cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P6 The use of 5-ALA fluorescence in excision of supratentorial endodermal cyst

Objectives The first documented use of 5-ALA in the excision of an intraparenchymal endodermal cyst. Design Case review. Subjects 52 year old female presented with headaches, progressive right sided hemiparesis and anomic aphasia. She had a large cystic frontal lesion, adjacent of the frontal horn of the lateral ventricles cyst which did not show any nodular or solid component, and did not enhance with gadolinium. Methods Case report and review of the literature. Results 5-ALA assisted, image guided fenestration of the cystic lesion and insertion of a ventricular catheter connected to an Ommaya reservoir was performed. The cyst wall was observed under the microscope and it fluoresced with 5-ALA. Multiple biopsies were obtained from this tissue, which confirmed diagnosis of endodermal cyst. The patient had improvement in clinical symptoms and size of the cyst radiologically in both the immediate post-operative period and the 6 months follow up. Conclusions Previous reports described the use of 5-ALA to identify tumour cells within the solid component of cystic haemangioblastomas as well as in cystic ependymomas where the cystic component does not fluoresce. In our patient, the homogeneous fluorescence of the wall suggested that this was indeed a different entity from a haemangioblastoma or an ependymoma because of the different pattern of fluorescence observed. 5-ALA-assisted resection of cystic lesions should be considered when a tumoral origin is uncertain.
Surgical Technique for Occlusion of an Interposed Ileal Segment and Percutaneous Antegrade Resection of a Renal Pelvis Urothelial Tumor in a Solitary Kidney

Abstract Introduction: Endoscopic management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) can be offered to patients with solitary kidney, bilateral disease, or renal insufficiency.1 Performing percu...
Relative Influence of Topology, Dimensionality and Stoichiometry Toward the Properties of Covalent Network Glasses

Trends in density and fragility are analyzed in the Ge-As-Se, As-Se and Ge-Se system for the purpose of identifying correlation with structural characteristics related to topology, stoichiometry and dimensionality. The Ge-As-Se system provides the most revealing testbed as it permits to isolate individual effects. The fragility of Ge-As-Se glasses is clearly controlled by stoichiometric factors while the topological transition at =2.4 is not observed in this system. The density of Ge-As-Se glasses broadly increase with average coordination but show two anomalies centered near = 2.4 and 2.67. These anomalies merge into a single extremum corresponding to stoichiometric compositions when plotted against excess/deficiency in Se, thereby revealing their common link to stoichiometric factors. Nevertheless, when stoichiometric factors are fixed, dimensional effects are revealed in the form of a linear dependence upon content of tetrahedral Ge. Similarly, a diffuse maximum at the topological transition of = 2.4 is observed when only Se-excess compositions are considered. For the As-Se system, a local maximum in fragility is observed at the two dimensional composition As2Se3, contrary to predictions from topological or stoichiometric factors, thereby indicating that dimensional effect control the fragile behavior. Finally, in the Ge-Se system, a topological transition associated with balance of constraints and degrees of freedom is found at = 2.4 when contributions from stoichiometry and dimensionality are absent. In all system, no case is found where topological effects dominate either stoichiometric or dimensional effects, hence it can be concluded that it is the least predominant contribution while stoichiometry is found to be the prevailing effect.
S -Matrix for massless particles

The traditional $S$-matrix does not exist for theories with massless particles, such as quantum electrodynamics. The difficulty in isolating asymptotic states manifests itself as infrared divergences at each order in perturbation theory. Building on insights from the literature on coherent states and factorization, we construct an $S$-matrix that is free of singularities order-by-order in perturbation theory. Factorization guarantees that the asymptotic evolution in gauge theories is universal, i.e., independent of the hard process. Although the hard $S$-matrix element is computed between well-defined few particle Fock states, dressed/coherent states can be seen to form as intermediate states in the calculation of hard $S$-matrix elements. We present a framework for the perturbative calculation of hard $S$-matrix elements combining Lorentz-covariant Feynman rules for the dressed-state scattering with time-ordered perturbation theory for the asymptotic evolution. With hard cutoffs on the asymptotic Hamiltonian, the cancellation of divergences can be seen explicitly. In dimensional regularization, where the hard cutoffs are replaced by a renormalization scale, the contribution from the asymptotic evolution produces scaleless integrals that vanish. A number of illustrative examples are given in QED, QCD, and $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory.
Iatrogenic Intraspinal Epidermal Inclusion Cyst with Secondary Infection: A Cause for Acute Paraparesis.

