their immediate working environment within their dormitory rooms. Students exhibited remarkable creativity and variety in the mixture of automated and manual resources and devices used to support their academic work. The demands of a yearlong procession of assignments, papers, projects, and examinations increase the importance of time management activities and influence much of their behavior. Results provide insights on student use of various kinds of information technology and their overall planning and management of information associated with their studies.
Weighted Evolving Networks

Many biological, ecological, and economic systems are best described by weighted networks, as the nodes interact with each other with varying strength. However, most evolving network models studied so far are binary, the link strength being either 0 or 1. In this paper we introduce and investigate the scaling properties of a class of models which assign weights to the links as the network evolves. The combined numerical and analytical approach indicates that asymptotically the total weight distribution converges to the scaling behavior of the connectivity distribution, but this convergence is hampered by strong logarithmic corrections.
Cholinergic and non-cholinergic septo-hippocampal projections: a double-label horseradish peroxidase-acetylcholinesterase study in the rabbit

The existence of a massive cholinergic projection from cells in the medial septal nucleus (MS) and nucleus of the diagonal band (DB) to the hippocampal formation has been recognized for some time. However, the actual percentages of cholinergic and non-cholinergic neurons in the MS and DB which project to the hippocampus have not been reported. A procedure which combines horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry in the same tissue was used to determine these percentages in the rabbit. Less than 50% of the neurons in the MS and DB which were labeled with reaction product following an HRP injection into the dorsal hippocampus also stained for AChE. Moreover, 70% of all neurons containing HRP reaction product were located in the DB, but neurons in the DB could not be differentiated from those in the MS on the basis of size or morphology. These data are taken to indicate that much of the MS-DB hippocampal projection is not cholinergic. Substance P is suggested as another possible transmitter within this anatomical system.
A GLOBAL ODDS RATIO REGRESSION MODEL FOR BIVARIATE ORDERED CATEGORICAL DATA FROM OPHTHALMOLOGIC STUDIES

In typical clinical trials or epidemiologic studies of a bilateral eye disease, the primary outcome data consist of pairs of ordered categorical responses that tend to be highly correlated. In such studies, interest often centres in associating the outcome data with a grouping variable such as the treatment indicator or the exposure status and other person- and eye-specific covariates. In this paper, we propose a latent variable regression model to analyse such bivariate ordered categorical data. We use as a joint distribution for bivariate latent random variables the cross ratio distribution proposed by Plackett, which results in modelling the dependency between the fellow eyes with the global odds ratio. We illustrate the proposed model with data from the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy, a study that seeks to identify risk factors among younger-onset diabetics.
Protected areas and coastal and ocean management in México

Abstract No explicit “integrated coastal and ocean management” policy or program has been formally instituted to manage coastal and marine issues in Mexico. Nevertheless two existing environmental policy tools: ecological zoning programs and coastal and marine protected areas, which have incorporated interagency and multi-stakeholder participation within their design, are currently being used in lieu of such strategy. Coastal and marine protected areas in Mexico are the result of independent initiatives taken over the last 75 years and as a group cannot be characterized as the result of a systematic approach. Nevertheless Mexico's 55 coastal and marine protected areas currently with a valid legal decree, occupy 11,791,824 ha which represents 69% of Mexico's total protected area surface. Only 46% of these include marine ecosystems with a total of 3,577,527 ha with the remaining 8,216,194 ha consisting of coastal ecosystems. (See In press update.)
A pigeonhole proof of Kaplansky's theorem

Proof of Lemma 1: Suppose b has distinct right inverses a1, a2,..., aN. Then a1 a,, a2 a1,. . ., aN a1 are N distinct solutions of bx = 0. We will show that the set {1 a1b, 1 a2b, ...,1 aNb} contains at least one additional solution of bx = O. Clearly all of the elements of this set are solutions. If there were not a new solution in this set, then for each j there is a k so that 1 ajb = ak a1. However, 1 ajb cannot equal a1 a1 = 0, because then a1 would be a left inverse for b, and in this case it is easy to see that b has only one right inverse, a contradiction. Thus, since there are N (1 ajb)'s (the pigeons) and only (N 1) acceptable (ak al)'s (the pigeon-holes), by the pigeon-hole principle we must have that for some m = n, 1 amb = 1anb. But then amb = anb, and multiplying this on the right by a1, we get am = an, a contradiction.
Characterization and quantification of an in-core neutron irradiation facility at a TRIGA II research reactor

Experiments have been performed to characterize the neutron environment at an in-core TRIGA type nuclear research reactor. Steady-state thermal and epithermal neutron environment testing is important for many applications including, materials, electronics and biological cells. A well characterized neutron environment at a research reactor, including energy spectrum and spatial distribution, can be useful to many research communities and for educational research. This paper describes the characterization process and an application of exposing electronics to high neutron fluence.
Correlation between bonding geometry and band gap states at organic-inorganic interfaces: catechol on rutile TiO2(110).

