cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Men present with higher clinical class of chronic venous disease before endovenous catheter ablation

Abstract Background Risk factors for chronic venous disease (CVD) have been widely reported in population health management. However, predisposing factors associated with patients treated for advanced stages of CVD have yet to be established. We examined the demographics and risk factors associated with advanced clinical presentation of CVD for patients referred for vein ablation. Methods Retrospective analysis of our institutional Vascular Quality Initiative Varicose Vein Registry included endovenous laser treatment and radiofrequency ablation procedures at our tertiary institution, community hospital, and outpatient vein clinic between January 2015 and December 2016. All incompetent truncal veins were divided into two groups based on the Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathophysiology clinical class of CVD: mild-moderate (C1-C3) and severe (C4-C6). The two groups were compared in terms of their demographics and medical comorbidities using univariate and multivariate analysis. Data analysis was conducted on SPSS 22.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). Results During the study period, a total of 650 incompetent truncal veins were ablated. The mean age of patients was 58 years, and 73% were female. Severe CVD composed 21% of the cohort. Male sex was a risk for advanced CVD (odds ratio, 2.6; P Conclusions Among patients treated with vein ablation for superficial venous insufficiency, older age and male sex were associated with increased severity of advanced CVD. Despite the higher incidence of varicose veins among women, men are more likely to have clinically advanced CVD when they present for truncal vein ablation.
Harvesting the Wind: Analyzing Television News Coverage of Wind Energy

The need for alternative energy sources is growing. Currently, the United States is the second largest producer of wind energy, one form of alternative energy. This study investigates news about wi...
Association of Brain Atrophy and Masseter Sarcopenia With 1-Year Mortality in Older Trauma Patients.

Importance Older adults are disproportionately affected by trauma and accounted for 47% of trauma fatalities in 2016. In many populations and disease processes, described risk factors for poor clinical outcomes include sarcopenia and brain atrophy, but these remain to be fully characterized in older trauma patients. Sarcopenia and brain atrophy may be opportunistically evaluated via head computed tomography, which is often performed during the initial trauma evaluation. Objective To investigate the association of masseter sarcopenia and brain atrophy with 1-year mortality among trauma patients older than 65 years by using opportunistic computed tomography imaging. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a level 1 trauma center from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2014, with a 1-year follow-up to assess mortality. Washington state residents 65 years or older who were admitted to the trauma intensive care unit with a head Abbreviated Injury Scale score of less than 3 were eligible. Patients with incomplete data and death within 1 day of admission were excluded. Data analysis was completed from June 2017 to October 2018. Exposures Masseter muscle cross-sectional area and brain atrophy index were measured using a standard clinical Picture Archiving and Communication System application to assess for sarcopenia and brain atrophy, respectively. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcome was 1-year mortality. Secondary outcomes were discharge disposition and 30-day mortality. Results The study cohort included 327 patients; 72 (22.0%) had sarcopenia only, 71 (21.7%) had brain atrophy only, 92 (28.1%) had both, and 92 (28.1%) had neither. The mean (SD) age was 77.8 (8.6) years, and 159 patients (48.6%) were women. After adjustment for age, comorbidity, complications, and injury characteristics, masseter sarcopenia and brain atrophy were both independently and cumulatively associated with mortality (masseter muscle cross-sectional area per SD less than the mean: hazard ratio, 2.0 [95% CI, 1.2-3.1];P = .005; brain atrophy index per SD greater than the mean: hazard ratio, 2.0 [95% CI, 1.1-3.5];P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance Masseter muscle sarcopenia and brain atrophy were independently and cumulatively associated with 1-year mortality in older trauma patients after adjustment for other clinical factors. These radiologic indicators are easily measured opportunistically through standard imaging software. The results can potentially guide conversations regarding prognosis and interventions with patients and their families.
A frailty index and the impact of frailty on postoperative outcomes in older patients after bariatric surgery

Abstract Background The prognostic value of frailty in the elderly surgical population has been well studied across surgical specialties. However, no studies have yet explored the effects of frailty across the full spectrum of adverse events after bariatric surgery. Objectives To study the impact of index-frailty on the full range of adverse short-term outcomes after bariatric surgery. Methods Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program data file for 2016 was used. Descriptive analyses, univariable, and multivariable regression models, assessed for discriminative and predictive capacities, were used to assess the effects of frailty on Clavien-Dindo categorized adverse outcomes within 30 days of bariatric surgery. Frailty index was modified from Canadian Study of Health and Aging Frailty Index. Setting Data pooled from American Society for Bariatric Surgery–accredited bariatric surgery centers, United States. Results A total of 21,426 patients aged ≥60 undergoing primary bariatric procedures were included. The prevalence of frailty as defined by the modified frailty index was 44.4%. Frail status was independently associated with higher odds of 30-day adverse events (Clavien-Dindo grades I, II, III, IV, and V). Frailty scores had weakly positive correlations with increasing age and increasing body mass index in the bariatric patients. Conclusion Frailty can be used as a risk stratification modality for patients before bariatric surgery. Further research should focus on exploring the relationship between obesity and frailty and the effects of weight loss on frailty status of bariatric patients.
Ability of non-destructive assay techniques to identify sophisticated material partial defects

