cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attributions for the occupational success/failure of ethnic minority and nonminority women

Chicana and Anglo female subjects responded to verbal descriptions in which an Anglo, Black, or Chicana female experienced either occupational success or failure. Respondents were asked to make causal attributions and to rate the importance of the following factors in affecting the actor's occupational outcome: task difficulty, competence, effort, luck, personal connections gender, and ethnicity. A MANOVA showed significant variations in attributions for occupational outcome as a function of ethnic background of both the subject and the succeeding or failing actor, thus highlighting the potent qualifying role of ethnicity in attributions for occupational stress/failure.
A continuum constitutive model for cohesionless granular flows

A constitutive model is developed to represent shear granular flows of cohesionless solids. The model is based on the postulate that the friction coefficient and the solids fraction in a moving granular material are exclusive functions of the inertial number, which represents the ratio of inertial to normal stress forces. The constitutive equation obtained has the same form as a multidimensional Bingham fluid model, albeit with apparent viscosity and yield stress that depend on the vertical normal stress. The model is applied to previously published experimental results dealing with shear flows of granular beds made up of cohesionless spherical particles. The first case analyzed corresponds to a granular bed moving on top of a rotating disk. The model captures the main trends of the velocity profiles with a single adjustable parameter. The second case is a conventional Couette flow, for which the model is capable of representing the velocity and solids fraction profiles measured experimentally.
Plume Opacity and Particulate Mass Concentration

Abstract A general theoretical relationship between plume opacity and the properties of particulate air pollutants has been developed. These results are in agreement with previously reported theoretical equations for specific emissions and with the known measurements of plume opacity and particle properties. A parameter K, defined as the specific particulate volume/light extinction coefficient ratio (cm3m−3m), was used to relate the plume opacity to the particle properties. Graphs of Kvs. the particle geometric mass mean radius at geometric standard deviations of 1,1.5, 2, 3,4 and 5 are presented for particles of refractive index 1.33 (water) and 1.95−0.661 (carbon). An example is included illustrating the use of the theoretical results to calculate the maximum allowable particle concentration which will meet a given Ringelmann number.
Encouraging the next generation of scientists at Fall Meeting

Three special events for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students are being held at this year's Fall Meeting. The events are open to all meeting attendees—please consider stopping by to interact with and encourage and mentor students as well as to learn about their research projects. Opportunities for students to engage in networking, participate in conferences, and present research help them to develop and socialize within a discipline and profession. Additionally, engaged mentoring is known to provide students with support at critical decision points in their career.
Reconfigurable beam steering metasurface absorbers

An ultra-thin reconfigurable metasurface absorber consisting of a mushroom type artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) is proposed. By capacitively loading the unit cells the reflection phase can be shifted, allowing the metasurface to steer the incoming wave to the desired direction, behaving as a phase gradient absorber. A formula based on antenna array theory was used to determine the required phase shift needed to steer the main beam. A reduction of 30dBm 2 compare to a PEC ground plane was achieved for the design that steers the main beam to Φ=0° and θ= 15°, from the specular direction. Also, it was further shown that by incorporating resistors into the loaded structure the main beam width can be increased.
Changes in Retention and Detector Response for Weak Acid Anions as a Function of Mobile Phase pH in Indirect Photometric Chromatography with a Singly Charged Eluent Ion

Indirect photometric chromatography (IPC) involves analyte separation by ion exchange and detection using indirect UV photometry. Since retention and detection are impacted by the speciation of the weak acid analytes and eluents, both are influenced by mobile phase pH. In this study, the retention and detection characteristics of several weak and strong acids were studied as a function of mobile phase pH with an eluent whose speciation was only marginally impacted by pH. In so doing, analyte ion effects are divorced from the eluent ion effects which are typically observed with the weak acid eluents used in IPC. Trends in both the detection and retention characteristics of the weak acids mirrored their changing speciation and could be used to estimate their acid dissociation constants.
Modulated Light Ellipsometry At 10.6 μm

In this paper we highlight the salient features of the Hughes Modulated Light Ellipsometer system including the details of the critical optical and electronic components. We present an analytical discussion of the effects of various experimental errors, including signal stability and sample alignment, on the accuracy of the system for substrate and thin-film measurements. The regions of optimum measurement accuracy deduced from these analytical studies are used as an experimental guide in the laboratory. The system has been used to study various substrates and film-substrate systems including ThF4, ZnSe, KCl, CdTe, ZnSe on KCl, and ThF4 on ZnSe. The results of these measurements are presented and discussed.© (1977) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The development of the ability to assess recall performance

Abstract The ability of first and third graders to evaluate their recall performance was assessed. Third graders were more accurate in estimating the number of items they had recalled, although both groups showed considerable accuracy. The subjects' accuracy in assessing their recall after the fact was contrasted with indications that children are poor predictors of their recall performance.
Gallium Nitride Films

