cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The inverted appendix - a potentially problematic diagnosis: clinicopathologic analysis of 21 cases.

AIMS Inverted appendices are rare, but have the potential to cause diagnostic confusion among endoscopists and pathologists. The aim of this study was to describe the clinicopathological features of inverted appendices seen at our institution over the last 30 years. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-one inverted appendices were identified and the clinical and pathological features reviewed. Patients were predominantly middle-aged women. Most cases were detected incidentally on colonoscopy. Endoscopically, inverted appendices appeared polypoid in the proximal caecum. All resections featured associated pathological processes, including endometriosis (n = 3), inflammatory mucocoele (n = 1), low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (n = 2), traditional serrated adenoma (n = 1) and inflammatory fibroid polyp (n = 1). Five cases were endoscopically mischaracterised as caecal polyps and removed via polypectomy; initial pathological impressions were erroneous in most cases. All polypectomies featured a dome-like configuration covered by mucosa on the convex surface; the majority had aggregates of ganglion cells and neural plexi embedded in muscularis propria. The vast majority of cases, regardless of the procedure, showed lymphoid aggregates. Among post-polypectomy patients with follow-up, none experienced perforation-associated morbidity despite the histological presence of muscularis propria. CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis of an inverted appendix should be considered in polypectomy specimens from the caecum or appendiceal orifice with (i) dome-like tissue configuration covered by mucosa on the convex surface, (ii) a deep, robust smooth muscle component with ganglion cells (muscularis propria) and (iii) associated lymphoid aggregates. Prompt recognition on H&E will avoid unnecessary time and resource investment.
Nitrogen Form Affects pH and EC of Whole Pine Tree Substrate and Growth of Petunia

Abstract Wood-based substrates are potential alternatives or amendments to traditional peat-based and pine bark substrates. Undesirable changes in substrate pH may result from the application of supplemental fertilizer required by some crops grown in wood-based substrates. Experiments were conducted to evaluate petunia growth and substrate pH in response to nitrogen (N) treatments applied as a nutrient solution to whole pine tree (WPT) and peat-lite (PL) substrates. Nitrogen treatments were applied as 100% ammonium (NH4+ N), 100% nitrate (NO3−N), or a combination of both in various proportions. The pH range of WPT substrate widened considerably over time among the N treatments, while a change in substrate pH was minimal for PL substrate during the same period. Generally, 100% NO3−N and 100% NH4+ N resulted in the highest and lowest substrate pH, respectively, regardless of substrate. Greater shoot dry mass was obtained in PL substrates compared with WPT substrates. Maximum shoot dry mass and flower count ...
Childhood Asthma Education

Introductory Statement: Approximately 1 in 10 children is classified as having current asthma. Approximately 50% have poorly controlled disease, resulting in 61% visiting an emergency department or urgent care clinic. 5% of all pediatric admissions are asthma-related. Poor control of asthma is partly the result of a gap that exists between the care recommended and actual care provided. In our community, there is a lack of education and support organizations for asthma patients, despite the high incidence. Implementation of a family-centered, multidisciplinary asthma education program in our institution is anticipated to improve the quality of care delivered to …
Identification of 4-Amino-Thieno[2,3-d]Pyrimidines as QcrB Inhibitors in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT Antibiotic resistance is a global crisis that threatens our ability to treat bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Of the 10 million cases of tuberculosis in 2017, approximately 19% of new cases and 43% of previously treated cases were caused by strains of M. tuberculosis resistant to at least one frontline antibiotic. There is a clear need for new therapies that target these genetically resistant strains. Here, we report the discovery of a new series of antimycobacterial compounds, 4-amino-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines, that potently inhibit the growth of M. tuberculosis. To elucidate the mechanism by which these compounds inhibit M. tuberculosis, we selected for mutants resistant to a representative 4-amino-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine and sequenced these strains to identify the mutations that confer resistance. We isolated a total of 12 resistant mutants, each of which harbored a nonsynonymous mutation in the gene qcrB, which encodes a subunit of the electron transport chain (ETC) enzyme cytochrome bc1 oxidoreductase, leading us to hypothesize that 4-amino-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines target this enzyme complex. We found that addition of 4-amino-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines to M. tuberculosis cultures resulted in a decrease in ATP levels, supporting our model that these compounds inhibit the M. tuberculosis ETC. Furthermore, 4-amino-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines had enhanced activity against a mutant of M. tuberculosis deficient in cytochrome bd oxidase, which is a hallmark of cytochrome bc1 inhibitors. Therefore, 4-amino-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines represent a novel series of QcrB inhibitors that build on the growing number of chemical scaffolds that are able to inhibit the mycobacterial cytochrome bc1 complex. IMPORTANCE The global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic has been exacerbated by the rise in drug-resistant TB cases worldwide. To tackle this crisis, it is necessary to identify new vulnerable drug targets in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, and develop compounds that can inhibit the bacterium through novel mechanisms of action. The QcrB subunit of the electron transport chain enzyme cytochrome bc1 has recently been validated to be a potential drug target. In the current work, we report the discovery of a new class of QcrB inhibitors, 4-amino-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines, that potently inhibit M. tuberculosis growth in vitro. These compounds are chemically distinct from previously reported QcrB inhibitors, and therefore, 4-amino-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines represent a new scaffold that can be exploited to inhibit this drug target.
Extraction of Evoked Compound Nerve Action Potentials from Vagus Nerve Recordings