Abstract This study explores the ability of non-destructive assay techniques to detect a partial material defect in which 100 g of plutonium are diverted from the center of a 1000 g can of PuO2 powder. Four safeguards measurements techniques: neutron multiplicity counting, calorimetry, gravimetry, and gamma ray spectroscopy are used in an attempt to detect the defect. Several materials are added to the partial defect PuO2 can to replicate signatures of the diverted material. 252Cf is used to compensate for the doubles neutron counts, 241Am is used to compensate for the decay heat, and aluminum is used to compensate for the weight. Although, the doubles and triples difference before and after diversion are statistically indistinguishable with the AWCC in fast and thermal mode, the difference in the singles counts are statistically detectable in both modes. The relatively short half-life of 252Cf leads to a decrease (three sigma uncertainty) in the doubles neutron counts after 161 days. Combining this with the precise quantity of 241Am needed (10.7 g) to mimic the heat signature and the extreme precision in 252Cf mass needed to defeat neutron multiplicity measurements gives reassurance in the International Atomic Energy Agency's ability to detect partial material defects.
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) refers to the partial or near-complete removal or alteration of female external genitalia. It is a centuries-old tradition in many parts of the world, and over 125 million women have undergone this ritual in 29 countries in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, and it has a long-standing history. FGM/C is mostly motivated by culture and encompasses a range of procedures designed to alter the female anatomy for purposes of marriageability and social acceptance. Most commonly performed between infancy and early teen years, the procedure offers no health benefits but may have serious psychological and medical consequences for girls and women. Obstetrical and gynecological complications are common and range from labor complications to infertility and chronic dyspareunia. Women’s healthcare providers practicing in the United States and abroad must be able to at least recognize, refer, and possibly manage patients who have undergone FGM/C. This chapter reviews the epidemiology, clinical examination, and WHO staging of FGM/C, as well as options for the management of sequelae.
The Olivary Pretectal Nucleus Receives Visual Input of High Spatial Resolution

In the mouse, retinal output is computed by over 40 distinct types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) (Baden et al., 2016). Determining which of these many RGC types project to a retinorecipient region is a key step in elucidating the role that region plays in visually-mediated behaviors. Combiningretrograde viral tracing and single-cell electrophysiology, we identify the RGC types which project to the olivary pretectal nucleus (OPN), a major visual structure. We find that retinal input to the OPN consists of a variety of intrinsically-photosensitive and conventional RGC types, the latter a diverse set of mostly ON RGCs. Surprisingly, while the OPN is most associated with the pupillary light reflex (PLR) pathway, requiring information about absolute luminance, we show that the majority of the retinal input to the OPN is from single cell type which transmits information unrelated to luminance. This ON-transient RGC accounts for two-thirds of the input to the OPN, and responds to small objects across a wide range of speeds. This finding suggests a rolefor the OPN in visually-mediated behaviors beyond the PLR.
Ranking with hamiltonian dynamics

Abstract In data science, a ranking or linear ordering problem is to place items into a linear order based on comparison data. In this article, we consider a Hamiltonian system, in which particles, representing the items to be ordered, exert forces on each other as determined by the comparison data. An ordering of the items can be derived from the relative positions of the particles in any state of the system. The Hamiltonian is designed so that states with low potential energy yield orderings that agree strongly with the comparison data. Although the dynamics are related to the Toda lattice, no usable ranking information seems to be available from that variation of the Hamiltonian. Instead, a Toda-like Hamiltonian plus a confinement potential yields better results. Several algorithms based on Hamiltonian trajectories, minimization of a ranking potential, and a Hamiltonian Markov chain are compared to the widely used RankBoost algorithm. They all perform relatively well on synthetic test data and on problems from a library of test cases, but none is clearly the best in all circumstances. The trajectory-based methods and Markov chain show interesting dynamics. Furthermore, since these methods attach particle positions to the items as well as an ordering, the distances between the particles indicate how rankable the items are.
MRI of myositis and other urgent muscle-related disorders

Myositis has many etiologies, and it can be encountered in the acute or chronic setting. Our goal is to increase the radiologist's knowledge of myositis and other urgent muscle disorders encountered in the emergent or urgent setting. We review the clinical presentation, the MRI appearance, and the complications that can be associated with these entities. Since myositis can affect multiple muscle compartments, we review how to differentiate the compartments of the appendicular skeletal in order to generate reports that relay important anatomic information to the treating physician. Given the poor sensitivity and positive predictive value of the clinical signs and symptoms used to diagnosing acute compartment syndrome, we discuss the potential use of MRI in cases of suspected but clinically equivocal compartment syndrome in the future.
Ice caves on Mars: Hoarfrost and microclimates

Abstract Caves on planet Mars could potentially contain water ice deposits. Here, the physical processes responsible for the growth and preservation of spelean ice formations on Mars are assessed. Martian caves are situated in environments where phase transitions of water are only by sublimation. The predominant type of cave ice is expected to be perennial hoarfrost that slowly grows in supersaturated cavities. The role of cave microclimates for maintaining ice bodies is evaluated comparatively. Free and forced convection transport less sensible heat than in the denser terrestrial atmosphere. Cooling through sublimation is also expected to be far weaker in Martian caves than in terrestrial caves. Hence, the cooling of ice deposits by flow through the cave, often a crucial factor in terrestrial ice caves, is insignificant on Mars, which limits the geographic extent where cave ice deposits can be expected.
Three-dimensional multipath DenseNet for improving automatic segmentation of glioblastoma on pre-operative multimodal MR images.

