cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Widespread occurrence of neuro-active pharmaceuticals and metabolites in 24 Minnesota rivers and wastewaters

Abstract Concentrations of 17 neuro-active pharmaceuticals and their major metabolites (bupropion, hydroxy-bupropion, erythro-hydrobupropion, threo-hydrobupropion, carbamazepine, 10,11,-dihydro-10,11,-dihydroxycarbamazepine, 10-hydroxy-carbamazepine, citalopram, N-desmethyl-citalopram, fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, gabapentin, lamotrigine, 2-N-glucuronide-lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, venlafaxine and O-desmethyl-venlafaxine), were measured in treated wastewater and receiving surface waters from 24 locations across Minnesota, USA. The analysis of upstream and downstream sampling sites indicated that the wastewater treatment plants were the major source of the neuro-active pharmaceuticals and associated metabolites in surface waters of Minnesota. Concentrations of parent compound and the associated metabolite varied substantially between treatment plants (concentrations ± standard deviation of the parent compound relative to its major metabolite) as illustrated by the following examples; bupropion and hydrobupropion 700 ± 1000 ng L− 1, 2100 ± 1700 ng L− 1, carbamazepine and 10-hydroxy-carbamazepine 480 ± 380 ng L− 1, 360 ± 400 ng L− 1, venlafaxine and O-desmethyl-venlafaxine 1400 ± 1300 ng L− 1, 1800 ± 2300 ng L− 1. Metabolites of the neuro-active compounds were commonly found at higher or comparable concentrations to the parent compounds in wastewater effluent and the receiving surface water. Neuro-active pharmaceuticals and associated metabolites were detected only sporadically in samples upstream from the effluent outfall. Metabolite to parent ratios were used to evaluate transformation, and we determined that ratios in wastewater were much lower than those reported in urine, indicating that the metabolites are relatively more labile than the parent compounds in the treatment plants and in receiving waters. The widespread occurrence of neuro-active pharmaceuticals and metabolites in Minnesota effluents and surface waters indicate that this is likely a global environmental issue, and further understanding of the environmental fate and impacts of these compounds is warranted.
Narcissism and Self-Esteem in the Presence of Imagined others: Supportive versus Destructive Object Representations and the Continuum Hypothesis

The present investigation tested an assumption of the Continuum Hypothesis that representations of the self are coordinated with representations of others, or “objects.” A sample of 373 university students responded to measures of Self-Esteem, Adaptive Narcissism, Maladaptive Narcissism, Positive Affect, and Negative Affect under normal instructions and then again under procedures in which they imagined themselves in the presence of a Supportive Object that promoted the experience of a “good and happy self” or a Destructive Object associated with a “bad and unhappy self.” Supportive Objects produced decreases in Negative Affect and increases in all other measures, whereas Destructive Objects caused a generally opposite pattern of changes. Data for Maladaptive Narcissism suggested that each type of object was associated with maturational challenges. For both groups, Self-Esteem instability predicted greater overall self-representation instability, but evidence of instability was more obvious in the Destruc...
Abdominal thrombotic and ischemic manifestations of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: CT findings in 42 patients.

PURPOSE: To determine the abdominal computed tomographic (CT) findings in patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records from two university medical centers from 1994 through 1997 revealed 215 patients who had a hypercoagulable state attributed to primary or secondary APS. Abdominal CT findings in these patients were reviewed for evidence of large-vessel occlusion or visceral ischemia. RESULTS: In 42 (19.5%) of 215 patients with APS (age range, 32–65 years; mean age, 42 years), abdominal thromboses or ischemic events were detected at CT. Twenty-two (52%) had major vascular thromboses, including those in the inferior vena cava (n = 10), portal and superior mesenteric veins (n = 7), splenic vein (n = 4), and aorta (n = 1). Thirty-six (86%) patients had abdominal visceral ischemia resulting in renal infarction (n = 22), bowel ischemia (n = 13), splenic infarction (n = 6), pancreatitis (n = 3), hepatic infarction (n = 1), and/or hepatic d...
Consumer and instrumental evaluation of Maine wild blueberries for the fresh pack market

