cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genetic alterations in advanced HBV-related HCC with portal vein tumor thrombosis: insights from next generation DNA sequencing.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and shows a propensity to metastasize and infiltrate adjacent and more distant tissues. HCC is associated with multiple risk factors, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which is especially prevalent in China. Here, we used exome sequencing to identify somatic mutations in ten HBV-positive individuals with HCC with portal vein tumor thromboses (PVTTs), intrahepatic metastases. Both C:G>A:T and T:A>A:T transversions were frequently found among the 331 non-silent mutations. Notably, ARID1A, which encodes a component of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, was mutated in 14 of 110 (13%) HBV-associated HCC specimens. We used RNA interference to assess the roles of 91 of the confirmed mutated genes in cellular survival. The results suggest that seven of these genes, including VCAM1 and CDK14, may confer growth and infiltration capacity to HCC cells. This study provides a view of the landscape of somatic mutations that may be implicated in advanced
Optimization of ion-paired lipase for non-aqueous media: acylation of doxorubicin based on surface models of fatty acid esterification

The lipase from Mucor javanicus was shown to catalyze the acylation of the primary hydroxyl (C14-OH) of doxorubicin (DOX), a potent anticancer compound. An ion-pairing method for solubilizing enzymes in organic solvents with the anionic surfactant Aerosol OT (AOT) was then adapted to enhance the non-aqueous activity of the lipase, representing the first demonstration of this solubilization and activation technique for a lipase. The pH and ionic strength of the aqueous phase during solubilization were identified as the factors having the greatest impact on the extraction efficiency and specific activity of the biocatalyst. A series of expanding experimental matrices yielded both solubility and specific activity surfaces as functions of [NaCl] and pH in the extraction of M. javanicus lipase. The activity response surfaces were generated with the esterification of octanoic acid with 1-nonanol in isooctane as a convenient model reaction, yet the results were shown to transfer to the acylation of DOX with 2-thiophene acetic acid vinyl ester, or vinyl butyrate, in toluene. A generalized approach to ion-paired lipase solubilization was thus developed, and a potentially high-value biotransformation was enhanced using a low-cost and easily-assayed reaction.
Long-term dynamics of organic matter and elements exported as coarse particulates from two Caribbean montane watersheds

In heterotrophic streams the retention and export of coarse particulate organic matter and associated elements are fundamental biogeochemical processes that influence water quality, food webs and the structural complexity of forested headwater streams. Nevertheless, few studies have documented the quantity and quality of exported organic matter over multiple years and under a range of conditions that includes both droughts and hurricanes. This study quantifies the export of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM, > 12.7 mm), over 18 y in two headwater streams in north-east Puerto Rico. Daily exports ranged from 0 to over 170 g ha−1 d−1 and averaged 7.39 g ha−1 d−1, with similar amounts coming from leaves (3.5 g ha−1 d−1) and wood (3.2 g ha−1 d−1). Export of coarse particulate organic carbon was 3.0 g ha−1 d−1 which constitutes only 1.32% of carbon exports. Most litter falling into the streams was processed in place as only 2.3% of the leaf litter falling directly into these perennial channels was exported as CPOM. On average, 6 wk y−1 had no exports while events transporting more than 10 g ha−1 d−1 occurred every 2.8 mo. Instead of a single annual pulse as observed in deciduous systems, there were annual peaks in CPOM exports during May and September and less export during the drier period from December to February. Ratios of C:N in the exported material were highest in the driest month and lowest during rainy months, while leaf fluxes for nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium were highest in rainy months and lowest during February. Although median daily exports and exports during low- and base-flow periods were similar before and after Hugo, after 16 y exports during moderate- and high-flow periods were still less than those in the 2 y prior to the hurricane. Our observations indicate a system with high rates of internal processing that quickly returns to median daily conditions following hurricanes but requires several decades for storm-flow exports to return to pre-disturbance conditions and indicates that the long-term pattern of CPOM export is associated with the level of maturity of watershed vegetation.
Functionalization of surfaces by water-accelerated atom-transfer radical polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and subsequent derivatization

We report the synthesis of unusually thick poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) films on gold surfaces by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Polymerization from the surface occurs rapidly at room temperature in aqueous media, resulting in the formation of 700 nm thick polymer films in just 12 h. Control experiments using neat monomer and catalyst (no water) yield films with thicknesses of only 6 nm, demonstrating the accelerating effect of water on surface-initiated ATRP. Kinetic studies reveal a nearly linear increase in thickness with reaction time, indicating that chain growth from the surface is a controlled process with some “living” character. A second block can be grown from dormant initiators at the end of PHEMA chains, providing further evidence of “living” chain ends. Derivatization of the hydroxyl groups of grafted PHEMA with a variety of molecules allows dense functionalization of these films. Reflectance FTIR spectroscopy shows a virtually quantitative yield i...
Retropharyngeal ganglioneuroma presenting with neck stiffness: report of a case and review of the literature.