Purpose Convolutional neural networks have achieved excellent results in automatic medical image segmentation. In this study, we proposed a novel three-dimensional (3D) multipath DenseNet for generating the accurate glioblastoma (GBM) tumor contour from four multimodal pre-operative MR images. We hypothesized that the multipath architecture could achieve more accurate segmentation than a singlepath architecture. Methods Two hundred and fifty-eight GBM patients were included in this study. Each patient had four MR images (T1-weighted, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and FLAIR) and the manually segmented tumor contour. We built a 3D multipath DenseNet that could be trained to achieve an end-to-end mapping from four MR images to the corresponding GBM tumor contour. A 3D singlepath DenseNet was also built for comparison. Both DenseNets were based on the encoder-decoder architecture. All four images were concatenated and fed into a single encoder path in the singlepath DenseNet, while each input image had its own encoder path in the multipath DenseNet. The patient cohort was randomly split into a training set of 180 patients, a validation set of 39 patients, and a testing set of 39 patients. Model performance was evaluated using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), average surface distance (ASD), and 95% Hausdorff distance (HD95% ). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were conducted to assess statistical significances. Results The singlepath DenseNet achieved the DSC of 0.911 ± 0.060, ASD of 1.3 ± 0.7 mm, and HD95% of 5.2 ± 7.1 mm, while the multipath DenseNet achieved the DSC of 0.922 ± 0.041, ASD of 1.1 ± 0.5 mm, and HD95% of 3.9 ± 3.3 mm. The P-values of all Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were less than 0.05. Conclusions Both DenseNets generated GBM tumor contours in good agreement with the manually segmented contours from multimodal MR images. The multipath DenseNet achieved more accurate tumor segmentation than the singlepath DenseNet. Here presented the 3D multipath DenseNet that demonstrated an improved accuracy over comparable algorithms in the clinical task of GBM tumor segmentation.
Thinking about a thing called privacy: A reflection through example

Academic librarianship holds in its foundation and core values a very important task—protecting the privacy of everyone who enters the library space. In order “[f]or libraries to flourish as centers for uninhibited access to information, librarians must stand behind their users’ right to privacy and freedom of inquiry.” Libraries provide access to information to individuals who do not have access to it at their homes. Libraries give people a choice about how to go about their information inquiries, and choice in libraries “requires both a varied selection and the assurance that one’s choice is not monitored.” Protecting privacy has become a focus in recent years with the emergence of urbane technology and opportunity for greater surveillance. Because of this, privacy and surveillance literacy need to become a core part of information literacy instruction.
Shear stress dependence of force networks in 3D dense suspensions

The geometric organization and force networks of 3D dense suspensions that exhibit both shear thinning and thickening have been examined as a function of varying strength of interparticle attractive interactions using lubrication flow discrete element simulations. Significant rearrangement of the geometric topology does not occur at either the local or global scale as these systems transition across the shear thinning and shear thickening regimes. In contrast, massive rearrangements in the balance of attractive, lubrication, and contact forces are observed with interesting behavior of network growth and competition. In agreement with prior work, in shear thinning regions the attractive force is dominant, however as the shear thickening region is approached there is growth of lubrication forces. Lubrication forces oppose the attraction forces, but as viscosity continues to increase under increasing shear stress, the lubrication forces are dominated by contact forces that also resist attraction. Contact forces are the dominant interactions during shear thickening and are an order of magnitude higher than their values in the shear-thinning regime. At high attractive interaction strength, contact networks can form even under shear thinning conditions, however high shear stress is still required before contact networks become the driving mechanism of shear thickening. Analysis of the contact force network during shear thickening generally indicates a uniformly spreading network that rapidly forms across empty domains; however the growth patterns exhibit structure that is significantly dependent upon the strength of interparticle interactions, indicating subtle variations in the mechanism of shear thickening.
Quantum Mechanics : Foundations and Applications

