cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
For the Defense: 28 Shades of European Class Actions

Throughout the twentieth century, virtually all European countries that had studied the American class action had rejected implementation of the class action as a part of domestic law. In the early twenty­first century, however, several European countries reconsidered their longstanding antipathy to the American class action. The EU Parliament in 2013 issued a Recommendation for Injunctive and Compensatory Collective Redress Mechanisms requesting that all EU countries—by 2017—implement some form of collective redress mechanism. In May 2018, the Commission issued a Report assessing the practical implementation of the Recommendation. The Commission’s study reveals that the 28 EU countries have developed a patchwork quilt of differing approaches to collective redress. Although many EU countries have undertaken legislative initiatives and implemented some of the Commission’s recommendations, in a number of countries, several of the Commission’s principles have had little or no impact on domestic laws. Perhaps most significantly, the 28 EU countries largely have eschewed implementing procedural mechanisms that resemble the American class action rule, in efforts to preserve domestic cultural and legal norms, and to avoid American­style class action abuses. Thus, European initiatives towards implementing a class action device represent an American class action defense lawyer’s dream.
The science of plant-based foods: Approaches to create nutritious and sustainable plant-based cheese analogs

Abstract Background There has been a growing interest in consumers around the world in adopting a more plant-based diet for health, sustainability, and ethical reasons. Many commercially successful products have already been developed, including plant-based meat and milk analogs. However, the production of plant-based cheese analogs that consumers find desirable and acceptable has proved extremely challenging. This is mainly due to the compositional and structural complexity of real cheese products, which is difficult to mimic using plant-derived ingredients. Scope and approach In this review article, we start by providing a brief overview of the production and properties of real dairy cheese. We then describe the plant-based ingredients and processing operations that can be used to assemble cheese analogs that mimic the composition, structure, physicochemical properties, sensory, and nutritional attributes of real cheese. We also consider in this review the potential impact of switching from animal-based to plant-based cheese on the environment and human health. Key findings and conclusions Plant-based cheeses can be produced from plant proteins obtained using fractionation or tissue disruption routes. These products are typically complex colloidal dispersions consisting of lipid droplets embedded within a viscoelastic polysaccharide and/or protein network. These plant-based cheeses are likely to be more environmentally sustainable and better for animal welfare than their regular counterparts. More research is needed to identify appropriate ingredients and processing methods, including understanding the changes in texture and flavor as well as creating appropriate melting behaviors. Moreover, further research is required to improve the nutritional profile and test the health effects of plant-based cheeses.
Interactions between natural selection and recombination shape the genomic landscape of introgression

Abstract Hybridization between lineages that have not reached complete reproductive isolation appears more and more like a common phenomenon. Indeed, speciation genomics studies have now extensively shown that many species’ genomes have hybrid ancestry. However, genomic patterns of introgression are often heterogeneous across the genome. In many organisms, a positive correlation between introgression levels and recombination rate has been observed. It is usually explained by the purging of deleterious introgressed material due to incompatibilities. However, the opposite relationship was observed in a North American population of Drosophila melanogaster with admixed European and African ancestry. In order to explore how directional and epistatic selection can impact the relationship between introgression and recombination, we performed forward simulations of whole D. melanogaster genomes reflecting the North American population’s history. Our results revealed that the simplest models of positive selection often yield negative correlations between introgression and recombination such as the one observed in D. melanogaster. We also confirmed that incompatibilities tend to produce positive introgression-recombination correlations. And yet, we identify parameter space under each model where the predicted correlation is reversed. These findings deepen our understanding of the evolutionary forces that may shape patterns of ancestry across genomes, and they strengthen the foundation for future studies aimed at estimating genome-wide parameters of selection in admixed populations.
In-Situ Reaction Method to Synthetize Constant Solid-State Composites as Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage

The encapsulation and heat conduction of molten salt are very important for its application in heat storage systems. The general practice is to solidify molten salt with ceramic substrate and enhance heat conduction with carbon materials, but the cycle stability is not ideal. For this reason, it is of practical significance to study heat storage materials with a carbon-free thermal conductive adsorption framework. In this paper, the in-situ reaction method was employed to synthetize the constant solid-state composites for high-temperature thermal energy storage. AlN is hydrolyzed and calcined to form h-Al2O3 with a mesoporous structure to prevent the leakage of molten eutectic salt at high temperature. Its excellent thermal conductivity simultaneously improves the thermal conductivity of the composites. It is found that 15CPCMs prepared with 15% water addition have the best thermal conductivity (4.928 W/m·K) and mechanical strength (30.2 MPa). The enthalpy and the thermal storage density of 15CPCMs are 201.4 J/g and 1113.6 J/g, respectively. Due to the excellent leak-proof ability and lack of carbon materials, the 15CPCMs can maintain almost no mass loss after 50 cycles. These results indicate that 15CPCMs have promising prospects in thermal storage applications.
Community Income, Healthy Food Access, and Repeat Surgery for Kidney Stones.