Introduction Lumbar puncture with unstyletted needle or any other spine trauma can cause implantation of skin fragments inside the dura and can cause acquired intraspinal epidermoid tumors. There is significant delay found between the episode of lumbar puncture and the presentation of the tumor. To the best of our knowledge, there is no reported case of intraspinal epidermoid tumor presenting as acute paraparesis secondary to infection of the tumor in the literature. Case Report A 19-month-old boy presented with acute paraparesis with acute bowel bladder involvement following an episode of fever cough and diarrhea. Investigations revealed that he had an intradural tumor with a secondary infection which caused the problem. Child was treated surgically with complete neural recovery. He has been under follow-up for possible recurrence. Conclusion Use of unstyletted needle for lumbar puncture is a possible cause for intraspinal epidermoid tumors. To the best of our knowledge, there is no reported case of intraspinal epidermoid tumor with secondary infection presenting as acute paraparesis, in the literature.
A pendulum based optical fiber inclinometer with nanoradian resolution (Conference Presentation)

In this paper, we introduce a novel extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI)-based optical fiber inclinometer for tilt measurements with 0.015 μrad resolution. The reported inclinometer consists of an EFPI sensor, which is formed between endfaces of a suspended rectangular mass block and a fixed optical fiber, packaged inside a rectangular container box with an oscillation dampening device. Importantly, the two reflectors of the EFPI sensor remain parallel while the cavity length of EFPI sensor meters a change in tilt. The sensor design and the measurement principle are discussed. An experiment based on measuring the tilt angle of a simply-supported beam induced by a small load is presented to verify the resolution and accuracy of a prototype inclinometer.
Treg suppressing CTL anti-gastric cancer effect by restraining perforin and IFN-γ releasing

Objective To investigate the in vitro inhibitory effect of Treg on restraining the CTL's anti-gastric cancer perforin and IFN-γ releasing.Methods MFC tumor killing system was established in vitro with CTL.Treg in different dosages(0.5×105 to 50.0×105)was added.The inhibitory effect wag studied by monitoring the changes of perforin and IFN-γ.Results The killing effect was obviously suppressed when Treg reached the amount of 5.0×105.Levels of perforin and IFN-γ were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Treg can suppress antitumor effect of CTL by restraining perforin and IFN-γ releasing. Key words: Gastric carcinoma; Perfotin; INF-γ
Geographic Specificity Matters: Centering the Perspectives of Community‐Based Stakeholders for a Holistic Understanding of Gentrification in the Twin Cities

AbstractThis paper highlights the qualitative component of a larger mixed methodological study that explores how community stakeholders, most impacted by gentrification pressures in the Twin Cities...
"But whoever treasures freedom...": the right to travel and extraterritorial abortions.

My thinking on the subject of extraterritorial regulation of abortions was sparked originally by two events that occurred about a year ago. The first was the Supreme Court's grant of certiorari1 in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 2 to address the question of whether Roe v. Wade3 remained the law of the land. At the time, the betting was that, with the substitutions of Justice Thomas for Justice Marshall and Justice Souter for Justice Brennan, the Court would answer "no"; abortion would be remitted entirely to the political process. The expected green light created the risk of a checkerboard of abortion rights, with some states dedicated to the total elimination of abortion and others equally committed to the protection of reproductive autonomy, either as a matter of statute or of state constitutional law. This result appeared likely to reinstate the pattern that existed in the years immediately before Roe, under which more than forty percent of abortions were performed for women outside of their home states. Women with resources traveled from restrictive states to more liberal ones to obtain abortions.
Bayesian analysis of the epidemiology of bleeding in critically ill children.

Abstract Purpose We updated our findings on the epidemiology of clinically relevant bleeding (CRB) in critically ill children. We also determined the concordance of CRB as defined by the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, i.e., ISTH definition, and characteristics identified by pediatric intensivists in a recent survey, i.e., survey definition. Methods In a prospective cohort study, we included children 1 day. We followed them daily for bleeding. Bayesian inference was used as the primary analytic tool to incorporate our prior findings. Results Using the ISTH definition, the estimated frequency of CRB was 10.0% (95% credible interval, CrI: 7.6%, 12.8%) from 41 of 405 children who had CRB. The estimated frequency from 4 of 12 adolescents >13 years old who received mechanical ventilation or vasopressor support and had CRB was 32.9% (95% CrI: 12.0%, 58.8%). Using the survey definition, the estimated frequency of CRB for the entire cohort was 10.8% (95% CrI: 8.3%, 13.8%). Concordance between definitions for each bleeding event was 0.40 (95% confidence interval: 0.27, 0.52). Conclusions Our updated findings highlight the high frequency of CRB regardless of definition used for CRB.
A Rare Case of Sinonasal Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma Presented With Clinically Stage IV Disease.

