cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment type on treatment delay throughout breast cancer care at a diverse academic medical center.

Purpose and objective The aim of this study was to examine the impact of patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment type on time to treatment (TTT) in patients with breast cancer treated at a safety net medical center with a diverse patient population. Patients and methods A total of 1,130 patients were diagnosed and treated for breast cancer between 2004 and 2014 at our institution. We retrospectively collected data on patient age at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, primary language spoken, marital status, insurance coverage, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, hormone receptor status, and treatment dates. TTT was determined from the date of breast cancer biopsy to treatment start date. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test (or Kruskal-Wallis test when appropriate) and multivariable quantile regression models were employed to assess for significant differences in TTT associated with each factor. Results Longer median TTT was noted for Black (P=0.002) and single (P=0.002) patients. AJCC stage IV patients had shorter TTT (27.5 days) compared to earlier AJCC patients (36, 35, 37, 37 days for stage 0, I, II, III, respectively), P=0.028. Age, primary language spoken, insurance coverage, and hormone receptor status had no significant impact on TTT. On multivariate analysis, race/ethnicity remained the only significant factor with Black reporting longer TTT, P=0.025. However, race was not a significant factor for time from first to second treatment. More Black patients were noted to be single (P<0.0001) and received chemotherapy as first treatment (P=0.008) compared to White, Hispanic, or other race/ethnicity patients. Conclusion In this retrospective analysis, Black patients had longer TTT, were more likely to receive chemotherapy as first treatment, and have a single marital status. These patient factors will help identify vulnerable patients and guide further research to understand the barriers to care and the impact of treatment delays on outcomes.
A Primer of Real Functions. By Ralph P. Boas, Jr.

(1984). A Primer of Real Functions. By Ralph P. Boas, Jr. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 91, No. 3, pp. 213-214.
On need, communication, and cooperation in rats (Rattus norvegicus)

This article introduces the second issue of Volume 132 of the Journal of Comparative Psychology which continues the Featured Article Essays that began in the last issue. The article chosen for this issue is an article by Schweinfurth and Taborsky (2018) on how food-based need affects the communicative and cooperative behavior of Norway rats, Rattus norvegicus. (PsycINFO Database Record
The Effect of Arrest and Justice System Sanctions on Subsequent Behavior: Findings from Longitudinal and Other Studies

The purpose of this chapter is to summarize what is known about the effect of arrest on subsequent behavior, especially delinquent behavior, and what prospective longitudinal studies have added to this knowledge base. In addition, we examine what longitudinal studies have found about the effect of sanctions following arrest. In so doing, what policy relevant actions might be justified on the basis of current knowledge about the effects of arrest and sanctions and the opportunities for longitudinal studies to provide additional information about these effects are considered.
Overview of corrosion issues for the Yucca Mountain waste container

Publisher Summary Alloy 22, a Ni-Cr-Mo alloy, is the primary candidate for the outer container of the Yucca Mountain (YM) container. An inner container of Type 316 stainless steel is also planned but there is no consideration of the inner container providing any long-term corrosion protection of the buried waste. Therefore, Alloy 22 is the primary barrier between the contents of the container and the environment. The primary corrosion issues that are being investigated to qualify the YM container and repository are: uniform corrosion; localized corrosion; and stress corrosion cracking (SCC). Metallurgical stability is also being evaluated and modeled by the program. Alloy 22 is shown to be very resistant to SCC in environments expected in the YM repository. SCC requires three conditions to occur: an environment that polarizes the metal surface to a critical cracking potential; a microstructure and microchemistry that is susceptible to cracking; and a tensile stress. The YM program has no control over the environment but the selection of a SCC resistant alloy and modification of the surface stresses will help mitigate the possibility that SCC will occur during the lifetime of the repository.
Simulation of Optical Properties of the Reaction Center from Rhodopseudomonas viridis

We present a theoretical methodology suitable for analyzing optical data of complex macromolecular systems. The system of interest is modeled with an effective Hamiltonian of a multilevel-multimode vibronic surface. The experimental observables are directly obtained from the thermally averaged Green’s function of the model Hamiltonian. Section 1 describes the Green’s function formalism and its utilities for computing various optical responses. In Section 2, we discuss modeling the photosynthetic bacterial reaction center and summarize the simulation results in Section 3.
Passive Coprime Split Aperture Beamforming

The essential problem examined here is the estimation of the direction of point sources impinging on a sparse linear array. This paper introduces passive narrowband split-aperture [1], [2] processing, a variation of cross correlation beamforming, with coprime sub-arrays using the magnitude squared coherence (MSC) [3], [4], as a spatial pseudo-spectrum estimator. coprime split aperture cross-correlates coprime thinned arrays, which requires fewer sensors than a standard uniform line array spanning the physical same aperture. This paper introduces the coprime split-aperture concept, interprets the MSC as a phase cross-correlation operation, and provides simulations illustrating performance characteristics compared to two conventional split aperture processors, all assuming proper complex circular random signals.
THERAPY OF ABSORPTION DEFECTS OTHER THAN PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY: REVIEW OF THE PROBLEM.

