cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fracture and Ageing in Bone: Toughness and Structural Characterization

The development of a mechanistic understanding of the increase in fracture risk in human bone with age is essential to public health. This represents a challenge for fracture mechanics as bone has a complex, hierarchical structure with characteristic features ranging from nanometer to macroscopic dimensions, and is thus much more complex than most engineering materials. In this study, we review ex vivo fracture experiments which quantitatively assess the effect of age on human cortical bone in the proximal-distal orientation, i.e. along the long axis of the bone. Specifically, cortical bone is seen to exhibit rising crack-growth resistance with crack extension; the toughness is consequently evaluated in terms of R-curves, measured in bones taken from a wide range of age groups (34-99 years). Both crack-initiation and crack-growth toughnesses were determined and were found to deteriorate with age; the initiation toughness decreases some 40% over the 65 years of ageing, while growth toughness is effectively eliminated over the same age range. The reduction in crack-growth toughness is considered to be associated primarily with a degradation in the degree of extrinsic toughening, in particular involving crack bridging in the wake of the crack. This explanation is supported by an examination of the micro-/nanostructural changes accompanying the process of ageing, performed using deep-UV Raman spectroscopy, computed X-ray tomography and optical/ electron microscopy.
Natural-language interface for an instructable robot

This article is concerned with the problems of understanding the grammar and semantics of English as it would be used to instruct a robot. We describe a working prototype system, programmed in Standard LISP, which translates English sentences into an operator language and then executes them. Imperatives become actions that are performed while declaratives become assertions that are checked for truth. We describe the context-free grammar and parser that are the first stage of translation, the postparser that uses context-sensitive information to eliminate the many bad parses permitted by the context-free grammar, and the table-driven final stage of translation. We also describe the semantics of the operators and arguments, including the context-referent mechanisms we invented to construct loops rather than the artificial means (such as labels and goto, or begin-end pairs) usually employed in programming languages. Finally, we discuss the general question of designing systems which build new procedures out of already-known procedures in ways that are similar to how a human being is taught new procedures in terms of old procedures.
Comparison of Soil Organic Carbon Recovery by Walkley-Black and Dry Combustion Methods in the Russian Chernozem

This study compared soil organic carbon (SOC) recovery in the Russian Chernozem (a fine-silty, mixed, frigid Pachic Hapludoll) under four management regimes (native grassland, yearly-cut/grazed hay, continuous cropping, and continuously plowed fallow) and different depths by Walkley-Black and two dry combustion methods. The Walkley-Black method was different from both dry combustion methods and required a correction factor of 1.63 in all management regimes.
Assay of Thiotepa by PMR Spectrometry

A rapid (10 min.), accurate, and precise (SD = 0.6%) analytical method for thiotepa and thiotepa for injection involving PMR is described. The procedure, which was tested on two spectrometer models, employs an inexpensive solvent and internal standard and does not require preparative treatment.
Activation of the CRF1 receptor causes ERK1/2 mediated increase in GRK3 expression in CATH.a cells

G-protein coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3) mediates desensitization of alpha2-adrenergic (α2-AR) and CRF1 receptors. CRF1 receptors, α2-AR and GRK3, are localized to the primary source of noradrenergic inputs to higher brain centers critical in both the response to stress and the development of depression, namely, locus coeruleus (LC). This study utilizing CATH.a cells (derived from the LC), demonstrates for the first time, that the stress hormone, CRF selectively up-regulates GRK3 expression via an ERK1/2-mediated mechanism accompanied by the activation of Sp-1 and Ap-2 transcription factors. This observation has important implications for the regulation of stress signaling in the brain.
Cohesion and Gesture.

Discourse cohesion is viewed from the perspective of a speech/gesture synthesis. Based on narrative and conversational data, we present cross‐cultural evidence of cohesive elements marked by repetitive gestures that maintain continuity with respect to their location in space, the hand with which they are produced, and/or their form. The data show the joint contribution made by speech and gesture to the process of creating and maintaining discourse topics. It is claimed that an approach to discourse that focuses on events taking place at the moment of speaking, unlike approaches that assume the prior existence of planned discourse units, can account for the impact of speech and gesture on thought; for example, the execution of a gesture helps the speaker to track presupposed background information, and so provides a basis for the production of the communicatively dynamic part of an utterance. The proposed model of discourse production is a dialectic, in which gesture and speech provide interacting voices, ...
Load Transient Mitigation For Stand-alone Fuel Cell Power Generation Systems

Summary form only given. A load transient mitigation technique is proposed in this paper for stand-alone fuel cell-battery power systems. The technique can be used not only to improve the output power quality of the overall system, but also to mitigate or eliminate the electrical feedback stresses upon fuel cells caused by load transients. As a result, the durability of fuel cell can also be improved. System analysis and controller design procedure for the proposed technique are given in the paper. Simulation studies have been carried out for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) based power systems. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed technique in preventing load transients to affect fuel cell performance.
Anglo-American Interplay in Recent Drama

