cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Synarcual of the Little Skate, Leucoraja erinacea: Novel Development Among the Vertebrates

Evolutionary variation in anteroposterior patterning of the axial skeleton is a major contributor to the evolution of the vertebrate body plan, with five canonical vertebral types in tetrapods (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, caudal). However, less is known about the evolutionary origin and variation in vertebral regionalization patterns outside of tetrapods where described vertebral types range from as few as two in some chondrichthyans to eight or more in some teleost fishes. The synarcual is a specialized adaptation of the anterior axial skeleton comprising a putatively fused array of vertebral elements characteristic of jawed vertebrate (gnathostome) clades such as batoid and chimaeroid chondrichthyans where they support enlarged pectoral fins and dorsal fin spines respectively, as well as a fossil group known as the placoderms. Placoderms represent the phylogenetically most basal jawed vertebrates and the presence of a synarcual in these and chondrichthyans may suggest a conserved vertebral type for jawed vertebrates, predating the divergence of stem and crown gnathostomes. Alternatively, synarcuals may have evolved independently in these lineages, exhibiting a remarkable case of morphological convergence. In order to address this question, we investigated the early development of the cervicothoracic synarcual of an emerging model chondrichthyan: the Little skate Leucoraja erinacea. By combining x-ray computed tomography, and classical histology, we show that the skate synarcual is a complex composite element which develops from a hollow, continuous cartilaginous element devoid of any vertebral centra anterior to the pectoral girdle, and fusion/remodeling of initially distinct vertebrae posteriorly. A de novo transcriptome assembly for two developmental stages of the skate synarcual and post-synarcual axial skeletal elements supported this two-phase development, with differences in expression levels of several developmental genes, including Hox family transcription factors, which suggest anterior-posterior regionalization along the vertebral column, potentially linked to the synarcual. In addition, multiple genes related to skeletal remodeling were found to be more highly expressed at stage 33, including genes related to osteoclast activity, normally associated with removal of bone, a tissue absent in chondrichthyans. These genes are potentially related to loss of mineralization as vertebral elements are incorporated into the synarcual.
An Unexpected Souvenir: Lyme Disease Presenting as Tmj Arthritis

Introduction: Lyme disease is associated with multiple inflammatory and neurological symptoms such as arthralgia, arthritis, Bell’s palsy, severe headaches, encephalitis, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome. Rare in occurrence, Lyme Disease induced TMJ arthritis is often missed or lower on the differential. Hereby, new onset TMJ arthritis, likely associated with acute Lyme Disease, is reported. Case Description: 16 years-old male was evaluated for a 6-week history of left temporomandibular joint pain and dislocation, …
The biochemical basis for cancer diagnosis by optical spectroscopy

5738 A very promising optical technique for non-invasive cancer diagnosis involves absorption or vibrational spectroscopy, typically either by fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) absorption or Raman scattering techniques. Although differences in optical spectra for normal and malignant tissues have been reported, there is little understanding of the underlying biochemical alterations that account for these spectral differences. One important cellular characteristic, which is often not considered in interpreting optical spectra of tissues or cells, is the cellular proliferative status. We have been using an in vitro, two-step rat fibroblast carcinogenesis model to directly address the biochemical basis for changes in both FTR and Raman spectra. Two different immortalized but non-tumorigenic cell lines derived from primary rat fibroblasts were compared with two tumorigenic cell lines produced by c-myc transfection of each non-tumorigenic cell line. Cells were cultured as monolayers and harvested either during exponential growth (proliferating) or at confluence (non-proliferating). Cell suspensions were analyzed by both FTIR and Raman spectroscopy under conditions that maintained viability of the cultures throughout analysis. The cell spectra were fit to a set of five basis spectra (protein, lipid, DNA, RNA and glycogen) in order to derive estimates of the biochemical composition of the cultures. Relative composition estimates from optical spectra were compared to protein, DNA, RNA and glycogen contents determined both by standard biochemical analysis and by flow cytometry. We found that the composition estimates from FTIR and Raman spectroscopy agreed very well, although both techniques had difficulty extracting relative amounts of DNA and RNA due to overlapping resonances and the fact that these are minor components of cells. The flow cytometric and biochemical analysis of the cultures also agreed well with estimates obtained from fitting optical spectra. The most diagnostic biochemical ratios that could be derived from the optical spectra were protein/lipid and nucleic acid/lipid. Comparison of proliferating tumorigenic cells (as a model of a malignant tumor) to non-proliferating immortalized cells (as a model of a normal tissue) showed that both optical spectroscopy techniques could differentiate normal from malignant conditions with a high degree of statistical significance. These ratios were also significantly different when comparing proliferating to nonproliferating cells of each cell type. These results demonstrate that FTIR and Raman spectroscopy can be used to non-invasively estimate the biochemical composition of cells. Importantly, optical spectroscopy could differentiate a ‘normal’ from a malignant culture based on estimates of biochemical composition rather than by direct comparison of the spectra, as is commonly done. We are currently extending this work into an epithelial carcinogenesis system.
The Limits of Radical Democracy

