cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urea nitrogen recycling via gut symbionts increases in hibernators over the winter fast

Abstract Hibernation is a mammalian strategy that uses metabolic plasticity to reduce energy demands and enable long-term fasting. Fasting mitigates winter food scarcity but eliminates dietary nitrogen, jeopardizing body protein balance. Here, we reveal gut microbiome-mediated urea nitrogen recycling in hibernating 13-lined ground squirrels (TLGS). Ureolytic gut microbes incorporate urea nitrogen into organic compounds that are absorbed by the host, with the nitrogen reincorporated into the TLGS protein pool. Urea nitrogen recycling is greatest after prolonged fasting in late winter, when urea transporter abundance in gut tissue and urease gene abundance in the microbiome are highest. These results reveal a functional role for the gut microbiome in hibernation and suggest mechanisms by which urea nitrogen recycling contributes to protein balance in other monogastric animals, including humans. One Sentence Summary Ground squirrels and their gut symbionts benefit from urea nitrogen recycling throughout hibernation.
Reperfusion Treatment and Stroke Outcomes in Hospitals With Telestroke Capacity

Importance Telestroke is increasingly used in hospital emergency departments, but there has been limited research on its impact on treatment and outcomes. Objective To describe differences in care patterns and outcomes among patients with acute ischemic stroke who present to hospitals with and without telestroke capacity. Design, Setting, and Participants Patients with acute ischemic stroke who first presented to hospitals with telestroke capacity were matched with patients who presented to control hospitals without telestroke capacity. All traditional Medicare beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke (approximately 2.5 million) who presented to a hospital between January 2008 and June 2017 were considered. Matching was based on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, hospital characteristics, and month and year of admission. Hospitals included short-term acute care and critical access hospitals in the US without local stroke expertise. In 643 hospitals with telestroke capacity, there were 76 636 patients with stroke who were matched 1:1 to patients at similar hospitals without telestroke capacity. Data were analyzed in July 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures Receipt of reperfusion treatment through thrombolysis with alteplase or thrombectomy, mortality at 30 days from admission, spending through 90 days from admission, and functional status as measured by days spent living in the community after discharge. Results In the final sample of 153 272 patients, 88 386 (57.7%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 78.8 (10.4) years. Patients cared for at telestroke hospitals had higher rates of reperfusion treatment compared with those cared for at control hospitals (6.8% vs 6.0%; difference, 0.78 percentage points; 95% CI, 0.54-1.03;P Conclusions and Relevance Patients with ischemic stroke treated at hospitals with telestroke capacity were more likely to receive reperfusion treatment and have lower 30-day mortality.
Advancing Relationships among Critical Race Feministas: Maintaining Ethical Ambitions within the Coloniality of Academia

Derrick Bell articulated the possibilities of ethical ambitions to “live lives that matter,” to make honorable decisions, to advance morality, and to maintain relationships with those who are commi...
2 µm all-fiber frequency comb providing single cycle pulses and a 2-octave spectrum

We present a Tm:fiber frequency comb emitting 6.8 fs pulses centered at 1930 nm with 100 MHz repetition rate, 215 kW peak power and 374 mW average power. The output spectrum covers two octaves.
Haiti: The Epilogue

On Monday, September 13, 2010, the children of a small orphanage in a rural area of Haiti gathered around a table to check on the seedlings they had planted in little Dixie cups filled with dirt.
Specialized Machining Techniques for Target and Diagnostic Fabrication

During the course of machining targets for various experiments, it sometimes becomes necessary to take fixtures or machines that are designed for one function and adapt them to another function. When adapting a machine or fixture is not adequate, it may be necessary to acquire a machine specifically designed to produce the component required. In addition to the above scenarios, the features of a component may dictate that multistep machining processes are necessary to produce the component. This paper discusses the machining of four components where adaptation, specialized machine design, or multistep processes were necessary to produce the components.
Problems Relating to the Existence of Maximal and Minimal Elements in Some Families of Statistics (Subfields)

In statistical theory one comes across various families of statistics (subfields). For each such family, it is of some interest to ask oneself as to whether the family has maximal and/or minimal elements. The author proves here the existence of such elements in a number of cases and leaves the question unsolved in a number of other cases. A number of problems of an allied nature are also discussed.
Bromination Roasting of Rare Earth Oxides

The Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department at Montana Tech is investigating various methods of extracting and refining rare earth elements from mineral ores and concentrates. As part of this research, an elevated temperature “roasting” process has been evaluated as a means of converting the rare earth elements contained in various matrices to bromides as a pretreatment step in preparation for downstream rare earth element extraction and recovery operations. Laboratory and bench-scale experiments have been performed to assess the effects of varying temperature (150 to 400° C), time (1 to 4 h), and the ammonium bromide to rare earth oxide molar ratio (6 to 24) in the roaster charge. The results show that nearly complete bromination of the rare earth oxide is achievable when the roast is performed under optimum conditions.
The impact of unlinkability on adversarial community detection: effects and countermeasures

