cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The premenstrual syndrome--diagnosis and management

Premenstrual syndrome is an extremely common disorder. Prospective documentation of symptoms and their temporal relationship to menstruation establishes the diagnosis of PMS. Because the pathophysiologic mechanisms causing PMS are still undetermined, therapy for PMS is largely empiric. A number of pharmacologic agents may be used to reduce PMS symptomatology, and therapeutic decisions should be tailored to the individual's symptom complex. Many women will be able to lead more productive lives if PMS is properly diagnosed and intelligently treated.
Choosing How to Behave

The classical prisoner’s dilemma model discussed in Chapter 3 assumes that there are only two types of interaction behaviors: being good all of the time or being bad all of the time. Real people, of course, are not nearly that simple-minded in choosing their interaction behavior. A person can keep track in his mind of his own past interaction behavior and the result of that behavior, as well as the past interaction behavior of others. This enables a person to learn from this past interaction history and to adapt his behavior accordingly. Two models in Chapter 3 examined the easiest adaptation that a person can make based on the past, which is to simply refuse to interact with anyone who has treated him, or someone he knows, badly before. There are numerous other, more sophisticated adaptations that can be made based on a person’s memory of past behavior. For example, a person could interact with anyone regardless of past behavior, but tailor his behavior based on that person’s past history. Another response could involve introspection in which a person monitors his own interaction history and adjusts his behavior based on how well his past behavior haspaid offfor him. In this chapter, we look at models of each of these behavioral strategies and their effect on an individual’s resource levels over time.
Pedestrian-level wind speed enhancement in urban street canyons with void decks

Abstract Low wind speeds can inhibit passive ventilation and reduce thermal comfort in tropical cities. We use both experimental and numerical approaches to investigate pedestrian-level wind speed enhancement with void decks (empty spaces at the ground floors) in urban street canyons. Water channel experiments show that void decks allow wind to pass through them, thereby enhancing pedestrian-level wind speeds up to twofold. Computational fluid dynamics models validated with the experiments were used to conduct two parametric studies. The first study varied the void deck height and showed that the wind enhancement effects increase with taller void decks, as expected. The second study varied the canyon aspect ratio and showed that variations in the canyon aspect ratio had less influence on wind enhancement compared to the variations in the void deck height. This is because a void deck induces a secondary vortex, which counter-rotates with the vortex driven by the freestream. Increasing the canyon aspect ratio stretches the vortices vertically but does not alter the (normalized) flow fields. Our findings reveal the potential of void decks to channel wind into street canyons, including narrow (high height-to-width aspect ratio) canyons, which suffer from poor ventilation. The enhanced wind speeds are beneficial for pollutant dispersion and outdoor thermal comfort in tropical cities.
Toward Infinitely Recyclable Plastics Derived from Renewable Cyclic Esters

Summary Plastics, used in countless consumer products that our daily lives depend on, have become indispensable materials essential for modern life and the global economy. At the same time, currently unsustainable practices in the production and disposal of plastics continue to deplete our finite natural resources and create severe worldwide environmental consequences. In the search for feasible solutions to these issues, significant recent advances have been made in developing chemically recyclable plastics, which allow for recovery of the building-block chemicals via depolymerization, for repolymerization to virgin-quality plastics, or for creative repurposing into value-added materials. Among such recyclable plastics, polyesters derived from renewable cyclic esters possess real potential to meet these challenges. Hence, this review highlights the plastics derived from common four-, five-, six-, seven-, and eight-membered cyclic esters by covering synthetic strategies, material properties, and, particularly, chemical recyclability. Such studies have culminated a recent discovery of infinitely recyclable plastics with properties of common plastics.
Heat Generation and Thermal Transport in Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Scale-Bridging Perspective

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are complex, heterogeneous systems with coupled electrochemical and thermal phenomena that lead to elevated temperatures, which, in turn, limit safety, reliability, and...
Exposure and potential effects of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in protected streams of the US National park Service southeast region

Globally, protected areas offer refugia for a broad range of taxa including threatened and endangered species. In the United States (US), the National Park Service (NPS) manages public lands to preserve biodiversity, but increasing park visitation and development of surrounding landscapes increase exposure to and effects from bioactive contaminants. The risk (exposure and hazard) to NPS protected-stream ecosystems within the highly urbanized southeast region (SER) from bioactive contaminants was assessed in five systems based on 334 pesticide and pharmaceutical analytes in water and 119 pesticides in sediment. Contaminant mixtures were common across all sampled systems, with approximately 24% of the unique analytes (80/334) detected at least once and 15% (49/334) detected in half of the surface-water samples. Pharmaceuticals were observed more frequently than pesticides, consistent with riparian buffers and concomitant spatial separation from non-point pesticide sources in four of the systems. To extrapolate exposure data to biological effects space, site-specific cumulative exposure-activity ratios (ΣEAR) were calculated for detected surface-water contaminants with available ToxCast data; common exceedances of a 0.001 ΣEAR effects-screening threshold raise concerns for molecular toxicity and possible, sub-lethal effects to non-target, aquatic vertebrates. The results illustrate the need for continued management of protected resources to reduce contaminant exposure and preserve habitat quality, including prioritization of conservation practices (riparian buffers) near stream corridors and increased engagement with upstream/up-gradient property owners and municipal wastewater facilities.
CONTROLLABILITY ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX NETWORKS USING STATISTICAL RANDOM SAMPLING

