cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Switch in Borderline Resectable/Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is an integral part of preoperative treatment for patients with borderline resectable/locally advanced (BR/LA) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The identification of a chemotherapeutic regimen that is both effective and tolerable is critical for NAC to be of oncologic benefit. After initial first-line (FL) NAC, some patients have lack of response or therapeutic toxicities precluding further treatment with the same regimen; optimal decision making regarding this patient population is unclear. Chemotherapy switch (CS) may allow for a larger proportion of patients to undergo curative-intent resection after NAC. We reviewed our surgical database for patients undergoing combinatorial NAC for BR/LA PDAC. Variant histologic exocrine carcinomas, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm-associated PDAC, and patients without research consent were excluded. Overall, 468 patients with BR/LA PDAC receiving FL chemotherapy were reviewed, of whom 70% (329/468) continued with FL chemotherapy followed by surgical resection. The remaining 30% (139/468) underwent CS, with 72% (100/139) of CS patients going on to curative-intent surgical resection. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were not significantly different between the resected FL and CS cohorts (30.0 vs. 19.1 months, p = 0.13, and 41.4 vs. 36.4 months, p = 0.94, respectively) and OS was significantly worse in those undergoing CS without subsequent resection (19 months, p < 0.0001). On multivariable analysis, carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 and pathologic treatment responses were predictors of RFS and OS. CS in patients undergoing NAC for BR/LA pancreatic cancer does not incur oncologic detriment. The incorporation of CS into NAC treatment sequencing may allow a greater proportion of patients to proceed to curative-intent surgery.
Ferroelectric Considerations on Co-Sputtered 30% ALSCN with Different DC+RF Ratios

Aluminum­Scandium Nitride (AlScN) has recently gathered research attention due to proven ferroelectric switching along with enhanced piezoelectric coefficients [1], [2], [3]. The objective of the present work is to evaluate the impact of RF sputtering in the fabrication flow of highly­doped AlScN thin films, thus enabling new ferroelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) functionalities. This paper will compare two co­sputtered 200nm AlScN films, processed with different DC to RF ratios applied to an aluminum target, highlighting the dependence of ferroelectric performance on the input signal characteristic. The work demonstrates how RF sputtering is a pivotal process­parameter in optimizing material characteristics such as coercive field and leakage current in AlScN thin films.
Perspektiven in der biologischen Forschung

Die vorangegangenen Kapitel dieses Buches sind von einem gewissen negativen Unterton gepragt. Sie sollten darlegen, wie ein reduktionistischer Ansatz beim Studium lebender Organismen uns dazu verleiten kann, unvollstandige Antworten auf biologische Fragestellungen zu formulieren oder die essentiellen Gesichtspunkte biologischer Prozesse ausser acht zu lassen oder gar von Anfang die falschen Fragen zu stellen. Es ist naturlich sehr einfach zu kritisieren. Man muss sich lediglich in irgendeinen der vielen komplexen Aspekte der Welt hineindenken und schon wird es sehr schnell offensichtlich, warum dieser oder jener Untersuchungsansatz auf eine bestimmte Weise fehlerbehaftet ist. Weit schwieriger ist es, einen besseren Weg vorzuschlagen. Es macht keinen Sinn, nach einem eher synthetisch angelegten Ansatz zu rufen oder festzustellen, dass wir neue Einsichten benotigen.
Time-Periodic Flows in Geophysical and Classical Fluid Dynamics

Abstract Time-periodic flows form an important special class of fluid motions. This class includes, for example, the many well-known families of linear propagating waves. Recently, nonlinear time-periodic flows have received increased attention in several contexts in geophysical and classical fluid mechanics. Despite the relative simplicity of their Eulerian representation, time-periodic velocity fields can give rise to complex, aperiodic Lagrangian motion; models of this type can be useful for understanding fluid transport processes in the ocean and atmosphere. One approach to the analysis of chaotic dynamical systems, including certain models of geophysical flows, is based on the identification of a large set of unstable periodic cycles, each of which corresponds to an independent time-periodic flow. Time-periodic flows provide accessible examples in which to explore mechanisms of disturbance growth in general time-dependent flows, a problem of practical interest in numerical weather and ocean prediction. Recent advances in the theory of the transition to turbulence in classical pipe flow involve bifurcation analysis for a special class of time-periodic flows.
New complexity results for some linear counting problems using minimal solutions to linear diophantine equations

The linear reachability problem is to decide whether there is an execution path in a given finite state transition system such that the counts of labels on the path satisfy a given linear constraint. Using results on minimal solutions (in nonnegative integers) for linear Diophantine systems, we obtain new complexity results for the problem, as well as for other linear counting problems of finite state transition systems and timed automata. In contrast to previously known results, the complexity bounds obtained in this paper are polynomial in the size of the transition system in consideration, when the linear constraint is fixed.
The structure and thermal properties of plasma-sprayed beryllium for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)