Preface THE FOUNDATIONS OF QUANTUM PHYSICS The Prelude to Quantum Mechanics Wave-Particle Duality and the Uncertainty Relation Fourier Transforms in Quantum Mechanics The Postulatory Basis of Quantum Mechanics Operators and the Mathematics of Quantum Mechanics Properties of Quantum Mechanical Systems THE SCHRODINGER EQUATION IN ONE DIMENSION The Free Particle One-Dimensional Harmonic Oscillator Time Evolution and Completeness Operator Method THE SCHRODINGER EQUATION IN THREE DIMENSIONS The Free Particle in Three Dimensions Particle in a Three-Dimensional Box The One-Electron Atom Central Potentials TOTAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM Orbital and Spin Angular Momentum Half-Integral Spin Angular Momentum Addition of Angular Momenta Interacting Spins for Two Particles APPROXIMATION METHODS Introduction - The Many-Electron Atom Nondegenerate Perturbation Theory Perturbation Theory for Degenerate States Time-Dependent Perturbation Theory The Variational Method Wentzel, Kramers, and Brillouin Theory (WKB) ATOMIC SPECTROSCOPY Effects of Symmetry Spin-Orbit Coupling in Multielectron Atoms QUANTUM STATISTICS Derivation of the Three Quantum Distribution Laws Applications of the Quantum Distribution Laws BAND THEORY OF SOLIDS Periodic Potentials Periodic Potential - Kronig-Penney Model Impurities in Semiconductors Drift, Diffusion, and Recombination Semiconductor Devices EMISSION, ABSORPTION, AND LASERS Emission and Absorption of Photons Spontaneous Emission Stimulated Emission and Lasers SCATTERING THEORY Scattering in Three Dimensions Scattering and Inverse Scattering in One Dimension RELATIVISTIC QUANTUM MECHANICS AND PARTICLE THEORY Dirac Theory of the Electron Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and Electroweak Theory Quarks, Leptons, and the Standard Model Appendix A: Matrix Operations Appendix B: Generating Functions Appendix C: Answers to Selected Problems Appendix D: The Fundamental Physical Constants, 1986 Bibliography Index
Buddhist Testimony and Christian Testimony

Even if religious experiences can provide good grounds for religious belief, the question remains whether someone else’s experience-reports provide good grounds for me to form similar beliefs, and accept their religious claims. Whether it is rational to accept religious testimony, or even irrational not to accept it, depends on whether certain defeaters are operative, which would impugn the testifier’s sincerity or competence. While there is some reason to think that defeaters are often present, there is no reason to believe they always are, so it is sometimes rational to accept religious testimony. Then the question of which testimony to accept turns on the question of which testimony has the least likelihood of being defeated. Comparing Christian and Theravada Buddhist experiences, Christian experiences are more likely to be subject to priming effects and self-deception, so, all other things being equal, it is more rational to accept the Theravada Buddhist experience claims.
International Cooperation through Official Statistics on Food Security, the Environment, Climate Change and Poverty

The ongoing debate about the causes and effects of food price volatility, especially on the number of people living in poverty, is occurring at the same time there is increased concern about the effect of agriculture on the environment and global warming. Practices to increase food production have consequences on the environment and global warming. From a statistical point of view, these are issues that transcend national boundaries. International cooperation will be essential to resolve these issues; it is dependent on official statistics. This paper will describe statistical tools that could be used to describe the intertwined relationships between food price volatility, food security, poverty, the environment, and global warming. These statistical tools and outcomes need to be developed to provide results comparable across countries. The lessons learned from the well-known International Comparison Program will be applied to suggestions how to develop official statistics about the above issues to shape policy decisions across national boundaries.
Osmium‐catalyzed vicinal oxyamination of olefins by N‐chloro‐N‐argentocarbamates: ethyl threo‐[1‐(2‐hydroxy‐1,2‐diphenylethyl)]carbamate

Osmium-catalyzed vicinal oxyamination of olefins by N-chloro-N-argentocarbamates: ethyl threo-[1-(2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethyl)]carbamate product: ethyl threo-1-(2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethyl)carbamate solvent: 50 mL of petroleum ether Keywords: addition, to CC; halogenation, chlorination; 1% osmium tetroxide reagent
High-resolution helix orientation in actin-bound myosin determined with a bifunctional spin label.

The interaction between actin and myosin is responsible for driving a vast array of essential biological processes, including the production of force in contracting muscle. However, the structural behavior of the two proteins in complex is not well understood, because high-resolution atomic models are not yet available by traditional methods. We use a bifunctional spin label and site-directed electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine orientations of individual α-helices within the complex. We thus quantify for the first time, to our knowledge, structural changes within the motor domain of actin-bound myosin on nucleotide binding and dissociation. Our results provide valuable insight into the mechanism of muscle contraction while showcasing a method with wide applicability to other oriented biological systems.
Immunohistochemical Analysis of LGR5 Expression in Pediatric Liver Disease

BACKGROUND: In regenerating liver, hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) are recruited in response to liver injury; however, there is a lack of highly specific human HPC markers for the hepatocyte lineag...
The p35/Cdk5 kinase is a neuron-specific Rac effector that inhibits Pak1 activity

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) and its neuron-specific regulator p35 (refs 1–4) are essential for neuronal migration and for the laminar configuration of the cerebral cortex5,6,7. In addition, p35/Cdk5 kinase concentrates at the leading edges of axonal growth cones and regulates neurite outgrowth in cortical neurons in culture8. The Rho family of small GTPases is implicated in a range of cellular functions, including cell migration and neurite outgrowth9,10,11,12,13. Here we show that the p35/Cdk5 kinase co-localizes with Rac in neuronal growth cones. Furthermore, p35 associates directly with Rac in a GTP-dependent manner. Another Rac effector, Pak1 kinase14,15, is also present in the Rac–p35/Cdk5 complexes and co-localizes with p35/Cdk5 and Rac at neuronal peripheries. The active p35/Cdk5 kinase causes Pak1 hyperphosphorylation in a Rac-dependent manner, which results in downregulation of Pak1 kinase activity. Because the Rho family of GTPases and the Pak kinases are implicated in actin polymerization16,17,18, the modification of Pak1, imposed by the p35/Cdk5 kinase, is likely to have an impact on the dynamics of the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in neurons, thus promoting neuronal migration and neurite outgrowth.
Remembering gay/lesbian media characters: can Ellen and Will improve attitudes toward homosexuals?

