cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface chemistry on bimetallic alloy surfaces: adsorption of anions and oxidation of CO on Pt3Sn(111).

The microscopic structure of the Pt3Sn(111) surface in an electrochemical environment has been studied by a combination of ex situ low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and low-energy ion scattering (LEIS) and in situ surface X-ray scattering (SXS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) the clean-annealed surface produces a p(2 × 2) LEED pattern consistent with the surface composition, determined by LEIS, of 25 at. % Sn. SXS results show that the p(2 × 2) structure can be “transferred” from UHV into 0.5 M H2SO4 and that the surface structure remains stable from 0.05 to 0.8 V. At 0.05 V the expansion of Pt surface atoms, ca. +2% from the bulk lattice spacing, is induced by adsorption of underpotential-deposited (UPD) hydrogen. At 0.5 V, where Pt atoms are covered by (bi)sulfate anions, the topmost layer is contracted relative to 0.05 V, although Sn atoms expand significantly, ca. 8.5%. The p(2 × 2) structure is stable even in solut...
The Bow and Spreadnet: Ecological Origins of Hunting Technology

Mbuti bands in eastern Zaire differ in their hunting use of the spreadnet and the bow, a variation previously attributed to historical contacts with different non-Mbuti groups, population pressure, and differences in the floral diversity and abundance of the Ituri Forest. None of these factors, however, adequately explains a similar differentiation in the Sepik Basin of Papua New Guinea. Instead, the Sepik data indicate that the net and the bow may spread through historical contact and diffusion, but their adoption or rejection is ultimately determined by a conjunction of their technological properties and the horizontal and vertical densities of environmental vegetation. From this perspective, the essential determinants of Mbuti spreadnet and bow use may be spatial variations in the physiognomy of the Ituri.
Maintaining Spatial Orientation during Travel in an Immersive Virtual Environment

An experiment is presented comparing the effects of various virtual travel techniques in an immersive virtual environment (VE) on the spatial orientation of users. The experiment was designed and implemented in the context of a formal framework for the design and evaluation of VE travel techniques. Subjects traveled through virtual corridors, noting the location of objects along the way, and were asked to point in the direction of one of these objects when the end of the corridor was reached. Results indicate that virtual travel techniques, in which users do not physically translate their bodies, can allow the maintenance of a user's spatial orientation as measured by a pointing task. The experiment also replicates an earlier result, showing that path dimension significantly affects user performance. Finally, the strategies used by subjects to perform the task were shown to be significant, indicating that performance depends not only on the technique, environment, and task, but also on the sophistication of the user.
McConnell's echocardiographic sign in acute pulmonary embolism: still a useful pearl

A 69 year old female with a history of gas-tric bypass surgery with a recent revision (12 weeks prior to presentation) was ad-mitted from a skilled nursing facility with subacute progressive dyspnea, cough and pleuritic chest pain. On initial assessment her blood pressure was 150/80 mmHg, pulse of 130 beats per minute, with a respiratory rate of 30 per minute and oxygen saturation of 85%. She had evidence of hypoxemic respira-tory failure on arterial blood gases, with a PaO2 of 46 mmHg and thus was intubated and sedated before further workup was ob -tained. A bedside echocardiogram showed pre-served left ventricular performance, with an ejection fraction of 65%, but exhibited severe right ventricular enlargement and systolic dysfunction (
Three‐Dimensional Sonographic Findings of a Cervical Pregnancy

A cervical pregnancy is an uncommon ectopic pregnancy that accounts for less than 1% of such gestations. This condition is associated with an extremely high risk of massive hemorrhage and previously often required hysterectomy. The current diagnostic modality of this potentially life-threatening condition is transvaginal sonography, supported at times by magnetic resonance imaging. The definitive diagnostic imaging feature of a cervical pregnancy is the location of a gestational sac in the cervix in the presence of a closed internal uterine cervical os. We report the 3-dimensional transvaginal sonographic findings of a cervical pregnancy at 6 weeks' gestation.
Mechanics of the Peel Test for Thin Film Adhesion

The mechanics aspects of the peel test are analyzed. In this analysis, the limitation and applicability of the peel test for thin film adhesion have been investigated. Firstly, the effect of plasticity in the peel test of thin metallic films is analyzed. The analysis has given a closed form solution for the partitioning of peel strength between the energy expenditure rate for the decohesion process and the internal work expenditure rate caused by plastic deformation (bending) of the film. The results predicted the variation of peel strength as a function of the film thickness, the film yield stress and the compliance of the substrate. This analysis shows that the peel strength is very sensitive to the thickness of the film and the yield stress of the film. As observed in the experiment, the peel strength has a peak value at a certain thickness of the film. This is explained for both L and T peel tests. Unlike the L peel test, the peak phenomenon in the T peel test (of metallic films) is due to the hardening of the adhered film. Secondly, the effect of plasticity and viscoelasticity in the peel test of thin polymer films is analyzed. Unlike the peel test of metallic films, tension and shear effect of the film deformation is very important in the analysis of the polymer peel test. An integral equation is formulated for the viscoelastic models of the adhered film. The solution of the integral equation reveals the important parameters in polymer peeling and their contribution to the peel force as well as to the viscoelastic dissipation. In addition, the meaning of the interface toughness is reexamined and the interface toughness is evaluated by the peel test. Based on these analyses, a Universal Peel Diagram has been constructed, which accounts for the hardening behavior of the film. On this diagram, objective interfacial decohesion toughness can be readily obtained using very simple peel tests. The analysis includes not only the 900° peel test but also the general angle peel test. Comparison between the theory and experiment has been made with the experimental data provided by J. Kim of IBM. The comparison shows good agreement.
A Comparative Analysis of the Immunological Evolution of Antibody 28B4