Sinonasal lymphoepithelial carcinoma (SLEC) is an extremely rare malignancy. We present a case of SLEC in a 77-year-old man who presented with nasal congestion and persistent sinusitis. Imaging rev...
Azetidine-2-carboxylic acid derivatives

An improved method for the preparation of DL-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid is reported. The reaction of thionyl chloride with azetidine-2-carboxylic acid in methanol gave rise to 2-carbomethoxyazetidine hydrochloride, which upon treatment with triethylamine yielded 2-carbomethoxyazetidine. 2-Carbomethoxyazetidine proved to be unstable and upon standing formed azetidine-2-carboxylic acid anhydride. The nmr and ir spectra of 2-carbomethoxyazetidine are discussed in terms of its conformation. The conversion of azetidine-2-carboxylic acid to azetidine-2-carboxamide is also described.
Use of Pharmacogenomics to Guide Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy in Clinical Practice

Prescribing the right medication, at the right dose, to the right patient is the goal of every physician. Pharmacogenomic information is an emerging tool that can be used to deliver precision medicine. In this review, we discuss the pharmacogenomics of available PPIs, racial differences of CYP2C19 and how PPI pharmacogenomics affects the treatment of common gastrointestinal diseases. We also provide practical guidance on when to order pharmacogenomic testing, which test to order, and how to modify treatment based on published guidelines.
An overview of data tools for representing and managing building information and performance data

Abstract Building information modeling (BIM) has been widely adopted for representing and exchanging building data across disciplines during building design and construction. However, BIM's use in the building operation phase is limited. With the increasing deployment of low-cost sensors and meters, as well as affordable digital storage and computing technologies, growing volumes of data have been collected from buildings, their energy services systems, and occupants. Such data are crucial to help decision makers understand what, how, and when energy is consumed in buildings—a critical step to improving building performance for energy efficiency, demand flexibility, and resilience. However, practical analyses and use of the collected data are very limited due to various reasons, including poor data quality, ad-hoc representation of data, and lack of data science skills. To unlock value from building data, there is a strong need for a toolchain to curate and represent building information and performance data in common standardized terminologies and schemas, to enable interoperability between tools and applications. This study selected and reviewed 24 data tools based on common use cases of data across the building life cycle, from design to construction, commissioning, operation, and retrofits. The selected data tools are grouped into three categories: (1) data dictionary or terminology, (2) data ontology and schemas, and (3) data platforms. The data are grouped into ten typologies covering most types of data collected in buildings. This study resulted in five main findings: (1) most data representation tools can represent their intended data typologies well, such as Green Button for smart meter data and Brick schema for metadata of sensors in buildings and HVAC systems, but none of the tools cover all ten types of data; (2) there is a need for data schemas to represent the basis of design data and metadata of occupant data; (3) standard terminologies such as those defined in BEDES are only adopted in a few data tools; (4) integrating data across various stages in the building life cycle remains a challenge; and (5) most data tools were developed and maintained by different parties for different purposes, their flexibility and interoperability can be improved to support broader use cases. Finally, recommendations for future research on building data tools are provided for the data and buildings community based on the FAIR principles to make data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.
Turning Carbon into Gold – Incentivizing CCU, the New Alchemy

One approach to help address climate change is carbon capture and utilization (CCU). CCU involves the capture of atmospheric carbon dioxide and using it to generate marketable products. CCU, however, needs significant additional research and development to reach its potential. Development of CCU could yield benefits far in excess of its actual ability to sequester carbon. Research and development of CCU could stimulate improvements in carbon capture technologies, incentivize the capture and sequestration of carbon, and generate products that can benefit society generally. Nevertheless, most CCU uses remain only theoretical or significant barriers prevent their current implementation. A number of policy tools are available to incentivize CCU research: patents, prizes, grants, and tax credits. This article reviews the strengths and weaknesses of each. Then, it discusses how best to apply these policies to best incentivize a number of possible CCU opportunities, include construction materials, fuels, chemicals, and algae-derived products.
Landscape Analysis of Commercial Visual Assistance Technologies

We present a landscape analysis of commercially available visual assistance technologies (VATs) that provide auditory descriptions of image and video content found online, as well as those taken by people who are blind and have visual questions. Through structured web-based searches, we identified 20 VATs released by 17 companies, and analyzed how these companies communicate to users about their technical innovation and service offerings. Our results can orient new researchers, UX professionals, and developers to trends within commercial VAT development.
A Plug-and-Play-Capable Multi-Agent Network for Distributed Consensus-Based Operation in DC Power Systems

This paper discusses the design and implementation of a plug-and-play-capable energy management system (EMS) based on agent negotiation and consensus of a multi-agent system (MAS) designed using the Java Agent Development Framework (JADE). A distributed EMS is adopted to solve the optimization problem and minimize the generation cost of the IEEE 37-bus DC system in a decentralized manner with the help of the MAS. The approach is validated via a simulation carried out in MATLAB and JADE with a TCP/IP interface between the two platforms. The results show that the EMS algorithm, with the help of the implemented PnP capability, exhibits robustness and converges very fast.
Limitations of the Emmetropization Process in Infant Monkeys

