cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of Robotic Surgery in Endometrial Cancer

Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in women in the United States with an estimated number of 40,100 women diagnosed in 2008, the great majority of which belongs to endometrial classification. The traditional approach to treatment of endometrial cancer has been primarily surgery via an open, laparotomy incision. Minimally invasive approaches with smaller incisions, i.e., laparoscopy for the management of endometrial cancer was initially reported in 1992; however, its adoption has been slow due to the prolonged learning curve needed to become proficient in such a technique. Robotic-assisted surgery, a further advancement of traditional laparoscopy, using computer-based controls has been developed enabling the performance of complex procedures that otherwise had been too difficult to accomplish in a minimally invasive fashion. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is one such example that has gained rapid acceptance in recent years. Although the use of robotic-assisted laparoscopy for endometrial cancer is still in its early phase, this approach is anticipated to become similarly, a common approach to the management of endometrial cancer in the future.
Glenoid Reconstruction in Revision Shoulder Arthroplasty

Failed shoulder arthroplasty associated with glenoid bony deficiency is a difficult problem. Revision surgery is complex with unpredictable outcome. We asked whether revision shoulder arthroplasty with glenoid bone grafting could lead to good outcome. We retrospectively reviewed 21 patients who underwent glenoid bone grafting using corticocancellous bone grafting or impaction grafting using cancellous bone graft. Three patients underwent revision TSA, five patients hemiarthroplasty, 10 patients hemiarthroplasty with biologic resurfacing of the glenoid, and three patients revision to reverse TSA. The patients had minimum 25 months followup (average, 45 months; range, 25–92 months). All patients had improvement in their range of motion and the Constant-Murley score. Most improvement occurred in patients with glenoid reimplantation. Patients who underwent revision reverse TSA had improvement in shoulder flexion but decrease in external rotation motion. We conclude revision shoulder arthroplasty with glenoid bone grafting can produce good short-term outcome and glenoid component reinsertion should be attempted whenever possible. Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Integrability of two coupled Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equations

The integrability of two coupled KP equations is studied. The simplified Hereman form of Hirota’s bilinear method is used to examine the integrability of each coupled equation. Multiple-soliton solutions and multiple singular soliton solutions are formally derived for each coupled KdV equation.
Determining the influential depth for surface reflectance of sediment by BRDF measurements

We measure the Bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) of ooid sand layers with three particle size distributions (0.5–1mm, 0.25–0.5mm and 0.125–0.25mm) and layer thicknesses on a reflecting mirror to determine the influential depth in the optical region at wavelengths of 658 nm (red), 570 nm (green) and 457 nm (blue). The hemispherical reflectance (albedo) was used as an indicator of BRDF changes between different layers. Measurements are carried out on both dry and water wetted grains. The results indicate that for both dry and wet and all size distributions, the influential depth is at most 2mm.
Quantification and analysis of thymidine kinase expression from acyclovir-resistant G-string insertion and deletion mutants in herpes simplex virus-infected cells.

ABSTRACT To be clinically relevant, drug-resistant mutants must both evade drug action and retain pathogenicity. Many acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus mutants from clinical isolates have one or two base insertions (G8 and G9) or one base deletion (G6) in a homopolymeric run of seven guanines (G string) in the gene encoding thymidine kinase (TK). Nevertheless, G8 and G9 mutants express detectable TK activity and can reactivate from latency in mice, a pathogenicity marker. On the basis of studies using cell-free systems, ribosomal frameshifting can explain this ability to express TK. To investigate frameshifting in infected cells, we constructed viruses that express epitope-tagged versions of wild-type and mutant TKs. We measured TK activity by plaque autoradiography and expression of frameshifted and unframeshifted TK polypeptides using a very sensitive immunoprecipitation-Western blotting method. The G6 mutant expressed ∼0.01% of wild-type levels of TK polypeptide. For the G9 mutant, consistent with previous results, much TK expression could be ascribed to reversion. For the G8 mutant, from these assays and pulse-labeling studies, we determined the ratio of synthesis of frameshifted to unframeshifted polypeptides to be 1:100. The effects of stop codons before or after the G string argue that frameshifting can initiate within the first six guanines. However, frameshifting efficiency was altered by stop codons downstream of the string in the 0 frame. The G8 mutant expressed only 0.1% of the wild-type level of full-length TK, considerably lower than estimated previously. Thus, remarkably low levels of TK are sufficient for reactivation from latency in mice.
Ireland 1815–1870: emancipation, famine and religion

Donnchadh O Corrain and Tomas O'Riordan, Dublin, Four Courts Press, 2011, 312 pp, €19.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-84682-232-2 Ireland 1815–1870: Emancipation, Famine and Religion is an essential tex...
Updated Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Ozone Monitoring Instrument (SAO OMI) formaldehyde retrieval