The purpose of the current research was twofold. First, a pilot study was conducted in which participants were asked to recall any memorable gay or lesbian television or film character and complete a survey about their perceptions of the character. Results indicated that over two-thirds of heterosexual participants recalled either Ellen or Will, and evaluative ratings for these characters were generally positive. The second purpose of this research was to examine the priming effects of remembering portrayals of homosexual characters in the media. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to directly assess the effects of thinking about either a positive or negative homosexual character on general heterosexuals' attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. Results indicated that those recalling a positive portrayal later showed a more positive attitude toward gay men than those recalling a negative portrayal, and women had a more positive attitude overall than men toward gay men and lesbians. Such findings illustrate the importance of positive role models in entertainment media as potential primes of social attitudes.
Using GRASS GIS to Model Solar Irradiation on North Carolina Aquatic Habitats with Canopy Data

Sunlight can have a significant impact on freshwater aquatic communities. Using 64- bit GRASS, a previously generated 18.2 m resolution forest canopy height grid for the State of North Carolina was used as a base elevation layer for calculation of 18.2 m resolution total irradiance (Watt-hours/square meter/day) grids for 365 days of the year. Daily calculations were aggregated annually and overlaid on rasterized 1:24,000-scale USGS hydrology with canopy type and seasonal filters to quantify annual solar irradiation input to streams and rivers in North Carolina. Bare earth calculations of solar irradiation for the aquatic habitats were compared to the canopy filtered calculations. There was substantially less solar irradiation in aquatic habitats under the canopy filtered model. Total solar irradiation for subbasins created from point locations of occurrences of Dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) were compared with total solar irradiation for watersheds created from locations with no mussels for the full subbasin, 1 km, and 500 m upstream from the sampling point. There was no significant difference in the amount of total solar irradiation modeled for the subbasins with Dwarf wedgemussel and watersheds with no mussels.
Skeptic's Corner: Punishment - Destructive Force or Valuable Social "Adhesive"?

Skepticism that normally focuses on pseudoscientific claims can also be directed at “established” principles of behavior. After discussing some ways in which empirically-derived principles can potentially mislead, as an illustrative example I describe some reasons to wonder whether our understanding of punishment is as established as sometimes assumed.
An Ahlfors Derivative for Conformal Immersions

The operator proposed here combines Ahlfors’s Schwarzian derivative S1 for curves in \(\mathbb{R}^{n}\) and a Schwarzian tensor for conformal local diffeomorphisms previously developed by Osgood and the author. We present its foundation in conformal connections, establish basic properties, and obtain injectivity criteria for conformal immersions into \(\mathbb{R}^{n}\).
Influence of Zinc-Binding on Folding and Dynamics of Zinc Finger Proteins: In Silico

We present results of microsecond, all atom molecular dynamics simulations for various proteins including the zinc binding domains of NEMO and XIAP. Each zinc finger was simulated with and without zinc and with protonated and deprotonated zinc-binding cysteines. Simulation analyses suggest the bound zinc increases stabilization of the protein structure and causes changes to protein dynamics. In the absence of a bound zinc ion, proteins have a tendency to at least partially unfold and some simulations show complete loss of secondary structure. Differences in free energy of the four structural cases suggest that binding the zinc-ion is energetically inexpensive, where the (de)-protonation of the cysteines is the more significant contributor to free energy differences between the four structures.
Natural Infectivity of Two Sharpshooter Vectors of Pierce’s Disease of Grape in Florida

When Oncometopia nigricans (Walker) and Homalodisca coagulata (Say) were collected from grapevines in vineyards and tested for Pierce’s Disease (PD) natural infectivity, the bacterium was transmitted only after the 3rd week in Apr. 1976 and the 3rd week in June 1977. O. nigricans and H. coagulata collected from wild weed hosts in winter and early spring were never found to be naturally infective prior to the time that the PD bacterium could be acquired from cultivated grapevine. O. nigricans adults were first observed on cultivated grapevines in early Mar., peaked in late Mar., and slowly declined through the summer, whereas the earliest H. coagulata adults were observed on grapevines in May and increased slowly until Sept. or Oct. O. nigricans would be expected to have the greater epidemiological impact in the spread of PD due to its earlier arrival and higher populations on grape.
Bud inhibition of Cyperus rotundus L. tubers by inhibitor β or abscisic acid and the reversal of these effects by N‐6‐benzyl adenine*