We consider the threat model of a mobile-adversary drawn from contemporary computer security literature, and explore the dynamics of community detection and hiding in this setting. Using a real-world social network, we examine the extent of network topology information an adversary is required to gather in order to accurately ascertain community membership information. We show that selective surveillance strategies can improve the adversary's efficiency over random wiretapping. We then consider possible privacy preserving defenses; using anonymous communications helps, but not much; however, the use of counter-surveillance techniques can significantly reduce the adversary's ability to learn community membership. Our analysis shows that even when using anonymous communications an adversary placing a selectively chosen 8% of the nodes of this network under surveillance (using key-logger probes) can de-anonymize the community membership of as much as 50% of the network. Uncovering all community information with targeted selection requires probing as much as 75% of the network. Finally, we show that a privacy conscious community can substantially disrupt community detection using only local knowledge even while facing up to the asymmetry of a completely knowledgeable mobile-adversary.
Action pattern of beta-amylase.

CURRENT opinion with respect to the action pattern of β-amylase on amylose is divided into three divergent points of view: (1) single-chain pattern, in which β-amylase, having commenced attack on a given amylose molecule, completely hydrolyses this molecule to maltose before attacking another molecule; (2) multi-chain pattern, in which β-amylase removes a single maltose molecule from the non-reducing terminus of an amylose molecule, then completely separates from the substrate molecule and continues the attack on other amylose molecules in the same way; (3) multiple attack, in which β-amylase remains associated with a given amylose molecule long enough to remove, on the average, several molecules of maltose before attacking another amylose molecule. Substantial evidence exists which can be interpreted in favour of each of these points of view1–6.
High-frequency ventilation in premature infants with lung disease: adequate gas exchange at low tracheal pressure.

The technique of high-frequency ventilation (HFV) was used in ten infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome and five infants with pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE). The mean frequency used was 12 Hz (720/min). Peak tracheal pressure for the infants with respiratory distress syndrome was 28 ± 4 (SD) cm H2O on conventional ventilation, and 22 ± 4 cm H2O on HFV (P
HIFU‐Induced Hyperecho in Ultrasound Images, Cavitation Activity and Thermal Behavior

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatment of soft tissues has been shown to result in a hyperechoic region in B‐mode ultrasound (US) images. This is believed to result from bubble activity at the HIFU focus. Here we report our in vivo results of detecting inertial and stable cavitation in correlation with the appearance of a hyperechoic region, along with in vitro confirmation of these results that included measurement of the temperature at the HIFU focus. The ultrasound system consisted of a HIFU transducer (3.3 MHz), a broadband A‐mode transducer for active and passive cavitation detection (ACD and PCD), and an US‐imaging probe that were all co‐focal and synchronized. HIFU, at in situ intensities of 220– 1,710 W/cm2, was applied for 10 s to pig muscles in vivo or polyacrylamide in vitro at a focal depth of 2 cm. A thermocouple placed at the HIFU focus was added to the above system during the in vitro portion of this study. ACD and PCD results showed a strong correlation between the onset of cavitation and the appearance of a hyperechoic region. In vivo PCD results showed that inertial cavitation typically occurred prior (within 0.5 s) to the appearance of a hyperechoic region. In vitro PCD results show that inertial cavitation occurred at or within 1–2 pulses prior to the appearance of a hyperechoic region and typically preceded rapid heating up to 110 °C at the HIFU focus within 1–2 pulses. The observed cavitation activity suggests that bubbles are present during the formation of a hyperechoic region at the HIFU focus and that boiling occurs rapidly after the onset of cavitation. Further investigation is needed to determine if the hyperechoic region in the US image originates from bubbles formed during cavitation alone or during cavitation‐induced boiling.
Factors associated with in-hospital pulmonary embolism after shoulder arthroplasty.