Abstract. We present and discuss the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) formaldehyde (H2CO) retrieval algorithm for the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) which is the operational retrieval for NASA OMI H2CO. The version of the algorithm described here includes relevant changes with respect to the operational one, including differences in the reference spectra for H2CO, the fit of O2–O2 collisional complex, updates in the high-resolution solar reference spectrum, the use of a model reference sector over the remote Pacific Ocean to normalize the retrievals, an updated air mass factor (AMF) calculation scheme, and the inclusion of scattering weights and vertical H2CO profile in the level 2 products. The setup of the retrieval is discussed in detail. We compare the results of the updated retrieval with the results from the previous SAO H2CO retrieval. The improvement in the slant column fit increases the temporal stability of the retrieval and slightly reduces the noise. The change in the AMF calculation has increased the AMFs by 20%, mainly due to the consideration of the radiative cloud fraction. Typical values for retrieved vertical columns are between 4 × 1015 and 4 × 1016 molecules cm−2, with typical fitting uncertainties ranging between 45 and 100%. In high-concentration regions the errors are usually reduced to 30%. The detection limit is estimated at 1 × 1016 molecules cm−2.
Root-zone temperature effects on the early development of maize

Maize plants were grown in sand culture under greenhouse conditions from emergence to the 4-leaf stage at root-zone temperature of 12.5°, 15° and 17.5°C in one experiment, and grown to the 6-leaf stage at root zone temperatures of 15°, 20°, and 25°C in a second experiment. Attention was given to plant part differentiation as determined by leaf appearance, and to growth as determined by dry tissue accumulation, at specified growth stages.
Activation of protein kinase C does not participate in disruption of the blood-brain barrier to albumin during acute hypertension

Abstract The blood-brain barrier minimizes the entry of macromolecules into brain tissue. During acute increases in arterial blood pressure, disruption of the blood-brain barrier occurs primarily in cerebral venules and veins. Mechanisms by which increases in cerebral venous pressure produce disruption of the blood-brain barrier during acute hypertension are not clear. The goal of this study was to determine the role of activation of protein kinase C in disruption of the blood-brain barrier during acute hypertension. We examined the microcirculation of the cerebrum in vivo. Permeability of the blood-brain barrier was quantitated by the formation of venular leaky sites and clearance of fluorescent-labeled albumin (FITC-albumin) before and during phenylephrine-induced acute hypertension. In addition, we examined changes in pial arteriolar and pial venular pressure before and during phenylephrine-induced acute hypertension. We compared responses of the blood-brain barrier to acute hypertension in control (untreated) rats and in rats treated with inhibitors of protein kinse C; calphostin C (0.1 μM) or sphingosine (1.0 μM). Under control conditions, no venular leaky sites were visible and clearance of FITC-albumin was minimal in all groups. Phenylephrine infusion increased systemic arterial, pial arteriolar and pial venular pressures, and increased the formation of venular leaky sites and clearance of FITC-albumin by a similar magnitude in all groups. The findings of the present study suggest that inhibition of protein kinase C does not significantly alter the formation of venular leaky sites and/or clearance of FITC-albumin during acute hypertension. Thus, disruption of the blood-brain barrier during acute hypertension does not appear to be influenced by activation of protein kinase C.
The dynamical behaviour of SS 433

On developpe un formalisme dynamique pour decrire le mouvement d'un objet distordu se deplacant sous l'influence de champs gravitationnels presents dans un systeme binaire serre. Application au comportement de SS 433
On optimal bidding and inventory control in sequential procurement auctions: the multi period case

We consider the problem of a firm that in each cycle of a planning horizon builds inventory of identical items that it acquires by participating in auctions in order to satisfy its own market demand. The firm’s objective is to have a procurement strategy that maximizes the expected present value of the profit for an infinite planning horizon of identical cycles. We formulate this problem as a Markov decision process. We establish monotonicity properties of the value function and of the optimal bidding rule.
Vertical Cooperative Advertising Ventures

This article discusses how parameters of a cooperative advertising arrangement are currently decided upon and presents decision models which demonstrate that quantitative analysis can lead to a bet...
A Framework for Automated Service Negotiation

Web services composition enables the business to dynamically and seamlessly integrate business applications on the web. The performance of an overall composition is a function of its individual component services. Hence, both functional and nonfunctional properties of Web services are important when negotiating component service for a system. Automated negotiation helps speed up this process and often improves the overall quality of the composite system. In this paper, we present a negotiation Web service that would be used by both the businesses searching for a Web service as well as the providers of Web services for conducting negotiations for dependent QoS parameters. We present the detailed architecture and system engineering view of our framework and use a genetic algorithm (GA) based approach for finding acceptable solutions in multi-party and multi-objective scenarios. Experimental results indicate the applicability and improved performance of our approach in facilitating the negotiations involved in a Web service composition process.
Hydrogen peroxide formation and stoichiometry of hydroxylation reactions catalyzed by highly purified liver microsomal cytochrome P-450.