Abstract Objectives : To determine if limited food access census tracts (LFACTs) and food swamp census tracts (FSCTs) are associated with increased risk for repeat kidney stone surgery. And to elucidate the relationship between community-level food retail environment relative to community-level income on repeat stone surgery over time. Methods : Data were abstracted from the UCSF Information Commons. Adult patients were included if they underwent at least one urologic stone procedure. Census tracts from available geographical data were mapped using Food Access Research Atlas data from the USDA Economic Research Service. Kaplan-Meier curves were employed to illustrate time to a second surgical procedure over five years, and log-rank tests were used to test for statistically significant differences. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to generate hazard ratios for undergoing second surgery by group. Results : A total of 1496 patients were included in this analysis. Repeat stone surgery occurred in 324 patients. Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated a statistically significant difference in curves depicting patients living in low income census tracts (LICTs) vs those not living in LICTs (p Conclusions : Income more so than food access associates with increased risk of repeat kidney stone surgery. Further research is needed to explore the interaction between low SES and kidney stone outcomes.
“Such as the Life is, Such is the Form”: Organicism among the Moderns

When in 1930 T. S. Eliot wrote that “words like emergent, organism, biological unity of life, simply do not arouse the right ‘response’ in my breast,” he was complaining about the organicist terminology employed by humanists like J. Middleton Murry and I. A. Richards.1 Eliot’s complaint, however, is peevish; his own criticism employs precisely that organicist vocabulary, adjusted only by a disclaimer of Murry’s or Richard’s pretensions (the occasion for Eliot’s irritation was the appearance of Murry’s God: Being an Introduction to the Science of Metabiology). Indeed, Eliot’s vocabulary of intimacy — the response in his breast — reveals his habitual critical disposition owes much to the Romantic heritage. Eliot’s work reflects, particularly, the approach of Coleridge’s Shakespeare criticism, from which this essay’s title is drawn. That fact has been notecl by many, including Harold Bloom and M. H. Abrams. George Bornstein, and Edward Lobb have discussed Eliot and Coleridge in detail, and a recent book by Carlos Baker, The Echoing Green (1984), testifies to the longterm importance of this connection between Romanticism and Modernism.
A reconciliation between quantitative feedback theory and robust multivariable control

Methods proposed for the design of robust controllers include quantitative feedback theory (QFT) and robust multivariable control. By reconciliating these methods one of the main weaknesses of QFT is removed, that is, it is shown that Nichols chart robustness bounds can be calculated without gridding of the uncertainty set by using standard tools from robust multivariable control.
Effects of Extrinsic Reinforcement for Reading during Childhood on Reported Reading Habits of College Students

The effects of participation in the “Book it!” reading program and parental pay for reading on reported reading habits of college students was investigated. College students were surveyed about the amount they read per week, their intrinsic interest in reading, if they participated in the Book It! program and if their parents paid them money to read during childhood. If they participated in Book It! and/or were paid to read, they were also asked what effects these factors had on their learning to read, their enjoyment of reading, and on the amount they read. Neither being reinforced with money or pizzas increased or decreased the amount college students read nor influenced their intrinsic motivation for reading. Answers to direct questions about Book It! and parental pay for reading suggest that when a child is extrinsically reinforced for reading the child will increase the amount read, enjoyment of reading may increase, and if they do not yet know how to read fluently, the programs may help the child to learn to read. These results provide no support for the myth that extrinsic rewards for reading undermine intrinsic interest in reading. Rather, extrinsic rewards for reading set the conditions where intrinsic motivation for reading may develop. Any concerns that reinforcement programs for reading will decrease later reading behaviors are unfounded.
An Unusual Cause of Abnormal Intrathoracic Impedance in a Patient with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

A device interrogation for a 32-year-old woman with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator capable of monitoring intrathoracic impedance demonstrated a dramatic increase in her OptiVol Fluid index levels in the absence of clinical heart failure. The timing of her intrathoracic impedance changes correlated with plasma volume changes during an uneventful pregnancy without cardiovascular complications. The strengths and limitations of intrathoracic impedance are described in the context of the physiology of pregnancy.
Using automatic metadata extraction to build a structured syllabus repository

Syllabi are important documents created by instructors for students. Gathering syllabi that are freely available, and creating useful services on top of the collection, will yield a digital library of value for the educational community. However, gathering and building a repository of syllabi is complicated by the unstructured nature of syllabus representation and the lack of a unified vocabulary for syllabus construction. In this paper, we propose an intelligent approach to automatically annotate freely-available syllabi from the Web to benefit the educational community through supporting services such as semantic search. We discuss our detailed process for converting unstructured syllabi to structured representations through entity recognition, segmentation, and association. Our evaluation results demonstrate the effiectiveness of our extractor and also suggest improvements. We hope our work will benefit not only users of our services but also people who are interested in building other genre-specific repositories.
Etiopathogenesis and Management of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