In an effort to gain greater insight into the evolution of the redox active, catalytic antibody 28B4, the germline genes used by the mouse to generate this antibody were cloned and expressed, and the X-ray crystal structures of the unliganded and hapten-bound germline Fab of antibody 28B4 were determined. Comparison with the previously determined structures of the unliganded and hapten-bound affinity-matured Fab [Hsieh-Wilson, L. C., Schultz, P. G., and Stevens, R. C. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93, 5363] shows that the germline antibody binds the p-nitrophenyl ring of hapten 3 in an orientation significantly different from that seen in the affinity-matured antibody, whereas the phosphonate moiety is bound in a similar mode by both antibodies. The affinity-matured antibody 28B4 has more electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions with hapten 3 than the germline antibody and binds the hapten in a lock-and-key fashion. In contrast, significant conformational changes occur in the loops of CDR H3 and ...
ERG and CHD1 heterogeneity in prostate cancer: use of confocal microscopy in assessment of microscopic foci.

BACKGROUND Biomarkers predicting tumor response are important to emerging targeted therapeutics. Complimentary methods to assess and understand genetic changes and heterogeneity within only few cancer cells in tissue will be a valuable addition for assessment of tumors such as prostate cancer that often have insufficient tumor for next generation sequencing in a single biopsy core. METHODS Using confocal microscopy to identify cell-to-cell relationships in situ, we studied the most common gene rearrangement in prostate cancer (TMPRSS2 and ERG) and the tumor suppressor CHD1 in 56 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. RESULTS Wild type ERG was found in 22 of 56 patients; ERG copy number was increased in 10/56, and ERG rearrangements confirmed in 24/56 patients. In 24 patients with ERG rearrangements, the mechanisms of rearrangement were heterogeneous, with deletion in 14/24, a split event in 7/24, and both deletions and split events in the same tumor focus in 3/24 patients. Overall, 14/45 (31.1%) of patients had CHD1 deletion, with the majority of patients with CHD1 deletions (13/14) correlating with ERG-rearrangement negative status (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the ability of confocal microscopy and FISH to identify the cell-to-cell differences in common gene fusions such as TMPRSS2–ERG that may arise independently within the same tumor focus. These data support the need to study complimentary approaches to assess genetic changes that may stratify therapy based on predicted sensitivities. Prostate 74:1551–1559, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Effect of a Desogestrel-Containing Oral Contraceptive on Glucose Tolerance and Leptin Concentrations in Hyperandrogenic Women

Ovarian hyperandrogenism can be associated with insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, and obesity. High levels of the lipostatic hormone, leptin, have also been reported in this condition. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of an oral contraceptive (OC) of low androgenicity containing desogestrel on glucose tolerance in hyperandrogenic women and the impact of changes in androgenic/estrogenic status on leptin concentrations. Sixteen nondiabetic hyperandrogenic women, aged 29 +/- 1 yr with a body mass index (BMI) of 36.8 +/- 1.8 kg/m2, underwent an oral glucose tolerance test before and after 6 months of therapy with the OC. Free testosterone decreased and sex hormone-binding globulin increased after therapy (P < 0.001). Glucose tolerance deteriorated significantly, and two women developed diabetes. Body weight, BMI, and leptin did not change significantly. Leptin correlated with BMI before (r = 0.56; P = 0.02) and after (r = 0.51; P = 0.04) treatment, but not with glucose, insulin, total and free testosterone, or sex hormone-binding globulin before or after treatment. In conclusion, 1) glucose tolerance should be monitored in hyperandrogenic women using OC, even those of low androgenicity; and 2) changes in androgenic/estrogenic status had no effect on the leptin concentration, suggesting that its sexual dimorphism is not related to sex steroids.
Caudal Additives Do Not Improve the Analgesia Afforded by Levobupivacaine After Hypospadias Repair