Cervical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a neuromodulation therapy for the treatment of several chronic disorders. The effects of VNS are mediated by activation of nerve fibers of different types. In order to maximize the desired and minimize the undesired effects of VNS, assessing activation of vagal fiber types by VNS is essential. Evoked compound nerve action potentials (CNAPs) are commonly used as a method to estimate vagal fiber activation in the context of neurostimulation. However, vagal CNAPs are frequently contaminated by signals from non-neural sources, like electrocardiography (ECG), stimulus artifacts and evoked electromyographic (EMG) activity. In this study, we present a systematic methodology for suppressing non-neural signals in CNAP recordings from the rat vagus. The methodology involves intravenous infusion of vecuronium under ventilation, for suppressing EMG, and digital and analog signal processing, for suppressing ECG and stimulus artifacts, respectively. We compiled A-, B- and C-type fiber activation profiles with and without this methodology and found that our method significantly increased the reliability of CNAPs. We found that the A-component is obscured by the stimulus artifact, whereas the B- and C-components are frequently contaminated by evoked EMG. We extracted CNAPs evoked by square pulses of different polarities and amplitudes and documented effects consistent with well-established biophysical attributes of VNS.
Quadriceps Muscle Size, Quality, and Strength and Self-Reported Function in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Context Ultrasound imaging provides a cost-effective method of measuring quadriceps morphology, which may be related to self-reported function after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR)...
Spine stereotactic radiosurgery for metastases from hepatobiliary malignancies: patient selection using PRISM scoring

Dose escalation via stereotactic radiation therapy techniques has been necessary for hepatobiliary malignancies in the primary and oligometastatic setting, but such dose escalation is challenging for spine metastases due to spinal cord proximity. Here, we investigate the role of spine stereotactic radiosurgery (SSRS) in the management of such metastases. We retrospectively reviewed patients treated with SSRS to spinal metastases from hepatobiliary malignancies between 2004 and 2017 at our Institution. We used the Kaplan–Meier method to calculate overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) and Cox regression analysis to identify factors associated with disease-related outcomes. We identified 28 patients treated to 43 spinal metastases with SSRS for either HCC or cholangiocarcinoma. The 1-year LC and OS were 85% and 23%, respectively. The median time to death was 6.2 months, while median time to local failure was not reached. Tumor volume > 60 cc (SHR 6.65, p = 0.03) and Bilsky ≥ 1c (SHR 4.73, p = 0.05) predicted for poorer LC, while BED10 > 81 Gy trended towards better local control (SHR 4.35, p = 0.08). Child–Pugh Class (HR 3.02, p = 0.003), higher PRISM Group (HR 3.49, p = 0.001), and systemic disease progression (HR 3.65, p = 0.001) were associated with worse mortality based on univariate modeling in patients treated with SSRS; on multivariate analysis, PRISM Group (HR 2.28, p = 0.03) and systemic disease progression (HR 2.67, p = 0.03) remained significant. Four patients (10%) developed compression deformity and one patient (2%) developed radiation neuritis. SSRS provides durable local control in patients with metastatic hepatobiliary malignancies, with higher BED necessary to ensure excellent LC. PRISM scoring is a promising prognostic tool to aid SSRS patient selection.
Long-term Outcomes of MCP Surface Replacement Arthroplasty in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Background: Surface replacement arthroplasty (SRA) can be used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affecting the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint. The authors of this study sought to investigate the outcomes of MCP SRA in patients with RA. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records and an institutional joint registry were used to gather data on 80 MCP SRAs performed in 27 patients with RA. Data collected included demographics, SRA revisions, reoperations, complications, pain, and MCP arc of motion. Results: The mean postoperative follow-up was 9.5 years (range, 2.1-20.5 years), with all SRAs achieving at least 2 years of follow-up. Thirteen digits (16%) underwent revision arthroplasty, and 29 (36%) required reoperation. The 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year rates of survival from implant revision were 95%, 85%, 80%, and 69%, respectively. The 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year rates of survival from overall reoperation were 80%, 65%, 55%, and 46%, respectively. Metacarpophalangeal joint arc of motion, grip strength, and pain levels significantly improved following surgery. Conclusions: Metacarpophalangeal SRA can offer benefit to patients with RA for improvement in function and pain. High overall reoperation rates remain concerning; however, most do not involve arthroplasty revision.
Evaluating the mediating effects of perceived vulnerability to disease in the relation between disgust and contamination-based OCD