Summary: Resume: Zusammenfassung The acidic ether fraction of methanol extracts from Cyperus rotundus L. (purple nutsedge) tubers contained inhibitory substances described hereafter as inhibitor β. Inhibitor β inhibited sprouting of excised C. rotundus buds and also the elongation of wheat coleoptiles. The inhibition of bud sprouting by inhibitor β was reversed by the application of N-6-benzyl adenine (BA). Applications of abscisic acid (ABA) also inhibited sprouting of the excised buds and this was similarly reversed by BA applications. Chromatographic evidence suggested that inhibitor β mainly consisted of phenolic materials and possibly ABA as a minor component. The role of BA in enhancing sprouting of C rotundus tubers is discussed. Inhibition des bourgeons de bulbes de Cyperus rotundus L. par I'inhibiteur β ou l'acide abscissique et reversion de ces effects par la N-6-benzyl adenine La fraction ether acide d'extraits, par le methanol. de bulbes de Cyperus rotundus L. contient des substances inhibitrices decrites ci-apres comme I'inhibiteur β. Cet inhibiteur β a inhibe la germination de bulbes isoles de C. rotundus ainsi que l'elongation de coleoptiles de ble. L'inhibition de la germination des bourgeons par I'inhibiteur βete renversee par l'application de la N-6-benzyl adenine (B.A.). Des applications d'acide abscissique (ABA) ont egalement inhibe la germination de bourgeons isoles et cet effet a ete lui aussi renverse par des applications de B.A. Les chromatogrammes suggerent que l'inhibiteur β est principalement constitue par des composes phenoliques et peut-etre par I'ABA comme composant mineur. Le role de la B.A. dans l'inhibition de la germination des bulbes de C. rotundus est discute. Knospenhemmung der Knollen von Cyperus rotundus L. durch Hemmstoff β oder Abscisinsaure und die Umkehrung dieser Effekte durch N-6-Benzylmlenin Die saure Fraktion aus methanolischen Extrakten von Cyperus rotundus L.-Knollen enthielten Hemmstoffe, die im folgenden als Hemmstoff β bezeichnet werden. Hemmstoff β hemmte das Sprossen isolierter C. rotundus-Knospen und die Streckung von Weizenkoleoptilen. Die Hemmung der Knospensprossung durch Hemmstoff β wurde durch An-wendung von N-6-Benzyladenin (BA) aufgehoben. Abscisinsaure (ABA) hemmte auch das Sprossen isolierter Knospen; durch BA wurde es auf ahnliche Weise aufgehoben. Der chromatographische Befund deutet darauf hin. Das Hemmstoff β sich hauptsachlich aus phenolischen Verbindungen zusammensetzt und moglicherweise in gering-em Unfang ABA enthalt. Die Rolle von BA auf die Forderung der Keimung von C. rotundus-Knollen wird diskutiert.
Range-finding by triangulation with nondiffracting beams

Nondiffracting beams are useful for alignment applications because the size of the beam does not change as the beam propagates. In this research we report a technique that allows for distance measurements with nondiffracting beams. With our approach a diffractive optical element is designed that generates two off-axis, tilted, nondiffracting Bessel function beams. These beams intersect at a desired distance from the input plane, producing interference. We generate these Bessel function arrays with a programmable spatial light modulator allowing external control over the intersection distance.
Functional antagonism between oncoprotein c-Jun and the glucocorticoid receptor

Abstract We present evidence that the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and transcription factor Jun/AP-1 can reciprocally repress one another's transcriptional activation by a novel mechanism that is Independent of DNA binding. Overexpression of c-Jun prevents the glucocorticoid-induced activation of genes carrying a functional glucocorticoid response element (GRE). Conversely, GR is able to repress AP-1-mediated transcriptional activation. Mutant analysis reveals that the ligand binding and DNA binding domains of GR and the region including the leucine zipper of c-Jun are required for repression. Gel retardation analysis demonstrates that bacterially expressed c-Jun disrupts GR-GRE complexes. These data Indicate that members of two distinct classes of transcription factors can oppose one another's activity through a mechanism likely involving protein-protein interactions.
Extent of Corneal Injury as a Biomarker for Hazard Assessment and the Development of Alternative Models to the Draize Rabbit Eye Test

We have characterized 22 ocular irritants differing in type (surfactants, acid, alkali, bleaches, alcohol, aldehyde, acetone) and severity (slight to severe) by using the low-volume rabbit eye test. Ocular irritation was evaluated by 1) light microscopy to assess pathological changes, 2) in vivo confocal microscopy (CM) to quantify 4-dimensionally (x, y, z, and t) initial corneal injury and later responses in the same eye, and 3) laser scanning CM to quantify initial cell death. These studies revealed that regardless of the processes leading to injury, slight irritants injure the corneal epithelium, mild irritants injure the corneal epithelium and the superficial stroma, and moderate/severe irritants injure the epithelium, deep stroma, and at times the corneal endothelium. Furthermore, extent of initial corneal injury was shown to predict subsequent responses and final outcomes. These findings suggest that extent of corneal injury may be used as a basis for the development of alternative ocular irritation tests. To test the validity of this approach, we have used an ex vivo, rabbit cornea culture model to measure extent of corneal injury following exposure to ocular irritants. Data indicate that the extent of ex vivo corneal injury significantly correlate with the extent of initial injury measured previously in live animals. Overall, these findings indicate that extent of initial corneal injury can be used as a new "gold standard" for the continued refinement and ultimate replacement of the Draize rabbit eye Ocular Irritation Test.
Functional homologies of acidic chromatin proteins in higher and lower eukaryotes.