Background: Caudal analgesia is commonly employed to provide excellent intra- and postoperative analgesia for primary hypospadias repair in children. Several additives to local anesthetics are commonly employed to increase the block duration, although these have uncertain benefits. Objectives: This study investigated whether, in caudal analgesia with levobupivacaine 0.25%, the addition of S (+)-ketamine, clonidine, or both agents combined, would prolong postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing primary hypospadias repair. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart analysis for all patients who underwent hypospadias repair with caudal analgesia over a consecutive 3-period at this institution. The study examined four patient groups, classified according to the analgesia used:\r\n1) No additive, levobupivacaine alone\r\n2) Levobupivacaine and S (+)-ketamine\r\n3) Levobupivacaine and clonidine\r\n4) Levobupivacaine, S (+)-ketamine, and clonidine\r\nPrimary outcome measures were as follows: time to the first postoperative request for analgesia, total first 24-hour postoperative analgesia, and time to hospital discharge.\r\n Results: The 87 patients included had a mean ± SD age of 21.4 ± 13.5 months and weight of 11.9 ± 2.4 kg. The median doses of levobupivacaine, S (+)-ketamine, and clonidine were 0.7 mg/kg (range, 0.4–1.3), 0.5 mg/kg (0.2–1.1), and 1.8 μg/kg (0.8–2.3), respectively. The addition of S(+)-ketamine, clonidine, or both did not increase the time to first oral analgesia request. Neither did it reduce the total first 24-hour postoperative analgesia requirements or alter hospital discharge time. However, the additive drugs in combination did increase postoperative sedation. Conclusions: The addition of S (+)-ketamine or clonidine to levobupivacaine 0.25% in caudal analgesia for hypospadias repair appears to be of no benefit. However, use of the additives in combination increased postoperative sedation.
Hydrodynamic effects in the dynamic response of concrete gravity dams

Hydrodynamic effects in the acceleration response of concrete gravity dams to harmonic ground motion are investigated. The effects include the presence of water, compressibility of water, interaction between the fluid and underlying foundation medium, shape of the fluid domain, and the extent of excitation applied to an infinite fluid domain under vertical ground motion.
Multielement reconstructions of Palmatolepis and Polygnathus (Upper Devonian, Famennian) from the Canning Basin, Australia, and Bactrian Mountain, Nevada

ABsTRAcr-Upper Devonian (Famennian) sequences were sampled at two sections in the Canning Basin, Western Australia, and a section at Bactrian Mountain, Nevada, over an interval ranging from the Upper crepida Zone into the Lower marginifera Zone of the standard conodont zonation for the Famennian. Over 30,000 conodont elements have been identified among 43 species and subspecies within six genera. New complete and partial multielement reconstructions are illustrated for: Palmatolepis falcata, P. glabra prima, P. loba, P. minuta minuta, P. perlobata perlobata, P. perlobata maxima, P. quadrantinodosalobata, P. rhomboidea, P. schindewolfi, P. subgracilis, P. wolskae, Polygnathus cf. P. diversus, P. glaber glaber, P. nodocostatus nodocostatus, P. subnormalis, and P. cf. P. triphyllatus. The reconstructions are based on stratigraphic occurrence, detailed morphologic similarities, and a few exceptional low-diversity faunas. Additionally, Palmatolepis adamantea n. sp. is proposed based on the Pa element. A more precise understanding of the taxonomic boundaries of Palmatolepis is achieved through knowledge of the entire apparatus, rather than confined to the Pa elements. Reconstructions presented here provide a more comprehensive understanding of the range of morphologic variation that exists in Palmatolepis, and show that a single generalized elemental plan can be demonstrated for all members of the genus. The differences in the non-Pa elements can thus be used to refine taxonomy and increase understanding of phylogenetic relationships at the specific and subspecific level.
Growing applications of FDG PET-CT imaging in non-oncologic conditions

As the number of clinical applications of 2-[fluorine 18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) grows, familiarity with the conditions that can be diagnosed by this modality and when relevant pieces of additional information can be obtained becomes increasingly important for both requesting physicians and nuclear medicine physicians or radiologists who interpret the findings. Apart from its heavy use in clinical oncology, FDG PET-CT is widely used in a variety of non-oncologic conditions interconnecting to such disciplines as general internal medicine, infectious diseases, cardiology, neurology, surgery, traumatology, orthopedics, pediatrics, endocrinology, rheumatology, psychiatry, neuropsychology, and cognitive neuroscience. The aim of this review was to summarize the current evidence of FDG PET-CT applications in evaluating non-oncologic pathologies and the relevant information it can add to achieve a final diagnosis.
Fgr: Fgr protein-tyrosine kinase (vertebrates) (p59fgr)

One of three Src family PTKs first identified as products of acutely transforming retroviruses, the FGR-encoded PTK, is often designated p59c-fgr to distinguish it from the product of the Gardner-Rasheed feline sarcoma virus. Transcripts encoding Fgr accumulate primarily in myeloid cells, especially monocytes. Essentially nothing is known about the function of this protein, and mice bearing a targeted disruption of the FGR gene display no obvious phenotypic abnormalities. In domain structure, myristoylation is believed to occur at the N-terminal glycine. There are four conventionally defined domains, as in other Src family kinases. No information is available regarding post-translational modifications of Fgr. Fgr activity is assayed in immunoprecipitates by autophosphorylation, or by the phosphorylation of exogenously added, denatured enolase.
Development of a Health Knowledge and Understanding Test for 5th Grade Pupils