The provocative notion of a contemporary cross-cultural exchange within the medium of theatre is here imposed upon a dozen contemporary Anglo-American dramatists: Alan Ayckbourn and Neil Simon, Edward Bond and Sam Shepard, David Mamet and Harold Pinter, Caryl Churchill and Maria Irene Fornes, David Hare and David Rabe, Christopher Hampton and Richard Nelson. In each pairing, Ruby Cohn unites a British with an American playwright, exploring similarities both apparent and embedded - similarities which serve as a springboard for the exposure of a more profound, culturally based difference. A certain transatlantic double focus thus illuminates both the composition and the interpretation of dramatic works in an increasingly globally minded age.
Occurrence and Behavior of the Herbicide Prometon in the Hydrologic System

Prometon, a triazine herbicide, is used for total vegetation control on industrial sites, on noncrop areas on farms, in and under asphalt, and to a small extent by homeowners. Prometon has often been detected in surface water and groundwater in studies reported in the literature, but its presence is seldom discussed, partly because of its infrequent inclusion on lists of herbicides used in either agricultural or urban areas. In recent large-scale studies by the U.S. Geological Survey, prometon has been the most commonly detected herbicide in surface water and groundwater in urban areas and the third and fourth most commonly detected herbicide in groundwater and surface water, respectively, in agricultural areas. It also has been detected in rain. The frequent detection of prometon in the environment is discussed in relation to its use practices and predicted environmental behavior. Prometon is compared to atrazine, a structurally similar agricultural triazine herbicide that is one of the most studied and ...
Sexual, marital, and social impact of a man's perceived infertility diagnosis.

Introduction Male factor infertility is a relatively common problem. This diagnosis may increase sexual, marital, and relationship strain in male partners of infertile couples.
Domestic Partnership Benefits: Dispelling the Myths

This article provides personnel specialists with a framework for evaluating this new benefit issue. The first half of the article examines the economic, social, and political context that is shaping domestic partnership benefits. The second half evaluates the experience of local governments that have implemented these benefits.This evaluation will provide personnel specialists with some perspective on the equity of conventional benefit packages. It will dispel some of the myths surrounding the consequences of implementing such a controversial change.
Lithium, but not Valproate, Reduces Impulsive Choice in the Delay-Discounting Task in Mice

Both lithium and valproate are well-established treatments for bipolar disorder. Studies have also found that lithium is effective at reducing suicidal behaviors in patients with mood disorders. Impulsivity is a validated endophenotype of both bipolar disorder and suicidal behavior. We assessed effects of treatment with lithium or valproate on cognitive impulsivity in selectively bred mice previously shown to manifest relatively high levels of cognitive impulsivity. Mice were trained in the delay-discounting paradigm, a measure of cognitive impulsivity reflecting a behavioral bias towards immediacy, and then treated with lithium, valproate, or control chow. After 3 weeks of drug treatment, mice were tested at various delays to a large, delayed reward. Drug treatment continued during this time. Lithium reduced impulsivity, whereas valproate had no effect on choice behavior. Both drugs increased the number of choice trials and reinforcer intake, but effects on choice behavior did not depend on these motivational changes. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating lithium's effects to reduce cognitive impulsivity. Future studies may focus on the ability of putative pharmacotherapies for patients at risk for bipolar disorder or suicide to modify the impulsive choice dimension of this diseases.
Osteoblastoma of the thyroid cartilage treated with voice preserving laryngeal framework resection.

Objectives/Hypothesis Osteoblastoma is a slow-growing, locally destructive benign bone neoplasm, rarely occurring in the laryngeal cartilage. We present the case of a professional voice user diagnosed with laryngeal osteoblastoma after microdirect laryngoscopy and endoscopic biopsy. Her treatment required a unique operation, with elements of partial laryngectomy and maintenance of vital endolaryngeal soft tissues, in order to optimize vocal outcome. Laryngoscope, 123:1948–1951, 2013
Fast Implementation and Fair Comparison of the Final Candidates for Advanced Encryption Standard Using Field Programmable Gate Arrays

The results of fast implementations of all five AES final candidates using Virtex Xilinx Field Programmable Gate Arrays are presented and analyzed. Performance of several alternative hardware architectures is discussed and compared. One architecture optimum from the point of view of the throughput to area ratio is selected for each of the two major types of block cipher modes. For feedback cipher modes, all AES candidates have been implemented using the basic iterative architecture, and achieved speeds ranging from 61 Mbit/s for Mars to 431 Mbit/s for Serpent. For non-feedback cipher modes, four AES candidates have been implemented using a high-throughput architecture with pipelining inside and outside of cipher rounds, and achieved speeds ranging from 12.2 Gbit/s for Rijndael to 16.8 Gbit/s for Serpent. A new methodology for a fair comparison of the hardware performance of secret-key block ciphers has been developed and contrasted with methodology used by the NSA team.
Far-Infrared Polarimetry of Galactic Clouds from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory

In this paper we present a complete summary of the data obtained with the far-infrared polarimeter, Stokes, in flights of the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. We have observed 12 Galactic clouds and have made over 1100 individual measurements at 100 micrometer and 60 micrometer. The median P for all of the 60 micrometer and 100 micrometer measurements is 3.6% and 2.6% respectively. We also present flux maps obtained simultaneously with the polarimetry.
Prevention of allergic transfusion reactions to platelets and red blood cells through plasma reduction

BACKGROUND: The incidence of allergic transfusion reactions (ATRs) ranges from 1% to 3% of all transfusions, and they are difficult to prevent. This study evaluated whether removing plasma from apheresis platelets (APs) or red blood cells (RBCs) by concentrating or washing transfusion products can decrease the incidence of ATRs. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 179 individuals who received unmanipulated and subsequently concentrated and/or washed APs was conducted. Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations was used to estimate the incident rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of ATRs. RESULTS: The incidence of ATRs to unmanipulated APs was 5.5% (306 ATRs/5575 AP units). The incidence decreased to 1.7% (135 ATRs/4327 AP units) when individuals received concentrated APs (73% reduction; 95% CI, 65%-79%) and 0.5% (21 ATRs/4082 AP units) when individuals received washed APs (95% reduction; 95% CI, 91%-97%). Of the 39 individuals who received unmanipulated RBCs and subsequently washed RBCs, the incidence of ATRs decreased from 2.7% (33 ATRs/1236 RBC units) to 0.3% (2 ATRs/733 RBC units; 89.4% reduction; 95% CI, 55.5%-97.5%). The median number of AP transfusions to first ATR was six (interquartile range [IQR], 2-19) for unmanipulated APs and increased to 13 (IQR, 4-32) for concentrated APs and 40 (IQR, 29-73.5) for washed APs. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrating APs and washing APs and RBCs substantially reduces ATRs, suggesting that the plasma component of APs and RBCs has an essential role in the etiology of ATRs.
Fast-Fourier-transform based numerical integration method for the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction formula

The numerical calculation of the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral is investigated. The implementation of a fast-Fourier-transform (FFT) based direct integration (FFT-DI) method is presented, and Simpson's rule is used to improve the calculation accuracy. The sampling interval, the size of the computation window, and their influence on numerical accuracy and on computational complexity are discussed for the FFT-DI and the FFT-based angular spectrum (FFT-AS) methods. The performance of the FFT-DI method is verified by numerical simulation and compared with that of the FFT-AS method.
Subtyping Biothreat Bacterial Pathogens

The precise identification of bacterial pathogens requires both robust methodologies and comprehensive population sampling. Methods have been evolving rapidly as genomic analyses have become faster and less expensive. The holy grail of this science is a complete and accurate whole genome sequence for every isolate of a pathogen. This is still unobtainable although it is possible to forecast its arrival in a few years. In the meanwhile, a combination of whole genome sequencing coupled to molecular assay development will prevail, with economics dictating the balance between the two. The best methods, however, are meaningless without the context of a population genetic database. All the genetic information about a single infective agent is much more valuable when compared to additional genomes. Ideally, genetic databases should be representative of the natural geographic, temporal and genetic distribution of the pathogen. Because of the plethora of different genotyping methodologies, it is also critical that methods employed in an investigation target information that is compatible with database content. It is also critical that the analysis of samples for both investigative and prior genetic databases be performed at a very high quality level. Erroneous results in an investigation will result in a false conclusion, but equally problematic are database errors that cloud the interpretation of results. Subtyping each biothreat pathogen is a unique exercise due to differences in biology, evolution and genome characteristics, so the population genetic structure and confidence statistics must be determined for each pathogen. The use of these methods and concepts for the study of natural outbreaks is an ideal way to train investigative teams and refine methods while building population genetic databases that are essential for epidemiological investigations.
Ethanol fermentation of crude acid hydrolyzate of cellulose using high-level yeast inocula

High-level yeast inocula was investigated as a means of overcoming the toxicity problem in ethanol fermentation of acid hydrolyzate of wood cellulose. When the inoculum level exceeded 10(8) initial cells/mL, 50% of the yeast cells survived the initial cell death period during which furfural and HMF were depleted. The fermentation thus proceeded to completion by virtue of cell regrowth. The specific ethanol productivity in batch fermentation on the basis of viable cells was comparable to that of pure glucose fermentation. Continuous fermentation with cell recycle was superior to batch fermentation in that there was no overall cell decline and the ethanol yield was substantially higher. The maximum ethanol productivity in continuous fermentation was 4.9 g/L h and it occurred at a dilution rate of 0.24 hr(-1).
Moving university hydrology education forward with community-based geoinformatics, data and modeling resources