Perennial allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disorder characterized by symptoms of nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and itching. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis is quite common and affects 20% or more of various populations. Some patients with allergic rhinitis are symptomatic only during the pollen season, while many others are allergic to multiple allergens including indoor allergens such as house dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, and fungi, which lead to perennial symptoms. Immunoglobulin (Ig)-E is the proximate cause of perennial allergic rhinitis. Circulating IgE antibodies bind to the high affinity IgE receptor on mast cells and basophils. IgE antibodies, bound to the receptors crosslinked by allergen, initiate the secretion of inflammatory mediators including histamine, leukotrienes, and cytokines. These mediators can induce both acute and chronic changes that result in symptoms of allergy. Many therapies are approved for the treatment of allergic rhinitis including intranasal corticosteroids, antihistamines with or without decongestants, and nasal cromolyn sodium (sodium cromoglicate). Allergen avoidance is the mainstay of therapy for many patients but is not always practical. For those patients who have not responded to appropriate medications, allergen specific immunotherapy may also be effective. A number of studies with omalizumab have shown that it is effective in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis induced by pollen such as ragweed and birch pollen. Omalizumab is a molecularly cloned humanized monoclonal antibody inhibiting human IgE. It binds specifically to the region of the IgE molecule that binds to the IgE receptor on the mast cell or basophils. Because omalizumab cannot bind IgE molecules that are already bound to the surface receptors on mast cells and basophils, it does not stimulate secretion of mediators from these cells. Omalizumab does not appear to stimulate an immune response against itself. It rapidly reduces free serum IgE levels by over 95% when administered at therapeutic doses and also results in the reduction of IgE receptors on mast cells and basophils. The combined effects of reduction of both free IgE in serum and the receptor density on the mast cells or basophils results in decreased allergen-stimulated mediator release. Preliminary studies in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis supports omalizumab’s efficacy and safety. The compound has been well tolerated. Aside from urticarial reactions, adverse effects appear to be minimal. Omalizumab is the first of several new immune-based specifically targeted molecules that may prove to be extremely valuable in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis, as it is often unresponsive to traditional therapies.
The fate of 15N-labelled nitrate additions to a northern hardwood forest in eastern Maine, USA.

We followed the movements of 15N-labelled nitrate additions into biomass and soil pools of experimental plots (15×15 m each) in a mid-successional beech-maple-birch-spruce forest in order to identify sinks for nitrate inputs to a forest ecosystem. Replicate plots (n=3) were spray-irrigated with either 28 or 56 kg N ha-1 year-1 using 15N-labelled nitric acid solutions (δ15N = 344‰ ) during four successive growing seasons (April-October). The 15N contents of foliage, bolewood, forests floor and mineral soil (0-5 cm) increased during the course of treatments. Mass balance calculations showed that one-fourth to one-third of the nitrate applied to forest plots was assimilated into and retained by above ground plant tissues and surface soil horizons at both rates of nitrate application. Plant and microbial assimilation were of approximately equal importance in retaining nitrate additions to this forest. Nitrate use among tree species varied, however, with red spruce showing lower rates of nitrate assimilation into foliage and bolewood than American beech and other deciduous species.
Manual Control Laboratory

The manual control laboratory is a collection of human performance tasks chosen to illustrate principles of control theory. These tasks include a dynamics demo that illustrates the open loop response characteristics of different dynamic systems. This demo allows the user to simultaneously view the output for three systems. The dynamics for each system can be specified independently. Thus, the response characteristics can be directly observed and compared. A target acquisition task is used to illustrate modeling in the time domain. Feedback is provided in terms of time histories and state space trajectories. Modeling in the frequency domain is illustrated using a continuous, sum-of-sines tracking task. Performance assessment is provided in terms of power spectra and bode plots. The critical tracking (or Jex task) is used to illustrate the logic of root locus analysis. Across the tasks, variables that can be adjusted include gain, time delay, order of control, and the type of display logic (quickened or unq...
Deployment-Related Insomnia in Military Personnel and Veterans

Insomnia is a prevalent disorder that greatly impacts military personnel, especially those deployed in support of combat efforts. Deployment-related stressors like combat exposure, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) irregular sleep-wake schedules, and adjustment to the return home all contribute to insomnia. However, insomnia can also exacerbate the deployment experience and is a risk factor for traumatic stress reactions such as PTSD, depression, and suicide. Military personnel with mTBI are significantly impacted by insomnia; the majority experience sleep disruption and this can impede recovery and rehabilitation. As more service members return home from deployment, treatment is vital to reduce the impact of insomnia. Preliminary outcome data, showing positive results for reduction of sleep disruption, has been found with treatments such as combined cognitive behavioral treatment of insomnia (CBTI) and imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), preference-based interventions, as well as efforts to broadly disseminate CBTI. The recent literature on the impact and treatment of deployment-related insomnia is reviewed.
Accuracy of measured throughputs and mean response times

The performance of computer systems such as Web systems is measured to guarantee quality of service (QoS) or to compare difference configurations of the systems [8]. We consider the problem of whether we should measure mean response time or throughput to better guarantee QoS or to better compare different configurations of a Web system. Specifically, is measured mean response time or measured throughput more accurate, when the Web system is measured for a fixed period of time?
Spontaneous flight activity of Aedes trivittatus (Diptera: Culicidae) infected with trivittatus virus (Bunyaviridae: California serogroup).