Contamination-based obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is thought to develop and be maintained by excessive propensity to experience disgust, particularly in response to perceived contaminants, and dysfunctional threat appraisals pertaining to illness. The present studies attempted to integrate these lines of research by testing the degree to which contamination-based OCD is associated with individual differences in disgust propensity and sensitivity, affective distress in response to perceived contaminants, and perceived threat of illness. In Study 1, a convenience sample of 185 adults completed self-report scales assessing obsessive-compulsive symptoms, disgust propensity and sensitivity, germ aversion, and perceived infectability. Multivariate regression showed that disgust propensity and germ aversion were the only significant predictors of contamination-based obsessions and compulsions. Exploratory analyses suggested that there was a significant indirect effect of disgust propensity on contamination-based obsessions and compulsions via germ aversion. Findings from Study 1 were replicated using a sample of twenty-six obsessive-compulsive participants. Despite the substantially smaller sample, the proportion of the total effects attributable to the mediating effect of germ aversion was comparable, consistent with a significant partial mediation in both samples. These results together suggest that contamination-based OCD symptoms are likely maintained and motivated by basic affective processes.
U.S. Manufacturers among Leading Suppliers in Growing Stationary Fuel Cell Market

Global demand for stationary fuel cells (a low emission, power generation technology)1 is increasing, with shipments almost doubling during 2012–18. The United States was the largest manufacturer of stationary fuel cells in 2018, and a significant exporter. U.S. manufacturers are likely to benefit from continued global market growth, though there is significant foreign competition and many firms are not yet profitable.
Forage systems for beef production from conception to slaughter: I. Cow-calf production.

Six year-round, all-forage, three- paddock systems for beef cow-calf production were used to produce five calf crops during a 6-yr period. Forages grazed by cows during spring, summer, and early fall consisted of one paddock of 11 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.1-ladino clover (Tri,foliurn repens L.) or 21 Kentucky blue- grass (Poa pratensis LJwhite clover (Trifolium repens L.1. Each of these forage mixtures was combined in a factorial arrangement with two paddok each replicate con- tained 5.8 ha and was grazed by eight Angus cow- calf pairs for a total of 480 cow-calf pairs. Fescue was e 5% infected with Acrernoniurn coenophia- lum. Pregnancy rate was 94%. Cows grazing fescue-ladino clover maintained greater CP < .051 BW than those grazing bluegrass-white clover, and their calves tended (P < .091 to have slightly greater weaning weights (250 vs 243 kg, respective- ly). Stockpiled fescue-red clover provided more (P < .051 grazing days and required less (P < .05) hay fed to cows than stockpiled orchardgrass plus either red clover or alfalfa. Digestibilities of DM, CP, and ADF, determined with steers, were greater (P < .051 for the orchardgrass-legume hays than for the fescue-red clover hay. AlI systems produced satisfactory cattle performance, but fescue-ladino clover combined with fescue-red clover required minimum inputs of harvested feed and maintained excellent stands during 6 yr.
A Cutting-Date Estimation Method for Two Archaeologically Important Tree Species

Regression equations are developed to describe the relationship between heartwood, sapwood, and tree age in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas fir (Pseudotruga menziesii), two archaeologically important Southwestern tree species.These equations are used to estimate cutting dates for dendrochronological specimens that otherwise offer only noncutting dates. Three case studies are presented that test the efficacy and interpretive utility of the method: Cutting date estimates on living-tree cores allow an analysis of the statistical behavior of the cutting date estimates; and archaeological case studies at Zuni Pueblo and Walpi Pueblo allow consideration of local provenience and site-level interpretations of the cutting-date estimates. It is concluded that archaeological contextual information and simple logic must be considered before a cutting-date estimate is accepted at face value. In addition, the disparate nature of the methods and data suggest that statistical estimation techniques and archaeological dendrochronology should be considered together only with great caution.
Critique of Behavioralism in Political Science

I am writing neither to condemn behavioralism in political science, nor to praise or bury it. Advocates and practitioners of behavioralism are in the habit of blowing their own horn so loudly, that the addition of laudatory sounds from an outsider inclined to intone them would make for cacophony. Burial, too, seems inappropriate, since reports of the death of behavioralism1 are, in Mark Twain’s words, greatly exaggerated. A critique is an expression of reasoned judgment upon a matter, and it may involve a judgment on the matter’s “value, truth, or righteousness or an appreciation of its beauty or technique”. In this sense of the word, many critiques of behavioralism in political science have been offered during the past. Most if not all express judgments about the righteousness of behavioral political studies. Some view righteousness from the right, others from the left. The former have, on occasion, chided behavioralists for pretending to know more than anyone can know, and to want to do more than anyone should do, about political behavior.3 The latter, on the other hand, have more often complained that behavioralists seek to explain phenomena that are poorly if not malignantly selected, and that their work has served apolitical, antipolitical, or at best uncritical purposes.4
COMPARISON OF THE TOLERANCES OF ANESTHETIZED ADULT DOGS AND PUPS TO KCI INFUSION