Sarah Vitale engages with the project of radical democracy inaugurated by Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. The chapter focuses in particular on the work of Jacques Ranciere and outlines his critique of liberalism and consensus democracy, as well as his important distinction between the police and real politics. Vitale examines how democracy for Ranciere demands a rethinking of political subjectivity and engagement. Vitale considers the strengths of Ranciere’s critique but argues that it falls short of offering an emancipatory politics because it relies on a fixed ontology. She suggests that for a vision of a truly radical democratic project, readers should turn to Marx. Marx’s project, Vitale argues, rests on an open ontology of possibility and leaves future possibilities for human community undecided.
Pulmonary Artery Reconstruction After Failed Pulmonary Artery Stents

Background Pulmonary artery stents are widely deployed in patients with stenoses in the branch pulmonary arteries. However, stents do not address more peripheral sites of stenosis and invariably develop in-stent restenosis. The purpose of this study was to review our experience with pulmonary artery reconstruction after failed pulmonary artery stents. Methods This was a retrospective study of 56 patients who underwent pulmonary artery reconstruction after failed pulmonary artery stents. These patients had undergone a median of 2 (range, 0-5) previous surgical procedures and 2 (range, 1-4) pulmonary artery stents. Results The median age at stent surgery was 5 (range, 0.3-23.6) years. The majority of stents (79%) were completely removed and patch augmented. The minority of stents (21%) were felt to be unremovable and thus were split longitudinally and reconstructed using a pulmonary artery homograft. There was 1 (1.8%) operative mortality. The mean pulmonary artery-to-aortic pressure ratio decreased from a preoperative value of 0.91 ± 0.21 to a postoperative value of 0.31 ± 0.07 (P Conclusions Pulmonary artery reconstruction resulted in a significant decrease in pulmonary artery-to-aortic pressure ratios. The subsequent need for reintervention on the pulmonary arteries has been relatively low (11% to date). These results suggest that patients with pulmonary artery stents can be successfully treated with surgical reconstruction.
Biallelic variants in two complex I genes cause abnormal splicing defects in probands with mild Leigh syndrome.

Abstract Leigh syndrome is a genetically heterogeneous disorder resulting from deficient oxidative energy biogenesis. The syndrome is characterized by subacute episodic decompensations, transiently elevated lactate, and necrotizing brain lesions most often in the striatum and brainstem. Acute decompensation is often triggered by viral infections. Sequalae from repeated episodes leads to progressive neurological deterioration and death. The severity of Leigh syndrome varies widely, from a rapid demise in childhood to rare adult presentations. Although the causes of Leigh syndrome include genes affecting a variety of different pathways, more than 75 of them are nuclear or mitochondrial encoded genes involved in the assembly and catalytic activity of mitochondrial respiratory complex I. Here we report the detailed clinical and molecular phenotype of two adults with mild presentations of NDUFS3 and NDUFAF6-related Leigh Syndrome. Mitochondrial assays revealed slightly reduced complex I activity in one proband and normal complex I activity in the other. The proband with NDUFS3-related Leigh syndrome was mildly affected and lived into adulthood with novel biallelic variants causing aberrant mRNA splicing (NM_004551.2:c.419G > A; p.Arg140Gln; NM_004551.2:c.381 + 6 T > C). The proband with NDUFAF6-related Leigh syndrome had biallelic variants that cause defects in mRNA splicing (NM_152416.3:c.371 T > C; p.Ile124Thr; NM_152416.3:c.420 + 2_420 + 3insTA). The mild phenotypes of these two individuals may be attributed to some residual production of normal NDUFS3 and NDUFAF6 proteins by NDUFS3 and NDUFAF6 mRNA isoforms alongside mutant transcripts. Taken together, these cases reported herein suggest that splice-regulatory variants to complex I proteins could result in milder phenotypes.
A Dynamic Model to Assess Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Strategies in a Heterosexual Population Combined with Men Who have Sex with Men