Abstract The stoichiometry of hydroxylation reactions catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 was studied in a reconstituted enzyme system containing the highly purified cytochrome from phenobarbital-induced rabbit liver microsomes. Hydrogen peroxide was shown to be formed in the reconstituted system in the presence of NADPH and oxygen; the amount of peroxide produced varied with the substrated added. NADPH oxidation, oxygen consumption, and total product formation (sum of hydroxylated compound and hydrogen peroxide) were shown to be equimolar when cyclohexane, benzphetamine, or dimethylaniline served as the substrate. The stoichiometry observed represents the sum of two activities associated with cytochrome P-450 . These are (1) hydroxylase activity: NADPH + H + + O 2 + RH → NADP + + H 2 O + ROH; and (2) oxidase activity: NADPH + H + + O 2 → NADP + + H 2 O 2 . Benzylamphetamine (desmethylbenzphetamine) acts as a pseudosubstrate in that it stimulates peroxide formation to the same extent as the parent compound (benzphetamine), but does not undergo hydroxylation. Accordingly, when benzylamphetamine alone is added in control experiments to correct for the NADPH and O 2 consumption not associated with benzphetamine hydroxylation, the expected 1:1:1 stoichiometry for NADPH oxidation, O 2 consumption, and formaldehyde formation in the hydroxylation reaction is observed.
Pay-for-performance: An overview for pediatrics

Pay-for-performance (P4P) incentive programs are gaining momentum in the United States. Over the past few years, the number of P4P programs, as well as the number of associated news and journal articles, has grown substantially. The Commonwealth Fund counts as many as 105 P4P programs, whereas the Leapfrog Group estimates approximately 90 such efforts. 1 Most P4P initiatives are in the early stage of implementation, so it is still premature to evaluate their success in terms of improved quality and potential cost effectiveness. However, the federal government, professional organizations, providers, and payers are all beginning to take formal positions on the P4P movement. Although there is much enthusiasm regarding P4P, there is little rigorous published research regarding the impact of these programs across diverse patient and payer populations. 2-4 Despite the lack of evidence, however, the literature suggests that P4P will continue to expand due to the enthusiasm of large employers, the recent interest by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and current legislation. We conducted a literature review to synthesize the existing knowledge surrounding P4P, focusing especially on pediatric providers. Most of the available literature describes current initiatives and identifies the challenges associated with implementing such programs. Very few programs relate specifically to pediatrics. This report provides an overview of more than 100 journal articles and news/press releases related to P4P published since 2002. A link is provided to a comprehensive review matrix for details on each article (http://www.abp.org/jpeds/P4P/P4P2006.pdf).
Hepatic clearance of drugs. III. Additional experimental evidence supporting the “wellstirred” model, using metabolite (MEGX) generated from lidocaine under varying hepatic blood flow rates and linear conditions in the perfused rat liverin situ preparation

The disposition of monoethylglycine xylidide (MEGX), a metabolite of lidocaine, was studied in the perfused rat liver in situpreparation in an attempt to further discriminate between two models of hepatic drug clearance. In the “well-stirred” model, the liver is regarded as a well-stirred compartment with the emergent drug concentration in equilibrium with that in the liver. In the “parallel tube” model, the liver is viewed as a series of indentical paralllel units with enzymes distributed evenly around the units. Using a single-passage perfusate system, we found in a previous study that the extraction ratio of lidocaine was maximal and constant (0.997) below 7 mg/liter. The steady-state output MEGX concentration appearing in the emergent blood upon a constant and low-input concentration of lidocaine (4 mg/liter) was determined under varying hepatic blood flow rates (10–16 ml/min per liver). The data suggest that operationally the “well-stirred” model adequately describes the appearance of MEGX from lidocaine.
Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibition does not adversely affect immune or virological status in HIV infected men and women: a pilot safety study.

Context: People infected with HIV have a higher risk for developing insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease than the general population. Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4) inhibitors are glucose-lowering medications with pleiotropic actions that may particularly benefit people with HIV, but the immune and virological safety of DPP4 inhibition in HIV is unknown. Objective: DPP4 inhibition will not reduce CD4+ T lymphocyte number or increase HIV viremia in HIV-positive adults. Design: This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind safety trial of sitagliptin in HIV-positive adults. Setting: The study was conducted at an academic medical center. Participants: Twenty nondiabetic HIV-positive men and women (9.8 ± 5.5 years of known HIV) taking antiretroviral therapy and with stable immune (625 ± 134 CD4+ T cells per microliter) and virological (<48 copies HIV RNA per milliliter) status. Intervention: The intervention included sitagliptin (100 mg/d) vs matching placebo for up to 24 weeks. ...
686 COMPLEMENT-MEDIATED DESTRUCTION OF LYMPHOCYTES AND LYMPHOBLASTS: INHIBITION IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (ALL)