The thermal decomposition of a gallium tribromide‐ammonia complex in an ammonia, argon, or nitrogen atmosphere has been used for the deposition of gallium nitride films on silicon and hexagonal silicon carbide substrates in a gas flow system. The substrate temperature and the nature of the ambient are the most important parameters of the deposition process. Adherent and transparent films of gallium nitride have been deposited at substrate temperatures up to about 600°C in an ammonia atmosphere and up to about 750°C in a nitrogen or argon ambient. At higher temperatures, the deposit became contaminated with gallium. The gallium nitride films deposited on {111} oriented silicon substrates at 600°–700°C were found to show a (110) fiber orientation. Epitaxial, single crystalline gallium nitride films have been grown successfully on the basal plane of hexagonal silicon carbide substrates at 520°–600°C. These films are of high resistivity indicating that the thermal decomposition of gallium nitride is negligible. Thus, the thermal decomposition of the gallium tribromide‐ammonia complex provides a new promising technique for the crystal growth of gallium nitride.
A Classification of Multiplicity Free Actions

Abstract The action of a complex algebraic groupGon an affine varietyVis said to be multiplicity free if each irreducible representation ofGoccurs at most once in the ring C [V] of regular functions onV. This paper concerns the classical setting whereVis a vector space andGacts linearly onV. The irreducible linear multiplicity free actions have been classified by V. Kac. The focus here is on nonirreducible linear multiplicity free actions. We exhibit many such actions which do not decompose as direct products of irreducible actions. Our main results provide a classification for all linear multiplicity free actions on a vector space.
Further studies of the metabolic incorporation and covalent binding of inhaled [3H]- and [14C]formaldehyde in Fischer-344 rats: effects of glutathione depletion.

Abstract Glutathione (GSH) is required for the oxidation of formaldehyde (HCHO) to formate catalyzed by formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FDH). The effects of GSH depletion on the mechanisms of labeling of macromolecules in the rat nasal mucosa and bone marrow by 3 HCHO and H 14 CHO were investigated. Male rats were exposed for 3 hr to atmospheres containing 3 HCHO and H 14 CHO at concentrations of 0.9, 2, 4, 6, or 10 ppm, 1 day after a single 3-hr preexposure to the same concentration of unlabeled HCHO. Two hours prior to the second exposure, the animals were injected either with phorone (300 mg/kg, ip) or with corn oil. The concentration of nonprotein sulfhydryls in the nasal respiratory mucosa of phorone-injected rats was decreased to 10% of that of corn oil-injected rats. The metabolic incorporation of 3 HCHO and H 14 CHO into DNA, RNA, and proteins in the respiratory and olfactory mucosa and bone marrow (femur) was significantly decreased, and DNA-protein crosslinking was significantly increased in the respiratory mucosa of phorone-injected relative to corn oil-injected rats at all HCHO concentrations. DNA-protein crosslinks were not detected in the respiratory mucosa of corn oil-injected rats at 0.9 ppm. Evidence was obtained for the formation of adducts of HCHO with the RNA from the nasal respiratory mucosa of phorone-injected rats at concentrations above 0.9 ppm. Covalent binding of HCHO to macromolecules in the bone marrow was not detected. These results indicate that the GSH-dependent oxidation of HCHO catalyzed by FDH is an important defense mechanism against the covalent reactions of HCHO with nucleic acids in the respiratory mucosa. Experiments using phorone-injected rats exposed to 10 ppm of [ 3 H]- and [ 14 C]formaldehyde showed that the DNA from the respiratory mucosa was enriched in 3 H relative to 14 C in comparison to the inhaled vapor. The enrichment is explained by an isotope effect in the oxidation of 3 HCHO and H 14 CHO ( H. d'A, Heck and M. Casanova (1987) . Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 89 , 122–134), which results in 3 H enrichment of the residual (unoxidized) HCHO that binds to DNA. A nonlinear pharmacokinetic model is proposed that depicts the potential effects of FDH saturation on the relative concentrations of intracellular to extracellular HCHO.
Angle Resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Applied to Patchy Surfaces

This paper reviews the principles of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) critical to the interpretation of angle resolved measurements. A simple model appropriate for a heterogeneous overlayer on a flat surface is presented. An outline of the quantitative determination of overlayer characteristics is also included. The technique described is applied to the naturally occurring layers on an air exposed surface of a silicon wafer.
Team-based cyber defense analysis

Situation awareness (SA) in the cyber security domain is particularly relevant to teams of security analysts who are responsible for detecting cyber threats by perusing continual floods of data such as intrusion alerts and network logs. The challenges that analysts face are matched by those of researchers attempting to understand, measure, and impact SA in the cyber arena. The ground truth is not available except in simulated cyber situations. In this paper we outline a cognitive task analysis (CTA) focused on teams of analysts and the subsequent preliminary study conducted using a cyber defense simulation environment, CyberCog, built based on the CTA findings. Results from the CTA suggest three areas of fundamental challenge surrounding security analysts: team structure, communication, and information overload. These challenges could be associated to maladies such as cognitive tunneling and increased false alarms. These results are mirrored in the CyberCog pilot simulation study.
Non-membranolytic, Translocating Peptides Selected From A Peptide Library

Translocation is a defining characteristic of cell-penetrating peptides and antimicrobial peptides that act intracellularly. Found in nature, these membrane-active peptides are being redesigned as therapeutic agents of drug delivery, gene-therapy, and anticancer activity. Such peptides can only be loosely categorized as small, cationic peptides, and even with that broad definition there are outliers. They are best defined by their function to translocate across membranes where they exert their action. Here we have used a function-based approach to isolate 12 translocating peptides from a 10,000+ member peptide library of rational design, using a high-throughput screen for monitoring the non-membranolytic translocation of peptides across lipid bilayers. The 12 residue framework of the library, designed with translocation in mind, is a series of 9 combinatorial sites followed by a C-terminal alpha-1-chymotrypsin cleavage site, integral to the screen. The resulting residue in each combinatorial site is one of 2 - 4 variable amino acids, with a hydrophobic or cationic residue available in each position. The sequences of the translocating peptides from the screen have no specific motif, but similarities do arise in overall compositional features, hydrophobicity, and general deficiency of an ordered structure. The continued trend in a lack of convergence regarding a structure-function relationship supports function based screening of peptide libraries as the best way to arrive at de novo membrane-active peptides with specific functions of interest.
Geophysical Investigation of Vadose Zone Conductivity Anomalies at a Hydrocarbon Contaminated Site: Implications for the Assessment of Intrinsic Bioremediation

Electromagnetic (EM-31), dc resistivity, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) methods were used to investigate part of a former refinery site in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. The study area is underlain by about 9–12m of heterogeneous glacial drift deposits overlying a sandy outwash unit. Three large above ground storage tanks (ASTs) formerly occupied the study area and were removed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in 1997. EM-31 surveys revealed eight remnants of buried pipe ranging from 20m to more than 100m in length. Emanating from some of these abandoned pipe segments are extensive near surface conductivity anomalies, with values ranging from 16mS∕m to greater than 100mS∕m vs. background values of less than 15mS∕m. GPR and dipole-dipole resistivity surveys performed along selected profiles with anomalous conductive zones revealed a channel form within the shallow subsurface. Shallow hand augured soil borings into these conductive zones encountered hydrocarbons perched on thin clay lenses...
Operating properties of thermoelectric generator materials

A brief exposition of the thermodynamics of thermoelectricity and a discussion of the measurement techniques developed to provide quality control data for the selection of thermoelectric material.
The mediator coactivator complex: functional and physical roles in transcriptional regulation

In vivo, the DNA is packed into chromatin and transcription is dependent upon activators that recruit other factors to reverse the repressive effects of chromatin. The response to activators requires additional factors referred to as coactivators. One such coactivator, mediator, is a multi-subunit complex capable of responding to different activators. It plays an key role in activation, bridging DNA-bound activators, the general transcriptional machinery, especially RNA polymerase II, and the core promoter. Its subunits are necessary for a variety of positive and negative regulatory processes and serve as the direct targets of activators themselves. In vivo and in vitro studies support various roles for mediator in transcription initiation, while structural studies demonstrate that it engages in multiple interactions with RNA polymerase II, and adopts conformations that are activator specific.
Inference using attributable risk for a 2×2 case–control study

Asymptotic variance plays an important role in the inference using interval estimate of attributable risk. This paper compares asymptotic variances of attributable risk estimate using the delta method and the Fisher information matrix for a 2×2 case–control study due to the practicality of applications. The expressions of these two asymptotic variance estimates are shown to be equivalent. Because asymptotic variance usually underestimates the standard error, the bootstrap standard error has also been utilized in constructing the interval estimates of attributable risk and compared with those using asymptotic estimates. A simulation study shows that the bootstrap interval estimate performs well in terms of coverage probability and confidence length. An exact test procedure for testing independence between the risk factor and the disease outcome using attributable risk is proposed and is justified for the use with real-life examples for a small-sample situation where inference using asymptotic variance may ...
A 13C‐NMR spectral study of cellulose and glucopyranose dissolved in the NH3/NH4SCN solvent system

The 13C-NMR chemical shifts of a cellulose with a DPw of 23 dissolved in the NH3/NH4SCN solvent system were found to be very similar to those of cellulose dissolved in DMSO (cellulose oligomers), in the LiCl/DMAC system and in the N-methylmorpholine N-oxide/DMSO system. It was concluded from this that cellulose does not react with the NH3/NH4SCN solvent. It was found, however, that glucose reacts with the solvent at C-1 to form β-D-glucopyranosy-lamine. Separation of this compound from the solvent resulted in another compound which was determined to be β,β-di-D-glucopyranosylamine. The compounds β-D-glucopyranosylamine, N-acetyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranosylamine, β,β-di-D-glucopyranosylamine, α,β-di-D-glucopyranosylamine, 2,3,4,6,2′,3′,4′,6′-octa-O-acetyl-α,β-di-D-glucopyranosylamine were all synthesized and the 13C-NMR chemical shifts of these compounds are reported. It was also found that for the low-DP cellulose sample which was used the reducing end group existed and had reacted with the solvent to form an amine at C-1.
Renegotiating the Historical Narrative: The Case of American Higher Education

This conversation begins with two observations: first, the professional organizations—conferences and journals—need to play more self-conscious, activist roles in shaping scholarly canons. Second, whatever canon now presides over American higher educational history is an extremely tolerant one. So much of current scholarship seems to arise out of particularly local interests, narrow specializations, or anniversary celebrations. Even more, rich case studies of particular institutions often omit any connection with a wider discourse. Too many essays of colleges and universities with rather singular histories seldom probe current scholarly wisdom to assess how issues and generalizations might be changed because of their particular case. The cumulative effect of this scholarship “from below” tends to erode any general consensus on central problems. Should not the professional organizations hosting academic discussions probe this phenomenon and indeed suggest that subsequent scholarship explain the issues that their case illuminates? Should they not explain how their scholarship connects to existing scholarly canons?
Engaging Undergraduates in Feminist Classrooms: An Exploration of Professors' Practices.

This article reports the results of a feminist action research project that sought to ascertain professors’ best practices for engaging undergraduates in feminist classrooms. In semi-structured interviews, professors recommended assigning readings from a variety of positionalities; creating a safe space for class discussion; relying on data to respond to student resistance; and including issues related to diversity, human identity, and social justice at a curricular level. The article concludes with a discussion of the author's experience implementing this advice in his own teaching for two years.
Hurricane Imaging Radiometer Wide Swath Simulation for Wind Speed and Rain Rate

There is a strong national interest in the observation of ocean surface winds with high spatial and temporal resolution for understanding tropical cyclones and their effects on weather and climate and in forecasting storms making landfall. Current satellite and aircraft based remote sensing capability is limited in wind speed dynamic range and in the ability to retrieve wind information in the presence of rain, or in temporal and spatial coverage, respectively. The hurricane imaging radiometer (HIRAD) is capable to capture all the hurricane features and dynamics from a high altitude aircraft preserving high resolution measurements. A detailed description of the methods used in simulating the HIRAD instrument surface sampling of wind speed, in intense rain, from various aircraft platforms with realistic operational flight patterns through a time evolving hurricane will be provided in this paper. A noise model used to simulate the effects of rain for various observation path lengths over the swath will also be described. Results will demonstrate the extent of spatial and temporal coverage available from currently available aircraft platforms.
Sulfated Polysaccharide-Directed Recruitment of Mammalian Host Proteins: a Novel Strategy in Microbial Pathogenesis

Fundamental to the virulence of microbial pathogens is their capacity for adaptation and survival within variable, and often hostile, environments encountered in the host. We describe a novel, extragenomic mechanism of surface modulation which may amplify the adaptive and pathogenic potential of numerous bacterial species, including Staphylococcus, Yersinia, and pathogenic Neisseria species, as well as Helicobacter pylori and Streptococcus pyogenes. The mechanism involves specific bacterial recruitment of heparin, glycosaminoglycans, or related sulfated polysaccharides, which in turn serve as universal binding sites for a diverse array of mammalian heparin binding proteins, including adhesive glycoproteins (vitronectin and fibronectin), inflammatory (MCP-3, PF-4, and MIP-1α) and immunomodulatory (gamma interferon) intermediates, and fibroblast growth factor. This strategy impacts key aspects of microbial pathogenicity as exemplified by increased bacterial invasion of epithelial cells and inhibition of chemokine-induced chemotaxis. Our findings illustrate a previously unrecognized form of parasitism that complements classical virulence strategies encoded within the microbial genome.
Proportionality Among Nutrients in Least Cost Feed Formulation

Abstract The data file for feed formulation of a major broiler integrator was used in studies of formulation techniques that affect proportionality among required nutrients. 1) The current practice, often called “optimum density” or “nutrient factoring,” was examined. In optimum density rations, the constraint on the weight of the diet is relaxed. It was demonstrated that this method merely results in proportionate changes in specified nutrient and ingredient minimums and maximums. Optimum density rations may reduce the cost of the diet in terms of cost per unit of energy only because of the altered constraints. 2) In a formulation related to optimum density, mixing and farm distribution cost was added to the feed mix problem on a per ton basis. This cost did not affect the constraint proportions of the ration (optimum density) until in excess of $100/ton. 3) A method of creating proportionality coefficients that allows nutrient ratios to be specified instead of levels and ranges is presented. It is expected to be helpful to nutritionists in formulating rations in which nutrients are desired to be in precise ratios without altering the weight of the ration.
Enhancement of Plant Productivity by Manipulation of ADPglucose Pyrophosphorylase

For many crop plants, improvements in agricultural technology and the application of greater amounts of mineral nutrients no longer results in costeffective enhancement of crop yield (King et al., 1967). In view of the public’s concern on the release of chemicals in the environment and its likely impact on the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture, future increases in crop yields will be a result of genetic improvements of existing plants in photosynthesis and their ability to protect themselves against pest and pathogens. Since relatively minor increments in the efficiency of photosynthesis can result in dramatically increased crop yields, much of the current research has been focused toward directly altering the components of the photosynthetic apparatus and the CO2 fixation enzyme activity, Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, and it ancillary oxygenase activity. Alternatively many scientists are examining a less direct approach of enhancing photosynthesis by increasing the capacity of plants to store photosynthate in its nutrient reserves.
Inherited predisposition to chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Inherited susceptibility to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been recognized for decades. Approximately 10% of individuals with CLL report a family history of CLL or a related lymphoproliferative disorder, and genetic predisposition is the best understood risk factor for CLL. Studies of familial CLL have suggested that the disease features are largely similar to sporadic CLL, although recent data suggest that familial CLL may more commonly show somatic hypermutation of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable region, suggesting a more indolent disease course. Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) has been identified recently as a likely precursor to CLL; it is found in the general population with increasing age and enriched in unaffected relatives of individuals with familial CLL. Studies of MBL as well as mouse models of CLL may lead to better understanding of early CLL pathogenesis that is relevant to familial predisposition. To date, the identification of genes that predispose to familial CLL has ...
CE2IT: continuous ethics enhancement for IT professionals

As IT moves into more mission-critical processes, the possibility for ethical dilemmas with far-reaching consequences increases. This article presents "Continuous Ethics Enhancement for IT Professionals" (CE2IT), a personal framework that responds to an IT professional's need for guidance in ethical decision-making. It is designed to "see to it" that IT professionals integrate ethics into their personal and professional lives.
Quantifying how lighting and focus affect face recognition performance

Recent studies show that face recognition in uncontrolled images remains a challenging problem, although the reasons why are less clear. Changes in illumination are one possible explanation, even though algorithms developed since the advent of the PIE and Yale B data bases supposedly compensate for illumination variation. Edge density has also been shown to be a strong predictor of algorithm failure on the FRVT 2006 uncontrolled images; recognition is harder on images with higher edge density. This paper presents a new study that explains the edge density effect in terms of illumination and shows that top performing algorithms in FRVT 2006 are still sensitive to lighting. This new study also shows that focus, originally suggested as an explanation for the edge density effect, is not a significant factor. The new lighting model developed in this study can be used as a measure of face image quality.
Job demands and dementia risk among male twin pairs.

Abstract Background Job characteristics may influence risk of dementia, but some types of job complexity remain to be examined. Twin studies provide a useful methodology for examining job differences between pairs who share many environmental and genetic influences. Methods Members of the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council's Twins Registry of World War II Veterans received a clinical evaluation for dementia and job ratings from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Results Co-twin control models (n = 220 pairs) indicated lower risk of dementia with greater job demands of reasoning, mathematics, language, and vocational training, with comparable results in case-control models (n = 425 cases). These effects were significant among twin pairs discordant for ≥6 years, but not among those discordant between 3–5 years. Results were similar for Alzheimer's disease, and the main effects were not further explained by zygosity or apolipoprotein E genotype. Conclusions Jobs that utilize data, academic skills, and extensive vocational training may protect against dementia. However, in twin pairs, these effects only emerged among individuals who remained free of dementia several years after onset in their sibling.
Safety analysis of percutaneous dilational tracheostomies with bronchoscopy in the obese patient

Objectives/Hypothesis: Since originally described in 1985 by Ciaglia, percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) has grown in popularity, and today is widely used for critically ill patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation. Since the inception of PDT, obesity has been considered a relative contraindication to its use. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risks of PDT in obese patients. Study Design: Retrospective review. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of prospectively collected data from 426 patients who underwent PDT at a single teaching institution from July 2003 to October 2009. The groups were separated into those who had a body mass index (BMI) of <30 or ≥30 kg/m2. The following variables were collected: blood loss at the time of procedure, difficulty in tracheotomy dilation and/or tracheostomy placement, presence of tracheal ring breaks, any bleeding episodes requiring treatment by surgery or blood transfusion, pre- and postprocedure pneumonia, and stoma infection requiring antibiotics. All tracheostomies were placed using the Ciaglia Blue Rhino Introducer Kit (Cook Medical Inc., Bloomington, IN). Statistical analysis was performed with nonparametric statistics using χ2 testing with P < .05 as significant. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between the obese and nonobese groups for any of the variables studied. Similar results were found when BMI of 40 was used for grouping. Conclusions: PDT can be performed safely in obese patients. There were no statistically significant differences in measured variables found between the two study groups. This study supports the use of intensive care unit bedside PDT in the obese population.
Stage T1-2 prostate cancer with pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level ≤ 10 ng/ml : Radiation therapy or surgery?

Purpose: To detect differences in biochemical failure rates by treatment modality (radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy) in patients with early-stage prostate cancer presenting with pretreatment prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) levels ≤ 10.0 ng/ml. Methods and Materials: A total of 1467 consecutive patients with prostate carcinoma were treated with either radiotherapy (RT) or radical prostatectomy (RP) between January 1987 and June 1996. Patients with the following were excluded from the present study: initial PSA (iPSA) level > 10 ng/ml (n = 444), clinical Stage T3 disease (n = 73), adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment (n = 173), no available iPSA level (n = 31), no available biopsy Gleason score (GS) (n = 33), incomplete pathologic information (n = 16), and no available follow-up PSA levels (n = 90). The analysis was performed on 607 cases: 354 treated with RP and 253 with RT (median dose 68.4 Gy). The outcome of interest was biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS), with biochemical relapse being defined as either a detectable PSA level after RP or elevation in PSA levels of <1.0 ng/ml above the nadir after RT. Proportional hazards were used to analyze the effect of treatment modality and confounding variables (i.e., age, stage, biopsy GS, iPSA levels) on treatment outcome. Results: Seventy-nine percent of patients (n = 478) had clinical Stage T1 or T2A disease at presentation (RP vs. RT:84% vs. 71%,p < 0.001). Twenty-one percent of patients (n = 127) had iPSA levels ≤ 4 ng/ml (RP vs. RT: 24% vs. 17%, p = 0.027). Seventy-six percent of patients (n = 460) had biopsy GS < 6 (RP vs. RT: 79% vs. 71%, p = 0.014). The median follow-up time was 24 months (range 3-110). For the 607 patients, the 5-year bRFS rate was 76%. The 5-year RFS rates for RP versus RT were 76% versus 75%, respectively (p = 0.09). After adjustment for all confounding variables, iPSA levels (p < 0.001) and biopsy GS (p = 0.001) were the only independent predictors of relapse, whereas age, clinical stage, and treatment modality were not (p = 0.20; p = 0.09; and p = 0.10, respectively). Conclusion: In patients with clinical Stage T1-2 prostate cancer and pretreatment PSA < 10 ng/ml, there is no difference in biochemical failure rates between those treated with radiation and those treated with surgery.
An Examination of the Mediational Effects of Cognitive and Attitudinal Factors of a Parent Intervention to Reduce College Drinking

As part of a parent intervention to reduce heavy-drinking, college freshmen were assessed for their attitudes toward drinking and reasonable alternatives to drinking on the weekends, as well as cognitive variables underlying attitudinal variables. Intervention parents received a handbook the summer prior to college entrance with information about college drinking and best practices for parent-teen communication. Results revealed that the association between intervention condition and drinking outcomes was mediated by attitudes favorable to drinking and reasonable alternatives to drinking, as well as beliefs about alcohol related behavior. This parent program was shown to be efficacious for changing high-risk drinking in college. Findings are discussed regarding the further development of college drinking prevention programs involving parents.
Superconducting Magnets for the CBA Project

Abstract The superconducting magnets that were designed and tested for the BNL colliding beam accelerator are described, including dipoles, quadrupoles and trim coils. The dipoles had an effective length of 436 cm, a good field aperture of 8.8 cm diameter, and were designed for an operating field of 5.28 T in a temperature range between 2.6 K and 3.8 K (provided by supercritical helium). The quadrupoles had the same aperture, an effective length of 138.5 cm, and were designed to operate in series with the dipoles, with a gradient of 70.8 T/m. The dipoles incorporated internal sextupole, octupole, and decapole trim coil windings; the quadrupole trim coils consisted of dipole, quadrupole, and dodecapole windings. The design, construction, and performance (training, field quality, quench protection characteristics) of prototype magnets are discussed in considerable detail.
Factors associated with internalized injection drug user stigma among injection drug users in New York City

s / Drug and Alcohol Dependence 146 (2015) e34–e117 e81 acceptable to patients, their parents and pediatric staff and provide clinical utility when used during well child check-ups. Methods: Following informed consent and child assent, while waiting for a physician in the exam room, parents and patients completed the TLI and RI, respectively. Nurses also invited parents to participate in a follow-up interview. Of 258 records scanned for eligibility (patients of 17 pediatricians within 3 practices), 106 parent-child dyads were recruited by nurses to complete the TLI and aRI prototype; 41.9% of patientswere girls, 55.7%wereAfricanAmerican, 44.3% were Caucasian, and their mean age=10.3 years (SD=2.0). Results: TLIs took a mean 5.3min (range=4.3–7.4); prototype RIs took a mean 5.1min (range=2.3–10.1). Parents and patients rated the screening protocol very positively. E.g., over 93% of parents reported they want pediatricians to use the screening tools; 96.6% reported that if the screening indicated their child needed prevention, they would seek help through a physician’s referral. Pediatricians and office staff also viewed the protocol positively, patient flow was not disrupted, and medical staff agreed to assist in further development of a screening and referral protocol. Scores on both indexes correlated with substance use, conduct disorder, health behaviors that concern pediatricians (e.g., wearing a helmet while riding a bike) and many case-conceptualization measures used with the Family Check-Up prevention program. Conclusions: The TLI/RI screening protocol fits pediatric well child check-up logistics, is acceptable, and provides clinical utility as a screening tool for healthcare-based SUD prevention. Financial support: Supported by grants from NIDA (P50 DA005605, R42 DA022127) and the Staunton Farm Foundation. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.588 Factors associated with internalized injection drug user stigma among injection drug users in New York City Alexis V. Rivera1, Jennifer DeCuir1, Natalie D. Crawford2, Crystal Fuller1 1 Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States 2 Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Georgia State University School of Public Heatlh, Atlanta, GA,
“Not Out to Start a Revolution” Race, Gender, and Emotional Restraint among Black University Men

In this article, I use in-depth interviews with black university men to investigate race, gender, and emotions. Participation in dominant institutions requires African American men to exhibit extra...
Excess Mid-Infrared Flux: An Indicator of Mass Loss in Cepheids?

Spectral energy distributions for 132 classical and type II Cepheids were searched for evidence of excess flux above the photospheric level in the mid-infrared. Eight of them were found to have unambiguously strong excess emission while a further 13 showed evidence of weak emission. The presence of emission appears to be unrelated to either the pulsational amplitude or the effective temperature while strong emission is limited to stars with periods longer than 11 days, with a single exception. For the stars with strong emission we attempted to fit the energy distribution with a stellar wind model. No acceptable fit could be found for silicate grains. With graphite or iron grains we could only obtain an acceptable fit if the maximum dust temperature was significantly lower than the condensation temperature. We conclude that the excess emission is not evidence of mass loss.
Inhibition of ANP clearance receptors and endopeptidase 24.11 in maturing rats.

Systemic clearance of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) decreases during postnatal development. To determine the relative contribution of ANP clearance (C) receptors and neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP; EC 3.4.24.11) in regulation of plasma ANP concentration ([ANP]) during maturation, 18- to 60-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and infused with rat ANP (35 ng.kg-1.min-1). Infusion of the NEP inhibitor phosphoramidon increased [ANP] and urine guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) excretion in both weanling and adult rats. Infusion of C-ANP, an analogue that binds C receptors selectively, resulted in a greater rise in [ANP] in preweaned than in adult rats, suggesting a maturational decrease in function of C receptors. Despite the increase in [ANP], however, urine flow, cGMP, and sodium excretion failed to increase in preweaned compared with adult rats. Combined infusion of phosphoramidon and C-ANP resulted in a marked increase in [ANP] and cGMP excretion in weanling and adult rats. These results indicate that both C receptors and NEP modulate plasma [ANP] in the physiological range and that each pathway compensates when the other is inhibited. Age-related differences in the renal response to ANP clearance inhibitors may have important physiological implications in the regulation of sodium balance during development.
Diversity and Demographics of Zooarchaeologists: Results from a Digital Survey

Nearly 25 years ago, a “Zooarchaeology Practitioner Survey” was distributed via conventional mail to individuals in the USA and Canada and received 122 responses over a period of several months in 1991. Now, a revised “Demographics in Zooarchaeology Survey” provides an update to those data and assesses the current state of the field. The 2014 survey remained open for 3 months and received 288 responses from practitioners worldwide. Global participation was made possible by hosting the survey online. Key findings of the 1991 survey included disparities in employment rank for women despite similar levels of degree level attainment as men, a point which the 2014 survey sought to investigate. This trend appears to persist for those without the PhD and at the highest levels of income for those holding a PhD. In addition, the recent survey asked participants about their racial or ethnic identity in order to evaluate the demographic diversity of the discipline beyond sex, age, and nationality. Data regarding topical and geographic research area were also collected and reflect a subtle bias towards working with mammals and a focus on research questions grounded in prehistory in Europe and North America, followed by Australia and Southwest Asia. Results are compared with those of the earlier survey and membership information from the International Council for Archaeozoology.
THE ART OF SMART SCIENCE: WEAVING THEORY AND RISKY STUDY DESIGN INTO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY RESEARCH AND RDOC.