Abstract Maine wild blueberries prepared for the fresh pack market compete with cultivated blueberries for market share. In an effort to increase market share, Maine producers are seeking an understanding of consumer preference and how it relates to objective blueberry quality measures. Consumer and instrumental measurements were evaluated over a 3-year period from 1996 to 1998. Freshly harvested blueberries were sized according to diameter; 6–8, 9–10 and 11–12 mm. A consumer panel, recruited from the university and surrounding communities, ranged in age from 18 to 62 and was geographically and gender diverse. The panel was presented the various size classes of blueberries monadically in balanced random order and asked to rate the samples on a nine-point hedonic scale. Quasi-static compression measurements of firmness were paired with these individual sensory measurements. Statistical regression models and back propagation neural networks were used to determine and predict consumer response from the instrumental response. There seemed to be a compression of the consumer data to the upper end of the hedonic scale. Year and time of season were significant for the overall consumer response and the force and firmness instrumental measurements. Berry size was significant with respect to all sensory and instrumental measurements. The results of the overall sensory and instrumental evaluation revealed that size class 9–10 mm was the ideal size for fresh market selection, however, panelists preferred the large (11–12 mm) berries in visual acceptance evaluations. The statistical regression analysis revealed no linear relationships except for the size class 9–10 mm, where positive linear relationships were found between sensory and instrumental measurements. The neural networks were poor predictors of the sensory data based on the instrumental data. These findings highlight the difficulties in characterizing consumer preference with instrumental and hedonic measurements.
A three-man space escape system

The two general methods of returning astronauts from a disabled vehicle are space rescue through rendezvous by another vehicle and space escape involving use of an onboard emergency system to abandon the spacecraft and return to earth. The three-man escape system described here will function and permit return to earth from orbits of 100 to 300 naut miles altitude at inclination angles from 30° to 90° (posigrade). The rigid space escape system possesses buddy capability, land or water landing of astronauts by bailout 011 individual parachute after re-entry, storage capacity of 6 month prior to launch and 1 yr in orbit, independent of spacecraft power and expendables, and minimal weight. It was designed for minimal e.g. travel when carrying 1, 2, or 3 astronauts. The escape craft weighs 809 Ib, with a 9.5-ft diam and a length of 6.5 ft. The re-entry ballistic coefficient is 17 lb/ft. The foamed elastomeric heat shield thickness ranges between 1.03 and 1.29 in. The escape vehicle includes self-contained life support and automatic control systems. Two nonconventional subsystems used are: 1) the polyurethane foam structure and 2) the eyeball attitude reference system for deorbit. Feasibility tests have already verified many design features of the space escape vehicle.
Cross sections and charged-particle multiplicities in π+p and pp collisions at 60 GeV/c

We have measured charged-particle multiplicities and elastic and inelastic cross sections for ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p$ and $\mathrm{pp}$ interactions at 60 GeV/c. The data are from a 30 000-picture exposure of the 30-inch bubble chamber to a tagged but unseparated positive-particle beam at Fermilab. The low-order moments of the inelastic multiplicity distributions for all charged particles are $〈n〉 = 5.60\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.09$, ${f}_{2} = 0.96\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.31$, and $\frac{〈n〉}{D} = 2.19\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06$ for $\mathrm{pp}$ reactions and $〈n〉6.23\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10$, ${f}_{2} = 1.63\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.37$, and $\frac{〈n〉}{D} = 2.22\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06$ for ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p$ collisions.
Intra-arterial streptokinase and renal artery embolization

An animal experiment was constructed to simulate the clinical entity of renal artery embolization. Because of the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with the current methods of treatment, percutaneous infusion of the renal artery with streptokinase was evaluated as a new method of therapy. Results were analyzed by the following criteria: (1) arteriography, (2) gross pathology, and (3) differential renal function studies. In 12 dogs whose left kidney was embolized without treatment, renal function was 38 per cent of the contralateral normal kidney twenty-one days later. Seven dogs were embolized but treated immediately with intra-arterial streptokinase for six hours; renal function was increased to 58 per cent of the contralateral normal kidney. Various fibrinolytic agents and their possible clinical application in embolism are discussed.
“I Define What Hurts Me”: A Co-Cultural Theoretical Analysis of Communication Factors Related to Digital Dating Abuse

Intimate partner abuse (IPA) is a social burden that has plagued women for centuries. Even with the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, IPA is still common in many intimate relationships today. Increased advancements in communication technology reveal an increase in how abuse occurs between relational partners. As such, the authors apply a unique scholarly approach to a long-standing societal problem: they examine co-cultural communication practices associated with digital (IPA) against women. Specifically, this analysis focuses on the co-cultural communication experiences of young women, ages 18 to 24 years old, in digitally abusive heterosexual romantic relationships. The authors use qualitative, in-depth interviews to identify their strategic responses to digital acts of IPA. Co-researchers offered varied descriptions of their experiences with digital IPA. These descriptions were clustered largely around 5 co-cultural orientations aligned with nonassertive and assertive assimilation, accommodati...
Curriculum-Dependent and Curriculum-Independent Factors in Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Adaptation of Science Curriculum Materials for Inquiry-Based Science