In this opinion paper, we review recent literature related to data and modeling driven instruction in hydrology, and present our findings from surveying the hydrology education community in the United States. This paper presents an argument that that data and modeling driven geoscience cybereducation (DMDGC) approaches are essential for teaching the conceptual and applied aspects of hydrology, as a part of the broader effort to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at the university level. The authors have undertaken a series of surveys and a workshop involving university hydrology educators to determine the state of the practice of DMDGC approaches to hydrology. We identify the most common tools and approaches currently utilized, quantify the extent of the adoption of DMDGC approaches in the university hydrology classroom, and explain the community's views on the challenges and barriers preventing DMDGC approaches from wider use. DMDGC approaches are currently emphasized at the graduate level of the curriculum, and only the most basic modeling and visualization tools are in widespread use. The community identifies the greatest barriers to greater adoption as a lack of access to easily adoptable curriculum materials and a lack of time and training to learn constantly changing tools and methods. The community's current consensus is that DMDGC approaches should emphasize conceptual learning, and should be used to complement rather than replace lecture-based pedagogies. Inadequate online material publication and sharing systems, and a lack of incentives for faculty to develop and publish materials via such systems, is also identified as a challenge. Based on these findings, we suggest that a number of steps should be taken by the community to develop the potential of DMDGC in university hydrology education, including formal development and assessment of curriculum materials, integrating lecture-format and DMDGC approaches, incentivizing the publication by faculty of excellent DMDGC curriculum materials, and implementing the publication and dissemination cyberinfrastructure necessary to support the unique DMDGC digital curriculum materials.
Incomplete Internalization and Compliance with Human Rights Law: A Rejoinder to Roda Mushkat

In previous work, we have urged elaboration of theoretical models of how and when international human rights law infl uences state practice. More specifi cally, we have argued that acculturation is a distinct mechanism by which international human rights law infl uences states and that the distinctive features of acculturation might inform legal regime design in a variety of ways. In this brief essay, we have the pleasure of responding to Professor Roda Mushkat’s thoughtful refl ections on our work. 1
A new experimental setup for the characterization of bulk mechanical properties of aerated particulate systems

This study introduces the development of a new experimental setup using an enhanced triaxial tester and a new methodology for the characterization of fine particulate systems in an aerated condition. Tests were performed using the new setup to study the effects of aeration on two different powders: a highly cohesive precompacted powder and a cohesionless powder, the former being microcrystalline cellulose PH-102, mean particle size 90 w m, and the latter alumina powder, mean particle size 100 µm. The degree of aeration was small and it was of the same order of magnitude as the velocities encountered during the entrapment of air in filling and during other handling processes. The superficial velocity for aeration was about three orders of magnitude lower than that required for fluidization. The immediate results have shown that even a small amount of interstitial air has a dramatic effect on the quasi-static strength and an obvious effect on the elastic parameters of the powder. The quasi-static strength o...
Looking smart versus playing dumb in common-value auctions

I compare the value of information acquired secretly with information acquired openly prior to a first-price common-value auction. Novel information (information which is independent of the other bidder’s private information) is more valuable when learned openly, but redundant information (information the other bidder already has) is more valuable when learned covertly. In a dynamic game where a bidder can credibly signal he is well-informed without disclosing the content of his information, always signaling having novel information, and never signaling having redundant information, is consistent with (but not uniquely predicted by) equilibrium play. Full revelation of any information possessed by the seller increases expected revenue and is uniquely predicted in equilibrium.
Asthma in the elderly: a study of the role of vitamin D

Background Asthma in the elderly is poorly understood and vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are very common in older individuals. We studied the role of vitamin D in elderly asthmatics.
Parallel arithmetic: from algebra to architecture

A demonstration of how to use the mathematical properties of available algebraic theory for developing optimized computations on efficient architectures is presented. A systematic description of the theoretical concepts of the algebra of surrogate fields that constitute the foundations of quadratic residue arithmetic is presented. Using the properties of the quadratic residue number system for developing complex digital signal-processing architectures is explained through the design of a fast Fourier transform processor. >
Centripetal Localization of Tooth and Tongue Tension Receptors

Potentials evoked from proprioceptors of the jaws, teeth, and tongue were recorded from the trigeminal mesencephalic nuclei. The jaw movement receptors responded in 65%, the tooth receptors in 35%, and the tongue receptors in 29% of the loci tested. The loci of the tongue receptors were bimodally distributed in the nucleus.
Central visual system of the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)

Naked mole-rats are fossorial rodents native to eastern Africa that spend their lives in extensive subterranean burrows where visual cues are poor. Not surprisingly, they have a degenerated eye and optic nerve, suggesting they have poor visual abilities. However, little is known about their central visual system. To investigate the organization of their central visual system, we injected a neuronal tracer into the eyes of naked mole-rats and mice to compare the neural structures mediating vision. We found that the superior colliculus and lateral geniculate nucleus were severely atrophied in the naked mole-rat. The olivary pretectal nucleus was reduced but still retained its characteristic morphology, possibly indicating a role in light detection. In addition, the suprachiasmatic nucleus is well innervated and resembles the same structure in other rodents. The naked mole-rat appears to have selectively lost structures that mediate form vision while retaining structures needed for minimal entrainment of circadian rhythms. Similar results have been reported for other mole-rat species. Taken together, these data suggest that light detection may still play an important role in the lives of these "blind" animals: most likely for circadian entrainment or setting seasonal rhythms.
A conductive polymer sensor for the measurement of palmar pressures