Objective Ganglioneuromas rarely occur in the retropharynx with only three cases reported in the current literature. The most common symptom associated with retropharyngeal ganglioneuromas is dysphagia. We report a retropharyngeal ganglioneuroma with an unusual clinical presentation of neck stiffness and pain. Study design Case report and review of literature. Methods A 42 year old woman presented with incapacitating neck pain and neck stiffness as well as dysphagia. Neurological work up was normal. Imaging revealed a hyper-dense, ill-defined, diffuse right retropharyngeal mass suggestive of a possible nerve sheath tumor with no communication with the cervical spine. Surgical removal was uneventful and associated with a post-operative Horner's syndrome. In follow-up, dysphagia and neck symptoms improved. Conclusion Retropharyngeal ganglioneuromas can occur in a wide age range of patients. Surgical excision via a cervical approach offers definitive therapy but maybe associated with an iatrogenic Horner's syndrome for which the patients should be counseled prior to operative intervention. Neck pain is an atypical symptom that needs to be worked up to rule out a communication with the spinal column prior to surgical removal. Patients must be counseled that atypical symptoms may not completely resolve with surgical treatment.
Communication for the Long Term: Information Allocation and Collective Reflexivity as Dynamic Capabilities

In this commentary, we propose that two communication practices, information allocation and collective reflexivity, are dynamic capabilities that help develop a firm’s long-term viability. The concept that an organization’s actions or inaction constrain or enhance its future options and outcomes and—ultimately—its long-term survival, is the organization’s viability. We discuss two facilitating conditions—presence awareness and organizational identification—and three organizational issues influencing the two communication practices that affect organizational viability—organizational members’ perceived environmental uncertainty, organizational members’ perceived scarcity of time, and feedback cycles between actions and outcomes that shape and are shaped by their temporal focus.
Optimal operation of fed-batch bioreactors with two control variables

Abstract The optimal operating policies for a fed-batch bioreactor with two manipulated variables is developed. The optimization problem with two control variables is viewed as an extension of a single control variable problem. The necessary conditions of optimality of the control variables are developed using the results of the singular control theory and Pontryagin's maximum principle. An algorithm, which utilizes the computational techniques reported previously for single control variable problems, is extended to handle the problems with two control variables. The solution strategy is demonstrated for determining the optimal operating conditions for a fed-batch bioreactor by controlling (i) the substrate feed rate and the bioreactor temperature and (ii) the feed rates of two growth limiting substrates.
Andean ethnohistory: Words of scholars on the works of conquerors

Spalding, Karen. Huarochiri, an Andean Society Under Inca and Spanish Rule. Palo Alto: Stanford University Press, 1984. viii + 364 pp. including maps, illustrations, photographs, references, index. $38.50 cloth.
A lag-averaged generalization of Euler's method for accelerating series

Abstract Euler's method is an efficient accelerator for an alternating series, that is, one whose terms a j are such that sign(a j ) = −sign(a j+1 ) . However, its effectiveness deteriorates rapidly as the period P of the oscillations in degree j increases. To reduce this nonuniformity, we introduce an algorithm which begins with the recursive computation of a triangular array of numbers. The diagonal elements define a generalization of Euler's method. Each horizontal row defines a “delayed Euler” method which is even more effective. The key element is that the array is generated by repeatedly averaging partial sums of the original series with a “lag,” that is, a distance (in degree) between the partial sums that are combined, which optimally is half the period P of the oscillations in the series. We illustrate the algorithm with the Fourier series for a function with a shock wave (jump discontinuity). The terms a j = (−1) j sin(jx) vary from strictly alternating ( P = 2 ) at x = 0 to monotonic ( P ⇒ ∞ ) as x ⇒ π . The lag-averaged Euler scheme, with and without delay, is much more efficient than its classical counterpart, especially near the discontinuities. We present an analytical convergence theory for both the standard and generalized Euler methods.
Whole-part training strategies for learning the response dynamics of microprocessor driven simulators☆

Abstract The experiments reported were set up to examine the effectiveness of whole-part-whole training regimes of the response dynamics for learning a microprocessor driven simulator task within different procedural strategies. Experiment 1 showed that prior part training of the response dynamics facilitated overall task performance throughout a 10 hr training schedule. No effect was found for increasing the difficulty of the response dynamics beyond normal task requirements. Experiment 2 indicated that the part-task performance advantage was due to the utilization of ‘natural’ response components in the part tasks as operationalized by the degrees of freedom available for control. The findings of experiment 3 revealed that mere part practice of the response dynamics independent of the provision of an overall procedural strategy leads only to a brief initial performance advantage. Furthermore, task performance was strongly influenced by procedural strategy and instructional information. The findings indicate that part practice of the response dynamics in complex simulator tasks can facilitate rate of learning and level of performance, although this training effect interacts with the overall task procedural strategy employed by the trainee.
Time-to-energy transform of wavepackets using absorbing potentials. Time-independent wavepacket-Schrödinger and wavepacket-Lippmann—Schwinger equations