Spontaneous flight activity of Aedes trivittatus (Coquillett) infected with trivittatus (TVT) virus was evaluated by using an acoustic activity chamber system on days 11 through 17 postinfection. Peak flight activity occurred at the beginning of the photophase, with a second activity period at the beginning of the scotophase. Circadian activity pattern and spontaneous flight activity of TVT-virus-infected mosquitoes were almost identical to those of uninfected controls, indicating that this virus has little influence on flight behavior of its natural arthropod host.
Toward a Microdevelopmental, Interdisciplinary Approach to Social Emotion:

Social emotions about others’ minds, for example, admiration for virtue and compassion for social pain, play a critical role in interpersonal relationships, motivation, and morality. However, histo...
Infection in the Elderly

Many functional, demographic, and immunologic changes associated with aging are responsible for increasing the incidence and severity of infectious diseases in the elderly. Management is complicated by age-related organ system changes. Because many of the elderly are on multiple medications for underlying illnesses, antimicrobial therapy needs to be chosen keeping drug interactions and adverse events in mind. Common infections seen in the elderly are infections of skin and soft tissue, urinary tract, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract. Organized and well-funded programs to address infectious disease issues in the elderly are the only way to improve care.
Effects of body weight loss on position and brightness discrimination tasks

Abstract Thirty-six male, albino rats were given discrimination training in a T-maze. The design consisted of a 3 × 2 factorial combining three levels of drive (95%, 85%, and 75% mean ad lib body weight loss) and two types of discrimination tasks (position and brightness). It was found that discrimination learning was facilitated by increased drive and Ss that were reduced to 85% and 75% their mean ad lib body weights learned the position problem in less days and with fewer errors to criterion than animals trained on the brightness task. However, as a function of an initially strong tendency for rats trained under low drive to demonstrate spontaneous alternation behavior task differences, as measured by errors to criterion, were not found.
Effects of age, sex and multiple endocrine neoplasia type-II on silver stained nucleolar organizer regions

Silver stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) were studied in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes from 55 Caucasian control individuals (34 females with average age of 24 years and age range 19 weeks gestation to 87 years; 21 males with average age of 31 years and age range 29 weeks gestation to 72 years) and 13 individuals (7 females, 6 males; average age 38.8 years with age range 25–58 years) with multiple endocrine neoplasia-type II (MEN-II), an autosomal dominant malignancy with increased chromosome breakage. For the first time, AgNORs were examined in lymphocytes from normal fetuses and patients with MEN-II in order to determine the effects of age, sex or malignancy on the number of AgNORs. No significant difference in the average number of AgNORs were found in fetal cells (8.2 ± S.D. 0.7/cell) when compared with cells from older individuals including those over 65 years of age (8.0 ± S.D. 0.8/cell). There was a statistically significant negative correlation (P < 0.05) between the modal number of AgNORs on G but not D chromosomes in both males and females. A negative correlation was also found between the mean number of AgNORs and age but was not statistically significant. The average number of AgNORs in the MEN-II individuals was 8.5 ± S.D. 0.7/cell, which was not significantly different than 8.2 ± S.D.0.7/cell observed in age-matched control subjects.
Large‐scale speed fluctuations at 1 AU on scales from 1 hour to ≈1 year: 1999 and 1995

[1] This paper describes the solar wind speed fluctuations, V(τi), observed on a wide range of scales (from 1 hour to ≈1 year) at 1 AU, both during 1999 approaching solar maximum and during 1995 during the descending phase of solar activity. The fluctuations extend from the inertial turbulence range, throughout the scales dominated by interaction regions and streams, and through the largest scales where the fluctuations reflect the variability of the characteristics of the streams. The general properties of the fluctuations of the speed differences, dVn, on all of these scales, τn, are described by the three functions: skewness S(τn), kurtosis K(τn), and standard deviation SD(τn). These three functions have the same qualitative form for both the 1999 data and the 1995 data, in the range of scales of τn = 10.7–341 days (the “Gaussian range”), S(τn) ≈ 0, and K(τn) ≈ 3, consistent with Gaussian distribution functions for both 1999 and 1995. The skewness is positive for τn 10.7 days, the PDFs are Gaussian for the 1999 data and approximately Gaussian for the 1995 period. For scales defined by streams, the PDFs are like Gaussians but fatter on the dVn > 0 side. The PDFs are cubic on a semilog scale for the 1999 data and are approximately cubic for the 1995 data. At scales characteristic of the sizes of interaction regions, the PDFs have a large tail for dVn > 0 that is produced by the large positive dVn at leading edges of streams. At the smallest scales, the PDFs have a form that is characteristic of intermittent turbulence. The power spectra for the 1999 and 1995 data are power laws in frequency throughout the interaction region range and the stream range, the slopes being β = −2.02 ± 0.01 and −2.12 ± 0.04, respectively, consistent with the dominance of shocks and jumps over turbulence. The fluctuations of V(τn) have a multifractal scaling structure, described by a function s(q), the exponent of the structure function versus moment number q in the inertial range, the interaction region range, and extending to the stream range. In the interaction region and stream ranges, s(3) > 1.
A note on sample size computation for testing interactions.

