cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acitretin for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Background Bexarotene is the only Food and Drug Administration–approved retinoid for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and is associated with a relatively high frequency of adverse effects. Acitretin has anecdotally been reported to be effective for CTCL. Objective We sought to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of acitretin as primary or adjuvant therapy for CTCL. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with CTCL treated with acitretin at a single tertiary care center. Results A total of 32 patients with CTCL were included: 29 had mycosis fungoides, 2 had Sezary syndrome, and 1 had CTCL not otherwise specified. Median patient age was 55 years; 56% were male; 47% were white, 47% black, and 6% other. In all, 3% of patients were stage IA, 69% stage IB/IIA, 16% stage IIB, 6% stage III, and 6% stage IV. Six patients received acitretin alone; 26 received acitretin in addition to another CTCL therapy. The overall response rate was 59%. In all, 25% of patients had stable disease and 16% had progressive disease. Median duration of response was 28 months. Adverse effects were generally mild with 5 patients discontinuing therapy because of these. Limitations In this small retrospective chart review, many patients were on other CTCL therapies while on acitretin; therefore precise assessment of response to acitretin alone was difficult. Conclusions Acitretin is well tolerated and potentially effective for early-stage CTCL. Response to acitretin, either as adjuvant therapy monotherapy, is comparable with the response to oral agents currently approved for this disease.
Development of EUV lithography tool technologies at Nikon

6-mirror-system EUV projection optics design with NA of 0.4 plus was improved and the residual wavefront error was much reduced. Apodization is an issue for such high-NA EUV projection optics. Broad-band multilayer mirror can solve the problem. Broad-band multilayer mirrors were developed. Measured reflectivity performance of these multilayers was in good agreement with the designed performance. We have decided the measures to control contaminations of optics in HVM EUV exposure tools.
On the distance measure for gravitational lenses

A discussion is presented of some of the physical elements that are important for geometric optics in curved space-time, with a view toward interpreting data on gravitational lenses. This is important because each gravitational lens provides geometrical information about an arc that crosses a substantial portion of the universe. The propagation of photons along long arcs is highly sensitive to the mean density in the beam, averaged along the arc. Fluctuations about this mean are not important unless their scale is comparable to that of the universe. Tidal distortion is important if only a few lumps are involved. The variation in the geometrical optics is considerably greater if there is a nonzero cosmological constant.
Identification of optimal harvest sites of ileal stem cells for treatment of bile acid malabsorption in a dog model

Ileal mucosal stem cells expressing the sodium-dependent ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) have been successfully transplanted into the jejunum of rodents in projects aimed at creating a "neoileum" to treat bile acid malabsorption. To find optimal harvest sites for a dog model of stem cell transplantation, the exact location of peak IBAT expression in the donor ileum needs to be known. We therefore mapped IBAT function, IBAT mRNA, and IBAT protein in the ileum of Beagle dogs (N=3). Mucosal samples were taken every 5 cm in the ileum and every 20 cm in the jejunum of each dog. Sodium-dependent (active) and sodium-independent (passive) taurocholate uptake rates were measured using a standardized everted sleeve technique. IBAT mRNA concentrations were determined by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and IBAT protein concentrations by fluorometric immunohistochemical analysis. The small bowel measured 208+/-17 cm (mean+/-standard error of the mean). Active and passive uptake rates were found to follow distinct distribution curves. Significant active uptake was seen only at the terminal 50 cm and peaked at 479+/-176 pM/mm(2). Depending on location, active uptake accounted for approximately half of the total uptake. IBAT mRNA and protein distributions corroborated uptake curves. The terminal 10 to 50 cm of ileum has the highest bile acid uptake capacity. This short segment appears to be the most promising donor site for ileal stem cell transplants to create a "neoileum" in dogs.
VLF hiss, visual aurora and the geomagnetic activity

Abstract Observations and analyses of hiss events, recorded at College (dp. lat. 64.62°N) and Bar 1 (dp. lat. 70.20°N) during periods of varying auroral and geomagnetic activity, reveal three different types of events. These are (1) auroral substorm events with associated hiss bursts during disturbed period, (2) quiet-time hiss events accompanying stationary quiet auroral arcs and (3) hissless events at times of auroral and magnetic activity. Quiet-time observations seem to suggest that the substorm activity is not a necessary requirement for generating wideband hiss. On the other hand, examples of auroral and magnetic activity with complete absence of VLF hiss indicate that the ground reception of VLF/ELF natural emissions is largely controlled by propagation conditions in the ionosphere. There is either little or no correlation found between hiss observations at the two stations separated by about 600 km.
Muscle and skin blood flow and metabolism during states of decreased activation