Previous data have shown that sera from patients with ALL contain a material which will block the activation of C3 by both the classical and alternative pathways. An in vitro assay was established to test whether or not this “inhibitor” will prevent complement-mediated killing of normal peripheral lymphocytes (L) or bone marrow-derived malignant lymphoblasts (LB). This assay utilizes L or LB as a target cell, antilymphocyte globulin, and serum; cell death is measured by the uptake of 5% eosin. With normal human serum (NHS), the extent of killing of L or LB depends upon the concentrations of target cells, antibody, and serum as well as the time of incubation at 37° C. Using optimal conditions with ALL sera or with NHS to which purified “inhibitor” has been added, the average killing was decreased by 64%. Increasing Ab concentration two fold, serum concentration five fold or the time of incubation three fold did not completely correct the defect with ALL sera. This “inhibitor” is present in NHS and appears to function by modulating the biologic activity of C3. At diagnosis or relapse, patients with ALL may be deregulated in the elaboration of this material. The resultant excess of the “inhibitor” apparently leads to blockade of the effects of antibody and complement in eliminating tumor cells.
International services marketing: review of research, 1980‐1998

The literature on international services marketing from 31 academic journals in the period 1980 to 1998 is reviewed. This time frame contains the largest proportion of scholarly works published on international services marketing to date. Results reveal that the extant literature is relatively sparse, with much research focused on highly specific industries or topic areas. Major findings from leading sectors as well as from general works are presented. The special characteristics of services are discussed in light of requirements for successful international marketing success. A call is made for future research which can extend international services marketing with regard to needed theories, models and constructs.
Low-dispersion, high-gain femtosecond optical pulse amplifier.

We demonstrate a novel amplifier for femtosecond optical pulses. The output of a colliding-pulse mode-locked laser is amplified to 0.3 μJ per pulse at a repetition rate of 8 kHz by using 1 W of pump power from a copper-vapor laser. Our high-efficiency amplifier focuses the beam for four gain passes through a thin dye stream that uses a Z configuration with matched focusing. Because of low group-velocity dispersion, the output pulses are only slightly broadened, from 63 to 73 fsec, and may be used directly to generate a white-light continuum without pulse compression after amplification.
Benevolence, Justice, Well-Being and the Health Gradient

The health gradient among those who are by historical standards both remarkably healthy and well-off is of considerable moral importance with respect to benevolence, justice and the theory of welfare. Indeed it may help us to realize that for most people the good life lies in close and intricate social ties with others which can flourish only when inequalities are limited. The health gradient suggests that there is a story to be told in which egalitarian justice, solidarity, health and well-being go hand-in-hand.
Prospect theory's reflection hypothesis: A critical examination

Abstract In a recent new theory of decision making under risk (called prospect theory), Kahneman and Tversky suggest that people's preferences among lotteries on the loss side are a mirror image of those on the gain side. This article examines the reflection hypothesis at both an across-subject and within-subject level. Since significant reflection at either level does not necessarily imply significant reflection at the other, upper and lower bounds are computed for each. Four types of within-subject reflectivity are distinguished and analyzed. Relationships among these types are examined theoretically as well as empirically. Experimental results from three separate studies are presented, which seriously question the generality of prospect theory's reflection hypothesis.
Imidazoline compounds inhibit KATP channels in guinea pig ventricular myocytes

Abstract Phentolamine and related imidazolines inhibit K ATP channel activity in the pancreatic β cell. In the present study, the effects of several imidazoline-based compounds were examined upon K ATP channel activity in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Phentolamine produced a potent inhibition of K ATP channel activity when examined in either excised inside-out patches or in the whole-cell configuration. This effect was unrelated to phentolamine's ability to antagonise α-adrenoceptors since the non-selective α-adrenoceptor antagonists, benextramine and phenoxybenzamine, failed to affect channel activity. Furthermore, the α-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine together with several related imidazolines inhibited channel activity. This suggests that imidazoline compounds modulate K ATP channel activity in guinea pig ventricular myocytes and this may have clinical implications for the use of such agents as hypoglycemic drugs.
Right hemispheric sensitivity for the McCollough effect.

