cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Creation, Evolution, and the Boundaries of Science: The Debate in the United States

This article draws on the debates over evolution in the United States to explore efforts to define and defend the boundaries of science. When the first organized opposition to evolution appeared in the early 1920s, antievolutionists insisted that evolution should not be taught because its speculative nature placed it outside the boundaries of science. By the last quarter of the century, however, they had largely abandoned that position in favor of arguing that creationism and intelligent design should themselves be regarded as science. This dramatic shift reflected a major reinterpretation of the U.S. Constitution, especially the First Amendment, which states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion". Until after World War II the U.S. Supreme Court limited the application of this provision to the federal government. That practice began to change in the late 1940s, when the Court began applying First Amendment restrictions against the establishment of religion to the individual ...
Follicular Bronchiolitis: A Literature Review

Follicular bronchiolitis (FB) also known as hyperplasia of the bronchial associated lymphoid tissue (BALT), or bronchiolar nodular lymphoid hyperplasia, is an entity characterized by the development of lymphoid follicles with germinal centers in the walls of small airways. FB is thought to be caused by antigenic stimulation of BALT, followed by a polyclonal lymphoid hyperplasia. It is currently classified as one of the reactive pulmonary lymphoid disorders in a group known as the lymphoproliferative pulmonary diseases (LPDs). FB is a pathological diagnosis that can be seen in several clinical settings, including connective tissue diseases, immunodeficiency states, autoimmune diseases, infections, obstructive airway diseases, as well as several types of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Its characteristics need to be carefully identified and differentiated from other closely related diseases in the group of LPDs due to significant differences in treatment and prognosis.
Braking the Fall

Early in Walker Percy’s 1980 novel The Second Coming, one of the two main characters, a young woman named Allison, starts to recover her identity by reading notes to herself.2 This is not only a metaphoric looking for the self; Allison has just escaped from a mental institution following her latest electro-shock treatment and she sits on a bench on the main street of a North Carolina town, literally not knowing who she is, as a result of the jolts to her brain cells. But she has prepared for this situation, just as she prepared for her flight, by writing a series of elaborate instructions to herself. For example: ‘Go down the hill to K-Mart and Good’s Variety. Buy clothes and articles (see list below). Go back up hill to Gulf station. Change clothes in restroom. Check into Mitchell’s Triple-A motel one block east. Don’t worry about not having car or suitcase. You will have knapsack and they’re used to it. Pay in advance. Check your driver’s license to be sure you remember your name. Sometimes I, you, forget after a buzz’ (38).
Digital mammographic tumor classification using transfer learning from deep convolutional neural networks

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) show potential for computer-aided diagnosis (CADx) by learning features directly from the image data instead of using analytically extracted features. However, CNNs are difficult to train from scratch for medical images due to small sample sizes and variations in tumor presentations. Instead, transfer learning can be used to extract tumor information from medical images via CNNs originally pretrained for nonmedical tasks, alleviating the need for large datasets. Our database includes 219 breast lesions (607 full-field digital mammographic images). We compared support vector machine classifiers based on the CNN-extracted image features and our prior computer-extracted tumor features in the task of distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lesions. Five-fold cross validation (by lesion) was conducted with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve as the performance metric. Results show that classifiers based on CNN-extracted features (with transfer learning) perform comparably to those using analytically extracted features [area under the ROC curve [Formula: see text]]. Further, the performance of ensemble classifiers based on both types was significantly better than that of either classifier type alone ([Formula: see text] versus 0.81, [Formula: see text]). We conclude that transfer learning can improve current CADx methods while also providing standalone classifiers without large datasets, facilitating machine-learning methods in radiomics and precision medicine.
Emotional Dysregulation: The Key to a Treatment Approach for Violent Mentally Ill Individuals

Prior research has suggested that psychopathy, substance abuse, and the presence of a personality disorder increase an individual's risk for violence toward others. Substantial clinical literature has established emotional dysregulation as a risk marker for violence toward self. It is hypothesized that emotional dysregulation may be an important component in a constellation of risk markers for violence toward others and may interact with psychopathy and substance abuse in individuals with personality disorders to enhance risk for violence. If these hypothesized relationships exist, it suggests that the development of an intervention approach which directly targets these factors may hold promise. A potential intervention approach based on dialectical behavioral therapy, with case illustrations, is provided.
Selective Approach for Patients with Advanced Malignancy and Gastrointestinal Obstruction