The hypothesis that pups might tolerate hyperpotassemia better than adult dogs was tested. Adult dogs and newborn pups (2 hours to 4 days old), anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, were infused with 1.0% KCl solution at the rate of 0.5 ml/kg/min until death. Criteria for tolerance to hyperpotassemia were survival time, plasma K concentration at loss of P wave on ECG, and plasma K concentration at death. Spontaneously breathing adult dogs and pups did not differ significantly in any of these criteria. Both adult dogs and pups developed metabolic acidosis during KCl infusion. The adult dogs hyperventilated, appropriately, during KCl infusion, but the pups hypoventilated and became hypoxemic and hypercapneic. Maintaining pups at near-normal arterial pH during KCl infusion by artificial hyperventilation did not improve their tolerance to hyperpotassemia.
Accurate modeling of frequency responses of multiple planes in gigahertz packages and boards

This paper presents an accurate dynamic methodology for computing the frequency responses of multilayered ground planes filled with inhomogeneous dielectric materials. Since an integral equation based method based on the free space Green's function has been utilized for computing the current distribution on the structures, the edge effects from the ground planes can be accurately accounted for, resulting in a more accurate model in the gigahertz regions. It provides great flexibility in computation of the impedance at any location between the various planes. The results have been compared with the S-parameters measured by other researchers and show good correlation with the available measurements.
Precisiated natural language (PNL)

This article is a sequel to an article title "A New Direction in AI--Toward a Computational Theory of Perceptions," which appeared in the Spring 2001 issue of AI Magazine (volume 22, No. 1, 73-84). The concept of precisiated natural language (PNL) was briefly introduced in that article, and PNL was employed as a basis for computation with perceptions. In what follows, the conceptual structure of PNL is described in greater detail, and PNL's role in knowledge representation, deduction, and concept definition is outlined and illustrated by examples. What should be understood is that PNL is in its initial stages of development and that the exposition that follows is an outline of the basic ideas that underlie PNL rather than a definitive theory.
Effect of pudendal, spinal, and peridural block anesthesia on the second stage of labor

Abstract The second stage of labor was studied in 42 patients before and after conduction anesthesia. Intrauterine pressure and superimposed voluntary effort were measured and compared before and after induction of anesthesia. Voluntary effort increased progressively during the second stage in patients receiving pudendal block. Patients having peridural block showed a slight drop in voluntary effort. Patients with spinal block had a mean reduction in voluntary effort after the block. Patients receiving peridural block showed a mean decrease in uterine contraction intensity, but no change was seen in contraction intensity after pudendal or spinal block. Record review of 3,265 primigravid term patients revealed an increased length of the second stage and an increased incidence of forceps deliveries in patients with spinal and peridural anesthesia when compared with pudendal anesthesia.
Generation in Anthropology

Generation has been a productive lens through which to study many facets of social–cultural life in anthropology. The concept of generation has been used by anthropologists to explain social change over time, to examine the ways people organize and envision intergenerational ties within the family, to explore principles of social organization beyond the family, and to identify differences among members of a society.
Fluctuations and relaxation in graphene

As se miconductor devices continue to get s maller, it is clear that quantum effects will begin to play a larger role in their behavior. Phase interference and the energy relaxation via electron-electron interactions are key quantum effects which can occur in small devices. These are studied best at low temperature where other processes are quenched. Here, we discuss these effects in graphene.
Grafted conjugated polymers: synthesis and characterization of a polyester side chain substituted poly(paraphenyleneethynylene).

The synthesis of a poly(paraphenyleneethynylene) with macromolecular side chains and its irreversible thermochromic behaviour are reported herein.
Assessment of alternative fuel and powertrain transit bus options using real-world operations data: Life-cycle fuel and emissions modeling

Abstract Hybrid and electric powertrains and alternative fuels (e.g., compressed natural gas (CNG), biodiesel, or hydrogen) can often reduce energy consumption and emissions from transit bus operations relative to conventional diesel. However, the magnitude of these energy and emissions savings can vary significantly, due to local conditions and transit operating characteristics. This paper introduces the transit Fuel and Emissions Calculator (FEC), a mode-based life-cycle emissions modeling tool for transit bus and rail technologies that compares the performance of multiple alternative fuels and powertrains across a range of operational characteristics and conditions. The purpose of the FEC is to provide a practical, yet technically sophisticated tool for regulatory agencies and policy analysts in assessing transit fleet options. The FEC’s modal modeling approach estimates emissions as a function of engine load, which in turn is a function of transit service parameters, including duty cycle (idling and speed-acceleration profile), road grade, and passenger loading. This approach allows for customized assessments that account for local conditions. Direct emissions estimates are derived from the scaled tractive power (STP) operating mode bins and emissions factors employed in the U.S. EPA’s MOVES (MOtor Vehicle Emissions Simulator) model. Life-cycle emissions estimates are calculated using emissions factors from the GREET (Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation) model. The case study presented in this paper applies the FEC to second-by-second GPS position data collected from buses operating in metropolitan Atlanta, GA. These operations, from two different transit agencies, feature distinctly different transit service types: local transit bus operations and longer-distance express bus operations. The results illustrate that the decision as to which bus technology-fuel combination produces the least greenhouse gas emissions is a function of location and route characteristics. For the express bus operations monitored, the case study shows that CNG vehicles offer greater emissions reductions than Biodiesel (B20). For local bus services, battery electric buses show the greatest emissions savings in the fuel cycle, as long as range limitations can be met for the specific routes. The amount of these emissions savings is, however, highly dependent on the power generation mix. Among CNG, B20, parallel hybrid, series hybrid, and fuel cell buses, the least emitting option varies by location, due to complex interactions of factors such as duty cycle, meteorology, and terrain.
Why Nozick is a Sceptic