Background Despite that pulmonary embolism (PE) is a feared complication after shoulder arthroplasty, little is known about its perioperative associated factors. Materials and methods We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to gather a sample of 422,372 patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty between 2002 and 2011. This population was divided into 2 cohorts on the basis of those who experienced perioperative PE (0.25%) and those who did not. Demographics were compiled for both cohorts. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to account for confounding variables and to determine significant predictors of perioperative PE. Results After adjusting for patient demographic and clinical variables in multivariable regression modeling, the top 4 independent predictors for PE were primary diagnosis of proximal humerus fracture, deficiency anemia, congestive heart failure, and chronic lung disease. Other pertinent risk factors included increasing age, obesity, fluid and electrolyte abnormalities, undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty rather than hemiarthroplasty, and subsequent days of postoperative care. Conclusions Knowledge of these factors might help in preoperative counseling and prove useful for implementation of quality improvement strategies to reduce the occurrence of PE. Surgeons may consider initiating thromboprophylaxis in patients with any of the aforementioned comorbidities.
Buying Negative Agenda Control in the U.S. House

We explore the foundations of the legislative party cartel, as theorized by Cox and McCubbins (1993, 2005), to determine how majority-party moderates who suffer net policy losses from the majority leadership's use of negative agenda control are kept from defecting from the cartel arrangement. First, we identify formally the group of majority-party members who are net policy losers. We find that those members occupying the initial 30% of the space within the majority-party blockout zone—that space closest to the floor median—are hurt on a pure policy basis by the cartel arrangement. Second, we find that members in this “30% zone” are rewarded disproportionately by majority-party leaders (relative to members in other intervals on the same side of the floor median) via side payments in the form of campaign contributions. In addition, majority-party members within the 30% zone receive side payments commensurate with their particular policy loss.
Computer generated repeatable tests

While we wait for Computer-Assisted Instruction to revolutionize teaching practices, a number of more tractable computer techniques are proving useful in dealing with large university classes. One of these, the use of Computer Generated Repeatable Tests (CGRT), is the topic of this paper. The concept of repeatable testing has intrigued teachers for years. The idea is to have the flexibility in class examination procedures to test a student repeatedly over a section of material, and at the student's own pace. The implementation of such a plan involves producing, administering, and grading large numbers of different tests over the same material. In classes of moderate or large size, the mechanics of such procedures has defeated even the most dedicated instructors. The present computer augmented procedure---a result of collaboration between a psychology professor (DDJ) and a computer professional---overcomes the difficulties by fully automating the preparation and grading of individualized tests. Before discussing the technical details of the CGRT process, we will briefly give the rationale behind repeatable testing.
Reproduction of Scaphytopius delongi (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in relation to age of males and females

The reproductive biology of leaf hoppers has received little attention. The scant information available results from studies of the general biology of a few species. For example, the oviposition behavior of Empoasca fabae (Harris) was described by Carlson and Hibbs (1970), and Miller and Hibbs (1963) studied the distribution of E. fabae eggs in plant tissue. This paper describes some effects of male and female age on oviposition and hatching in Scaphytopius delongi Young.
A model to predict survival at time of postcardiotomy intraaortic balloon pump insertion

To facilitate timely application of new forms of cardiac support to patients at highest risk after cardiotomy despite conventional support with the intraaortic balloon pump, an accurate prediction of survival must be available at the time of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. We, therefore, acquired 240 demographic, disease, and perioperative characteristics of 322 patients (mortality rate, 48.4%) who required IABP support to separate from bypass. Four variables available before or within 10 minutes of the first attempt at weaning from bypass significantly predicted mortality by stepwise logistic regression: complete heart block as demonstrated by need for temporary pacing at weaning (p < 0.001), advanced age (p < 0.002), preoperative blood urea nitrogen concentration (p = 0.036), and female sex (p = 0.048). An equation generated by the logistic model predicted a 72.2% survival rate in the 25% of patients at least risk (actual survival rate, 71.6%); in the 25% at greatest risk, death was predicted in 73.0%, and the actual mortality rate was 74.1%. The equation was then prospectively applied to 330 intraaortic balloon pump-supported patients managed at another institution. The overall mortality rate there was 41.2%; in the 25% at least risk, predicted survival rate was 70.5% (actual survival rate, 77.1%), and in the 25% at greatest risk, predicted mortality rate was 75.7% (actual mortality rate, 62.7%). Thus, retrospectively at one institution and prospectively at another, the equation generated by this model based only on data available at the time of weaning from bypass was able to define one subgroup of patients 2.6 to 2.7 times as likely to die as another subgroup from within similar cohorts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sensitivity to nonverbal cues as a function of social competence

The hypothesis that sensitivity to nonverbal messages is an important component of social compentence was tested employing 24 female subjects. It was predicted that subjects low in social competence would experience a high level of anxiety in a social interaction and that this would interfere with their ability to attend to the nonverbal behaviors of others. Subjects were given the task of interviewing a confederate. They were instructed to change the interview topic if the questioning appeared to produce discomfort in their partner. The confederate displayed a series of nonverbal cues indicating mounting tension while responding to certain questions. Two measures of sensitivity to the cues were obtained: (1) how quickly the subject changed the interview topic in response to the cues and (2) how many nonverbal cues the subject reported observing. The findings indicated that low-competence subjects reported having observed as many of the nonverbal messages as the high-competence subjects but failed to respond to them. An explanation for this is offered based on information gathered during a postexperimental interview. No difference was found between groups for level of anxiety experienced during the interaction. This is discussed in terms of the experimental design employed, which may have served to reduce anxiety in the subjects.
The mechanical strength of submicron porous silver foils