Abstract It is shown that one may use an L 2 basis, matrix representation of the Hamiltonian, including a negative imaginary absorbing potential, to carry out arbitrarily long-time evolution of wavepackets. The time-to-energy Fourier transform of the wavepacket is carried out analytically, yielding a new type of time-independent scattering equation in which the “source” of scattered waves is the initial ( t =0) L 2 wavepacket used in the time-dependent propagation. Alternatively, one obtains the analogous time-independent, inhomogeneous wavepacket-Schrodinger equation. A banded representation of the Hamiltonian is achieved by the use of distributed approximating function theory to evaluate the kinetic energy. The resulting new time-independent wavepacket equations are solved both by matrix diagonalization of the Hamiltonian, and as inhomogeneous linear algebraic equations. The approach is illustrated by application to electron scattering (in one dimension) by a double barrier potential.
The roles of Pauli correlations, channel couplings, and shake-off in ion- induced KLv and K2Lv multiple-vacancy production

Abstract Cross sections for target K-plus-L-shell multiple-vacancy production by ions can be inferred from experimental measurements of K X-ray and Auger satellite intensities. The theory of K n L v multiple-vacancy distributions has been generalized from the single-particle model (the statistically independent electron approximation) to the independent Fermi particle model. The Pauli correlations (electron exchange terms) are found to nearly cancel in many cases because of a tendency toward random phases. This results in the first quantal demonstration that the vacancy distribution is nearly binomial (but slightly narrower). Calculations have been generalized from the traditional first-order approximations to unitary approximations (first Magnus and coupled-channels) which correctly predict the saturation of the mean vacancy probability with increasing projectile charge. The recent availability of satellite and hypersatellite data for the same collision system makes possible the beginning of an investigation of the effects of increased removal energies and increased shaking in hypersatellites (K 2 L v ) as compared with satellites. We review our unified treatment of ion-plus-shaking induced amplitudes for L-vacancy production accompanying ion-generated K-holes. Calculations for C 6+ +Ne satellite and hypersatellite vacancy distributions are presented.
Chemical modification of wood. I use of trifluoroacetic anhydride in the esterification of wood by carboxylic acids

Treatment of beech sawdust with a series of mono- and dicarboxylic acids in benzene solution at 25–30° in the presence of molar proportions of trifluoroacetic anhydride resulted in esterification of the cell wall components. The esterification is shown to be due in part to acylation by the carboxylic acid and in part to trifluoroacetylation. The latter caused discoloration of the wood due to slow hydrolytic release of trifluoroacetic acid on storage at room temperature. Similar esterification of sapwood lengths of Ponderosa pine resulted in surface modification only and was accompanied by a significant decrease in impact strength property.
Acquired Moral Truths

The Evolution of Morality is a clear, highly provocative, and thoroughly enjoyable book. It beautifully integrates lessons from recent experimental psychology with work in evolutionary theory and philosophical ethics, making it essential reading for anyone interested in naturalistic approached to morality. In the first part of the book, Joyce argues that our capacity to make moral judgments is innate, and, in the second half, he argues that a fully developed naturalistic account of morality can be used to debunk moral realism. I disagree with both of these claims, and I will take them up in turn. But it will also become clear that there is much I agree with in this book.
Multiple Solutions of Coupled Sturm-Liouville Systems

Abstract This paper deals with the coupled Sturm-Liouville system − ( pu ′)′ + Pu + rv = λ 1 u + λ 1 N 11 ( u , v ) + λ 2 N 21 ( u , v ), − ( qv ′)′ + Qv + ru = λ 2 v + λ 1 N 12 ( u , v ) + λ 2 N 22 ( u , v ), α 11 u (0) + α 12 u ′(0) = 0 = α 21 v (0) + α 22 v ′(0), β 11 u (1) + β 12 u ′(1) = 0 = β 21 v (1) + β 22 v ′(1). The functions p , P , q , Q , r are smooth; λ 1 and λ 2 are eigenparameters; N ij ( u , v ) is analytic and of higher order. The linearized problem, all N ij z 0 , is shown to have eigenvalues ( λ 1 , λ 2 ) which are continuously distributed along a sequence of monotonically decreasing curves in the λ 1 λ 2 -plane. A generalized Lyapunov-Schmidt method establishes that if ( λ 1 , λ 2 ) is near a simple eigenvalue of the linearized problem, then the number of small solutions of the nonlinear problem corresponds to the number of real roots of a certain polynomial.
Giant neuron input in mutant and wild typeDrosophila