Background The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of tumor-related gastrointestinal obstruction and identify variables associated with functional outcomes and survival in patients with advanced malignancy and gastrointestinal obstruction. Study design We reviewed the medical records of 490 patients with advanced cancer, who underwent surgical consultation for gastrointestinal obstruction between January 2000 and May 2014. We used chi-square and logistic regression analyses to identify variables associated with survival and eating at discharge. Results Obstructions were tumor-related in 334 (68%) patients, adhesion-related in 96 (20%), and of unclear etiology in 60 (12%). The obstruction site was the gastric outlet in 78 (16%), small bowel in 312 (64%), and large bowel in 100 (20%). Treatment was classified as medical (49% of patients), surgical (32%), and procedural (interventional radiology or endoscopy) (17%). Sixty-eight percent of patients were eating at the time of discharge, and 42% died within 90 days of surgical consultation. Median overall survival rates for patients managed with procedural, medical, and surgical treatment were 69, 135, and 314 days, respectively (p Conclusions Patients managed with surgery demonstrated improved survival on unadjusted analysis. However, on multivariate analysis that included the imaging extent of disease, surgery was not associated with outcome, which highlights the importance of patient selection and the need for additional research to identify variables critical for treatment selection.
Informed consent training for medical oncology fellows: Checklist-based simulation exercise.

e20671 Background: Discussing informed consent (IC) is essential for quality cancer care. While essential elements of IC are clearly defined, there is little data to guide how best to teach IC to medical oncology fellows’ (MOF). A PI project was conducted using a simulation (SIM) exercise to assess the MOF skills in obtaining IC to enhance our teaching of the subject. Methods: Program directors from 2 training sites in San Antonio, TX created a 30-minute SIM lab using standardized patients (SP) and the use of checklists (CKL) for obtaining IC. MOF from both institutions were asked to obtain IC for chemotherapy in a patient with Stage III seminoma. Half the MOF were given an IC checklist prior to their SIM encounter that included 18 side effects (SE) for discussion recommended by ASCO along with 12 essential elements (EE) for IC. All encounters were videotaped and data recorded by 2 faculty. Results: 17 MOF (6 PGY-4s, 6 PGY-5s, and 5 PGY-6s) participated. Video review was available for 15 MOF, and 8/15 wer...
A new fragment for seepage beneath impervious structures

A new fragment type is developed using finite elements, with results presented in the form of charts for the estimation of seepage beneath levees and other water-retaining structures. The chart sol...
Quantification of Mercury Bioavailability for Methylation Using Diffusive Gradient in Thin-Film Samplers

Mercury-contaminated sediment and water contain various Hg species, with a small fraction available for microbial conversion to the bioaccumulative neurotoxin monomethylmercury (MeHg). Quantification of this available Hg pool is needed to prioritize sites for risk management. This study compared the efficacy of diffusive gradient in thin-film (DGT) passive samplers to a thiol-based selective extraction method with glutathione (GSH) and conventional filtration (<0.2 μm) as indicators of Hg bioavailability. Anaerobic sediment slurry microcosms were amended with isotopically labeled inorganic Hg “endmembers” (dissolved Hg2+, Hg-humic acid, Hg-sorbed to FeS, HgS nanoparticles) with a known range of bioavailability and methylation potentials. Net MeHg production (expressed as percent of total Hg as MeHg) over 1 week correlated with mass accumulation of Hg endmembers on the DGTs and only sometimes correlated with the 0.2 μm filter passing Hg fraction and the GSH-extractable Hg fraction. These results suggest fo...
A Computerized Data Analysis System for Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization

We have implemented a computerized data analysis system for ultrasonic tissue characterization at the University of California Irvine. One important feature of this system is its ability (via a fast analog to digital converter) to record both the phase and the amplitude of A-mode waveforms selected through regions of interest on a conventional B-mode ultrasonogram. The measuring system is well calibrated and characterized so that data obtained by it are essentially independent of the instrumentation used for acquisition. One section of the system, designed specifically for one-dimensional or A-line analysis, is built around PDP 11/40 and PDP 11/60 computers. A parallel section of the system, designed specifically for two-dimensional signal processing and display techniques, is built around an Interdata (Perkin-Elmer) 8/32 computer. This paper will describe our data analysis system and will present some representative results taken on tissue phantoms and on in vivo human liver as well as some typical computer simulations performed by the system.
PERIODIC SOLUTIONS OF DELAY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS ARISING IN SOME MODELS OF EPIDEMICS

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the periodic solutions of delay differential equations arising in some models of epidemics. The basic assumption is that all individuals who become infectious at time t−T are no longer infectious at time t. A different model places the delay in an incubation period T < 0, needed between the infection and the start of infectiousness of a vector carrier of the disease. There exists a parameter and a positive value p0, such that, if p ≥ p0 the equation has no positive periodic solution, while if p < p0, there exists a positive periodic solution which, under certain restrictions, is unique and has strong stability properties.
Minimum parasitic effects biquadratic OTA-C filter architectures