Adsorbate-induced band gap states in semiconductors are of particular interest due to the potential of increased light absorption and photoreactivity. A combined theoretical and experimental (STM, photoemission) study of the molecular-scale factors involved in the formation of gap states in TiO2 is presented. Using the organic catechol on rutile TiO2(110) as a model system, it is found that the bonding geometry strongly affects the molecular electronic structure. At saturation catechol forms an ordered 4 × 1 overlayer. This structure is attributed to catechol adsorbed on rows of surface Ti atoms with the molecular plane tilted from the surface normal in an alternating fashion. In the computed lowest-energy structure, one of the two terminal OH groups at each catechol dissociates and the O binds to a surface Ti atom in a monodentate configuration, whereas the other OH group forms an H-bond to the next catechol neighbor. Through proton exchange with the surface, this structure can easily transform into one ...
A note on enumerations

The design of the enumeration data type is known to be imperfect in both PASCAL and ADA. A new design which avoids the known problems is proposed. An implementation in the experimental programming language CONCISE confirms the design.
Effects of sunlight on behavior and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in two species of Old World fruit bats.

It has long been accepted that most vertebrate animals meet their vitamin D requirements from exposure of skin to UV-B (UV-B) radiation. Many factors affect this endogenous synthesis of vitamin D, including season, latitude, time of day, age, presence of hair, and degree of skin pigmentation. Most bats roost in dark places by day and forage at night, and thus have little or no potential for sunlight exposure. Notwithstanding, some tropical species are diurnal and are known to roost in the canopy of trees where they may be exposed to sunlight for up to 12 h each day. In this study, two species of captive tropical bats (both species are active at night but one, Rousettus aegyptiacus, roosts in caves, tombs, and buildings, whereas the other, Pteropus hypomelanus, roosts in trees) were evaluated for their ability to endogenously synthesize vitamin D. Following timed periods of sunlight exposure, blood plasma was analyzed using a competitive protein binding assay (CPBA) to determine concentrations of 25-hydrox...
Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of platinum compounds featuring terminal amido and phosphido ligands

Abstract Using the sterically encumbered 1,2-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ethane (dtbpe) ligand, a family of terminal anilido compounds of the general form (dtbpe)PtX(NHAr) (X = Cl, 2; Me, 6; Ph, 7; Ar = 2,6-di-isopropylphenyl) as well as (dtbpe)Pt(NHPh)2 (8) were prepared in high isolated yields via salt metathesis using (dtbpe)PtCl2. Likewise, new sterically encumbered terminal phosphido compounds were prepared of the general form (dtbpe)PtX(PHAr) (X/Ar = Cl/dmp, 9; Cl/Mes∗, 10; Me/Mes∗, 11; where dmp = 2,6-dimesitylphenyl, Mes∗ = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl). Both families of compounds resist attempts to deprotonate the amido or phosphido ligand with either external bases or through alkane or arene elimination. Compound 11 reacts with various acids to afford salts having the cation [(dtbpe)PtMe(PH2Mes∗)]+ [12]+. Compounds 6, 9·0.5Et2O, 10·Et2O, 11·Et2O, and the salt [12][BArf4] were structurally characterized.
Comparisons with a control using normal scores and savage statistics

Distribution-free methods for comparing t≤2 test treatments with a control or standard treatment are presented. Using normal scores statistics, one-sided tests and confidence bounds are developed for treatment versus control comparisons of medians. Using Savage statistics, analogous results are developed for comparing scale parameters of the treatments to the control with non-negative data. Probability points are computed using a union-intersection algorithm. Asymptotic relative efficiencies of these tests relative to competitors are identical to their two-sample counterparts.
Cystoscopic injections of dextranomer hyaluronic acid into proximal urethra for urethral incompetence: efficacy and adverse outcomes.