Giant neurons of wild typeDrosophila can be driven to spike by various mechanical inputs, but not by visual inputs. In two genetically and phenotypically different mutants visual input can drive the giant neurons. This is taken as evidence that such a connection may also exist in wild typeDrosophila, at subthreshold level. 2. In at least one of the mutant stocks the giant neuron provides inputs to all contralateral dorsal longitudinal muscle fibers. 3. In mutant animals, visual input elicits spike activity in the giant neuron and flight. 4. Visual input to mutant giant neurons is mediated by the compound eyes, not the ocelli. Each neuron receives binocular activation. 5. The giant neuron responds to the onset, but not the end, of a flash of light. 6. An analysis of tarsal and wind receptor input to the giant neuron was carried out. Tarsal inputs are an important conjugate to wind input for eliciting giant neuron activity. The interaction of these inputs was further corroborated by showing that either can influence the latency and probability of the response of the giant neuron to the other. 7. The giant neuron inDrosophila and the DMD neurons of the locust are compared. Results indicate that the previously described anatomical analogy between these two systems can be extended in two ways: to a physiological input (vision), and to the behavioral function of the output (jumping).
A critical examination of the ability of ISO 9000 certification to lead to a competitive advantage

Abstract The ISO 9000 series of standards has formalized systems for evaluating the ability of any firm to consistently design, produce, and deliver quality products and services. Despite its widespread international acceptance, ISO 9000 is surrounded by controversy and criticism. The literature is clearly divided in its assessment of ISO 9000, which is viewed as either a variant of Total Quality Management (TQM) or a paper-driven process of limited value. The primary objective of this article is to address the competing views of the standard in an attempt to show that ISO 9000 certification can be leveraged into a competitive advantage.
How to Dazzle Maslow: Preparing Your Library, Staff, and Teens to Reach Self-Actualization

ABSTRACT Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory states that people have to meet certain needs, including physiological, safety, love, esteem, and finally, self-actualization. Ms. Anderson asks us to think about the framework of the theory in context to our public libraries and how well our staff members are serving teenagers in our communities. Are they, and are the directors, perplexed by the physiological elements? Stuck in the safety stage? Worried about love needs, or esteem? This article provides insight and suggests how teenagers–the voters of tomorrow–can be better served.
Hand-arm vibration part II: Vibrational responses of the human hand

Abstract When vibration is applied to the hand in the vertical (dorsal-to-ventral) and transverse direction, the hand arm system can be modeled by a three-mass model with each of the masses connected by a parallel spring and damper. For vibration input directed into the long axis of the forearm, the model requires an additional parallel spring and damper to connect the last mass to an infinite base. From absorbed power calculations it was determined that to minimize energy dissipation in the hand the vibration input should be in the vertical direction and the handgrip should be as tight as convenient for frequencies below 100 Hz. Above 100 Hz the direction of input should be in the transverse direction and the handgrip should be as loose as possible. The hand, in general, was found to be a highly damped system with the damping increasing with increasing handgrip and acceleration.
Performance of Hemoglobin A1c Assay Methods: Good Enough?

Two very interesting articles on hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c)2 method performance appear in this issue of Clinical Chemistry . Woodworth et al. (1) use Hb A1c as an example of how the risk of reporting inaccurate results can be estimated to guide individualized QC strategies. They assess the risk of reporting unreliable Hb A1c results with 6 different methods in 4 academic medical centers; 5 are laboratory instruments and 1 is a point-of-care (POC) method. Patient-weighted σ metrics were calculated on the basis of 1–2s QC rules with an average of 1 QC for every 100 samples. The authors found considerable differences in the risk of reporting unreliable results among the methods used at these sites, and that only 1 method, the Capillarys2 Flex Piercing, achieved a patient-weighted σ metric >3 at a total error allowable (TEa) of 6%. This total error limit is also used for College of American Pathologists (CAP) proficiency testing and National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) certification and is considered optimal for clinical care at this time. This means that for all but the aforementioned method, “maximum QC (three levels, three times per day) should be performed to achieve the necessary error detection.” Of note was that for some methods there was a substantial amount of bias (up to 5.8% relative for values within the reference interval), and CV values were higher than the recommended 2% for either the high or low QC for 3 of the methods studied (2). The maximum number of Hb A1c results out of 100 expected to be unreliable from an out-of-control condition at TEa of 6% ranged from 0.60 to 71.48 (!), and for 2 methods the number of results expected to be unreliable was >19 of 100 even when …
A 60GHz CMOS Receiver Using a 30GHz LO

This paper describes a heterodyne receiver architecture that incorporates a 30GHz LO without quadrature phases and resolves the issue of the third harmonic of the LO as well. The architecture thus lends itself better to integration and signal distribution while consuming lower power.
GENDER, RACE, AND POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT: South African Canning Workers, 1940-1960

