cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retroperitoneal lymph node resection in patients with cervical cancer

Summary Objective To determine predictive factors precluding complete resection of metastatic lymph nodes identified by pre-operative imaging in patients with cervical cancer. Methods Retrospective clinical review of patients with cervical cancer with suspected metastases to pelvic and/or periaortic lymph nodes who underwent lymph node dissection by laparotomy at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from September 1990–December 2004. Results A total of 104 patients were the subject of this analysis. Post-operatively, 25 patients (24%) had negative lymph nodes, 62 patients (60%) had macroscopically positive lymph nodes, one patient had microscopically positive (1%) and 16 patients (15%) had unresectable lymph nodes. Body mass index did not have any impact on successful resection of lymph nodes. On univariate analysis age ( p = 0.049 ) and size and location of the largest lymph node were associated with resection status ( p = 0.001 and 0.020 ). Logistic regression confirmed that chance of achieving a successful resection decreases with increasing age ( p = 0.046 ) and size of largest lymph node (0.002). Conclusions The ability to completely resect suspected metastatic lymph nodes at the time of extraperitoneal lymph node dissection in patients with cervical cancer is associated with size and location of largest lymph node.
Solid-State Microcellular Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Foams

SUMMARY Microcellular ABS foams are a novel familv of materials with the ~otential to significantly reduce material costs in a number of applications that currently use solid polymer. ABS foams were produced using carbon dioxide in a solid-state process. Solubility and diffusivity of C02 in ABS was measured, and the latter was found to depend significantly on the gas concentration. The useful range of process-space for ABS-CO, was characterized. Closed cell ABS foams were produced with densities ranging from 1.03 g/cm3 (almost completely solid) to 0.09 c~/cm~. It was determined that there are many different processing conditions that can produce microcellular ABS foams that have the same density. The cell nucleation density was of the order of 10" cells per cm3, and the average cell sizes observed ranged from 0.5 pm to 5.6 pm.
ENLIGHTENED CONVERSATIONS: THE CAREER AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ANTHONY J. LA VOPA

If you have never had a conversation with Tony La Vopa—and I mean a serious, four-hour conversation, in which topics range from Rousseau to the Final Four to marzipan to Kant—you have missed out on one of academia's great pleasures. Tony is one of intellectual history's most beloved conversationalists: because he knows many things, because he loves to tell stories, because he listens, because he argues. He also, incidentally, has mastered the pithy, but somehow personal, email: he once wrote me, simply “You’re not resting,” and another time: “I’m alarmed about your porcelain addiction.” Those readers who know Tony only from his work on this journal or his published works will know the clarity, deep intelligence, and admirable density of his research and his editing, but may not know much about the conversations that he has sustained and that have sustained him across his career, and haven't caught the impish glint in his eye when he launches into a story about his own current fetishes (photography, gooseberry Kuchen), or lightly, invitingly, teases you about your own (according to Tony, mine include “loony men in gray suits”). And so, having had the pleasure of being a friend, coconspirator, and conversation partner of Tony's for several decades now, I have gladly accepted the honor of further acquainting Modern Intellectual History's readership with the career and contributions (so far!) of Anthony J. La Vopa, whose work has done so much to make intellectual history the thriving field it is today.
Selective Synthesis of Phenolic Compounds from Alkali Lignin in a Mixture of Sub- and Supercritical Fluids: Catalysis by CO2

A successful selective liquefaction of lignin has been demonstrated in the presence of a H2O–CO2 mixture at 300 °C, yielding 40–50 wt % organic phenolic phase. The effect of the temperature at a constant pressure and short residence time on the selectivity and yield of phenolic products from the hydrothermal reforming of alkali lignin in a mixture of sub- and supercritical fluids (H2O mixed with CO2 or N2) has been investigated. Dependent upon the processing conditions, the lignin samples produced a homologous series of phenols, such as guaiacol, homovanillic acid, quaiacyl carbonyls, guaiacyl dimers, phenol, and cresol. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), total organic carbon (TOC), and pyrolysis–GC–MS (Py–GC–MS) were used for chemical analysis of the organic liquid and solid phases. The results from GC–MS analysis of the liquid organic phases demonstrated the trend of increasing the amounts of major guaiacol products with the temperature. The thermal carbon analysis (TCA) showed a significant ...
SEX DIFFERENCES IN PENTOBARBITAL SENSITIVITY IN MICE.