1. Absorptive defects are to be expected in patients with diffuse disease of the small bowel, resection of more than 50% of the small intestine, or partial gastric resection. 2. In most cases, correct diagnosis of small-bowel disease can be established by peroral intestinal biopsy, but some may require laparotomy with lymph node biopsy or sections of the intestinal wall. 3. Resolution of the underlying disease of the small bowel by specific therapy will correct the absorptive defect. 4. Parenteral vitamin and mineral therapy, supplemented by steroids, constitute a highly effective treatment of malabsorption following resection of the small bowel. 5. Anabolic agents are valuable in the treatment of malnutrition following gastrectomy.
Structural, functional and docking analysis against Schistosoma mansoni dihydroorotate dehydrogenase for potential chemotherapeutic drugs

Background: Praziquantel, as the only drug for the treatment of schistosomiasis, is under serious threat due to the emergence of resistant strains of Schistosoma species. There is an urgent need to search for alternative chemotherapy to supplement or complement praziquantel. Schistosoma dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) has been recommended as a druggable target for schistosomiasis chemotherapy. The development of novel molecular modeling approaches, alongside with computational tools and rapid sequencing of pathogen genomes, have facilitated drug discovery. Therefore, the aim of this study was to employ computational approaches to screen compounds against Schistosoma mansoni DHODH. Methods: In this study, DHODH was used to blast on the latest version of DrugBank that contained 12,110 compounds, resulting in 26 drugs that can bind. Results: In silico docking shows that 13 drugs can bind strongly with an estimated free energy of binding, total intermolecular energy and estimated inhibition constant (Ki) greater than or equal to -8.6 kcal/mol, -8.12 kcal/mol and 1.12 µM, respectively. These compounds include the approved drugs manitimus, capecitabine, brequinar analog and leflunomide. Conclusions: These results indicate that these drugs have the potential for use in the control of schistosomiasis in the future.
A comprehensive analysis of the AR gene and risk of breast cancer: Results from the NCI Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium (BPC3)

3248 Androgens have been hypothesized to play a role in risk of breast cancer through several possible mechanisms, including their conversion to estradiol or their binding to the estrogen and/or androgen receptors in the breast. Several investigators have examined the role of the exon 1 CAG repeat element of the androgen receptor (AR) in relationship to breast cancer risk, however the results have been equivocal. Large sample sizes are necessary in order to confidently detect modest genetic effects and avoid the publication of apparently contradictory results from small studies. Here we report on the results of a large and comprehensive study of the association between genetic variation in the AR gene and risk of breast cancer in the National Cancer Institute Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium (BPC3). BPC3 consists of 3,800 White breast cancer cases and 6,000 matched controls from five cohorts in the U.S. and Europe. The underlying genetic diversity of the locus was determined by first sequencing the coding region of the AR in a panel of 95 advanced breast cancer cases. Second, a dense set of markers from the public database was genotyped in a panel of 349 healthy women. The linkage disequilibrium (LD) relationships (blocks) across the gene were then identified and haplotype-tagging SNPs (htSNPs) were selected to capture the common genetic variation across the locus. The AR gene consists of two blocks of LD. We found no association between any of the six htSNPs or related haplotypes in block 1 and risk of breast cancer, nor was any interaction with known breast cancer risk factors observed. Analysis of the block 2 htSNPs and related haplotypes in relation to breast cancer risk is ongoing and will be presented. We are currently completing genotyping of the CAG repeat which falls in block 1, but is not in strong linkage disequilibrium with the block 1 SNPs. Results of the CAG repeat analysis with breast cancer risk will also be presented.
Rational Approximation and Orthogonal Polynomials

A key element of many proofs of Loewner’s theorem is the approximation of f by rational Herglotz functions.
The Developmental Gene Hypothesis for Punctuated Equilibrium: Combined Roles of Developmental Regulatory Genes and Transposable Elements

Theories of the genetics underlying punctuated equilibrium (PE) have been vague to date. Here the developmental gene hypothesis is proposed, which states that: 1) developmental regulatory (DevReg) genes are responsible for the orchestration of metazoan morphogenesis and their extreme conservation and mutation intolerance generates the equilibrium or stasis present throughout much of the fossil record and 2) the accumulation of regulatory elements and recombination within these same genes-often derived from transposable elements-drives punctuated bursts of morphological divergence and speciation across metazoa. This two-part hypothesis helps to explain the features that characterize PE, providing a theoretical genetic basis for the once-controversial theory. Also see the video abstract here https://youtu.be/C-fu-ks5yDs.
Electrical characterization of RuOx/n-GaN Schottky diodes formed by oxidizing ruthenium thin-films in normal laboratory air