Vaccination is effective in preventing human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. It is imperative to investigate who should be vaccinated and what the best vaccine distribution strategy is. In this paper, we use a dynamic model to assess HPV vaccination strategies in a heterosexual population combined with gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). The basic reproduction numbers for heterosexual females, heterosexual males and MSM as well as their average for the total population are obtained. We also derive a threshold parameter, based on basic reproduction numbers, for model analysis. From the analysis and numerical investigations, we have several conclusions. (1) To eliminate HPV infection, the priority of vaccination should be given to MSM, especially in countries that have already achieved high coverage in females. The heterosexual population gets great benefit but MSM only get minor benefit from vaccinating heterosexual females or males. (2) The best vaccination strategy is to vaccinate MSM firstly as many as possible, then heterosexual females, lastly heterosexual males. (3) Given a fixed vaccination coverage of MSM, distributing the remaining vaccines to only heterosexual females or males leads to a similar prevalence in the total population. This prevalence is lower than that when vaccines are distributed to both genders. The evener the distribution, the higher the prevalence in the total population. (4) Vaccination becomes less effective in reducing the prevalence as more vaccines are given. It is more effective to allocate vaccines to a region with lower vaccination coverage. This study provides information that may help policymakers formulate guidelines for vaccine distribution to reduce HPV prevalence on the basis of vaccine availability and prior vaccination coverage. Whether these guidelines are affected when the objective is to reduce HPV-associated cancer incidence remains to be further studied.
Generalized stacking fault energies and Peierls stresses in refractory body-centered cubic metals from machine learning-based interatomic potentials

Abstract The generalized stacking fault energies (GSFE) and Peierls stresses are strongly related to the mechanical properties of refractory metals. In this work, the GSFE curves and Peierls stresses of screw and edge dislocations in four body-centered cubic refractory metals (Mo, Nb, Ta, and W) on the {110}, {112}, and {123} slip planes are calculated using molecular statics simulations. A recently developed machine learning (ML)-based interatomic potential, called the spectral neighbor analysis potential (SNAP), is employed in all simulations. The computed GSFE curves achieve reasonable agreement with those from ab initio calculations and predict the asymmetry with respect to sense of glide direction on the {112} and {123} planes better than non-ML interatomic potentials. In general, SNAP provides screw dislocation Peierls stresses close to those of density functional theory, closer than those achieved by non-ML potentials. The screw dislocation Peierls stress values confirm slip symmetry on the {110} plane and exhibit pronounced slip asymmetry on the {112} and {123} planes. For all metals, the edge dislocation Peierls stress are the lowest on the {110} plane and the highest on the {112} plane. For screw dislocations, glide on either the {110} or the {123} plane is the easiest.
A modified batch intrinsic plasticity method for pre-training the random coefficients of extreme learning machines

Abstract In extreme learning machines (ELM) the hidden-layer coefficients are randomly set and fixed, while the output-layer coefficients of the neural network are computed by a least squares method. The randomly-assigned coefficients in ELM are known to influence its performance and accuracy significantly. In this paper we present a modified batch intrinsic plasticity (modBIP) method for pre-training the random coefficients in the ELM neural networks. The current method is devised based on the same principle as the batch intrinsic plasticity (BIP) method, namely, by enhancing the information transmission in every node of the neural network. It differs from BIP in two prominent aspects. First, modBIP does not involve the activation function in its algorithm, and it can be applied with any activation function in the neural network. In contrast, BIP employs the inverse of the activation function in its construction, and requires the activation function to be invertible (or monotonic). The modBIP method can work with the often-used non-monotonic activation functions (e.g. Gaussian, swish, Gaussian error linear unit, and radial-basis type functions), with which BIP breaks down. Second, modBIP generates target samples on random intervals with a minimum size, which leads to highly accurate computation results when combined with ELM. The combined ELM/modBIP method is markedly more accurate than ELM/BIP in numerical simulations. Ample numerical experiments are presented with shallow and deep neural networks for function approximation and boundary/initial value problems with partial differential equations. They demonstrate that the combined ELM/modBIP method produces highly accurate simulation results, and that its accuracy is insensitive to the random-coefficient initializations in the neural network. This is in sharp contrast with the ELM results without pre-training of the random coefficients.
They Said What? Investigating Fan Online Commentary in Politics and Sport

The study addressed the phenomenon of group membership and how group members engage in online commentary. Specifically, the paper investigated comments left in online chatrooms during the three presidential debates in 2016 and three prominent college football rivalry games. Findings showed that people choosing to leave comments in an online chatroom did so to (1) comment on the nature of the rivalry or relationship, (2) comment on the game itself, or (3) to derogate the out-group. Further, a higher proportion of comments left in the political chatrooms were negative toward the out-group compared to the sport setting. Implications are discussed, and the paper presents directions for future inquiry and ideas for addressing out-group negativity in political fandom.
Transtextual Haunting: Revenance

The film Hell and Mr. Fudge recounts the true story of Edward Fudge and his break with the traditionalist Christian doctrine of eternal torment. Through study, Fudge embraces the position that God does not torment people forever. This decision creates tremendous conflict for Fudge on a personal and ecclesiastical level. At one point during the film, Fudge is talking about his research on Hell and expresses concern at the opposition. Fudge shares that he has been asked to give an interview on his research. In response, the aged colleague warns Fudge to be careful and to understand that people are prone to hold on to the beliefs they have. This idea that people are more persuaded by the information they already have, rather than new information presented to them, illustrates the communication idea of resonance.
A Study of the Nonlinear Characteristics of Compressible Flow Equations by Means of Variational Methods