In this nested mixed methods study I investigate factors influencing preservice elementary teachers’ adaptation of science curriculum materials to better support students’ engagement in science as inquiry. Analyses focus on two ‘reflective teaching assignments’ completed by 46 preservice elementary teachers in an undergraduate elementary science methods course in which they were asked to adapt existing science curriculum materials to plan and enact inquiry-based science lessons in elementary classrooms. Data analysis involved regression modeling of artifacts associated with these lessons, as well as in-depth, semester-long case studies of six of these preservice teachers. Results suggest that features of the existing science curriculum materials, including measures of how inquiry-based they were, have a relatively small influence on the preservice teachers’ curricular adaptations, while teacher-specific variables account for a much greater percentage of the variance. Evidence from the case studies illustrates the critical impact of the preservice teachers’ field placement contexts as an explanatory, teacher-specific factor in their curricular adaptations. These findings have important implications for science teacher educators and science curriculum developers, in terms of not only better understanding how preservice teachers engage with curriculum materials, but also how programmatic features of teacher education programs influence their ability to do so.
The structure of human attention: Evidence for separate spatial and verbal resource pools

Recent evidence has suggested that human limited-capacity information-processing resources do not reside in a unitary, undifferentiated pool. Rather, multiple and at least partially independent pools appear to exist. The present investigation addressed this issue. Subjects performed a spatial memory load secondary task in conjunction with either a spatial or a verbal primary task. The two primary tasks were structurally highly similar. Results indicated that performance of the spatial memory load secondary task was significantly poorer when it was paired with the spatial primary task than when it was paired with the verbal primary task. The results are interpreted as indicating the existence of at least partially independent spatial and verbal resource pools.
Risk-sensitive neurons in macaque posterior cingulate cortex

People and animals often demonstrate strong attraction or aversion to options with uncertain or risky rewards, yet the neural substrate of subjective risk preferences has rarely been investigated. Here we show that monkeys systematically preferred the risky target in a visual gambling task in which they chose between two targets offering the same mean reward but differing in reward uncertainty. Neuronal activity in posterior cingulate cortex (CGp), a brain area linked to visual orienting and reward processing, increased when monkeys made risky choices and scaled with the degree of risk. CGp activation was better predicted by the subjective salience of a chosen target than by its actual value. These data suggest that CGp signals the subjective preferences that guide visual orienting.
A model of individual household temperature demand and energy-related welfare changes using satiety

Abstract A model of the utility-maximizing household is developed in which data on satiety levels for indoor temperature can be used along with budget constraint parameters and actual temperature choices to estimate parameters of the utility function. Using the utility parameters, equivalent variations in income can be estimated to measure welfare effects of policy and price changes that effect home heating. All of these operations can be performed at the individual household level and for any member of a popular class of utility function forms. The required data are easy to obtain, although they typically are not collected in household surveys.
Decays of a heavy lepton involving the hadronic vector current

The decays of a heavy lepton involving the hadronic vector current are calculated from electron-positron-annihilation data. The result, $\ensuremath{\Gamma}({\ensuremath{\tau}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}+{(2n \mathrm{pions})}^{\ensuremath{-}})=1.69\ensuremath{\Gamma}({\ensuremath{\tau}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}+{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e})$ for ${M}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}=1.9$ GeV and ${m}_{{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}}=0$, and its implications are discussed.
Simultaneous Absorption of H2S and Co2 Into Aqueous Methyldiethanolamine

Abstract The tertiary araine methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) is finding increasing application as a chemical solvent for selective absorption of hydrogen sulfide from gases containing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. Gas streams of this type include some natural gases, synthetic gases from coal and heavy oil gasification and tail gases from sulfur plants. Selectivity for H2S is needed either to enrich Glaus sulfur plant feed in H2S or to remove only H2S when CO2 removal is not necessary or economic. For the absorption of hydrogen sulfide into MDEA, the reaction which occurs can be considered to be instantaneous while carbon dioxide undergoes a second-order reaction with MDEA. In this work, the simultaneous absorption of two gases into a liquid containing a reactant with which both gases react is modelled using the film theory. Physical properties and kinetic rate parameters used in the model have been measured in our laboratory. The model is used to study the effect of process variables on the selectivity...
Social coordination in unknown price-sensitive populations

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between uncertainty and a designer's ability to influence social behavior. Pigovian taxes are a common approach to social coordination. However, guaranteeing efficient behavior typically requires that the system designer has complete knowledge of the user population's sensitivity to taxation. In this paper, we explore the effect of relaxing this requirement in the context of congestion games with affine costs. Focusing on the class of scaled Pigovian taxes, we derive the optimal tolling scheme that minimizes the worst-case efficiency loss under uncertainty in user sensitivity. Furthermore, we derive explicit bounds which highlight how the level of uncertainty in sensitivity degrades performance.
Implications of oil pollution in production of disease in marine organisms

