cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Review of Celiac Disease/Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathies.

Celiac disease is a complex immune-mediated gluten-sensitive enteropathy with protean clinical manifestations. It is manifest in genetically predisposed individuals who ingest gluten in varying amounts. In broad terms, it is thought to affect 1% of the population in the USA. More specifically, the prevalence increases drastically from 1:133 in patients not-at-risk, to 1:56 in symptomatic patients, to 1:39 in patients with a second-degree relative with the diagnosis, and to 1:22 in patients with a first-degree relative with the diagnosis. It may be associated with several immune-mediated phenomena, autoimmune diseases, and complicated by vitamin and other trace element deficiencies, bone disease, and malignancy. Our understanding of celiac disease has evolved rapidly over the past two decades. This has led to several lines of enquiry on the condition and potential treatment options. More recently, several entities including gluten intolerance, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and seronegative celiac disease have been described. These conditions are distinct from allergies or intolerance to wheat or wheat products. There are challenges in defining some of these entities since a large number of patients self-report these conditions. The absence of confirmatory diagnostic tests poses an added dilemma in distinguishing these entities. The differences in spectrum of symptoms and highlights of the variability between the pediatric and adult populations have been studied in some detail. The role of screening for celiac disease is examined in both the general population and “at risk” populations. Diagnostic strategies including the best available serologic testing, utility of HLA haplotypes DQ2 and DQ8 which are seen in over 90% of patients with celiac disease as compared with approximately 40% of the general population, and endoscopic evaluation are also reviewed. Comprehensive nutritional management after diagnosis is key to sustained health in patients with celiac disease. Simple algorithms for care based on a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach are proposed. Refractory and non-responsive celiac diseases in the setting of a gluten-free diet are examined as are novel non-dietary therapies. Finally, the association of other disease states including psychiatric illness, infertility, lymphoproliferative malignancy, and mortality is explored with special attention paid to autoimmune and atopic disease.
Duress and Free Will in Nineteenth-Century Contract Law

This chapter presents an analysis of certain features of contract law in the mid-nineteenth century. That analysis provides a ground for the evaluation of Marx’ statements about law as purported empirical descriptions of the ideology of the time.
Heterotopias of the Neoliberal Egyptian State in Sonallah Ibrahim’s Narratives

AbstractThis article offers an analysis of the prominent Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim’s literary critique of neoliberal Egypt in a selection of his novels: al-Lajna (The Committee, 1981), Dhā...
A Pakistani Homeland for Buddhism: Displaying a National History for Pakistan beyond Islam, 1950–1969

AbstractThis article explores the surprising role of the ancient Buddhist past in the construction of Pakistani national histories in museum exhibits and archaeological guides from 1950 to 1969. Al...
mTOR-regulated U2af1 tandem exon splicing specifies transcriptome features for translational control

U2 auxiliary factor 1 (U2AF1) functions in 3'-splice site selection during pre-mRNA processing. Alternative usage of duplicated tandem exons in U2AF1 produces two isoforms, U2AF1a and U2AF1b, but their functional differences are unappreciated due to their homology. Through integrative approaches of genome editing, customized-transcriptome profiling and crosslinking-mediated interactome analyses, we discovered that the expression of U2AF1 isoforms is controlled by mTOR and they exhibit a distinctive molecular profile for the splice site and protein interactomes. Mechanistic dissection of mutually exclusive alternative splicing events revealed that U2AF1 isoforms' inherent differential preferences of nucleotide sequences and their stoichiometry determine the 3'-splice site. Importantly, U2AF1a-driven transcriptomes feature alternative splicing events in the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) that are favorable for translation. These findings unveil distinct roles of duplicated tandem exon-derived U2AF1 isoforms in the regulation of the transcriptome and suggest U2AF1a-driven 5'-UTR alternative splicing as a molecular mechanism of mTOR-regulated translational control.
Specialization and Institutional Investors’ Performance – Evidence from Publicly Traded Real Estate

We examine the extent to which 50,620 global institutional investors’ specialization in publicly traded real estate securities is related to their investment performance. Consistent with the information advantage theory (Merton Journal of Finance 42, 483–510, 1987; Van Nieuwerburgh and Veldkamp Journal of Finance, 64, 1187–1215, 2009), we show a positive relation between the percentage of the institution’s portfolio invested in real estate securities and the return generated on those securities. Moreover, we present evidence that the institution’s level of active share to real estate securities is positively related to performance. Additionally, we find that the benefits related to specialization are more pronounced for investors specializing in a narrow set of securities that requires a unique set of skills to analyze.
Synthesis and characterization of porous bioactive SiC tissue engineering scaffold.