The tensile behavior of free-standing silver membranes with constituent micro-to-nanoscale porosity is measured as a function of strain rate to better understand operative deformation mechanisms across multiple length scales of structure. Composite structural features that can contribute to the rate-dependent strength behavior include the porosity, filament (or strut) size, and the constituent grain size. The strain-rate sensitivity of the porous silver specimens is found to increase with a functional decrease in the filament length scale and increase in porosity. This trend is similar to experimental results reported for bulk nanocrystalline metals.
ACRL New England Serials and Electronic Resources Interest Group Summer Program: Current Trends in E-Journals

Abstract This report covers a workshop held by the Serials and Electronic Resources Interest Group (SERIG) of the Association of College and Research Libraries New England Chapter, an independent chapter of ACRL. The program titled “Current Trends in E-Journals” was held on Thursday, August 18, 2011, at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston.
Estimating the demand for cable service in the U.S. in the presence of measurement error in the data

Abstract This paper looks at the effect of direct broadcast satellite service on the demand for cable service in the United States. To measure the competitive influence of the noncable providers, the Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) share of video subscribers in each franchise area is used in modeling the demand for multichannel video programming subscription service. After examining some important econometric issues including the appropriate functional specification, whether the error terms are homoscedastic, and the presence of outliers in the data, data from the 2002 FCC Annual Cable Price Survey are used to estimate the demand for analog and digital cable service. One anomaly arises in the measurement error associated with the DBS penetration variable.
Executive function deficits in high-functioning autistic individuals: Relationship to theory of mind

A group of high-functioning autistic individuals was compared to a clinical control group matched on VIQ, age, sex and SES. Significant group differences were found on executive function, theory of mind, emotion perception and verbal memory tests, but not on spatial or other control measures. Second-order theory of mind and executive function deficits were widespread among the autistic group, while first-order theory of mind deficits were found in only a subset of the sample. The relationship of executive function and theory of mind deficits to each other, and their primacy to autism, are discussed.
Where We Are Now: The U.S. Federal Regulatory Framework for Alternative Energy on the OCS

Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) amended the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to grant the U.S. Department of the Interior (USDOI) discretionary authority to issue leases, easements, or rights-of-way for activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) that produce or support production, transportation, or transmission of energy from sources other than oil and gas, except for where activities are already otherwise authorized in other applicable law (e.g., the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.), the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9101 et seq.)) [1]. This authority was delegated to the Minerals Management Service (MMS), which was charged with developing regulations intended to encourage orderly, safe, and environmentally responsible development of alternative energy resources and alternate use of facilities on the OCS. MMS published its Alternative Energy/Alternate Use proposed rule in the Federal Register in July 2008 for public comment and held a series of public workshops to discuss the proposed regulations. The final regulations were submitted to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (USOMB) on November 3, 2008 for clearance. In advance of final regulations, MMS announced an interim policy in November 2007 to authorize offshore data collection and technology testing activities in Federal waters. This measure was designed to allow developers to jumpstart data collection activities in support of potential future alternative energy development once regulations are in place. MMS has worked very closely with its State and Federal counterparts in implementing the interim policy, which has progressed most expeditiously on the Atlantic Coast. The interim policy is in effect until the MMS promulgates final rules. Beyond the MMS leasing process, several other Federal entities are involved in the permitting and licensing of alternative energy in the offshore environment, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and the Federal Aviation Administration (USFAA), among others. This paper will discuss the history of MMS’ program and policy development for offshore alternative energy activities; the steps taken to arrive at final regulations; as well as note the other regulatory bodies involved in the authorization of these activities in U.S. Federal waters.
China Challenges Unipolar Naval Power in Asia

The recurrent crises emanating from North Korea, and the response to them, is testing US-China relations and drawing the new boundaries of power in East Asia. The head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and the former South Korean national security advisor address this development.
Identification of diazonaphthoquinone esters of polyhydroxybenzophenone compounds

The seven possible 2,1-diazonaphthoquinone-5-sulfonates of 2,3,4- trihydroxybenzophenone have been isolated and characterized by IR, chromatographic and advanced NMR techniques. HPLC procedures for their analysis are given which show counterintuitive effects in the HPLC elution sequence due to the effect of intramolecular H-bonding on the polarity of some esters. A reaction scheme is proposed which qualitatively identifies preferred pathways to the trisester.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Designing and commissioning of a prototype double Laue monochromator at CHESS