Objectives To determine whether dextranomer/hyaluronic acid would be more efficacious or would produce fewer complications when using the material in a standard proximal-urethra cystoscopically-directed injection technique. Injectable periurethral bulking agents are an alternative to stress incontinence surgery. Dextranomer, a highly hydrophilic dextran polymer, solubilized in a base of nonanimal stabilized hyaluronic acid, has been approved as an injectable agent for the treatment of childhood vesicoureteric reflux (Deflux, Q-Med AB, Uppsala, Sweden), and in Europe for women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) (Zuidex, Q-Med AB, Uppsala, Sweden). A previous multicenter trial demonstrated nonequivalence compared with bovine glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen with a high complication rate. We sought to determine whether the failure of the treatment lay in the material itself or the use of a blind, midurethral injection technique. Methods A retrospective case series of 56 patients undergoing cystoscopically guided bladder neck injections of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid with follow-up in 42, included 35 women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD), 4 men with postprostatectomy incontinence, 2 men with sphincteric denervation secondary to spinal cord injury, and 1 woman with sphincteric failure after a neobladder. Outcome assessment used gender-appropriate International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, clinical records, and/or urodynamic assessment. Results Of 35 women with ISD, 4 developed pseudoabscess formation with outlet obstruction requiring multiple operative interventions. Patient-defined treatment failure occurred in all 4 carefully selected postprostatectomy incontinent men, and in 23 of 35 females with ISD. Conclusions Complications with cystoscopically injected dextranomer hyaluronic acid at the bladder neck occurred at a high rate, and using a validated questionnaire, the efficacy of dextranomer hyaluronic acid applied in this manner for ISD was poor.
Regeneration of the caudal neurosecretory system in the cichlid teleost Tilapia mossambica

After total extirpation of the caudal neurosecretory system in the teleost Tilapia mossambica by ligature and removal of the caudal peduncle, a new system regenerates rapidly. The new neurosecretory cells differentiate from ependyma. A series of transitional stages between slightly modified ependymal cells and fully developed caudal neurosecretory neurons can be readily constructed. Immediately after the operation, the distal part of the remaining spinal cord undergoes degeneration, during which no traces of the caudal system can be found. Eleven days after the operation the first signs of the new system appear, and after three weeks a potentially functional, although much reduced, system has developed, the elements of which are detectable with the electron microscope. After 5–6 months, an extensive system has regenerated; however, the neurohemal area equivalent to the normal urophysis is contained within the spinal cord. There is strong cytologic evidence for a considerable release of elementary neurosecretory granules into the cerebrospinal fluid in the regenerating and regenerated system, possibly by several different mechanisms. Prominent tubular reticula occur in the distal (preterminal) parts of the neurosecretory axons, and the possibility of local axonal production of vesicles and granules is strongly supported. Signs of secretion into the central canal and of distal production of neurosecretory material are also present in normal Tilapia, but both phenomena are much more strikingly demonstrated in regenerating systems.
Synthese des ersten Biokonjugats aus einem chelatisierenden Bisphosphan und einem Peptid ausgehend von einem neuartigen funktionalisierten Phosphor(III)-hydrid-Synthon

Eine bemerkenswerte Oxidationsbestandigkeit zeichnet das Carboxy-funktionalisierte primare Bisphosphan 1 aus. Es kann uber die COOH-Gruppe mit Biomolekulen zu Konjugaten verknupft werden, ohne das die PH2-Gruppen vorher geschutzt werden mussen. Ein neuartiges, wasserlosliches Bisphosphan wurde durch die Reaktion der PH2-Gruppen von 1 mit Formaldehyd unter milden Bedingungen erhalten.
Serial liver biopsies in psoriatic patients receiving long-term etretinate.

SUMMARY Twenty psoriatic patients treated with etretinate have been followed in a prospective study of liver biopsies. Twelve patients were followed up for 3 years, with four liver biopsies each. No significant damage to the liver was found during etretinate therapy. Etretinate may be stored in the fatty tissues of the liver or other body areas for prolonged periods.
New AsGa related center in GaAs.

A new center related to ${\mathrm{As}}_{\mathrm{Ga}}$ has been found at relatively high concentrations (${10}^{17}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$) in semi-insulating (2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{7}$ \ensuremath{\Omega} cm) molecular beam epitaxial GaAs grown at 400 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. Although the ir photoquenching and thermal recovery characteristics are nearly identical to those of EL2, the thermal activation energy is only 0.65\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01 eV, much lower than the EL2 value of 0.75\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01 eV. Other properties which are different include the electron-capture barrier energy, hyperfine constant, and magnetic circular dichroism spectrum.
Sensitivity of source apportionment of urban particulate matter to uncertainty in motor vehicle emissions profiles.

