cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Navigating the Disability Process: Persons with Mental Disorders Applying for and Receiving Disability Benefits

Persons with mental disorders are less likely to be working and more likely to apply for and receive SSDI and/or SSI benefits than are those without such disorders. Data from the National Health Interview Survey on Disability (NHIS-D) were examined to identify the predictors of SSDI/SSI application and receipt among persons with self-reported mental disorders. Compared with nonapplicants, applicants had higher levels of disability, fewer financial and interpersonal resources, and better access to information about the disability programs. Among applicants, similar factors distinguished recipients from those who did not receive benefits. Navigating the disability process is associated with the extent of impairment, economic and social disadvantage, and linkage to the disability determination process.
Distribution of immunoreactive substance P in opossum esophagus.

We localized immunoreactive substance P and measured its content throughout the opossum esophagus. Substance P-like immunoreactive nerve fibers were more abundant in muscularis mucosae than in the longitudinal smooth muscle layer and more abundant in the latter than in the circular smooth muscle layer. The distribution of substance P-like immunoreactive nerve fibers in the circular muscle layer of the esophagogastric junction was comparable to that of the esophageal body. Immunoreactive fibers were also found on and in arteries, submucosal glands, and epithelium, but none were seen in striated muscle. Both the myenteric and submucous plexuses contained substance P-like immunoreactive nerve cell bodies and processes. In the muscularis propria, the content of substance P-like immunoreactive peptide (pg/mg protein, ¯X±1 SE) in the smooth muscle region of the esophageal body (5.9 ±0.6) exceeded that in the striated muscle region (2.5 ±0.2) and at the esophagogastric junction (1.8±0.5), but the latter two values were similar (P 0.05) from that of the striated-muscle region (5.9±1.0). The broad distribution and diversity of immunoreactive structures suggest that substance P may have both sensory and motor functions in the esophagus.
Trauma as a metaphor: the politics of psychotherapy after September 11

This paper explores the links between mental health practice and politics by examining the implications of turning persons harmed by an act of mass violence into patients with psychiatric disorders, and of prescribing psychotherapy to treat reactions to terrorism. It first considers the interpretative aspects of diagnosis, the social and political implications of particular diagnostic categories, the history of PTSD, and the phenomenon of medicalization. It then looks at the ways psychotherapists privatize social and political experience by emphasizing the personal consequences of community catastrophes, and by helping individuals transform collective history into personal narratives. In closing, it asks whether mental health discourses depoliticize experience, thereby discouraging political engagement and the development of political consciousness. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
18p- SYNDROME: CLINICIANS FANTASY

Since the advent of banding techniques, more than one hundred syndromes have been described based on just chromosomal abnormalities. In the majority of those cases a specific chromosomal abnormality could not be suggested by physical examination alone. However, after cytogenetic evaluation was completed, new syndromes were discovered. The 18p- syndrome is one such example whose clinical manifestations are so heterogeneious that by simply examining the patient, the abnormality of chromosome 18 was not even suspected. In fact, our patient was referred for cytogenetic evaluation to rule out Turner syndrome. The major clinical features included: mental and growth retardation, a few dysmorphic facial features, protruding ears, low hair line in the back, severe dental caries and behavioral problems. This is the first reported case of psychosis in this type of genetic abnormality. Primary and secondary amenorrhea are most frequently reported, however, our case had normal sexual development and normal menstruation. After reviewing the current literature, we concluded that it is impossible to establish a 18p- syndrome without chromosomal analysis.
Ciliogenesis during the sequential formation of molluscan gill filaments.

Abstract The gill ctenidium growth tip of the lamellibranch mollusc Aequipecten irradians recapitulates the temporal development of ciliated gill filaments and related structures in a spatial fashion. This “meristematic” relationship has allowed a study of basal body formation and ciliogenesis in adjacent cells of gill filament papillae at stages of progressively more advanced relative development. Basal bodies appear to originate quite rapidly, subsequent to the appearance of a complex of dense granules, quite reminiscent of the “condensation forms” or “procentriole precursors” typically seen in vertebrate ciliogenesis. Unlike basal body generation in higher forms, that in Aequipecten shows no obvious organized intermediate stages. During ciliation, randomly-oriented, nearly complete procentrioles are found concomitantly with actively-functioning basal bodies. Cilia formation in more advanced, already-ciliated cells is again preceded by the presence of granular complexes. Ciliogenesis in this mollusc thus shares with certain lower forms the property of very rapid basal body formation but, like many higher forms, it is preceded by the formation of a granular precursor complex, presumably consisting of particulate microtubule protein.
Fibrin sealant for the management of genitourinary injuries, fistulas and surgical complications.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We report our preliminary experience with the use of fibrin sealant to manage iatrogenic urinary tract injuries, complex urinary fistulas, and urological surgical complications.Materials and Methods: Topical fibrin sealant was used in 19 patients for iatrogenic urinary tract injury during gynecological or general surgical procedures (7), complex urinary fistulas (5) or urological surgical complications (7).Results: Successful resolution of the injury, fistula or complication was attained after a single application of fibrin sealant in the 18 patients (94.7%) in whom a direct injection technique was used. The only failure (formation of a vesicovaginal fistula) occurred with the air driven sprayed sealant delivery technique after sutured closure of iatrogenic cystotomy during vaginal hysterectomy.Conclusions: Liquid fibrin sealant appears to be safe and prudent for use in urological “damage control” from trauma, fistulas or surgical complications. Direct injection over a sutured urinary ana...
Effects of Reducing Gas on Swelling and Iron Whisker Formation during the Reduction of Iron Oxide Compact

The effects of different types of reducing gas on swelling and iron whisker formation during the reduction of iron oxide compacts were investigated. The compacts sintered in air at 1273 K were reduced at 1173 K in different reducing atmospheres. The results indicated that catastrophic swelling can happen in CO but not when H2 is present in the reducing gas mixture. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs showed that catastrophic swelling was caused by a large amount of long iron whiskers formed during the reduction. The presence of N2 and CO2 in CO changed the amount of long iron whiskers and its distribution, which determined the extent of swelling.
Electron microscope image contrast with double beam illumination from crystal supports

SUMMARY When a cluster of atoms on the bottom side of a crystal is viewed in the vicinity of a bend contour, a double image of the cluster is formed. The crystal acts as a beam splitter so that an object on the bottom of the crystal is illuminated by two coherent but non-parallel electron waves. The possibility of using double beam illumination to enhance the contrast of amorphous phase objects is discussed. Experimental results are presented for the image contrast of clusters formed by evaporating gold and aluminium on to the bottom side of graphite and silicon crystals.
Neglect in a patient with multiple sclerosis.

We report a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) who developed left-sided neglect. Although MS is commonly associated with mental status changes, we believe that this is the first reported case of hem
Effect of inhomogeneities on dynamic crack growth in an elastic solid

The role of toughness inhomogeneities on crack branching and on limiting crack growth speeds in isotropic elastic solids is analysed using a framework where the continuum is characterized by two constitutive relations; one relates stress and strain in the bulk material, the other relates the traction and separation across a specified set of cohesive surfaces. The cohesive parameters include a strength and the work of separation per unit area so that, from dimensional considerations, a characteristic length enters the formulation. Crack initiation and crack growth emerge naturally as outcomes of the imposed loading, without any ad hoc assumptions concerning crack growth or crack path selection criteria. Full transient analyses are carried out for a plane strain block with an initial central crack subject to tensile loading. The inhomogeneities have the form of spatially nonuniform distributions of cohesive strength. The amplitude, size and density of the inhomogeneities are varied. Inhomogeneities are found to promote deviations from a straight crack growth path to a wavy or zig-zag path and to lead to the onset of crack speed oscillations at a lower crack speed, but they tend to increase the amount of crack growth preceding the onset of crack branching. However, many of the main qualitative features of the crack growth behaviour, such as crack speed oscillations, crack branching and the limiting crack speed, are the same as for homogeneous solids.
Do the contingencies of external monitoring, ownership incentives, or free cash flow explain opposing firm performance expectations?

Neoclassical and strategy frameworks stipulate that managers promote corporate performance and shareholder interests in their resource allocation decisions. Agency related works anticipate that executives seek their own personal interests at a cost to performance and shareholder wealth in their resource allocation choices. In this study, an attempt is made to resolve these conflicting anticipations. We propose that changes in levels of resource allocations (advertising expenditure, R&D spending, capital intensity) may be more positively associated with changes in levels of subsequent corporate performance for firms with greater external monitoring or with higher CEO ownership incentives. We also propose that changes in levels of resource allocations may directly (inversely) affect changes in levels of subsequent performance of the actively (passively) monitored enterprises, lacking (possessing) free cash flow. Additionally, we propose that changes in levels of resource allocations may directly (inversely) affect changes in levels of subsequent performance of firms with high (low) CEO ownership incentives in the absence (presence) of free cash flow. Regression models are utilized to test our proposals on a longitudinal sample obtained from the Compustat database. The empirical findings are generally supportive of our proposals.
A New Voice for the Poor

The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of tropical infections, such as river blindness, hookworm, lymphatic filariasis, leishmaniasis, and trachoma, which represent some of humankind's most ancient scourges and possibly our greatest global health disparities. Largely confined to the unseen rural areas of the developing world, the NTDs were for centuries the forgotten diseases of forgotten people [1]. They are chronic, disabling, and often stigmatizing conditions, and their poverty-promoting features provide a genuine reason why parts of Africa, Asia, and the tropical regions of the Americas cannot escape their low-income status.
CONSCIOUSNESS AND NUMERICAL IDENTITY

L'A. critique les idees developpees par N. Malcolm, "The Privacy of Experience", in (Epistemology, New York, 1967, pp. 129-158) qui concoit que les sujets ne sauraient avoir la meme douleur, la meme experience, ce qui conduit au solipsisme. Il faut donc interpreter la question de l'identite numerique pour savoir si plusieurs descriptions definies se referent a une seule entite ou a plusieurs entites differentes.
Zernike-Gauss Polynomials and Optical Aberrations of Systems with Gaussian Pupils

In the first two Notes of this series,(l,2) we discussed Zernike circle and annular polynomials that represent optimally balanced classical aberrations of systems with uniform circular or annular pupils, respectively. Here we discuss Zernike-Gauss polynomials which are the corresponding polynomials for systems with Gaussian circular or annular pupils.(3-5) Such pupils, called apodized pupils, are used in optical imaging to reduce the secondary rings of the pointspread functions of uniform pupils.(6) Propagation of Gaussian laser beams also involves such pupils.
General principles of antibiotic tissue penetration

It is well established that, at equilibrium, the concentrations of free drug on either side of a porous capillary are equal. However, the dynamic factors which operate on the way to achieving this equilibrium, while drug levels fluctuate in serum and extravascular sites, have been less well studied. This paper reviews some of the physical principles relating to diffusion through capillary pores and permeation through capillary membranes. Emphasis has been placed on the importance of the surface area-to-volume ratio in determining the time required to reach various stages of equilibrium. The effects of infection have been considered. At equilibrium, the AUC of free drug in serum and non-specialized extravascular compartments must be equal. Therefore, although the mode of administration (e.g. continuous infusion versus intermittent bolus) will affect the profile of the concentration-time curve in extravascular loci, it will not affect the overall AUC of drug in these sites. We have derived an equation to estimate the levels of drug within an abscess when bacteria are destroying the drug. Brief consideration has been given to transport in specialized sites with non-porous capillaries and with active transport systems. Throughout the analysis, we have focused on the application of these principles to in-vitro models and the potential use of in-vitro models to substantiate these principles.
Was Austin Right After All? On the Role of Sanctions in a Theory of Law

In modern jurisprudence it is taken as axiomatic that John Austin's sanction-based account of law and legal obligation was demolished in H.L.A. Hart's The Concept of Law, but Hart's victory and the deficiencies of the Austinian account may not be so clear. Not only does the alleged linguistic distinction between being obliged and having an obligation fail to provide as much support for the idea of a sanction-independent legal obligation as is commonly thought, but the soundness of Hart's claims, as well as the claims of many legal theorists who have followed him, depend on a contested view of the nature of legal theory. If the task of a theory of law, as Joseph Raz and others have influentially argued, is to identify the essential features of the concept of law, then the theoretical possibility, if not the empirical reality, of a sanction-free legal system is what is most important. But if the task of a theory of law is to provide philosophical and theoretical illumination of law as it exists and as it is experienced, then a theory of law that fails to give a central place to law's coercive reality may for that reason be deficient as a theory of law. The question of the soundness of the Austinian account, therefore, may be a function of the answer to the question of what a theory of law is designed to accomplish.
Unexpected good motor and cognitive function in an extremely premature child with a history of perinatal cerebellar hemispheric infarction and multiple other risk factors for poor outcome.

Cerebellar infarction is a known possible complication of extreme prematurity, and usually results in severe disability. This report presents a 20-month-old girl (16 months corrected), who was born in a toilet at 24 weeks gestational age. She had multiple neonatal predictors of poor outcome, including unilateral cerebellar hemispheric infarction, grade 3 intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, fungal sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary valve stenosis, lack of prenatal care, and poor social situation. Despite all these poor prognostic factors, she was close to meeting corrected-age-appropriate motor and cognitive milestones. The etiology and outcomes of cerebellar infarction in extremely premature neonates, and possible contributors to this child’s function, are discussed.
Effect of oxide and nitride films on strength of silicon: A study using controlled small-scale flaws

Strength properties of silicon substrates containing dense oxide and nitride surface films are investigated using nanoindentations to introduce small flaws of predetermined scale. The indentation flaws provide favored sites for failure in subsequent flexure loading, even in the subthreshold region for indentations without visible corner cracking, confirming that microflaws generated within the indentation zone act as effective crack sources in the substrate. Deposition of the oxide films increases the strength while the nitride films diminish it at any given indentation load. The strength shifts are attributed primarily to the presence of residual compressive stress in the oxide, tensile stress in the nitride. A fracture mechanics formulation based on a previous analysis for monolithic substrates is here adapted to allow for a superposed crack closing or opening stress-intensity factor term associated with the residual stresses. Allowance is also made in the mechanics for the influence of the film on effective hardness and modulus of the substrate. The formulation accounts for the basic strength shifts and enables evaluation of the magnitude of the residual stresses. The results quantify the susceptibility of basic device materials to damage from small-scale contacts and impacts.
DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE SALESPEOPLE: EXPLORING THE LINK BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND SALES PERFORMANCE

Training in emotional intelligence (EI) offers a means for developing the communication and interpersonal skills needed by salespeople to develop and improve relationships with customers. Yet little research has explored EI as a precursor to effective sales performance, and existing quantitative measurement tools have been found to be psychometrically inadequate. To address this issue, an exploratory qualitative study was undertaken. Data collected via one‐on‐one depth interviews provides preliminary evidence of a relationship between sales performance and EI. Implications for sales organizations and researchers are discussed.
Islam in Kombo: The Spiritual and Militant Jihād of Fodé Ibrahim Silla Turé

The dynamic career of Fode Ibrahim Ture, known as Fode Silla in the literature about the Gambia River region, is the basis for an analysis of the development and influence of Islam during the second half of the nineteenth century. Fode Ture is one of several spiritual and militant Muslims who were identified by British and French officials as leaders of jihād movements that were impeding their control over political institutions and economic resources during the period of imperial expansion. The article examines Fode Ture’s relations with Muslim and non-Muslim communities and with British and French administrators and describes his efforts to create an Islamic state in Kombo andadjacent areas of Casamance. Although his goal is ultimately thwarted by European imperial advancement, his reputation as a great Muslim scholar and militant leader remains vibrant in the twenty-first century.
On-Line Gas-Free Electrodialytic Eluent Generator for Capillary Ion Chromatography

Both low- and high-pressure, gas-free, capillary-scale electrodialytic generators for eluents in ion chromatography are described. While the low-pressure devices rely on planar or tubular membranes, the high-pressure devices rely on ion-exchange beads used both as one-way ionic gates and as ball-on-seat valves to provide sealing. The high-pressure device is easily implemented in the form of a commercial cross fitting and can withstand at least 1400 psi. By design these devices do not produce gas in the eluent channel; hence, it is not necessary to remove gas afterward. With appropriate electrolytes and electrode polarities, such devices can produce either acid or base or salt. In regard to ionic transport, the behavior of these devices fully corresponds to that of a semiconductor diode. To our knowledge, this is the first time such complete equivalence of ion transport through ion-exchange media and with the more familiar example of electron transport through a semiconductor diode under both forward- and reverse-biased conditions have been demonstrated. Reverse bias can be applied to minimize/prevent Donnan-forbidden leakage or ion exchange. Even with 4 M KOH in the electrode compartments and 4 microL/min water flowing through the eluent channel, with a reverse bias of -12 V, the leakage KOH concentration is <30 microM, whereas the KOH concentration with zero voltage applied, herein after termed open circuit penetration (OCP), is 1600 microM. It is suggested that this OCP occurs not as much through Donnan-forbidden leakage but via ion exchange. Chromatograms and reproducibility data are presented for both isocratic and gradient chromatography, using ion-exchange, latex-modified, open tubular and packed monolithic columns.
Methylation of Lysine 4 on Histone H3: Intricacy of Writing and Reading a Single Epigenetic Mark

Cells employ elaborate mechanisms to introduce structural and chemical variation into chromatin. Here, we focus on one such element of variation: methylation of lysine 4 in histone H3 (H3K4). We assess a growing body of literature, including treatment of how the mark is established, the patterns of methylation, and the functional consequences of this epigenetic signature. We discuss structural aspects of the H3K4 methyl recognition by the downstream effectors and propose a distinction between sequence-specific recruitment mechanisms and stabilization on chromatin through methyl-lysine recognition. Finally, we hypothesize how the unique properties of the polyvalent chromatin fiber and associated effectors may amplify small differences in methyl-lysine recognition, simultaneously allowing for a dynamic chromatin architecture.
Th1- and Th2-type cytokines regulate chemokine expression.

The recruitment of various leukocyte populations to an area of injured and inflamed tissue is one of the most fundamental host defense responses. Historic evidence supports the concept that the pathol
Approximating high angular resolution apparent diffusion coefficient profiles using spherical harmonics under biGaussian assumption

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques have achieved much importance in providing visual and quantitative information of human body. Diffusion MRI is the only non-invasive tool to obtain information of the neural fiber networks of the human brain. The traditional Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is only capable of characterizing Gaussian diffusion. High Angular Resolution Diffusion Imaging (HARDI) extends its ability to model more complex diffusion processes. Spherical harmonic series truncated to a certain degree is used in recent studies to describe the measured non-Gaussian Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) profile. In this study, we use the sampling theorem on band-limited spherical harmonics to choose a suitable degree to truncate the spherical harmonic series in the sense of Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and use Monte Carlo integration to compute the spherical harmonic transform of human brain data obtained from icosahedral schema.
Agentic and Communal Generative Behavior in Four Areas of Adult Life: Implications for Psychological Well-Being

Fifty mothers and 48 fathers of soon-to-be-independent children were interviewed to determine how agentic and communal generative themes would be reflected in parenting, occupation, volunteer work, and leisure activities. Mothers reported more communal themes (F5, 83 = 2.32, p <.05). Correlations between generativity and well-being resulted in a negative relationship for mothers in parenting communal generative acts (r = −.41, p = .007) and total generative acts (r = −.3, p = .05) as assessed by the interview. Negative correlations also emerged between mothers' well-being and communal generative acts from the Generative Behavior Checklist, (r = −.33, p = .02).
A Mathematical Model of a Hydrogen/Oxygen Alkaline Fuel Cell

A mathematical model of a hydrogen/oxygen alkaline fuel cell is presented that can be used to predict polarization behavior under various potential loads. The model describes the phenomena occurring in the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of the anode, separator, and cathode regions, assuming a macrohomogeneous, three-phase porous electrode structure. The model calculates the spatial variation of the partial pressures of oxygen, hydrogen, and water vapor, dissolved oxygen and hydrogen concentrations, electrolyte concentration, and the solid- and solution-phase potential drops. By developing a complete model of the alkaline fuel cell, the interaction of the various transport and kinetic resistances can be more accurately investigated under conditions that simulate actual fuel cells. The model predicts that the solution-phase diffusional resistance of dissolved oxygen is a major limitation to achieving high performance at low cell potentials, while the ohmic drop in the solid electrodes contributes the most resistance at high cell potentials. Other limitations to achieving high power densities are indicated, and methods to increase the maximum attainable power density are suggested. These performance indications can help future research and the design of alkaline fuel cells. The alkaline fuel cell (AFC) is capable of providing a clean, efficient,, and high-powered source of electrical energy. The relative ease of operation, low weight and volume, and reliable performance have made the alkaline fuel cell an attractive power source for the American space program, as well as for electric vehicles, defense, stationary power sources, portable generators, and small submersibles, to name a few (1-3). However, for applications that require even higher power densities, the performance of the alkaline fuel cell needs to be improved. The maximum power density obtained from alkaline fuel cells has undergone many advances in recent years due to improved catalysts and electrode materials, and also due to optimized operating conditions and fuel cell design. It has been known that in order to increase the power density in AFCs, the activation, concentration, and ohmic polarizations should be minimized (4). For example, improved electro
Stress concentration and flexibility factor of nozzles in ellipsoidal pressure vessel heads subject to external moment

Abstract Ellipsoidal heads are commonly used as end closures for cylindrical pressure vessels in chemical and process industries. In the design of nozzles in pressure vessels, stress and flexibility of the nozzle-vessel structure are important factors to be considered. In this paper, a parametric study of radial nozzles in ellipsoidal vessel heads, when the nozzles are subjected to overturning moments, is presented. The computer program KSHEL, which is based on elastic thin shell theory, was utilized. Stress concentration factors and flexibility factors were determined and are presented as graphs of dimensionless nozzle-vessel parameters.
“The More Things Change…:” Civil Rights Health Assessment in a ‘Majority-Minority’ U.S. Community

ABSTRACT This article, in the form of a case study, describes insight gleaned from a community-based civil rights health assessment project used within a ‘majority–minority’ community (one in which people of color are in the majority). In particular, the article explores the importance of recognizing the civil rights experiences of contemporary citizens as a means to inform policy, procedures, and practice. Using a phenomenology framework and narratives from a public forum and multiple focus group sessions, 2 research questions are explored: (a) What widespread beliefs inform the civil rights discourse of citizens in a community where people of color are in the majority? and (b) What issues are described as most salient in such a community? Five themes are explicated: (a) “equal opportunity doesn't exist”; (b) “discrimination is all around us”; (c) “the deck is stacked against us”; (d) “we have no legal redress when violations occur”; and (e) “when we do complain, nothing is done.” The article includes a ...
Virginia Woolf and the study of nature, by Christina Alt

This invaluable book fleshes out Virginia Woolf’s immersion in the life sciences from her Victorian childhood to her modernist fascination with the new fields of ecology and ethology that began to ...
Clinical oncology update: Prostate cancer

IT IS very hard to know what to do and what to think when considering the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. All would agree that prostate cancer is a serious disease: it is the most frequently diagnosed major male cancer and the second or first leading cause of male cancer death in most Western societies. Clinical cancer of the prostate can only be cured if localised and then it is usually asymptomatic. Thus, decades ago a yearly digital rectal examination (DEE) was recommended for all men older than 50 years, but this strategy was not well accepted, and even when broadly applied, only a minority were cured [l]. Alternatively, all experts would also agree that prostate cancer often ‘appears’ innocuous. Among men older than 70 years who die of other causes, 30% are found to also have cancer of the prostate at autopsy-usually a tumour of ~0.2 mm3 and low grade cell type [2]. Also, it is widely believed in Britain and Scandinavia that apparent clinically localised carcinoma of the prostate (ALCaP) need not be treated until symptomatic and then only for palliation. Many centres have analysed their ‘watch and wait’ results and observed that at 10 years at least, they yielded the same quality and length of life as aggressive treatments [3, 41. Finally, preventive medicine experts have analysed the literature on ALCaP diagnosis and treatment outcomes, and, using decision analysis modelling, concluded that aggressive diagnosis and treatment (with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy) are marginally beneficial, especially when quality of life adjustments are made, and are definitely not beneficial after the age of 70 years [5]. No wonder then that task forces in the U.S.A. and Canada concluded that DEE and prostate-specific antigen (ISA) testing should not be part of the adult preventive health examination because the evidence was discouraging or insufficient [6]. Also, the phrase “most men die with prostate cancer rather than of it” is now well known and the conundrum of Dr Willet Whitmore “when cure is possible is it necessary and when cure is necessary is it possible” [7] remains frequently
A thermodynamic study of the carbothermic reduction of alumina in plasma

This paper reports the condensation temperatures and stability boundaries of elemental aluminum relative to its carbides, oxides, and other species in the Al-O-C system under various conditions obtained by the free energy minimization (FEM) technique
Computational Imaging On a Chip

We review our progress on computational on-chip imaging that is based on partially-coherent digital in-line holography and its use in high-throughput microscopy and nanoscopy for biomedical applications.
The Role of Progestogens in Regulating Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity in Macrophages and Microglial Cells

Although the systemic effects of progestogens have been extensively studied, little is known in regards to the cellular effects of these compounds. Using a cellular model for vascular (macrophages) and brain (microglial) cells, we studied the effects of various progestogens, either alone or in combination with 17β-estradiol (E2) on the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a proteolytic enzyme involved in vascular remodeling and plaque destabilization in cardiovascular events, blood–brain barrier breakdown in stroke and brain regeneration and neurovascular remodeling during repair phases of brain injury. In the absence of E2, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a synthetic progestogen and progesterone (PG) metabolites tended to increase MMP-9 enzyme activity in macrophages and microglial cells, whereas PG decreased such activity in macrophages; exceptions being that MPA and the PG metabolite, pregnanediol (Pdiol) had no effect on macrophage MMP-9 enzyme activity and PG had no effect on microglial cell MMP-9 enzyme activity. In the presence of E2, an opposite affect was observed whereby MPA and the PG metabolites tended to decrease MMP-9 enzyme activity from macrophages and microglial cells, whereas PG had no effect; exceptions being that MPA and Pdiol had no effect on macrophage MMP-9 enzyme activity. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that the effects of PG, PG metabolites and MPA on MMP-9 enzyme activity differ across vascular and brain cells when administered alone or in combination with E2 which could have important mechanistic implications for hormone therapy.
Disorder-induced ferromagnetism in CaRuO 3

The magnetic ground state of perovskite structure ${\mathrm{CaRuO}}_{3}$ has been enigmatic for decades. Here we show that paramagnetic ${\mathrm{CaRuO}}_{3}$ can be made ferromagnetic by very small amounts of partial substitution of Ru by Ti. Magnetic hysteresis loops are observed at 5 K for as little as 2% Ti substitution. Ti is nonmagnetic and isovalent with Ru, indicating that the primary effect of the substitution is the disruption of the magnetic ground state of ${\mathrm{CaRuO}}_{3}$ through disorder. The data suggest that ${\mathrm{CaRuO}}_{3}$ is poised at a critical point between ferromagnetic and paramagnetic ground states.
Three-dimensional cell migration does not follow a random walk

Cell migration through 3D extracellular matrices is critical to the normal development of tissues and organs and in disease processes, yet adequate analytical tools to characterize 3D migration are lacking. Here, we quantified the migration patterns of individual fibrosarcoma cells on 2D substrates and in 3D collagen matrices and found that 3D migration does not follow a random walk. Both 2D and 3D migration features a non-Gaussian, exponential mean cell velocity distribution, which we show is primarily a result of cell-to-cell variations. Unlike in the 2D case, 3D cell migration is anisotropic: velocity profiles display different speed and self-correlation processes in different directions, rendering the classical persistent random walk (PRW) model of cell migration inadequate. By incorporating cell heterogeneity and local anisotropy to the PRW model, we predict 3D cell motility over a wide range of matrix densities, which identifies density-independent emerging migratory properties. This analysis also reveals the unexpected robust relation between cell speed and persistence of migration over a wide range of matrix densities.
Management of overt hepatic encephalopathy.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a potentially reversible state of impaired cognitive function or altered consciousness in patients with liver disease or portosystemic shunting. 1 It represents a continuum of transient and reversible neurologic and psychi- atric dysfunction, varying from subtly altered mental status to deep coma. It can be categorized into 3 types: type A, which occurs in acute liver failure; type B, which occurs in patients with bypass shunts; and type C, which occurs in patients with chronic liver disease. 2,3 Type C HE is of importance given the increasing burden of cirrhosis in the United States and the world. Approximately 5.5 million people in the United States have hepatic cirrhosis. 4 It is difficult to estimate the true incidence of HE, but the majority of patients with cirrhosis develop a degree of encephalopathy at some point during their disease. Overt HE (OHE) occurs in at least 30% to 45% of cirrhotic patients and 10% to 50% of patients with transjugular intrahepatic porto- systemic shunt (TIPS). 5,6 HE imposes a significant burden on patients, their families, and health care resources. 4,7 A recent 104-patient cross-sectional study in 2 transplant centers revealed that previous HE and cognitive dysfunction are associated with worse employment, financial status, and caregiver burden. Patients with previous HE had 87.5% unemployment versus 19% in those without previous HE (P = .00001). Patients with previous episodes of HE also had lower financial status and posed a higher caregiver burden than those who had not experienced HE. 8 Cognitive performance and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores were significantly correlated with employment and caregiver burden. 8 Based on the Zarit short form, caregivers
Monotone and Conservative Cascade Remapping between Spherical Grids (CaRS): Regular Latitude–Longitude and Cubed-Sphere Grids

Abstract A high-order monotone and conservative cascade remapping algorithm between spherical grids (CaRS) is developed. This algorithm is specifically designed to remap between the cubed-sphere and regular latitude–longitude grids. The remapping approach is based on the conservative cascade method in which a two-dimensional remapping problem is split into two one-dimensional problems. This allows for easy implementation of high-order subgrid-cell reconstructions as well as the application of advanced monotone filters. The accuracy of CaRS is assessed by remapping analytic fields from the regular latitude–longitude grid to the cubed-sphere grid. In terms of standard error measures, CaRS is found to be competitive relative to an existing algorithm when regridding from a fine to a coarse grid and more accurate when regridding from a coarse to a fine grid.
Inappropriate gene expression in human cancer and its far-reaching biological and clinical significance

This article provides a broad overview of the field of inappropriate gene expression in many organisms across the animal and plant kingdoms as well as its importance to human disease in general and cancer in particular. Study of the topic is especially important for understanding how the chaotic maelstrom of evolving and cascading regulatory genetic interactions in an advancing cancer produces its clinical effects and for designing pragmatic solutions to how such disorder might eventually be tamed. It is emphasized that the topic warrants much more attention in research and in clinical practice because of the added value it brings to refining cancer diagnosis and treatment and to the assessment of prognostic markers. It is also particularly relevant to understanding the etiology and extensive clinical manifestations of paraneoplastic syndromes affecting multiple organs remote from the tumor and the treatment or amelioration of the substantial morbidity that they cause in cancer patients. More broadly, inappropriate expression can be caused by a number of mechanisms including mutations, rearrangements of the genome, and viral insertions and, under prolonged selection pressures, also has the potential to be an agent of evolutionary change.
Freshwater-saltwater boundary detection using mobile sensors part I: Drifter deployment

In this paper, we study the minimum energy control problem in a flow environment, in which the flow is described by a quadratic function and the objective is to minimize the energy consumption while driving drifters from one point to another. The minimum energy control problem is motivated by the fact that mobile drifters are powered by batteries of limited capacity. We first derive the unconstrained optimal control using the Pontryagin's minimum principle, and then take into account state constraints that arise naturally in our setting. If the dynamics of drifters are restricted to be of Dubin's type, the optimal control is in the form of state feedback, which potentially leads to more robust implementation.
Climate research with the atmospheric infared sounder

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) sounding suite, launched in 2002, is the most advanced atmospheric sounding system to date, with measurement accuracies far surpassing those of current operational weather satellites. From its sun-synchronous polar orbit, the AIRS system provides more than 300,000 all-weather soundings covering more than 90% of the globe every 24 hours. Usage of AIRS data products, available to all through the archive system operated by NASA, is spreading throughout the atmospheric and climate research community. An ongoing validation effort has confirmed that the system is very accurate and stable and is close to meeting the goal of providing global temperature soundings with an accuracy of 1 K per 1-km layer and water vapor soundings with an accuracy of 20% throughout the troposphere, surpassing the accuracy of radiosondes. This unprecedented data set is currently used for operational weather prediction in a number of countries, yielding significant positive impact on forecast accuracy and range. It is also enabling more detailed investigations of current issues in atmospheric and climate research. In addition to the basic soundings related to the hydrologic cycle, AIRS also measures a number of trace gases, the latest such product being the global distribution of carbon dioxide. We discuss some examples of recent research with AIRS data.
A 12-year history of hazardous materials incidents in Chester County, Pennsylvania