Based on a case study of the South African food and canning industry at the Cape from 1940 to 1960, this article examines the conditions that fostered women's high level of involvement both in the trade union and in local and national political organizations concerned with gender and racial issues. Particularly important were women's prevalence in seasonal labor, which gave them few individual options for improving their situation at work; a progressive, nonracial trade union that encouraged close ties between family, work, and community and that kept women involved during the off-season; and an active political movement concerned to mobilize women against the threats to their work and family lives from the apartheid state. In addition, unlike women in many areas of Asia and Latin America, these women had a long tradition of productive labor and were not expected to refrain from visible public activity.
Air-Infiltration Measurements in Buildings Using Sound Transmission Loss Through Small Apertures

The objective of this investigation is to determine air infiltration in buildings using sound transmission loss (STL) through various types of holes and cracks. The method is based on the use of a sound source that radiates sound waves at a known frequency inside the building and two sound level meters, which measure sound pressure level inside and outside the building. To develop a correlation between STL and air infiltration, experiments have been performed using various types of materials. A test chamber was divided in two sub-chambers to simulate interior and exterior air conditions. Various materials, each with a small hole of varying shapes and sizes, were positioned between the two sub-chambers. A pressure difference has been generated between the sub-chambers and air infiltration in each experiment was measured through each hole. Filed testing in several buildings has been performed to determine air infiltration. The results of field measurements compared with the blower door readings show that th...
Dispersal and edge behaviour of bark beetles and predators inhabiting red pine plantations

1 Quantifying dispersal in predator–prey systems can improve our understanding of how these species interact in space and time, as well as their relative distributions across complex landscapes. 2 We measured the dispersal abilities of three forest insects associated with red pine decline: the eastern five spined pine engraver Ips grandicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), its main predator Thanasimus dubius (Coleoptera: Cleridae) and the basal stem and root colonizer Dendroctonus valens (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). We also examined the edge behaviours of these species and the predator Platysoma spp (Coleoptera: Histeridae) between red pine stands (habitat) and clearings (nonhabitat). 3 Thanasimus dubius dispersed 12 times farther than its prey I. grandicollis, with 50% of predators dispersing farther than 1.54 km. This profound difference in dispersal behaviour between prey and predator may contribute to the clumped distribution of I. grandicollis. 4 Most T. dubius and D. valens were confined in the pine forest, thus showing strong edge behaviour. This differed from I. grandicollis and Platysoma spp., which were commonly found in open areas adjacent to red pine plantations. 5 The bark beetle I. grandicollis and one of its main predators, T. dubius, exhibited different patterns of movement within a fragmented landscape. Despite a greater dispersal ability of T. dubius within forests, the spatial distribution of this predator may be restricted by fragmentation of its habitat, and provide an opportunity for partial escape of its prey. 6 The present study contributes to our knowledge of top-down forces within red pine stands undergoing decline. Differences of dispersal patterns and edge behaviour could contribute to the initiation of new pockets of decline, as well as the connectedness among existing ones.
A second look: On Brotherston re Levinson and testimonio criticism

(1997). A second look: On Brotherston re Levinson and testimonio criticism. Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 227-232.
Quantifying level of investment in growth and renewal

Abstract This paper presents an approach for quantifying level of investment in corporate growth and renewal. The methodology is based on structuring goal models to attain a specified level of return on investment. The goal models are derived with steady-state assumptions which imply constant growth rates. The concept of product lifetime is introduced to take into consideration the finite life span of all products. Much of the material in this paper may appear, at first glance, to be rather complex and formidable to those not inclined toward mathematical expressions. However, the methodology described can be followed rather easily by merely skimming over the equations since every mathematical expression is shown in graphical format. The mathematics has been included since the material presented may well be a new way of looking at investment in growth and renewal and therefore the conclusions would not be immediately obvious without mathematical backup.
Methylene: ab initio vibronic analysis and reinterpretation of the spectroscopic and negative ion photoelectron experiments

Abstract The potential curves from extensive ab initio configuration interaction calculations on the three lowest states of methylene ( 3 B 1 , 1 A 1 , and 1 B 1 ) and one state ( 2 B 1 ) of CH − 2 are reported. The Franck-Condon factors from the vibrational wave-functions obtained using these potential curves lead to excellent agreement with the observed 1 B 1 - 1 A 1 spectrum (Herzberg) and also lead to an excellent fit with the photoelectron spectra of CH − 2 (Lineberger), showing that the lowest three bands in the observed negative ion spectrum are hot bands (from vibrationally excited CH − 2 ). Reassignment of the observed spectrum based on these calculations leads to the prediction of a 1 A 1 - 3 B 1 splitting of 0.39 ± 0.05 eV (9 kcal); theoretical value: 0.45 eV.
Biogeochemistry of the rare-earth elements with particular reference to hickory trees☆