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the effective operating range for the emmetropization process and the refractive errors that consistently produced amblyopia. Infant rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta, n = 46) were reared with Positive or negative lenses over one or both eyes. Retinoscopy and A-scan ultrasonography were used to evaluate the effect of optically induced changes in refractive state on ocular development. For representative monkeys, spatial contrast sensitivity functions were measured for each eye using a behavioral psychophysical paradigm. For low-powered (± 3 D), but not high-powered, anisometropic lenses (≥ 6 D), infants exhibited differential interocular axial growth rates that eliminated the lens-induced imbalance between the two eyes. Infants that failed to compensate for the induced anisometropia developed amblyopia in their non-fixating eyes. However, by combining anisometropic lenses with an alternating occlusion regimen that reduced the likelihood of amblyopia, it was possible to extend the emmetropization mechanism’s operating range. Bilateral equal-powered lenses that resulted in effective refractive errors between about −2 and +8 D predictably altered axial growth and the course of emmetropization. However, within this range, infants with high degrees of bilateral, hyperopia frequently developed anisometropia and in some cases amblyopia. Anisometropic refractive errors that exceed the effective operating range for emmetropization consistently produce amblyopia, which supports the idea that anisometropia causes amblyopia. However, factors associated with the development of early sensory and/or oculomotor anomalies also influence the ability of the eye to respond to optical defocus and can lead to anisometropia.
Burning the Flag: The Great 1989 - 1990 American Flag Desecration Controversy

In 1989 a political fire storm erupted after the U.S. Supreme Court declared that dissidents had the constitutional right under the First Amendment to burn the flag. A proposed constitutional amendment to forbid flag desecration was defeated after months of bitter debate on Capitol Hill. This was followed by a congressional Flag Protection Act which was declared invalid by the Supreme Court in 1990, provoking a second attempt to pass the constitutional amendment. During the 12 months this controversy raged, it kindled one of the most extraordinary debates in the history of American politics about the meaning of democracy and its primary symbol, the flag.A timely addendum chronicles the late 1995 attempts once again to pass an amendment on flag desecration, adding to the significance of this readable account.
Tornadoes: State of Knowledge

Tornadoes in the United States in the average of recent years have brought death to more then 100 persons, significant injury to 25 times that number, and property damage near $300,000,000. This note outlines meteorologists. present vision of the tornado phenomenon as a matter of special interest to engineers concerned with design for protection.
What Duhem Really Meant

One of the central tasks of the philosophy of science is to give an account of scientific progress. We have more reason than our ancestors to wonder whether economic and political history show forth the increasing moral perfection of mankind; skeptics and pessimists conclude that the ‘Myth of Progress’ has been exploded once and for all. But myths do not die easily, and the history of ideas seems to provide examples of the actual growth of knowledge and not merely of changes in intellectual fashion. In the history of science, paradigmatically, we can trace out both the growing acceptance of theories of increasing scope, generality and explanatory power and the declining influence of theories which fail to square with the facts of nature. Surely this is intellectual progress from ignorance to knowledge! The philosophical question becomes: How is scientific progress possible?
The promise of microarrays in the management and treatment of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy afflicting women from Western cultures. Developments in breast cancer molecular and cellular biology research have brought us closer to understanding the genetic basis of this disease. Recent advances in microarray technology hold the promise of further increasing our understanding of the complexity and heterogeneity of this disease, and providing new avenues for the prognostication and prediction of breast cancer outcomes. These new technologies have some limitations and have yet to be incorporated into clinical use, for both the diagnosis and treatment of women with breast cancer. The most recent application of microarray genomic technologies to studying breast cancer is the focus of this review.
The Impact of Faculty and Peer-led Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction (SI) has been a powerful tool for improving retention rates at colleges and universities around the country. It is backed by decades of research and a successful traditional model that institutions can comfortably rely upon. This study reports that faculty-led SI, a significant departure from the traditionally defined and implemented peer-led SI model, has a number of measureable advantages over the traditional peer-led model. While it was observed that student grades on exams and in the course increased more for those who regularly attended faculty-led SI, students also reported that they preferred it to the peer-led sessions.
Nutritional factors and non-Hodgkin lymphoma survival in an ethnically diverse population: the Multiethnic Cohort.

Nutritional factors and non-Hodgkin lymphoma survival in an ethnically diverse population: the Multiethnic Cohort
Bilateral tubal pregnancy.

Abstract 1. 1. A case of bilateral tubal pregnancy is presented. 2. 2. The diagnosis of bilateral tubal pregnancy is made at operation. 3. 3. Both adnexa should be thoroughly examined when a laparotomy is performed for unilateral tubal pregnancy or other adnexal pathology.
A road to classification in high dimensional space: the regularized optimal affine discriminant