Contamination of marine waters by petroleum, whether as a consequence of acute or chronic events, constitutes an additional source of stress for marine organisms — one often reflected in pathological changes. Morphological, behavioural, physiological or biochemical abnormalities may result from exposure to petroleum or its component chemicals. Among the morphological changes that have been associated, at least circumstantially, with petroleum contamination of marine habitats are (for fish) fin erosion, fin ray deformation, ovarian histopathology, olfactory lesions, degeneration of ventricular myocardium and cytogenetic anomalies; and (for invertebrates) tissue hyperplasia, gill and gut epithelial necrosis, gonadal tumours and kidney tubule occlusion. Literature on petroleum-associated diseases and abnormalities of fish and shellfish can best be summarized in four major categories: that dealing with integumental lesions offish; that concerned with various other kinds ofhistopathologies, usually experimentally induced; that emphasizing neoplasms of molluscs, and that related to genetic and morphological abnormalities in eggs and larvae, as a consequence of exposure to petroleum or its components. A. general conclusion is that petroleum, in sufficient concentration, can be toxic to marine animals, and toxicity may be expressed as morphological changes. . Some of the effects of petroleum, such as the enhancement of latent viral infections in clams and immunosuppression in fish, are quite probably associated with increased stress. The development of neoplasia and hyperplasia in petroleum-exposed marine animals deserves further examination, as does the entire matter of pollution-related integumental lesions.
Variable structure NARX models: Application to dissolved‐oxygen bioprocess

Selecting the best structure of nonlinear autoregressive models with exogeneous inputs (NARX) is important for good parameter estimation and control. If the process is also time varying, the best structure selection procedure should be done in an on-line fashion. Simultaneous model selection and parameter estimation can be achieved by employing the Givens forward selection with exponential windowing (GFEX) algorithm. An on-line implementation yields a variable-structure NARX-model identification, which can be used for control of a dissolved-oxygen (DO) process. The results of an adaptive DO control scheme, which uses a fixed model structure and was applied to a batch Bacillus subtilis fermentation, were used in this study. Time-dependent patterns of selected terms were observed that roughly corresponded to different fermentation stages. Fitting and prediction capabilities for the adaptively selected NARX model were compared with fixed ARX and NARX models. The effect of the forgetting factor and the model order was investigated. Performance is satisfactory for short-step-ahead prediction, and avoiding overparametrization can stabilize the long-step-ahead prediction.
A method for generation adequacy planning in multi-area power systems using dynamic programming and global decomposition

This paper proposes an optimization procedure of generation placement for long-term generation adequacy planning in multi-area power systems. The desired location is expected to yield a favorable trade off between system reliability and cost. The concept of global decomposition is used for system reliability evaluation component. The prospective generation locations are pre-selected but the magnitude of generation located in each area is determined by an optimization procedure. The method exploits the problem structure of global decomposition to simplify and formulate it as a dynamic programming problem. The method is illustrated by application to a 3-area power system.
Case 17: Hypertrophic Olivary Degeneration Secondary to Pontine Hemorrhage

A transverse T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) image obtained at the time of the onset of symptoms (dentatorubral tremor) revealed marked hypointensity in the dorsal tegmental area of the left side of the pons, which represented hemosiderin and ferritin deposited from an old hemorrhage (Fig 1a). The blood products occupy a region that encompasses the central tegmental tract and extends into the left superior cerebellar peduncle and that contains pathways involved in the control of fine voluntary movements. A T2-weighted image obtained more inferiorly showed asymmetric enlargement of the left anterior medulla with high signal intensity (Fig 1b). This location, corresponding to the position of the inferior olivary nucleus, and the combination of findings is highly suggestive of hypertrophic olivary degeneration secondary to destruction of a portion of the dentatorubral-olivary pathway, or GuillainMollaret triangle. Seven months prior to the onset of symptoms, the patient underwent MR imaging, which revealed an acute left tegmental pontine hemorrhage that appeared as an ovoid homogeneous high-intensity mass in the dorsal part of the pontomesencephalic junction, with surrounding hypointensity on T2weighted images (Fig 2a). At this time, lower sections revealed no abnormal signal intensity in the olive (Fig 2b). The delay in appearance of the olivary changes following the pontine hemorrhage further confirms the correct diagnosis.
Paramedic use of the endotracheal tube introducer in a difficult airway model.

Objectives. To determine whether advanced life support (ALS)-level prehospital providers can be taught to effectively use the Flex-Guide (FG) Endotracheal Tube (ETT) introducer in a difficult airway model by comparing success of styleted ETT intubation with Flex-Guide-assisted intubation. Methods. Intermediate and advanced providers, who brought patients to a Level 1 emergency department, were given a handout and viewed an instructional video describing the bougie and its use. A difficult airway was simulated using the CPR 5000 model mannequin from Medical Plastics Laboratory, Inc. The tongue was inflated to a pressure of 180 mm Hg to partially obscure the view of the airway and a cervical collar was placed to limit flexion and extension. Participants were then asked to intubate the mannequin using both the ETT with a stylet and the bougie-assisted method. Whether the providers used the FG or stylet method first was randomized. Success or failure was recorded and the McNemar test was used to evaluate the ...
elt-1, an embryonically expressed Caenorhabditis elegans gene homologous to the GATA transcription factor family.