Abstract This report is concerned with the development and construction of a valid and reliable test of health knowledge and understanding for 5th grade pupils. Four forms of the preliminary test were administered to pupils beginning the 6th grade of instruction in public schools located in northeast Texas. The trial test was revised after item analysis and use of a statistical procedure to determine valid test items. Analysis of the data secured from administration of the final test to pupils who had just completed the 5th grade of health instruction indicated that the two final test forms were satisfactory measures of health knowledge and understanding.
A prototyping environment for research on human-machine interfaces in process control use of Microsoft WPF for microworld and distributed control system development

Operators of critical processes, such as nuclear power production, must contend with highly complex systems, procedures, and regulations. Developing human-machine interfaces (HMIs) that better support operators is a high priority for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of critical processes. Human factors engineering (HFE) provides a rich and mature set of tools for evaluating the performance of HMIs, but the set of tools for developing and designing HMIs is still in its infancy. Here we propose that Microsoft Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) is well suited for many roles in the research and development of HMIs for process control.
Parasites Associated with Seed Chalcids Infesting Alfalfa, Red Clover, and Birdsfoot Trefoil Seed in New York

A series of surveys conducted in New York over a 4-year period has established that the following parasites occur in association with seed chaleids infesting alfalfa ( Medicago saliva L.), red clover ( Trifolium pra/ense L.), and birds foot trefoil ( Lotus comiculatus L.) seed in the State: Tetraslichus bruchophagi Gah., Eupelmus allynii (Fr.), Eupeimella vesicularis (Ratz.), Liodon/omerus longfellowi (Gir.), Liodontomerus perplexlis Gah., Ambbymerus bruchophagi Gah., and Habrocytus medicaginis Gah. Two of these species, T. bruchophagi, and H. medicaginis, were reared from seed clralcid infested seed of all three plant species. A. brllclwphagi and E. rescuyicu/aris were reared from both alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil seed. L. longfellni, L, perpleexus, and E. albynii lynii were found to restrict their activities to seed ehakid infested seeds of a single plant host, being ['eared solely from seeds of red clover, alfalfa, and birds foot trefoil, respectively.
A Word-List from the Southern Highlands

The words and sayings in this list should be examined in the light in which they were written—not for any group of persons primarily interested in the higher study of langugage but for per­ sons interested in the intelligent popular study of language. Dr. Combs has kindly allowed the Editor to select these words and sayings from an unfinished manuscript of his, The Language of Our Southern Highlanders.—The Editor
Analysis on Epidemiological Characteristics of Epidemic Encephalitis B in Tongchuan

Objective This study was to learn the epidemiological characteristics of Japanese B encephalitis(JBE) in Tongchuan, and the level of JBE antibody in the residents, so as to provide a scientific basis for effective control and prevention of JBE. Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was used to statistically analyze JBE cases in Tongchuan city. Venous blood samples were randomly taken from healthy population in Yijun County of Tongchuan City for measuring the levels of neutralizing antibody against JBE. Results A total of 649 JBE cases were reported between 1960 and 2012 in Tongchuan City, with the average incidence of 2.07/100 000. Among them, there were 5 cases of death, with the mortality rate of 0.19/100 000. The incidence showed evident seasonal pattern, and had a major occupation distribution to farmers and migrant workers. On the aspect of age distribution, people over 15 years accounted for 93.10% of total cases, but the highest incidence occurred to the population over 60 years. Serum samples before and after the epidemic season were taken from healthy people. Among the total 216 pairs serum samples, the positive rate of JBEV NA(GMT) was 24.07%(1∶3.04) before the epidemic season, and 26.39%(1∶3.29) after the epidemic season. No significant difference in antibody levels was observed before and after the epidemic season. Conclusion Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent JBE in Tongchuan City. The positive rate of encephalitis virus antibody(GMT) is relatively low in the healthy population of Tongchuan City, which is mainly affected by the rate of vaccination. Presently, vaccination is the most efficient way to prevent JBE for children under 7 years old. Vaccination to children above 7 years old and adults should be reinforced to build an effective immune barrier against JBE.
A Decision Support System Methodology For The File Allocation Problem In Distributed Computing Systems

AbstractA new methodology, based on the decision support systems approach to solve data file allocation problems in a distributed computing system is proposed. The methodology allows the designer: (1) to deal with both operating costs and response time considerations simultaneously, (2) to specify a different response time constraint for queries from each node to each file. The suitability and applicability of the proposed technique is established by developing a prototype system for an example problem.
Understanding Single Mothers’ Parenting Stress Trajectories