This paper discusses a simple method to compute sample sizes for testing interactions in analysis of variance. It uses orthogonal contrasts to determine the power. For the 2 X 2 table this gives a single degree of freedom contrast for consideration. For larger designs, one must consider a set of contrasts. The use of Bonferroni or Scheffe critical values is discussed. This method allows the user to compute easily a sample size without recourse to the non-central F distribution.
Analysis of Factors That Affect the Frequency of Truck Parking Violations in Urban Areas

It has been estimated that the illegal parking of parcel delivery vehicles is the third leading cause of urban nonrecurring congestion, behind vehicle crashes and construction. However, little has been done to investigate the causes of illegal parking by trucks and to develop mitigation strategies. As an exploratory step toward addressing truck parking problems in urban areas, this study analyzed data on truck parking citations in Chicago, Illinois, to identify factors that affected the high density of violations. A geographic information system was used to analyze hot spots. The analysis showed that parking problems were generally worse in or near downtown and became less prevalent toward the outer perimeter of the city. However, truck parking did not seem to be a serious issue in the part of the city that had been home to industrial sites for a long time. Regression analysis revealed that truck parking problems could be exacerbated by concentrations of food businesses in newly developed neighborhoods wi...
The effect of fiber content on the fatigue life of SCS6/Ti-15-3 composite

Previous papers on silicon carbide/Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn (SCS6/Ti-15-3) composite have explored many aspects of fatigue behavior in this system. However, most of this effort has centered on composites with a 35 volume percent (v/o) fiber content. The objective of this study was to systematically compare the isothermal fatigue behavior of unidirectionally reinforced SCS6/Ti-15-3 composites with significantly different fiber contents. The target fiber contents of interest were 15, 35 and 45 v/o in this study.
Multiple, Clustered Dermatofibroma: A Rare Clinical Variant of Dermatofibroma

Background: Although patients with one to two dermatofibromas are common, cases of “multiple” dermatofibromas (more than 15 lesions) are rare and may occur in the context of altered or normal immune function. Patients with multiple dermatofibromas clustered in one anatomic area, by contrast, are strikingly rare. Objective: The aim of our study was to present an additional case of multiple, clustered dermatofibroma (MCDF) and to summarize the literature concerning this entity. Methods: We performed a MEDLINE (1960–2001) database search using keywords “dermatofibroma” AND “clustered” OR “agminated” OR “grouped.” Results: Five case reports were identified using this search strategy. These cases demonstrated substantial similarity in clinical features and behavior, specifically, the presence of pruritic symptoms, no clear inciting incident, an early active growth phase followed by stabilization, predilection for the lower extremity, and no report of sarcomatous transformation. Conclusion: Despite an active early growth phase, MCDF appears to follow a benign clinical course, with no report of sarcomatous transformation at up to 20 years followup.
Relational object association learning in rats with hippocampal lesions

The contribution of the hippocampus to relational association learning was examined using a paired associate task in the rat. Using a go/no-go paradigm, rats were trained to respond quickly on positive pair presentations, and to withhold responding on negative pair presentations. Using four constant three-dimensional objects (A, B, C and D), pairing of either AB or CD was assigned as positive pairs, whereas the other possible object combinations (AC, DB, AD, and CB) were never associated with reinforcement. A further type of negative pair trial was also studied which involved object-pairs composed of one of the four constant objects and another object, which varied from trial, and which was selected from a set of 120 junk objects. Electrolytic lesions of the hippocampus were performed on the rats which had previously acquired the paired associate task. Results indicated that hippocampal lesions did not significantly impair the ability of the animals to solve the paired associate task. To study further the exact nature of the learned associations, a transfer test which involved a reversal of the spatial position within each of the six positive as well as negative pair-types was conducted. Results of the transfer test demonstrated that hippocampal-lesioned as well as control rats performed normally by distinguishing the positive from negative pairs regardless of the relative location of stimuli within the object pairs. These data suggest that the hippocampus might not be critical for relational object associations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Survey of model-based failure detection and isolation in complex plants