A conductive polymer pressure sensor for use in measuring palmar pressures has been investigated. The sensor will be used in a sensory substitution system consisting of a glove with inlaid pressure sensors and an electrotactile stimulator. The criteria for the sensor, which led to the selection of the Interlink sensor, are outlined. Encasing the sensor in silicone rubber provides a durable means of attachment to the hand while maintaining dexterity. Initial results obtained using a pneumatic calibrator are described. They indicate that the sensor will be useful in characterizing hand pressures. Results of performance tests are reported. >
A Method for Judicious Fusion of Inconsistent Multiple Sensor Data

One of the major problems in sensor fusion is that sensors frequently provide spurious observations which are difficult to predict and model. The spurious measurements from sensors must be identified and eliminated since their incorporation in the fusion pool might lead to inaccurate estimation. This paper presents a unified sensor fusion strategy based on a modified Bayesian approach that can automatically identify the inconsistency in sensor measurements so that the spurious measurements can be eliminated from the data fusion process. The proposed method adds a term to the commonly used Bayesian formulation. This term is an estimate of the probability that the data is not spurious, based upon the measured data and the unknown value of the true state. In fusing two measurements, it has the effect of increasing the variance of the posterior distribution when measurement from one of the sensors is inconsistent with respect to the other. The increase or decrease in variance can be estimated using the information theoretic measure "entropy." The proposed strategy was verified with the help of extensive computations performed on simulated data from three sensors. A comparison was made between two different fusion schemes: centralized fusion in which data obtained from all sensors were fused simultaneously, and a decentralized or sequential Bayesian scheme that proved useful for identifying and eliminating spurious data from the fusion process. The simulations verified that the proposed strategy was able to identify spurious sensor measurements and eliminate them from the fusion process, thus leading to a better overall estimate of the true state. The proposed strategy was also validated with the help of experiments performed using stereo vision cameras, one infrared proximity sensor, and one laser proximity sensor. The information from these three sensing sources was fused to obtain an occupancy profile of the robotic workspace
Frequency and distribution of NF2 mutations in schwannomas

Sporadic and inherited schwannomas were scanned for the nature, frequency, and distribution of mutations in the NF2 locus encoding the merlin tumor suppressor protein on 22q. Of 58 tumors, 47% displayed loss of heterozygosity for NF2, leaving a total of 89 NF2 alleles to be examined. Pathogenic alterations were identified in 62 of these alleles, including 36 frameshifts with premature termination, 14 nonsense mutations, and 12 changes presumed to affect splicing. Effects of ten of the latter were confirmed in the NF2 transcript and indicated that activation of cryptic splice sites in coding sequence is another frequent mechanism leading to truncation of merlin. The mutations were relatively evenly distributed across both the protein 4.1 superfamily (exons 1–9) and the α-helical (exons 10–15) domains of merlin, but they did not occur at all in exons 16 and 17, which encode the protein's alternative COOH-termini. The data support the “two-hit” tumor suppressor model for formation of schwannomas and indicate that loss of merlin function can be achieved by truncation at various locations in the protein. However, the absence of mutations in exons 16 and 17 suggests that an inactivating mutation affecting only one of the merlin's alternative termini may not be sufficient to eliminate tumor suppressor function. Genes Chromosom Cancer 17:45–55 (1996). © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Infectious hepatitis (homologous serum type) in drug addicts.

Summary Twenty-three patients with infectious hepatitis (homologous serum type) which occurred among heroin addicts, predominantly of school age, are reported. Epidemiological evidence indicated that the disease was contracted and spread among this group by means of contaminated syringes and needles. The medical, public health and socio-economic problems associated with this disease among narcotic addicts are stressed.
Conventional Efficiency Concepts and their Managerial Limitations

Conventional concepts of technical efficiency (productivity) and allocative efficiency are discussed in this chapter. The basic concepts of technical efficiencies, allocative efficiencies, and technical change are reviewed in detail. Three main approaches to productivity measurement are discussed: (a) The Index Approach; (b) The Programming Approach; and (c) The Econometric Approach. The relative merits and limitations of these approaches are assessed.
Xanthine dehydrogenase is transported to the drosophila eye

The rosy (ry) locus in Drosophila melanogaster codes for the enzyme xanthine dehydrogenase. Mutants that have no enzyme activity are characterized by a brownish eye color phenotype reflecting a deficiency in the red eye pigment. This report demonstrates that enzyme which is synthesized in some tissue other than the eye is transported and sequestered at the eye. Previous studies find that no leader sequence is associated with this molecule but a peroxisomal targeting sequence has been noted, and the enzyme has been localized to peroxisomes. This represents a rare example of an enzyme involved in intermediary metabolism being transported from one tissue to another and may also be the first example of a peroxisomal protein being secreted from a cell.
Superfield Perturbation Theory