Plasma spraying is being studied for in situ repair of damaged Be and W plasma facing surfaces for ITER, the next generation magnetic fusion energy device, and is also being considered for fabricating Be and W plasma-facing components for the first wall of ITER. Investigators at LANL`s Beryllium Atomization and Thermal Spray Facility have concentrated on investigating the structure-property relation between as-deposited microstructures of plasma sprayed Be coatings and resulting thermal properties. In this study, the effect of initial substrate temperature on resulting thermal diffusivity of Be coatings and the thermal diffusivity at the coating/Be substrate interface (interface thermal resistance) was investigated. Results show that initial Be substrate temperatures above 600 C can improve the thermal diffusivity of the Be coatings and minimize any thermal resistance at the interface between the Be coating and Be substrate.
A Balancing Act: Developing a Discourse Community in a Mathematics Classroom

This article examines the pedagogical tensions involved in trying to usestudents' ideas as the basis for class discussion while also ensuring thatdiscussion is productive mathematically. The data for this study of theteaching of one middle-school teacher come from observations andvideotapes of instruction across a school year as well as interviews with theparticipating teacher. Specifically, the article describes the teacher'sattempts to support a student-centered process of mathematicaldiscourse and, at the same time, facilitate discussions of significantmathematical content. This tension in teaching was not easily resolved;throughout the school year the teacher shifted his emphasis betweenmaintaining the process and the content of the classroom discourse.Nevertheless, at times, the teacher balanced these competing goals by usinga ``filtering approach'' to classroom discourse. First multiple ideas aresolicited from students to facilitate the process of student-centeredmathematical discourse. Students are encouraged to elaborate theirthinking, and to compare and evaluate their ideas with those that havealready been suggested. Then, to bring the content to the fore, the teacherfilters the ideas, focusing students' attention on a subset of themathematical ideas that have been raised. Finally, the teacher encouragesstudent-centered discourse about these ideas, thus maintaining a balancebetween process and content.
A software engineering curriculum incorporating an operational formal method

This project, which is funded by the NSF Educational Innovation Program (CDA-9522257), integrates an operational formal method into the undergraduate software engineering curriculum of the Systems Analysis Department of Miami University. A formal method consists of a mathematical model and methodology to aid in the creation of the specification, design, and verification of a software system. The justification for the introduction of a formal method not only stems from government and industry regulations/standards, but also from the national perception that the discipline of software engineering education lacks sufficient emphasis on mathematics and engineering science.
Methods for integrated biochemical pathway analysis

The common goal for biological research is to develop models for the biological processes we seek to understand. Such models, in the form of biochemical pathway networks which describe the physical interactions between a living cell's genes, transcripts, proteins, and metabolites ("Omics"), accumulate in different repositories for several model organisms as well as non-model organisms. This thesis presents a set of integrated statistical bioinformatics tools that address key problems in integrating large-scale Omics datasets with pathway network models. A hardware accelerated non-parametric Omics mining method (Monte Carlo on the GPU) allows faster screening of custom test statistics and functions. A software platform for mining pathway databases (PathwayAccess) confers knowledge integration and comparison. Omics and pathway mining are combined for a novel method for statistically discriminating functionally meaningful subnetworks for their interaction with lists of entities mined from Omics data, so that software can intelligently mine large and complex pathway databases to answer a wide variety of questions and generate hypotheses (Discriminating Omics Response Groups in Pathways). The method, called PathwayFlow, can discriminate pathways, reactions, metabolite classes, or any other biological entity grouping (Response Groups), and automatically accounts for connectivity-caused biases in the pathway network. It also differentiates between regulators (or inputs) and regulatees (or outputs) for a given Query List of Omics entities. It is applied to three real datasets: a simple E. coli gene expression dataset which validates the method, a more complex Vitis gene expression dataset which complements functional enrichment analysis (Grapevine's Response to Short Days), and an ultra-high throughput re-sequencing dataset for assessing genetic differences between two wine grape varieties (DNA Sequencing Appendix).
Fungi and the indoor environment: their impact on human health.