ABSTRACTUsing data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, we examined single mothers’ (n = 1,229) parenting stress trajectories across the years when their children were ages 1, 3, and 5. Analyses were based on a latent growth curve model incorporating time-invariant and time-varying covariates to better understand single mothers’ parenting stress trajectories. Single mothers’ initial level and rate of change in parenting stress trajectories were significantly predicted by the initial levels of infants’ negative emotionality. The time-varying covariates of work–family conflict and parental engagement were significantly associated with single mothers’ parenting stress when their children were ages 1, 3, and 5.
Abstract 270: Emergency Service Use in Heart Failure Patients on Hospice

Introduction: Emergency service use should be almost non-existent among hospice patients, as hospice is intended to provide for all care needs at the end of life. Cancer patients comprise almost 50% of hospice patients nation-wide and have relatively low rates of emergency service use while on hospice care. Hospice enrollment has been steadily increasing among patients with heart failure, but concerns have been raised about how well hospice care meets these patients’ needs. Emergency service use is one indicator of how well heart failure patients’ needs are met on hospice. Objective: To explore whether emergency service use is higher among heart failure patients on hospice as compared to cancer patients on hospice and reasons for this potential disparity. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the 2007 National Home and Hospice Care Survey (NHHCS). Only hospice patients with heart failure (n=311) and hospice patients with breast, prostate, colon or lung cancer (n=946) were included in the analysis. Emergency service use was measured by response to NHHCS question 73 (“did the patient use one or more types of emergent care?”) and includes the use of both emergency room and outpatient (urgicenter) services. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between emergency service use and diagnosis. All analyses were adjusted for hospice length of stay, patient age, race/ethnicity, caregiver relationship, number of comorbidities, functional status, cognitive function and place of care. Results: Subjects (M age 75.3, SD 12.68) were 51% female and 89% white. The rate of emergency service use was 9.6% among the cancer patients and 17.36% among heart failure patients. Heart failure patients were almost two times more likely to utilize emergency services (OR 1.96, p<.002). Among the covariates examined, only hospice length of stay was significantly associated with emergency service use (p<.000), but did not appear to make a clinically significant difference (OR 1.003). Conclusions: While this study lends support to the hypothesis that heart failure patients suffer unmet care needs while on hospice, the nature of these unmet needs should be further explored. Outcome disparities have previously been suggested to be due to differences in age, comorbidities and functional status between the heart failure and cancer populations, but this study does not support that hypothesis. Hospice care plans unique to the heart failure patient should be considered.
Pros and cons of medical cannabis use by people with chronic brain disorders.

Background Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the world and there is growing concern about the mental health effects of cannabis use. These concerns are at least partly due to the strong increase in recreational and medical cannabis use and the rise in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels. Cannabis is widely used to self-medicate by older people and people with brain disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Objective This review provides an overview of the perceived benefits and adverse mental health effects of cannabis use in people with ALS, MS, AD, PD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Results The reviewed studies indicate that cannabis use diminishes some symptoms associated with these disorders. Cannabis use decreases pain and spasticity in people with MS, decreases tremor, rigidity, and pain in people with PD, and improves the quality of life of ALS patients by improving appetite, and decreasing pain and spasticity. Cannabis use is more common among people with schizophrenia than healthy controls. Cannabis use is a risk factor for schizophrenia which increases positive symptoms in schizophrenia patients and diminishes negative symptoms. Cannabis use worsens bipolar disorder and there is no evidence that bipolar patients derive any benefit from cannabis. In late stage Alzheimer's patients, cannabis products may improve food intake, sleep quality, and diminish agitation. Conclusion Cannabis use diminishes some of the adverse effects of neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, chronic cannabis use may lead to cognitive impairments and dependence.
Industrial and environmental crises: rethinking corporate social responsibility

Modern technological progress has come at a price — a price that we are starting to pay now, in terms of large-scale environmental damage; a price that many generations will continue to pay well into the future. It is this heavy price, the downside of technological progress, that is the focus of this chapter. More specifically, I focus on technological, industrial and environmental crises. These crises involve industrial technologies and they have devastating effects on human and natural environments.
Increased serum triglyceride concentrations and abdominal adiposity were associated with increased mortality in women

Source Citation Bengtsson C, Bjorkelund C, Lapidus L, Lissner L. Associations of serum lipid concentrations and obesity with mortality in women: 20 year follow up of participants in prospective pop...
Returns in the Western Range Cattle Industry: Reconstructing the Financial History of the Matador Land and Cattle Company, 1883-1920

Much has been written concerning the rate of return earned by investors in cattle ranching during the open range era of the American West. Individual and foreign investors supplied large amounts of capital to stock the ranges; fortunes were made and lost in a short 20-year span. Financial histories abound in the literature regarding the return on investments. Most, if not all, rely on published financial data to determine performance. Yet, accounting practices of the time render any financial performance calculated from published financials problematic. This article estimates the financial performance of the Matador Land and Cattle Company for the years 1882-1920 by adjusting the published financial data to conform to modern accounting practices. In doing so, a more accurate picture of the financial performance of a large Scottish cattle firm operating on the open range emerges. Additionally, the article estimates the return that a typical investor earned holding stock in the Matador. Taken together, these measures provide a reflection of the rate of return during the open range era of the American West.
Recent cancer treatment and memory decline in older adults: An analysis of the 2002-2012 Health and Retirement Study.