This is a review of recent work which uses superfield Feynman diagrams to carry out loop calculations in supersymmetric models. I summarize the status of a calculation to compute the 3-loop s-function in 0(4) Yang-Mills theory, describe a calculation in the much simpler Wess-Zumino model, and discuss the calculation of anomalies.
Metastatic ductal carcinoma of the breast to the thyroid gland diagnosed with fine needle aspiration: A case report with emphasis on morphologic and immunophenotypic features

Metastases to the thyroid are uncommon [<0.2% of thyroid fine needle aspirations (FNA)]. Of metastases to the thyroid, breast carcinoma is relatively common. The diagnosis of metastasis to the thyroid has important therapeutic and prognostic implications. To our knowledge, a morphologic and immunophenotypic comparison of metastatic ductal carcinoma of the breast and primary thyroid carcinomas has not been reported. Here, we report the case of a 37-year-old female with a history of metastatic ductal carcinoma of the breast (modified Bloom-Richardson grade 2; ER+, PgR+, HER2+) diagnosed 6 years prior. She developed hoarseness, prompting a CT scan. Multiple thyroid nodules were found, including a 1.5 cm hypoechoic, solid, irregularly-shaped nodule. On FNA, cells were arranged singly and in crowded groups, varied in size and degree of pleomorphism, and exhibited rare nuclear grooves, inconspicuous nucleoli, and rare intracytoplasmic lumina with no nuclear pseudoinclusions or colloid (Figs. 1A and B). These findings raised the differential of papillary thyroid carcinoma (Fig. 1C), follicular neoplasm (Fig. 1D), medullary carcinoma (Fig. 1E), parathyroid (Fig. 1F), and metastatic breast carcinoma. Immunostaining for GATA-3 (+), ER (+), PAX-8 (-), and TTF-1 (-) was consistent with metastatic breast carcinoma (Fig. 2). We conclude that metastatic breast carcinoma to the thyroid may morphologically mimic primary thyroid carcinoma on FNA; a panel of immunomarkers, such as GATA-3, hormonal marker(s), PAX-8, and TTF-1, may be useful in some cases. GATA-3 immunostaining for metastatic breast carcinoma was helpful in our case and has not been previously reported in a thyroid metastasis sampled by FNA. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:530-534. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
No place to stand : Jonathan Z. Smith as Homo ludens, the academic study of religion Sub specie ludi

Jonathan Smith apporte une contribution d'abord dans le domaine de la critique de l'etude de la religion et ensuite dans son approche du phenomene religieux sous l'angle du jeu. Dans la pensee de Smith, ce sont plusieurs paires qui jouent les unes contre les autres: des entites juxtaposees pour la comparaison, les phases de deconstruction et de reconstruction, l'etude du phenomene religieux et l'analyse consciente de la methode universitaire, le sujet et l'objet de l'entreprise. Comme forme essentielle de l'activite religieuse, le rituel a particulierement retenu l'attention de Smith
The effect of estrogen on muscle damage biomarkers following prolonged aerobic exercise in eumenorrheic women

This study assessed the influence of estrogen (E2) on muscle damage biomarkers [skeletal muscle - creatine kinase (CK); cardiac muscle - CK-MB] responses to prolonged aerobic exercise. Eumenorrheic women (n=10) who were physically active completed two 60-minute treadmill running sessions at ∼60-65% maximal intensity during low E2 (midfollicular menstrual phase) and high E2 (midluteal menstrual phase) hormonal conditions. Blood samples were collected prior to exercise (following supine rest), immediately post-, 30 min post-, and 24 hours post-exercise to determine changes in muscle biomarkers. Resting blood samples confirmed appropriate E2 hormonal levels Total CK concentrations increased following exercise and at 24 hours post-exercise were higher in the midfollicular low E2 phase (p<0.001). However, CK-MB concentrations were unaffected by E2 level or exercise (p=0.442) resulting in the ratio of CK-MB to total CK being consistently low in subject responses (i.e., indicative of skeletal muscle damage). Elevated E2 levels reduce the CK responses of skeletal muscle, but had no effect on CK-MB responses following prolonged aerobic exercise. These findings support earlier work showing elevated E2 is protective of skeletal muscle from exercise-induced damage associated with prolonged aerobic exercise.
Acute glomerulonephritis. Diagnosis and treatment.