In Philosophical Explanations, Robert Nozick presents an analysis of epistemological scepticism which, he thinks, helps reveal the source of its persuasiveness. He then attempts to refute the sceptic.' In this paper, I wish to show that his refutation is seriously flawed. This is because we can use Nozick's own epistemological views to demonstrate sceptical conclusions. The context of Nozick's discussion of scepticism is his analysis of knowledge in terms of subjunctives. 'S knows that P' is true, according to Nozick, if and only if
Neuromotor Precursors of Schizophrenia

Previous research suggests that in addition to being a characteristic of schizophrenia, neuromotor dysfunction also predates the onset of the syndrome. The research reported here was intended to examine further the neuromotor development of children with preschizophrenia traits. This study is part of a larger "archival-observational" project that uses childhood home movies to explore the developmental precursors of schizophrenia. Group comparisons revealed a higher rate of neuromotor abnormalities in the preschizophrenia children when compared to their healthy siblings, preaffective disorder subjects, the healthy siblings of patients with affective disorder, and subjects from families with no mental illness. The preschizophrenia subjects also showed poorer motor skills when compared to their healthy siblings and preaffective disorder subjects. When diagnostic group comparisons were made within age spans, the group differences were significant only in the first 2 years of life. Post hoc analyses also revealed that the preschizophrenia subjects' neuromotor abnormalities occurred primarily on the left side of the body. The abnormalities included choreoathetoid movements and posturing of the upper limbs, similar to the motor signs described in earlier reports on diagnosed schizophrenia patients. The findings are discussed in light of their implications for the developmental origins of schizophrenia. Limitations of the study, including problems with sample representativeness and the reliance on observational data, are also discussed.
Can Liberals Punish

ed from human experience, having no interest, desire, longing, or inclination whatsoever to corrupt the purity of its will-having no "nature"-that it seems no longer human. With no knowledge of what is good for humankind, or what constitutes human happiness, the will of the ideal self may be "free," but it also has no direction; thus any action, as long as it allows for self-consistency, meets the criterion of the categorical imperative (Sidgwick 1890, 210). More radically stated, a purely free will is both senseless and worthless. Your will is free only if it flows from what is truly you; it is not free if it results from something alien to you. Thus prior to freedom, as Bergmann has observed (1977, 37X, is the question of identity; without identity, freedom has no sense. Without identity, freedom is also worthless, for we value freedom only because, by virtue of our identity, we have purpose and make distinctions of rank among our purposes (Taylor 1979, 183). By expunging from it every interest and inclination, Kant sought to establish and maintain the purity of the ideal will (Kant 1959, 5, 10, 24, 29, 31). But he also drained it of its human identity and thus of its ability to identify a crime; that is, to know an action as a crime, we must be able to identify at least something of what is good for humans. Consider Kant's statement quoted above: "Any undeserved evil that you inflict on someone else among the people is one that you do to yourself. If you vilify him, you vilify yourself; if you steal from him, you steal from yourself; if you kill him, you kill yourself." To gather Kant's meaning, we must import the knowledge that he excludes from the categorical imperative. For only if we know that reputation, property, and life are human goods can we say that vilification, stealing, and murder are evil. Without such knowledge, these actions might be thought blessings that should be honored rather than punished; without such knowledge, we cannot even distinguish honor and punishment. Far from accounting for punishment, Kant cannot even ac-
Search for heavy charged particles and light nuclei and antinuclei produced by 400-GeV protons.

The results of a search for the production of heavy charged particles in 400-GeV proton collisions in copper are presented. The experiment was sensitive to particles of mass 4 to 12 GeV/${c}^{2}$ having lifetimes \ensuremath{\ge}3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}9}$ sec. No particles of this type were observed. A 90% confidence limit of 2.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}36}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$${\mathrm{GeV}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2}$${\mathrm{nucleon}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ is placed on the invariant production cross section for negative particles, and a similar limit of ${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}35}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$${\mathrm{GeV}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$${\mathrm{nucleon}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ for positively charged particles. In addition, the production of the deuteron, antideuteron, and triton were measured using the same apparatus.
PAC in FACTT: Time to PAC it in?