Abstract Objective Few studies have examined the impact of cancer treatment on cognitive trajectories in the growing population of older adults diagnosed with and surviving cancer. This study examined whether recent cancer and its treatment accelerated memory decline in older adults. Materials and Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of observations drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (2002–2012), a population-based sample of older adults in the United States. Changes in immediate (IWR) and delayed word recall (DWR) scores were estimated by latent growth modeling in individuals who never had cancer (n = 10,939) or had been diagnosed with cancer between 2000 and 2002 and received treatment with some combination of radiation and/or surgery (n = 240), chemotherapy only (n = 34), or chemotherapy and some combination of radiation and/or surgery (n = 64). Results In the period immediately following treatment, individuals reporting a recent cancer treated with chemotherapy and surgery/radiation experienced significantly more rapid decline in IWR (b = − 0.34, SE = 0.17, p = 0.047) and DWR (b = − 0.38, SE = 0.19, p = 0.049) than the non-cancer group. Sensitivity analyses addressing mortality selection and memory-related disease at baseline attenuated the strength of these associations. There were no other statistically significant differences in estimated linear or quadratic slope by cancer status or treatment. Conclusion Our results support a potential association between recent cancer treatment and trajectories of memory decline in older adults and provide guidance on the interpretation of statistical estimates from panel studies of health and aging.
Activities in the liquid Mn-Fe-C system

Abstract Activity maps for manganese and carbon in the liquid Mn-Fe-C system are calculated from 1300 to 1600°C using carbon-saturation data ranging from 1290 to 1690°C, for lack of enough dilute solution information. The first-order parameter for manganese on carbon is obtained, assuming that, at 10% Mn, the two second-order ones will have little effect. Building this into a model for log carbon activity, an expression for the other two parameters is calculated at manganese-to-iron ratios of 1 and 1000 and the values of each obtained by simultaneous solution. This yields a model for carbon activity which fits the data well. A numerical integration by the Gibbs-Schuhmann method is then used to calculate manganese activity. This is tested against measured activities from Ohtani and Schenck, giving a correlation coefficient of 0.98, with × limits of 0.023 at 0.0845 manganese activity, increasing to 0.037 at 0.592. Three equilibrium runs by Dresler at carbon contents of 2 to 3% and 72% manganese gave average manganese activity of 0.58, as compared to 0.56 calculated by the present model, indicating that the × is nearer 0.010 than the 0.039 from the present model, the rest of whose variance must come from the data.
Influence of Intermolecular Coupling on the Vibrational Spectrum of Water

Raman multivariate curve resolution (Raman-MCR) spectra obtained from pure and isotopically dilute water are used to probe the influence of intermolecular resonance couplings on water OH and OD stretch band shapes and intensities, in the absence of intramolecular coupling. Intermolecular resonant coupling is found to broaden and red-shift the OH stretch band of water, in qualitative agreement with the predictions of Yang and Skinner. The influence of intermolecular coupling is found to increase with decreasing temperature, and to increase the Raman scattering cross section of the OH stretch, but decrease the OD stretch cross section. Moreover, we find that intermolecular coupling slightly perturbs the vibrational spectra of water molecules surrounding HOD.
The application of distributed parameter state estimation theory to a metallurgical casting operation

A mathematical model for the continuous casting of mild steel was developed and compared with experimental data. This model was then used as a basis for a nonlinear state estimation algorithm which provides on-line estimates of the solidified crust thickness and solid temperature distribution based only on noisy steel surface measurements. The computational algorithm, which makes use of eigenfunction decomposition methods, was found to be computationally efficient, and the filter performed well under simulation, even in the face of large temperature measurement errors.
Prognostic Impact of Periprocedural Bleeding and Myocardial Infarction After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Unselected Patients: Results From the EVENT (Evaluation of Drug-Eluting Stents and Ischemic Events) Registry