Abstract A sensitivity analysis was conducted to characterize sources of uncertainty in results of a molecular marker source apportionment model of ambient particulate matter using mobile source emissions profiles obtained as part of the Gasoline/Diesel PM Split Study. A chemical mass balance (CMB) model was used to determine source contributions to samples of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) collected over 3 weeks at two sites in the Los Angeles area in July 2001. The ambient samples were composited for organic compound analysis by the day of the week to investigate weekly trends in source contributions. The sensitivity analysis specifically examined the impact of the uncertainty in mobile source emissions profiles on the CMB model results. The key parameter impacting model sensitivity was the source profile for gasoline smoker vehicles. High-emitting gasoline smoker vehicles with visible plumes were seen to be a significant source of PM in the area, but use of different measured profiles for smoker vehic...
Determination of Agreement between Measured and Calculated Plasma Osmolality Values in Captive-Reared American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)

Abstract Determination of plasma osmolality can be performed either by direct measurement or by calculation based on formulas that utilize biochemical values. The objective of this study was to determine the agreement between measured and calculated plasma osmolality of American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis. Osmolality was measured with a freezing-point depression osmometer. Biochemistry values were used to calculate plasma osmolality. The measured osmolality was found to be in poor agreement with the calculated osmolality for all formulas tested. The regression equation Osmolality = 1.79 × Na+ + 0.05 × (glucose concentration) best approximated the measured values. Measured plasma osmolality of alligators approximates the osmolality of some commonly available crystalloids fluids (Lactated Ringers, Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL, Normosol-R, Hospira Inc., Lake Forest, IL) used in veterinary medicine but is 30 milliosmoles per liter per kilogram lower than 0.9% sodium chloride solution. The phys...
The Effect of Smoking Cigarettes on the Apexcardiogram in Coronary Heart Disease

Twenty men smokers with coronary heart disease had apexcardiograms performed before and immediately, two, four, and six minutes after smoking two high-nicotine cigarettes, two low-nicotine cigarettes, and two non-nicotine lettuce leaf cigarettes. The mean maximum increase in A wave ratio above the base line level was 6 percent after smoking the non-nicotine cigarettes, 13 percent after smoking the low-nicotine cigarettes, and 34 percent after smoking the high-nicotine cigarettes. The mean A wave ratio was significantly increased immediately after smoking the non-nicotine cigarettes, immediately, two, and four minutes after smoking the low-nicotine cigarettes, and immediately, two, four, and six minutes after smoking the high-nicotine cigarettes. Smoking cigarettes increased myocardial ischemia, causing an increase in left ventricular A wave, reflected by a larger A wave ratio in the apexcardiogram.
Compensation Policy and Organizational Performance: The Efficiency, Operational, and Financial Implications of Pay Levels and Pay Structure

In this study, we investigated the relationship between organization-level compensation decisions and organizational performance. Specifically, we examined how companies' pay structures and pay lev...
An examination of dental crowding and its relationship to tooth size and arch dimension

This investigation was undertaken to examine the extent to which tooth size and jaw size each contribute to dental crowding. Two groups of dental casts were selected on the basis of dental crowding. One group, consisting of 50 pairs of dental casts (18 males and 32 females), exhibited gross dental crowding. A second group, consisting of 54 pairs of dental casts (24 males and 30 females), exhibited little or no crowding. Means and standard deviations of the following parameters were used to compare the two groups: individual and collective mesiodistal tooth diameters, dental arch perimeters, and buccal and lingual dental arch widths. Statistically, the crowded and noncrowded groups could not be distinguished from each other on the basis of mesiodistal tooth diameters. However, significant differences were observed between the dental arch dimensions of the two groups. The crowded group was found to have smaller dental arch dimensions than the noncrowded group. The results of this study suggest that consideration be given to those treatment techniques which increase dental arch length rather than reduce tooth mass.
Stutter-free and stutter-filled speech signals and their role in stuttering amelioration for English speaking adults

This study examined the power of an exogenously generated stuttered speech signal on stuttering frequency when compared to an exogenously generated normal speech signal. In addition, we examined the specific components of the second speech signal, which might be responsible for the inducement of fluency in people who stutter. Eight males and two females who stuttered participated in this study. Experiment I involved meaningful speech: normal continuous speech, normal interrupted speech, stuttered continuous speech, and stuttered interrupted speech, whereas Experiment II involved vowels and consonants: /a/, /a-i-u/, /s/, /s-sh-f/. The results indicated that stuttered and normal speech signals were equally effective in reducing stuttering frequency. Further, the vowels were more powerful than consonants in inducing fluency for people who stutter. It is suggested that acoustic manifestations of stuttering, rather than a problem, may be a natural compensatory mechanism to bypass or inhibit the 'involuntary block' at the neural level.
The effect of teratogenic doses of trypan blue on the yolk sac placenta of the mouse. A histological and histochemical study.