This paper presents a systematic analysis to determine the tuning range limitations of biquadratic OTAC filter architectures, as well as a strategy for the selection of minimum parasitic effects filter structures for a given transfer function (filter type). The analysis uses an OTA macromodel that includes finite input and output impedances along with frequency-dependent transconductance. Experimental data of the macromodel parameters of real OTAs along with analytical results are used to estimate the practical tuning (bounds) limitations of the different biquadratic filter structures. Some of the available transfer functions from these filter architectures present minimum parasitic effects. Experimental results from CMOS chip tests showed agreement with the minimum parasitic effects theoretical results.
Characterization of redundancy in spatial closed kinematic chains

The force allocation problem in closed kinematic chains is underdetermined and the available degrees of freedom can be used to extremize a desired objective function. This generally leads to complicated nonlinear optimization problems. The solution of these problems can be greatly simplified if the redundancy is characterized in the simplest possible form. This paper gives strategies that lead to efficient algorithms to evaluate the null space of the linear set of force allocation equations. The approach exploits the geometry and physics in the problem rather than looking at numerical solutions. The general problem of n contact points of a kinematic chain in three dimensions is considered. Further, degenerate situations occurring due to the presence of several points along a line, or on a plane, are also addressed. Numerical examples are considered to illustrate the use of these algorithms.
A Nonoverlapping DD Preconditioner for a Weakly Over-Penalized Symmetric Interior Penalty Method

In this paper we present a nonoverlapping domain decomposition preconditioner for a weakly over-penalized symmetric interior penalty method that is based on balancing domain decomposition by constraints (BDDC) methodology (cf. [2, 5, 7, 8]). The full analysis of the preconditioner can be found in [4].
Augmentation of Antibody Synthesis in Vitro by Thymosin Fraction 5

Previously, techniques available for the measurement of specific antibody synthesized in vitro have been complex and have usually required the addition of a nonspecific mitogen, such as pokeweed mitogen (PWM) (Fauci and Pratt, 1976; Thomson and Harris, 1977; Stevens and Saxon, 1978). We have recently described a one-step, non-mitogen-requiring assay for measuring antibody production in vitro (Ershler et al., 1982; Moore et al., 1984). One advantage of this assay is that with the addition to the culture medium of biological response modifiers such as thymosin or lymphokines, it allows the evaluation of these agents on this important immunological function. In this chapter, the effect of thymosin fraction 5 (TF5) on specific antitetanus and anti-influenza antibody production will be discussed. The in vitro effect of TF5 was found to vary with age, the most profound effect being observed in the advanced age groups (Ershler et al., 1984b). The potential therapeutic implications of these observations will also be discussed.
A Theoretical Foundation for Scheduling and Designing Heterogeneous Processors for Interactive Applications

To improve performance and meet power constraints, vendors are introducing heterogeneous multicores that combine high performance and low power cores. However, choosing which cores and scheduling applications on them remain open problems. This paper presents a scheduling algorithmthat provably minimizes energy on heterogeneousmulticores and meets latency constraints for interactive applications, such as search, recommendations, advertisements, and games. Because interactive applications must respond quickly to satisfy users, they impose multiple constraints, including average, tail, and maximumlatency.We introduce SEM (Slow-to-fast, Energy optimization for Multiple constraints), which minimizes energy by choosing core speeds and how long to execute jobs on each core. We prove SEM minimizes energy without a priori knowledge of job service demand, satisfies multiple latency constraints simultaneously, and only migrates jobs from slower to faster cores. We address practical concerns of migration overhead and congestion. We prove optimizing energy for average latency requires homogeneous cores,whereas optimizing energy for tail and deadline constraints requires heterogeneous cores. For interactive applications,we create a formal foundation for scheduling and selecting cores in heterogeneous systems.
Some Aspects of Continuous-Discrete Time Series Modelling

By emphasizing how rational spectrum models of time series can be parameterized by means of covariances a discussion of the aliasing problem (alternative to that of Pandit/Wu and Robinson) is obtained. This “covariance” parameterization is also well suited to likelihood construction and generation of interpolates, derivatives and forecasts.
The Effects of Exercise Induced Muscle Damage on Knee Joint Torque and Balance Performance

The purpose of this investigation is to determine the effects of exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD) on balance and knee joint torque. Thirteen males and females volunteered to participate in the study. Following a familiarization session, baseline measures were obtained for isometric torque measured during a maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) for knee flexors and extensors, and ankle dorsi-flexors and plantar-flexors. Additionally, balance performance was tested in double leg (DL), and right single leg (RSL) static and dynamic unstable stability was measured. Participants then performed the muscle damage protocol of front loaded Bulgarian split squats. All measurements were re-assessed for torque and balance immediately and up to 72 h afterwards. A one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze differences between baseline and all time-points for torque and balance measures. There was a significant time effect for knee extensors MVIC torque, where baseline measures are greater than post EIMD, 24 h and 48 h post EIMD. There was no significant time effect for all balance conditions. These results provide evidence of EIMD following high intensity eccentric exercises with significant reductions in knee extensor torque up to at least 48 h and show that balance was not compromised following EIMD.
Practice Implications of Expanded Genetic Testing in Oncology.