Objectives Our aim was to examine the prognostic importance of hemorrhagic and ischemic complications after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in unselected patients. Background In randomized trials of PCI, major bleeding and periprocedural myocardial infarction (pMI) have been associated with increased mortality. Whether similar associations exist among un-selected PCI patients is unknown. Methods We used data from the EVENT (Evaluation of Drug Eluting Stents and Ischemic Events) registry—a multicenter registry of unselected patients undergoing PCI—to examine the association between both in-hospital bleeding and pMI and 1-year mortality. Cardiac enzyme levels were assessed in all patients, and pMI was defined as a peak creatine kinase-MB value ≥3× the upper limit of normal. Post-PCI bleeding was classified by Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction criteria. Results After excluding patients with elevated pre-PCI creatine kinase-MB values and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction at presentation (n = 1,626), a total of 5,961 patients were available for evaluation. Rates of post-PCI bleeding and pMI were 3.0% and 7.1%, respectively; 1-year all-cause mortality was 2.8%. After multivariable adjustment, both post-PCI bleeding (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 3.83, 95% confidence interval: 2.48 to 5.90, p Conclusions Among unselected PCI patients, both post-PCI bleeding and pMI are independently associated with increased 1-year mortality. Continued efforts to reduce these complications after PCI are warranted.
Distinguishing Tumor From Bland Portal Vein Thrombus in Liver Transplant Candidates With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: the A-VENA Criteria

Differentiating tumor versus bland portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is essential in determining liver transplantation (LT) candidacy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to evaluate radiographic and clinical features that could noninvasively distinguish tumor PVT from bland PVT in HCC patients. Of 467 patients with HCC listed for LT from 2004 to 2011, 59 (12.6%) had PVT and 12 of 59 (20.3%) were deemed malignant. When comparing tumor versus bland PVT, thrombus enhancement was seen in 100% versus 8.5%; venous expansion was seen in 91.7% versus 10.6%; neovascularity was seen in 58.3% versus 2.1%; and being adjacent to HCC or prior treatment site was seen in 100% versus 21.3% (all P 1000 ng/dL, the presence of ≥3 criteria best characterized tumor PVT with 100% sensitivity, 93.6% specificity, 80% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value. No LT recipients with presumed bland PVT had macrovascular invasion on explant. There were no differences in post-LT survival or HCC recurrence with bland PVT versus no PVT. In conclusion, we proposed noninvasive criteria that could accurately differentiate tumor PVT from bland PVT called A-VENA, which is based on the presence of ≥3 of the following: AFP >1000 ng/dL; venous expansion; thrombus enhancement; neovascularity; and adjacent to HCC. Use of the A-VENA criteria can assist in standardizing the evaluation of PVT in patients with HCC being considered for LT.
Immune-related adverse events are linked with improved progression-free survival in patients receiving anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.

Abstract Background Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are commonly encountered, when using programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand-1 (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) therapy and are often managed with corticosteroids. The effect of irAEs, particularly when steroids are required, on patient survival is not well established. Methods In this retrospective analysis, data for 157 patients with various tumor types treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy were obtained. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to assess the effect of irAEs and corticosteroids on progression-free survival (PFS). Results A total of 45 irAEs were recorded for 157 patients. Twenty-one patients received systemic corticosteroids. Patients who developed irAEs, as well as those who received systemic corticosteroids, had improved PFS by Kaplan–Meier estimate. Multivariate Cox regression showed that irAEs were associated with improved PFS (hazard ratio of 0.33, P Conclusions irAEs are associated with improved PFS in patients receiving anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. This association does not appear to be altered by the use of systemic corticosteroids.
‘F&#% autonomy’: Houellebecq, Submission, and Enlightenment’s ‘last dismaying dregs’

This article examines the evolution of Houellebecq’s treatment of History across the span of his novels. Focusing in particular on The Elementary Particles, The Map and the Territory, and Submissio...
Dietary Tomato, but Not Lycopene Supplementation, Impacts Molecular Outcomes of Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer in the TRAMP Model (P05-015-19)

The objective was to determine whether dietary tomato or lycopene supplementation impacted the expression of biomarkers associated with aggressive tumors and poorer prognostic outcomes in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice were castrated at 12 weeks of age to mimic the effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) leading to CRPC. Mice were separated into three dietary groups (n = 30/group) and fed powdered, modified AIN-93 G diets containing 10% tomato powder (TP), lycopene beadlets matched for lycopene content of TP (LYCO), or placebo beadlets (PLAC). Tumors were detected and monitored for growth by ultrasound scan. After 5 weeks of CRPC growth, mice were euthanized, and prostate and tumor tissues were collected. Histological analysis was used to identify presence of tumor neuroendocrine (NE) phenotype (by synaptophysin [syp] expression) and androgen receptor (AR) expression. ELISA and Western blot were used to quantify interleukin-6 (IL-6) and STAT3, and RT-PCR was used to measure downstream targets of both AR and STAT3. No differences were observed between AR expression or presence of the NE phenotype between dietary groups. However, lower tumor weight was associated with both AR and syp expression in mice fed TP. A positive correlation (P = 0.03) was observed between reduced tumor IL-6 (P = 0.012) and reduced phosphorylation (activation) of STAT3 (P = 0.017) in tumors of mice fed TP when compared to PLAC or LYCO. RNA analysis showed reduced expression of genes related to invasion (mmp-2; P = 0.006), cell proliferation (cdk1; P = 0.01), NE phenotype (ngfr; P = 0.001), and androgen metabolism (srd5a2; P = 0.03) in tumors of TP-fed mice. Physiological levels of dietary tomato, but not lycopene supplementation, reduced the expression of molecular biomarkers typically upregulated in CRPC tissues that are associated with tumor growth and metastasis. This research is supported by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health.
Consumer expectations and the macroeconomy