Publisher Summary This chapter elucidates the role of fungi in the phenomenon of sick building syndrome (SBS). The most common symptoms of SBS are fatigue, runny nose, itchy eyes, sore throat, and headaches. Although no single cause for the above symptoms is likely to be found, the presence of certain molds is becoming increasingly associated with this phenomenon. Several studies suggest that the elevation of culturable Penicillium species conidia in the indoor air over the levels in the outside air causes health problems in human beings. The inhalation of Penicillium species conidia is associated with the initiation of an asthmatic attack. Alternaria species spores and Penicillium species conidia provoke immediate and delayed-type asthma in individuals already sensitized to these organisms. Penicillium species conidia tends to colonize the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems of buildings. There is one other important respiratory disease caused by the inhalation of Penicillium species conidia : cheese worker's lung or cheese washer's disease, an occupational disease.
Site-Specific Transmission of a Floor-Based, High-Frequency, Low-Magnitude Vibration Stimulus in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Abstract Objective To determine the degree to which a high-frequency, low-magnitude vibration signal emitted by a floor-based platform transmits to the distal tibia and distal femur of children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) during standing. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting University research laboratory. Participants Children with spastic CP who could stand independently (n=18) and typically developing children (n=10) (age range, 4–12y) participated in the study (N=28). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures The vibration signal at the high-frequency, low-magnitude vibration platform (approximately 33Hz and 0.3 g ), distal tibia, and distal femur was measured using accelerometers. The degree of plantar flexor spasticity was assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale. Results The high-frequency, low-magnitude vibration signal was greater ( P g vs .29±.05 g ) and controls (.40±.09 g vs .24±.07 g ). Although the vibration signal was also higher at the distal femur (.35±.09 g , P g , P P Conclusions A high-frequency, low-magnitude vibration signal from a floor-based platform was amplified at the distal tibia, attenuated at the distal femur, and inversely related to the degree of muscle spasticity in children with spastic CP. Whether this transmission pattern affects the adaptation of the bones of children with CP to high-frequency, low-magnitude vibration requires further investigation.
An Improved Static Probe Design

A new static probe design is described in which the static holes are located much closer to the tip than in conventional probes. The new probe shows promise for use in some situations where conventional probes become highly inaccurate. An additional advantage of the new design is that, when used in static pressure survey rakes, the probes can be located much closer together than in conventional designs and still ensure that disturbances from neighboring probe tips do not affect the static readings.
Comment on 'An episodic hypothesis for Venusian tectonics' by Donald Turcotte

Turcotte (9193) proposes an episodic hypothesis regarding tectonics on Venus, wherein 'global subduction' alternates with quiescence and development of a thick strong lithosphere on a time scale of several hundred million years. Kaula (1994) argues that Turcotte's model is unpersuasive in several respects.
Lack of improvement in coexisting mitral regurgitation after relief of valvular aortic stenosis.

Abstract In adults with severe symptomatic valvular aortic stenosis (AS), some degree of coexisting mitral regurgitation (MR) is common. 1 Given that afterload reduction can alter hemodynamics favorably in patients with isolated MR, 2 it has been suggested that, in patients with AS, the afterload reduction resulting from aortic valve replacement or catheter balloon valvuloplasty may lead to a decrease in the severity of coexisting MR. 3,4 This might lead in turn to a decrease in heart failure symptoms and might even obviate the need for double valve replacement in some patients.
Chinese Measure Word Dictionary: A Chinese–English English–Chinese Usage Guide by FANG, JIQING, & MICHAEL CONNELLY

The article reviews the book "Chinese Measure Word Dictionary: A Chinese–English English–Chinese Usage Guide," by Jiqing Fang and Michael Connelly.
Scalability of Parallel Algorithms for Matrix Multiplication

A number of parallel formulations of dense matrix multiplication algorithm have been developed. For arbitrarily large number of processors, any of these algorithms or their variants can provide near linear speedup for sufficiently large matrix sizes and none of the algorithms can be clearly claimed to be superior than the others. In this paper we analyze the performance and scalability of a number of parallel formulations of the matrix multiplication algorithm and predict the conditions under which each formulation is better than the others.
The light curve of Comet Kohoutek

Visual estimates of total coma brightness define the light curve of Comet Kohoutek between Nov. 24, 1974 and Feb. 6, 1974. These data are well fitted by straight lines on the M-log r diagram. The preperihelion value of n is 2.2, and the post perihelion value is 3.8 up to January 16. A standstill in the decline is suspected between January 16 and 19. If the standstill is ignored the postperihelion data can be fitted less precisely by a single line with n equals 3.3. From photoelectric measures on four nights between January 5 and 13 after perihelion, n is found to be 4.1. The average B-V with a 32.4 arc sec diaphragm for those four nights is about 0.79; no clear systematic variation with time is noted.
Phonon scattering times in a molecular crystal below 10 K determined by optically detected acoustical paramagnetic resonance

A combination of optically detected magnetic and acoustical paramagnetic resonance has been used to determine the phonon scattering time of microwave-frequency phonons in a molecular crystal in the 2- to 7-K temperature range. In contrast to higher-temperature behavior, it is found that the phonon scattering time in the molecular-crystal sample follows the Landau-Rumer law. We suggest that a good estimate of the phonon scattering time for microwave-frequency phonons in this temperature range is ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{p}=(\frac{\ensuremath{\rho}{v}^{5}}{{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{2}\ensuremath{\nu}{T}^{4}})\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}20}$ for any molecular crystal if boundary and inelastic defect scattering can be neglected.
Influences of composted hazelnut husk on some physical properties of soils.