Genetic test use in oncology is growing, yet providers’ experiences with evolving testing norms and their implications for patient care remain under-explored. In interviews with oncologists and can...
Identification of Network Dynamics and Disturbance for a Multi-zone Building

Abstract We propose a method that simultaneously identifies a sparse transfer matrix and disturbance for a multi-zone building’s dynamics from input-output measurements. An l1-regularized least-squares optimization problem is solved to obtain a sparse solution, so that only dominant interactions among zones are retained in the model. The disturbance is assumed to be piecewise-constant: the assumption aids identification and is motivated by the nature of occupancy that determines the disturbance. Application of our method on data from a simulation model shows promising results.
An integrated microbiological and electrochemical approach to determine distributions of Fe metabolism in acid mine drainage-induced "iron mound" sediments.

Fe(III)-rich deposits referred to as “iron mounds” develop when Fe(II)-rich acid mine drainage (AMD) emerges at the terrestrial surface, and aeration of the fluids induces oxidation of Fe(II), with subsequent precipitation of Fe(III) phases. As Fe(III) phases accumulate in these systems, O2 gradients may develop in the sediments and influence the distributions and extents of aerobic and anaerobic microbiological Fe metabolism, and in turn the solubility of Fe. To determine how intrusion of O2 into iron mound sediments influences microbial community composition and Fe metabolism, we incubated samples of these sediments in a column format. O2 was only supplied through the top of the columns, and microbiological, geochemical, and electrochemical changes at discrete depths were determined with time. Despite the development of dramatic gradients in dissolved Fe(II) concentrations, indicating Fe(II) oxidation in shallower portions and Fe(III) reduction in the deeper portions, microbial communities varied little with depth, suggesting the metabolic versatility of organisms in the sediments with respect to Fe metabolism. Additionally, the availability of O2 in shallow portions of the sediments influenced Fe metabolism in deeper, O2-free sediments. Total potential (EH + self-potential) measurements at discrete depths in the columns indicated that Fe transformations and electron transfer processes were occurring through the sediments and could explain the impact of O2 on Fe metabolism past where it penetrates into the sediments. This work shows that O2 availability (or lack of it) minimally influences microbial communities, but influences microbial activities beyond its penetration depth in AMD-derived Fe(III) rich sediments. Our results indicate that O2 can modulate Fe redox state and solubility in larger volumes of iron mound sediments than only those directly exposed to O2.
Epidural Catheter-induced Traumatic Radiculopathy in Obstetrics: One Center's Experience

Background and Objectives. A report of prolonged neurologic dysfunction following continuous lumbar epidural anesthesia in seven obstetric patients during a 12-month period. Methods. Details were obtained postpartum and after hospital discharge by verbal contact. Results. All of the patients experienced varying degrees of hyperesthesia to touch, limited to one or two adjacent dermatomes, unilaterally distributed to the same side as the paresthesia that occurred during the placement of the epidural catheter. Conclusion. Epidural catheter stiffness and tip construction may be the most critical features in causing neurotrauma.
Engaging Children and Parents to Code Together Using the ScratchJr App

Educational tools and apps designed to teach coding and computational thinking to children have risen in popularity in the last several years. However, there is little research that explores how fa...
Relationship of George Floyd protests to increases in COVID-19 cases using event study methodology.

Background Protests ignited by the George Floyd incident were examined for any significant impact on COVID-19 infection rates in select US cities. Methods Eight US cities were studied in which protestors in the tens of thousands were reported. Only cities that reside in states whose stay-at-home orders had been rescinded or expired for a minimum of 30 days were included in the sample to account for impact of growth rates solely due to economies reopening. Event study methodology was used with a 30-day estimation period to examine whether growth in COVID-19 infection rates was significant. Results In the eight cities analyzed, all had positive abnormal growth in infection rate. In six of the eight cities, infection rate growth was positive and significant. Conclusions In this study, it was apparent that violations of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended social distancing guidelines caused a significant increase in infection rates. The data suggest that to slow the spread of COVID-19, CDC guidelines must be followed in protest situations.
Depressed adolescents' exposure to suicide attempts and suicide loss.