High-energy X-rays are efficiently focused sagittally by a set of asymmetric Laue (transmission) crystals. We designed, built and commissioned a prototype double Laue monochromator ((111) reflection in Si(100)) optimized for high-energy X-rays (30-60 keV). Here, we report our design of novel prototype sagittal bender and highlight results from recent characterization experiments. The design of the bender combines the tuneable bending control afforded by previous leaf-spring designs with the stability and small size of a four-bar bender. The prototype monochromator focuses a 25 mm-wide white beam incident on the first monochromator crystal to a monochromatized 0.6 mm beam waist in the experimental station. Compared to the flux in the same focal spot with the Bragg crystal (without focusing), the prototype Laue monochromator delivered 85 times more at 30 keV.
Analysis of tumor characteristics and survival in liver transplant recipients with incidentally diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma

The use of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTX) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has generally become restricted to carefully selected cases of small oligocentric tumors. However, it is not uncommon to find previously undetected HCC within recipient cirrhotic livers at the time of hepatectomy. The impact of unsuspected HCC on patient outcomes remains unclear. A retrospective analysis of our institutional experience with adult primary OLTX was performed comparing recipients with incidental HCC (group l), recipients with known or suspected HCC (group 2), and recipients confirmed by pathologic examination to be tumor free (group 3). Between 1984 and 2000, 27 patients in group 1, 12 patients in group 2, and 612 patients in group 3 underwent primary OLTX. Tumors were smaller (P = 0.0172) in group 1 than in group 2; however, the number of tumors and the histologic findings were similar in the groups. Incidence of bilobar involvement, vascular invasion, portal vein tumor thrombus, lymphatic involvement, and distant metastasis at the time of OLTX did not differ significantly between these groups. Four-year patient survival appeared to be lower in group 1 (70.0%) than in group 3 (79.0%) (P = 0.0546); 4-year patient survival was significantly worse in group 2 (31.0%) compared to group 3 (P = 0.0106). Thus, in our experience, incidentally diagnosed cases of HCC possess many of the same features of malignancy as preoperatively diagnosed HCC. Indeed, patient survival after OLTX appears to be adversely affected by the presence of incidental HCC.
Classifications of Countries Based on Their Level of Development: How it is Done and How it Could Be Done

The paper analyzes how the UNDP, the World Bank, and the IMF classify countries based on their level of development. These systems are found lacking in clarity with regard to their underlying rationale. The paper argues that a country classification system based on a transparent, data-driven methodology is preferable to one based on judgment or ad hoc rules. Such an alternative methodology is developed and used to construct classification systems using a variety of proxies for development attainment.
Abstract 4214: Resveratrol: Effect on polyamine metabolism and synergistic interactions with DFMO and DenSpm in breast cancer and uveal melanoma cell lines

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Resveratrol, (3,5,4’-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), was first reported to act as a chemo-preventative anticancer compound in mice by Jang et al. in 1997. It was subsequently shown to inhibit the growth and initiation of cancer cells in vitro and tumorigenesis in mouse cancer models. Recent work has focused on the role of the mitochondria in the resveratrol-induced death of the cancer cells, with resveratrol promoting apoptosis in both cancer cell lines and human tumors growing in host mice. In a colon cancer cell line (Caco), resveratrol has also been shown to affect the metabolism of polyamines, a group of compounds essential for the growth and proliferation of cells. Perturbations of polyamine levels and enzymes involved in their metabolism have long been targets of potential anti-cancer treatments. Difluormethylornithine (DFMO), a suicide inhibitor of ODC (the rate limiting biosynthetic enzyme), and N1, N11-diethylnorspermine (DenSpm), a polyamine analog leading to the induction of the polyamine catabolic enzyme SSAT, have been shown to reduce growth of cancer cells in several models and have been tested in clinical trials. In addition to reducing viability and inducing apoptosis, resveratrol has also been reported to reduce ODC activity and induce SSAT activity in human colon cancer lines. The objectives of the current study were to extend the findings of earlier reports to uveal melanoma (C918) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7), examining whether or not resveratrol affects the activity of the enzymes in these cancer cell lines. Potential synergistic interactions between resveratrol and the inhibitors DFMO and DenSpm were also investigated. In our studies, resveratrol was found to reduce the expression of ODC and significantly induce the expression of SSAT as determined by real-time PCR. This is the first report of the effect of resveratrol on these enzymes in cells other than colon cancer cells. Resveratrol, DFMO and DenSpm each reduced cell viability and proliferation over a three-day course of treatment as determined by the conversion of resazurin to resorufin by viable cells (Cell Titer Blue Assay®). Combinations of resveratrol and DFMO or DenSpm affected proliferation to a greater degree than any of the compounds used alone. The ability of these compounds to induce apoptosis was tested by measuring the activity of the executioner caspases 3/7 in treated cells using the fluorogenic substrate Ac-DEVD-AMC. As was found in viability studies, the synergistic effects of the compounds were also observed with caspase activity, where the combinations of resveratrol and DFMO or DenSpm led to enhanced activation of the enzymes. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4214. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4214
On the Stiefel-Whitney numbers of complex manifolds and of spin manifolds