By means of variational methods, the problem of a steady irrotational compressible flow past an arbitrary body may be solved directly in the physical plane. The resulting equations are nonlinear in nature. A study of these equations is made in this paper. I t is found tha t at high Mach Numbers the solution may no longer be unique. Beyond a certain limiting Mach Number, no physically possible solution exists. At this limiting value, it is shown tha t an unsymmetrical flow pattern may appear. I t is also shown that , if only the velocity and pressure distributions on a given profile at various Mach Numbers are to be found, good approximate results may be obtained by the use of the linearized variational integral. Comparisons are made between the linearized and nonlinear solutions in the case of a circular cylinder, a Kaplan's bump, an elliptical cylinder, and a sphere. I t is seen that in all these cases the linearized solutions give close agreement to the nonlinear ones. By working with the linearized integral, the labor saved is enormous.
A polynomial time spectral decomposition test for certain classes of inverse M-matrices

The primary result in this paper is a set of O(n) time algorithms to determine whether a speci ed real, symmetric matrix is a member of any of several closely related classes: the MMA-matrices; the inverse MMA-matrices; the strictly positive, positive de nite matrices whose eigenvectors form a Soules basis; and the strictly ultrametric matrices. When the class membership question is answered in the a rmative for anMMA-matrix or an inverseMMA-matrix, the algorithms also yield the complete spectral decomposition of the matrix in question. Additional results in this paper include an algorithmic test for when a matrix is a Soules matrix, and a construction for Soules bases. AMS subject classi cations. 15A48, 15A18
Epilogue How I See Philosophy

Sometimes as questions. What does the word mean? What does the phrase mean? What does the sentence mean? What do you mean? Do you mean what your words mean? Do your words mean what you mean? Do you mean what your words mean but not what your phrases mean? Or do you mean what your words mean and what your phrases mean but not what your sentences mean? Or do you mean what your sentences mean but not what your words mean but what your phrases mean? Or do you mean what your sentences mean but not what your phrases mean but what your words mean? Or do you mean you mean what your sentences mean but not what your words and not what your phrases mean? Or do you mean that you mean what some of your words and all of your phrases but not your sentences mean? Sometimes as questions. Is there more than garbage in talk about necessity contingency possibility? Other than garbage in talk of intentions motives wants aims goals purposes? All kinds of questions any kind. What times is it? Where’s George? Do you have anything to drink? Was the resemblance between Ike and Daddy Warbucks an accident? Because it’s not the questions but how one thinks about it how one handles what one makes of it? Are there other minds? Yes. So pried at with simian fingers nothing interesting results for theory of some sort is what’s wanted.
DEVELOPMENT OF GENERAL MOTORS FOURTH GENERATION TPC TIRES

General Motors requires that tires used on its vehicles meet certain performance requirements. Since the establishment of this Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) System, tire design, compounding technology, and testing capabilities have improved. Additional performance parameters important to the total tire/vehicle system have been identified and appropriate additional tire performance requirements have been established. Updated TPC test procedures and specifications are presented. Prior to 1984, three generations of TPC specification tires had been developed for General Motors' vehicles. For 1984 and 1985 model years, development of a fourth generation of TPC specification tires was completed. The considerations which led to establishment of performance goals are discussed. Test data in major tire performance categories are presented in general summary form comparing fourth generation to third generation TPC specification tires. Fourth generation tire performance specifications are contained in the Appendix.
Steroid structure and androgenic activity. Specificities involved in the receptor binding and nuclear retention of various androgens