Abstract Hickory trees concentrate the rare-earth elements in their leaves to a phenomenal degree and may contain as much as 2300 p.p.m. of total rare earths based on the dry weight of the leaves. The average proportions of the individual elements (atomic percent of the total rare-earth elements) in the leaves are: Y 36, La 16, Ce 14, Pr 2, Nd 20, Sm 1, Eu 0.7, Gd 3, Tb 0.6, Dy 3, Ho 0.7, Er 2, Tm 0.2, Yb 1, and Lu 0.2. The similarity in the proportions of the rare-earth elements in the leaves and in the exchange complex of the soil on which the hickory trees grow indicates that the trees do not fractionate the rare earths appreciably. The variation of the rare-earth elements in the leaves and soils can be explained generally in terms of the relative abundance of the cerium group and the yttrium group, except for the element cerium. The large fluctuations in the proportion of cerium [Ce/(La + Nd) atomic ratios of 0.16 to 0.86] correlate with oxidation-reduction conditions in the soil profile. The substitution of dilute H 2 SO 3 for dilute HC1 in the determination of available rare-earth elements brings about a large increase in the proportion of cerium that is extracted from an oxygenated subsoil. These relationships strongly suggest that quadrivalent cerium is present in oxygenated subsoil and is less available to plants than the other rare-earth elements that do not undergo such a change in valence. A few parts per billion of rare-earth elements have been detected in two samples of ground water.
Rong's Numbers: Accelerating Progress in HCV Therapeutic Research

Rong and colleagues have applied a mathematical model of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication to experimental data from initial clinical investigations of HCV protease inhibitors. In this Perspective, we discuss how mathematical modeling and other modern translational research tools and approaches can be used to expedite drug development with well-designed combination clinical trials that test drugs from multiple collaborators.
Coercivity of disordered nanostructures

Abstract Zero- and finite-temperature coercivity mechanisms in disordered nanostructures are investigated by model calculations. Three different aspects are considered. First, it is shown that strongly reduced exchange in grain-boundary regions changes the power-law scaling exponent for the coercivity of random-anisotropy magnets. Second, it is analyzed how random interatomic exchange affects the thermal blocking and therefore the coercivity of spin glasses. Third, a master-equation approach is used to quantitatively elucidate the relation between the magnetic-viscosity regime and the sweep-rate dependence of the coercivity. A common feature of the considered mechanisms is that interatomic exchange creates nanoscale cooperative units which realize the coercivity in real space.
Second derivative detection of spin resonance in metals

The second derivative of spin resonance absorption in metals has been analyzed for samples with dimensions large compared to the skin and spin depths in the region of classical skin effect. The central parameter in the theory is R = (TD/T2)12 where TD is the time required for an average electron to diffuse across the skin depth and T2 is the electron spin relaxation time. For experimental convenience the results of the calculations are presented in graphical form showing the dependence of R on asymmetry parameters, linewidth at half-maximum, peak-to-peak linewidth, and resonant magnetic field displacement. Previous treatments of the first derivative lineshape are extended to include the dependence of R on peak-to-peak linewidth and a more accurate determination of the variation of R with asymmetry parameters. The results apply to resonances involving conduction electrons, nuclei, and distributed as well as surface paramagnetic ions. Advantages of second derivative detection are also discussed. Experimental measurements on a sample of tetraamminelithium (zero), Li(NH3)4, were in excellent agreement with the theory.
Graphic and Phonological Processing in Chinese Character Identification

A backward-masking procedure was used to examine the effect of graphic, phonological, and graphic-and-phonological information on Chinese character identification. Twenty-two Mandarin-speaking Taiwanese graduate students were asked to write down lists of paired characters presented sequentially in a tachistoscope. Analysis of variance performed on the target identification accuracy scores indicated that graphic information plays an essential role in Chinese character identification. Within the same time frame, phonological information, whether activated alone or in conjunction with graphic information, does not enhance the accuracy of identification. The present findings are discussed in relation to those of Perfetti and Zhang's (1991) Chinese character study and Perfetti, Bell, and Delaney's (1988) English word study.
Opinion surveys and demographic profiles : Toward understanding cultures of popular religion?

A partir de l'analyse et d'un travail d'elaboration complementaire de deux articles sur la religion populaire publies dans des numeros precedents de la revue, l'A. se propose de demontrer l'apport methodologique des sondages d'opinion et des recensements demographiques pour une approche comparative et sociologique de la culture populaire et de ses productions ideelles et materielles.
Beyond the classroom walls: Reinventing yourself, your class, and your teaching methods

Teaching and learning is changing from what students need to what students want to achieve personally, from textbooks to online aggregated resources, from classroom to cloud. Innovative changes free the teacher to rethink the "classroom." Join the discussion around: Collaboration, Project management, Textbook replacement, Online feedback, Rubrics, Rapid agile iteration
Continuous labeling indices: CLI(t) and CLMII(t)

Abstract The theoretical labeling index [CLI(t)] and labeled mitotic index [CLMI(t)] are obtained for the situation where a steady state renewal cell population is subjected to a continuous label. The model used to describe this situation allows for a correlation structure among the durations of the different phases of the cell cycle. The correlation structure at the initial label point is obtained and the presence of a length sampling bias is noted. Explicit forms of the CLI(t) and the CLMI(t) functions are presented for a particular joint probability density function which is used to describe the distribution of the durations of the phases of the cell cycle. The effect of the length sampling bias on the 50% intercept of the CLMI(t) function is demonstrated.
MBTI Personality Types and SII Personal Style Scales.