Immune complex injury is the primary nephritogenic mechanism responsible for most cases of acute glomerulonephritis. This article describes the characteristic features of well-established examples of immune complex–mediated glomerular injury. Discussed are epidemiology, streptococcal infection, laboratory findings, prevention and treatment, and course and prognosis of acute glomerulonephritis.
Vitamin D and the Kidney: Introduction and Historical Perspective

Abstract This chapter outlines historical aspects of vitamin D and introduces vitamin D's role in renal disease. The observation that patients with renal dysfunction had abnormalities in calcium regulation was central to invoking a role for vitamin D deficiency in patients with kidney failure. Oral treatment with calcitriol resulted in partial improvement of hypocalcemia. However, it was discovered that vitamin D could directly suppress parathyroid hormone (PTH) synthesis. Oral calcitriol may not reach the parathyroid gland due to intestinal degradation. Administration of intravenous calcitriol has been more effective in suppressing PTH in dialysis patients. There is observational evidence that compared to the oral form, intravenous calcitriol confers better survival in dialysis patients, but at present there is no rigorous data from randomized controlled trials to support improvement in clinical outcomes such as mortality by administration of calcitriol or any other active vitamin D analogs.
Signet-ring cell variant of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast: A clinicopathologic study of 11 cases

Abstract In signet-ring cell carcinoma of the breast, which was recognized in 1976 as a distinct clinicopathologic variant of lobular carcinoma, more than 20% of the malignant cells appear as signet rings formed by mucin-positive intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Several recent studies have demonstrated that the neoplasm behaves aggressively and is associated with a poor prognosis. However, the literature lacks information concerning steroid hormone receptor assays and DNA ploidy profiles, especially regarding how these tests affect a patient's prognosis. During a 5-year period (1985 to 1990), 11 (8.7%) of 126 cases of invasive lobular carcinoma met the criteria for signet-ring cell carcinoma. Ten of 11 cases were positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors; six cases showed type I and five showed type III DNA histograms. The high incidence of positive hormone receptors is significant: patients with receptor positive tumors, even those with type III DNA histograms, who were treated with tamoxifen citrate therapy after surgery had a significant increase in disease-free survival (30 months). Both the pathologist and the clinician should be aware of the prognostic influence of hormone receptor studies in the management of signet-ring cell carcinoma of the breast.
Immunoscreening λgtll Recombinant DNA Expression Libraries

Most strategies used to isolate genes from recombinant DNA libraries have employed nucleic acid probes (1,2). Genes can also be identified and isolated through the use of antibody probes of the antigen(s) expressed by specific genes (3). This manuscript reviews the observations which led to the development of a system for efficient gene isolation using antibody probes, includes protocols for constructing and screening λgtll recombinant DNA expression libraries and describes strategies which can be used to confirm gene identity.
Eliot Spitzer: "The People's Lawyer"

Corruption at the highest levels of government and business has led news reports around the world in these early years of the new century. In this environment, the identification of individuals who adhere to high ethical standards is particularly useful for guidance in ethical decision-making. This profile examines whether Eliot Spitzer, New York State attorney general, has become an ethical role model by prosecuting criminal behavior in the business sector. The article looks at four of Spitzer's most controversial investigations: gun control, acid rain, Wall Street financial manipulations, and garment-industry organized crime. These cases have earned Spitzer praise for protecting the interests of the average citizen against business, as well as criticism for overstepping his jurisdiction and trying cases in the media. The discussion concludes that exemplars need not, indeed cannot, be perfect to accomplish a great deal.
Binary coherent edge descriptors

Patch descriptors are used for a variety of tasks ranging from finding corresponding points across images, to describing object category parts. In this paper, we propose an image patch descriptor based on edge position, orientation and local linear length. Unlike previous works using histograms of gradients, our descriptor does not encode relative gradient magnitudes. Our approach locally normalizes the patch gradients to remove relative gradient information, followed by orientation dependent binning. Finally, the edge histogram is binarized to encode edge locations, orientations and lengths. Two additional extensions are proposed for fast PCA dimensionality reduction, and a min-hash approach for fast patch retrieval. Our algorithm produces state-of-the-art results on previously published object instance patch data sets, as well as a new patch data set modeling intra-category appearance variations.
Does manual therapy improve pain and function in patients with plantar fasciitis? A systematic review.

Objective: To assess if manual therapy (MT) in the treatment of plantar fasciitis (PF) patients improves pain and function more effectively than other interventions.Methods: A systematic review of ...
Mutant nucleophosmin1 (NPM1) Links Protein Translation with Oncogenic Metabolism in Leukemia

Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) is the most common gene mutated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Several putative mechanisms for the role of NPM1 in the generation of AML have been proposed, including acting as a tumor suppressor by promoting the degradation of p53 and sequestration of wild-type NPM1. However, the specificity of the mutation- most commonly a 4 base pair duplication in the C-terminus- suggests that it may be a gain- of- function mutation conferring an unidentified pro-leukemic effect. Using a novel set of leukemia cell lines generated with CRISPR/Cas9 technology in combination with studies in primary hematopoietic cells, we show that mutant NPM1 may promote leukemia by deregulating protein translation with downstream effects on cellular metabolism. Thus, mutant NPM1 may serve as a critical lynchpin to match metabolic precursors and cellular energetics to ribosomal output. The implications of our results suggest that combined metabolic and protein translation inhibition may be a previously unidentified vulnerability in AML with mutated NPM1. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to generate a set of isogenic cell lines derived from the heterozygous OCI-AML3 line. Transcriptomic analysis of clones with either parental allele configuration (wild-type and mutant, WTAM) vs. inactivation of the mutant allele (wild-type only, WTO) confirmed that mutant NPM1 regulates HOX genes, as shown in both mouse models and patient samples. Next, the effects of mutant NPM1 on ribosome biogenesis and protein translation were assayed with pulse- chase and static experiments and showed both ribosomal RNA and protein translation were increased in WTAM clones vs. WTO clones. During these investigations, cell size was noted to be increased in WTAM cells. Cell size can be a consequence of the metabolic activity of a cell. Analysis of the rate of glucose consumption and lactate production showed that WTAM cells have increased aerobic glycolysis compared with WTO cells. To test if mutant NPM1 is sufficient to drive both protein translation and aerobic glycolysis in a normal cell, these studies were replicated in normal human hematopoietic stem cells stably expressing either wild-type NPM1 or mutant NPM1. In summary, our results suggest that mutant NPM1 acts through dysregulation of protein translation and participates in metabolic reprogramming required to drive oncogenic transformation. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Cavity Quantum Acoustic Device in the Multimode Strong Coupling Regime.

We demonstrate an acoustical analog of a circuit quantum electrodynamics system that leverages acoustic properties to enable strong multimode coupling in the dispersive regime while suppressing spontaneous emission to unconfined modes. Specifically, we fabricate and characterize a device that comprises a flux tunable transmon coupled to a $300\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ long surface acoustic wave resonator. For some modes, the qubit-cavity coupling reaches 6.5 MHz, exceeding the cavity loss rate (200 kHz), qubit linewidth (1.1 MHz), and the cavity free spectral range (4.8 MHz), placing the device in both the strong coupling and strong multimode regimes. With the qubit detuned from the confined modes of the cavity, we observe that the qubit linewidth strongly depends on its frequency, as expected for spontaneous emission of phonons, and we identify operating frequencies where this emission rate is suppressed.
Infection & neoplastic growth 101: the required reading for microbial pathogens aspiring to cause cancer.

The role of infectious agents in the development of cancer is well-established. For example, numerous RNA and DNA viruses express dedicated oncoproteins that are able to transform cells in vitro and induce rapid tumor formation in experimental animals. Curiously, these acutely-transforming viruses are seldom associated with naturally occurring neoplasms of humans or animals. Conversely, the microbial pathogens that are linked to cancers in natural hosts rarely encode acutely transforming proteins. Moreover, they tend to down-regulate most of their genes except for genes affecting cell survival, often via the NF-κB pathway. This allows the pre-neoplastic cell to avoid triggering cytotoxic immunity and the ensuing acute inflammation. These host responses not only kill tumor cells directly, but also strongly suppress the development of new blood vessels (neovascularization), which is absolutely essential for neoplastic growth. Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, promotes neoplastic cell growth and may even be conducive to neovascularization. Thus, cancer-associated microbial pathogens must follow the “less is more” principle. According to this principle, only minor perturbations in cell proliferation and death are tolerated by the host, but in the long run, they are all that is necessary for tumorigenesis.
Prehospital Modified HEART Score Predictive of 30-Day Adverse Cardiac Events.

Introduction The History, Electrocardiogram (ECG), Age, Risk Factors, and Troponin (HEART) score is a decision aid designed to risk stratify emergency department (ED) patients with acute chest pain. It has been validated for ED use, but it has yet to be evaluated in a prehospital setting. Hypothesis A prehospital modified HEART score can predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE) among undifferentiated chest pain patients transported to the ED. Methods A retrospective cohort study of patients with chest pain transported by two county-based Emergency Medical Service (EMS) agencies to a tertiary care center was conducted. Adults without ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were included. Inter-facility transfers and those without a prehospital 12-lead ECG or an ED troponin measurement were excluded. Modified HEART scores were calculated by study investigators using a standardized data collection tool for each patient. All MACE (death, myocardial infarction [MI], or coronary revascularization) were determined by record review at 30 days. The sensitivity and negative predictive values (NPVs) for MACE at 30 days were calculated. Results Over the study period, 794 patients met inclusion criteria. A MACE at 30 days was present in 10.7% (85/794) of patients with 12 deaths (1.5%), 66 MIs (8.3%), and 12 coronary revascularizations without MI (1.5%). The modified HEART score identified 33.2% (264/794) of patients as low risk. Among low-risk patients, 1.9% (5/264) had MACE (two MIs and three revascularizations without MI). The sensitivity and NPV for 30-day MACE was 94.1% (95% CI, 86.8-98.1) and 98.1% (95% CI, 95.6-99.4), respectively. Conclusions Prehospital modified HEART scores have a high NPV for MACE at 30 days. A study in which prehospital providers prospectively apply this decision aid is warranted. Stopyra JP , Harper WS , Higgins TJ , Prokesova JV , Winslow JE , Nelson RD , Alson RL , Davis CA , Russell GB , Miller CD , Mahler SA . Prehospital modified HEART score predictive of 30-day adverse cardiac events. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(1):58-62.