The groups had similar baseline characteristics. The rates of death during the first 60 days before discharge home were similar in the PAC and CVC groups (27.4 percent and 26.3 percent, respectively; P=0.69; absolute difference, 1.1 percent; 95 percent confidence interval, -4.4 to 6.6 percent), as were the mean (+/-SE) numbers of both ventilator-free days (13.2+/-0.5 and 13.5+/-0.5; P=0.58) and days not spent in the intensive care unit (12.0+/-0.4 and 12.5+/-0.5; P=0.40) to day 28. PAC-guided therapy did not improve these measures for subgroup of patients in shock at the time of enrollment. There were no significant differences between groups in lung or kidney function, rates of hypotension, ventilator settings, or use of dialysis or vasopressors. Approximately 90 percent of protocol instructions were followed in both groups, with a 1 percent rate of crossover from CVCto PAC-guided therapy. Fluid balance was similar in the two groups, as was the proportion of instructions given for fluid and diuretics. Dobutamine use was uncommon. The PAC group had approximately twice as many catheter-related complications (predominantly arrhythmias), though rates per catheter insertion were similar between groups.
Phase II trial of combination interferon-alpha and thalidomide as first-line therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Abstract Objectives To present the results of a Phase II trial of thalidomide and interferon-alpha in renal cell carcinoma. Methods Patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma and no prior systemic therapy were accrued. Interferon-alpha was administered at 5 million units subcutaneously three times per week. Thalidomide was started at 100 mg/day for 2 weeks and then escalated 200 mg every 2 weeks to 1000 mg or until grade 3-4 toxicity developed. Patients were assessed radiographically at baseline and after 12 weeks. Steady-state thalidomide plasma concentrations were determined. Results Thirty patients were enrolled. The median age was 62 years. Seventeen patients (57%) had undergone nephrectomy before therapy. One patient died during therapy. Of the 30 patients, 29 had at least grade 2 toxicity and 17 patients had at least grade 3. At 12 weeks, no patient had a complete response, 2 had a partial response (6.7%), 8 had stable disease (26.7%), and 11 (including 1 patient with an initial partial response) had disease progression (36.7%). Nine patients were removed from the study before 12 weeks. The median follow-up was 49.6 weeks (range 2.4 to 123.7). The median time of participation in the study was 11.1 weeks (range 1.4 to 63.9). At last follow-up, 2 patients were receiving the study therapy, 1 with stable disease at 64 weeks and 1 with a partial response at 53 weeks. The median survival was 68 weeks. A linear relationship was found between the thalidomide plasma concentration and dose. No relationship was apparent between the concentration and either treatment-related toxicity or response. Conclusions Interferon-alpha and thalidomide as front-line therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma showed limited activity. The objective response rate was 7%. One third of patients experienced toxicity that required discontinuation of thalidomide. Randomized controlled studies are needed to determine any objective benefit of this regimen over either drug alone.
Climate variability in the Pacific Northwest and its effect on stripe rust disease of winter wheat

Wheat stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis West.) epidemics are confined predominantly to the Pacific Northwest in the U. S. A. because of climate. This disease was frequently reported until the late 1930's and then virtually absent until the late 1950's. Since the severe epidemic in 1961, stripe rust has been frequently severe on winter wheat and has caused losses in susceptible cultivars in many years. Because of the unusual history of stripe rust in this region, the possibility that climate variability affected the pattern of rust occurrence was investigated. Meteorological data for seven locations in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho were analyzed. In 1961–1974 for the Columbia Basin locations, January and February temperatures averaged 1.20° C higher than during the period 1935–1960; however, April temperatures averaged 1.28° C lower in 1961–1974 than during the earlier period. Monthly precipitation averages have not varied more than 12.7 mm in any month. Between 1961–1974, December snowfall almost doubled over that in 1935–1960; snowfall in February decreased over 50% from the earlier period. Data was computed on a seasonal basis since 1901 and considered in respect to stripe rust epidemics. Since 1961, above-normal winter and below-normal spring temperatures have increased the frequency and severity of stripe rust epidemics in the Pacific Northwest. The direction of temperature and precipitation trends varied with the time period considered. How the climate variability which has occurred may have affected winter wheat growth and yields is postulated. Studies such as this should be useful to researchers modelling crop-yields, agronomists evaluating results from field experiments and to researchers studying fluctuations in pest populations.
Drop size distribution in agitated liquid-liquid systems

The drop size distributions resulting from the agitation of immiscible liquids were measured over a wide range of parameters. The average drop size is correlated by = 0.053 NWe−0.60. The distribution function for volume fraction is normal and depends only upon . The results are valid for very dilute solutions wherein coalescence of droplets plays no role in the dispersion mechanism.
Retention of cosmogenic 3He in calcite