Silicon carbide (SiC) is an inert material with excellent biocompatibility properties. A major issue that limits its use as a medical device is the difficult processing technique that requires hot pressing at a temperature (>2,000o C) and pressure (1,000-2,000 atm). In the present study, we developed a protocol to synthesize a porous SiC scaffold by pressing the powder at 50 MPa and heating at 900o C/2 hr. The surface of SiC was chemically modified by NaOH to facilitate sintering and induce bioactivity. Porous discs with 51.51 ± 3.17% porosity and interconnected pores in the size range from 1 to 1,000 μm were prepared using 40% PEG. The average compressive strength and Young's modulus of the scaffolds were 1.94 ± 0.70 and 169.2 ± 0.08 MPa, respectively. FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of biomimetic hydroxyapatite layer after 2 hr of immersion in simulated body fluid. The Ca/P ratio was dependent on the concentration of the silanol groups created on the material surface. Increasing the atomic % of silicon on the SiC surface from 33.27 ± 9.53% to 45.13 ± 4.74% resulted in a 76% increase in the osteocalcin expression by MC3T3-E1 cells seeded on the material after 7 days. The cells colonized the entire thickness of the template and filled the pores with mineralized extracellular matrix after 14 days. Taken all together, the porous SiC scaffolds can serve as a bone graft for tissue reconstruction and cell delivery in trauma surgery.
Reputation-Based Event-Triggered Formation Control and Leader Tracking with Resilience to Byzantine Adversaries

A distributed event-triggered controller is developed for formation control and leader tracking (FCLT) with robustness to adversarial Byzantine agents for a class of heterogeneous multi-agent systems (MASs). A reputation-based strategy is developed for each agent to detect Byzantine agent behaviors within their neighbor set and then selectively disregard Byzantine state information. Selectively ignoring Byzantine agents results in time-varying discontinuous changes to the network topology. Nonsmooth dynamics also result from the use of the event-triggered strategy enabling intermittent communication. Nonsmooth Lyapunov methods are used to prove stability and FCLT of the MAS consisting of the remaining cooperative agents.
Fashion and Historical Imagination: The Case of Sun Shou’s “Bewitching and Strange Appearances”

Sun Shou (d. 159), the vilified and powerful wife of notorious regent to the throne Liang Ji (d. 159), is famous for her invention of novel fashions, including new styles of eyebrow, makeup, and ha...
“I Would Not Be a Pilgrim”: Examining the Construction of the Muslim Child as an Authentic Witness and a Dynamic Subject in Anita Desai’s The Peacock Garden

This chapter uses the framework of Rhetorical Theory of Narrative to examine the subjectivities of a young girl in Anita Desai’s The Peacock Garden, in order to understand how the author portrays Muslim childhood in newly independent India. It claims that the author does not characterize the child character’s subjectivity as fixed, but that she allows for the implied reader to occupy multiple positionalities—that of a vulnerable, helpless bystander; the curious, questioning child; the mindful child; and the Romantic Child—while reading the text.
The G γ: Aγ Composition of Fetal Hemoglobin in Fetuses and Newborns

Abstract To determine whether the G gamma:A gamma HbF switch is coordinated in development with the HbF:HbA switch, hemoglobin F Gly/Ala (G gamma:A gamma) heterogeneity was evaluated by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. The mean G gamma was 70% in 19 newborns, similar to the published value of 73% obtained by amino acid analysis of the gamma CG-3 peptide. In 29 fetuses at 18–20-wk gestation, G gamma was 71%. The values were similar in normal fetuses and newborns and in those with hemoglobinopathies. The synthetic ratio of 3H-leucine-labeled G gamma:A gamma was identical to the ratio found in the globin protein accumulated by 20 wk. The proportion of G gamma was also identical in 6 paired samples, at 20-wk gestation and at birth. Thus, G gamma production does not decline with respect to A gamma in utero at the time of onset of the HbF:HbA switch.
Disastrous Inferences? The Ecological Fallacy in Disaster and Emergency Management Research

In research on disaster and emergency management, the limited available data is often summarized at higher levels of aggregation, particularly summaries for geographic areas – sometimes referred to as “ecological data.” Measures of social vulnerability and disaster post-mortems based on such data purporting to measure or explain individual-level phenomena have been criticized as committing an “ecological fallacy” (Beccari 2016; Duneier 2006). Stated briefly, one commits an ecological fallacy if one assumes that relationships observed at an aggregate level imply that the same relationships exist at the individual level. In fact, estimates of causal effects from aggregate data can be wrong both in magnitude and direction (Robinson 1950). This article examines the factors that contribute to incorrect inferences that can arise from the analysis of aggregate data and provides guidance to disaster and emergency management researchers to help them avoid committing ecological fallacies.
On the origins of the universe

We once thought the big bang was a single moment, but physicists are now settling on a different version of events, writes Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Moral determinants of health: An overview of disparities in healthcare.

Abstract Healthcare disparities are a serious problem that shorten the lives of many Americans, even after accounting for social, cultural, and economic factors and correcting for confounders such as the lack of medical insurance and access to healthcare, black Americans and other minority groups receive worse medical care and experience worse outcomes as a result. Healthcare does not occur in a vacuum; surgeons cannot serve our patients' needs isolated in a bubble and cocooned from larger societal concerns. Although disparities rooted in race likely have the greatest negative effects on our patients' health, plenty of groups exist that have not historically received equal opportunities and acceptance within the surgical world. Despite now accounting for more than one half of all medical graduates, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions, and the gender pay gap has remained significant in all branches of medicine. It will require active, multifaceted, and sustained effort to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic surgery. We have described the steps that can be taken within surgical departments and in national surgical societies to recruit, retain, and foster a diverse surgical workforce and to develop a more inclusive culture within surgery and surgical training.
A NEW APPROACH IN PIANO TEACHING: WE TEACHERS CAN COMPOSE REPERTOIRE IN MINIMALISM FOR STUDENTS