For high-dimensional classification, it is well known that naively performing the Fisher discriminant rule leads to poor results due to diverging spectra and noise accumulation. Therefore, researchers proposed independence rules to circumvent the diverging spectra, and sparse independence rules to mitigate the issue of noise accumulation. However, in biological applications, there are often a group of correlated genes responsible for clinical outcomes, and the use of the covariance information can significantly reduce misclassification rates. In theory the extent of such error rate reductions is unveiled by comparing the misclassification rates of the Fisher discriminant rule and the independence rule. To materialize the gain based on finite samples, a Regularized Optimal Affine Discriminant (ROAD) is proposed. ROAD selects an increasing number of features as the regularization relaxes. Further benefits can be achieved when a screening method is employed to narrow the feature pool before hitting the ROAD. An efficient Constrained Coordinate Descent algorithm (CCD) is also developed to solve the associated optimization problems. Sampling properties of oracle type are established. Simulation studies and real data analysis support our theoretical results and demonstrate the advantages of the new classification procedure under a variety of correlation structures. A delicate result on continuous piecewise linear solution path for the ROAD optimization problem at the population level justifies the linear interpolation of the CCD algorithm.
Early Dynamics of Deep Blue XBT Probes

AbstractExpendable bathythermographs (XBTs) are probes widely used to monitor global ocean heat content, variability of ocean currents, and meridional heat transports. In the XBT temperature profile, the depth is estimated from the time of descent in the water using a fall-rate equation. There are two main errors in these profiles: temperature and depth errors. The reduction of error in the estimates of the depth allows a corresponding reduction in the errors in the computations in which XBTs are used. Two experiments were carried out to study the effect of the deployment height on the depth estimates of Deep Blue XBT probes. During these experiments, XBTs were deployed from different heights. The motion of the probes after entering the water was analyzed to determine the position and the velocity of the probes as a function of time, which was compared to that obtained using the Hanawa et al. fall-rate equation. Results showed a difference or offset between the experimentally observed depths and those der...
Narrative as a Root Metaphor for Political Psychology

The idea of narrative has become increasingly appropriated in empirical research in both psychology and politics, yet there is a notable absence of integrative frameworks that specify a conceptual and methodological approach to narrative research in political psychology. An integrative conceptual framework is proposed and anchored in four principles of a narrative approach: (1) the mutual constitution of language and thought, (2) the need for personal coherence through narrative identity development, (3) the need for collective solidarity through shared meaning, and (4) the mediational property of narrative in social activity and practice. Theory and empirical research related to these principles are reviewed. We argue that a narrative framework has the potential to enhance the relevance and amplify the voice of political psychology within and beyond the academy and to offer new knowledge on the complex and dynamic relationship between context and mind.
The nature and function of interoceptive signals to feed: Toward integration of physiological and learning perspectives.

The idea that different states of energy need give rise to distinct interoceptive sensations has been basic to many accounts of the physiological and the learned controls of feeding. Yet, a number of difficulties have complicated attempts to provide direct evidence for this view. The present article describes a research strategy that confirms that food deprivation states produce salient interoceptive stimuli in rats. The implications of this research for the physiological origins of energy state signals, the brain structures involved with processing energy state information, and the manner in which signals of energy need influence feeding were considered. The possibility that food deprivation cues influence feeding by modulating the activation of associations involving external events and their postingestive aftereffects was discussed with reference to earlier associative accounts of the function of hunger signals.
Molecular Dynamics of Shock Waves in Three-Dimensional Solids: Transition from Nonsteady to Steady Waves in Perfect Crystals and Implications for the Rankine-Hugoniot Conditions

Molecular-dynamics calculations of shock waves in perfect three-dimensional solids at nonzero initial temperatures reveal a transition in the nature of the asymptotic shockwave structure as a function of shock strength. The key to this transition from nonsteady to steady waves where the Rankine-Hugoniot relations are obeyed is the partial relaxation of compressive shear stress behind the shock front which accompanies small, but permanent, transverse strains in atomic positions.
Bronchodilatation in vivo by carbon monoxide, a cyclic GMP related messenger

1 Recent studies suggest that gaseous carbon monoxide (CO) is involved in neurotransmission and that this molecule also is an important vasodilator in vivo. In the present study we evaluated the effect of inhaled CO on guinea-pig airway smooth muscle tone. The mechanisms involved were characterized by use of a cyclic GMP antagonist, Rp-8Br-cyclic GMPS, and a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, l-NAME. 2 Anaesthetized, ventilated guinea-pigs were given a bolus injection of histamine (0.12 mg kg−1, i.v.), followed by a continuous infusion of histamine (0.30 μg kg−1 min−1) to increase total pulmonary resistance (RL). Subsequent exposure to 7, 15 or 30 breaths of CO (100%), resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of the bronchoconstriction. In the highest dose tested (30 breaths), CO inhibited 80% of the histamine-induced increase in RL. 3 In separate experiments, animals receiving histamine infusions followed by 30 breaths of CO, were pretreated with Rp-8Br-cyclic GMPS (0.05 mg kg−1). This pretreatment abolished >60% of the CO-induced reduction in RL, but it had no effect on the bronchodilator response induced by salbutamol. In another set of experiments animals were pretreated with l-NAME (1.60 mg kg−1). In contrast to the Rp-8Br-cyclic GMPS pretreatment, the pretreatment with l-NAME did not affect the CO-induced reduction in RL. 4 The present findings indicate that CO causes bronchodilatation in vivo via cyclic GMP. British Journal of Pharmacology (1998) 124, 1065–1068; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0701878
PHYTOREMEDIATION IN EDUCATION: TEXTILE DYE TEACHING EXPERIMENTS