Abstract Some physical properties of clay loam and sandy loam soils amended with hazelnut husk (HH) were investigated. HH collected from hazelnut trees were dried, ground and composted for four months. Before use the composted material obtained was separated to three different aggregate sizes, smaller than 0.84 mm, 0.84–2.38 mm and bigger than 2.38 mm. Then these fractions were mixed with soil samples, at 0%, 1%, 2%, 4% and 8% by weight. Huzelnut husk compost–soil mixtures were placed to plastic pots and kept in an incubator at 25±5 °C for 45 and 90 days. At the end of incubation periods, water stable aggregate (WSA), hydraulic conductivity, total porosity, aeration porosity and macro- and micro-pore percentages of the mixtures were determined. Results obtained showed that composted HH increased the WSA, hydraulic conductivity, total porosity and macro-pore percentage in both clay loam and sandy loam soils depending on the incubation time and aggregate sizes.
Heat Shock Response of Archaeoglobus fulgidus

The heat shock response of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus strain VC-16 was studied using whole-genome microarrays. On the basis of the resulting expression profiles, approximately 350 of the 2,410 open reading frames (ORFs) (ca. 14%) exhibited increased or decreased transcript abundance. These span a range of cell functions, including energy production, amino acid metabolism, and signal transduction, where the majority are uncharacterized. One ORF called AF1298 was identified that contains a putative helix-turn-helix DNA binding motif. The gene product, HSR1, was expressed and purified from Escherichia coli and was used to characterize specific DNA recognition regions upstream of two A. fulgidus genes, AF1298 and AF1971. The results indicate that AF1298 is autoregulated and is part of an operon with two downstream genes that encode a small heat shock protein, Hsp20, and cdc48, an AAA+ ATPase. The DNase I footprints using HSR1 suggest the presence of a cis-binding motif upstream of AF1298 consisting of CTAAC-N5-GTTAG. Since AF1298 is negatively regulated in response to heat shock and encodes a protein only distantly related to the N-terminal DNA binding domain of Phr of Pyrococcus furiosus, these results suggest that HSR1 and Phr may belong to an evolutionarily diverse protein family involved in heat shock regulation in hyperthermophilic and mesophilic Archaea organisms.
Effects of wind on movement of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata, a parasitoid of tephritid fruit flies, in a laboratory flight tunnel

Cohorts of mass-reared adult female Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), parasitoids of tephritid fruit fly larvae, were released in a laminar air flow wind tunnel to study the effects of air movement on flight and walking behaviors. Wind in the tunnel was cycled on and off at intervals to simulate gusty conditions observed in the field. Wind speed influenced parasitoid movement during both the wind-on periods and during the calm intervals between gusts. Wind speeds of 0.8 m per second suppressed flight and walking behaviors, while wind speeds of 0.4 m/s stimulated both flight and walking behaviors. There was an exponential increase in the ratio of activity in calm to activity in wind as wind speed increased.
Novel risk markers and clinical practice.

A growing understanding of the importance of the rupture of atherosclerotic plaque in the pathogenesis of coronary events has led to the identification of an expanding array of markers of plaque vu...
Regional planning in the United States: historic and contemporary examples

Abstract Landscape planning occurs within the jurisdiction of various levels of government, from local to international. One layer of government that has an uneven history in the United States is the region. Early ideas about regional planning are traced from the 19th century into the first decades of the 20th century. The social vision of the New Deal is discussed in relationship to the harnessing of human and natural resources in such projects as the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, and the Greenbelt new towns. A Dutch example is briefly mentioned to illustrate the international dimension of the 1930's regionalism. The ideas about regional planning of John Friedmann and Ian McHarg are contrasted. Current examples of American regional planning are summarized. These include: the Appalachian Regional Planning Commission; New York's Adirondack Park Agency; the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency; the New Jersey Pinelands Commission; and the U.S. Forest Service's system for land and resource management.
The Role of Private Property in the History of American Agriculture, 1776–1976

Two hundred years ago when Adam Smith described the way in which the invisible hand of the market place would organize society's output, he had no intention of implying that this invisible hand was to be unconstrained. On the contrary, Smith recognized that the rules under which buyers and sellers operated were crucial to the outcome. The structure of property rights has always played and will continue to play an important role in determining the way in which resources are organized for production, and the agricultural sector is no exception. The history of agriculture contains many chapters on the methods of organization, ranging from communal to private, and the debate continues as to which system is "best." Recently, it has been argued that even the neolithic revolution that witnessed the switch from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture found its roots in the rules that governed production. In the words of North and Thomas,
Fault‐tolerant spectroscopic data evaluation based on extended principal component regression correcting for spectral drifts and uncalibrated spectral features

Chemometric algorithms are commonly applied in spectroscopy for deriving concentrations of chemicals from spectra. In order to ensure correct concentration results, the background spectrum must be stable and all absorbers present in unknown samples must have been contained in the calibration set. Recently, standard principal component regression (PCR) has been improved in two ways, correcting either for spectral drifts or for uncalibrated spectral features. In this study a combination of both correction approaches named secured pseudo PCR (spPCR) is presented which provides substantially improved concentration results even if the spectra are simultaneously affected by drifts and uncalibrated features. Additionally, spPCR extracts estimates of the spectrum of the uncalibrated absorbers and the drift spectrum. Hence systematic disturbances can be analyzed and a facile tool for allocating their origin is provided. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functional Reconstruction of the Hand: The Stiff Joint