Schottky diodes were formed by oxidizing Ru thin films deposited on n-type GaN at 400, 500, and 600 °C in normal laboratory air, and their electrical behavior was compared to that of a Ru/n-GaN reference device. The GaN epitaxial layers were grown via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The ruthenium films were deposited by electron beam evaporation. The Schottky barriers were characterized via current vs voltage (IV) and deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) measurements between 70 and 400 K. The temperature dependent forward bias IV characteristics were fit, and the extracted temperature dependence of the effective barrier height for each device was shown to be caused by inhomogeneity at the metal/semiconductor interface. It was found that barrier inhomogeneity could be well described by a modified log-normal distribution. In reverse bias, it was shown that the low-energy tail of the barrier distribution is an important factor in determining leakage current. Favorable results occur for diodes oxidized at 400 and 500 °C, but raising the oxidation temperature to 600 °C results in a drastic increase in leakage current. DLTS measurements reveal one electron trap at EC − 0.57 eV in each of the samples. It was found that the concentration of this 0.57 eV trap increases substantially at 600 °C and that trap-assisted tunneling likely contributes an additional pathway for reverse leakage current.
A QI Project to Standardize HSV Testing and Treatment and Improve Education

Purpose Neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) is relatively rare, but associated with high morbidity and mortality. Early recognition and treatment with acyclovir leads to better outcomes. HSV infections present a difficult clinical situation as there are no combinations of presenting signs and symptoms that can reliably identify all neonates with HSV. The purpose of this project was to standardize our institution’s practice, and improve education and confidence around HSV testing and treatment. …
Family health history collected by virtual conversational agents: An empirical study to investigate the efficacy of this approach.

Family health history (FHx) is one of the simplest and most cost-effective and efficient ways to collect health information that could help diagnose and treat genetic diseases at an early stage. This study evaluated the efficacy of collecting such family health histories through a virtual conversational agent (VCA) interface, a new method for collecting this information. Standard and VCA interfaces for FHx collection were investigated with 50 participants, recruited via email and word of mouth, using a within-subject experimental design with the order of the interfaces randomized and counterbalanced. Interface workload, usability, preference, and satisfaction were assessed using the NASA Task Load Index workload instrument, the IBM Computer System Usability Questionnaire, and a brief questionnaire derived from the Technology Acceptance Model. The researchers also recorded the number of errors and the total task completion time. It was found that the completion times for 2 of the 5 tasks were shorter for the VCA interface than for the standard one, but the overall completion time was longer (17 min 44 s vs. 16 min 51 s, p = .019). We also found the overall workload to be significantly lower (34.32 vs. 42.64, p = .003) for the VCA interface, and usability metrics including overall satisfaction (5.62 vs. 4.72, p < .001), system usefulness (5.76 vs. 4.84, p = .001), information quality (5.43 vs. 4.62, p < .001), and interface quality (5.66 vs. 4.64, p < .001) to be significantly higher for this interface as well. Approximately 3 out of 4 participants preferred the VCA interface to the standard one. Although the overall time taken was slightly longer than with standard interface, the VCA interface was rated significantly better across all other measures and was preferred by the participants. These findings demonstrate the advantages of an innovative VCA interface for collecting FHx, validating the efficacy of using VCAs to collect complex patient-specific data in health care.
Wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography for the detection of proliferative diabetic retinopathy

To compare the ability of wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography (WF-OCTA) to that of ultra-wide field fluorescein angiography (UWF-FA) and ultra-wide-field color fundus photography (UWF-CP) to detect retinal neovascularization (NV) in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In this cross-sectional study, naive patients with active PDR underwent UWF-FA and UWF-CP using the Optos 200Tx and WF-OCTA with 12 × 12 mm fields of five visual fixations using the PLEX Elite 9000. NV was defined on OCTA when the co-registered B-scan with flow overlay of the vitreoretinal interface (VRI) segmentation showed extraretinal proliferation. Three masked readers examined the UWF-FA, UWF-CP, and WF-OCTA independently for the presence of NV. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the 3 wide-field imaging modalities using OCT B-scan as the reference standard. In 82 eyes with PDR, neovascularization of the disc (NVD) was detected in 13 eyes by UWF-CP, 35 eyes with UWF-FA, and 37 eyes with OCTA using the VRI slab. Upon review of the 2500 OCT B-scans with superimposed flow overlay of each eye, NVD was confirmed in 37 eyes. The sensitivity and specificity of NVD detection were 35.1% and 97.8%, respectively for UWF-CP; 94.6% and 100%, respectively, for UWF-FA; and 100% and 100% for WF-OCTA. One hundred ninety-six foci of neovascularization elsewhere (NVE) were identified with the OCT B-scan with superimposed flow overlay. UWF-CP analysis was able to detect 62 foci of NVE of the 196 confirmed by B-scan (31.6% detection rate). An additional 11 foci of NVE seen on UWF-CP were not confirmed by B-Scan (15% false positive rate). There were 182 foci of NVE identified by UWF-FA (detection rate 91.3%), while WF-OCTA detected 196 retinal NVEs (detection rate 100%). The rate of false positives for both UWF-FA and WF-OCTA was low (< 2%). WF-OCTA can identify NV that is not evident in UWF-CP and represents a faster and safer alternative to UWF-FA for surveillance of PDR with comparable diagnostic accuracy.
Building bridges: overview of an international sustainable tourism education model

The purpose of this paper is to present and explore a sustainable tourism education model that employed Fair-Trade learning principles and experiential learning philosophies. In collaboration with ...
Reply to: HEP-21-0529.R1.