Conclusion1. Male albino mice sleep longer than female mice after identical dosage of pentobarbital sodium. 2. Injection of stilbestrol into male mice 12 days prior to pentobarbital hypnosis, shortened sleeping time significantly. 3. Injection of testosterone into female mice 12 days prior to pentobarbital hypnosis, prolonged sleeping time significantly.
Range Safety Assessment Tool (RSAT): An analysis environment for safety assessment of launch and reentry vehicles

The expected diversity in the kinds of vehicles that are currently appearing in the commercial space transportation sector raises questions about the possibility of improvements to current methodologies for licensing launch and reentry operations in use by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These licensing procedures are designed to limit risks to public health and safety to acceptable levels and have served us well until now. Concerns may arise because the majority of methods in use are derived from expendable launch vehicles (ELVs) and the space shuttle era, and the possibility exists that they may be overly conservative. To investigate the extent to which the current methodology may be improved, an open source analysis environment for assessing the safety of the uninvolved public on the ground has been developed. The safety analysis environment is called Range Safety Assessment Tool (RSAT), it can be used for launch and reentry operations and, in principle, can be applied for all kinds of vehicle configurations that may be proposed. RSAT uses random sampling techniques to calculate statistics of interest associated with ground risks due to vehicle malfunctions. The risks being modeled include inert and explosive debris effects, debris toxic gas dispersion, and blast overpressure due to vehicle explosions. Special consideration is given to quantifying the risk to the uninformed public by computing the appropriate safety metrics, which in this case is the value of the expected casualty per mission (ETC). As part of this analysis environment, a 3-degree-of-freedom (DOF) trajectory optimization tool that uses a pseudospectral collocation method has been developed and is used to establish nominal trajectories for a number of different kinds of missions. In this paper, we present RSAT’s major components and characteristics, and its predictive capabilities to analyze realistic launch and reentry accident scenarios. The output of the environment is verified and validated with existing data and previous calculations done with existing tools.
Epigenetic mechanisms involved in modulation of inflammatory diseases.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The activation of inflammatory response is dependent upon genetic factors and epigenetic control mechanisms. This overview will highlight recent advances in the understanding of epigenetic dynamics during cellular inflammation. RECENT FINDINGS There is a growing body of evidence indicating that alterations of the chromatin state associate with an increased risk of chronic disease development and inflammation. Epigenetic alterations respond rapidly to environmental changes and have a profound effect on gene regulatory cross-wirings and transcriptional regulation. SUMMARY Systematic dissection of the mechanisms underlying epigenetic effects during inflammatory response is a critical step toward elucidation of the cell's molecular processes and holds potential for the development of novel therapies for the treatment of chronic diseases.
Revenue Sharing and Player Salaries in Major League Baseball

This article analyzes how changes made to the revenue sharing agreement in the 2007 Major League Baseball collective bargaining agreement influenced the salaries of position players and pitchers. T...
Large infrequently operated river diversions for Mississippi delta restoration

Currently the Mississippi delta stands as a highly degraded and threatened coastal ecosystem having lost about 25% of coastal wetlands during the twentieth century. To address this problem, a $50 billion, 50 year restoration program is underway. A central component of this program is reintroduction of river water back into the deltaic plain to mimic natural functioning of the delta. However, opposition to diversions has developed based on a number of perceived threats. These include over-freshening of coastal estuaries, displacement of fisheries, perceived water quality problems, and assertions that nutrients in river water leads to wetland deterioration. In addition, growing climate impacts and increasing scarcity and cost of energy will make coastal restoration more challenging and limit restoration options. We address these issues in the context of an analysis of natural and artificial diversions, crevasse splays, and small sub-delta lobes. We suggest that episodic large diversions and crevasses (>5000 m3 s−1) can build land quickly while having transient impacts on the estuarine system. Small diversions (<200 m3 s−1) that are more or less continuously operated build land slowly and can lead to over-freshening and water level stress. We use land building rates for different sized diversions and impacts of large periodic inputs of river water to coastal systems in the Mississippi delta to conclude that high discharge diversions operated episodically will lead to rapid coastal restoration and alleviate concerns about diversions. Single diversion events have deposited sediments up to 40 cm in depth over areas up to 130–180 km2. This approach should have broad applicability to deltas globally.
Time series prediction model based on non-single fuzzy regular network

Aim To construct a new time-series forecasting model based on neural network with the capability of noise immunity.Methods Introduce a non-singleton fuzzy system into the structure of the regular neural networks to construct the prediction model.Results This model has the strong capability of noise immunity,quick convergence rate and powerful ability of global search.The model is used to the forecast of samples and the performance is improved compared with the results of other neural network based forecasting models.Conclusion The performance of the new nodel is improved obviously.And it overcomes the inherent disadvantages of neural networks to a certain exent.The reduction of the computation complexing is under further study.
OPTIMIZATION OF PIPE-BLOWING TECHNOLOGY UNDER STABLE PRESSURE FOR SUPERCRITICAL ONCE-THROUGH BOILER

The start-up system of simple drain and atmospheric flashing has been used for supercritical once-through boielr of unit NO.5 in Datang Huangdao Power Plant,in the process of start-up using plasma ignition,the pipe-blowing under stable pressure without oil consumption can't be realized.Through heat balance analysis in the start-up process of unit,the optimization in pipe-blowing technology under stable pressure has been carried out,the pipe-blowing technology under stable pressure with zero oil consumption for supercritical once-through boiler being realized,boasting remarkable economic benefits.
A functional analysis of protooncogene Vav's role in adult human hematopoiesis.