Proper hand function relies on a combination of strength and mobility. The intricate architecture that allows for hand mobility includes the articular surfaces of joints, periarticular ligamentous structures, tendon mechanisms, and the soft-tissue envelope. These structures are subject to injury and scarring. The net effect of a variety of etiologic factors is stiffness of the hand with diminution of hand function. This article reviews the biology of healing, pertinent anatomy of the hand, and operative and nonoperative treatment of the stiff hand.
The stability of sarin and soman in dilute aqueous solutions and the catalytic effect of acetate ion

The hydrolysis of aqueous solutions of organophosphonate compounds such as sarin and soman is a critical factor in biochemical and therapeutic studies. The ability to dilute and transport these compounds with assurance of their purity is imperative to the integrity of such studies. An enzymic method has been used to measure low levels of organophosphonates. Maximum stability data were determined in aqueous and isotonic saline solutions. Acetate ion was found to significantly accelerate hydrolysis.1
Ross Sea diatoms: Modern assemblage distributions and their relationship to ecologic, oceanographic, and sedimentary conditions — Reply

Abstract Marine diatoms from surface sediments of the Ross Sea were studied to determine the modern distributions of important assemblages. Factor analysis of diatom data distinguished four significant assemblages which account for 96.6% of the raw data. Diatom factor assemblages provide a means of understanding modern oceanographic, ecologic, and sedimentary conditions because they show the response of this floral group to different environments. Assemblage 1 consists primarily of epontic diatoms and is most important in areas where undisturbed sedimentation of diatoms occurs. Assemblage 2 contains abundantEucampia balaustium, a heavily silicified species, which is indicative of lag deposits where lighter, more fragile diatoms have been selectively winnowed by bottom currents. Diatom species in Assemblage 3 have widely differing stratigraphic ranges (from greater than 3.3 m.y.B.P. to Recent) and probably represent reworked older sediments mixed with more recent material. Assemblage 4 contains oceanic diatom species characteristic of open waters north of the Antarctic Divergence. In Ross Sea sediments higher relative abundances of diatoms are encountered in the western portion of the region, probably reflecting earlier seasonal breakup of sea ice there than occurs in the east. Lowest relative abundances occur in regions where available data suggest high rates of deposition of terrestrial material, in regions where the reworked assemblage (Assemblage 3) predominates, and in regions with strong bottom currents.
Regulation of Smad signalling by protein associations and signalling crosstalk.

Abstract Smads are intracellular signalling mediators for the family of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-related growth and differentiation factors, which signal through transmembrane serine/threonine kinases. Following receptor-induced activation, heteromeric Smad complexes translocate into the nucleus, where they act as transcription factors. Recent progress has revealed that Smad signalling is not merely determined by activation of the class of TGF-β receptors, but is also regulated through crosstalk with other kinase signalling cascades. In addition, the Smads regulate transcription through functional cooperativity and physical interactions with other transcription factors, which might also be targets for regulation by other signalling cascades. This signalling crosstalk might explain the complexity of the responses to TGF-β and related factors.
Multiplexed readout of high energy resolution γ-ray calorimeters

Abstract We present the multiplexed readout of two γ-ray microcalorimeters made from transition-edge sensors. We use a frequency-domain multiplexing scheme in which each sensor is biased at an identifying frequency. We obtain an energy resolution of about 60 eV at 60 keV for each sensor.
Bohmian mechanics without pilot waves

Abstract In David Bohm’s causal/trajectory interpretation of quantum mechanics, a physical system is regarded as consisting of both a particle and a wavefunction, where the latter “pilots” the trajectory evolution of the former. In this paper, we show that it is possible to discard the pilot wave concept altogether, thus developing a complete mathematical formulation of time-dependent quantum mechanics directly in terms of real-valued trajectories alone. Moreover, by introducing a kinematic definition of the quantum potential, a generalized action extremization principle can be derived. The latter places very severe a priori restrictions on the set of allowable theoretical structures for a dynamical theory, though this set is shown to include both classical mechanics and quantum mechanics as members. Beneficial numerical ramifications of the above, “trajectories only” approach are also discussed, in the context of simple benchmark applications.
Unity or Diversity: An Assessment of the Movement of Movements in the United States

The purpose of this study is to examine whether the “Movement of movements” has the capacity to unite into a larger movement for social change. The study utilized and examined 55 Internet surveys and follow-up telephone interviews with a semi-structured format. Six years after the “Battle of Seattle,” multiple protests, conferences, listservs, and four World Social Forums, this movement is presently fragmented into many narrowly focused movements finding themselves precariously poised against a “common enemy.” However, there are many indications that factions of this Movement of movements have the potential capacity to transform into a higher level of unity than what is currently experienced based on shared grievances and values.
Chlamydia trachomatis and ascites: going with the flow?