Techniques to detect and isolate failures in complex technological systems, such as sensor biases, actuator malfunctions, leaks, and equipment deterioration are surveyed. The methods are based on analytical redundancy afforded by a mathematical model of the system. The main components of such techniques are residual generation using the model, signature generation by statistical testing, and signature analysis. Model-structural conditions for failure isolation are introduced together with transformation methods to implement them. Sensitivity and robustness considerations are presented, and a design framework based on model redundancy is proposed. >
The relaxation spectra of nickel(II) and cobalt(II) arginine complexes

The temperature-jump method has been used to determine the nickel(II)- and cobalt(II)-arginine complexation kinetics. In the pH range studied, the neutral form of the ligand, HL, is the attacking, as well as the complexed, ligand species. The reactions reported on are of the type where n = 1, 2, 3 and M is Ni or Co. At 25° and ionic strength 0.1M the association rate constants are: for nickel(II) k1 = 2.3 × 103(±20%), k2 = 2.4 × 104(±20%), k3 = 3.5 × 104(±40%) M−1 sec−1; for cobalt(II) k1 = 1.5 × 105(±20%), k2 = 8.7 × 105(±20%), k3 = 2.0 × 105(±40%) M−1 sec−1. Arginine binds to metal ions less well than homologous chelating agents due to the electrostatic repulsion arising from the positively charged terminus of the zwitterion. Kinetically, the effect appears in the association rate constants with nickel reactions more strongly influenced than cobalt.
Full-thickness diaphragmatic resection with simple and secure closure to accomplish complete cytoreductive surgery for patients with ovarian cancer

Abstract Objective The diaphragm is a common site of metastasis in patients with primary ovarian cancer. While most diaphragmatic implants are superficial, invasive disease can occur. This report evaluates the use of full-thickness diaphragmatic resection in completely cytoreduced ovarian cancer. Methods A prospective record of all patients with ovarian cancer treated between May 1, 2002, and September 30, 2003, was kept. Seven of the 37 patients required full-thickness diaphragmatic resection to achieve complete cytoreduction. The surgical technique and outcome as well as the clinical course and disease status were monitored. Results Full-thickness diaphragmatic metastases were resected and diaphragmatic defects were closed with #1 loop-PDS suture in a mass closure technique. In addition to diaphragm resections, a variety of other procedures were performed to achieve complete cytoreduction. Intraoperative blood loss ranged from 800 to 2500 ml. Operating room time ranged from 3.5 to 7 h. No chest tube placements were required. The length of hospitalization ranged from 10 to 24 days. Paclitaxel and carboplatin was administered to each patient without the need for dose reductions or treatment delays. Complete clinical response was achieved in six of seven patients. One patient died with disease 4 months after surgery. Follow-up ranged from 4 to 21 months. Conclusions Diaphragmatic resection is feasible and has minimal morbidity. The use of a loop-PDS suture to close the diaphragmatic defect adds ease and security to the procedure. If complete cytoreduction can be accomplished with the use of this procedure, it is conceivable that benefits in clinical outcomes may be offered to patients with aggressive, advanced ovarian cancer.
Disruption of a yeast very-long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase gene simulates the cellular phenotype of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is characterized biochemically by elevated levels of saturated very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in plasma and tissues. In X-ALD, peroxisomal very-long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (VLCS) fails to activate VLCFAs, preventing their degradation via β-oxidation. However, the product of the defective XALD gene (ALDP) is not a VLCS, but rather a peroxisomal membrane protein (PMP). Disruption of either or both of two yeast PMP genes related to the XALD gene did not produce a biochemical phenotype resembling that found in X-ALD fibroblasts. The authors identified a candidate yeast VLCS gene (the FAT1 locus) by its homology to rat liver VLCS. Disruption of this gene decreased VLCS activity, but had no effect on long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase activity. In FAT1-disruption strains, VLCS activity was reduced to 30–40% of wild-type in both a microsome-rich 27,000g supernatant fraction and a peroxisome- and mitochondria-rich pellet fraction of yeast spheroplast homogenates. Separation of the latter organelles by density gradient centrifugation revealed that VLCS activity was peroxisomal and not mitochondrial. VLCS gene-disruption strains had increased cellular VLCFA levels, compared to wild-type yeast. The extent of both the decrease in peroxisomal VLCS activity and the VLCFA accumulation in this yeast model resembles that observed in cells from X-ALD patients. Characterization of the gene(s) responsible for the residual peroxisomal VLCS activity may suggest new therapeutic approaches in X-ALD.
Self‐Knowledge: Rationalism vs. Empiricism

Recent philosophical discussions of self-knowledge have focused on basic cases: our knowledge of our own thoughts, beliefs, sensations, experiences, preferences, and intentions. Empiricists argue that we acquire this sort of self-knowledge through inner perception; rationalists assign basic self-knowledge an even more secure source in reason and conceptual understanding. I try to split the difference. Although our knowledge of our own beliefs and thoughts is conceptually insured, our knowledge of our experiences is relevantly like our perceptual knowledge of the external world.
RAPID LIVER METABOLISM, URINARY AND BILIARY EXCRETION, AND ENTEROHEPATIC CIRCULATION OF 16ALPHA-RADIOIODO-17BETA-ESTRADIOL