Large complex dynamical systems behave in ways that reflect their structure. There are many applications where we need to control these systems by bringing them from their current state to a desire...
Liberalismos sonoros. Reflexiones sobre una estética liberal

A partir de los conceptos de inconsciente estetico, regimen representativo y regimen estetico de Jacques Ranciere, el articulo elabora la tesis de una estetica liberal que opera tras diversas manifestaciones artisticas de nuestro presente. Para el caso, se examinan algunas ideas del arte sonoro, representadas principalmente por el artista ingles David Toop. El articulo afirma la posibilidad de leer el liberalismo a traves de un examen estetico, considerando el analisis de la relacion entre inconsciente e inconsciente, pero a partir del antecedente de una sensibilidad que determina esta relacion y que se manifiesta a traves de un arte que llamamos liberal. Estas manifestaciones superan lo estrictamente artistico, permitiendo a traves del examen propuesto, esbozar algunas dimensiones fundamentales del liberalismo.
Underrepresentation of Racial Minorities in Breast Surgery Literature: A Call for Increased Diversity and Inclusion.

Objective In this study, the extent of racial diversity in images of breast-related plastic surgery published literature was investigated to better understand disparities that exist in breast surgery. Background The lack of racial diversity in images of skin color in surgery literature can perpetuate implicit bias and stereotypes. Implicit bias can affect the way patients are evaluated, diagnosed, and treated. The visual aspects of plastic surgery make a lack of diversity in imagery especially impactful on patient care and outcomes. Methods Published medical images and graphics depicting human skin were analyzed across four major plastic surgery journals. Up to four years were chosen a priori to evaluate from each journal and represented the initial year of color image publication, the year of study initiation (2016), and representative years for a given decade (2000 and 2010). Images and graphics were tabulated, rated by Fitzpatrick scale and categorized into "white" or "non-white". Data were evaluated with pair-wise and linear regression statistics. Results Of the 2774 images and 353 graphics that met inclusion criteria, only 184 (8.18%) images and 9 graphics (6.34%) depicted non-white skin. Temporal analysis showed that there is an increased diversity of images published since 2010 with 0% of images being non-white prior to and 7.3%-10.3% after 2010. International and multi-national authors tended to publish more non-white images. Conclusions There is insufficient racial diversity visually represented in the breast-related plastic surgery literature with a small degree of progress made towards more equitable imagery over time. Increasing awareness of image content, and the need for equitable visual representation may allow for improved racial diversity in surgical literature.
MeSH Indexing Using the Biomedical Citation Network

PubMed contains over 30 million biomedical literature citations and is an invaluable resource for researchers, medical professionals, students, and curious individuals. The search and retrieval process is significantly enhanced by PubMed's Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) indexing process, which requires a significant manual component. It is difficult to effectively apply traditional machine learning methods to large scale semantic indexing problems, and this difficulty has impeded complete automation of the MeSH indexing process. PubMed citations are particularly challenging to index: documents are often indexed with a dozen or more terms, and most terms occur extremely infrequently in the document set. This work examines the biomedical literature citation network and MeSH vocabulary for viable signal that might benefit the indexing process. Simple predictive models utilizing features generated from the biomedical literature citation network proved useful and effective in recommending MeSH terms for document indexing. A neural network proved similarly effective to the simple model in terms of raw performance but produced qualitatively different term recommendations.
Ludic Music in Ancient Greek and Roman Theater

Theater in ancient Greece and Rome was decidedly musical. In each major theatrical genre—tragedy, comedy, mime, and pantomime—actors sang, chanted, or danced to the accompaniment of a two-piped, double-reed instrument, called aulos in Greek, tibia in Latin. Metrical patterns in the plays reveal which passages were performed to accompaniment and tell us much about the rhythmic patterns of the songs. This evidence reveals that although its effects could be very serious, music had great ludic potential on the ancient Greek and Roman stage. By adding an unusual song early in his Frogs, for example, Aristophanes guaranteed his audience would appreciate that his version of the underworld is far from serious. The opening song of Sophocles’ satyr play Ichneutai played an important role in the relief it brought from the seriousness of the three tragedies that preceded it. In the so-called “Charition mime,” an exuberant combination of song or chant, dance, and instruments brings to a climax the play’s farcical burlesque of a tragic plot. In Mostellaria, by the Roman comic playwright Plautus, musical choices reinforce a sustained emphasis on the play’s ludic nature.
Weight discrimination: Are colleges preparing their graduates for successful employment and careers?

Background: Colleges are uniquely positioned to influence both the short and long-term health and well-being of students through implementation of interventions to prevent and/or treat obesity among students; and have a vested interest given obesity has the potential to impact students' matriculation, graduation, and career prospects. Aim: To illustrate the essential roles of colleges to influence obesity prevention and treatment given the potential to influence the students' matriculation, graduation, and career prospects. Methods: The discussion begins with an overview of the prevalence and societal implications of obesity. Next the implications for higher education with respect to matriculation and graduation, the influence of higher education on lifestyle behaviors, and the influence of obesity on academic performance. This is followed by the influence of obesity on students' post-higher education lives, including potential discrimination when seeking employment, and the impact that the nature of the jobs that graduates attain may have on their health and well-being. Results: There exists a great need to reduce the prevalence of obesity and colleges are well positioned to provide leadership and direction. Conclusions: Implications for colleges are set forth, with ways in which they can play a role in promoting student health detailed.
Improving the Low Temperature Ductility of NiAl

As part of a study aimed at developing a ductile NiAl-based alloy, ingots of Ni-Fe-Al alloys were cast and hot extruded to rods. The purpose of the iron additions was two-fold viz; to produce a change in the slip vector from to and, in one alloy, to add a L12-structured ductile second phase. Extruded Ni-20A1–3OFe was two-phase, containing a pro-eutectic B2 phase in a fine lamellar structure (< 0.5 μm spacing) of B2+L12 phases. Room temperature tensile testing of both single extruded and double extruded alloys resulted in 8% and 22% plastic elongation and yield stresses of 850 and 760 MPa respectively. Fracture in both cases occurred by ductile tearing of the eutectic and transgranular cleavage of the proeutectic phase at 1350 MPa. The ductility in double extruded condition is higher than that reported earlier in rapidly solidified wires by Inoue et al., J. Mat. Sci., 19, (1984), 3097. By comparison, extruded single-phase B2-structured Ni- 30AI-2OFe exhibited a fracture strength of 780 MPa, no plasticity and a mixture of intergranular fracture and transgranular cleavage. This is in contrast to earlier work by Inoue et al. (ibid) where a yield stress of 400 MPa, 5% plastic strain and a mixture of dimple and intergranular fracture was reported.
Novel Agents for Waldenström Macroglobulinemia

Abstract Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by the accumulation of malignant lymphoplasmacytic cells in the bone marrow and other organs that secrete a monoclonal IgM paraprotein. Whole genome sequencing studies have detected recurrent somatic mutations in MYD88 and CXCR4, with a prevalence of 90% and 40%, respectively. Classic therapeutic options include alkylating agents and proteasome inhibitors, both in combination with rituximab. These regimens are associated with overall response rates (ORR) of 90% and median progression-free survival (PFS) between 4 and 6 years.
Unique Recognizable Histopathologic Variant of Palisaded Neutrophilic and Granulomatous Dermatitis that Is Associated With SRSF2-Mutated Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

ABSTRACT Palisaded neutrophilic and granulomatous dermatitis (PNGD) represents a cutaneous histopathologic reaction spectrum associated with several underlying disorders. Few cases of PNGD have been associated with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), a malignant hematopoietic disorder with features in between those of a myeloproliferative neoplasm and myelodysplastic syndrome. We present a patient with a generalized papular skin reaction involving the neck, chest, and shoulders with histomorphological features on the spectrum of PNGD. Subsequent laboratory workup demonstrated a persistent mild monocytosis, raising concern for CMML. The diagnosis was ultimately confirmed with a bone marrow biopsy and associated mutational analysis through next-generation sequencing which identified deleterious variants in SRSF2, IDH2, and ASXL1. The findings in this case strengthen the previously made association between PNGD and SRSF2-mutated CMML and may help better define a unique recognizable clinical-histopathological-molecular subtype for dermatopathologists.
Purchases, Penalties, and Power: The Relationship Between Earnings and Housework

Studies examining the association of housework with earnings have not tested for causal directionality despite competing theories about causal ordering. Autonomy theory and the relative resources, gender display, and gender deviance neutralization hypotheses suggest personal and relative earnings affect time in housework, whereas human capital theory implies the opposite. Using data from N = 3,719 continuously married couples in Waves 1 and 2 of the National Survey of Families and Households and structural equation modeling, the authors found that wives' personal earnings and housework are reciprocally related; her earnings have a stronger effect on housework than vice versa. For husbands, time in routine housework affects earnings only. The authors observed little evidence that relative earnings affect husbands' or wives' housework time; rather, they identified a significant effect of housework on one's share of couples' earnings. These results support autonomy theory for wives and a human capital perspective for both spouses.
Thyroid hormone-divalent cation interactions. Effect of thyroid hormone on mitochondrial calcium metabolism.

Abstract The effect of l -triiodothyronine (T3) on calcium metabolism was studied in mitochondria isolated from thyroidectomized rats. The maximal rate of low-level calcium uptake (V) was enhanced by T3 in the absence or the presence of added acetate; the K 1 2 value was unchanged. Further, the rate constant (Ke) derived from measurement of the efflux of calcium was stimulated 10-fold upon the addition of T3. This stimulating effect was not seen in the presence of acetate. In studies of adenine nucleotide translocation, calcium stimulated the translocation of ATP out of these mitochondria, but only in the presence of T3. These results suggest that T3 alters calcium ion mobility within the mitochondrial membrane and hence modulates calcium-dependent metabolic processes. The precise locus of this affect remains to be identified.
In‐Solution Digestion of Proteins for Mass Spectrometry

Mass spectrometry (MS) has gradually replaced classical methods as a major tool in protein sequencing and characterization. However, the sample preparation repertoire has not changed very much; it has just been adjusted to the needs of the new analytical method. In this chapter frequently used in-solution enzymatic digestions and chemical cleavages are reviewed. In addition, some practical recommendations as well as the advantages and shortcomings of the methods are discussed.
Movement of physiological levels of selenium from soils through plants to animals.

This study was undertaken to trace quantitatively the movement of low levels of Se in the soil-plant-animal cycle and to determine the effect of Se moved through this cycle upon the incidence of white muscle disease (WMD). Se, added as Na/sub 2/SeO/sub 3/, to a low-Se soil was taken up by alfalfa. When alfalfa grown on a Se-treated soil was fed to sheep, protection from WMD was evidenced, under conditions where WMD was prevalent in lambs from ewes fed alfalfa grown on comparable untreated soil. Se from the alfalfa was retained in the tissues of lambs, and a concentration of 0.21 ppm Se in the livers of lambs is evidently near to a minimal required level for this element. Ewes fed alfalfa containing 2.6 ppm Se for 150 days, and then fed a low Se diet, transmitted protective levels of Se to lambs born 10 months later. Residual effects of Se in the soil upon the Se content of alfalfa were evident 2 years after Se application. The use of soil applications of Se to protect animals from WMD is inefficient in terms of the amount of Se required and involves some hazard from Se toxicity. 19 references, 4 tables.
OIII‐B‐1

PURPOSE To test the hypothesis that polymorphisms (SNPs) of β1 and β2 adrenergic receptors (ADRB1 & 2) are associated with the number of drugs needed to reach BP control in the β-blocker arm of INVEST, which enrolled patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS DNA samples were obtained from 3012 patients who received atenolol, with addition of diuretic then ACE inhibitor if needed for BP control or per treatment guideline. Five SNPs were genotyped by Pyrosequencing: ADRB1 S49G, R389G; ADBR2 G16R, Q27E, C523A. Logistic regression was performed to model the number of drugs taken at the time of BP control with genotypes/haplotypes adjusting for age, gender, BMI and other common confounding factors of CAD. RESULTS G389 and the ADRB2 haplotype G16-E27-C523 were associated with the need for more drugs to control BP. G389 homozygotes were more likely to require more drugs to control BP than R389 homozygotes (odds ratio 1.31[1.04–1.66]) and heterozygotes (1.35[1.07, 1.70]), as were patients with 2 (vs. 0) copies of ADRB2 haplotype GEC (1.43[1.11–1.85]). Patients with higher baseline systolic BP, BMI > 30, diabetes, history of heart failure were also more likely to need more drugs to control BP than those without these risk factors. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that ADRB1 G389 and ADRB2 haplotype GEC may affect variable BP response to atenolol therapy in older hypertensives with CAD, thus influencing the number of drugs needed to control BP in a β-blocker-based drug regimen. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 79, P30–P30; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2005.12.110
Quantitative Comparison of the Relative Cell Permeability of Cyclic and Linear Peptides

Cyclic peptides are of considerable interest as potential protein ligands. It has been postulated that cyclic molecules might be more cell permeable than their linear counterparts due to their reduced conformational flexibility. We report a study that tests this hypothesis by using a quantitative, reporter gene-based assay that measures the relative cell permeability of steroid conjugates of molecules of interest. We demonstrate that cyclic peptides are, in fact, not generally more permeable than their linear counterparts.
Psychiatric findings in Wolfram syndrome homozygotes

Diabetes mellitus and bilateral optic atrophy are the defining characteristics of the autosomal recessive Wolfram syndrome. Diabetes insipidus, neurogenic bladder, deafness, and other neurological manifestations are frequent. A review was made of the medical records of 68 Wolfram syndrome patients, aged between 8 and 43 years, identified by casefinding throughout the USA. 41 of the patients (60%) had episodes of severe depression, psychosis, or organic brain syndrome, as well as impulsive verbal and physical aggression. These symptoms were very severe in 17 patients (25%), of whom 12 required admission to a psychiatric hospital and 11 attempted suicide. We conclude that the Wolfram syndrome gene predisposes homozygotes to psychiatric illness.
Higher hydrocarbon combustion: 2. Fuel-rich C1C2 mechanism

Abstract A method is presented for using a measured hydrogen atom profile as a probe of reaction details, and for refining the reaction mechanism by imposing the constraint that the hydrogen atom profile be correctly calculated. A reaction mechanism is derived for the fuel-rich, atmospheric pressure combustion of an acetylene/methane mixture at 2000K in the postflame zone of a rich (φ = 1.66) ethylene/air flame. The resulting chain-branched mechanism has the characteristic of, on net, forming free radicals in the hydrocarbon oxidative reaction sequence. The implications of this result are discussed in the context of radical scavenging by hydrocarbons and the system approach to equilibrium.
A simple assay to identify peroxisomal proteins involved in 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid metabolism

Peroxisomes are vital eukaryotic organelles that house a variety of metabolic functions. To fully define the proteome of plant peroxisomes, we recently performed a proteomic analysis of peroxisomes from etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings, verified the peroxisomal localization of candidate proteins by in vivo targeting analysis of fluorescent proteins, and subjected the T-DNA mutants of the newly confirmed proteins to a series of phenotypic analysis. Our reverse genetics approach revealed the role of a cysteine protease - Response to Drought 21A-like Cysteine Protease1 (RDL1) - in seed germination, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) β-oxidation and stress response. Here, we developed a quick assay aimed at identifying peroxisomal proteins involved in the metabolism of 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA), which is converted to jasmonic acid in the peroxisome through β-oxidation. We performed a survey of the same mutants analyzed in our previous reverse genetics study with this new assay by measuring the response of mutants to OPDA’s inhibitory effect on root elongation. Mutants of RDL1 and SERINE CARBOXYPEPTIDASE-LIKE20 (SCPL20) exhibited statistically significant hypersensitivity to OPDA, indicating the potential involvement of these proteins in OPDA metabolism. This convenient assay may be used in the future to rapidly screen for mutants defective in OPDA metabolism or signaling.
Women as part-time faculty members

Part-time positions in academe have long been considered women's work because of the opportunities they afford for child care and household responsibilities, as well as the lower status and pay which they generally carry. Recent data indicate that men are just as likely as women to be part-timers, and that the large majority of women do not fit the stereotypical view of women part-timers. This paper uses data from a nation-wide survey of part-timers, conducted by the American Association of University Professors in 1977, to compare job-related characteristics of males and females and their motivations for working part-time. The data suggest that part-time academic employment may, in fact, be a female issue since some differences between the sexes are found to exist. In several instances women appear to be worse off than their male counterparts. The article concludes with policy recommendations to improve this situation.
Modeling and investigation of magnetic resonance coupled wireless power transfer system with lateral misalignment

Lateral misalignment between the transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) in a wireless power transfer (WPT) system significantly reduces its power transmission efficiency. This paper first investigates the lateral misalignment in the magnetic resonance coupled (MRC) WPT system and identifies the High Efficiency Range (HER). The HER is a high efficiency area on the transmission efficiency versus Rx lateral misalignment amount curve. In the HER, the transmission efficiency is nearly constant at a maximum value before it sharply drops down to zero (or a very small value). The identification of the HER is verified by simulation results obtained from a developed ANSYS® HFSS® 3-D physical model. Simulation results of the ANSYS® HFSS® 3-D physical model with 5-turn, 60cm outer diameter spiral shape MRC-WPT system show that when the vertical distance (DIS) between the Tx and Rx ranges from 0.1 m to 1 m, an HER exists at each DIS value. When 0.3m ≤ DIS ≤ 0.6m, nearly constant high efficiency of ~90% could be maintained when the lateral misalignment is not larger than 50cm (83.3% of the Rx diameter).
Maximum Impact Force of Woody Debris on Floodplain Structures

We collided woody debris (i.e., logs) with structures using flume and test basin laboratory facilities to investigate the maximum impact force that floodplain structures are exposed to from floating woody debris. The tests also investigated the influence of collision geometry, determined by the debris orientation on impact, on the maximum impact forces. We reviewed the three approaches that represent the existing guidance for estimating maximum impact forces. Each approach estimates the maximum impact force based on the debris velocity and mass. We show that all the existing approaches can be derived from a single-degree-of-freedom model of the collision and can be considered to be equivalent. The laboratory data show that the maximum impact force was associated with a log striking a rigid structure with its end. Oblique and eccentric collisions reduced the maximum impact load in a predictable and consistent manner. The approach we refer to as contact stiffness, a linear, one-degree-of-freedom model with no damping, was able to reproduce the laboratory results over the entire range of data, with an effective contact stiffness of 2.4 MN/m.
Analysis of symmetry of vertebral body loading consequent to lateral spinal curvature.

STUDY DESIGN A biomechanical model was used to calculate muscle and intervertebral forces in a spine with and without a lumbar scoliosis. OBJECTIVES To quantify the loading of the motion segments in a lumbar scoliosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION Scoliosis is thought to cause asymmetric loading of vertebral physes, causing asymmetric growth according to the Hueter-Volkmann principle. The magnitude of vertebral loading asymmetry as a function of scoliosis magnitude is unknown, however, as is the sensitivity of growth to asymmetric loading. METHODS The analysis included five lumbar vertebrae, the thorax, and the sacrum/pelvis and 90 pairs of multijoint muscles. Five spinal geometries were analyzed: the mean spinal shape of 15 patients with left lumbar scoliosis (38 degrees Cobb angle, apex at L1-L2, the reference or "100%" geometry), and the geometry scaled to 0%, 33%, 67%, and 132% of the asymmetry of the reference shape. The muscle and intervertebral forces for maximum efforts opposing moments applied to the T12 vertebra in each of the three principal directions were calculated. The loading at each intervertebral level was expressed as the resultant force (P), the axial torque, the lateral and anteroposterior offset of P from the disc center, and the angle of P from the axial direction. RESULTS With increasing scoliosis, there was a weak trend of increasing lateral offset of P, but not consistently to either the convex or concave direction. There was a much stronger trend of increasing angle between the force P and the motion segment longitudinal axis with increasing Cobb angle. Typically, this angle was 10-30 degrees for the largest scoliosis (51 degrees Cobb) and in a direction tending to increase the scoliosis. This angulation of the force results from shear loading of the disc. Axial torques tending to increase the transverse plane deformity increased with scoliosis for extension efforts. CONCLUSIONS These analyses indicate that lumbar scoliosis produces asymmetric spinal loading characterized by shear forces tending to increase the scoliosis, but with little increase in the asymmetric compression of motion segments. If scoliosis progression results from asymmetric loading, it appears that the shear force component is responsible.
A new approach to radioassay of aqueous solutions in the liquid scintillation spectrometer

Abstract 1. 1. A new two-phase counting method is described that permits radioassay of aqueous solutions in the liquid scintillation spectrometer. The sample in solution is pipetted onto crystals of anthracene in a standard counting bottle, and the fluorescent emission is counted. The general features of the technique are discussed from a theoretical and practical point of view. 2. 2. Efficiencies as high as 54% for small volumes of C14 samples can be obtained. In the routine procedure described the C14 in 3 ml of sample is counted with approximately 20% efficiency. Efficiencies for H3, Ca45, P32, and I131 are presented. 3. 3. The efficiencies for C14 obtained with several other solid fluors, including a plastic scintillator, are presented. 4. 4. The advantages of the method over existing methods are several: 4.1. a. It is general and applicable to virtually any compound soluble in water, salt solutions, dilute acid, or dilute alkali. 4.2. b. No chemical conversion or other preliminary handling is necessary, and sample preparation is simple and rapid. 4.3. c. Samples can be recovered unaltered after radioassay and used for further characterization. 4.4. d. Large quantities of sample can be counted, limited only by their solubility in the liquid phase, and, in the case of colored compounds, by quenching effects.
Universal health insurance coverage or economic relief--a false choice.

Some argue that universal coverage is a luxury that we must do without in order to make way for other programs that will stimulate the economy. Jonathan Gruber writes that this argument presents a false choice.
Bullatalicinone, a new potent bioactive acetogenin, and squamocin from annona bullata (Annonaceae)

Further fractionation of the EtOH extract of the bark of Annona bullata Rich. (Annonaceae) has led to the isolation of a new nonadjacent bis-tetrahydrofuran acetogenin, bullatalicinone, and the known adjacent bis-tetrahydrofuran acetogenin, squamocin. These two compounds showed potent and selective cytotoxicities for certain human tumor cell lines. Their structures have been elucidated by chemical and spectral methods. Bullatalicinone is the methylketo-lactone derivative of bullatalicin which we found previously in this plant.
A cyborg beetle: Insect flight control through an implantable, tetherless microsystem

We present an implantable flight control microsystem for a cyborg beetle. The system consists of multiple inserted neural and muscular stimulators, a visual stimulator, a polyimide assembly and a microcontroller. The system is powered by two size 5 cochlear microbatteries. The insect platform is Cotinis texana, a 2 cm long, 1-2 gram Green June Beetle. We also provide data on the implantation of silicon neural probes, silicon chips, microfluidic tubes, and LED's introduced during the pupal stage of the beetle.
The Effect of Permeability on the Slow Motion of a Porous Sphere in a Viscous Liquid

A technique is suggested by which the effects of permeable materials on the low Reynolds number flow of viscous liquids may be evaluated. In particular, we show that Darcy's law and the asymptotic equations (Re O) of Stokes may be used to formulate boundary value problems generating solutions valid for both porous and non-porous regions and matched at common boundaries. The coupled problem of the streaming of a viscous liquid past a permeable sphere is considered and closed solutions which depend simply on the permeability on the sphere are derived. The drag on a permeable sphere is shown to be the same as the drag on an impermeable sphere of reduced radius. Es wird ein Verfahren vorgeschlagen, mit dem der Einflus von durchlassigem Material auf eine mit niedriger Reynoldszahl stromende viskose Flussigkeit berechnet werden kann. Speziell wird gezeigt, das man das Gesetz von Darcy und die asymptotischen Gleichungen (Re 0) von Stokes benutzen kann, um Randwertprobleme zu formulieren, die Losungen liefern, die fur porose und nichtporose Gebiete gelten. Es wird das Problem der Stromung einer viskosen Flussigkeit hinter einer durchlassigen Kugel betrachtet. Dafur werden geschlossene Losungen abgeleitet, die in einfacher Weise von der Durchlassigkeit der Kugel abhangen. Es wird gezeigt, das der Widerstand einer durchlassigen Kugel derselbe ist wie der einer undurchlassigen mit kleinerem Radius.
Differential expression of microRNA (miRNA) in chordoma reveals a role for miRNA-1 in met expression

Emerging evidence suggests that microRNA (miRNA) expression signatures in cancer may have important diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value, but there is no data on miRNA expression in chordoma. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of miRNAs in human chordoma. We analyzed miRNA expression in chordoma-derived cell lines and chordoma tissue by using miRNA microarray technology with unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis. The relative expression levels of these miRNAs were confirmed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis. To characterize the potential role of miRNA-1, miRNA-1 was stably transfected into a chordoma cell line, UCH1. The expression of miRNA-1 targeted gene Met in chordoma tissues was also studied. We observe that human chordoma tissues and cell lines can be distinguished from normal muscle tissue by comparing miRNA expression profiles. Several miRNAs were differentially expressed in chordoma cell lines compared to controls, and similar expression patterns were found in primary chordoma tissues. Importantly, we were able to show for the first time, to our knowledge, that expression of miRNA-1 and miRNA-206, two miRNAs implicated in a number of other cancer types, were markedly decreased in both chordoma tissues and cell lines. When chordoma cell lines were transfected with miRNA-1, downregulation of known miRNA-1 targets was observed. These targets included Met and HDAC4-two genes that were observed to be overexpressed in chordoma. Our results demonstrate that some miRNAs are differentially expressed in chordoma and, in particular, miRNA-1 may have a functional effect on chordoma tumor pathogenesis.
Relationship between use of condoms and other forms of contraception among human immunodeficiency virus–infected women

Objective: To describe the relationship between condom use and use of other contraceptives among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women. Methods: We interviewed 1232 women, 18–50 years of age, who had had sex with a man in the prior 12 months and who were reported with AIDS or HIV to local health departments in 12 states and cities in the United States. These women were asked about condom use and other contraceptive use in the past year. Results: Forty-seven percent of women reported using condoms as a form of contraception in the past 12 months. Thirty-four percent of the 286 women who had had a tubal ligation and 42% of the 182 women who used oral contraceptives (OC) used condoms. When we controlled for all factors associated with failing to use condoms, women who had had a tubal ligation (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28–2.33), women who used OCs (adjusted OR 1.44, CI 1.00–2.08), and women who were unaware of the HIV status of their most recent steady sex partner (adjusted OR 1.72, CI 1.28–2.31) were the least likely to use condoms. Conclusion: Human immunodeficiency virus-infected women who used more effective contraceptive methods were the least likely to have male sex partners who used condoms. In counseling women at high risk of transmitting HIV, health care providers should discuss reasons for using contraceptives (ie, preventing pregnancy versus preventing HIV transmission) and endure that women understand that different forms of contraceptives may be needed to achieve those different purposes.
Strategy-Selection in Question-Answering.

Abstract There are multiple strategies for answering questions. For example, a statement is sometimes verified using a plausibility process and sometimes using a direct retrieval process. It is claimed that there is a distinct strategy selection phase and a framework is proposed to account for strategy selection. Six experiments support the assumptions of the proposed framework: The first three experiments show that strategy selection is under the strategic control of the subjects. These experiments also indicate what contextual variables affect this selection. Experiments 4 and 5 suggest that strategy selection also involves evaluating the question itself, while Experiment 6 suggests variables that influence the evaluation of the question. This model is shown to be consistent with processing strategies in domains other than question answering, viz., dual-task monitoring in divided attention situations.
Oral graft-versus-host disease and programmed cell death: Pathogenetic and clinical correlates

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is an untoward complication of bone marrow transplantation. It is characterized by an immune-mediated attack by donor immune cells against various host cells and tissues, a process which may be associated with significant morbidity in affected patients. Oral lesions are a common sequelae and can serve as a highly predictive index to the presence of systemic GVHD. The oral lesions of GVHD are clinically and histologically lichenoid in nature and can be a challenge in terms of management. Ulcerated and painful mucosal lesions may represent a significant impediment to normal eating habits and nutritional intake, necessitating appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Importantly, recent evidence has indicated that programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is the major constituent in the pathogenesis of GVHD. Apoptosis not only plays a major role in normal growth and ontogeny, but has been shown to contribute to a wide spectrum of both inflammatory and neoplastic disorders. Since knowledge of apoptotic molecular pathways is requisite for understanding GVHD, the purpose of this paper is to provide a fundamental overview of the predominant apoptotic mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of GVHD and to relate these findings to the oral complications of the disease. Finally, we will discuss management strategies for diagnosing and treating the oral lesions of GVHD. By explicating the molecular events in the apoptotic pathway, unique therapeutic and pharmacologic strategies for regulating apoptosis may be developed in the future, reducing the morbidity associated with conditions like GVHD.
Coronary angioplasty in cardiac transplant patients: Results of a multicenter study

BACKGROUND Accelerated allograft atherosclerosis is the main cause of death of cardiac transplant recipients after the first year after transplantation. Because no medical therapy is known to prevent or retard graft atherosclerosis and transplantation is associated with a shortened allograft survival, alternative, palliative therapy with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has been attempted. Because no single medical center has performed angioplasty in a large number of cardiac transplant recipients, representatives of 11 medical centers retrospectively analyzed their complete experience of coronary angioplasty in cardiac transplant patients to determine the safety, efficacy, limitations, and long-term outcome of angioplasty in allograft coronary vascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS Thirty-five patients underwent 51 angioplasty procedures for 95 lesions 46 +/- 5 months (mean +/- SEM) after transplantation. The primary indications for angioplasty included angiographic coronary disease in 22 cases (43%) and noninvasive evidence of ischemia in 18 procedures (35%). Angiographic success, defined as less than or equal to 50% post-PTCA stenosis, occurred in 88 of 95 lesions (93%). Mean pre-PTCA stenosis was 83 +/- 1.1%; mean post-PTCA stenosis was 29 +/- 2.1% (p less than 0.0001). Periprocedural complications included myocardial infarction and late in-hospital death in one patient and three groin hematomas. Twenty-three of the 35 patients (66%) had no major adverse outcome such as death, retransplantation, or myocardial infarction at 13 +/- 3 months after angioplasty. Four patients died less than 6 months after angioplasty, and four died more than 6 months after angioplasty (range, 6-23 months). Two patients had retransplantation 2 months after PTCA, and one patients had retransplantation 18 months after angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS Coronary angioplasty may be applied in selected cardiac transplant recipients with comparable success and complication rates to routine angioplasty. Whether angioplasty prolongs allografts survival remains to be determined by a prospective, controlled trial.
Action of chlorhexidine digluconate against yeast and filamentous forms in an early-stage candida albicans biofilm

An in situ method for sensitive detection of differences in the action of chlorhexidine against subpopulations of cells in Candida albicans biofilms is described. Detection relies on monitoring the kinetics of propidium iodide (PI) penetration into the cytoplasm of individual cells during dosing with chlorhexidine. Accurate estimation of the time for delivery of the dosing concentration to the substratum was facilitated by using a flow cell system for which transport to the interfacial region was previously characterized. A model was developed to quantify rates of PI penetration based on the shape of the kinetic data curves. Yeast were seeded onto the substratum, and biofilm formation was monitored microscopically for 3 h. During this period a portion of the yeast germinated, producing filamentous forms (both hyphae and pseudohyphae). When the population was subdivided on the basis of cell morphology, rates of PI penetration into filamentous forms appeared to be substantially higher than for yeast forms. Based on the model, rates of penetration were assigned to individual cells. These data indicated that the difference in rates between the two subpopulations was statistically significant (unpaired t test, P < 0.0001). A histogram of rates and analysis of variance indicated that rates were approximately equally distributed among different filamentous forms and between apical and subapical segments of filamentous forms.
A CONSTITUTION DIAGRAM FOR THE TUNGSTEN-PALLADIUM SYSTEM

Abstract The tungsten-palladium phase diagram has been determined by X-ray and metallographic investigation at temperatures above 1100°C. Tungsten dissolves a maximum of 5% palladium at the peritectic temperature, 1815°C. The solubility of palladium in tungsten at 1100°C is 1.5%. The palladium solid solution forms by the peritectic reaction of the tungsten and liquid phases at 1815°C. At the peritectic temperature, palladium dissolves 22% tungsten. At 1100°C the solubility of tungsten in palladium is reduced to 21.5%. No intermediate phases are present at temperatures above 1100°C.
Bilingual listeners' perception of temporally manipulated English passages.

Purpose The current study measured, objectively and subjectively, how changes in speech rate affect recognition of English passages in bilingual listeners. Method Ten native monolingual, 20 English...
NUCLEAR SPECTROSCOPY WITH TWO-NUCLEON TRANSFER REACTIONS

The aspects of two-nucleon transfer reactions that depend on nuclear structure can be isolated in structure amplitudes $G$, which do not depend on the kinematics or scattering states of the reaction. The calculation of these amplitudes from microscopic nuclear models is illustrated in a number of examples. The structure amplitudes measure the parentage and the degree to which a nuclear state possesses the particular correlations predicated by the fact that the pair is transferred to or from a light nuclide which itself has definite and simple correlations among its nucleons. Several specific nuclear reactions are considered in some detail, and the structure amplitudes for many nuclear levels are given.