Thank you for your letter and the attention to important risk associations between smoking and immunosuppression with malignancy. As you rightly mention, the limitations of the UNOS database preclude analyzing those factors in our study and others like it. Unfortunately, these types of large databases do not provide information on many possible cofounding factors including smoking status, prior surgical history including a prior colectomy, family history, and specifics regarding a patient's history of malignancy prior to transplant (exceptions including hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma).
Comparing outcomes of general anesthesia and monitored anesthesia care during transcatheter aortic valve replacement: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation experience.

BACKGROUND Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) has become more widely used during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to avoid the complications of general anesthesia (GA). METHODS We included consecutive patients who underwent transfemoral-TAVR at our institution between January 2012 and April 2017. We compared outcomes with GA versus MAC. RESULTS Of 998 patients, MAC was used in 43.9%. MAC was associated with shorter procedural time (96.9 ± 30.9 vs. 135 ± 64.6 mins; p < .001), fluoroscopy time (20.4 ± 8.9 vs. 29 ± 18.7 mins; p < .001), lower contrast volume (45.5 ± 27 vs. 60.4 ± 43 cc; p < .001), and decreased radiation exposure (12,869 ± 8,099 vs. 20,630 ± 16,276 cGy-cm2 ; p < .001). Patients who underwent MAC had a briefer median (IQR) intensive care unit stay [23.3 (21-24) vs. 23.4 (20.8-26) hrs; p < .001], and hospital stay [2 (2, 3) vs. 3 (2-6) days; p < .001], and were more frequently discharged to home (93.4% vs. 82.9%; p < .001). MAC was associated with lower mortality at 30 days (0.5% vs. 2.9%; log-rank p = .012; adjHR 0.22, 95% CI 0.06-0.82; p = .024), but not at 1 year (11.7% vs. 14.6%; log-rank p = .157) or 3 years (36.8% vs. 38.4%; log-rank p = 0.433). There were no differences in major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at either 30 days (4.6% vs. 9.3%; log-rank p = .14) or 1 year (21.1% vs. 21.5%; log-rank p = .653). Similar findings were seen among patients who received newer-generation SAPIEN-3 valves. CONCLUSION Utilizing MAC and omitting intraprocedural transesophageal echocardiography during TAVR seems to be more efficient without compromising safety. Better TAVR outcomes can be achieved with newer generation valves without needing GA.
Quantifying Performance Improvements in MIEC-Infiltrated SOFC Anodes Using a Density of Relaxation Times Analysis of EIS Spectra

To improve the intermediate-temperature performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and expand their applications requires mitigating anode activation polarization while maintaining long-term stability during use. The infiltration of nanoscale electrocatalysts into SOFC anodes has been shown to increase the number of reaction sites, thereby decreasing activation polarization. This study explores the impacts of liquid-phase infiltration of Ni and gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC), a Mixed Ionic and Electronic Conductor (MIEC), into both Ni-YSZ and Ni-MIEC anodes, where the YSZ has been doped with titanium dioxide to facilitate electronic conduction. Distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis is performed on Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) spectra to deconvolute the kinetics of various charge transfer processes.Figure 1
Soft Start-up of Three Phase CLLC Converter Based on State Trajectory Control

The bi-directional five-element CLLC resonant converter is attracting great attention for battery charger applications. The three-phase interleaved CLLC converter can deliver more power with lower conduction losses as compared to the single-phase CLLC. Resonant converters, including the three-phase interleaved CLLC, suffer from high levels of inrush current during startup as well as short circuiting. A proper soft startup needs to be implemented to limit the resonant current during startup. This paper discusses the soft start-up of single-phase and three-phase interleaved CLLC converters based on state trajectory control. The state trajectory of the CLLC primary resonant tank is simplified and treated like an LLC. Optimal trajectory analysis during startup is implemented to limit the resonant tank and to achieve a fast startup. The three-phase interleaved CLLC is reduced to the full-bridge CLLC for easier analysis and control, then is switched back to three-phase interleaved operation after a successful soft startup. Experimental results are provided for a 12kW 500kHz 850V CLLC converter using digital MCU F28379D.
LABORATORY AND VEHICLE CHARACTERIZATION OF FRONT DISC BRAKE SQUEAL

A drag test method for the quantification of front disc brake squeal which uses a brake dynamometer and noise analysis equipment was developed and previously reported in SAE Paper 820037. Subsequently, the dynamometer procedure was revised to a variable stop method which allows a wider study range in less test time while still providing sufficient information to determine the noise character influence of design changes. In conjunction with this revised dynamometer operation, a systematic vehicle test procedure was developed to more clearly define vehicle/dynamometer noise character correlation and in-vehicle noise sensitivity.
Identification of the bcl-2 family of genes in the rat retina.