Abstract The radiohalogenated estrogen 16alpha-[ 123 I]iodo-17beta-estradiol ([ 123 1]E2) is emerging as a diagnostic tool for imaging of ER-rich malignant tumors, with potential application for site-directed radiotherapy. Clinical use requires an accurate accounting for the biodistribution of the radioactivity, including an assessment of its enterohepatic circulation. We investigated the metabolism and circulation of [ 125 1]E2 in the enterohepatic system in swine, a pharmacokinetic model that resembles humans. With indicator dilution methods, we found that, after its injection into the portal vein, more than 99% of [ 125 1]E2 was cleared from the blood by the liver during the first pass. Water-soluble metabolites were then partly released into the blood and partly excreted into bile. After injection of [1251]E2 into the external jugular vein, one-third of the radioactivity was excreted in bile and two-thirds in the urine. More than 90% of the radioactivity in urine and bile was that of [ 1251 ]E2-glucuronide or [ 125 1]E2-sulfate; only a very small fraction of the excreted radioactivity was from free 1251. Radioactivity in bile collected from one swine after i.v. injection of [ 125 1]E2, and then infused into the proximal duodenum of a second swine, was almost totally absorbed during passage through the intestine at 5–7 hr after infusion. The reabsorbed radioactivity was cleared in the urine.
Prenatal Counseling on Seat Belt Use and Crash-Related Medical Care

Describe the prevalence of and characteristics associated with being hurt in a car accident during pregnancy; the resulting medical care needed; and the association between counseling and the medical care needed after a car accident. Secondary data analysis of PRAMS (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System) data, a population based survey of women with a recent live birth. Two percent of women were hurt in a car accident during their pregnancy. Only 57% of them had received counseling on seat belt use. Most women (87%) who were hurt in an accident needed medical care. Being counseled on seat belt use was not associated with the level of care needed. Most pregnant women who are hurt in a car accident require medical care or bed rest. Public health action and research is needed to reduce the burden of motor-vehicle related injuries among pregnant women.
Slip sliding away: load-dependence of velocity generated by skeletal muscle myosin molecules in the laser trap.

Skeletal muscle's ability to shorten and lengthen against a load is a fundamental property, presumably reflecting the inherent load-dependence of the myosin molecular motor. Here we report the velocity of a single actin filament translocated by a mini-ensemble of skeletal myosin ∼8 heads under constant loads up to 15 pN in a laser trap assay. Actin filament velocity decreased with increasing load hyberbolically, with unloaded velocity and stall force differing by a factor of 2 with [ATP] (30 vs. 100 μM). Analysis of actin filament movement revealed that forward motion was punctuated with rapid backward 60-nm slips, with the slip frequency increasing with resistive load. At stall force, myosin-generated forward movement was balanced by backward slips, whereas at loads greater than stall, myosin could no longer sustain forward motion, resulting in negative velocities as in eccentric contractions of whole muscle. Thus, the force-velocity relationship of muscle reflects both the inherent load-dependence of the actomyosin interaction and the balance between forward and reverse motion observed at the molecular level.
Adaptive trade-off in floral morphology mediates specialization for flowers pollinated by bats and hummingbirds.

Abstract: Evolution toward increased specificity in pollination systems is thought to have played a central role in the diversification of angiosperms. Theory predicts that the presence of trade‐offs in adapting to different pollinator types will favor specialization, yet few studies have attempted to characterize such interactions in nature. I conducted flight cage experiments with bats, hummingbirds, and artificial flowers to examine effects of corolla width on pollination. I videotaped visits to analyze pollinator behavior and counted pollen grains transferred to stigmas. Results demonstrated that flower‐pollinator fit is critical to effective pollination; wide corollas guided bat snouts better, and narrow corollas guided hummingbird bills better. Poor fit resulted in variable entry angles and decreased pollen transfer. A model using these results predicts that wide corollas will be selected for when bats make more than 44% of the visits and narrow corollas when they make fewer. Intermediate corollas a...
Direct anterior approach for total hip arthroplasty using the fracture table

Total hip arthroplasty is a successful procedure for treatment of painful hip arthritides. A large volume of literature is devoted to the patient outcomes and complication profiles of the commonly used surgical approaches to help refine the technique, enhance patient function, and limit cost and patient morbidity. The direct anterior approach has been reported using a fracture table to promote surgical exposure to the proximal femur. This technique is described herein with attention paid to the technical points which facilitate surgical exposure, patient safety, and functional outcome. Following a literature review of recent reports using this procedure are reviewed in context of the reported complications. The results show the direct anterior approach using a fracture table performed by experienced surgeons is an effective technique which provides early postoperative function and reduces the risk of dislocation.
Abstract LB-210: A multiplexed serum biomarker immunoassay panel discriminates clinical lung cancer patients from cancer-free high-risk subjects in a CT-screened cohort