The Vav protooncogene is expressed almost exclusively in hematopoietic cells, but its role in regulating adult human hematopoietic cell development remains uncertain. To analyze Vav function in adult blood cell formation, we used antisense (AS) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) to disrupt its expression in normal and malignant human hematopoietic cells. Bone marrow or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) were obtained from consenting normal donors and patients with acute or chronic myelogenous leukemia (AML and CML, respectively) and polycythemia vera (PV). Adherent and T-cell-depleted (A-T-) MNC or CD34+ MNC were exposed to unmodified sense, antisense, or scrambled sequence ODN corresponding to codons 2–7 of Vav's mRNA sequence. Cells were then assayed for Vav mRNA expression by reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction and Vav protein expression by Western binding. After showing that Vav-targeted AS ODN could specifically diminish Vav mRNA and protein expression, we assessed the ability of Vav-deficient cells to form myeloid and erythroid colonies in methyl- cellulose cultures. When normal CD34+ MNC were exposed to Vav AS ODN, no effect on colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) or CFU- megakaryocyte colony formation was observed. In contrast erythroid colony growth was inhibited by a mean +/- SD of 62% +/- 16%. In patients with hematopoietic malignancies. Vav-targeted AS ODN inhibited CFU-GM colony formation in a sequence-specific and dose-dependent manner in 1 of 3 AML, 13 of 17 CML, and 2 of 2 PV patients. At the highest concentration used, the Vav AS ODN inhibited CFU-GM colony formation from 66% to 81% when compared with control cell colony growth. Burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) colony-formation was also assessed in 7 PV patients. The Vav-targeted AS ODN inhibited BFU-E colony formation in all by a mean +/- SD of 81% +/- 4%. These findings suggest that Vav function may not be easily complemented in a significant subset of normal adult erythroid progenitor cells and may also be necessary for myeloid progenitor cell growth in a variety of hematopoietic malignancies.
Impact of Turbulent Mixing on Isoprene Chemistry

Isoprene, a volatile organic compound that is mainly emitted from trees, rapidly reacts with hydroxyl radical (OH) during daytime and subsequently forms ozone and aerosols in the troposphere. The isoprene-OH reaction can be affected by the interplay between chemistry and mixing because the two processes occur at a similar time scale. We investigate the impact of turbulent mixing on isoprene-OH reactivity with large-eddy simulations (LES) coupled with comprehensive chemistry. Our results show that the covariance of isoprene and OH causes ~20% decrease to ~10% increase of the horizontal average reaction rate, depending on nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) abundances, compared to the rate that neglects the covariance. This wide range of effects on reaction rates is caused by the primary production and loss reactions of OH in each NOx regime. Our research promotes the use of LES for better understanding the role of turbulence in isoprene-OH reaction and parameterizations in large-scale models.
Change in motives among frequent cannabis-using adolescents: Predicting treatment outcomes

Abstract Background Heavy cannabis use has been associated with negative outcomes, particularly among individuals who begin use in adolescence. Motives for cannabis use can predict frequency of use and negative use-related problems. The purpose of the current study was to assess change in motives following a motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention for adolescent users and assess whether change in motives was associated with change in use and self-reported problems negative consequences. Methods Participants (n = 252) were non-treatment seeking high school student cannabis users. All participants received two sessions of MET and had check-ins scheduled at 4, 7, and 10 months. Participants were randomized to either a motivational check-in condition or an assessment-only check-in. Participants in both conditions had the option of attending additional CBT sessions. Cannabis use frequency, negative consequences, and motives were assessed at baseline and at 6, 9, 12, and 15 month follow-ups. Results There were significant reductions in motives for use following the intervention and reductions in a subset of motives significantly and uniquely predicted change in problematic outcomes beyond current cannabis use frequency. Change in motives was significantly higher among those who utilized the optional CBT sessions. Conclusions This study demonstrates that motives can change over the course of treatment and that this change in motives is associated with reductions in use and problematic outcomes. Targeting specific motives in future interventions may improve treatment outcomes.
Analyzing the Heterogeneous Hierarchy of Cultural Heritage Materials: Analytical Imaging

Objects of cultural heritage significance are created using a wide variety of materials, or mixtures of materials, and often exhibit heterogeneity on multiple length scales. The effective study of these complex constructions thus requires the use of a suite of complementary analytical technologies. Moreover, because of the importance and irreplaceability of most cultural heritage objects, researchers favor analytical techniques that can be employed noninvasively, i.e., without having to remove any material for analysis. As such, analytical imaging has emerged as an important approach for the study of cultural heritage. Imaging technologies commonly employed, from the macroscale through the micro- to nanoscale, are discussed with respect to how the information obtained helps us understand artists’ materials and methods, the cultures in which the objects were created, how the objects may have changed over time, and importantly, how we may develop strategies for their preservation.
Exchange, correlation, and scattering effects on surface plasmons in arm-chair graphene nanoribbons