Patterns and repetitions are the essence of studies and exercises for piano. In music history, among composers, Carl Czerny (1791–1857) composed a great number of easy pieces for piano pedagogy that widely employed patterns and repetitions. Nowadays, minimalistic music is a new style but overlaps with the traditional repertoire of piano pedagogy on this emphasis. To employ minimalistic music in piano teaching is a new approach. Further, piano teachers can even compose pedagogical repertoire in minimalism for students. Here, I introduced my own experiences of composing such music for my students. The result was proved satisfactory in teaching. Many piano teachers composed music for their students, which was a convention in piano teaching in music history. They contributed huge amount of repertoire to piano. In the meanwhile, they were dedicated to teaching as well. Nowadays, this practice is still shining in A New Approach in Piano Teaching 6 piano pedagogy. There is a great number of piano teachers who compose music for piano pedagogy. They naturally make the music collections and published them. Undoubtedly, music composition is a specific major study in music schools and conservatories. However, the twenty-first century is an era of free style, like you can mix drinks of different flavors from a beverage machine. Further, minimalism naturally brings a solution for achieving your own piano pedagogical pieces. You can have a try! It is so fun and joyful, when you teach your students your own pieces and then enjoy progresses your students make. Ultimately, this practice will bring you such happiness when they can even memorize and perform your music. Of course, it will be fantastic if you publish your music for piano pedagogy.
On a class of irrational two-block Nehari problems with H/sup /spl infin// control applications

Shows how to obtain explicit solutions for a class of irrational two-block Nehari problems using the Krein space approach of Ball and Helton (1983). The author shows that the solutions can be obtained by solving a system of linear equations. The results are applied to solve the H/sup /spl infin// optimal mixed sensitivity control problem for two classes of unstable infinite dimensional systems with irrational weighting functions. >
The synthesis and polymerization studies of some higher homologues of 9-vinylcarbazole

9-Allylcarbazole, 9-Δ3-butenylcarbazole, 9-Δ4-pentenylcarbazole and 9-Δ5−hexenylcarbazole were synthesized and their polymerization with ZIEGLER-NATTA catalyst systems studied. 9-Allylcarbazole could not be polymerized and 9-Δ3-butenylcarbazole could only be polymerized with extreme difficulty. However, 9-Δ4-pentylcarbazole and 9-Δ5-hexenylcarbazole could be polymerized at conversions of about 55%. These results are interpreted in terms of steric hindrance about the vinyl group. No evidence of complexing due to the basic nitrogen atom was noted. Of the catalyst systems used only Et2AlClγTiCl3 was found to be effective in the polymerization. As judged by X-ray diffraction and insolubility the polymers were highly crystalline. 9-Allylcarbazol, 9-Δ3-Butenylcarbazol, 9-Δ4-Pentenylcarbazol und 9-Δ5-Hexenylcarbazol wurden synthetisiert, und ihre Polymerisation mit ZIEGLER-NATTA-Katalysatorsystemen wurde untersucht. 9-Allylcarbazol lies sich nicht polymerisieren, und 9-Δ3-Butenylcarbazol konnte nur unter grosen Schwierigkeiten polymerisiert werden. Dagegen wurden 9-Δ4-Pentenylcarbazol und 9-Δ5-Hexenylcarbazol zu Umsatzen von ca. 55% polymerisiert. Die Ergebnisse werden durch sterische Hinderung an der Vinylgruppe erklart. Komplexbildung durch das basische Stickstoffatom wurde nicht beachtet. Von den benutzten Katalysatorsystemen war nur Et2AlClTiCl3 polymerisationsaktiv. Aus RoNTGENspektren und Unloslichkeit wurde auf eine hohe Kristallinitat der Polymeren geschlossen.
Lithium Abundance and Isotope Systematics of Forearc Serpentinites, Conical Seamount, Mariana Forearc: Insights Into the Mechanics of Slab-Mantle Exchange During Subduction

[1] Variable lithium contents and contrasting Li isotopic signatures are evident in the serpentininite muds and clasts extruded at Conical Seamount in the Mariana forearc. The muds have high Li contents compared to mantle values (3–7 ppm) and a mean δ7Li value of ∼+6‰. The clasts are generally lower in Li, and δ7Li varies from −6‰ to +10‰, with higher δ7Li correlating broadly to higher lithium contents. The diverse δ7Li in the serpentinite clasts suggests Li exchanges between mantle rocks and evolving slab-derived fluids from different depths, producing a subarc mantle that is zoned in terms of Li abundances and δ7Li. Mariana forearc Li isotopic signatures reach values as high as those reported in Mariana arc lavas, but neither Mariana lavas nor lavas from other “mature” arcs show the variability observed in the serpentinites. Although elevated serpentinite Li contents indicate forearc releases of Li, large differences in δ7Li are not evident in the slab outputs at forearc versus arc depths in the Marianas, despite evidence for changes in other alkaline species (e.g., Ba, Sr, K). It is thus possible that the Li sampled by Mariana arc volcanoes is in large part Li which was released in the forearc and transported in the mantle via convection to arc depths, as has been proposed to explain B isotopic variations [Straub and Layne, 2002]. The uniform δ7Li signatures observed in “mature” volcanic arcs [Tomascak et al., 2002] are consistent with higher overall fluxes of slab fluids, which generate larger melting anomalies, including both modified and nonmodified mantle wedge domains. High or low δ7Li in lavas from anomalous arcs (e.g., Panama [Tomascak et al., 2000]) may indicate that the volumes of mantle sampled in these magmatic events are smaller and thus more likely to reflect the signatures of hydrated “plums” [e.g., Allegre and Turcotte, 1986; Phipps Morgan and Morgan, 1999] with extremely high or low δ7Li.
A Control Chart Based on a Nonparametric Multivariate Change-Point Model

This article proposes a nonparametric procedure for multivariate phase-II statistical process control designed to detect shifts in location vector that relaxes these requirements based on an approximately distribution free multivariate test statistic.
IBD: Infliximab dose optimization in IBD—proactive or reactive?

Optimization of biologic therapies in IBD represents an important therapeutic strategy to improve clinical outcomes. Vaughn and colleagues have analysed the long-term benefits of proactive therapeutic concentration monitoring of infliximab in patients with IBD.
SU-E-J-74: Impact of Respiration-Correlated Image Quality On Tumor Motion Reconstruction in 4D-CBCT: A Phantom Study

Purpose: To investigate the effects of scanning parameters and respiratory patterns on the image quality for 4-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography(4D-CBCT) imaging, and assess the accuracy of computed tumor trajectory for lung imaging using registration of phased 4D-CBCT imaging with treatment planning-CT. Methods: We simulated a periodic and non-sinusoidal respirations with various breathing periods and amplitudes using a respiratory phantom(Quasar, Modus Medical Devices Inc) to acquire respiration-correlated 4D-CBCT images. 4D-CBCT scans(Elekta Oncology Systems Ltd) were performed with different scanning parameters for collimation size(e.g., small and medium field-of-views) and scanning speed(e.g., slow 50°·min−1, fast 100°·min−1). Using a standard CBCT-QA phantom(Catphan500, The Phantom Laboratory), the image qualities of all phases in 4D-CBCT were evaluated with contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) for lung tissue and uniformity in each module. Using a respiratory phantom, the target imaging in 4D-CBCT was compared to 3D-CBCT target image. The target trajectory from 10-respiratory phases in 4D-CBCT was extracted using an automatic image registration and subsequently assessed the accuracy by comparing with actual motion of the target. Results: Image analysis indicated that a short respiration with a small amplitude resulted in superior CNR and uniformity. Smaller variation of CNR and uniformity was present amongst different respiratory phases. The small field-of-view with a partial scan using slow scan can improve CNR, but degraded uniformity. Large amplitude of respiration can degrade image quality. RMS of voxel densities in tumor area of 4D-CBCT images between sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal motion exhibited no significant difference. The maximum displacement errors of motion trajectories were less than 1.0 mm and 13.5 mm, for sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal breathings, respectively. The accuracy of motion reconstruction showed good overall agreement with the 4D-CBCT image quality results only using sinusoidal breathings. Conclusion: This information can be used to determine the appropriate acquisition parameters of 4D-CBCT imaging for registration accuracy and target trajectory measurements in a clinical setting.
Computing and Minimizing Cache Vulnerability to Transient Errors

Using a cache vulnerability factor to measure the susceptibility of cache memories to transient errors at the architecture level can help designers make appropriate cost and reliability trade-offs at early design cycles. Two early write-back strategies can also improve the reliability of write-back data caches without compromising performance.
Economic Valuation of Acidic Deposition Damages: Preliminary Results From the 1985 NAPAP Assessment

This paper presents estimates of the monetary value of the biophysical damages caused by acid deposition for the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program’s 1985 Assessment, Economic damages are estimated for four effect areas: commercial agriculture, forests, recreational fishing and selected types of materials. The preliminary nature of the value of the estimated damages in each area is emphasized. The estimated values should be interpreted with appropriate regard for the uncertainties about the physical effects of acid deposition and the assumptions in the economic analysis.
Theoretical foundations of the structural analysis of movement sessions

The Structural Analysis of Movement Sessions (SAMS) is a system of observation and research of groups-in-action that provides useful vocabulary for the dance/movement therapist. It is based on general systems theory and its proposition that the state of the group's structure greatly affects, and is affected by, the individual's experience. In this article, we will examine the nature of this relationship between group structure and the individual's experience.
The Identification of a Limited Number of Vegetative Compatibility Groups within Isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa Infecting Poa spp. and Agrostis palustris from Temperate Climates

Sclerotinia homoeocarpa is responsible for causing significant damage on a wide variety of different grass species. Because it is an asexual fungus, the study of its population structure can be difficult. Previous research has determined that S. homoeocapra has anywhere from three to 20 vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) within localized geographic ranges in the United States. However, a survey of a large geographic area has yet to be undertaken. The present study examined 25 isolates of S. homoeocarpa from the United Kingdom, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, Illinois and Oregon. Among the 25 isolates, eight VCGs were identified. Other researchers have reported that there are seven VCGs in temperate North America on amenity turfgrasses. It is still unclear how this relates to the pathogen's VCG diversity in subtropical and tropical climates.
In This Issue: Immunology of the Eye—Inside and Out

In recent years, our perspectives on many processes and diseases that affect the eye and vision have undergone extensive revision, and are in part reflected in the series of reviews that follow. Wh...
Transfemoral hepatic artery infusion for metastatic carcinoma

A total of 86 patients with primary or metastatic cancer in the liver have had their hepatic artery infused with chemotherapeutic agents via a femoral artery catheter placement. A high volume technic was used with various chemotherapeutic agents, mostly 5-FU. Results in colon primaries averaged 11.7 months as survivals in the responders; 29 of 45 patients in this group responded. Various other primaries were treated, and the results are given.
Human serum β-glucuronidase; its measurement and some of its properties

Abstract Human serum β-glucuronidase has a high requirement of phenolphthalein β- d -glucosiduronic acid for its saturation as evidenced by the apparent K m value of 0.002 M . The digest containing 0.006 M substrate ensures an elevated linear rate as a function of serum concentration which permits the reduction of incubation time to 4 h. One can expect a variation of between 1.4 and 6.5% in replicate determinations depending on the enzyme level. The role of circulating saccharolactone, an endogenous β-glucuronidase inhibitor, was found to be minimal following the study of the effect of dialysis on enzyme activity. Serum values in normal individuals and in patients with diabetes, liver cirrhosis and cancer are reassessed and were found to be approximately twice the previously reported values. Conditions have also been recommended for the use of alternate substrates, i.e. β- d -glucosiduronic acids of p -nitrophenol and 8-hydroxyquinoline. Finally, factors of biochemical specificity, of integrity of subcellular organelles and genetics are dealt with in the evaluation of the significance of serum β-glucuronidase values.
Intravenous bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: long-term follow-up of 109 patients.

Objective We report long-term follow-up of patients with intravenous bisphosphonate–related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). Study Design Medical and dental histories, including type and duration of bisphosphonate treatment and comorbidities, were analyzed and compared with clinical course of 109 patients with BRONJ at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Dental Service. Results Median onset of BRONJ in months was 21 (zoledronic acid), 30 (pamidronate), and 36 (pamidronate plus zoledronic acid), with a significant difference between the pamidronate plus zoledronic acid and zoledronic acid groups (P = .01; Kruskal-Wallis). The median number of doses for BRONJ onset was significantly less with zoledronic acid (n = 18) than pamidronte plus zoledronic acid (n = 36; P = .001), but not pamidronate alone (n = 29). An association between diabetes (P = .05), decayed-missing-filled teeth (P = .02), and smoking (P = .03) and progression of BRONJ was identified through χ2 test. Conclusions This long-term follow-up of BRONJ cases enhances the literature and contributes to the knowledge of BRONJ clinical course.
The validity of self-report weight and height as a surrogate method for direct measurement

Bland-Altman analysis used to determine the extent of bias, agreement, and precision between self-report and the "gold standard" of actual weight and height measurement revealed significant discrepancies between methods. Use of self-report data by health care providers and researchers should be made based on the clinical situation, patient safety, and research goals.
Management of preterm prematurely ruptured membranes: A prospective randomized comparison of observation versus use of steroids and timed delivery

The use of hydrocortisone and timed delivery was compared to expectant management of pregnancies complicated by preterm prematurely ruptured membranes in a prospective randomized trial of 73 patients. The incidence of maternal and neonatal complications was compared. There was no significant difference in the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome. Steroid-treated mothers had an increased incidence of postpartum febrile morbidity. We conclude that treatment of women with preterm prematurely ruptured membranes with hydrocortisone and timed delivery offers no advantage over expectant management.
Plume Measurments with the T5 Xenon Ion Thruster.

Abstract : Two measurement techniques for investigating performance and life-limiting characteristics of ion engines are applied to a 10-cm T5 xenon thruster: (1) Thrust vector stability is evaluated with four double-wire Langmuir probes, aligned in the form of a cross, which are placed in the exhaust plume and are translated by a motorized positioning system to balance the currents collected along two orthogonal axes. The thrust vector position is thereby tracked with an angular resolution of <0.01 deg and a response time of <5 s. (2) A plume-sampling mass spectrometer has been developed for measuring the xenon charge state distribution and the flux of erosion products from the discharge chamber as a function of operating point. To demonstrate the capability for real-time erosion monitoring, plume spectra that reveal trace amounts of metal ions are presented.
Binding characteristics of the hepatic estrogen receptor of the spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus.