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Clinical decision making in the setting of CT screening could benefit from accessible biomarkers that help predict the level of lung cancer risk in high-risk subjects with indeterminate pulmonary nodules commonly found by screening. The specificity and sensitivity needed to improve interpretation of CT images in the setting of a suspicious pulmonary nodule would be less stringent than those needed for lung cancer screening in the general population. As a first step in identifying and characterizing serum protein biomarkers to more accurately identify individuals with lung cancer in populations of high-risk tobacco-exposed individuals, we measured 70 cancer-related proteins by Luminex xMAP® multiplexed immunoassays in a training set of sera from 56 patients with biopsy-proven primary lung cancer diagnosed in a clinical setting and sera from 56 age-, sex- and smoking-matched CT-screened controls. These controls are drawn from a cohort of participants in the Pittsburgh Lung Screening Study (PLuSS) who have undergone CT screening and are known to be cancer-free after a minimum of 3 years follow-up. We found a profile of 8 biomarkers - PRL, TTR, THSP, SELE, CCL5, MIF, and SERPINE1 and ERBB2 - that distinguished lung cancer from controls in the training set with a sensitivity (SN) of 92.9% and specificity (SP) of 87.5%. The balanced accuracy (average of SN and SP) from 20-fold internal cross-validation of the training set was 82.5% ± 4.8%. We then applied this 8 biomarker model to an independent test set of 10 additional clinically detected lung cancer cases and 83 randomly selected PLuSS participants who were known to be cancer-free. These PLuSS controls in the test set included subjects with and without CT-detected pulmonary nodules and a range of airflow obstruction and radiographic emphysema. The biomarker model classified these test set cases and controls with a balanced accuracy of 83.6% (90.0% SN and 77.1% SP). Importantly, the misclassified PLuSS controls in the test set displayed no significant association with airway function variables or level of suspicion of pulmonary nodule. Taken together, these data suggest that the 8 biomarker panel classified lung cancer independently of pulmonary function abnormalities and the presence of non-cancerous pulmonary nodules, and thus may provide clinical utility in ruling out lung cancer in tobacco-exposed individuals screened by CT imaging. [Supported by NCI SPORE in Lung Cancer P50 CA090440 (JMS) and NCI Early Detection Research Network Biomarker Discovery Laboratory U01 CA084968 (WLB)]. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-210.
Differences in iodinated peptides and thyroid hormone formation after chemical and thyroid peroxidase-catalyzed iodination of human thyroglobulin

The distribution of iodine among the polypeptides of human goiter thyroglobulin (Tg) was examined. Tg was iodinated in vitro with 131I to levels of 2 to 84 gram atoms (g.a.)/mol using thyroid peroxidase (TPO) or a chemical iodination system. The samples were reduced, alkylated, and subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two low-molecular-weight peptides appeared preferentially in radioautograms of the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gels of TPO-iodinated samples. Iodination of these peptides increased sharply in the TPO-treated Tg as the level of total iodine/molecule rose. Radioiodine was incorporated into these same gel regions in the chemically treated Tg, but only after much higher levels of total iodination were reached. Differences in iodoamino acid distribution were also noted between the chemically and enzymatically iodinated thyroglobulins. In the chemically iodinated samples, little thyroxine (T4) was synthesized, even at high iodine levels. In the TPO-treated samples only small amounts of T4 were seen below 14 g.a. total I/mol, while at or above that level of iodination T4 formation increased sharply. To examine the coupling process, Tg was chemically iodinated, excess I- removed, and the samples treated with TPO and a H2O2-generating system in the absence of iodide. Radioautograms obtained from SDS-polyacrylamide gels of reduced and alkylated protein from such coupling assays showed an increase in the level of iodine in the low-molecular-weight peptides after TPO treatment. Thyroxine production also increased with TPO treatment. The addition of free DIT (a known coupling enhancer) to the [131I]Tg/TPO incubation increased both the production of T4 and the amount of iodine in the smaller polypeptides. Two-dimensional maps prepared from CNBr-digested TG showed differences between the coupled and uncoupled samples. Our observations confirm the importance of the low-molecular-weight peptides derived from Tg in thyroid hormone synthesis. At total iodine levels above 14 g.a./mol Tg in enzymatically treated samples there is selective incorporation of iodine into both the low-molecular-weight polypeptides and into thyroid hormone.
An alternative Monte Carlo approach to the thermal radiative transfer problem

The usual Monte Carlo approach to the thermal radiative transfer problem is to view Monte Carlo as a solution technique for the nonlinear thermal radiative transfer equations. The equations contain time derivatives which are approximated by introducing small time steps. An alternative approach avoids time steps by using Monte Carlo to directly sample the time at which the next event occurs. That is, the time is advanced on a natural event-by-event basis rather than by introducing an artificial time step.