Injection of teratogenic doses of trypan blue into pregnant mice resulted in depression of acid phosphatase activity in embryonic visceral yolk sac endoderm. In addition, the apical localization of this enzyme was lost, and enzyme active loci were dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. Perinuclear Golgi structures were prominent in yolk sac cells of control mice incubated for thiamine pyrophosphatase activity. In trypan blue treated animals the Golgi apparatus was attenuated and disrupted. Whereas yolk sacs of most trypan blue treated embryos showed depression of acid phosphatase activity and morphological alteration in Golgi, only 25% of such embryos exhibited gross malformations. Trypan blue treatment may cause malformations by altering nutritive and transport functions of the yolk sac placenta or the dye may exert a direct effect upon the cells of the embryo.
Reproductive Pattern in the Caridean Shrimp Gnathophylloides Mineri Schmitt (Gnathophyllidae), a Symbiont of Sea Urchins

ABSTRACT Caridean shrimp exhibit a wide variety of sexual and mating systems, and many species are well studied. Gnathophylloides mineri Schmitt, 1933 is a small, circumtropical symbiont of various species of sea urchins. Very little is known about the reproductive ecology of this species. Field surveys of a Jamaican G. mineri population showed that the reproduction occurred throughout the year, with a consistently high (>80%) percentage of ovigerous females in all seasons. The female: male sex ratio (1.31 : 1) was not significantly different than 1:1. Typically 1 to 3, and no more than 5, shrimp per urchin were observed at our field sites, a lower density than at other Caribbean locations where larger urchins support greater numbers of smaller individual shrimp. Gnathophylloides mineri Schmitt, 1933 occurred predominantly as pairs, and 85% of those pairs consisted of one male and one female. Such strong pair-bonding suggests the shrimp may be socially monogamous, unlike polygynous populations elsewhere t...
Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of papillary renal cell carcinoma with emphasis on subtyping

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC), a morphologically and genetically distinct subtype of RCC, is morphologically separated into 2 subtypes for therapeutic and prognostic purposes. Type 2 tumors are generally believed to have a poorer prognosis than type 1 tumors. In spite of multiple studies, many clinicopathological issues about PRCC remain vague. We studied the clinicopathological features associated with type 1 versus type 2 PRCC, and we compared the immunohistochemical profiles in both subtypes of PRCC. We identified a total of 144 cases (74 type 1, 46 type 2, and 24 mixed), 29 female and 115 male. Mean age was 56 years for type 1 and 59 years for type 2. Mean tumor size was 3.6 cm for type 1 and 4.6 cm for type 2. Type 1 tumors were more likely to have nuclear grade 2 and less, whereas type 2 tumors were more likely to have nuclear grade 3 and above (P = .0001). There was no significant association between tumor type and renal sinus fat invasion, invasion of muscular branches of renal vein, perinephric fat invasion, microvascular angiolymphatic invasion, and main renal vein invasion. Type 2 tumors have higher nuclear grades than type 1 tumors. Based on long follow-up data, both subtypes appear to have excellent prognosis when diagnosed at early stage. The immunohistochemical profiles of both types 1 and 2 PRCC are essentially the same. The similar immunohistochemical profile suggests that PRCC is one entity with divergent histologic features.
Mouse β6 Integrin Sequence, Pattern of Expression, and Role in Kidney Development

Abstract . Integrins mediate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions and play key roles in development. β 6 integrin expression has been demonstrated in human fetal kidney at a higher level than in the adult, making β 6 integrin a marker of interest for the study of development of the nephron. The aims of this study were to determine the cDNA sequence for the mouse β 6 integrin and to characterize β 6 integrin expression in the developing mouse kidney. Two embryonic mouse kidney cDNA libraries were screened, and the coding region was sequenced. The mouse β 6 nucleotide coding region sequence shows 82% nucleotide identity to the human sequence. The putative amino acid sequence has 89.5% identity to human β 6 integrin and contains many conserved domains. By reverse transcription-PCR, β 6 integrin mRNA expression is very low at 11 d of gestation in the mouse, increases dramatically by E14 and E17 (20-fold, normalized for increases in β actin), and plateaus by 2 wk of age. β 6 integrin expression is induced 15- to 20-fold after 5 d in metanephric explant culture. Reverse transcription-PCR of adult rat microdissected nephron segments demonstrates β 6 integrin mRNA expression in proximal tubule, cortical thick ascending limb, distal nephron segments (inner and outer medullary collecting ducts), and macula densa—containing segments. Lectin-peroxidase and in situ colocalization studies demonstrated expression of β 6 integrin mRNA in developing proximal tubules and thick ascending limb. Culture of mouse metanephric kidneys with antisense oligonucleotides to β 6 integrin resulted in inhibition of ureteric bud branching and complete lack of mesenchyme condensation. These studies demonstrate a high homology between the human and mouse β 6 integrin sequence, a different pattern of expression in the developing mouse kidney compared with the primate kidney, and abnormal metanephric development in culture in the absence of β 6 integrin. These findings suggest an important role for β 6 integrin in normal development of the mouse kidney.
Designing Inter-Organizational Networks to Implement Education Reform An Analysis of State Race to the Top Applications