Abstract In rat ventral prostate the action of many natural androgens, including testosterone, appears to depend on their conversion to 5α-dihydrotestosterone that binds firmly to an androgen receptor (β protein) and is subsequently retained by cell nuclei. We have found, however, that many potent synthetic androgens can bind directly to β protein and to prostate cell nuclei without a metabolic conversion. For these studies, simple methods were devised to compare the receptor binding affinities of various androgenic steroids. These methods are especially useful if test compounds are available only in minute quantities (l1 µg). In general, the correlation between the relative competition indices of various synthetic androgens determined by these procedures and the relative androgenicities of these androgens was very good. This supports the concept that the β protein and nuclear binding of androgens play important roles in androgen actions in ventral prostates. Most of the highly active synthetic androgens that could bind to β protein were Δ4-3-ketosteroids without an angular methyl group at C-10. Since they can bind to β protein tightly, their androgen action may bypass the action of Δ4-3-ketosteroid-5α-oxidoreductase that appears to be necessary for the action of testosterone. These findings, together with molecular model building, indicate that the bulkiness and flatness of the steroid molecule play a more important role in receptor binding than the detailed electronic structure at the Δ4 bond of Ring A. For example, potent androgens with conjugated double bonds extending from Rings A and B to C (such as 2-oxa-17α-methyl-17β-hydroxy-estra-4,9,11-triene-3-one and 17α-methyl-17β-hydroxy-estra-4,9,11-triene-3-one) are indeed very flat molecules and bind to the androgen receptor firmly. Substitution of a 7α-methyl group in 17β-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one (19-nortestosterone) or its 17α-methyl derivative enhanced the androgenic activities of the parent compounds as well as their ability to bind to β protein and to prostate cell nuclei. Thus, 7α, 17α-dimethyl-19-nortestosterone had an apparent affinity for βprotein several times higher than that of 5α-dihydrotestosterone. A tritiated form of 7α, 17α-dimethyl-19-nortestosterone was also used to show its binding to β protein and to prostate cell nuclei. The tritiated androgen appeared to be very stable to metabolic conversion in prostate tissue. Notably, it was not reduced by prostate Δ4-3-ketosteroid-5α-oxidoreductase.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: How Can We Best Characterize the Relationship Between Erectile Dysfunction and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

ABSTRACT Introduction Considerable epidemiological literature exists, showing a relationship between voiding dysfunction and sexual dysfunction. However, few basic science or prospective data are available to determine the nature of the relationship between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and sexual dysfunction. Methods and Discussion A critical evaluation of the nature of the relationship between LUTS and erectile dysfunction (ED) must include a look at the nature of the data establishing the relationship, precise definitions of the disease states being evaluated, and adherence to established normative relationships. Criteria for causality will be utilized to best determine the relationship between LUTS and ED. This article will attempt to take a critical and provocative look at where we are presently in establishing a relationship between voiding dysfunction and sexual dysfunction in order to better direct research efforts through evidence‐based studies. Conclusion At present, the epidemiological data do not support a causal relationship based on Hill’s criteria for causality between LUTS and ED but suggest a less rigorous association. Additional research is needed to better characterize this relationship. Costabile RA, and Steers WD. How can we best characterize the relationship between erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia? J Sex Med 2006;3:676–681.
The Importance of Cognitive–Motivational Variables in Understanding the Outcome Performance of Persons with Mental Retardation: A Personal View from the Early Twenty‐First Century

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a history of the author's research odyssey over the past few decades on mental retardation. The chapter discusses the implications of cognitive–motivational variables in understanding the outcome performance of persons with mental retardation and allied intellectual disabilities for the field of intellectual disabilities. The implications of this simple notion—that in all human learners, including those with all sorts of intellectual disabilities, outcome performance depends on the operation of motivational operators as well as cognitive operators—for service, diagnosis, education, and training of persons with intellectual disabilities are remarkable. By increasing the motivation of persons with intellectual disabilities, outcome performance will increase, benefiting the person, her family, and society.
Pathogenicity Islands and Other Mobile Genetic Elements of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli

This chapter focuses on diarrheagenic Escherichia coli strains and the various pathogenicity islands (PAIs) and other mobile genetic elements that differentiate these pathogens from normal-flora E. coli. At least six categories of diarrheagenic E. coli strains have been defined. Five of these categories, enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), and enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), are reviewed in the chapter. A sixth category, diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC), is a heterogeneous group of organisms, and epidemiological studies have given conflicting results about the true clinical significance of these strains. Mobile genetic elements encoding virulence factors in human diarrheagenic E. coli are listed in the chapter. The majority of EPEC strains associated with diarrhea possess the EPEC adherence factor (EAF) plasmid and are referred to as typical EPEC strains, while EPEC strains that do not possess EAF plasmids are referred to as atypical EPEC strains. The majority of genes within this region have homology to transposons and insertion elements (IS elements), although these elements are apparently incomplete and nonfunctional. The great variety of mobile genetic elements present in diarrheagenic E. coli , including plasmids, bacteriophages, transposons, and PAIs, on a K-12 backbone with so many horizontally transferred regions indicates an enormous genomic plasticity that complicates the efforts to categorize the existing subgroups into sharply delineated pathotypes and the attempts to predict what novel combination of virulence factors may emerge in the future.
Poor and Rich: Student Economic Stratification and Academic Performance in a Public Research University System

One sees various efforts in developed as well as in developing economies to seek a greater participation of lower-income students in their nation's leading universities. Once lower-income students do enroll in a highly selective institution, what happens to them? How well do they do academically when compared to their more wealthy counterparts? How integrated are they into the academic community and in their satisfaction with their choice and sense of support by the institution and fellow students? These are crucial questions, if and when elite universities in various parts of the world become more representative of their general population; the stated desire of most of these institution, virtually all of which are nationally funded entities that must justify their public subsidies. This paper explores the divide between poor and rich students, first comparing a group of selective US institutions and their number and percentage of Pell Grant recipients and then, using institutional data and results from the University of California, Student Experience in the Research University Survey (SERU Survey), presenting an analysis of the high percentage of low-income undergraduate students within the University of California system; who they are, their academic performance and quality of their undergraduate experience.
Development of a statewide trauma registry using multiple linked sources of data.