Abstract Cosmogenic 3 He can be used to date a wide range of mineral phases because it is produced from all target elements and can be readily measured above atmospheric contamination. Calcite is a particularly attractive target mineral due to its natural abundance, large crystal size (>1 mm), and low He closure temperature ( 3 He components (Copeland et al., 2007). However, several recent studies have shown that some calcite may not be retentive to helium, even under surface temperatures (Cros et al., 2014; Copeland et al., 2007). This study thus explores 3 He retention and production in natural calcite samples at four different sites. Samples from two high elevation sites appear retentive to 3 He over 10 kyr timescales, whereas two additional sites clearly suffer from diffusive loss of 3 He. Step-degassing experiments suggest that diffusion in calcite is controlled by multiple diffusion domains, with an apparent activation energy of 25–27 kcal mol −1 . Although minor 3 He loss is expected from the smallest diffusion domains, the observed kinetics cannot explain the poor retention at all sites. We thus propose that opaque (non-transparent) calcite may be more retentive due to the presence of imperfections in the crystal lattice. We conclude that 3 He dating of calcite shows promise in some settings. However, because retention depends on crystallographic variability it must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis until robust criteria for retention can be identified.
Role of Src Kinases in Neu-Induced Tumorigenesis: Challenging the Paradigm Using Csk Homologous Kinase Transgenic Mice

Amplification of the HER-2/neu (ErbB2) gene is observed in approximately 30% of human breast cancers, correlating with a poor clinical prognosis. Src kinases are also involved in the etiology of breast cancer, and their activation was suggested to be necessary for Neu-induced oncogenesis. To address whether Src activity is essential for Neu-mediated tumorigenesis, we used a physiologic inhibitor of Src kinase activity, the Csk homologous kinase (CHK), expressed as a mammary tissue-specific transgene. Our data, using a physiologic inhibitor of Src activity (CHK), showed that blocking of Neu-induced Src activity without altering Src expression levels had no significant effects on Neu-mediated mammary tumorigenesis in vivo. This contradicts the current paradigm that activation of Src kinases is essential for Neu-induced oncogenesis. This study is the first to distinguish between the kinase-dependent and kinase-independent actions of Src and shows that its kinase-dependent properties are not requisite for Neu-induced tumorigenesis.
Vascular permeability alterations to horseradish peroxidase in experimental brain injury

Summary Protein uptake and transport within the brain stem vasculature of mechanically brain injured cats was studied by means of both light and electron microscopy utilizing intravenously injected horseradish peroxidase as the protein tracer. In animals sustaining low grade head injuries not of sufficient intensity to elicit either microscopic, intraparenchymal hemorrhages or subtle, neuropathological responses, peroxidase extravasation was noted both in the vascular walls and in the surrounding parenchyma of the ventromedial aspect of the brain stem. At the ultrastructural level as early as 3 min after brain injury, occasional arterioles, venules and capillaries displayed peroxidase leakage. In serial sections large endothelial segments of these vessels revealed the peroxidase reaction product within numerous vesicles which often shared continuity with tubular and vacuolar profiles. Such vesicular activity apparently moved the peroxidase from the luminal surface to extrude it into the basal lamina. From the perivascular basal lamina, the reaction product flooded the interstices of the surrounding brain stem parenchyma where occasional neural, glial and pericytic elements incorporated the peroxidase within coated invaginations, vesicles, tubules and vacuoles. In that protein leakage was consistently observed despite the apparent integrity of both the endothelial tight junctions and their cell membranes, it is concluded that the vesicular transport of horseradish peroxidase across the endothelia of the brain stem vasculature represents a possible mechanism of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in mechanical brain injury.
Self‐regulatory focus: the impact on long‐term consumer compliance behavior

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to shed greater light on the factors that influence consumer compliance behavior, e.g. SRF, in compliance dependent services (CDS). CDS, e.g. weight loss, retirement savings, education, credit repair, are long term in nature, often requiring lifestyle changes. In addition, and importantly, the customer's role in CDS extends beyond the face‐to‐face interaction and requires the consumer to comply with prescribed behaviors when away from the service provider.Design/methodology/approach – The subjects were 243 female clients (aged 20 to 45) at a weight loss/fitness center located in south India. Subjects were selected from among the new clients who signed up for an eight‐week long weight loss and fitness program which seeks to help clients lose modest amounts of excess weight (averaging approximately ten pounds). On signing up, respondents completed a survey that included several scales of regulatory focus, and a question eliciting reasons for wanting to lose weight.Find...
Toward World Antitrust and Market Access

The lowered national barriers to global trade reveal opportunities for a world without parochial frontiers. One of these opportunities lies in the area of competition law. Competition law is designed to enhance the economic welfare of people by,among other things, breaking down private barriers and preventing the creation and misuse of corporate power through combinations and monopolistic strategies.
Approach to the Patient with Menopausal Symptoms