Estrogen receptors were identified in cytosolic and nuclear extracts of livers of adult female spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus. A single class of high affinity binding sites was found, Kd = 1.26 ± 0.55 nM (N = 55) for the cytosolic extract and Kd = 1.96 ± 0.42 nM (N = 8) for the nuclear extract. The Kd did not differ between males and females or between vitellogenic and nonvitellogenic females. The binding in both the cytosolic and nuclear extracts was specific for estrogens (DES > E2 > > E1 = E3). Receptor concentrations in cytosolic extracts from late vitellogenic females (14.61 ± 1.07 pmol/g liver, N = 40) were significantly higher than those from nonvitellogenic females (3.91 ± 0.73 pmol/g liver, N = 7). The nuclear binding capacity of livers from midvitellogenic females (1.12 ± 0.45 pmol/g liver, N = 10) was significantly higher than the binding capacity in livers from nonvitellogenic females (0.16 ± 0.07 pmol/g liver, N = 26), but not that of late vitellogenic females (0.80 ± 0.09 pmol/g liver, N = 77). The concentration of estradiol-binding sites was greatest in the liver (liver > > ovary > heart > spleen > muscle > brain). No interference from other steroid-binding proteins was detected using a simple dextran-coated charcoal method to separate bound from free hormone. Approximately 14% of the binding in the cytosolic extract had DNA-binding affinity. Estrogen receptor binding activity was maximally extracted from nuclei with buffer containing 0.6 M KCI. Nuclear receptors eluted from gel filtration columns with an apparent molecular weight of 95 kDa.
Beyond Dogma: Teacher Education in the USSR:

Teacher education in the USSR has since 1985 increasingly moved away from a pattern of highly centralized control and inflexible ideology. Social and political changes have engendered changes in the educational system, including changes in how teachers are initially prepared and provided with inservice training. Two new approaches to teacher education are surveyed here. The first, a program of preservice training, proposed in 1991 by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Republic (RSFSR) would provide teachers-to-be with more varied options as they ready themselves for teaching. The second, a seminar program run by an independent group called the Eureka Open Pedagogical University, focuses on providing current teachers with new images and models of teaching practice. Such approaches, and more like them, will be needed to enable Soviet schools to surmount the serious obstacles that remain.
Synthesis and Steady-State Photophysical Properties of Dye-Labeled Dendrimers Having Novel Oligothiophene Cores: A Comparative Study

Novel chromophore-labeled dendrimers with penta- and heptathiophene cores and coumarin-2 chromophores at their periphery have been shown to be very efficient light-harvesting systems. Excitation of the peripheral coumarin-2 chromophores results in energy transfer to the oligothiophene cores as a result of the large overlap between the donor emission spectrum and the acceptor absorption spectrum, as well as the large transition dipole moments of the oligothiophenes. Although these core dyes have low fluorescence quantum yields, their emission intensity is significantly enhanced by the ability of the large light-harvesting dendron to funnel absorbed energy to the core. Because of the large Stokes shift of the oligothiophenes, the emission spectrum of the dendrimers was red-shifted by 200 nm from the excitation wavelength. Additionally, it was found that oligothiophene orientationend functionalization vs central functionalizationdid not have a significant effect on energy-transfer efficiency.
Decremental algorithm for adaptive routing incorporating traveler information

Routing in a stochastic and dynamic (time-dependent) network is a crucial transportation problem. A new variant of adaptive routing, which assumes perfect online information of continuous real-time link travel time, is proposed. Driver's speed profile is taken into consideration to realistically estimate travel times, which also involves the stochasticity of links in a dynamic network. An adaptive approach is suggested to tackle the continuous dynamic shortest path problem. A decremental algorithm is consequently developed to reduce optimization time. The impact of the proposed adaptive routing and the performance of the decremental approach are evaluated in static and dynamic networks under different traffic conditions. The proposed approach can be incorporated into vehicle navigation systems.
Subunits of T4 head structures.

Abstract Capsids of bacteriophage T4 have been dissociated in three different solvents: (1) 6 M guanidine hydrochloride, (2) 6 M guanidine hydrochloride plus 0.1 M β-mercaptoethanol, and (3) 67% acetic acid. Sedimentation equilibrium experiments done in the presence of mercaptoethanol have shown that the capsid subunits can be divided into two classes with molecular weights of approximately 11,000 and 46,000. In the absence of mercaptoethanol, a component of molecular weight 78,000 has been found, indicating that disulfide bonds may be important in stabilizing the phage head structure.
Cognitive functional magnetic resonance imaging at very-high-field: eye movement control.

Summary:The oculomotor system, which optimizes visual interaction with the environment, provides a valuable model system for probing the building blocks of higherorder cognition. Attention shifting, working memory, and inhibition of prepotent responses can be investigated in healthy individuals and
Perceived messages from schools regarding adolescent tobacco use

This study conducted focus group interviews with 8th and 12th grade adolescent tobacco users to examine perceived messages from their school systems regarding tobacco use. This was part of a larger study sponsored by the CDC on adolescents’ reasons for tobacco use. Two clear patterns of perceptions emerged. 1) Students perceive school systems to be hypocritical and to be sending contradictory messages regarding the use of tobacco. 2) The reward/punishment structure of public school systems may not be effective in deterring tobacco use among adolescents.
Unraveling Natural Utopia Diderot's Supplement to the Voyage of Bougainville