Purpose. Retinal ganglion cells die by apoptosis after axotomy, and this process may reflect altered expression of cell-death genes. Several of these genes, including bcl-2, bcl-x, and bax, share homology at the amino acid level in the BHI and BH2 domains, through which they also interact. To understand their role in the neuronal response to axotomy, the authors studied their expression in the adult rat retina and after optic nerve crush. Methods. An initial survey was conducted with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), using oligonucleotides against identified members of this family and against the conserved BH1 and BH2 domains. Retinal bcl-x L expression at the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein level was studied by RT-PCR, Northern blotting, RNase protection analysis, in situ hybridization, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. The effect of retinal ganglion cell axotomy on the steady-state level of brl-x mRNA was investigated. Results. RT-PCR results indicated that rat retinal cells predominantly express the long form of brl-x. Both clonal analysis and quantitative measurements using RNase protection assays demonstrated that brl-x L message was at least 16 times more abundant than that of bcl-2. In situ hybridization and indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated that nearly all neuronal cells of the retina express bcl-x. Northern and RNase protection analyses showed a moderate decrease in brl-x l message shortly after optic nerve crush. Conclusions. These findings suggest that the antideath gene bcl-x L is the predominant member of the brl-2 family in the adult retina, and that its level decreases after optic nerve crush. Changes in brl-x L expression may correlate with increased retinal ganglion cell apoptosis after axotomy.
Taking the Stress Out of Stress Testing

Background: Stress testing is a widely used screening tool for finding coronary artery disease, the leading killer of men and women in the United States. Stress tests are a safe noninvasive way to detect coronary ischemia and sift out which patients may benefit from percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft. This presentation is an overview of the factors to be considered when Stress Testing. Methods: Many factors must be considered before deciding which type of stress test best suits the patient. Time, cost and patient compliance as well as preexisting factors in their medical history such as their electrocardiogram, pacemaker or internal defibrillator, and medications. Keep in mind the following conditions make the EKG portion uninterpretable: LBBB, LVH with strain, repolarization abnormalities secondary to digitalis, baseline abnormalities, and ventricular pacing. If patients are not fit enough to perform an adequate amount of time on a treadmill due to deconditioning or musculoskeletal problems such as arthritis, a pharmacologic stress test should be performed such as a Persantine or Adenosine stress test. When patients are taking heart lowering medication like beta blockers, non-hydropyridine calcium channel blockers, digitalis, or amiodarone, they may have a blunted heart rate response making the EKG portion of the test non-diagnostic. Such patients can be instructed not to take their medication that morning or may consider having a pharmacalogic test instead. Results: Viability studies are sometimes coupled with pharmacalogic stress tests to see if the cardiac muscle is viable and would benefit from perfusion by percutaneous intervention or bypass. These tests are performed by giving the patient sublingual nitroglycerin prior to performing the resting images in a nuclear stress test. Conclusion: Many factors must be taken into consideration before ordering a stress test to see which one would benefit the patient the most. Keep in mind the patients physical condition, medications, and baseline EKG before choosing which one to order.
Line-blanketed model stellar atmospheres applied to Sirius

The primary goal of this analysis is to determine whether the effects of atomic bound-bound transitions on stellar atmospheric structure can be represented well in models. The investigation is based on an approach which is called the method of artificial absorption edges. The method is described, developed, tested, and applied to the problem of fitting a model stellar atmosphere to Sirius. It is shown that the main features of the entire observed spectrum of Sirius can be reproduced to within the observational uncertainty by a blanketed flux-constant model with T sub eff = 9700 K and Log g = 4.26. The profile of H sub gamma is reproduced completely within the standard deviations of the measurements except near line center, where non-LTE effects are expected to be significant. The equivalent width of H sub gamma, the Paschen slope, the Balmer jump, and the absolute flux at 5550 A all agree with the observed values.
Metabolism of cortoic acids in man.

Administered radioactive tracers of β-cortolic or β-cortolonic acids are excreted mostly unchanged, without significant alteration of the molecule at C-ll or C-20; a minor amount of cleavage to C-20 etianic acids occurs. Evidence was obtained for possible noncovalent complexing of the steroid acids to macromolecular components present in the enzyme preparation used for hydrolysis of the urinary glucuronides; this complex can be dissociated by acidification to pH 2, and the acidic metabolites can then be readily extracted. The findings suggest that β-cortoic acids are essentially terminal metabolites in man. (J Clin Endacrinol Metab 54: 296, 1982)
Design and Testing of a Portable Concussion Assessment Device

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury as a result from a blow to the head. From battlefields to football fields, concussions are unavoidable risks that occur on a daily basis. The goal of this research is to design and test the prototype of a portable concussion assessment device that can offer a quick indication of the state of concussion immediately after the concussion. Approximate Entropy (ApEn) values reflecting the amount of irregularity hiding in center-of-pressure (COP) oscillations will be used to calculate the index. The prototype will adopt a portable design and use the measurements of the load cells located at the four corners of the prototype. The test subject will be asked to stand on the device in normal stance for 30 seconds with their eyes closed. The COP oscillations will then be recorded. Based on the oscillation measurements, the ApEn index will be calculated and quickly displayed to indicate the state of concussion.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The effect of sewage sludge land disposal on the microbiological quality of groundwater