Chlamydia trachomatis as an etiological agent in the Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome has recently been reported; however, the condition has not been typically associated with ascites. We report a case of Chlamydia trachomatis perihepatitis in a young woman who had exudative ascites as a predominant clinical feature of her disease. Laparoscopy revealed characteristic “violin string” adhesions which were also identified on abdominal computerized scan.
Resistance and current-voltage characteristics of individual superconducting Nb Se 2 nanowires

Resistance and current-voltage characteristics of individual superconducting $\mathrm{Nb}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ nanowires are investigated. In the current-voltage curves, a stairlike structure is observed, indicating the possible formation of phase-slip centers. A close examination of the current-voltage characteristic in a selected high quality $\mathrm{Nb}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ nanowire with a diameter of $75\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ reveals that the characteristic voltages in the stairlike structure follow the BCS-like temperature dependence of superconducting gaps vanishing at ${T}_{C}$. While the phase-slip center mechanism remains to be a plausible explanation of the observed features, an alternative model involving multigap Josephson tunneling is proposed to account for the BCS-like temperature dependence. From the BCS fits, two distinct superconducting gaps are extracted. Moreover, the critical current of the $75\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ nanowire at low temperatures as well as near ${T}_{C}$ can also be described by the Ambegaokar-Baratoff relation for multigap Josephson junctions. Our data suggest the possible observation of multiband superconductivity in $\mathrm{Nb}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ and are in good agreement with the predictions of recent band structure and Fermi surface calculations on $\mathrm{Nb}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$.
Thomas Precession and the Relativistic Disk

IT has been suggested1,2 that a segment of a rapidly rotating disk should undergo a Thomas precession (rotation). The purpose of this letter is to show that a straightforward extension of the Thomas precession to an arbitrary finite segment of a macroscopic object (a disk in this case) leads to a paradox and that the paradox can be resolved by consideration of the elastic properties of the disk.
Choline Phosphate and Phorbol Ester Potentiate the Mitogenic Effect of Insulin by Competitive Mechanisms in NIH 3T3 Fibroblasts

Abstract Treatments of serum-starved NIH 3T3 fibroblasts with either 100 nM phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or 1 mM choline phosphate (ChoP) greatly enhanced, in a mutually inhibitory manner, the stimulatory effect of insulin on DNA synthesis. Wortmannin and GF 109203X, inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase and protein kinase C, respectively, inhibited only the combined mitogenic effects of PMA and insulin, but not that of ChoP and insulin. In the presence of 0.5% fetal calf serum, both ChoP and insulin, but not PMA, retained their mitogenic activities, while PMA abolished the stimulatory effect of insulin on DNA synthesis. The results indicate that PMA can both enhance and inhibit the mitogenic action of insulin, depending on the presence of serum factors and ChoP.
Meiosis in the male of Puto albicans (Coccoidea-Homoptera).

Cytologically, Puto has proved more primitive than its taxonomic position would indicate. In the single previously described example (Hughes-Schrader, 1944), an uncomplicated inverted meiotic sequence was described for the males. The present example, P. albicans, showed a significantly more primitive inverted sequence. Unlike the other examples reported for aphids and coccids, the chromatids of the dyads neither dissociated nor reassociated during interkinesis. Instead, they remained closely associated and interconnected by an unresolved terminal chiasmate attachment. At first metaphase, the spindle attachments were localized to a restricted region of the poleward surface of the chromatids. Localization of attachment during meiosis and close association of chromatids during interkinesis are both suggestive of similar but not identical conditions expected in ancestors with an uninverted meiotic sequence. A second species proved intermediate between P. albicans and that described by Hughes-Schrader in which a complete cycle of dissociation and reassociation occurred during interkinesis. In P. albicans the pachytene bivalents showed no structures suggestive of centric localizations. At their greatest condensation at first metaphase, the chromatids were clearly subdivided into half chromatids. Limited observations were made on chromosomes of other species of Puto and of Phenacoleachia zealandica, and also on spermiogenesis and mycetocyte formation in Puto. The discussion is devoted to considerations of chromatid subdivision, holokinetic chromosomes, and meiotic inversion and some evolutionary implications are mentioned.
Identity development across the lifespan: a biracial model

Abstract Traditional concepts of identity emphasize race to the exclusion of life span criteria. Race based models ignore the human behavior of biracial Americans in their social environment. Conversely, a substantial portion of the scholarly literature advocates social experience rather than physiological attributes as keystone to individual identity development. In the aftermath biracial Americans are conflicted. In an effort to insure their psychic health, scholars and practitioners must inculcate an identity development across the life span model to accommodate the nation’s increasing level of ethnic and racial miscegenation.
Properties of state matrixes representing time-invariant lossless nports