Phytoremediation, the use of plants to clean up contaminated soil and water, has a wide range of applications and advantages, and can be extended to scientific education. Phytoremediation of textile dyes can be used as a scientific experiment or demonstration in teaching laboratories of middle school, high school and college students. In the experiments that we developed, students were involved in a hands-on activity where they were able to learn about phytoremediation concepts. Experiments were set up with 20-40 mg L(-1) dye solutions of different colors. Students can be involved in the set up process and may be involved in the experimental design. In its simplest forms, they use two-week-old sunflower seedlings and place them into a test tube of known volume of dye solution. Color change and/or dye disappearance can be monitored by visual comparison or with a spectrophotometer. Intensity and extent of the lab work depends on student's educational level, and time constraints. Among the many dyes tested, Evan's Blue proved to be the most readily decolorized azo dye. Results could be observed within 1-2 hours. From our experience, dye phytoremediation experiments are suitable and easy to understand by both college and middle school students. These experiments help visual learners, as students compare the color of the dye solution before and after the plant application. In general, simple phytoremediation experiments of this kind can be introduced in many classes including biology, biochemistry and ecological engineering. This paper presents success stories of teaching phytoremediation to middle school and college students.
A Bi-Extremal Principle for Frontier Estimation and Efficiency Evaluations

A new approach is supplied for locating efficiency frontiers and evaluating the efficiency of Decision Making Units DMU's. This is accomplished from observational data by means of an envelopment procedure called DEA Data Envelopment Analysis originally developed by Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes Charnes, A., W. W. Cooper, E. Rhodes, 1978. Measuring the efficiency of decision making units. Eur. J. Oper. Res.2 6. See also, Short communication. Eur. J. Oper. Res.3 1979 339. in connection with their ratio formulation for relative efficiency measurement. The current variant employs a bi-extremal principle which, though nonlinear, is subsequently shown to be reducible to a finite sequence of linear programming problems. The development is illustrated by means of multiple output functions which are piecewise of Cobb-Douglas or general log linear type and which also allow for increasing, decreasing and constant returns to scale. More than one production function for the DMU's is also allowed. The reduction of the bi-extremal principle to linear programming equivalence is also accomplished for much more general classes of functions. A numerical example illustrates some of these ideas and also provides a springboard for a new theorem which relates these efficiency measures to ones which were supplied earlier in the Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes's work Charnes, A., W. W. Cooper, E. Rhodes, 1978. Measuring the efficiency of decision making units. Eur. J. Oper. Res.2 6. See also, Short communication. Eur. J. Oper. Res.3 1979 339..
Sequence of the γ2b membrane 3' untranslated region: Polya site determination and comparison to the γ2a membrane 3' untranslated region

We present here the nucleotide sequence of the γ2b membrane 3' untranslated region as well as approximately 443 nucleotides of 3' flanking sequence. Although this region contains two potential polyadenylation hexanucleotides AATAAA (located 1328 and 1407 nucleotides downstream of the last membrane exon), it appears that only the first site directs polyadenylation of the mature mRNA. The first AATAAA is followed by several sequences which may influence its relative strength: the region downstream of this AATAAA is 44% T-rich and contains a pair of CAYTG sequences (45 match) which overlap two sequences which have a sol68 match to the sequence YGTGTTYY. These sequences have been found in proximity to a large number of 3' ends [Gil and Proudfoot, Cell49, 399–406 (1987); McLauchlan et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 13, 1347–1368. (1985); Berget, Nature309, 179–182 (1984)]. The AATAAA site at position 1407 is not flanked by a T- or GT-rich sequence and is followed by a single CAYTG sequence (45 match) and a single YGTGTTYY sequence (68 match). The region downstream of the second AATAAA site also contains a sequence which has an 812 match with a sequence found in all heavy chain secreted 3' untranslated regions [Kobrin et al., Molec. Cell. Biol. 6,1687–1697 (1986)]. Consistent with sequence comparisons between other regions of these two genes, the γ2b sequence has striking homology with the γ2a 3' untranslated region. A notable difference between γ2b and γ2a is the absence of an extensive array of GAA, GA, GGAA, and GGA repeats from the γ2b sequence. The GA repeats are postulated to form a stem loop structure in the γ2a 3' untranslated region; γ2b then would be missing the 5' half of the stem. Interestingly, neither the γ2b nor the γ2a 3' untranslated regions show large homologies to the μ, δ, γ 3, or the a membrane 3' untranslated regions.
Isolation of Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soils and Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks: Prevalence and Methods