This study explored depressed adolescent inpatients’ (N = 158) experiences of exposure to friends’ and family members’ suicidal behaviors. Most of the participants (n = 102, 64.6%) reported exposur...
Parametric testing of explosives detection systems using synthetic data augmentation

This paper describes a method to acquire actual image data of any material, which could be an explosive or parametric simulant, extract the X-ray features of the object, modify the images in a variety of controlled ways, and record new images. All of the augmented images can then be run through the emulator of the baggage screening system to explore the detection algorithm’s performance. This is similar to the method that was demonstrated over a decade ago, where the Transportation Security Laboratory developed a series of explosive simulants which spanned the X-ray feature space of mass density and effective atomic number, thus demonstrating the capability to effectively map out the performance of explosives detection systems in that feature space. In this paper, the concept has been expanded to include synthetic data, which is far more efficient than creating fully synthetic data and greatly diminishes the need to collect data using real explosives.
Medium-Sized Congenital Melanocytic Nevus with Halo Phenomenon: A Report of Two Cases

Congenital melanocytic nevi with halo phenomenon in children is a rare clinical finding. We report two cases of children who developed depigmentation within medium-size congenital melanocytic nevi. Clinicians should be suspicious when confronted with this phenomenon due to the risk of development into malignant melanoma. Herein, we review these rare cases of medium-sized halo congenital melanocytic nevi with and without associated vitiligo, with emphasis that depigmentation does not necessarily indicate malignant growth.
The Meaning of Leisure in Middle Adulthood

(1987). The Meaning of Leisure in Middle Adulthood. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 58, No. 8, pp. 40-45.
Revisiting the role of B cells in Chlamydia muridarum genital tract infection (MUC7P.753)

B cells can contribute to acquired immunity against intracellular bacteria, but do not usually participate in primary clearance. Using MHC class-II tetramers, we examined the endogenous CD4 T cell response to Chlamydia muridarum genital tract infection. Chlamydia-specific CD4 T cells expanded rapidly and persisted as a stable memory pool for several months after infection. While most lymph node Chlamydia-specific CD4 T cells expressed T-bet, a small percentage co-expressed Foxp3, and RORγt-expressing T cells were enriched within the reproductive tract. Local Chlamydia-specific CD4 T cell priming was markedly reduced in mice lacking B cells, and bacteria were able to disseminate to the peritoneal cavity, initiating a cellular infiltrate and ascites. However, bacterial dissemination also coincided with elevated systemic Chlamydia-specific CD4 T cell responses and resolution of primary infection. Together, these data reveal heterogeneity in pathogen-specific CD4 T cell responses within the genital tract and an unexpected requirement for B cells in regulating local T cell activation and bacterial dissemination during genital infection. We are currently focusing our efforts on understanding the mechanism underlying the function of B cells during primary Chlamydia infection. Our preliminary data suggest that antibody, but not B cell-dependent antigen presentation, is required for bacterial containment at local genital mucosa.
Obstructive sleep apnea: a new preventive and therapeutic target for stroke: a new kid on the block.

Abstract Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and a major cause of mental and physical impairment. Numerous studies have identified risk factors for stroke, including hypertension, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and smoking. However, even after considering these well-recognized risk factors, there is substantial variation in stroke rates and stroke-related outcomes. There is emerging evidence that obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of stroke independently of traditional risk factors. Obstructive sleep apnea is present in the majority of patients with stroke and contributes to persistent neurologic impairment. Early recognition and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea during the post-stroke period lead to better neurologic outcome. Healthcare providers should be aware of the strong association of obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for stroke and its effect on neurologic recovery. The presence of hypertension and diabetes—the 2 most common comorbid conditions in obstructive sleep apnea—should prompt diagnostic workup for and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea as a way of primary and secondary prevention of stroke.
Mortality factors in geriatric blunt trauma patients: creation of a highly predictive statistical model for mortality using 50,765 consecutive elderly trauma admissions from the National Sample Project.

Elderly patients are at high risk for mortality after injury. We hypothesized that trauma benchmarking efforts would benefit from development of a geriatric-specific model for risk-adjusted analyses of trauma center outcomes. A total of 57,973 records of elderly patients (age older than 65 years), which met our selection criteria, were submitted to the National Trauma Database and included within the National Sample Project between 2003 and 2006. These cases were used to construct a multivariable logistic regression model, which was compared with the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma's Trauma Quality Improvement Project's (TQIP) existing model. Additional spline regression analyses were performed to further objectively quantify the physiologic differences between geriatric patients and their younger counterparts. The geriatric-specific and TQIP mortality models shared several covariates: age, Injury Severity Score, motor component of the Glasgow Coma Scale, and systolic blood pressure. Our model additionally used temperature and the presence of mechanical ventilation. Our geriatric-specific regression mode generated a superior c-statistic as compared with the TQIP approximation (0.85 vs 0.77; P = 0.048). Spline analyses demonstrated that elderly patients appear to be less likely to tolerate relative hypotension with higher observed mortality at initial systolic blood pressures of 90 to 130 mmHg. Although the TQIP model includes a single age component, these data suggest that each variable needs to be adjusted for age to more accurately predict mortality in the elderly. Clearly, a separate geriatric model for predicting outcomes is not only warranted, but necessary. Language: en
The burgeoning field of statistical phylogeography.