Abstract The first section of this paper will characterize those cobordism classes in the Thom cobordism ring N ∗ and Ω∗ which contain complex manifolds†. The second section attempts to characterize those classes in N ∗ which contain spin manifolds†. The attempt succeeds only through dimension 23.
The effects of simazine, a chlorotriazine herbicide, on pubertal development in the female Wistar rat

Chlorotriazine herbicides, such as atrazine and its metabolites, have been shown to target the neuroendocrine regulation of male and female reproductive development. However, no studies have evaluated the effects of the chlorotriazine simazine on pubertal development in the female rat. Here we report the effects of a 21- and 41-day exposure to simazine on pubertal development and estrous cyclicity in the female rat using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program, Pubertal Development and Thyroid Function in Intact/Juvenile Peripubertal Female Rats (Tier 1) protocol. In the first study, Wistar rats were exposed orally to 0, 12.5, 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg of simazine from postnatal day 22 to 42. In the second study, rats were exposed from PND 22 until the first day of estrus after PND 62 to 0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg of simazine. In the 21-day exposure, vaginal opening (VO) was delayed, the number of normal cycles was significantly decreased, and the day of first estrus was delayed compared to controls. In the 41-day exposure, VO and the day of first estrus was delayed, but the number of normal estrous cycles was not different than controls. In addition, both studies showed a significant decrease in serum prolactin (PRL) following simazine exposure. This data clearly demonstrates that simazine delays the onset of puberty in the female rat and decreases serum PRL similar to other chlorotriazines. The extended dosing period after VO provides a sufficient time period to monitor the effects of a toxicant on estrous cyclicity, an important measure for reproductive competence.
Structural Disadvantage and American Indian Homicide and Robbery Offending

This article contributes conceptually and empirically to research on American Indian violence. Conceptually, this study extends research on race differences in crime by outlining competing perspect...
Ordering transformations in the M3Si refractory metal silicides

The metal-rich sides of the equilibrium phase diagrams of refractory metal(M)-Si systems, where M = Zr, Nb or Mo share many features with each other. All the three M-Si systems show the formation of line compounds of the M{sub 3}Si type, by a peritectic reaction at higher temperatures (1,650 to 2,025 C), followed by eutectic transformation at lower temperatures (1,570 to 2,020 C), and resulting in the formation [M(Si) + M{sub 3}Si] eutectic mixtures in the cases below the eutectic temperatures M{sub 5}Si{sub 3} in the case of Mo-Si system. Recent investigations have shown that the Nb{sub 3}Si phase present in the Nb-10 at.% Si alloy undergoes ordering transformations. The study of phase stability of the M{sub 3}Si type compounds is important, since these compounds are being considered as matrix materials for high temperature in situ composites. This paper reports that Zr{sub 3}Si phase also undergo similar transformation. However, this type of ordering transformation was absent in the Mo{sub 3}Si phase in the Mo-25 at.% Si alloys.
Chiral THz metamaterial with tunable optical activity

Tunable optical activity in chiral metamaterials is demonstrated in simulation and shows actively tunable giant polarization rotation over a wide frequency band.
Brand Pitt: celebrity activism and the Make It Right Foundation in post-Katrina New Orleans

This article examines the role of celebrity activist Brad Pitt in relation to the new Orleans-based Make it Right Foundation. Specifically, Pitt's image and project are analysed through the critical lens of Lauren Berlant's concepts of national sentimentality and the ameliorative actor to determine the ways that such celebrity good works can be understood beyond knee-jerk reaction or commodity cooptation. The article focuses on a textual analysis of Pitt's celebrity image as ‘common man’ through his post-Katrina philanthropy–activism.
Inverse-gaussian acceptance sampling plans by variables

Variable sampling plans to control fraction defective are obtained using the Inverse-Gaussian (IG) distribution. OC curves are obtained and impact of sample size and specification limits on these curves are discussed. Simulation studies are used to investigate sensitivity of the sampling plans under the more commonly used normal distribution.
LDH elevation after autologous stem cell transplantation