Entomopathogenic fungi are commonly found in forested soils that provide tick habitat, and many species are pathogenic to Ixodes scapularis Say, the blacklegged tick. As a first step to developing effective biocontrol strategies, the objective of this study was to determine the best methods to isolate entomopathogenic fungal species from field-collected samples of soils and ticks from an Eastern deciduous forest where I. scapularis is common. Several methods were assessed: (1) soils, leaf litter, and ticks were plated on two types of media; (2) soils were assayed for entomopathogenic fungi using the Galleria bait method; (3) DNA from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the nuclear ribosomal repeat was extracted from pure cultures obtained from soils, Galleria, and ticks and was amplified and sequenced; and (4) DNA was extracted directly from ticks, amplified, and sequenced. We conclude that (1) ticks encounter potentially entomopathogenic fungi more often in soil than in leaf litter, (2) many species of potentially entomopathogenic fungi found in the soil can readily be cultured, (3) the Galleria bait method is a sufficiently efficient method for isolation of these fungi from soils, and (4) although DNA extraction from ticks was not possible in this study because of small sample size, DNA extraction from fungi isolated from soils and from ticks was successful and provided clean sequences in 100 and 73% of samples, respectively. A combination of the above methods is clearly necessary for optimal characterization of entomopathogenic fungi associated with ticks in the environment.
Nonlinear Control of High Performance Aircraft

Nonlinear adaptive control and time-optimal control of highly maneuverable, nonlinear, longitudinal aircraft dynamics are studied here. Minimum-time control by means of horizontal stabilators is desired as a performance yardstick and as a basis for sub-time-optimal neural-net-generated feedback control. Another feedback control utilizes a nonlinear time-series model reference for extremely large rapid changes in angle of attack. Simulation results are presented for the F18/HARV (high angle-of-attack research vehicle).
Surface current patterns suggested by suspended sediment distribution over the outer continental margin, Bering Sea

Abstract Samples of total suspended matter (TSM) were collected at the surface over the northern outer continental margin of the Bering Sea during the summers of 1980 and 1981. Volume concentrations of surface TSM averaged 0.6 and 1.1 mg l −1 for 1980 and 1981, respectively. Organic matter, largely plankton, made up about 65% of the near-surface TSM for both years. Distributions of TSM suggested that shelf circulation patterns were characterized either by meso- and large- scale eddies or by cross-shelf components of flow superimposed on a general northwesterly net drift. These patterns may be caused by large submarine canyons which dominate the physiography of this part of the Bering Sea continental margin.
Methamphetamine neurotoxicity: necrotic and apoptotic mechanisms and relevance to human abuse and treatment

Research into methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity has experienced a resurgence in recent years. This is due to (1) greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying methamphetamine neurotoxicity, (2) its usefulness as a model for Parkinson's disease and (3) an increased abuse of the substance, especially in the American Mid-West and Japan. It is suggested that the commonly used experimental one-day methamphetamine dosing regimen better models the acute overdose pathologies seen in humans, whereas chronic models are needed to accurately model human long-term abuse. Further, we suggest that these two dosing regimens will result in quite different neurochemical, neuropathological and behavioral outcomes. The relative importance of the dopamine transporter and vesicular monoamine transporter knockout is discussed and insights into oxidative mechanisms are described from observations of nNOS knockout and SOD overexpression. This review not only describes the neuropathologies associated with methamphetamine in rodents, non-human primates and human abusers, but also focuses on the more recent literature associated with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and their contribution to neuronal death via necrosis and/or apoptosis. The effect of methamphetamine on the mitochondrial membrane potential and electron transport chain and subsequent apoptotic cascades are also emphasized. Finally, we describe potential treatments for methamphetamine abusers with reference to the time after withdrawal. We suggest that potential treatments can be divided into three categories; (1) the prevention of neurotoxicity if recidivism occurs, (2) amelioration of apoptotic cascades that may occur even in the withdrawal period and (3) treatment of the atypical depression associated with withdrawal.
Multiobjective Decision‐Tree Analysis1

Single-objective-based decision-tree analysis has been extensively and successfully used in numerous decision-making problems since its formal introduction by Howard Raiffa more than two decades ago. This paper extends the traditional methodology to incorporate multiple noncommensurate objective functions and use of the conditional expected value of the risk of extreme and catastrophic events. The proposed methodology considers the cases where (a) a finite number of actions are available at each decision node and (b) discrete or continuous states of nature can be presented at each chance node. The proposed extension of decision-tree analysis is introduced through an example problem that leads the reader step-by-step into the methodological procedure. The example problem builds on flood warning systems. Two noncommensurate objectives—the loss of lives and the loss of property (including monetary costs of the flood warning system)–are incorporated into the decision tree. In addition, two risk measures—the common expected value and the conditional expected value of extreme and catastrophic events—are quantified and are also incorporated into the decision-making process. Theoretical difficulties associated with the stage-wise calculation of conditional expected values are identified and certain simplifying assumptions are made for computational tractibility. In particular, it is revealed that decisions concerning experimentation have a very interesting impact on the noninferior solution set of options—a phenomenon that has no equivalence in the single-objective case.
On the set multicover problem in geometric settings