Acute decline of forearm oxygen consumption has been observed during an acute, wakeful behaviorally induced rest/relaxed state. This change of tissue respiration was not associated with variation of rate of forelimb lactate generation. Since forearm blood flow did not change significantly during this behavior, the decline of oxygen consumption by forearm was due almost solely to decreased rate of oxygen extraction. Decreased muscle metabolism was a likely contributor to these observations. The occurrence of sleep was not related to the metabolic change. The lack of coupling between the metabolic and blood flow changes during this state of decreased activation suggests limitation of the hypothesis of obligatory coupling between systemic and/or regional cardiovascular and metabolic function.
One-Sided Resonance Problems for Quasilinear Elliptic Operators

We present some new existence results for a quasilinear elliptic problem with an unbounded driving force. The quasilinear elliptic operator is assumed to be variational and is such that 0 acts like an isolated eigenvalue with a corresponding eigenfunction which does not change sign. The driving force is further assumed to be in one-sided resonance around the eigenvalue 0, and a solvability condition of potential type is imposed. Variational methods are used to obtain existence. Our results significantly improve earlier results of the authors.
Design and user evaluation of a wheelchair mounted robotic assisted transfer device.

Purpose. The aim of this study is to describe the robotic assisted transfer device (RATD) and an initial focus group evaluation by end users. The purpose of the device is to aid in the transfers of people with disabilities to and from their electric powered wheelchair (EPW) onto other surfaces. The device can be used for both stand-pivot transfers and fully dependent transfers, where the person being transferred is in a sling and weight is fully on the robot. The RATD is fixed to an EPW to allow for its use in community settings. Method. A functional prototype of the RATD was designed and fabricated. The prototype was presented to a group of 16 end users and feedback on the device was obtained via a survey and group discussion. Results. Thirteen out of sixteen (83%) participants agreed that it was important to develop this type of technology. They also indicated that user, caregiver, and robotic controls were important features to be included in the device. Conclusions. Participants in this study suggested that they would be accepting the use of robotic technology for transfers and a majority did not feel that they would be embarrassed to use this technology.
Fuzzy flows on networks

Abstract We present a theory of fuzzy flows on networks generalizing [2] and find closed formulas giving necessary and sufficient conditions for admissible flows to exist and for the maximal admissible flow.
Intracellular sodium homeostasis in relation to the effective free-energy change of ATP hydrolysis: studies of crayfish muscle fibers

We investigated the impact of reductions in the effective free-energy change of ATP hydrolysis (dG/dATP) on intracellular sodium homeostasis in bundles of fibers from the abdominal extensor muscle of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii. 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to monitor high-energy phosphate levels and intracellular pH while interleaved 23Na-NMR spectra were acquired to monitor changes in sodium. Previous work has shown that the bulk of intracellular Na+ is NMR visible (see Ivanics et al. 1994). The 23Na-NMR spectra were diffusion-weighted which effectively filtered out signal contributions from extracellular sodium. The efficacy of this procedure was validated using a relatively non-toxic chemical shift reagent which allowed resolution of extracellular and intracellular Na+ signals. Metabolic inhibition (cyanide/iodoacetate) produced pronounced reductions in dG/dATP coincident with dramatic increases in intracellular Na+ levels ([Na+]i). However, the increases in [Na+]i occurred at dG/dATP values well above the threshold value of −46 kJ · mol−1 required by the existing Na+ gradient and the membrane potential. These results suggest that the global dG/dATP value may not reflect the dG/dATP value in the vicinity of the pump. Alternatively, other factors, including low molecular modulators of Na+, K+-ATPase activity, may be important in this context.
Bacterial Species Identification after DNA Amplification with a Universal Primer Pair

The diagnosis of bacterial infections can be difficult and time consuming. Rapid and reliable molecular triage of potentially infected patients, particularly the young and the elderly, would prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, reduce associated medical costs, and improve the quality of care. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification utilizing a universal bacterial primer pair, followed by hybridization with species-specific probes, would allow rapid identification of the presence or absence of bacterial DNA, along with an identification of the bacterial species present. Molecular microbiological analyses will require access to bacterial strain standards that can be catalogued and distributed to clinical laboratories. We amplified template DNA in filter paper spots containing boiled bacteria from 14 clinical isolates using a universal primer pair for the 16S ribosomal RNA (rDNA) coding sequence. Species-specific probes were hybridized to the amplification products for bacterial species identification. We conclude that template DNA can be identified with species-specific probes after universal bacterial amplification with a single primer pair. We also demonstrate a rapid and efficient method for the long-term storage and cataloguing of bacterial DNA for use in quality control at clinical laboratories adopting molecular diagnostic methodologies. We speculate that PCR amplification combined with species-specific probe hybridization not only will represent an improvement over culture-based methods in terms of speed, sensitivity, and cost, but will also allow for the identification of unculturable bacteria and emerging or reemerging pathogenic organisms.
Radiation Therapy and Radiosurgery for Vestibular Schwannomas:: Indications, Techniques, and Results

This article describes in detail the uses of and distinctions between stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for vestibular schwannoma (VS). The authors discuss devices and techniques used in SRS and SRT and, additionally, present readers the approach used by surgeons at Mayo Clinic. They discuss indications and results for both approaches in patients with vestibular schwannoma. Treatment of small and large tumors is discussed, along with cystic tumors and NF2-associated VS. Repeating SRS for vestibular schwannoma is also mentioned.
Seeing Citrulline: Development of a Phenylglyoxal-Based Probe To Visualize Protein Citrullination

Protein arginine deiminases (PADs) catalyze the hydrolysis of peptidyl arginine to form peptidyl citrulline. Abnormally high PAD activity is observed in a host of human diseases, but the exact role of protein citrullination in these diseases and the identities of specific citrullinated disease biomarkers remain unknown, largely because of the lack of readily available chemical probes to detect protein citrullination. For this reason, we developed a citrulline-specific chemical probe, rhodamine–phenylglyoxal (Rh–PG), which we show can be used to investigate protein citrullination. This methodology is superior to existing techniques because it possesses higher throughput and excellent sensitivity. Additionally, we demonstrate that this probe can be used to determine the kinetic parameters for a number of protein substrates, monitor drug efficacy, and identify disease biomarkers in an animal model of ulcerative colitis that displays aberrantly increased PAD activity.
β-MERCAPTOPYRUVATE SULFUR TRANSFERASE DEFICIENCY.THE ENZYME DEFECT IN β-MERCAPTOLACTATE CYSTEINE DISULFIDURIA

The disorder β-mercaptolactate cysteine disulfiduria was first identified in 1968 (Crawhall et al, Science 160: 419), and was thought to be an abnormality in cysteine metabolism. Current understanding of cysteine metabolism indicates that cysteine is mainly degraded to inorganic sulfate (60-80% total urinary sulfur). Thiosulfate constitutes <1% of the total sulfur output. In the latter case cysteine is first converted to β-mercapto-pyruvate (βMP) by transamination. The transfer of sulfur of βMP to sulfite to form thiosulfate, or to other anions is mediated by βMP sulfur transferase. A deficiency of this enzyme activity could be the cause of β-mercaptolactate cysteine dlsulfiduria. βMP sulfur transferase activity was thus studied in the blood cells of the original patient. Hemolysates were prepared in 0.02M cysteamine, and 0.025M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. The assay condition was modified from that described by Sorbo. Activity of βMP sulfur transferase averaged 2.70 mmoles thiosulfate formed/gmHb/hr (range: 2.27 to 3.53) in 9 control hemolysates but was not detectable in the hemolysate from the patient (<5% of control values). Presumably the liver enzyme is likewise deficient in this patient and this defect causes accumulation of βMP which is excreted as β-mercaptolactate cystetne dlsulfide.
Prolactin Levels in Umbilical Cord Serum and Its Relation to Fetal Adrenal Activity in Newborns of Women with Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

ABSTRACT. The effect of hypertension in pregnant women on fetal maturation is an issue of considerable importance. Because of a possible role of prolactin in fetal adrenal steroidogenesis and in fetal lung maturation, we have investigated the relationship between hypertension in pregnant women and levels of prolactin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum of newborn infants. It was found that with the mild-to-moderate form of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), there was little effect on prolactin levels in newborn serum. In newborns of women with severe PIH, however, serum prolactin levels were significantly greater (p < 0.01) than those in newborns of women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Conversely, umbilical serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in newborns of women with severe PIH were significantly less (p < 0.05) than those in newborns of women with uncomplicated pregnancies. These findings are supportive of the view that pituitary function and adrenocortical function of fetuses of women with PIH are different from those of fetuses of normotensive women. These findings are suggestive that PIH alters the function of the fetal pituitary and adrenal cortex.
Motor unit forces and recruitment patterns after cervical spinal cord injury

Force was measured from triceps brachii motor units in individuals with chronic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and in able-bodied (A-B) control subjects using spike-triggered averaging (175 and 48 units, respectively). Eleven percent of units from the SCI population generated normal electromyograms (EMGs) but exerted no measurable force, 65% generated force comparable to the control data, while 24% were stronger than usual. Weak units probably reflect disuse. Muscle shortening, densely innervated territories, and polyphasic EMG potentials suggested strong units resulted from intact axons sprouting to reinnervate denervated muscle. Many units from SCI subjects had faster than normal contraction times (CTs). The force and CT distributions from the SCI and A-B populations differed significantly. Motor units of SCI subjects were recruited in order of increasing force output and increasing contraction time. Chronic cervical SCI therefore seems to alter the expected triceps brachii motor unit force-speed relations.
Extracts of hamster cells abortively infected with human adenovirus type 12 are competent to support initiation of viral DNA replication

Baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells do not allow replication of human adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) DNA during abortive infection by this virus. However, we have determined that crude extracts of BHK-21 cells abortively infected with Ad12 support in vitro the initiation reaction of Ad12 DNA replication. Synthesis of the Ad12 pTP-dCMP initiation complex by BHK extracts is two- to five-fold less than when crude infected human (KB) cell extracts are used in the reaction. Combining infected KB cytoplasmic and uninfected BHK nuclear extracts in the reaction indicates that the decreased efficiency is probably due to a lesser ability of hamster nuclear extracts to support the initiation reaction, rather than to decreased synthesis of Ad12 pTP and DNA polymerase during abortive infection, or to the presence of an inhibitor in BHK cells.
Distributed Algorithms for Rate-Adaptive Media Streams

Rate adaptive media streams bear similarities to both elastic (e.g., file transfer) and inelastic (e.g., voice) network traffic classes. As such a service model for streaming media should incorporate characteristics of both classes: guaranteed minimum rates (for minimally acceptable quality of service (QoS)) and an efficient mechanism for intelligently allocating excess capacity among the competing streams. In this paper we apply the system decomposition Kelly (Charging and rate control for elastic traffic. European Transactions on Communications 8:33–37, 1997) and distributed algorithms framework Kelly et al. (Rate control in communication networks: shadow prices, proportional fairness, and stability. J Oper Res Soc 49:237–252, 1998), developed by Frank Kelly et al. in the context of elastic traffic, to a service model for rate adaptive media streams. Our aim is to allocate excess capacity among competing streams so as to maximize a weighted client-average QoS, where each client QoS is defined as the time-average utility of the instantaneous received rate. We develop the corresponding system decomposition and distributed algorithms appropriate for rate adaptive media streams. Two distinct classes of distributed algorithms are derived: i) a distributed algorithm for dynamic adaptation, where the instantaneous subscription level of each stream is adjusted in response to network updates on route congestion levels, and ii) a distributed algorithm for static adaptation. The stationary point of the static adaptation algorithm is an admission policy that assigns each stream a fixed (in time) transmission rate as a function of the stream volume (the total number of bits associated with the media object). Our results, consistent with earlier work Weber and de Veciana (Rate adaptive multimedia streams: optimization and admisssion control. IEEE/ACM Trans Netw 13(6):1275–1288, December 2005a), confirm the intuitive idea that client average QoS is maximized by granting preferential treatment to small volume streams over large volume streams. Moreover, we argue that static adaptation is able to achieve a comparable QoS to that of dynamic adaptation without the communication overhead and fluctuations in service required of the latter. The caveat is that static adaptation policies work best for stationary traffic loads. Extensive simulation results demonstrate the algorithms to be feasible and efficient.
Apo A-I inhibits foam cell formation in apo E–deficient mice after monocyte adherence to endothelium

We have previously shown that expression of the human apo A-I transgene on the apo E–deficient background increases HDL cholesterol and greatly diminishes fatty streak lesion formation. To examine the mechanism, prelesional events in atherosclerotic plaque development were examined in 6- to 8-week-old apo E–deficient and apo E–deficient/human apo A-I transgenic mice. A quantitative assessment of subendothelial lipid deposition by freeze-fracture and deep-etch electron microscopy indicated that elevated apo A-I did not affect the distribution or amount of aortic arch subendothelial lipid deposits. Immunohistochemical staining for VCAM-1 demonstrated similar expression on endothelial cells at prelesional aortic branch sites from both apo E–deficient and apo E–deficient/human apo A-I transgenic mice. Transmission electron microscopy revealed monocytes bound to the aortic arch in mice of both genotypes, and immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the area occupied by bound mononuclear cells was unchanged. Serum paraoxonase and aryl esterase activity did not differ between apo E–deficient and apo E–deficient/human apo A-I transgenic mice. These data suggest that increases in apo A-I and HDL cholesterol inhibit foam cell formation in apo E–deficient/human apo A-I transgenic mice at a stage following lipid deposition, endothelial activation, and monocyte adherence, without increases in HDL-associated paraoxonase.
Thermal, hydrous, and mechanical states of the mantle transition zone beneath southern Africa

Abstract Observations of P-to-S conversions from the seismic discontinuities near 410 and 660 km depth reveal the shoaling of the 410-km discontinuity and the deepening of the 660-km discontinuity beneath the Archaean cratons in southern Africa; consequently, the mantle transition zone is 20 km thicker than beneath post-Archaean regions and the global average. The discontinuity structure, combined with tomographically imaged seismic velocities, suggests a relatively cold (Δ T ∼100 K) and water-enriched (ΔOH∼20–35% saturation) transition zone beneath the cratons. The thicker-than-normal transition zone correlates with surface geology and does not follow the track of African plate motion as numerical simulations of small-scale convection imply. The observations suggest that cold thermal downwelling is not the primary cause of the anomalously thick transition zone beneath the cratons, although it may exist in a confined area near the boundary between the Kheis thrust belt and the Namaqua-Natal belt. If thermal downwelling exists, its temperature anomaly at the 660-km discontinuity must be below the levels detectable by the method used in this study (Δ T ∼60 K). The spatial correlation between surface geology, high velocities beneath the cratons, and the transition zone structure indicates that the cratonic keels extend to the base of the upper mantle, substantially deeper than most estimates. Our results demonstrate the need to closely consider the effect of water content on seismic velocities beneath deep continental roots.
Functional genome annotation through phylogenomic mapping.

Accurate determination of functional interactions among proteins at the genome level remains a challenge for genomic research. Here we introduce a genome-scale approach to functional protein annotation—phylogenomic mapping—that requires only sequence data, can be applied equally well to both finished and unfinished genomes, and can be extended beyond single genomes to annotate multiple genomes simultaneously. We have developed and applied it to more than 200 sequenced bacterial genomes. Proteins with similar evolutionary histories were grouped together, placed on a three dimensional map and visualized as a topographical landscape. The resulting phylogenomic maps display thousands of proteins clustered in mountains on the basis of coinheritance, a strong indicator of shared function. In addition to systematic computational validation, we have experimentally confirmed the ability of phylogenomic maps to predict both mutant phenotype and gene function in the delta proteobacterium Myxococcus xanthus.
Strong Inference for Systems Biology

Platt's 1964 essay on strong inference [1] illuminates a rational approach to scientific inquiry that integrates seamlessly with current investigations on the operation of complex biological systems. Yet in re-examining the 1964 essay in light of current trends, it is apparent that the groundbreaking approach has failed to become universal. Here it is argued that both the opportunity and the need to follow Platt's advice are now greater than ever. A revised method of strong inference for systems biology is presented and applied to analyze longstanding questions in cardiac energy metabolism. It is shown how this logical framework combined with computational-based hypothesis testing illuminates unresolved questions regarding how the energetic state of the heart is maintained in response to changes in the rate of ATP hydrolysis.
Local and global sensitivity analysis of a tractor and single axle grain cart dynamic system model

Tractor and towed implement system models have become increasingly important for model-based guidance controller design, virtual prototyping, and operator-and-hardware-in-loop simulation. Various tractor and towed implement models have been proposed in the literature which contain uncertain or time-varying parameters. Sensitivity analysis was used to identify the effect of system parameter uncertainty/variation on system responses and to identify the most critical parameters of the lateral dynamics model for a tractor and single axle grain cart system. Both local and global sensitivity analyses were performed with respect to three tyre cornering stiffness parameters, three tyre relaxation length parameters, and two implement inertial parameters. Overall, the system was most sensitive to the tyre cornering stiffness parameters and least sensitive to the implement inertial parameters. In general, the uncertainty in the input parameters and the system output responses were related in a non-linear fashion. With the nominal parameter values for a Mechanical Front Wheel Drive (MFWD) tractor, a single axle grain cart, and maize stubble surface conditions, a 10% uncertainty in cornering stiffness parameters caused a 2% average uncertainty in the system responses whereas a 50% uncertainty in cornering stiffness parameters caused a 20% average uncertainty at 4.5 m s−1 forward velocity. If a 5% average uncertainty in system responses is acceptable, the cornering stiffness parameters must be estimated within 25% of actual/nominal values. The output uncertainty increased as the forward velocity was increased.
pH measurements using polarizable electrodes

A model for the potential difference across a membrane bounded by an ion-injecting interface and an ideally polarizable interface is presented. Using this model the predicted pH response is compared with experimental data.
Application of a novel 8x8 PMT array detector to light microscopy

A multi-anode photomultiplier tube (PMT) attached to a light microscope was used to measure the low-light-level signals from fluorescent dyes trapped in the extracellular space between living, cultured kidney epithelial cells. The detection assembly utilized photon counting of all 64 channels to record the fluorescence produced after the photoactivation of caged fluorophores of different molecular weight and charge. Photoactivation was accomplished by a brief pulse of light at 355 nm forma frequency-tripled Nd:YAG laser. Fluorescence of the uncaged fluorophores was excited by the output of an argon laser equipped with an acousto-optical tunable filter for control of wavelength and power. Diffusion coefficients for the fluorescent indicators in the extracellular spaces were calculated from the spatial and temporal decay of the fluorescence after uncaging of the dye in a small region micrometers -diameter microscope field. The system magnification was adjusted so that each 2.5-mm-square PMT channel corresponded to a 12.5-micrometers square region of the microscope field. The spatial decay of the fluorescence was obtained by sampling multiple adjacent PMT channels, while the temporal decay was determined from the PMT channel encompassing the uncaging site.
The effect of solar ovens on fuel use, emissions and health: results from a randomised controlled trial

Inefficient cookstoves contribute to deforestation and global climate change, require substantial time (usually of women and girls) collecting wood or money for fuel and lead to just under two million deaths a year. We examined the effect of solar ovens on fuel use, time spent collecting wood, carbon monoxide exposure, and respiratory illness symptoms. A phased randomised controlled trial was run among women interested in purchasing a solar oven in rural Senegal. Of the envisioned 1000 households, 465 treatments and 325 controls took part in the baseline survey. Households randomly allocated to the control group received their stoves 6 months after treatments. Eighty per cent of our respondents typically cook for more people than the capacity of the solar oven and thus even cooks using the solar oven continue using their traditional stove. In the sixth month of owning the stove, treatments used their solar oven 19 per cent of days measured and did not have statistically significantly lower fuel consumptio...
An index for operational flexibility in chemical process design. Part II: Computational algorithms

Procedures for the numerical computation of an index for operational flexibility in chemical processes are considered. Two types of algorithms are proposed which rely on the assumption that critical points for feasible operation lie at vertices or extreme values of the uncertain parameters. The first algorithm is a direct search procedure that features a heuristic variant to avoid exhaustive enumeration of all vertices. The second algorithm employs an implicit enumeration scheme based on a lower bound for monotonic constraints. These algorithms are applied to several example problems to demonstrate both the use of the flexibility index in process design and the computational efficiency of the algorithms.
The Consequences of the Hindsight Bias in Medical Decision Making

The hindsight bias manifests in the tendency to exaggerate the extent to which a past event could have been predicted beforehand. This bias has particularly detrimental effects in the domain of medical decision making. I present a demonstration of the bias, its contribution to overconfidence, and its involvement in judgments of medical malpractice. Finally, I point out that physicians and psychologists can collaborate to the mutual benefit of both professions.
Heat Dissipation with Pitch-Based Carbon Foams and Phase-Change Materials

The transient response of pitch-based carbon foam with an infiltrated phase-change material to a step temperature input is described. Pitch-based carbon foams exhibit high thermal conductivities and porosities up to 90%. This allows the possibility of infiltrating the foam with a relatively large volume of phase-change material. Phase-change thermal energy storage devices offer potential weight savings by allowing thermal control systems to use a smaller heat sink by absorbing the thermal energy quickly and storing it in the phase-change material. The thermal energy can then be released to a heat sink and the process repeated. Tests are conducted on samples of infiltrated foam. The results show the transient temperature response of the foam samples before, during, and after phase change. A theoretical prediction of the transient response is developed and compared with the experimental results.
Kinetics of duplex formation for individual DNA strands within a single protein nanopore

A single oligonucleotide was covalently attached to a genetically engineered subunit of the heptameric protein pore, α-hemolysin, to allow DNA duplex formation inside the pore lumen. Single-channel current recording was used to study the properties of the modified pore. On addition of an oligonucleotide 8 bases in length and with a sequence complementary to the tethered DNA strand, current blockades with durations of hundreds of milliseconds occurred, representing hybridization events of individual oligonucleotides to the tethered DNA strand. Kinetic constants for DNA duplex formation at the single molecule level were derived and found to be consistent with established literature values for macroscopic duplex formation. The resultant equilibrium constant for duplex formation in the nanopore was found to be close to the experimentally derived constant for duplex formation in solution. A good agreement between the equilibrium constants for duplex formation in the nanopore and in solution was also found for two other oligonucleotide pairs. In addition, the nanopore recordings revealed details of the kinetics difficult to obtain by conventional methods, like surface plasmon resonance, which measure ensemble properties. By investigating the temperature dependence of DNA duplex formation at the single molecule level, the standard enthalpy and entropy of the interaction could be obtained.
Deleuze and the girl

In this article, I seek to represent something that must be lived. It feels impossible to represent that which is described by Deleuze and Guattari as movement that is simultaneous, asymmetrical, instantaneous, unfinalized, zig‐zag. This movement is Deleuze and Guattari's concept of difference, that which they name becoming. To put this concept of becoming to work, I use three texts. One is chapter 10 of A Thousand Plateaus, the second is Brian Massumi's book A User's Guide to Capitalism and Schizophrenia, and the last is a short excerpt from my fieldnotes taken during my ethnographic research on the subject formation of adolescent girls. Specifically, the girl is Jesse, a senior cheerleader whose daily school life involved seeking and expressing her difference, or her becoming. She struggled against the over‐coded, essentialized category of cheerleader and the discursive and material expectations of that category at her high school. Deleuze and Guattari's concept of becoming allows me to explore Jesse's ...
Tracing Differential Pathways of Risk: Associations Among Family Adversity, Cortisol, and Cognitive Functioning in Childhood.