Abstract The long term effect of farmland disposal of anaerobically digested sewage sludges (alum, iron and lime) on the microbiological quality of groundwater was investigated using the lysimeter system. It was observed that after 4 years of heavy sludge application (5100 kg TKN ha −1 4 yr −1 ), 92–98% of the sewage micoorganisms in the sludge had perished in the soils systems. Analyses of leachates and soils for coliforms and heterotrophic bacterial populations revealed that there was little possibility of microbiological contamination of groundwater by the practice of sludge farmland disposal, provided that the groundwater table was not too high and the soil was well-drained.
Synthesis of unusual pentafluorosulfur-organofluorine compounds

Abstract Our direct fluorination technology has been recently expanded such that we can prepare sulfur-organofluorine compounds in high yield with extraordinarily interesting new structures. Recently we have published three manuscripts [1–3] on the subject which includes interesting molecules such as: Subsequently we have found that this is an extremely versatile method for preparing new pentafluorosulfur compounds and have recently prepared the following structures: This is an ongoing research project of Todd Mlsna in our research group and by the time the meeting takes place we shall have even more exciting results to report.
Acute Toxicity of Propionin in Rats and Mice.

SummaryPropionin injected intraperitoneally in mice has an L.D. 50 of 1.7 ml per kg. Propionin administered by stomach tube to rats has an L.D. 50 of 15.3 ml per kg.
Louis Miller and Di Warheit (The Truth): Yiddishism, Zionism and socialism in New York, 1905–1915

The figure of American Yiddish intellectual and activist Louis Miller (1866–1927) has long been overshadowed by his rival and ersatz colleague Ab Cahan, editor of the famed Yiddish newspaper Forver...
LEFT T-IDEMPOTENCE AND LEFT T-STABILITY OF SEMIGROUP RINGS

A ring R is called left T-idempotent (left T-stable) if for any sequence r 1,r 2,… in R there exists a positive integer n such that r 1 r 2… rn is an idempotent (r 1 r 2… rn = r 1 r 2… r n+1 = …). In this paper we characterize left T-idempotent rings and left T-stable rings and describe left T-idempotent semigroup rings and left T-stable semigroup rings.
Potential importance of glomerular citrate synthase activity in remnant nephropathy

Potential importance of glomerular citrate synthase activity in remnant nephropathy. Background Aldosterone fosters progressive renal injury, but the mechanism is unknown. Both Wistar-Furth rats, which are resistant to aldosterone actions, and adrenalectomized Sprague-Dawley rats, which lack aldosterone, are characterized by resistance to remnant nephropathy and by reduced whole kidney citrate synthase activity. Increase in citrate synthase activity is a well-characterized, specific renal response to aldosterone. Therefore, we performed experiments to test the hypothesis that enhanced citrate synthase activity contributes to remnant nephropathy. Methods Rat models included Wistar (control for Wistar-Furth), Wistar-Furth (resistant to aldosterone), Sprague-Dawley (normal), adrenalectomy (lacking aldosterone), and 5/6 nephrectomy (renal injury). Glomeruli were obtained by differential sieving. Citrate synthase activity was determined spectrophotometrically. Binding characteristics of cytosolic mineralocorticoid receptors were determined by equilibrium competition binding between tritiated and unlabeled aldosterone. Gene sequencing was performed with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and fluorescent dye terminators. Results In glomeruli isolated from adrenalectomized Wistar rats with intact renal mass, aldosterone stimulated a threefold increase in citrate synthase activity; this stimulation was not observed in glomeruli from Wistar-Furth rats. Similarly, citrate synthase activity in glomeruli isolated from adrenally intact Sprague-Dawley rats was 65% greater than that from adrenalectomized Sprague-Dawley rats. Compared to sham surgery, subtotal nephrectomy resulted in 100% greater glomerular citrate synthase activity in Sprague-Dawley rats. In Wistar-Furth rats, mineralocorticoid receptor binding was not reduced, and mutations in the mineralocorticoid receptor DNA binding segment were not found. Conclusion Citrate synthase activity is elevated in remnant glomeruli, and experimental models characterized by reduced glomerular citrate synthase activity (Wistar-Furth rats, adrenalectomized Sprague-Dawley rats) are protected from remnant nephropathy.
Love and hate in Renaissance patronage: Italy

(1994). Love and hate in Renaissance patronage: Italy. The Italianist: Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 5-31.
Identification of Spermatogenesis in a Rat Sertoli-Cell Only Model Using Raman Spectroscopy: A Feasibility Study