Abstract In order to develop a cost-effective method of injury surveillance and trauma system evaluation in a rural state, computer programs were written linking records from two major hospital trauma registries, a statewide trauma tracking study, hospital discharge abstracts, death certificates, and ambulance run reports. A general-purpose database management system, programming language, and operating system were used. Data from 1991 appeared to be successfully linked using only indirect identifying information. Familiarity with local geography and the idiosyncracies of each data source were helpful in programming for effective matching of records. For each individual case identified in this way, data from all available sources were then merged and imported into a standard database format. This inexpensive, population-based approach, maintaining flexibility for end-users with some database training, may be adaptable for other regions. There is a need for further improvement and simplification of the record-linkage process for this and similar purposes.
THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF TESTICULAR CANCER IN UPSTATE NEW YORK

In a study of 250 cases of cancer of the testis and of neighborhood- and age-matched controls in upstate New York in 1977-1980, the authors found that risk was enhanced by possession of a number of traits associated with exposure of the testis to heat; occupational exposures to fertilizers, phenols, and fumes or smoke; and trauma to the testis. Risk was also increased for characteristics related to congenital and developmental aberrancies and testis-related abnormalities, e.g., low sperm count, fertility problems, atrophic testis, and cryptorchidism. Several of these risk factors were statistically significant in a multiple regression model that adjusted for all other significant traits, age, and education.
Quantitative Fluorescent Speckle Microscopy (QFSM) to Measure Actin Dynamics

Quantitative Fluorescent Speckle Microscopy (QFSM) is a live cell imaging method to analyze the dynamics of macromolecular assemblies with high spatial and temporal resolution. Its greatest successes were in the analysis of actin filament and adhesion dynamics in the context of cell migration and microtubule dynamics in interphase and the meotic/mitotic spindle. Here, we focus on the former application to illustrate the procedures of FSM imaging and the computational image processing that extracts quantitative information from these experiments. QFSM is advantageous over other methods because it measures the movement and turnover kinetics of the actin filament (F-actin) network in living cells across the entire field of view. Experiments begin with microinjection of fluorophore-labeled actin into cells, which generate a low ratio of fluorescently-labeled:endogenous unlabeled actin monomers. Spinning disk confocal or wide-field imaging then visualizes fluorophore clusters (2–8 actin monomers) within the assembled F-actin network as speckles. QFSM software identifies and computationally tracks and utilizes the location, appearance, and disappearance of speckles to derive network flows and maps of the rate of filament assembly and disassembly.
Changes in blood clotting systems during migraine attacks.

The changes in the activity of clotting systems during the attack phase of complicated and uncomplicated migraine was studied in order to help identify changes which might have therapeutic implications and to aid in understanding why some migraineurs are prone to thromboembolic complications by virture of their genetic and metabolic backgrounds. 10 patients (17-41 years) were divided into 2 groups: 1) 5 women and 2 men experiencing both complicated and uncomplicated migraine attacks and 2) 3 women who had only uncomplicated attacks but who had hyperaggregable platelets. The patients were followed for 1-5 years. For patients with complicated migraine plasma coagulaility rose during both complicated and uncomplicated attacks. Platelet aggregability to ADP also rose during a complicated attack in all but 1 patient. When these same patients had uncomplicated attacks platelet aggregability fell. Plasma coagulability consistently increased more when the headache was associated with focal cerebral dysfunction. Plasma coagulability dropped during the later phase of the attacks of those patients with uncomplicated migraine while platelet aggregability was without a consistent pattern in all patients. It is suggested that the drop in coagulability seen in these patients may be due to the release of endogenous heparin from mast cells and basophilic leukocytes. These results support the hypothesis that prolonged focal cerbral dysfunction may reflect thromboembolic phenomena. A review of the estrogens and genetic factors on clotting is presented.
Spectral beam combining model for fiber lasers