Guided by family risk and allostasis theoretical frameworks, the present study utilized a prospective longitudinal design to examine associations among family risk experiences, basal cortisol patterns, and cognitive functioning in children. The sample included 201 low-income children living within a midsize city in the Northeastern United States. Children were assessed at ages 2, 3, and 4 years. Growth-mixture modeling analyses revealed three basal cortisol patterns (elevated, moderate, low) and these remained relatively stable across time. Exposure to greater levels of family instability and maternal unresponsiveness predicted elevated and low cortisol patterns, which were associated with lower child cognitive functioning at age 4. Findings have implications for family risk processes that may underlie risk-related disparities in child cognitive outcomes.
Financial Returns of Corporate Social Responsibility, and the Moral Freedom and Responsibility of Business Leaders

A number of theorists have proposed mechanisms suggesting that corporate social responsibility produces better financial results. Others subscribe to the theory that, realistically, less ethical means are necessary. This article contains an analysis of these perspectives drawing on observations from evolutionary game theory and nature. Based on these analyses, it is concluded that the financial returns of corporate social responsibility and irresponsibility (CSR and CSI) are equal on average. The explanation is that CSR and CSI aredriven to a state of equilibrium, because if one or the other were to offer higher profits, it would attract more players who would compete for the best opportunities until there was no difference in average profit. Existing empirical research generally shows a positive correlation between CSR as measured and corporate financial performance. It is argued that what is actually causing that finding is probably not CSR but management skill. More skillful managers, whether actually responsible or irresponsible, are able to obtain both higher profits and greater credit in imperfect measures of CSR. Next it is shown that this theory of equal returns implies greater moral freedom and therefore responsibility for business leaders. It is concluded that this insight can intensify the interest of decent business leaders in vigorously championing CSR.
Marital functioning and binge eating disorder in married women.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between marital functioning and binge eating disorder (BED). Method: In a population-based survey of 2,084 married women, women with current (i.e., occurring in the past 12 months) BED were compared on three measures of marital functioning (marital satisfaction, negative interaction, and positive interaction) to women with (a) other current Axis I disorders and (b) no current disorder. Results: Women with BED reported lower levels of marital satisfaction and higher levels of negative interaction than women with other disorders, who in turn reported poorer functioning than women with no disorder. Women with other disorders reported lower levels of positive interaction than women with BED, who in turn reported lower levels than women with no disorder. Discussion: Findings suggest that marital functioning for women with BED is comparable to or worse than for women with other psychiatric disorders, which supports the need for continued investigation into the marital functioning of people with BED. © 2011 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012;)
Late onset of spermatogenesis and gain of fertility in POG-deficient mice indicate that POG is not necessary for the proliferation of spermatogonia.

The germ cell-deficient (gcd) mouse mutation is a recessive, transgenic insertional mutation associated with the disruption of two Chr11 genes, Pog (proliferation of germ cells) and Vrk2 (vaccinia virus-related protein kinase 2). We have recently shown that like gcd/gcd mice, targeted Pog 2/2 males and females show virtually no spermatogenesis or oogenesis at 4‐6 wk of age. Because Pog is deleted in gcd/gcd and Pog 2/2 mice, a comparison of the phenotypes of the two mouse models is appropriate. Here, we report that unlike in POG-deficient females, the germ cells in POG-deficient males eventually populate the seminiferous tubules at 9 wk, and fertility can be achieved by 12 wk. Homozygous gcd/gcd males did not show a similar degree of germ cell population, and most gcd/gcd males remained infertile at 16 and 22 wk of age. A comparison of the degree of germ cell deficiency at 13.5 days postcoitum and 1 day postpartum between Pog 2/2 and gcd/gcd males revealed that gcd/ gcd males had far fewer germ cells than Pog 2/2 males at both time points. Our data suggest that Pog is essential for proper primordial germ cell proliferation in the embryonic stage but is not needed for spermatogonial proliferation after birth. Thus, the difference in the spermatogenetic potential in adult Pog 2/2 and gcd/gcd mice may result from the severity of germ cell deficiency rather than from the inability of gcd/gcd spermatogonia to proliferate efficiently. The greater deficiency of germ cells before the onset of spermatogenesis seen in gcd/gcd males compared to Pog 2/2 mice suggests either that the different background affects the outcome of Pog deletion or that Vrk2 has additional effects on germ cell development.
Notes on the Genus Strongylophthalmyia Heller, with a Revised Key to the Species (Diptera: Strongylophthalmyiidae)

Sepsis fascipcs Walker, 1860 (Sulawesi), is shown to be a previously unrecognized species of Strongylophthalmyia. Strongylophthalmyia luaoncnsis Malloch, 1929 (Philippines), is synonymized under S. puncticollis Frey, 1928. A revised key to the species is given.
Ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide by organotin(IV)alkoxides, R2Sn(OPri)2: Estimation of the activation parameters

Abstract The ring-opening polymerization of l -lactide, l -LA, to give poly- l -lactide by R2Sn(OPri)2 compounds, where R = Bun and p-XC6H4 (X = CF3, F, H, Me and OMe) has been studied in benzene over a temperature range. There is a relatively small variation in ΔH≠ as a function of R with all the values falling within the range 11 ± 2 kcal mol−1. The entropy of activation, ΔS≠, is consistently large and negative, −50 ± 5 eu, supporting the view that the ring-opening event, the enchainment step involves a highly ordered transition state. The crystal and molecular structures of the compounds Ph2Sn(OPri)2, (p-FC6H4)2Sn(OPri)2 and (p-Me2NC6H4)3SnOPri are also reported. While the latter compound is monomeric in the solid state the former are both dimeric with a pair of bridging OPri ligands.
Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus with angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors.