This study sought to understand the opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of state designed Race to the Top (RttT) funded reform networks. Drawing on a conceptual framework developed from the networked governance literature, we analyzed the 12 state RttT grantees’ applications. Our analysis revealed that states designed large implementation networks with potential to bring a wide range of resources to bear on reform efforts, particularly through participation of numerous nonsystem actors. However, coordinating large and diverse networks places state education agencies (SEAs) in a new and challenging role. The extent to which networks extend state capacity to support educational improvement or further complicate the work of SEAs remains an open question. We propose a model including a set of theoretical propositions to guide future research.
The Promise and Challenges of India's Corporate Governance Reforms

This Article examines India’s initial corporate governance reform efforts as well as reforms adopted in the aftermath of the Satyam scandal. An evaluation of India’s corporate governance reforms demonstrates that although extensive reforms have been instituted, there remain significant lapses in implementation and enforcement. Moreover, many of the reforms that have been adopted fail to address fundamental areas of concern such as the relationship between controlling and minority shareholders, the role of promoters, the limited activism of shareholders, including institutional investors, and issues with director independence. This Article expresses concerns that these challenges may prevail because they have been shaped by unique political and social forces. These forces include the traditional closed ownership structures of Indian firms, an ineffective institutional framework to support enforcement efforts, weaknesses in investor access to the courts, and political pressures related to government ownership of certain industries.
Biological esterification of steroids

I. Introduction A. Obfuscating chemistry and the presumptive steroid acetates B. Sterol esters: substrates for the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme II. Lipoidal Derivatives of Δ5-3β-Hydroxysteroids in the Adrenal and Ovary A. Endogenous steroid esters B. Biosynthetic esterification ofΔ 5-3β-hydroxy-steroids III. Lipoidal Derivatives of Steroids in Peripheral Tissues A. Esterification of steroid hormones B. Esterification of Δ5-3β-hydroxysteroids C. Endogenous esters of sex steroids D. Androsterone esters in breast cyst fluid IV. Lipoidal Derivatives Synthesized by Lecithin:Cholesterol Acyltransferase A. Blood B. Ovarian follicular fluid V. Steroid Esterases VI. Lipoidal Derivatives of Steroid Hormones in Insects VII. Biological Effects of Steroid Esterification A. Potent sex steroids B. Unique actions of the steroid esters in blood VIII. Conclusion
Functional Brain Dynamics of Evoked and Event-Related Potentials From The Central Auditory System

Abstract Source localization of electrical activity in the brain can be greatly improved by testing the experimental variability in the signals being localized. The most widely used method for extr...
Device Design and Optimization Methodology for Leakage and Variability Reduction in Sub-45-nm FD/SOI SRAM

Ultrathin-body fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (UTB FD/SOI) devices have emerged as a possible candidate in sub-45-nm technologies and beyond. This paper analyzes leakage and stability of FD/SOI 6T SRAM cell and presents a device design and optimization strategy for low-power and stable SRAM applications. We show that large variability and asymmetry in threshold-voltage distribution due to random dopant fluctuation (RDF) significantly increase leakage spread and degrade stability of FD/SOI SRAM cell. We propose to optimize FD devices using thinner buried oxide (BOX) structure and lower body doping combined with negative back-bias or workfunction engineering in reducing the RDF effect. Our analysis shows that thinner BOX and cooptimization of body doping and back biasing are efficient in designing low-power and stable FD/SOI SRAM cell in sub-45-nm nodes.
Rare case of medial subtalar dislocation from a low-velocity mechanism.

Abstract Background: Trauma to the foot and ankle from inversion injury accounts for a considerable number of Emergency Department (ED) visits. Acute subtalar dislocations are rare injuries most commonly caused by high-velocity mechanisms that can produce long-term complications if not reduced promptly. The subtleties of the dislocation on plain films can be easily overlooked in a fast-paced environment like the ED, especially if the patient presents with an atypical mechanism. Objectives: The epidemiology, pathophysiology, plain X-ray findings, management, and prognosis of medial subtalar dislocations will be reviewed. Case Report: We present a case of medial subtalar dislocation secondary to a low-velocity mechanism in an otherwise healthy 37-year-old woman. Conclusions: Although medial subtalar dislocations are an uncommon injury, they usually can be reduced easily in the ED, achieving a good long-term prognosis with appropriate follow-up. The findings on plain film X-rays can be subtle at times, and the dislocation may not always present with a classic history of high-velocity trauma.
Studies on the biosynthesis of thyroid hormone: bulk fractionation procedures and absorbency spectra of calf thyroid, iodide peroxidase-tyrosine iodinase; stabilization of enzyme and polymeric structure.