Diderot's Supplement to the Voyage of Bougainville has often been read as a Rousseauian condemnation of modern civilization judged against the standard of pure Nature. A cursory reading of the Supp...
Evaluation of a balloon-based vaginal packing system and patient-controlled analgesia for patients with cervical cancer undergoing high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the following: (1) the dosimetric impact on the bladder and rectum due to a methodologic shift from general anesthesia (GA) to patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), and from vaginal gauze packing (VGP) to vaginal balloon-based packing (VBP) for high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy; and (2) the tolerability of PCA versus GA. Methods and Materials Seventeen consecutively treated patients with cervical carcinoma who underwent tandem and ovoid (T&O) HDR brachytherapy from January 2009 to August 2010 were selected and reviewed. There were a total of 73 applications. Patients were packed either conventionally with VGP (n = 49) or with VBP (n = 24). Because different sedation methods can influence rectal and bladder dosimetric parameters all applications were grouped by packing method (VBP or VGP) as well as sedation method (GA or PCA). The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) and D2cc rectal and bladder doses were obtained from the treatment records and dose-volume histograms, and respective percentage of prescription dose noted and compared. For patients receiving PCA, pain score on a scale of 0-10 was noted. Results All patients who used PCA were able to tolerate and complete the procedure with a median pain score of 0 (range, 0-2). Implants packed with the VBP method under PCA (n = 21) versus VGP under GA (n = 40) had significantly lower doses to the bladder D2cc (85.7% vs 104.8% of prescription dose), and rectum ICRU dose point (55.4% vs 65.2% of prescription dose), P = .0371 and .039, respectively. The ICRU bladder point and rectum D2cc between the 2 groups were not significantly different. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that PCA is a feasible method for pain control for T&O brachytherapy. VBP and PCA are compatible with T&O brachytherapy and resulted in comparable if not better bladder and rectal dosimetry.
Effects of Diflubenzuron on Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Littoral Enclosures

Two applications of the insect growth regulator diflubenzuron were made to replicate littoral enclosures at nominal concentrations of 0.7, 2.5, 7.0, and 30 μg/L. Assessment of the effects of this insecticide on benthic macroinvertebrate community structure was accomplished by measuring changes in abundance and taxonomic richness. Chironomidae and Ephemeroptera were the most sensitive groups sampled, with no observed effect concentrations of 2.5 and 0.7 μg/L, respectively. No adverse effects were observed on Mollusca or Oligochaeta at any of the test concentrations. Taxonomic richness was noticably reduced at 7.0 and 30 μg/L on all post-application sampling dates, producing changes in community structure that persisted for ⩾57 days.
Tumor derived stress triggers C/EBPβ homologous protein (Chop) expression in myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and mediates immunosuppressive activity

Suppression of anti-tumor T cell responses by MDSC remains a significant barrier in cancer immunotherapy. Although several pathways have been characterized as critical for MDSC-induced suppression, there are currently no therapies to globally and specifically inhibit MDSC function. We postulate that identifying and inhibiting the central mediators of MDSC-regulatory activity will overcome T cell suppression and increase the efficacy of T cell-based immunotherapy in cancer. We aimed to determine the role of the common stress sensor C/EBP-homologous-stress-related protein (Chop), a downstream product of integrated stress responses, as a master regulator of MDSC-suppressive activity. Our results show that Chop is preferentially expressed in malignant cells and MDSC in s.c. mouse tumors. Selective expression of Chop was also detected in tumor-infiltrating MDSC from colon carcinoma patients. Interestingly, injection of tumor cells having functional Chop into systemic Chop -/- mice or Chop null bone marrow chimeric mice resulted in a significant antitumor effect mediated by CD8 + T cells, suggesting the importance of MDSC-Chop in tumor-induced tolerance. In fact, deletion of Chop in MDSC increased the efficacy of T cell-based immunotherapy. MDSC isolated from tumor-bearing Chop null mice had decreased ability to block T cell responses; impaired expression of major MDSC-inhibitory pathways; and a surprising ability to prime T cell proliferation and induce anti-tumor effects. Accordingly, depletion of Gr-1 + MDSC restored tumor growth in Chop -/- mice, while it prevented tumor growth in wild type mice, confirming functional differences in MDSC from wild type and Chop -/- mice. To therapeutically block Chop in tumors, we used a specific liposomal-encapsulated siRNA, which successfully blocked Chop expression and induced anti-tumor effects. We next examined the effects of Chop on C/EBPb and STAT-3, both master regulators of MDSC function. MDSC from Chop -/- mice had elevated expression of C/EBPb inhibitory isoform LIP, low C/EBPb binding to IL-6-promoter, decreased IL-6 production, and impaired expression of IL-6 target phospho-STAT-3. Also, Chop -/- MDSC expressed higher levels of miR-142-3p, a mi-RNA that promotes C/EBPb LIP over LAP and LAP*. Ectopic expression of IL-6 in tumors restored tumor growth, MDSC suppression, and C/EBPb and phospho-STAT-3 levels in Chop -/- mice, suggesting the role of this pathway in the effects induced by Chop deletion. Collectively, this data suggests the role of Chop as a master regulator of the immune inhibitory activity of MDSC and justify the potential targeting of Chop as a way to restore protective immunity in cancer. Consent Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this abstract and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal.
Optical fibers for adverse environments

Many telecom and datacom applications subject optical fibers to extremes of stress, temperature, moisture, hydrogen containing gases, or combinations of the above. Since hydrogen and hydroxyl ions diffuse readily through organic buffer layers and hydrogen diffuses through the silica cladding as well, one approach to protect the fiber against time- dependent mechanical or optical degradation is to surround it with an impervious hermetic barrier.
Urinary eosinophil protein X in relation to disease activity in childhood asthma.