Using Maxwell’s equations for the incoming and outgoing electromagnetic field, in interaction with a metallic arm-chair graphene nanoribbon (AGNR), and the relationship between the density-density response function and the conductivity, we study surface plasmons (SPs) in a AGNR following the Lindhard, random-phase approximation (RPA), and Hubbard approaches. For transverse magnetic (TM) modes we obtain analytical dispersion relations (DRs) valid for q ≤ kF and assess their width dependence. In all approaches we include screening. In the long-wavelength limit q → 0 there is a small but noticeable difference between the DRs of the three approaches. In this limit the respective, scattering-free conductivities differ drastically from those obtained when scattering by impurities is included. We demonstrate that the SP field is proportional to the square of the quality factor Q. The reflection amplitude shows that metallic AGNRs do not support Brewster angles. In addition, AGNRs do not support transverse electric (TE) SPs.
Effect of mannitol on globe and orbital volumes in humans

Purpose To determine the effect of intravenous mannitol on globe and orbital volumes. Methods Retrospective chart review of a consecutive series of Cleveland Clinic Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit patients who underwent computed tomographic imaging before and after intravenous mannitol administration. Volume measurements were performed according to a previously described technique by averaging axial image areas. Measurements before and after mannitol administration were compared using paired t-test. Results Fourteen patients (28 eyes) met inclusion criteria. Average globe volume decreased 186 mm3 (-2.5%, p = 0.02) after mannitol administration, while average orbital volume increased 353 mm3 (+3.5%, p = 0.04). Average globe volume change for subjects with follow-up scan less than 4.7 hours (mean 1.9 hours; range 0.2-4.5 hours) after mannitol administration was -125 mm3 (-1.7%, p = 0.24) and average orbital volume change was +458 mm3 (+5.1%, p = 0.11). Average globe volume change after mannitol administration for those with follow-up more than 4.7 hours (average 13.9 hours, range 4.9-24.7 hours) was -246 mm3 (-3.3%, p = 0.05) and orbital volume change was +248 mm3 (+2.2%, p = 0.24). Dividing the study population into groups based on mannitol dose did not yield any statistically significant change. Conclusions Human globe volume decreases after intravenous mannitol administration, while orbital volume increases. These volume changes occur during the time period when intraocular pressure normalizes, after the pressure-lowering effects of the drug. This novel volumetric information improves our understanding of mannitol's mechanism of action and its effects on human ocular and periocular tissues.
“Actual Center of Detroit”: Method, Management, and Decentralization in Albert Kahn's General Motors Building

In the period 1919–22, two events catalyzed General Motors’ nascent dominance in the automotive industry: the company built a monumental headquarters in Detroit, designed by Albert Kahn Associates and located on what was then the periphery of the city; and a restructuring of the corporation was enacted at the behest of several newly appointed executives, including Alfred P. Sloan. In “Actual Center of Detroit”: Method, Management, and Decentralization in Albert Kahn9s General Motors Building, Michael Abrahamson explores the conjunction between these events, arguing that both manifest a struggle with immense size. To cope with the bigness of buildings, corporations, and urban environments, GM and the Kahn firm developed strategies that set the agenda for architectural practice, corporate management, and urban development for the twentieth-century United States. Together, these strategies reveal the entwined forces that influenced the design of the General Motors Building.
The Dynamical Analysis of Inter-Trial Fluctuations Near Goal Equivalent Manifolds

Using the concept of task manifolds, a number of data analysis methods have been used to explain how redundancy influences the structure of variability observed during repeated motor performance. Here we describe investigations that integrate the task manifold perspective with the analysis of Inter-Trial task dynamics. Goal equivalent manifolds (GEMs), together with optimal control ideas, are used to formulate simple models that serve as experimentally testable hypotheses on how Inter-Trial fluctuations are generated and regulated. In an experimental context, these phenomenological models allow us to show how error-correcting control is spatiotemporally organized around a given GEM. To illustrate our approach, we apply it to study the variability observed in a virtual shuffleboard task. The geometric stability properties of the Inter-Trial dynamics near the GEM are extracted from fluctuation time series data. We find that subjects exhibit strong control of fluctuations in an eigendirection transverse to the GEM, whereas they only weakly control fluctuations in an eigendirection nearly, but not exactly, tangent to it. We demonstrate that our dynamical analysis is robust under coordinate transformations, and discuss how our results support a generalized interpretation of the minimum intervention principle that suggests the involvement of competing costs in addition to goal-level error minimization.
Apollonian Eros and the Fruits of Failure in the Poetic Pursuit of Being: Notes on the Rape of Daphne