THE mammalian cerebral cortex is divided into two hemispheres and it seems in man that each half specialises in a different kind of information processing. Linguistic skills are, for the most part, localised in the left hemisphere while the right may dominate in visual/perceptual tasks1–4.
Hepatitis C Virus Regulates Transforming Growth Factor β1 Production Through the Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species in a Nuclear Factor κB–Dependent Manner

Background & Aims The generation of oxidative stress and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) production play important roles in liver fibrogenesis. We have previously shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) increases hepatocyte TGF-β1 expression. However, the mechanisms by which this induction occurs have not been well studied. We explored the possibility that HCV infection regulates TGF-β1 expression through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which act through ≥1 of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and nuclear factor κB (NFκB) signaling pathways to induce TGF-β1 expression. Methods We used small molecule inhibitors and short interfering RNAs to knock down these pathways to study the mechanism by which HCV regulates TGF-β1 production in the infectious JFH1 model. Results We demonstrated that HCV induces ROS and TGF-β1 expression. We further found that JFH1 induces the phosphorylation of p38MAPK, JNK, ERK, and NFκB. We also found that HCV-mediated TGF-β1 enhancement occurs through a ROS-induced and p38 MAPK, JNK, ERK1/2, NFκB-dependent pathway. Conclusions These findings provide further evidence to support the hypothesis that HCV enhances hepatic fibrosis progression through the generation of ROS and induction of TGF-β1. Strategies to limit the viral induction of oxidative stress appear to be warranted to inhibit fibrogenesis.
Management of Intracerebral Hemorrhage in a Large Metropolitan Population

The management of all patients with spontaneous, nonaneurysmal intracerebral hemorrhages that occurred in the 1.26 million population of Greater Cincinnati during 1988 was reviewed. Of the 188 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, 26 had operative removal of their intracerebral hemorrhage, and 8 had removal of their intracerebral hemorrhage and an arteriovenous malformation. In 15 of the 34 patients, the operation was performed within 12 hours of onset. The operative removal of parenchymal hemorrhages was performed in 29% of cerebellar, 24% of lobar, 13% of deep, and 10% of pontine hemorrhages. Admission Glasgow Coma Scale scores were similar for operated and nonoperated patients (11 +/- 3 versus 11 +/- 3), but operated patients were significantly younger (58 +/- 17 versus 72 +/- 15 yr), were more likely to have a lobar hemorrhage (64 versus 43%) or a cerebellar hemorrhage (29 versus 7%), and had larger parenchymal hemorrhages (50 +/- 31 versus 37 +/- 38 ml). Operated patients had a borderline lower 30-day mortality (25%) than nonoperated patients (46%), but the overall morbidity and mortality for the two groups did not differ significantly. Patients undergoing an early operation were more critically ill preoperatively and had a greater 30-day mortality (45%) than did those patients undergoing a late operation (12%). Half of the 43% mortality for all hospitalized cases occurred during the first 2 days after onset, and two-thirds occurred during the first 4 days. Only 12% of all patients had a minor handicap or better at 30 days. Neurosurgeons in our community performed operative removal of parenchymal hemorrhage in nearly one fifth of all patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Characteristics and constraints in ballads and their effects on memory

Four sets of ballads, chosen as a sample of an oral tradition as it existed in North Carolina in the early 1900s, were examined in order to determine whether ballad characteristics used in combination are sufficient to account for the stability observed from performance to performance, as well as across generations of oral transmission. The characteristics included verse length, presence of refrains, presence and location of poetics, the pattern and number of end rhymes, the metrical patterns, average number of syllables per word, the pattern of meaning and imagery in lines, the frequency of repeated lines both within and across ballads in the set, the musical scales used, and the agreement of metrical stresses and musical beats. The combination of these characteristics provides many constraints which limit the possible word choices and can act to stabilize transmissions.
Proposed use of prophylactic decompressive craniectomy in poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients presenting with associated large sylvian hematomas

Objective As a group, patients who present in poor neurological grade after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) often have poor outcomes. There may be subgroups of these patients, however, in which one pathological process predominates and for which the initiation of specific therapeutic interventions that target the predominant pathological process may result in improved outcome. We report the use of prophylactic decompressive craniectomy in patients presenting in poor neurological condition after SAH from middle cerebral artery aneurysms with associated large sylvian fissure hematomas. Craniectomy allowed significant parenchymal swelling in the posthemorrhagic period without increased intracranial pressure (ICP) or herniation syndrome. Methods Eight patients (mean age, 56.5 yr; age range, 42-66 yr) presented comatose with SAH (five Hunt and Hess Grade IV, three Hunt and Hess Grade V). Radiographic evaluations demonstrated middle cerebral artery aneurysm and associated large sylvian fissure hematoma (mean clot volume, 121 ml; range, 30-175 ml). Patients were brought emergently to the operating room and treated with a modification of the pterional craniotomy and aneurysm clipping that included a planned craniectomy and duraplasty. A large, reverse question mark scalp flap was created, followed by bone removal with the following margins: anterior, frontal to the midpupillary line; posterior at least 2 cm behind the external auditory meatus; superior up to 2 cm lateral to the superior sagittal sinus; and inferior to the floor of the middle cranial fossa. Generous duraplasty was performed using either pericranium or suitable, commercially available dural substitutes. Results All of the eight patients tolerated the craniectomy without operative complications. Postoperatively, all patients experienced immediate decreases in ICP to levels at or below 20 mm Hg (presentation mean ICP, 31.6 mm Hg; postoperative mean ICP, 13.1 mm Hg). ICP control was sustained in seven of eight patients, with the one exception being due to a massive hemispheric infarction secondary to refractory vasospasm. Follow-up (> or = 1 yr, except for one patient who died during the hospital stay) demonstrated that the craniectomy patients had a remarkably high number of good or excellent outcomes. The outcomes in the hemicraniectomy group were five good or excellent, one fair, and two poor or dead. Conclusion The data gathered in this study demonstrate that decompressive craniectomy can be performed safely as part of initial management for a subcategory of patients with SAH who present with large sylvian fissure hematomas. In addition, the performance of decompressive craniectomy in the patients described in this article seemed to be associated with rapid and sustained control of ICP. Although the number of patients in this study is small, the data lend support to the hypothesis that decompressive craniectomy may be associated with good or excellent outcome in a carefully selected subset of patients with SAH.
Microfabrication of freestanding porous silicon particles containing spectral barcodes