Lugosi E, Halmerbauer G, Frischer T, Koller DY. Urinary eosinophil protein X in relation to disease activity in childhood asthma. The clinical use of urinary eosinophil protein X ‘U-EPX’ measurements in monitoring inflammation in childhood asthma was investigated. U-EPX and pulmonary function were assessed in 80 children with bronchial asthma and 24 healthy, age-matched controls. In addition, 14 patients with asthma were re-examined after 1–2 months. U-EPX levels were increased in children with asthma compared with controls ‘median 68.4 vs 35.3 μg/mmol creatinine; P < 0·0001’. In addition, U-EPX levels were higher in symptomatic than in asymptomatic patients ‘median 123.5 vs 48·9 μg/mmol creatinine; P < 0·0001’ independent of treatment modalities ‘i.e., inhaled steroids or disodium cromoglycate’ or atopy ‘median 65.1 vs 86·0 μg/mmol creatinine’. Furthermore, U-EPX levels were significantly correlated with pulmonary function. During the follow-up period, changes in U-EPX values were significantly related to changes in pulmonary function. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that eosinophil activation can be measured in urine in childhood asthma. Concentrations of U-EPX are related to disease activity and pulmonary function, as shown in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, but are independent of atopy and treatment modalities. Measurement of U-EPX may be useful in assessing the inflammatory process and therefore in the management of childhood asthma.
Incentives and Rates of Return for Travel Surveys

In recent years, lower rates of return for household-based travel surveys have become a reality. It may be difficult to collect enough data for effective transportation planning. Various incentive methods have been used to induce survey recipients to participate fully. Incentive methods will be described (along with other factors affecting rates of return), and their apparent effect on rates of return discussed. It appears that monetary incentives sent with survey materials are most effective in increasing return rates; nonmonetary incentives offered with survey packets are somewhat less effective. The data are inconclusive regarding monetary and nonmonetary incentives offered as a reward upon completion of surveys.
The expert valuation method for assessing agro‐environmental policy

The Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) and other conventional valuation methods of non‐market goods often prove to be unsuitable for the evaluation of the benefits of agro‐environmental policy. Therefore, a new method is introduced, according to which a group of experts jointly evaluates the strengths, weaknesses and finally monetary benefit of agro‐environmental programmes. While the methodology combines expert surveys, group discussions and CVM, its theoretical background is merit good theory. Compared to CVM, the most important practical difference in its outcome is the greater openness of the results. As an example, the Expert Valuation Method is applied to two groups of agro‐environmental policy measures in Switzerland. Suggestions for more efficient levels of reimbursements are made.
The instrumental use of ecology in conflict resolution and security

This contribution is based on a set of reflections presented at the REGov Workshop. These reflections were offered as part of a panel discussion around the topic "Regional security and the environment." Additional presentations provided in the context of this panel discussion include those of Richard Matthew, University of California Irvine (this volume) and Benedikt Korf, University of Zurich (this volume). Webcasts of all presentations are available at http://www.reg-observatory.org/outputs.html.
慣性核融合ドライバー技術 2. Inertial Fusion Driver Development and Future Prospects in the United States

A brief review is given of the requirements of inertial fusion energy drivers and their status and prospects in the U.S. Drivers based on lasers (diode-pumped solid-state and KrF) and heavy ions are discussed.
The paradox of the parasites: implications for biological invasion

The enemy-release hypothesis for biological invasions supposes that invasive species may be more successful in their introduced ranges than in their native ranges owing to the absence of coevolved natural enemies. Recent studies supporting this hypothesis have found that introduced plants and animals are less parasitized in their introduced ranges than in their native ranges. Expanding on this theory, I hypothesize that the role of enemy release may differ among the introduction, establishment and spread phases of an invasion. I present a simple model indicating that parasite release is unlikely to greatly affect the chance of establishment in populations with and without an immune subpopulation. The specific numerical relationship between the number of individuals introduced and the chance of establishment depends on a relationship between virulence, here conceptualized as the chance for the extinction of a lineage, and the fraction of the population infected at introduction. These results support the idea of a 'filter effect' in which different biological processes regulate the different phases of an invasion.
Practical method for calculation of multiple light scattering.

We present a method for directly simulating multiple light scattering to all orders. This method is quite general and should be adaptable for use with any optical geometry. It has been tested by using the simulation to calculate the amount of multiple scattering and to correct light scattering data for a critical binary fluid mixture near its consolute point in a standard scattering geometry that rejects most multiple scattering. Such geometries make simulation difficult since very few simulated scattering events are accepted by the optics. We also present, as an example of the flexibility of the method, an analysis of multiple scattering from a critical binary fluid mixture undergoing phase separation in a very different optical geometry which does not reject multiple scattering.