Let me open by proposing for our collective meditations the myth relating the origin of the laurel crown — mark of poetic (and more generally literary) excellence and achievement, and insignia of the god of poetry (as god of much cognate else) himself as well.
Neuropeptide Gene Expression and Behavior in Aplysia

The relatively simple nervous system of the marine mollusk Aplysia califomica is especially suitable for examining the molecular and cellular basis of fundamental neural processes common to both invertebrates and vertebrates. The Aplysia nervous system is amenable to this kind of study because it is composed of only some 20, 000 central neurons organized into four easily accessible pairs of symmetrical ganglia and a single asymmetric abdominal ganglion. Extensive physiological studies by previous investigators have helped elucidate how individual neurons interact to achieve the level of sophistication required to coordinate the physiological, behavioral, and learning processes of this organism (reviewed by Kandel, 1979). One common theme emerging from studies of invertebrate nervous systems is the wide diversity of neurons and the precise interconnections they make to provide the neural circuitry necessary to control even relatively simple behavioral components. This diversity is thought to be due to a large extent to differential expression of the structural genes of the nervous system. Indeed, an important question is how only an estimated 10, 000 genes, in the case of Aplysia, can provide the necessary genetic information to give rise to some 20, 000 neurons as well as to the numerous cells composing the other tissues of the organism. In recent years, advances in the field of molecular biology have allowed neurobiologists to approach questions such as this by examining the genetic foundation of neural systems.
Carnegie Mellon University Statistics Department

The Department of Statistics at Carnegie Mellon University—then Carnegie Institute of Technology—was created in 1966. Prior to that time, Carnegie Tech’s Department of Mathematics served as the training ground for an outstanding mix of young statistical talent, such as undergraduate and masters degree students Frederick Mosteller (1930s); David L. Wallace (1940s); Mel Hinich (1950s); and Henry Block, Stephen Lagakos, Gary Simon, and Miron Straf (1960s). Among the statistically oriented instructors who began their distinguished careers in the Mathematics Department were Abraham Charnes, Carlton Lemke, Lester E. Dubins, Donald P. Gaver, Jr., and M. M. Rao.
Using Energy Storage to Modify the Shape of Internally Generated Demand to Fit a Prescribed Shape for Externally Presented Demand

We present methods that can provide a win for both the consumer and the producer of electricity. What distinguishes this paper from most work on demand-side management is our consumer-centric focus: we transform human and other-generated internal demand within the consumer to fit a prescribed shape for demand to be presented to an external utility. We recommend that the utility prescribe the shape. We also explain why setting tariffs by time-of-day, independent of the amount consumed, can put the utility at an economic disadvantage. Key contributions of our paper include (1) the design and exemplary operation of an estimator that selects a battery size likely to make feasible the periodic (e.g., daily) transformation of internal demand into a shape proportional to an input shape; (2) the design and exemplary operation of a system to perform the required reshaping based on various input forecasts and consumption history; (3) the suggestion that energy price discounts should be based on the daily shape of the demand, as opposed to tariffs based on time-of-day but independent of the amount of demand; and (4) a demonstration of the effectiveness of using forecasts to manage demand. We focus on the management of demand for electricity. However, our methods would apply in a variety of industries that use metered services for a commodity that can be stored. These commodities include water, natural gas and other fuels, and some internet services (e.g., streaming and cloud services, especially cloud storage).
Earth's Oldest Rocks and Minerals

Abstract The oldest preserved terrestrial rocks occur as small blocks tectonically incorporated within younger orogens, most commonly Neoarchean in age. As more age data have become available, it is clear that almost every Archean Craton contains blocks with formation ages ≥3.4 Ga. These blocks are generally
Vulnerabilities of Power Grid Due to Line Failures Based on Power Traffic Centrality of the Line Graph

In this paper we validate the use of degree centrality measures based on power traffic to assess the vulnerability of power systems and to predict 70% brownouts and blackouts using Line Graph Based Model (LGBM) which is best to describe the removal of transmission lines as opposed to buses. Monte-Carlo simulations were employed for IEEE systems test cases. Different events were evaluated, including the removal of randomly selected elements of the network. The AC power flow formulation was employed to calculate the degree centrality measures. The simulations demonstrated the consistency of the degree centrality measures based on the power traffic matrix to indicate the total unsatisfied load ratio resulting from node or link removals. We studied the comparison between bus failure and link failuer. Finally, it was observed that a blackout is ensured if the sum of centrality scores of the nodes or links removed exceeds a threshold.
Cooperating with Avatars Through Gesture, Language and Action

Advances in artificial intelligence are fundamentally changing how we relate to machines. We used to treat computers as tools, but now we expect them to be agents, and increasingly our instinct is to treat them like peers. This paper is an exploration of peer-to-peer communication between people and machines. Two ideas are central to the approach explored here: shared perception, in which people work together in a shared environment, and much of the information that passes between them is contextual and derived from perception; and visually grounded reasoning, in which actions are considered feasible if they can be visualized and/or simulated in 3D. We explore shared perception and visually grounded reasoning in the context of blocks world, which serves as a surrogate for cooperative tasks where the partners share a workspace. We begin with elicitation studies observing pairs of people working together in blocks world and noting the gestures they use. These gestures are grouped into three categories: social, deictic, and iconic gestures. We then build a prototype system in which people are paired with avatars in a simulated blocks world. We find that when participants can see but not hear each other, all three gesture types are necessary, but that when the participants can speak to each other the social and deictic gestures remain important while the iconic gestures become less so. We also find that ambiguities flip the conversational lead, in that the partner previously receiving information takes the lead in order to resolve the ambiguity.
BINDING OF CHOLESTEROL AND ADRENODOXIN TO PHOSPHOLIPID VESICLE-RECONSTITUTED P-450scc

Publisher Summary This chapter examines binding of cholesterol and adrenodoxin to phospholipid vesicle-reconstituted P-450 SCC. The side-chain cleavage of cholesterol requires 3 protein components: (1) cytochrome P-450 SCC , (2) adrenodoxin reductase (AR), and (3) adrenodoxin (ADX). The cytochrome catalyses a triple hydroxylation of cholesterol causing the scission of the 20–22 bond; the FAD-protein (AR) and the iron sulfur protein (ADX) serve as an electron transport chain to P-450. The chapter discusses the mechanism by which these proteins transfer electrons is investigated: AR forms a complex with ADX; the AR receives an electron pair from NADPH and transfers one electron to ADX. Reduction of ADX induces dissociation of the complex and allows interaction of the ADX with cytochrome—simultaneous interaction of ADX with AR and cytochrome does not occur. Binding of cholesterol to cytochrome induces a 20-fold increase in the binding of ADX and vice versa. These studies proposed that mutually facilitated binding of components prevents cytochrome P-450 from functioning as a futile NADPH or adrenodoxin oxidase.
Friend Not Foe? Reconsidering Race, the Police, and Community Relations:

Given the complicated historical and contemporary relationship between law enforcement and African Americans, academic and popular commentary have focused intently on the existence of conflict betw...
Assessing Outcomes of a Realistic Major Preview in an Introductory Sport Management Course

This paper assessed the outcomes of a field experience assignment (FEA) in an introductory sport management course designed as a realistic major preview. Student learning outcomes assessed were com...
Evaluating the Effects of Inlet Geometry on the Limiting Flux of Secondary Settling Tanks with CFD Model and 1D Flux Theory Model

AbstractThe effects of the McKinney baffle on the limiting flux of secondary settling tanks (SSTs) are evaluated by comparing the predictions of the maximum solids loading rate (SLR) determined by ...
Mechanism of Knowledge Integration in Integrative Innovation

Knowledge Integration is the dynamic source of integrative innovation capability.The research on knowledge integration in integrative innovation is in the primary stage.This paper analyzes the characteristics of knowledge in integrative innovation such as systemic,dispersive,tacit and sticky and the role of knowledge integration within integrative innovation.This paper constructs the knowledge Integration model with four stages which can promotes innovative capability effectively.This paper also presents dynamic optimism principle,adaptive principle,stick reducing principle and preferential absorption principle to give a guidance to improve knowledge integration capability within integrative innovation.
Translational Model Identification and Robust Control for the Parrot Mambo UAS Multicopter

Two main problems are addressed in this paper. The first one is the model identification for a commercial unmanned aircraft system (UAS): the Parrot Mambo multicopter. The second one aims at synthesizing a robust controller for guaranteeing the stability of the X and Y translational dynamics of this UAS. To accomplish these goals, we first collect input-output data from a set of real-time flight experiments. Next, by applying an extended least square (ELS) algorithm to the data, a group of dynamic models are identified. Due to uncertainties, the obtained models are similar in nature but exhibit parametrical variations. For this reason, from the set of identified models, a unique nominal (i.e., average) parameter-dependent linear model is built, which also takes into account the minimum and maximum values defining the model parametrical variations. Finally, a static linear controller is synthesized for the dynamics of interest, guaranteeing global stability for every model. The identification results and the performance of the closed- loop controller are validated in a set of numerical simulations, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed modeling and control approaches.
Developing Separate Effects Transient Test Experiments Using an Out-of-Pile Flowing Water Loop

In 2017 the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Facility was restarted after having been placed in a standby state in 1994. The TREAT reactor’s restart has since enabled the progressive development of n...
INCIDENCE AND IMPLICATIONS OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN HYPERTENSION: INSIGHTS FROM THE SPRINT TRIAL

This study sought to determine the effect of intensive blood pressure (BP) control on the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) and to assess the prognostic implications of preexisting and new-onset AF in the randomized, multicenter Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (
Diagnostic and management considerations in the modern patient with AIDS: a case of concurrent disseminated Kaposi sarcoma and colesional Cryptococcus neoformans.