A method to microfabricate micron-scale freestanding porous silicon photonic crystal particles is described. An electrochemically prepared film of porous silicon on a crystalline silicon substrate is patterned with an SU8-25 photoresist, and the unmasked porous silicon is removed with a chlorine plasma reactive ion etch. Porous microparticles are then removed from the substrate by electropolishing. Scanning electron microscopy and microscopic reflection spectroscopy are used to characterize the geometry and optical properties of the freestanding particles. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Fostering itself increases nicotine self-administration in young adult male rats

Rationale In gestational exposure studies, a fostered group is frequently used to control for drug-induced maternal effects. However, fostering itself has varying effects depending on the parameters under investigation
A Behavioral Component Analysis of Route Guidance Systems Using Neural Networks

Route guidance systems (RGS) are considered to be a low-cost alternative for reduction of traffic congestion by providing real-time information to drivers to redistribute traffic in space and time to enable use of highway networks more efficiently. This paper looks at the behavioral component, 1 of 3 components of a practical RGS developed within a 4-year project at the University of Delaware. Development of the behavioral model is based on the premise that drivers perceive and behave differently in response to the information provided. Backpropagation neural networks with their ability to map complex input-output relationships were used to structure the model, which was tested on 2 networks under both recurring and nonrecurring congestion. A comparative analysis of the measures of effectiveness revealed that the performance of the developed RGS is significantly better than the performance under existing non-RGS conditions.
Chemistry and possible roles of cuticular alcohols of the larval atlas moth

Abstract 1. 1. Cuticular wax from abdominal tubercles of Attacus atlas (Lepidoptera; Saturniidae) is primarily composed of 1-triacontanol in combination with 1-hexadecanol, 1-heptadecanol, 1-nonadecanol and 1-dotriacontanol. 2. 2. Evidence for the roles of wax in water conservation and defense against predators and parasitoids, and the defensive behavior associated with an additional thoracic defensive secretion are discussed. 3. 3. 1-Triacontanol at 2.28 × 10 −8 M, but not larval was containing this compound at the same concentration, increased the number of leaves, and leaf and stem fresh and dry weight of Ailanthus altissima seedlings, a host-plant of the Atlas moth.
Successful Management of Left Ventricular Rupture Following Myocardial Revascularization

Left ventricular (LV) rupture is a common cause of death following myocardial infarction, but it is rarely noted following coronary bypass surgery. This is true despite the increasing number of coronary bypass operations performed for postinfarction angina, often following transmural infarction. A 59-year-old woman underwent successful repair of left ventricular free-wall rupture that occurred after coronary surgery performed for postinfarction angina. To our knowledge, this is the first report to establish the feasibility of successful surgical repair of left ventricular free-wall rupture in the postoperative patient with tamponade or intrathoracic bleeding.
Growing up multitasking: The costs and benefits for cognitive development

Abstract Current work, play, and learning environments require multitasking activities from children, adolescents and adults. Advances in web-enabled and multi-function devices have created a perceived need to stay “wired” to multiple media sources. The increased demand that these activities place on information processing resources has raised concerns about the quality of learning and performance under multitasking conditions. Young children, whose attention systems and executive functions are immature, are seen to be especially at risk. To evaluate these concerns the costs and benefits of “everyday” multitasking (e.g., driving, studying, multimedia learning) are examined in relation to the classic experimental literatures on divided attention in task-switching and dual-task performance. These literatures indicate that multitasking is almost always less efficient (time, accuracy) and can result in a more superficial learning than single-task performance. Alternatively, when the cognitive, perceptual, and response requirements of the tasks are controlled by the individual, when learning platforms are developmentally appropriate, and when practice is permitted, multitasking strategies can not only be successful but can result in enhanced visual and perceptual skills and knowledge acquisition. Future progress will come from advances in cognitive and computational modelling, from training attention and brain networks, and from the neuroergonomic evaluation of performance that will enable the design of work and learning environments that are optimized for multitasking.
Ice and minerals on Callisto - A reassessment of the reflectance spectra