Purification and properties of calf thyroid iodide peroxidase-tyrosine iodinase have been investigated. The enzyme, solubilized from cell particles by trypsin-deoxycholate treatment, can be concentrated by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, by precipitation at pH 4.8, by differential precipitation with detergents, or by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Heme protein absorbing maximally at 409 xμ is present in the partially purified preparations of the soluble iodinating enzyme. The heme protein forms carbon monoxide (420–421 mμ) and cyanide (427 mμ) complexes, and the Soret band is moved to 423 mμ by reducing agents. A variety of compounds that inhibit iodotyrosine formation by the enzyme shift the Soret band to the reduced form. H2O2, which inactivates the enzyme, obliterates the Soret band. The absorbency spectrum of the enzyme is distinct from hemoglobin, and neither hemoglobin nor hematin is significantly active in the iodinating assay. Although the most purified preparations contain heme protein, the ra...
Elevated expression of Paneth cell CRS4C in ileitis-prone SAMP1/YitFc mice: regional distribution, subcellular localization, and mechanism of action.

Paneth cells at the base of small intestinal crypts of Lieberkuhn secrete host defense peptides and proteins, including α-defensins, as mediators of innate immunity. Mouse Paneth cells also express α-defensin-related Defcr-rs genes that code for cysteine-rich sequence 4C (CRS4C) peptides that have a unique CPX triplet repeat motif. In ileitis-prone SAMP1/YitFc mice, Paneth cell levels of CRS4C mRNAs and peptides are induced more than a 1000-fold relative to non-prone strains as early as 4 weeks of age, with the mRNA and peptide levels highest in distal ileum and below detection in duodenum. CRS4C-1 peptides are found exclusively in Paneth cells where they occur only in dense core granules and thus are secreted to function in the intestinal lumen. CRS4C bactericidal peptide activity is membrane-disruptive in that it permeabilizes Escherichia coli and induces rapid microbial cell K+ efflux, but in a manner different from mouse α-defensin cryptdin-4. In in vitro studies, inactive pro-CRS4C-1 is converted to bactericidal CRS4C-1 peptide by matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) proteolysis of the precursor proregion at the same residue positions that MMP-7 activates mouse pro-α-defensins. The absence of processed CRS4C in protein extracts of MMP-7-null mouse ileum demonstrates the in vivo requirement for intracellular MMP-7 in pro-CRS4C processing.
A new lens for supporting and studying science teacher reflections: situating the self in the [activity] system

This paper presents a new lens for analyzing written reflections on the teaching experiences of pre-service [science] teachers. The lens, which borrows heavily from Activity Theory, allows science education researchers and teacher educators to identify tensions, disturbances, conflicts, and contradictions within teachers’ written reflections as a means to help the participants situate their successes and challenges within the activity systems in which they operate. This paper describes the process through which the lens was crafted, defines the key constructs comprising the lens, applies the lens to the analysis of two purposefully selected reflection documents, and then considers the affordances of the lens. It also discusses how the insights gained from this lens have lead to new ways of facilitating reflection in pre-service science teachers, including the use of Kenneth Snelson’s tensegrity sculptures as a metaphor for the goal of reflection. Finally, it connects the tensions identified in the individual reflections of two pre-service science teachers to broader issues being addressed in science education.
An economic model for resource exchange in mobile peer to peer networks

Consider an urban area with hundreds of thousands of vehicles. Drivers and passengers in these vehicles are interested in information relevant to their trip. For example, a driver would like his/her vehicle to continuously display on a map the available parking spaces around the current location. Or, the driver may be interested in the traffic conditions (e.g. average speed) one mile ahead. In this paper we examine the dissemination of information about resources in mobile peer-to-peer networks, where vehicles and sensors communicate with each other via short-range wireless transmission. Each disseminated resource represents information about a spatial-temporal event, such as the availability of a parking slot at a particular time. We propose an opportunistic dissemination paradigm, in which a moving object transmits the resources it carries to encountered vehicles and obtains new resources in exchange. We develop and analyze a family of economic models that provide incentive for collaboration in data dissemination. The proposed system has the potential to create a completely new information marketplace.
Virtual reality: surgical application--challenge for the new millennium.