Yes, the art. We are grateful for the opportunity to respond to commentaries on our target article. Just like the commentators, the commentaries were excellent, expanding on the target article in important ways while simultaneously taking us to task in others. On one thing each commentator agreed: there is a lot of room to improve how we conduct research to advance knowledge. However, there was less agreement on how best to do that, reflecting the complex and interrelated nature of experimental design, statistics, multi-method inference, and causal inference, which were the focus of our target article. The commentaries all expounded on these issues in important ways and many took the topic further, emphasizing the importance of clinical application, tradition, and health policy.
Optical Properties and Applications of Shape-Controlled Metal Nanostructures

Noble metallic materials in the nanoscale size regime display unique optical and electronic properties. In this chapter, we review current synthetic methods for making gold and silver nanostructures of various shapes and sizes and discuss select techniques that have become indispensible for structural characterization of nanomaterials. A fundamental characteristic of metal nanostructures is their interaction with light through surface plasmon resonance (SPR), which can be modulated by shape, surrounding environment, and size. We first address the effect of shape on the SPR and then discuss changes in the extinction spectrum that result from plasmonic coupling between metal nanostructures in close proximity. Changes in the refractive index of media surrounding the nanoparticles and the corresponding effect on the SPR are briefly addressed. We then highlight several applications of metal nanostructures that utilize their unique optical properties, including SPR as a technique for detection, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), photothermal ablation therapy (PTA), drug delivery, and solar energy conversion. We conclude with a discussion of current challenges and promising research directions in the study and use of metal nanostructures.
Quantifying fluctuations in winter productive cropped area in the Central Indian Highlands

The Central Indian Highland landscape (CIHL) represents a complex, diverse, and highly human-modified system. Nearly half the landscape is cropland, yet it hosts 21 protected areas surrounded and connected by forests. Changing farming practices with increasing access to irrigation might alter this intensifying landscape in the near future particularly in light of weather variability. We analyzed a decade of remote sensing data for cropping patterns and climatic factors combined with census data for irrigation and demographic factors to understand winter cropping trajectories in the CIHL. We quantified ‘productive cropped area’ (PCA), defined as the area with planted crop that is green at the peak of the winter growing season. We find three primary trajectories in PCA—increasing, fluctuating, and decreasing. The most dominant trend is fluctuating PCA in two-thirds of the districts, ranging from ~2.11 million to ~3.73 million ha between 2001 and 2013, which is associated with village-level access to irrigation and local labor dynamics. In 58 % of all districts, clay soils were associated with winter cropping (p < 0.05). Increasing irrigation is associated with increased winter PCA in most (94 %) districts (p < 0.00001). We find strong negative association between PCA and land surface temperature (LST) in most (66 %) districts (p < 0.01). LST closely corresponds to daytime mean air temperature (p < 0.001) for available meteorological stations. Fine-scale meteorological and socioeconomic data, however, are needed to further disentangle impacts of these factors on PCA in this landscape.
Study on the synchronous excitation system based on the strategy of fuzzy coordinated control

Safety and stability are the basic conditions of the power system operation.Enhancing the control performance of excitation system has great significance for the safe-stable operation of both the synchronous generator and the power system.A PID + LOEC fuzzy coordination excitation controller is designed which combines the advantages of good voltage regulation quality of PID with the good dynamic and damping quality of liner optimal excitation controller (LOEC).According to the changes of the system operating conditions,the fuzzy controller can control the output of PID and LOEC through weight coefficient coordination in order to enhance the adaptive ability.Fuzzy coordinated control is compared with PID and LOEC respectively through establishing system simulation model in Simulink.The result shows that fuzzy coordinated control has better dynamic and static performance.
Databases Accessing and Integration System Based Upon Subject-mapping Metadata

The "Database Accessing and Integration System based upon Subject-Mapping-Metadata" brings forward an integrated and effective data accessing solution based upon subject-mapping metadata of war gaming data. The system offers the integrated solution for effective data access. The solution solves largely the problem of leaving data a mess and finding no data of needed, as well as understanding no meaning of retrieved data. The solution also reaches the "physically distributed, logically centralized" of data and data-accessing under certain security and rights controlled, as well as depress the coupling between data access logic and data. Besides, the solution also provides the highly neat unified normative interface of data access. The solution also introduces the more natural and semantic style into data access, lays the foundation for gradual refinement of "intelligent data access".
Different concepts between medical equipment code and UDI

The difference between concept of the "UDI" and" medical device code" is discussed. History of medical device code is reviewed. Function, principle, methods of this code and its relationship with medical device nomenclature, classification, classified catalog and "UDI" is proposed. Meanwhile, suggestion of the establishment of medical device code system is proposed.
INTRACAVERNOUS INJECTION THERAPY FOR MALE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Intracavernosal injection therapy has consistently produced erections in 60% to 70% of patients in whom it is tried. About 70% of patients enter long-term therapy and there is a dropout rate of 20% to 50% within the first year. The most effective current regimen is a mixture of papaverine-phentolamine and prostaglandin E1, that also seems to have a relatively low incidence of priapism and fibrous nodule formation. Patient education is vitally important to the success of a program. Patient satisfaction rates are high.