Abstract The short, asymmetrical DNA sequence to which the vertebrate GATA family of transcription factors binds is present in some Caenorhabditis elegans gene regulatory regions: it is required for activation of the vitellogenin genes and is also found just 5' of the TATA boxes of tra-2 and the msp genes. In vertebrates GATA-1 is specific to erythroid lineages, whereas GATA-2 and GATA-3 are present in multiple tissues. In an effort to identify the trans-acting factors that may recognize this sequence element in C. elegans, we used a degenerate oligonucleotide to clone a C. elegans homolog to this gene. We call this gene elt-1 (erythrocytelike transcription factor). It is single copy and specifies a 1.75-kb mRNA that is present predominantly, if not exclusively, in embryos. The region of elt-1 encoding two zinc fingers is remarkably similar to the DNA-binding domain of the vertebrate GATA-binding proteins. However, outside of the DNA-binding domains the amino acid sequences are quite divergent. Nevertheless, introns are located at identical or nearly identical positions in elt-1 and the mouse GATA-1 gene. In addition, elt-1 mRNA is trans-spliced to the 22-base untranslated leader, SL1. The DNA upstream of the elt-1 TATA box contains eight copies of the GATA recognition sequence within the first 300 bp, suggesting that elt-1 may be autogenously regulated. Our results suggest that the specialized role of GATA-1 in erythroid gene expression was derived after separation of the nematodes and the line that led to the vertebrates, since C. elegans lacks an erythroid lineage.
Constrained floorplan design for flexible blocks

The authors propose a simple and fast iterative improvement algorithm for solving the constrained floorplan design problem. The algorithm allows users to specify an aspect ratio for the bounding rectangle and constraints on the relative positions and separation requirements of blocks. In the first phase of the algorithm, two scaling factors for each flexible block are computed for adjusting the block dimensions iteratively. In the second phase, blocks are placed according to the constraint graphs. If no overlaps are detected, the algorithm stops; otherwise an edge is inserted into one of the constraint graphs to resolve the overlap between one pair of blocks. The algorithm then goes back to the first phase. Experimental results show that this algorithm tends to achieve the prespecified overall aspect ratio and produces floorplans with small overall area. >
Agent Shell for the Development of Tutoring Systems for Expert Problem Solving Knowledge

This paper introduces the concept of learning and tutoring agent shell as a general and powerful tool for rapid development of a new type of intelligent assistants that can learn complex problem solving expertise directly from human experts, can support human experts in problem solving and decision making, and can teach their problem solving expertise to non-experts. This shell synergistically integrates general problem solving, learning and tutoring engines and has been used to build a complex cognitive assistant for intelligence analysts. This assistant has been successfully used and evaluated in courses at US Army War College and George Mason University. The goal of this paper is to provide an intuitive overview of the tutoring-related capabilities of this shell which rely heavily on its problem solving and learning capabilities. They include the capability to rapidly acquire the basic abstract problem solving strategies of the application domain, directly from a subject matter expert. They allow an instructional designer to rapidly design lessons for teaching these abstract problem solving strategies, without the need of defining examples because they are automatically generated by the system from the domain knowledge base. They also allow rapid learning of test questions to assess students' problem solving knowledge. The proposed type of cognitive assistant, capable of learning, problem solving and tutoring, as well as the learning and tutoring agent shell used to build it, represent a very promising and expected evolution for the knowledge-based agents for "ill-defined" domains.
Physical rehabilitation in the refugee setting

Refugees present with many basic needs, including food, shelter, clean water and health care. Fleeing one's homeland involves great risk to the physical well-being of people, whether it is from armed conflict, an arduous flight, or hardship in the refugee camp. Health needs are a major concern in the population of refugees and physical rehabilitation addresses an important aspect of these health needs.
Two Strikes Race and the Disciplining of Young Students

There are large racial disparities in school discipline in the United States, which, for Black students, not only contribute to school failure but also can lay a path toward incarceration. Although the disparities have been well documented, the psychological mechanisms underlying them are unclear. In two experiments, we tested the hypothesis that such disparities are, in part, driven by racial stereotypes that can lead teachers to escalate their negative responses to Black students over the course of multiple interpersonal (e.g., teacher-to-student) encounters. More generally, we argue that race not only can influence how perceivers interpret a specific behavior, but also can enhance perceivers’ detection of behavioral patterns across time. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and practical benefits of employing this novel approach to stereotyping across a range of real-world settings.
Triple-negative breast cancer: what the radiologist needs to know.