In the newly emerging field of statistical phylogeography, consideration of the stochastic nature of genetic processes and explicit reference to theoretical expectations under various models has dramatically transformed how historical processes are studied. Rather than being restricted to ad hoc explanations for observed patterns of genetic variation, assessments about the underlying evolutionary processes are now based on statistical tests of various hypotheses, as well as estimates of the parameters specified by the models. A wide range of demographical and biogeographical processes can be accommodated by these new analytical approaches, providing biologically more realistic models. Because of these advances, statistical phylogeography can provide unprecedented insights about a species’ history, including decisive information about the factors that shape patterns of genetic variation, species distributions, and speciation. However, to improve our understanding of such processes, a critical examination and appreciation of the inherent difficulties of historical inference and challenges specific to testing phylogeographical hypotheses are essential. As the field of statistical phylogeography continues to take shape many difficulties have been resolved. Nonetheless, careful attention to the complexities of testing historical hypotheses and further theoretical developments are essential to improving the accuracy of our conclusions about a species’ history.
Sulfation of acetaminophen and acetaminophen-induced alterations in sulfate and 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate homeostasis in rats with deficient dietary intake of sulfur.

Sulfation of drugs depends on the availability of 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS), which requires inorganic sulfate for its synthesis. Therefore, decreased alimentary intake of inorganic sulfate or its precursor, cysteine, may compromise sulfation of xenobiotics. To test this hypothesis, separate groups of rats were maintained for 5 days on synthetic diets, which lacked sulfate, or cysteine, or both sulfate and cysteine. These dietary restrictions did not cause growth retardation or depletion of glutathione in liver. Under anesthesia, the animals were injected with acetaminophen (0.5 mmol/kg, i.v.) and elimination of acetaminophen from blood and excretion of acetaminophen metabolites in urine and bile was simultaneously quantified. Deficient intake of inorganic sulfate or cysteine alone did not significantly change elimination and biotransformation of acetaminophen. Combined nutritional deficiency of sulfate and cysteine, however, resulted in a 40% reduction in the excretion of acetaminophen-sulfate, quantitatively the most significant metabolite. Concomitantly, these animals eliminated acetaminophen from blood at a slower rate and converted more acetaminophen to its toxic intermediate, as indicated by increased excretion of acetaminophen-thioether conjugates. Serum and tissue sulfate concentrations were decreased to significantly lower levels in rats on sulfate and cysteine deficient diets, than in rats with a sufficient sulfur supply. Thus, reduced sulfation is apparently caused by diminished availability of inorganic sulfate for PAPS synthesis, even though hepatic and renal PAPS levels were not depleted more by acetaminophen in rats with deficient dietary supply of sulfate and cysteine than in rats with adequate sulfur intake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Dual-mode ultrasound phased arrays for noninvasive surgery: post-beamforming image compounding algorithms for enhanced visualization of thermal lesions

A post-beamforming nonlinear compounding algorithm for ultrasonic imaging is presented. Fundamental and harmonic image components from beamformed radio frequency (RF) data are extracted, envelope detected and compounded using a spatial compounding functions (SCFs) derived from the transmit/receive beamforming topology used in obtaining the RF data. This is specially useful for applications where single-transmit focus (STF) imaging is used. In this paper, we present results from STF imaging experiments using a novel dual-mode phased array system for image-guided surgery. In particular, we address the enhancement of the echogenicity of thermal lesions formed in ex vivo tissue. It is shown that new nonlinear image compounding algorithm produces 25-30 dB enhancement in lesion echogenicity without loss in spatial resolution. This is to be compared with a typical enhancement of 5 dB achieved by standard echographic imaging and 20 dB achieved by second harmonic imaging alone. In addition, images resulting from the new algorithm are virtually free of beamforming artifacts that can severely degrade the performance of 2nd harmonic imaging.
Human CDC23: cDNA cloning, mapping to 5q31, genomic structure, and evaluation as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in myeloid leukemias.

Abstract The transition from metaphase to anaphase and exit from mitosis involve the degradation of active cyclin B–CDC2 complexes by ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. The anaphase-promoting complex (APC) catalyzes the formation of cyclin B–ubiquitin conjugates, thereby targeting cyclin B for degradation. The APC is composed of eight proteins, including four members of a family characterized by multiple tetratricopeptide repeats (TPR). We mapped two overlapping expressed sequence tag clones within a genomic contig on human chromosome 5, band q31. A search revealed high homology to Saccharomyces cerevisiae CDC23, a TPR protein component of the APC. We have isolated the human CDC23 cDNA containing the full-length predicted open reading frame. The ∼3.3-kb message is ubiquitously expressed and encodes a protein with 591 amino acids (MW = 68,293 Da) and 9 TPR units. The protein has 30% identity and 51% similarity to the S. cerevisiae protein. The human CDC23 gene contains 16 exons and spans ∼31 kb. CDC23 maps within the smallest commonly deleted segment in myeloid leukemias characterized by a deletion of 5q; however, we detected no mutations of CDC23 in leukemia cells with loss of 5q. Thus, CDC23 is unlikely to be involved in the pathogenesis of myeloid leukemias characterized by abnormalities of chromosome 5.
Preoperative staging of irradiated rectal cancers using digital rectal examination, computed tomography, endorectal ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging does not accurately predict T0,N0 pathology.

PURPOSE: The postradiation preoperative staging results of 25 patients with rectal cancer who were found to have Stage T0,N0 lesions after surgery were examined. Our aim was to assess the ability of preoperative staging following radiation therapy to predict the absence of disease. METHODS: From 1983 to 1994, 25 patients treated with preoperative radiation therapy for biopsy-proven rectal cancer were found to have no pathologic evidence of disease in the resected specimen (T0,N0). The preoperative postradiation disease staging results of these patients were compared with the postoperative pathologic findings. Each patient received 4,500 to 5,580 cGy during a five-week to six-week period, and four patients had preoperative chemotherapy. Surgical resection was performed six to eight weeks after completion of radiation therapy. All 25 patients were staged by digital rectal examination before surgery. In addition, 13 patients were assessed using computed tomography, 6 by endorectal ultrasound, and 1 by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Most irradiated lesions were overstaged by radiologic assessment and physical examination. No technique could reliably distinguish between postradiation fibrosis and residual cancer. The negative predictive value for digital rectal examination was 24 percent. Computed tomography accurately staged 23 percent of lesions, and endorectal ultrasound predicted 17 percent of lesions correctly. The single patient evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging was overstaged and thought to have a T2 lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Our ability to assess local eradication of rectal cancer following radiation therapy remains poor. Conventional imaging and clinical examination techniques are unable to safely predict which patients do not require surgical excision following curative radiation therapy for rectal cancer.
Personal computers and society

Abstract The University of Southern California (USC) has initiated a technology assessment of the personal computer, partially supported by the US National Science Foundation. The ultimate purpose of a technology assessment is to help provide a more human future with less of a shock. The technology assessment at USC is directed towards examining the potential impacts of personal computers and identifying the public policy issues associated with these possibilities. This report explains the major factors being explored during the assessment.
Computational Simulations of the Effect of Backstep Height on Nonpremixed Combustion Instability

Detailed computational simulations are used to compare the effect of backstep height on the stability characteristics of an axisymmetric dump combustor fed by separate fuel and oxidizer streams. Companion experiments demonstrate a dramatic increase in the amplitude of pressure oscillations for the smaller backstep due to combustion instability. The goal of the present simulations is to ascertain whether computations can predict combustion instability for this configuration and the degree to which they can replicate this experimental trend. Two different oxidizer-inlet boundary conditions were used: a subsonic inlet and a choked inlet. Both predicted stronger oscillations for the smaller backstep, although the disturbances in the uniform inlet case decayed to relatively low levels. The oscillations in the choked-inlet case were sustained but were still somewhat smaller than in the experiment. The simulations suggest the effect of backstep height arises because of stronger wall/vortex impingement in the smaller-step-height combustor. The instantaneous pressure and heat release are more strongly in phase for the smaller-step-height simulations, resulting in larger Rayleigh indices. Power spectral density results likewise show larger peaks for the smaller step. The sensitivity to upstream conditions suggests that care should be taken in designing both simulations and experiments.
Particle aggregation and phagotrophy by Ochromonas.

Ochromonas danica creates a current with its flagella which forces fluid and particles to flow toward the front and over the sides of the phytoflagellate. It is able to aggregate particles including bacteria by this action, trap them at its surface, and engulf them. Aggregation and phagocytic activity requires live, metabolically active cells. This type of biological activity may permit O. danica and similar organisms to sample their environment and extract particles.
Home and away

The Story of a Marriage: The Letters of Bronislaw Malinowski and Elsie Masson. Volume 1:1916-20. Volume 2: 1920-1935.. Edited by Helena Wayne. Routledge: 1995. Pp. 196/261. Each volume £40, $65 (hbk); £13.99, $17.95 (Pbk).
Genomic Cloning of hGSTP1*C, an Allelic Human Pi Class Glutathione S-Transferase Gene Variant and Functional Characterization of Its Retinoic Acid Response Elements