Many women experience menopausal symptoms during the menopausal transition and postmenopausal years. Hot flashes, the most common symptom, typically resolve after several years, but for 15-20% of women, they interfere with quality of life. For these women, estrogen therapy, the most effective treatment for hot flashes, should be considered. The decision to use hormone therapy involves balancing the potential benefits of hormone therapy against its potential risks. Accumulating data suggest that initiation of estrogen many years after menopause is associated with excess coronary risk, whereas initiation soon after menopause is not. Therefore, most now agree that short-term estrogen therapy, using the lowest effective estrogen dose, is a reasonable option for recently menopausal women with moderate to severe symptoms who are in good cardiovascular health. Short-term therapy is considered to be not more than 4-5 yr because symptoms diminish after several years, whereas the risk of breast cancer increases with longer duration of hormone therapy. A minority of women may need long-term therapy for severe, persistent vasomotor symptoms after stopping hormone therapy. However, these women should first undergo trials of nonhormonal options such as gabapentin, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, returning to estrogen only if these alternatives are ineffective or cause significant side effects. Low-dose vaginal estrogens are highly effective for genitourinary atrophy symptoms, with minimal systemic absorption and endometrial effects.
PECAM-1: a multifaceted regulator of megakaryocytopoiesis.

PECAM-1 (CD31) knockout (KO) mice exhibit excessive megakaryocytopoiesis accompanied by increased numbers of megakaryocytes associated with the stromal niche rather than the vascular niche. During earlier stages of megakaryocytopoiesis in KO marrow, an expanded Lin−Sca-1+ c-kit+ hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) population and increased quiescent Lin− progenitor pool were identified. During the later stages of megakaryocytopoiesis, CD31KO megakaryocytes exhibited abnormal adhesion/transmigration behaviors. Lastly, KO animals exhibited excessive splenic extramedullary megakaryocytopoiesis, which likely compensates for the impaired marrow megakaryocytopoiesis, resulting in normal peripheral platelet number. Thus, PECAM-1 modulates megakaryocytopoiesis in a hierarchic manner, functioning as a thermostat to “fine-tune” megakaryocytopoiesis.
Coupled BEM–FEM solutions for direct time domain soil–structure interaction analysis

Abstract A coupled BEM–FEM methodology is presented for 3D wave propagation and soil–structure interaction analysis in the direct time domain. The employed boundary element method (BEM) uses a new generation of the Stokes fundamental solutions that utilize the B-Spline family of polynomials. A standard finite element methodology for dynamic analysis along with direct integration in time is coupled to the BEM through a staggered solution approach. Each method provides initial conditions to the other at the beginning of each time step. Formulation and computational aspects of the proposed coupling scheme are discussed. A number of numerical examples are presented for the validation and demonstration of the general nature of the proposed methodology.
A Randomized, Controlled Trial of the Efficacy of an Interoceptive Exposure-Based CBT for Treatment-Refractory Outpatients with Opioid Dependence

Many patients diagnosed with opioid dependence do not adequately respond to pharmacologic, psychosocial, or combination treatment, highlighting the importance of novel treatment strategies for this population. The current study examined the efficacy of a novel behavioral treatment focusing on internal cues for drug use (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Interoceptive Cues; CBT-IC) relative to an active comparison condition, Individual Drug Counseling (IDC), when added to methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) among those who had not responded to MMT. Participants (N=78) were randomly assigned to receive 15 sessions of CBT-IC or IDC as an adjunct to ongoing MMT and counseling. Oral toxicology screens were the primary outcome. Results indicated no treatment differences between CBT-IC and IDC and a small, significant reduction of self-reported drug use, but no change on toxicology screens. Tests of potential moderators, including sex, anxiety sensitivity, and coping motives for drug use, did not yield significant interactions. Among opioid-dependent outpatients who have not responded to MMT and counseling, the addition of IDC or CBT-IC did not result in additive outcome benefits. These results highlight the need for more potent treatment strategies for opioid dependence, particularly among those who do not fully respond to frontline treatment.
Megacities and the environment.

The world’s 25 largest cities comprise only 4% of the global population, but they have substantial impacts on the environment at multiple scales. Here we review what is known of the biogeochemistry of these megacities. Climatic, demographic, and economic data show no patterns across cities, save that wealthier cities have lower growth rates. The flows of water, fuels, construction materials, and food are examined where data are available. Water, which by mass dwarfs the other inputs, is not retained in urban systems, whereas construction materials and food predominate in the urban infrastructure and the waste stream. Fuels are transformed into chemical wastes that have the most far-reaching and global impacts. The effects of megacity resource consumption on geologic, hydrologic, atmospheric, and ecological processes are explored at local, regional, and global scales. We put forth the concepts of urban metabolism and urban succession as organizing concepts for data collection, analysis, and synthesis on urban systems. We conclude that megacities are not the final stage of urban evolution; rather, the climax of urban development will occur at a global scale when human society is at steady state with resource supply rates.
Binaries and multiple systems among the young stars

Binary formation is the dominant mode of star formation in the nearby Taurus and Ophiuchus star forming regions. I describe very briefly our present understanding of multiplicity among the youngest stars, the evolution and structure of their circumstellar disks, and their potential as sites of planetary system formation.