The present study examines the relationship between the polar dimensions of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Personal Style Scales of the Strong Interest Inventory (SII). The sample consisted of 426 undergraduate students who completed both instruments as part of a career and life-planning course. Results indicate that the Personal Style Scales of the SII are related to the MBTI polar dimensions in various combinations. Implications of these results for career counselors are provided.
Tender feet and high stepping: Soring in the Tennessee walking horse industry

This paper focuses on the role relationships between owners, trainers, judges, and federal inspectors in the Tennessee walking horse industry and the accommodations they reach in responding to pressures each places on the others. The paper deals with the practice of soring, or blistering, to alter the gait of the animal and its continued practice despite outcry from humane groups, other horsemen, and the federal government. Trainers are subjected to enormous pressures to win, which means they believe they must “sore” their animals. Because this practice is illegal, they must act in a manner contrary to legal mandates while giving firm lip service to supporting antisoring guidelines. The study method involved unfocused interviews with 4 U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors, 14 trainers, and 8 owners. No notes or recording material of any kind were present during the interviews, although notes were committed to paper immediately afterward. Because the first author has been a horseman for some years, he...
Examining the Mentoring Relationships of Women Working in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration

The purpose of this study was to examine mentoring relationships of women working within intercollegiate athletic administration. More specifically, the mentor characteristics and the career and psychosocial benefits of having a mentor in intercollegiate athletic administration were the focus of the study. The population for this study was all 1,834 women working in intercollegiate athletic administration. Several practical implications for women wanting to work with a mentor in intercollegiate athletic administration arose from the data and included counseling, role modeling, acceptance and confirmation, coaching, and exposure and visibility.
Electron microscopy of the skin in erythropoietic protoporphyria.

SUMMARY. —An electron microscopical examination has been made of skin from 4 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria. Both exposed areas and skin usually covered by clothing were studied. In exposed skin from the knuckle and dorsum of the hand the main abnormality is associated with small blood vessels in the upper part of the dermis. The amorphous material seen on light microscopy is found to consist of a multilayered partially fragmented basement membrane, and finely fibrillar material of moderate electron density which permeates and surrounds the vessel walls. The presence of this substance in the vessel walls and its abrupt junction with the normal dermal connective tissue supports the idea that it is derived from constituents of the blood or from the vessels themselves rather than by degeneration of dermal connective tissue. Nothing abnormal is seen in covered skin from the back.
What's your diagnosis? Acute vulvar erythema, edema, and pruritus in a young woman.

A 20-year-old woman is seeing you for an extremely pruritic vulvar rash which she has had for several days. Her discomfort is almost unbearable. On examination you note significant vulvar erythema edema of the right labia minora and areas of desquamation. A potassium hydroxide preparation of a vaginal swab is negative for yeast forms. On further questioning the cause of her rash becomes apparent. (excerpt)
Forgotten carbon: indirect CO2 in greenhouse gas emission inventories

Abstract National governments that are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are required to submit greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories accounting for the emissions and removals occurring within their geographic territories. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides inventory methodology guidance to the Parties of the UNFCCC. This methodology guidance, and national inventories based on it, omits carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmospheric oxidation of methane, carbon monoxide, and non-methane volatile organic compounds emissions that result from several source categories. The inclusion of this category of “indirect” CO2 in GHG inventories increases global anthropogenic emissions (excluding land use and forestry) between 0.5 and 0.7%. However, the effect of inclusion on aggregate UNFCCC Annex I Party GHG emissions would be to reduce the growth of total emissions, from 1990 to 2004, by 0.2% points. The effect on the GHG emissions and emission trends of individual countries varies. The paper includes a methodology for calculating these emissions and discusses uncertainties. Indirect CO2 is equally relevant for GHG inventories at other scales, such as global, regional, organizational, and facility. Similarly, project-based methodologies, such as those used under the Clean Development Mechanism, may need revising to account for indirect CO2.
Impact of Garlic on Serum Cholesterol and Apolipoproteins of Post-Menopausal Women

Abstract The effect of garlic intake on serum total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), VLDL-cholesterol (VLDL-C), triglycerides (TG), total lipids, apolipoprotein A-1 (apo A-1) and apolipoprotein B (apo-B) in post-menopausal hyper- and normo-cholesterolemic women was investigated. Twenty-five hypercholesterolemic (>225mg/dl) (HC) and 16 normo-cholesterolemic (
Scavenging for scrap metal