Within a specific fraction of acidic chromatin-associated proteins from HeLa and the lower eukaryote Physarum polycephalum numerous similarities exist. Several of the similar polypeptides in both cell types are synthesized and appear in the residual chromatin material while still others disappear in response to starvation, a common and universal stimulus. Proteins which incorporate no radioactive amino acids during starvation and ultimately disappear from the residual chromatin material are resynthesized upon refeeding. This resynthesis must be complete before mitosis will again occur. These observations suggest that within the complement of acidic chromatin proteins functional homologies exist in diverse eukaryotes.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Supreme Court's Reaction to Its Second Female Member

Abstract Research on legislatures and courts has shown that even the addition of small numbers of women can have a substantial effect on policy, particularly with regards to women's rights issues. But what happens once women go beyond token status? Expanding upon O'Connor and Segal's original work (1990) on Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the purpose of this analysis is to assess the Supreme Court's treatment of women's rights cases since the appointment of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. While there was a clear shift in the Court's support for women's rights in the wake of Justice O'Connor's arrival, it appears that the addition of Justice Ginsburg has had a much more complex effect. What is clear is that the two women justices are among the Court's strongest supporters of women's rights issues and act as the Court's “spokespeople” in this area, writing half of the Court's majority opinions in this area of law since Justice Ginsburg's appointment. The Court's overall support for women's rights claims, however,...
Confined placental mosaicism as a risk factor among newborns with fetal growth restriction

Objective To delineate the frequency and clinical presentation of confined placental mosaicism (CPM) among newborns with idiopathic intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) as compared to infants with appropriate fetal growth. Methods 70 newborns with IUGR (birth weight < 10%) were matched by maternal age (±5 years) and gestational age (±7 days) to an equal number of infants of normal size. From both populations, placental samples underwent karyotype analysis following standard culture. Results CPM occurred significantly more often in the placentas from IUGR infants compared to controls, 11/70 (15.7%) and 1/70 (1.4%) respectively (p = 0.008). High-level tetraploidy (>20% in a primary culture) predominated among the IUGR placentas, while autosomal aneuploidy occurred only once in each population. Placental histology revealed significantly greater decidual vasculopathy, infarction, and intervillous thrombus formation in the karyotypically abnormal placentas (p = 0.03). Maternal age, gestational age at delivery, degree of growth restriction and ponderal index did not vary with the presence of CPM. Conclusion CPM, and principally high-level tetraploidy, is found significantly more often among the placentas of newborns with IUGR. Infants with IUGR and CPM are clinically diverse although the placentas display pathologic changes suggestive of chronic impairment of uteroplacental function. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Sudanese Private Sector: an Historical Overview

In the decade of the 1970s the Arab world, its resources swelled by surplus oil profits, looked to the Sudan to become the area's granary. Arab leaders knew that the country possessed abundant arable and pasture land, thought to be capable of supplying 40 per cent of the grain requirements of the region, and substantial fish and red meat supplies. They saw Sudanese development as leading to regional food self-sufficiency. In this vision of economic transformation they expected the Sudanese private sector to work in combination with Arab oil money and western technology.
Adverse effects of wood smoke PM2.5 exposure on macrophage functions

AbstractEpidemiological studies have shown a correlation between chronic biomass smoke exposure and increased respiratory infection. Pulmonary macrophages are instrumental in both the innate and the adaptive immune responses to respiratory infection. In the present study, in vitro systems were utilized where alveolar macrophages (AM) and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMdM) were exposed to concentrated wood smoke-derived particulate matter (WS-PM) and mice were exposed in vivo to either concentrated WS-PM or inhaled WS. In vivo studies demonstrated that WS-exposed mice inoculated with Streptococcus pneumoniae had a higher bacterial load 24 h post-exposure, and corresponding AM were found to have decreased lymphocyte activation activity. Additionally, while classic markers of inflammation (cellular infiltration, total protein, neutrophils) were not affected, there were changes in pulmonary macrophages populations, including significant decreases in macrophages expressing markers of activation in WS-expos...
Evaluating the effect of esthetically enhanced materials compared to standard materials on clinician response rates to a mailed survey

Evidence suggests that physicians have lower response rates than nonphysicians to mailed surveys. It is important to identify methods that can increase physician and nurse participation in health-related survey research. In an effort to improve response rates among clinicians, we developed esthetically enhanced survey materials (booklets printed on glossy paper with color and graphic designs) as part of a large mailed-survey study of oncology doctors and nurses who were listed as members of a North American cooperative oncology group. We randomized these clinicians to receive either an enhanced (90%) or standard (10%) paper survey (standard white paper with no color nor graphic designs, stapled together) about offering results of clinical trials to trial participants. Overall, 34% (793/2333) of the surveys were returned. There was no significant difference between the two groups; 33.7% (707/2300) responded to the enhanced materials and 36.9% (86/233) responded to the standard materials (p = .34). These re...
Ultrathin gold nanowires can be obtained by reducing polymeric strands of oleylamine-AuCl complexes formed via aurophilic interaction.