Approximately 10% to 15% of breast carcinomas do not express estrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PR) and do not exhibit overexpression or gene amplification of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). These tumors are called triple receptor-negative or triple-negative (TN) breast cancers. TN breast cancer has recently been recognized as a subtype of breast cancer with aggressive clinical behaviorandapoorclinicaloutcome.TNbreastcancershave a propensity to occur in premenopausal women and Hispanic and African-American women, and TN tumors are associated with mutations in p53 and BRCA1. Therapies targeting the estrogen receptor or the HER2/neu oncogene are likelytobeineffectiveagainstTNtumors.Thisarticlereviews the molecular, pathologic, and imaging features of TN breast cancer. Breastcancersareagroupofdiseaseswithawidespectrum of clinical, pathologic, and molecular characteristics. By the use of gene expression profiles, 4 breast cancer subtypes with different prognoses have been identified: 2 ER-negative subtypes: basal-like (BL) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive, and 2 ER-positive subtypes: luminal A and luminal B. 1-4 Breast cancers are classified as TN by the use of established immunohistochemical (IHC) assays for ER, PR, and HER2, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays for HER2. TN breast cancers are characterized bytheabsenceofall3predictive/prognosticmarkers:ER,PR, and HER2. Most TN breast cancers are high grade, and the tumors are usually large with relatively well-circumscribed pushing margins, lymphocytic infiltration and a high mitotic rate. 5,6 BL breast cancer is a molecular phenotype defined on the basis of cDNA microarray studies. 7 Approximately 70% of TN breast cancers are BL tumors. 1,8-12 The term BL comes from the resemblance between the cytokeratin expression pattern in the cancer cells and the myoepithelial cells of the breast. 9,13,14 ThisdoesnotmeanthatBLbreastcancercellsare derived from myoepithelial cells. Despite the great interest in BL and TN cancers, there are no universally accepted definitions for these tumors. In this review, we use the term BL when cDNA or more sophisticated technology was applied for tumor classification and TN when clinical assays for ER, PR, and HER2 were used.
Near threshold fatigue crack growth versus long finite life

A brief review of the discovery of the fatigue crack growth threshold is provided with a discussion of the main variables, K max and ΔK, which control the threshold over the low and high load ratio ranges, respectively. The significant effect on near threshold growth rates as illustrated by Donald are shown, for an example the aluminium alloy, 2324-T39. Attention is then turned to the 'partial closure model' as a means of correlating near threshold fatigue crack growth rates. This seems to be the most promising model with a physical basis. For this reason, the discussion goes on to present a new theoretical analysis of the load displacement record characteristics, which should accompany'partial closure' of fatigue cracks. In addition it is concluded that secondary stress effects should be explored for near threshold fatigue crack growth rates.
Measurement of mercury levels in concentrated over-the-counter fish oil preparations: is fish oil healthier than fish?

Abstract Context.—Fish consumption has been associated with a decreased risk of coronary artery disease. Recent studies have illustrated that the high mercury content in cold-water fish may negate the cardiovascular benefits of fish meals. Fish oils have similar antiatherogenic properties to fish, and similar studies should be performed to determine the level of mercury in fish oils. Objective.—To determine the concentration of mercury in 5 over-the-counter brands of fish oil. Results.—The levels of mercury in the 5 different brands of fish oil ranged from nondetectable (<6 μg/L) to negligible (10–12 μg/L). The mercury content of fish oil was similar to the basal concentration normally found in human blood. Conclusions.—Fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and their consumption is recommended to decrease the risk of coronary artery disease. However, fish such as swordfish and shark are also a source of exposure to the heavy metal toxin, mercury. The fish oil brands examined in this manuscript have neglig...
Implicit and explicit prior information in near-infrared spectral imaging: accuracy, quantification and diagnostic value

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) of tissue provides quantification of absorbers, scattering and luminescent agents in bulk tissue through the use of measurement data and assumptions. Prior knowledge can be critical about things such as (i) the tissue shape and/or structure, (ii) spectral constituents, (iii) limits on parameters, (iv) demographic or biomarker data, and (v) biophysical models of the temporal signal shapes. A general framework of NIRS imaging with prior information is presented, showing that prior information datasets could be incorporated at any step in the NIRS process, with the general workflow being: (i) data acquisition, (ii) pre-processing, (iii) forward model, (iv) inversion/reconstruction, (v) post-processing, and (vi) interpretation/diagnosis. Most of the development in NIRS has used ad hoc or empirical implementations of prior information such as pre-measured absorber or fluorophore spectra, or tissue shapes as estimated by additional imaging tools. A comprehensive analysis would examine what prior information maximizes the accuracy in recovery and value for medical diagnosis, when implemented at separate stages of the NIRS sequence. Individual applications of prior information can show increases in accuracy or improved ability to estimate biochemical features of tissue, while other approaches may not. Most beneficial inclusion of prior information has been in the inversion/reconstruction process, because it solves the mathematical intractability. However, it is not clear that this is always the most beneficial stage.
Age, caste, and behavior determine the replicative activity of intestinal stem cells in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)

Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) display a pronounced natural aging plasticity. The differences in aging rates between the alternative phenotypes and behavioral classes could reflect differences in protection against damage or in the ability to repair vulnerable tissues. As in other animals, including humans, the gut is continually exposed to environmental insults and harbors a large population of replicating stem cells that maintain the intestinal epithelium. Through studies of the major internal organs using incorporation and immunodetection of the mitotic marker bromo-deoxyuridine, the intestine was determined to be the main site of tissue renewal in adult honeybees. Proliferative activity of the intestinal stem cells was compared among queens, workers, and males of different ages. Simultaneous attempts to assess intestinal cell loss via apoptosis yielded inconclusive results. The relationship between intestinal cell proliferation and worker life-history was evaluated in greater depth by studying diutinus winter workers, reproductive workers, and by decoupling worker behavioral status from chronological age in a single-cohort colony. Intestinal cell proliferation was abundant in all groups and showed an age-related decline in workers, queens, and males. At young ages, workers exhibited relatively more intestinal cell proliferation than did queens and queens more than drones, but the caste and sex differences decreased with age. Cell proliferation did not decrease beyond 6 weeks of age in older queens and in diutinus workers. Ovary activation did not correlate with the amount of intestinal stem cell proliferation in workers, although the queenless hive condition was associated with lower overall counts. In the single-cohort colony, nurse bees exhibited more cell proliferation than foragers, regardless of age. The overall results do not support our hypothesis that longer-lived phenotypes exhibit increased somatic repair in the form of higher replicative activity of intestinal stem cells. Instead, the observed proliferation patterns reflect differential demands for digestive activity in the different groups, which result in different requirements for replacement of lost intestinal cells. The maintenance of proliferative capacity for over 1 year suggests that queen intestinal stem cells have a relatively high replicative potential, but further studies are needed to relate honeybee lifespan differences to cellular aging.
Static-99R Reporting Practices in Sexually Violent Predator Cases: Does Norm Selection Reflect Adversarial Allegiance?

We surveyed experts (N = 109) who conduct sexually violent predator (SVP) evaluations to obtain information about their Static-99R score reporting and interpretation practices. Although most evaluators reported providing at least 1 normative sample recidivism rate estimate, there were few other areas of consensus. Instead, reporting practices differed depending on the side for which evaluators typically performed evaluations. Defense evaluators were more likely to endorse reporting practices that convey the lowest possible level of risk (e.g., routine sample recidivism rates, 5-year recidivism rates) and the highest level of uncertainty (e.g., confidence intervals, classification accuracy), whereas prosecution evaluators were more likely to endorse practices suggesting the highest possible level of risk (e.g., high risk/need sample recidivism rates, 10-year recidivism rates). Reporting practices from state-agency evaluators tended to be more consistent with those of prosecution evaluators than defense evaluators, although state-agency evaluators were more likely than other evaluators to report that it was at least somewhat difficult to choose an appropriate normative comparison group. Overall, findings provide evidence for adversarial allegiance in Static-99R score reporting and interpretation practices.
Adaptive feedforward cancellation of sinusoidal disturbances in superconducting RF cavities

A control method, known as adaptive feedforward cancellation (AFC), is applied to damp sinusoidal disturbances due to microphonics in superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities. AFC provides a method for damping internal and external sinusoidal disturbances with known frequencies. It is preferred over other schemes because it uses rudimentary information about the frequency response at the disturbance frequencies, without the necessity for an analytic model (transfer function) of the system. It estimates the magnitude and phase of the sinusoidal disturbance inputs and generates a control signal to cancel their effect. AFC, along with a frequency estimation process, is shown to be very successful in the cancellation of sinusoidal signals from different sources. The results of this research may significantly reduce the power requirements and increase the stability for lightly loaded continuous-wave SRF systems.
The membrane receptor for nerve growth factor.

Receptors for mammalian growth factors are integral membrane proteins designed to have multiple functions for communicating with other cells and for intracellular signal transduction. These cell surface proteins have binding sites for the ligand that face the external environment and also an effector site that generates a biological signal within the cell. For nerve growth factor (NGF), the interaction with its cell surface receptor leads to a remarkable set of reactions in responsive cells, including changes in gene expression, activation of neurotransmitter enzymes, and stimulation of neuronal processes. These many events lead ultimately to the survival and maintenance of selective neuronal cell populations.
Effect of Naturally Occurring Ozone Air Pollution Episodes on Pulmonary Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

This study aimed to determine if naturally occurring episodes of ozone air pollution in the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, USA, during the summer are associated with increased pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress, increased respiratory symptoms, and decreased lung function in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared to controls. We measured biomarkers (nitrite/nitrate (NOx), 8-isoprostane) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC), spirometry, and respiratory symptoms in 11 former smokers with moderate-to-severe COPD and nine former smokers without airflow obstruction during periods of low and high ozone air pollution. High ozone levels were associated with increased NOx in EBC in both COPD (8.7 (±8.5) vs. 28.6 (±17.6) μmol/L on clean air vs. pollution days, respectively, p < 0.01) and control participants (7.6 (±16.5) vs. 28.5 (±15.6) μmol/L on clean air vs. pollution days, respectively, p = 0.02). There was no difference in pollution effect between COPD and control groups, and no difference in EBC 8-isoprostane, pulmonary function, or respiratory symptoms between clean air and pollution days in either group. Former smokers both with and without airflow obstruction developed airway oxidative stress and inflammation in association with ozone air pollution episodes.
Optic disk edema with a macular star.