We consider the set multicover problem in geometric settings. Given a set of points P and a collection of geometric shapes (or sets) F, we wish to find a minimum cardinality subset of F such that each point p ∈ P is covered by (contained in) at least d(p) sets. Here, d(p) is an integer demand (requirement) for p. When the demands d(p) = 1 for all p, this is the standard set cover problem. The set cover problem in geometric settings admits an approximation ratio that is better than that for the general version. In this article, we show that similar improvements can be obtained for the multicover problem as well. In particular, we obtain an O(log opt) approximation for set systems of bounded VC-dimension, and an O(1) approximation for covering points by half-spaces in three dimensions and for some other classes of shapes.
Effects of an oscillating field on a diffusion process in the presence of a trap

Consider a diffusion process on an infinite line terminated by a trap and modulated by a periodic field. When the frequency is equal to zero the mean time to trapping will be finite or infinite, depending on the sign of the field. We ask whether this behavior can be changed by an oscillatory field, and show that it cannot for pure Brownian motion. We suggest that transition can appear when the signal propagation velocity is finite as for the telegrapher's equation. We further suggest that the asymptotic time dependence of the survival probability is proportional tot−1/2 just as in the case of ordinary diffusion. The same conclusion is shown to hold for a system whose dynamics is governed by the equation\(\dot x = xv(t)/^\cdot L\), whereL is a constant.
Early outcomes of deliberate nonoperative management for blunt thoracic aortic injury in trauma

Objective Traumatic blunt aortic injury has traditionally been viewed as a surgical emergency, whereas nonoperative therapy has been reserved for nonsurgical candidates. This study reviews our experience with deliberate, nonoperative management for blunt thoracic aortic injury. Methods A retrospective chart review with selective longitudinal follow-up was conducted for patients with blunt aortic injury. Surveillance imaging with computed tomography angiography was performed. Nonoperative patients were then reviewed and analyzed for survival, evolution of aortic injury, and treatment failures. Results During the study period, 53 patients with an average age of 45 years (range, 18–80 years) were identified, with 28% presenting to the Stanford University School of Medicine emergency department and 72% transferred from outside hospitals. Of the 53 patients, 29 underwent planned, nonoperative management. Of the 29 nonoperative patients, in-hospital survival was 93% with no aortic deaths in the remaining patients. Survival was 97% at a median of 1.8 years (range, 0.9–7.2 years). One patient failed nonoperative management and underwent open repair. Serial imaging was performed in all patients (average = 107 days; median, 31 days), with 21 patients having stable aortic injuries without progression and 5 patients having resolved aortic injuries. Conclusions This experience suggests that deliberate, nonoperative management of carefully selected patients with traumatic blunt aortic injury may be a reasonable alternative in the polytrauma patient; however, serial imaging and long-term follow-up are necessary.
Bath Salts: A Synthetic Cathinone Whose Two Major Components Act Similar to Methamphetamine and Cocaine on the Human Dopamine Transporter

β-Keto-amphetamine analogs (synthetic cathinones) represent a new and rapidly growing class of abused substances. Members include cathinone (khat) and the mixture of mephedrone and MDPV (bath salts), which is increasingly popular in the United States. Similar to amphetamine and methamphetamine, cathinone and methcathinone work primarily at the dopamine transporter (DAT) as dopamine (DA) releasing agents and CNS stimulants. Theoretically, hundreds of synthetic cathinones are structurally possible, and more than a dozen analogs have been designated as illegal. With few exceptions, however, little is known about the pharmacology or mechanism of these new and powerful drugs. Furthermore, most cathinone analogs are unavailable in pure form for scientific investigation. We are synthesizing racemic mixtures and optical isomers of synthetic cathinones, some of which are already on the clandestine market, to investigate their pharmacology and mechanism of action. Electrophysiological studies of bath salts on hDAT-expressing frog oocytes show that one component, mephedrone, has an electrical signature similar to methamphetamine, while another component, MDPV, has the electrical signature of cocaine. In particular, 10 μM mephedrone elicits an inward current at −60 mV that persists long after the drug is removed externally, similar to the molecular stent mechanism described for S(+)Amphetamine (Rodriguez-Menchaca et al., British J Pharmocology, 2011). MDPV on the other hand elicits an outward current under similar conditions, indicative of a blocking agent similar to cocaine. We have verified MDPV block of hDAT in 3H-DA uptake experiments. Our results indicate that bath salts contain a DA releasing agent and a DA reuptake inhibitor. The two drugs have different kinetics and rather than cancel each other they would exacerbate the effect of either drug applied alone.