Abstract This Chapter provides an overview of the growing literature on eliciting and using subjective expectations data in economics. Expectations are a key component of any model of decision-making under uncertainty, and drive economic choices by agents in a broad variety of realms. They are also carefully monitored by practitioners, financial market participants, and policy-makers—for instance in the conduct of monetary policy. Economists have traditionally been reluctant to collect and use direct data on expectations. This has changed over the last three decades, with researchers increasingly collecting quantitative measures of subjective expectations and eliciting the entire subjective probability distribution over future outcomes for a variable of interest. Expectations data are consistent with basic rules of probability, are predictive of realized outcomes, and are informative in the sense of exhibiting patterns that are consistent with theory. Subjective expectations data can be integrated in the analysis of structural models of behavior, reducing model misspecification and allowing researchers to better construct counterfactual experiments.
Modeling Cell Communication with Time-Dependent Signaling Hypergraphs

Signaling pathways describe a group of molecules in a cell that collaborate to control one or more cell functions, such as cell division or cell death. The pathways communicate by sending signals between molecules, and this process is repeated until the terminal molecule is activated and the cell function is executed. Signaling pathways are often represented as directed graphs, which does not provide enough information when modeling cell functions and reactions. Recently, directed hypergraphs have been proposed to more accurately represent reactions such as protein activation and interaction. To further improve the representation of signaling pathways, time dependency must be considered to improve the representation of cell signaling at any given time. In this paper, the importance of time dependency in modeling signaling pathways is presented. An algorithm that finds the shortest a priori path using time-dependent hypergraphs to more robustly model signaling pathways is adopted. The shortest time-dependent hyperpaths representing signaling pathways are an improvement to the recent adoption of hypergraphs representing these pathways. The results display the improved representation of signaling pathways and motivate the adoption of time-dependent signaling hypergraphs.
Simulating the Blanchard Conjecture in a Multiperiod Life Cycle Model

In recent writings, Olivier Blanchard has suggested that when the safe rate on government debt is less that the economy's growth rate, additional deficit-financed US federal spending would come at no cost to any future generation and benefits to some. This paper studies this question in a ten-period OLG CGE model with aggregate risk, whose safe rate averages -2 percent annually and growth rate is 0. It shows that welfare losses to future generations resulting from the introduction of pay-go social security, financed with a 15 percent payroll tax, are roughly 20 percent measured as a compensating variation relative to no policy.
Differential rates of intravascular uptake and pain perception during lumbosacral epidural injection among adults using a 22-gauge needle versus 25-gauge needle: a randomized clinical trial

Inadvertent intravascular injection has been suggested as the most probable mechanism behind serious neurological complications during transforaminal epidural steroid injections. Authors believe a smaller gauge needle may lead to less intravascular uptake and less pain. Theoretically, there is less chance for a smaller gauge needle to encounter a blood vessel during an injection compared to a larger gauge needle. Studies have also shown smaller gauge needle to cause less pain. The aim of the study was to quantify the difference between a 22-gauge needle and 25-gauge needle during lumbosacral transforaminal epidural steroid injection in regards to intravascular uptake and pain perception. This was a prospective single blind randomized clinical trial performed at outpatient spine practice locations of two academic institutions. One hundred sixty-two consecutive patients undergoing lumbosacral transforaminal epidural injections from February 2018 to June 2019 were recruited and randomized to each arm of the study – 84 patients were randomized to the 22-gauge needle arm and 78 patients to 25-gauge arm. Each transforaminal injection level was considered a separate incidence, hence total number of incidence was 249 (136 in 22-gauge arm and 113 in 25-gauge arm). The primary outcome measure was intravascular uptake during live fluoroscopy and/or blood aspiration. The secondary outcome measure was patient reported pain during the procedure on the numerical rating scale. Fisher exact test was used to detect differences between 2 groups in regards to intravascular uptake and paired t-tests were used to detect differences in pain scores. The incidence of intravascular uptake for a 22-gauge needle was 5.9% (95% confidence interval: 1.9 to 9.8%) and for a 25-gauge needle, 7.1% (95% confidence interval: 2.4 to 11.8%) [p = 0.701]. Average numerical rating scale scores during the initial needle entry for 22-gauge and 25-gauge needle was 3.46 (95% confidence interval: 2.94 to 3.98) and 3.13 (95% confidence interval: 2.57 to 3.69) respectively [p = 0.375]. The study showed no statistically significant difference in intravascular uptake or pain perception between a 22-gauge needle and 25-gauge needle during lumbosacral transforaminal epidural steroid injections. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04350307. Registered 4/17/2020. (Retrospectively registered).