The complete hGSTP1*C, consisting of 7 exons and 6 introns contained in 3116 base pairs, was isolated from a cosmid genomic library of a glioblastoma multiforme cell line. Although the promoter of hGSTP1*C was identical to that of the previously reported GST-Pi gene, several of its structural features had not been previously described. These include several nucleotide transitions and transversions. Transitions of A → G at +1404 and C → T at +2294 in exons 5 and 6, respectively, changed codons Ile104 to Val104 and Ala113 to Val113. The gene also contained a guanine insertion at +51 in the insulin response element in intron 1 and six tandem repeats and one palindromic retinoic acid response element (RARE) consensus half-sites, A(G)GG(T)TC(G)A in intron 5. Retinoic acid (RA) treatment increased GST-Pi gene expression significantly in MGR3 cells. GST-Pi gene constructs with and without RARE deletion were used to show the RARE requirement for GST-Pi gene induction by RA. The isolation of the hGSTP1*C gene and the evidence that it contains functional RAREs should contribute to a better understanding of the molecular regulation of the GST-Pi gene in human cells.
Phenotypic Analysis of the Dopa decarboxylase Gene Cluster Mutants in Drosophila melanogaster

Mutations in a majority of the 18 loci of the Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) gene cluster effect similar morphological defects of the cuticle and/or catecholamine-related abnormalities. Mutations in 14 loci affect cuticle formation, cuticle sclerotization, or cuticle melanization, with mutations in 11 of these same loci (including Ddc and amd) producing melanotic psueudotumors, symptomatic, perhaps, of abnormal catecholamine metabolism. Mutations in seven of the genes perturb catecholamine pool levels during prepupal and pupal development, all of which also form melanotic pseudotumors, suggesting several of these genes may encode proteins involved in catecholamine metabolism. Thus, the Ddc gene cluster represents in higher eukaryotes an unusual example of a large cluster of functionally related genes involved in a common physiological process.
Extreme loss risk in financial turbulence – evidence from the global financial crisis

Purpose – This study aims to examine the stock returns distributions in ten countries in the periods before and after the global financial crisis (GFC) to evaluate how well the empirical distributions conformed to the extreme value theory (EVT) which underlies a family of risk management models.Design/methodology/approach – The authors’ sample consists of the G5 countries and the five leading emerging economies. Parameters of the General Pareto Distribution (GPD) for each country are estimated for the pre‐ and the crisis period. The authors follow a two‐step procedure: a GARCH(1,1) model is fitted to the historical return data by pseudo maximum likelihood method; Hill's GPD tail estimation procedure is employed on the residuals from the first step. Goodness‐of‐fit is evaluated for the empirical distributions.Findings – The authors find that the EVT explains the observed distributions well in both the pre‐GFC and the GFC periods, with the important exceptions of the US and the UK markets in the crisis peri...
A New Polymorph of Oxamide

IN his investigations at high pressure, Bridgman1 found evidence of four polymorphs of oxamide, but he did not identify them. Two forms of oxamide have been obtained in an exploration of methods of preparation of the compound; either form may be prepared from the other by recrystallization.
Isokinetic evaluation of shoulder rotational strength between the plane of scapula and the frontal plane

The purpose of this study was to determine whether shoulder rotational strength was greater in the plane of the scapula or the frontal plane.Isokinetic shoulder rotational strength was evaluated in 20 subjects. Using the Merac (Universal Gym Equip ment, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA), test data was gathered in the right shoulders, in 45° abduction, at a speed of 60 deg/sec, in the plane of the scapula and the frontal plane. Each subject returned within 1 week for retests to establish reliability. The average correlational coeffi cient across tests was 0.87. The Merac computer system was used to analyze data. Mean and standard deviations for peak torque to body weight were calcu lated. A paired t-test was used to examine the differ ence in the means for internal and external rotation between the two positions. The results indicated no significant difference between the two positions for shoulder internal rotational strength values. However, shoulder external rotational strength values in the plane of the scapula ...
The challenge of religious diversity : A middle ground

So where does all this leave us? The reality of religious diversity, I have argued, does notnecessitate the rejection of exclusivism. But this does not end the discussion, as some apparently believe. The reality of religious diversity, I have also argued, does justifiably remainfor many a significant challenge to exclusivistic thought and practice.
DRS: a workstation-based document recognition system for text entry

Document recognition system (DRS), a workstation-based prototype document analysis system that uses optical character recognition (OCR), is described. The system provides functions for image capture, block segmentation, page structure analysis, and character recognition with contextual postprocessing, as well as a user interface for error correction. All the functions except image capture and character recognition have been implemented by means of software for the Japanese edition of OS/2. >