In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), disseminated Kaposi sarcoma (KS) has become much rarer in the USA. We report a case of a 34-year-old man with KS of the skin, oropharynx, lung and rectum. Within the same lung nodule, we discovered significant burden of colesional Cryptococcus neoformans, in the context of a positive asymptomatic cryptococcal antigenemia, which was a previously unreported occurrence. The gold standard of treatment for KS continues to be HAART. The role of chemotherapy is still controversial. In addition, a cryptococcal antigen screen-and-treat approach with fluconazole is still not routinely recommended in the USA to prevent serious meningeal disease despite recent studies showing efficacy and applicability. We discuss both issues here and the outcome of our patient. We also present the patient’s own unique perspective in dealing with the ramifications of these diagnoses.
Coherent turbulence and entrainment in a supersonic, axisymmetric, separated/reattaching shear layer

Pressure loading in massively separated flow regions is intimately tied to the entrainment characteristics of the separated shear layer, which also determines the streamwise distance required for shear layer reattachment. Using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry measurements of a Mach 2.49 longitudinal cylinder wake, a clear relationship between the presence of coherent turbulent structures (i.e., hairpin vortices) and the shear layer reattachment length is demonstrated.
Iteration of Functions $f:X^{k}\rightarrow X$ and their Periodicity

We propose a notion of iterating functions $f:X^{k}\rightarrow X$ in a way that represents recurrence relations of the form $a_{n+k}=f(a_{n},a_{n+1},...,a_{n+k-1})$. We define a function as $n$-involutory when its $n$th iterate is the identity map, and discuss elementary group-theoretic properties of such functions along with their relation to cycles of their corresponding recurrence relations. Further, it is shown that a function $f:X^{k}\rightarrow X$ that is 2-involutory in each of its $k$ arguments (holding others fixed) is $(k+1)$-involutory.
Towards precision pulsed levitated optomechanics in a magneto-gravitational trap

Magneto-gravitational traps use the repulsion of diamagnetic materials by magnetic fields combined with the Earth's gravity to create a weak trap for micrometer-scale diamagnetic particles. A single particle levitated in this trap oscillates harmonically in three dimensions and its position can be measured optically. We have previously demonstrated feedback cooling of a trapped particle using radiation pressure from a second light source, but the low frequencies of oscillation appear to make quantum behavior unreachable, at least on long time scales. We report on progress towards observing the quantum limit of the motion by optical measurements of the particle position on time scales short compared to the oscillation period of the motion, making the behavior approach that of a free particle. We also show that classical pulsed measurements on larger trapped particles can reach remarkably high precision and demonstrate the performance by using it to measure vibrations of the system.
Foundations for Guiding the Mentors

The mentor class is designed to have the greatest impact on the freshmen while giving the mentors just-in-time training regarding what they will be involved in during the coming week. The fall semester is the ideal time for the freshmen seminar course because most freshmen are just starting at the university, and this semester has the largest number of incoming freshmen. The mentors are required to enroll in the mentor course but also must be able to attend the freshmen seminar class. The purpose is for the mentors to be exposed to the practical laboratory experience when the mentors engage in what they have been trained in the previous week. The first meeting is the pre-semester meeting two days before the semester, where we provide information about icebreakers and give the mentors time to engage in role playing with their emeriti mentors. The next week, they attend and practice in the freshmen seminar class. A variety of icebreakers are selected and practiced through role playing in the mentor group. The mentors are encouraged to initiate icebreakers in the first meeting. They can select from several options listed in Appendix A.
Factors Associated With Generic Drug Uptake in the United States, 2012 to 2017

Abstract Objectives In the United States, brand-name prescription drugs remain expensive until market exclusivity ends and lower-cost generics become available. Delayed generic drug uptake may increase spending and worsen medication adherence and patient outcomes. We assessed recent trends and factors associated with generic uptake. Methods Among 227 drugs facing new generic competition from 2012 to 2017, we used a national claims database to measure generic uptake in the first and second year after generic entry, defined as the proportion of claims for a generic version of the drug. Using linear regression, we evaluated associations between generic uptake and key drug characteristics. Results Mean generic uptake was 66.1% (standard deviation 22.1%) in the first year and 82.7% (standard deviation 21.6%) in the second year after generic entry. From 2012 to 2017 generic uptake decreased 4.3% per year in the first year (95% confidence interval, 2.8%-5.8%, P Conclusion Early generic uptake decreased over the past several years. This trend may adversely affect patients and increase prescription drug spending. Policies are needed to encourage generic competition, particularly among injected drugs administered in a hospital or clinic setting.
Organizational Hierarchies, Conformity, and Leadership Narratives