The results of a comparison of laboratory spectral reflectance measurements of particulate mixtures of both hydrated silicates and palagonite with water ice, on the one hand, with two previously unpublished reflectance spectra of Callisto, yield direct support for the hypothesis that the measured reflectance of Callisto includes a substantial nonice component. Hapke's (1981) equations are used in a theoretical model for thorough analysis of telescopic data; a comparison of the calculation results thus obtained with measured reflectance data for Callisto indicate that three-component, ice/magnetite/serpentine mixtures are a better match for telescopic data than two-component ice mixtures.
Fluorine-18 labeling of 6,7-disubstituted anilinoquinazoline derivatives for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of tyrosine kinase receptors: synthesis of 18F-Iressa and related molecular probes

Inhibitors of tyrosine kinase enzymatic activity represent a promising new class of antineoplastic agents. Although clinical studies performed over the last decade give more insight on the potential therapeutic applications of such drugs, identification of the individual patients who might benefit from them remains a major challenge. We have developed a synthetic strategy for the production of a wide variety of radiolabeled 6,7-disubstituted 4-anilinoquinazolines suitable for noninvasive imaging of tyrosine kinase receptors to predict therapy effectiveness. Three new F-18 labeled radiopharmaceuticals based on the therapeutic agents Tarceva, Iressa, and ZD6474 were synthesized. Decay-corrected yields varied between 25 and 40% for a total synthesis time of 120 min, thus providing F-18 labeled tyrosine kinase inhibitors in quantities and times practical for use as PET radiopharmaceuticals. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Defect formation and diffusion mechanism in ion-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy

A simple moving boundary diffusion model has been used to characterize defect incorporation kinetics during ion-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy. The model permits analysis of the dependence of the final defect concentration on the growth rate, defect diffusivity, defect production range, and the shape of defect depth distribution. The results indicate a linear dependence of the final defect concentration on the ion-to-atom flux ratio which is in the growth-rate-limited regime of the model. Comparison between the model and the film strains measured by x-ray rocking curve analyses has been made and reveals that the thermal spike energy deposited by the bombarding ions during epitaxial growth has a significant effect on the apparent activation energy of the defect migration. A transition temperature above which the defect migration is thermally activated and below which the defect migration is cascade assisted can be defined. The experimentally observed temperature dependence of the defect concentration can be attributed to cascade-assisted diffusion of the defects. Comparison between the model and the multisite multiply activated migration model for low-energy dopant incorporation has also been made. The results show the similarity between the defect incorporation and dopant incorporation which gives a unified view of both processes.
Can you hear me now? Limited use of technology among an urban HIV-infected cohort

Recent studies support technology-based behavioral interventions for individuals with HIV. This study focused on the use of cell phone and internet technologies among a cohort of 515 HIV-infected individuals. Socio-demographic and clinic data were collected among individuals presenting at an urban Midwestern university HIV clinic in 2007. Regular internet usage occurred more often with males, Caucasians, those who were employed, had higher income, and were more educated. Higher levels of education and income >$10,000 predicted regular usage when controlling for race, employment, and gender. Cell phone ownership was associated with being Caucasian, employed, more educated, and salary >$10,000. Employment was the only predictor of owning a cell phone when controlling for income, race, and education. Individuals who were <40 years of age, employed, and more educated were more likely to know how to text message. Employment and post-high school education predicted knowledge of text messaging, when controlling for age. Disparities among internet, cell phone, and text messaging usage exist among HIV-infected individuals.
Outcomes Associated With Spirometry for Pediatric Asthma in a Managed Care Organization