Spectrally multiplexed, high brightness, beam combining for power scaling and WDM communications applications has advantages over coherent combining, and is suitable for use with high gain bandwidth lasers. A diffraction grating forces oscillation at distinct wavelengths in a laser array in the external resonator configuration proposed by T.Y. Fan, et al [Opt. Lett.25 , 405-407 (2000)], producing a multi-wavelength output of overlapping beams. A unified diffraction integral-based treatment is used to formulate a design principle by which to jointly optimize most significant measures of performance, such as efficiency, bandwidth, and beam quality. The sensitivity to errors in alignment and positioning is also characterized. The transform lens aberrations are shown to ultimately determine the maximum array size, and the design criterion is applied to test and propose improvements in the lens. Initial comparisons show agreement within estimated experimental uncertainty margins with MIT/LL proof-of-principle measurements on an Yb-doped fiber laser array. To illustrate, we foresee a feasible rectilinear 100 - emitter array system using a multi-element aspheric lens, with <5%array-center-to-end efficiency drop, yielding beam quality M2 ? 1.2 in the transverse (array) direction, and close to unity in the lateral direction. Application to the efficient coupling of a laser array to a multimode fiber core is discussed as fmal example.
Lack of benefit of early detection of relapse after completion of therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background Although most pediatric oncologists obtain routine blood counts in patients who have completed treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the value of this practice is unproven. We therefore sought to determine if detection of relapse by blood counts before the onset of symptoms provided any clinical benefit. Procedures We performed a retrospective review of 72 patients with ALL who suffered isolated or combined hematologic relapses after the completion of therapy. We compared attainment of second remission and survival after relapse among patients who were asymptomatic and diagnosed by routine blood count, those who had symptoms suggestive of relapse and were diagnosed at the time of a scheduled follow-up, and those whose relapse was diagnosed because of the appearance of symptoms. Results Only 11% of patients who suffered a relapse were asymptomatic at the time of relapse and diagnosed solely by routine blood counts. There were no significant differences in the survival distributions for the three groups of patients. Conclusions In this cohort of patients with relapsed ALL, we found no evidence that detection of relapse by routine blood counts before the onset of symptoms leads to a better outcome. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Motivational interviewing to reduce hazardous drinking and drug use among depression patients

This randomized study examined the efficacy of motivational interviewing (MI) to reduce substance use among adults with depression in outpatient psychiatry. The sample consisted of 104 participants ages 18 and over who reported hazardous drinking (three drinks or more per occasion), illegal drug use or misuse of prescription drugs in the prior 30 days, and who scored ≥ 15 on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Participants were randomized to receive either three sessions of MI or printed literature about alcohol and drug use risks, as an adjunct to usual outpatient depression care, and completed telephone follow-up interviews at 3 and 6 months (93 and 99% of the baseline sample, respectively). Among participants reporting any hazardous drinking at baseline (n=73), MI-treated participants were less likely than controls to report hazardous drinking at 3 months (60.0 vs. 81.8%, p=.043). MI is a promising intervention to reduce hazardous drinking among depression patients.
Influence of caloric restriction and exercise on tumorigenesis in rats.

AbstractUnderfeeding or caloric restriction have been shown to inhibit the growth of spontaneous, transplanted, or chemically induced tumors in rats and mice. At 40% caloric restriction, growth of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colonic tumors is inhibited significantly even when the restricted diet contains twice as much fat as the control diet. Some inhibitory effects become evident even at 10% caloric restriction. In studies involving high fat diets, we find that rats receiving 20% fat ad libitum exhibit significantly higher 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumor incidence, multiplicity, and weight than rats ingesting the same amount of fat daily, but in a diet containing 25% fewer calories. In a study of intermittent ad libitum and restrictive feedings, chemically induced tumorigenicity varies inversely with feed efficiency. Exercise has also been shown to inhibit tumor growth. Sedentary rats fed ad libitum have a 108% higher incidence of ...
Myeloperoxidase activity in chicken heterophils and adherent cells

Abstract Chicken heterophils are known to lack myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. In this paper, evidence is presented to show that chicken heterophils and adherent cells contain a DNA sequence that is homologous to segment 10 of the human MPO gene; histochemical staining and microplate assays also show that heterophils and adherent cells contain MPO activity.
Generation and characterization of aerosols of dispersed surface active phospholipids by ultrasonic and jet nebulization

Abstract The aerosolization of a multicomponent lipid mixture extracted from bovine lung lavage (surfactant) was investigated in terms of the humidity dependence of the particle size distribution produced by both an ultrasonic and a jet nebulizer. Two methods, sonication on ice and mechanical vortexing, were used to disperse the lipid mixture in 0.15 M NaCl prior to aerosolization in each nebulizer. No significant separation of the lipid from the aqueous phase occurred during nebulization. For both dispersion methods, the particle size dependence on humidity was affected by the presence of dispersed lipids (concentration ∼ 1.5 mg/ml) compared to the case of 0.15 M NaCl aerosols without surfactants. The aerosol from the jet nebulizer consisted of dry particles, and the typical deliquescent behavior for NaCl particles could be demonstrated when relative humidity was increased above 70%. However, when the lipid mixture was nebulized, no such particle growth was observed up to 95% relative humidity. The emerging aerosol from the ultrasonic nebulizer consisted of droplets due to high humidity. In the case of NaCl, these droplets evaporated and became smaller in size with decreasing humidity. For the lipid-saline mixture, the droplets were much more stable and started to evaporate only below 60–70% relative humidity. Although both ultrasonic and jet nebulizers gave particle size distributions in the range for significant alveolar deposition (0.4–1.5 μm AMAD), the ultrasonic nebulizer aerosol sizes at high humidity were optimal in this respect. Calculations of lipid surface and bulk concentration suggest that a significant part of the observed phospholipid dispersion effects on aerosol size behavior may be related to bulk phase interactions.
Campus Climate: An Assessment of Students' Perceptions in a College of Education.