Purpose. The physiological and clinical data for using angiotensin-converting- enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to prevent new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus are reviewed. Summary. ACE inhibitors have established their role in hypertension, primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, and prevention of progression to and worsening of renal function. However, their ability to preserve pancreatic function and prevent new-onset diabetes is also coming to the forefront. Secondary analyses of large-scale clinical trials, such as the Captopril Prevention Project, the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation, and the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction trial, are revealing the potential benefits of these agents in diabetes prevention. However, the results of such studies have limited application because they are secondary analyses and, in some cases, were conducted 10 or more years after the original study. Enrollees were evaluated using different diagnostic guidelines for diabetes or not formally evaluated at all. Even in the most recent of the trials, the validity of the results is questionable because researchers coadministered a disease-modifying drug with the ACE inhibitor, potentially blunting the results. While intense lifestyle modifications are still superior in the prevention of new-onset diabetes, patients and providers will continue to investigate new options for preventing the progression of impaired fasting glucose to diabetes, though this delay does not correlate with a decrease in morbidity and mortality. Conclusion. ACE inhibitors may preserve pancreatic function and prevent new-onset diabetes, especially for patients who are hypertensive with impaired glucose tolerance. Large studies investigating the effect of ACE inhibitors on the prevention of diabetes as a primary outcome are needed to determine the use for this indication.
DISSOCIATION IN PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA

Zierdt, C. H. (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.), and P. J. Schmidt. Dissociation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J. Bacteriol. 87:1003–1010. 1964.—Evidence is presented that dissociation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurs in vivo as well as in vitro, although it is suppressed in the blood stream. Of 116 primary cultures on blood agar, 77 (66%) had more than one colony type, with a range of 2 to 6 types per culture. Dissociation was studied in 14 primary cultures during 30 serial blood agar passages. Six of these did not dissociate. Of the six, three were originally primary monocolony strains, and three were strains with two colonial types. Seven of the remaining eight cultures had more than one colony type on the primary culture plate. These eight cultures were observed to dissociate at varying rates; 25 morphological and biochemical tests failed to reveal important differences in the colonial dissociants. However, they may be differentiated by bacteriophage action. Colonial morphology in a given strain of P. aeruginosa can be correlated with its bacteriophage lytic pattern, but patterns frequently undergo drastic change during subculture of the organism. The frequently seen different colonial forms in a specific primary culture are usually related, as proven by bacteriophage typing. Phenotypic colony changes after lysogenization were observed. Mucoid colonial variants are markedly more sensitive than are the nonmucoid to streptomycin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol.
Using Serum Transforming Growth Factor-β To Predict Myocardial Fibrosis

To the Editor: We read with interest the timely review by Souders et al1 on the role of cardiac fibroblasts in the development of physiological and pathological cardiac conditions. Fibrosis has been linked to heart failure and arrhythmia and may explain the reasons for which contractile dysfunction has been the best predictor of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, risk stratification for myocardial …
Are statewide trauma registries comparable? Reaching for a national trauma dataset.

Background: Statewide trauma registries have proliferated in the last decade, suggesting that information could be aggregated to provide an accurate depiction of serious injury in the United States. Objectives: To determine whether variability exists in the composition and content of statewide trauma registries, specifically addressing case-acquisition, case-definition (inclusion criteria), and registry-coding conventions. Methods: A cross-sectional, two-part survey was administered to managers of all statewide trauma registries. State trauma registrars also provided inclusion and exclusion criteria from their state registry and abstracted a clinical vignette designed to identify coding inconsistencies. Results: Thirty-two states maintain a centralized registry, but requirements for data submission vary significantly. Inclusion and exclusion criteria also vary, particularly for nontraumatic injuries. Coding conventions adopted by states for vague or missing information are dissimilar. When abstractions of the clinical vignette are compared, only 19% and 47% of states provided similar quantity or content for injury e-coding and diagnostic coding, respectively. Injury severity scores (based on diagnostic coding) demonstrated a range from 2 to 18. Conclusions: Statewide trauma registries are prevalent but vary significantly in composition and content. Standardizing inclusion criteria, variable definitions, and coding conventions would greatly enhance the usability of an aggregated, national trauma registry.