Purpose: We determined whether Raman spectroscopy could identify spermatogenesis in a Sertoli-cell only rat model.Materials and Methods: A partial Sertoli-cell only model was created using a testicular hypothermia-ischemia technique. Bilateral testis biopsy was performed in 4 rats. Raman spectra were acquired with a probe in 1 mm3 samples of testicular tissue. India ink was used to mark the site of spectral acquisition. Comparative histopathology was applied to verify whether Raman spectra were obtained from Sertoli-cell only tubules or seminiferous tubules with spermatogenesis. Principal component analysis and logistic regression were used to develop a mathematical model to evaluate the predictive accuracy of identifying tubules with spermatogenesis vs Sertoli-cell only tubules.Results: Raman peak intensity changes were noted at 1,000 and 1,690 cm–1 for tubules with spermatogenesis and Sertoli-cell only tubules, respectively. When principal components were used to predict whether seminferous tubules were...
Quickest Attack Detection in Multi-Agent Reputation Systems

This paper considers the security issue of the reputation systems, which make great use of social networks, to form the reputation scores of a certain participant in the network by collecting ratings from others. To prevent the damage caused by the intentional injection of dishonest ratings, termed as reputation attack, we aim to detect such attack as soon as possible after its occurrence by sequentially observing the rating samples at a single or multiple agents. We propose a discrete probability model to characterize the rating samples based on which the sequential change detection framework can be applied. First for the single-agent case, we develop a sequential attack detector based on the generalized likelihood ratio (GLR) that is robust to a wide range of attacking strategies. Then, for the multi-agent case, where the distributed agents collect ratings and communicate with a central manager to make the decision, we propose a novel multi-agent sequential attack detector that can effectively exploit the different number of attacked agents to increase the detection speed, and exhibits a second-order asymptotic optimality for any given number of attacked agents if the rating distribution under attack can be specified. Finally, we propose a decentralized version of the multi-agent attack detector based on the level-triggered sampling of the local statistic at each agent, which essentially constitutes an adaptive transmission scheme between the distributed agents and the central manager. The decentralized detector incurs only a minor increase in detection delay compared with the centralized counterpart while substantially reduces the communication overhead for attack detection in the multi-agent reputation systems.
Why do adult insects not moult

Hypotheses are presented concerning why mayflies moult after functional wings develop and why most insects cease to moult at this time. The pattern of retention or loss of the subimaginal moult in extant mayflies suggests that this moult may be necessary to complete elongation of caudal filaments and forelegs of adults. It is then analogous to the pupal moult of holometabolous insects. I propose that selection for wing efficiency has normally confined the presence of functional wings to one instar only, which is also the last and reproductive stage. Selection for light wings has generally caused the epidermis of membranous insect wings to degenerate, thereby precluding otherwise advantageous adult moults.
The zebrafish model system in cardiovascular research: A tiny fish with mighty prospects

[no abstract - first paragraph of article] The zebrafish Danio rerio , a tropical freshwater fish, belongs to the family of cyprinidae, which in the last 30 years has developed into a very popular model organism for studies of embryonic development and human diseases. Initially the zebrafish species has been selected on the basis of its small size of approximately 3–5cm, its transparency during development and its high fertility, qualities first identified by George Stresinger, the founding father of zebrafish research. The ability to house thousands of small fishes and the ease of screening mutations in the translucent embryos made it feasible to perform large-scale forward genetic screens in a vertebrate model organism. The abundance of eggs obtained, approximately 200 eggs per female per week, is ideal for genetic and statistical analysis. The mutagenesis screens performed in the early 1990s have led to the identification of genes important in vertebrate organogenesis in an unbiased fashion. Many of the isolated mutants have now been fully characterized and the mutated genes mapped, as the zebrafish genome sequencing completes. The knowledge derived has led to a better understanding of the underlying genetic networks governing vertebrate development. More sophisticated phenotype-based screens have since been developed to screen for mutations in defined biological processes.
Simulation of large scale dynamic systems. I: Modular integration methods

Abstract Modular simulation of dynamic systems offers the possibility of computational speed through parallel processing of individual subsystems and through the use of the best integration algorithms for each subsystem. Such simulation needs coordination algorithms to keep the various subsystems in time synchronization and to compute the interconnections between the subsystems. A mathematical description of the coordination problem leads to the development of several new algorithms. These new algorithms are shown to have desirable convergence and stability properties. In particular a new Newton type algorithm is A-stable in a sense similar to that defined for ordinary integration algorithms. Numerical tests with several small example problems and with the simulation of the dynamics of an atmospheric crude unit consisting of 5 interacting columns are used to evaluate the various coordination algorithms. The crude unit simulation was carried out using a prototype modular simulator for distillation systems. The simulator description and the results of applying it to a crude unit are given in Part II. Scope —A formal mathematical definition of the problem of simulating the dynamics of large integrated systems using independent simulations of its subsystems (the coordination problem) yields a framework in which to analyse the behavior of modular integration methods. Analysis shows that most common existing technique, constant extrapolation, has several practical and theoretical defects which are overcome with new Newton type methods. Several examples illustrate and amplify theoretical results. Significance —The modular integration methods presented in this work provide viable alternatives to simulating large systems by integrating a single huge set of equations. They offer the possibility of simulating the dynamics of very large scale process systems using parallel (micro) processors.
Long-range travel of airborne material subjected to dry deposition