Abstract A 13-year-old boy presented with acute loss of vision in his right eye of 2 weeks' duration. He had a high fever and was ill for several days, then improved but suffered recurrent episodes of sweating and a high fever. Ophthalmoscopy of the right eye showed optic disk edema, mild vitreous cells, and minimal exudates in the macula. Bartonella henselae titers were positive. A diagnosis of optic disk edema with a macular star secondary to cat-scratch disease was made. The patient was treated with doxycycline and made a dramatic improvement to visual acuity of 20/30 with a minimal residual relative central scotoma. The optic disk edema and macular star resolved, and the patient was left with mild optic atrophy in the right eye.
Phaffia rhodozyma: colorful odyssey

Phaffia rhodozyma was isolated by Herman Phaff in the 1960s, during his pioneering studies of yeast ecology. Initially, the yeast was isolated from limited geographical regions, but isolates were subsequently obtained from Russia, Chile, Finland, and the United States. The biological diversity of the yeast is more extensive than originally envisioned by Phaff and his collaborators, and at least two species appear to exist, including the anamorph Phaffia rhodozyma and the teleomorph Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous. The yeast has attracted considerable biotechnological interest because of its ability to synthesize the economically important carotenoid astaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxy-beta, beta-carotene-4,4'-dione) as its major pigment. This property has stimulated research on the biology of the yeast as well as development of the yeast as an industrial microorganism for astaxanthin production by fermentation. Our laboratory has isolated several mutants of the yeast affected in carotenogenesis, giving colonies a vivid array of pigmentation. We have found that nutritional and environmental conditions regulate astaxanthin biosynthesis in the yeast, and have demonstrated that astaxanthin protects P. rhodozyma from damage by reactive oxygen species. We proposed in the 1970s that P. rhodozyma could serve as an economically important pigment source in animal diets including salmonids, lobsters, and the egg yolks of chickens and quail, in order to impart characteristic and desirable colors. Although P. rhodozyma/Xanthomyces dendrorhous has been studied by various researchers for nearly 30 years, it still attracts interest from yeast biologists and biotechnologists. There is a bright and colorful outlook for P. rhodozyma/X. dendrorhous from fundamental and applied research perspectives.
Osteogenesis imperfecta in childhood: perceived competence in relation to impairment and disability.

Abstract Engelbert RH, Gulmans VA, Uiterwaal CS, Helders PJ. Osteogenesis imperfecta in childhood: perceived competence in relation to impairment and disability. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82:943-8. Objectives: To examine the perceived competence of children with different types of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and to investigate the possible relationships between their perceived competence and impairment parameters. Design : Cross-sectional study. Setting: National referral center (hospital) for the treatment of children with OI. Patients: Forty children with OI (type I=17; type III=11; type IV=12) with a mean age ± standard deviation of 12.6 ± 3.2 years. Interventions: Measured joint range of motion (ROM) in the upper extremities (UEs), and lower extremities (LEs), muscle strength, functional skills, ambulation, and perceived competence. Main Outcome Measures: Joint ROM in UE and LE; muscle strength (using the manual muscle testing criteria of the Medical Research Council); functional skills using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory in 3 domains (self-care, mobility, social function). Ambulation (according to Bleck and classified as nonwalking, therapy walking, household walking, neighborhood walking, community walking with or without the use of crutches), and perceived competence (using the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children, which was cross-culturally validated for Dutch children). Results: In children with type I, joint ROM and muscle strength were almost comparable to the healthy population. In children with type III, a severe decrease in joint ROM was measured, especially in the LEs, and muscle strength was severely decreased in the UEs and LEs. In children with type IV, joint ROM and muscle strength decreased, especially in the LEs. In all types, fairly to strongly positive perceived competence was measured except for fairly negative perceived competence in the athletic performance subscale in type I and a fairly negative perceived competence in the romance subscale in type III. No correlations were found between (1) joint ROM and athletic performance and physical appearance, (2) muscle strength and athletic performance or physical appearance, or (3) the functional skills, concerning self-care and mobility, with the subscales of the perceived competence. Conclusions: Although joint ROM, muscle strength, and functional and walking ability were related to the severity of the disease and differed significantly between the different types of OI, overall perceived competence in children with OI was fairly to strongly positive, without significant differences between the different types of OI. © 2001 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation