cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of splenectomy on survival rate of patients with colorectal cancer

Summary Between 1966 and 1980, 68 patients were identified who had a splenectomy before or concurrent with resection of a colorectal adenocarcinoma. Control subjects with concurrent disease were then matched with each study patient for age, sex, stage of disease, and date of operation. Follow-up was complete. Between splenectomy patients and control subjects, there was no difference in the site of primary disease (rectum versus colon), the number of patients receiving adjuvant therapy, the technique of resection (cure versus palliation), or the extent of regional disease. Overwhelming sepsis occurred in only one splenectomy patient. Splenectomy was associated with a significant decrease in survival at 5 years in patients with regional (stage C) disease but not in patients with localized (stage B) disease. More splenectomy patients received blood transfusions than control subjects, but an independent effect on survival could not be demonstrated. The mechanism responsible for this adverse impact of splenectomy is undefined. However, splenectomy should be considered a possible factor in the survival of patients operated on for regional colorectal cancer.
Vying for the Urban Poor: Charitable Organizations, Faith-Based Social Capital, and Racial Reconciliation in a Deep South City

In this article the mobilization of social capital is examined as it relates to the formation of collaborative partnerships among charitable organizations. It is argued that social capital, expressed through social ties and mutual trust, forms the foundation for such partnerships. Specifically, collaborative activities built upon religiously based social capital mobilized among charitable organizations are focused upon in this study. The extensive role of such social capital, combined with the historical context of the research setting, overshadows alternative forms of social capital that might be accessed for neighborhood revitalization, particularly social capital based on race. Consequently, this article’s findings suggest that a color-blind approach to racial reconciliation has emerged among charitable organizations in conjunction with the hegemonic role of religiously based social capital in this local context. The unique nature of this outcome is significant because it emphasizes the impact of local context on the manner in which social capital is mobilized within localized networks.
Transport of inorganic phosphate in primary cultures of chondrocytes isolated from the tibial growth plate of normal adolescent chickens

This report describes Pi transport activity in chondrocytes isolated from the growth plate (GP) of normal adolescent chickens grown in primary cell culture. Our recent work showed that Pi transport in matrix vesicles (MV) isolated from normal GP cartilage was not strictly Na+-dependent, whereas previously characterized Pi transport from rachitic GP cartilage MV was. This Na+-dependent Pi transporter (NaPiT), a member of the Type III Glvr-1 gene family, is expressed only transiently during early differentiation of GP cartilage, is enhanced by Pi-deficiency, and is most active at pH 6.8. Since GP mineralization requires abundant Pi and occurs under slightly alkaline conditions, it seemed unlikely that this type of Pi transporter was solely responsible for Pi uptake during normal GP development. Therefore we asked whether the lack of strict Na+-dependency in Pi transport seen in normal MV was also evident in normal GP chondrocytes. In fact, cellular Pi transport was found not to be strictly Na+-dependent, except for a brief period early in the culture. Choline could equally serve as a Na+ substitute. Activity of choline-supported Pi transport was optimum at pH 7.6-8.0. In addition, prior exposure of the cells to elevated extracellular Pi (2-3 mM) strongly enhanced subsequent Pi uptake, which appeared to depend on prior loading of the cells with mineral ions. Prevention of Pi loading by pretreatment with Pi transport inhibitors not only inhibited subsequent cellular Pi uptake, it also blocked mineral formation. Treatment with elevated extracellular Pi did not induce apoptosis in these GP chondrocytes.
Source Analysis of the Crandall Canyon, Utah, Mine Collapse

Analysis of seismograms from a magnitude 3.9 seismic event on 6 August 2007 in central Utah reveals an anomalous radiation pattern that is contrary to that expected for a tectonic earthquake and which is dominated by an implosive component. The results show that the seismic event is best modeled as a shallow underground collapse. Interestingly, large transverse surface waves require a smaller additional noncollapse source component that might represent either faulting in the rocks above the mine workings or deformation of the medium surrounding the mine. Seismic moment tensor results for nuclear explosions, explosion and other mining cavity collapses, and tectonic earthquakes are compared, and the separation of the different populations indicates that the seismic moment tensor may be used for source-type discrimination.
Possible inhibitory functions of the hippocampus

Abstract The mammalian hippocampus is proposed to constitute part of the neural machinery necessary for the generation of a brain process which is functionally equivalent to Pavlovian internal inhibition. Relevant neuroanatomical and electrophysiological data are presented in support of this proposal. The major behavioral effects of hippocampal lesions in situations in which internal inhibition is presumed to occur are discussed. These situations include habituation to novelty, discrimination reversal, overtraining, extinction and spontaneous alternation.
Turbine Engine Health/Maintenance Status Monitoring with Use of Phase-Discrete Method of Blade Vibration Monitoring

The intended aim of the paper was to present a short review of more than 15 years of experience of ITWL in the field of applying the signal of actual rotational speed (aperiodic and oscillation components thereof) to the expert diagnosing of aero-engines, including identification of low- and high-cycle fatigue (LCF, HCF) of critical structural members. What has been presented is some essential metrological bearings of the non-contact technique of measuring the engine’s rpm with some flexible key phasors (i.e. vibrating compressor/turbine blades). Also, methods of numerical analysis of measuring signals, in use nowadays, have been discussed. With the jet engine of the SO-3 type (in use on the TS-11 “Iskra” combat trainer) as an example, are discussed algorithms of both the identification of disadvantageous aeromechanical effects (energy state of the engine - i.e. the source of accelerated HCF wear of structural components) and the early detection of symptoms of fatigue failures to compressor blades and the bearing system. The discussed problems have been illustrated with examples selected as to emphasise practicalities of applying a new source of diagnostic information to ‘actively’ control the process of fatigue wear (HCF + LCF) of engine components and to forecast the engine health/maintenance status.
Depositional sequences in the Cretaceous post-rift sediments on the New Jersey Atlantic margin

Abstract Deposition of the Cretaceous post-rift sediments of the New Jersey Atlantic margin was controlled by numerous cycles of sea-level change. The strata deposited within each cycle constitute the depositional sequence of the cycle. Two types of deposits are identified in the depositional sequences of the New Jersey coastal plain, transgressive deposits and highstand deposits. The transgressive deposits formed when sea level was rising at its greatest rate, which led to rapid inundation of the margin. The highstand deposits formed when sea-level rise slowed and began to fall. Unconformities developed in the coastal plain during lowstand of sea level at the end of a cycle and during the initial slow rise of sea level at the beginning of the next cycle. As a consequence, the depositional sequences are unconformity bounded and are separated by hiatuses of varying time dimensions. In the coastal plain the transgressive deposits are characterized by their fine-grained nature and by containing authigenic glauconite, often in abundance. They have sharp basal contacts where they unconformably overlie a lower sequence. The highstand deposits are sands and silts that grade from the underlying transgressive deposits. Nine depositional sequences are recognized in the Lower and Upper Cretaceous on the basis of these criteria. Each of these sequences is time constrained by biostratigraphic distribution of various microfossil groups (foraminifera, pollen and spores, dinoflagellates, and coccoliths). An additional four depositional sequences are suggested in the non-marine Lower Cretaceous on the basis of the interpretation of highstand deposits. Two major unconformities, five minor unconformities, and their accompanying hiatuses are recognized. A major Coniacian to early Santonian hiatus can be traced from the coastal plain to wells in the Baltimore Canyon Trough.
Reduced Form for the General-state Multicenter Integral from an Integro-differential Transform

In a previous paper Gaussian transforms were utilized to obtain the analytically reduced form for the class of multicenter integrals containing a product of hydrogenic orbitals for s states, Yukawa or Coulomb potentials, and plane waves. In the present paper a related transformation is developed for nonspherical functions, leading to the reduced form for multicenter integrals that include hydrogenic orbitals representing states of arbitrary angular momentum.
Cooperative income allocation in a multi-output, multi-input setting

Abstract Joint enterprises usually allocate returns among member firms in proportion to the value of resources which members have contributed. Unfortunately, market valuations of such resources often are unavailable or poorly represent the resources' contributions to enterprise profitability. The present paper shows hedonic methods can be used to provide a general formulation of a resource's contribution to cooperative or joint income, even when heterogeneous resources are commingled prior to final product sale. The formulation is employed to allocate net returns among enterprise members such that no member subsidizes another.
Subunit structure and N-terminal amino acid sequence of the three chains of cholera enterotoxin

Abstract The cholera enterotoxin (choleragen) was separated into its A, or biologically active, region, and its B, or binding, region by gel filtration in 5 M guanidine. The A region was further separated into its component peptides, A1 and A2, after complete reduction and 14C-alkylation. The amino acid composition and the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the component peptides, A1, A2 and B, were determined. The A1 (7300 daltons) and A2 (21,300 daltons) peptides are joined by a disulfide bond involving residue 5 of A2. The B chains (10,000 daltons) each have an intra-chain disulfide loop involving position 9. Slightly over 5 B chains are associated non-covalently with one A region in the average molecule of intact toxin. The B region is entirely equivalent to choleragenoid, the spontaneously formed enterotoxoid. The amino acid sequences reported herein differ significantly from those reported previously by others.
Musculoskeletal imaging with multislice CT.

979 ultislice CT has brought about major advances in bone and joint imaging. A volumetric image set with isotropic properties can be obtained in a single acquisition with a 0.5-mm slice width. Multislice CT allows extended anatomic coverage with thin slices; large patients and patients with metal hardware in their bodies now can be scanned without sacrificing diagnostic quality. To take full advantage of these capabilities, production of multiplanar reformatted (MPR) images Musculoskeletal Imaging with Multislice CT
Transcultural Nursing Research–Alien in an Alien Land

Summary This discussion has reviewed briefly a few of the methodological difficulties which the transcultural nursing researcher may confront. If nursing is to expand its horizons to encompass the newly articulated concepts of holistic health care, clients must be viewed in context of their cultural heritage and previous health -illness socialization. Through immersing oneself for a period of time in the sociocultural milieu of a people, the researcher may identify patterns of health-illness belief and behavior, and from these, culture-specific nursing attitudes and activities may be derived. Transcultural nursing research can be a productive, enriching experience, at the end of which most investigators find themselves at least a little less “alien” in an alien land.
Deep UV resonance Raman spectroscopy of β-sheet amyloid fibrils: a QM/MM simulation.

We present a combined quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics study of the deep ultraviolet ππ* resonance Raman spectra of β-sheet amyloid fibrils Aβ34–42 and Aβ1–40. Effects of conformational fluctuations are described using a Ramachandran angle map, thus avoiding repeated ab initio calculations. Experimentally observed effects of hydrogen–deuterium exchange are reproduced. We propose that the AmIII band redshift upon deuteration is caused by the loss of coupling between Cα–H bending and N–D bending modes, rather than by peptide bond hydration.
Temperature dependence of damping of lattice resonance in alkali halides

Abstract It is shown that the explicit T 2 dependence of damping due to quartic contributions is small in comparison with the T dependence from cubic anharmonicity in ionic crystals. A two-time Green function method is used.
Screening of Zinc-Based Sorbents for Hot-Gas Desulfurization

Highly reactive and attrition-resistant ZnO-based sorbents that are suitable for bubbling fluidized-bed reactors can be produced using the spray-drying method. Most of the ZnO-based sorbents prepared here (ZAC-X, X = 18N−25N) satisfy the physical and chemical criteria for bubbling fluidized-bed application [spherical shape, average particle size, 90−110 µm; size distribution, 40−230 µm; bulk density, 0.9−1.0 g/mL; attrition index (AI), 40−80%; sulfur sorption capacity, 14−17 wt %; sorbent use, 70−80%]. The performance test of the ZAC-C sorbent at Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) with a bubbling fluidized-bed for 70 h also demonstrated that it had good sulfidation and regeneration performance (11 wt % sorption capacity and 52% sorbent use) as well as reasonable attrition resistance (1.1% attrition loss for 70 h).
Higher eukaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in physiologic and pathologic states.

The aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases play a dual role in cell metabolism by synthesizing aminoacyl-tRNAs and an odd dinucleotide diadenosine-5′, 5′′′-P1, P4-tetraphosphate which appears to be involved in DNA replication and the control of cell proliferation. This review is a synthesis of recent results on the structure, genetics, cell biology, physiology, role in neoplasia, and role in autoimmune myositis of the higher eukaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.
Stochastic Simulation of Monetary Rules in Two Macroeconometric Models

Abstract The effects of different monetary rules on the rates of inflation and unemployment are studied by stochastic simulation of the Federal Reserve Board-MIT-Pennsylvania (FMP) Econometric Model and the St. Louis “Monetarist” Model. A number of heuristic and more formal statistical methods are used in evaluating the results. It is shown that simple feedback control rules—involving proportional and derivative controls—reduce the variability of the target variables relative to the rule in which the money supply is increased at a constant rate. The improvement is considerably greater in the St. Louis model than in the FMP model.
MicroRNA-539 Is Up-regulated in Failing Heart, and Suppresses O-GlcNAcase Expression

Derangements in metabolism and related signaling pathways characterize the failing heart. One such signal, O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc), is an essential post-translational modification regulated by two enzymes, O-GlcNAc transferase and O-GlcNAcase (OGA), which modulate the function of many nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. We recently reported reduced OGA expression in the failing heart, which is consistent with the pro-adaptive role of increased O-GlcNAcylation during heart failure; however, molecular mechanisms regulating these enzymes during heart failure remain unknown. Using miRNA microarray analysis, we observed acute and chronic changes in expression of several miRNAs. Here, we focused on miR-539 because it was predicted to target OGA mRNA. Indeed, co-transfection of the OGA-3′UTR containing reporter plasmid and miR-539 overexpression plasmid significantly reduced reporter activity. Overexpression of miR-539 in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes significantly suppressed OGA expression and consequently increased O-GlcNAcylation; conversely, the miR-539 inhibitor rescued OGA protein expression and restored O-GlcNAcylation. In conclusion, this work identifies the first target of miR-539 in the heart and the first miRNA that regulates OGA. Manipulation of miR-539 may represent a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of heart failure and other metabolic diseases.
Right ventricular dysfunction in low output syndrome after cardiac operations: assessment by transesophageal echocardiography.

Background. Low output syndrome after cardiac operations is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The contribution of right ventricular dysfunction to this syndrome has not been fully characterized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of transesophageal echocardiography to identify the frequency and the in-hospital mortality from right ventricular dysfunction in patients with this syndrome. Methods. Seventy-five consecutive patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography for low output syndrome early after cardiac operations were evaluated. The findings from transesophageal echocardiography were correlated with the type of surgical procedure, cross-clamp time, right heart hemodynamics, and coronary angiography. Results. Right ventricular systolic dysfunction occurred in 36 patients (42%); in 17 patients it was isolated and in 19 patients it occurred in combination with left ventricular dysfunction. Postoperative right ventricular dysfunction was not uniformly associated with important right coronary artery disease or with prolonged ischemic time during cardiopulmonary bypass. Hemodynamic data were not useful to distinguish the group with postoperative right ventricular dysfunction. Patients with right ventricular dysfunction had a high (44%) in-hospital mortality rate. Conclusions. Right ventricular dysfunction occurs frequently in patients with low output syndrome after cardiac operations and is associated with a high in-hospital mortality rate. Better understanding of the mechanisms causing postoperative right ventricular dysfunction may provide insight for preventing this complication.
Thermochemistry of iodine oxidation of sulfite in lanthanum oxide-sulfite-sulfate hydrates to yield hydrogen iodide

Abstract Sulfite in lanthanum oxide-sulfite-sulfate hydrate compositions is oxidized to sulfate by iodine, and hydrogen iodide is evolved. The most active temperature is 660 K, where the list of the hydrate water is vaporized. Concomitant with oxidation by iodine is sulfur evolution by disproportionation of sulfite, also to yield sulfate in the solid phase, plus some sulfur dioxide evolution from sulfite decomposition. Sequentially, hydrogen iodide reacts with sulfur dioxide to yield sulfur, iodine and water, that subtracts from the yield of hydrogen iodide at the expense of more sulfur formation. The latter reaction is reversible on a time scale of 10 min and conforms to the classic Gibbs energy interpretation.
A Valid Demonstration of the Missing Fundamental Illusion.

When 2 tones occur together, a 3rd tone, with a pitch corresponding to the difference in their frequencies, is sometimes heard. This tone is referred to as the missing fundamental because the liste...
Analysis of Cyst Size and Tumor Markers in the Management of Pancreatic Cysts: Support for the Original Sendai Criteria

Background In 2006, the Sendai Consensus Guidelines identified size >3.0 cm as the only independent predictor of malignancy in incidentally discovered pancreatic cysts. The 2012 updated guidelines increased emphasis on radiographic features over size. Earlier studies included patients with preoperatively diagnosed carcinoma or with a corresponding mass. In this report, we characterize the use of size and serum tumor markers in the initial evaluation of pancreatic cystic neoplasms without preoperatively diagnosed adenocarcinoma and correlate them with clinical and pathologic outcomes. Study Design A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of 112 patients with a resected pancreatic cystic neoplasm. Patient demographics, cyst characteristics, preoperative serum tumor markers, morbidity, and mortality were captured. Statistical analysis included nonparametric tests of comparison, multivariate logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. Results One hundred and twelve pancreatic cystic neoplasms were resected; there was one perioperative death. Mucinous cysts were common (78%), followed by serous cysts (13%). In total, 17% of cysts harbored malignancy. On multivariate analysis, the risk of malignancy in cysts ≥3 cm was more than 4 times that of smaller cysts (relative risk (RR) = 4.32; 95% CI, 1.55–12.07). There was no significant difference in serum CEA, cancer antigen 19-9, or cyst-fluid CEA levels between the benign and malignant groups. At a median follow-up of 30 months, the incidence of diabetes was 15%. Conclusions Surgical resection of pancreatic cysts can be performed with low perioperative mortality and acceptable long-term morbidity. Use of cyst size as a rationale for resection of cystic lesion, as per the Sendai criteria, is justified.
The effect of humeral torsion on rotational range of motion in the shoulder and throwing performance

Several recent studies have found that throwing athletes typically have lower humeral torsion (retroversion) and a greater range of external rotation at the shoulder than non-athletes. How these two parameters are related is debated. This study uses data from a sample of both throwers and non-throwers to test a new model that predicts torsion values from a range of motion data. The model proposes a series of predicted regressions which can help provide new insight into the factors affecting rotational range of motion at the shoulder. Humeral torsion angles were measured from computed tomography scans collected from 25 male subjects. These values are compared to predicted torsion values for the same subjects calculated from both kinematic and goniometric range-of-motion data. Results show that humeral torsion is negatively correlated (goniometric: r = -0.409, P = 0.047; kinematic: r = -0.442, P = 0.035) with external rotational range of motion and positively correlated (goniometric: r = 0.741, P < 0.001; kinematic: r = 0.559, P = 0.006) with internal rotational range of motion. The predicted torsion values are highly correlated (goniometric: r = 0.815, P < 0.001; kinematic: r = 0.617, P = 0.006) with actual torsion values. Deviations in the data away from predicted equations highlight significant differences between high torsion and low torsion individuals that may have significant functional consequences. The method described here may be useful for non-invasively assessing the degree of torsion in studies of the evolution and biomechanics of the shoulder and arm, and for testing hypotheses about the etiology of repetitive stress injuries among athletes and others who throw frequently.
Geochemical investigations of metals release from submerged coal fly ash using extended elutriate tests.

A storage pond dike failure occurred at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant that resulted in the release of over 3.8 million cubic meters (5 million cubic yards) of fly ash. Approximately half of this material deposited in the main channel of the Emory River, 3.5 km upstream of the confluence of the Emory and Clinch Rivers, Tennessee, USA. Remediation efforts to date have focused on targeted removal of material from the channel through hydraulic dredging, as well as mechanical excavation in some areas. The agitation of the submerged fly ash during hydraulic dredging introduces river water into the fly ash material, which could alter the redox state of metals present in the fly ash and thereby change their sorption and mobility properties. A series of extended elutriate tests were used to determine the concentration and speciation of metals released from fly ash. Results indicated that arsenic and selenium species released from the fly ash materials during elutriate preparation were redox stable over the course of 10 d, with dissolved arsenic being present as arsenate, and dissolved selenium being present as selenite. Concentrations of certain metals, such as arsenic, selenium, vanadium, and barium, increased in the elutriate waters over the 10 d study, whereas manganese concentrations decreased, likely due to oxidation and precipitation reactions. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Aminolevulinic Acid Photodynamic Therapy for Skin Cancers

Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is an effective and noninvasive therapy for superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and Bowen's disease. It also may have a role in the treatment of nodular BCC and other cutaneous malignancies, including localized cutaneous lymphomas. ALA-PDT offers multiple advantages over traditional treatments, including little to no scarring, excellent cosmetic results, and the ability to treat multiple lesions simultaneously. It is not an effective therapy for aggressive subtypes of BCC or for invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Finally, ALA-PDT may be a useful way to prevent new skin cancers in certain high-risk patients.
Social ties and cardiovascular function: An examination of relationship positivity and negativity during stress

The quality and quantity of one's relationships have been reliably linked to morbidity and mortality. More recently, studies have focused on links between relationships and cardiovascular reactivity as a physiological mechanism via the stress-buffering hypothesis. However, not all social relationships are consistently positive which points to the importance of a more comprehensive examination of relationship that includes negative qualities. In this study, we manipulated relationship positivity and negativity with an experimenter and examined its influence on cardiovascular reactivity. Results revealed that relationship positivity was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity for men and women. Relationship negativity, on the other hand, was related to less of an increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reactivity in men. Internal analyses showed that perceptions of positivity and negativity interacted such that high positivity/high negativity perceptions (ambivalence) were related to the highest SBP reactivity. Results of this study suggest that the quality of one's relationships is an important moderator of cardiovascular reactivity during stress.
Technology-Model-Product Parallel Design for High Performance and Rapid Time to Market 65nm Technology-Generation Microprocessors

Recently, 65 nm technology-based microprocessors have been introduced into high-end products such as games processors and high- performance servers [1]. As technology development in the modern-day relies more and more on non-traditional performance- leverage elements, there is an enhanced need to tighten the coupling between development, modeling, and design. We discuss the key challenges in the inter-related tasks of CMOS-technology development, early product engineering, and transition to full-volume manufacturing. In order to meet timely introduction to market, several key objectives must be pursued in a parallel fashion and must adhere to stringent timelines. The essence of this is the simultaneous development of (1) 65 nm process-technology (including continual process development geared towards minimization of variability) (2) highly accurate compact models and (3) product- design.
Life Cycle Inventory Study of Biologically Inspired Self-Cleaning Surfaces

In this paper, self-cleaning surfaces are investigated as an environmentally benign design option. These surfaces are a biologically inspired concept; first discovered on the lotus plant, micro- and nano-scale surface features aid in contaminant removal. Self-cleaning surfaces have been successfully recreated for engineering applications and appear on a variety of products. Because they can be cleaned with water alone, the use of such a surface could lead to less resource consumption during cleaning, if used in place of more resource intensive current industrial cleaning methods. A screening Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) study is used to determine if environmental benefits are obvious from the use of a self-cleaning surface over the entire life cycle. The study is performed on a chemical self-cleaning coating, selected for its durability, transparency and ease of use. The results of the LCI study are compared to current industrial cleaning practices of aqueous spray or ultrasonic cleaning, including solvent production and use of the cleaning machines. The LCI study reveals that environmental benefits are present in the use (cleaning) phase of a self-cleaning surface. However, when also considering the production of the self-cleaning surface, no clear environmentally superior choice exists. More analysis and evaluation of the production of self-cleaning surfaces is needed to select the more sustainable choice.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Diary Inside/Color Local Crónica

Hmmm. Quizas abrir con algunos de estos diary entries. These fragments of “me.” (LITTLE EYE: commune con tus Musos). Mi instinto me dice que it’s as good a way in as any, si bien un poco nel mezzo del camino (pero quizas por esto mismo, no?). Estos entries constituyen un modo mas directo, a more ostensibly unmediated way (ja ja) to access, to convey la tremenda carga de intensidad y de reconocimiento de estos meses aqui en el Montalvo Arts Center. Desde el 3 de mayo I’ve been here. Simon, yo. Me, here. As an artist-in-residence. Put that in your pipa and fumenlo, mijos. Pretty trippy, que no? Anyguey, el muneco del Tim Miller me recomendo; I applied y fijate que they picked me..... This chronicle will appear in Chavez-Silverman's second collection of chronicles, Scenes from la cuenca del LA y otros natural disasters (in press, 2010, University of Wisconsin Press). Her previous book of chronicles, Killer Cronicas: Bilingual Memories/Memorias Bilingues, was published in the Writing in Latinidad: Autobiographical Voices of U.S. Latinos/as Series, University of Wisconsin Press, in 2004.
Analysis of pulse duration sampled-data systems with linear elements

This paper deals with the application of z -transform techniques to the analysis of sampled-data systems in which signals appear in pulse duration modulated form. The characteristics of pulse duration sampled data are first briefly described. An analytical means for studying the transient response and stability of systems which use this kind of data is then presented. Finally, a comparison is shown of analytical results with tests on several representative experimental systems. A short discussion of the relative advantages and disadvantages of pulse duration modulation in control systems is also included.
Evaporative evolution of surface waters and the role of aqueous CO2 in magnesium silicate precipitation: Lake Eyasi and Ngorongoro Crater, northern Tanzania

Magnesium silicates such as chain clays and Mg-rich interstratifications commonly form in saline and alkaline soil and lake waters. Geochemical analyses of water and sediment from the Lake Eyasi and Ngorongoro Crater watersheds (northern Tanzania) were carried out to test the hypothesis that elevated aqueous CO 2 due to biological activity strongly affects the stability of Mg-rich clay minerals. Field data and model calculations show that P CO2 is an important control on pH, thereby affecting mineral stability. Initial supersaturation of water with respect to magnesium clays generally requires elevated pH, and subsequent pH suppression due to biotic CO 2 can prevent mineral precipitation. At Ngorongoro and Eyasi, solute Na + , SO 4 2− , Cl − , and alkalinity follow generally conservative evaporative enrichment trajectories, whereas solute Ca 2+ is lost to calcite, SiO 2 to biogenic amorphous silica, and K + to clay uptake. Mg 2+ behavior is highly variable, and does not follow any simple trajectory. Minimal evaporative concentration is required for magnesium silicate supersaturation, and a strong correlation is found between P CO2 and magnesium silicate solubility (Ngorongoro r 2 =0.70, p 2 =0.61, p 2 gas equilibrium status. These diagenetic processes should be considered in the use of lacustrine clay minerals as paleochemical indicators, because diagenetic pH suppression in sub-lacustrine pore waters can effectively remove indicators of high paleo-salinity
Nitrile-inducible gene expression in mycobacteria

The ability to ectopically control gene expression is a fundamental tool for the study of bacterial physiology and pathogenesis. While many efficient inducible expression systems are available for Gram-negative bacteria, few are useful in phylogenetically distant organisms, such as mycobacteria. We have adapted a highly-inducible regulon of Rhodococcus rhodochrous to artificially regulate gene expression in both rapidly-growing environmental mycobacteria and slow-growing pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We demonstrate that this artificial regulatory circuit behaves as a bistable switch, which can be manipulated regardless of growth phase in vitro, and during intracellular growth in macrophages. High-level overexpression is also possible, facilitating biochemical and structural studies of mycobacterial proteins produced in their native host.
Fast Terrain Classification Using Variable-Length Representation for Autonomous Navigation

We propose a method for learning using a set of feature representations which retrieve different amounts of information at different costs. The goal is to create a more efficient terrain classification algorithm which can be used in real-time, onboard an autonomous vehicle. Instead of building a monolithic classifier with uniformly complex representation for each class, the main idea here is to actively consider the labels or misclassification cost while constructing the classifier. For example, some terrain classes might be easily separable from the rest, so very simple representation will be sufficient to learn and detect these classes. This is taken advantage of during learning, so the algorithm automatically builds a variable-length visual representation which varies according to the complexity of the classification task. This enables fast recognition of different terrain types during testing. We also show how to select a set of feature representations so that the desired terrain classification task is accomplished with high accuracy and is at the same time efficient. The proposed approach achieves a good trade-off between recognition performance and speedup on data collected by an autonomous robot.
Treating diabetes in the elderly: what is the impact for cardiovascular health?

Hermes Florez1†, Jennifer Marks1,2 & Carlos Abraira1,3 †Author for correspondence 1Miami VA Healthcare System GRECC (11GRC), 1201 NW 16th Street, Miami, FL 33125, USA and, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA Tel.: +1 305 575 3388; Fax: +1 305 575 3365; E-mail: hflorez@ med.miami.edu 2Tel.: +1 305 243 6433; Fax: +1 305 243 3313; E-mail: jmarks@ med.miami.edu 3Tel.: +1 305 575 3585; Fax: +1 305 575 3315; E-mail: cabraira@ med.miami.edu ‘There is clear evidence that use of aspirin, a statin, and the targeted lowering of blood pressure are each associated with substantial reductions in cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes.’
Schools, Achievement, and Inequality: A Seasonal Perspective:

Are there socioeconomic differences in the seasonality of children’s learning over the school year and summer months? The achievement gap across social lines increases during the primary grades, as much research indicates, but descriptive analyses and HLM within-person growth models for a representative panel of Baltimore school children demonstrate that the increase can be traced mainly to the out-of-school environment (i.e., influences situated in home and community). School-year verbal and quantitative achievement gains are comparable for upper socioeconomic status (SES) and lower SES children, but summer gains, when children are out of school, evidence large disparities. During the summer, upper SES children’s skills continue to advance (albeit at a slower rate than during the school year), but lower SES children’s gains, on average, are flat. This seasonal pattern of achievement gains implies that schooling plays an important compensatory role, one that is obscured when achievement is compared on an annual basis, as is typical. Policy implications of the seasonality of learning are discussed, including support for preventive measures over the preschool years and for programs, possibly including calendar reforms and summer school, to support disadvantaged children’s learning year-round.
DNA Hairpin Opening Mediated by the RAG1 and RAG2 Proteins

The lymphoid cell-specific proteins RAG1 and RAG2 initiate V(D)J recombination by cleaving DNA adjacent to recombination signals, generating blunt signal ends and covalently sealed, hairpin coding ends. A critical next step in the reaction is opening of the hairpins, but the factor(s) responsible has not been identified and had been thought to be a ubiquitous component(s) of the DNA repair machinery. Here we demonstrate that RAG1 and RAG2 possess an intrinsic single-stranded nuclease activity capable of nicking hairpin coding ends at or near the hairpin tip. In Mn2+, a synthetic hairpin is nicked 5 nucleotides (nt) 5′ of the hairpin tip, with more distant sites of nicking suppressed by HMG2. In Mg2+, hairpins generated by V(D)J cleavage are nicked whereas synthetic hairpins are not. Cleavage-generated hairpins are nicked at the tip and predominantly 1 to 2 nt 5′ of the tip. RAG1 and RAG2 may therefore be responsible for initiating the processing of coding ends and for the generation of P nucleotides during V(D)J recombination.
Evolutionary Convergence in Adaptation of Proteins to Temperature: A4-Lactate Dehydrogenases of Pacific Damselfishes (Chromis spp.)

We have compared the kinetic properties (Michaelis-Menten constant [K(m)] and catalytic rate constant [k(cat)]) and amino acid sequences of orthologs of lactate dehydrogenase-A (A(4)-LDH) from congeners of Pacific damselfishes (genus Chromis) native to cold-temperate and tropical habitats to elucidate mechanisms of enzymatic adaptation to temperature. Specifically, we determined whether the sites of adaptive variation and the types of amino acids involved in substitutions at these sites were similar in the Chromis orthologs and other orthologs of warm-adapted and cold-adapted A(4)-LDH previously studied. We report striking evolutionary convergence in temperature adaptation of this protein and present further support for the hypothesis that enzyme adaptation to temperature involves subtle amino acid changes at a few sites that affect the mobility of the portions of the enzyme that are involved in rate-determining catalytic conformational changes. We tested the predicted effects of differences in sequence using site-directed mutagenesis. A single amino acid substitution in a key hinge region of the A(4)-LDH molecule is sufficient to change the kinetic characteristics of a temperate A(4)-LDH to that of a tropical ortholog. This substitution is at the same location that was identified in previous studies of adaptive variation in A(4)-LDH and was hypothesized to be important in adjusting K(m) and k(cat). Our results suggest that certain sites within an enzyme, notably those that establish the energy changes associated with rate-limiting movements of protein structure during catalysis, are "hot spots" of adaptation and that common types of amino acid substitutions occur at these sites to adapt structural "flexibility" and kinetic properties. Thus, despite the wide array of options that proteins have to adjust their structural stabilities in the face of thermal stress, the adaptive changes that couple "flexibility" to alterations of function may be limited in their diversity.
The learning alliance and its relation to psychiatric teaching.

The concept of the learning alliance is useful in understanding the teaching-learning process in general and the doctor-patient relationship specifically. The alliance is that relationship between student and teacher characterized by mutual respect and joint dedication to a task of learning. It enables the student to maximize his mastery of a new and difficult experience. This paper outlines the stresses on the alliance throughout the teaching process, and illustrates these in examples of psychiatric teaching.Aspects of the learning alliance as encountered in the teaching of psychiatry have equal relevance to the teaching of medical students, practicing physicians, and other clinical workers.Similarities and differences are explored in both the teaching and the therapeutic models of helping relationships.
Congenital Wilms' tumour: case report.

SUMMARY 1 A further case of congenital Wilms tumour is reported. 2 This tumour carries an excellent prognosis. 3 Nephrectomy alone provides adequate treatment. 4 Early diagnosis and a high incidence of well-differentiated tumours may account for the unusual behaviour of this malignancy.
Automatic Data Layout for High Performance Fortran

High Performance Fortran (HPF) is rapidly gaining acceptance as a language for parallel programming. The goal of HPF is to provide a simple yet efficient machine independent parallel programming model. Besides the algorithm selection, the data layout choice is the key intellectual step in writing an efficient HPF program. The developers of HPF did not believe that data layouts can be determined automatically in all cases, Therefore HPF requires the user to specify the data layout. It is the task of the HPF compiler to generate efficient code for the user supplied data layout. The choice of a good data layout depends on the HPF compiler used, the target architecture, the problem size, and the number of available processors. Allowing remapping of arrays at specific points in the program makes the selection of an efficient data layout even harder. Although finding an efficient data layout fully automatically may not be possible in all cases. HPF users will need support during the data layout selection process. In particular, this support is necessary if the user is not familiar with the characteristics of the target HPF compiler and target architecture, or even with HPF itself. Therefore, tools for automatic data layout and performance estimation will be crucial if the HPF is to find general acceptance in the scientific community. This paper discusses a framework for automatic data layout for use in a data layout assistant tool for a data-parallel language such as HPF. The envisioned tool can be used to generate a first data layout for a sequential Fortran program without data layout statements, or to extend a partially specified data layout in a HPF program to a totally specified data layout. Since the data layout assistant is not embedded in a compiler and will run only a few times during the tuning process of an application program, the framework can use techniques that may be too computationally expensive to be included in a compiler. A prototype data layout assistant tool based on our framework has been implemented as part of the D system currently under development at Rice University. The paper reports preliminary experimental results. The results indicate that the framework is efficient and generates data layouts of high quality.
Use of the Child Development Inventory to Screen High-Risk Populations

This study examined the validity of a parent-report inventory, the Child Development Inventory (CDI), as a developmental screening instrument in high-risk toddlers and preschoolers. Seventy-six children, aged 15-70 months, were assessed in a neonatal high-risk developmental follow-up clinic. The data included the completion of CDIs by parents/caregivers and developmental evaluations by a physician using either the Clinical Adaptive Test/Clinical Linguistic Auditory Milestone Scale (CAT/CLAMS) (15-35 months) or Slosson Intelligence Test (36-70 months). Analysis revealed a good level of sensitivity (true "abnormals"—73%) and specificity (true "normals"—87%) for the CDI General Development score. The findings suggested that the CDI is a valid and useful screening instrument for high-risk infants. Clin Pediatr. 1999;38:535-539
RESONANCE ESCAPE PROBABILITY IN SLAB LATTICES

We have examined the slowing down of neutrons in a lattice consisting of alternate slabs of noncapturing moderator and nonmoderating fuel whose cross-sections vary arbitrarily with energy. The Boltzmann equation is transformed to an integral equation into which appropriate boundary conditions are incorporated. Expansion of the flux functions in terms of orthogonal polynomials in space and angle co-ordinates yields an infinite set of coupled integral equations in energy. In the simplest approximation and for a hydrogen moderator these equations are easily integrated to give an expression for the resonance escape probability identical with the one recently derived—from quite different considerations—by J. Chernick. We show that higher-order terms in our equations should contribute little to neutron absorption in those capture resonances which contribute most to the integrated capture probability. Thus, while our simplest approximation is not a good one for determining flux distributions, it will be quite good for determining resonance escape probabilities. Numerical results will be given.
Standardization of Benchmarks for Protective Device Time-Current Curves

The history of time-current curves and the development of time-current curve techniques and practices leading up to the present day standards are reviewed. A format is suggested for the calculation and illustration of benchmarks on time-current curves. The discussion will encompass medium-and low-voltage coordination benchmarks as well as the identification of time-current curve elements. A brief discussion of time-current curve production using computer graphic techniques is also included.
Cell Penetrating Peptide Conjugated Chitosan for Enhanced Delivery of Nucleic Acid

Gene therapy is an emerging therapeutic strategy for the cure or treatment of a spectrum of genetic disorders. Nevertheless, advances in gene therapy are immensely reliant upon design of an efficient gene carrier that can deliver genetic cargoes into the desired cell populations. Among various nonviral gene delivery systems, chitosan-based carriers have gained increasing attention because of their high cationic charge density, excellent biocompatibility, nearly nonexistent cytotoxicity, negligible immune response, and ideal ability to undergo chemical conjugation. However, a major shortcoming of chitosan-based carriers is their poor cellular uptake, leading to inadequate transfection efficiency. The intrinsic feature of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) for transporting diverse cargoes into multiple cell and tissue types in a safe manner suggests that they can be conjugated to chitosan for improving its transfection efficiency. In this review, we briefly discuss CPPs and their classification, and also the major mechanisms contributing to the cellular uptake of CPPs and cargo conjugates. We also discuss immense improvements for the delivery of nucleic acids using CPP-conjugated chitosan-based carriers with special emphasis on plasmid DNA and small interfering RNA.