The class of all finite, time-invariant, linear, passive, lossless networks which have state-equation representations are considered. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the state-equation matrixes to represent such networks are derived, and the consequences of reciprocity and non-reciprocity are brought out.
Stability of Children's Career Aspirations

(1991). Stability of Children's Career Aspirations. The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Vol. 152, No. 1, pp. 137-139.
925. Novel Fusion Enzymes of Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase Mutants and Guanylate Kinase for Improved Cancer Cell Ablation

Top of pageAbstract Suicide gene therapy is a particularly attractive method of cancer therapy because of its ability to localize toxicity to tumor cells. The prototypical suicide gene, thymidine kinase, encodes a crucial enzyme in the pyrimidine salvage pathway, catalyzing the transfer of |[gamma]|-phosphate from ATP to thymidine to form dTMP. Unlike human thymidine kinase, the Herpes Simplex Virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) has a broad substrate specificity and is able to phosphorylate pyrimidine, pyrimidine analogues, and purine analogues. One purine analogue, ganciclovir or GCV, is currently being used in combination with HSV-TK in numerous gene therapy clinical trials for cancer. Following initial phosphorylation by HSV-TK, GCV is further phosphorylated by the cellular kinases, guanylate kinase (gmk) and nucleoside diphosphokinase (ndk), to the toxic triphosphate form. Because the conversion to the diphosphate form of GCV by endogenous gmk has been shown to be limiting, our laboratory created a HSV-TK/gmk fusion gene. Data from our laboratory strongly suggest that the fusion enzyme of wild-type HSV-TK/mgmk displays increased activity towards GCV compared to HSV-TK alone. In a separate series of experiments our laboratory has also identified mutants of HSV-TK that confer improved sensitivity toward GCV in vitro. To further enhance the activation of GCV, we seek to construct and characterize fusions of HSV-TK mutants and guanylate kinase. We hypothesize that such fusion enzymes will offer more efficient prodrug activation, confer significantly improved sensitivity toward GCV and therefore improved tumor ablation. Several fusion constructs were evaluated for their cell killing effect and bystander effect in vitro. Mutants with exceptional prodrug converting properties will be beneficial because they allow administration of lower doses of GCV, thereby minimizing side effects without the loss of potency. The use of such novel mutant fusion constructs will advance suicide gene therapy treatment for cancer and improve the likelihood of complete tumor regression.
Stable hydrocarbon diradical, an analogue of trimethylenemethane.

Hydrocarbon diradical 1, a new stable, 3-fold symmetric analogue of trimethylenemethane (TMM) with no heteroatom perturbation, is prepared and studied. Such diradicals should provide new building blocks for high-spin hydrocarbon polyradicals with very strong net ferromagnetic coupling. Magnetic studies (SQUID) and EPR spectroscopy indicate that 1 in tetrahydrofuran-d8 (THF-d8) possesses a triplet (S = 1) ground state, with strong ferromagnetic coupling. After annealing at room temperature, the EPR spectra of 1 (∼0.02 M in frozen THF-d8) consist of a single narrow resonance (ΔHpp < 1 G), and intermolecular antiferromagnetic coupling is increased by 1 order of magnitude. This behavior is consistent with the presence of exchange narrowing, thus suggesting aggregation of 1 in THF-d8. Blue solutions of 1 in THF-d8 possess a strong UV−vis absorption band at λmax ≈ 640 nm. Diradical 1 in THF-d8 is stable (or persistent) at room temperature, with no detectable decomposition for at least 2 days.
Effects of early stress on behavioral syndromes: An integrated adaptive perspective

This paper presents a behavioral ecologist's view on adaptive responses to early stress. I first summarize two approaches to this topic drawn from other papers in this Special Issue: the 'inoculation model' and the 'adaptive calibration model'. I then describe three relevant modeling approaches from behavioral and evolutionary ecology: models of adaptive plasticity, models of adaptive prey behavior under uncertainty about risk, and models of state-dependent adaptive behavioral syndromes. These models generate some novel predictions on factors that explain variation in how organisms might respond adaptively to early stress. In particular, the state-dependent models of adaptive behavioral syndromes emphasize the importance of feedback loops between behavior and state variables in explaining the long-term persistence of effects of early experiences. State variables can include aspects of physiology, morphology or life history, differences among individuals in information state or skill, or even in social state (e.g., social rank). The feedbacks between behavior and individual state suggest a framework for an integrative approach to understanding responses to stress. The behavioral syndrome approach also emphasizes the importance of understanding stress carryovers - e.g., situations where effects of one kind of stressor (e.g., early social stress) carry over to influence other stress responses (e.g., response to danger) later in life. Finally, I discuss how responses to early stress might relate to variation in the ability of animals to cope well with novel conditions associated with human-induced rapid environmental change, a ubiquitous problem that animals face in the modern world.
New Provisions for the Seismic Design of Composite and Hybrid Structures