The discipline of surgery requires a significant amount of cognitive analysis and integration of patient data. Based on this analysis, decisions are often made quickly, occasionally under emergent circumstances. Not too long ago, surgeons had to rely completely on information derived from the physical examination of their patients and findings in the operating room. Procedures had to be performed through large incisions to gain the exposure necessary for a safe operation. Surgeons have almost exclusively used their eyes for visualization and hands for manipulation of tissues. To train young surgeons in performing these tasks, we have used an apprentice model that was introduced more than 100 years ago. This traditional approach has been challenged recently both by profound financial changes and rapid technical advances within the healthcare system. The advent of managed care and relentless focus on cost containment has influenced surgical practice and training significantly. The financial impact of the traditional training process has been analyzed recently. The enormous progress of medical imaging and minimally invasive devices has revolutionized the daily practice of surgeons. Three-dimensional reconstruction of CT and MRI scans now provide a detailed roadmap; sophisticated new instruments allow us to minimize surgical access trauma without compromising exposure. Direct visualization is often replaced by a “virtual” camera image. In certain surgical specialties, it is now possible to overlie the visual field of the operating surgeon with computer-generated images to aid with intraoperative navigation. Virtual reality (VR) has been described as the combination of human-computer interfaces, graphics, sensor technology, high-end computing, and networking to allow a user to become immersed in and interact with an artificial environment. Although it may be premature to state that VR has already entered the mainstream of modern surgery, there are many signs that this technology will be used not only in the operating room, but also in preoperative planning, surgical education, and surgical research. This article will give an overview of history and technical aspects of VR, its applications in surgery today, and its potential for the future. A glossary of frequently used terms has been included; expressions printed in bold throughout the text can be found there.
Necrotizing Fasciitis Associated with Injection Drug Use

We studied cases of necrotizing fasciitis among injection drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs who presented at the University of California Davis Medical Center from 1984 through 1999. Of 107 patients, 59 (55%) were IDUs and 48 (45%) non-IDUs. Among IDUs, 32 (54%) recently injected at the site of infection, and 17 patients (29%) presented with an abscess. Among non-IDUs, 17 (35%) reported a recent insect bite and 9 (19%) reported a wound or abrasion at the site of infection. Overall, seventy cases (65%) had > or = 3 debridements, and 31 patients (29%) had > 5% of their total body surface area debrided. Of all patients with necrotizing fasciitis, 16 (15%) did not survive. Among the 59 IDUs, 6 (10%) did not survive, while among non-IDUs, 10 (21%) did not survive. Our results indicate the need for a high index of suspicion for necrotizing fasciitis among patients presenting with cellulitis, a recent insect bite, wound, or recent injection drug use. Preventive interventions for necrotizing fasciitis among IDUs should include street-based education and treatment for abscesses and cellulitis.
A hidden environment model for constructing indoor radio maps

Constructing indoor radio maps plays an important role in many services and applications, such as wireless base station planning. We propose a hybrid approach to constructing indoor radio maps by developing a novel indoor signal propagation model, called the hidden environment model (HEM). The model is hybrid because it combines on-site measurements with a number of different types of calculations. As part of this model, we introduce the idea of an environment factor matrix (EFM). The EFM represents a model of the environmental features that affect radio attenuation. We also develop a lazy sampling algorithm to help generate the EFM. The goal of the lazy sampling algorithm is to balance the number of measurements that need to be taken with our model's accuracy. The goal is to minimize the measurement workload while maintaining satisfactory accuracy. We evaluate our model by comparing the radio maps calculated from the model to a radio map obtained by exhaustive measurements. The results show that our hidden environment model achieves good accuracy.
The effects of learning and retrieval contexts on cross-situational word learning

Natural linguistic environments usually provide structured input, in that words that are semantically-related are likely to occur in the same situation. The current study examined whether this kind of semantically-themed structure facilitated cross-situational word learning. Results from two experiments consistently showed that participants had higher performance in semantically-themed learning contexts. In contrast, themed retrieval contexts did not affect performance. Our work suggests that learners' ability to use statistical information to acquire word-to-object mappings is enhanced when learning is put in a more naturalistic and structured context.
The CSX-l Computer

A brief description of the logical structure and the instruction repertoire of a short word length (16 bits) computer is given. The unorthodox features which are discussed are 1) a variable-length addressing procedure, 2) a common multi-accumulator and index register structure, and 3) the identical processing of data and addresses.
Bayesian Analysis of Mixtures of Improper Survival Distributions

A mixture model is proposed to model the failure data where each component has a surviving fraction i.e., admits a positive probability of cure. The proposed model is fitted to a real data set describing recidivism of prisoners i.e., return to prison for any crime. The proposed model is computationally appealing, and the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods are developed to sample from the posterior distribution of the parameters. Classification of a prisoner to different groups is also done based on the proposed model.