All organisms require elements to live, grow and reproduce, but some of these are hard to find or take up. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria solve the problem by secreting compounds that allow them to acquire the metals they need.
Composition and Properties of PECVD Silicon Nitride Films Deposited from SiH4, N2, He Gases

Amorphous silicon nitride films deposited from a gas mixture of SiH4 and N2 with a large flow of He have shown many interesting characteristics. The films show a wide variety of electrical, optical, and mechanical properties with varying amounts of SiH4 and N2. The effect of N2 flow rate on film composition in N2-SiH4 processes is quite different from that of NH3 flow in NH3-SiH4 processes. The films were characterized by measurements of (1) Si-H and N-H bond density and bonded hydrogen content, both from infrared absorption, (2) Si/N ratio, (3) refractive index, (4) film stress, and (5) wet chemical etch rate and (6) electrical properties including current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V). We find that adding helium to the PECVD process enhances the incorporation of nitrogen in the film and an optimized flow of SiH4 improves the electrical properties. Films with optimum electrical properties with minimum charge trapping are obtained with N/Si ratio close to 1.33. These films have a small amount of Si-H and N-H bonds, and a low etch rate (< 100 A/min) in aqueous HF solution. The properties of these low temperature (250°C) PECVD nitrides have many similarities with LPCVD nitrides. Compared with films deposited from SiH4, NH3 mixture, these films exhibit very low wet etch rates and much lower H contents, but greater hysteresis in C-V characteristics.
Radiative transfer theory for active remote sensing of a layer of small ellipsoidal scatterers

The radiative transfer theory is applied within the Rayleigh approximation to calculate the backscattering cross section of a layer of randomly positioned and oriented small ellipsoids. The orientation of the ellipsoids is characterized by a probability density function of the Eulerian angles of rotation. The radiative transfer equations are solved by an iterative approach to first order in albedo. In the half space limit the results are identical to those obtained via the approach of Foldy's and distorted Born approximation. Numerical results of the theory are illustrated using parameters encountered in active remote sensing of vegetation layers. A distinctive characteristic is the strong depolarization shown by vertically aligned leaves.
EFFECTS OF INTERFACIAL BINDING KINETICS ON TWO-DIMENSIONAL STREPTAVIDIN CRYSTALLIZATION

The two-dimensional crystallization of streptavidin at biotinylated interfaces provides a model system for elucidating the role of interfacial binding dynamics in determining crystal morphologies and phases. In this study, a library of eight well-characterized site-directed mutants with increased biotin dissociation rates has been compared to core streptavidin (dissociation half-life of 59 h). The W79F, W120F, Y43F, and S27A mutants, with half-lives of 9.8 h, 38 min, 20 min, and 10 min, respectively, all displayed the “X”-shaped crystal morphology that is characteristic of core streptavidin. A sharp change in morphology is observed with the N23E (7.2 min) and N23A (4.8 min) mutants. The N23E mutant crystallizes in rectangular shapes, and the N23A displays square crystal morphology. The D128A mutant (1.7 min) crystallizes in elongated needles, but this is the one mutant which displays significant three-dimensional structural alterations. The W120A (<1 min) mutant did not display significant interfacial bin...
The incidence of pelvic lymph node metastasis by FIGO staging for patients with adequately surgically staged endometrial adenocarcinoma of endometrioid histology

The seminal Gynecologic Oncology Group study on surgical pathologic spread patterns of endometrial cancer demonstrated the risk of pelvic lymph node metastasis for clinical stage I endometrial cancer based on tumor grade and thirds of myometrial invasion. However, the FIGO staging system assigns surgical stage by categorizing depth of myometrial invasion in halves. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of pelvic lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer based on tumor grade and myometrial invasion as per the current FIGO staging system. We reviewed the records of all patients who underwent primary surgical staging for clinical stage I endometrial cancer at our institution between May 1993 and November 2005. To make the study cohort as homogeneous as possible, we included only cases of endometrioid histology. We also included only patients who had adequate staging, which was defined as a total hysterectomy with removal of at least eight pelvic lymph nodes. During the study period, 1036 patients underwent primary surgery for endometrial cancer. The study cohort was composed of the 349 patients who met study inclusion criteria. Distribution of tumor grade was as follows: grade 1, 80 (23%); grade 2, 182 (52%); and grade 3, 87 (25%). Overall, 30 patients (9%) had pelvic lymph node metastasis. The incidence of pelvic lymph node metastasis in relation to tumor grade and depth of myometrial invasion (none, inner half, and outer half) was as follows: grade 1–0%, 0%, and 0%, respectively; grade 2–4%, 10%, and 17%, respectively; and grade 3–0%, 7%, and 28%, respectively. We determined the incidence of pelvic nodal metastasis in a large cohort of endometrial cancer patients of uniform histologic subtype in relation to tumor grade and a one-half myometrial invasion cutoff. These data are more applicable to current surgical practice than the previously described one-third myometrial invasion cutoff results.