Abstract While there have been significant advances in the design and construction of composite steel‐concrete building structures, their use in regions of high seismicity has been hindered by the lack of design criteria in building codes and specifications. This has prompted initiatives in the Building Seismic Safety Council and the American Institute of Steel Construction to develop seismic design provisions for composite structures. The 1997 edition of the AISC Seismic Provisions includes a new section with requirements for composite steel‐concrete structures that are cross‐referenced by the general seismic loading and design criteria in the 1997 NEHRP Provisions and the 2000 International Building Code (final draft). Intended to complement existing provisions for steel, reinforced concrete and composite structures in the AISC‐LRFD Specification and the ACI 318 Building Code, these new provisions provide an important resource for seismic design of composite structural systems, members, and connections.
Security assurances to non‐nuclear‐weapon states

(1993). Security assurances to non‐nuclear‐weapon states. The Nonproliferation Review: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 11-20.
Toward a Science of Computational Ethology

The new field of “Computational Ethology” is made possible by advances in technology, mathematics, and engineering that allow scientists to automate the measurement and the analysis of animal behavior. We explore the opportunities and long-term directions of research in this area.
Tail fit and the Zipf–Pareto law

A limit theorem with bounds on the rate of convergence is proven. The joint distribution of a fixed number of relative decrements of the top order statistics from a random sample converges to the limit as the sample size increases if and only if the underlying distribution is in essence a Pareto. In conjunction with a chi-square test of fit, it provides an asymptotically distribution-free test of fit to the family of distributions with regularly varying tails at infinity. When the limit distribution holds, rank-size plots obey Zipf’s law. The test can be used to detect departures from this Zipf–Pareto law.
Temperature response of Mars to Milankovitch cycles

[1] On Mars annual mean surface temperature near ±60° latitude varies predominately with precession and is not closely related to annual mean insolation. Based on the last few million years of orbital history, the precession cycle dominates in a narrow latitude range 54°–65°, in which the margins of the two ice-rich permafrost layers in each hemisphere happen to lie, while mean annual temperature at other latitudes is controlled by the obliquity cycle. The phenomenon already exists on an airless uniform body in Mars orbit, where this latitude range shifts to 62°–74° on both hemispheres, and is closely related to temperature amplitude dependent reradiation into space.
Functional equations for path integrals

We consider the density matrices that arise in the statistical mechanics of the electron-phonon systems. In the path integral representation the phonon coordinates can be eliminated. This leads to an action that depends on pairs of points on a path, that depends explicitly on time differences, and that contains the phonon occupation numbers. The integral is reduced to a standard form by scaling to the thermal length. We use the technique of integration by parts and add specially chosen generating functionals to the action. We set down functional derivative equations for the source-dependent density matrix and for the mass operator. This allows us to develop a series of approximations for the operator in terms of exact propagators. The crudest approximation is a coherent potential approximation applicable at a general temperature.
Continuous microindentation of passivating surfaces

Continuous microindentation tests performed on the electropolished surfaces of single crystal Fe (3 wt.% Si), known to have a thin passivation film, show a sharp discontinuity at a load of 1.8 mN. To this point, there was no apparent plastic deformation in the metal in that the loading and unloading curves exactly overlay each other. Stresses at the discontinuity were close to the theoretical strength of the metal. Elastic contact theories of Hertz and Love reproduced the elastic portion of the load-displacement curves. On removing the passivation film with a HCl solution, indentation tests yielded strengths nearly two orders of magnitude smaller. The strength recovered to near its initial value after the liquid evaporated and the passivation film re-formed.
Corneal Absorption of Ophthalmic Drugs

Corneal absorption of 0.0075% homatropine hydrobromide solution and 0.0025% tropicamide solution in rabbit eyes was reinforced by prebuffering the eyes with specific alkaline buffers or by adding viscolizers and a surfactant or by a combination of these measures. For 0.0075% homatropine hydrobromide solution, prebuffering with an isotonic sodium borate solution (2.6%) and two “biological” buffer solutions, 0.2 M cyclohexylaminopropanesulfonic acid and 0.2 M tris(hydroxymethyl)methylaminopropanesulfonic acid, was found to increase significantly the amount of corneal absorption of the mydriatic. Cyclohexylaminopropanesulfonic acid provided the greatest amount of increase. Two viscolizers, 0.7% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (45 cps) and 0.375% guar gum (41 cps), increased the effect of tropicamide more than that of homatropine hydrobromide. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, providing slightly greater viscosity than guar gum, resulted in a slightly increased mydriatic effect with each drug. Dilute polysorbate 80 in the two mydriatic solutions gave a greater enhancement to the effect of tropicamide than to that of homatropine hydrobromide for the first 30 min, but the enhanced mydriatic effect of homatropine hydrobromide was longer lasting. The increased absorption of the mydriatics obtained by employing both prebuffer and surfactant was greater than when using either alone.