We have anecdotally noted that serum LDH values rise after the infusion of autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs), presumably the result of cellular lysis. To further study this issue, we retrospectively reviewed 203 consecutive patients undergoing autologous PBPC transplant from August 1996 to December 1997. 194 patients were evaluable, having documented LDH values on day -1 to day +5 post-transplant. All patients received cytokine mobilization for PBPC collection, and 99% received a chemotherapy-only preparative regimen. 99% of patients had a rise in serum LDH after PBPC infusion. 76% had a normal LDH prior to PBPC infusion that became abnormally high after infusion; 22% began with an abnormally high value that became higher with the infusion of PBPCs. The LDH rose at least 50% in 91% of patients. 92% of the patients had their peak LDH value occur on day +1 post-transplant. The total dose of CD34+ cells infused negatively correlated with peak percentage change of LDH (P = 0.0007). This result was initially perplexing, as we believed that a higher number of infused cells would correlate with a higher LDH value as a result of in vivo cellular lysis. However, the total number of CD34+ cells also negatively correlated with the number of phereses required to collect our threshold of 2.0 x 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg (P = 0.0001). After adjusting for CD34+ cell dose, we found that the number of phereses correlated highly with a peak percentage of change of LDH (P = 0.001). We conclude that the serum LDH increases universally after autologous PBPC infusion, peaking on day +1. We believe that this rise in serum LDH is a result of cell lysis that occurs ex vivo, and correlates with the number of pheresis procedures required to collect an adequate number of CD34+ cells. This may be a result of increasing red blood cell contamination with more phereses, and resultant RBC hemolysis.
The Effects of Partial Privatization of Social Security upon Private Pensions

I. Introduction Social Security1 does not provide retirement income in a vacuum. Rather, commentators often refer to our national retirement income system as a threelegged stool, with Social Security representing one of the legs and employersponsored pension plans2 and individual savings representing the other two legs.3 Because changes in one leg of the stool are likely to have a direct impact on the other two legs,4 policymakers must not consider Social Security changes in isolation, but should take account of their effect on employer-sponsored pensions and individual savings.5 This Article6 analyzes how one of the most popular proposals, partial privatization,7 would likely affect private pensions.8 For purposes of this Article, partial privatization refers to proposals that direct part of Social Security's funding to individual accounts. This Article first examines how partial privatization would likely affect the integration rules and integrated plans. It then considers how partial privatization would likely affect (1) employees' demand for defined benefit plans, (2) employees' willingness and ability to contribute to employer-sponsored defined contribution plans, (3) employees' investment behavior with respect to the assets in their employer-sponsored plans, and (4) investment returns available to employer-sponsored plans. II. Interaction with Integration Rules and Integrated Plans Section 401(l) of the Internal Revenue Code9 is the one area of retirement law that expressly coordinates private pensions and Social Security.10 In essence, the sec 401(l) "permitted disparity" or "integration" rules11 permit Social Security benefits to be taken into account in determining whether a pension plan discriminates in favor of highly compensated employees.12 Section 401(a)(4)13 of the Internal Revenue Code requires that an employer-sponsored retirement plan's benefits or contributions not discriminate in favor of highly compensated employees14 for the plan to qualify15 and thus be eligible for favorable tax treatment.16 Section 401(a)(5)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that a plan shall not be considered discriminatory within the meaning of sec 401(a)(4) merely because it discriminates in favor of highly compensated employees in a manner permitted by sec 401(l) of the Code.17 Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 1996 and 1997 Employee Benefits Surveys,18 49% of full-time workers in large- and medium-- size firms who participate in a defined benefit plan are covered by a benefit formula that is expressly integrated with Social Security,19 while 44% of full-- time workers in small firms who participate in a defined benefit plan are covered by a benefit formula that is expressly integrated with Social Security.20 Although "there are no published data on the prevalence of integration in defined contribution plans," 21 it appears that defined contribution plans are much less likely to be expressly integrated with Social Security than are defined benefit plans. …
Employment Specialist Competencies as Predictors of Employment Outcomes

Employment specialist competencies were examined as predictors of employment outcomes for consumers with serious mental illness participating in supported employment. Self-report and supervisor-rated performance measures from 57 employment specialists were correlated with three consumer employment outcomes (i.e., competitive employment rate, 90-day employment rate, and dropout rate). Employment specialists varied from 0 to 80 % in the competitive employment rates for their caseloads. Supervisor ratings of job performance and employment specialist efficacy, percentage of time in the community, and frequency of contacts with consumers were associated with employment outcomes. Employment specialist self-report measures were unrelated to employment outcomes. Surprisingly, employment specialists with larger caseload sizes had higher employment rates. Employment specialists vary widely in their effectiveness. Behavioral measures and supervisory ratings of employment specialists were most predictive of employment outcomes. Direct observation of employment specialist job performance appears to be the most promising method for identifying competencies predictive of employment outcome.
Influence of the National Trauma Data Bank on the study of trauma outcomes: is it time to set research best practices to further enhance its impact?