This study presents findings from an instrument designed to assess preservice teachers’ perceptions regarding whether the environment and curriculum in a College of Education (COEDU) in a southeast, urban university are conducive to preparing them to live and work in a diverse society. A 144-item survey is administered to 126 preservice teachers enrolled in COEDU courses. Major findings indicate that though the overall climate seemed positive, many students suggested the need for greater curricular emphasis on understanding the GLBT population and strengthening the sense of racial and ethnic identity among students of color and White students.
Symmetric minimum-norm updates for use in Gibbs free energy calculations

This paper examines a type of symmetric quasi-Newton update for use in nonlinear optimization algorithms. The updates presented here impose additional properties on the Hessian approximations that do not result if the usual quasi-Newton updating schemes are applied to certain Gibbs free energy minimization problems. The updates derived in this paper are symmetric matrices that satisfy a given matrix equation and are least squares solutions to the secant equation. A general representation for this class of updates is given. The update in this class that has the minimum weighted Frobenius norm is also presented.
Paramagnetism in melanins: pH dependence

Abstract Changes in the paramagnetic properties of aqueous suspensions of melanin polymers have been monitored over a pH range from 1 to 12. Distinct changes in spin concentration and electron spin resonance spectral parameters (effective g value and line shape) are shown to occur. These data are interpreted in terms of pH- and temperaturedependent equilibria between diamagnetic and paramagnetic units on the melanin polymer, which can be partly or completely quenched if the melanin is precipitated by lowering the pH or by increasing the salt concentration. The heterogeneity of these units and possible chemical structures are discussed.
Modeling of particle size evolution during mechanical milling

The process of mechanical alloying (MA) involves the repeated deformation, welding, and fracture of powder materials during grinding in high-energy mills. During MA, the size and size distribution of the particles change as a result of the particles’ different fracture and welding rates. The evolution of particle volume distributions during such a combined “fission-fusion” process can be describedvia a differential-integral equation. While analytical solutions are known for systems in which only fusion takes place, there is apparently no such solution for the fission-fusion problem. In this article, we describe a discretized form of the fission-fusion equation and apply it to modeling of particle size distributions during milling of elemental powders using previously determined fracture and welding rates appropriate to the global system of particles. Predicted particle size distributions mimic well those determined experimentally.
Vestibular postural control model.

Current models for physiological components and a posture control experiment conducted with three normal subjects form the basis for a model which seeks to describe quantitatively the control of body sway when only vestibular motion cues are used. Emphasis is placed on delineating the relative functional roles of the linear and the angular acceleration sensors and on modeling the functional interface between these sensors and the initiation of compensatory responses at the ankle joint.
Charge localization: The ion kinetic energy spectra of pyrazine, pyrimidine and pyridazine

The ion kinetic energy (IKE) spectra of pyrazine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyrazine-d4, pyrimidine-d4 and pyridazine-d4 have shown that these compounds can more readily be distinguished on the basis of IKE spectra than mass spectra. Studies of the fragmentation of various doublycharged ions have given information about the localization of charge on the heteroatoms and on the structures of the ions themselves. Transition states from which fragmentation occurs for doublycharged ions with loss of either [H]+ or [D]+ have shown large differences of the order 1 A between the intercharge distances in the two cases.
Socioeconomic status and the Black-White mortality crossover.

Objectives. We investigated associations among age, race, socioeconomic status (SES), and mortality in older persons and whether low SES contributes to the Black–White mortality crossover (when elevated age–specific mortality rates invert).Methods. We used panel data from the North Carolina Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly to test the main and interactive effects of SES on mortality.Results. Discrete-time hazard models showed that the association between low education and mortality did not vary by race or age and was only significant for men. For women, the effect of low income diminished with age and had little impact on the crossover. For men, low income varied by race and age, altering the Black–White crossover and producing low–high income crossovers at advanced ages.Conclusions. Low education and income were associated with increased mortality risk for older adults, but only low income had a differential impact on the Black–White mortality crossover. A primary route to...