BACKGROUND The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute asthma guidelines recommend that children with asthma receive spirometry testing "at least every 1 to 2 years to assess the maintenance of airway function." OBJECTIVE The purpose of this work was to describe: (1) how often children with asthma receive spirometry testing, (2) what factors are associated with receipt of spirometry testing, and (3) the impact of spirometry testing on subsequent emergency department visits for asthma. METHODS We analyzed all pediatric asthma claims data from a university-based managed care organization for a 3-year period (January 2001 to December 2003). We included all of the continuously enrolled patients with active asthma between 7 and 21 years of age. Our outcomes of interest were the presence of > or = 1 claim for spirometry testing (Common Procedural Terminology 94010-6, 94060, 94070, or 94150) and the time to emergency department visit. We used multivariate logistic regression to determine factors associated with receipt of spirometry and survival analyses techniques to assess the association between receipt of spirometry with the likelihood of an emergency department asthma visit in the next year, controlling for patient age, gender, severity of illness, and type of insurance. RESULTS There were 2688 eligible children of whom 1509 (56%) were male, 324 (12%) had Medicaid insurance, and 624 (24%) had persistent asthma in the initial year. Of the 2688 children, only 612 (23%) had > or = 1 claim for spirometry testing during the study period. In all of the multivariate logistic analysis models, increased severity of illness was consistently associated with increased likelihood of receiving spirometry testing. Compared with patients without Medicaid insurance, children with Medicaid insurance were consistently less likely to receive spirometry testing. After adjusting for age, gender, severity, and insurance type, receipt of spirometry did not affect the likelihood of future emergency department asthma use. CONCLUSIONS Children with Medicaid insurance are less likely to receive spirometry testing. Reasons may be because of access to care, inadequate provider referral for testing, or patient preferences. Objective lung function tests, such as spirometry, are a potentially important component of monitoring chronic disease status. However, it is not clear whether spirometry testing by itself, completed every 1 to 2 years, helps prevent the likelihood of emergency department asthma visits. Compared with guideline recommendations, spirometry is underused; however, additional work is needed to understand how to best integrate such testing to improve asthma outcomes.
Matching pursuit for compression and application to motion compensated video coding

In many hybrid video compression algorithms there is a clear distinction between motion estimation and compensation (MEMC) on the one hand, and transform coding of the residue on the other hand. By translating MEMC into the framework of matching pursuit (MP), we will show that unification of both steps is possible. Moreover, adapting the MP approach to the small size dictionaries involved in MEMC, it is shown that unification may in principle lead to a better performance of hybrid coding schemes. We close with a discussion on the practical obstacles of the technique, and how to avoid them. >
Overreliance on auditory feedback may lead to sound/syllable repetitions: simulations of stuttering and fluency-inducing conditions with a neural model of speech production.

Abstract This paper investigates the hypothesis that stuttering may result in part from impaired readout of feedforward control of speech, which forces persons who stutter (PWS) to produce speech with a motor strategy that is weighted too much toward auditory feedback control. Over-reliance on feedback control leads to production errors which if they grow large enough, can cause the motor system to “reset” and repeat the current syllable. This hypothesis is investigated using computer simulations of a “neurally impaired” version of the DIVA model, a neural network model of speech acquisition and production. The model's outputs are compared to published acoustic data from PWS’ fluent speech, and to combined acoustic and articulatory movement data collected from the dysfluent speech of one PWS. The simulations mimic the errors observed in the PWS subject's speech, as well as the repairs of these errors. Additional simulations were able to account for enhancements of fluency gained by slowed/prolonged speech and masking noise. Together these results support the hypothesis that many dysfluencies in stuttering are due to a bias away from feedforward control and toward feedback control. Educational objectives: The reader will be able to (a) describe the contribution of auditory feedback control and feedforward control to normal and stuttered speech production, (b) summarize the neural modeling approach to speech production and its application to stuttering, and (c) explain how the DIVA model accounts for enhancements of fluency gained by slowed/prolonged speech and masking noise.
Real-time communication for motorists using ad hoc network

Traffic congestion on major roadways costs our nation billions of dollars in lost earnings, wasted fuel consumption, injury and loss of human life. Providing motorists with real time roadway conditions is essential to mitigating traffic congestion. We propose a novel real-time messaging system that can be used to communicate imminent traffic conditions to motorists. Having such information can allow motorists to alter their routes or increase awareness of potential hazardous or changing driving conditions. Our system uses ad-hoc wireless networking and personal data assistance devices.
Evaluating and comparing Interaction Styles

Research has created many new generation (post-WIMP) Interaction styles (IS) in the past years. From Ubiquitous to Affective Computing, researchers have not kept a uniform standard, so that Interaction Styles (IS) could be compared to one another. In this paper, we offer an approach that tries to put all IS on an equal footing. In this way one can compare different IS together, or even evaluate an IS by itself and find its weak and strong areas.
The Effects of Thiouracil and Thyroxine on Resistance to Heat Shock

Abstract Adult White Plymouth Rock hens were submitted to a heat shock of 42.2 C. It was demonstrated that .1% thiouracil fed for 4 weeks prior to heat stress significantly increased survival time. Administration of DL-thyroxine administered at the rate of 4 μg/100 g body weight injected on day of testing did not alter suvival time. However, survival under heat shock was significantly reduced if DL-thyroxine was administered daily for 3 days prior to testing. White Rocks exhibited significantly longer survival time under heat shock than Single Comb White Leghorns, and females of both breeds exhibited significantly longer survival time than their male counterparts. Treatment with DL-thyroxine greatly reduced the survival time differences between breeds and sex. The implications of these findings for applied breeding programs are discussed.