Background Risk-adjusted analyses are critical in evaluating trauma outcomes. The National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) is a statistically robust registry that allows such analyses; however, analytical techniques are not yet standardized. In this study, we examined peer-reviewed manuscripts published using NTDB data, with particular attention to characteristics strongly associated with trauma outcomes. Our objective was to determine if there are substantial variations in the methodology and quality of risk-adjusted analyses and therefore, whether development of best practices for risk-adjusted analyses is warranted. Study Design A database of all studies using NTDB data published through December 2010 was created by searching PubMed and Embase. Studies with multivariate risk-adjusted analyses were examined for their central question, main outcomes measures, analytical techniques, covariates in adjusted analyses, and handling of missing data. Results Of 286 NTDB publications, 122 performed a multivariable adjusted analysis. These studies focused on clinical outcomes (51 studies), public health policy or injury prevention (30), quality (16), disparities (15), trauma center designation (6), or scoring systems (4). Mortality was the main outcome in 98 of these studies. There were considerable differences in the covariates used for case adjustment. The 3 covariates most frequently controlled for were age (95%), Injury Severity Score (85%), and sex (78%). Up to 43% of studies did not control for the 5 basic covariates necessary to conduct a risk-adjusted analysis of trauma mortality. Less than 10% of studies used clustering to adjust for facility differences or imputation to handle missing data. Conclusions There is significant variability in how risk-adjusted analyses using data from the NTDB are performed. Best practices are needed to further improve the quality of research from the NTDB.
Optimal pitch in spiral computed tomography

The focus of this paper is to analytically optimize spiral/helical computed tomography (CT) protocols based on a simplified imaging model. Spiral CT was approximately modeled as follows: Using the half-scan raw data interpolation method, the variance of the spiral CT slice sensitivity profile is equal to the sum of squared detector collimation divided by 12 and squared table increment divided by 24. Image noise variance is inversely proportional to tube current and detector collimation. The maximum continuous scanning time is inversely proportional to tube current. Slice thickness, image noise, and signal-to-noise ratio were, respectively, optimized for a given scanning coverage, consistently resulting in pitch of square root of 2. To avoid longitudinal aliasing, at least 2-3 transverse slices should be reconstructed per collimation. When the simplified spiral CT model is valid and a scanning range specified, 1.4 pitch is required for optimal image quality. The method can be applied to more accurate spiral CT models.
Oxidation of Phenylhydrazones with Benzeneseleninic Anhydride: A New Mechanistically Interesting Observation

The effects by benzeneseleninic anhydride were studied. An unexpected by-product, 1,4-bis(phenylselanyl)benzene, was isolated from the oxidation reactions. Its formation was suppressed when pyridine was used as the co-solvent. Aryl phenyl selenides were synthesized by reaction of aryl radicals, generated from reduction of aryl diazonium salts, with diphenyl diselenide.
Role of IL-1β and prostaglandins in β2-microglobulin-induced bone mineral dissolution

Role of IL-1β and prostaglandins in β 2 -microglobulin-induced bone mineral dissolution. β 2 -microglobulin (β 2 m) induces an osteoclast-mediated net calcium efflux from neonatal mouse calvariae which occurs only after 48 hours of incubation, suggesting that β 2 m acts via other growth factors. To further test this hypothesis, calvariae were incubated with and without β 2 m in the presence of the prostaglandin inhibitor indomethacin, anti-interleukin-1β antibody (anti-IL-1β), or interleukin-1β receptor antagonist (IL-1β RA). The addition of β 2 m to the culture medium stimulated, whereas indomethacin inhibited basal calcium efflux following 48 hours. However, the difference (delta) between the calcium efflux induced in calvariae incubated with and without β 2 m in basal medium and that in calvariae incubated with and without β 2 m in indomethacin supplemented medium was similar, suggesting a prostaglandin independent mechanism. There was a time dependent increase in PGE 2 in basal medium which was unaffected by β 2 m. In contrast, pre-incubating calvariae with either anti-IL-1β or IL-1βRA did not alter basal calcium efflux but completely blocked the β 2 m induced calcium efflux. Anti-IL-1β had no effect on the basal release of β-glucuronidase but partially blocked the β 2 m induced release of β-glucuronidase. Thus, the β 2 m-induced calcium efflux observed in neonatal mouse calvariae is dependent on interleukin-1β but not prostaglandins.