This Communication describes a facile route to the preparation of ultrathin gold nanowires using linear chains formed from [(oleylamine)AuCl] complex via aurophilic interaction. The linear chains, with AuI···AuI bonds as the backbone and surrounded by oleylamines, can group together to form bundles of polymeric strands. When the AuI was reduced to Au0 by reacting with Ag nanoparticles in hexane, the polymeric strands functioned as both the source of Au and the template to mediate the nucleation and growth of Au nanowires. Using this method, we were able to produce Au nanowires with an average diameter of ∼1.8 nm and an aspect ratio of >1000 in high yields (∼70%).
Benzene extraction of stannic iodide

Abstract The extractability of tin (IV) iodide by benzene from aqueous solution has been determined as a function of acidity, iodide concentration, and tin concentration. Anionic iodo tin (IV) species are not evident up to 5 M iodide. The extractability of tin decreases with increasing tin concentration in the aqueous phase. The partition coefficient [SnI 4 ] benzene /[SnI 4 ] H 2 O has a value of 2000 ± 150 at an ionic strength of 5 M.
Safety and feasibility of percutaneous tracheostomy performed by neurointensivists.

We evaluated the effects of a change from routine surgical tracheostomy (ST), performed primarily by ENT surgeons, to bedside percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) performed by neurointensivists. The first 67 PT procedures performed by neurointensivists were retrospectively reviewed, and compared with 68 consecutive ST procedures performed during the previous year. Demographics, severity of illness, procedural complications, incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), duration of mechanical ventilation (DMV), length of stay (LOS), and hospital charges were evaluated. Age, race, gender, neurological diagnoses, comorbid illnesses, and Glasgow coma scale on admission and the day of tracheostomy were similar. Procedural complications occurred in 8% of PT patients and 9% of ST patients, including clinically significant bleeding, transient loss of the airway, ICP rise requiring treatment, or acute lung injury (P = 0.3). PT was performed earlier than ST (median [interquartile range] ventilator day 8 [4–11] vs. 12 [8–18], P = 0.001). Median DMV was shorter in the PT cohort (19 [10–27] vs. 24 [16–33] days, P = 0.02), as was median ICU LOS (15 [9–21] vs. 19 [12–27] days, P = 0.01). ICU charges (US dollars) were lower in the PT cohort (median $123,404 vs. $156,311, P = 0.01). Trends toward less VAP, shorter hospital LOS, and lower total hospital charges among patients receiving PT did not achieve significance. PT performed by neurointensivists was safe compared to ST. Timely PT by neurointensivists may offer significant advantages in terms of ventilator weaning, ICU LOS, and the cost of care.
A theoretical examination of substituent effects on the detoxification reaction between glutathione and halogenated methanes

An important metabolic pathway for halogenated methanes is the detoxification reaction with glutathione in the cell cytosol fraction. Experimental studies have shown that the rate of this SN2 displacement reaction is directly related to the leaving group ability of the dissociating halide; the rate increases in order of the ions F−, Cl−, Br−, and I− leaving. In this study, we examine the role of the other halomethane substituents on the rate of this reaction for compounds with a common leaving anion. To this end, reaction Cl− + CY3Cl ClCY3 + Cl− (Y = H,F,Cl) is examined using ab initio methods. The barrier for this exchange process may arise from requiring an inversion of the CY3 group in the transition structure, the energy required to homolytically cleave the CCl bond, or from unfavorable steric and electronic interactions in the five-coordinated transition structure. Of these three factors, only the third explains the calculated ordering of barrier heights. This suggests that successive halogenation of methane not only increases its activity as a substrate for anaerobic reduction, as was shown earlier, but also decreases its ability to take part in the detoxification reaction with glutathione.
Intra-amniotic 15-Methyl Prostaglandin F2α Versus Intravaginal Prostaglandin E2 for Second-Trimester Labor Induction

Second-trimester labor induction is frequently complicated by significant morbidity. Although instrumental dilatation and evacuation is considered the safest method for second-trimester pregnancy termination, most younger physicians lack experience with this procedure. As a result, many physicians use vaginal prostaglandin suppositories for second trimester labor induction. Unfortunately, systemic side effects and in-complete abortion are common complications. We sought to compare the side effects and efficacy of intra-amniotic 15-methyl prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) with intravaginal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) for second-trimester labor induction. We compared outcomes in patients receiving intravaginal PGE2 (group A, N = 24) with intra-amniotic 15-methyl prostaglandin F2α (group B, N = 25) for midtrimester labor induction. Group A patients received intravaginal PGE2 20 mg every 3–4 hr, and group B patients received intra-amniotic 15-methyl PGF2α 2.5 mg. Eighty-eight percent of patients in group A successfully d...