Abstract A finite difference model has been adapted to simulate the effect on plume depletion of dry depositon and diurnal stability variations. Tests were conducted out to ten days travel time for various deposition velocities. Residence times were twice those obtained by the traditional deposition model suggested by Chamberlain. A diurnal stability cycle changed the residence time for low level releases from 1 5 (nighttime release) to 3 (daytime release) times that obtained in those tests with constant neutral stability. The stability at the time of release was one of the primary factors that determined the mass remaining airborne, even at several days travel time.
Archaeological trends in the Southern Cone of South America

Current major research directions and findings in three areas of Southern Cone archaeology are discussed: (1) the entry of humans in Late Pleistocene times and early hunter-gatherer society, (2) the emergence of chiefdom societies, and (3) the Inca state. These themes are considered broadly in terms of local and interregional models of economic mobility and sociopolitical organization. Although emphasis is given primarily to the Andean regions of Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia, new studies and developments in the Argentinian Pampa and Patagonia are discussed.
Time-frequency based biological sequence querying

We investigate the use of time-frequency (TF) methods to query biological sequences in search of regions of similarity or critical relationships among the sequences. Existing querying approaches are insensitive to repeats, especially in low-complexity regions, and do not provide much support for efficiently querying sub-sequences with inserts and deletes (or gaps). Our approach uses highly-localized basis functions and multiple transformations in the TF plane to map characters in a sequence as well as different properties of a sub-sequence, such as its position in the sequence or number of gaps between sub-sequences. We analyze gapped query-based alignment methods using transformations in the TF plane while demonstrating the method's possible operation in real-time without pre-processing. The algorithm's performance is compared to the widely-accepted BLAST alignment approach, and a significance improvement is observed for queries with repetitive segments.
Relationship between genotype and skeletal phenotype in children and adolescents with osteogenesis imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heritable bone fragility disorder that in the majority of cases is caused by mutations in COL1A1 or COL1A2, the genes that encode the two collagen type I alpha chains, alpha1(I) and alpha2(I). In this study, we examined the relationship between collagen type I mutations and bone densitometric and histomorphometric findings in pediatric OI patients who had not received bisphosphonate treatment. Lumbar spine areal bone mineral density (LS aBMD) was measured in 192 patients (99 girls, 93 boys; age range 3 weeks to 16.9 years) who had either COL1A1 mutations leading to haploinsufficiency (n = 52) or mutations that lead to the substitution of glycine by another amino acid in the triple-helical domain of either the alpha1(I) (n = 58) or the alpha2(I) chain (n = 82). Compared with patients with helical mutations, patients with COL1A1 haploinsufficiency on average were taller and heavier and had higher LS aBMD. After adjustment for age, sex, and height Z-scores, the mean LS aBMD Z-scores were -4.0 for the haploinsufficiency group and -4.7 for both helical mutation groups. In the whole patient population, the average LS aBMD Z-score was higher by 0.6 (95% confidence interval 0.2-1.0) in girls than in boys. Iliac bone histomorphometry (in a subgroup of 96 patients) showed that outer bone size (core width) and trabecular bone volume were similar between genotypic groups, but cortical width was 49% higher in the haploinsufficiency group compared with patients with helical mutations in alpha2(I). Bone turnover parameters were lower in the haploinsufficiency group than in patients with helical mutations. In the group of patients with helical mutations, neither the type of alpha chain affected, nor the type of amino acid substituting for glycine, nor the position of the mutation in the alpha chain had a detectable relationship with LS aBMD or histomorphometric results. Thus patients with haploinsufficiency mutations had a milder skeletal phenotype than patients with mutations affecting glycine residues, but there was no clear genotype-phenotype correlation among patients with helical glycine mutations.
Cleaning up the Bush mess

After three decades of government starvation of necessary resources, the next US president needs to champion progressive taxation, argues Robert Reich.
Simulations of Vortex Formation Around a Blunt Wing Tip

Wereport ourfindings froma computational study onwing-tip vortices. Themain emphasis of the simulations is to compute the formation of a tip vortex around a blunt wing tip and its interaction with the wing and tip side-edge surfaces. Comparisons of simulation results with available experimental data are done to assess the prediction capability of the simulations. The simulations are performed on a computational grid containing 110 million points total. The blunt tip geometry actually gives rise to the formation of two vortices. The primary vortex forms over the upper surface of the wing, and the secondary vortex forms off of the side edge. These two vortices merge together around the tip trailing edge to form the tip vortex. Simulations at the experimental Reynolds number of 1:8 10 are performed using several subgrid-scalemodels. It is shown that the simulation performedwithout an explicit subgridscale model, also known as implicit large eddy simulation, produces the best agreement with the experimental measurements. Although some differences between the simulation results and experimental data still exist, the overall agreement between the experiment and simulation is found to be satisfactory.