True leadership is based on voluntary following where followers gravitate to, and in essence, define the leader. True leaders have followers who have a desire to be led by the individual due to his/her merit, not because followers are instructed to follow an appointed “leader.” Career leadership where followers have no say in who gets to lead them has little to do with leadership. That is why hierarchies become essential. Hierarchies create the necessary power imbalances which ensure that career leaders have followers, regardless of their skills and the quality of their actions. It goes without saying that appointed leaders can also be true leaders whom the followers follow willingly due to the quality of their actions. However, such leaders are too few and in between. This is understandable, because organizational hierarchies encourage allegiance to one’s superiors, instead of allegiance to the mission. After all, the mission doesn’t hire or fire a “leader,” but the superiors do.
The Legitimacy Puzzle in Latin America: Political Support and Democracy in Eight Nations

Political scientists have worried about declining levels of citizens' support for their regimes (legitimacy), but have failed to empirically link this decline to the survival or breakdown of democracy. This apparent paradox is the 'legitimacy puzzle', which this book addresses by examining political legitimacy's structure, sources, and effects. With exhaustive empirical analysis of high-quality survey data from eight Latin American nations, it confirms that legitimacy exists as multiple, distinct dimensions. It finds that one's position in society, education, knowledge, information, and experiences shape legitimacy norms. Contrary to expectations, however, citizens who are unhappy with their government's performance do not drop out of politics or resort mainly to destabilizing protest. Rather, the disaffected citizens of these Latin American democracies participate at high rates in conventional politics and in such alternative arenas as communal improvement and civil society. And despite regime performance problems, citizen support for democracy remains high.
HIV/AIDS patients with HIV vasculopathy and VZV vasculitis: a case series.

Purpose Stroke is a rising cause of mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) populations. The etiology of stroke remains at the core of the decision-making process to treat and prevent recurrent events. In this population HIV vasculopathy (HIV-V) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) vasculitis are elusive causes of stroke. This study investigated radiological markers that could help identify possible etiological causes.
Experiences in Developing and Implementing a Capstone Course in Information Technology Management

Introduction The signs are all around us. * "Hailed as a savior when he arrived at ATT Alexander, 1996; Coffee, 1998) In fact, there is evidence that formal undergraduate information technology education is coming up short. According to a survey of 1,250 IT users, 78% of those interviewed thought encouraging people to study IT full-time was the best way to deal with the IT problem. Ironically, despite this response, only 20% of the IT managers interviewed "thought undergraduates were equipped for work." (Kennedy, 1998) Other studies have found a similar lack of preparation on the part of information technology graduates. (McGee, 1998; Buckingham, 1987) According to a study sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), "Large software and hardware systems continue to fail despite rapid advances in information technology ... [and] the problem is even deeper than reported. Failures of complex information systems are generally not reported by industry. Within the companies where these failures occur, the valuable lessons to be learned by these failures rarely are reported or examined. In academe, exploring the reasons for these failures is not addressed. Graduates are not prepared to cope with the complexity of medium to large systems ... Something is amiss in the nation's ability to generate well prepared new graduates in the information systems-centric disciplines." (Lidtke, 1999) The NSF-sponsored study identified several skill deficiencies: (1) inability to solve problems relating to medium and large computing systems; (2) inability to apply systemic thinking to complex computing systems; (3) deficiencies in business case preparation and assessment in computing systems applications work; and, (4) inadequate written, verbal, group and listening skills. The NSF study also identified three categories of industry-defined attributes an IT graduate should possess: (1) personal skills, including problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, persistence, and curiosity; (2) interpersonal skills, including collaborative and communication skills (verbal, written, listening, group); and, (3) technical knowledge and skills, including systems development skills and application capabilities. …
Positive impacts of an intelligent system on internal control problem recognition

Establishing and maintaining proper internal controls is an essential, ongoing, and complex process for today's organizations. Even though managers are ultimately responsible for ensuring internal control, they are typically not well versed in internal control principles. The literature contains no example of an intelligent system deployed to assist managers in recognizing potential problems in internal control systems. Yet, an intelligent system of this kind might prove to be highly beneficial. This study reports on the development of an intelligent system to assist managers, who do not have specific backgrounds in internal control concepts, evaluate potential weaknesses in internal control systems.
Estimating the Impact of Illicit Drugs Use on Gambling Behavior: Evidence from the U.S. Casino Industry and Drugs Arrests

Little is known about the impact of illicit drugs use on economic decision-making, yet the associated costs are likely large. The paper addresses this gap by studying the U.S. casino industry and conservatively estimates that a drugs-using gambler loses almost three times more money than the average gambler ($1,217 vs. $443 annually). To reach these conclusions, I use state-fixed effects panel estimations for 11 casino states for the period 1998-2004. Since drug-related arrests are associated with the presence of casino activity, I use arrests for the possession of drugs by adults in or near counties with casino activity as a proxy for the number of illicit drugs-using gamblers. I find robust evidence that state-level casino gambling revenues (per casino employee and per casino visit) are positively associated with these drugs possession arrests, even after controlling for the scale of casino activity, state-level (drugs) arrests and other regional characteristics. I use an instrumental variable approach to address endogeneity concerns.