In compliance with the provisions of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986, Chester County, Pennsylvania has collected information about all reported chemical releases to the environment. This paper presents an analysis of the patterns of these releases, including their composition, type, location, frequency, time and level of emergency response, over the last 12 years (1987-1999). Hydrocarbon fuels are the most frequently spilled compounds, but several extremely hazardous chemicals including sulfuric acid, chlorine, and ammonia have also been released to the environment. The patterns of hazardous materials releases in Chester County are similar to those reported in other databases at all levels: local, state, federal and international.
Impact of Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy-Linked Mutations in the N-Terminus of the RLC on β-Myosin Cross-Bridge Mechanics

Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (FHC) is associated with mutations in sarcomeric proteins of which myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) is included. Here we studied the impact of the N-terminal FHC mutations on the molecular mechanism of β-Myosin heavy chain cross-bridge mechanics using the in vitro motility assay. To generate mutant β-Myosin, native pig RLC was depleted from porcine cardiac myosin heavy chain and reconstituted with mutant (A13T, F18L & E22K) or wild-type human RLC. We characterized the mutant myosin force and motion generation capability in the presence of a frictional load and thin filament regulatory proteins. All three mutants exhibited reductions in maximal filament velocity when tested with both calcium-regulated (40.5% ± 1.07, 28.9% ± 1.11, & 24.5% ± 1.14 A13T, F18L & E22K resp.) and unregulated filament (34.4% ± 0.8, 19.1% ± 0.9 & 5.6% ± 0.9 resp.) compared to wild-type. Furthermore, all three mutants displayed reductions in calcium sensitivity (pCa 50) (∼5.13%, ∼6.52% & ∼4.50% resp.) as well as cooperative activation (∼22%, ∼42% & ∼34% resp.) of regulated velocity. These results suggest that the known FHC mutants on the N-terminus of the RLC affect formation of strong binding cross-bridges thereby reducing maximal force production. This work is supported by grants to the following people HL077280 (JM) HL071778 (D S-C).
Human B cel proliferative responses during aging. Reduced RNA synthesis and DNA replication after signal transduction by surface immunoglobulins compared to B cell antigenic determinants CD20 and CD40

Age-related reductions in the DNA replication of human peripheral blood B cells have been reported after stimulation by cross-linking surface immunoglobulins (sIg) with the polyclonal activator Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC). However, little is known about the mechanisms of these age-related impairments. To examine whether these impairments represented defects unique to sIg mediated signalling, B cells from elderly humans were stimulated with SAC, immobilized anti-IgM and with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for B cell CD20 and CD40 determinants. Regardless of the stimuli or combinations of stimuli, the proliferative responses of B cells from elderly subjects remained 50% or less of the values observed for B cells from young subjects. Also, the failure to fully restore the age-related impairments of B cells could not be attributed to an absolute lack of potentially reactive cells. Supplementation of anti-IgM stimulated B cells from elderly subjects with IL-2, IL-4 or B cell growth factor (BCGF) revealed that BCGF was able to improve the reduced responses to levels approximating B cells of young subjects. The age-related defects were not restricted to B cell DNA replication because reductions in G1 progression of stimulated B cells from elderly subjects were directly demonstrated by decreased [3H]uridine incorporation into de novo RNA synthesis. However, the age-related impairments in RNA synthesis were less severe than those in DNA replication consistent with progressively greater reductions in the abilities of B cells to traverse the entire cell cycle. Other results showed that the reduced DNA replication of B cells from elderly subjects to immobilized anti-IgM with and without IL-2 did not represent a premature exit of B cells from DNA replication and accelerated maturation into antibody producing cells. Thus, these studies demonstrate that age-related impairments exist in activation signals mediated by several types of human B cell determinants and that abnormalities can be detected during pre-S phase events.
Teaching Africa's Cities through Meja Mwangi's Novels.

Abstract This article presents a lesson plan used to teach about African urbanization using Kenyan novels. Specifically, three urban novels written by Meja Mwangi are used. Based on a qualitative survey of student preference and learning, this lesson plan uses these novels alongside more traditional academic texts to achieve effective student learning. Understanding that students prefer to read novels but learn best from textbooks, this mixture of texts generates emotional discussions that are substantiated with factual research.
Transient CO2 elimination and storage as functions of the ventilatory response to CO2.

Abstract The effect on CO 2 storage and elimination of variations in the slope and intercept of the ventilatory response to CO 2 curve was examined. Theoretical and experimental results show that although CO 2 elimination rate following a transient ventilatory disturbance in decreased at low ventilatory response slopes, this decrease can be compensated by elevated P CO 2 intercepts, or thresholds. Conversely, high CO 2 elimination rate following a ventilatory disturbance due to a high ventilatory response slope can be off-set by a depressed P CO 2 threshold. The results suggest that elevated thresholds which often accompany depressed ventilatory response slopes may be part of a compensatory mechanism for minimizing transient hypercapnia and acidosis.